• Is your car ready for winter?
• Investing a lump sum
• 10th birthday celebrations for preschool
• From the archives... Church End
• A history of railways through Harpenden
• MiMagazine chats with... steam engine enthusiast Jonathan Vickery
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Although from the early 18th century Harpenden had been on a main turnpike road going north from London, its development from a rural village into a town towards the end of the 19th century resulted from the three railway lines introduced after 1860 – the Great Northern Railway Line, the Midland Line and the Nickey Line.
There’s still time to catch a fascinating exhibition that sets out the history of those lines and what has become of them. The special exhibition –Harpenden’s Railways – can be found in the museum at the Eric Morecambe Centre and runs until December 21.
And as David Kendall, museum trustee and researcher, explains, the exhibition contains some “colourful stories”.
While most people would pop to the butchers to put meat on the table, some of the train crews on the Nickey Line had a better idea. They would lay rabbit snares in the countryside around Redbourn and then stop the train to see what they had caught. And these enterprising crews didn’t stop there. There were several fields of Christmas trees beside the line and they would take ‘unofficial’ orders from friends and family in the festive season, storing the cut down trees in the goods van.
There’s also stories of schoolchildren using the rural Nickey Line in the 1940s, as well as a timetable for the Great Northern Railway trains carrying horses and racegoers to the Harpenden Races before World War One.
The Nickey Line was opened in 1877, operating between Hemel Hempstead and Luton, linking with the Midland Line at Harpenden. In 1888, the train service became one between Hemel Hempstead and Harpenden, with a stop at Roundwood opened in 1905.
Passenger services on the Nickey Line were suspended in 1947 because of the shortage of coal after World War Two. Freight services continued until 1979 but three years later the track was lifted, with the Nickey Line becoming a footpath and cycleway in 1985.
Paul Jacques Editor pauljacques@ntlworld.com
07939 005218
Despite the dull weather, hundreds of people once again turned out for the annual Act of Remembrance at the Redbourn War Memorial on the Common. As usual, there was a parade across the Common followed by a service and the laying of wreaths.
Steam engine enthusiast Jonathan Vickery was born in Redbourn and went to Redbourn JMI school at the Annexe on the Common, then on to senior school at Townsend Boys School in Batchwood Drive, St Albans. He moved to Markyate in the late 70s soon after his marriage to Sheila. They have 3 children and 7 grandchildren, which makes for a busy family life...
What sparked your interest in steam engines? My interest came about as my grandfather, Frank Pratley, was a steam ploughman. My mother used to go ploughing with my grandfather sometimes, so steam has always been in the family. The engine in the photos was purchased by my dad in 1967 as a birthday present for my mum. It is an Aveling and Porter Steam Tractor, built in 1907. It was supplied new to Herne Bay Motor Company in Kent. Its first job was to deliver bricks to London. From being a small child I have always attended steam rallies with my family and now my own family are continuing with our hobby. My sons and I built a 6in scale Foden Steam Lorry, which took us six years to complete. As they grow up our grandchildren are now also very interested in steam engines and they are playing a bigger part in it all too. In the winter on Saturdays you’ll find me at the engine shed, doing maintenance and keeping the engine at its best.
Any other hobbies or pastimes? I also have an interest in vintage tractors. I have three old tractors – they come in handy when doing the maintenance on the engines. Occasionally I have taken part in ploughing days as I have also
got a very old two furrow trailer plough, which I renovated last year.
What was your first job? I left school at the age of 15 to start my first job as a Caterpillar earth moving fitter. I continued throughout my working life with this type of machine mechanics and also HGV lorry mechanics. I retired two years ago and now spend my time pottering in my garage and walking the dog.
Favourite book? I am not a book reader, but enjoy reading my monthly steam magazines.
Film/TV show you most enjoyed? I quite like a good detective series – and action films.
Favourite drink? I enjoy a pint of Guinness, especially in the summer in the beer tent chatting with steam rally friends.
Favourite meal? Roast dinner with all the trimmings – lamb or beef.
Best holiday? Ten years ago we had Christmas in Australia visiting relatives. We had a brilliant time looking around Western Australia. We also flew over to Sydney – the Opera House was excellent.
If you could have anyone to a dinner party who would they be? My favourite people to have for dinner would be my children and their partners along with the grandchildren! You can’t beat a family get together.
Receiving a lump sum of money, whether from an inheritance, windfall, or proceeds from a business or property sale, can be exciting and overwhelming. Deciding where to invest this money is crucial, and with numerous options available, it can be challenging to determine the best course of action.
Knowing where to put a cash windfall can be difficult, particularly in times of market and economic uncertainty. We explore ways to invest your lump sum to help you make an informed decision and ensure you maximise your financial growth and security.
The right decision for you will largely depend on what you want to do with your money and your needs and goals, which we can help you assess. In the meantime, here are some of the main options to consider.
A cash savings account is a good choice if you
want to use your lump sum to fund shortterm goals – a holiday or new car, perhaps – or if you’re not quite sure what to do with it yet. By holding your lump sum in a cash savings account instead of investing it in the stock market, you won’t risk your money falling in value just before you need to access it.
If you don’t need your money for several months, you may wish to consider a notice or fixedterm savings account, as these may offer higher rates than easyaccess savings accounts.
It’s always worth shopping around to find the best rate on your savings, as a difference of only 0.5 per cent could significantly impact large sums of money.
UK government bonds (‘gilts’) could be an attractive choice if you want to use your windfall to fund a mediumterm goal. Gilts are secure savings vehicles guaranteed by the government and listed on the London Stock Exchange.
If gilts are held inside an Individual Savings Account (ISA) or other taxfree wrapper, there is no Capital Gains or Income Tax to pay. If held outside of an ISA or similar, gilts are free from Capital Gains Tax when you profit from a trade, but any income you get is subject to Income Tax.
For longerterm goals, such as retirement or leaving a legacy for the next generation, you may wish to invest a portion of your lump sum in the stock market. Although the stock market is volatile, history shows that it tends to outperform cash and bonds over extended periods. You should be comfortable committing your money for at least five years, ideally longer. This will hopefully give your investments time to recover from any stock market downturns.
One way to reduce risk is to spread your money across different asset classes, such as equities, bonds and cash, as well as across sectors and regions. This is because different assets, sectors and regions tend to perform differently under various market conditions. We can assist you in building a diversified portfolio that suits your needs and attitude towards risk.
If you haven’t utilised your ISA allowance this year (2024/25), investing your lump sum in an Investment ISA will potentially allow it to grow over the long term while also shielding it from Capital Gains Tax (CGT) and Income Tax. If you sell investments outside of an ISA, you could be taxed on your profits above your annual CGT exemption.
Additionally, if your investments pay dividends or interest, this could be included when calculating your overall Income Tax bill, potentially pushing you into a higher Income Tax bracket.
The ISA allowance currently stands at £20,000. It is a ‘use it or lose it’ allowance, meaning you cannot carry it forward from one tax year to the next.
pension contributions
Another option is to maximise your annual pension allowance. You can invest up to £60,000 or 100 per cent of your UK relevant earnings, or £3,600 if you have no relevant earnings (whichever is lower) into pensions yearly and benefit from Income Tax relief up until age 75. Income Tax relief provides an immediate boost to your personal pension contributions, helping to increase how much money you have at retirement.
In some circumstances, you might be able to ‘carry forward’ unused annual allowances from the previous three tax years. Remember that your pension annual allowance might be lower than £60,000 if you earn a high income or have already flexibly accessed your defined contribution pensions.
We can help you determine how much your annual allowance is and whether making a pension contribution is the right choice for you.
THIS ARTICLE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE TAX OR LEGAL ADVICE AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON AS SUCH.
A PENSION IS A LONGTERM INVESTMENT NOT NORMALLY ACCESSIBLE UNTIL AGE 55 (57 FROM APRIL 2028 UNLESS THE PLAN HAS A PROTECTED PENSION AGE). THE VALUE OF YOUR INVESTMENTS (AND ANY INCOME FROM THEM) CAN GO DOWN AS WELL AS UP, WHICH WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE LEVEL OF PENSION BENEFITS AVAILABLE.
YOUR PENSION INCOME COULD ALSO BE AFFECTED BY THE INTEREST RATES AT THE TIME YOU TAKE YOUR BENEFITS.
THE FINANCIAL CONDUCT AUTHORITY DOES NOT REGULATE TAX PLANNING.
By Melanie Wooding Jones – Redbourn Auto Solutions – Caring for you, and your car
The AA reports that the majority of accidents happen over the winter months with a steep rise in reported breakdowns. But why do our cars suddenly become unreliable? What makes winter different from other seasons?
The cold weather conditions affect many parts of a car – the oil becomes thicker (like honey left in a fridge), fuel doesn’t burn as effectively, pipes burst, engines seize, batteries don’t charge as efficiently and there is more drain on the system. As well as doors freezing shut and wipers stuck to the windscreen.
As with all things mechanical/electrical, if you look after them they perform better. After all, you wouldn’t put your electric heater in the freezer and expect it to work would you? So, with this in mind, here are a few helpful tips to keep you safe this winter.
Battery
The major cause of winter breakdowns is… the car battery.
When the car is turned on, there is a chemical reaction that produces electrons supplying the battery’s current. At normal temperatures they will produce enough current to keep the battery power full and working well. The more you drive, the more the battery charges. In colder weather it becomes harder for the battery to produce enough current to stay at maximum potential, therefore the reserves drop. There has to be enough charge in the battery to ‘turn over’ the engine so that it can produce more energy. In cold weather the power available, even when fully charged, is only half what it would be in warm weather.
The good news is that you can take steps to reduce the chance of your battery letting you down.
•During a routine service, your garage will check the clamps and connections to the battery are secure and corrosion free.
•The life of a battery is usually around five years, so if it is older and struggling to start the car, best to get it replaced.
•When you park, remove any extra drain on the battery by turning off anything electrical –wipers, heater, lights, radio, etc. When you come back to the car, the charge goes directly to the starter motor, therefore, optimum ability to ‘turn over’ and recharge.
•On a manual car, dip the clutch to prevent the car from trying to start the gearbox also.
The radiator in your vehicle cools your engine and needs a mixture of water and antifreeze to function. Antifreeze prevents corrosion, freezing and overheating of the radiator, engine, water pump, etc. Starting a car with a frozen water pump could strip the teeth off the timing belt leading to expensive internal damage, so it is vital to keep this at the right mix and level.
Other issues you may encounter could be: Frozen screen wash – remember to use a screen wash additive all year round. Undiluted in winter works best, but read the bottle first.
Frozen wipers – Trying to operate windscreen wipers stuck solid to the glass can lead to blown fuses affecting other more vital systems. Make sure automatic windscreen wipers are turned off and the wipers are not stuck to the glass before setting off.
Frozen door locks and door seals – A squirt of WD40 in the locks will help, as will a light smear of Vaseline or silicone polish on the door seals (applied by cloth to avoid getting it on the paintwork). If snow falls clear it regularly to prevent the car turning into a block of ice.
Frozen ignition locks – Anything electrical can become affected by damp weather. The key here is to keep the interior as dry as possible – don’t leave snow covered wellies or clothes in the car overnight.
Windows frozen to their frame – Best to leave the car until it is warmed up and the ice has melted. Windows can detach from the mechanism if you try to activate them, or burn out the motor.
Frozen rear drum brakes and handbrake cables – Keeping your car clean through the winter to remove corrosive road salt is good, but try not to use the hose or pressure washer to prevent the water getting into the brake cables or drums.
Garage – Some people go to the extreme and remove their battery to take it inside, but our advice would be to use your garage if you can, which will keep the vehicle dry and as warm as possible.
Fuel – Be prepared for untimely delays and keep at least a quarter tank of fuel in the car.
Winter tyres increase your stopping distance by 11m in temperatures below 7°C. It is worth considering them if you do a lot of driving. They are made from a special compound and tread design providing excellent grip and control in low temperatures.
The MET office statistics (Rothamstead No2 Climate Station) show that the average temperature 19912020 remained below 7°C for four to six months, making cold weather tyres suitable for use from October to March. It is worth getting them ordered soon, as demand is usually high.
If winter tyres are not your thing, the AA recommends at least 3mm tread depth to help maintain your contact with the road. Even at 3mm, your tyre is 78 per cent worn. If you have an electric car, tyres wear even quicker, so it’s worth regularly checking them. Make sure you and your family remain safe this winter and don’t leave anything to chance. If you’d rather not have the hassle of checking over the car yourself, talk to a professional. For more information on winter driving or what to carry in your boot in the winter, see our website www.RedbournAutoSolutions.com
The team at Redbourn Auto Solutions wish you a safe and happy Christmas.
Welcome to Spice 1875 at The Frog and Rhubarb, where authentic Indian and Bangladeshi cuisine meets exceptional craftsmanship
Under the expert guidance of Mr Chowdhury, a culinary master with more than 35 years of experience, Spice 1875 offers an unforgettable dining experience in the heart of Slip End.
Having owned and successfully run numerous restaurants over the years, Mr Chowdhury brings a wealth of knowledge and a true passion for delivering traditional flavours with a modern flair.
For the past year, we have been honoured to serve our guests with the finest Indian and Bangladeshi dishes, all crafted using fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
From rich, aromatic curries to expertly grilled tandoori, every meal at Spice 1875 reflects the authenticity and warmth of the cuisine we cherish.
Whether you’re a longti Asian cuisine or discovering it for the first time, we invite you to join us at Spice 1875 for a truly unique and flavourful dining experience.
30 Church Road, Slip End, Luton, LU1 4BJ
Routine Servicing
All repairs undertaken
Air-Con Servicing Diagnostics
New Tyres, Brakes, Clutches
SALES
New cars and light commercial vehicles from ANY manufacturer
Used vehicles WE SERVICE CARS AND LIGHT COMMERCIAL VEHICLES
On November 4th, we at Little Gaddesden Preschool and Forest School celebrated our 10th birthday.
On this date in 2014 the adventure began when we took over the running of Little Gaddesden Preschool. It started as a small, mornings only, village preschool that has grown from strength to strength.
Over the years we have developed the environment and curriculum to offer a nurturing, childcentred approach to child development. It now operates five days a week, all day. We added a breakfast club facility for the children attending preschool and the local primary school, as well as a holiday fun club.
Our most proud addition to the preschool curriculum was that of Forest School. Forest School and outdoor education underpin, and are interwoven in, our values and ethos and so it was only natural for this to be integrated into the preschool early on.
The children attend our woodland site in the heart of Ashridge once a week for a Forest School session. When they are not at our
woodland site, the principles of Forest School run throughout the preschool environment and routine, enabling all children to benefit from this style of curriculum and learning.
For our 10th birthday celebrations, we welcomed families and children into the preschool for a fun birthday party. There were lots of activities for everyone to enjoy – biscuit decorating, creating sculptures using clay, wood cookie creations, sparkly potion making and lots more. It was so nice to share in the celebrations with everyone and enable families to get a taste of life at preschool.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the families who have come and gone over the past ten years, and those who are still with us, for all your support. It truly is a privilege to welcome your children to our preschool, be a part of their journey and work closely with you through their early years.
We look forward to welcoming many more families through our doors in the years to come.
‘From small seeds mighty trees grow.’
To find out more, please visit our website www.natureforkids.co.uk
Here at Slip End Garages in Luton, we believe that our traditional family values ar e crucial to the success of our organisation and to helping you find the automotive solution that best meets your needs. Since being ed in 1939 - and remaining under the ownership same family to this dayservice that is as friendly, welcoming, comprehensive as can be.
Beginning as an agricultural engineer supporting the needs of farming equipment, the business has evolved significantly over the years, having been a dealer of Ford vehicles until 1966 and then expanding to provide servicing, bodywork and breakdown services. In 1979, we would become a dealer for another world-renowned manufacturer: Citroën.
At our modern, wellbe able to continue to represent the Citroën marque as well as Isuzu, showcasing the virtues of every new model that is available, as well as providing some of the best pre-owned vehicles in the region. We even work tirelessly to ensure that buying a vehicle is as hasslefree and easy as possible, offering a new buy online function that enables you to purchase from the comfort
Inadditiontovehiclesales,ourstate-of-the-art workshops are staffed by some of the finest cians in the Bedfordshire area, and we continue low our traditions with a third generation of the involved in daily business activity.
It’s a sad fact, but as the winter nights draw in, opportunists take advantage of unlit homes, but district officers at Hertfordshire Constabulary have been taking a proactive approach to burglars.
“We have robust plans in place to prevent burglaries,” said St Albans district Chief Inspector Martin Turpin.
“This includes enhanced overt and covert patrols across the district. We are also actively pursuing identified burglars and ensuring we explore all possible avenues to get people before the courts.
“Obviously we cannot be on every street 24 hours a day, but the best thing we can do is to prevent burglaries from happening in the first place.
“I’d like to remind residents to make sure they lock their windows and doors, use timer switches on lights, consider investing in alarms, CCTV or doorbell cameras, and report any suspicious behaviour. These simple steps could help prevent you becoming a victim of burglary.”
If you require further crime prevention advice, you should contact your local neighbourhood officer or PCSO.
For example, in Redbourn the police surgery in the Parish Centre is open four hours a week and when it’s open there will be a sign displayed outside. The times and dates of opening will also be displayed in the window.
You can leave messages to make contact with the PCSO by calling 101. This is also the number to ring to report crimes, suspicious incidents and antisocial behaviour in progress, or call 999 if urgent.
Alternatively you can send an email to officers at:
sntharpendenandrural@herts.pnn.police.uk
Or visit their website:
https://www.herts.police.uk/area/your‐area/hertfordshire/st‐albans/harpenden‐and‐rural/contact‐us/our‐priorities
If you are burgled, what exactly can you expect from the police?
When someone dials 999 to report a burglary, with intruders still at the address, all available police units will attend. Some officers will go to the address while backup officers will do an area search in the nearby streets and if appropriate, will call on the assistance of the triforce police helicopter, drone and dog units to help track down the burglars.
When a burglary is discovered retrospectively, officers will attend and take a crime report from the victim and conduct an initial investigation, housetohouse enquiries, crime scene preservation and offer victim support.
Chief Insp Turpin stressed: “Please do not report crime on social media. We need to be made aware straight away, so we have the best chance of catching the offenders and preventing further offences.”
At one time, Church End in Redbourn was almost a separate village to the cluster of houses around the old Watling Street, with the old Anglo‐Saxon church of St Mary’s at one end, and leading onto the Common at the other.
Probably it was the site of the original settlement of Redbourn listed in the Domesday Book, which mentioned 16 dwellings in the area. By the 19th century it had several shops as well as a butchers with a slaughterhouse out the back, and a pub (The Hollybush).
There is a record from 1836 that the road had to be remade as its condition made it an “absolute nuisance”.
Redbourn Village Museum is open on Saturday and Sunday, 2pm to 5pm, from February to November. Courtesy of Redbourn Village Museum.
Sarah Claridge
Chartered Physiotherapist Acupuncturist, Certified Pilates Instructor, Reformer Pilates, BUPA/AXA Reg, Sports rehab, Post‐surgical rehab, Equestrian biomechanics and fitness
Tel: 07736 319894 info@meadowphysioandpilates.com www.meadowphysioandpilates.com
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