Published quarterly since 1976 December 2019 email: [email protected] Issue 174 One Hundred Years Young Martyn’s Lights – an be in the Crown and Falcon on Wednesday 8 January at 8pm to update. celebrate the turning off of the lights and Many of you who live or commute to share a New Year drink with anyone through Puckeridge High Street will, I who feels they can perhaps help us. am sure, be delighted to see the return of Martyn’s Lights from Sunday 1 December to Sunday 5 January. MayDay 2020 and the 75th For those of you who are new to the Anniversary of VE Day Village, the lights were bought MayDay 2020 will be held on Bank What connects a pensioner enjoying a following the sudden and premature Holiday Friday 8 May to fall on the 75th two-course lunch with friends, to a death of Martyn Dawkins who ran the Anniversary of VE Day. We would like Brownie earning a badge for first aid or Village Shop (now Something Lovely to give MayDay a ‘Vintage’ feel - any baking? Or a room full of yoga students Tea Room). It had always been his wish ideas please contact us. to a stage full of Sadleir performers that the Village do something to We intend to have all the usual taking a bow after a successful play? celebrate Christmas – in a very low key attractions but if any local organisations The answer of course is Standon Village but effective way, as befitted the man like Cadets, Scouts, Brownies wish to do Hall where all of these activities, have himself. Upon his death, there was an anything 'extra special' to mark this taken place, for the last 100 Years. outpouring of kindness from Village occasion at May Day, please email us residents – all of whom wanted to and we will include it. On Tuesday 3 December our Hall will remember Martyn - and we do it by celebrate its Centenary, the day in 1919 stringing up some colourful bulbs along Could you help? that Herbert and Gertrude Le Blanc the High Street for the Christmas Period. As always, we desperately need Smith, of the Lordship, presented the volunteers to help plan and run the Hall to the Village in memory of their We are very grateful to local residents event. We have around 5000 visitors and son Ralph and the other brave men of who let us attach the lights to their the current committee consists of a mere Standon who did not return home at the properties and especially the “power SIX people!!! end of the First World War. houses” who let us use their electricity. All the Bulbs are LED and a string of Any ideas for car parking? Since then our hall, which is one of the 100 bulbs uses approximately 100watts To all the local farmers and businesses nicest and most reasonably priced Halls – so it is like turning on an old fashioned who have any ground around Standon in East Herts, has been a major hub of 100watt light bulb for an evening. and Puckeridge please consider allowing village life, with an average of 200 local us to use it for the day for car parking; residents, from 4 -85 years of age using We often get asked why the strings don’t we can make a payment for use and deal this lovely facility each week. Activities run the entire length of the High Street with signage, marshalling, security or take place every day, including Fitness and this is where we need your help. The any other issues. Many thanks. sessions, Knitting, Quilt making, Dance initial donations raised enough for the strings and bulbs to be bought. But [email protected] lessons, Band rehearsals, a club for Sue Spalding, Standon MayDay people suffering from Alzheimer’s, exposure to the elements for a month a Church functions, May Day/Open year (we are now in our eighth year) Garden refreshments, Tea-Time Talks causes damage and we have to maintain Carols Round the Tree, and quarterly Senior Citizen lunches. and replace bulbs and fittings. We also have to have the lights professionally Standon High Street We also host two highly regarded Drama installed (albeit at a charity rate) so the productions each year (since 1944), plus installation is insured and can be signed Monday 16 December @ 6.30pm numerous one-off events such as parties off electrically. Donations keep coming Refreshments in the Church and the local Polling Station. in, but not enough to buy more strings of afterwards. lights or pay for more days of If you are interested in hiring the hall installation. please look at our website Do you have difficulty www.standonvillagehall.org or phone The current team need some support and Denis Olliver on 01279 842625 for more more volunteers to keep this initiative reading PS News? information. going; maybe help with the installation If so try the online edition at (to bring costs down) and hopefully Here’s to the next one hundred years. www.psnews.org.uk/latest.pdf and raise some more money. The current increase the size of the print on team (Rachel, Derek and Richard) will Denis Olliver (Chairman) your tablet, computer, etc. Page 2 email: [email protected] PS News December 2019 Christmas Services at St Braughing Women’s Village Lunches Mary’s Church Standon Institute. Next lunch: Tuesday 3 December, On Sunday 22 December, come and join Braughing WI have had a busy year. Standon Village Hall us at the new time of 6.30pm (NB There has been a good variety of In what seems like long ago, when the change of time) for the traditional and speakers with topics including a weather was warm, we had another great beautiful candlelit Service of Nine Journey From Vancouver to Niagara, lunch in the Village Hall - everyone Lessons and Carols. There will be carols Contemporary Art, An evening of enjoyed moussaka followed by fruit for all as well as some sung by our attempting various Crafts and an crumble, with the fruit commendably benefice choir and the readings from the amusing talk entitled Day of Dolly Blue free of "air miles" as it came from the gardens of our lovely cooks and helpers. Bible tell the story of the loving and Izal. purposes of God, from the time of Adam We were entertained by the very jolly and Eve through to the birth of Jesus. The Summer Strawberry Tea was music of a local ukulele band playing enjoyed by all and the Annual soup On Christmas Eve at the new time of songs many of us remembered - and lunch well attended. Braughing sent apparently our tuneful singing along 5pm, is the very popular Christingle representatives at both The Annual service. Christingles are made from an could be heard in the Star! Our thanks to Council Meeting at St Albans and the the band - you were fabulous. orange decorated with red tape, sweets Autumn Council Meeting at Oaklands. and a candle. Each piece of the The raffle in aid of the local Riding for Christingle holds special symbolism to The WI. now look forward to another the Disabled was a great success and it help children understand the importance successful year. was good to learn how the families of of Jesus and the Gospel, and its Programme some of our guests had benefited over relevance at Christmas time. There will January 16 A journey through the years from their work. be carols for all and Christingles will be Uzbekistan from Khiva to Satharhend made and lit during the service. At the next lunch, the Christmas lunch, to the modern day. we'll be having traditional food and Later on Christmas Eve, at 11.30pm, Christmas music and we've sent a letter come and celebrate the first Communion February 20 A Craft evening with Anne Styles. to Lapland and are hopeful Father of Christmas at our Midnight Christmas will be free to call by and see Communion Service. This will also be March 19 Bagels and Bacon us. candlelit. April 16 The history of Hatfield House. New guests are welcome but booking is On Christmas Day itself, at 10.45am, required. If you live in the Parish and come and celebrate Jesus’ birthday at May 21 Resolutions. would like to come, call Helena on our 10.45am Christmas Family Worship All meetings held in The Church Hall at 822177 or Brenda 822293. service. 7.30 p.m. Details from Michael Smith 01920 New Members always welcome. 821281 Contact Kate 01920822397. [email protected] Local Car Repairs Professional Family run Removal Business & Servicing based in Buntingford. Professional, Friendly & Caring Service Free quote House & Flat moves MOT’s Now Available. Office moves Fully insured Car, Van & Commercial work undertaken HAPPYVANMAN Contact Colin: 24 Hour Recovery Service REMOVALS & TRANSPORTATION 07961 092 580 or Full MOT preparation HAPPYVANMAN.CO.UK hello@ 07961 092580 happyvanman.co.uk All work Guaranteed Collection Service if Required Lorry trailers, Horse Boxes and Vans Brakes Clutches Exhausts Full Diagnostics Servicing & Repairs All makes of tyres supplied at great prices Herts and Essex Garage Services Standon Business Park, Stortford Road (opp The Heron) Standon SG11 1PH Office 01920 823897 Fax: 01920 823823 PS News December 2019 email: [email protected] Page 3 Friends of the River Rib all the appropriate parish councils and Entertainment starts at 3pm, followed by The Friends of the River Rib met for riparian landowners to seek their tea and cakes. All welcome agreement and permission for the their fourth meeting this year at surveys, which will be conducted by Members: £ 3, Guests £ 5 Buntingford Bowls Club in September with 24 people attending including local HMWT.