JANUARY Stotfold News Magazine 2024 by Stotfold and Arlesey News Magazines

Stotfold

NEWS

January 2024 Issue 224

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

News Events Information Delivered FREE to 4,900 homes in Stotfold & Fairfield.

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From the Editor Happy New Year!

As you will know, in order to prepare our magazines in plenty of time for the month ahead we compile our issues very, very early. For that reason it seems strange to be wishing you all a Happy New Year when in reality, Christmas is still a couple of weeks away! We have thoroughly enjoyed the lead up to Christmas this year and hope that however you spent yours, you enjoyed yours too. We were delighted to hear that so many people enjoyed the Christmas Light Switch on event in December and thank everyone that took the time to write to us or spoke to us on the evening to let us know. A great deal of hard work and planning was involved in moving the location and securing the backing of local organisations. We would like to congratulate both Stotfold Town Council and our town’s businesses on such a great, positive event for the town - we are already looking forward to next year! Inside this issue we have included some extra articles for you to read as we know from experience people enjoy relaxing and reading at home over the festive period. We have some very interesting features together with our usual plethora of letters, news and regular updates just for good measure! We hope that 2024 brings everyone fresh hope, together with good health and happiness. Wishing all of our readers a very prosperous New Year! Until next month...

Joanne

With thanks to this month’s contributors:

Stotfold Town Council, Stotfold Watermill, Stotfold Football Club, Our local schools, David Stedman, (Quiz) Stotfold Art Group, Stotfold Library, Our local Churches & local organisations, The Need Project. Jo Loach, Steve Coates.

Contact: stotfold.news@yahoo.co.uk or write to us at Stotfold News Magazine, 78 Hitchin Road, Stotfold, Hertfordshire, SG5 4HT Tel: 01462 731986 You can also contact us via our facebook page.

Deliveries: We have over 100 volunteers that deliver the Stotfold News Magazine. If for any reason you do not receive your copy of the magazine please contact us to let us know. Published by Stotfold News Ltd. Printed in memory of Roy West.

CONTENTS Local News Letters Stotfold Town Council update Family Announcements Home Improvement F.A.Q’s News from Stotfold Mill Monthly Fun Quiz! New Garden House Hospice News! News from Stotfold Football Club Update from the NEED Project Mental Health Matters News from Stotfold Library Local Church News

Page 4,5,6,7, Page 8 Page 17 Page 18 Page 20 Page 21 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30,31

All this, alongside all our usual news and events from our local schools, groups & organisations..

NEXT ISSUE - FEBRUARY 2024

Please note: our advertising deadline is 6th January- Call for detals 01462 731986 3

Local News A Warm Welcome Awaits You At The Greenacres Centre.

Stotfold Town Council have kindly agreed to let volunteers from community groups in Stotfold run a free Community Coffee Morning at the Greenacres Centre which started on Tuesday 5th December and runs through until March.

The Maple Room will be open from 9.00am till 1.00pm every Tuesday offering a warm welcome, free snacks and hot/soft drinks (including soup and bread at lunchtime) and games/jigsaws plus crayons/some toys and books for young children. All the food and drink will kindly be donated by the Need Project. Everyone is welcome and they are particularly keen to encourage young families to come along. If you have any questions contact Helen Wightwick on cllrhelenwightwick@stotfoldtowncouncil.gov.uk.

STOTFOLD

Diary Of Events..

Stotfold Short Mat Bowls,

Thursday 4th Stotfold Hobby Hub (10.30-12.30pm) held at Stotfold Salvation Army Hall - Bring your own crafts (knitting/crotchet art/air fix models etc) or take part in the activities supplied (Puzzles/board games/crosswords etc). Free to attend and refreshments are also available.

Perhaps you would like to join us? We are a friendly club where everyone is welcome. For more details contact Ann Watmough Club Secretary on 01462 629575

JANUARY

Saturday 6th - Methodist Church Coffee Morning 10.00am.

Thursday 11th Toast of the Town (10.3012noon) Stotfold Salvation Army Hall. Drop in for tea & toast, coffee and a chat! Monday 15th Ladies Fellowship Stotfold Salvation Army. (7-8pm) This month a talk from ReIvel, Working together to save the upper River Ivel. With Bernard Butt

We are a voluntary organisation who meet every Monday 2 - 4 pm approx. in the Memorial Hall, Stotfold, to play Short Mat Bowls.

Stotfold Art Club Update:

Happy New Year and best wishes to all artists- let's make 2024 colourful and creative. The beautiful still life below by Bernard Williams is a meal in itself, with delicious fruit, French cheese and half a bottle of red wine. His other painting (bottom left) is of Fairfield when it was still a mental hospital, with the tower of mid Victorian St Luke's church in the background. This watercolour is one of three, capturing the look of the place before renovation. We would love to welcome you to our club in the new year, it is open to everyone - for more details contact 07734 304590.

Thursday 25th Cafe Connect - Stotfold Salvation Army Hall. (10.30-12.30pm) Coffee, games, chat and consoles. Youth Club for adults!! To list your event (free for local charities . and organisations) email:stotfold.news@yahoo.co.uk Call 01462 731986 for more details. 4

Email us at stotfold.news@yahoo.co.uk

Local News

Stotfold

Switched On For Christmas!

This year’s Christmas light switch on proved a great success with hundreds of people turning out to support the newly located event held along Stotfold High Street.

With so many festive events in the town, there really has been something for everyone to enjoy and to take part in. Stotfold Mayor Cllr Steve Buck with a special guest!

Stotfold Salvation Army band perform at the light switch on event.

With fabulous festive entertainment provided by the Stotfold Salvation Army band, St Mary’s Academy choir, The Stotfold Singers and singing trio ‘Sweet & Low.’ the event certainly helped get Stotfold into the Christmas spirit! The countdown to Christmas was officially started by Stotfold Town Mayor Cllr Steve Buck, with the Christmas Tree (now situated outside The Haven along the High Street,) lighting up to the sound of Christmas songs being sung by all. This year’s switch on was made possible by lots of our Stotfold businesses who truly embraced the event and supported the festivities in great spirit!

Special thanks to Satchells Estate Agents for kindly sponsoring this year’s High Street Christmas tree, Grand Union Housing, J&R Scaffolding for providing the stage area, The Barn Stotfold for sponsoring the event programme and Countrywide Grounds Maintenance for sponsoring the Greenacre Christmas tree this year. Special thanks also go to our High Street shops for opening up and providing refreshments and a superbly festive atmosphere for the whole event. The Stotfold News Magazine were delighted to be a part of this once again this year. It was great to see so many people out and about enjoying Singing trio ‘Sweet & Low’ the festive fun.

Many people also turned out to enjoy the Silverbirch Light Switch on event on December 3rd - this well loved Stotfold tradition sees residents switch on their Christmas lights together and also features a very special guest for the young children to enjoy.

Emma from Box of Cakes (with helper Liz,) together with Santa at Silverbirch!

However you chose to celebrate we hope you have enjoyed the town’s festivities for 2023!

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Local News

Thank You From Dawn At Slimming World.

I would like to thank the Stotfold News Magazine for assisting me with all my adverts, editorials and recipes they have shared for me over the nearly 23 years I have been the Slimming World Consultant in Stotfold. I have had many new members come along having seen the adverts in the publication and I know many residents have tried the recipes over the years too! At Slimming World we help members lose weight eating healthy foods at the same time as increasing their activity (it can be just talking a short walk). The groups are such fun and you become supported by like-minded people who are all wanting to feel better about themselves. Many a recipe is shared and a cup of tea or coffee enjoyed too. If 2024 is your New Years resolution to look after YOU and lose weight then you would be most welcome on a Tuesday, 4pm, 5.30pm or 7pm at the Memorial Hall, Hallworth Drive, Stotfold. Give me a ring on 07515557803 or just pop along. We have helped members reduce their blood pressure, come off cholesterol medication, reverse their diabetes and add years to their lives by getting themselves into a healthy weight range. What have you got to lose? ...... only weight.

Many friendships have been made with members in all the sessions as they go along their weight loss journey too! Dawn pictured at a recent Slimming World event. Wishing all readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy Healthy New Year in 2024. Dawn (Senior Gold Consultant) Interested In Joining A Friendly Slimming World.

Bridge Group?

We are currently considering setting up a new group for non serious players who would like to meet similarly minded people for approx 2hrs play on a Thursday afternoon 2-4 pm in Sttotfold starting in February 2024 Are you interested? Please contact patjsmith71@icloud.com for more details.

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Larksfield and Arlesey Medical Partnership Patient Participation Group (PPG) Committee Contact your local Slimming World Consultant and join a friendly and super-supportive group today!

Stotfold Memorial Hall (SG5 4HR)

Tuesday 4pm, 5.30pm & 7pm

For more information call Dawn on 07515 557803 slimmingworld.co.uk 6

WE ARE RECRUITING. Join other patient representatives to support the practice and improve outcomes - The Committee meets 8 times a year, for 1½ hours each time, along with other activities throughout the year to support the practice. Production of a newsletter and supporting a survey. We are particularly looking for people with the following skills: Good IT skills, Social Media skills/an interest in producing a newsletter Open to all residents registered with Larksfield & Arlesey Medical Practice If you are interested in applying please contact: ppg.larksfield@nhs.net. In this email you can tell us a bit more about yourself, and what you would bring to the PPG. Following receipt of your email we will be in contact about next steps. (Please note that the PPG is not there to enable members to resolve their or their own families health issues or complaints )

Email: stotfold.news@yahoo.co.uk

Local News Arlesey Relief Road Opens The new relief road created between Arlesey High Street and the A507 opened at the end of November. Work started on the new relief road in Spring 2022, to help with easing congestion, improving road safety, and reducing journey times for motorists heading toward the A507. As part of the comprehensive scheme, there are new cycleways and footways alongside the carriageway as well as a new foot, cycle, and equestrian bridge over the busy A507. This will complete a safe route linking Arlesey to the popular Etonbury Woods and local schools.

Stotfold Calendar 2024.

The last few copies of the 2024 Stotfold calendar produced on behalf of Stotfold Town Council by the Stotfold News Magazine are available to buy from the Town Council offices priced at just £6.

The calendar features some stunning local photographs taken in and around Stotfold by Stotfold Magazine readers. All proceeds from the calendar will go towards the Stotfold Christmas Lights fund.

HURRY as there are only a few copies remaining! GRAB YOUR COPY NOW!!

CRIME FIGURES

STOTFOLD & FAIRFIELD October 23

The most recent crime figures available from the Police national website: Violence & sexual offences - 6 Anti-social behaviour - 15 Other theft - 7 Vehicle crime - 10 Source: www.police.co.uk

REMEMBER - PLEASE REPORT ANYTHING YOU SEE WHICH MAY BE SUSPICIOUS OR NON URGENT TO OUR LOCAL POLICE USING THE 101 NUMBER. It is a valuable way to record and create intelligence and helps to build a more comprehensive snapshot of the issues in our area. In an emergency call 999. You can also report crimes online at: https://www.beds.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-acrime/

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Your LETTERS Dear Editor, We would like to give a shout out for Paul Williams home repairs and property maintenance who advertises in the Stotfold News Magazine. He came and did some decorating for us gave us the estimate and carried out the work quickly and did a really super job. Highly recommend him. Thanks Brian and Katie Juffs Dear Editor, We'd like to recommend Andy and Sean from AJB fencing to your readers. We have used them twice this year for different fencing jobs in our garden and have been so happy with the quality and finish of their work. They're very polite and respectful and they go above and beyond to make sure the job is done correctly and the end results are top standard. We're very happy with the work they've done for us and would highly recommend. Emma & Jonny Garside Dear Editor, I am wondering if through your magazine I could appeal for any information anyone may have about the Royal Order Of The Buffalo’s, who used to meet in Stotfold at The Chequers - circa 1959-late 60s. I am particularly interested in what happened to any of the associated memorabilia connected to this organisation. If anyone has any information or can help please contact the Editor of the magazine and she will put us in touch. Many thanks. M Everitt

Dear Editor, I just wanted through your pages to congratulate and thank all of those from Stotfold Town Council involved in the organising of the Christmas Lights switch-on. It was great to see so many people enjoying the variety of stalls and amusements on offer and particularly to see local businesses so busy. It was very well organised and everyone I saw seemed to be enjoying themselves. And the tree is magnificent! Kind regards, Michael Barnett Dear Editor, Through the pages of our local magazine I just wanted to write a letter to say how wonderful it is that our Christmas Tree now sits pride of place along our High Street. I was lucky enough to be able to get out to the switch on event which I thought was most enjoyable - wonderful to see so many people attending and enjoying the festivities in the town centre. It really made Stotfold feel festive and like a real community. Congratulations to all involved. Stotfold News Magazine reader.

Dear Editor, STOTFOLD COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS FAYRE 2023 Another successful Fayre in the Memorial Hall on Saturday 18th November and the organisers once again thank The Stotfold News Magazine and Stotfold Town Council for their continued support. Notable sponsors among many this year include ‘First Step’ estate agents, local funeral directors Austin’s and E.H.Crouch, who, along with many other local businesses, gave cash donations or gifts towards raffle and tombola prizes (our thanks to Alison). This event encompasses the Christmas spirit while at the same time raising funds to assist non-commercial youth groups within our town to finance equipment and activities for their members to boost their self-confidence and recognise their place in the wider community. This year’s event was held in aid of the ‘Just Out’ youth club centred at the Roecroft Centre in Church Road and some of their members came along to assist on the day which was most welcome. Due to the combined efforts of all those involved in organising the Fayre both on the day and behind the scenes the magnificent sum of £1,137.50 was raised to be passed on to the club. Final thanks go to those visiting the Fayre on the day, whether local or from further afield, for adding to the community spirit of the event while helping support a worthy local organisation. Alan Cooper – Committee Chair

Christmas Hero 2023

We are delighted to announce the winner of our

CHRISTMAS HERO Competition for 2023!

In association with Satchells Estate Agents, the Stotfold News Magazine are once again proud to announce the winner of this award for 2023. We were astounded with the volume of entries that we received yet again this year and would like to thank everyone who took the time to send in their nominations.

This year;s Christmas Hero winner lives in Stotfold but works in Arlesey so was actually awarded the Christmas Hero awards for both areas! This nomination really stood out to the judges for the amount of amazing work they have done, often going above and beyond in her role serving customers in Arlesey Chemist. We heard some extremely touching stories of how this lady has helped so many people over recent years - better still, this award also happens to coincide with her retirement after many years of service. We are delighted to present this years

Christmas Hero award to LINDSAY EVANS.

The judges felt that the many ways in which Lindsay had helped people within our community were a shining example of exactly what the Christmas Hero award is all about. MANY CONGRATULATIONS TO LINDSAY!

Alongside Lindsay and receiving special recognition certificates this year were; John & Anne Talbot for their work with the Stotfold Good Neighbour Group, Jen Powell for her incredible fundraising events this year, Les Hayes for his neighbourly care of others and Phillip Johnys for the fantastic work he continues to do for the Royal British Legion. LOOK OUT IN NEXT MONTH’S ISSUE OF THE MAGAZINE FOR PICTURES OF LINDSAY RECEIVING HER PRIZE AFTER HER WELL EARNED HOLIDAY!

Thank you to everybody who has taken the time to nominate their Christmas Hero this year, we really did think that each nomination was incredibly worthy, making it a very tough decision for the judges to make.

The Christmas Hero was once again proudly sponsored by Satchells Estate Agents At the heart of your community

News from Pippin Pre-School We had a wonderful time celebrating Christmas over the last few weeks of term. The children enjoyed many events including Elf Day, Christmas Concert, Santa’s Grotto, Christmas Party and our Christmas Trail. We hope our families enjoyed receiving all the special pieces of artwork, calendars and Christmas baubles that the children have produced for them too. Holiday club will be open for February half term 19th -23rd February 2024.

The booking system will open from 8th January 2024. To book a place please visit members.pippinpreschool.co.uk

The Pre-School reopens on Monday 8th January 2024 after the Christmas break, we look forward to welcoming the children back and hearing about all their Christmas celebrations and activities they encountered during the holidays. We continue to collect donations of plastic bottle tops, unwanted fabric, small yogurt pots, buttons for our gluing station. All donations welcome, please drop off at the office.

Thank you for your interest in our Pre-School. We look forward to sharing more of our news with you next month.

Wishing you all a very happy new year.

Poppies & Poppyfields Nursery Poppies and Poppyfields Nurseries and After Hours Club Busy times have been afoot at our nurseries and out of hours groups! In our nurseries, we have been having a lovely time inside and outdoors, exploring the natural world, painting pebbles, building with logs and branches, and making wonderful concoctions with leaves, water, twigs and mud! Diwali was explored, making clay divas and lots of lovely Christmas activities enjoyed by all! Children all made a special disc which when put together made a beautiful group tree.

Our Dandelions, Fir Cones and Pebbles groups have all been involved in nativity activities in their structured groups and our Christmas Nativity production. This special event is held annually and we all have loved participating in this and hope our families enjoyed it as much as we did! Thankyou to my staff team for their dedication, humour, and empathy in bringing our children such lovely learning experiences every day.

Our after nursery/ after school clubs have had fun printing, including making their own printers, team building, construction, mindfulness colouring, making books and having fun with Christmas activities and making decorations!

Poppies and Poppyfields both offer breakfast club, nursery sessions, afterschool club, and full day care, from Monday to Friday during the term and additionally offer holiday club. Poppies age range is 2 years old to Reception, while Poppyfields is 2 years old to Year 2. For Poppies, St Mary’s Academy site, enquiries please contact billpoppies@gmail.com, and for Poppyfields at Fairfield Lower School, Dickens Boulevard site, please contact billpoppyfields@gmail.com. A big thankyou to First Steps Estate Agents, who supported our Christmas Raffle, to the Stotfold News for providing this amazing community forum, to St Marys Church for hosting the Christmas Tree Festival, to Stotfold Town Council for their very special ‘tree lighting’ event at the end of November and for our families who give us such amazing support throughout the year. Here’s to a wonderful 2024!

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News from Fairfield Park Lower School

At the beginning of January all of our children will be taking part in our International Project Week where we will take a deeper look at the seven continents of the world; both human and physical geographical features and the art, music and culture of different countries too.

The week will culminate with year groups sharing their learning with each other. We will also be learning about Buddhism during one of our five Religious Diversity Days. The Young Voices Choir continues to practice in advance of their performance later in the year – some members even visited our local care home, Baycroft, to sing carols before Christmas so they’ve had a taste of performing to a real audience too. Our eco monitors are also continuing to keep us focused on our environmental priorities in our classrooms – helping us save energy and re-use resources. These are all fantastic examples of how our additional, bespoke curriculum of the Arts, environment and diversity are woven through our learning opportunities in additional to the ‘normal’ national curriculum.

Value of the Half Term: Positivity Fairfield Park Lower School, Dickens Boulevard & Ruskin Drive office@fairfieldparklower.uk 01462 830000

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News from Roecroft Lower School HAPPY NEW YEAR! Wishing the whole of our school community a very healthy and prosperous 2024. The start of a new year can of course be exciting and brings with it the opportunity to look forward to the year ahead and what new possibilities may come our way, however for some it can sometimes feel overwhelming and can be associated with sadness and worry. I know at Roecroft we have a community of families that show love and respect to one another, something the children model so well.

This month we have an update from Miss Emmerson, who is our Head of Curriculum and teaches in Key Stage 1: Wow, what a wonderful term Key Stage 1 have had! We have been very busy finishing our Autumn topics of learning; Year 1 have been exploring ‘A Toy Story’ and Year 2 have been looking at the theme of ‘Fire and Ice’. Both year groups had exciting topic days which included Year 1 investigating materials that could make a waterproof spaceship for Buzz and Year 2 welcomed in an external company and took part in role play to show the events of The Great Fire of London.

CLAIRE’S Now that we have reached the Spring term, we have some interesting new topics to CAT SITTING explore. Year 1 will be looking at ‘A Knight’s Tale’ around the book ‘How to Catch a Dragon’. This will include making our own maps with instructions to trap our own Stotfold based cat sitting service Roecroft dragon. In Year 2, we will be exploring the topic ‘Kings and Queens’ by comparing different monarchs from the past and present. To continue the 'Royal' theme, Now in our 11th year! we will also be exploring the artists Isobel Peachy and Hans Holbein to help us make Your cats looked after in your own our own royal portrait paintings. home while you are away, giving you complete peace of mind.I am

It is going to be another exciting term ahead, and we are looking forward to embracing fully insured & can feed your cats our new topics, joining in once or twice a day. Other small animals can also be catered for. with Easter celebrations at the end of the term. Please call Claire I hope you all had a 07984 344 997 restful break. With warmest wishes, Mrs Cross

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Email: stotfold.news@yahoo.co.uk

News from St Mary’s COE Academy 2023 was a busy year for St Mary’s. All staff and children have worked extremely hard and we are looking forward to an even more successful 2024!

Highlights of the past year include our Year 4 Young Voices Concert at the O2 and residential trip to ROCK UK, Creative Arts week, the King’s Coronation Celebration, year group trips to Shepreth and Paradise Wildlife Parks, Stanwick Lakes and the Roald Dahl Museum, Sports Day on the Green and the whole school end of year Fun Day.

We finished 2023 with our much anticipated Concerts entitled ‘Christmas Crackers’. As always, the children did us proud and through donations from family and friends, we raised much needed funds for our chosen local Charity ‘The Need Project’. We also thoroughly enjoyed Elf Day, our Christmas lunches, class parties and pantomime.

In January our Year 4 children will be participating in the 2024 Young Voices Concert involving over 6000 school children within the O2 London. This is such an exciting and fulfilling experience for them. There are also planned SMSA events including our ever popular ‘Break the Rules’ Day on Friday 12th January and a Happy Bags pre-loved unwanted clothing appeal early in February (donations from the community gladly accepted) We will continue to support the many charities that we do each year. We are part of a very generous and caring community and had a fantastic response to our collections last year which included Children in Need, The Royal British Legion, The Need Project, Save the Children and Comic Relief.

There has also been continued support for the SMSA fundraising events which all goes to benefit the children in school. Thank you to everyone as always. Please remember you can still talk to us if you are applying for a place in our school for September 2024! The deadline for applications through Central Bedfordshire admissions is 15th January 2024 so there is still time to view our school with our Headteacher. Please look out for our monthly Newsletter here in the Stotfold News or visit www.stmarysacademystotfold.co.uk for further up-coming events and information! We hope you all have a very Happy New Year!

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News from Pix Brook Academy The start of 2024, remarkable that another year has flown by. Working in schools it is nice that we have an opportunity to have two starts, the first in September when all pupils return to school and the other in January when all of us look to a new year and consider the opportunities that might exist. The next few months for the school will undoubtedly be as busy as usual, this is the case in all schools but perhaps even more so for us as we continue to develop the school and its provision. A large body of new staff will once again be recruited. We will be enhancing our curriculum offer to enable the delivery of new GCSE subjects in addition to the continued growth of our core curriculum of Science, Maths, English and PE. It is an exciting prospect to be involved in such growth and we have been extremely fortunate to have such enthusiastic and experienced colleagues looking to join us.

For pupils the curriculum continues. Books are being read in English, calculations undertaken in Maths, experiments in science, activities in PE and the host of normal school experiences are played out each and every day at school. The busyness of a normal school day is all part of the process of being at school and all the more reason why it is so important that all pupils attend as regularly as possible. It is one of the idiosyncrasies of school attendance that in almost all walks of life a score of 90% would be considered excellent. Unfortunately this level of attendance in school is very low, representing a pupil missing one day every two weeks! It is for this reason that the government and the school prioritise attendance. So much happens in a normal school day that pupils whose attendance is less than 95%

are far less likely to achieve their potential and consequently be disadvantaged in future life. It is also the case that those experiences gained while at school, being with friends, following the curriculum, attending clubs and just being in a social environment are so important to young people as they develop. It is always interesting talking to young people who are unable to attend for extended periods due to ill health, they are always desperate to come back to school and would do anything to be able to. We often agree that the only thing worse than getting up to go to school on a cold Monday morning is not being able to! There is much to look forward to this term: PE competitions continue, preparation for the school’s first Ski trip to Italy will ramp up, visitors and visits will be undertaken and learning will be prioritised. We have much to do and never quite enough time to do it, but that’s life at a school! Steve Adams.

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Etonbury Academy Happy New Year from all at Etonbury and welcome back to the Spring Term. This time of the school year always brings optimism and hope as many of us are desperately trying to stick to our new year’s resolutions and the days begin to get just a little longer and brighter.

At school, we will begin to start the countdown to the GCSE examinations in the summer! There will be much work for our pupils to do in this time including beginning to plan their revision timetables and focusing on the importance of these exams for their futures. We will of course support them as much as possible at school with revision sessions, recap lessons and intervention work, so that they can achieve the best possible outcomes. We are now in our sixth year of GCSE examinations at Etonbury and next year this will include A Level exams too. We are really proud of our school and our achievements and fortunate to be based on such a large, open beautiful green site.

Walking around the school recently I have had the pleasure of seeing many excellent lessons where the pupils are fully engaged in their learning.

As I begin to approach my three-year anniversary at the school at the end of this term I take a sense of pride in realising how far we have come as a school over that time, but also a determination to ensure that our pupils get the very best opportunities that we can provide for them as the schools continues to develop and grow. Positivity and achievements in the school are a real focus throughout all years. Our students are rewarded daily with praise points and weekly with praise texts which are sent home to their parents and carers on Fridays. We also have our PE Legends of the week which are shared in school during our celebration assemblies and externally via our Etonbury X page. Our children are incredibly responsive to our positive ethos and our staff enjoy interacting with them and acknowledging individuals’ achievements. We are continuing to show prospective parents, carers and pupils around Etonbury Academy. Please do get in touch with us on 01462 730391 or via email etaoffice@bestacademies.org.uk to book.

School tours for prospective parents provide a real sense of what we offer here at Etonbury. We believe we are a small, compassionate and exceptional educational community. Our children are happy and achieve their full potential, come and see for yourself what makes Etonbury special. Kind regards Mrs J Young Principal

To contact the Stotfold News Magazine please call 01462 731986

Happy New Year from The Mayor. By the time this edition lands on your doorstep we will be well into the swing of things for 2024, as I am sure many of you are working on your New Year's resolutions and wondering just how long this month is and how long can we continue eating the Christmas turkey. From what seems only a few hours away when we enjoyed time with family or reflecting on those who are no longer with us but never forgotten, can I interrupt those moments to say that on behalf of us here at Stotfold Town Council may we wish you a very happy and prosperous 2024. 2024 brings with it some forthcoming celebrations, including the fiftieth anniversary of Stotfold becoming a Town, twenty years of the Stotfold Mill shows and a very important eighty years since D-Day. With our town having significantly grown over the past 100 years we can see how the town has changed from the village it once was.

Looking into not-so-distant future we will be concluding our residents survey and bringing about the priorities for the next twelve months, certainly taking on board last year’s comments and relocating the town Christmas tree to the High Street, bringing about a significant change for us here in the town. We will be looking at planning for the Christmas ahead and how we can make our next Christmas Light Switch on bigger and better, with events in the planning stage for the significant moments in history mentioned above and also a beacon lighting for the D-Day commemoration.

Grants applications for 2024 The Town Council has grant funding for local community groups and organisations, and the next round of grant awards will be decided at the Establishment Committee meeting on 27th March 2024. If you would like to make an application, the form is available to download from our website or via the QR code to the right.

Bedfordshire Day – 28 November 2023 On Tuesday 28 November, we celebrated all things Bedfordshire, with a celebration of Bedfordshire Day. The date was chosen as it was the birthday of John Bunyan. The Mayor of Stotfold was joined by the High Sherriff of Bedfordshire and the Lord Lieutenant; together with the Mayors of Leighton-Linslade, Dunstable, Flitwick, Sandy, Shefford and Arlesey. School Councils from St Mary’s CE Academy and Roecroft joined representatives from the Police and Fire & Rescue Service, along with other invitees to view the raising of the Bedfordshire Flag. There was a display of local historical artefacts, compiled by Michael Everitt. Meeting Dates Jan/Feb All meetings start at 7pm, unless otherwise advertised on our website www.stotfoldtowncouncil.gov.uk Wednesday 10 January – Recreation Grounds, Public Lands and Lighting Wednesday 17 January – Cemetery Wednesday 17 January – Building Management Wednesday 24 January – Establishment Wednesday 31 January – Full Council Wednesday 14 February – Recreation Grounds, Public Space and Lighting.

Bedfordshire Day 2023

Stotfold Mayor Cllr Steve Buck cuts the cake for Bedfordshire Day.

To contact the Stotfold News Magazine please call 01462 731986

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Happy Birthday for the 10th January! Love Judy & Matt

JUNIOR MORRISON Happy Birthday! With all our love,

Lauren, Leo, Luca & Thea xx

DAN REEVE

NICOLA & JOSHUA SPINKS

Happy Birthday! Love Becca, Anna, Katie & Joe xx

Happy 1st Wedding Anniversary on 1st January!

JOE REEVE

With all our love,

Happy Birthday! Love Dad, Mum, Anna & Katie xx

Natasha, Grant, Chloe & Billy xx

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Normal opening hours 9-4pm Tues-Sat resume 4th Jan

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New Year Home Improvements? Find out all you need to know with our handy on planning and improving your home.. with Steve Coates of S&S Coates Survey & Design.

Many people choose the new year to start looking at home improvement projects and ways to improve their home rather than move. We asked one of our regular Stotfold News advertisers, Steve Coates from S&S Coates Surveying & Design to share his expertise with us and help answer some of the most commonly asked questions regarding improving your home.. 1. Do I need planning permission to convert my loft or garage? If your property was built prior to the mid 1990's then you are pretty safe to assume planning permission is not required. However, you should always seek a Lawful Development Certificate from the council planning department which completes your paperwork when it comes to any future sale. For properties built after the mid 1990's it should not be assumed such works fall within what is termed 'permitted development.' as many new developments have restrictions on the conversion of garage spaces and also restrictions on loft conversions given the consequential increase in number of bedrooms and need for off road parking. 2. Is it cheaper to convert an existing garage or loft space or add an extension? Yes, it still remains far cheaper to convert garages and lofts into household accommodation as oppose to building extensions, assuming the space is sufficient for the purpose intended. The avoidance of any foundation works or drainage alterations is a significant saving as well as the existence of the existing walls/structure that will be utilised. 3. Does a small front extension require planning permission? Any front extension that is larger than 3 sq/m, and is not a porch, requires planning permission. Even a

F.A.Q’s

porch, if over 3m high, requires consent. 4. Does a rear extension require planning permission? This depends Steve from S&S Coates wholly on whether or not your property has permitted development rights in place as many newer developments have restrictions. As a general rule, a mid terrace or semi detached property is allowed to extend single storey up to 3m in depth from the back of the original house and a detached house can extend up to 4m. 5. Can I add a larger extension? Most single storey extensions in excess of 4m depth, unless you have a detached property and good sized rear garden, would generally be refused by the planners unless adjoining owners have already extended. Extensions of up to 6m for a semi detached/terraced house and 8m for a detached house can also be achieved under the Prior Notification Scheme but this is subject to various restrictions. 6. Do I need planning permission for a conservatory? The same rules apply to the addition of conservatories as they do extensions. 7. If my extension falls within permitted development rights, do I need drawings? The simple answer is yes as your builder will need detailed plans to both quote and work from. More importantly, Building Regulations approval is required for virtually every type of building work undertaken to a property including internal alterations. You may also need a structural engineer to design steel beams. Whilst the government has tried to simplify the planning rules in terms of what is 'Permitted Development' for homeowners, the system remains complex and it is always best to seek the advice of an Architectural Consultant. Further information about the rules and processes can be found online via the government Planning Portal; https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission. If you need help with your new project and would like our advice, contact us on 07960 215053/01525 862457.

News from

the Mill.

Update from Stotfold Watermill

Brrr! The weather's chilly, and so is the Mill - the grinding stones have been put to bed, the sluice gate has been closed and the heating has been turned off. Gloves, hats and scarves are the order of the day when we pop in to check that everything's OK. But the cold doesn't stop us: we're busy planning for the new season! Our first open weekend of 2024 will be March 17th - make a note in your calendar! The Mill will be running, the Tea Room will be open, and we'll be delighted to see as many of you as possible. And while we're on the subject of planning for next year, make a note of this date too: the 11th and 12th May. Why? It is, of course, the 2024 Steam Fair!

The Tea Room opens March 17th

This is our 20th year - so it's going to be better than ever - with lots happening in the central arena, and plenty of action in the showground as well.

Of course, none of these things happen without some serious activity in the background, all through the winter. From the tea room team, planning menus and tasting cakes, and the archive team, researching stories and creating displays, to the events team, booking attractions and working out how to fit everything into our 14 acre space, the volunteers who run the Mill work hard throughout the year. New Year - Volunteer!?

Would you like to join us? Whatever your skills or experiences, whatever your interests or availability, there's something for everyone to do at the Mill! Drop a line to enquiries@stotfoldmil.com we can't wait to chat with you.

Flyin Ryan captured by Jane Evans last May.

In the meantime, everyone at the Mill would like to wish you all a very Happy and Prosperous 2024 and look forward to welcoming you all to our many events and open days next year!

Conditions treated include spinal and extremity injuries, neck related headaches and sprains/strains.

We are NOW OPEN Our revised opening hours: Tues: 2pm-7pm Wed: 10am-7pm Thursday: 3pm-7pm Friday: 10am - 1pm Saturday: 10am-2pm

To contact the Stotfold News Magazine please call 01462 731986

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January Fun Quiz In our New Year fun quiz, compiled and presented by Stotfold’s very own Brain of Britain, David Stedman, as we look forward to the days ahead in 2024, the theme is DAYS OF THE WEEK. Clues contained in each question or answer (Answers on page 25) 1 Which British rock band had a US number one hit single during the 1960s with “Ruby Tuesday”? 2 The so-called Monday Club is a sometimes controversial political pressure group, formed in 1961, to align with, and seeking to influence, which major British political party? 3 Pictured above, an American film actress and model born with the forenames Susan Ker Weld was once married to British comic actor Dudley Moore and later to the violinist Pinchas Zukerman. What day of the week was her stage forename? 4 The Sunday (or Whitsunday) Islands is a group of 74 tropical islands situated between the Great Barrier Reef and the coast of which Australian state? 5 In a US film series starting in 1991, what is the surname of the family of characters whose forenames are Morticia, Gomez, Wednesday, Pugsley and Uncle Fester? 6 Detective Inspector Fred Thursday is a mentor character in a British television spin-off series, pictured right, and based on the early career of Inspector Morse. What is the title of this series? 7 According to the traditional British nursery rhyme, on what day was Solomon Grundy married? 8 “Here we all are sittin' in a rainbow; Gor blimey hello, Mrs. Jones; How's old Bert's lumbago?” The lazy afternoon of what day were the Small Faces singing about in the 1960s top ten hit? 9 Give the title of the 1960s British ‘kitchen sink’ film, based on a novel by

Alan Sillitoe, which stars Albert Finney as working class lothario Arthur Seaton? Pic right? 10 In pop music, which day of the week connects UK tip ten hit singles for The Bangles, Boomtown Rats and the Mamas and Papas? 11 What two-word French term, meaning ‘fat Tuesday’, is applied to Shrove Tuesday and celebrated by many carnivals held around the world? 12 “Friday On My Mind” was a track covered on a 1973 album entitled “Pin Ups”, cover pictured right, by which British pop superstar? 13 Give the surname of the 19th-20th century British writer who created the clerical detective Father Brown and whose other works include “The Man Who Was Thursday”? 14 Name the US pop music duo who originally called themselves Tom and Jerry and whose 1964 album was entitled “Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.”? 15 Give the professional surname, which she shares with a great Victorian novelist, of Joanna (pictured below), the British writer whose works include “A Village Affair”, “The Rector’s Wife” and “Friday Nights”? 16 The expression Man Friday, also now modernised to Girl Friday, describes a faithful assistant and is derived from a character in which 18th century novel? 17 In Canada and the US, a “____ night Special” is a term applied to a

cheap pistol used for criminal purposes. What day of the week completes that term, as indicated by the dash? 18 The name of only one day of the week is an anagram of another common English language word. What is that word? 19 Which Caribbean island country, capital Roseau, was supposedly named by Christopher Columbus because he sailed past the island on Sunday and gave it the Spanish name for Sunday? 20 A 1786 anthology of poems included such famous works as “To A Louse”, “To A Mouse” and “The Cotter’s Saturday Night”. Who was the author, whose day is celebrated this month?

For more fascinating facts and to download and read my novels, completely free of charge, please visit my website at davidstedman.co.uk or Google david stedman author.

New Hospice Depot NOW OPEN!

Regular readers to the Stotfold News Magazine will know how important it is to us to support our local Hospice. We are thrilled to announce that the new Garden House Hospice Depot is now open and ready for donations in Letchworth! Garden House Hospice Care are proud to announce the grand opening of their new and improved “all under one roof” distribution centre, The Depot, which opened on 1st December. Richard Dearden, Garden House Hospice Care Chairman of the

Trading Board, told the magazine; “We are proud to commemorate the opening of our new distribution centre – The Depot. Thank you for helping us to mark the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Garden House Hospice Care.”

Hospice staff, volunteers and supporters gather for the grand opening ceremony.

“Some of you may have visited our old building down Green Lane, and you may be wondering why we decided to move to a different location. Whilst our old Distribution Centre served us well over the past 17 years, it became clear that it was no longer suitable for our evolving needs and ambitions.”

“One of the main reasons we sought out a new premises was to provide a better workplace for our dedicated staff and volunteers.” “They really are a remarkable team, and they deserved a more suitable working environment. I am deeply proud that we have managed to achieve this for them – and they should all be proud of the amount of effort they have put into making this happen.” 'The Depot' is located at 1 Protea Way, Pixmore Avenue, Letchworth, SG6 1JT and is now open to the public. You can find out more about supporting our local Hospice by looking at their website: https://www.ghhospicecare.org.uk/

WALKS FOR HEALTH January Walks:

Walks start at 10.45am Thursday 4th,11th,18th Arlesey Station Thursday 25th Etonbury Woods (For the Etonbury woods walk we meet at the entrance to the wood just before the nursery not the school gates.) More details contact Beth Overfield 01462 815672 To contact the Stotfold News Magazine please call 01462 731986

Stotfold Football Club November turned out to be a good cup month with all teams progressing in their respective cup matches. The 1st team won 1-0 against Dunstable Town in the Beds Senior Challenge Trophy. The Development drew 2-2 and progressed 3-2 on penalties in the Britannia Cup at AFC Oakley. The Women’s team beat Langford ladies 2-1 to progress in the Beds Women’s Cup and the U18 team drew 1-1 before beating Ampthill 4-2 on penalties in the Beds U18 Floodlit Cup. On the league front not so good with only the Development winning their two league matches in a month of many postponements due to weather. The Women’s team had no league game in November. YOUR LOCAL Further fixtures will be shown on the website and social media as they become available:

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Please support the club by taking up our sponsorship and advertising promotions. Details are on the club website. Come on you Eagles. - Up the Fold.

JSJ Stadium New Roker Park Arlesey Road Stotfold, Bedfordshire, SG5 4HE 01462 539297 www.stotfoldfc.co.uk Twitter @stotfoldfc Facebook @stotfoldfc https://www.sfc-theclubhouse.co.uk enquiries@sfc-theclubhouse.co.uk ANSWERS to JANUARY FUN QUIZ on Page 23. . . 1 Rolling Stones; 2 Conservative Party; 3 TUESDAY; 4 Queensland; 5 Addams; 6 “Endeavour”; 7 WEDNESDAY; 8 SUNDAY; 9 “SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING”; 10 MONDAY (“Manic Monday”, “I Don’t Like Mondays”, “Monday, Monday”); 11 Mardi Gras; 12 David Bowie; 13 G. K. Chesterton; 14 Simon and Garfunkel; 15 Trollope; 16 “Robinson Crusoe”; 17 SATURDAY; 18 Dynamo (anagram of Monday); 19 Dominica; 20 Robert Burns

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Update from the

Need Project

Our latest facts & figures..

www.theneedproject.org

•829 parcels provided. •398 top-up-bags collected from our Pop-up sites •£57,865 -the estimated value of the food for the month of October. •£6,602.50 - the average monthly cost to run the charity (Rent, Insurance, Fuel, Van, Staff related expenses) •28% - the increase in food parcels delivered this month. •2002 - the amount oi adults we have managed to nake a difference to this month with your help. •60 - the amount od pensioners we have helped. •1,613 - the number of children we have managed to help this month (figures above include our best before food.)

Well, what a massive month, the second biggest since we started the project. We are so grateful for all the support we get, the incredible kindness, the financial support, the prayer support, all the things that make it possible to carry on doing what we’re doing. It so so sad the numbers are going up month on month and we have no idea when it’s gonna stop. We are doing something which is important and making a difference but without you we can’t do anything. Christmas is coming fast and that always is massive for us. But we don’t find out how massive till about the 8th of December, when our referrals list closes for Christmas parcels, (so please continue to pray for us,) but we will still be working up till the Friday before Christmas. If the trend follows, we are sadly going to break all previous numbers which should sadden us all. We gave away last month food, if we had to purchase it, with a total value of £57,865.00 and top up bags at our weekly drop ins in Stotfold, Shefford and Sandy numbering 398. This also sadly is on the increase.

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Our volunteers are amazing and without exception go the extra mile and for that Let us come to you! I am personally so so grateful. The preparation for Christmas is very very busy, Tel: 07913005268 buying all the food and getting all the additional Christmas extras, arranging presents and getting our pickers and packers sorted for the week of the 11th of Email: Pawsclaws66@aol.com December. Then, we hit the ground running and will pack, maybe over 1000 hampers in a week and at the same time getting them delivered, while still doing our top up shops in Stotfold, Sandy and Shefford. Now finally, we are still pushing for premises of our own which will give us stability in the future, along with making a massive contribution to our local community. It is a critical time for us but if it is in God's plan for us then it will be fine. By the time this goes out, we will hopefully have had good news and will be progressing with our plans.

Anyway, thank you all again for everything. The only way things will change, the sadness, a despair we see daily, is to do something about it. I will leave you with this Chinese proverb – ‘Man stand on hill with mouth open wait for long time for crispy duck to fly in!!!!’ Praise God Always, Gordon

To contact the Stotfold News Magazine please call 01462 731986

Mental Health Matters- with Jo Loach A fresh start Each new year offers a chance to begin afresh. None of us can change that which is behind us but each of us can change our approach to that which lays ahead. Often January can be a month of trying not to do some things and feeling we should be doing others. This could be in relation to not drinking this, or not eating that, or trying to do this exercise, or that. There is nothing wrong with any of this particularly following a season of excess consumption and activity. However, considering and committing to new habits is not just about reducing what is unhealthy for physical health but also increasing what improves our mental health.

These are typically the things we love and enjoy doing, which can easily get squeezed out by all the ‘must-do’s’ that accompany adulting. And yet when we permit ourselves to do constructive things that we love, we can feel uplifted, comforted and sustained. These in turn can help us to maintain healthy habits and reduce the unhealthy ones. That which make us smile or bring us joy can look different for each of us and that’s ok. The important thing is to know what they are and commit to protecting time to practice them. January can be a good time to reflect on what you love doing but didn’t find enough time for last year and to think about how to actively incorporate these into this year. A commitment to practising healthy habits is not just about reducing what is unhealthy but also permitting ourselves to do that which boosts our mental health. This new year offers an opportunity to approach things differently based on what went well or not, last year and what we need in this year.

Jo is a BACP Accredited Psychodynamic Counsellor and an Integrative Supervisor with an MA in Contemporary Therapeutic Counselling .

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Update from the Stotfold Library

Stotfold Library Opening Times Monday – Closed Tuesday – 9am-1pm Wednesday – 2pm-6pm Thursday – 9am-1pm Friday – 9am-1pm & 2pm-6pm Saturday – 9am-4pm Sunday – Closed

EVENT FOR ADULTS Every Friday - Knit and Knatter 10.30am-12pm Tuesday 23rd January at 7:30pm ‘History of Stotfold’ with Michael Everitt Come along for a talk on various aspects of Stotfold’s history! Tickets are £2 each (available for purchase at Stotfold Library), light refreshments provided.

ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN Every Tuesday 10:30-11:00~ Story and Rhyme Time (recommended for children aged 0-5) Every Saturday 10am-12pm~Pokémon Club! Come along to trade your own cards and play the trading game we have at the library! Beginners are welcome. (recommended for children aged 6+) Every Saturday 10-3pm~Lego Club! Come along to build with our Lego/Duplo! EVENTS FOR ALL THE FAMILY Every Monday~ *In partnership with the Children’s Centre* Stotfold Family Drop-in, 9am-10.30am. For parents, carers, babies, and children. Free cuppa and play. Support, advice, and signposting for all aspects of parenting. Self-weigh scales available. (recommended for families with children aged 0-12 years)

Raynsford Church of England Academy Park Lane, Henlow. SG16 6AT

We are currently looking to appoint a

Site Agent

Salary: £12.18-£12.59 p/h Hours: Negotiable Contract: Permanent We are looking to appoint a Site Agent at Raynsford Church of England. This is a key role for the school supporting a range of caretaking duties, the delivery of minor repairs, carrying out statutory checks and various other individual responsibilities to include key holding for the site. This role would suit someone who is able to use their initiative, enjoys being ‘hands on’, enthusiastic, reliable, motivated and takes pride in all they do. The ideal candidate will: • Be able to carry out general repairs • Can demonstrate they can manage their workload effectively • Have good interpersonal skills and a team player. • Previous experience would be useful but not essential. Main Duties to involve • Maintain a clean, safe and secure school premises, which includes buildings and grounds • Carry out cleaning, routine maintenance and refurbishment and minor repairs • Carry out statutory checks • Supervision of school cleaning staff • Promote health and safety around the school • Maintain the general school premises, furniture and fittings, and report any issues to Finance Manager • Advise on site development projects and make recommendations on site use If you are interested in this post or would like to visit us, we would be delighted to show you around. Please do not hesitate to contact Sue Saunders on 01462 812319 or E-Mail: office@raynsfordacademy.co.uk - Please be aware that school will close between 22nd December - 5th January for the Christmas break. Raynsford is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The recruitment of the successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. To contact the Stotfold News Magazine please call 01462 731986

News from Our Local Churches

News from St Mary’s Church

Worship Services First Sunday of the Month: 8.00am Communion; 9.00am Sunday Morning Prayer; 10.00am Parish Communion and Sunday School; 4.00pm Tea Time Praise for young families Second, Fourth & Fifth Sundays: 9.00am Sunday Morning Prayer; 10.00am Parish Communion and Sunday School Third Sunday. 9.00am Communion; 10:00am Parish Praise (service without Holy Communion); 5.30-7.00pm Youth Gathering in the Vicarage Wednesday Service: 9.45 Parish Communion Monday – Saturday: 9.00am Morning Prayer. A small group gathers in church for 20 minutes. Christenings held on the 4th Sunday of each month. Please contact Sara Clark on 01462 625270 . Funerals. The church is available for any local persons funeral. For information speak to your funeral director or telephone Bill Britt on 01462 730218. Weddings: To be married in your parish Church contact Revd. Bill. Please check our website www.stotfoldchurch.org.uk.

Happy New Year to everyone.

Salvation Army Ladies Fellowship Monday 15th Ladies Fellowship (7-8pm) This month a talk from ReIvel, Working together to save the upper River Ivel. With Bernard Butt. 30

Please call 01462 731072 for further details

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News from Our Local Churches News from St Guthlac’s Church, Astwick. Happy New Year to you all.

It’s time for new beginnings! It’s time for a fresh start! It’s time to make some resolutions! These are often sayings that are made by most people at the beginning of a new year. Here at St. Guthlac’s, we believe, just come as you are. We remain unchanged in our passion to provide a warm welcome to all who attend St. Guthlac’s. Our services are at 11:15am every first Sunday of the month, with refreshments served after the service which is always a time to just chat and meet new people in the setting of our lovely, old church. And if you have made a resolution to attend a church this year…... We’re here. May the blessing of the Christ child be with you in the coming year. Rev. Jane Wheatley

News from Kings Baptist Church

Sunday Services 7 January: All Age Service at 10.30am 14 January: Communion Service at 10.30am. King’s Kids and Youth will run and creche will be supervised. 21 January: – Service at 10.30am. King’s Kids and Youth will run and creche will be available with parental responsibility. 28 January: Communion Service at 10.30am. King’s Kids and Youth will run and creche will be available with parental responsibility. Prayer Meetings Sundays: 6.00pm – 7.30pm Wednesdays: 10.00am – 12.00 noon Week of Prayer: Monday 8 to Friday 12 January at 10.00am & 7.30pm. Accelerate for Children 10-13 term time only Tuesdays: 6.00pm – 7.00pm Home from Home: Free, all welcome: join us for soup, tea, coffee, cake, biscuits, games, puzzles, arts & crafts. Wednesdays: 1.00pm – 4.00pm

To contact the Stotfold News Magazine please call 01462 731986

Down Memory Lane

This wonderful picture has been sent to us by Margaret Moore and features pupils from St Mary’s School inside St Mary/s Church. Margaret cannot recall exactly what the occasion was, but thinks it may have been connected to the Queen’s Coronation in 1953? Do you know anyone pictured here? Perhaps you know more about what the occasion was? if you can help solve the mystery or if you have any pictures you would be able to supply us to use in this monthly feature then we’d be delighted to hear from you - simply call us on 01462 731986 or email us at stotfold.news@yahoo.co.uk

North Herts Road Runners

Now that Christmas is over why not start the New Year joining our running club. We meet on Tues & Thurs evenings in Letchworth at 7pm and have training sessions from beginners to experienced runners all under qualified coaches. Our 1st Sat of the month 5k at Letchworth Common will be on 6th Jan at 9am with free entry and is open to anyone. For more in information call Ian 07506 429928 or visit our web site nhrr.org.uk

STOTFOLD GARDEN CLUB

Meetings and Trips Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month at St. Mary’s Church Hall, Church Road.

Wednesday 10th January 2024 AGM and Quiz Tea and Coffee served For more information, contact Peter on: (01462) 834854 or 07758649721 stotfoldgc@gmail.com

Useful

Telephone Numbers

General Helplines: Citizen’s Advice Bureau Trading Standards Advice Line Samaritans Births, Deaths & Marriages Stotfold Good Neighbour Group Churches Hope Chapel King’s Baptist Church Methodist Church Salvation Army Hall Ladies Fellowship St Mary’s Church St Mary's Church Hall Friends of St Mary’s Fairfield Community Church Local Council Stotfold Town Council

Email:enquiries@stotfoldtowncouncil.gov.uk

Central Bedfordshire Council

01525 402742 0300 300 8136 01462 455333 0300 300 8089 07599 925587 01462 686803 01462 730521 01462 731167 01462 731072 01462 731072 01462 730218 07727 688877 01462 834108 07376 740410 01462 730064 0300 300 8000

Email:customer.services@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

Doctor Larksfield Surgery Appointments Enquiries Out of Hours Service: Arlesey Medical Centre Household Emergencies Electricity Emergencies Gas Emergencies Housing First Garden City Homes Grand Union Housing - all enquiries Cafe Box of Cakes Cafe & Cake Shop

01462 732244 01462 732200 Call 111 01462 732144 0800 783 8838 0800 111999 01462 683307 0300 123 5544 07812 055587

Health/Social Helplines Childline National Menengitis Trust Samaritans NSPCC Hospitals Bedford Hospital Lister Hospital NHS Direct Library Stotfold Library Arlesey Resource Centre & Library Police Beds Police (Crime reporting) Crimestoppers Pubs Coach & Horses Fox & Duck The Crown The Stag Tavern Transport Trains (National Enquiries) Whitbread Wanderbus Schools Etonbury Academy Pix Brook Academy Fairfield Park Lower School Roecroft Lower School St Mary’s Academy Samuel Whitbread Academy Nurseries Pippin Pre-School Poppies Nursery Poppyfields Nursery Busy Bees Taxi Service Greenacre Transfers Airports & Chauffeur Services www.greenacretransfers.co.uk

0800 1111 0845 6000800 08457 909090 0800 800 5000 01234 355122 01438 314333 0845 46 47 0300 300 8068 01462 731469. 01234 841212 0800 555111 01462 734135 01462 732434 01462 731061 01462 731098 08457 484950 0300 123 3023 01462 730391 01462 416243 01462 830000 01462 730336 01462 730343 01462 629900 01462 834897 07833 927906 01462 830008 01462 734306 07555 70 78 48

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