Your letters Page 4

Your Letters

Dear Editor,

I’m a historian writing about a woman called Sarah Anne Shaw, whose Gypsy family came from (or regularly visited) Stotfold in the 18th and 19th centuries. She gave Stotfold as her place of birth on her marriage certificate, which simply means that her family was legally resident in the parish, though always on the move. She married a man called Nehemiah Perry from Strethall in NW Essex, was divorced and died (according to one published but unreferenced source) in Stotfold in 1885, possibly in a tent on Wilbury Hill where her family seems to have camped when ‘in’ Stotfold.

I’m trying to verify her burial: Bedfordshire Record Office tell me there is nothing in the parish burial register for 1885. I’m hoping to find that there’s a record in a local newspaper (but which?), or another burial site – perhaps a municipal cemetery.

If anyone can point me in the right direction I shall be very grateful. Martin Rose (martin.rose@magd.oxon.org)

The Verne Trio Classical & light music

Richard Brueton - clarinet Lucinda Fudge - viola Bill Fudge - piano

Sunday March 20 at 2.30pm. St Mary's Church

Dear Editor,

Last season my friend Eileen Gibbs purchased an SFC Bobble hat for her grandson Bay who lives in New Zealand. Bay was really pleased with the hat and his Mum Lorraine (Club Secretary Julie Longhurst’s Goddaughter) sent a picture to the Stotfold News Magazine.

I decided to send Bay a full kit for his Christmas present and here is a picture of him in the kit. His Dad Steve reckons Bay is unique in that he is likely to be the only boy in New Zealand with an SFC Kit. I reckon that could well be true! Julie Longhurst Walk-in event Donations to St Mary's Church. (Cash or card)

Charity No. 1131275

Hopton Holiday Village

Luxury 8 Berth Caravan available for holiday let.

Various dates available between March - October including school holidays.

Secure your date NOW.

New season starts March 2022

Fully double glazed with central heating on a fully secure park with indoor and outdoor pools, 9 hole golf course and short walk to the beach.

Call Bernie for details on 07860 462244 or email b.gray63@ntlworld.com

Local News

SOS Appeal: Last Chance Saloon for the River Ivel

One of the world’s 225 chalk streams rises in Baldock in the Ivel Springs Nature Reserve, from where it meanders northwards via Stotfold to ultimately join the Ouse. As well as being rare and beautiful in its own right, the river Ivel is much enjoyed by the Community.

The river and its surrounds, provide local people with year-round opportunity to connect with nature. Sadly, the Ivel risks being lost forever due to over-abstraction by the water company* . This year already, the water level is very low. Time is fast running out.

Appeal for Help

Despite RevIvel’s persistent and determined efforts, the response of Affinity Water and the Environment Agency to date has been wholly inadequate to save our river. Over-abstraction in the chalk catchments and potential solutions are being addressed nationally in the regional water resource management plans. Affinity Water (AW) is part of Water Resource Southeast (WRSE) and is compiling its regional plan for the next 100 years. It is vital to be heard now. Expert help is needed to navigate the maze of “hoops” (complex procedures, technical submissions etc) to get our rare and precious chalk stream onto Affinity Water’s priority abstraction reduction list.

Currently AW abstracts (takes) about 14 .7 million litres per day; this rate exceeds the rate of recharge (natural replenishment) of the aquifer which feeds the Ivel, especially in years with low winter rainfall. The Ivel is one of the most over-abstracted chalk streams in the world. Current best practice suggests that 15% abstraction as a percentage of recharge, (c.2 million litres per day) would be sustainable to maintain a healthy river. Our river is suffering badly.

Affinity Water is obliged to supply its customers, so if abstraction were reduced as outlined above, the shortfall of about 12 million litres per day at Baldock would have to be met by other means. Affinity Water plans to import 25 million litres per day from Grafham Water (GW) by 2025 to supply its network. It is critical that the Letchworth/Baldock area gets a fair proportion of this to alleviate pressure on the Ivel. The net impact would be small as the Ivel flows into the Ouse from which GW is replenished.

Ivel Springs, Baldock, where there should be water. Photo: Tony Woodman

We need expert consultancy help to save the Ivel. John Lawson, with extensive experience and connections in this field, has agreed to work with us to help get the Ivel onto the WRSE priority abstraction reduction list. We need to raise £2,000 by 31st March 2022 to fund this necessary work.

Please consider supporting our campaign by either joining RevIvel or donating any sum you wish, via our website.

Community Events

Whether or not you are able to contribute financially, please come along to our community events; perhaps to learn more about the river and its ecology or just enjoy a few pleasurable hours in a peaceful setting. There will be river walks, a competition for young people, litter picks and other riverside events (e.g. “Music by the River on a Summer’s Evening”). All details will soon be on the new and improved website www.revivel.org

Alternatively, for further information please contact: info@revIvel.org or find us on our facebook page under ‘RevIvel Radwell’ . We are also on Twitter: RevIvel@Ivelrev and Instagram: revivel _ association

*Note:

There should be water and flow in the upper Ivel all year round as evidenced by the fact that the river used to power five watermills, enable a thriving watercress industry and supply plentiful fresh water to umpteen breweries – not to mention being renowned for its fishing e.g. pike, brown trout. (If you have pictures/ stories about the Ivel in better days, please share with us using the contact details above as this strengthens our case that in days gone by, the Ivel thrived all year round).