Stotfold News Magazine July 2023

Stot fold NEWS

From the Editor July

Welcome to July!

Are we actually in Summer? Seems like tempting fate bu t as we write this month’s column we are at last enjo ying the sunshine and all that it brings along with it Someho w sunshine makes ever y thing feel so much nicer

This month we have enjo yed getting ou t and abou t in Sto tfold and were especially pleased to once again suppor t Sto tfold Junior Foo tball club by producing their Presentation Programme for this year Congratulations to the club for winning ‘Grassroo ts Club Of the Year ’ for 2023, awarded by Bedfordshire FA

We bring your attention to a few par ticular items inside this month’s magazine - our much lo ved ‘Co ffee Time’ feature returns, with the oppor tunity to f ind ou t more abou t one o f our newly elected Central Bedfordshire Councillor ’s Kat Woodf ine - ( Thank you Kat for taking par t in this for us!)

Page 7 o f this month’s issue, you’ll f ind details on the Sto tfold Walking Market for 2023 - don’t forget to register to take par t!! Finally, if you belong to a local group, club or organisation, then you MUST turn to page 10 There is a chance to WIN £500, cour tesy o f Satchells Sto tfold Lastly, thank you to Nikki Lane for yet ano ther beau tiful picture shared with us which we have chosen to use as our f ront co ver for July Aren’t they just adorable

All that’s left is for us to wish you a wonder fully sunny month ahead we hope this glorious weather continues for many weeks to come!

Until next month

Joanne

Local News Page 4

Co ffee Time with Kat Woodf ine Page 5

News round- up Page 6

NEW! Diar y o f Events

Letters

News f rom Sto tfold Mill

Family Announcements

Mum with 3

Page 8

Page 9

Page 11

Page 18

Page 20

Local school /n ursery news:

Church n ews:

Fond

SGNG Thank Wendy For Her Support.

Written for the Sto tfold News Magazine by Sto tfold To

For those people unaware o f ho w Sto tfold Good Neighbour Group was originally formed, as with many o f these ‘Good Neighbour ’ groups, a small team o f volunteers assisted by the late Anne Clarey ( To wn Councillor) and Kate Ellio t-Turner ( To wn Clerk,) set up Sto tfold’s ver y o wn Good Neighbour Group back in 2013 The group was founded as a result and as par t o f the process o f the Sto tfold To wn Plan back in 2009

While it may sound like it took four years to materialise, Wendy and Cllr Anne Clarey bo th pushed relentlessly for the success o f this group and if Anne were here today, she would be the f irst to say ho w thankful she was for Wendy’s suppor t

The early days o f the group were a challenge, bu t one that bo th Anne, Wendy and Kate took upon themselves to resolve and develop, turning

the group into what has become a ver y welcomed respite for so many If we look at ho w the group has evolved o ver the years; in the period Oct-Dec 2013 there were around 3 clients with 6 jobs being carried ou t per week Fast for ward to the present day, with the group no w regularly looking after 83 clients and recording o ver 450 jobs in the same period some 10 years later

Those early days saw the group suppor ting residents and neighbours with tasks including picking up prescriptions, shopping and general household du ties and light gardening No w the group has expanded to include activities such as weekly chair-based exercise classes and afternoon games for all The number o f SGNG volunteers has had to increase and no w has 37 volunteers, with Wendy playing a most instrumental role throughou t Special mention must go to the group and their immense effor ts during the extremely diff icult Co vid pandemic, I am cer tain that the group was a valued resource to so many people in need during this time

With the current issue we all have with the NHS, the SGNG have also forged a good working relationship with the local doctor ’s surger y and whilst this adds to the general workload o f the group, they have managed to work well alongside the team as well as continuing to o ffer lifts to residents at various hospitals including Mount Vernon / Lister and fur ther af ield.

For me, I am grateful on behalf o f the to wn for the fantastic work that The Good Neighbour Group under take and has achieved o ver the years. I am especially thankful to Wendy for the role she has played and the amount o f time and dedication she has given to the group. Wendy will no w take on a smaller role within SGNG, whilst continuing to help ou t with the group in o ther ways.

Wendy, on behalf o f the to wn I thank you for your suppor t to our residents o ver the years, the selfless acts o f kindness that you evoke and the sheer enthusiasm you give to us all Cllr Steve Buck

wn Mayor Cllr Steve Buck

Pictured abo ve, Wendy being presented with a cer tif icate f rom the Lord Lieu tenant o f Bedfordshire Susan Lousada and Cllr Steve Buck

Co ffee Time with Councillor Kat Woodf ine

Some o f you may recall our popular ‘Co ffee Time’ feature from some time ago which we bring ou t occasionally when we feel there may be a par ticular member o f our community you would be interested to f ind ou t more abou t..Hopefully you will all be aware that during the recent elections for Central Bedfordshire Council, Sto tfold was awarded t wo new Councillors We are delighted to be able to introduce you to the f irst o f these candidates, Councillor Kat Woodf ine.

Kat, tell us bit abou t yourself, ho w long you have lived in Sto tfold?

I grew up in Stevenage and (apar t f rom a few years at university) have lived locally all my life. I met my husband when I was four teen, so we bo th feel ver y roo ted here We mo ved to Sto tfold as a place to gro w our family We brought our house in Greenacres when it was still just a patch o f ear th and we used to swing by ever y couple o f weekends to see it being built and gro w The house is no w home to two daughters, two dogs and two cats

What will be your main priorities as you embrace your new role?

I’m still learning so much abou t the role and what it really entails. My main priorities are to give the people o f Sto tfold a voice at Central Bedfordshire Council and working collaboratively with councilors o f ever y political persuasion to ensure we squeeze ever y penny o f best value ou t o f your council tax. Focus areas for me (as per my campaign pledges) are children’s ser vices and our new-build estates By the time you read this I will have already had meetings with the depar tments co vering school transition (three - tier to two - tier) and road adoption. I have accepted the position o f vice -chair on the Children’s ser vices o ver view and scru tiny committee to interrogate our SEND pro vision and am also sitting on Adoption and Fostering panels to reflect my experience here

What is your favourite way to relax and enjo y your free time?

At the moment, Council is taking up all my f ree time, so I guess the more interesting question is, ‘What do I do for my day job?’ I have always had a lo ve for Science and Genetics. I work as Global Product Manager for an American company developing genetic tests The relevance in the NHS is that, if a child is born with an inherited genetic disorder in the Nor th o f England or large par ts o f Sco tland, it is our technology that is used to pinpoint exactly which gene is involved. It’s an exciting role that means it never ‘feels’ like work The rest o f my f ree time is spent being ‘Mum-Taxi ’ , visiting historic sites, reading detective f iction, and building a dispropor tionally large Lego collection for an adult.

What are your top f ive favourite things abou t our local community and why?

1: I feel like the Mill and Steam Fair is at the hear t o f Sto tfold The Mill fair is a fantastic event and the f irst one after COVID in 2022 was full o f so much jo y and community spirit that it felt like a real watershed moment, almost a celebration that the worst o f the virus was o ver

2: The COVID pandemic also allo wed me to take time and really appreciate the beau ty o f the local countr yside. I par ticularly lo ve it when the Kites swoop lo w o ver Sto tfold When I was gro wing up you were lucky to see a solitar y Kestrel, so it hear tens me that the Kites represent a real environmental success stor y.

3: I lo ve exploring castles and historic sites Within the Central Beds region I like visiting Houghton Hall (Free, with fantastic views). One o f my favourite events is the annual St Georges Day celebration at Wrest Park, which brings historical colour and flavour to a stunning setting

4: Sto tfold’s location makes it a great place to bring up a family, bo th nestled in the countr y bu t only an hour f rom either London or Cambridge This means there is always something to do From a pro fessional point o f view, being in the center o f the UK Life Science ‘Golden Triangle’ is also really valuable

5: The Chicken Tikka Moricha (Jalf rezi ho t) at the India Lodge. Sto tfold is so lucky to have such a great curr y house. The staff and ser vice are Fab

What is the best way local residents can get in touch with you if they wanted to raise a concern, or discuss a par ticular local issue with you?

The best way to get in touch is by email, kathr yn woodf ine@centralbedfordshire go v uk I check it several times a day so will pick any thing up in a timely manner Ho wever, I am passionate abou t communicating more abou t the relevant issues discussed at CBC back to Sto tfold residents I think Local Go vernment should be more transparent. So, for this please check-ou t my Facebook page by follo wing the QR code right

Local News Round- up

Sto tfold Ar t Group.

There has been a connection between the Ar t Group and Sto tfold Watermill since the the early days o f restoration, when the group helped with fund raising. So it's f itting that our Summer Exhibition is held in the Ivel room at the mill This year it's o ver the weekend o f 22nd and 23rd July f rom 10 till 5 on bo th days.

The Tea room and Shop will also be open f rom 12 30 til 5 on the Saturday and Sunday

We have several new members, so the work on display will have added variety Most o f the ar twork will be for sale and there will be a good selection o f handmade cards and crafts

So come along and bro wse - entr y is f ree - you can visit our wonder ful working watermill at the same time

These watercolours by Geo ff Hoile and Carolyn Monaghan sho w two aspects o f the building.

Window and door repairs and

installations

* Misted/broken units

* Handles

* Mechanisms

* Door barrels

Supply and fit windows and doors

Soffits and fascias

Jonny Garside 79 Regent Street, Stotfold 01462 732248 or 07951 473505

Ar ts and Leisure Group has something for ever yone! Enjo y snooker? A countr yside ramble? A wild walk? Perhaps a book discussion? Theatre ou ting? Or just meeting likeminded people? Letchwor th Ar ts and Leisure Group has something for you If you were one o f the many who visited our stand at the recent Sto tfold Steam Fair and Countr y Sho w you’ll kno w that this unique organisation, which last year celebrated its 35th anniversar y, is no t just for Letchwor th people bu t has a warm welcome for anybody f rom the surrounding district Indeed, 40 per cent o f LALG’s 1,500-plus household members are f rom ou tside Letchwor th, with some 50 f rom Sto tfold and Arlesey alone With some 130 leisure activities ever y month, LALG demonstrates ho w enthusiastic volunteers can create something magical.

The non-pro f it organisation was the brainchild o f William Armitage, who ran Letchwor th’s David’s Bookshop working with bro thers David and Simon and two non-family directors. Conceived as a bookshop club, the plan was for single subscription access to numerous activities. Annual household membership then was £5. Today it is just £10, with no more to pay o ther than any room hire, transpor t or food and drink costs

Trips and events, Ar ts and Books, Crafts and Gardening, Food and Drink, Languages, Social Groups, Spor ts and Games, Walking Groups (17 cater for all levels) are among the many group categories Monthly members meetings (with a small charge to ward room hire) have fascinating speakers Litter pickers have collected o ver 1,000 huge bags o f rubbish in the past 18 months V isit the lalg org uk website to disco ver more or if you are in Letchwor th pick up a newsletter f rom David’s Bookshop Or check us ou t on Facebook at https://www facebook com/LALGLetchwor th/ Thoughts on possible new groups are always welcome at newideas@lalg org uk Proposals f rom Sto tfold and Arlesey are par ticularly welcome

Kitchens & Bedrooms

Windows Internal/External Doors

Ski r tings -Architraves -Dados

Stai rs -Handles -Balustrades

Handle & Lock Replacements

Loft Hatches

Flat Pack Furniture

All aspects of carpentr y N o job too small Call

Building Maintenance

The Barn raise a whopping £1100 for the Garden House Hospice

A massive thank you to our customers at The Barn who raised a huge £1100 for The Garden House Hospice in Letchwor th The winner o f our prize draw was Sandy Thomas

Julie and I had the privilege o f presenting the funds to some o f the staff there who do an amazing job Throughou t the weeks o f the draw I heard f rom people either directly, or indirectly touched by the work that they do

Many people praising no t only the kindness sho wn to the patient, bu t also the care and suppor t sho wn to family and f riends

It costs £7 million to run the hospice, £6 million o f which has to be raised and funded by donation The Barn is delighted to have contribu ted a small par t to this mammo th task and will continue to suppor t The Hospice with its fu ture fund raising effor ts.

Hear tfelt thanks f rom Steve, Julie & The Team.

IT’S HAPPENING!

August 28th Bank Holiday Monday!

REGISTER NO W: WE HAVE REGISTERED CLOSE TO 50 STALLS IN THE FIRST WEEK!

Email: sto tfold walkingmarket2023@yahoo com to register your stall Please include a brief description o f what you will be selling on the day together with a contact number and your address

This year Satchells Estate Agents have ver y kindly o ffered to place an adver tising board ou tside the homes o f all stallholders to help adver tise the event for 2023 (If you wish no t to have a board, please indicate this on your email ) Keep an eye on the Sto tfold News Magazine facebook page and fur ther issues o f our magazine for more info! You can also ‘like’ the event page on facebook and keep in touch with any updates through this page!

We look for ward to letting you kno w abou t some o f our 2023 stallholders inside our July magazine! GET INVOLVED! Help to make this year ’s Walking Market the best one yet!

ALL EMAILS WILL RECEIVE A RESPONSE FROM OUR ADMIN TEAM AND A POSTER TO DISPLAY IN THEIR WINDO W!

Rachel leaves for Maternity.

Sto tfold Librar y Manager Rachel Willoughby leaves work this month to prepare for the arrival o f her baby daughter, due in a few weeks time.

Rachel already has one child, Theodore, who was born back in 2021 so is looking for ward to ‘completing the set’ later on this year.

We wish Rachel the ver y best o f luck with her new arrival!

All types of electrical work under taken. Installation, Fault finding, Heating controls Test and inspection, EV charge points, NICEIC approved contractor Tel: 07817 545314

E:bk electrical@outlook com

STO TFOLD Diary Of Events..

JULY

Saturday 8th - St Mar y’s Church Summer Fete 2-4pm

St Mar y’s Church V icarage

Saturday 8th The Stag - ‘Magenta Slipperz’ f rom 9pm

Friday 14th - Music for a Summer ’s Evening Sto tfold

Christian Choir, 7 30pm Sto tfold Memorial Hall

Saturday 15th July The Stag - Craft Fair 2-5 £7 50 for a table All proceeds go to local hospices

Contact Jan 01462 731098 for details

Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd - Sto tfold Ar t Club exhibition @ Sto tfold Mill

Thursday 17th - Flo wer Demonstration 7pm

St Mar y’s Church Hall Tickets £10 inc Prosecco & cake!

Tickets available f rom Ann Scarr 01462 834844

Bank Holiday Monday 28th - Sto tfold Walking Market 10-3

Bank Holiday at The Stag August Bank Holiday weekend

Cider festival Live music and BBQ Saturday 7 30-9 30pm

Saturday 9th - Book Sale/Co ffee Morning St. Mar y’s Church Hall,10-12

Sunday 10th - Cake & Produce Sho w @ Sto tfold Mill

OCTOBER

Saturday 7th - Jigsaw Sale 10 -12 St Mar y’s Church Hall

Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th - Sto tfold Working Steam Fair

Thursday 12th Friends o f St Mar y's Church are hosting a talk by Theresa Britt at 3pm entitled" St Mar y's Churchyard: Histor y and Changing Role in the life o f Sto tfold, and the opening o f the Civic Cemeter y" Ref reshments will be pro vided Free entr y - donations welcome

Saturday 21st - St Mar y’s Church Quiz Night! 7 30pm St Mar y’s Church Hall

Saturday 4th - St Mar y’s Church Winter Fair 2-4pm St Mar y’s Church Hall

Saturday 11th Table Top Sale St Mar y's Church Hall 10am12pm Proceeds for St Mar y's Church

Saturday 18th. Community Christmas Fair 12pm-4pm

Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th - Christmas Tree Festival

St Mar y’s Church.

VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED

Due to huge demand we will be reopening a Bro wnie Unit on a Friday evening We can’t do this withou t our amazing volunteers – for an informal chat please e -mail Paula on o ttero wl2023@gmail com

Nor th Her ts Road Runners

Entries are no w open for the Standalone10k on 1st Oct. www.standalone10k.org.uk The next 1st Sat o f the month 5k at Letchwor th Common will be 1st July at 9am. Entr y is f ree and open to all abilities.

We continue our training sessions with qualif ied coaches on Tues & Thurs evenings at 7pm These are open to all, why no t come along for a taster session with no obligation Contact Ian 07506429928 or nhrr org uk

Dear Editor,

JUST OU T would like to thank Peter Church and FB Chain Ltd for their continued suppor t and generosity, their latest donation being the bike shelter at the Roecro ft Centre, Church Road. The shelter has encouraged the teenagers to bike to the Club and is also a great base for the ou tdoor activities that we pro vide

JUST OU T… would also like to thank the ladies and gentleman who suppor ted our car wash fundraiser! It was an enter taining event and we managed to raise some money to wards our summer holiday activities.

JUST OU T is a ‘no t for pro f it’ organisation that pro vides a safe environment for 11 to 16 year olds to meet, on Wednesday and Thursday evenings at the Roecro ft Centre, to take par t in activities and have fun!

Many Thanks

For JUST OU T Lorna Seymour

Dear Editor,

I would like to let people kno w there is a Charity Fair/Table Top Sale –Sunday 2nd July, 2023 – 10am – 2 pm at the STMA Hall, 10 Hitchin Road, Shefford, SG17 5JA Tables £5.00 - Ref reshments – Raffle

To Book a Table – Contact Bridie on 01462639279

Email: bridget smith@u wclub net or Carol on 07455103223

All Proceeds to Alzheimer ’s (Fight Against Dementia)

Dear Editor,

Through the pages o f your excellent magazine I would like to ask the good Citizens o f Sto tfold if they would be kind enough to o ffer some feedback on the recently installed roundabou t ou tside the Cro wn Public House. This would be to either: Customer.Ser vices@centralbedfordshire.go v.uk or enquiries@sto tfoldto wncouncil.go v.uk (or bo th.)

Kind Regards

Chris

Dear Editor,

I am still looking to purchase a shell cameo brooch with a gold f rame if any o f your readers have one they would like to pass on.

Perhaps they could call me on

0778859 7009

Thank you in advance

Patricia

Dear Editor

It has come to my attention that Sto tfold Good Neighbour Group (SGNG) consider that my letter thanking "all those involved with or ser ved by SGNG" who vo ted for me could mean that SGNG had some kind o f involvement with my election campaign, which they absolu tely did no t I was just wanting to express gratitude to any who vo ted for me, including my f riends and any clients at SGNG

Best regards

Helen Wightwick

NEED CASH for your School, Group or Organisation?

Are you pa rt of a young persons club, orga nisation or team?

At Satchells we LOVE suppor ting our local community and firmly believe that our young people are something to be extremely proud of!

Do you need help with buying equ ipmen t, mat erials or similar? - We’d LOV E to help!

The brand new 2023 Satchells ‘Young Persons Grant’ is open to ANY local group, school or organisation in our local area Your nominated group must be run in either Stotfold, Fair field or Arlesey Satchells Young persons Grant

We will be presenting one lucky group with a donation of £5 00 to spend on whatever they need H OW T O E NT ER: Simply write to us with a brief account of why you feel your group should be awarded this year’s Young Persons Grant. Entries should be sent to: Satchells Estate Agents, 47B High Street, Stotfold, SG5 4LD Email: stotfold@satchells co uk C losing date 31s t J ul y 2023

USE YOUR IMAGINATION!! - the more creative your entr y the better!! - There is no limit to the amount of entries we receive from your group, however we request only one entr y per person We are looking for originality and imagination and will be featuring some of the entries on our social media between now and the deadline of 31st July. WHA T ARE YOU W AITING F OR? G et your friends and family involved!

Well, I’m no t too sure where May and June have disappeared to, bu t here we are in the July edition, and it’s time to talk abou t the Summer Holidays!

If you’re no t jetting o ff to ho t and sunny climes this year, bu t planning a stay-cation, then why no t include Sto tfold Mill in your holiday plans? We have an amazing range o f children’s activities on o ver the summer, suitable for all ages:

First, on 26thm July, is “Kitchen Science,” a chance for kids f rom Years 1-6 to experiment, explore and disco ver what can be done using ever yday objects and materials Then on 1st August, our popular “Pond Dipping” day o ffers children the chance to f ind ou t abou t the creatures living in the Nature Reser ve ponds Available to o ver 5 years only

On 9th August, “Crafty Kids” is a great way for children to express themselves in a variety o f media Be as messy as you like! And f inally on 15th August, we’re inviting local pirates to sign up and pu t their mapping skills to the test, in a hunt for treasure, with “Skull Island Adventure ”

All our events can be booked online via our website: https://www sto tfoldmill com/events/

The Mill is open to visitors on July 2nd, July 9th, July 16th, July 23rd, July 30th, and August 6th, August 13th and August 20th Come along and see the Mill in action, grind your o wn flour with ou t mini-querns and explore the histor y o f the Mill You can also visit the Nature Reser ve, which is open ever y day

Meanwhile, we’re pu tting together our plans for after the summer, which include the Heritage Open Days in September, various music events, the Working Steam Weekend and (I canno t believe I am writing this word right no w) Christmas.

Watch this space for more events and news from the Mill!

News from Pippin Pre School

As we approach the end o f the academic year we would like to wish all the children leaving us to mo ve up to big school all the ver y best as they begin their next exciting adventure! The last few weeks o f term will be packed with fun as we enjo y all the children’s favourite activities f rom their time at Pippin.

At the end o f June the children par ticipated in Barnado’s Big Toddle The children went on a shor t walk around Greenacres to raise funds for this wor thy charity The children enjo yed spo tting house numbers, colours o f cars and some wildlife on the way We would like to thank all our families for their kind donations If you would like any fur ther information on this event please visit www bigtoddle co uk

Our Summer Holiday Club will be open f rom Monday 24th July until Friday 18th August inclusive, places are available to book no w via members pippinpreschool co uk/login We are open f rom 7 45 to 18 00, priced at £40 per day, spaces are limited and are on a strictly f irst come f irst ser ved basis

We are currently collecting bo ttle tops, old bu ttons, material swatches, lace, yogur t po ts and old children f riendly magazines for our gluing station, if you have any that you wish to recycle please hand them into the o ff ice.

Thank you for your interest in our Pre -School. We look for ward to sharing more o f our news with you again next month

A

In so many ways the year has been a wonder ful one, watching our children thrive and gro w brings myself and the Roecro ft family such jo y The children are all ready to take the next steps in their learning journeys and will mo ve with conf idence into their next year group For Roecro ft it has also been a ver y challenging year, the Ofsted inspection that took place had a huge impact on staff and their wellbeing, thankfully with the suppor t o f our families we were able to recognise that this two -day experience does no t def ine the incredible work that goes on here daily.

The summer term has been a spectacular one, f illed with wonder ful extracurricular experiences for the children, including assemblies, our dance morning and spor ts days. Learning has been busy and the children have absorbed a plethora o f new kno wledge and skills.

Belo w we have an update f rom our KS1 leader Miss Emmerson:

Year 1 began the term with a local trip to Sto tfold Mill where they had the oppor tunity to explore the mill and make their o wn flour to take home! They also spent time identifying signs o f Spring in the Nature Reser ve and for tunately, the afternoon was f illed with sunshine

from Roecro ft Lo wer School

Elsewhere in KS1, Year 2 also took par t in a local walk This was for their unit o f histor y which focused on the changes to Roecro ft Lo wer School The children had been learning abou t where Roecro ft used to be based and visited the old school site to look at the similarities and differences to our new building. They then went on a walk around the local area to see ho w much Sto tfold has expanded in recent years and so suppor t their understanding o f why Roecro ft needed to mo ve to a larger site. The children really enjo yed this and built up a clear understanding o f local histor y that has directly affected them.

Year 2 also had their f irst school trip via a coach! The children depar ted school to visit Knebwor th House and had an exciting day ou t to investigate 'Ho w Plants Gro w' The children compared tree types, learnt abou t what plants need to gro w, identif ied different types o f herbs and visited the kitchen garden to learn abou t plant life cycles with a member o f the Knebwor th team In the afternoon, the children enjo yed a picnic in the beau tiful grounds o f Knebwor th House and spent some time in the playground

We have ver y much enjo yed our learning this term and having the oppor tunity to take our learning ou tdoors We are no w looking for ward to f inding ou t abou t our new classes and joining in with the end o f term celebrations!

Finally, can I wish you all a summer f illed with happy memories and plenty o f rest,

Mrs Cross

Later in the summer term, the Year 1s also had a themed day for their topic 'Boats and Beaches'. They welcomed in an external histor y company who focused on the V ictorian era which was when seasides grew in popularity. This suppor ted the children's learning where they had been looking at the similarities in and differences between seaside enter tainment in the present day and 100 years ago. The workshop involved children making a variety o f crafts such as shell boxes, sou venir mugs and postcards In the afternoon, the children were then given old money to spend at stalls and they joined in with traditional games such as hook-a -duck and roll-a -penny!

warm welcome to the July edition o f the Roecro ft Lo wer School news

Year 2 pupils head o ff on their local walk

Pupils enjo y the wonders o f Sto tfold Nature Reser ve

from Fair f ield Park Lo wer School

As you are reading this ar ticle we will be beginning our summer holidays and hopefully enjo ying the summer sun

This last half term has been a busy one at Fair f ield Park! Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist, Adrian Patrick, visited our school and lead a sponsored f itness circuit with each class, during which the children took par t in a range o f exercises. No t only was this a brilliant oppor tunity to raise money to enhance physical activity at school, the children also had the oppor tunity to be inspired by his life stor y and his inspirational achievements!

We’ve also enjo yed seeing the children and families come

ARLESEY PHARMAC Y

together for spor ts days and our annual talent competition –Fair f ield’s Go t Talent

Thank you to our PTA for working so hard to achieve our f irst summer fete in 4 years. It was a great success and we want to say a massive thank you to all involved.

We have enjo yed meet and greets with our new nurser y and reception families and look for ward to welcoming our new children into the school in September.

Have a safe and happy summer holiday. We wish our Year 4 Leavers lo ts o f luck at their new middle schools and look for ward to welcoming ever yone else back to school after the summer break.

Value o f the Half Term: Courage Fair f ield Park Lo wer School Dickens Boulevard & Ruskin Drive o ff ice@fair f ieldparklo wer uk T:01462 830000

BAL & CO. MOTOR CARE

Quality used cars & vans supplied. Excellent after sales care, our warrantees cover both parts & labour

Motor vehicle servicing and general repair work undertaken, any make or model Accident

2 Arlesey Road, Stotfold, Hitchin, Herts SG5 4HA

Formerly Cramps Garage Sales (01462) 732400

Services and Bodywork (01462) 731500

June was ano ther eventful month for us. Our youngest children really enjo yed their trip to Shepreth Wildlife Park and our oldest lo ved their visit to the Roald Dahl Museum! Our Year 3 children visited Hazard Alley Safety Centre in Milton Keynes which is a purpose -built interactive centre where the children can experience hazardous scenarios in per fect safety, bo th fun and educational! All o f our children enjo yed a whole school Athletics Event!

Our decarbonisation project is also well under way, which is ver y exciting as well as informative with the children involved in the archaeology!

Our Parent’s Association, the SMSA also held a Father ’s Day Gift Shop which allo wed the children to choose their o wn personal gift

They also have a Happy Bags Collection planned for 5th July, so any and all donations are ver y welcome There are also children’s f ilm nights booked on the 6th and 13th The fundraising and continued generosity o f our community is inspiring

It’s amazing ho w quickly July comes round each year, bu t, being St Mar y’s we still have a lo t going on before the end o f the school year!

Early in July, Years 1, 2 and 3 will also enjo y their respective year group trips to Paradise Wildlife Park and Stanwick Lakes. The children so lo ve these adventures. As with all events and news please visit our website for up to date pictures and information!

Our transition arrangements for our new children due to star t school with us in September have all been well received with the children par taking in fun stor y time and stay and play sessions. This has given ever yone the chance to meet class f riends, our teaching team and o ther families, as well as get a feel o f our fantastic Foundation areas

News from St Mar y’s A cademy

There will also be a number o f transition events for our older children as they experience school life in their chosen Middle Schools as well as a ‘Step Up’ for all years planned for Friday 7th July. All o f our children are excited to take par t in Spor ts Week which will include our parents on Tuesday 11th July, hopefully at the Green, if the weather is kind to us!

The end o f term (and year!) wouldn’t be complete withou t our whole school fun day on Tuesday 18th July including a visit f rom the ice -cream van!

Year 4s will have their leaver ’s disco par ty, church ser vice, talent sho w and assembly All special memories and a chance to reminisce, have fun and wish ever yone well for the fu ture as they leave for big school!!

So to end we take this oppor tunity to wish ever yone a ver y pleasant summer break The new school year begins on Wednesday 6th September with a Pop- up Uniform Shop in school on Tuesday 5th September between 11 00am and 2 00pm

Pix Brook A cademy

The summer term and the rou tines and processes necessar y for the completion o f one term and the star t o f ano ther are in full swing It is interesting to reflect on the last few years and also consider ho w in some ways, schools are the same as we remember f rom our o wn time in school and yet also so different My recollections o f the summer term at school are o f endlessly ho t days, tr ying to write in boiling classes, cricket matches after school and the wait for the summer holidays to arrive. In that regard, schools are no different today than they were then. (Although as I write we are still awaiting the endlessly ho t days!)

The next few weeks will include the usual end o f term activities, with assessments counterbalanced by trips and visits. New classes will be created for new pupils and pupils who have no w been at the school for four years will be thinking abou t the next stage in their education where choices can be made and the impor tance o f all subjects ramps up

We look for ward to Step up day where we will welcome 180 new pupils and o ver 20 new staff The gro wth in the school continues unabated and it is bo th exciting and challenging managing so many new people into the school For tunately we have a really strong body o f experienced staff who kno w our pupils well and have been instrumental in the development o f the school o ver the last few years

Looking ahead to the second half o f the summer term it will be great to see all pupils involved in our spor ts day that includes a huge range o f competitions and races, the sustainability visit f rom Willmo tt Dixon who will be working with our year 6 pupils, the year 7 end o f term trip, maths challenge, the completion o f the schools inaugural chess tournament, miscellaneous parents evenings and o f course the SATs results

PLANNING

Pro viding architectural design and planning ser vices for residential building, extension and conversion projects,

Having f ive year groups in the school means that PBA is a ver y different school f rom the one star ted by BEST in 2019. We have managed extraordinar y gro wth, mo ved f rom one small building to a really large school, sur vived the COVID pandemic and worked hard to create bo th the ethos and vision for the f irst Free school in Central Bedfordshire.

If this is combined with our position as an extended secondar y school that is also destined to transition to a secondar y school in the next few years it is clear to me why this school feels so different f rom the one I attended

Ever y year is so different f rom the previous one and any one o f these changes would be a signif icant challenge to manage on its o wn To be navigating so many, and to be thriving is a testament to the staff and pupils who come ever yday and work so hard and the parents who consistently suppor t the school in what we are tr ying to achieve: Educating the socially responsible citizens o f the fu ture remains our mission and we will continue to do all we can to make that a reality

Enjo y the summer break when it arrives.

Steve Adams Principle.

STO TFOLD GARDEN CLUB

Meetings and Trips

Meetings are held on the second Wednesday o f the month at St Mar y’s Church Hall, Church Road

Wednesday 12th July 2023

Ou ting to Wisley

Coach depar ts f rom the bus stop on Hitchin Road at 9:30am

Call: 07960215053

or 01525 862457

stevecoates72@gmail com

Find us on facebook

For more information, contact Peter on: (01462) 834854 or 07758649721

sto tfoldgc@gmail com

We star ted the second half o f the summer term with lo ts o f activities, trips, workshops, GCSE exams and various spor ting activities along with a variety o f enrichment oppor tunities across all years

Our Year 6 pupils enjo yed a day trip to the Warner Bro thers Harr y Po tter Studio, walking in the foo tsteps o f Harr y Po tter at Hogwar ts Ever yone thoroughly enjo yed their post SATs treat exploring the wonders o f the Wizarding World and sharing the magic o f the studio tour

Transition events have been taking place with visits to local feeder schools led by Ms Young and Mr Evason We are really looking for ward to meeting ever yone who will be joining our ETA community next academic year

We kno w this can be a time full o f excitement and or ner ves for those involved, it's ver y o ften a combination o f the two. Often, we f ind this is eased by the children and families attending the various transition events we have scheduled to introduce them to Etonbur y and begin their journey into Secondar y education. The next few months will be exciting for ever yone and we look for ward to welcoming our new star ters to ETA and suppor ting ever yone with their transition.

News from Etonbur y A cademy

Our Student Voice Eco Team has been busy distribu ting flo wer seeds and compost ready for our ECO day, today Well done, ano ther great initiative led by Hayden and Sam In year 9 and o verseen by Mrs Brahmachari-Limb Year 5 had a fantastic time at their interactive World War I workshop They learnt lo ts abou t life in the trenches and ho w soldiers looked after themselves They f inished the workshop with a VR experience!

ETA this week received three attendance awards f rom Fischer Family Foundation (FFT ) Primar y Award, Secondar y Award and Whole School Award Etonbur y has been ranked within the top 25% o f similar FFT Schools in England for our spring term attendance across all categories - we are exceptionally proud o f this achievement and our National School Attendance Award Thank you ever yone for your contribu tions to wards achieving this!

We have hosted vir tual Year 10 parent consultations this half term to discuss progress and achievements. Please continue to share in our values, Ever yone is respectful, Together we care and Always aim higher.

Ian Evason – Execu tive Principal Etonbur y Academy www.etonbur y.org.uk

Year 5 enjo y the interactive WW1 Workshops

Harr y Po tter treat for Year 6

Family announcements

ELSIE JUNE CHANDLER

24th July

Happy 7th bir thday to our gorgeous, kind & funny girl Lo ve you always, Mummy, Daddy and Pippa xxx

Paws & Cla ws

Mobile Pet Grooming

Level 3 Qualif ied

Let us come to you!

Tel: 07913005268

Email: Pawsclaws66@aol.com

GARY KING

23rd July

Happy 50th Bir thday!! We hope you enjo y your celebrations!

Lo ve all the family xx

To Nanny, Happy 75th Bir thday

With Lo ts o f lo ve Tillie & Lyla xxx

MELANIE ALDERTON & NIKKI TURLEY

5th July

Happy bir thday ladies!

From Monica, Lyndsay, Wendy & Donna

EDWARD HYDE

12th July Happy 98th Bir thday! Lo ts o f lo ve f rom all the Family xx

SUSAN ARCH

27th July Happy 75th Bir thday!

Best wishes and with lo ts o f lo ve f rom all the family xxxx

BARRY WEBSTER

19th July Happy Bir thday Baz!

Lo ve f rom us all (& Peggy!) xx

JACKIE BU TT

We would like to thank ever yone for all your lo ve and suppor t o ver our mum Jackie Bu tt’s passing Thank you to ever yone who attended her funeral she would o f been o ver whelmed to see ho w lo ved she was Mum lived in Arlesey her whole life o f 76yrs and will be remembered for caring for the children at her belo ved Acrewood day nurser y, riding her bike up and do wn the village and stopping for chats, and catching the bus with her cousin and best f riend Ber yl. We would like to say a ver y big thank you to Benedict’s Funeral Ser vice for being so wonder ful looking after us and seeing our mum on her f inal journey we will forever be grateful to you all your amazing And to the Garden House Hospice Letchwor th who sho wed our mum so much lo ve, suppor t and respect you are all incredible. Thank you all.

Ellie, Kerr y and family xxxx

Our Monthly update from Mum with 3

The race against time…

As I write this, on a late Sunday evening, it hits me that in exactly 16 weeks at abou t this time o f night I will hopefully have just become an Ironman! It’s incredible that ano ther month o f training has flo wn by in the blink o f an eye, and we are getting closer and closer to this goal. Over the last few weeks I have competed in a couple o f races which have helped me feel that I am on schedule. The f irst race was a sprint triathlon; a top athlete will take more than half an hour to complete the 400m swim/24km bike/5km run that comprises a sprint triathlon. I wasn’t that quick bu t happy with my result and enjo yed the event.

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

The second race I completed was a little longer being a ‘half ironman’ distance involving a 1900m swim, a 56mile bike and a 13.1mile run. The swim star t was the equivalent o f being inside a washing machine set to a fast spin cycle: o ver 250 people all swimming o ver each o ther searching for some open water to settle into their rhy thm. Once I’d relaxed and could concentrate on my swim stroke, the rest felt good

Ou t o f the water and a run into the transition area They say that transition is the 4th discipline in triathlon and mine was a lo t to be desired I struggled to get my wet suit o ff, dithered with my decision to wear socks, and took ages to pu t on my cycling glo ves I grabbed a handful o f suncream and set o ff with my bike, smearing the factor 70+ around my face and ears An undulating course around the Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire countr yside and I felt strong for most o f the bike distance I practised my nu trition with what felt like constant eating and drinking along the way and tried to keep my effor t consistent Back into transition, a change o f shoes and ou t onto the run And this is where it star ted to hur t 13 miles o f running in increasing temperatures, the f inal few miles were no t pretty! Bu t I f inished and it was OK

So all I have to do no w is double that distance There’s still a long way to go and a lo t less time to do it in bu t, f ingers crossed, we are getting there

Mumwith3 does Ironman

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IT’S COMING TO STO TFOLD!

Hitchin Road Recreation Ground. Just bring a drink & some shin pads! WEDNESDAY 4.30pm-5.30pm age 4-6years & 5.30pm-6.30pm 7-12years

Ever y child is able to sample the SKILLS FOO TBALL CENTRE for FREE!* Sessions cost just £5 and can be block booked if preferred BOOK for 6 & pay for only 5 sessions!

To f ind ou t more, simply contact us at skillsfoo tballcentre@gmail.com or for more details please call us on 07752 279945 *Free session awarded on block booking o f 6 - Weekly payment available

Established 197 1

JULY Fun Quiz

In our July fun quiz, compiled and presented by Sto tfold’s ver y o wn Brain o f Britain, David Stedman, we are helping our American friends celebrate their Independence Day on the 4th with a theme o f STATE CAPITALS OF THE USA. Clues contained in each question or answer. (Answers on page 32)

1. Give the surname o f Tracey (pictured right), the US tennis player who won the US Open womens’ singles in 1979 at the age o f 16 by beating Chris Ever t, and won the same title again in 1981 by beating Mar tina Navratilo va?

2. Charles Edward Carson, played by Jim Car ter, is the bu tler at which famous eponymous British television residence?

3 Give the surname o f the 19th centur y German statesman who was kno wn as the Iron Chancellor?

4 In which 1980s comedy f ilm (pictured right) does Tom Hanks fall in lo ve with a mermaid named Madison, played by Dar yl Hannah?

5 Name the site in sou thern Greece where, throughou t the period o f classical antiquity, pan-Hellenic athletic games were held ever y four years?

6. From December 1815 until May 1821, who was by far the most famous occupant o f Longwood House on the remo te Atlantic island o f St Helena?

7 An association foo tball team nicknamed the Imps, playing home games at Sincil Bank, represents which English city?

8. New Pro vidence is the most populated island in which Atlantic countr y?

9. What was the name o f the dance, ver y popular in the mid-1920s, being demonstrated in the picture rght?

10. Name the British actress who, during the 1970s, won two Academy Awards for Best Actress in “Women in Lo ve” and “A Touch o f Class”?

11. Give the surname o f Pierre, the 19th-20th centur y French physicist who married Maria Sklodo wska in 1895 and went on to jointly win the Nobel Prize in 1903?

12 What is the brand name o f the ubiquitous British sausages that were f irst produced in 1889 to their “o wn Irish recipe” and no w claim to be “ the nation’s favourite”?

13 Pictured right is the famous badge or logo o f which major British manu facturing company, founded in No ttingham in 1887?

14 What is the most prestigious golf tournament held annually at the Augusta National course?

15. Mar y Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'Brien was a British singer who had a 1960s UK number one hit with “You Don’t Have To Say You Lo ve Me” By what stage name was she much better kno wn?

16. Baseball, the Braves; American foo tball, the Falcons; basketball, the Hawks Which US city is represented by those spor ts teams?

17. The American breed o f terrier pictured belo w is kno wn as the “American Gentleman” and is named after which city?

18. The wheel clamp is also kno wn as the boo t, named after the US city which f irst introduced such a diabolical device for illegally parked cars. Which city?

19. Of which World War Two British Field Marshal did Winston Churchill famously comment: “Indomitable in retreat, invincible in advance; insu fferable in victor y ”?

20 “( There’ll be Bluebirds o ver) the White Cliffs o f Do ver ” is a song made famous in 1941 by which British singer (pictured abo ve)?

For more fascinating facts and to do wnload and read my no vels, completely free o f charge, please visit davidstedman co uk or Google david stedman au thor

May 2023 Facts & Figures:

* 705 parcels pro vided.

* £45,825.00 (estimated value o f food this month.)

* £6,602.50 (average monthly cost to run the charity.)

* 95 (amount o f additional food parcels this month,) an increase o f 22% on the same time last year.

This month with your help. We have managed to make a difference to 1,666 adults, 109 pensioners and 1,458 children. This includes our best before food that we give away.

Our latest statistics abo ve, sho w what parcels we delivered in May This saw a massive increase f rom April o f nearly 100 additional food parcels, which is the second largest month since we star ted the Project We continue with your help and pro vision to carr y ou t the task before us We are interested only in feeding hungr y people, regardless o f colour, creed, gender, or faith If you are hungr y and need food, we will help

I am so grateful to all our volunteers throughou t our Project and to the paid staff, who always go the extra mile Withou t all o f them the Project could no t operate Bu t more

NEW - Update from the Need Project

impor tantly, withou t your suppor t with prayer, food, f inance, and a kind word, we could no t be doing what we do and for that I am so thankful.

As previously mentioned, we are currently in rented premises, which are no w a bit small for our needs. It is for that reason, we are tr ying to source funds to bu y and develop, in Sto tfold, somewhere we could operate our food pro vision f rom and develop a community space which would benef it all in the local area. If you would like to donate to wards this fund, please go to our donation page on our website Please call me if you have any questions abou t the Project or our fu ture plans Gordon

News From Sto tfold Foo tball Club

Here we are in the close season taking a bit o f a shor t breather before it all star ts again with pre - season f riendlies before the season star ts again in earnest in August. Friendlies arranged so far:

Saturday 8.7.23 Home Chesham Utd 1.00pm

Tuesday 11 7 23 Away Shefford To wn & Campton

7 45pm

Tuesday 11 7 23 Away Letchwor th GCE 7 45pm

Saturday 15 7 23 Away Stanway Ro vers 1 00pm

Tuesday 18 7 23 Home Hitchin To wn 7 30pm

Saturday 22 7 23 Home Berkhamsted 3 00pm

Saturday 29 7 23 Away Amersham To wn 3 00pm

Tuesday 1 8 23 Home Walthamsto w FC 7 45pm

We look for ward to seeing suppor ters old and new as we prepare for a historical f irst season at step 4 in the Sou thern Foo tball League If you can spare a few hours a week and would like to help us as we enter this new chapter, please contact us via our website or social media

Come

JSJ Stadium New Roker Park Arlesey Road Sto tfold, Bedfordshire, SG5 4HE T: 01462 539297

www.sto tfoldfc.co.uk

Twitter @sto tfoldfc

Facebook @sto tfoldfc

https://www sfc- theclubhouse co uk enquiries@sfc- theclubhouse co uk

News From Sto tfold Junior Foo tball Club

With this time o f year comes tournament time - as you can see by these pho to’s, a great deal o f fun was had by all o f our teams. We had some great victories, bu t most impor tantly, lo ts and lo ts o f great foo tball was enjo yed by all.

Here are just some o f our teams enjo ying the tournament season...

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News from St Mar y’s Church

Would you like to meet new people?

Anyone can come to our social events These include our Community Co ffee Morning in Church on the f irst Wednesday o f each month. Hymns for Fun, second Wednesday o f the month at 2pm. Whist Group, second and four th Tuesday o f each month in the Church Hall.

The Friendship Lunch, last Wednesday o f the month at The Stag on Brook Street (if you would like to come along please book with Carolyn Bleach 07759 914891). St. Mar y’s Fello wship, third Wednesday o f each month in the Church Hall. There are a variety o f interesting speakers.

Men’s Big Breakfast meets on the last Saturday o f the month at the Box o f Cakes Please phone Roger for details on 730103

Your Parish Church is open ever y day f rom 9am to 4 30pm for anyone who wants a time o f quiet, personal prayer or to light a candle There is a Prayer Box in which you can place a request

You are welcome to come in and look round the church

Worship Ser vices:

Ever y Sunday: 9am. Sunday Morning Prayer. A 20 minu te ser vice withou t Holy Communion or a sermon. 10am. Parish Communion and Sunday School. First Sunday o f the Month: 8am. Said Communion. 9am. Sunday Morning Prayer. 10am Parish Communion and Sunday School. 4pm Tea Time Praise for young families. Wednesday Ser vice: 9.45 parish Communion: a 40 minu te ser vice. Monday – Saturday: 9am Morning Prayer. A small group gathers in church for 20 minu tes. Second Sunday o f the month additional ser vice: 6pm Evensong

Christenings and Baptisms will be held on the 4th Sunday o f each month Please contact Sara Clark on 01462 625270 Funerals The church is available for any local person’s funeral For information speak to your funeral director or telephone Revd Graham Clark on 01462 625270

The Church o f England Parish Church for Sto tfold & Fair f ield Church Road SG5 4NE www.sto tfoldchurch.org.uk

“30-40, breakpoint”

The Wimbledon Championship begins in July It’s a tense competition, knockou t, each opponent facing the o ther, kno wing that in order to beat them they must “break” them - the players ser ving dread hearing the umpire call “break point” Being “broken” sounds like something more serious than in a tennis game Broken is a word we use for the effects o f severe anxiety or the end o f a relationship It speaks o f being left in a weak or violated state, o f reaching “breaking point” The psalm I read this morning, psalm 147, speaks o f God as po wer ful and caring, one who “heals the broken-hear ted” and who “binds up their wounds” Jesus himself said “Come to me, all you who are wear y and are carr ying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11.28). Personally, anxiety has been an issue for me o ver many years. Our opponent will no t be a talented tennis player -it may be a diff icult relationship, or a bereavement , a stressful situation, or a fears for the fu ture. Bu t in all these, God is there for us , in Jesus Christ, to save us through those “break points” , f rom being crushed. There will be plenty o f emo tions displayed on the Wimbledon tennis cour ts this month. They may remind us

that life doesn’t always go in straight lines And if our life’s “ser vice games” are faltering and our returns are going wide, may God help us to turn to him , the true umpire , and f ind that he is our faithful champion and cer tain rest Graham

At Sto tfold Methodist: Co ffee morning f irst Saturday in this month

Monday Club 2-3:30pm

Sunday worship:

2nd at 4pm Revd Val Reid, Farewell Ser vice for Revd Graham

Claydon-Knights, follo wed by ref reshments.

9th at 10am Revd John

Whittle

16th no ser vices

23rd 10am Barbara Cook

30th 10am Revd Julian

Blakemore, ser vice led by the congregation.

CLAIRE’S CAT SITTING

Your cats looked after in your own home while you are away, giving you complete peace of mind I am fully insured & can feed your cats once or twice a day Other small animals can also be catered for Please call Claire

News from King’s Baptist Church

During his life and ministr y on ear th, Jesus encountered all sor ts o f people He could see that those people had different kinds o f faith, different levels or degrees o f faith We can describe those degrees o f faith as no faith, little faith, and great faith

One o f the extraordinar y things we realise in this, is that those people whom you might have expected to have great faith in Jesus, had little to no faith; and those who weren’t even members o f the religious community at all sho wed they were capable o f great faith

For example, we read abou t a time when Jesus went to his hometo wn, accompanied by his disciples He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed “Where did this man get these things?” they asked “What’s this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mar y’s son and the bro ther o f James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?”

Jesus responding by saying, “Only in his hometo wn, among his relatives and in his o wn house is

a prophet withou t honour.” He could no t do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them And he was amazed at their lack o f faith (Mark 6:1–6)

No te that the people could see that Jesus had wisdom beyond that o f any o ther preacher or teacher They saw him do miracles Bu t they could no t see Jesus for who he truly was The problem is that they thought they knew him already They could no t get beyond their understanding o f him as a humble carpenter, the son o f Mar y, the bro ther o f James and the o thers To them, there was no way could he do any o f those things And the extraordinar y thing is, that instead o f being amazed and celebrating the wonder ful things Jesus said and did, they took o ffence They were “unbelieving” or “faithless” withou t faith Jesus was amazed by their response

You see, lack o f faith can seriously hinder all the wonder ful things Jesus wants to do in our lives It isn’t merely a matter o f the absence o f faith altogether, bu t the presence o f the wrong kind o f faith, wrong beliefs, or wrong thoughts. The absence o f faith is revealed by the presence o f feelings o f helplessness, hopelessness, and despair. Those people had no hope, no promise, no answers. They could no t see beyond their natural senses, ordinar y faculties. Even his o wn disciples struggled to have faith in Jesus. Bu t Jesus invites and and encourages to have faith in him. If, withou t faith, Jesus was unable to work miracles except for a few healings, imagine what could be possible for those who do believe?

May you kno w the comfor ting presence and the lifechanging po wer o f God in your life each day

Information abou t our meetings and o ther events can be found on our website, www kingsbaptistchurch co uk

EVENTS FOR ADULTS

Ever y Friday Knit and Knatter 10 30am-12pm

Ever y 1st Saturday o f the month (Saturday 1st July)

Games Cafe! 10am-3pm Come along for a cuppa, a biscuit and a chat There will be board games and puzzle books available for adults and families on demand, plus the Lego will be ou t and available for anyone to use if they wish

ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN

Ever y Tuesday Stor y and Rhyme Time 10 30am

(recommended for children aged 0-5)

July 9am-4pm (recommended for children o f all ages)

Stor y & Rhyme Time, Ever y Tuesday 10 30am

Kaye Mahoney Creative Craft Event, Wednesday 26th July 2 30pm, TICKETED EVENT £3 per ticket, £1 per sibling (recommended for children aged 3+)

Crafts, Ever y Thursday during the holidays, 9am-12pm Crafts, Ever y Friday afternoon during the holidays 2pm-5pm Games Cafe, Ever y Saturday during the holidays 10am-3pm (recommended for people o f all ages!)

EVENTS FOR ALL THE FAMILY

Ever y Monday*In par tnership with the Children’s Centre* Sto tfold Family Drop-in, 9am-10.30am. For parents, carers, babies, and children. Free cuppa and play. Suppor t, advice, and signposting for all aspects o f parenting. Self-weigh scales available. (recommended for families with children aged 0-12 years)

Ever y Saturday Lego/Duplo Club 10am-3pm

The Summer Reading Challenge is here! Friday 21st July Ready, Set, Read! This year ’s Summer Reading Challenge is all abou t games and spor ts It’s FREE to take par t at the librar y Read or listen to as many librar y books as you can o ver the summer holidays and collect special stickers and rewards along the way, including a medal and cer tif icate if you manage to complete the challenge and read six books! Give us a call to f ind ou t more on 0300 300 8068

Summer Holiday Activities 22nd July - 6th September

Summer Reading Challenge Launch Par ty! Saturday 22nd

1st July )~Games Café! 10am-3pm Come along for a cuppa, a biscuit and a chat There will be board games and puzzle books available for adults and families on demand, plus the Lego will be ou t and available for anyone to use if they wish

Opening times: Tues 9am-1pm

Weds 2pm-6pm Thurs 9am-1pm

Fri 9am-1pm & 2pm-6pm

Sat 9am-4pm Sunday Closed.

Local Business A d vice - Are Prenuptial Agreements Necessar y?

Is a prenuptial agreement wor thwhile?

Here, Kathy Scoo t, Family Solicitor at HR J Foreman Laws Solicitors talks abou t prenuptial agreements and whether it is the right approach for you.

What is a prenuptial agreement?

A prenuptial agreement is a formal document signed by a couple before they marr y or enter a civil par tnership It sets ou t ho w the couple wish their assets to be divided if they were to divorce or have their civil par tnership dissolved

There are several reasons why couples choose to create a prenuptial agreement, these include:

• One or bo th par ties wish to pro tect assets built up prior to the marriage

• They wish to clearly state what is to happen to any assets acquired during the marriage or civil par tnership

• There are family trusts and or inheritance plans that need to be considered

•There are debt obligations

Are prenuptial agreements binding in England and Wales?

Whilst prenuptial agreements may be au tomatically enforceable in o ther countries, this is no t the case in England and Wales

Good to kno w:

The agreement must also be prepared in good time before the wedding to allo w bo th par ties to receive legal advice. In addition:

•The agreement must be capable o f being enforced contractually.

•The terms o f the agreement must be fair and reasonable

•The par ties must enter into the agreement o f their o wn f ree will, if there is any evidence o f undue influence or duress, it is highly likely that the agreement will no t be upheld

•The agreement must be signed or execu ted as a deed

•Bo th par ties should pro vide full and f rank f inancial disclosure

•It is imperative that bo th par ties obtain independent legal advice

SG5

I need a prenuptial agreement quickly, what can I do?

If you do no t have enough time before your wedding, it is possible to enter into a postnuptial agreement at any point after your marriage. Talk to one o f our family solicitors to determine the best option for you. Amicably creating an agreement between bo th par ties, can save a lo t o f stress and legal costs in the fu ture, if the marriage were to breakdo wn It means couples have a clear understanding on the division o f assets, and bo th are happy with the arrangements

For legal ad vice email info@hrjforemanlaws co uk Call Hitchin 01462 458711 or Wel wyn Garden City, 01707 887700

It is diff icult to say for cer tain whether the number o f prenuptial agreements in the UK is on the rise withou t access to current data Ho wever, it has been repor ted in recent years that the use o f prenuptial agreements in the UK has been increasing Some attribu te this trend to the rising number o f couples getting married later in life, who may have accumulated more assets and want to pro tect them in the event o f a divorce Additionally, the increasing awareness o f prenuptial agreements and their enforceability in the UK may also be contribu ting to their rising popularity

Down Memory Lane

Do you recognise anyone pictured here?

This wonder ful picture has been kindly sent to us by Josie Diffel and features her bro ther Maurice Saunderson, with workmates at the factor y which used to be in Chapel Place ( just o ff the High Street) Can anyone name the o ther people in the pho to, the year and the factor y name ? We have ano ther wonder ful sho t to share with you next month We are desperately in need o f some new ‘old pho tographs’ and are ver y happy to collect them to borro w and then return. Give us a call on 01462 731986 or drop us an email to sto tfold.news@yahoo.com if you can help!!

ANSWERS to JULY FUN QUIZ Page 22

1 AUSTIN ( Texas); 2 Do wnton Abbey (CARSON City, Nevada); 3 BISMARCK (Nor th Dako ta); 4 “Splash” (MADISON, W isconsin); 5 OLYMPIA ( Washington); 6 Napoleon Bonapar te in exile (HELENA, Montana); 7 LINCOLN (Nebraska); 8 Bahamas (PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island ); 9 CHARLESTON ( West V irginia); 10 Glenda JACKSON (Mississippi ); 11 PIERRE Curie (Sou th Dako ta); 12 RICHMOND (V irginia); 13 R ALEIGH bicycles (Nor th Carolina); 14 US Masters (AUGUSTA, Maine); 15 Dusty SPRINGFIELD (Illinois); 16 ATLANTA (Georgia); 17 BOSTON terrier (Massachusetts); 18 DENVER (Colorado); 19 Bernard Law MONTGOMERY (Alabama); 20 Dame

Vera Lynn (DOVER, Delaware)

Letchworth Carpet Centre

Free Estimates - Free Measuring

Full Fitting - Exper t Ad vice Carpets, Laminates, V inyls and Woods

STO

TFOLD CHRISTIAN CHOIR

presents Music for a Summer Evening

7.30 pm Friday, 14th July, 2023

Sto tfold Memorial Hall Compère Paul Cooper Free entr y Ref reshments

Retiring collection in aid o f The Need Project

Book Club @W ild Co ffee

July 12th at 7pm ALL WELCOME

Read for this month is The Vanishing Of Class 3B by Jackie Kabler

WALKS FOR HEALTH

Would you like to join a f riendly local group for weekly local walk?

Walks star t at 10.45am Meeting points for July:

6th The Cro wn PH, The Green, Sto tfold.

13th, 20th, 27th Arlesey train station

For details contact Beth Over f ield 01462 815672

Useful Telephone Numbers

Local Director y

Com puter Ser vices