The independent journal for Buntingford & Villages published by Buntingford Civic Society Buntingford Journal Spring blossom on the corner of Wyddial and Vicarage roads. Inside this month: Acupuncture for pets; a visit to Yew Tree Alpacas; Buntingford in Bloom 2017; an outing with our intrepid U3A; plus reports from Buntingford WI, Gardeners’ Club, BTFC, and some ideas about encouraging wildlife. 70p May 2017 Volume 42, No.4 May 2017 Acupuncture Treatment for Pets .................................................................................... 36 Annual Rogation Walk ................................................................................................... 48 Ashwell Music Festival ................................................................................................... 34 Attend2Health – Neck and upper back exercises .......................................................... 42 BALA – Minibus Trips / Coffee Morning ................................................................. 44 / 45 Barkway Market ............................................................................................................. 14 Bramble Hill Children’s Centre ....................................................................................... 39 Braughing Fair & Wheelbarrow Race ............................................................................ 47 Braughing Local History Society – ‘Jottings of two Buntingford vicars’ .......................... 17 Buntingford Bowls Club – Free Lessons & Open Mornings ........................................... 44 Buntingford Civic Society – Chairman’s Letter, ......................................................... 10-11 Buntingford Gardeners Club .......................................................................................... 19 Buntingford In Bloom Competition Entry Form .............................................................. 12 Buntingford In Transition ................................................................................................ 26 Buntingford Town Council .............................................................................................. 22 Buntingford Town Football Club .................................................................................... 46 Buntingford Twinning Association – Saturday Night Hop .............................................. 28 Buntingford W.I. ............................................................................................................. 45 Church Services ....................................................................................................... 16-17 CPRE Hertfordshire’s Rural Living Awards .................................................................... 19 Curwens Solicitors – What’s a Pre-nup? And do I need one? ....................................... 30 Diary of Events – What’s On & Dates for Your Diary .................................................... 2-5 East Herts Citizens Advice Bureau – Problems Getting Sick Pay ................................. 29 East Herts Council – What Can Happen to Your Waste ................................................ 23 Editor’s Letter .................................................................................................................. 7 Helping Hands for Ladies .............................................................................................. 21 Hertfordshire Constabulary – Scam Watch .................................................................... 15 Hertford Theatre – ‘The First Hippo on the Moon’ / Verve ............................................. 38 The Hundred Parishes Society ...................................................................................... 31 Isabel Hospice – Volunteers needed / Fundraisers in May ........................................... 43 Lab-Tots Summer Term Dates ...................................................................................... 39 Letters & emails to the Editor ........................................................................................... 8 MP’s Surgery at the Manor House with Rt Hon Sir Oliver Heald QC ............................... 9 Photographic Society celebrates victory ........................................................................ 37 Pond Fish need new home ............................................................................................ 24 Reed Spring Quiz .......................................................................................................... 35 Royal British Legion – Buntingford Branch / Trip to National Arboretum ....................... 13 Royston & District Ramblers – Walks for May ................................................................ 48 ‘Life Turns on a Dime’ – A short story by Susan Chiappinelli ........................................ 40 Stop Killing Our Wildlife! ................................................................................................ 24 Strawberry Fair & Table Top Sale at St Mary the Virgin, Westmill ................................. 18 #Team Herts Volunteering launches new website ......................................................... 27 Thaxted Festival ............................................................................................................ 34 The U3A Buntingford ..................................................................................................... 32 Useful Local Information .................................................................................................. 6 Westmill Art Exhibition ................................................................................................... 18 Wildlife photographs ...................................................................................................... 25 Wyld Farm, Great Hormead ........................................................................................... 35 Yew Tree Alpacas ......................................................................................................... 20 1 Diary of Events – May 2017 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, to age 5. Term time at Seth Ward CC. £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 – 3:00pm Positive Movement exercises at Seth Ward CC. £3. 01462 678804. 1:30pm – 3:30pm Senior Citizens Club at URC Hall, Baldock Road. Bingo and an afternoon of socialising. For more information contact Jeanne Clark on 01763 274631. 4:00pm – 6:45pm Ballet Classes at URC Hall, with Buntingford School of Dance Ltd. Contact: [email protected] / 01763 271010 4:30pm – 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 at the Technical Institute, Baldock Road. Call Danny on 07879 853849 or email: [email protected]. 8:15pm Circuit Training at Seth Ward Community Centre. Contact 01920 823677. TUESDAYS 9:15am – 10:15am Badminton at Seth Ward CC, £2.50 per session. 01763 273712. 9:30am – 11:00am Tuesday Toddlers at URC Hall, Baldock Road. £2 for first child, then 50p for each additional child of same family, includes drink and snack. Term time. 10:00am – 11:30am Under 1s Group at Buntingford Bowls Club. £1 per family. 01763 273008. 11:00am & 11:45am Tappy Toes at Seth Ward CC. Dance & movement for children who are confidently walking, up to age 4. £2 per family. Term time only. 01763 273008. 4:15pm – 9:00pm Ballet, Modern & Tap Classes at Freman College, with Buntingford School of Dance Ltd. Contact: [email protected] / 01763 271010 5:30pm – 6:30pm Cougars U15s Whites training, Norfolk Road Floodlit Multigames Area. 6:15pm – 7:15pm Cougars U10s & Cougars U12s Blues training, St Edmunds School Floodlit Astro Turf. For more info, email: [email protected] 7:30pm Buntingford Karate Club, Edwinstree Gym. Bill Hooper 01763 273123. 7:30pm – 8:30pm Cougars U13s training, Norfolk Road Floodlit Multigames Area. 7:30pm – 9:00pm ‘Braughing Sing’ Community Choir at Jenyns School, Braughing. Contact Elaine 07501 495940 / 01763 289738 / www.braughingsing.com. 8:10pm – 8:55pm Adult Tap Dance Classes for Fun & Fitness at Freman College. Contact: [email protected] / 01763 271010 2 What's On 8:30pm – 9:30pm Cougars U16s training, Norfolk Road Floodlit Multigames Area. For more info on Cougars training, email: [email protected] WEDNESDAYS 9:30 – 11:15am Great Hormead Baby and Toddler Group at