# STEVENAGE The unique digital magazine for Stevenage promoted by social media
November 2018
Pupils or pr of it ? Cou n t y Cou n cil f u n ded pr oper t y com pan y r ef u sin g t o u se f or m er Lon sdale sit e f or plan n ed n ew sch ool
Resident s have expressed anger aft er it has emerged t hat a development company part -owned by Hert s Count y Council (HCC) would profit from a former educat ional sit e being used for housing - despit e calls for a new school t o be built in t he t own. The company Hert s Living, which was formed earlier t his year, is a ÂŁ2bn joint vent ure by Rugby-based company Morgan Sindall in associat ion wit h HCC wit h a plan t o develop a number of homes in t he count y. The part nership, which is known as Chalkdene, will focus on 12 key sit es in Hert s wit h t he aim of building in excess of 500 propert ies. The cont ract has already been seen as a meaningful cont ribut or t o group profit s. Cont inued on page 3
You r in t er act ive digit al m agazin e f or St even age See in side f or n ew s, f eat u r es, bu sin ess, pr oper t y
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CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE An applicat ion is t o be submit t ed by London-based Michaela Schools t o t he Depart ment for Educat ion t o build a new secondary school in t he t own wit h a project ed opening dat e of 2023. An opening int ake of 180 Year 7 st udent s will build t o a school which at full capacit y will have 1,260 pupils. Ever since it was first moot ed resident s had been led t o believe t hat t he former sit e would be earmarked for a new secondary school. W hen plans were t hen announced for a new school in St evenage it looked cert ain t hat t he former sit e in Webb Rise would be redeveloped t o fulfill t his need. However aft er cont act ing Hert s Count y Council (HCC) #St evenage has been t old t hat t here are no such plans t o build a school on t hat land. And wit h t he value of housing on t his sit e wort h far more for HCC and t heir privat e invest ors, t he fut ure of a much needed school for t he t own could hang in t he balance.
One resident who declined t o give t heir name said: ?We have always been led t o believe t hat if t here was a need for a new school in t he t own t hen t his sit e would be a nat ural fit for t hat . We aren?t just complaining because we don?t want lot s more house on our doorst ep but it seems st range t hat t he council might hang out t o put houses, not a school here, just because it ?s wort h lot s more money.? Comment ing on t he fut ure of t he former Lonsdale School sit e a spokesman for HCC said: ?Out line planning consent was previously grant ed for
resident ial development on t he former Lonsdale School sit e. ?However, as part of t he normal school planning process all sit es owned by t he count y council are considered for new schools t o meet fut ure pupil demand in t hose areas where t here are subst ant ial new housing proposals. At present , t here are no plans t o build a new secondary school on t he former Lonsdale School sit e.? #St evenage has spoken exclusively t o t he principal designat e of t he new school. See page 12 for full int erview.
Beyond boom for bar Celebrity fever is about to hit Stevenage as top DJs and TV stars are lined-up to appear at Bar&Beyond. The town?s nightspot on Stevenage Leisure Park, is relaunching its Saturday nights as new manager, Ana Luciuk (pictured), takes the helm. A steamy session with Love Island?s Chris Hughes, is promised as he parties with guests on Saturday 10 November. And talented hip-hop and house DJ Nathan Dawe will take to the decks the following Saturday 17 November.
In December, Bar&Beyond welcomes DJ, TV presenter and producer Marvin Humes, who kicks off the festive party season on Saturday 1 December with international house and bass mash-up DJ, Danny T, joining party-goers on Saturday 15 December. Bar&Beyond has also updated its cocktail menu for the cooler months. Whilst still retaining a Tiki tropical vibe, the menu offers exciting new drinks perfect for winter including the Smoking Mary, which is an unusual mix of vodka, smoked BBQ glaze, tomato juice and honey,
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alongside twists on old favourites such as Blackberry Old Fashioned. General manager Ana Luciuk said: ?I?m so excited to be here in Stevenage and create memorable nights out for our customers. We?ve got some great acts booked and this is one of the best line-ups the town has seen.?
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STEM advice for pupils Find out about STEM opportunities in Stevenage with three of the UK?s most innovative firms.
Hertfordshire, an educational charity that promotes STEM to young people will also be assisting with the running of the event.
Stevenage?s biggest employers are hosting an event designed to introduce youngsters to a wide range of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) opportunities.
The leading organisations are major players in their specific international markets and represent some of the most innovative firms in the world. Combined, MBDA, Airbus and GSK employ over 5,000 people in Stevenage alone and all three are on the lookout for the next generation of game-changing talent. With STEM skills growing in importance all the time, it?s crucially important that employers can identify the talent that can enable them to meet their strategic targets now and in the future.
MBDA, GSK and Airbus are running an event that is designed to introduce school and college pupils aged 15-18 to the world of STEM and the opportunities available within it. The event takes place on 8 November 2018 at the Development Centre, Robertson House in Stevenage. Representatives from Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, Local Enterprise Partnership, Catapult and more will also be in attendance to outline available opportunities and to discuss potential careers with school, college and university students and their families. SETPOINT
Keith Garden, Deputy Managing Director UK at MBDA and Andrew Stroomer, Stevenage Site Director; Airbus Defence and Space, commented: .?We are very excited to be involved with such an important campaign. Whilst we
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often run events like this on our own, it is a fantastic opportunity to educate youngsters about the potential that a career in STEM can offer with some innovative and international organisations all in the same room at the same time. Not enough people are aware of some of the truly global firms that are based in Stevenage and this represents a fantastic opportunity for those looking to launch their careers to gain a better understanding of what we do and what sort of careers we can offer. Having worked in Stevenage for 30 years I know the potential and the skills that this town holds and we are really looking forward to meeting some of the next generation of STEM specialists.? If you?re looking to attend the event please register here or search on Eventbrite.co.uk for ?Generation Stevenage?or bit.ly/genstevenage . Parents and carers are also welcome to attend.
What's on in
#Stevenage They say that no news isgood newsbut at #Stevenage we would have to disagree.
GET INTO FILM
We are delighted that in this edition we will be offering news from around the town - on issuesthat matter to everyone in #Stevenage.
Spot ligh t on f ilm sch em e
Of course we will continue with our regular featuresand promotion of eventsin the area. So if you have a story you think that we should tell then don't forget to contact usat the addresses below.
PROPERTY EXTRA All t h e best in pr oper t y
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Battle's Over to mark a fitting Remembrance Day Stevenage Borough Council and Stevenage Royal British Legion are working together with ?Bat t le?s Over? commemorating 100 years since the end of World War 1. On November 10th Stevenage Royal British Legion and Service Cadets will visit and lay a poppy cross at each Commonwealth WW1 War Grave. This will start at St Nicholas Church, Rectory Lane at 10.30am, and then to St Mary?s Church, Shephall for 12 noon, and to St Mary?s Church, Gravely at 1pm. Members of the public are invited to attend, but advised to please wear stout shoes. November 11t h; St evenage War Memorial. 6. 00 am; Pipe Major Hamish MacLeod will join over 1,000 lone pipers playing ?Bat t le?s O?er, a traditional Scottish air played after a battle, outside cathedrals and other individual locations throughout the country and overseas. 10.15 am; The annual Remembrance Parade will commence from Primett Road and march to the War Memorial in time for the 10.30 am service. 6.55pm; Stevenage War Memorial. ?The Last Post ?, Lead Bugler, Civilian Instructor George Bollen of Training Ship Andromeda will join more than 1,000 buglers throughout the United Kingdom and beyond. Followed by ?The Tribut e t o t he Millions?read by Councillor John Lloyd, The Tribute is specially written for the occasion. 7.00pm WW1 ?BEACONS OF LIGHT? will be lit by three young service cadets in a tribute signifying the light of peace that emerged from the darkness of four years of war. 7.05pm; ?Ringing out for Peace?over 1,000 churches and cathedrals will ring their bells organised in
association with the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers. Bat t le?s Over, A Nation's Tribute has been devised and planned by Pageant master Bruno Peek LVO OBE OPR . He has organised major royal celebrations and international events for more than 36 years and has been working on Battle?s Over for more than four years.
war film ever made. Tickets available at the box office priced at only ÂŁ5 each. Special pre-show meal offer ÂŁ5 per person. Members of the public are invited to attend any of these listed events.
Gala for Oliver
Bat t le?s Over takes place on November 11th 2018, with events throughout the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, The Isle of Man, and at scores of locations overseas, including New Zealand, Ireland, Australia, Bermuda, France, Belgium, Canada, the United States and Germany.
A gala evening is t o be held t o raise funds t o provide t herapy support and house adapt at ions for a young boy wit h cerebral palsy.
Ot her dat es:
To support Cameron, who at t ends Lonsdale School in t he t own, you can email t heolivers11@gmail.com or make a donat ion at gofundme.com/CameronO
November 17th; 2.30pm - Ellen Terry Suite, Stevenage SLL and Stevenage Royal British Legion are hosting the war film ?KAJAKI?possibly the best
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The event , which will be held on Sat urday November 10 at t he Broadway Hot el, Let chwort h, is in aid of 10-year-old St evenage boy, Cameron Oliver.
Text St evenage is marking Lewis Hamilt on's incredible achievement of a fift h Formula One championship wit h a hub in t he new SG1 regenerat ion and a special fireworks t ribut e. The 33-year-old is t he joint most successful driver in hist ory. At last mont h's Mexican Grand Prix held at t he Aut ódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico, he drew level wit h Argent ine Juan Manuel Fangio?s record. Cllr Sharon Taylor, Leader of St evenage Borough Council said: ?Lewis?out st anding achievement is t he incredible result of his det erminat ion, vision, hard work and absolut e passion for his sport .
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Hamilton hub and firework honour for new F1 champ Our five t imes world champion F1 driver wrot e his name as an int ernat ional sport ing legend. Lewis Hamilt on, your home Town St evenage is full of pride and admirat ion. Congrat ulat ions.?
We will be recognising Lewis?s except ional career as we bring our newly regenerat ed t own cent re t o life. Our brand new ?Lewis Hamilt on Hub?will be named in his honour t o celebrat e our local hero.?
Cllr Richard Henry, Execut ive Member for Children, Young People and Leisure said: ?W hat a t ruly magnificent achievement . Congrat ulat ions t o Lewis, we are so proud of you and hope your out st anding record receives t he nat ional recognit ion it deserves.
Furt her celebrat ions across St evenage will include a specially dedicat ed sect ion of t he fireworks display at Fairlands Valley Park on 5 November. An audience of approximat ely 25,000 will enjoy t he show which will be synchronised t hrough a sound syst em.
New homes progress MP Stephen McPartland has visited a development of nearly 270 new homes in Stevenage. Housing association Metropolitan Thames Valley is delivering new homes at Forster Oaks, off Wedgwood Way ? on the former DuPont headquarters site ? with developer Chase New Homes, and in partnership with Stevenage Borough Council. The 268-home development will include 40 properties for affordable rent and 208 for shared ownership ? a part-buy, part-rent scheme designed to help buyers on low to moderate incomes get on the property ladder. Stephen McPartland MP ? who visited the development last December to lay one of its first bricks ? was given a tour of the site as part of a ?topping out?ceremony, which traditionally takes place to mark the completion of a building?s structure or frame. Homes England ? the public body which funds new affordable
housing in England ? is supporting the development with approximately £6 million of funding. Stephen McPartland MP said: ?It?s great to see work progressing on schedule and to a high standard at Forster Oaks. The development will provide hundreds of new affordable homes for Stevenage, which is excellent news for local people.? Geeta Nanda, Chief Executive of
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Metropolitan Thames Valley, said: ?We?re proud to be delivering hundreds of quality new affordable homes here in Stevenage, helping local families with the chance to get on the property ladder.? Tony Carey, Chief Executive of Chase New Homes, said: ?It?s a pleasure to welcome Stephen McPartland to the site and showcase the quality of the Forster Oaks development.?
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Chance to get Into Film It is just a week unt il t he Int o Film Fest ival (November 7-23) and t here are st ill t icket s available for t he 10 special screenings t aking place across St evenage. The programme includes: Blackkklansman, St ar Wars: The Last Jedi, Darkest Hour, Maze Runner: The Deat h Cure and Ready Player One. All event s are free and can be t ransformed int o a full educat ional
experience for educat ors t hrough Int o Film?s Primary and Secondary fest ival resources as well as fest ival guides for all age groups; bot h available for free t hrough t he Int o Film websit e. The?Int o?Film Fest ival welcomed 487,000 young people from all backgrounds and corners of t he UK last year?and engages youngst ers in all aspect s of filmmaking from t he?
popular review writ ing compet it ion, which keeps t he fest ival experience alive and encourages lit eracy and crit ical t hinking, t o learning about careers in t he film indust ry wit h indust ry expert s lift ing t he lid?on a? vast range of?t opics including VFX; Direct ing; Screenwrit ing; Foley Art ist ry and Sound Design; Prop Making; Cost ume Design; Audio Describing; Copywrit ing, Film Classificat ion and Act ing, t o name a few.? The fest ival is host ed by film educat ion charit y, Int o Film, which is support ed by t he UK film indust ry t hrough Cinema First and t he BFI t hrough Nat ional Lot t ery funding, engaging wit h over half of UK schools. The fest ival is free t o all st udent s, support ing educat ion t hrough a carefully curat ed programme of films and event s for schools wit h t opical t hemes, resources, debat es, special event s and careers act ivit y.? ht t ps:// www.int ofilm.org/fest ival?
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Collabro in call for new talent to join town show Britain's Got Talent winners Collabro are playing in Stevenage next year and are looking for young talent to join them. The quartet of singing stars are Michael Auger, Jamie Lambert, Matthew Pagan and Thomas J. Redgrave (and previously, Richard Hadfield until his departure from the band in June 2016). The group had only been together for a month before winning BGT in 2014. Their debut album, Stars, went straight to No.1 and their latest is called The Road to the Royal Albert Hall.- their fourth studio album They will be appearing at the Gordon Craig Theatre on March 21 and a statement on their website says: "If you are a Youth Choir, Youth Theatre Company or
even a School Choir ? aged between 10 and 18 years ? we would love to hear from you. "It is an amazing opportunity to appear with the world's No.1 Musical Theatre group. "All four members of Collabro began their journey into the arts as
members of youth choirs and youth theatre groups, so are hence very excited to create opportunities for young people across all the UK regions with #CollabroChoirs."
Anger after Stevenage firefighters are attacked while attending an incident in Fairlands
Stevenage firefighters have been verbally abused and their fire appliance attacked whilst attending a fire in Fairlands Way on October 29, according to a witness. Gary Sanderson, writing on Facebook, said: "Absolutely shocking & outrageous. Hope all are ok." The law aimed to tackle assaults on emergency service staff is being toughened, with culprits facing longer jail terms. The Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council, Roy Wilsher, has welcomed the move. It creates a new offence of ?assault against an emergency worker in the exercise
of their functions?, with a penalty increased from six to 12 months. The Bill covers the fire service, search and rescue services, police, prison officers, custody offers and ambulance personnel. Mr Wilsher, said: ?Last year,almost 750 firefighters in England were attacked when attending operational incidents. ?Emergency services staff work tirelessly to keep communities safe, often putting their own lives in danger in the line of duty; any attack is absolutely unthinkable. ?
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Both the House of Commons and the Lords have agreed on the text of the Bill. It is now waiting for the final stage of Royal Assent. Recent years have seen an increase in assaults on emergency workers, with 26,000 assaults on police officers in the past year and over 17,000 on NHS staff. Assaults on prison officers rose by 70% in the 3 years to 2017, with an 18% increase experienced by firefighters in the past two years.
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How an ordinary woman provides extraordinary mental health support At any time, a sixth of the population in England aged 16 to 64 is suffering a mental health problem, according to NHS Digital statistics, writes Paul Fry. Whether it is family or friends, neighbours or work colleagues, chances are we all know someone who is affected. And that figure omits less common conditions so you could easily argue it is even more prevalent than that. I've known it in my own family. A former work colleague recently opened up saying he'd had problems. And it is good that people feel able to talk about it. Perhaps it comes from the demands of modern life, the fragmenting of families and the pressures of surviving financially, with the welfare safety net being tightened dramatically or even withdrawn - there are clearly myriad reasons for people's suffering. It used to be a taboo subject - but the days of people with mental health issues being told "to pull yourself together" are thankfully consigned to the dustbin of history. However, some course never get that far and take their ultimate step. It is a truly shocking state of affairs. And I have seen how difficult it is for sufferers to get support - with
people often having to wait many months even for an assessment, let alone treatment. So-called crisis team staff admit they are under immense pressure and they regrettably have to prioritise their time and resources. And there is a postcode lottery element to support, with some areas much better than others. But
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Stevenage is, thankfully, in the former camp. My brother has had problems but admits he has been very fortunate to have been helped by Mary Mitchell - an ordinary Stevenage woman doing extraordinary things. Mary, 71, of Broadwater Crescent, opens her home to patients discharged from the mental health
Text unit at Lister Hospital to provide invaluable after-care. This at a time when mental health services are stretched and still very much the Cinderella of general NHS services, despite government claims of piling in extra funding. Mary's scheme is run by the Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust and is believed to be the only one in the UK of its kind. Yet the retired GP receptionist, who has hosted almost 40 patients since 2011, has now been recognised officially in the Sun newspaper's Who Cares Wins awards - beating thousands of other nominees. Mary, lost two husbands to leukaemia in the same hospital room at Lister ? Eric in 1981 and Barry in 2008 - decided to start volunteering for the NHS trust seven years ago and is immeasurably modest in claiming she is just a "normal person with a bedroom to spare". My brother, Garry says it is so much more than that - and he has experienced Mary's care first hand. He says her home is a sanctuary where Mary was on tap for him 24 hours a day, to help him adjust to his medication and cope with his moods and thoughts. Garry, 59, who lives in Chells Way, was cared for by Mary following a nervous breakdown in 2012. He has a dissociative disorder, and said: ?I was at Lister for three months. They wanted to gradually reintroduce me to my family ? I?m married and have two grown-up children ? and felt it wouldn?t work if I was dropped straight back into the family home. ?I was placed with Mary and her help was invaluable. She is a wonderful woman. "She was always there for me and very supportive. ?The most important thing Mary
Text gives is space and time to the individual. She really deserves this award. There are many others who could benefit from her care and too few like Mary.? She received her 'Mental Health Hero' gong from musician Professor Green at a ceremony in London attended by Prime Minister Theresa May and hosted by TV presenter Lorraine Kelly. Clare Jones, a friend's daughter, nominated Mary, saying: "She?s such an amazing lady and nothing is ever too much trouble. You can?t help but feel relaxed when you?re with Mary. She makes everyone feel welcome". Mary spoke about how she got into the work and what it means to her. She said: "My son was worried sick when I started volunteering ? he thought I?d be attacked or worse. But these people are at their most vulnerable and need support. "Some have been in hospital for months and so regaining independence and joining society again is a scary prospect for them. ?When the crisis team at Lister feels a patient is ready to come off the ward but isn?t quite ready to go home to look after themselves, the patient comes to me for some motivation and confidence to go home and start to do things by themselves. ?Although I worked in a GP surgery, I have no medical training at all. The most important thing I offer is someone to talk to anytime of the day or night.? "People come to me looking very anxious when they first arrive. If they leave with a smile on their face, then I feel that something has been achieved. All my service users have said that they're glad they did this. "It's satisfying when I hear that they've gone on to get a job, find somewhere nice to live and they've really got their lives back together.
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Text The only thing that you really need is a spare room and the availability to talk to them, whether it be day or night". The finalists were voted for by Sun readers. The host scheme involving Mary covers the whole of Hertfordshire. If you are interested in becoming a host and have a spare room, time to listen and no children under 18 at home, call Rosheen on 07768 131413.
Christmas market set for town
Christmas starts early in Stevenage this year- with a Christmas market coming to town on November 22. Stevenage Town Centre tweeted: "Really excited to announce our #Christmas #Market is back in town for a 2nd year running! Along Queensway, 22 Nov (at the light switch-on), till 30 Dec, you'll be able to find some great #gifts for Christmas! Be sure to come and browse and enjoy a #festive #Stevenage town centre"
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Head designate on need for traditional approach Stevenage is ready for a school which has a strong academic ethos and a traditional approach.
Education.? LocatED is the government owned property company which has been developed to create school places for children.
That is view Katie Ashford, (pictured right) the principal designate of what could be the latest secondary school in Stevenage.
Looking ahead to a future timetable for action, Katie confirmed: ?There will be a clear need for pupil places within the next five years and we have a four point plan to deliver the new school.
Katie is currently the deputy head at the Michaela School in Wembley. It is Michaela which has proposed a new school, currently on a site yet to be confirmed, in 2023. Commenting on their first session for parents in late October Katie said: ?We held a very successful event in Stevenage at the end of October where we met a number of incredibly excited parents who like the look of what we offer. We answered a wide number of questions. ?One of the big questions we have faced is why Stevenage?The answer to that is that a clear need in terms of numbers has been detected for the
next 5 years. We are also aiming to launch in a town which is growing and changing and the parents that we met shared our academic ethos and our traditional approach.? Aware of the number of sites which may be suitable in the town, Katie said: ?It is clear that there are a number of sites where a new school may be based but the final decision on choosing the site of the school will fall to LocatED and the Department of
?Firstly we need to submit a plan which will be done on Monday November 5, we will then face an interview stage which could be as early as March 2019 and then hopefully gain approval which might be as early as late 2019. After that point it is post approval and we will get to work on the actual school.? Katie has been teaching for 8 years, and is a founding member of staff at the Michaela School, Brent.
Night of fun for Stevenage Community Trust Friday November 2 saw an amazing night of entertainment at the Gala Dinner for Stevenage Community Trust which raised ÂŁ30,000 for the worthy cause, with Ken Follett's band Clogiron providing after meal music. Prior to the event Keith Middleton presented a cheque for ÂŁ1,500 from Bizbiz to Claire Hope of Austin's Funerals as part of her headshave for the Trust.
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Big switch-on Save t he dat e because t he St evenage Town Cent re Christ mas light swit ch-on has been set for 2018. The event will be held on Thursday November 22, from 4pm t o 7pm wit h an evening which will include a host of t hings t o see and do wit h - of course t he culminat ion of t he big light swit ch-on. Event s due t o be held on t he evening include a Christ mas Market which will be along Queensway, a selfie snow globe, free face paint ing, mascot s and a host of live performances. Tai, t he t own's very own The Voice cont est ant from 2018 will be t here along wit h Guinness record st acking champ James Acraman who will be swit ching on t he light s.
Cyclists brave cold start for Emitremmus ride A cold st art did not put hundreds of people off going t o Fairlands Valley Park, St evenage for t he ?Emit remmus Desrever?cycling challenge on t he first day of ?wint ert ime?on Sunday. Organised by t he St evenage group of Cycling UK (formerly CTC, t he Cyclist s?Touring Club) t his was t he 24t h Emit remmus. Not a race, it was a 100 kilomet re challenge ride t o Saffron Walden and back wit h check point s and refreshment s available at Hare St reet , Saffron Walden and Therfield. Everyone was det ermined t o get t o Therfield where t here local W I put on a huge spread of cakes and ot her goodies. There was up t o eight hours t o get back t o Cost ello?s CafĂŠ at Farilands Valley Park. The Mayor and Mayoress of St evenage, Councillors Margaret Not ley and Laurie Chest er, sent riders on t heir way at 10am. There was also a short er, slower 67
kilomet re opt ion ? Emit Lit e. W hat was forecast t o be a bit t erly cold and dull day t urned out t o be a bright Aut umn day wit h sunshine right t hrough t o sunset so a great t ime was had by everyone. Emit remmus was t he final big Cycling UK St evenage event of t his season, and t he last event in Cycling UK's Challenge Ride Series 2018. W hy Emit remmus? W rit e down summert ime backwards ? it ?s always on t he day t he clocks change. If you want t o know more about Emit remmus, please cont act t he organiser Tina Walker (01438 235881) or t he rout e designer and local Cycling UK group secret ary Jim Brown (0793 968 7509). Cycling UK St evenage runs rides on Wednesdays, Sat urdays and Sundays t hroughout t he year for all ages and abilit ies, and occasional short t ast er rides on week days during school holidays. You can find t heir
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programme on www.st evenagect c.org.uk Remember Cycling UK ride wit h each ot her not against each ot her. St evenage Cycling UK group rides have experienced ride makers, a leader and sweeper wit h a radio link, on t he front and back ? no-one get s left behind. You can get more det ails by cont act ing Penny (07787 816434); Jim (0793 968 7509); Nicola (0791 643 8610) or Tina (01438 235881), by visit ing www.st evenagect c.org.uk or by emailing jim@st evenagect c.org.uk Please remember that the Stevenage Saturday Starters switch from afternoon starts to morningsafter Emitremmus so this Saturday will be the last 2pm. start and from 4th November these popular half day rideswill set off at 10.30am. All from Costello?sCafĂŠ in Fairlands Valley Park (SG2 0BL). Back to afternoons in March as the daysget longer.
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When the development we all need suffers the price of making a profit M y #St even age by Dar r en Ist ed Rebuilding, regeneration, more housing, more schools - it feels as if there is a real clamour, along with a real need, to get spades in the ground and start construction in and around the town. You'd be hard pressed to find anyone in their right mind who would argue that the town is currently ultra modern enough, thank you very much, and that we have no need of any regeneration. Similarly the housing issue is one that simply won't go away and people of all political persuasions share the same opinion. An affordable option, whether that be buying your own or renting, needs to be found if our young people are to harbour any ambition of living and working in our town. Clearly this means that there also needs to be an organised programme of house building. Whatever happens, there simply aren't enough houses - more need to be built. While few would argue with this, the big debate comes when planners and developers clash over the sites for this. Some are aiming to infill in any spare land they can find, others have a jealous eye on the Greenbelt while there are those who favour the approach of building a whole new town. Given the history of Stevenage this would seem to be a fitting option, not only creating a vast number of new homes in a purpose-built area but also doing so with the benefit of a new and carefully developed infrastructure. There's clearly no point in finding room for 150 houses here, and squeezing another 300 there, when there is no provision made whatsoever for the ensuing
children needing schools and similar facilities such as shops, surgeries and even space to park cars. Perhaps this comes down to making some tough decisions but you can't help but feel some of these calls are being skewed by the need to make money. Interesting then that there is a real need for a new secondary school in Stevenage yet the former Lonsdale site, perfectly placed and ready to go in terms of building, may instead be repurposed for another slice of housing with none of the facilities to go with it. Whether the fact that housing land will earn more cash for Herts County Council than a much needed school is neither here nor there - but it does show that there truly is no clear strategy yet on such a key issue.
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PAUL FRY on # St evenage
From Stateside cop to Republican politician via a #Stevenage childhood Kevin Fry has come a long way since his days as a John Lewis warehouse worker in Stevenage's industrial area. All the way to the US mid-West, in fact, where he has lived for 30 years, brought up three children and works as a Sheriff's deputy. And now he is standing for local office. Kevin, 53, a former Barnwell School pupil is a familiar face in his community in Madison, Indiana, a riverside community (population 11,700) on the banks of the Ohio which separates the state from Kentucky. The voice gives away the fact he is not from these parts, but after all this time there is a mid-West accent ? not unusual for someone who has now lived longer there than in the country of his birth. He is standing for election on November 6 ? the date of the US mid-terms that also see seats in the Congress and Senate up for grabs - as Town Trustee. The Trusteeship's two primary jobs are to distribute state
funds to the volunteer fire departments in the Township and to people who meet the criteria for one-off emergency cash help, such as rent, medical expenses, food, utilities - or even assistance with burials. Another example would be to pay for emergency accommodation for a family displaced by a fire or natural disaster. If he is elected, he will consider hanging up his badge and weapons. And Kevin admits his life has
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followed very different path since he left Stevenage after meeting his future wife, teacher Bridget, who was in the UK for a training course. Kevin, whose mum Jean and brother Garry still live in Stevenage, is standing as a Republican - the same party as President Donald Trump. And he believes people outside the US and even some there - have the wrong idea about the controversial president. He says: "The average Joe knows Trump is a egotistical megalomaniac, but he gets things done and has shaken up the establishment something that was way overdue. "There's a big misunderstanding about the Trump thing. The majority of people who voted and support Trump feel disenfranchised from the status quo. ?Career politicians spew the same old rubbish at election time and never deliver on their promises - they are only
Text concerned with keeping themselves in power "The average person was sick of the Clinton dynasty and Hillary's self-righteous belief that she was 'owed' the Presidency. "Trump was in the right place at the right time in history; he?s not a politician and doesn?t claim to be. But he won?t snuggle into the Washington beltway with the mentality of 'now I'm here I?ll just cruise along for the next 20 years and get myself a nice pension'. "Everything he said he would do when he ran for office he has done or tried to do - when was the last time a candidate of either party actually followed through like that? I'd say never!" "He is doing exactly what he said he would do - and that?s why it drives the liberals insane, as well as a lot of the Republican establishment. "But look at what he?s accomplished: the economy is booming, GDP is at 5% (Obama never got above 2%); unemployment is at a 30-year low, and for minorities it is the lowest its ever been. "The jobs market is booming, which raises pay due to competition for workers; he has rewritten the North American Free Trade Agreement which was a
Text debacle in regards to playing on an level field. He?s addressing the immigration problem, too which no other politician from either party has had the guts to do. "At least he is actively doing stuff and that is what the American public wanted. Of course with being proactive like this you annoy the fringe radicals and that?s what you're seeing on TV. "That, combined with the grossly left-wing biased media over here - which merely throws fuel on the fire for those at both ends of the spectrum." Kevin has seen life in the raw as a Sherriff's deputy. "It has really opened my eyes," he says. "There is so much drug-related crime and drug use. ?Some years ago they tried to stop the precursors to methamphetamine from coming in. They did - but now we just have raw heroin coming in from Mexico, as well as a huge issue with Fentanyl. "There are neighbourhoods where the drug use is obvious, and you prepare for that as a cop when you go in. But drugs cuts across all layers of society even wealthy and, on the surface, contented people. It is truly shocking." One of Kevin's jobs ? one he loves as he enjoys the open
Text road ? is to travel across many states to bring back felons from out of state. The trips can span many hundreds of miles in his black-and-white. And he has enjoyed a unique relationship with his boss, John Wallace, the Sherriff. John is Kevin's wife's ex-husband! John is standing down because his term in elected office is expiring. Kevin only went into law enforcement when his business suffered in the 2008 global downturn. He and his brother-in-law Rick Berry own an embroidery company that does logos and trade designs in work and leisure wear, was profitable and niche but has taken a hit. They are still trading as they seek to sell the business ? so he sometimes does a bit before his shift with the Sherriff's department. Kevin tries to get back to the UK each year and notices subtle changes each time. But some things are constant - the welcome from his family and friends and he can get a decent slice of bacon and foaming pint of 'proper' beer. But could he see himself as a policeman or a politician if he was still living here?The answer is short and to the point: "A cop, maybe. A politician, no way!"
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Numbers on the rise for Stevenage Parkrun The last couple of weeks have seen a marked increase in the number of people running, jogging and walking around our lovely scenic course. This week a whopping 329 people came out to join us, an increase of nearly 100 on the number of attendees only a fortnight ago. It's no coincidence that the London Marathon ballot results also came out recently. Parkrun is a great way of preparing for a longer distance and many people use it to help build a weekly structure into a training programme. Even when your training schedule starts demanding distances much longer than 5k, it's easier to get motivated if you're able to run to and from the weekly run and share at least some of the distance with a bunch of like-minded friends who will cheer you on and encourage you along the way.
Most of our runs go like clockwork thanks to our dedicated team of volunteers who arrive over an hour early to set up the course so that everything's ready to go by 9am. This week was no exception in that the volunteers arrived on time, but unfortunately so did the gremlins which prevented us from getting into the store room where we keep our signs and equipment until just before we were due to start. Everything still went off smoothly though, and following a brief announcement from Richard the RD that there would be a five minute delay we headed off from the start and down towards the lake. 44 of this week's runners were first timers, from as far afield as Nailsea in Somerset and Selby in North Yorkshire. 75 people recorded new
Personal Bests and representatives of 35 different clubs took part. Both this week's first two finishers were new to parkrun. Congratulations to Ross Connor and Shaun Collins on two particularly impressive finishing times. The event was made possible by 21 volunteers: Kris W ESTCOTT - Karen BROOM - Chris LEIGH - James KEOGH - Rut h KENNEDY - Tracy NORRIS - Helen HARRIS - Joe COLGAN - Richard GLAISTER Trevor BROOM - Mat t hew PATTMAN - Marc BISHARA Nat han HADFIELD - Hedley HADFIELD - Charlie GRAYSON Dave MARLOW - Alan FORD Dzenana TOPIC - Alan GOODW IN Rachel HALL - Vicky BERRY
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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
Phot ography by Brendan Fal vey
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# PROPERTY STEVENAGE Let 's f ace it - w e live in a digit al w or ld - w h en
t h e agen t s w h o ar e act in g on beh alf of bu yer s,
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seller s, lan dlor ds an d t h ose look in g t o r en t .
or sell a h ou se or t o look f or a pr oper t y t o r en t .
In t h ese pages you w ill f in d live lin k s st r aigh t
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t o t h e agen t s - so h it t h eir w ebsit es n ow , em ail
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t h em or ar r an ge a visit - all f r om t h e com f or t
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of you r ow n ph on e.
101 High St r eet , St even age
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Tel 01438 231200 m ar k sim on est at es.co.u k
TLC est at es, 4 Bak er St r eet , St even age
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Tel 01438 219282 let t in gs@t lcest at es.co.u k
61-63 High St r eet ,
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St even age Tel 01438 316846 w w w.pu t t er ills.co.u k
86 High St r eet ,
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St even age Tel 01438 728444 h om esan dm or t gages.co.u k
A-Top Pr oper t y Let t in gs, 1 Dr aper s Way, St even age
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Tel 01438 369173 con t act @a-t oplet t in g.co.u k
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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 team that you can trust to deliver time after time then A-Top Property Lettings in Drapers Way, Stevenage is the one for you. A-Top, which is owned by founder Mervyn Terrett, has gained an impressive reputation as the go-to agent for all your property needs whether you are looking to rent or are a landlord seeking tenants. With a combined market experience of more than 60 years, the staff at A-Top are the most knowledgeable in the business and along with advice on the rental market, they can also provide information which allows customers to make the most informed choice possible. Over the past 33 years the team lead by Mervyn has seen the local market undergo a wide number of changes, but through them all A-Top and its experienced staff have always given the very best and most informed service. There have been plenty of changes which have altered the lettings landscape in Stevenage. Through them all however the reliability of A-Top Property Lettings has remained a constant and their portfolio of excellent landlords has increased dramatically. Commenting on the team Mervyn said: ?What once was a rarity in the UK i.e. renting, is now so common as a source of income/investment for landlords and of mobility for professional working tenants. We are delighted to be able to use our expertise to help both tenants and landlords.? For further details contact 01438 369173 or email contact@a-topletting.co.uk
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TLC est at es, 4 Bak er St r eet , St even age Tel 01438 219282
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TLC estates is situated in the delightful setting of Stevenage Old Town. We pride ourselves on the personal and professional services we offer to all landlords and tenants alike We offer very competitive rates and are one of the very few letting agents only left in the town . With over 18 years of experience in the Stevenage market we are sure to offer you the best of services from under one roof Many of our landlords and tenants have been with us since we opened in 2000.
Putterillls Stevenage talk to the professionals Text
61-63 High St r eet , St even age Tel 01438 316846
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Putterillls Stevenage talk to the professionals Text
61-63 High St r eet , St even age Tel 01438 316846
w w w.pu t t er ills.co.u k
Understanding the full implications of Lasting Powers of Attorney W hy have a Last ing Powers of At t orney ? Tollers are here t o help. We would all like to imagine that we will always be capable of managing our affairs, but what happens if through mental or physical impairment we cannot? Planning ahead is essential and Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA?s) are a vital part of the process. The team at Tollers Solicitors Stevenage are experienced in assisting and guiding our clients through the process of making an LPA to ensure their wishes are respected. Here they answer some common questions concerning Lasting Powers of Attorney: Q: W hat is a Last ing Power of At t orney? A: A Lasting Power of Attorney (?LPA?) is a document appointing a person (an ?Attorney?) to manage the affairs of another person (the ?Donor?) and can continue to have effect even when the Donor has lost mental capacity. Q: Are t here different t ypes of LPA? A: Yes - there are two different types of LPA: Lasting Power of Attorney for finance and property The Property and Financial Affairs LPA usually relates to dealings in respect of the Donor?s house, bank accounts shares etc. It can remain in effect if the person it relates to loses mental capacity at a later date. If someone owns a business or has an interest in a business they can also make an LPA to appoint a suitable
application would normally be made when all parties have signed. Q: Are t here safeguards? A: The advantage of an LPA is that the Donor chooses the people to manage their affairs (the Attorneys). The Ch r is Lu cas an d Sh ar on Br ow n f r om t h e Toller s St even age of f ice can h elp w it h LPA's Donor can also include within the LPA person to make decisions concerning binding instructions or non-binding their business interests when they are advice for their Attorneys. There is unavailable or lack mental capacity. also provision for family members to be notified that the LPA is being Lasting Power of Attorney for health registered. and care The Health and Welfare LPA relates to decisions such as where the Donor lives, life-sustaining treatment, medical decisions, medication and social care. Q: W hen can an individual make an LPA? A: If someone has mental capacity they can make an LPA at any time. If they lack mental capacity then someone else cannot make an LPA on their behalf but instead an application would need to be made to the Court of Protection for a Deputyship Order.
Q: Can t he Donor st ill manage t heir own affairs? A: If an LPA is in place the Donor can still manage their own affairs providing the Donor has mental capacity. If the Donor loses mental capacity the appointed Attorneys will then take over the management of the Donors affairs. Q: W hat happens if t he Donor dies?
Q: Can an LPA be used as soon as it has been signed?
A: If the Donor dies the LPA automatically comes to an end. The Attorney should send the original LPA and the death certificate to the Office of the Public Guardian as soon as possible.
A: No. An LPA must be registered at the Office of the Public Guardian (the government body who administer LPAs) before it can be used. An
Talk t o Tollers and find out how we can assist you t o put t hese import ant document s in place, by cont act ing t he t eam on 01438 901095.
Keeping the Harwood grounds beautiful When you have a 25-acre memorial garden there?s always plenty of work to be done ? even when the weather is hot, hot, hot! And we?re so lucky that Harwood Park Memorial Gardens is kept looking so lovely all year round thanks to our loyal team of groundsmen. If you?ve visited the gardens you might well have seen one of the groundsmen cutting the grass, felling trees or trimming hedges. And you might have noticed how happy they look. Richard, Matthew and Nathan all do a job that they love, which is one of the reasons we?re so happy to have them. Before coming to Harwood Park between them they looked after the grounds at a country club, a sports ground and a golf club. Matthew even has a special claim to fame ? he kept the most moles off the green at Brocket Hall?s golf course! As well as being hard workers our groundsmen are special to us because they take pride in what they do. They understand that the memorial gardens serve both as a final resting place for loved ones and also a
peaceful retreat for family and friends to visit. They do everything they can to make the gardens look as beautiful and welcoming as possible. And when you stroll around the gardens you can see their handiwork ? from the carefully pruned roses to the pretty line of cherry trees and the immaculately planted topiary crescent.
You can place a memorial at Harwood Park even if the funeral didn?t take place here. When you entrust your loved one to our keeping, you can rest assured they?ll be at peace. * Find out more about Harwood Park Crematorium and Memorial Gardens at http://www.crematorium.co.uk/
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Make Mahers your first choice for repairs, keys, and so much more Based in Unit 2a, in the Westgate Centre in Stevenage, Mahers, has over 30 years of experience. Come t o us for keys Mahers cut a huge range of specialist keys including Yale Superior keys and offer a single household or cylinder key at ÂŁ5 or two for just ÂŁ7.50. We also stock: - House keys - Car keys - Security keys - Licensed fun keys Engraving and t rophy supplies Don't forget t he t rophies for your end of season present at ion. Mahers is one
of St evenage's leading suppliers of t rophies, medals, cups and awards. We have a large collect ion for you t o browse. - Trusted supplier to many clubslocally - Offer competitive prices - First class customer service. Shoe repairs All types of repairs: - Heels - Soles and heels - Leather soles and heels. Ot her services - Watch batteries and repairs - Engraving on jewellery and plaques - Locksmiths and auto-locksmiths For furt her det ails cont act : Tel - 07446 102570 Email MaherService@yahoo.com
Opening Hours Mon 9am-5.15pm Tues-Fri 9am-5.30pm Sat 9am-5pm
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.
Wou ld you lik e t o pr om ot e you r gr ou p or even t f or f r ee? 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
Work doesn?t have to be hard to be productive. We?ve made our conference rooms an easy-going, inspirational space with the privacy and tranquillity you need to work in comfort. All our superbly appointed meeting rooms are located in a self-contained area on the first floor, with a range of room sizes and configurations, as well as a dedicated and experienced support team to make your event in Stevenage a success. The Ibis Forum has a total floor area of 660m2 and ideal for creating stunning exhibitions, trade fairs or public shows; with a welcome foyer for
registrations and refreshments, and break-out syndicate rooms. Our in-house catering team are on hand to provide refreshments, and offer a choice of delicious menus for lunch, from finger buffets to sit-down meals to suit all budgets, or if you prefer you can hire our self catering kitchen. Weddings A wedding is all about traditions, your individuality, heritage and culture. The Ibis Forum is the ideal venue for couples seeking a luxury wedding location. Our state-of-the-art banqueting facilities are among the largest and best equipped in the region, and we can accommodate up
to 625 guests. And using the latest technology, with spectacular built in LED lighting and plasma screens as a backdrop, we can give your wedding a real WOW factor. We understand that you will require specialist caterers for multicultural weddings and here you will find a modern self-catering kitchen for your chosen caterer. Exclusive hire of Forum includes entire floor, Fairview Suite, bar and kitchen. This includes tables and chairs, dance floor, use of the self-catering kitchen and complimentary bedroom in the adjoining Ibis Hotel. Call about special offers : 01438 533018.
Visit our new websit es for more informat ion www.forumcb.co.uk and www.fairviewhot els.com/ hot els/ ibis-forum-st evenage
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