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

County Champions: Freman’s triumphant I Year rugby squad. Inside this month: Buntingford gets its own online community radio station; Hertswise Dementia Support launch activity sessions in Buntingford; the life and achievements of Claud Lovat Fraser; Midshires Search and Rescue; plus more information on Buntingford in Bloom and the 2018 Carnival.

70p May 2018 Volume 43, No.4

May 2018

Art@Gravelly Barn – ‘Choice Matters’ Charity Exhibition ...... 37 Art in Sandon – New Friday morning art group ...... 44 Ashwell Music Festival 2018 ...... 48 BALA Minibus Trips & Coffee Morning ...... 44 Blackbirds ...... 19 Bramble Hill Children’s Centre ...... 45 Braughing Sing Community Choir – Coming Concerts ...... 15 British Red Cross ...... 34 Buntingford Bowls Club – Open Mornings and Free Lessons in May ...... 18 Buntingford Carnival & Stall / Procession Application Forms...... 23-25 Buntingford Civic Society & Buntingford in Bloom competition ...... 10-12 Buntingford Community Choir – Coming Concerts ...... 17 Buntingford Dramatic Society – New Production: ‘Out of Order’ ...... 9 Buntingford Film Club – A.G.M. & Films for May and Carnival Day ...... 21 & 28-29 Buntingford Gardeners’ Club ...... 21 Buntingford In Transition – Divestment from Fossil Fuels ...... 27 Buntingford Local History Group – Claud Lovat Fraser ...... 13-15 Buntingford Tennis Club ...... 27 Buntingford Town Council ...... 22 Buntingford Town Football Club ...... 46 Buntingford Twinning Association – Saturday Night Hop ...... 18 Buntingford W.I...... 45 Church Services ...... 16-17 Curwens – Collaborative Law ...... 34 Diary of Events – What’s On & Dates for Your Diary ...... 2-5 East Herts Citizens Advice Bureau – PIP re-assessments ...... 35 Editor’s Letter ...... 7 Edwinstree Middle School ...... 40-41 Essex & Herts Ambulance Service – Afternoon Tea ...... 20 Freman College ...... 42-43 Get Fit For Life – Irene Gibson ...... 47 Hertswise – Dementia support in Buntingford ...... 26 Home-Start – Literary Lunch ...... 33 Isabel Hospice – Fundraising Events in May ...... 33 Letters & emails to the Editor ...... 8 Midshires Search and Rescue ...... 8 Millfield First & Nursery School ...... 38-39 MPs Surgery with Sir Oliver Heald QC ...... 11 Mustard Seed Singers – ‘A Celebration of Music’ ...... 20 Orchard Surgery News ...... 32 Poem – ‘A Life’ ...... 19 Radio Neptune – Community Radio for Buntingford & the surrounding area ...... 9 Reed – Friends of Reed Church Barn Dance ...... 32 Reed – Spring Quiz ...... 18 Royston & District Ramblers – Walks for May 2018 ...... 48 Thaxted Festival ...... 30-31 The U3A Buntingford ...... 36-37 Time Capsule Event at Layston Grove Care Home ...... 39 Useful Local Information ...... 6

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May 2018

MONDAYS 9:00am – 10:00am Adult Ballet at URC Hall with Buntingford Dance, £5. 01763 271010.

9:00am – 10:00am Cardio & Core for the Over 50s at Benson Hall, £3. Contact Irene on 07802 418755 or email: [email protected]. 9:30am & 10:30am U3A Exercise Class. Contact Jacqui 07956 647806 for participation info. 10:00am – 10:45am Stretch’n’Grow, a fun exercise & activity class for children confidently walking to age 5. Term time at Seth Ward CC. £2 per family. 01763 273008. 10:00am – 11:00am Push2Fitness, an outdoor class for anyone with a child in a buggy. £5 per class. Meet in car park behind Benson Hall. For info Donna 07717 363716. 10:30am – 12 noon Iyengar Yoga at URC Hall (term time). Contact Jen Harris 01920 821288. 1:30pm – 3:00pm Stay & Play at Jenyns First School, Braughing. £1 per family. Term time only 01763 273008 1:30pm – 3:00pm Positive Movement exercises at Seth Ward CC. £3. 01462 678804. 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 – 8:30pm (7:30–8:30 adult class) Rib Valley Trampoline Club @ Freman College (term time). Contact Andrea Allen 07989 980038 or email: [email protected]

6:00pm – 7:00pm Cougars U8s training at the MUGA all-weather pitch, Norfolk Road. 6:30pm – 7:30pm Trigger Point Pilates for beginners at Benson Hall. £5 per class. For info Irene 07802 418755 / www.irenegibson.co.uk 6:30pm – 8:00pm Shotokan Karate at Seth Ward CC. Contact Peter Deacon 01462 642922. 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 Cougars U9s training at the MUGA all-weather pitch, Norfolk Road. 7:00pm – 8:00pm Pilates (Intermediate) at Layston School. Contact Jacqui 07956 647806 / www.jacqui-smith.net

7:15pm – 8:15pm & Yoga Flow at URC Hall, Baldock Road. Contact Annie Knapman 07500 8:30pm – 9:30pm 110876, email: [email protected] 7:30pm – 8:15pm Abs (body toning) at Fit Together Gym. Contact Al on 07739 131694. 7:30pm – 9:30pm 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 at the Technical Institute, Baldock Road. Call Danny on 07879 853849 or email: [email protected]. 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. 11:00am – 11:45am Tappy Toes at Seth Ward CC. Dance & movement for children who are confidently walking to age 5. £2 per family. Term time only. 01763 273008.

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What's On

4:15pm – 9:00pm Ballet, Modern & Tap Classes at Freman College, with Buntingford School of Dance Ltd. Contact: [email protected] / 01763 271010 4:30pm – 5:30pm Cougars U7s training at the MUGA all-weather pitch, Norfolk Road. 5:30pm – 6:30pm Cougars U13s training at the MUGA all-weather pitch, Norfolk Road. 7:30pm – 8:30pm Cougars U14s training at the MUGA all-weather pitch, Norfolk Road. 7:30pm Buntingford Karate Club, Edwinstree Gym. Bill Hooper 01763 273123. 7:30pm – 9:00pm ‘Braughing Sing’ Community Choir at Jenyns School, Braughing. Contact Elaine 07501 495940 / 01763 289738 / www.braughingsing.com. 7:45pm – 8:30pm Pilates (Beginners) at Layston School. 07956 647806 / www.jacqui-smith.net 8:10pm – 8:55pm Adult Tap Dance Classes for Fun & Fitness at Freman College. Contact: [email protected] / 01763 271010 WEDNESDAYS

9:15 – 10:45am Hormead Stay & Play at Great Hormead School. £1 per family. Term time only.

01763 273008. 9:30 – 10:30am Trigger Point Pilates for beginners at Benson Hall (on 3rd Wed of month class is 8:45–9:45) £5. Irene 07802 418755 / www.irenegibson.co.u 9:30 – 11:30am Barkway Parent and Toddler Group at Barkway Village Hall. Children 0–4 years. Contact Kim Semple on 07964 151288. 12noon – 1:00pm Pilates, suitable for all abilities, at Benson Hall. Contact Irene on 07802 418755 or email: [email protected] 2:00pm U3A Seated Exercise Class. Jacqui 07956 647806 for participation info. 4:15pm – 6:15pm Rib Valley Gymnastics Club @ Edwinstree School (term time). Contact Andrea Allen 07989 980038 or email: [email protected] 6:00pm – 7:00pm Circuit Training for 50+ at Seth Ward CC. Contact Rita on 07957 558782. 6:00pm – 7:00pm Cougars U10s training at the MUGA all-weather pitch, Norfolk Road. 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 Resistance Blast at Layston School. Contact Jacqui 07956 647806 / www.jacqui-smith.net 7:00pm – 8:00pm Cougars U18s training at the MUGA all-weather pitch, Norfolk Road. 7:30pm – 8:15pm Pilates (Beginners) at Layston School. 07956 647806 / www.jacqui-smith.net 7:30pm – 8:15pm Boxercise/Tae Bo session at Fit Together Gym. Contact Al 07739 131694. 7:30pm Slimming World Group at Millfield School. Tel: Glenda McLellan on 01462 894351 / 07983 224121 or email [email protected]

8:00pm – 9:00pm Trigger Point Pilates for beginners at Benson Hall (no class on last Wed of the month) £5. Irene 07802 418755 / www.irenegibson.co.uk

8:00pm – 9:00pm Buntingford Meditation ecumenical group for meditation and mindfulness. Contact Martin 07771 972444 or see www.buntingfordmeditation.com

8:00pm Horizon Divers at Freman Pool. Contact 01920 823955. 8:00pm Ware & District Photographic Society at Arts Centre, Kibes Lane, Ware, SG12 7ED. Sep–May. Barbara 01920 822104 or see www.wareps.org.uk 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.

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

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May 2018

1:00pm – 3:00pm Baby classes run by Best Start Club at the Scout Hut, Bowling Green Lane. 1pm Magical Musical Playdays (1 to 3 years); 2pm Baby Signing classes (0 to 16 months). Laura Sheriff 07801 796334 / [email protected].

2:15pm – 2:45pm Toddlers Tales, stories & rhymes for the under 5s, at Buntingford Library.

2:00pm – 3:00pm Pilates at Benson Hall. Jacqui 07956 647806 / www.jacqui-smith.net 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 Buntingford Swimming Club at Freman Pool. Adelaide 07710 550050. 5:30pm – 6:30pm Cougars U11s training at the MUGA all-weather pitch, Norfolk Road. 6:30pm – 7:30pm Cougars U12s training at the MUGA all-weather pitch, Norfolk Road.

6:30pm – 7:00pm Body Conditioning Classes, suitable for all abilities, at Layston School. Contact Irene on 07802 418755 or email: [email protected]

7:00pm – 8:00pm Tennis at Norfolk Road Multigames Area. www.buntingfordtennisclub.co.uk/

7:15pm – 8:00pm Pilates at Layston School. Irene 07802 418755 email: [email protected] 7:30pm – 8:30pm Cougars U16s Blues training at the MUGA all-weather pitch, Norfolk Road. 7.30pm Buntingford Karate Club, Edwinstree Gym. Bill Hooper 01763 273123. 8:00pm – 9:30pm Badminton at Seth Ward Comm Centre. Contact Lisa on 07951 533395.

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 Rhyme Time at Seth Ward CC. £1 per child. Term time only. 01763 273008.

11:00am – 12:00 Drop-in Breastfeeding Support Group at Bramble Hill, 01763 273008.

11:00am – 12:00 Full Body Workout at Benson Hall. Jacqui 07956 647806.

12:15pm – 1:15pm Dance with Dani at Benson Hall. 07956 647806 / www.jacqui-smith.net

4:00pm – 4:45pm Lab-Tots Pre-School Science, fortnightly at the Library. Contact Sophia on 07720 292350 / [email protected] / or visit www.labtots.com for details. 4:15pm – 8:15pm Ballet & Modern Dance Classes at Freman College, with Buntingford School of Dance Ltd. Contact: [email protected] / 01763 271010

5:30pm – 8:00pm Friday Project, Buntingford & District Youth Club at the Technical Institute, Baldock Road. Danny 07879 853849 / [email protected].

7:00pm – 8:00pm Cougars U16s Whites training at the MUGA all-weather pitch, Norfolk Road. 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].

10:00am –11:00am Walking Football at Norfolk Rd Multigames Area, Bowling Green Lane. £2

per session. For more info call Jeff Jones 01763 274800 / 07836 232963. 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 – 12:00 Tennis at Norfolk Road Multigames Area, to end Oct. All ages & abilities. For info go to www.buntingfordtennisclub.co.uk/ of Facebook page. 4

Dates for Your Diary

May Tues 1st 8pm Buntingford & District Cage Bird Society at Benson Hall. Wed 2nd 7:45 for 8pm Gardeners’ Club at URC Hall (see page 21). Thurs 3rd 12:15–2:15pm Literary Lunch in aid of Home-Start (see page 33). Thurs 3rd 10am–12noon Free Advice Session at Buntingford Library with Fosters Legal LLP. For an appointment call at the Library or ring 0300 1234049. Sat 5th Buntingford Twinning Association Saturday Night Hop (see page 18). Sun 6th & 10am–12noon Buntingford Bowls Club Open Mornings. Also Free th th th th st Mon 7 Lessons at 6pm on Thurs 10 , 17 , 24 and 31 May (see page 18). Tues 8th 2:15pm Buntingford Local History Group at Buntingford Library. Wed 9th 8pm Royal British Legion Branch Meeting at The Crown, Market Hill. Thurs 10th 6pm Free Lessons at Buntingford Bowls Club – also on Thurs 17th, 24th st and 31 May (see page 18). th Thurs 10 7:15 for 7:30pm Buntingford W.I. at URC Hall (see page 45). th Fri 11 5–6:30pm MP’s Surgery with Sir Oliver Heald QC (see page11). 11th to 20th Ashwell Music Festival 2018 (see page 48). Sat 12th Buntingford Film Club at Benson Hall – 2:30pm matinee ‘A Bug’s Life’; 7:30pm ‘West Side Story’ (see page 29). Mon 14th 1:30pm U3A Monthly Meeting at the Community Centre (see page 37). Wed 16th 10:15–11:30am B.A.L.A. Coffee Morning at Benson Hall (see page 44). Wed 16th 7pm Buntingford Film Club A.G.M at Benson Hall (see page 21). Thurs 17th 11am Bridge and Lunch in aid of British Red Cross (see page 34). Thurs 17th 8pm Hare Street & Hormeads Gardening Club at Hormead village hall. Brian Carline gives some ‘Advice for the Reluctant Gardener!’ Fri 18th 8pm Buntingford Railway & Local History Society at The Crown; ‘A Railwayman Remembers’ with David Cockle. Sat 19th 7:30pm Reed Spring Quiz (see page 18). Sun 20th 2–5pm Thrundridge Hill House Open Garden in aid of Red Cross (p.34). Mon 21st 10am–12noon Tea Party with Dancing with Hertswise (see page 26). Mon 21st 12noon–2:30pm Jazz on the Heath at Therfield Heath Café, with Dave th Rance’s Rockin’ Chair Band. £8 on the door. Future date: 18 June. Mon 21st 7:30pm Buntingford Town FC A.G.M. at The Bury (see page 46). Mon 21st 8pm Unplugged Acoustic Night at The Crown, Market Hill. Sat 26th To Sun 3rd June, 10:30–5pm daily Charity Art Exhibition (see page 37). Sat 26th 12:30pm Buntingford Community Choir at the ‘Great British Sausage Toss’, The Countryman Inn, Chipping (see page 17). Sun 27th 12:30–5pm Datchworth Village Open Gardens (see page 34). Tues 29th 10:30am–12:30pm Carers in Hertfordshire Support Group at the Library. June Call 01992 586969 for details. Mon 4th 2–3:15pm Activity Session with Hertswise Dementia Support (page 26). Sat 16th Buntingford Carnival (see pages 23-25 and 29). 5

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

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

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Editor’s Letter

What a month! We’ve had builders in creating a new shower room and I’d forgotten how time-consuming and disruptive it all is – even with good considerate builders, like we’re lucky enough to have. Maybe since retiring I’ve just forgotten what it’s like to be really busy. It was touch-and-go with getting the Journal done on time – I hope it doesn’t show. Meanwhile, Buntingford has been in the grip of an unprecedented night-time crime wave, with four shops on the High Street being burgled. All of them are disturbing but the last one targeted was the Isabel Hospice shop, which really is beyond the pale even for criminals. Graham Bonner addresses the subject on behalf of the Civic Society on page 10, and I’m sure it will be discussed at the annual Town Meeting. I hope there is some news of positive preventative action to report soon. There seem to be a lot of forms in the Journal this month. Ashley Cantor, on behalf of the Carnival Committee, asked for Stall and Procession application forms to be included, so these are in the centre pages. Also the Civic Society is running its Buntingford in Bloom competition again this year – more information and entry form on page 12. And for anyone interested in joining the Civic Society, an application form is on page 11. Brian Thompson of the Local History Group gives us a very interesting account of the life and achievements of another of Buntingford’s eminent past residents – Claud Lovat Fraser, who once lived in the Red House (page 13). Coming back to the present, Irene Gibson tells us about herself and her passion for helping people to get fit (page 47). Like last year, I have included details of the Thaxted Festival taking place in June and July. I know it’s out of our immediate area, but this is an international music festival practically on our doorstep and for anyone who likes classical music or jazz it is a great opportunity to see world-class performers. And there is a connection to Buntingford: Trevor Hounslow, the Festival’s artistic director, is a Buntingford resident, and the concert by Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra is sponsored by The Cheese Plate. Congratulations to the Freman College rugby team who lifted the County trophy (cover photo and page 43). But for me perhaps the most exciting piece of news this month is that Buntingford is getting its own online radio station – you can read more about it, including how to listen in, on page 9. Christine Noble Many thanks to John Makin for proofreading

Editorial copy deadline for the June 2018 Journal is Saturday 12th May 2018

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

Hi Christine I just wanted to say thank you for the article you published about my son, Chris Davies, in the March issue. It has brought in at least one additional donation and, together with a substantial grant he received, he has reached and passed his fundraising target. His Ghanaian visa is on its way, so all is looking good for an orderly departure (we hope!). I was wondering if the Journal has ever published an article about Midshires Search and Rescue (MSAR)? We currently have two members from Buntingford, myself and one other, and we are seeking new members to train as Search technicians. We also welcome support members with an interest or expertise in IT or fund-raising and event organisation. We have to fund all of our training activity, incident control vehicle and equipment through fund-raising initiatives and applying for grants. We now have a clothing and shoe bank (right) at Mill End Nursery in Rushden (just before the Moon and Stars pub). All donations are welcome, helping to fund member training and the purchase of vital equipment. Members receive training in search techniques, lost person behaviour, first aid, navigation, radio communications and water safety. Further specialist training is optional and includes Lowland Rescue first responder, team leader training, swift water rescue and flood first responder. Regular training takes place on two Thursday evenings and one Sunday afternoon a month. The information below is from an MSAR recruitment campaign on facebook and will hopefully give people a flavour of what we do. If anyone is interested in joining, I can assure them that it is rewarding work and well worthwhile. Kind regards, Daryll Davies

Midshires Search and Rescue Formed in 1999, Midshires Search and Rescue (MSAR) is a Lowland Rescue team specialising in finding vulnerable missing people using various resources such as foot- teams and water teams, often over large areas of varying terrain including woods and forests, nature reserves, water courses, quarries and wide areas of farmland. MSAR primarily covers the counties of Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, but via mutual aid arrangements will also frequently deploy members to assist other Lowland teams in the neighbouring counties of Buckinghamshire, Essex and Northamptonshire, and sometimes even further afield. We are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and will respond in any type of weather conditions. All members are unpaid volunteers and the service we provide to the police and other teams is completely free of charge. Interested in joining us? Or just want to know more about us? Visit our website at: www.midshires.org.uk

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Radio Neptune – Community Radio for Buntingford & the Surrounding Area Buntingford now has its own online local radio station. Test transmissions began in the middle of April and by the time you are reading this, ‘real’ programmes should be broadcasting. The station is the idea of Richard Royal, probably best known to most people in town as the fireworks master who orchestrates the annual display at the Bury on or around 5th November. Others, like me, will know him through our four-legged friends as he can be seen most mornings out with his two dogs – shaggy white Boris and gentle rescued greyhound, Woody. The station comes through the Radio Neptune network, if that’s the right term (don’t ask me how it works, I’ve no idea!) and you can pick it up online or on your mobile at: https://streams.radio.co/sb2011eedc/listen Like the Journal, the radio station will be taking advertising from local businesses for a modest fee and they will also be promoting, free of charge, local events, clubs, what's on, etc. I think this is a great addition to our Town and, having had a little listen to the test transmission – which in less than 15 minutes took me from Blues to Dylan to Adele – the music promises to be just the sort of eclectic mix I like, drawn from different eras and musical genres. I think they might have something for everyone. Christine Noble

We’re excited to announce that our next production at Benson Hall is Ray Cooney’s hilarious ‘Out of Order’. Cooney's writing has earned him a reputation as the king of farce and this play is no exception! When Tory Junior Minister Richard Willey tries to spend the evening with Jane, one of the Opposition’s secretaries, in the Westminster Hotel, things don’t exactly go to plan – starting with the discovery of a body. Enlisting the help of his hapless private secretary, Willey’s sticky situation goes from bad to worse, but things really come to a head with the arrival of Jane’s distraught young husband and Mrs Willey! Come along on the 6th, 7th, 13th or 14th July to enjoy an evening of laughter, with supper and licensed bar. Tickets £15, or £12.50 with our early bird discount before 31st May. Available from The Wine Bar in Buntingford High Street or online at www.buntingforddrama.org. Any questions call 07526 748838.

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

I have to start this month with reflections on the spate of shop break-ins which have occurred recently. Four shops have now been hit: both chemists, where perfume was the target; Radley Opticians, where designer sunglasses were taken; and the latest the Isabel Hospice charity shop, where the safe and money were taken. All of these are terrible, but to target a charity shop is beyond belief and perhaps demonstrates the type of person or persons we are up against. It is very difficult to know what can be done about this. CCTV could possibly help but serious criminals tend to keep faces hidden behind hoodies/masks which can nullify CCTV identification. Radley Opticians had burglar alarms installed which were activated, but the culprits were long gone by the time the Police responded. We need prevention schemes and the Police are best placed to comment on what these could or should be. I am sure whatever they come up with will be caveated with cost implications. Duncan Wallace and our police do a fantastic job but are just not resourced or funded to be able to prevent crimes perpetrated in the early hours of the morning, as was the case with all these shop incidents. I would hate to think that we need to become a Town where all shops have steel shutters for protection. Something has to happen though, otherwise this trend is likely to continue. It is such a shame that this is happening to our Town, which has always been such a safe and welcoming place up to now. The Civic Society will be happy to be involved in any initiatives that could lead to a safer environment in our Town. The Civic Society’s Buntingford in Bloom goes ahead again this year. Entry forms will shortly be delivered to all houses in Buntingford, or you can use the one included here (see page 12). Entries must be submitted by 18th June and judging day will be 14th July. The Buntingford Community Area Bus is now up and running. This is a great scheme which appears, at the moment, to be very under-utilised. I would urge people to use it – a guide to timings has been issued to every household so why not see if it can help you? It must beat walking to the Town in all the wet weather we have had recently! A polite reminder to members: renewal letters will be with you shortly with renewal monies due 1st May. We thank you all for your support over the years and hope that we can rely on your patronage again for the coming year. Graham Bonner, Chairman, Buntingford Civic Society [email protected]

Buntingford Civic Society was established in 1972 with the aim of improving the fabric of the Town. It has led or been involved in many restoration and enhancement projects, planning, communication and financial support to improve aspects of life in Buntingford. Annual household membership is £10 and includes delivery of the Buntingford Journal (10 issues a year) to your door. If you would like to join us, email the Membership Secretary, Peter Hay, at [email protected] or complete the form opposite and return it to the address shown.

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SIR OLIVER HEALD QC MP MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR NORTH EAST HERTFORDSHIRE will be holding his next MP’s surgery in Buntingford on Friday 11th May 2018, 5–6.30pm At The Manor House, High Street, Buntingford SG9 9AB For an appointment please ring: 01462 486074 Email: [email protected] Or look online at: www.oliverhealdmp.com

Buntingford Civic Society (Reg. Charity No. 1014873) www.buntingfordcivic.org.uk Membership Application Form for New Members

Name ...... (Please Print) Address ......

......

Postcode …………………………… Tel No ......

Email address ...... Signed ......

CURRENT ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP FEE: £10 per Household (includes hand delivery of the Buntingford Journal to your door) TO JOIN THE CIVIC SOCIETY as a NEW member, please complete this form and post it, together with a cheque made payable to Buntingford Civic Society, to: Mr Peter Hay, c/o Country Properties, 34 High Street, Buntingford, Herts SG9 9AQ Email enquiries to the BCS Chairman: [email protected]

For Civic Society use only Membership fee paid by: cheque cash

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Eminent Buntingford Residents CLAUD LOVAT FRASER Proceed to the northern end of the High Street and you will arrive at the Red House, a listed red-brick Queen Anne building. It once had a walled garden but that has long been tarmacked over and some new houses built on the site. But there on the building you will find a blue plaque stating that it was once the residence of Claud Lovat Fraser, famous theatre designer. Yet he merits no mention in the town’s official guide and the blue plaque it seems omits much of his achievements. He was, in his time, far more than a theatre designer, although as we shall see his influence in this field was considerable. He was an artist, a poet, a publisher and an illustrator of some significance, so much so that after his death in 1921 there was a memorial show of his work at the Leicester Galleries, Arthur Bliss dedicated the score of his ballet ‘Melee Fantastique’ to his memory, a personal tribute to his life and work entitled ‘The Book of Lovat Claud Fraser’ by Haldane MacFall was published in 1923, and a significant collection of his work held by the Manchester Metropolitan University Library was exhibited in 1984 and subsequently at North East London Polytechnic in 1985 and the University of Ulster in 1989. The exhibition catalogue, which went through a 4th edition in 1993, has a fine introduction by Philip Plumb, who was a notable collector of Fraser. There is also a substantial entry for him in Wikipedia. Claud Lovat Fraser was born in London on 15th May 1890. His father, also Claud, was a solicitor in the City of London. His mother, Florence, was the artistic one, being a harpist and skilled water- colourist. It was a family tradition that the eldest son should be named Lovat and he was actually christened Lovat Claud Fraser. However, he found his name displeasing to the ear and reversed his Christian names, generally signing his name C. Lovat Fraser. Lovat’s artistic skills appeared very young. Very early on he was drawing and painting and his letters home from prep school were often illustrated with drawings and even occasional verses. In 1903 he asked his parents for a little theatre as a Christmas present having conceived three plays. In 1904 he started at Charterhouse where he found exactly the right environment to develop his skills. During his time at the school he made two trips to France and Germany where he developed his love of colour, and his interest in the theatre was enhanced by a visit to London to see Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree in ‘Much Ado about Nothing’. When he left school in 1907 he was expected to join his father’s law firm and so he went to Letchworth to study law. He did in fact become an articled clerk in his father’s firm in 1908 but it was said that in court his notebooks were filled with sketches of people rather than points of law. In 1908 he sold two pictures and the following year six of his caricatures were printed privately. So it was not surprising that in 1911 he was released from articles to pursue a career in art. He enrolled at the Westminster School of Art where one of his tutors was Walter Sickert. However, it was not what he wanted and after six months he left and founded his own studio. Continued overleaf 13

On his own and independent, Lovat was making important new friends, particularly at Dan Rider’s second-hand bookshop in St Martin’s Court which was a sort of informal club for young writers and artists. Here he met Haldane MacFall, a retired army officer, who was engaged on research into the foundations and philosophy of art which was published serially in ‘The Art Chronicle’ entitled ‘The Splendid Wayfarer’ with illustrations by himself, Gaudier-Brzeska and Lovat. At MacFall’s flat, on the eve of the first instalment, Lovat met Edward Gordon Craig and they became great friends. Craig recruited Lovat to the Society of the Theatre which had been formed to develop Craig’s ideas of theatre. Lovat also met Sir Herbert Beerbohn Tree who owned His Majesty’s Theatre in the Haymarket. Tree was producing a volume of essays on the theatre entitled ‘Thoughts and after-thoughts’ and he commissioned Lovat to provide the illustrations. In November 1912 Lovat moved to a new studio, at 45 Roland Gardens, where early the following year he held his first one-man show. It attracted good reviews and, importantly, sales. It became the headquarters of ‘The Flying Fame’, founded by Lovat, Holbrook- Jackson and Ralph Hodgson to publish broadsides and chapbooks. Lovat coloured some of them by hand and contributed poems under the pseudonym ‘Richard Honeywood’. Unfortunately ‘The Flying Fame’ did not last for long as in 1914 it became an early casualty of the Great War. In the meantime Lovat’s father, Claud, had bought the Red House in Buntingford and soon became one of the town’s leading citizens and Chairman of Buntingford Rural District Council. This move became important for Lovat as his health was not always good. He had problems with his heart in 1913 and in early 1914 a serious attack of rheumatic fever caused major damage to his heart. The house in Buntingford was somewhere he could recuperate and his father then took him on a convalescent visit to Italy. The visit also scored artistically and he filled several sketch books. Lovat’s style would seem to reflect the Arts and Craft movement, but he took it further using a reed pen and vivid colours. The vibrancy he achieved, working at speed, with an apparent simplicity and humour, marked him as unique. Lovat’s medical history did not prevent him from enlisting on the outbreak of war with The Inns of Court officer training corps and he was duly commissioned into the Durham Light Infantry. In September 1915 he was sent to France and took part in the battle of Loos. He survived unscathed but many of the officers were killed or wounded and 25 per cent of the men became casualties. Lovat was promoted to acting captain but in 1916 he was gassed and half-buried by an exploding shell. He was invalided home and although he recovered his heart was affected and he spent the rest of the war on home duties at the War Office. In September 1916 he met a young American singer, Grace Crawford. It was love at first sight and they married in February 1917, living together at the Roland Gardens studio. She took the name Grace Lovat Fraser. They had a daughter, Helen Lovat, and in the summer of 1918 moved to a bigger house in Tregunter Road. It was now that Lovat’s work for the theatre really took off and it became his main interest. He designed costumes for ‘As You Like It’, Beaumont and Fletcher’s ‘The Captain’ and ‘The Clandestine Marriage’ by Colman and Garrick. The production of ‘As You Like It’, which was due to be put on at The Lyric in Hammersmith, was delayed so a short opera by Pergolesi, entitled in English ‘The Maid Turned Mistress’, replaced it. Lovat designed the scenery and the costumes in 18th-century style, using vivid colours, and Grace translated the libretto and sang the leading role. Nigel Playfair, who produced it, commented that it was clear that it was necessary for a theatre to have its sets designed by an artist of genius. ‘As You Like It’ was taken to the Memorial Theatre in Stratford-on- Avon to open on 23rd April 1919, but it was something of a disaster as the playgoers and critics were not ready for Lovat’s impressionistic designs. However, the following year it was finally put on at the Lyric where it was a success, so much so that Lovat was

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retained by Gordon Craig for the next production there, ‘The Beggar’s Opera’. For this Lovat designed a permanent set instead of the three that would otherwise have been necessary – just a few changes were needed for each setting. The production was an outstanding success and ran for three years. Lovat received many commissions after this, but in May 1921 the Frasers went on holiday to Dymchurch with Paul and Margaret Nash and there Lovat was taken ill. He was rushed to hospital but the operation placed too great a strain on his heart and he died on 18th June 1921. He is buried in Layston churchyard. His life was all too short but his influence was immense. ‘The Oxford Companion to the Theatre’ of 1951 claimed “his influence, when one considers how brief was his career, has been phenomenal” and his designs for ‘The Beggars Opera’ “may be said to have inaugurated a new era in stage design”. Norman Marshall, founder of the Gate Theatre, identified Fraser as the first designer in England to give serious attention to designing for the small stage. Nor was this an end to his talents. As a member of the Design and Industries Association Lovat produced designs, printers’ ornaments, greeting cards, pattern papers, posters, booklets, letter heads and advertising material for Harold Curwen, founder of the Curwen Press. And for Ambrose Heal he produced fabric designs, posters and trade cards. So perhaps it was not possible to get all of Lovat’s achievements on the blue plaque. But that is not the only thing in Buntingford to remind us of him because at the other end of the High Street stands the War Memorial which Lovat designed, a beautiful elegant and slender cross. So it stands not only as a memorial to the war dead of Buntingford but also to one of its most talented residents who served in the Great War. What could be more fitting? Brian Thompson, Buntingford Local History Group Our next meeting will be on Tuesday 8th May at 2.15pm in the Magnolia Room at Buntingford Library. All welcome.

Braughing Sing Community Choir welcomes new members of all ages and abilities. We sing a variety of songs. Do come along and join us on Tuesday evenings at The Jenyns School, Braughing. No audition required! For more information visit: www.braughingsing.com or see our Facebook Page: The Braughing Sing Forthcoming Concerts: Saturday 30th June – St. Peter’s Church, Buntingford Saturday 7th July – St. Mary’s Church, Braughing

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Christ Church

Baldock Road, Buntingford SG9 9AA

Minister: Vacant Secretary: Peter Godbert [email protected] Tel: 01763 281359 Services and Junior Church at 11.00am every Sunday Tea and coffee is served in the hall following the morning service. May 6 Morning Worship Maureen Kendall 13 Holy Communion Rev Paul Whittle Moderator of the Eastern Synod 20 Morning Worship Rev Dr Yak-hwee Tan 27 Morning Worship Richard Lewney

June 3 Holy Communion Rev Neil Thorogood NOTICE Link Pastorate Service and cooked breakfast – Great Chishill URC, 20th May. Breakfast from 8:30am. Service at 9:30am. Donations to Christian Aid REGULAR EVENTS Bible Study meeting on 2nd Wednesday of each month in the Hall. Lunch is from 12 noon (bring your own food, tea & coffee is provided), then Bible Study will commence at 12:30pm and finish prompt at 1:30. The theme is that we each bring a newspaper and relate news items to the Bible. All are welcome. Junior Church – Sunday at 11am in term time, for all young people and children. Bright Hour – A time for fellowship with prayers, hymns and activities. The next meetings are on Tuesdays 15th and 29th May at 2:30pm in the Church Hall. 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 2pm. www.buntingfordurc.org.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 CONFESSIONS Saturday mornings 10.30-11.00

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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 churches: St. Peter’s has a more contemporary style, St. Mary’s more traditional and St. Mary the Virgin more liturgical. Everyone is welcome at any of our churches. Services for May 2018 Sunday 6th 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 13th 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 20th 9:30am St Mary’s, Aspenden Holy Communion 11:00am St Peter’s, Buntingford Holy Communion

Sunday 27th 9:30am St Mary the Virgin, Westmill Sung Eucharist 11:00am St Peter’s Buntingford Family Worship

Millfield School Monday nights 7:30 – 9:30pm The choir are busy preparing for a wide range of events and performances over the coming months. Our next two performances will be: MAY 26th 12:30pm The Countryman Inn, Chipping We are delighted to be supporting the fund raising 'Sausage Toss 2018'. Free admission but all profits go to a charity for children with special needs. JUNE 16th 2018 Buntingford Carnival, High Street The choir will be embracing the theme of 'At the Movies' in both our song choices and during the procession. New Members are always welcome. No auditions. You don't need to read music. All you need is enthusiasm!

For more information visit our website: www.buntingfordchoir.co.uk or check out our Facebook page: BuntingfordCommunityChoir

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Buntingford Bowls Club Wyddial Road We are holding two OPEN MORNINGS at the club on Sunday 6th and Monday 7th May, from 10am to 12 noon. All ages are welcome. Equipment provided. FREE LESSONS will be given on Thursdays 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st May, at 6pm. Come along and give it a try! For more details contact Greg or Ellen on 01763 271959.

REED SPRING QUIZ in Reed Village Hall Saturday 19th May, starting promptly at 7.30pm Supper of fish or chicken & chips, plus a licenced bar and raffle. Tickets £12 per person, available from Hazel on 01763 848349.

Buntingford Twinning Association SATURDAY NIGHT HOP Saturday 5th May From 7:30pm at Seth Ward Community Centre, Luynes Rise Licensed Bar Tickets £7.50, to include free nibbles, available from: The Cheese Plate 26 High Street Or online at: [email protected]

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Blackbirds Following an operation, and on doctor’s orders, I have had to spend a lot of time recently resting and sitting in my armchair. I look out over my back garden and lately I have been watching a lady blackbird build her nest on top of the wisteria, just under our lean-to shelter. Obviously a very clever bird, as it was an ideal place to shelter the nest from all the rain we have had lately. It was only she that built the nest, although the male did inspect it a few times; I suppose to make sure it was up to blackbird building regulations. She laid her eggs and they hatched last week. I think there are two babies but I had no idea how much they ate! From dawn to dusk mummy & daddy (yes, the male has played his part too) have been feeding them a supply of worms and grubs, literally every few minutes. Also I now know how the adults keep the nest clean – they eat the baby’s poo, and there must be a lot of it! The chicks’ beaks are now showing above the nest edge, so they must be getting quite big and I look forward to watching them fledge and leave the nest. We have had a lot of bird nests in the garden over the years but very few where I have been able to watch them almost constantly. So my convalescence, while tedious at times, has been very rewarding allowing me to watch nature take its course. As the poet W H Davies wrote:

What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass, Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight, Streams full of stars, like skies at night ...

A poor life this if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare.

So do take some time out of your busy schedule to relax and sit and watch nature for a while this spring and summer. If I had done more relaxing and nature watching in past years I might not have had to spend the last eight weeks convalescing! Brian Lemay

‘A Life’ The banks of my youth were full. I was conceived in raindrops Small flows joined Born in the good ground And together we widened A ribble rippling round rocks And in time slowed peacefully.

Over pools where young brown trout Another flow came Lay, mouths open. Powerful and strong,

On I rushed and whirled Supporting and guiding Spinning, then gliding free Pulling and pushing Tearing at the banks in my haste. Merging, leading me on.

Friends came in, And now we nearly see it Joined me and together we The sea, the sea. Grew, and sped onward. And will I be raindrops again? Wider now, not so fast, Anon Power grew (Name and address supplied)

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‘A Celebration of Music’ The Mustard Seed Singers are taking part in a special musical event for charity in Buntingford on the weekend of 30th June. They will be performing alongside a wide variety local talent – singers and musicians from all age groups – raising money for The Cambridge Brain Repair Centre at Addenbrooke’s and HoverAid, with donations to St Peter’s. Comprising a Saturday matinee and evening performance, with an organ recital on Sunday, the weekend will have musical offerings to suit all tastes featuring choirs, solo artists and several guest performers to be announced shortly. Look out for further details in the June Journal and come and join us to listen to our talented local singers and musicians. Music is so good for the soul!

To get your free fundraising pack call 0345 5040 055 or email [email protected]

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BUNTINGFORD GARDENERS’ CLUB Our club was fully absorbed in the wonderful world of auriculas at our March meeting when James Smallwood imparted his passion for these many- coloured amazing little plants. An interesting and enlightening talk with excellent photographs. Auriculas are the alpine cousins of our wild primroses. They have smooth fleshy leaves, often covered with powder to protect them from the intense solar radiation of the high mountains. To date more than 5,000 colour variations have been recorded. Brought to this country in the 16th century, they were a popular flower at what was known as Florists Feasts where growers sought to develop the perfect flower. The use of the word florist to mean a flower seller is a relatively recent development. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 2nd May and our speaker will be Michael Radley talking about orchids, a very popular indoor plant. Tips on keeping the plants healthy will be welcome. In June the club has organised a coach trip to Helmingham Hall Gardens in Suffolk. The cost to members is £21, visitors £24. Our meetings are held on the first Wednesday of the month at the United Reformed Church Hall, opposite the Post Office in Baldock Road, 7:45 for 8pm start. We are a group of like-minded people, some more expert than others, who all enjoy the pleasures of the plant world. New members and visitors are always welcome to join us. Membership costs £15 per annum, visitors pay £3 per meeting. Contact Janet Murrells, Club Chair, on 01763 274341. Lesley Lowers

Buntingford Film Club Notice is hereby given of the first Annual General Meeting of the Buntingford Film Club to be held from 7pm on Wednesday 16th May 2018 at the Benson Hall, Station Road, Buntingford. The Buntingford Film Club is a not-for-profit unincorporated body and all cinema-goers and residents of Buntingford and the surrounding district are welcome to attend. AGENDA 1. Welcome and apologies 2. Hon. Treasurer’s report 3. Chairman’s report 4. Future programme 5. Any other business On the conclusion of the business of the meeting, you are invited to join us for refreshments.

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Buntingford Town Council A QUALITY TOWN COUNCIL Many of you will have seen the Community Bus running around the town and hopefully some of you may have used the service. A Guide to Timings has been delivered to all properties in the town but the bus can be hailed and will stop at any safe point. As explained last month, there is a £1 per journey charge. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept bus passes; this is due to the type of permit we have. The bus visits all of the strategic points in the town such as shops, library, medical facilities and the community centre. The Council’s Annual Meeting will be held on the 31st May where the current Mayor, Councillor John Noades, will step down after serving three years and the Mayor Elect, Councillor Graham Waite, will be elected Town Mayor for the 2018/19 Council year. During the year Councillor Noades has undertaken 36 official duties including official openings, civic dinners and civic services. The Council would like to thank John for his tireless work over the past three years and hope he will continue to sit on the Council for many years to come. We would also like to wish Councillor Graham Waite all the very best for his first year in Office. The Council will hold its Annual Civic Reception on the 29th June, an event held to thank local organisations for their work over the past year. If your organisation has not received an invitation by the end of May, please let us know. 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 Facebook.com/BuntingfordTC www.buntingford-tc.gov.uk

Town Council meetings for May 2018

Thurs 3rd May 7:30pm – Amenities Committee

Thurs 10th May 7:30pm – Planning Committee 8:00pm – Resources Committee Thurs 31st May 7:30pm – Planning Committee 8:00pm – Annual Meeting of the Council followed by Full Council

All meetings at The Manor House unless indicated otherwise. Members of the public are welcome to attend. Please check the BTC website for details.

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

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Buntingford Carnival Saturday 16th June 2018 Theme: AT THE MOVIES

With only weeks to go, it’s almost time to get your dancing shoes on and your singing voice in tune. Not only do we have all the usual entertainment such as the fairground rides, model railways and photography, this year we also have magic, films, bees, a climbing wall courtesy of Ware and District Scouts – and a circus workshop running all day for you to try your hand at. We have live music at various locations up and down the High Street – check the programme, the June Journal or Facebook for times and locations. We also have Millfield School, Karate demonstrations, Buntingford Choir and Buntingford School of Dance. And watch out for some famous ‘movie stars’ mingling with the crowds – keep your camera handy! But the day just gets better as we have for you ABBA Gold, acclaimed as the best ABBA tribute act in the world. They have played for and with the real ABBA and performed at the opening of ‘Mamma Mia’ films and shows around the world. So come along – in your 70s flares if you feel like it – and enjoy this moment in time. And don’t forget we also have the Carnival Procession at 3pm. If you want to take part in the Carnival this year by having a stall or entering into the procession, please complete the appropriate application form reproduced overleaf and return it to: Mrs Helen Baker, 20 Fairfield, Buntingford SG9 9NT Alternatively you can ring Helen on 01763 271176, or e-mail her at [email protected], and she will be happy to oblige. If you want more information about the day, or would like to volunteer to help, please contact me on 01763 272177 and I will be glad to assist. Ashley Cantor Chairman Buntingford Carnival Committee

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BUNTINGFORD CARNIVAL STALL APPLICATION FORM

Date – 16th June 2018 Theme – At the Movies If you would like to join in the fun on Carnival Day 2018 by having a stall in the street market, please complete the booking form below.  Stalls can be set up from 8.30am  Pitch size 10ft wide x 6ft deep (3m x 1.8m)  Charge £20 per pitch  No tables supplied

Name / Organisation: ......

Type of Stall: ......

We wish to reserve ….. pitch(es) and enclose a cheque for £ ……. made payable to ‘Buntingford Carnival Committee’.

Name and address of contact: ......

......

......

...... Tel no: ...... Date: ...... Email address: ......

Please return your completed form to: Mrs H. Baker, 20 Fairfield, Buntingford, Herts SG9 9NT Tel: (01763) 271176 or email: [email protected] for further information

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BUNTINGFORD CARNIVAL PROCESSION/PARADE APPLICATION FORM Date – 16th June 2018 Theme – At the Movies If you would like to join in the procession/parade on Carnival Day 2018, please complete the booking form below.  Assemble at Norfolk Road Playing Field car park  Judging at 2pm, procession starts at 3pm  Free entry We wish to take part in the 2018 Buntingford Carnival Procession in the *Best adult’s / *Best children’s / *Best Trade / *Best Family or Individual / *Best Preschool entry (*please circle class entered) Our entry *will / *will not have music (*please delete as appropriate). Signed: ………………………… Print Name: ...... Name and address of group / organisation /individual: ...... Tel no: ………………………………… Date: ...... Email address: ......

Please return your completed form to: Mrs H. Baker, 20 Fairfield, Buntingford, Herts SG9 9NT Tel: (01763) 271176 or email: [email protected] for further information PLEASE NOTE: AT THE END OF THE PROCESSION YOU WILL BE DIRECTED BY A MARSHAL TO PARK, UNLOAD AND DISPERSE SAFELY

Note on insurance: As organisers we have public liability insurance, which covers damage or injury resulting from the day's events, e.g. something or somebody falling off a float. Our insurance does not include damage done by a motor vehicle in the procession. It is the responsibility of the vehicle owner to ensure that their motor policy permits use in the carnival and that their policy will extend to indemnify us as organisers. We understand that as long as the owner is not being paid to participate in the carnival their normal policy should be sufficient but each entrant must check with their insurers.

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Formed in June 2017, Hertswise provides holistic support to individuals living with dementia, low level memory loss or mild cognitive impairment, as well as to their families and carers. The service is provided by a partnership of community and voluntary groups to offer tailored, appropriate and timely support. What is available?  Information and advice for all aspects of your life, including assistance with benefit applications and Lasting Power of Attorney  Carers’ support groups and advice  Hertswise hubs and localised sessions A team of 10 Locality Workers across Hertfordshire organises social inclusion activities with the aim of supporting and enhancing physical and mental wellbeing. What’s happening in Buntingford? We will be commencing activity sessions at Layston Grove Care Home, Keen Avenue (off London Road), SG9 9SU, on Monday 4th June, 2–3.15pm. Charge £3 per person, no charge for carers or family members. All activities are designed to stimulate memory, improve cognitive function and encourage conversation. Activities include, but are not limited to, gentle exercise including team sports, arts and crafts, dancing and reminiscing. Come and join us! To find out more and to confirm your attendance, call HertsHelp on 0300 123 4044 (Monday–Friday, 8am–6pm). Before then, in aid of Dementia Action Week, we will be hosting a morning tea party with dancing (themed 50s/60s) on Monday 21st May, 10–12noon, also at Layston Care Home. There is no charge to pop along, everyone is welcome; cakes/scones/tea will be available. Hertswise forms part of a wider dementia initiative in Hertfordshire. Intensive practical and emotional support for our service users is provided by the Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Support Workers and Dementia Advisers who support people receiving a diagnosis from the Early Memory Diagnosis and Support Service (EMDASS). Specialist emotional and practical support for carers reaching crisis point is provided by four Admiral Nurses hosted by Carers in Hertfordshire and Dementia UK working across Hertfordshire. We look forward to supporting you!

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Buntingford In Transition Divestment from Fossil Fuels In April's article I explained how the Transition ideal is to move away from reliance on fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) in order to become more resilient communities. This is an ever- more pressing matter in view of the fact that we know we have to limit the amount of global warming to under 2% to prevent catastrophic levels of climate change. In order to achieve this goal around 80% of fossil fuels need to be left untouched and therefore unusable, resulting in fossil fuel companies owning reserves which are essentially worthless. Whether or not you believe that a changing climate is a problem, the UK has made its commitment to the Paris Agreement and this is a strong financial argument for not investing in fossil fuel companies. Some communities have already realised this, with whole cities both at home and abroad making a commitment to divest themselves of these types of investment, including New York and in the UK Bristol and Oxford City Councils. Yet there is still £16 billion worth(1) of oil and gas company shares held in UK local authority pension schemes (LGPS). Hertfordshire County Council alone has more than £140 million invested and as council tax payers we are likely to be contributing around £1 in every £5(2) to the local government pension scheme. So our views should count on how the HCC pension scheme is invested. This is why Buntingford in Transition is supporting Divest Herts, a campaign group urging HCC to mandate its pension fund managers to freeze any new investments in fossil fuel companies and to divest all existing shares within 5 years. You may be a recipient of the pension scheme itself – I was surprised to see how many companies are enrolled in this pension scheme (take a look at the website https://divestherts.org/ pension-recipients/). In order to be heard by the Pension Fund Committee, Divest Herts are aiming to collect 1000 signatures to support the case for divestment. To add your name to this petition, please go to their website https://divestherts.org/. Alternatively, you can contact me to sign a postcard which will be sent to the Chair of the Pensions Committee. Madela Baddock [email protected] / 07778 298605 (1) https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/dec/18/boost-for-fossil-fuel-divestment-as-uk- eases-pension-rules (2) http://www.taxpayersalliance.com/the_true_cost_of_the_lgps_yieu6dj6uwwqlsptbaukkxfbaks

Now that the lighter nights are with us, we will start playing again on Thursday evenings, 7–8pm, at the Norfolk Road Multigames Area. The Thursday sessions will run from May until September, in addition to the Sunday morning sessions which run to end October. Buntingford Tennis Club is a non-profit group – just people who like to play tennis, organised by local volunteers. Your subscription pays for court hire, tennis balls etc. For more information, see our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ buntingfordtennisclub/ or our website: https://www.buntingford tennisclub. co.uk/ or you can call me – Gilly – on 07803 293969.

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BUNTINGFORD FILM CLUB Bringing Cinema back to Buntingford Reflections on the 2017–18 Season As we come towards the end of our first season of cinema in the town, it can be said that it has been received with enthusiasm by our many supporters. We would very much like you to ‘have your say’ at our A.G.M. on Wednesday 16th May at 7pm in Benson Hall (see our official notice on page 21 for details). Please come along and help us plan what we do next. Have you got some good ideas? We’d love to hear them. Would you like to offer your help at our events? Please don’t hesitate to tell us of any particular skills which would be helpful in our endeavours. As usual, wine & nibbles will be provided free! Report on the charity screening of ‘Dunkirk’ Victoria Burt (right), one of our team, was overwhelmed by the generous response to our charity screening of the award-winning film ‘Dunkirk’ in aid of Barnardo’s. The film was very well received by a capacity audience and made over £400 profit to put towards the £2,500 required for Victoria to participate in the London Marathon in aid of the charity. Through various initiatives that she organised, Vicky succeeded in reaching this massive target, and by the time you read this article she will hopefully have taken part in this national event. So, many congratulations to Victoria on her tremendous achievement.

Left: Children playing ‘pin the tail on the donkey’, just one of the fun interval activities run by Nanny Alex and the team at the children’s matinees. Above: A plate of matinee goodies – these were on offer at ’The Ant Bully’.

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

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Films for May Saturday 12th May at 2.30pm, Benson Hall Children’s matinee: A Bug’s Life This is the story of The Ant and the Grasshopper, re-imagined as only Disney, teamed with Pixar, can. Flick’s ant colony is terrorised by a swarm of grasshoppers. Every year the grass-hoppers take food gathered by the hardworking ants but this year Flick causes an accident and the offering is lost. With Hopper, the leader, demanding the ants gather more food, which could leave the ants with nothing for the winter, the colony banish Flick, who resolves to find warrior bugs to help them get rid of the grasshoppers for good! But the warrior bugs are not what they seem! Dress: Creepy Crawlies Tickets: £5 / £10 including themed activity & snack

Saturday 12th May at 7.30pm, Benson Hall, Evening screening: West Side Story This powerful translation of the hit Broadway musical – buoyed by Robert Wise’s dazzling direction, Leonard Bernstein’s score and Stephen Sondheim’s lyrics – remains perhaps the most iconic of all the Shakespeare adaptations brought to the big screen. A must-see musical masterpiece. Tickets: £7.50 to include a glass of wine and nibbles Carnival Screenings on Saturday 16th June To complement this year’s Carnival theme of ‘At the Movies’ there will be children’s screenings of ‘The Lion King’, a family favourite, from 10am in The Library. Tickets cost £2 (adult or child), payable on the door. Our evening film will be all-time classic ‘Sing-a-long Sound of Music’! This will be in Edwinstree School Hall starting at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £5 for adults, children free, available only from our Box Office (see details below). Optional fancy dress: As these screenings are being put on as part of Buntingford Carnival Day everyone is encouraged to enter into the spirit of the event by dressing up appropriately for the films. There’s plenty of scope to have lots of fun! Prizes will be awarded for the best efforts. Once again we look forward to welcoming you to all our events. Christine Stuart-Taylor, Event Co-ordinator / Tel: 01763 272990 Box Office: Chris Dellar Properties, 58a High Street / Tel: 01763 272605 Online Booking via Billetto / www.buntingfordfilmclub.org 29

The 39th annual Thaxted Festival takes place over four weekends in June and July in the superb acoustic space of Thaxted’s medieval Church. World-class performers this year include cello virtuoso and winner of the BBC Musician of the Year 2016 Sheku Kanneh-Mason; internationally acclaimed classical pianist Freddy Kempf; and both Ronnie Scott’s Big Band and Quintet, from the legendary Soho jazz club. With its roots in Gustav Holst’s 1916 Whitsuntide festival, and now under the artistic direction of Buntingford resident Trevor Hounslow, Thaxted Festival continues to offer its unique musical experience encompassing classical, choral, folk and jazz traditions. There are educational projects in local schools led by professional musicians, and in a new initiative to encourage a future audience, anyone aged 30 and under can attend any evening concert for just £12. The Programme: “I believe we really have something for everyone in our 2018 season, and I look forward to seeing you in Thaxted.” Trevor Hounslow, Artistic Director Friday 22nd June at 8pm – Armonico Consort and the Choir of Gonville and Caius College Cambridge, conducted by Christopher Monks with special guests The Granta Chorale, perform the Striggio Mass, Hildegard of Bingen Plainchant and choral work Tallis Spem in Alium. A rare opportunity to appreciate the flowering of 16th-century church music. Tickets £27 / £21 / £15 / £10 restricted view (rv). Saturday 23rd June at 7pm – The Endellion Quartet perform Haydn Quartet in Bb major Op 76 No 4 ‘The Sunrise’, 1797; Beethoven Quartet in Eb major No 10 Op 74 ‘The Harp’, 1809; Dvorak Quartet in F major No 12 Op 96 ‘The American’, 1893. Tickets £25 / £19 / £15 / £10 (rv). Following the concert, at about 10.15pm, there will be Morris and Country Dancing outside the Church with the famous Abbots Bromley Horn Dance. Sunday 24th June at 7.30pm – Brandenburg Sinfonia, conducted by Robert Porter, perform Jenkins Palladio; Bartok Romanian Folk Dances; J S Bach Orchestral Suite No 3 in D major BWV 1068; Stravinsky Concerto in Eb major ‘Dumbarton Oaks’; and J S Bach Orchestral Suite No 4 in D major BWV 1069. A sweeping, eclectic stylistic journey from Bach to Stravinsky. Tickets: £33 / £24 / £17 / £10 (rv). Friday 29 June at 8.00pm – Freddy Kempf, described as “a pianist in a million”, performs Kapustin (b1937) 3 Concert Etudes, Op 40; Chopin Etudes, Op 10; and Rachmaninov Etudes-Tableaux, Op 39. Tickets: £25 / £19 / £15 / £10 (rv). Saturday 30th June at 11am – The Carnival Band (right). This year’s Family Concert is with this versatile folk band who range from the Renaissance to the hand-jive. Tickets: £12 adults / £3 children. “Purists may squirm, but the rest of us were having too much fun to care!” Saturday 30th June at 7.30pm – Rodolfus Choir, directed by Ralph Allwood. Some of our finest young professional voices sing favourites by Parry, Stanford, Elgar, Tavener and Whitacre, plus a new commission by Cambridge’s Mark Gotham. Tickets: £23 / £17 / £14 / £10 (rv). Sunday 1st July at 7.30pm – A Night with Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra. Expect stunning recreations of classics by Basie, Ellington, Goodman and others, while vocalist

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Iain Mackenzie makes things swing with numbers by Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Mel Tormé and Chet Baker. Tickets: £27 / £21 / £15 / £10 (rv). A night to remember, supported by The Cheese Plate, Buntingford. Friday 6th July at 7.30pm – Junior Guildhall Symphony Orchestra (right) with William Thomas, 2017 winner of the Lutine Prize, on trumpet. A varied evening of English music – Bax Tintagel; Gregson Trumpet Concerto for Strings and Timpani; Elgar Enigma Variations Op 36. Tickets: £27 / £21 / £15 / £10 (rv). Saturday 7th July at 12 noon – Robin Walker plays Bach, Holst and a new premiere on Thaxted’s historic Lincoln Organ. Tickets £10. Saturday 7th July at 7.30pm – Opus Anglicanum, ‘The Seeds of Love’. Vaughan Williams, George Butterworth, Percy Grainger and Cecil Sharp travelled the byways of England to capture a treasury of song from the villagers they met. Five singers recreate this folksong heritage, with narration by Zeb Soanes, presenter on Radio 3 & 4. Tickets: £21 / £16 / £12 / £10 (rv). “One of the most magical evenings I can remember.” Sunday 8th July at 7.30pm – Cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, accompanied on piano by his sister Isata Kanneh-Mason, a rising star in her own right. J S Bach Gamba Sonata No 2 in D major BWV 1029; 1740 Poulenc Cello Sonata; 1948 Debussy Cello Sonata in D Minor; 1915 Brahms Sonata for Cello and Piano No 2 in F Major Op 99, 1886. Sheku gave an astonishing performance to win BBC Musician of the Year 2016. “He held the audience spellbound”, The Guardian. Tickets: £23 / £17 / £14 / £10 (rv). Friday 13th July at 8.00pm – Christopher Weston (piano) with Jeffery Wilson (saxophone) and Catherine May (soprano), ‘Paris 1900’. A journey through the rich musical landscapes of early 20th-century Paris. Tickets: £23 / £17 / £14 / £10 (rv). Saturday 14th July at 7.30pm – The Ronnie Scott’s Club Quintet, ‘1959 – The Year that Shaped Jazz’. These world-class musicians from London’s renowned jazz club, led by guest pianist James Pearson, distil the music of arguably the most creative year in jazz history. Tickets: £23 / £17 / £14 / £10 (rv). Sunday 15th July at 7.30pm – Brandenburg Salon Orchestra with soprano Natasha Day (right), conducted by Bob Porter. A gala last night performance feature favourite French miniatures by Fauré, Herold, Ravel and Debussy; well-known operatic arias (Lehar and Puccini); and blockbusters from Bernstein and Bizet. Tickets: £30 / £22 / £16 / £10 rv). For full details of the 2018 Thaxted Festival programme, with audio and video extracts by performers, plus practical information and tickets, visit the Festival website: www.thaxtedfestival.org.uk When booking online you reserve your own numbered seats. If you buy tickets by post, you will be allocated the best seats left at that price. You can also buy tickets in person at the box office – at 10 Watling Street, Thaxted, CM6 2PE – which is open Tuesday, Thursday & Friday mornings, 9.30am–12.30pm, to 13 July. If you have any queries you can email [email protected]/ or call the Festival office on 01371 831421

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Orchard Surgery News Staff on duty during normal surgery hours in May: Monday – Dr Corlett / Dr Larmie Tuesday – Dr Manny Wednesday – Dr Larmie Thursday – Dr Manny Friday – Dr Larmie

The Nurse, Naomi, is available for appointments on Monday am & pm, Wednesday am, Thursday am. Cancer screening Cancer that is picked up through NHS screening services usually has a very high rate of successful treatment. Tumours discovered at an earlier stage are much more receptive to treatment. We recommend that patients take advantage of the screening opportunities offered to them – Breast, Cervical and Bowel cancer screening are the three main screening services provided locally, and there is also Prostate screening (on demand from the surgery). If for whatever reason you have missed your allotted screening appointment, please contact the surgery and we can give you the details needed to mak another appointment. Bowel screening doesn’t require an appointment, as screening kit is sent out by post and this can be arranged with a simple a phone call to the surgery. Did Not Attends Missed appointments are still running too high. It’s a waste of valuable clinical time that could be used for other patients. If you cannot make your appointment, please call the surgery and let us know – that’s all that’s needed! So, it’s simple: just call to help other patients and rebook your own appointment at the same time. IT system change coming next month The surgery is changing to Systm1 (it’s spelt without the ‘e’). This will bring us into line with all the surgeries in the commissioning area, plus it enables patients to access their own medical records on line and enables us to use text messages to remind patients of their appointments (which should reduce DNAs). A new website for patient information is also being introduced, probably during May, so keep an eye open for some exciting developments for enhancing patient communication and care. The next PPG meeting at the Orchard Surgery is on Thursday 31st May, 6pm to 7 pm. www.orchardsurgerybuntingford.co.uk / 01763 272410 Outside surgery hours dial 111 if you need urgent medical help – the call handlers will make sure you are directed to the right service. In a life-threatening situation dial 999.

BARN DANCE On Saturday 16th June 2018, the Friends of Reed Church are holding a Barn Dance at Queenbury Barn, Reed, by kind permission of Roger and Lucinda Sedgwick Rough. The event will run from 7.30–10.30pm, with Dance Caller Pete Skiffins. There will be a Wild West BBQ and Licensed Bar. Admission prices: Adult £20; Child £10; Family £50 Booking contacts: Emma Weatherhead – 07952 785605 Liz Jakeman – 01763 848398 or Mike Howes – 01763 848029

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FUNDRAISING EVENTS IN MAY 5th & 6th May – 21st Annual Abseil off Church Langley Water Tower, Harlow Over the years this event, run by Harlow Tye Rotary Club, has raised more than £900,000 in sponsorship. Why not take the challenge and nominate Isabel Hospice as your charity? Ring Bill Colton on 01279 423879 / 07711 982671 or sign up at www.isabelhospice.org.uk. 19th May – 2pm, Jumble Sale at Thundridge Village Hall Entrance 20p. For more details email Ann Davey at [email protected]. 22nd May – Free play: ‘Don’t Leave Me Now’, 2pm at the Living Well with Isabel Community Hub, Hall Grove, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 4PH As part of Dementia Awareness week, Isabel Hospice are pleased to present a play by Brian Daniels exploring the impact of early onset dementia on family life. Daniels is an award-winning playwright and theatre practitioner and ‘Don’t Leave Me Now’ is endorsed by all major dementia charities. The session will include afternoon tea and a discussion. The play is free and open to anyone. To register your interest call Laura Ashworth, Isabel Hospice Education Coordinator, on 01707 382500. 27th May – Isabel Hospice ‘On Your Bike’, Bishop’s Stortford Rugby Club Sponsored bike ride with 3 distances to choose from – 25km, 50km and 100km – starting from Bishop’s Stortford Rugby Club. You can sign up on the day, or to save money on your entry fee, sign up in advance at www.isabelhospice.org.uk/bike. This is a day full of fun for every rider. 28th May – Vitality London 10K run for Isabel Hospice This starts and finishes in St James’s Park, with a clockwise route through the City of Westminster and City of London passing famous sights along the way – Admiralty Arch, Nelson’s Column, St Paul’s Cathedral, Mansion House, the Bank of England, Old Bailey, Somerset House, Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. We are asking Team Isabel runners to pledge at least £150 in sponsorship. For more details contact Megan, Isabel Hospice Challenge Events Coordinator, on 01707 382544. www.isabelhospice.org.uk

HOME-START ROYSTON & SOUTH CAMBRIDGESHIRE Unit 6, Valley Farm, Station Road, Meldreth, Nr Royston, Herts SG8 6JP Charity No: 1105385 www.hsrsc.org.uk Literary Lunch – Thursday 3rd May Local entertainer and Home-Start’s Poet Jude Simpson is hosting a chat with Dame Fiona Reynolds (right), Master of Emmanual College and former Director-General of the National Trust. Buffet Lunch from 12:15pm. Chat 1:00 to 2:15pm. At The Old Bull, High Street, Royston SG8 9AW. Tickets £15 from 01763 262 262, or [email protected], or www.ticketsource.co.uk/ hsrsc. All proceeds in aid of Home-Start Royston & South Cambridgeshire

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The following article was supplied by Curwens LLP, a local firm of solicitors with offices in Royston, Hoddesdon and Enfield There is a better way … Collaborative Law Dealing with the end of a marriage or relationship can be one of the most stressful times of your life, particularly if there are children to consider. Not only is there the rollercoaster ride of emotions to deal with, there can be financial pressures – even urgent ones if a partner moves out without ensuring you are left with sufficient income to cover the household bills and mortgage. Many people are reluctant to seek formal legal advice as they presume this will be hugely expensive and end up in court. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Using the Collaborative Approach helps couples to resolve issues between them in a dignified and cost-effective manner. So what is Collaborative Law?  Each of you instructs a specialist family lawyer, who has been trained in resolving matters using the collaborative approach.  Everything is discussed and negotiated – at times and places chosen by you.  An Agreement is signed by everyone at the outset – to confirm that they will not bring up the past, will be open and honest during the process, and will not issue court proceedings (other than by consent).  The process works at your speed – with meetings arranged every week or month, or whenever you want.  It can be used to discuss children or financial issues, or both  Other experts can be brought into the meetings if needed – Financial Neutrals to help with discussing investments and pensions, for example, and/or Family Consultants to help with the emotional impact of the relationship breakdown. The Collaborative Process allows you to take control of your situation and to find a reasonable and fair outcome that works for everyone. If the process breaks down, both of you have to instruct new lawyers, and any “offers” are withdrawn. However, it is this extra pressure that makes the approach effective and gives positive outcomes. If you would like any more information on the Collaborative Approach, or any other area of family law, please contact me: [email protected]. www.curwens.co.uk 01763 241 261 – Royston 01992 463 727 – Hoddesdon 0208 363 4444 – Enfield

Charity Bridge & Lunch – Thursday 17 May 11am for 11:30 start At Lower Farm Barn, Cottered, SG9 9PS. Ticket only. £90 per table to include coffee and biscuits on arrival and two-course lunch with wine. Contact Mrs Tricia Hunt 01992 679247

Thundridge Hill House Open Garden – Sunday 20 May, 2–5pm Cold Christmas Lane, Thundridge, Ware, SG12 0UE. A delightful garden containing around 2 acres of well-established shrubs. Entry £4. Refreshments available.

Datchworth Village Open Gardens – Sunday 27 May, 12.30–5pm 10 gardens in the beautiful Hertfordshire village of Datchworth, SG3 6TL Entry £7. Lunches, BBQ and Cream Teas available.

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EAST HERTS CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU The Manor House, Buntingford Drop-in: Telephone: Monday 10:00am – 4:00pm 03444 111 444 Tuesday 10:00am – 1:00pm Monday – Friday Wednesday 10:00am – 1:00pm 10:00am – 4:00pm

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) re-assessments I have a long-term health condition but I recently had my Personal Independence Payment (PIP) reduced after a re-assessment. I want to challenge the decision – where do I start? There are two stages to challenging a PIP assessment decision. The first stage is known as ‘mandatory reconsideration’ and involves asking the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to take a second look at your assessment decision. Normally, you’ll need to contact the DWP within a month of your assessment decision being made, and it’s best to do so in writing. Under some circumstances, you can ask for mandatory reconsideration up to 13 months from your assessment decision date. Your letter should list all the reasons why you don’t think your PIP award should be reduced. Make sure you provide evidence to back up each point you make, such as practical examples, medical records and supporting letters from specialists who are treating you. If you don’t have the required evidence available, you can submit it separately at a later date. Once the DWP has looked again at your assessment decision, you’ll receive a Mandatory Reconsideration Notice which says if your request has been successful or not. If it is, your original award will be reinstated and your payment backdated. If you’re unsuccessful, you could choose to progress to the second challenge stage. This is where you appeal your assessment decision by taking your case to tribunal. To be allowed to appeal to a tribunal, you will need:  your letter from the DWP with the words ‘Mandatory Reconsideration Notice’ at the top – if you’ve lost it, ask them for a new one;  to send in your appeal form within one month of the date shown on the mandatory reconsideration notice. For help filling in the tribunal form and preparing for your hearing, contact your nearest Citizens Advice or visit the website. Do not delay as the deadline is only one month from the date on the mandatory reconsideration letter and your local Citizens Advice may not be able to see you quickly. © Copyright Citizens Advice. For the most up-to-date information, visit the website www.citizensadvice.org.uk PLEASE NOTE: Our Ware office is closing from 12th April. From 23rd April, we will be open at East Herts Council Office, Wallfields, Pegs Lane, Hertford, SG13 8EQ, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10am–2pm. From 17th April, we will be open once a week in Ware on Tuesdays, 10am–1pm, in Tudor Square. There are no changes at Buntingford and Bishop’s Stortford.

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Our speaker for April was Revd John Merrill (Marathon Walker) who told us about his walk along the Hertfordshire Way showing slides of many landmarks along the route. Twenty eight members of the Church Crawlers visited the Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara (Sikh) Temple at Letchworth. Built just four years ago, it was the brainchild of former Buntingford Mayor and Postmaster Surgit Basra – still fondly referred to as Mr Bas. It was his idea to buy and convert, with friends, the former parachute factory on the Icknield Way Industrial Estate into a Sikh Temple and he is still very much involved. The visitors, pictured below in a variety of borrowed headgear, were made very welcome by Mr Bal Singh Sandu (centre) who explained the Sikh faith and history and patiently answered their many questions.

Fifty-one members of the LETs Group visited the Postal Museum & Train in London in what one member described as a monsoon! So instead of a walking tour of the area our Blue Badge Guide told us about the history of the Postal Service, pointing out places of interest from the comfort of our coach. The museum was fascinating. Did you know that the first roadside post boxes were erected in the Channel Islands in 1852 and were green? (right) – but people in the countryside thought them dreary and hard to see, so in 1874 they were changed to red. In the 1930s special boxes were introduced for posting airmail letters; these were painted blue (top right). From 1939 blue airmail boxes were removed, repainted red and re-entered service for standard mail. Vice Chairman Trevor Reedman was especially pleased when he went upstairs at the museum and they found his father’s details from when he worked at Bishop’s Stortford Post Office before the war. Trevor worked at Buntingford Post Office from 1960-67, so he was too YOUNG to be in the records! But the highlight of the trip was the 15-minute ride in the postal train which ran beneath the Mount Pleasant sorting office (top right).

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Our next meeting is Monday 14th May and our speaker is Jenny Gibbs on ‘The Turkish Shirley Valentine’. We meet at Seth Ward Community Centre – doors open 1.30pm. Please visit our website for information on our groups. www.u3asites.org.uk/buntingford

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Millfield First & Nursery School www.millfield.herts.sch.uk Summer Term Activities The summer term brings many opportunities for the children to take part in outdoor activities, from sporting events to enjoying playing in our beautiful school grounds. During the summer term the topic in Nursery is ‘Our Planet’ and Reception will be learning about mini-beasts with a visit to Shepreth Wildlife Park. Key Stage One pupils will be looking at ‘The Seaside’ whilst Key Stage 2 are studying ‘The Egyptians’. In June our Year 4 pupils are off on their residential trip to Lincolnsfields near Watford where they will stay for two nights. During the day there is an exciting range of outdoor activities for them to enjoy. It is a wonderful chance for the children to try new things in a safe environment. Tag Rugby 16 KS1 pupils, some of whom are in the photo (right), attended the Tag Rugby Festival at St Edmunds College to participate in games with other local schools. They all had great fun and got very muddy. Scooter Day Year 2 pupils had the opportunity to take part in a scooter training session. They all had lots of fun scooting in and out of cones, but on a more serious note they also learnt how to brake properly and learnt a lot about road safety, including being aware of cars entering and exiting from driveways. BerryWorld KS1 and KS2 had an assembly with six members of staff from BerryWorld. They came in to talk to the children about the four berries that Berryworld provide – the children correctly guessed these were strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries. They talked about what berries need to grow, when and how you can eat them, how many berries are in a portion, the role of bees in pollination and where their berries are grown. All the children were given a ‘goodie bag’ with an activity booklet, pencil and seeds for planting at home. International Day As part of our work as an International School we celebrated International Week with a range of activities. To promote an awareness of other countries, all our classes ‘adopt’ a different country. In the Nursery and Reception classes the children spent time learning about their own adopted country, but our Key Stage 1 & Key Stage 2 pupils visited one

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another’s classes to find out about a different country in each class. They had the chance to try some activities related to that country, such as dance or cooking. Sporting Activities On Thursday 10th May all our Key Stage 1 & 2 pupils are taking part in the Cross Country Running Festival at Edwinstree School along with other local schools. This annual event is always a favourite with our children. We are also looking forward to joining lots of other local schools taking part in the Callum Eveleigh Memorial Football Tournament at the Bury football ground on Friday 27th April. Staffing We have appointed a Sports Coach who will join us at the start of the Summer term, providing fun activities during breaks and lunchtimes for our children as well as expert PE instruction. He will also be leading a programme of after school activities as well as leading activities during the holiday clubs. We have a student with us from Cambridge University. She is on her final teaching practice and is enjoying working at Millfield. We really value the partnership we have with the University of Cambridge and are glad to help students at the start of their careers in teaching. Nursery Vacancies We have a few places available in our Nursery to start in September 2018. If you are interested in taking one of these, or know someone who may be interested, please contact the School Office for further information. Laura Kennedy-Weeks, Headteacher If you would like to know more about our School (or Little Stars Nursery) please visit our website www.millfield.herts.sch.uk or contact the school on 01763 271717.

Time Capsule Event at Layston Grove Care Home Some of our Year 4 pupils recently attended an event at the new Layston Grove Care Home to bury a time capsule that could last for 200 years. The children met with the Care Home manager, our local District Councillor Jeff Jones and the Town Mayor, John Noades. The children had filled the time capsule with a recent copy of the Buntingford Journal, a copy of a newspaper from that day, some photos of our school and a timetable for the week, a World Book Day voucher, copies of some school certificates and pictures drawn by the children in Maple and Birch Classes. The capsule was placed into a prepared hole in the ground and the children took it in turns to fill the hole with soil. The children then read the brass plaque which will stand on the site of the time capsule.

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Edwinstree Middle School A Voluntary Controlled Church of England School As a Christian school, we recognise the unique and wonderful in everyone. As a community, we support one another to flourish and live life in all its fullness. This half term we have been considering the Christian value of ‘Endurance’ and exploring what courage is needed to endure. To inspire our Year 6 students as they prepare for their SATs, we have been celebrating the life of Jesus and his ability to endure, during our Collective Worship. We have also been considering moral courage and how it is important try your best, no matter what the outcome. Year 6 endured mock SATs week, which prepared them for the actual exams in May. They have really knuckled down to the challenge and given the exams their best shot. We are very proud of their achievements. Year 8 Visit to Normandy As part of our cross-curricular themes, where we join learning across different subjects, the History and French departments took our Year 8 students to Normandy to visit the battle scenes of World War II. Following a visit to Honfleur and Naturascope Equatorial, they arrived safely at their hotel and the weather was good enough for some fun time on the beach (right). The following day they visited the American Military Cemetery and Omaha Beach, where most of the soldiers lost their lives in the D-Day landings. They also visited the Bayeaux Market, the Bayeaux Tapestry and the British Military Cemetery. They had a wonderful, thought-provoking visit, which we hope they will remember for the rest of their lives. Domino Rally Our Scientists and Engineers volunteered to take part in this term’s House Competition based on last term’s value of Koinonia – one individual is powerful but a team working together is exceptionally powerful. Students were under a significant time-pressure challenge to create the longest creative domino rally within 40 minutes. The rallies were filmed and judged by the remainder of the school for length of run, complicated track and whether they had false starts or not. Ms Pegrum then added their team work score to find the winners! Little did we know when we started this competition, the challenge we were setting, the time pressure and the knowledge that one little mistake can cause a significant collapse! We now think this is the hardest challenge we have ever created. We are even comparing it to roles like heart surgery! One mistake and the whole lot collapses when you are operating. It is great to see our students thinking ‘out of the box’ and logistically, as several groups set up traps to reduce the damage if a collapse occurred in their rally. Great thinking skills!

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Visitors to Edwinstree – a Happy Puzzle Company and Unilever This half term we ran a maths Puzzle Day and Science Unilever Day, where our students worked on logic and problem-solving skills, as well as finding out about a world-beating science company and trying their hand at making the fastest ice cream possible with dry ice! Our visitors were so impressed they wrote to us with this to say: “It was particularly interesting to note that when we discussed effective strategies for solving puzzles, they were not only extremely forthcoming with intelligent suggestions, but they listened to each other and made use of the ideas which were being shared. Having visited schools for the last 25 years, I can tell you that this is relatively rare. In addition, throughout the day, your students demonstrated exceptional team skills. Above all, your school is an incredibly happy place to be. The students were relaxed and enthusiastic and your staff could not have been more helpful. Whatever you are doing at the school, it’s clearly working!” Edwinstree September 2018 We are currently awaiting the return of Ofsted to secure the school as ‘Good’ so we can then get to work on returning to ‘Outstanding’. However, we are pleased to see that even without that judgement, our reputation and hard work is gaining momentum, and places are filling in all year groups. Parents who may be interested in Edwinstree Middle School are welcome to visit, by appointment, to see the school at work. To make an appointment please contact the school office on 01763 271446 or email: [email protected]. Which dastardly teacher committed the crime? As part of Science Month, the school had a day off-timetable to take part in a scientific Forensics Day. This involved microscopes, fibre samples, chromatography, footprints, blood splatter and forensic imaging to find out who stole the chocolate from the staff room – did we find the culprit??? Last Day of Term On the last day of spring term the whole school community visited St Peter’s Church to take part in our annual Easter service, conducted by Reverend Hill. Parent volunteers accompanied students on the walk and the ESA and kind parents provided Easter biscuits and cakes to enjoy on the walk back to school. Key Stage 2 Students returned for Easter egg hunts, and Key Stage 3 took part in a Christian Aid paper bag game, to consider where our packaging comes from and how life might be different if we lived in emerging or low-income countries. In the afternoon we had fun judging and celebrating the amazing talent at Edwinstree in our very own ‘Edwinstree’s Got Talent’ contest. Hope you had a Happy Easter. Jo Gant, Headteacher

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Despite the ‘Beast from the East’ returning and cutting short the netball tour in Shropshire, our netballers all managed to play a few matches and also make use of the outdoor facilities, including abseiling and high / low ropes. Well done to the girls for battling through (top left). The College was well represented in the recent Herts Schools Games week, with some terrific results. Congratulations to our U14 boys rowers (below) who finished 2nd in the county competition, just losing out on the gold by 2 seconds. The U14 girls rowers finished 4th in their competition; Erin Norton went on to win Bronze in the individual 200m row.

Freman U14 girls had a great afternoon of basketball at the games, coming 3rd in their group, just missing out on a semi-final place (left). Our U16 (below) and U14 girls (below right) fought hard in the Futsal competition. The U16 Girls finished 3rd in their group, narrowly missing out on a place in the semi-final.

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Our Upper Sixth BTEC students were inspired on finals day by meeting nine-times British boxing champion and motivational speaker Hannah Beharry (right). They had a question-and-answer session with Hannah, where they were able to quiz her about her training regime and diet, as well as asking advice on accelerating their own careers in sport. We are truly delighted to announce that our I Year boys won the county rugby final for the first time (see cover photo). A thrilled Mr Green said: “So proud of these boys. They played amazingly, never giving up, they were a real credit to Freman College. Well done boys and enjoy the rest of your evening by revising!!” Meanwhile, our Senior girls rugby squad are 4th in the county. Congratulations to the A and I Year boys basketball teams on winning the Bishop’s Stortford District finals. Two convincing wins from two strong teams! Our U15 boys basketball team are county runners up and our E Year boys footballers have reached the Lea Valley District final, a goal from Luca Romanatti-Manning securing the win. Our swimming team picked up a number of 1st, 2nd and 3rds in the Lea Valley Schools Swimming Gala. Well done to all our talented sports people for their amazing efforts. Recruiting future musicians Freman College’s Big Band were invited to play at an assembly at Roger de Clare school. It was lovely to see the younger children immersing themselves in the music and hopefully being inspired to try playing instruments for their own pleasure. In fact, the nursery students were able to re-create their own orchestra once back in their classroom. Freman College needs more trombone players so let’s hope we motivated a few potential musicians during our time there. (Apologies to the parents!) Amnesty International Our Amnesty International Group feel very strongly that the 65 million refugees currently displaced around the world should not be forgotten. As an act of solidarity and to help fundraise for Amnesty International and the World Food Programme (WFP), a group of students are sticking to WFP rations for several days. This is a very personal, physical and mental challenge, but for a great cause, and if you would like to support their efforts please donate via either of the following websites: https://www.justgiving.com/wfp or https://www.justgiving.com/amnesty. Molly Anderson, one of the students taking part in the challenge, offers the following account of her experience: “After three days of refugee rations I definitely miss a lot! I really fancy vegetables! It is a really difficult challenge, harder in ways I hadn’t really thought about … It was emotionally draining due to lack of essential vitamins we have in a balanced diet and I have realised that I take so much for granted and it’s still very hard to imagine what it’s like for the poor refugees who live off this, and possibly have been doing for years. We need to raise more awareness of this ... with a bit more support and by spreading the word, we can improve people’s lives and help the WFP reach their goal of a hunger-free world by 2030 and help Amnesty in their work to improve refugee rights all over the world. Thank you to everyone for their support ... Please keep donating to these very worthy organisations who are doing tremendous work and going unnoticed in our everyday lives.”

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B A L A Buntingford Action for the Less Able Registered Charity No. 1094426 Minibus trips for May 2018

Tues 1st 10:30–2:30pm Blake House Craft Centre, near Braintree – £8

Shops, food and fun!

Thurs 10th 9:15–12ish Tesco at Bishop’s Stortford £4

Tues 15th 10:30–2:30pm Scotsdales – Shelford £6

Thurs 17th 9:15–12ish Bishop’s Stortford Town Centre – Market Day £4

Mon 21st 10:00–2:30pm St Ives – Market Day £8

Thurs 24th 9:15–12ish Tesco at Bishop’s Stortford £4

th Tues 29 9:30–3pm Bury St Edmunds £12

Wed 30th 11:30am Pub Lunch £4

June Thurs 7th 9:15–12ish Tesco at Bishop’s Stortford £4

All trips start from Benson Hall car park unless otherwise agreed. To book a seat or for more information: 01763 271708 or 07870 638480

COFFEE MORNING at Benson Hall th Wednesday 16 May 2018 10:15 to 11:30am Tea, coffee, sausage rolls, cakes etc. Raffle

Art in Sandon Do you have a love of painting? A newly formed group are meeting in the recently up- graded Sandon Village Hall on Friday mornings to enjoy time away from the hurly burly of normal life and make time to paint and draw. Pencil, charcoal, inks, watercolour, acrylics, they have a go at anything! There is loads of room for more friendly faces to join them; the hall is opposite the village church where there is plenty of parking. The group is supervised by Royston artist Michael Dobson who offers demonstrations, hints and support and chooses a topic for each session or will leave you to do your own thing. Don’t worry about the standard, whether you are a beginner or a seasoned artist. The group is a little less formal than a normal tutored class, but an excuse to spend a whole morning being creative with like-minded people. To cover overheads and insurance the drop-in sessions are charged at £10 a morning with a one-off joining fee of £5; bring your own materials. Tea, coffee and biscuits are provided. Drop in to see us 10–1 on Friday mornings (but not Bank Holiday weekends in May). For more information about Art in Sandon email [email protected] or call 07960 408635.

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BUNTINGFORD W.I. Naomi Walker came along to our April meeting and got us dancing. She is a dance teacher with a difference and it was such a fun evening. Some of us took to the floor and learned three dances. Under the name ‘Dance Matters’, Naomi runs classes at Bassingbourn and Litlington which are for people of all ages – some as young as 18 months and some approaching 70. She teaches all types of dance, including ballet for children and adults, tap and line dancing. She runs a community dance school where everyone is welcome, even if they have a disability – her classes currently have people with ADHD, Autism, and Down’s syndrome. She is also planning to welcome people living with Parkinson’s disease to the pleasures of dance, which she believes will give them back their grace. Naomi can also incorporate sign language into her dance routines and she taught us how to sign ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ using the Makaton method, which is intended for people with communication difficulties rather than deafness. She said she is as passionate about Makaton as she is about dancing. Another of Naomi’s interests is helping couples create their First Dance at their wedding. In 2016 she was chosen as one of the nation’s top 100 inspirational small businesses and was delighted to be invited to No 10 Downing Street. Our next meeting on Thursday 10th May is our Annual Meeting when we will electing our new committee. There will also be a plant sale. We meet at the United Reformed Church Hall, Baldock Road, at 7:15pm for 7:30. Visitors are always welcome. Val Hume For more information about Buntingford W.I. call Jen Cresswell on 01763 273221 or Jane Eagle on 01763 274710

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 centres offer access to services for children under 5 and their families. Our Outreach Workers can provide one to one advice and support on a range of subjects, including: • Domestic abuse; • Accessing benefits; • Housing; • Returning to work; • 2 year funding; • Children’s behaviour; and • Sleep. Please call or email us if you need support with any of these issues. The Children’s Centres can also offer support to women who are, or have been, in difficult relationships and can help them to recognise and address abuse within the home. Please call us confidentially for more information. Our ‘What’s on Guide’ includes details of all the sessions we run. 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, give us a call. There are loads of ways you can keep up to date with what’s happening at our centres. You can call us on 01763 273008 (Bramble Hill) or 01763 243338 (Royston); search for us on Facebook and ‘like’ the pages; or email us at roystonbuntingford.cc @oneymca.org. There’s information on our web pages too at www.oneymca.org.

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Buntingford Town FC www.buntingfordtownfc.com

The weather yet again has been causing postponements this season, but hopefully we now look forward to more sun and less rain. Following the postponement of the home match against FC Lemsford, the game against Broadfields was also called-off. The following week, our first team suffered a 4-0 defeat at home to a surprisingly strong Chipperfield Corinthians. The next game, against FC Lemsford, was postponed due to waterlogging – the third time this season we have told them not to bother travelling! So, following five weeks during which time just one game had been played, our First Team travelled to second-place Letchworth Garden City Eagles. As was the case during our home match against them the game was pretty close, but Town eventually lost 2-1. Despite the defeat the team was buoyed by the good performance and now is much more competitive. The following week we visited local rivals Standon & Puckeridge. We were unable to put out our strongest team, but still came away with a satisfying 1-1 draw – the first points gained since 2nd December. Our management team have been working hard to recruit new players and this effort has been rewarded by a renewed team spirit and enthusiasm. Our Reserves, who have been out of action since the Greg Cup defeat to Knebworth in March, faced them once again for their first league match since 4th November. We fielded a young side which was very competitive, but went down eventually by 4 goals to 1, with former Town player Louis Gilbert scoring a brace against his old club. Another Buntingford old boy, Ashley Townsend, turned out for Knebworth and it was a pleasure to welcome him back to The Bury. The Vets, needless to say, have again had matches postponed due to the weather, but they have returned to the pitch with a vengeance in the Vet’s League Cup. A 2-2 draw at Goldings Old Boys was followed by a 9-0 win over Athletics Old Boys, with Glen Doughty scoring 5, and a 3-2 victory over Harbetts Old Boys. The Vets are having their best spell of the season. The most recent results, the First Team’s 1-1 draw at Standon and the Vets’ win against Harbetts, came over the same weekend, and this has turned out to be the first undefeated weekend we have had this season. We know we have had a poor campaign, but it is only due to those at the club who have stuck by us all season, along with the hard work of our managers who have encouraged new faces to join the club, that we have managed to continue at all. The match day programme issued by Standon & Puckeridge before the 1-1 draw stated: “All teams experience bad spells and today’s visitors, near neighbours Buntingford, are certainly experiencing a season they will most definitely want to forget.” Well, I doubt very much if I shall ever forget it. Not because of the results on the pitch, but because of all the hard work and determination that goes on behind the scenes to ensure that the club can survive. Whatever the outcome, it is worth remembering that alone. If you think you have something to offer Buntingford Town FC and would like to get involved with the club, you are more than welcome to attend our Annual General meeting on 21st May, which will be held at The Bury starting at 7:30pm. We would be pleased to welcome you. Chris Thurgill, Chairman, Buntingford Town FC

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My name is Irene Gibson and I have lived in Buntingford for over 17 years. I grew up in southwest Scotland and joined the army, serving 10 years abroad. I had a long career in Marketing for a banking group, then spent a few years as a consultant with the East of England Ambulance Service. I have had other odd jobs, in catering and gardening, but I was always passionate about fitness – I just didn’t take matters further thinking my age (and asthma) was against me. I finally took the plunge to get qualified in fitness training in 2013 and started to teach shortly after. Last year I decided to set up my own business in Buntingford offering classes in the area and now do a mix of workouts from fast-paced Aerobics and High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) to Matwork Pilates and Seated Exercise Classes. I have continued my training to become an Exercise Referral Instructor, which means I am qualified to guide a patient through injury or post- surgery back to being as fit as they can. I have also added to my Matwork Pilates diploma with certificates in Trigger Point and Barre Pilates. I am married with two daughters. We have a mad flat-coat Retriever, and at the last count had 16 chickens! We love living in Buntingford, we have met so many lovely people here, and are proud to call this lovely town our home! To build a successful business I cannot work alone and I rely on a significant other – Donna Richler-Potts, who joined me last year, initially to take a class here and there but now she runs many classes alongside me. Donna grew up in Barnet but moved to the Peak District in Derbyshire. Following an early career with Irene (left) and Donna. John Lewis, she left to bring up her two (now grown up) children and then built up and ran her own successful business, The Tiny Tots Play Gym, for over 12 years. She has been a qualified Exercise to Music Instructor for many years, teaching Spinning, Aerobics, Antenatal and Postnatal Classes, and more recently Fitness Pilates and Seated Exercise. Before moving back to Hertfordshire in 2016, Donna worked for the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire in the Chatsworth Health and Fitness Suite, part of the Chatsworth House Estate, as Deputy Health and Fitness Manager. As with any business, we need to keep evolving and keep up with what’s new in the fitness industry, which is why we take our own continuing development and training seriously so we can offer the best to our clients. We have a lovely part-time instructor, Diana, who covers our Cheshunt classes and we are currently looking for another instructor to join our team. This should see us into the coming summer months and beyond. Visit our website, www.irenegibson.co.uk, for a full list of classes and latest news. Or take a look at our FB pages: Irene Gibson PT or Push2Fitness. Our newest classes at Benson Hall are Trigger Point Pilates on Monday and Wednesday evenings and on Wednesday morning. We are also offering a new outdoor fitness class on Monday mornings for those of you with a child in a buggy. These start in the car park behind Benson Hall then take in some of the sights and parks of Buntingford. Whatever your fitness level or exercise preference, we have a class that you will enjoy. We also offer Personal Training and small group sessions. Keeping fit and healthy is important to us and we want to pass on our energy and enthusiasm so that you can benefit from a healthy, more active life. Hopefully see you in a class soon! Irene Gibson

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Ashwell Music Festival 2018 11th–20th May at St Mary’s Church, Ashwell

Friday 11th May 6.00pm Widdershins Puppet Theatre – FREE

Saturday 12th May 8.00pm Motown Tribute Act – Mission Blue

Thursday 17th May 7.00pm Young Musicians’ Concert

Friday 18th May 8.00pm Darius Brubeck Quartet

Saturday 19th May 8.00pm An Evening with Ben Goldscheider: Horn & Piano recital

Sunday 20th May 6.00pm Festal Evensong

For more information, to check ticket availability and to book, visit www.ashwellmusicfestival.org or ring the booking office on 01462 743289

Royston and District Ramblers Group Walks for May 2018 Tues 1st Green Tye, 5½ miles, led by Jane 01763 261565 / 07989 616583 Thurs 3rd Ashdon, 6 miles, led by Rita & Salli 01763 208755 / 07977 573003 Sun 6th Cambridge City, 10 miles, led by Brian 01223 243996 / 07500 546244 Tues 8th Benington, 6 miles, led by Sandy 01763 243003 / 07553 344567 Tues 8th Evening walk: Weston, 3½ miles, Mick 01763 247579 / 07701 340290 Thur 10th Arkesden, 5½ miles, led by Margaret 01763 848576 / 07504 562785 Sun 13th Perry to Spaldwick, 12½ miles, led by Paul 01763 244038 / 07544 232330 Tues 15th Shepreth, 5½ miles, led by Rama 01763 260565 / 07549 155396 Wed 16th Evening walk: Shepreth, 3 miles, Jane 01763 261565 / 07989 616583 Thur 17th Bourn, 6 miles, led by Alan 01223 840963 / 07933 713840 Sun 20th Lilley, Pirton, 10 miles, led by Lorraine 01763 242054 / 07890 325735 Tue 22nd Great Hormead, 7 miles, led by Ken 01763 246700 / 07913 814588 Thur 24th Abington Pigotts, 6 miles, Viv & Jackie 07912 567378 / 07502 121852 Thur 24th Evening walk: Anstey, Meesden, 3 miles, led by David 01763 242677 / 07791 198026 Sun 27th Barley, Nuthampstead, 9 miles + museum visit, led by David 01763 242677 / 07791 198026 Tues 29th Furneux Pelham, 6 miles, led by Lesley 07734 111225 Thur 31st Linton, 6 miles, led by Peter 07951 362501 Unless otherwise stated Tuesday & Thursday are morning walks, Sunday walks are all day. www.ramblers-herts-northmiddlesex.org.uk Click on ‘Groups’ and then on ‘Royston’ for details, or ring the walk leader.

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