the GADDESDEN DIARY SUMMER 2020 Online edition www.littlegaddesden.org.uk Summer 2020 Online Edition The Gaddesden Society (Founded by the Home Guard) When the Home Guard “Stood Down” in 1945 it found itself in possession of two assets: first, a sum of money which was due for distribution among its members; and second the habit of working together for the benefit of the whole community. With these funds and with this habit of co-operation, the Gaddesden Society was formed. Its children are now grown up and flourishing independently. The Art Club, the Artisan Golf Club and the Drama Club were all of them floated off by the Gaddesden Society; and we have been able from time to time, to help other clubs and societies. There will always be demands upon the Society. And there will always be people who enjoy helping to meet them. Many of our early pipe-dreams have come true, but there are many more to be fulfilled. It is for these reasons that the Society must continue to exist. Like the Home Guard, it has no political or religious associations – it needs everyone within its ranks. VICARS BELL, 1961 President: Phil Heaphy (842283) [email protected] Honorary Secretary: Mandy Haynes (842496) [email protected] Subscriptions The Gaddesden Diary is published quarterly in June, September, December, and March. Subscription fees are currently £5.00pa for local delivery and £8.00pa for UK postal delivery with overseas postal subscriptions by arrangement. Single copies are sold for £1.50 each. Your distributor will call at your home to collect your subscription in May and June of each year. In the event that you are unable to contact your distributor or have missed their round, please forward a cheque payable to ‘The Gaddesden Society’ to Phil Heaphy, Tudor Lodge, Little Gaddesden HP4 1NU. Tel 842283. Editorial Team Editors: Phil and Rachel Heaphy (842283) [email protected], [email protected] Distribution: Anna Stevenson (842906) [email protected], Advertising: Matt Laver [email protected] Calendar: Nan Newberry (843155) [email protected] The Gaddesden Diary CLUB SECRETARIES / CONTACTS Gaddesden Society Mandy Haynes [email protected] 842496 Art Club Barbara Sheard [email protected] 843591 Book Club Fiona Masters [email protected] 843723 Bowls & Croquet Club Anne Isherwood [email protected] 842780 Bridge Group Pat Allen [email protected] 842601 Brownies Jo Bushe [email protected] 874933 Colts Anna Stevenson [email protected] 842906 Cricket Club Scott Stevenson [email protected] 07738 808140 Drama Club Lyn Hyde [email protected] 842267 Friends of Lt Gaddesden Sch. Claire Beard [email protected] 07793 825521 Hannah Jarvis [email protected] 07779 322226 Junior Football Club Nick Leach [email protected] 07710 093200 Music Club Ian Hamilton [email protected] 876660 parishclerk@littlegaddesden- Parish Council Alastair Greene 842795 parishcouncil.org.uk Parochial Parish Church Nikki Carr [email protected] 07990 503263 Royal British Legion Paul Woods [email protected] 843430 Rural Heritage Society George Godar [email protected] 842274 Scouts Tim Cooper [email protected] 842505 Sports Club Douglas Adams [email protected] 842746 Tennis Club Anne Gold [email protected] 843441 Village Produce Association June Abraham [email protected] 07760 144057 Women’s Institute Fiona Masters [email protected] 843723 USEFUL INFORMATION DEFIBRILATOR CABINET CODE C159X Ashridge Estate Office Ringshall Road 841800 - Night-time deer road casualties 101 Contact police - Other emergencies only 07771 974255 Citizen’s Advice Bureau Advice line 0844 873 1303 EDF Energy (power failure) 0800 7838 838 Friends of Ashridge Ashridge Visitor Centre 851227 Medical Driving Service Sarah Gall 842422 The Lt Gaddesden Charities Pat Catchpole 33 Ringshall 842544 Little Gaddesden School Lorna Elkes [email protected] 842464 Lt Gaddesden Pre-School Jenny Ivory [email protected] 07375 543288 Police (non-emergency) 101 - Ward Constable Lee Clements [email protected] 01727 359402 - Office 271143 Vicar Rev John Russell [email protected] 214898 Village Email Address List Mandy Haynes [email protected] Village Hall Bookings Paulette Reed 3 Chapel Close 842952 [email protected] Hemel Hempstead Hospital 0845 402 4331 Luton & Dunstable Hospital 0845 127 0127 Stoke Mandeville Hospital 01296 315000 Community Cars 212888 Summer 2020 Online Edition The Gaddesden Diary Summer 2020 Online Edition The Gaddesden Diary Summer 2020 Online Edition Little Gaddesden Church of England Primary School An integral part of the local community, with spacious accommodation, a sound academic record, and a good range of extra-curricular activities. Ideal for every village child, from 4 to 11, providing excellent preparation for the full range of secondary schools. To arrange a visit, contact the Headteacher, Mrs Lorna Elkes 01442 842464 [email protected] Summer 2020 Online Edition EDITORIAL To the best of our knowledge, this is the first ever ‘virtual’ Gaddesden Diary. You will have read so many comments about 2020 being ‘extraordinary’ and ‘unprecedented’ that publishing our Diary online only, for the first time in its 65- year history, is almost unremarkable. However, deciding that ‘the show must go on’, despite our printers being closed, almost all activities being postponed or cancelled, and, crucially, a desire to keep our distributors safe, a virtual edition seemed the best way forward. The Diary exists to keep our vibrant community connected, informed of all the activities and events to come, and to provide an ongoing record of what we have all been involved in. The most important aspect of the Diary is that it reflects our lives and the involvement of the overwhelming majority of our community. Under normal circumstances, it is brought to you by 33 distributors and an editorial team of six, from contributions by 30 people who run the clubs, societies and activities, in which hundreds of us are engaged week-by-week, month-by-month. This is your Diary, made possible by everything that you are engaged in, and it is our privilege to be able to take part in the activities, to read the articles and to return it to you as a printed, or virtual, record, and never more so than right now. We have been so grateful for all the contributions for this edition, to hear and see how we have been working together to help each other through the challenges that 2020 has brought and how many of the activities have carried on in a socially-distanced, responsible way. It has been inspiring to see so many examples of this but, please, take time to look through the ‘pages’ that follow, and do not miss the examples of the Cub group’s activities in lockdown. They really are fabulous! You will also find some featured articles, beyond our normal Diary content, such as Stuart Green’s interesting and well-researched piece relating to his father’s Bomber Command service, particularly as we commemorated the 75th anniversary of VE Day in May, and the upcoming VJ Day in August. Also, we have included a number of photographs in our ‘Virtual Open Gardens’ feature. As we are all spending so much more time in our gardens The Gaddesden Diary and unable to visit others’, we thought it would be fun to include photographs for us all to enjoy. We have been inundated with beautiful photographs of gardens of all types and we are so grateful for the support and interest shown. We hope that you enjoy looking through the gardens as much as we did in selecting the photographs to include! We are always somewhat hesitant to single out one group, one person, or one activity for special mention, in the knowledge that for each one we include, there are countless others who would richly deserve similar attention. Nonetheless, remembering that there are so many other good works and amazing contributions to be found, we want to give very special mention to three groups. Firstly, our wonderful village shop, who have worked tirelessly to keep stocked and operational through the most challenging circumstances. They are right at the heart of our community, providing essential services for many, while maintaining a constantly cheerful, helpful, and positive attitude. We are all so grateful for everything that you do, every day, throughout the years, and never more so than right now. Thank you to the Odedra family and the whole team! Secondly, the coordination of small groups by Sarah Gall and Wendy Molloy, providing a network of people offering support to anyone in need during lockdown and isolation, covering everyone in the village. As well as continuing the vital First Responder service, Sarah and Wendy have helped to bring a very practical, caring, and essential level of support to anyone in need. Thank you to them, and to all the volunteers who make up this wonderful effort. Finally, to all the doctors, nurses, health service workers, carers, and others engaged in essential roles to keep our community safe and well. It has been inspirational to see and hear the Thursday evening ‘clap for carers’ taking place week after week, saluting the contributions of those who are on the front line. On behalf of our community, thank you all, more than we could ever express. The Editors Summer 2020 Online Edition GADDESDEN SOCIETY In common with all other activities in the village and beyond, we were forced to cancel our March and May meetings, the latter to have included our AGM. These will be rescheduled in due course and our AGM held as soon as we are able. At the moment, we have no idea whether the village sports day will be able to go ahead but will bring further news once we know.