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

The garden at Great Hormead Bury, opening soon for charity. Inside this month: How well do you know Buntingford High Street? – try the Heritage Centre picture quiz; Freman students get in touch with Tim Peake on the International Space Station; and two opportunities to visit the European Parliament.

60p April 2016 Volume 41, No.3

April 2016 Contents 25 Years in Buntingford – The Basras at Buntingford Post Office ...... 16 Advert: Virtually Perfect Office Solutions ...... 11 Advert: ‘The Amazing Bubble Man’ at Hertford Theatre ...... 37 Art @ Gravelly Barn – ‘Does It Matter’ Charity Art Exhibition ...... 34 Ashwell Music Festival 2016 ...... 28 BALA – Minibus Trips & Coffee Morning ...... 44 BALFF – Trip to Bruges, Brussels & The European Parliament ...... 20 Barn Dance in Reed ...... 27 Blowing His Own Trumpet – Crispian Steele-Perkins at St Swithun’s Church ...... 45 Bramble Hill Children’s Centre ...... 34 Buntingford Bowls Club – Open Mornings & Free Lessons ...... 12 Buntingford Carnival ...... 25 Buntingford Civic Society & Notice of A.G.M...... 13 Buntingford & District Social Club ...... 47 Buntingford Gardeners’ Club ...... 28 Buntingford Heritage Centre – How well do you know the High Street? ...... 18-19 Buntingford Library – Quick update ...... 10 & 21 Buntingford In Transition News ...... 21 Buntingford School of Dance – Dances for the Red Cross! ...... 18 Buntingford Scout Group Quiz Night ...... 32 Buntingford Tennis Club – Try Tennis for Free ...... 12 Buntingford Town Council ...... 22 Buntingford Town Football Club & Music Quiz ...... 46-47 Buntingford Twinning Association – Saturday Night Hop ...... 33 Buntingford W.I...... 45 Cambridge Gliding Centre Open Day ...... 48 Church Services ...... 14-15 Curwens – Increase in Stamp Duty on Second Properties ...... 30 Diary of Events – What’s On & Dates for Your Diary ...... 2-5 East Herts Citizens Advice Bureau – Utilities Overpayments ...... 31 East Herts Council – Community Grants Available ...... 24 Editor’s Letter ...... 7 Edwinstree Middle School ...... 40 Freman College ...... 42 Garden Open Afternoon at Great Hormead Bury ...... 29 Isabel Hospice – Fundraising Events for April 2016 ...... 20 Hertford Theatre – The Amazing Bubble Man ...... 37 Layston C of E First School – The One Day Allotment ...... 38 Layston Preschool and Nursery ...... 39 Letters & emails to the Editor ...... 8-10 Millfield First & Nursery School ...... 36 News from Your District Councillor – including visit to the European Parliament ..... 23-24 Oliver Heald QC – MP’s Surgery ...... 11 Red Kites over Buntingford ...... 25 Reed First School & The Bookworm Ball ...... 35 Reed Village Hall – Pub Night & Disco / Spring Quiz Night ...... 15 Royston Choral Society – Concert for Palm Sunday / Stainer’s Crucifixion ...... 20 Royston & District Ramblers – Walks for April ...... 48 U3A Buntingford – The University of the Third Age ...... 32 Useful Local Information ...... 6 The Year so far on Wyld Farm, Hormead ...... 26 1

Diary of Events – April 2016

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

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

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

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

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

9:30am – 11:00am Tuesday Toddlers at URC Hall, Baldock Road. £2 for first child, then 50p for each additional child of same family, includes drink and snack. Term time. 10:00am – 11:30am Under 1s Group at Buntingford Bowls Club. £1 per family. 01763 273008. 10:00am – 9:00pm The On Site Massage Clinic at Seth Ward Comm Centre. Contact Kate Smith MBRCP on 07720 298306 or visit www.onsitemassageclinic.co.uk. 3:15pm – 4:15pm After School Bootcamp at Millfield School, Monks Walk. Contact Jacqui 01763 273815 / 07956 647806, [email protected] 4:15pm – 9:00pm Ballet, Modern & Tap Classes at Freman College, with Buntingford School of Dance Ltd. Contact: [email protected] / 01763 271010

5:30pm – 6:30pm Cougars U15s Whites training, Norfolk Road Floodlit Multigames Area. 6:15pm – 7:15pm Cougars U10s & Cougars U12s Blues training, St Edmunds School Floodlit Astro Turf. For more info, email: [email protected] 7:30pm Buntingford Karate Club, Edwinstree Gym. Bill Hooper 01763 273123.

7:30pm – 8:30pm Cougars U13s training, Norfolk Road Floodlit Multigames Area. 8:10pm – 8:55pm Adult Tap Dance Classes for Fun & Fitness at Freman College. Contact: [email protected] / 01763 271010

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What's On

8:30pm – 9:30pm Cougars U16s training, Norfolk Road Floodlit Multigames Area. For more info on Cougars training, email: [email protected]

WEDNESDAYS 9:30 – 11:15am Great Hormead Baby and Toddler Group at Great Hormead School Hall. Term time only. From 0 to 4 years. Toys, activities, arts & crafts and singing. £1.50 for first child, 50p for additional children, includes a drink and snack. Contact Annabel on 07787 562265, or just turn up.

9:30 – 11:30am Barkway Parent and Toddler Group at Barkway Village Hall. Children 0–4 years. Singing, stories and activities; tea, coffee, juice and snack provided. Contact Kim Semple on 07964 151288.

10:30am BALFF 10-week course started 13th January, The Rise & Fall of the New Monarchy 1485-1642, at the Community Centre, Luynes Rise. Coffee

served from 10am. Contact Julia Peacock on 01763 272584.

3:15pm – 4:15pm After School Bootcamp at Layston School, The Causeway. Contact Jacqui 01763 273815 / 07956 647806, [email protected]. 6:00pm – 7:00pm Cougars U14s training, Norfolk Road Floodlit Multigames Area. For more information email [email protected]. 6:00pm – 7:00pm Circuit Training for 50+ at Seth Ward CC. Contact Rita on 07957 558782. 6:30pm – 7:30pm Freestyle & Shotokan Karate at Freman College. Contact Sensei John Srinivassan, Mushin Academy of Karate, 07722 071408. 6:45pm – 7:15pm Cardio Blast at Layston School. Contact Jacqui Smith 07956 647806. 7:00pm – 8:00pm Cougars U15s Blues training, Norfolk Road Floodlit Multigames Area. For more information email [email protected]. 7:30pm – 8:30pm Body Circuit classes at Seth Ward CC. Contact Rita on 07957 558782. 7:30pm – 8:15pm Beginners Pilates at Layston School. Contact Jacqui 01763 273815 / 07956 647806, [email protected]. 7:30pm – 8:15pm Boxercise/Tae Bo session at Fit Together Gym, Buntingford. Contact Al on 07739 131694. 7:30pm Slimming World Group at Millfield School. Tel: Glenda McLellan on 01462 894351 / 07983 224121 or email [email protected] 8:00pm Horizon Divers at Freman Pool. Contact 01920 823955.

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

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

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

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

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

2:00pm – 3:00pm Pilates at Benson Hall. Contact Jacqui Smith 07956 647806.

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Diary of Events – April 2016

4:30pm – 6:30pm Drama workshops 15–18 year olds, with Stagefrights Theatre at Seth Ward Comm Centre. Dave 01438 232181; email: [email protected]

4:30pm – 7:45pm Street Dance Classes at URC Hall, with Buntingford School of Dance Ltd. Contact: [email protected] / 01763 271010

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

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

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

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

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

FRIDAYS 9:15am WeightWatchers at Benson Hall.

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

10:00am – 10:30am Baby & toddler 'Rhyme Time' at Seth Ward. £1 first child, 50p for additional children, to include tea & coffee. Contact Bramble Hill 01763 273008.

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

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

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

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

5:30pm – 6:30pm Cougars U11s training, Norfolk Road Floodlit Multigames Area. For more information email: [email protected].

5:30pm – 8:00pm Friday Project, Buntingford & District Youth Club for young people aged 13–19. A range of activities at the Technical Institute, Baldock Road. Contact

Danny Band on 07879 853849 or email [email protected].

6:30pm – 7:30pm Cougars U12s Whites training, Norfolk Road Floodlit Multigames Area. For more information email: [email protected]. SATURDAYS 9:00am – 1:00pm Ballet, Modern & Tap Dance Classes at Freman College and at URC Hall (9am–12noon). Contact: [email protected] / 01763 271010

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

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

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

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

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Dates for Your Diary

April Sat 2nd 8–11pm Pub Night & Disco in Reed (see page 15).

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

£1 entry. Homemade cakes & refreshments. Enquiries Rosei Frost 07720 647696 / [email protected] / or visit website.

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

Wed 6th 7:45pm Buntingford Gardeners’ Club, Members’ Exhibition, at URC Hall, Baldock Road (see page 28).

Wed 6th Microchipping of dogs becomes compulsory by law.

Sun 10th 10am–4pm Cambridge Gliding Centre Open Day at Gransden Lodge Airfield (see page 48).

Mon 11th 1:30pm U3A Monthly Meeting at the Community Centre (see page 32).

Mon 11th 8pm Jazz on the Heath at the Heath Café, Therfield Heath, with Dave Rance’s Rocking Chair Band. Tickets £6 on the door.

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

Fri 15th 7:30pm Recital and talk by trumpet player Crispian Steele-Perkins in aid of St Swithun’s Church restoration fund (see page 45).

Fri 15th 8pm Buntingford Railway & Local History Society at The Crown, A Day in the Life of a Thames Tug – Richard Thomas.

Sat 16th 7:30pm Music Quiz at the Bury (see page 46).

Tues 19th 7:15 for 7:30pm Buntingford Civic Society A.G.M. (see page 13) . Wed 20th 10.30am–12noon BALA Coffee Morning at Benson Hall (see page 44).

Thur 21st 7:45pm Annual Town Meeting (see page 22). . Sat 23rd 7 for 7:30pm Buntingford Scouts Quiz Night (see page 32) . Mon 25th 8pm Jazz on the Heath at the Heath Café (see Mon 11th above).

Wed 27th Day Trip to the European Parliament with Jeff Jones (see page 23).

Wed 27th 7:30pm Buntingford & District Flower Club at Benson Hall.

th Sat 30 7:30pm Spring Quiz Night in Reed (see page 15). Future Dates 5th–15th May Ashwell Music Festival 2016 (see page 28).

Mon 9th May Jazz on the Heath at the Heath Café (see Mon 11th above).

Fri 13th May Sir Oliver Heald QC MP’s Surgery (see page 11).

Sat 14th May Saturday Night Hop with Buntingford Twinning Association (page 33).

Sat 21st May Garden Open Afternoon at Great Hormead Bury (page 29).

Sat 11th June Barn Dance in Reed at Queenbury Farm (page 27).

Sun 12th June Street Party in the High Street for the Queen’s 90th Birthday.

th Sat 18 June Buntingford Carnival (see page 25).

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Useful Local Information

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Editor’s Letter

So, it’s official. Wheatley Homes have won their appeal to the Secretary of State and have permission to build another 180 houses on the field south of Hare Street Road, in addition to the 100 they are already building there. I am pleased that Graham Bonner has taken the time to write in about this – you can read what he has to say on page 8. As a resident of Hare Street Road, I have got used to building sites back and front, and am resigned to having houses rather than fields to look out on. I recognise that the nation needs more houses, and as we are lucky enough to live in one of the more affluent parts of the country this is where the houses are needed most. What really irritates me, however, is the hypocrisy of the so-called Localism Act. Why go through the charade of ‘consulting’ us, when the powers-that-be have absolutely no intention of paying any notice whatsoever to what we have to say. I don’t include our own town council in this – they have done their best but have no more power than the rest of us in these matters. But on to other things. It is 25 years since Mr Basra took over Buntingford Post Office and we have an article to mark this anniversary on pages 16-17. I am also very pleased to have a new contributor this month – James Wyld of Wyld Farm in Hormead. Walking Toby every day, I am very much aware of Buntingford’s rural setting surrounded by productive agricultural land, and I have been wanting to introduce a regular article that will tell us more about what goes on in the farming year around us. You can read the first of these on pages 26-27. And Brian Lemay has kindly contributed a piece on red kites (page 25). These stunning birds, which were once on the verge of extinction, can now be seen in the skies over Buntingford. I wonder if we might have more such articles? We have very interesting reports from local schools this month. It’s amazing how British astronaut Tim Peake seems to have galvanised interest in space in the younger generation. On page 43 you can read how students at Freman College are involved with his progress. It’s great to see the replacement allotments finally taking shape off the Causeway, but on pages 38-39 you can see how at Layston First School they created a school allotment in just one day! Meanwhile pupils at Millfield have been experiencing the joy of watching chicks hatch out (pages 38-37). We also have an article on the history of Reed First School and the launch of their fundraising efforts to build a school library (page 35). I hope you enjoy your April Journal. Christine Noble

Many thanks to Debbie Lemay for proofreading Editorial copy deadline for the May 2016 Journal is Saturday 16th April 2016

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

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

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Letters & emails to the Editor

Dear Christine I need to get this off my chest. Buntingford – A Town under Siege Ours is a small market town in North East Hertfordshire. In the 2011 census it had a population of approximately 4948 with a housing count of 1962. The Town itself has a thriving High Street and a highly rated 3 tier schooling system: two first schools, one middle and one upper school with Academy status. Our Town, however, is very poorly served by public services. There is no train station and a very basic bus service which gets continually downgraded. This has led to us having the highest cars per household ratio in East Hertfordshire. We lie outside of the Green Belt – unlike the 4 other towns in East Hertfordshire: Bishops Stortford, Hertford, Ware and Sawbridgeworth. This has led to a rash of developers and land-owners descending upon us to try to support East Herts District Council's house building targets. The still emerging East Herts District Plan suggests that Buntingford should take no more than 500 new homes as our share of the overall East Herts requirement. Following a recent decision by the Secretary of State to allow a further 2 sites to be developed (Wheatley Homes Areas 2 & 3 on the field south of Hare Street Road), permission for 1021 homes in Buntingford has now been granted. Add to these the 271 already built since 2011 and you have a figure of 1292, or a 66% increase since 2011 – all of this with NO current or planned increase to public services. Doctors surgeries, schools, roads, sewers are already under stress. Both first school intake classes are full and local children are being sent to Puckeridge and Therfield which are several miles away. Appointments at the Health Centre are at 2 weeks minimum with 3 weeks the norm. Recent issues with foul and surface water have demonstrated that sewers and land drains are at capacity. There is little local employment in our Town – the biggest employers being the schools. There is no high speed broadband with no firm date for ever getting it. Despite all of this, applications for more developments continue. A further 456 homes on 2 sites are now at various stages of planning. If they are eventually approved our Town will almost have doubled in size. The Government's house-building programme is in danger of destroying small market towns like ours. We have no problem with embracing sustainable growth but the current situation is completely untenable. Despite reasoned and fact-based protestations from the Buntingford Response Group (representing Buntingford Town Council, Buntingford Chamber of Commerce, Buntingford Civic Society and Buntingford Action for Responsible Development) higher authorities refuse to listen. It is a fact that all new housing applications are reviewed on a standalone basis. There is no consideration given or allowed as to the cumulative effect of multiple schemes. This is madness. Recent planning appeal decisions regarding our Town provide examples of a strict application of the NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework) that ignores material planning objections and works to the benefit of developers and landowners and to the detriment of the present and future local communities. The 'Golden Thread of Sustainability' is a much used phrase that is supposed to ensure that any new development is sustainable before it can be approved. Sustainable means that the community and its infrastructure can support the new influx of people. Our Town patently cannot but still the developments are approved. 8

East Herts District Council Planning Officers have marked for approval every major planning application for our Town that has been put before them. Although they have a duty of care to their residents they studiously ignore factual and reasoned objections in their rush to meet housing targets. The much vaunted ‘Localism Act’ which was supposed to give local communities some say over development is useless. East Herts District Council’s failure to produce a District Plan and to demonstrate a 5 year housing land supply means that we remain hostages to developers and greedy local landowners. It is difficult to see where this will all end. Graham Bonner Dear Christine Buntingford Town plan – a waste of time and effort? All the agonising and drive to complete a town plan in order to foil the relentless march of the developers seems to be a complete waste of time and effort judging by the rate the fields are being ploughed up by builders on the road north out of town. Every objection we have raised seems to have been rejected on appeal by the developers, presumably who have much deeper pockets than our town. We never stood a chance … Disappointed David Dear Christine Marie Curie Charity Collection in Buntingford On 4th and 5th March we had the annual collection in Buntingford in aid of Marie Curie. The amazing total of £1,296.56 was raised to support the work of this charity which provides specialist nurses to care for terminally ill people in their own homes. On behalf of Marie Curie, I would like to thank all those who gave so generously and also all the wonderful people who volunteered their time to collect in the decidedly chilly weather. Yours sincerely, Liz McNamara Dear Christine I am so disappointed with our Sainsbury’s Local in Buntingford. Local people had volunteered to collect for Marie Curie during the official collection week for Buntingford. I was one of them, standing dressed in yellow with a big hat to resemble a daffodil, my pitch being outside Sainsbury’s on Saturday 5th March. The manager approached me, and apparently had done so with other volunteers, to say “I was not allowed to stand there as I hadn't got permission”. I replied that “Yes the charity had permission as they hold a street licence for the appropriate week”. He stated “We hadn’t been given permission from Sainbury’s”. I told him it was not necessary as we were not on their property, I was on the public footpath/highway. He then stated I was on their Loading Bay, so I informed him that the Loading Bay does not belong to Sainsbury’s, it belongs to the Council who have placed it there for the use of traders on the High Street who require to use it during opening hours, not necessarily for the sole use of Sainsbury’s. I have lived in the town for over 30 years and have never heard of any trader objecting to collectors standing in the street – in fact previous owners of the store, i.e. Somerfields and Budgens, have even offered a warm cup of tea. The manager stated it was Sainsbury’s policy as they run their own weeks with different charities, and so they might, but that is in-store. I and other volunteers were outside, not on their property. How sad that Sainsbury’s Local in the heart of Buntingford seems no longer to have one? I would like to say a big Thank You to all of the local people who approached me to put money in my collection tin. It just proves that Buntingford Town has a big heart, even if the Sainsbury’s Local has not. Yours faithfully, Jackie Durrant

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Dear Christine Buntingford Scout Group would like to thank everyone who supported our recent fundraising event at the Co-op on Saturday 12th March. We are pleased to announce that our Chocolate Tombola raised £403. Thank you to everyone involved. Jo McNamara, Group Scout Leader

Dear Christine, Since I wrote in last month’s edition there have been some developments in our campaign to save our library. The Herts County Council Cabinet Panel met on 9th March to consider the feasibility study they had commissioned as to whether it was possible to co-locate four libraries (including Buntingford) with the local retained fire station. In the event it was agreed that the libraries at Wheathampstead, Sawbridgeworth and Redborn would move, but because we had put forward an alternative proposal for Buntingford it was decided to defer that decision until the summer. We had sent our proposal to the Chairman of the Panel but she had not shared it with the other members and they wanted to see it. So decision day will not be until they meet again in June. In the meantime it is proposed that the County’s scheme and our own proposal will both be exhibited in the library so residents can view them and express their views (and preference). We have not seen the County’s proposal so cannot comment, although there is much in their figures that underlie their concept which we can question. So do go along to the library in April when it is expected that the exhibition will take place. The library is currently a social and commercial hub of our community. It will be interesting to see if the County’s alternative, however glossy, will be able to be as effective. Sincerely, Brian Thompson

Dear Christine More of John I enjoyed reading last month’s profile of John Noades. As you may remember I also grew up in Buckland, now a long past memory. I wrote of the snow problems on Chipping Hill and the A10 in general in the late 50s and early 60s. In recent conversations with John I was reminded that he was one of the farm workers co-opted from the farm to run a snow plough up and down the A10 to keep just one lane open. He told me of his coat standing up on its own when he got home at night as it was completely frozen! I can of course remember his Dad as John looks so like him. We were not officially allowed in the cow sheds but occasionally had to sneak in to see the cows close up. As a teenager I met up with John and the many village kids at the Youth Club held in the village hall, which had been the school. At this time John had become the ‘Youth Leader’ and he never missed a night. Later I was to become the club treasurer and I stayed treasurer until I got engaged in 1964. It was my job to collect the subs and weekly to buy the latest hit 45 for our record player. I can remember us all stomping up and down the hall to the Shadows and also ‘Telstar’ belting out over and over again. During John’s captaincy we had dancing lessons from Bill Bunton of Buntingford. He taught us ballroom dancing and I was John’s partner. What I often smile about is the fact that whilst doing the quick step he warned me in advance if he was going to do a reverse turn as a it was a difficult move and my feet were all over the place. A true Gent. Our dear village hall/school is now a beautiful residence. The walls could tell of a great deal of noise, fun and laughter on a Thursday night. Thanks John. Sandra

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Not enough hours in the day? Need admin support but not another member of staff? Let me help! About Me 20 years administration, customer service and sales support experience including B2B and B2C Long and short term projects undertaken including:  Database Management  Spreadsheets  Invoicing / Chasing Debt  Travel Arrangements  Data Input  Quotes  Proofreading  Appointment Scheduling  Mailshots  Internet Research Email: [email protected] Rachel Adams, Baldock Road, Buntingford – 07977 922074

SIR OLIVER HEALD QC MP MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR NORTH EAST HERTFORDSHIRE will be holding his next MP’s surgery in Buntingford on Friday 13th May 2016, 5.00-6.30pm 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

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

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OPEN MORNINGS At Buntingford Bowls Club Wyddial Road Come along and have a go! You never know, you might really enjoy it! Sunday 1st May & Monday 2nd May 10.00am to 12.00noon

Just pop in for a cuppa, chat and have a go.

Free Lessons in May ‘Bowls for Beginners’ At Buntingford Bowls Club, Wyddial Road

YES, they really are FREE. Just come along with flat shoes and we will provide all the equipment, we even have spare shoes if needed Sessions start at 6pm and last for up to 2 hours. Do not worry if you cannot make them all as you will soon catch up

Thursdays 5th and 12th, Wednesday 18th and Thursday 26th May

Try TENNIS for Free! Sundays 10am –12noon, April to October Thursdays 7pm to 8pm, May to September

Just turn up at the tennis courts at Norfolk Road Playing Fields, Bowling Green Lane, Buntingford SG9 9BT. All welcome. Any questions? Email [email protected]

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

I start this month with some disappointing news: Wheatley Homes have succeeded in their appeal to build a further 180 dwellings on the Land to the South of Hare Street Road. This will bring the total number of dwellings on the former arable field to 285, with access through Snells Mead for a further 100 dwellings and a new access off Hare Street Road for the remaining 80. We still await the decision on the appeal for Land East of Aspenden Road, expected in late March. Plans to commemorate the Queens 90th Birthday are moving apace and we will announce in the May issue of the Journal just what shape these plans will take. If any of our members or readers have any ideas about what we should do then please feel free to contact us. Hertfordshire Countryside Management Service are organising a series of walks around the Hertfordshire Countryside for the Hertfordshire Walking Festival. Buntingford has been chosen as one of the venues for a walk in May. More details can be found on the Herts County Council website, just search for ‘Hertfordshire Walking Festival’. Finally, it is the Civic Society’s AGM this month (see notice below). Madela Baddock has kindly agreed to be our guest speaker on the evening and she will be talking about ‘Transition Towns’. Hope to see you there. Graham Waite Chairman Buntingford Civic Society

Buntingford Civic Society (Reg. Charity No. 1014873)

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of Buntingford Civic Society will take place on Tuesday, 19th April 2016, at 7.30pm in Benson Hall, Buntingford. Following the business of the meeting, there will be a short talk by Madela Baddock on Buntingford In Transition. Light refreshments will be served at the end of the meeting. Non-Members welcome

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Christ Church

Baldock Road, Buntingford SG9 9AA

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

May 1 Morning Worship Rev Dr Janet Tollington

Tea and coffee is served in the hall following the morning service. REGULAR EVENTS Junior Church – Sunday at 11am during term time, all young people and children are welcome. Bible Study Meeting – On the second Wednesday of each month in the Hall. The format is lunch from 12:30pm (bring your own food, tea & coffee will be provided), then Bible Study commences at 1pm and finishes prompt at 2pm. We will be discussing events in a newspaper and seeing how they relate to the Bible. All are welcome. Bright Hour – The next meetings are on Tuesday 12th and 26th April at 2:30pm in the Church Hall. A time for fellowship with prayers, hymns and activities. Coffee & Company – Every Thursday from 10:30am for anyone wanting fellowship and time for a chat. Lunches organised by Christian Aid – First Friday of the month,12:30 to 2:00pm.

www.buntingfordurc.freeserve.co.uk

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

HOLY MASS each Sunday at 9:15am Holy Days at 10am and 8pm Weekdays at 9:30pm Saturdays at 10am

CONFESSIONS are each Saturday from 10:30 to 11am

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United Benefice of St. Mary's – Aspenden St. Peter's – Buntingford St. Mary the Virgin – Westmill Church of England Reverend Ian Hill – Telephone 01763 274072 There is a full and varied pattern of worship across the three churches: St. Peter’s in Buntingford has a more contemporary style; St. Mary’s in Aspenden has a more traditional style; St. Mary the Virgin in Westmill has a more liturgical style. Everyone is welcome at any of our churches. Services for April 2016 Sun 3rd 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

Sun 10th 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

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

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

EVENTS IN REED VILLAGE HALL Proceeds in aid of the maintenance of the Village Hall. PUB NIGHT & DISCO Saturday 2nd April, 8-11pm £5 adults. Nibbles, Bar and Raffle. It will be a help if you let us know if you would like to come. Ring Hazel on 01763 848349 SPRING QUIZ NIGHT Saturday 30th April, 7.30pm Fish or Chicken & Chips £11, kids sharing £6. Bar & Raffle. Order your choice of supper before the 23rd please! Ring Di on 01763 848484

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Margaret Gardiner of White Hart Close, a regular Journal reader, rang me to say “Did I know that it was 25 years ago this year that Mr Basra took over the Post Office in Buntingford and would I be marking this milestone in the Journal?” Thus prompted, I contacted Val Hume to see if she had done a Profile of Mr Basra in the past, which of course she had, just over a decade ago, then I arranged a conversation myself with Mr & Mrs Basra to bring their story up to date. My thanks to them for their time and hospitality and to Val for the original article. CN

25 YEARS IN BUNTINGFORD Just over 20 years after coming to England from India, Surjit Singh Basra was looking around for a new business opportunity. He already had experience of running shops and saw potential in the Post Office in Buntingford. After two weeks training – one week for him and one for his eldest son – they were in business. It was 1991. Now 25 years on, not only have the family made Buntingford their home but it’s hard to imagine the town without them. Surjit was born into a Sikh family in the village of Ghurka in the Julandhar Punjab, northwest India, on 7th October 1950. His father, Sardar Kehar Singh, was head of the village, a very well-educated man, a landowner and local landlord. He was also a famous footballer, having captained both his college team and the province team. Surjit’s mother, Darshan Kaur Basra, was Sardar’s second wife whom he married, with his first wife’s blessing, following the sad death of his first son at the age of 18. Surjit was Darshan’s first-born, followed by three more boys – Gurmit, Gurchranjit and Balwinder Singh – and a daughter, Balwinder Kaur. Surjit also had an older half-sister, the daughter of his step- mother whom he called his ‘elder mother’. With his father as head of the village Surjit enjoyed a privileged childhood and an education, but his father was also generous to a fault. He constantly exceeded his income, often to help others, and by the time Surjit was in his teens his father had sold off most of his land to pay debts. Surjit decided his prospects would be better in England. He left India in December 1968, aged just 18, but before he went a marriage was arranged for him to 16 year old Satwant Seto Kaur. Satwant had moved to England with her parents in 1959, when she was just 7, and the family lived in Letchworth. The couple met briefly but had little contact before they married. The civil ceremony took place in Hitchin on 7th February 1969, with the Indian ceremony – the “real wedding” – over a year later, in Letchworth, on 26th April 1970. The newly married Mr & Mrs Basra lived for a few months in Nottingham with his uncle, where Surjit worked for a while as a bus conductor, then they moved back to Letchworth to live with Satwant’s parents. He worked for ICL, she worked at the Kayser Bondor factory, and before long they were able to buy their first home in Hitchin – a tiny house with no bathroom, but it was theirs and they were happy. Their two sons were born there – Kanwaljit Singh (known as ‘Baz’) in 1972 and Jaspal Singh (‘Jassi’) in 1976. Surjit’s brothers also came to England during this time and though they weren’t much older Mr & Mrs Basra were like parents to them. Financially life was a struggle. As well as working, the couple did piecework sewing at home late into the night for a couple of years until they had saved enough money to set up a business. In 1981 they opened a shop in Letchworth. That same year Surjit’s father came to visit them from India and while he was here went for a check-up at the doctors. He died suddenly, sitting in a chair in the doctor’s waiting room. Surjit could hardly believe it. The strong, athletic, generous father he had loved and looked up to all his life was gone in an instant. Shortly after, his mother came to live with them. In 1986 they moved to Bedford where their daughter Sukhjeevan Kaur (‘Suki’) was born and they were still living there when they took on the Buntingford Post Office. They 16

commuted daily for 5 years, then in 1996 moved into the flat above the shop. Over the next few years, the business expanded into the supermarket, stationers and generally useful shop we know today. Mrs Basra, a keen cook, began preparing a selection of tasty dishes for the shop – they are sold frozen, except for the daily samosas (my favourite snack, if they’re not sold out!). They now employ 16 staff, all of whom live locally in Buntingford. In 2001 the Basras bought a family house in Bowling Green Lane. Mr Basra recalls it needed a lot of work but he could see its potential to be a beautiful home, and after about a year of renovation and alteration the house was ready to move into. Mr Basra was also starting to get involved in local politics. He was first persuaded onto the Town Council by Eunice Woods and has since served as both a Town Councillor and East Herts District Councillor. In addition, the Town Council have elected him Town Mayor three times. He became a Governor of Freman College when Suki was a student there, a role he held for 10 years. He says he liked to think he was giving something Mr & Mrs Basra photographed during back to the community, but he was working one of Mr. Basra’s stints as Mayor. too hard and a few years ago suffered two heart attacks which forced him to slow down and step down from his public roles. Now fully recovered he has been persuaded back onto the Town Council once more. Meanwhile, their family have grown up. Baz and Jassi both inherited their grandfather’s sporting genes and shone at rugby. In his younger days Baz played for Northampton, a Premiership side, then latterly for Hertford Rugby Club, where he still plays and coaches, while Jassi played for the British Police Squad. Baz now runs his own business, but Jassi gave up his job as a police officer to run the shop when his father was ill. He would like to return to his career when it is possible. Suki, the only one of the three to be educated entirely in state schools, became the first in the family to go to university, gaining her degree in English from Leicester University. She is now a teacher. Although theirs was a successful and happy arranged marriage, Mr and Mrs Basra would not dream of trying to influence their children’s choice of partner. So far only the sons have married and there are now three grandchildren – the youngest boy, playing around us as we chat, is clearly the apple of his grandmother’s eye! Mr and Mrs Basra have achieved what they have today by sheer hard work, but they can’t keep on working forever and at some point the shop will be sold. Even then Mr Basra says he doesn’t want to live anywhere but Buntingford. He has returned to India from time to time, often to help in some way – he transformed a track in his birth village into a proper road, now named for his father, and helped to fund a local school – but it’s no longer his home, his heart is in Buntingford. It’s been a long road for an 18 year old who arrived in England with £2.50 in his pocket, but he made a good choice 25 years ago when he spotted a vacant Post Office in Buntingford. Christine Noble

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BUNTINGFORD HERITAGE CENTRE

How well do you know Buntingford High Street?

On these pages and in the next two issues of the Journal, 30 photographs showing details of Buntingford High Street will be printed – 10 in each issue (April, May and June). The first 10 are on the page opposite. See if you can recognise all of the pictures and identify what properties they are on. In co-operation with the Buntingford Chamber of Commerce there is a prize for the person who gets all 30 right and is the first to be drawn out of the hat on Saturday 25th June 2016. Entry forms can be obtained from The Cheese Plate, from other shops in the High Street displaying the entry form in the window, and from the Town Clerk in the Manor House. Completed entry forms should be handed in to Toby Archer at The Cheese Plate by Friday 24th June 2016. The 30 pictures form the Current Display at the Heritage Centre in the Manor House foyer. The answers will be on display at the Heritage Centre from July. Ashley Cantor Chairman Buntingford Heritage Centre COME AND VISIT US IN THE MANOR HOUSE FOYER

Buntingford School of Dance Dances for the Red Cross! It has been a busy and exciting start to 2016 for Buntingford School of Dance. The students have already worked extremely hard for their Ballet and Tap exams, taken in February, which resulted in another fantastic 100% pass rate! Not content to rest on their laurels, BSD pupils are now putting their talent to good use for charity, by entering a national dance competition with the aim of raising money for the Red Cross. ‘Dance – Make your Move’ is a competition which is designed to raise as much money as possible for people in crisis. Twenty children from the dance school have formed a team, ‘BSD Company’, and will compete at the University of Hertfordshire in Hatfield on 11th June. The dance teachers and administrators of the school are giving their time to choreograph the dance and organise the effort. We hope that local business may want to support our fundraising effort! If so, please contact Zoe at Buntingford School of Dance at [email protected] for more information. Thank you in advance!! Good luck to all the BSD dancers! For more information about the event, please see the Red Cross website; www.redcross.org.uk/Get-involved/Events/Dance-Make-Your-Move

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BALFF (Buntingford Adult Learning For Fun) BRUGES, BRUSSELS + THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT Departing Monday 19th September 2016 WHAT’S INCLUDED: 3 days / 2 nights • Return executive coach travel from a departure point in Buntingford • Return Eurotunnel crossings • 2 nights bed & buffet breakfast at the 4* RAMADA BRUSSELS WOLUWE – all ensuite rooms • 3 course dinner at the hotel on day 1 • 3 course dinner at a local restaurant in Brussels on day 2 • A 2 hour visit to the Parlamentarium in Brussels, plus visits to Bruges & Ypres and guided coach & walking tour of the historic old city centre of Brussels • Guided tour of The European Parliament. The cost of the trip is £309, but a refund of 125 Euros will go to everyone who attends the Parliament. If anyone is interested or would like more details please call Julia on 01763 272584 Mrs Julia Peacock (Chairman of BALFF) Yew Tree Lodge, 102 High St, Buntingford, Herts SG9 9AJ. Tel 01763 272584

Fundraising Events for April 2016 Sat 2nd Apr – ONE TRUE GRIT at Benington Lordship, High Elms Lane SG2 7DG 8am–5pm. Could you take on 10ft walls, barbed wire, tunnels, water, scramble nets, mud and even more mud in this fantastic charity obstacle challenge over 5k or 10k? If you think you have what it takes, contact Megan on 01707 382500 to sign up. Fri 15th Apr – AUCTION OF PROMISES at Wodson Park, Ware 7–10.30pm. Something for everyone to buy. For tickets call Shirley 01920 467194. Fri 22nd Apr – SQUARE DANCE at Presdales School, Hoe Lane, Ware 8–11.30pm. Royston Lions Club invites you to another great Pete Skiffins Square Dance. Licensed bar & raffle. Tickets £13 including fish & chip supper plus a choc ice. Email Keith at [email protected] or phone 01763 231492. Sun 24th Apr – CHARITY TENNIS TOURNAMENT in Buntingford, SG9 9BT 10am–noon at Norfolk Road Playing Fields. All tennis players welcome. It will be doubles – just turn up then names go into a hat. There are three astro-turf courts. Bring a picnic for afterwards. Details from [email protected] Tues 26th Apr – HAILEYBURY GALA CONCERT at Hertford Heath, SG13 7NN 7–10.30pm. Join us at Haileybury School for a chilled and informal evening of jazz standards and solos performed by the talented students. Tickets £25. Contact Beth Hardy on 01707 382500 or by email [email protected] Sat 30th Apr & Sun 1st May – CHARITY ABSEIL at Church Langley Water Tower 12.30–5.30pm Sat, 9.30am–4.30pm Sun at the Affinity Water Tower, Church Langley, Harlow. Now in it’s 19th year! Cost £35. Minimum age 16 years. Interested? Then call Bill Colton on 07711 982671 or email [email protected] See the Isabel Hospice website for full details of all fundraising events. www.isabelhospice.org.uk

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Buntingford In Transition News Buntingford in Transition is one of many Hertfordshire Transition Town groups which have been working alongside the Hertfordshire Sustainability Forum (HSF) to promote a more sustainable county. HSF was originally formed in 1992 and was known as the Hertfordshire Environment Forum (HEF) until its merger with the Herts Climate Change Partnership. It is a county-wide strategic group of local authorities, third sector organisations and other partners working to raise awareness of environmental and sustainability issues across Hertfordshire. The Forum aims to bring together decision-makers to develop environmental policies for the benefit of Hertfordshire as a whole and to raise awareness of key sustainability issues. HSF is hosted on rotation by the member authorities and is currently hosted by East Herts District Council and meets quarterly. I attended the most recent meeting with a delegate from Transition Town Letchworth to represent Transition Towns in Hertfordshire. The agenda included a presentation on the latest ‘Quality of Life’ report which includes sections on Climate Change, Wildlife and Biodiversity and can be found at http://www.hertslis.org/env/qualityoflife/ There was also a presentation on air pollution and I was surprised to learn that Hertfordshire has the highest mortality rate from air pollution (6%), partly due to the county having the highest rate of car ownership in the UK – with East Herts being the highest within Hertfordshire. Due to the seriousness of the issue, measures are being taken to attempt to mitigate the damage to health. The full report can be found at: www.hertsdirect.org/docspdf/a/airqualitystrategicplan.pdf. This data makes it all the more important that we look into ways we can reduce the amount of car use in the county. Sustainable Transport is one of the subjects that the Transition Streets projects look at and car sharing is already working for a few Buntingford residents. Among the other reports was one from ‘Green Our Herts’, one of the working groups of HSF, which focuses on education and promotion. They have been busy producing helpful guides (right) on ways to improve the county’s sustainability – you can download a copy from http:// hertssustainability.org.uk/green-our-herts/4589511095 As a Transition Town group, we are looking forward to working more closely with other Transition Towns in Hertfordshire and the Hertfordshire Sustainability Forum. In the meantime, we are delighted to have been asked to make a presentation on Buntingford in Transition at this year’s Civic Society AGM on 19th April at Benson Hall. To find out more about what we do, please contact me at [email protected] or call me on 01763 272255. Madela Baddock PS: Quick update on the ‘Keep our Library on the High Street Campaign’. Herts County Council have already agreed to re-locate the libraries at Sawbridgeworth, Redbourn and Wheathampsted into their local Fire Stations but, because of our Petition, they are holding off a decision on Buntingford pending a consultation/exhibition at the Fire Station and the Library in – we think – April. They have agreed to allow us to exhibit our own plans for improving the High Street Library at the same time to give the people of Buntingford an informed choice in the matter. We are hoping that the Town Council will agree to support our Campaign at the Full Council meeting on 31st March.

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Buntingford Town Council A QUALITY TOWN COUNCIL

Unfortunately, Wheatley Homes Areas 2 and 3 have now officially been granted planning permission at appeal. This will result in approximately 100 houses being built for Area 2 and 80 houses for Area 3. The Aspenden Bridge development for approximately 56 dwellings is still at appeal, with no decision date confirmed at the time of writing. The Neighbourhood Plan continues to progress and is nearing completion. Once the final document has been completed, it will go to East Herts District Council for a 6 week consultation period, followed by examination by an inspector and then a referendum. If the document is supported by the local people at referendum, it will be ‘made’ by the local planning authority. The Council have recently commissioned the installation of an outdoor gym at Norfolk Road Playing Field. The gym will consist of 6 different pieces of equipment, which aim to improve strength and balance and promote fitness and exercise. The equipment is suitable for most people to use. With Police and Crime Commissioner Elections coming up on Thursday 5th May and the EU Referendum on 23rd June, the polling station for Buntingford will be The Manor House. Polling will be open from 7am to 10pm. The Annual Town Meeting will be held at the Community Centre on Thursday 21st April at 7.45pm. The meeting is open to all residents of the town and invitations have been sent to all local organisations. If your organisation has not received an invitation, please contact the Clerk’s Office. Jill Jones MILCM Cert HE, Town Clerk Office hours: Monday –Thursday 9:00am– 5:00pm; closed Fridays The Manor House, High Street, Buntingford SG9 9AB Tel: 01763 272222 email: [email protected] Twitter: @buntingfordtc www.buntingford-tc.gov.uk

Town Council meetings for April 2016

Thurs 7th Apr 7:30pm – Amenities Committee

Thurs 14th Apr 7:30pm – Planning Committee 8:00pm – Resources Committee Thurs 21st Apr 7:45pm – Annual Town Meeting at the Seth Ward Community Centre, Luynes Rise

Thurs 28th Apr 7:30pm – Planning Committee 8:00pm – Full Council

All meetings will be held at The Manor House unless otherwise stated. Members of the public are welcome to attend. Please check the Town Council website for further details.

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News from Your District Councillor Clean for the Queen On Saturday 5th March I had arranged a litter pick in Buntingford to support the national Clean for the Queen campaign as our contribution to the 90th birthday initiative HM supported. It was good to see many volunteers give up a Saturday morning to help make Buntingford a cleaner place to live and work. A total of 20 sacks were filled with litter from across the town. East Herts Council loaned us the equipment and arranged collection of the full sacks. Buntingford has regular street sweepers and litter pickers who do an excellent job, but they are unable to reach every nook and cranny. It is very heartening to see that many residents are keen to get up and take action themselves with litter issues. Seeing a litter-free town will hopefully discourage people from discarding litter and instead place it in the many bins that have been provided. Many thanks to all those that gave up their time to help make Buntingford a cleaner place. Hopefully we can extend this campaign to a regular twice yearly event …? Visit to the European Parliament We still have space available for the trip I have arranged to the European Parliament in Brussels to meet our Euro MP Vicky Ford and witness the European Parliament in session. It will be a Eurostar day trip on Wednesday 27th April, leaving Buntingford at 6am to board the 8.20am Eurostar to Brussels and arriving in time for lunch at noon. The afternoon visit to the European Parliament will be a 1½ hour escorted visit with Vicky Ford and an hour session in the gallery. We intend returning on the 7.40pm Eurostar arriving in London at 9.30pm and should be back in Buntingford around 11pm. There is a certain amount of sponsorship funding available for these visits, depending on the numbers. If you are interested in joining me on this visit, please contact me for further information. With the upcoming referendum on staying or exiting the EU, this may be the last chance to see our MEPs in action. East Herts Council Budget 2016/17: some highlights COUNCIL TAX I am pleased to confirm that there will be no rise in the East Herts element of Council Tax for this forthcoming year, making this the sixth successive year that this Council has held or reduced its Council Tax charge. However we recognise that this is not sustainable in the longer term, and our Medium Term Financial Plan is for a modest increase of 1% in 2017/18 and again in the following two years. This is in line with the change of view from central government: during the last administration local authorities were incentivised to freeze Council Tax, but now we are being encouraged to use increases to help fill funding gaps. NEW HOMES BONUS In the last financial year we used our Priority Spend Reserve, financed through the 25% top-slicing of New Homes Bonus receipts, to fund some key projects. In particular, we put £100,000 into public health funding and we will do the same this coming year, matching funding from Hertfordshire County Council to give a

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£400,000 pot to support local groups and projects promoting public health. Other uses of the reserve this year have been to fund Environmental Health promotions, and to support Buntingford and Sawbridgeworth town councils by funding the extension of our free parking schemes to their town car parks. Changes to the New Homes Bonus scheme are currently in consultation with amounts paid to local authorities likely to be reduced in future, possibly by the Bonus being paid for just four years instead of six as at present. Therefore the use of the New Homes Bonus by this Council in future years will need to be considered, but for 2016/17 we are maintaining our present policy of putting 50% of New Homes Bonus receipts towards our revenue budget, 25% to our Priority Spend Reserve to fund key future projects, with the remaining 25% going through our towns and parishes to support local projects. INVESTMENTS/COMMERCIAL There is a clear desire for the Council to pursue more commercial opportunities. We already have initiatives such as the potential Shared Building Control Service and the CCTV Partnership, but with reduced funding from central government it is open for the Council to look elsewhere for sources of income, and in line with the approach now being taken by many local authorities we are exploring ways we can invest directly into projects, taking a more commercial stance and adopting a role that has traditionally been left to the private sector. Furthermore, we will look to use our financial resources in the best way to get the optimum return from investment. Of course the big news last year was our purchase of Old River Lane in Bishop’s Stortford, which is a good, if extreme, example of how we have already achieved financial success through investment as it is providing excellent returns, contributing income equivalent to 5.4% of our revenue budget. Our control of the site allows us to take a long-term view on how it should develop, and consider a wider, more holistic approach to how any such development should integrate with future planning within the town centre. In 2015 we were able to invest £20m across two property funds and these are performing above expectations: at a return of 3-4% the investment income is more than offsetting the cash used to purchase Old River Lane, whilst the capital value of the funds is increasing at a rate of 6-7% per annum. OTHER SUCCESSES We have also been able to support local community groups and individuals in other ways. In this current year we have helped 14 young people through our Performance to Excellence Programme; we have given grants to 21 voluntary groups through the Summer Activities Fund; and 90 more groups have benefitted from our Community Activities or Capital Grants schemes, all of which together adds up to community funding by this Council of £140,000. Furthermore, in 2012 we were one of the first councils to offer a Local Authority Mortgage Scheme for first-time buyers and so far we have helped 19 new homeowners to get their feet on the property ladder. Cllr Jeff Jones, 01763 274800, [email protected]

Community Grants Available East Herts Council is pleased to announce the launch of a special Queens 90th Birthday grants programme. Grants of up to £300 are available. The closing date for applications is Friday 15th April. Every year, the council also provides grants to organisations putting on fun activities for children and young people over the summer holidays. The deadline to apply to the Summer Activities Fund 2016 is Tuesday 5th April. To find out more about these opportunities and others or to download an application go to: www.eastherts.gov.uk/grants

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Red Kites over Buntingford For the past few years I have seen red kites soaring over the A507 near Baldock and over the A10 between Buckland and Reed. So I was delighted to see one recently circling the Community Centre playing fields in Buntingford The red kite (Milvus milvus) has been described as “the most beautiful bird of prey in Britain”. It is unmistakable with its reddish-brown body, angled wings and deeply forked tail; the adult wingspan can reach 160cm (over 5ft). It was saved from national extinction by one of the world's longest-running protection programmes and is now seen in many parts of Britain. Red kites have now been successfully re-introduced into Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire and Hertfordshire. Red kites inhabit broadleaf woodlands, farmland and valleys and can often be seen drifting over both arable crops and grassland in their hunt for food. They are primarily scavengers, taking a wide range of animal carrion. Kites also take live prey in the form of small mammals, birds and earthworms. In the past, wrongly so, red kites were blamed for killing game and livestock and were persecuted relentlessly. They are now a protected species and fines for killing a bird or taking their eggs are considerable and could even leave a guilty person liable to imprisonment. In 1999 the red kite was named 'Bird of the Century' by the British Trust for Ornithology. Let us hope that despite the overdevelopment of Buntingford we will continue to enjoy the countryside that surrounds us and still see its wildlife coming into our town. Brian Lemay

DON’T FORGET IT IS BUNTINGFORD CARNIVAL THIS YEAR AND THE THEME IS ‘ANIMAL ANTICS’. ENTERTAINMENT IS BOOKED AND STALL SPACE IS SELLING FAST. PHONE ASHLEY ON 01763 272177 FOR MORE INFO, OR PHONE HELEN ON 01763 271176 FOR INFO ON STALLS OR THE PROCESSION. SEE YOU ALL THERE ON 18TH JUNE!

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The following article is drawn from a blog written by James Wyld of Wyld Farm, Great Hormead, for The Hormeads and Hare Street Newsletter. I thought Journal readers might also appreciate the insight it offers into the farming year around us, but unfortunately for me the deadlines for the Journal have not so far coincided with James writing his blog. Hopefully this will change in the future, but for now what follows is a retrospective look at his activities and concerns during February and March. My thanks to James and to Chrissie Withers for supplying the text and the photo of James. CN

The year so far on Wyld Farm, Hormead Back in early February we were carefully following the weather forecasts hoping for several nights of hard frost, at least -3°C, with daytime temperatures no higher than zero. We needed this cold snap for several reasons. First it would give us the opportunity to sow the last remaining field to be drilled with a quality wheat. We need a hard frost to carry the weight of the machinery on the otherwise sodden ground. Although the wheat will be slow to germinate, it will be in the ground ready to grow as soon as soil temperatures rise. As a result the yield should exceed a spring drilled crop, where drilling is delayed until the land is sufficiently dry to carry the machinery. Generally soil temperatures and radiation levels will promote crop growth well before the land has sufficiently dried out to permit drilling. We managed to drill a large field with spring wheat on the frost in Little Hormead, but the frost came out before we finished so the last hectare of seed was scattered across the surface and harrowed in. The Barons were also busy in Little Hormead towards the end of February, drilling their winter beans. Their light-footed crawler tractors were able to travel where conventional wheeled tractors couldn’t. As a result the beans have gone into a well-structured soil and should get away as soon as temperatures warm up. We also had a backlog of hedge cutting – again we need a hard frost to carry the weight of the tractor and hedge trimmer. The lack of a cold snap in 2013 and 2014, with the warm wet weather this winter, meant that some hedges had not been trimmed for over 3 years. The window for hedge cutting is between October and February – hedge cutting is not permitted outside of these dates to ensure that nests are not disturbed during the breeding season. Another factor is that the red berries (haws) in the hedgerows are the most important winter food for many farmland birds, so farmers have to find a balance between maintaining hedges in a neat and tidy condition and the retention of haws as a very important source of food. Farmers strike this balance by cutting hedges in rotation every second or third year. I prefer to delay hedge cutting until as late as possible so that the birds’ larder remains as full as possible, for as long as possible. A hedge about 2 to 3 metres tall with a wide bottom provides a warm corridor for ground- nesting birds. Its vigorous growth is good for production of berries and the height provides safe nesting sites. It's best to create an 'A' shaped hedge to shed snow; a flat- topped hedge is easily broken under its weight. Allow a hedge to grow too tall and it becomes leggy, it loses its warm base and becomes liable to wind throw and doesn't produce such a good crop of berries. However, a few trees in a hedgerow make for important birds’ song posts. A final note on hawthorn: there are two types in our landscape, common and midland hawthorn. Midland hawthorn has two pips in the haw, whilst there is only one in common hawthorn. When you are next out walking beside a hawthorn hedge, check it out. My theory is that common hawthorn is found in ancient hedgerows, while midland is a sign of hedgerows less than 200 years old. But where the two varieties are found together they can hybridise making them difficult to tell apart. A cold snap also increases the efficacy of most autumn-applied herbicides, provided that the weed plants haven't grown too strong which, unfortunately, is the problem this year.

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I have never known the crops so proud going into the winter and I am concerned that a hard frost will damage both the wheat and rape crops. However, a covering of snow makes a good blanket against the frozen blasts of a north wind, so a bit of snow is welcome. Apparently the plot in the film ‘Groundhog Day’ has been adapted to promote health and well being. You are advised to take a walk along the same route at the same time each day making a conscious effort to observe your surroundings and what is different each day. In my case, every James with Lorna, his homemade morning I strike out across the field at implement for dealing with blackgrass the back of the house for the rape fields beyond, with the specific goal of scaring (below, photo Kurt Stüber, sourced pigeons. The dog, who is built for comfort from Wikipedia). not for speed, comes with me on dry and frosty mornings, but forget it when it's raining or wet underfoot – the warmth of the kitchen is more inviting. I make a conscious effort to note that the aconites are out along with the snowdrops, but so are the daffs and the blackthorn blossom which is very early. The green woodpecker has recently been busy drilling for ants, and I think I can hear a lesser spotted woodpecker marking out its territory. The red kite makes its weoo weoo weoo call overhead. But in reality my attention is drawn to the amount of black- grass growing in the crop; I wonder do gardeners enjoy their gardens or do you just see all the weeds to be pulled? Blackgrass is one of the most prolific weeds on arable farms, especially in autumn-sewn fields, using up nutrients needed by the crops. The problem now is that the blackgrass plants are too big to be controlled out of a can so I try and take Lorna with me. Lorna is my own blackgrass weeding tool fabricated from a combine lifter, a bit of steel water pipe, a shovel handle holder and a broomstick. James Wyld

Barn Dance in Reed The Friends of Reed Church will host a barn dance on Saturday 11th June 2016 at Queenbury Barn with Dance Caller Peter Sifkins. Entry from 7:30pm. Wild West food and licensed bar. Tickets to be purchased in advance: Adult £20; children under 14 £10; family ticket £50. Numbers are limited to 100, so get yours early from: Emma Weatherhead 07952 785605 Liz Jakeman 01763 848398 Mike Howes 01763 848029

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BUNTINGFORD GARDENERS’ CLUB Our March meeting was our AGM which was reasonably well attended in spite of colds etc. and nervousness that they might be persuaded to stand for election to the committee. We now have a new Secretary, Lesley Lowers, who has been an enthusiastic and hardworking member of the committee. I hope we do not overload her! We also welcomed Liz Rogers on to the committee. Members were told that the committee has organised two coach trips for this year: Wednesday 15th June to Chenies Manor in the morning then on to The Rose Gardens in St Albans in the afternoon; and on Wednesday 21st September there is a trip to Bressingham Gardens. For information or to book a seat please call Lesley Lowers on 01763 271885. Our fundraising activities were outlined for the benefit of newer members. This way we are able to keep our subscription at the same price as the last few years. In the autumn we gave members three daffodil bulbs and a pot and asked them to grow the bulbs and bring them to our meeting in March. Well, we had quite a few at various stages, from in full flower to hardly showing through the soil. Members judged the entries and the joint winners were Lesley and Liz. Well done to both of them and thanks to all members who took part. Our meeting next month, on 6th April, is our Members’ exhibition when we have an opportunity to show our various skills from horticulture through to our own special interest or hobbies. We also pay our annual subscription. Visitors are always welcome; we meet at 7.45 for 8pm at the URC Hall, Baldock Road, Buntingford. Margaret Howarth Club Chair: Janet Murrells

Thursday 5th May to Sunday 15th May Young Musicians’ Concert Impressions – From Ravel to Rota James Pearson – More Moore!! Phoenix Ladies Barbershop Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers Experience For tickets and more information go to: www.ashwellmusicfestival.org.uk Box Office: 01462 743289

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GARDEN OPEN AFTERNOON SATURDAY 21ST MAY, 2–5pm At GREAT HORMEAD BURY In aid of Great Hormead Church

Walks, talks, stalls and teas in a brand-new garden planted only four years ago at the Bury, next to Great Hormead Church, in what was once ancient parkland. The garden’s designer, Gill Chamberlain, a lecturer at Kew, will be there (fresh from planting that morning at Chelsea) and will be available to answer questions on this garden, or your own. There will be walks through the park, a gardeners’ trail, a treasure hunt for the children and cream teas on sale.  Admission £5 (children free)  Free car parking  Walks, Gardeners’ trail  Children’s treasure hunt  Plant stall  Raffle for Chelsea Flower Show tickets (Thursday 26th May)  Exhibition and Sale by local artists taking inspiration from Nature  Cream Teas with homemade scones

Entrance is via the Bury’s front drive, on the B1038 opposite Hormead School.

Sorry, no dogs please. For more information, ring Sarah on 07768 848560.

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

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The following article was supplied by Curwens LLP, a local firm of solicitors with offices in Royston, Hoddesdon and Enfield Increase in Stamp Duty on Second Properties March has been a very busy month in our property department and it is probably the same in many other solicitors firms across the country. This is due to the increases in Stamp Duty Land Tax coming into effect on 1st April 2016 when buying a second residential property. Now you might think the increase only applies to property developers and those looking to rent out an investment property – but that is not the case. Could any of the following scenarios apply to you?  Buying a new home, but using bridging finance as you have not yet managed to sell your old home?  Purchasing a buy-to-let property to boost your pension income but still owning your own home?  Buying a small holiday home somewhere in England for your own use?  Helping your children to get on the property ladder by buying a property jointly with them, whilst continuing to own your own home In all these situations you would technically own two or more residential properties at the same time. Many more people could be affected by this change than you think – make sure you get the right advice as the rules and regulations are rather complex. Everyone knows when they buy a property to budget for the Stamp Duty, legal fees and estate agent’s costs – but it is now more important than ever to check you can afford the Stamp Duty as it might be higher than you expected. To see the difference clearly, look at the table below showing the different rate of Stamp Duty Land Tax that you have to pay if you are buying a second residential property.

New rate on a 2nd Usual rate on one Property Value (or subsequent) residential property residential property £0 – £125,000 0% ("nil rate band") 3%

Over £125,000 – £250,000 2% 5%

Over £250,000 – £925,000 5% 8%

Over £925,000 – £1.5 million 10% 13% Over £1.5 million 12% 15%

If you need any assistance when purchasing a property, please contact us at Curwens LLP – your local firm of solicitors. www.curwens.co.uk 01763 241 261 – Royston 01992 463 727 – Hoddesdon 0208 363 4444 – Enfield

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

Utilities Overpayments QUESTION: “I have just received a £2,000 gas and electricity bill for payments going back two years. I’m not sure if I owe this money – what should I do?” The first thing you should do is work out whether your energy supplier has made a mistake. Your supplier may have the wrong meter reading, or your meter may not be working properly. They may even have sent you someone else’s bill. Take a meter reading then call your supplier to discuss your bill. If your supplier has not sent you an accurate bill for more than a year, they should not ask you to pay for more than 12 months’ usage. This is the ‘back-billing’ principle, which applies to all suppliers. Under the ‘back billing code’, your supplier can only charge you for a maximum of 12 months of energy use if they haven’t sent you a bill for over 1 year. For this to apply you must have:  already contacted your supplier and asked for a bill to be sent;  co-operated with any requests from your supplier, e.g. letting them visit your home to read your meter If you think your supplier is at fault but they are still trying to charge you for energy used more than 12 months ago, make a complaint. They should look into your case and provide an explanation. You may find that your supplier has billed you for the right amount and they are not at fault, particularly if you haven’t provided regular or accurate meter readings. In this case you will probably have to pay some or all of the money. If you don’t think you can afford to pay all at once, ask for a repayment plan. Tell your supplier how much you can afford each month. Be ready to give details of your income and regular spending. You may find it helpful to send them this information in writing too. You can find more information and a sample letter on our website under the heading ‘Consumer’ and then ‘Your energy supply’. If you feel that you need further advice or help negotiating with your supplier, get in touch with the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 040 506. © Copyright Citizens Advice. For the most up-to-date advice, please visit their website: www.citizensadvice.org.uk

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Buntingford Scout Group Quiz Night Saturday 23rd April 2016 Buntingford Scout Group Headquarters (Bowling Green Lane, next to cricket pavilion) 7pm for a prompt 7.30pm start Licensed Bar • Teams of up to 8 people £8 a ticket, including Hog Roast, from: Jo McNamara 01763 273335 or Ruth Vincent 01763 271909

Aubrey Barker, owner of Hopleys Garden Centre in Much Hadham, was our speaker in March and he told us about the highs and lows of preparing for and exhibiting at the famous Chelsea Flower Show. The garden centre was started by his parents, who were both doctors, in 1968. In 1971 they discovered Red Ace, a red Potentilla which is now grown throughout the world. Two new groups have started recently. One is ‘Keep Fit While You Sit’, an extension to our very popular Monday Keep Fit Group. The Seated Exercise Group is led by the same qualified instructors and will be weekly on Mondays at 2pm in Benson Hall. The other is a Music Appreciation group which got off to a successful start on the last Wednesday of the month. They meet at 2pm in Bunters, the upstairs room at the Seth Ward Community Centre. Our Bridge Group meets at Benson Hall on Tuesday mornings throughout the year including school holidays. You must be a member of Buntingford U3A and there is a weekly charge of £2 to cover costs. On Monday 11th April our speaker is John Hutchison on ‘My Life Flying Concorde and After’. We meet at the Seth Ward Community Centre – doors open 1.30pm. Please visit our Bridge is thirsty work! John Cook and Jean Hunter website for news and details at the Tuesday morning Bridge session. of all our Interest Groups. www.buntingfordU3A.co.uk

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

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Royston & Buntingford Children’s Centre Group is made up of Bramble Hill Children’s Centre in Mill Close, Buntingford, and Royston & Villages Children’s Centre in Royston. Both centres offer access to services for children under five years old and their families.

Our new ‘What’s on Guide’ is now available with 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, please give us a call. There are loads of ways you can keep up to date with everything that’s happening at both children’s centres – search for us on Facebook and ‘like’ the pages; call us on 01763 273008 (Bramble Hill) or 01763 243338 (Royston & Villages); or email us at [email protected] to be included on our mailing list. There’s info on our web pages too at www.oneymca.org. We look forward to seeing you.

charity@gravellybarn

Does It Matter? A 12-inch square for charity An open exhibition for famous and aspiring artists 27th-30th May 2016

£10 entrance fee to include canvas, hanging fee and private view invitation on 26th May. All canvases will be exhibited anonymously and sold for £45 each, with the proceeds going to 10 charities celebrating 10 years of exhibiting at Gravelly Barn. Submission date 6th May 2016 To get your booking form and canvas contact: [email protected] or 01920 822229 [email protected] or 01279 792571, or [email protected] or 01992 468789 www.gravellybarn.com

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Reed First School A small local school with a big heart Nestled in the beautiful rural setting of Reed, midway between Royston and Buntingford, sits Reed First School. With 49 pupils on the roll, the school plays a vibrant role in the local community and has done so for over one hundred years. Built in 1913, the school opened its doors on the 13th October after a local landowner, Mr. William Bysouth (right), kindly donated the land for the school to be built on. He was concerned that the children were forced to trudge across the fields to Barkway, and that this often meant declining attendance, especially in poor weather. Mr Bysouth also ensured that, once the school opened, the children were provided with fresh water for the first three months, to increase their health and well being. On that first day, 37 children joined the school, and Miss Eva Brett, at just 14 years old, was the first headmistress. Being part of a rural community meant the agricultural cycle played a crucial role in the history of the school. The school day ended at 3:35pm so the children could go haymaking, and to this day the children attend the Harvest Festival service in St Mary’s Church, where the local farmers poignantly read lines that include how they have been “bringing in the yield”. These community links have always been strong. During both World Wars, the children were encouraged to help with the war effort. In knitting classes the children created “woollen comforts” – socks, gloves, scarves and vests – that they sent to their adopted ship, the S.S. Romney, during World War Two. The sailors were so grateful they sent a box of oranges as a thank you, a real treat for the children who, due to rationing, hadn’t seen an orange for quite a few years. Over the hundred years, the building has expanded to accommodate the children’s needs. Starting as a single room divided by a screen, the school has grown two further classrooms adjacent to the original building, with a further mobile unit in the grounds that houses our Nursery and Reception children. And our plans for this small yet mighty school continue to grow: 2016 sees us launch a fundraising campaign to build an all- purpose library for the children, which will provide both the existing and future pupils of Reed First School with a rich and valuable asset for many years to come. We intend to dedicate the library to William Bysouth in recognition of his role in opening the school.

Friends of Reed School (FORS) The Bookworm Ball – Saturday 7th May, 7:30pm Our first ever black-tie ball to launch one of our biggest ever fundraising drives to build a library for the school. The ball will be held at the beautiful Sheene Mill. Tickets cost £55 which includes a three-course meal, disco and silent auction. Tables seat 8 to 10 people. To reserve your spot or for more information, email [email protected] or call Charlotte on 07812 491737.

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Millfield First & Nursery School www.millfield.herts.sch.uk On Thursday 3rd March we celebrated World Book Day. All the children were given a £1 book voucher. In addition the Reading Rockets organised a Book Swap in the School Hall. Every pupil was allowed to bring up to 6 books into school that they wished to swap. We had a huge response and the hall was filled with books ready to be swapped. Each class then came into the hall and chose different books. Everyone had a great time and they were excited to go home with new books to The Millfield book swap in action (above) and Key Stage 1 read. pupils at the United Reformed Church in Baldock Road. Key Stage 1 had an interesting experience when they visited the local United Reformed Church as part of their RE work on Special Places. One of our Governors, Mr Godbert, who attends the church met them and explained the significance of various aspects of the building. The children enjoyed this special opportunity. Key Stage 1 pupils have also been thrilled to have the chance to watch chicken eggs hatch out in the classroom as part of their work on life cycles. It has been wonderful to see their excitement. We are delighted that we have now filled our last Governor vacancy and have a full complement of 14 Governors, who spent the morning in school on Friday 4th March. They visited all the classes, shown around the school by Year 4 guides! This was a

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The wonder of watching new life! Chicks hatching out in the classroom. great chance for them to see the school in action and ask any questions. They all agreed it was a valuable opportunity to increase their understanding of the way the school works. On Friday 18th March we are raising money for Comic Relief. The School Council has invited everyone to come to school in sports clothes and then to jog around the School Field. We hope to raise lots of money for this excellent cause. Kathy Willett Headteacher If you would like to know more about our school please visit our website: www.millfield.herts.sch.uk or contact the school on 01763 271717.

For one matinee only at Hertford Theatre 2pm on Tuesday 5th April Louis Pearl is THE AMAZING BUBBLE MAN Bubble Art, Tricks, Science and Fun!! Fresh from a World Tour, Louis Pearl brings his unique show of bubble art, magic, science and fun to Hertford. Pearl has been thrilling family audiences around the world since 1983 and sold out at the 2015 Edinburgh Fringe. He explores the dynamics of bubbles, combining comedy, artistry, audience participation and spell- binding bubble tricks, accompanied by live music from Jet Black Pearl whose wild and wonderful accordion playing brings an extra layer of fun. “Just brilliant”, The Guardian Tickets £11; Schools £8.50; Family ticket £42 from the Box Office at Hertford Theatre, The Wash (the B158), Hertford SG14 1PS, Tel: 01992 531500 Or book online at: www.hertfordtheatre.com

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Layston C of E First School Loving to Learn, Learning to Love For every child a change to shine! The One Day Allotment The rain stayed away and the sun eventually shone as our enthusiastic bunch of volunteers lead by the Groundworks team built us a school allotment. This piece of our field (right) is now transformed into a productive growing space containing 5 raised beds of differing sizes, shapes and depths suitable for our classes to take responsibility for one each.

The project was only made possible through joint funding from Groundworks, The Herts Garden Trust and the Buntingford Town Council – and with the hard graft of our willing group of parent and community volunteers. We thank them all very warmly indeed and look forward to the planting to come. We are a friendly Church of England school and welcome visitors. Call 01763 271235 for an appointment of visit our Creating an allotment in one day: website at www.layston.herts.sch.uk. the first step (above); marking out and constructing the beds (below); erecting Myra Bloomfield Headteacher the fence (top right); the beds filled with soil and a job well done!

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Layston Preschool and Nursery On Thursday 3rd March, Layston Preschool and Nursery CIC celebrated World Book Day. Parents, Grandparents and carers came to the setting to share books with the children. Here we all are enjoying reading together. We are now looking forward to celebrating St Patrick’s Day and St George's Day later this term.

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Edwinstree Middle School

We celebrated World Book Day on a gloriously sunny spring day. Pupils came to school for the day dressed as a character from the wonderful world of literature (right and below). As usual, we had an amazing display of costumes. Many David Walliams personalities were depicted, among them Gangsta Granny, Billionaire Boy and Mr Stink. Among the other characters on show were Maleficent, Dracula and Alex Ryder, as well as Harry Potter, Hermione, The Cat in the Hat and Alice in Wonderland. We would like to thank everyone at home who helped with the costumes and Julie and Chris at Buntingford Library who opened their doors early to welcome our Year 5s.

Leader of History, Miss Bustard, gave her Year 7 students the task of making an item from medieval times. The collection of articles produced was truly astounding – we had weapons, helmets, castles and several fully working trebuchets (photos above right). There was also a lovely selection of jewellery, headdresses and clothes. Mrs Chipperfield, Leader of Art, delivered a Collective Worship on Yayoi Kusama, a Japanese artist who overcame adversity to become a highly successful painter, sculptor and writer. 5G gave us a magical Collective Worship in rhyme, entitled ‘Dare to Find Your Golden Egg’. The acting was superb, everyone was word perfect, in what was a brilliant reinterpretation of the classic ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ story. The play was thoroughly enjoyed by all. One pupil in the audience was heard to say it was “just like being in a theatre!”

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Medieval creations: Chelsea with her castle (left), demonstrating a trebuchet (above), and Stuart and Will building a trebuchet (below).

Our Sports report this month starts with the exciting news that our Year 7 and 8 girls Futsal team (below) won the North East Herts Level 2 Sainsbury’s Games competition. They now go on to compete at the Level 3 stage at Gosling Leisure Park. Another group of Year 7 and 8 girls celebrated success at The Lady Taverners Satellite indoor cricket competition. Year 5 and 6 attended a Sainsbury’s School Games football fixture at Greneway School; it was a fantastic experience for them to compete against other teams. Diane George

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Ski Trip to Folgarida, Italy, Feb 2016 After almost a year of anticipation we couldn’t wait to board the coach for the Freman Ski Trip. We set off to Gatwick and flew to Venice and then had a three-hour coach journey to reach our resort, Folgarida. We arrived at our hotel at 1am local time, where we quickly sorted out our rooms and collapsed into bed. Soon enough it was 7am, and every room had a teacher knocking at their door and turning on the lights to get them awake (probably the only thing I don’t miss about this trip!) So, we got ready and headed down for breakfast and a much needed coffee, ready for our first day of skiing. Boots were soon fitted and skis labelled, then we were ready to get up on the mountain. Those who had not skied before were all nervous, but eager to see what they would make of it. As someone who skied for the first time in Bormio last year, I was excited to get back out on the slopes and I was most certainly not disappointed. The variety of slopes and the amount of powder could not have been better and within the first day I was skiing on my first ever black slope. Those who had not skied before were taught the basics, and by the end of the week were skiing down black slopes without complaints. I was put into the upper intermediate group, which soon joined the expert group. We spent most of the week facing the difficulty of off-piste powder skiing with many jumps. One afternoon we were lucky enough to visit the snow park, where we all had the opportunity to complete a jump of some sort, with all of us landing on two feet! The evening entertainment was always a laugh. Quiz night got rather competitive, and karaoke night was spent doing duets with another school. My personal favourite was bowling on the first night, as we were put into groups with people who we may not have spoken to before, so new friendships were made and we all haven’t let those friendships die out now we are back at school. All in all, this was an absolutely brilliant trip and I miss it so, so much. I can’t thank Mr Green, Mr Dee and the rest of the staff enough for organising it and encouraging us throughout the week. Nothing could have made this trip any better and all I can say is bring on next year! Beth Surridge

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House University Challenge In a tribute to the popular TV programme and in the new spirit of House competition, Freman launched House University Challenge. Selected teams with representatives from all years competed in rounds of two semi-finals. Each round was run as authentically as possible to the rules of the competition on television. Mr Norris, Head of Biology, orchestrated the evening and the packed audience enjoyed wine and nibbles prepared by Freman GCSE Catering students. Mills House emerged the winners after a close and exciting final with Butler House. The final positions were Mills, Butler, Hepworth/Moore. Mr Norris said: "The students from all Houses impressed the audience with their knowledge and ability to think on their feet in the heat of fierce competition and a live audience. My sincere thanks to everybody – staff and students – who helped make this event a success! I’m certain it will become a regular feature in the Freman calendar.” Astronaut Tim Peake contacts physics students In the same week that Tim Peake presented Adele with a Brit Award from space, he also got in touch with Freman’s Year 12 physics students who had analysed his take off. As Tim launched from earth to the International Space Station he had a pendant swinging above his head to indicate the onset of zero-G. Robin Mobbs, Physics Teacher at Freman and Lead Educator in the National Space Academy, and the students (below) measured the timings of the swing to evaluate the G-forces that Tim was experiencing from ground to orbit. The findings and graphs were sent up to the ISS – some 249 miles beyond earth's atmosphere – and Tim replied that the analysis is “brilliant” and compares very favourably with the official record by ROSCOSMOS Russian space corporation.

Mr Mobbs commented: “I think Tim Peake has been absolutely tremendous in how he is engaging with education. It’s raising a huge amount of interest, more and more people are now saying they will consider taking physics or astrophysics at university.”

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

Thurs 7th 9:30–12ish Bishop’s Stortford Town Centre – Market Day £4

Tues 12th 11:30am Pub Lunch Bus £4

th Thurs 14 9:30–12ish Tesco at Bishop’s Stortford £4

Mon 18th 9:30–3pm Bury St Edmunds – Historic town, shops £12

Thurs 21st 9:30–12ish Bishop’s Stortford Town Centre – Market Day £4

Thurs 21st 7:45pm Performance of ‘Ghost Train’ at Lytton Theatre, Stevenage. Tickets £7 (conc.) Bus £4

Mon 25th 10am–3pm Scotsdales Garden Centre and much more £7

Thurs 28th 9:30–12ish Tesco at Bishop’s Stortford £4

May

Tues 3rd 10:30–3pm Brookfield Centre – Boots, M&S, Argos, Next, £6 Tesco etc.

th Sat 28 2:30pm Performance of ‘Salad Days’, Musical at Lytton

Theatre, Stevenage. Tickets £8.50 (conc.) Bus £4

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

BALA C OFFEE MORNING at Benson Hall, Buntingford Wednesday 20th April, 10.30am –12noon Savouries / Cakes / Coffee / Raffle Proceeds for the Minibus

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

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BUNTINGFORD W.I. The guest speaker at our March meeting was Geoff Bowden talking about British Pop singers of the 1950s. His talk was so interesting that I completely forgot to make notes so I hope my memory does not let me down for this article! He started off with male singers from the 50s era and it was so nostalgic to hear the names which I had almost forgotten about – Donald Peers, David Whitfield, Dickie Valentine, Dennis Lotis, Michael Holliday, Ronnie Hilton, Ronnie Carroll, Max Bygraves – as well as names of singers who started out in the 50s and are still going strong today, Cliff Richard and Marty Wilde. Female singers from the 50s included Vera Lynn, Ruby Murray, Anne Shelton, Dorothy Squires, Joan Reagan, Marion Ryan, Lita Roza, the Beverley Sisters and Shirley Bassey who, of course, is still performing. Geoff picked out two outstanding singers from the era, the first being Frankie Vaughan. His stage name came from his Russian grandmother who called him ‘my number one’ – with her Russian accent, ‘one’ sounded like ‘Vaughan’. As well as being a recording artist, he made many successful films and in his spare time he carried out a lot of work for the National Association of Boys’ Clubs. Of the female singers from the 50s, Alma Cogan’s story is quite poignant. She was known as the girl with the giggle in her voice and among her trademarks were her dresses with their very full skirts. She died at the very young age of 34 after collapsing on tour in Sweden. During his talk, Geoff played songs from some of the singers he mentioned and there were lots of pictures. All in all a very nostalgic and enjoyable evening. Our next meeting is on Thursday 14th April when Philip Nalpanis will be talking about the National Parks of England and Wales. We meet at the United Reformed Church Hall in Baldock Road at 7.15pm for a 7.30 start – visitors are always welcome. Val Hume For more information about Buntingford W.I. telephone Pat Webb on 01763 271305.

BLOWING HIS OWN TRUMPET Recital and talk by world famous trumpet player Crispian Steele-Perkins St Swithun’s Church, Great Chishill Friday 15th April 7.30 pm Described by Virtuoso magazine as ‘the world's leading exponent of the Baroque Trumpet’, Crispian Steele-Perkins has played in duet with Kiri te Kanawa and Bryn Terfel and recorded with artists from Led Zeppelin to Kate Bush. His film and TV credits are too many to list. Appropriately, as he collects and restores antique trumpets upon which he has performed much of the world’s greatest music, he plays the theme tune for the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow. Now, thanks to sponsorship by two local people, you can listen to him play and talk in Great Chishill, in support of the St Swithun’s Appeal for essential structural repairs to the church. Tickets £15 from Judy Saunders, telephone 01763 838571, or by downloading the ticket order form from the Great and Little Chishill website www.greatchishill.org.uk

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Buntingford Town FC www.buntingfordtownfc.com

Our recent obsession with the weather has not yet disappeared completely, but with the gradual improvement over the last month there have been just a handful of postponements. After the cancellation of the home match against Sandridge Rovers on 13th February, the First Team faced Hadley Wood & Wingate on the following Wednesday and earned a 3-3 draw. There was disappointment 3 days later when the team lost 2-1 to lowly Evergreen, but a week later spirits were restored with a 2-2 draw at Belstone. The side seems to play really well against the better teams in the division, and this was borne out two weeks later with an excellent 3-1 win over London Lions. At the time of writing (13th March) we currently sit mid-table in 11th place with games in hand over virtually everyone above us. The Reserves have not been so lucky with postponements, and during the 4 weeks following the cup win over Sandridge Rovers Reserves they played just one match. This was expected to be a really hard game, but the team put in one of its best performances of the season coming away with a 5-0 league win over Letchworth Garden City Eagles Reserves. The result put Buntingford 3rd in the league table, level on points with the teams above them and with games in hand. The following week the game at Nirankari Hitchin was postponed; at the same time, both Tottenhall and Welwyn Pegasus withdrew from the league, and their results were

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expunged. The resulting league table saw Buntingford move to the top, 3 points in front of Cuffley Reserves. With a quarter final tie in the Cecil Hudson Cup with Chipperfield Corinthians still to come, a league and cup double is still on the cards! Our Veterans continue to play good football and remain competitive, although good results are still hard to come by. A 1-1 draw in the league with Tesco Old Boys was followed by a narrow 3-2 defeat to Allenburys Vets. The following week it was our turn to shine, beating Wormley Vets 3-2. Our league position remains low, but the performances are improving and I fully expect a few more wins before the end of the campaign. Finally, on Saturday 16th April the club is holding a fundraising Music Quiz at The Bury (poster opposite). Please try to get a team together and come along to support us – it would be great to see you! Chris Thurgill, Chairman, Buntingford Town FC

BUNTINGFORD AND DISTRICT SOCIAL CLUB C.I.U affiliated — 6 Church Street, Buntingford, SG9 9AS Tel 01763 271889 www.lemonrock.com Every Monday BIG CASH BINGO 10 Games plus 2 Flyers including Snowball Guaranteed £150 minimum snowball prize with weekly rollover. ALL WELCOME. Books on sale 7.30 to 7.50pm START 8pm.

ALL MAJOR SPORTING EVENTS SHOWN (TIMES PERMITTING). Darts, Pool, Snooker, Free WiFi

ENTERTAINMENT FOR APRIL 2nd Apr — SHADOWMAN and the SILOUETTES (right). 9th Apr — NO ENTERTAINMENT. Free pool, snooker, jukebox. 16th Apr — THE PLOUGHMEN 23rd Apr — TBA 30th Apr — BILLYOKE KARAOKE MEMBERS FREE, GUESTS £1 or £4 on special entertainment night. Don’t forget to check out our Facebook page and website: www.lemonrock.com NO PRAMS OR PUSHCHAIRS WHEN THERE IS ENTERTAINMENT

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Royston and District Ramblers Group Walks for April 2016 Sun 3rd Wimpole, Wrestlingworth, Croydon, 14 miles, led by David 01763 242677 / 07791 198026 Tues 5th Halls Green, 6 miles, led by Ken & Jackie 01763 246700 / 07502 121852 Thurs 7th Therfield Heath & environs, 6 miles, led by David 01763 242677 / 07791 198026 Sun 10th Hexton, Streatley, 13 miles, led by Paul 01763 244038 / 07960 957432 Tues 12th Thriplow, 6 miles, led by Margaret 01763 256788 / 07939 233697 Thurs 14th Wandlebury, 6½ miles, led by Alan 01223 840963 / 07933 713840 Sun 17th Bramfield, Burnham Green, 9 miles, led by Steve 01438 829023 / 07929 962647 Tues 19th Standon, 5 miles, led by Tricia 01763 448749 / 07983 814315 Thurs 21st Wallington, 6 miles, led by George 01763 242281 / 07974 026348 Sun 24th Little Chesterford, 10 miles, led by Alan 01223 835908 / 07884 081715 Mon 25th Evening walk: Therfield Heath, 2½ miles, led by David 01763 247572 Tues 26th Barkway, 5 miles, led by George 01763 242281 / 07974 026348 Thurs 28th Much Hadham, 6 miles, led by Jackie & Viv 01763 246700 / 07502 1211852 Tuesday & Thursday are morning walks, Sunday walks are all day

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

Cambridge Gliding Centre OPEN DAY Sunday 10th April, 10am-4pm

Come and visit Gransden Lodge Airfield to experience the sport of gliding. All welcome. Trial flights with qualified instructors available on a first-come, first-fly basis. Free lessons in a realistic gliding simulator. Free talks about gliding and the airfield’s wartime history. Refreshments. Free admission.

The entrance to the airfield is on the B1046 between Little Gransden and Longstowe, opposite Gransden Lodge Farm (SG19 3EB for SatNavs). More information online at: http://www.camgliding.uk/ or via Facebook: https://tr.im/Z8dEn

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

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