#Stevenage August 2019

# STEVENAGE Text

The unique digital magazine for Stevenage promoted by social media

August 2019

What a party!

Clair e Au st in (lef t ) w it h Lou ise Yexley

It may have been a t ough mont h for St evenage wit h t he closure of bot h Wait rose and t he Post Office hanging over t he Old Town and t he t errible car accident hit t ing nat ional headlines.

But t here have been some t hings t o keep spirit s up and one of t hese was t he amazing Todd in t he Hole fest ival. See pages 23-27 for our pict ure special on t he big weekend which will be back for 2020.

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What's on in

#Stevenage It hasbeen a month of mixed newsfor the people of #Stevenage and we have been there for it all.

STEVENAGE 10K Spon sor ed by #St even age

The tragic car accident following the car meet-up proved a salutary lesson with all involved failing to come out with any credit. That wasfollowed by the bodyblow of the demise of Waitrose in the Old Town. Read Paul Fry for a take on both of these stories.

On the brighter side of course we had the remarkable Todd in the Hole festival, surely a firm favourite on the calendar. There has also been a raft of development action in the town aswell.

TREM ENDOUS TODD Fest ival set f or 2020 r et u r n

if you have a story you think that we should tell then don't forget to contact usat the addresses below.

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PARK M EM ORIES Pau l Fr y on local par k s

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PAUL FRY on # St evenage

Lasting memories of #Stevenage park life IT was brilliant to learn that an environmental charity has given four parks in Stevenage awards for being among Britain's most well-managed, cleanest and safest.

That may have surprised some people who hadn't visited them for some time.

But Town Centre Gardens, Fairlands Valley, Hampson and Shephalbury parks, which were all given a Green Flag Award by the charity, Keeping Britain Tidy, bring back strong memories for me, especially Shephalbury.

I grew up 100 yards or so from the park and spent countless hours over there ? much, I am sure, to the delight of my mum, knowing that I was occupied with friends and out from under her feet.

Less so my dad, who would be charged with the dusk-time duties of coming out to call us back for bed. If there had been somewhere that mimicked floodlights, we'd have been there long after dark, kicking footballs and winning imagined test matches.

To think I now live in a narrow close with cars parked on the pavement on both sides so you

have to walk in the road, with a lovely park barely 40 yards away yet parents would rather their kids played on their bikes outside, running a gauntlet of delivery lorries and residents' cars, than use the safe, green space on their doorstep.

Shephalbury was the perfect multi-arena facility for me. There was one of those sets of barriers at the park entrance - the ones put in to deny bikes easy access and make mums perfect their limbo technique while slaloming in with a pram. But we never used that entrance.

I'd approach up Nodes Drive to a gap in the hedgerow that bounded the bike lane. Through that gap you could see Shephalbury School but, just the other side, was the football pitch ? our Wembley where we'd while away countless hours.

Or, just behind one goal, our Lord's, when stumps, bat and ball ? often gleaned from different contributors, would be employed.

In my young mind, that gap in the hedge was the tunnel at the old Wembley - the sun shining on the grass as it grew back after a winter

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of heavy use, the goalmouths and centre circle worn away often by mid-October. I can still recall frosty mornings, where the pitch was a shimmering white.

I'd prop the ball on my thigh, just as I'd watched Bobby Moore do when he led his team out before a match, then booting it skywards and trying to get to it before it fell back to earth.

I didn't so much have an imaginary friend as 100,000 of them - all shouting me on.

A few real-life pals would join me and, in winter, the posts were up; in summer it was jumpers for goalposts.

During the summer break, you'd always be missing someone - not through failing a late fitness test but because they were on their fortnight in Clacton or Yarmouth.

I'm not sure I remember any of my friends going on foreign package jollies back then.

Later, our 'gang' - I mean that in the kind of Enid Blyton sense, not a South London or Toxteth one would challenge other park gangs to matches - home and away.

I recall playing against a Pin

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Green/St Nicks side that had Ian Allinson, who would later play for Colchester and then Arsenal, plus some of his family, who could also play a bit.

Shephalbury was never Highbury, though. Not to a Spurs-mad nut who, in the days before printed, sponsored kit, got his mum to sew an embroidered Spurs cockerel badge patch on the front of a plain white cotton football shirt and a big navy number 4 on the back (in honour of Alan Mullery, since Jimmy Greaves, idol Number One, had moved on to, ahem, West Ham. Later, when I'd go with my mate and his dad to watch Spurs for real, I'd try out some of the skills I'd learned from watching my Spurs idols when I was back 'home' at Shephalbury.

Martin Peters was one of my favourites - even though he was part of the deal that saw Greavesie leave the club. As anyone who ever saw me play will know, that lack of

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skill is why I went into journalism, mostly sports, rather than play the game professionally, as I'd dreamed.

In my late teens and into my 20s, the core of the park lads formed a Sunday League team, topped up with faces from their office, the Land Registry, and found, to our delight that our home pitch was the very one at Shephalbury that we had 'graced' for so many years.

A true home from home.

The park also hosted school holiday play leadership schemes, which I recall fondly - except for one infamous when day I lost a front tooth: I got hit full in the mouth by a cricket ball. Amazingly, one of the kids found it and the dentist was able to re-insert it, root and all.

On rainy days, we'd be confined to the pavilion, which was always kept tidy by the ever-genial Bill, the council groundskeeper. You'd see him long after the football on a Sunday, sweeping out the dressing

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rooms after eight or ten teams had finished playing, perhaps helped out by us taking down the goal nets and bringing in the corner flags for him.

Chess and draughts was my thing on 'indoors days' and I used to win competitions in both. In fact I was something of a chess prodigy - one day I played against six kids, all at once, on separate boards - walking up and down to make my moves, and winning the lot.

At Nobel, aged 11, I got into the school team of six players, mostly sixth-formers, and held my own.

Having neglected skills that our form tutor honed with encouragement and drills before he left at the end of my second year there, I now struggle to beat a computer game on the lowest level. Garry Kasparov can rest easy.

Oddly, the tooth incident didn't put me off cricket, which I also played at Nobel. But what did put the wind up me was facing the

Text bowling of future England Test batsman Roland Butcher at Shephalbury.

He came in off an almighty run - and I remember holding the bat at arm's length as he surgically removed not my remaining teeth, thankfully, but my stumps so that I could beat a hasty retreat to safety.

At the other end of the park, the swings, roundabout and slide were a regular gathering place. I don't recall us getting into any serious bother and never saw anyone want to set fire to the equipment or break it ? something that happens all too often these days on some estates. I never understand that mentality.

The park gave me an appreciation of open spaces for recreation that has lasted all my life. If I'm walking through a park and a stray football comes my way, in my head, I want to belt it into the 'top bin' ? but know if will only end in pain and embarrassment if I so much as try.

I have fewer memories of the other parks but I'd walk the length of Fairlands Valley was a short-cut to the football ground when I lived in Chells ? while, at Nobel, the lakes end was where we did cross-country ? those of us who didn't cheat by giving the streams a swerve and cutting a mile or more from the challenge.

Hampson Park was where I made my first forays, aged 17 and very

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Text major closures. This, t hough, in t he Old Town is somewhat more of a shock t o t he syst em. The Old Town looks vibrant and alive alt hough it is clear foot fall alone isn't enough t o sust ain t he John Lewis-owned supermarket t hat has been a feat ure t here for more t han 40 years. Much of t hat foot fall is at night .

slight of build, into men's football. I was always quick over a few yards and made the signal error on my debut for Marley Floors of dummying the grizzled centre half, watching the ball go through his legs while I set off in chase, half the length of the pitch, with just the keeper to beat.

I didn't get two yards. There was no way he was letting me go anywhere. A waist-high tackle saw to that. You wouldn't need VAR today to get him red-carded. In fact off the pitch it would have been an assault.

Let's just say this guy had something of a reputation for being 'uncompromising'. The odd thing was that he later became a referee ? and a very decent one, too. Classic poacher turned gamekeeper.

We should cherish our green spaces and celebrate the recognition they have received.

And if you have any park memories, why not jot them down on the Facebook page where you found this month's #Stevenage magazine Sad t o see Wait rose close.

Anot her ret ail out let gone in a t own t hat has suffered so many

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It is said t hat having a Wait rose on your doorst ep can add ÂŁ40,000 t o t he value of your house. It 's probably a cheap shot but what will happen t o prices if, like in some part s of t he count ry, t he st ore becomes a Lidl?...

The sad car meet incident t hat left so many people injured put t he t own on t he map for all t he wrong reasons.

W hat left so many of us incredulous was t hat video of t he police inspect or saying officers had no knowledge of t he meet .

This is despit e claims t o t he cont rary by t he organisers.

I'm not sure what is worse, t he denial ? which is bad if she knew t hat was not t rue ? or t he fact t hat if she was t elling t he t rut h and not one police officer was aware of 400 people gat hered on a t own st reet , wit h dozens of cars revving like mad.

I won't comment on t he right s and wrongs of what act ually occurred.

And you hope t hat t hose who were injured make speedy recoveries. The video was dist ressing enough.

But t he inspect or didn't cover herself wit h glory - and brought t he force int o ridicule, if not worse.

Pupils' future inspiration Pupils from Peartree Spring Primary School helped to shape the future when a time capsule was buried at a new development in the town in July. The youngsters had been drawing their vision of future housing as part of a project and the best

of these were placed in the capsule at the building work in Addison House, named after Dr Christopher Addison who designed the parliamentary bill that led to the first council housing 100 years ago.

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Art takes centre stage at Btc business hub A recent initiative to display artwork in a business environment has achieved its first success when Sophie Searle, Finance and Operations Manager for Exclusive Care, snapped up a picture by Stevenage artist, Jennifer Foulds, at The Business and Technology Centre (btc), Stevenage.

The exhibition is a joint collaboration between the btc, a business centre community for local start-ups and growing businesses, and Herts Visual Arts, a volunteer-run organisation which promotes awareness of Hertfordshire artists. The btc has provided four floors of wall space for ten Hertfordshire artists, each showing their own original work.

The range of work includes photography, oils, watercolour, acrylics, glasswork and textiles.

The btc is home to over 50 businesses and is managed by social enterprise, Wenta, on behalf of Stevenage Borough Council.

Commenting on this joint collaboration, Jo Kiely ? Centre Manager of the btc, said: ?We?ve had the pleasure of hosting this wonderful artwork here created by local artists and it?s great to be able to be a part of this. We?ve had many positive comments from the businesses based here at the btc and long may this collaboration continue.?

?Here at the btc we?re all about encouraging entrepreneurship and creativity. We provide free start-up business advice, training workshops and co-working space to those starting a new business venture ? and this includes artists and other creatives too!?

If you want to know more about Herts Visual Arts, or wish to join, visit www. hvaf.org.uk.

To find out more about the business support services available at the btc, visit www.btcstevenage.co.uk or search btcstevenage on socials.

Pictured: Sophie Searle (left) receiving her chosen artwork, ?Pucker Up Mr Hare?from artist Jennifer Foulds.

Herts Visual Arts is the largest county-wide volunteer run organisation for amateur and professional artists and makers in Hertfordshire. An annual programme includes members meetings, exhibitions, Art Showcases, the Big Art Fair and Herts Open Studios.

Many join simply to be part in Open Studios each year ? but there is so much more to the excellent value annual membership (currently just ÂŁ40 per year) Benefits of annual membership include a gallery on the HVA web site, social media promotion across HVA platforms and a PRIVATE Facebook group

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to connect with other members.

There?s also access to opportunities and a full annual programme of meetings and events, just for members. A monthly newsletter includes news, opportunities and exhibitions across Hertfordshire, as well as hints, tips and articles on Open Studios, marketing and more. Members can also promote their workshops, classes, exhibitions and publications and contribute to the newsletter itself.

Non-members can sign up to our newsletters Free of Charge.

7th-29th September: Herts Open Studios 2019 Herts Open Studios is Herts Visual Arts annual flagship event, when artists open their doors to visitors. Details of participating venues and artists will be available on line and in print from summer 2019, with the brochure launch at the Big Art Fair. There is also a comprehensive advertising and sponsorship offering.

The easiest way to join HVA is online Web: www.hvaf.org.uk Twitter: @HVAF #HertsOpenStudios #BigArtFair Facebook: @HertsVisualArts Instagram: @HertsVisualArtsChair

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Council's full house for annual business event

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Stevenage Borough Council 's Annual Business Event proved to be a major success with presentations and support available to Stevenage businesses and a host of subjects discussed.

For further information please visit https://sg1consult.info/

Introduced by Stevenage Borough Council Leader Sharon Taylor the event touched on a number of subjects including:

The Borough Council is also alerting everyone to the Queen?s Award for Enterprise which is now open for businesses to enter.

· The Herts Local Industrial Strategy (LIS) · Update from Stevenage Borough Council · Skills Support for Stevenage Businesses & funding · Support to enter new markets and finance from the Department of International Trade · Support to enter new markets and finance from Enterprise Europe Network There was also the opportunity to view the transformation plans for Stevenage town centre, courtesy of development partner Mace and the opportunities these bring to the business community by supporting additional and improved retail and leisure space, housing, improved public realms and co-working space.

Stevenage Borough Council would like to encourage as many Stevenage businesses as possible to enter this year?s awards.

Queen?s Award for Ent erprise

The Queen?s Awards for Enterprise are for outstanding achievement by UK businesses in the categories of: · innovation · international trade · sustainable development · promoting opportunity through social mobility For Eligibility rules and for further information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/queens-awards-for-enterprise

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Stevenage housing plan

Stevenage Borough Council has been granted approval for the development of three new housing projects, adding more than 50 new homes, 38 of which are affordable and social rented housing.

The new builds will see a private development of 21 apartments in North Road, the proceeds from the sale of which, will contribute towards the cost of the construction of social housing.

Older People, commented: ?Stevenage Borough Council continues to fulfil its obligation to provide quality, affordable housing for the people of the town and these new developments deliver more than 50 new homes. Using the profits from private developments such as North Road is an effective way to offset the cost of building more affordable social housing, which continues to be our priority.

Construction will begin later this year and is expected to be completed towards the end of 2020.

?Over the next 30 years we?ll be directly investing ÂŁ1bn in housing in Stevenage, building hundreds of new homes. Our ongoing Major Refurbishment Contract will also see us improving many existing council properties so that they remain sustainable, safe and comfortable.?

Cllr Jeanette Thomas, Executive Member for Housing, Health and

These latest planning approvals are a significant milestone for the town

In Shephall Way, nine new apartments are being built and there will also be 29 new apartments in Symonds Green.

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as they take the number of approved homes in the pipeline waiting to be constructed to 278 with a further 40 homes already being built and due for completion later this year.

Cllr Sharon Taylor, Leader of Stevenage Borough Council, is particularly pleased that these new homes are spread throughout the town and first and foremost are being constructed on previously developed land. ?Very few dispute the need for greater numbers of affordable new homes,?she added, ?but finding places to put them will sometimes divide opinion. It?s great that in Stevenage we are increasing the pace of our delivery, consulting local communities and making sure that we are building throughout the town.?

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Council appoint Matt to role as new chief executive Stevenage Borough Councillors confirmed the appointment of Matt Partridge as the council?s new Chief Executive. He took up the post on 25 July 2019 following the former Chief Executive, Scott Crudgington?s move to a new role as Head of Resources at Hertfordshire County Council.

Matt joined Stevenage Borough Council in September 2013 and is currently the authority?s Interim Chief Executive and formerly one of its Strategic Directors and Deputy Chief Executive. His career in local government spans over 35 years and includes several years at Aylesbury Vale District Council and Borough of Broxbourne. He has an impressive track record in developing co-operative communities, improving performance and partnership working.

Leader of Stevenage Borough Council, Cllr Sharon Taylor said, ?I would like to congratulate Matt on his appointment. This role is a critical leadership role for our co-operative organisation. Matt demonstrated great local knowledge and an in-depth understanding of moving forward with our exciting plans for the transformation of Stevenage. ?We went through a rigorous recruitment process to ensure that we selected the best candidate. I am grateful for the support of the appointments committee to help us reach this important decision.?

Matt Partridge said, ?There?s no other way of putting it, this is the proudest moment of my entire career. Becoming a Chief Executive is something I have aspired to achieve for many years. I have been privileged to work with Stevenage

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Borough Council officer colleagues, members and our partners over the last six years during which time we have achieved much whilst also laying the foundations that are necessary for us to realise our regeneration, housing development and cooperative council ambitions.

We have also continued to deliver over 120 key services to residents and local businesses. ?I will continue to strive to ensure that local people are at the centre of what we do to improve both the town and the council.?

Matt is an experienced strategic leader with a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of North London and is an Executive Board Member of Chief Cultural and Leisure Officers Association.

He lives in Enfield and is married with three children.

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ARK team ready to give clients peace of mind The Team at A R K Last ing Powers & W ills are qualified t o act as W ill, Last ing Power of At t orney and Funeral Plan consult ant s. They are regulat ed by t he Societ y of W ill W rit ers. You can have peace of mind knowing t hat your needs will be looked aft er by a professional company wit h all t he processes, syst ems and insurances in place t hat are necessary in order t o ensure t hat you and your family will be prot ect ed from t he worst . Comment ing on t he t eam, Karen Greenall (pict ured far right ) said: "Our et hos is t hat want t o focus on t he local communit y and on helping local people.? ?We are a professional but caring service. I have been in cust omer service all my life and have an NVQ in cust omer service, as well as W ill indust ry relat ed qualificat ions. Those who use A R K know t hat it is a very personal service ? we get t o know our client s and offer a friendly, jargon-free service. There is absolut ely no pressure t o buy when you are speaking t o any of our consult ant s.?

Amazingly around 66% of t he populat ion don?t have a W ill and while t here are some circumst ances and scenarios where t hey not so import ant , people should always double check what would happen wit hout a W ill before deciding not t o make one. Sadly, even when people do realise t hat t hey should make a W ill t o prot ect t heir family, it is always a backburner job.

As Karen confirms, W ills can be essent ial for many people in a number of circumst ances saying: "W hen you have children, appoint ing guardians is vit al and oft en couples don't underst and t hat t he way t heir est at e will go can be dependent on t he order in which t hey die. If you have children from different relat ionships t hings can easily go wrong. A

W ill is needed t o t ry t o prot ect propert y from t hird part ies such as care cost s and new part ner scenarios.?

A R K can also assist wit h Last ing Powers of At t orney. Alt hough associat ed wit h t he older populat ion and Alzheimer's or dement ia; loss of ment al capacit y can be as a result of an accident or st roke at a younger age. W hen ment al capacit y is lost all account s belonging t o t hat person are frozen, and it t akes a long and expensive court process t o get t hose account s freed up. If you have a Last ing Power of At t orney in place before you lose capacit y all of t hat st ress for your family will be avoided.

The provisions of Probat e services is offered in conjunct ion wit h a firm of solicit ors, but t he t eam at A R K hold an init ial meet ing wit h t he client t o give advice, and t o gat her informat ion and document s.

They are aut horised t o act as consult ant s for bot h Dignit y and Safe Hands Funeral plans and offer no obligat ion home visit s t o explain t he opt ions t hat are available. www.arkpowers.com info@arkpowers.com

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Crucial Crew planning for new safety centre A new Safet y Cent re is planned for St evenage,.

Currently there are eight local 'Crucial Crew' schemes in Hertfordshire - these are both Organisation and Service intensive - also, they are limited to an audience of Year 6 children (10 and 11 year olds) - of whom, around 10,500 attend each year.

At the moment, schemes exist in Hertford/Ware, St Albans, Bishops Stortford, Welwyn GC/Hatfield, Hitchin/N. Herts., Stevenage, Hemel Hempstead, Broxbourne/Cheshunt. There is no scheme in Watford or Three Rivers.

Stevenage was the first of the eight schemes, and has now run for 28 years. During this time over 42,000 local children have attended this scheme alone. In total, over 250,000 Yr6 children have visited a Crucial Crew scheme from Hertfordshire's junior schools.

Each child is given a Workbook containing follow-up work to their visit. A visit is of two hours duration, and fits in with the school day, lunchtime, and afternoon collection time from their school.

The Centre will be on two floors - the Ground Floor will accommodate the majority of Crucial Crew scenarios - the first floor will offer training rooms, a small tiered-seating auditorium, larger Conference/Training Rooms that may be hired - the income from which will help to support the Centre's maintenance costs, and ensure sustainability. To assist with this, it is intended to install solar and wind-power sources, rainwater harvesting, and to utilise eco-friendly building materials, etc.

Funding for the internal fit-out costs is anticipated to come from a variety of sources - primarily Central Government, European Government, National Lottery, major Corporate industries, Philanthropists, local Authorities, Grants, Trusts, the PCC - and many other sources.

Not all sponsorship is through financial donations e.g. some will come as Volunteer time and skills, students, corporate staff secondment, also the donation of materials and labour.

A new, permanent Safety Centre, will be able to deliver many more scenarios to all age groups - our intended market is 3yrs to 103yrs.

Are you able to support our endeavours with the process of providing, for the residents of Hertfordshire and beyond, a permanent interactive Safety Education Centre, based in Stevenage?

This will be a multi-purpose Centre that is available to other agencies and organisations, all with the intention to deliver safety messages, and to thereby make individuals, and thus Hertfordshire, a safer place.

If you or your organisation would like to be involved, then please contact Alex Lang by email info@hertfordshirecrucialcrew.org.uk - to discuss in further detail.

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#Stevenage magazine

Final chance for nominations to Stevenage Pride St evenage will once again applaud t he good work of members of it s communit y at t he Pride of St evenage Awards 2019 being held at t he IBIS Hot el on Sat urday 28t h Sept ember.

In addit ion, t he Judges?Special Award will be given t o an individual or group t hat has made an out st anding cont ribut ion t o t he t own and it s resident s.

If you have a friend, neighbour, colleague or group t hat you feel is wort hy of recognit ion, nominat ions are now open for all seven cat egories:

To nominat e, simply go online at www.st evenage.gov.uk/pride-awards choose t he cat egory you wish t o nominat e in and fill in t he request ed det ails. The deadline for nominat ions is 5pm 12t h August 2019.

- Caring Award Celebrat es individual act s of kindness, volunt eer, charit y and communit y work - Dedicat ion Award For longst anding dedicat ion t o volunt eer work in St evenage - Ent erprise Award Rewards an individual or organisat ion t hat makes a real cont ribut ion t o business life in St evenage - Green Award For helping t o help keep St evenage clean and green - Sport ing Award Recognises an out st anding cont ribut ion t o sport and healt hy act ivit ies in t he t own - Team Award Salut es t hose who work t oget her t o improve t he local area, enhance people?s lives or provide support and opport unit ies t o communit y members - Young St ar Award For a group or individual t hat has made significant achievement s at school, college or in t heir local communit y

W inners will be chosen by a panel of judges chaired

by Leader of t he Council Sharon Taylor OBE, and also including awards part ners and t he Yout h Mayor.

Finalist s will be informed aft er t he judging. All t hose who receive a nominat ion are invit ed t o a Mayoral aft ernoon t ea at t he Council?s Civic Suit e lat er in t he year. ?Alt hough we have been running t hese awards for more t han a decade, every year I am humbled and ast ounded by t he way in which our communit y produces such remarkable act s of kindness and self-sacrifice,?said Chair of Judges, Councillor Sharon Taylor OBE. "Underpinned by what some might regard as an old-fashioned sense of decency and generosit y, from bot h young and old, it shows t hat people are st ill, despit e all our current t urmoil and perceived differences, fundament ally good, honest and caring and t hat ?s somet hing our t own should be ext remely proud of. ?The Pride of St evenage Awards is a chance for us t o come t oget her, celebrat e, and say t hank you t o some great people and recognise t he amazing work t hey do for us.?

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It's a sell-out! Waiting list for Stevenage Striders 10k event

The new Stevenage Striders 10k event is now full and there is a waiting list for those looking to run in the race.

You would have to go back to 1995 to find the last time a 10K road race was offered to all members of the public. In more recent years we have had the Race for Life for ladies. This gave us the germ of the idea to launch the Stevenage 10K and coupled with encouragement fro Councillor Simon Speller and Sport Stevenage we set the date, 15/9/2019.

We wanted to focus on a race

route in Stevenage that would be safe for runners but at the same time celebrate areas of the town that many enjoy but often, unfortunately, take for granted the parks. It seemed so apt to use Hampson Park as our park for the start and finish. The park is named after Tom Hampson who won the gold medal in the 800 metres at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics in 1932, setting a world record in the process. In 1954 he moved to Stevenage and worked for the development corporation.

The race route leaves Hampson

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Park before entering and passing through a circuit of the north end of Fairlands Valley near the totem pole maze and bridge and then through King George V Park, millennium gardens, the war memorial, high street and pretty Avenue. It utilises the towns famous cycleway network.

The Stevenage 10K has been set up to encourage the local population to get their running shoes on, take part in this community event and take on the course! For many, this builds on to their regular running of the ever

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popular Stevenage 5K ParkRun. Whilst there will be members of local running clubs taking part, the expectation is that the majority of participants will be keen runners who are not part of a running club.

Stevenage Striders are organising the event and are very grateful to the support they have received from the main sponsors and supporters - Wagstaffs accountants, ASK Physio, odyssey sports club, Mather Marshall Knebworth and Stevenage Community Trust. The latter have been a regular supporter of Stevenage Supporters throughout the period since the club was launched in 2013.

The race is limited to 400 entries in its inaugural year but it is expected to grow each year. Part of the proceeds from the race will be donated to the two elected charities for 2019 - TRACKS autism and Stevenage and Community Trust.

The money raised for charity will be a key theme for the race and is expected to grow year on year as the race grows.

Runners in the race receive a finishers t shirt and bespoke medal.

There will also be a free cake stall for runners, with donations also being taken for TRACKS autism.

Runners can also expect spot prizes.

Trophies will be awarded to the first three men ad ladies, as well as those winning their age category. The race starts and runners will be set off by the mayor of Stevenage. http://stevenagestridersrc.org.uk

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Irish Network honoured with Queen's Award Irish Network Stevenage (INS), are a group of volunteers based in Stevenage who have recently been honoured with the Queen?s Award for Voluntary Service. This is the highest award that a voluntary group in the UK can receive.

Luke Donovan, Chair and Peggy Lyons, Vice-Chair proudly represented the INS by attending a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May. We are one of 281 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year.

We aim to help reduce the social isolation amongst older people. We arrange many

different activities including monthly social events with live music, day trips and quizzes which are all great fun, we have seen a steady increase in attendance at each of them and currently support approximately 100 people month. All these activities are designed to cater for older people and include carers, housebound members and vulnerable elders. In addition to this we run a very active Care in the Community outreach programme which provides support to the more vulnerable members in our Community. We make approximately 700 home visits per year.

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Luke Donovan, Chair of the INS says ?We are so delighted and honoured to receive such a prestigious award. Our volunteers work tirelessly to support the most vulnerable members of our community, and to have such high recognition is a testament to how important they are. I feel very privileged to be Chair of such an important and hardworking charity.?Get in touch at the INS for further information about the support we provide to older members of the local community. Tel 01438 725400, email ins@irishnetwork stevenage.org.uk or on Facebook or Twitter.

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360 Play is excit ed t o announce t hat we are host ing a Parent and Toddler Fayre at 360 Play on Wednesday 11t h Sept ember.

This is a great opport unit y for local families t o browse st alls from local businesses, find out more about local t oddler classes and nurseries and so much more!

Wedding and party package There?s all t he usual 360 Play fun t o be had t oo making it a great day out for young families.

If you are a local business or baby or t oddler service, support group, nursery or anyt hing baby and t oddler relat ed and would like t o find out more about t aking part , please message us via Facebook or get in t ouch, cent remanagerst @ 360play.uk.com t o find out more Read, en joy an d sh ar e

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Amazing Todd event back for 2020

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Todd in the Hole 2019 returned with a bang for it?s second year. The festival welcomed over 9,000 visitors across the 3 three days.

Festival goers enjoyed over 60 bands including Definitely Could be Oasis, The Upbeat Beatles, Absolute Beatles, 7 Wonders of Fleetwood Mac and a host of local bands and buskers. Panto Regular Aidan O?Neil kept the kids entertained in the family arena along with Imajica Theatre, Showtime Circus and loads more. Other highlights included Dougie Lampkin MBE, 12 times FIM motorcycle trial world champion, DJ Dave Pearce, The Wall of Death, Chili Eating contests, Buskers stage, Tug of War competition and The Great British Elvis Off. Mark Watts, Festival Co-founder ?Wow, what a weekend! This years Todd completely surpassed all of our expectations. the festival is a fabulous way to bring together the local community. We look forward to doing it all again next year' David Nye, Festival co-founder 'I'm overwhelmed with the response we've had to Todd 2019. I feel like the proudest man alive.To bring a family festival like this that supports the local economy is amazing, we rocked Hertfordshire."

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Sponsored by #Stevenage

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Just the business At Mr Mulligan's Lost World of Golf businesses are being invit ed t o head across and celebrat e t heir corporat e event s t here or t o book t he facilit y for t heir Christ mas part ies.

W it h an ext ensive menu range you

celebrat e any special occasion by playing a round and can also t reat st aff t o t he fun and different evening which t hey deserve aft er a hard year of work.

Save t he dat e for t heir corporat e showcase on Sept ember 19.

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A meal at Mr Mulligan's At Mr Mulligan's Lost World of Golf you celebrat e any special occasion by playing a round.

And along wit h a great game, you can also have a great meal t hanks t o a new cafĂŠ upgrade.

They are now serving hot dogs, paninis, wraps, sharing plat es and kids meals.

You can also creat e your own sundae and creat e your milkshake. W het her it 's our 11 Thursday night Dat e Night s or a family day out for big and lit t le kids of all ages, you know t he answer, make it Mr Mulligans!

For full updat ed informat ion on t his and all event s which are coming up at Mr Mulligan's Lost World of Golf head t o our Facebook page ht t ps:// www.facebook.com/

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Tollers trio fundraiser thanks to cycle ride Giving back to those that support us, whether through volunteering, fundraising or providing support is very important to leading regional law firm Tollers Solicitors.

Duncan Nicholson, the Firm?s Managing Partner said ?At Tollers we take our corporate responsibility very seriously, we work hard to ensure we are engaged with and working in partnership with the local communities we serve and one of the ways we do this is by working with a number of locally based charities across our geographies?.

With this in mind on Wednesday 10 July 2019, three solicitors from Tollers Solicitors set off to ride from London to Paris, a distance of 300 miles, with the aim of completing the challenge in less than 48 hours in order to raise much needed funds for a local Northamptonshire based charity Cransley Hospice.

It is not common to ride the route in 48 hours. Ordinarily organisers of London to Paris cycle challenges plan for them to take place over 3 or even 4 days, but the Tollers trio where determined to cover the combined 900 miles in this timeframe.

The Three intrepid cyclists Roger Reed (from the Personal Injury Department), Duncan Nicholson (Managing Partner of the firm) and Tristan Benson (Head of the Dispute Resolution Team) were more than up for the challenge having trained hard over the last few months, with many lunchtime rides, cycling events and sportifs under their belts.

The ride was 100% funded and planned by the Firm, so that every single penny raised went to Cransley Hospice. The local hospice provides specialist care for patients with life limiting illnesses and as with many charities of this nature Cransley simply could not operate without the help of donations from the public.

The team where up bright and early on the first morning to start the ?Tour de Tollers?and set off from London?s O2 arena at 5am. They made good progress, with only a small sat-nav problem at the beginning resulting in a few minor delays negotiating their way out of London. They arrived in Dover at 12.30, were they loaded their bikes onto their

support vehicle and boarded the ferry. During the crossing they had the opportunity to refuel and review the French route, as well as have a well-deserved rest. On arrival in Calais they jumped back on their bikes to continue their journey to Hesdin, in Northern France, and arrived at their overnight stop at 9.45pm. Following some refreshments they retired for the night for a well-earned rest after the first day of their mammoth trek, having covered 150 miles.

The following morning the cycling trio were up early to embark on the final 150 mile leg of their journey to Paris.

After a hearty breakfast to fuel them on their way, they left Hesdin at 8.10am. The weather on the day was a blistering 31 degrees and despite some issues ensuring they stayed hydrated in the heat, the team made good progress finally arriving at the iconic Arc De Triomphe at 9.30pm.

Having shattered their 48 hour target, riding the 300 miles in around 39 hours, the team are now taking a well-earned rest before they get back in the saddle. To date they have raised over ÂŁ4000 against their original target of ÂŁ3000, with donations continuing to come in. The team are delighted that their efforts will make such a significant contribution to the hospice and the vital support they provide.

Roger Reed, said of their effort ?We made it to Paris and beat our target! At times when our muscles ached we put things back in perspective and reminded ourselves of the reason why we were doing the ride. Cransley Hospice provide an invaluable service to the community and the sponsorship we received will help them maintain the highest levels of care and treatment for their patients and their families. We have been overwhelmed by people?s generosity and so grateful for all the support we received.

We would like to express our thanks to everyone who followed our progress, sponsored us and supported us on our journey?.

The Firm are extremely proud of the team?s achievement and can?t wait to see what this intrepid trio plan next?

Except ional people Except ional service Except ional delivery

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On the final journey Funeral t ransport : Making your last journey personal There are many sayings in life about journeys and travel. A journey is a common metaphor for life itself and they form the basis of numerous inspirational quotes.

But we?re also a generation of physical globetrotters. We plot where we want to go, what we want to do; we have scratch maps to complete, bucket lists to fulfil.

So the final journey we make after we?ve passed away is, surely, just as significant. By choosing a mode of transport and a route to take to the final resting place, which are personal to the deceased, a funeral can feel more about their life than their death. It?s not about going into the dark and unknown, but celebrating life and creating more memories.

Our blog on personalising funerals [link to personalising funerals blog] touched on transport, but here we?ll look at it in more depth.

Why is funeral transport so significant?

There are two aspects to personalising funeral transport.

Firstly, it allows the deceased to travel in a way that is very personal to them, whether this is

by their own planning before they pass away, or down to friends and family fulfilling their wishes on their behalf. This might be in a vehicle they owned themselves, something they loved going in, or perhaps even always wanted to experience!

There was a story in the news recently of a man who?s dying wish it was to have his coffin transported in the bucket of the JCB he drove for 30 years. There are some beautiful pictures online of the JCB taking him on the short journey from his home to the funeral, followed by his family and friends on foot. (https://metro.co.uk/2019/04/24/ granddad-taken-funeralbucket-jcb-9294632/) The second aspect is about those left behind. Depending on the transport chosen, they can walk alongside, drive, or, in the case of a hand pulled bier, even carry their loved one themselves and be beside them right until the end. In some cases, following a traditional black hearse in a funeral car may feel quite distant and unfamiliar for the bereaved, perhaps even a bit stressful. It?s important to see how something as seemingly insignificant as the transport can

help our stress and mental attitude at such a difficult time. [link to funeral stress blog] A study by the Co-op revealed that more and more people want their funerals to be personal and celebratory affairs with Land Rovers and rainbow-hued vehicles to take them to their final resting places ? and companies are responding to these wishes up and down the country!

W hat t ypes of t ransport are available?

At Austin?s, we can arrange various modes of transport and always do our best to make your wishes happen. Aside from our traditional black hearses and limousines, we can offer?

A motorbike hearse with a sidecar for the coffin A VW campervan, A variety of different model Land Rovers A 1950 vintage lorry A hand pulled coffin bier, which has been in the Austin?s family for generations A horse-drawn carriage with black or white horses

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Wedding and party package Can you af f ord t o miss t he Forum's wedding package?

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For a remarkabl e ÂŁ3,000 you can have excl usive use of t he f ul l suit e upst airs incl uding Fairview suit e. Incl udes: -

Room f rom 10am-midnight Cat ers up t o 500 Ful l use of t he kit chen and abil it y t o bring in booze and f ood.

Incl ude securit y 1 hot el room Col our t heme upl ight ers and use of screens f or phot os

For part ies, weddings recept ions, birt hdays and charit y event s we are t he venue f or you.

Book by Sept ember 30 2019 and use t his t o t he end of 2019.

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Noon - Midnight Ext ended bar l icence on appl icat ion ÂŁ500 per room, accommodat e 200 peopl e.

Can increase capacit y by booking a second room f or a 50% discount .

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Cal l us now on 01438 779955

And how about our amazing part y package?

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Book the best conference facilities for your business

Do you want t he very best f or your business?

The Forum Conf erence and Banquet ing Suit es in St evenage of f er t he f inest f acil it ies and t he best rat es - and we now have a special booking of f er which wil l al l ow you t o book f rom now unt il April 30 2020.

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Arrival t ea cof f ee and f resh baked past ries avail abl e Take a break wit h mid-morning t ea, cof f ee and biscuit s Af t ernoon hot and col d working buf f et l unch avail abl e Af t ernoon t ea, cof f ee and a sweet t reat f or al l del egat es Al l bookings incl ude f ul l use of st at ionery, room hire and equipment hire

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Brilliant businesses in High Street need you After our amazingly successful piece in our last edition on Middle Row and the independent shops in that area, we have turned our focus on other shops in Stevenage High Street.

The shares and likes we have gained by putting these businesses in the spotlight has been amazing, so don't forget make sure if you need a product or a service which they offer head down to them and keep them in business in #Stevenage

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Phot ography by Brendan Fal vey

If you have enjoyed t hese images of #St evenage by Brendan Falvey and would like t o find out how t o order t hem cont act on t he det ails supplied here

Email: bjpfalvey@gmail.com Search for Bren's Phot o's on Facebook

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For r esult s t oday speak t o t he com m unicat ion exper t s at Spit f ir ePR Media rel at ions

Copy writ ing

Social media market ing

Media t raining

Market ing

Crisis management

Proud publ i sh er of #Herts @h ash tagh erts For al l your mark eti ng and soci al medi a needs: 07539 782979 w w w .spi tf i repr.com darren@spi tf i repr.com @DarrenI sted1 @h ash tagh erts

What 's on in # STEVENAGE INS: Every Friday afternoon, So Healthy, a gentle exercise class takes place from 1.30pm to 2.30pm at Bedwell Community Centre. Please contact the INS for more information on 01438 725400 or emailinfo@irishnetworkstevenage.org.ukor follow the group on Facebook or Twitter.

St evenage Fl oral Art Societ y: Call Margaret 01438 880086 for more details.

St evenage Liberal Synagogue: For further information phone 01438 300222 or visitstevenageliberalsynagogue@gmail.com St evenage Fibromyal gia Support Group:Meet on the second Wednesday evening, 7.30 to 9.30pm, and last Tuesday of the month, 12.30pm to 2.30pm, at Poplars Community Hall. A weekly coffee drop in from 1pm to 3pm takes place on Wednesdays at Encore Coffee House, in the foyer of the Gordon Craig Theatre. Call the helpline 0844 8872 373 or 355 for more info. All welcome.

St Andrew and St George:Parish Mass on Sunday at 10am. A toddler group takes place on Wednesdays from 10am to 12pm. All welcome. For further details please email Kimcuttylanegroups@gmail.com.Morning Prayer Monday to Thursday at 9.30 am. Weekday Masses on Monday at 10am, Tuesday at 12.30pm and Thursday at 10am. Compline at 8:30 pm on Thursdays. For more information visitwww.stevenagechurch.org.

Debt ors Anonymous:Meetings are held every

Tuesday evening at 8pm at The Living Room, No 15 The Glebe, Chells Way. For more information visit:www.debtorsanonymous.org.uk St evenage Corey?s Mil l Lions Cl ub:Lion are part of the world's largest community based Service Organisation and are looking for more members to assist with the work in the community as volunteers. Meetings are held on the second Monday of the month in Symonds Green starting at 7.45pm. Membership fee is nominal. To find out more call 01438 489247 or 07903 444052 or visit the group on Facebook.

St arl ight Dance Academy:Adult tap dance classes, for all ages, with a fully qualified teacher take place from 1.15pm every Friday at the Community and Arts Pavilion, Roaring Meg Retail Park, Stevenage.

Age Concern, St evenage:Pop in for a cuppa every Monday, 10am to 12pm, at Swingate House. Age Concerns provides bookings for Britannia Coaches,a hire service for mobility scooters and wheelchairs during opening hours. Free 20-minute appointments for benefits and legal advice, and a footcare clinic are held every Tuesday and Thursday (fee payable). Age Concern's offices are open Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 3pm and Thursday 9.30am to 1.30pm, ground floor, Swingate House, Stevenage town centre.Call01438 314164 for more.

St evenage Museum:St George?s Way, Stevenage, hosts a wide range of events throughout the year for families, children and adults. Open 10am to 4.30pm Wednesday to Friday, 10am to 5pm Saturday. Call 01438 218881 or emailmuseum@stevenage.gov.ukfor more.

Cycl e UK St evenage:Starter cycle rides will set off from Costello?s Cafe by the Sailing Centre in Fairlands Valley Park at 10.30am every Saturday.

Evening rides from the green by Springfield House Community Centre take place every Wednesday at 7.15pm. For more information go towww.stevenagectc.org.ukor call Jim on 07939 687509 or Jill on 07816 625901.

What 's on in # STEVENAGE St evenage Writ ers:Meet every Wednesday from 5.30pm to 7pm in The Snug Bar at The Dun Cow, Letchmore Road, Stevenage. Mutual support for writers at all levels, something for everyone. Next two months the group is working on getting their Annual together. For more details contact Tony Burtonponytailpoet@gmail.com.

Pl ay Go:Takes place every Tuesday from 7.30pm in Letchworth or Stevenage on alternate weeks.

Persons under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. For more information, visithttp:/ / www.letchworth-go.org.uk/ letchgo St Hugh and St John's Church: Blaze Youth Club for anyone aged 7 to 14 takes place every Thursday during term-time from 5.45pm to 7.15pm. Have fun playing games, sports, making crafts, baking, cooking, and art, The first Thursday of the month is family night where families are invited to come for a meal and a short service. ÂŁ1.50 per week.

Roundabout ers Count ry Dance Cl ub:English country dancing every Thursday, 8pm to 10pm, at Friends Meeting House, Cuttys Lane SG1 1UP. Newcomers are always welcome, both beginners and experienced dancers. To find out more call 01438 727239, visitwww.roundabouters.org.ukor just come along.

St evenage Bridge Cl ub:New players are needed at Stevenage Bridge Club and Springfield House Friday Bridge Club. Stevenage Bridge Club meets at 7.30pm to play Duplicate Bridge at the Priory Nursery, Stanmore Road, Old Stevenage. Contact Phil Cooper on 0795 7813434. Springfield House Friday Bridge Club meet on Friday afternoons at 1.30pm to play cut-in Chicago Bridge at Springfield House. Contact Richard Bean on 01438 221517.

Mol l y Vickers School of Dance:Lessons in Ballet, Tap, Freestyle and Contemporary at Bedwell Community Centre, Stevenage. For children (18 months+) and adults, first trial class is free! For more details call Lisa Holt on (01438) 723450 or Stacey Hurst on (01438) 315580.

Oval Communit y Circl e:Come along to a free social

group held on the first Thursday of the month anytime between 9:30am and 11am at the Oval Community Centre, Vardon Road. For more information contactenquiries@ovalcommunity.comor 01438 359404.

Love t o Dance:Fun and friendly sessions for anyone aged 50 and over take place every Friday from 1.30pm to 3.30pm at Hampson Park Community Centre, Webb Rise, Stevenage, SG1 5QU. Just ÂŁ5.50 per session. For more information call 0203 675 7215 or emailclarebellchambers@saracens.net St evenage Spirit ual Group:Meet every Sunday (except Bank Holidays) at Springfield House, Stevenage Old Town. Sunday meetings take place from 7.30pm till 9pm with a different Medium each week. All welcome.

Just Sing Communit y Choir:Come along and sing every Thursday during term time from 7pm to 9pm, at Grace Community Church. Hydean Way, Stevenage. First taster session free and no auditions are required. Contact 07785568463 or visit the websitewww.justsingcc.org.uk Pil at es:Sessions take place at Datchworth Village Hall on Thursdays from 1.30pm to 2.30pm/ Beginners are recommended to attend an introductory class. Call 07732897404 for more information.

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Do you w an t t o sh ow t h e people of #St even age you r gr ou p in act ion ?

Sen d you r copy an d pict u r es t o dar r en @spit f ir epr .com an d w e w ill do ou r best t o pu blish t h em in Wh at 's on in #St even age

Join the SportScene team There is a new radio show on the circuit that any sports fan in the area would be mad to miss.

SportScene started broadcasting their weekly show earlier in August on SG1 radio, the online radio station broadcasting live from their studio in Stevenage Town Centre.

Presented by Steve Watkins, Jay Drackford and Dean Thompson, there is a wealth of local sporting knowledge that has been tapped into, with the trio aiming to showcase any sport local to the area.

Steve Watkins said ?It was an idea that was dreamed up by Jay, who quickly shared his thoughts with myself and Dean, and we were hooked. We went to station owner Ray Medwynter and he loved the idea, and two weeks later we were live on air! ?In the first show we were honoured to have former Arsenal goalkeeper Bob Wilson as a guest, speaking about his charity, the Welwyn Garden City based

?Willow Foundation?, and his golf tournament recently held at Hanbury Manor. ?The response has been phenomenal in the early days. We have had local clubs represented, with sports including Football, Netball, Running, Iron-Man, Cricket Rugby and Cylcling, and have even included the great work being done with the Aqualina Synchronised Swimming club. ?It has so far been a case of building relationships with the clubs, so that we can follow their fortunes in the future. But we are also keen to get involved ourselves, with Jay already running the local Park Run, and Dean is lined up to have an evening of Synchronised Swimming, which of course will be covered on the show! ?We still need to hear from any new clubs with a story to tell, whether it be news, results, fixtures or events, and we are happy to speak on the phone, get guests into the studio , or simply

read out any news from a club. The aim is to cover ANY local sport, without prejudice or bias. Where at all possible of course!?

The show can be contacted at any time via email at sportscene@sg1radio.co.uk, via twitter @sg1sportscene, or on the SG1 Radio Facebook Page.

The show is broadcast every Wednesday evening between 9-10pm, and can be accessed at www. sg1radio.co.uk, on mobile phones by downloading the SG1 Radio app, via tune-in radio on a smart device such as sonos or alexa, and is also now being broadcast live with video on Facebook, which has added an extra dimension, and encouraged interaction from the sportspeople of the area.

Previous shows can also be played again, with links on Facebook and Twitter.

For further details, contact the team at sportscene@sg1radio.co.uk

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To ent er simply follow and like our Facebook page @st evenage magazine and ent er our compet it ion when post ed asking who you would t ake wit h you.

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Ashr idge Est at e

# St evenage August 2019

PROPERTY

The unique guide to property news in #Stevenage

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Homes and Mortgages Estate Agents are ready and waiting to help the Stevenage community with all its property needs, be it buying, selling or renting, Homes and Mortgages are committed to providing great value customer service for all our clients.

Situated in the heart of the historic Old Town and set over three floors, each department provides a professional, welcoming and comfortable environment for all of our customers. We have a team of 9 full time, experienced Sales and Lettings staff on hand to deal with any property enquiry.

W hat 's new? The rebranded branch and heavy investment in IT has set Homes and Mortgages up to stand out in 2017 and for the future. Our experienced and dedicated staff all share the same view in providing a fantastic customer experience and are heavily focused on the importance of transparency between ourselves and our customers.

The IT software is excellent at allowing vendors and Landlords 24/7 access to information regarding their property. At the click of a button, vendors can see feedback, current interest from web portals and can track the progress of a sale online. Likewise, Landlords have the option to view property maintenance schedules and access statements. mailt o:st evenage@homesand mort gages.co.uk

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Dealing with all property needs

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Hom e an d M or t gages St even age, 86 High St r eet , St even age Tel 01438 728444

em ail st even age@h om esan dm or t gages.co.u k

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Placing the focus on our customers Text

Hom e an d M or t gages St even age, 86 High St r eet , St even age Tel 01438 728444

em ail st even age@h om esan dm or t gages.co.u k

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For a top service Text

rely on A-TOP A-Top Pr oper t y Let t in gs, 1 Dr aper s Way, St even age Tel 01438 369173

em ail con t act @a-t oplet t in g.co.u k

If you are looking for a t eam t hat you can t rust t o deliver t ime aft er t ime t hen A-Top Propert y Let t ings in Drapers Way, St evenage is t he one for you.

A-Top, which is owned by founder Mervyn Terret t , has gained an impressive reput at ion as t he go-t o agent for all your propert y needs whet her you are looking t o rent or are a landlord seeking t enant s. W it h a combined market experience of more t han 60 years, t he st aff at A-Top are t he most knowledgeable in t he business and along wit h advice on t he rent al market , t hey can also provide informat ion which allows cust omers t o make t he most informed choice possible. Over t he past 33 years t he t eam lead by Mervyn has seen t he local market undergo a wide number of changes, but t hrough t hem all A-Top and it s experienced st aff have always given t he very best and most informed service.

There have been plent y of changes which have alt ered t he let t ings landscape in St evenage. Through t hem all however t he reliabilit y of A-Top Propert y Let t ings has remained a const ant and t heir port folio of excellent landlords has increased dramat ically.

Comment ing on t he t eam Mervyn said: ?W hat once was a rarit y in t he UK i.e. rent ing, is now so common as a source of income/ invest ment for landlords and of mobilit y for professional working t enant s.

We are delight ed t o be able t o use our expert ise t o help bot h t enant s and landlords.?

For furt her det ails cont act 01438 369173 or email cont act @a-t oplet t ing.co.uk

For a top service Text

rely on A-TOP A-Top Pr oper t y Let t in gs, 1 Dr aper s Way, St even age Tel 01438 369173

em ail con t act @a-t oplet t in g.co.u k

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The independent local estate agent Text

2 M iddle Row , St even age Tel 01438 367753

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St ephen Harris and Michael Not schild est ablished Own Homes in 2008, operat ing as a successful, independent local St evenage est at e agent .

Here at Own Homes, we understand that each property and sale is individual and therefore tailor our service to suit your specific requirements.

We have prominent offices ideally situated in the heart of Stevenage Old Town. One in Middle Row covering lettings and mortgages and one on the High Street to deal with sales.

Our recent expansion and our double fronted office allows us the scope and ability to serve Stevenage and the surrounding residential areas.

Passionate in all we do, we pride ourselves on delivering the highest level of service.

Selling and letting a property can be a stressful time, which is why we go the extra mile to make your involvement with us as enjoyable and professional as possible.

Working in Hertfordshire for the past 10 years has enabled Own Homes to develop a comprehensive understanding of residential property in the local areas of Stevenage, Hitchin and surrounds.

We have an established an experienced team, on hand to work with you throughout the selling and buying process, ensuring personal contact is maintained from start to finish.

We use a number of marketing styles to ensure your property, whether you are selling or letting, gains maximum exposure and a smooth efficient sale. This includes advertising in local newspapers and glossy magazines, as well as Internet marketing. Our double fronted office also allows people to see

our properties in both windows.

To arrange a free valuation, or to find out more about Own Homes and the services we provide, simply call 01438 367753 or email sales@own-homes.com. You can also visit our office.

Awards In recognition of our outstanding service, we've been awarded two gold winner awards by the British Property Awards, one for being the top Estate Agent in Stevenage and another for the top Estate Agent in the South East. We're very proud of these awards as the Own Homes team has worked tirelessly to provide industry leading property services in and around the area.

Award winners!

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2 M iddle Row , St even age Tel 01438 367753 w w w.ow n -h om es.com

Putterills Stevenage - talk to the professionals Text

61-63 High St r eet , St even age Tel 01438 316846

Founded by Tony Putterill in 1992, with our first office in Welwyn Garden City, Putterills are now celebrating 26 years of serving the Hertfordshire community.

We have grown from our original branch in Welwyn Garden City to having offices in Knebworth, Hitchin, Stevenage Old Town and St Albans, as well as a partner office in London?s Mayfair. Each of our sales offices are overseen by a Director who is actively involved in the day to day running; this helps to ensure that we are providing the highest possible levels of advice and service. All of these offices are prominently located to ensure all properties receive the best possible exposure.

In addition to our network of sales offices, we have an award winning Land and New Homes department.

Our specialists help landowners maximise the development opportunities for usually previously

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used land known as Brownfield, as the country struggles for space for new homes. We have always believed that our task is to provide our clients with the best, up to the minute, expert advice when dealing with what is usually their greatest asset.

Our clients have a wide range of emotions and circumstances and we help guide less experienced first time buyers, provide yield information and advice to investment buyers, schooling information to families, hold the hands of those who have not moved for many years and deal sensitively and professionally with those. Over the last few years, we are proud to have won a number of national awards which we believe underline our philosophy of being Trusted Property Experts.

2017 saw Tony Putterill retire and hand the reins of the company over to Mark Shearing. Mark has been in agency in Hertfordshire since 1982

and joined Putterills in 1993. As the company moves into a new era with changing markets, advances in property marketing and the use of technology, our aim is simple - to keep at the absolute forefront of full service Estate Agency and to continue the exceptional levels of service and advice that our clients have been able to rely on over the last 26 years.

Our primary purpose has always been to provide an outstanding customer experience and our core values continue to represent this: EXCEPTIONAL ? we are passionate about delivering excellence.

RESPECT ? we respect and value those we work with, both our colleagues and our customers.

EXPERTISE ? we deliver outstanding skills and knowledge in all we do.

TRUST ? we act with honesty and integrity at all times.

Putterills see massive rise in sales on 2018 Text

61-63 High St r eet , St even age Tel 01438 316846

Putterills are delighted to report that despite stories that the property market is sluggish, year to date they are a staggering 50% ahead in sales than this time last year!

Managing Director Mark Shearing says ?Many buyers and sellers believe that the property market is slow at the moment, but our results to date show this is clearly not the case. The market has indeed been tough over the last year or so, but there are always people that need to move. Having over 25 years?experience in Hertfordshire gives us a huge advantage in tougher markets and enables us to adapt to a good old fashioned estate agency service, like talking to people, finding out their real moving requirements and matching them with like-minded sellers, something many online agencies or even younger firms either cannot do, or seem to have forgotten how to do.

Prices have softened a little, so realistic pricing is essential, but equally you are likely to end up paying a little less for your next home, so it all balances out in the end.

We are also encouraged by the numbers of first-time buyers coming back into the market place, as low interest rates remain it is often cheaper to buy than to waste money

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renting.

Hertfordshire enjoys almost full employment with a wide diversity of employers, so whilst we are close enough to London to have many commuters living in the county, we are not dependant on London buyers.

Our sales of new homes have risen significantly this year, with our specialist New Homes Department now handling 20 sites offering over 200 homes for sale. Many new homes? buyers are using the Government?s Help to Buy Scheme, which, contrary to most people?s understanding, is NOT just for first-time buyers.

There have been some very notable performances from our branches. Our Hitchin sales office has just had its best sales month EVER! Outstanding results.

Our Welwyn Garden City office has sold more homes in excess of ÂŁ1 million this year than in all of last year, a clear sign of returning buyer confidence in the upper market.

Our Stevenage office has had a stunning month for listing new properties to sell and this improved choice has encouraged more buyers to commit.

St Albans office has had its best month this year for both sales and new instructions and we are actively looking for additional staff to meet

demand here.

In Knebworth, again, they are ahead of last year as many people want to take advantage of this thriving village?s excellent facilities - including its own station.

The conveyancing process remains painfully slow, with some chains taking many months to get to the point of exchange. Sales progression and dealing with issues during the conveyancing period is one of the most important and time-consuming jobs an estate agent carries out.

Having experience and being well-known by local surveyors and solicitors is paramount and something Putterills are professionals at.

Choosing an estate agent who does not offer this service, or has a remote centre dealing with all their cases, is a false economy and can cause considerable stress and frustration at what can be an already difficult time.

In summary, the market is fine, with a good level of buyers, but they need to be encouraged and looked after, so at this time, more than ever, choosing the right agent to handle your transaction is paramount and we hope that our selling success this year speaks for itself!!!

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Shepherding you home the life of an estate agent Text

61-63 High St r eet , St even age Tel 01438 316846

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W ho'd Be An Est at e Agent ?

Duncan Price of Put t erills explains what being an est at e agent really means.

Some people t hink our job is easy. They t hink t hat propert y just sells it self. That a buyer appears from nowhere, loves a house or flat and agrees t o buy it - just like t hat . Some t hink t he sale t hen speeds effort lessly t o a sat isfact ory conclusion and wit hout any ot her assist ance. Let me t ell you it doesn't work like t hat well not for most of t he t ime anyway.

A 'proper' est at e agent 's job is not t o sell houses; rat her it is t o move people. Moving anyt hing is oft en complicat ed, can be fraught wit h difficult y and have unforeseen consequences. Just t hink about moving t win six-year-olds singlehandedly from home t o school every morning, or moving a cent ral heat ing boiler, or moving 250,000 t ons

of crude oil half way round t he world, or moving a herd of sheep from one hillside t o anot her. It all t akes planning, pat ience, knowhow, experience and resolve. It means expect ing t he unexpect ed, problem solving and, when ot her people are involved, t he highest level of t act and diplomacy.

I don't know about you, but if I want ed t o move a herd of sheep I would hire a shepherd.

And, in a way, t hat 's what est at e agent s are. We arrange for somet hing wit h lot s of moving part s - each wit h a mind of it s own - t o end up where it should be on t he dat e it is supposed t o be t here.

Est at e agent s shepherd people, cont ract s, surveys, mort gages, removals, wit hdrawals,

gazundering, false st art s, disappoint ment s, t he unforeseen and t riumphs from one place t o anot her.

Somet imes it 's a smoot h process. But all t oo oft en it isn't . You may not t hink it 's wort h paying for a shepherd at t he beginning. But believe me, at t he end, when it has been sheet ing down wit h rain all day, t he quad bike has broken down, a fox snat ched a lamb and a large group of unreasonable ewes made a long break for freedom you will t hink a shepherd is wort h every penny.

W hy are we est at e agent s? We do it because we enjoy being shepherds. Some may t hink t hat selling houses is not much of a job, and in many ways t hey might be correct . But moving people and families on t o t he next st age of t heir lives and making it as seamless and st ress-free as possible is a job we enjoy and t hink is well wort h doing.

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Portfolio - for serviced apartments in #Herts Text

Tel 0800 0248 914

Booking a holiday is possibly one of the greatest feelings and counting down the days when you?re having an awful day at work or are just desperate to get away from home can seem like a joy, but there can be a downside. Hotels. While some people may see staying in a hotel like a dream, it can actually be a nightmare if you?ll be staying there for a long time, especially if on a business trip or secondment. With that said, here are the top reasons to stop staying in hotels for your business travel trips.

Limit ed Wardrobe Space Packing for a holiday or for a business trip puts you on one of two teams, you?re either naturally gifted and find it a breeze or it?s the worst part of the trip for you, but one thing unites these two camps ? limited hotel space.

If you love to pack an outfit for every possible occasion you will know how difficult it can be to cram your clothes into tiny hotel wardrobes, or even worse live out of a case. Staying in a serviced apartment fixes this and means you have a home away from home and all the storage you could need.

You feel like you?re t rapped Walking into a hotel room can at first glance feel wonderful, everything is conveniently within arm?s reach and for the first day you love it. Then the second day comes and the third day and by the fourth you feel like you almost can?t breathe.

Hotels just aren?t feasible for long periods of time or for anyone who likes a sense of space, after all, who wants to feel trapped by the same four walls for the entire of their trip?

Privacy? W hat privacy?

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Hotels may seem like a good idea for a romantic night away, but if you?re travelling with family or small children or even colleagues, then all sense of privacy goes straight out of the window when you?re all sharing a room just feet away from each other.

Forget staring dreamily into each other?s eyes when you wake up, you?ll probably be staring at a toddler who immediately wants to play or be woken by another family member?s snoring and that?s not even mentioning the housekeeper who always turns up at the most inconvenient times!

Serviced apartments let you have time to yourself no matter how many you have brought along for the trip, so you can sleep well and feel like you have privacy if you are all loved up.

Money money money!

Straight to the point hotels aren?t cheap.

Even for the savviest of spenders and the keenest bargin hunters, you may think booking your hotel means it?s all done, dusted and paid for but you will undoubtedly end up incurring extra fees.

Whether you give in to the lure of room-service with its extortionate service charges, or buy a film to keep energetic youngsters occupied, your bill when you check out can hit you like a smack in the face and leave you wanting a more affordable option.

Meals on wheels Speaking of room-service, while this may seem like a decadent treat on the first night, by the time you come back from a long day of exploring and are tired, it is so easy to have a burger brought straight to door along with its crazily hiked-up price and extra delivery charges. This can not only wreak havoc on your bank account,

but also on your waist-line and by the time you leave, the only thing that will be thinner is your wallet.

Serviced apartments absolutely win here, as having a fully equipped kitchen at your fingertips means it?s easy to rustle up something quick and delicious that will probably be healthier for you and will also save you money! If you want some tips on how to eat well when working away from home check out next weeks blog post, or check out our apartments to find out why it?s time to say goodbye to hotel hell and wake up to apartment heaven!

Though staying in a hotel may seem like the obvious option at first, there?s no denying that a serviced apartment brings with it a number of benefits that a hotel just can?t offer.

At Portfolio Serviced Apartments we specialise in providing luxury serviced apartments and temporary homes for corporate and business travellers. We offer a secure spacious base which can become a home from home for longer staying guests. Portfolio Apartments are located throughout all of Hertfordshire including Stevenage, Welwyn Garden City, St. Albans and Hatfield, whilst through our partners we have access to over 90,000 luxury apartments across the globe.

So whether it?s a placement in St Albans or a secondment in San Francisco, Portfolio is consistently the favoured choice for travelling professionals.

For more information,get in touch. Our team at Portfolio looks forward to helping you soon.

Give our friendly team a call on 0800 024 8914 (Mon ? Fri 9-6pm) or visit our website to view our modern serviced apartments.

101 High St r eet , St even age Tel 01438 231200 w w w.m ar k sim on est at es.co.u k pr oper t y@m ar k sim on est at es.co.u k

Partners with vast knowledge of the local area Text

Mark Simon Estates is an established Estate Agency situated at: 101 High Street, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 3HR. Here at MarkSimon Estates, we have over 40 years combined experience of Estate Agency within Stevenage and its surrounds.

Our Partners Mark Sollis & Simon Jacob both grew up in Stevenage and therefore have a vast knowledge of the area and its surrounds.

This in itself, is proving an invaluable asset to prospective Vendors and Purchasers seeking a property which meets both their needs and expectations in a home.

?To Mark, Many t hanks for all your hard work selling my house for us in Jessop Road. You went t he ext ra mile in so many ways. You always kept me well informed and I knew I could t rust you t o carry out everyt hing you promised.?

From H.

?To MarkSimon Est at es & your t eam, Thank you for being t here t o help us. ?

Mr K & Miss T

Click here for MarkSimon Twitter

?To Mike and everyone at MarkSimon Est at es, A Big t hank you for all your help selling our house, Best wishes.?

The W ?s

Click here for MarkSimon Facebook

The agent with more than 18 years experience Text

TLC est at es, 4 Bak er St r eet , St even age Tel 01438 219282

em ail let t in gs@t lcest at es.co.u k

TLC est at es is sit uat ed in t he delight ful set t ing of St evenage Old Town.

We pride ourselves on t he personal and professional services we offer t o all landlords and t enant s alike We offer very compet it ive rat es we are one of t he very few let t ing agent s only left in t he t own . W it h over 19 years of experience in t he St evenage market we are sure t o offer you t he best of services from under one roof.

Renowned for our open and honest approach ,TLC will give you t he full informat ion on t he market .

Many of our landlords and t enant s have been wit h us since we opened in 2000 and we are known for our close work wit h bot h.

Pop int o our Baker St reet off ice or give us a call and find out how TLC can help wit h your let t ings needs.

The Connells team that you can trust Text

8 M ar k et Place, St even age Tel 01438 318080

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Connells Estate Agents in Stevenage are located in the Town Centre along Market Place, and within walking distance of the Train Station.

We would love to help you sell or rent your home or find a property to rent or buy in and around the Stevenage area, as well as the villiages Walkern, Knebworth, Little & Great Wymondley, Gravely & Aston.

Connells Estate Agents in Stevenage are managed by Gary Young. Gary has had a successful estate agency career over the last 20 years. Gary is supported by Callum Souter who is the Sales Executive with four years experience behind him, Oz Ansari who is the branch valuer, and Melanie Retberg the Branch Administrator.

Our in-house Mortgage Consultant Juliet Twining, is fully trained and qualified to advise you on the right mortgage product to suit your needs.

Connells Lettings would love to help you rent your property.

Lettings Manager Patricia Bowden has 10 year's experience within the Lettings industry and is assisted by Trainee Lettings Negotiator Ben Brooks. With their combined experience and extensive knowledge of the area and rental market, are always happy to offer their assistance to new and experienced buy to let investors and first time landlords

alike.

Whether you are looking to sell or rent your property, we offer FREE market appraisals. Please feel free to pop into the branch or call 01438 318080 (Sales) or 01438 318258 (Lettings).

We offer a range of property related services all under one roof.

In house Mortgage Consultant.

Premium Marketing Packages available including Floorplans, Professional Photography, audio tours, and premium listings on Rightmove & Zoopla We have pioneered a dedicated service called The Property Finder

- You tell us what you are looking for and we will find it We know how the Stevenage market moves - our staff are local and extremely knowledgeable.

Their in-depth and up to date local experience.

Over 10 years?worth of experience and knowledge within the local market.

A professional team providing services to suit all your needs including property management, accounts and high quality administration.

We accompany all viewings, we believe it is really important, we?ve been trained to do it so you get really good feedback.

Making the Wrights choice

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19 M ar k et Place, St even age Tel 01438 312312

Wrights is proud to be an independent estate agency with our own unique values and ethos.

We have been in business in Hertfordshire for over 30 years and our experience in helping our customers to buy, sell or rent their properties is second to none. Over the years we have built a professional and enthusiastic team and we now have three branches based in the towns of Hatfield, Stevenage and Welwyn Garden City.

Wrights was founded in 1983 by Melvin Wright. Melvin was an experienced estate agent who began his career working for W.H.Lee based in the village of Ware and then moved on to their Stevenage office. As he progressed in his career Melvin was asked if he would open another branch of W.H.Lee in Harlow. Whilst pondering this decision Melvin happened to see that a shop unit in Hatfield was for sale and this made up his mind ? he would start his own estate agency! He picked up the phone to the agent and said he wanted to buy the unit, and so

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Wrights Estate Agency was born on the 15th August 1983.

Due to Melvin and his team?s hard work and determination Wrights Estate Agency really took off in Hatfield. Just 10 years after Wrights first opened its doors in Hatfield Melvin made the decision to open another branch in the lovely town of Welwyn Garden City. And so in 1993 Wrights of Welwyn Garden City was founded.

As the Wrights team had such a wealth of knowledge about the Hertfordshire housing market it made sense to open another branch, and because Melvin had previously worked in Stevenage he decided to based his next office in this lively town. Wrights were the first independent estate agents based in the town centre and where we led others followed - it soon became a prime location for a number of estate agencies.

Independent agency, independent values When asked just what makes Wrights so successful we tell

people that it is our independent values and experience. We pride ourselves on our professionalism, our knowledge and our honesty.

We really care about our customers and put them at the heart of everything we do.

Our success is also built on great teamwork and our family values extend to the whole of the Wrights team. We make our offices a welcoming place to work and this is evidenced by the fact that we have team members who have been with us for over 20 years!

So now you know our history let us help you plan your future in the property market. Whether you are looking to buy, sell or rent get in touch with any of our three branches and we will be happy to help you.

19 M ar k et Place, St even age Tel 01438 312312 h t t ps:/ / w w w.w r igh t sof .com / br an ch / st even age/

Geoffrey Matthew property innovators Text

24 M ar k et Place, St even age Tel 01438 720100

w w w.geof f r eym at t h ew.co.u k

Geoffrey Mat t hew Est at es are a propert y business wit h offices in Harlow, St evenage and Great Ashby t hat specialise in t he sales and let t ing of resident ial propert y.

Over 25 years of experience in propert y and finance give us an unparalleled insight t o t he needs and desires of sellers, purchasers, landlords and t enant s alike.

W it h a dedicat ed, hardworking, innovat ive forward-t hinking t eam t hat use modern met hods and good old-fashioned cust omer service, we offer a unique bespoke service t ailored t o you.

Tel 01438 720100 w w w.geof f r eym at t h ew.co.u k