The independent journal for Buntingford & Villages published by Buntingford Civic Society Buntingford Journal

Carnival Day on Buntingford High Street in June 2016 Inside this month: In Memory of Dick Rye; recalling Emrys ‘Jack’ Jones, a forgotten hero from Buntingford; more news from Wyld Farm; plus local fairs & fetes, art & craft exhibitions, our usual reports and a Flower Club reunion on the letters page.

70p July & August 2016 Volume 41, No.6

July/August 2016 Contents The 3rd Great British Sausage Tosser Contest ...... 33 The 16th Buntingford Classic Car Show ...... 47 Anstey Fair ...... 9 Art Explorers – Creative adventures for preschool children ...... 37 Aspenden Fete & Dog Show ...... 9 BALA – Minibus Trips / Demonstration of mobility aids ...... 44 The Beauty Spot – Spray Tanning ...... 27 Bramble Hill Children’s Centre ...... 35 Braughing Crafting – Exhibition of locally made quilts and crafts ...... 15 Braughing Fair & Wheelbarrow Race ...... 10 Braughing Local History Society – The Somme Battles & their Cemeteries ...... 31 Buntingford Civic Society ...... 11 Buntingford & District Social Club ...... 47 Buntingford Dramatic Society – ‘The Anniversary’ ...... 9 Buntingford Gardeners’ Club ...... 15 Buntingford Heritage Centre – High Street photographs exhibition ...... 18 Buntingford In Transition News – Love Food, Hate Waste ...... 18 Buntingford Library – Does it have a future? ...... 22 Buntingford Police Beat Surgery ...... 17 Buntingford Town Council ...... 20 Buntingford Town Football Club ...... 46 Buntingford W.I...... 45 Church Services ...... 16 Diary of Events – What’s On & Dates for Your Diary ...... 2-5 East Herts Citizens Advice Bureau – Pensions ...... 29 East Herts Council – Exercise for the Over 50s ...... 20 / 21 Editor’s Letter & Letter to the Editor ...... 7 & 8 Edwinstree Middle School ...... 40 A Forgotten Hero from Buntingford – Emrys ‘Jack’ Jones ...... 25 Freman College ...... 42 Friends of Orchard Surgery Coffee Morning ...... 27 Fundraising Ladies Fashion Show & Pop Up Shop ...... 26 Herts & Essex Country Fair at Brent Pelham ...... 24 In Memory of Dick Rye ...... 12 Layston C of E First School & Layston Preschool and Nursery ...... 38 & 39 Leapfrogs Preschool ...... 35 Local musician John Whitaker – New releases from 1i2c ...... 26 Millfield First & Nursery School ...... 36 Music @ Gravelly Barn – Kev Sings ...... 31 News from Your District Councillor – The Street Party, Carnival, Forever Active ...... 21 N.U.T.S. – Nostalgic & Unusual Transport Society ...... 23 Rance’s Rockin’ Chair Band at North Farm, Reed ...... 30 Royston & District Ramblers – Walks for July & August ...... 48 Royston Rotorians Kite Festival ...... 43 Short Story – ‘The Faithfully Departed’ by Christopher Carter ...... 28 The Street Party! ...... 34 Suave Barber Shop – The smallest shop on the High Street ...... 19 TeamHerts Volunteering ...... 45 U3A Buntingford – The University of the Third Age ...... 30 Useful Local Information ...... 6 Westmill Art Exhibition – 30th Year ...... 10 Wyld Farm, Great Hormead ...... 32 1

Diary of Events – July/August 2016

MONDAYS 10:30am – 12 noon Iyengar Yoga at URC Hall (term time). Contact Jen Harris 01920 821288. 11:00am – 11:45am Stretch’n’Grow, a fun exercise & activity class for children who are walking to 5 years. At Seth Ward Community Centre during term time. £2 per child. Contact the Buntingford Collective on Facebook. 1:30pm – 3:00pm Stay & Play at Jenyns First School, Braughing. £1 per family. 01763 273008 1:30pm – 3:30pm Senior Citizens Club at URC Hall, Baldock Road. Bingo and an afternoon of socialising. For more information contact Jeanne Clark on 01763 274631. 4:00pm – 6:45pm Ballet Classes at URC Hall, with Buntingford School of Dance Ltd. Contact: [email protected] / 01763 271010

4:30pm – 7:30pm Rib Valley Trampoline Club at Freman College (term time only). Contact Andrea Allen 07989 980038 or email: [email protected]

6:30pm – 7:30pm Cougars U9s training, Norfolk Road Floodlit Multigames Area. For more information email: [email protected]. 6:30pm – 8:00pm Shotokan Karate at Seth Ward CC. Contact Peter Deacon 01462 642922. 6:45pm – 8:15pm Tai Ji at URC Hall. Contact Steve Burton 01279 777032 / 07968 052716 7:00pm Bridge for experienced players at Buntingford Bowls Club. £2.50 per session. Contact Eddie on 01763 273640 or 07976 896718.

7:00pm – 8:00pm Pilates at Layston School. Contact Jacqui 01763 273815 / 07956 647806. 7:30pm – 8:15pm Abs (body toning) at Fit Together Gym. Contact Al on 07739 131694. 7:30pm – 9:00pm Buntingford Community Choir at Millfield School, Monks Walk. For info see www.buntingfordchoir.co.uk or email: [email protected]

7:30pm – 9:45pm Buntingford & District Youth Club for young people aged 13–19 years, at the Technical Institute, Baldock Road. Contact Danny Band on 07879 853849 or email: danny.band@hertfordshire.gov.uk. 8:15pm Circuit Training at Seth Ward Community Centre. Contact 01920 823677. TUESDAYS 9:15am – 10:15am Badminton at Seth Ward CC, £2.50 per session. 01763 273712.

9:30am – 11:00am Tuesday Toddlers at URC Hall, Baldock Road. £2 for first child, then 50p for each additional child of same family, includes drink and snack. Term time. 10:00am – 11:30am Under 1s Group at Buntingford Bowls Club. £1 per family. 01763 273008. 10:00am – 9:00pm The On Site Massage Clinic at Seth Ward Comm Centre. Contact Kate Smith MBRCP on 07720 298306 or visit www.onsitemassageclinic.co.uk. 11:00am & 11:45am Tappy Toes at Seth Ward CC. Dance & movement for children who are confidently walking, up to age 4. £2 per family. Term time only. 01763 273008. 4:15pm – 9:00pm Ballet, Modern & Tap Classes at Freman College, with Buntingford School of Dance Ltd. Contact: [email protected] / 01763 271010

5:30pm – 6:30pm Cougars U15s Whites training, Norfolk Road Floodlit Multigames Area. 6:15pm – 7:15pm Cougars U10s & Cougars U12s Blues training, St Edmunds School Floodlit Astro Turf. For more info, email: [email protected] 7:30pm Buntingford Karate Club, Edwinstree Gym. Bill Hooper 01763 273123. 7:30pm – 8:30pm Cougars U13s training, Norfolk Road Floodlit Multigames Area. 8:10pm – 8:55pm Adult Tap Dance Classes for Fun & Fitness at Freman College. Contact: [email protected] / 01763 271010 2

What's On

8:30pm – 9:30pm Cougars U16s training, Norfolk Road Floodlit Multigames Area. For more info on Cougars training, email: [email protected] WEDNESDAYS 9:30 – 11:15am Great Hormead Baby and Toddler Group at Great Hormead School Hall. Term time only. From 0 to 4 years. Toys, activities, arts & crafts and singing. £1.50 for first child, 50p for additional children, includes a drink and snack.

Contact Annabel on 07787 562265, or just turn up. 9:30 – 11:30am Barkway Parent and Toddler Group at Barkway Village Hall. Children 0–4 years. Singing, stories and activities; tea, coffee, juice and snack provided. Contact Kim Semple on 07964 151288. 6:00pm – 7:00pm Cougars U14s training, Norfolk Road Floodlit Multigames Area. For more information email [email protected]. 6:00pm – 7:00pm Circuit Training for 50+ at Seth Ward CC. Contact Rita on 07957 558782. 6:30pm – 7:30pm Freestyle & Shotokan Karate at Freman College. Contact Sensei John Srinivassan, Mushin Academy of Karate, 07722 071408. 6:45pm – 7:15pm Cardio Blast at Layston School. Contact Jacqui 01763 273815 / 07956 647806 / email: [email protected] 7:00pm – 8:00pm Cougars U15s Blues training, Norfolk Road Floodlit Multigames Area. For more information email [email protected]. 7:30pm – 8:30pm Body Circuit classes at Seth Ward CC. Contact Rita on 07957 558782. 7:30pm – 8:15pm Pilates (Beginners) at Layston School. Contact Jacqui 01763 273815 / 07956 647806 / email: [email protected]. 7:30pm – 8:15pm Boxercise/Tae Bo session at Fit Together Gym, Buntingford. Contact Al on 07739 131694. 7:30pm Slimming World Group at Millfield School. Tel: Glenda McLellan on 01462 894351 / 07983 224121 or email [email protected] 8:00pm Horizon Divers at Freman Pool. Contact 01920 823955.

THURSDAYS 9:30am – 11:00am Anstey Toddlers at Old School House, Anstey. Arts & crafts, free play and singing for toddlers & babies with their carers. £1 per family. Term time only.

9:45am – 11:00am Bramble Hill Stay & Play at the Scout Hut, Bowling Green Lane, Buntingford. Term time only. £1 per family. 01763 273008.

11:00am – 12:00 Fitness for 50+ at Seth Ward Community Centre. £4 per class. Eileen Dixon 01763 257474 / 07966 222272, email: [email protected]

1:00pm – 3:00pm Baby classes run by the Best Start Club at the Scout Hut, Bowling Green

Lane. Magical Musical Playdays, for 1 to 3 years olds, start at 1:00pm; followed by Baby Signing classes, for 0 to 16 months, at 2:00pm. Contact Laura Sheriff on 07801 796334. Email: [email protected].

2:00pm – 3:00pm Pilates (Beginners) at Benson Hall. Contact Jacqui Smith 01763 273815 / 07956 647806 / email: [email protected]. 4:30pm – 6:30pm Drama workshops 15–18 year olds, with Stagefrights Theatre at Seth Ward Comm Centre. Dave 01438 232181; email: [email protected]

4:30pm – 7:45pm Street Dance Classes at URC Hall, with Buntingford School of Dance Ltd.

Contact: [email protected] / 01763 271010 5:30pm – 6:30pm Cougars U7s & U8s training at Norfolk Road Floodlit Multigames Area. For more information email: [email protected]

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Diary of Events – July/August 2016

5:30pm – 10:00pm Buntingford Swimming Club, Freman Pool. Adelaide Boon 07710 550050.

7.30pm Buntingford Karate Club, Edwinstree Gym. Bill Hooper 01763 273123.

7:30pm – 8:15pm Pilates (Beginners) at Layston School. Contact Jacqui 01763 273815 / 07956 647806 / email: [email protected].

7:00pm – 8:00pm Tennis at Norfolk Road Playing Fields tennis courts. May to September. All ages and abilities welcome. Email: [email protected].

8:00pm – 9:30pm Badminton Club at Seth Ward CC. Contact Liz James on 01763 274010.

8:00–10:00pm Buntingford Dramatic Society, Benson Hall.

FRIDAYS 9:15am WeightWatchers at Benson Hall.

9:30am – 10:30am Badminton at Seth Ward Community Centre – term time only.

10:00am – 10:30am Baby & toddler Rhyme Time at Seth Ward CC. Singing group. £1 per child. Term time only. 01763 273008.

10:00am – 9:00pm The On Site Massage Clinic at Seth Ward Comm Centre. Contact Kate Smith MBRCP on 07720 298306 or visit www.onsitemassageclinic.co.uk.

10:30am & 1:15pm Lab-Tots sessions at the Library on 17th June, 1st & 22nd July. Contact

Sophia on 07720 292350 or email: [email protected]. 11:00am – 12:00 Drop-in Breastfeeding Support Group at Bramble Hill, 01763 273008.

11:00am – 12:00 All Abilities MultiSports at Benson Hall. Contact Jacqui on 01763 273815 / 07956 647806, [email protected].

4:15pm – 8:15pm Ballet & Modern Dance Classes at Freman College, with Buntingford School of Dance Ltd. Contact: [email protected] / 01763 271010

5:30pm – 6:30pm Cougars U11s training, Norfolk Road Floodlit Multigames Area. For more

information email: [email protected].

5:30pm – 8:00pm Friday Project, Buntingford & District Youth Club for young people aged

13–19. A range of activities at the Technical Institute, Baldock Road. Contact Danny Band on 07879 853849 or email [email protected].

6:30pm – 7:30pm Cougars U12s Whites training, Norfolk Road Floodlit Multigames Area. For

more information email: [email protected]. SATURDAYS 9:00am – 1:00pm Ballet, Modern & Tap Dance Classes at Freman College and at URC Hall (9am–12noon). Contact: [email protected] / 01763 271010

9:15am – 2:00pm Musical Theatre School for 4–14 year olds at Seth Ward Comm Centre. Call Anna 07545 788433 or email [email protected].

10:30am – 11:30am Cougars U6s training, Buntingford Community Centre (on grass). For more

information email: [email protected].

11:am – 2:00pm 1st Sat in the month, BuntsBoutiqueFair at Benson Hall. Crafts, Food, Art & Gifts. Refreshments. Charity Raffle. Free squash & lollypop for children!

2:15pm – 4:15pm Drama workshops 6–15 year olds with Stagefrights Theatre at URC Hall, Baldock Road. Dave 01438 232181 or email [email protected]. SUNDAYS 10:00am – 12noon Tennis at Norfolk Road Playing Fields tennis courts. April to October. All ages and abilities welcome. Email: [email protected].

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Dates for Your Diary

July Fri 1st & Doors open 7pm, curtain up 7.30pm Buntingford Dramatic Society Sat 2nd presents ‘The Anniversary’ (see page 9).

1st to 3rd 10:30am–4pm ‘Perchance’ Exhibition at Gravelly Barn (see page 31).

Sat 2nd 12noon–2am BuntsFest 2016 at The Bury

Sun 3rd 10am–4pm Antiques & Vintage Fair at Barkway Village Hall, SG8 8BS.

£1 entry. Rosei Frost 07720 647696 / [email protected].

Tues 5th 8pm Buntingford & District Cage Bird Society at Benson Hall.

Wed 6th Buntingford Gardeners’ Club visit to Bassingbourn (see page 15).

Fri 8th 4:30–6:30pm Millfield School Summer Fair (see page 37).

Sat 9th 12noon–6pm Braughing Fair & Wheelbarrow Race (see page 10).

Sun 10th 1–5pm Anstey Fair at Anstey Bury (see page 9).

Mon 11th 11am–2pm Buntingford Police Beat Surgery (see page 17).

Mon 11th 1:30pm U3A Monthly Meeting at the Community Centre (see page 30).

Thurs 14th 7:15 for 7:30pm Buntingford W.I. at URC Hall (see page 45).

Fri 15th 7pm for 7:30 Ladies Fundraising Fashion Show & Shop (page 26).

Fri 15th 8pm Buntingford Railway & Local History Society at The Crown, ‘A Walk around Saffron Walden’ – Linda Ketteridge.

Sat 16th Buntingford in Bloom Judging Day (see page 11).

Sun 17th 12noon Rance’s Rockin’ Chair Band, North Farm, Reed (page 30).

Sun 17th 1–6pm Aspenden Village Fete & Dog Show (see page 9).

Mon 18th 8pm Jazz on the Heath at the Heath Café, Therfield Heath, with

Rance’s Rockin’ Chair Band. £6 on the door.

Thurs 21st 8pm Hare Street & Hormead Gardening Club, Great Hormead Village

Hall. Social evening with the Garden Doctor, Jim Teague.

Fri 22nd 7–11pm Tapas Evening with live music at Buntingford Coffee Shop.

Tickets £20pp. To book, call in at the shop or phone 01763 273940.

Wed 27th 7:30pm Buntingford & District Flower Club at Benson Hall. No meeting in August.

Thurs 28th 8:15pm The Somme Battles & their Cemeteries (see page 31).

August Wed 3rd 10am–12noon Friends of Orchard Surgery Coffee Morning (page 27).

Sat 6th 8pm Kev Sings at Gravelly Barn (see page 31).

Sun 7th 10am–4pm Antiques & Vintage Fair (see Sun 3rd above for details).

Sun 7th 10:30–4:30pm Royston Kite Festival on Therfield Heath (see page 43).

Sat 13th 10:30–4pm Over 50s Exercise Open Day at Freman College (page 21).

Mon 15th 8pm Jazz on the Heath at the Heath Café (see Mon 18th above).

Wed 17th 2:00–3:30pm BALA demonstration of mobility aids (see page 44).

Fri 19th 7pm start Buntingford Railway & Local History Society social at

Standon Green End Farm.

Sat 20th 11am–4pm Braughing Crafting Exhibition (see page 15).

Sun 21st From 11am Herts Country Fair at Brent Pelham (see page 24).

27th to 29th 10am–5pm Westmill Art Exhibition: 30th Year (see page 10).

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Useful Local Information

POLICE STATION: Non-emergency telephone: 101 Baldock Road, Buntingford In emergencies dial 999

GAS: Emergency (gas leaks) – Freephone 0800 111 999 ELECTRICITY: Emergency (power loss) – Freephone 0800 7838 838 WATER (Veolia): Emergency – Freephone 0800 376 5325 SEWERAGE (Thames Water): Emergency – Telephone 0800 316 9800 FLOODLINE: Emergency – 0345 988 1188 or 0845 988 1188 Environment Agency Incident Line: 0800 80 70 60

DOCTORS: The Medical Centre – White Hart Close Tel: 01763 271362 (24 hours) Orchard Surgery – Baldock Road Tel: 01763 272410 (After hours: 272411)

B A S H (Buntingford Action Providing transport for hospital and doctors For Social Help): appointments. Tel: Jane Winter 01763 271484

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, RAPE, Confidential Information Helpline: 01992 554440 RACE or HATE CRIME: (in emergency, dial 999)

LOCAL COUNCILS: Buntingford Town Council – 01763 272222 East Herts District Council – 01279 655261 Housing – 01279 714714 Benefits – Freephone 0800 373852 For emergencies out of office hours: 01279 655261 Adult Care Services – 0300 123 4042 Children’s Services – 0300 123 4043 Hertfordshire Highways – 0300 123 4047, or report faults online: www.hertsdirect.org/highwayfaults

BUNTINGFORD LIBRARY: Opening times: Mon, Tues, Thurs 10:00 – 17:30 High Street, Buntingford Friday 14:00 – 17:30 Saturday 09:00 – 13:00 Telephone enquiries – 0300 123 4049 Option 1 – Renewals 03:00–23:45 every day Option 2 – All other enquiries Mon–Fri 08:00–20:00, Sat 09:00– 6:00

CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU: Opening times: Monday 10:00 – 16:00 The Manor House Tues & Wed 10:00 – 13:00 Market Hill, Buntingford Telephone advice: Mon to Fri 10:00 – 16:00 Call 03444 111 444

HOUSEHOLD WASTE & Opening times: Mon to Fri 17:00 – 20:00 RECYCLING SITE: Sat & Sun 10:00 – 13:00 Watermill Industrial Estate, Aspenden Road

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Editor’s Letter

Usually in Carnival years I like to feature some photos of the event, but this month I have had so much material come in for the Journal I don’t have room. My thanks to Jeff Jones for the cover photos – read his District Councillor news for details of what you can see. As many of you will know, Dick Rye passed away in May. Val Hume kindly sent in an article in his memory, which I expanded following a long conversation with Dick’s younger brother and sister, Chris and Frances, reminiscing about Dick and days gone by. You will find it on pages 12–14. His faithful dog Arthur is at R.A.T.S. in Hare Street, who will look after him until they can find him a new home. I hear that R.A.T.S. have also taken in Digby, the beautiful, gentle blue-eyed hound who lived at Mill Cottages, since his ‘Dad’ has fallen ill. I do hope that some kind dog-lovers will be able to give them new homes. We have news from long ago and far away on page 25, reintroducing a lost son of Buntingford – Emrys ‘Jack’ Jones, who was born at the Manse next door to the church on Baldock Road. His remarkable story has been turned into a book. Also this month I interviewed the newest barber on the High Street, who has taken over the tiny shop at 59a (see page 19). I would just like to say that you do not have to be a new business, or be on the High Street, to be featured in the Journal – I’d be very happy to interview anyone. So if you have a story to tell about your business in Buntingford, please get in touch by phone, email or even by good old-fashioned post – details below. I am pleased to have another short story this month, this one from Christopher Carter. It’s not the cheeriest of subjects, to be honest, but it struck a chord with me in the wake of the awful, senseless killing of the MP, Jo Cox. All the stories so far have been from the Writers’ Group, but I would be delighted to consider contributions from anyone else. Buntingford’s Carnival may be over for another year, but there are lots of local fairs and fetes still to come this summer – at Anstey, Aspenden, Braughing and the Herts & Essex Country Fair at Brent Pelham, also known as the Dog & Heavy Horse Show. There are art and craft exhibitions, music gigs and even the kite festival on Therfield Heath. Whatever takes your fancy, whatever the weather, enjoy your summer. Finally, I would like to say farewell to Debbie, who is moving up to Norfolk, with grateful thanks for all the proof-reading over the years. Christine Noble Many thanks to Debbie Lemay for proofreading Editorial copy deadline for the September Journal is Saturday 13th August 2016

Copy and diary entries: Christine Noble – 01763 273095 68 Hare Street Road, Buntingford SG9 9HN email: [email protected] Advertising enquiries: Keith Edwards – 01763 272032 email: [email protected]

The Buntingford Journal is published by, but is editorially independent of, the Buntingford Civic Society.

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Letters & emails to the Editor

Dear Christine I thought Journal readers might be interested in this follow-up to a story that appeared in the Mercury last year which told of the adventures of two elderly ladies who had been celebrating in London: both had just turned 90. They got on their train at King's Cross to return home, only sadly it wasn't their train and instead of going to Knebworth it was going non-stop to York! But the staff were superb and treated the two ladies as VIPs. The ‘Trolley Lady’ came down the aisle to give them afternoon tea and another telephoned ahead so when the train arrived at York an escort was waiting to take them safely across the station to the platform where they boarded a train back to Knebworth. The article was picked up by a former member of Buntingford Flower Club who had recognised the name and the photo as being that Mollie Muetzel, another former member of the club. It was her 90th birthday that the ladies had been celebrating. A belated birthday card was quickly sent, c/o the newspaper, from a group of nine former Flower Club Chairmen and long-serving committee members who remembered Mollie. Mollie got in touch and they got together recently for lunch in Mollie’s local pub, with tea afterwards back at her house. After 30 years there was a lot of catching up to do! Another reunion is being planned for next year. Jean Cook

The Buntingford Flower Club reunion (left to right): Joan Jones, Nita March, Peggy Welch, Jenifer Hornby, Mollie, Mavis Simpson, Josie Fox, Jean Cook.

The views expressed in the letters and articles in the Buntingford Journal are not necessarily those of the editor.

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FOR SALE: Greenhouse 8x10ft, good quality aluminium & glass (2 broken panes), £50 – buyer to help dismantle (to ensure they know how to reassemble!). Seller wants to downsize, so also wanted: smaller greenhouse! Part exchange possible. Tel: Chrissy 01763 289476

Friday 1st & Saturday 2nd July At Benson Hall, Buntingford

Doors open 7pm Curtain up 7.30pm Tickets £13 (including supper) available from The Wine Bar, High Street, Buntingford. Or go to the website: www.buntingforddrama.org

Anstey Fair th Sunday 10 July 2016, 1– 5pm A Traditional Country Fair in the grounds of Anstey Bury near Buntingford, off the B1368 (satnavs SG9 0DF) Fun for everyone:  Interesting stalls  Live music  A variety of activities and games  Bar  BBQ  Teas  Home-made cakes  Local produce  Books  Raffle  And much more … Adults £1 / Children under 16 free / Free car parking For more details visit our website: www.ansteyfair.org Proceeds towards Anstey Church, Anstey Village Hall and Anstey First School

Aspenden Village Fete & Dog Show SUNDAY 17th JULY, 1pm till 6pm Entertainment for all Ages: Bar, BBQ & Hog Roast, Teas, Cakes, Stalls, Ice Creams, Coconut Shy, Tug of War & lots of other Games. Raffle — Exciting Prizes, Classic Cars, Car Boot Sale, Live Music, Beat the Goalie, Face Painting. Family Fun for All! Entrance is Free but all Donations are Welcome.

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SATURDAY 9TH JULY 12 TO 6PM • LICENSED BAR • WATER SLIDE • AQUA DONUTS • DOG SHOW • GAMES & FUN • BBQ & FOOD STALLS • GRAND RAFFLE

DATE FOR YOUR DIARY Westmill Art Exhibition 30th Year! Bank Holiday Weekend 27, 28 and 29 August 2016 10am to 5pm daily In Westmill Village Hall, Nr Buntingford SG9 9LG Attention all artists! The Exhibition will soon be here. New artists very welcome. Artists who have previously exhibited will be contacted. Everyone welcome to come and enjoy the works of art on display. Entry into the exhibition is free of charge. All works are for sale. Hope to see you there. For further information or an entry form contact: Olga Partridge 01763 273654 Or Sue Phipps [email protected] Please note change of contact details

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Buntingford Civic Society (Reg. Charity No. 1014873) www.buntingfordcivic.org.uk

Once again bad news for Buntingford following the Planning Inspector’s decision to grant permission for 56 dwellings at Aspenden Bridge. Of all the applications so far received, this was probably the one that was felt the most inappropriate and therefore the one that we could possibly win. Road links to the site were our biggest bone of contention and it is extremely worrying that the Inspector made this comment: “A consequence of this is that heavy goods vehicles may meet on the narrow section and in order to pass one will have to mount the footway. Although it has been suggested that this results in safety issues for pedestrians, the vehicles will be moving so slowly that it is most unlikely that a pedestrian would be unaware of the situation.” I can hardly believe this comment but it does demonstrate what we are up against. On a better note a care home at the old Sainsbury site is now back on the agenda. This was in the original plans, but at the behest of EHDC it was replaced with employment land. A lack of interest in the employment land means that the care home is now back on the table. As well as providing employment for up to 50 local people it will give the elderly some comfort in knowing that this facility will be available for their later years. It does also demonstrate that EHDC, our planning authority, really do not have a grip on Buntingford or its requirements. Bovis Homes application for 400 dwellings still awaits review by EHDC Development Management Committee and there is no date yet set for its hearing. The Civic Society will, of course, lobby for its refusal but as mentioned earlier the Aspenden Bridge decision shows what we will be up against Don’t forget the Buntingford in Bloom competition this year. Judging day will be 16th July and it will be limited to front gardens – this is to allow the judges to have easy access without requiring competitors to be present to allow access to back gardens. First, second and third prizes will be awarded. Some National Trust passes are still available free of charge to Civic Society members. These allow one free entrance to selected National Trust properties and can be obtained by contacting the Society’s Secretary, Carol Noble, after 7pm on 272508 or by email at [email protected] STOP PRESS At the time of writing this has just come into my inbox via Jill Jones at BTC:- APPLICATION: 3/16/1391/FUL PROPOSAL: Erection of 43 dwellings including access via Ermine Street, landscaping and open space AT: Land To The North Of Park Farm Industrial Estate, Ermine Street, Buntingford, Hertfordshire SG9 9AZ. FOR: Weston Homes Plc Will it never end? Graham Bonner, Chairman Buntingford Civic Society

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In Memory of Dick Rye I have often seen people standing on the bridge opposite The Jolly Sailors and peering over the wall to admire the garden of the first cottage in Chapel End. Its miniature Japanese Garden, complete with house, hedges and plants, and the small-scale zen garden – “a garden for contemplation” – was created by Dick Rye, who sadly passed away in May at the age of 78. Dick was just 2 years old when he came to live in Buntingford in 1940 with his parents, Ruth and Harry Rye, his 4-year- old big brother David and his little sister, Jenny. They lived in the house behind and above what is now the Viceroy Indian Restaurant, where three more children were born: two girls, Carol and Frances, and in between them another brother, Christopher. Harry Rye became the local grave digger.

Dick went to Layston School but he didn’t Richard ‘Dick’ Rye: 1938 to 2016 like it much apart from the walk there and back which took him along the river. He would have a paddle on the way home, looking out for fish and other wildlife, the start of a love for animals and birds which stayed with him all his life. At home, meanwhile, he kept a variety of pet animals, including parrots and a pig called Henrietta. On leaving Edwinstree, at that time the Secondary Modern school, he went to work for Westmill Products, a ladder-making firm owned by Tom Hummerstone, and this was the beginning of his interest in making things from wood. Then in 1956 National Service intervened and Dick spent three years in the Army, stationed in Germany. For someone like Dick, who hated regimentation, the Army was a culture shock: discipline was harsh and when his time was up he vowed never to wear a hat or a tie again! Nevertheless, he had made it to Corporal in the guided weapons corp by the time he left. Dick found the return to Buntingford and civilian life unsettling until he got a job at British Soya Products in Standon. They asked him to help out with some woodwork at a mill in Royston and he realised that carpentry was what he was meant to do. In 1962 he started working for himself and he remained self-employed for the rest of his working life. His first workshop was in the Coach House behind Borseberry’s Ironmongers at 58 High Street, now a private house which Dick helped to rebuild. He laid floors in the new houses going up at the time at Snell’s Mead, but then he got into specialising in old timber-framed buildings. At one time or another he worked on most of the houses in the High Street, but the crowning glory was his restoration of a virtually derelict property that became ‘Elmden’. When it was finished he moved in, finally leaving home at the age of 46. Further afield, Dick worked on the former Bell public house at Haultwick near Dane End and he rebuilt the windmill at the back of Van Hage’s Garden Centre. This eventually lead to him being involved in the Chelsea Flower Show for several years, building the show garden structures that were filled with Van Hage’s plants. One year they won Gold.

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Dick’s great passion was wood carving and sculpture. He said that he rarely had a preconceived idea of what he was going to carve as there was always something already there in the wood, waiting to get out. He would make the first cut and wait Of the many carvings that Dick made in his life, this one see what would of a stalking jaguar is his sister Frances’s favourite. emerge – his ‘Green Man’, for example, came from a large nodule of an elm tree; he emphasized an eye and one half became the unmistakable face of a man, while the other retained the natural contours of the wood. As well as his own projects, Dick taught wood carving at Ware College and also evening classes in Bishop’s Stortford and Buntingford. The first rule he told his students, most of whom were women, was “always keep your hands behind the tools”, but the one bloke in one class managed to stab himself in the leg with a chisel. When the Journal started out in the 1970s, Dick made regular contributions under the pseudonym ‘The Countryman’. He also played a part in preserving bits of Buntingford’s history. When trees were cut down to build Bowlers Mead estate he asked for part of an elm and carved his table. He rescued the pine main beam from the old grocers Cutts & Budds and created a beautiful 4ft-tall female statue. He also created an adventure playground in the Norfolk Road playing field, now sadly fallen into disrepair: the wooden ‘stepping stones’ were from an old telegraph pole which used to be on Market Hill. After a few years at Elmden, Dick sold up and bought a smallholding, ’Wildacre’, in Hare Street, where he kept rare breed chickens and Soay sheep. He dug out a pond for fish and built poultry houses and aviaries, which he sold. He also worked on a project for Paradise Wildlife Park, creating a huge aviary for birds of prey. His dream was to build his own house at Wildacre, but his applications for planning permission were always turned down. It seems absurd now, with houses going up everywhere, that the council could have been so stubborn over one little house. They even tried to force Dick to pull down the workshop he’d built there, but he was saved that fate when bats moved into it. He did have to replace his roof tiles with corrugated iron to make the place look less fit for human habitation! The Studebaker that once Another of Dick’s hobbies was restoring old cars and other vehicles and he formed the belonged to Winston Churchill, Buntingford Mechanical Restoration Society after Dick’s restoration. with Iayn Thomas and Len Richardson. One of the vehicles Dick brought back to life was a Studebaker that had once belonged to Winston Churchill and one day a film crew turned up at Wildacre to interview him about the car as they were tracing its history for a documentary. The vehicle restoration led

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him into selling parts for vintage and veteran cars at rallies, then onto tools big and small until this became too heavy, when he concentrated on collectables and bits for model-making and dolls houses. He had always enjoyed making models: his most famous project was a 58-inch scale model of the Robert E. Lee paddle steamer, which featured on TVs ‘Blue Peter’ in 1970. It was complete in every detail including a steam engine and cabin lighting. Dick moved into the cottage in Chapel End after a couple of heart attacks made it clear that he couldn’t keep up his commitments at the smallholding any longer. But he never gave up doing and making things and he put his interest in garden structure to good use transforming Dick Rye’s last completed model, a fully stocked the garden into what we see there today. With the travelling shop, sitting on top of his unique sculptured help of brother Chris, table, carved from an elm tree felled at Bowlers Mead. Dick was still selling and displaying things at rallies until a couple of years ago and he was making models right up until the end – the last project he completed was a travelling shop, fully stocked with tiny groceries and equipped with working lights. Frances says Richard was such a nice bloke – he was always Richard to his family, Dick to everyone else – she couldn’t work out why he never married, but perhaps he was always so busy he just never had the time. His life was filled with creativity, friends and of course his animals, most recently his dog, Arthur, who was found sitting faithfully beside him when he passed away. Dick died peacefully at home, of heart failure, with no sign of pain or stress, he simply went to sleep. When his brother Dave, who now lives in Australia, was told the sad news, he responded: “What a way to go!”. With the passing of Dick Rye, Buntingford has lost the last of the Ryes to live in the town and one of its most engaging characters. He will be missed by many. Val Hume Edited by Christine Noble with additional material gleaned in a long chat with Chris and Frances Rye. Grateful thanks to them for their time. If you’re wondering what’s happened to Arthur, he’s being looked after by RATS in Hare Street: let’s hope he doesn’t have to wait too long to find a loving new home.

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BUNTINGFORD GARDENERS’ CLUB Our speaker at our June meeting, Tim from Longhouse Plants in Essex, gave a very interesting and humorous talk, explaining how he started as a Saturday boy and after various deviations into things other than horticulture he started up his own nursery specialising in a variety of plants not found in everyday garden centres. This was an excellent evening and we ran into the tea break once more. By the time you read this we shall have been to Chenies Manor and the Rose Gardens at St Albans and I hope that we can say that the weather was good. Time will tell, but I am sure we will have had a good time. Bookings were also being taken for the trip to Bressingham on Wednesday 21st September. Our meeting on Wednesday 6th July is an evening visit to Simon Saggers’ smallholding in Bassingbourn. If any members have not booked and would like to go, please contact Lesley on 01763 271885 for details etc. Our August meeting is our Members Annual Show. The Show Guides were handed out, giving members time to prepare their entries. If you have not got a Guide, the contact again is Lesley. In September (it seems a long way away!) there will be a talk by Peter Jackson from Scotsdales about climbing plants and wall plants. The competition is an autumn flower. Visitors are always welcome; we meet at 7.45 for 8pm at the URC Hall, Baldock Road, Buntingford. Margaret Howarth Club Chair: Janet Murrells

The Friends of St Mary’s are pleased to host BRAUGHING CRAFTING A unique exhibition of locally made quilts and crafts Saturday 20th August 2016 11am – 4pm in St Mary’s Church Hall, Braughing • Entrance £3 on the door • Raffle – win a handmade quilt • Refreshments available • Braughing Apple Juice For further details, please contact Mike Styles on t: 01920 822683 e: [email protected] All proceeds to St Mary’s Church Braughing Restoration Trust

If you would like to advertise your event in The Journal, please contact Christine Noble on 01763 273095 Or email: [email protected]

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Christ Church

Baldock Road, Buntingford SG9 9AA

Minister: Rev Duncan Goldie Secretary: Peter Godbert The Manse, Meeting Lane, [email protected] Melbourn, Cambs SG8 6AN Tel: 01763 281359 Tel: 01763 260747 Services and Junior Church at 11.00am every Sunday July 3 Morning Worship Mrs Penny Flynn 10 Holy Communion Rev Duncan Goldie 17 Morning Worship Mr Keith Cakebread 24 Morning Worship Rev Duncan Goldie 31 Morning Worship Dr Christine MacLeod

August 7 Holy Communion Rev David Tatem 14 Morning Worship TBA 21 Morning Worship Mr Bob Parkin 28 Morning Worship Mrs Mary Whittle

Tea and coffee is served in the hall following the morning service. REGULAR EVENTS Junior Church – Sunday at 11am during term time, all young people and children are welcome. Bible Study Meeting – On the second Wednesday of each month in the Hall. The format is lunch from 12:30pm (bring your own lunch, tea & coffee provided), then Bible Study commences at 1pm and finishes prompt at 2pm. We will be discussing events in a newspaper and seeing how they relate to the Bible. All are welcome. Bright Hour – The next meetings are on Tuesday 5th and 19th July at 2:30pm in the Church Hall. There will be no meetings during August. Coffee & Company – Every Thursday from 10:30am for anyone wanting fellowship and time for a chat. Lunches organised by Christian Aid – First Friday of the month,12:30 to 2:00pm. www.buntingfordurc.freeserve.co.uk

ST RICHARD OF CHICHESTER Catholic Church 3 Station Road, Buntingford Telephone 01763 271471 Parish Priest: Father John White

HOLY MASS each Sunday at 9:15am Holy Days 10am & 8pm Mon & Thurs 9:30am Sat 10am

CONFESSIONS by arrangement on request

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United Benefice of St. Mary's – Aspenden St. Peter's – Buntingford St. Mary the Virgin – Westmill Church of England Reverend Ian Hill – Telephone 01763 274072 There is a full and varied pattern of worship across the three churches: St. Peter’s in Buntingford has a more contemporary style; St. Mary’s in Aspenden has a more traditional style; St. Mary the Virgin in Westmill has a more liturgical style. Everyone is welcome at any of our churches. Services for July & August 2016 Sunday 3rd July 9:30am St Mary the Virgin, Westmill Morning Worship 10:00am St Mary’s, Aspenden Family Service 11:00am St Peter’s, Buntingford Holy Communion

Sunday 10th July 9:30am St Mary the Virgin, Westmill Sung Eucharist 9:30am St Mary’s, Aspenden Morning Worship 11:00am St Peter’s, Buntingford Family Worship

Sunday 17th July 9:30am St Mary’s, Aspenden Holy Communion 11:00am St Peter’s, Buntingford Holy Communion

Sunday 24th July 9:30am St Mary the Virgin, Westmill Sung Eucharist 11:00am St Peter’s, Buntingford Family Worship

Sunday 31st July 9:30am St Mary the Virgin, Westmill Sung Eucharist 11:00am St Peter’s, Buntingford Family Worship

Sunday 7th August 9:30am St Mary the Virgin, Westmill Morning Worship 10:00am St Mary’s, Aspenden Morning Worship 11:00am St Peter’s, Buntingford Holy Communion

Sunday 14th August 9:30am St Mary the Virgin, Westmill Sung Eucharist 9:30am St Mary’s, Aspenden Morning Worship 11:00am St Peter’s, Buntingford Family Worship

Sunday 21st August 9:30am St Mary’s, Aspenden Holy Communion 11:00am St Peter’s, Buntingford Holy Communion

Sunday 28th August 9:30am St Mary the Virgin, Westmill Sung Eucharist 11:00am St Peter’s, Buntingford Family Worship

BUNTINGFORD POLICE BEAT SURGERY Please come along to meet your Local Officers and to discuss any neighbourhood issues. At the MANOR HOUSE, BUNTINGFORD HIGH STREET 11TH JULY, 11AM TO 2PM

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Buntingford In Transition News Have you ever thought about what happens to the food we throw away? I am sure we are all guilty of throwing the odd bit of leftovers away or food which has gone past its sell-by or best-by date. If you do, where do you put it? In the brown bin or the black bin? Well, we should all put it in our brown bins as per the instructions on the reverse side of our collection schedules. However, there is still a significant amount going into black bins and therefore into landfill – as much as 30% in our district and accounts for the highest avoidable waste that goes to landfill. In light of the fact that we are running out of landfill sites and there is a proposed new incinerator in Hoddesdon to deal with all of Hertfordshire’s residual waste, this is a very good time to start thinking about how we can reduce our residual waste – the stuff that goes into the black bins and is not recycled. So what can we do about it? If you do not already have a food caddy to make it easy for you to put your food waste into the brown bin then you can order one from EHDC – please contact: [email protected] or phone 01279 655261 There is a list of caddy liner suppliers at: http://www.eastherts.gov.uk/caddyliners. Alternatively, you can use newspaper or paper bags to wrap your food waste before it goes into the brown bin. Later this year Buntingford in Transition intends to run a ‘Love Food Hate Waste’ Workshop where you will be able to find out more about what use-by, sell-by and best- before dates actually mean and get some tips about using leftovers and odds and ends left in the fridge, so look out for future articles in the Journal. In the meantime, if you want to get an idea of how much food you are throwing away you can try keeping a diary – a template can be found at: http://www.lovefood hatewaste.com/node/2408 Have a great summer! Madela [email protected] – 07778 298605

BUNTINGFORD HERITAGE CENTRE

How well do you know Buntingford High Street?

In the April, May and June issues of the Journal, we showed 30 photographs of details to be seen in Buntingford High Street, with a challenge to see if you could recognise all of the pictures and identify what properties they are on. In co-operation with the Buntingford Chamber of Commerce, a prize was offered to the person who got all 30 right and was first to be drawn out of the hat on Saturday 25th June 2016. The competition is now over, but if you want to check how many you successfully identified, the answers and all 30 pictures are now on display at the Heritage Centre in the Manor House foyer. Ashley Cantor Chairman Buntingford Heritage Centre COME AND VISIT US IN THE MANOR HOUSE FOYER

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Suave – the smallest shop on the High Street During my time in Buntingford, one shop has changed hands more than any other – the tiny premises at number 59a. So when Liberro moved out earlier this year I wondered who would take it over this time, and I didn’t have to wait long to find out. Slawek Klosinski got the keys on 9th February, and the very next day opened for business as Buntingford’s newest barber shop, Suave. Starting his own business is a new venture for Slawek, but he is not new to Buntingford. He came here more than six years ago and has worked at both Hemingway’s and at Damien’s. He is now settled here with his wife and two small sons, one of whom is happily getting into everything in the shop as we chat. Slawek tells me that barbering is in his blood: his father has his own shop in Poland and four members of The Suave Barber Shop is at 59a High his family all make their living as barbers. Street, Buntingford SG99AD So far, the shop has gone well and he has Tel: 01763 273 331 taken on his first employee, Callum, who is from Puckeridge and trained at the London School of Barbering. Slawek says that the emphasis at Suave is on classic techniques, using scissors and razor cutting, and he shows me his hairdressing ‘bible’ – a massive volume called ‘The Art and Craft of Hairdressing’. He is keen to make his customers feel at home, whatever their age. At the back of the shop is a sitting area designed with children and teenagers in mind, equipped with DVD and TV screens, a Playstation and comfy leather sofa. There is also a collection of magazines, toys and children’s books. Slawek feels he can make a difference for children who are nervous or dislike getting their hair cut. One of his sons has Asperger’s, which he feels has given him an understanding of how to help kids relax and be comfortable. Now that Callum has joined him, the shop can stay open for longer offering haircuts, shaves and beard care on either a ‘walk-in’ or appointment basis. They open at 8am from Monday to Saturday and on Thursday and Friday Slawek is happy to stay open beyond the usual weekday closing time of 7pm. On Saturday afternoons he stays open as long as there are customers to serve, and on the first Sunday of each month he Slawek with a customer. He offers OAP discounts opens from 10am to 2pm. between 8am and 3pm. Christine Noble

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Buntingford Town Council A QUALITY TOWN COUNCIL Many thanks to those who have returned the Community Transport questionnaire. If you haven’t already done so, it’s not too late to return the form or complete on-line. The new Outdoor Gym is proving to be popular at Norfolk Road Playing Field; the Council may consider a similar facility elsewhere in the town. A big ‘Well Done’ to those who organised the Queen’s 90th Birthday Street Party. Despite the weather, the event was well attended. Planning applications continue to drop onto the counter at The Manor House and the Council is currently studying applications for 37 retirement apartments on land North of Park Farm, a 66-bed care home on the Fairview site and an application for 43 dwellings on land at the north of the Park Farm Industrial Estate. All of these responses have to be in by the 5th July, so we have a busy time ahead. As this edition covers the holiday period, all at the Town Council hope that the weather stays fine and everyone enjoys the summer. Jill Jones MILCM Cert HE, Town Clerk Office hours: Monday –Thursday 9:00am– 5:00pm; closed Fridays The Manor House, High Street, Buntingford SG9 9AB Tel: 01763 272222 email: [email protected] Twitter: @buntingfordtc www.buntingford-tc.gov.uk

Town Council meetings for July & August 2016

Thurs 7th July 7:30pm – Amenities Committee

Thurs 14th July 7:30pm – Planning Committee 8:00pm – Resources Committee Thurs 28th July 7:30pm – Planning Committee 8:00pm – Full Council Thurs 11th August 11:00am – Planning Committee

All meetings will be at The Manor House. Members of the public are welcome to attend. Please check the BTC website for further details.

In cooperation with Sport England and local GPs, East Herts Council is encouraging the over 50s across the region to get more active to improve their fitness and health. In August, ForeverActive reaches Buntingford (see right). We are also keen to hear from anyone who runs physical activity classes for the over 50s. We send out regular communications across the district and can help to publicise classes. If you would like to be included, email [email protected] with: 1. The name of your class e.g Bowls, Table Tennis, Gentle Zumba. 2. Up to 100 words of text including venue address, times and costs, if applicable. 3. A photo if you have one. 4. A contact name, telephone number and email address. Any questions please email us at the above address.

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News from Your District Councillor Our surprise guest at the Queen’s 90th Birthday street party in the High Street was … yes! … Town Mayor John Noades (right). Despite the inclement weather it was great to see a good crowd brave the elements and join in the celebrations. The following Saturday we had Animal Magic at the Buntingford Carnival. The photo compilation below shows (left to right): a member of the Community Choir; the start of the procession up the High Street, led by the Town Mayor in a vintage car; and Phoebe McKinley in fancy dress prowling along the High Street! Our over 50s are invited to come along and try some gentle exercise at: Freman College Saturday 13th August 10.30am to 4pm Are you over 50 and thinking of getting more active? Want to try a new sport, keep up with the grandchildren and get fitter? Whether you’d like to have a go at sports such as tennis or table tennis (below), or something more unusual such as tai chi or walking football, Freman College will have it all. It’s going to be a fun, friendly and active day, with professional coaches to make sure you’re doing things right. With free parking and refresh- ments available, you can drop in for part of the day or stay for the whole event. You don’t need to be sporty: just put on comfortable clothes and come and have a go at something. It could be the first step to a new you. A programme is available at www.foreveractiveeh.org.uk. Or to find out more you can call the Forever Active East Herts team on 01992 531695, email [email protected]. Forever Active East Herts is funded by East Herts Council, Sport England and local GPs. Councillor Jeff Jones, Buntingford Ward, East Herts Council [email protected] / 01763 274800

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Buntingford Library: Does it have a future? By the time you read this we shall have voted whether to remain in the EU or to leave. The views of Buntingford residents will have little effect on the overall outcome, but that is the nature of democracy and I hope many residents will have exercised their democratic rights. However, that is not the only ‘in or out’ decision facing us. In 2013 the County initiated a consultation on the future of our library. With over 2,000 signatures on our petition at that time the County had to accept the wishes of Buntingford residents and the library was upgraded to Tier 2, which meant our lovely assistant “High streets must experiment, try new librarians kept their jobs. The things, take risks, become destinations that petition also urged the County to people want to visit. High streets of the keep the library on the High Street where it plays a vital role future must be community hubs that local in maintaining the commercial people are proud of and want to protect.” health of the High Street itself. Mary Portas Independent Review of However, with a Government – grant promised, the County went High Streets & Town Centres (2011) ahead with plans to move the library to the Fire Station on Station Road. Again residents were asked to make their views known and we presented another petition with 1,200 signatures to a meeting of the Cabinet Panel at County Hall. As a consequence the decision on Buntingford was deferred, although Redbourn. Wheathampstead and Sawbridgeworth all agreed to have their libraries moved to their respective Fire Stations. Our campaign is now reaching crunch-time: will it be ‘in’ on the High Street, or ‘out’ at the Fire Station? This time the views of Buntingford residents can really make a difference. So what are the issues? In May there were two exhibitions of the County's proposal for a new library at the Fire Station as well as our own idea for an enhanced facility in the current building. Visitors were asked to comment on the rival proposals and at the time of writing we have had no indication from County Hall of the outcome. But it is significant that for four hours at the Fire Station, over two sessions, there were only 70 to 80 visitors, whereas 341 visitors logged in at the exhibition in the library. Our comment sheets requesting that the library remain on the High Street were signed by 103 people. It would appear that visitors were not enamoured of the County’s plans. Sharing the site with the fire brigade would be restricting and access would be more difficult and hazardous – cars exiting the Co-op car park do not have a clear vision of pedestrians approaching from the Fire Station, a fact acknowledged in The Mercury by Teresa Heritage, chairman of the Cabinet Panel. “The High Street should be at the very Sadly the County's proposal will not represent an investment in our town. It heart of every community, bringing a cost-cutting exercise, yet to achieve people together, providing essential it the County has to find £500,000, services and creating jobs and considerably more than the investment. It is vital that we do all Government grant. We are arguing that we can to ensure they thrive” that with the expected growth in the population of the town, we need not David Cameron – Responding to just a library that meets Tier 2 criteria the Portas Review but an enhanced facility, a multi- cultural centre that can also host meetings, art exhibitions and film evenings. There has been talk of building a second storey on the existing building to house these additional features, but we don't have to set our sights so high at this time. If we take down the wall between the library and the workroom at the back we can double the space available and by using mobile shelving (which the County is also proposing) the space becomes more flexible. And is this 22

ambition going to cost a huge amount? Quotations we have received from reputable builders indicate it can be realised for around £50,000 and money already contributed by developers building new houses in Buntingford (s106 money) will more than cover this. And s106 money is going to grow as more houses are built, so even if the County insist on using their own more expensive contractors it should still be possible. So what next? The Cabinet Panel are due to reconsider the proposal to move the library to the Fire Station at a meeting in September. So we still have time for residents to make their views known. We shall be launching yet another petition urging the County to keep the library on the High Street and you will find it in the shops and on-line. So this is Buntingford's own referendum when your vote can really count. After all, is it not better to use developers' money to realise our ambitions rather than, as the County proposes, tax-payers' money which you and I have contributed? The choice is in your hands. Brian Thompson

N.U.T.S.—NOSTALGIC & UNUSUAL TRANSPORT SOCIETY Chief Nut, Iayn Thomas, planned a surprise for members when he arranged for a 1969 coach to take 35 of us to the American Cemetery at Madingley, Cambs. There we visited the beautiful chapel and saw the immaculately kept war graves and the ‘Wall of the Missing’ which includes the name of Major Alton G Miller (Glenn Miller) AAF band. We also saw the Cheshunt and Waltham Cross Memorial (right). There are two crosses in different parts of the cemetery which have in front of them a memorial slab with the names of the two and three Servicemen whose remains were buried together. One slab had been cleaned and polished and the other was being cleaned in readiness for Memorial Day, the US equivalent of Remembrance Day, which takes place every year on the last Monday in May. From the American Cemetery we then went on a 25-mile mystery tour around the country lanes of Cambridgeshire in the 47-year-old coach, visiting villages that we only knew from road signs when we drive past on main roads.

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HERTS & ESSEX COUNTRY FAIR DOG SHOW & HEAVY HORSE SHOW st Sunday 21 August 2016, from 11am in The Park, Brent Pelham, nr Buntingford, Hertfordshire SG9 0AT Hound Parade, Terrier & Lurcher Show Family Dog Show Dog Agility & Dog Obedience competitions Gundog display and scurry Sheepdog Display Display of Falconry Heavy Horse show & display Vintage Tractors Terrier Racing Egg throwing, tug of war etc. Stalls, children’s activities & funfair TEAS, BAR, HOG ROAST & BBQ For schedules, information and further details see the website: www.hertsandessexcountryfair.com Trade Stands and other enquiries call: 01763 288333 This traditional Country Fair returns with beautiful shire horses on display. The Heavy Horse enthusiasts will be running a range of classes to recognise the breeds which have played such an important role in agriculture in the past. The main ring events will feature a variety of displays by sheepdogs, gun dogs, foxhounds, beagles and bassets, as well as falconry, a parade of vintage tractors and a dog agility display team. All dogs are welcome at the show: they and their owners can enter various classes in the Family Dog Show – perhaps the ‘Best 6 legs’ class is for you – and their dogs’ skills can be tested in the Gun Dog Scurry, on the Dog Agility Course, or in the new Dog Obedience competition. In addition to the Family Dog Show a full range of classes for both Terriers and Lurchers will be available. There will also be Terrier Racing. Local Gamekeeper Steve Reynolds of Hamels Park, Buntingford, will be the commentator, as well as encouraging spectators to try their hand at traditional games such as egg throwing. There will be a number of stalls, a funfair for the children and a range of refreshments will be available. Heavy Horse classes commence at 11.00am. Main ring displays at 11.45am. Gates open at 10.30am.

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A forgotten hero from Buntingford: Emrys ‘Jack’ Jones Writer, adventurer and medical aid worker in China Andrew Hicks, a retired solicitor and former lecturer in law at Exeter University, uncovered the lost writings of Buntingford-born Emrys ‘Jack’ Jones (right) in the Quaker archives in London and Philadelphia. They had been written by Jones when he served as transport director with the Friends Ambulance Unit ‘China Convoy’, taking medical supplies and services to a devastated China in the dark years of the 1940s. Very few western writers have left accounts of life in China at that time and Andrew found the articles compelling, telling of an ancient and desperately poor society, still in the grips of feudalism. They also included some tantalising hints about Jack’s early life, making Andrew determined to find out more about this intriguing unsung hero from Buntingford. Jack was born Emrys Reynolds Jones at the Manse in Baldock Road in June 1913, the son of Joseph Reynolds Jones, then the Congregational minister. He spent the first decade of his life in Buntingford, acquiring the soft Hertfordshire burr that he never lost. Some of his articles offered glimpses of his days here – of playing with his sister, Gwen, or travelling to Buntingford by train: “The little 0-6-0 engine, all funnel, dome, safety valve, whistle, cab, side tanks and coupling rods is sweating steam … It crosses Aspenden Lane and climbs up onto the high gravel path which marches alongside Puckeridge Road into town.” Andrew has traced his restless route, including working as a gardener and speedway rider, which took Jack to China where he became “an obsessive writer, a bottle always to hand, tirelessly beating the keys of his battered typewriter in the heat and humidity of the Chungking transport depot”. Jack wrote of the Convoy’s struggles to distribute medical supplies across vast distances, over washed-out roads, in battered trucks that broke down daily, facing extreme heat and cold, marauding soldiers and obstructive bureaucrats. He was captured by bandits, nearly died of typhus and once, coming off the road, plunged 60 feet down into a ravine. Somehow he survived and succeeded in supplying hospitals against all the odds, until shortly after the arrival of the Communist regime China was closed to foreigners. Jack did not return to England, settling instead in Thailand where he married a Thai wife and eventually had seven children. He worked for Unicef and as a journalist and also wrote a bestseller called A Woman of Bangkok under the name Jack Reynolds. He died in 1984. In A True Friend to China: The Lost Writings of a Heroic Nobody Hicks tells Jack’s extraordinary story, much of it in Jack’s own words and illustrated with copious photographs. Andrew hopes his efforts will not just introduce Jack to the wider reading public but also reintroduce him to the people of Buntingford: “I would love Buntingford to know of their local boy made good. He was a truly remarkable man, a ‘heroic nobody’ who deserves to be remembered in the town of his birth and early childhood. I hope that he can be celebrated and his story told locally.” The book is published by Earnshaw Books of Shanghai and is available in the UK from the Friends House, 173-177 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ (tel: 020 7663 1100), or it can be purchased direct from Andrew Hicks, email: [email protected]

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Local musician John Whitaker, aka 1i2c, is combining his two great passions in his latest release: electronic composition and cycling. The EP is called ‘Bike Obsessed’ (left) and it’s timed to coincide with both the Tour de France and the Prudential London Rides which ‘book end’ the month of July. The Tour starts on 2nd July and the London Rides are around the 30th . The EP will contain between 4-6 tracks related to biking and cycling, the ‘mood’ and the ‘energy’. It is due for release, via iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, etc, in the first or second week of July. It was cycling, or rather the lack of it, that first got John into music when a heart scare made him give up his beloved hobby and he turned to musical composition to fill the void. John says his latest contribution not only celebrates two major events in the cycling calendar but also hopefully his own return to the sport: “Fortunately, it looks like I am getting back into it again as I have not had any more heart problems since the end of 2015.” I wish him well with both ventures. Christine Noble

Friday 15th July 2016, Doors open 7pm, Show starts 7.30pm At Seth Ward Community Centre, Luynes Rise, SG9 9SG Tickets: £8 includes buffet & a welcome drink. Charity Raffle. Contact Karen Bird: [email protected] / 07425 134363

EX-HIGH STREET FASHION AT 50% OR MORE OFF: M&S, Wallis, New Look, Oasis, Topshop, Next*

CLOTHING AVAILABLE TO TRY ON & BUY! Payment by Cash, Cheques & Cards*

(* Brands subject to availability / Card payment subject to a mobile signal)

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Friends of Orchard Surgery FREE COFFEE MORNING Crafts • Cakes • Tombola • Bric a Brac 3rd August, 10am to 12noon At URC Hall, Baldock Road All Welcome

The Beauty Spot As I clicked ‘buy’ on my Portugal holiday, my less than summery looking pale arm shone like a beacon. I had a sudden vision of my English winter skin standing out starkly amongst the bronzed bodies and thought in a panic: ‘spray tan!’ Yes, this month’s treatment test is Spray Tan. For those of you lucky enough to be naturally bronzed a spray tan will, of course, probably not be needed but if, like me, you reveal whiter than white skin when peeling off our spring layers, read on. I made the appointment and trotted off to my local salon hoping for a gorgeous natural looking tan. First decision: spray or cream? Both last about the same length of time (roughly 10 days). The spray tan is, as it says on the tin, sprayed on (like a new paint job on a car although hopefully not Glacier Silver!) and the cream tan is applied manually after a full body exfoliation (plus you get the added benefit of having a bit of a lie down). Having plumped for a spray tan as it was the quicker option, I was led through to the treatment room. An ominous looking tent stood in the middle of the room and I was shown a pair of disposable g-string knickers to use! Well, in for a penny, as they say … After applying cream to all the joints (knees etc.) to avoid build-up (mucky knees syndrome!), I was asked to get down to my birthday suit. Wearing only the disposable underwear and feeling a trifle exposed, I stood in the tent and hoped for the best. “Please, please don’t turn me into an orange Wotsit” was my mantra as the spray gun was expertly used across my body. After turning this way and that, and selecting a couple of interesting poses to catch all the hidden bits, it was done. The therapist advised me to leave the tan for a good 5-6 hours to let it ‘develop’, then shower and apply oodles of moisturiser. Now for the technical bit: you can choose different shades of colour from 8% (bridal sun-kissed look), 10%, 12% or 15% (bronzed goddess!). For a first-timer with pale skin I opted for 10% and came out with a streak-free natural-looking glow. The next couple of days were a great boost with people remarking on how well I looked and I took the compliments graciously with a thank you and a secretive smile. But you know my secret now … Till next time Beauty Girl xoxo

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THE FAITHFULLY DEPARTED A Short Story … And I remember the jars… always the jars, in neat rows high upon a shelf, the sunlight gleaming on the glass… me and Jimmy O’Conner counting out the pennies… a shared bag, the simplistic compromise of youth, half his choice half mine, before rushing off to the park to kick a ball about… evidence of a union… if only everything could be so simple? Past the burned out cars, careful to avoid the half bricks and broken petrol bombs strewn across the streets… past the murals painted on the end of terraces; of balaclava- wearing gunman, flags and shields and the names of the faithfully departed… dividing the sweets after a kickabout, sitting beside a jumper goalpost… me and Jimmy squinting and laughing, his ginger freckles blossoming in the sun… me and Jimmy best mates, so close that we could laugh at each other before the joke’s played out… so close that we recognise each others jumpers by their smell… Jimmy from the next street, nothing but a litter-strewn, weed-infested alley between us… nothing but an alley… an alley and a world of hate… a world that we want no part of. Kept apart by religion… by walls that divide a city, a nation… kept apart by soldiers in the streets, by gangs loitering on corners and kept apart by marching parades and causes… kept apart by a city that seems to have forgotten why it even hates? But the park, the park and the sweet shop were the two places that the madness could be kept at bay… the park with its impartial slides and swings, where the grass and the earth didn’t care who’s feet trampled across it… the sweet shop, where the religion couldn’t penetrate, where the hatred couldn’t seep into the jars… places where Jimmy and I could be what we wanted to be, what we were… just two boys… two boys kicking a ball and sharing sweets… And I’d been eating dinner, sitting at the kitchen table… recall dropping my fork with a start, the plates rattling on the table… Grandad in his frame falling off the wall; he’d been around at the Easter Rising… the frozen looks of horror on Mum and my brother’s faces… looks that said, ‘that one was close by!’… Running down the street with the other kids and mums in aprons… past open front and car doors… that jarring stillness that seemed to follow an explosion, as if the air itself had been stunned… then the wail of ambulance and police sirens as we drew closer… the crowd forming at the end of the road… the blackened hole like an entrance to a cave where the front of the sweet shop had been… the familiar stench of smoke… as common as the morning alarm for school… the crunch of glass underfoot… the medics carrying out bodies wrapped in blankets… a glimpse of red hair… tufts sprouting from the top of a small bundle… the sight of Jimmy’s mum screaming, being restrained by the R.U.C. … screaming... screaming… a wail that I can never seem to erase or record over in my head... … And the world is different now, the troubles supposedly passed, although there is an undercurrent that never seems far from the surface… And I have my own Jimmy… named in memory, as a mark of respect… but life changes so quickly and they absorb it so completely that sometimes, to my shame, it’s easy to forget the where’s and the why’s… but every now and then the sun breaks through a cloud… and then the memories blossom like the freckles on his face… and when they do… I remember the jars… always the jars… in neat rows high upon the shelf, the sunlight gleaming on the glass… Christopher Carter

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EAST HERTS CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU The Manor House, Buntingford Drop-in: Telephone: Monday 10:00am – 4:00pm 08444 111 444 Tuesday 10:00am – 1:00pm Monday – Friday Wednesday 10:00am – 1:00pm 10:00am – 4:00pm

Pensions I’m 55 and looking into my retirement plans. I want to cash-in part of my defined contribution pension pot worth £60,000 but I’m confused about tax. How much can I take out of my pension pot tax-free and how much tax will I pay on the rest? Pensions are taxable income. However, special rules mean you can usually take up to 25% of your pension pot tax-free. You can take a 25% tax-free lump sum out of your pension in one go. For a pension pot of £60,000, if you take a 25% tax-free lump sum you’ll get £15,000 tax-free. For the other £45,000, you’ll need to buy an annuity or drawdown product, which is subject to tax. If you don’t want to take your 25% tax-free lump sum in one go, another option is to take multiple cash lump sums (UFPLS), rather than buying an annuity or a drawdown product. If you do this, you will get 25% tax-free of each lump sum. For example, if you were to take £1,000 per month out of your pension, £250 would be tax-free. The remaining £750 would be taxable. How much tax you pay on the rest of your pension will depend on how much you ‘earn’ in any one tax year. This includes your state pension and earnings from investments, such as property or savings. If your total income is less than your personal allowance of £11,000, you won’t pay any tax. If it is above you’ll be taxed at 20, 40 or 45% as usual. Don’t rush into any decisions. Find out more about your pension options at: www.pensionwise.gov.uk Pension scams have become more common since April 2015, when new rules allowed people to take some or all of their pension pot as a lump sum. These scams are fake investments designed to con you out of your money. They are often extremely convincing and anyone can be caught out by them. You can find out more about scams and what to watch for at the Pension Wise website, address above. You can book a free appointment with a pension guidance specialist who will talk through your pension options with you. Appointments can be either over the phone or face to face. An appointment will be relevant to you if you have a defined contribution pension pot; and you're approaching retirement age or are 50 or over. Visit the Pension Wise website to book an appointment, or call 030 0330 1001 between 8am and 10pm, Monday to Sunday. The following also provide help with pensions: www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk / Telephone: 0300 500 5000 www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk / Telephone: 0300 123 1047 GOV.UK has information about the state pension and workplace and personal pensions – for England Wales and Scotland. © Copyright Citizens Advice. For the most up-to-date information, please visit their website at: www.citizensadvice.org.uk

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Our speaker in June was Claire Fleck who recently retired as Archivist at Knebworth House, home to the Lytton-Cobbold family. The present occupant is Henry whose father, David, added the name Lytton in 1961. Lytton is the maiden name of his mother, Lady Hermione Lytton, through whom the family inherited Knebworth House in 1490. We have another new group: ‘They Matter’. The ‘They’ refers to people suffering from dementia who need something to occupy them. The group meets together to make activity mats (right). Group Leader Hilary Curtis only heard about the mats recently and visited Stevenage to learn about them. At present, the group of 10 meets weekly on Thursday mornings from 10–12 in the Scott Room at the Seth Ward Community Centre (right), but some people are making the mats at home with many more donating small ‘touchy feely’ objects, such as wool, material, zips, buttons, etc. At the moment they are making 17 activity mats for the residents of Nevetts. Our LETs (London, Elsewhere and Theatres) group recently visited the Stamford Open Air theatre where they enjoyed a picnic on the lawn in fine weather before watching ‘The Wind in the Willows’. They did not know beforehand but this was an adaptation by Alan Bennett and was excellent. Our speaker for Monday 11th July is Barry Kauffman-Wright, the ‘Wildlife Man’, and his talk is called ‘My Work with Gerald Durrell, TV Naturalist’. We meet at the Seth Ward Community Centre – doors open 1.30pm. Please visit our website for news and details of all our Interest Groups. www.buntingfordU3A.co.uk

RANCE’S ROCKIN’ CHAIR BAND will be playing at North Farm, Reed on 17th July 2016 from 12noon Lunch provided • Licensed Bar Tickets £15 each from Shirley Haydon on 07713 244278 THERE WILL BE NO ADMISSION AT THE DOOR

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Kev Sings Featuring East Herts Got Talent finalist, Kev Cross Musical Memories from the 50s, 60s and 70s, including Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley and Billy Fury Saturday 6th August at 8pm At Gravelly Barn, Gravelly Lane, Braughing SG112RD Tickets £10 including light nibbles and dancing. Bar available Call 01920 822229 or 01920 821700 Raising money for Crohns & Colitis UK

The ‘Does It Matter’ charity exhibition held at Gravelly Barn in May raised £12,000. The proceeds were divided equally between 10 charities to mark 10 years of exhibiting at Gravelly Barn. The latest exhibition, ‘Perchance’, runs from Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd July, 10.30am to 4.30pm daily. For more information on exhibitions, art classes & music events happening at Gravelly Barn, or for location and directions, visit the website: www.gravellybarn.com

BRAUGHING LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY The Somme Battles & their Cemeteries Speaker: Vic Flintham Thursday 28th July 2016 8.15pm in St Mary’s Church Hall, Braughing The Somme Battles took place between July and November 1916. More than one million men were wounded or killed, including three from Braughing. Vic examines the significance of these battles and also explains how the war graves were designed to commemorate the fallen. A donation will be made by Braughing LHS to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Refreshments available All welcome Entrance on the door: Members £2, Guests £3

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More News from Wyld Farm, Great Hormead First of all an apology for suggesting earlier in the year that I had heard a lesser spotted woodpecker. This was undoubtedly a porkie as it was far more likely to have been the much more common Greater Spotted woodpecker, which has been spotted feeding off our garden bird table. Attention on the farm has switched from blackgrass to disease control. The idea is to coat the leaves in a protective film of carefully formulated chemistry so that they don't get any of the common cereal diseases – a bit like vaccination, except that as new leaves emerge they become vulnerable to attack. The first fungicide was applied in mid-April, the second in the first half of May and the third, on the flag leaf, in June. The flag leaf is the last and biggest leaf which is responsible for converting the Sun’s energy into much of the yield potential of the crop. Many of the winter wheat varieties are inherently disease resistant, but spring varieties are more susceptible. The spring wheat on the north side of the footpath between the Meads and Great Hormead Bury has succumbed to brown rust, which appears as brown corpuscles on the lowest leaves. It looks a bit like reddy brown make-up. We have at last drilled the 6-acre Down (on the south side of the road between Hormead and Hare Street) with a traditional grass ley mix. This is a departure from our normal choice of a 3-year rye grass mix which produces both yield and high nutrition for livestock. Horse keepers tend to favour hay off a traditional mix of finer grasses which have a lower yield. Although the soil in this field is lovely to work and you think could produce anything, in reality the only thing that will grow here are dandelions, so the field may stay in grass for some time The last of my father’s tractors left the farm in to come, in an effort to build up May, having been on the farm since 1996. organic matter. Our farmyard is far too small to manoeuvre modern farm equipment so lorry after lorry load of ready mix concrete have been visited on us. A tough-talking no-nonsense specialist concrete laying team have been laying the concrete and they really get stuck in; in contrast the ready mix drivers look on in a detached way, stop watch in hand ready to charge for any stay beyond their 30-minute discharge time. On handing a driver a shovel I received a one-line retort: “If I was going to handle a shovel I would have been a labourer.” But then, the concrete specialist seemed unhappy about me handling a shovel. I couldn't make up my mind if this was because of my age. The other pearl of wisdom I have to pass on from talking to the concrete team is not to put people in a box. One of the team was a deep-sea trawlerman who, not content with throwing around 120 tonnes of concrete all day, goes cross-training in the evening. Can you haul yourself up a vertical wall using pegs at one foot vertical spacing and without the aid of toe holds? It is said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I was recently in conversation with a Hare Street resident who introduced me to the strange and magical properties of certain coloured stones. If you hold one stone in the palm of your hand and waive another more

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brightly coloured stone above it then the different properties of the stone are transmitted into the palm of your hand. I don't think I have the required sensitivity to benefit from this, but for those that do, the stones are available for purchase. But I did get excited about the purchase of a pile of burnt chicken manure, which I regarded as a snip at a little over £2000 for 20 tonnes, as seen in the photo (left). I regard this as a very useful source of potash which is required for the Lucerne on the field behind Hormead school. Which just goes to prove the fact that there is a market for almost anything. James Wyld

The 3rd Great British Sausage Tosser Contest On Saturday 11th June the Countryman Inn in Chipping hosted the annual return of this game of great skill – throwing a black pudding into a porcelain toilet, with the winner being the most consistent at landing the sausage in the bowl. This year's King Tosser was Joe from Welwyn Garden City, who got 6 in a row, and our Queen Tosser was Gemma from Buntingford, with a score of 4. Sausages made by local butchers – including Mark Doel and Piggott's Family Butchers of Buntingford; RC Chapman (Baldock); Leech & Sons (Melbourn); and Hamel’s Park Game Products – were all cooked over a real log barbeque. Live music was provided by some fabulous bands including Beans & Biscuits, Blakeney Old Wild Rovers, Wasted Rhymes and Medicine Hat. DJ Wheelie Bag kept the crowd amused with games and great music.

Co-organiser Steve Lawson-Smith commented: “Thanks to everybody who sang & danced, cooked & ate, music mixed & tombola'd, sold & bought, drank & fell over, donated & sausage-tossed, we raised over £1,400...” All money raised has been donated to Sherringham Woodfields School for children with special needs. You can find more info on the charity at: http://sheringhamwoodfields.co.uk

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The Street Party! The day did not start on a dry note – in fact at 11.30am the weather could not have been worse!! The tables were dressed in their Union Jack finery and the rain came down. But the indomitable spirit of Buntingfordians did not let that stop them and after a slow start virtually all 200 seats were occupied. Hundreds of others were walking the street, taking in the atmosphere and enjoying the entertainment. The Cottered Voices choir, along with the Buntingford U3A Ukulele Band, provided the live entertainment and went down a storm with the crowd. By 2pm the weather had improved and the party was in full swing. Children had fairground rides and face painters to entertain them and the Princess fancy dress competition was a success (below): the Under 3 winner was Ivy Wagstaff, and the Over 3 competition was won by Carla Kehoe.

Thanks as usual go to the volunteers who helped set the event up and to our major sponsors without whose help the party could not have been held – J. Oliver Radley Opticians, the Town Council, Civic Society and East Herts District Council. Thanks also to Matt Crook for the sound system, and to Sainsbury’s for the soft drinks and ‘nibbles’. But the biggest thanks must go to the people of Buntingford who, despite the early inclement weather, turned out in their hundreds to celebrate our Majesty’s special day. Graham Bonner

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Royston & Buntingford Children’s Centre Group is made up of Bramble Hill Children’s Centre in Mill Close, Buntingford, and Royston & Villages Children’s Centre in Royston. Both offer services for children under 5 years old and their families. Details of all the sessions we run are in our ‘What’s On Guide’. Let us know if you would like one sent to you by email or post. We are currently looking for volunteers to help at our sessions. If this is something you may be interested in, please give us a call. To keep up to date with what’s happening at both children’s centres you can: search for us on Facebook and ‘like’ the pages; call us on 01763 273008 (Bramble Hill) or 01763 243338 (Royston & Villages); or email us at [email protected] to go on our mailing list. There’s info on our web pages too at www.oneymca.org. We look forward to seeing you.

Hello again from Leapfrogs Preschool. We have been busy this term learning all about animals. It was very exciting for both the children and adults at Leapfrogs to have some chicken eggs to look after and watch as they hatched out. The children really enjoyed holding the chicks, looking after them and watching as they started to grow. The children took great care of the chicks until it was time to go to their new homes, in pairs, to our own children's homes. During our mini beast week we've had a snail investigation table, encouraging the children's curiosity, language, and mark-making skills as they recorded their observations. We have some baby caterpillars to watch as they grow, and have been planting a butterfly garden so they can visit us after we’ve released the butterflies. Leapfrogs fundraising quiz night was very successful. A big thank you to Stuart, our quizmaster, to members of the committee for organising the evening, and to all those who contributed raffle prizes. We hope you saw us at the Buntingford Carnival. We were awarded Best Preschool this year, so we are very proud. We all had a wonderful time. The children, dressed as little frogs (right), were amazing as they paraded through Buntingford, singing as they went. Our teddy tombola stall was a great success, raising funds towards a summer house for our garden area, where the children will be able to enjoy quieter moments of play. Gail Barrow, [email protected], 01763 289942

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Millfield First & Nursery School www.millfield.herts.sch.uk This is a wonderful time of year for the children with lots of summer sporting opportunities, trips and visits. On Tuesday 7th June KS2 took part in a Tri-Golf Festival at Freman College (right and below). All the children enjoyed the challenge and played with a sporting attitude. Our Year 4 pupils are eagerly looking forward to their two- night residential visit to the Lincolnsfields Centre near Watford. While they are there they will take part in a range of activities including a visit to a soft play barn, orienteering and nature investigations. It is a great opportunity for the children to develop a whole range of skills as well as having lots of fun. Our Key Stage 1 pupils are looking forward to a trip to Walton on the Naze as part of their work on the seaside. Our Reception classes are visiting Shepreth Wildlife Park to see the diverse range of animals there. We are sure they will all have a fun and informative time. And our Nursery children are visiting Standalone Farm later in the month which is sure to be a great day out. On Thursday 9th June we are holding our ‘Sponsored Bounce’ for 2016 to raise money for new equipment. We really appreciate the support of our parents in raising money for the school.

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We are holding a Non-Uniform Day on Monday 4th July when, in return for wearing their own clothes, we ask the children to bring in a box filled with sweets and/or small toys for the Tombola Stall at our Summer Fair. This year we are hosting the Inter School Sports Day on Friday 24th June. Other local schools will come along take part in a range of sporting challenges. Our Summer Fair takes place on Friday 8th July from 4:30 to 6:30pm on the school field. Everyone is welcome. There will be a great range of stalls and games as well as a bar and barbeque. On Thursday 7th July we are opening the school up from 3:30 to 4:30pm so our parents can come along and view their child’s workbooks and have a look around all the classes to see the lovely work on display. Kathy Willett, Headteacher If you would like to know more about Millfield First School (or about our Little Stars Nursery) please visit our website www.millfield.herts.sch.uk or contact the school on 01763 27 17 17.

Introducing Art Explorers Art Explorers provides exciting and creative art, craft and messy play classes for pre- school children. Art Explorers was set up at the end of 2015 by Becky, a primary teacher, who noticed that there was a lack of creative, art-based classes for young children in the area. Having established classes in Hertford and Ware, she has now started a class in Standon Village Hall on Wednesdays at 1pm. The class runs for 45 minutes and a different theme is followed each half term. Within this theme, children will investigate different aspects of art and craft including colour, texture and shape. They will also enjoy getting messy and letting their creativity flow! Becky is now looking for suitable venues to start a class in Buntingford, so look out for a class near you soon. Classes cost: £5.50 in advance or £6.50 pay-as- you-go. The first taster session is free. For more details or to book, contact Becky on 07921 511105 or by email at [email protected] or visit her website: www.artexplorers.co.uk

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Layston C of E First School Loving to Learn, Learning to Love For every child a chance to shine!

We have all been enjoying a highly creative summer term at Layston School. Highlights have included a science workshop in May run by Lab Tots where the children were steered through a range of highly enjoyable demonstrations and ‘hands-on’ experi- ments on the theme of weather (right), ranging from plasma balls simulating lightning, to diffraction glasses splitting white light into all the colours of the rainbow. With practical equipment to demonstrate concepts, the children learnt about tornados and centrifugal forces, wind power and turbine engines and the weirdness of static electricity. Parents from each class had the opportunity to join their children in a forest school session (top right) which included den building, storytelling and forest craft. Forest school at Layston helps promote the children’s physical, social, linguistic and emotional development. The weather held fair for our sports day in June (below), played out before an audience of enthusiastic families and friends and rounded off with a joyful picnic on the field. Finally, a huge thank you to our parents’ committee Friends of Layston School (FOLS) for fundraising to buy a replacement climbing frame for our top playground (opposite, far right). It is a superb design and is already a very popular feature.

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We are a friendly and welcoming Church of England First School in Buntingford. For more details visit our website www.layston.herts.sch.uk or call us on 01763 271235. Myra Bloomfield, Headteacher

Layston Preschool and Nursery The children recently took part in an obstacle course to raise funds for new equipment. The course was challenging and enjoyable for all. We would like to thank Billy from FA Sports (right) for supporting us on the day. We currently have vacancies for children for the next academic year (from September 2016). Please do not hesitate to get in touch either by phone or email if you are interested in visiting us. Melanie Taylor, Layston Preschool and Nursery CIC, 07720 647374 [email protected]

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Edwinstree Middle School

Year 7 pupils enjoyed their French taster day in Boulogne recently (left and below). They travelled to the medieval fortified town via ‘Le Shuttle’ and after a picnic lunch walked through the old town. Everyone then had the opportunity to practise their language skills buying souvenirs and food from the local shops. French berets and candy floss were very popular purchases. The visit was a great success, thanks to perfect weather and a traffic free journey! Dr Duxbury, our Leader of Mathematics, co- ordinated a visit to Duxford Air Museum for a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Investigators Day (photos, far right). Thirty pupils from Years 7 and 8 started their day in the Airspace hangar. Some listened to a talk by a Cambridge vet while others worked together to rebuild a B29 Superfortress aeroplane! The students then

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went off to workshops with various activities from writing their own code to building a video game, designing a flu virus atom, creating toothpaste, building a mini jaguar car, using a vacuum with marsh- mallow brains and balloon lungs to see the effect of having no air in space, making ‘wheels’ spin around using Scratch, extracting the DNA from strawberries, and making their own ice-cream under the wing of Concorde! The students’ behaviour was outstanding and they all came back to school with a different highlight of the day. Year 5 visited Kew Gardens on a cross-curricular study of Tudor explorers, Rain Forests, History and Geography. Our Year 8 pupils who have been taking part in the Rib Valley Book Award went to Freman College for the last session. After a quiz on the four short-listed books that they have been reading, they found out that the book voted the favourite was ‘Thirteen Chairs’. The book’s author, Dave Shelton, sent an email saying he was “touched and delighted to have won”. The other authors on the list this year were Patrick Ness, William Sutcliffe and Jenny Valentine. A team of Year 8 athletes joined Freman College in the Herts County Schools Athletics league at the Westminster Lodge track in St Albans recently. As well as the usual track events, field events included Pole Vault, Shot, Discus, Javelin and Long Jump. Looking ahead, we will be welcoming our new intake of pupils on 14th July, while our current Year 8s will be at Freman for their transition day. Sports day will be on 20th July, to which everyone is welcome. We will be holding a Celebration Evening for our Year 8 leavers in the last week of term as well as prize-giving, before breaking up for the summer holidays. Diane George

The Buntingford Journal is delivered FREE to members of the Civic Society or it can be purchased from: A CUT ABOVE  AGORA  THE CO-OP  DELISSIMO McCOLL’S (formerly BASRA’S SUPERMARKET)  MARK DOEL PIGGOTTS  THE FOX AT ASPENDEN

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A fond farewell to the Upper Sixth The sun shone kindly as Freman College said farewell to our Upper Sixth students, resplendent in fancy dress (below). They left for study leave before their final exams. We are really proud of them all and wish everyone the very best as they head off to university, apprenticeships, employment or on gap years. Results day for the Sixth Form is August 18th in the HCC (Howard Carter Centre) and there is a reunion in December.

E Year leavers Our E Year students also left College for study leave before their GCSE exams. Good luck to all students in your exams and future plans. We look forward to seeing your results on 25th August 2016.

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Rib Valley Book Award Winner 2016 Our winner of the Rib Valley Book Award 2016 is Thirteen Chairs! Congratulations to author Dave Shelton who came to visit us at Freman in April (below). Dave’s spine- tingling ghost/horror stories were a real hit with our Year 8s from Edwinstree and Ralph Sadleir, as well as with our Year 9 Literacy Leaders and staff. In second place was Concentr8 by William Sutcliffe and joint third was The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness and Fire Colour One by Jenny Valentine. Many thanks to all involved for another great year of reading and discussion.

Royston Rotarians prepare for the 15th Annual Kite Festival Summer means just one thing to members of Royston’s Rotary Club: kites! The club’s flagship event of the year is set for Sunday 7th August, from 10.30am to 4.30pm, on Therfield Heath, and the team of Rotarians who make the show happen are moving into top gear. Jonathan Berks, this year’s event manager, explains: “Even though we’ve been organising the Kite Festival for 15 years, it still needs a lot of work by lots of people. We can’t take anything for granted – caterers, loos, marquees, signage, insurance, our famous tombola, sponsors, publicity – everything has to be spot on. It’s a good job we have an experienced team.” The event will follow a well-established course. Royston Lions will be running their popular kite-making workshop for children, who will have the chance to fly their own creations at the end of the day. “So much of the Kite Festival is about children and families” says Jonathan, and he is pleased that the club intends to bring back a popular feature missing from 2015 – the Teddy Bear Parachute Drop: “We know the children love it, and we’re confident we can bring it back this year.” The one big uncertainty is the weather, but as Jonathan says: “We’ve been incredibly lucky in previous years, so we’re optimistic about that.” Let’s keep everything crossed for another lovely kiting day on 7th August.

The Buntingford Journal is published by, but is editorially independent of, the Buntingford Civic Society.

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B A L A Buntingford Action for the Less Able Registered Charity No. 1094426 Minibus trips for July 2016

Wed 6th 10:30–3pm Welwyn Garden City – John Lewis, M&S, £6 Debenhams, WHSmith, Boots, Waitrose etc.

Thurs 7th 9:30–12ish Tesco at Bishop’s Stortford £4

Thurs 14th 9:30–12ish Bishop’s Stortford Town Centre – Market Day £4

Tues 19th 9:30–3pm Southend-on-Sea – Seaside, Shops, etc. £13

Thurs 21st 9:30–12ish Tesco at Bishop’s Stortford £4

Tues 26th 10:30–2:30 Hitchin – Market Day £5.50

Thurs 28th 9:30–12ish Bishop’s Stortford Town Centre – Market Day £4

August Wed 3rd 9.30–3pm Bury St. Edmund’s – Historic town, shops £14

Thurs 4th 9:30–12ish Tesco at Bishop’s Stortford £4

Sat 20th 2:30pm ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ – Gordon Craig Theatre, Bus: £4

performance Stevenage. Tickets £16.

To book a seat or for more information: 01763 273623 or 01763 271708

There will be NO B.A.L.A. coffee morning in July For more trips in August, please see the posters towards the end of July. Wednesday 17th August, 2–3.30pm Demonstration of scooters, wheelchairs and mobility aids by Classic Mobility of Ardeley. At Benson Hall, Buntingford. Entry free. Tea & coffee will be served.

If you would like to advertise your event in The Journal, please contact Christine Noble on 01763 273095 Or email: [email protected]

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BUNTINGFORD W.I. Bill Hamilton was the guest speaker at our June meeting with his talk entitled ‘The Man on the Spot’. He was a broadcaster and journalist for 50 years, during which time he has met Mother Theresa, superstars, royalty, and even terrorists in his capacity as Special Correspondent for BBC News. We were shown examples of how news reporting has changed in this digital age when ‘the man on the spot’ can be an ordinary member of the public recording a major incident on his mobile phone or I-Pad. Bill’s career started in 1962 as a trainee reporter on the Fife Herald and he progressed to Tyne Tees Television and then to BBC television news. He was the first ‘Man on the Spot’ when the IRA bomb exploded that killed MP Airey Neave, but his greatest fulfilment was when he became the first TV journalist to enter Albania and witness the conditions there. He met Mother Theresa as well as Norman Wisdom and the Duchess of York, and his news reports were shown on TV for a week Bill was an excellent speaker and he even interspersed his talk with some humour. One cartoon he showed us was of a Vicar saying to the couple he had just married: “You may now update your Facebook status”! Our next meeting is on Thursday 14th July when our Guest Speaker will be talking about ‘The Women I have Married’. Intriguing! We meet at the United Reformed Church Hall at 7.15 for 7.30pm. Visitors are always welcome. We are planning to hold a Garden Party for members in August. At the meeting after that, on Thursday 8th September, Audrey Burr will be talking about the ‘Send a Cow Charity’. Val Hume For more information about Buntingford W.I. telephone Pat Webb on 01763 271305.

New Local One-Stop Hub for volunteering launches countywide: #TEAMHERTS VOLUNTEERING #TeamHerts Volunteering is a one-stop service for all volunteering opportunities and volunteers across the county. Ranging from flexible and micro-volunteering to regular volunteering, there are opportunities in more than 300 organisations and charities in Hertfordshire, including areas like sports, arts, youth and health. The project’s new website, www.teamherts.org, features a fully searchable database which can be adjusted to search by district, activity and type of volunteering opportunity, so new volunteers can find an opportunity that best suits them. The project – the first countywide service of its kind – launched at the Herts County Show in May and supported the Herts County Council’s ‘Hertfordshire Year of Volunteering’ campaign through a host of activities including celebrating National Volunteer’s Week in June. Teresa Heritage, Cabinet Member for Public Health, Localism and Libraries at HCC, said: “There are so many marvellous examples of how residents have taken the lead and made a real difference to their local areas. It’s important to remember that volunteering doesn’t have to be formal – there are a number of ways you can get involved ... even on an ad-hoc basis. Any time you can give will make a difference.” To find out more about #TeamHerts Volunteering or to offer help to your local community please visit: www.teamherts.org. You can also follow #TeamHerts Volunteering via Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

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Buntingford Town FC www.buntingfordtownfc.com

As you will have read in my last article, the club’s First Team finished in 9th position in the Herts Senior County League Premier Division, a very creditable performance for a newly-promoted side. The Reserves bought some silverware to the club by winning the HSCL’s Reserve and Development Section, North & East Division. Beaten in the league just once all season, the side finally topped the division 7 points ahead of runners-up Cuffley Reserves. Our Veterans gained just 1 point from their last 3 matches, going down 5-1 to Wormley and then, against Barkway in a ‘double-header’, losing 1-0 and drawing 1-1. At the time of writing the final league table has yet to be published; our Vets will finish in the bottom half of the table, but in a better position than last season, having won 5 and drawn 4 of their 21 league games. As I write this article the 2016 European Championships have just kicked off. So we will have no rest from football The League Title trophy until well into July; hopefully England will still be in the competition when this issue of the Buntingford Journal won by our Reserves! hits the shelf! This time of the year is usually the busiest for clubs such as ours; there are AGMs to attend, League and County FA Affiliation forms to fill in, and various other jobs to see to before the next season starts. It is also an expensive time of year; affiliation fees and insurance fees have to be paid and new equipment and kit purchased. In all it costs us about £10,000 a year to run the club. During the 2014/15 season the average wage of an English Premiership League player stood at £2.3 million per year; this equates to £44,000 a week! We all have our own views on the vast sums our top footballers are paid, but their wages are driven, like most, by market forces. It’s the way of the world, I fear. If only we could find a generous Premiership player to donate just one week’s wages to us; that would keep the club going until 2020! I’d even settle for two days’ money to see us through next year… Alas this is not likely to happen (although you never know!), so we will have to continue to raise additional funds to complement our members’ match fees. Over the last few weeks we have been looking for advertisers in our match-day programme, which is produced for every First Team home game. From as little as £50 you can advertise your business in our programme for the whole season. There are also £100, £250 and £500 slots available. If you are interested in helping us and would like to know more, please contact me via email at: [email protected] We have had some success with programme advertising so far this season and would like to thank those of you who have already booked your 2016/17 slots. Every penny helps and your support is greatly appreciated. Enjoy the summer! Chris Thurgill, Chairman, Buntingford Town FC

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BUNTINGFORD AND DISTRICT SOCIAL CLUB C.I.U affiliated — 6 Church Street, Buntingford, SG9 9AS Tel 01763 271889 www.lemonrock.com Every Monday ALL WELCOME BIG CASH BINGO 10 Games plus 2 Flyers including Snowball Guaranteed £150 minimum snowball prize with weekly rollover. Books on sale 7.30—7.50 EYES DOWN 8pm. PROBABLY THE CHEAPEST PINT IN TOWN HAPPY HOUR PRICES ON FRIDAYS, ALL WEEKEND AND 3pm TO 7pm WEEKDAYS MEMBERSHIP JUST £12.00 PER YEAR

ENTERTAINMENT FOR JULY & AUGUST 2nd July — SOUL DISCO 9th July — NO ENTERTAINMENT - Free Pool, Snooker & Juke box 16th July — RACHEL’S ROBOTS 23rd July — JUST FOR KICKS 30th July — KARAOKE 20th August — WENDI MEMBERS FREE, GUESTS £1.00 www.lemonrock.com CHILDREN WELCOME EVERY DAY, BUT PLEASE NO PRAMS OR PUSHCHAIRS WHEN THERE IS ENTERTAINMENT

The 16th Buntingford Classic Car Show will be held this year on Saturday 3rd September Online booking for the event is open at: www.buntingfordclassic.com For those without online access, a copy of the entry form can be obtained from The Manor House. Graham Bonner

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Royston and District Ramblers Group Walks for July & August 2016 Fri 1st Evening Walk: Chipping, Buckland, 4 miles, leader David 01763 242677 Sun 3rd Pathfinder LDW from Yelling to Elsworth, 12 miles, leader Alan 01223 835908 Mon 4th Evening walk: Orwell, 4 miles, leader Liz 01763 263107 Tues 5th Connington, 7 miles, leader Alan 01223 835908 Thurs 7th Great Chesterford, 7 miles, leader Alan 01223 835908 Sun 10th Wimpole, Hardwick, 15 miles, leader Alan 01223 835908 Tues 12th Harston, 5½ miles, leader Marion 01223 871524 Tues 12th Evening walk: Sutton, Potton, 4½ miles, leaders Roger & Lin 01763 261405 Thurs 14th Hexton, Barton Hills, 6½ miles, leader Roger 01462 453752 Sun 17th Charlton, Ley Green, Gt Offley, 9 miles, leader Steve 01438 829023 Tues 19th Standon, 6 miles, leader John 01763 241525 Wed 20th Evening walk: Aspenden, 3 miles, leaders John & Lesley 01763 241525 Thurs 21st Hemingford Abbots, 6 miles, leader Lesley 01763 241525 Sun 24th Burrough Green, 14 miles, leader Paul 01763 244038 Tues 26th Abington Pigotts, 6 miles, leaders Jackie & Viv 01763 246700 Thurs 28th Everton, 5 miles, leader Bob 01763 250716 Thurs 28th Evening walk: Nuthampstead, 3 miles, leader David 01763 242677 Sun 31st Baldock, Bygrave, Ashwell, Caldecote Church (Fuschia Festival), 11 miles, leader David 01763 242677 AUGUST Tues 2nd Therfield, 6 miles, leader Mike 01763 274679 Thurs 4th Great Chishill, 6 miles, leader Jenny 01763 245969 Fri 5th Evening walk: Therfield, Kelshall, 2½ miles, leader David 01763 242677 Sun 7th Buntingford, 10 miles, leader Mike 01763 274679 Mon 8th Evening walk: Melbourn, 3 miles, leader Jane 01763 261565 Tues 9th Wandlebury, 6 miles, leader Jane 01763 261565 Thurs 11th Furneux Pelham, 5 miles, leader Mike 01763 274679 Sun 14th Bourn, Caldecote, Comberton, Toft, 10½ miles, leaders Roger & Lin 01763 261405 Tues 16th Wadesmill, 5 miles, leaders Roger & Mary 01763 281368 Tues 16th Evening walk: Barley, 3 miles, leader Mike 01763 274679 Thurs 18th Fowlmere, 6 miles, leaders Rita & Salli 01763 208708 / 208755 Sun 21st Grafham, 12 miles, leader Paul 01763 244038 Tues 23rd Weston, 6 miles, leader Alan 01462 895708 Thurs 25th Shepreth, 6 miles, leader Rama 01763 260565 Sun 28th Epping Forest, 10½ miles, leader Lesley 07734 111225 Tues 30th Brickendon, 6 miles, leader Lesley 07734 111225 Unless otherwise stated, Tuesday & Thursday are morning walks, Sunday walks are all day

For meeting points and starting times, contact the walk leader or visit the website: www.ramblers-herts-northmiddlesex.org.uk Click on ‘Groups’ and then on ‘Royston’ to find full details

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