How a Lasting Power of Attorney gives you peace of mind

Hundreds of thousands of people register Lasting Powers of Attorney each year and it isn’t hard to see why.

Life expectancy has increased dramatically over the last 50 years meaning most of us can expect to live into our eighties and beyond. While that is undoubtedly good news, it does raise issues about how we protect our interests and those of our loved ones as we get older and possibly lose the ability to make decisions for ourselves.

The Covid pandemic has also given us cause to think about life’s fragility and the possible long-term effects of illness or injury. This is why Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) can be so helpful.

An LPA is a legal document that you can draw up when you are fit and healthy, authorising someone you choose to make decisions on your behalf if you are no longer able to do so yourself at some point in the future. The person drawing up the LPA is known as the donor and the person being authorised to make decisions is referred to as the attorney.

The property and finance LPA allows you to appoint someone to look after your financial affairs, and the personal welfare LPA lets you grant an attorney authority over such matters as health care and the kind of treatment you receive.

Both kinds of LPA must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG), which administers the system.

LPAs are often used by older people to choose someone they know and trust to make decisions for them if they lose capacity in the future – but can be used by anyone at any age. They are easy to set up with the help of an expert solicitor and once registered, they provide you with the peace of mind that comes from knowing that if anything untoward should happen to impair your decision making, your interests will be looked after by someone you trust. It’s little wonder therefore that the number of registered LPAs has increased enormously in recent years to more than four million.

Please contact us if you would like more information about Lasting Powers of Attorney.

Major Shop Revamp in Markyate

The Nisa has had a major redevelopment and is now a One Stop franchise. The long awaited revamped shop and post office has been very well received by residents in Markyate and the surrounding villages. MiMagazine delivery person, Peter Marshall takes every opportunity to shop at the new One Stop Shop. He said, “It has a Costa coffee machine and there is more choice of food. The prices are reasonable too.”

Strange Goings on in Markyate

You may have noticed some strange sightings of animals here in Markyate, but don’t worry there hasn’t been a break-out from Whipsnade Zoo. We can also guarantee that these animals are friendly!

David Rhys is a Markyate resident and the Artistic Director for the award-winning Berkhamsted Theatre Company. He is currently choreographing and producing the animal puppets for their latest show, ‘Dr Dolittle – A New Musical’. See advert in What’s On page 37

The Doctor takes us on a mystical journey to help us understand the animals and clear his name. Directed by Gemma Lloyd-Buckingham, come and visit the magical, marvellous, miraculous world of the famous Doctor John Dolittle and his amazing ability to talk to animals. Join him as he embarks on a perilous voyage to distant islands, to discover the Great Pink Sea Snail, then fly through the skies on a Giant Lunar Moth! The two headed PushmiPullyu is also on hand to show off his dancing skills. With Musical Direction from Jill Neenan guiding our live band through classic songs like ‘I’ve Never Seen Anything Like It’ and ‘Talk To The Animals’, this circus of a production promises to entertain and enthral audiences, both young and old.

Playing at the David Evans Court Theatre, Tring, there are performances at 7:30pm from Tuesday 18th April through to Saturday 22nd, with matinees at 11am and 3pm on the Saturday. Tickets are available from the theatre website at www.courttheatre.co.uk/shows/drdolittle.

Do you oppose plans to expand Luton Airport?

Redbourn, Harpenden and Hitchin MP Bim Afolami certainly does and he wants support for his petition.

“Luton Rising have now begun consulting on a proposal to expand London Luton Airport from 18 million passengers per annum to 32 million passengers per annum. These plans, which can be found in full here: www.lutonrising.org.uk, would have a detrimental impact on local transport networks and increase air and noise pollution in my constituency Hitchin & Harpenden [and other affected areas]. Alongside local communities I am fighting against these expansion plans and I need your help to demonstrate the strength of local feeling on this issue. I would be grateful if you could sign my petition against expansion, which will be presented by me to the Secretary of State to show how strongly local people feel that the Development Consent Order should not be granted www.bimafolami.co.uk/stop-luton-expansion

David has lived in Markyate for seven years and can often be found propping up the bar in The Swan, cheering on his beloved Wales in the rugby (although cheering may be a stretch in current times!). Formerly a professional ballet dancer, he is now a ballet teacher at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts and is also a Personal Trainer and fitness advisor. Berkhamsted Theatre Company, are thrilled to be back to their showstopping form, producing two annual shows: a musical around Easter time and a play in the Autumn. Always on the lookout for talent, anyone interested in getting involved, on-stage or in a supporting back-stage capacity, should visit www.berkhamstedtheatre.co.uk for more information.

932343 07989 418510

1km - Female 1st Jacey Dyett (age 12) 2nd Lara Murfett (age 10) 3rd Sophia Zhou (9) 1km - Male 1st Harry Barrett (age 9) 2nd George McMahon (age 13) 3rd Liam Rickard (age 12)

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Look at this amazing picture of The Local in Markyate, painted by Ian Rackley, in Van Gogh style. crime! The way to love life is to love many things”

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