Great Ashby July 2019

VILLAGER The

and Town

July 2019

Life

LOCAL NEWS • LOCAL PEOPLE • LOCAL SERVICES • LOCAL CHARITIES • LOCAL PRODUCTS

In this issue Your chance to win some

Gardening Tools The History of the

Package Holiday Win £25 in our Prize Crossword

Bringing Local Business to Local People Every Month in the Stevenage Area

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Inside this issue...

Junior Try Golf John O’Gaunt Golf Club

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Prolific Pests.............................................................................35 R.A.T.S. Rehoming Appeal........................................................36 Animal Stories..........................................................................39 Garden Buildings......................................................................42 Pool Power...............................................................................47 Puzzle Page..............................................................................48 Ready, Steady, Mow!................................................................50 What’s On.................................................................................52 Budget Friendly Family Fun......................................................55 Wordsearch..............................................................................57 Prize Crossword........................................................................58 Book Review............................................................................60

The History of the Package Holiday...........................................4 The Lindos Acropolis - Rhodes....................................................8 Win Tools to make Gardening Easier........................... 12 A Taste of.... Malaysia and Singapore........................................14 The Appeal of the Summer Fete...............................................17 The Women of Wimbledon.......................................................19 Nick Coffer’s Weekend Recipe...................................................21 Junior Try Golf - John O’Gaunt Golf Club...................................23 Willian Bowls Club - Centenary Year.........................................24 Colour and style tips every man should know..........................27 Citizens Advice.........................................................................29 New Graduate? Manage your finances like a pro......................30

Women of Wimbledon

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Get your business off to a flying start this year

Advertise with the Villager Magazine... prices start from just £30.00 +VAT per month Editorial Catherine Rose, Solange Hando, Trevor Langley, Karen Campbell, Tracey Anderson, Nick Coffer, Jennie Billings, Ann Haldon, Pippa Greenwood, RSPCA, Katherine Sorrell, Sarah Davey, Tom Hancock and Kate Duggan

Advertising Sales/Local Editorial Nigel Frost • Tel 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com Photography - Katarzyna Białasiewicz Design and Artwork Design 9 • Tel 07762 969460 • www.design9marketing.co.uk

Publishers Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP Tel: 01767 261122 Email: nigel@villagermag.com www.villagermag.com

Disclaimer - All adverts and editorial are printed in good faith, however, Villager Publications Ltd can not take any responsibility for the content of the adverts, the services provided by the advertisers or any statements given in the editorial.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored without the express permission of the publisher.

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History

The History of the

Package Holiday

Today, we take the ease of global travel for granted but it was the birth and rise of the package holiday that paved the way for world citizenship and changed the concept of the travel we now take for granted.

During the first half of the 19th century only the wealthy could afford to travel, and beach holidays were unheard of. People would usually go abroad for their health or to learn about foreign culture.

Travel wasn’t easy, but with the coming of the railway it became affordable.

In 1841, a man named Thomas Cook organised a train excursion from Leicester to Loughborough and in 1855 he began to offer rail tours of the continent. He eventually launched his first roundthe-world tour in 1872, covering the USA, Japan, China, Singapore and India. It was a 25,000-mile journey that cost £210 and the start of a company that would become a major player in the package holiday industry.

Commercial travel largely stopped during the First World War but, with the advent of passenger planes, Thomas Cook launched holidays by air in the 1930s although they were very expensive and out of the reach of most people.

Following the Second World War, a demand for travelling abroad increased. Ex-serviceman wanted to re-visit places they had been stationed at and the general public wished to escape the aftermath of war and its ongoing rationing. Such was the demand that, in a bid to make holidays more affordable, Thomas Cook was nationalised as part of British Rail in 1948.

A year or so later, a Russian immigrant named Vladimir Raitz set up a travel company called Horizon Holidays that chartered weekly flights to a beach resort in Corsica. As a result, many consider him to be the inventor of the modern package holiday.

Possibly as a result of Horizon, in 1954 amendments were made to the Convention on International Civil Aviation that allowed for an increase in charter planes. However, there were still restrictions on pricing, making it hard for companies to be either cheap or competitive.

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There was also a shortage of hotels.

That all changed in 1957 when British European Airways (BEA) launched a route to Valencia in Spain, coining the marketing phrase ‘Costa Blanca’. With the creation of beach resorts came a surge in hotel construction, particularly in Italy and Spain where small fishing villages were turned into large resorts dominated by hotels and bars. At the same time, larger and faster aircraft that cut flight times were becoming available and there were fewer restrictions on taking foreign currency abroad.

Travel was easier, opening the door to a host of tour operators. Big corporations began to see the financial benefits of diversifying into the travel industry.

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Thomson Organisation was a Canadian mediabased corporation that in 1965 bought out several of the UK’s tour operators and airlines, including Universal Sky Tours’ charter airline, Britannia. Thomson – now branded as TUI – remains a market leader today.

The 1970s and 1980s were boom decades for the package holiday. In 1970, the Boeing 737 was launched. The very latest in air travel, the plane could carry more than 400 passengers and revolutionised commercial flight.

In those days package holidays weren’t without risk, however. There was little protection for the consumer if their travel company went bust while they were abroad, often leaving holidaymakers stranded, and frequent strikes by airport staff meant misery for many passengers – something I remember well!

The first Thomas Cook holiday was in 1841 The package holiday has become synonymous with sun, sea and sangria but there were other choices available. City breaks were rising in popularity and ski holiday destinations expanded. Adventure and long-distance tour operators like Kuoni began to market travel to exotic locations, appealing to those who wanted to indulge in their adventurous side while staying within the safety of an organised tour.

Advances in aviation made faraway places increasingly accessible and holidays anywhere in the world affordable. With the abolition of price regulations, travel companies could compete for the cheapest discounts. New technology also made reservations easier and travel agents began to pop up on every high street.

By 1994, more than half of the holidays booked by the British public were package holidays, around 27 million; compare this with the one million holidays that were taken by Brits during the entire 1950s.

Thanks to price deregulation, the 1990s heralded the arrival of small budget airlines that began offering package holiday routes with the added ease of online booking. In 2005 Ryanair carried more than 31 million passengers, an explosion from its two million of 1995.

Today the package holiday is having to work hard to hold its place in the market. With online booking easier than ever, people are either finding the best deals direct for themselves or having a bespoke tour put together by a personal travel consultant. Baby boomers with more time and money to spend are also favouring the more leisurely pace of luxury cruises.

Thanks to the humble package holiday, our world is more accessible than ever before but the future isn’t all bright. Studies suggest that with global warming, by 2030 many of our favourite holiday destinations will simply be too hot to enjoy.

By Catherine Rose

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Travel

By Solange Hando

The Lindos Acropolis - Rhodes According to legend, the Acropolis was founded by Lindos, the grandson of Helios the Sun god, and up on its rocky headland above the Aegean Sea, it just takes your breath away. Climb up the hill, on a donkey or up 300 steps, and the past lingers all around, glowing in the luminous light as the scent of wild flowers and herbs drifts along the steep winding path. The panorama is superb from the village, a sprinkling of white houses along the base of the rock, to the meandering coast, the blue sea and mountains beyond.

But up on the top the medieval fortress bars the way with its long crenelated wall silhouetted against the sky.

It was built in the early fourteenth century by the Knights of St John, a safe haven inaccessible from the sea and equally challenging from the land, enclosed by ramparts and towers. It isn’t much easier today but when you finally reach the tiny gate, you are greeted by a lonely olive tree and a jumble

of stones and rocks hiding a few inscriptions from ancient Greece. The next level leads up to the Knights’ headquarters with remains of the governor’s palace, including a coat of arms, and the Byzantine church of St John from the thirteenth century.

But Lindos existed long before the Knights arrived. Tools from the New Stone Age were discovered at this spot and it was Homer who first mentioned the city, built by the Dorians in the twelfth century BC. Perched on an invincible rock guarding two beautifully sheltered harbours, Lindos reached its golden age in the sixth century BC under Cleovoulos, one of the seven sages of Ancient Greece.

Trade flourished, great buildings enhanced the city, and on a former sacred site a new temple was dedicated to the goddess Athena. It still dominates the Acropolis, 116 metres above the sea, the highest point, and as you stand on the very edge of the rock, gazing at the sturdy remaining columns, you can

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imagine ancient worshippers struggling up the hill, laden with bountiful offerings as, filled with awe, they approached a divine presence between heaven and earth.

Equally stunning is the Hellenistic stoa (200 BC), a passageway, originally covered, 87 metres long and 9 metres wide. Shaped like the Greek letter π, said to symbolise energy rising to the sky, it has retained 20 of its 42 Doric columns. It’s a great favourite for photographs with its lofty golden colonnade framed by blue sky and sea.

There are also vestiges of a Roman stoa and temple, ancient stairways and several semicircular platforms, one with the prow of a ship hewn into the rock, where offerings were laid.

Three thousand years of history are no mean achievement, and with the wonderful views all around you feel on top of the world. I mused for a while among these amazing ruins, hardly noticing the first drops of rain – but within minutes the Sun god was back in all his glory.

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Stevenage Airport Taxis offer the most reliable and professional airport transfer service in and around the Stevenage area. We have several licensed vehicles that can cater for up to 8 passengers. We also provide a transport service for weddings, long distance journeys and any occasion day or night leisure trips.

Please visit our website for any bookings or quotations

www.stevenageairporttaxis.co.uk or call

01438 420420

DAY TRIPS 14 Jul Southend-on -Sea £18.00 15 Jul London Thames Lunch Cruise £46.50 23 Jul Oxford £25.00 24 Jul Sandringham Flower Show £36.00 27 Jul Aldeburgh £18.00 30 Jul Brighton £20.00 2 Aug Festival of Quilts £37.00 3 Aug Frogmore House & Windsor £35.00 4 Aug Canterbury £26.00 6 Aug Highclere Castle £38.00 7 Aug Denbies & Polesden Lacey NT £43.00 9 Aug Mini Plant Tour - Oxford £45.00 10 Aug Sheringham £18.00 11 Aug Southwold £18.00 16 Aug Westfield and The Orbit £39.50 17 Aug Whitstable £18.00 18 Aug Cromer £18.00 21 Aug Bletchley Park £39.00 22/23 Aug Clacton Air Show £18.00 24 Aug Henley Country Craft Show £27.00 30 Aug Sissinghurst Castle Garden £38.00 31 Aug Hunstanton £18.00 THEATRE SHOWS AND EVENTS 31 Jul Joseph - Palladium £70.00 1 Aug Countryfile Live Blenheim Pal £49.00 14 Aug Joseph - Palladium £70.00 29 Aug Evita - Regents Park £79.00 4 Sep Waitress £57.50 4 Sep The Lion King £65.00 31 Oct War Horse - Wembley £75.00 18 Nov Tina The Musical £65.00 24 Nov Classical Spectacular - RAH £74.00 COACH TOURS 6 Days £595 11 Aug Lake District 2 Days £175 25 Aug Highgrove Gardens 9 Sep Lazing along Llangollen 5 Days £495 12 Sep Harrogate Flower Show 3 Days £275 6 Days £595 15 Sep Captivating Cornwall 15 Sep Bournemouth - Hilton 6 Days £545 21 Sep Sidmouth/South Devon 6 Days £595 6 Days £640 24 Sep Isle of Man 14 Oct Warner Bodelwyddan 5 Days £425 21 Oct Autumn Cols Wye Valley 5 Days £425 5 Days £460 4 Nov Warners Nidd Hall 5 Days £385 18 Nov Sidmouth 22 Nov Chatsworth Christmas 3 Days £240 Price per person sharing a twin/double

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advertorial

Has Your Double Glazing Steamed Up? Established for over a decade Cloudy2Clear windows have become a leading company for glass replacement.

Issues with double glazing can often be gradual and may only be noticed during a clear sunny day or during the winter. A failed glass unit may no longer provide you with the protection you need or be energy efficient. Why not spend a few minutes checking your home to see if you have any failed double glazing?

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Cloudy2Clear also replace faulty locks handles and hinges on all windows and doors.

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Win Tools to Make

Gardening Easier Win top quality carbon steel garden tools plus a gift voucher, together worth over £100.

At Bickerdikes you’ll find a huge selection of the best quality plants: flowers, vegetables, trees, shrubs and turf. If you are new to gardening the Bickerdike team’s friendly, welcoming, professional and practical advice will ensure you plant the right plant in the right place. What’s more, hardy plants are guaranteed for two years providing they are planted and cared for correctly.

For well over 80 years the Bickerdike family have been in the horticultural industry. Following the family tradition Mark and Debbie Bickerdike opened Bickerdikes Garden Centre in 1999, applying the same principles as previous generations of the family: quality, choice, value for money and above all personal service.

The Bickerdikes service extends to their carry to car assistance and free delivery for larger items if you spend £15 or more. Plus the Bickerdikes Reward Card scheme means that every time you make a purchase you’ll earn points towards future purchases.

Once you’ve browsed all the plants, containers and pots, tools and equipment, plant feeds and fertilisers, garden furniture, huge range of gifts and gift food you’ll be ready to visit Norton’s Café. Pop in for coffee or a light snack or maybe lunch. There’s a full menu all day starting with breakfast and there’s waitress service too.

Competition

BICKERDIKES COMPETITION ENTRY Name: Tel:

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Answer the question below to be in with a chance to win a compete set of seven Wilkinson Sword carbon steel garden tools, all with a five-year guarantee: (hand fork and trowel, garden rake and lawn rake, digging spade, digging fork and Dutch hoe) plus a £20 voucher to spend at Bickerdikes.

(Please note the wheelbarrow is not part of the prize.)

To enter, complete the form below and send to: Bickerdikes Competition, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP. The winner will be picked at random. Deadline: 16th July 2019

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Food and Drink

A Taste of… Malaysia and Singapore Malaysia has a rich history and is located in Southeast Asia. The official language is Malaysian, with English being recognised as the country’s second language. Malaysian cuisine has been influenced from cultures including Malay, Chinese and Thai, amongst others. Singapore is an island city-state in Southeast Asia. The languages used most are English, Malay, Mandarin, plus Tamil. The cuisine has influences from Malay, China and India, plus other countries.

Rasa Sayang restaurant, opened 2008, is located in the Chinatown area of London, with casino and theatre entertainment nearby and offers Malaysian and Singaporean food. Several cooking styles are utilised, by the very talented team of chefs, at this restaurant, including Peranakan. This style has Chinese ingredients and Malaysian spices, coming together, to produce aromatic and flavoursome foods. The dishes known as ‘Heat Zone’ offer splendid cuisine for diners, being full-flavoured, with rich and hot results, plus very impressive presentations. All dishes can be adjusted to suit taste requirements.

An array of nibbles, including Roti Canai with chicken curry sauce and/or dahl, commences proceedings, perfectly. Other selections include Achar (pickled pineapple, carrots, cucumber, sesame seeds, peanuts) and Prawn Paste Chicken (fried chicken marinated with prawn paste). Moving on, further options include Deep Fried Sambal Fish (fried whole sea bass, okra, onion rings, dried shrimps, chilli, sambal, lemon, lettuce), which is very popular. Beef and Chicken dishes have regular ‘devotees’, too, along with superb variations of noodle cuisine. Char Kway Teow (thick flat rice noodles, eggs, prawns, squid, beansprouts, chives) is very flavoursome and a regular choice for many diners. Presented perfectly, this merits ‘Compliments to Chef’. Desserts have Kueh Dadar (pandan pancake, desiccated coconut, palm sugar) included in a list that has something for all tastes. Sago Gula Melaka will not disappoint either. Ample different drinks suit all palates and the fantastic teas, coffees, plus chocolate temptations are outstanding. Wines and other drinks are available, too.

Rasa Sayang offers an exceptional, authentic experience of Malaysian and Singaporean cuisine. Takeaways and gift vouchers are also available – now there’s a thought!

Booking is advisable, particularly during popular times.

Many thanks to Edwin, for cuisine advice and impeccable service, throughout.

Rasa Sayang 5 Macclesfield Street, London W1D 6AY Tel: 44(0)20 7734 1382 Email: info@rasasayangfood.com www.rasasayangfood.com

As always, Enjoy!

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ey Trevor Langl

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104 Ampthill Road, Shefford, Beds SG17 5BB 16

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Time of Year

The Appeal of the Summer Fete

By Karen Campbell

Summer surely isn’t summer without a village fete. Part country fair, part a sale of home-grown and locally made produce, part a celebration of community, the English village fete is a social institution, barely changed since the 1920s.

The Village fete is enshrined in our literary history, from The Famous Five, to PG Wodehouse and Agatha Christie, the Village fete has provided the perfect backdrop against which to set a drama or two, and never attend any fete in Midsomer which is also attended by Inspector Barnaby!

If you want a measure of how well a village is thriving in 21st Century Britain, take a look at its summer fete. More of us are looking for a sense of community in a Britain that seems in danger of fragmenting. To that end tenth generation locals will rub shoulders with commuters, second homers and young families, to discuss the merits of Bert’s onions, Sharon’s Victoria Sponge, and whether young Tyler will win the talent competition with his street dance routine.

Let’s face it, where else can you buy a pot of rhubarb and ginger preserve, enter a competition to guess the weight of a cake, bounce on a bouncy castle and throw a wet sponge at the vicar…or scoutmaster…or head teacher, or all three if you’re lucky?

Village fetes are alive and well in Britain, and I for one am very happy about that. I have just moved from the town to a village and intend to enter my scones in the baked goods competition this year. I doubt I’ll win but it’s the taking part that matters. Now I wonder if there will be a murder…

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Time of Year

The Women of Wimbledon

Home-grown champions from the past The Championships, Wimbledon is the most famous tennis event in the British sporting calendar. It was first contested in 1877 and played on outdoor grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC) in the Wimbledon suburb of London, United Kingdom.

The Ladies’ Singles tournament began in 1884, and the women’s game has developed massively over the last century. We are all familiar with the incredible Williams sisters, but our own Nation has a pretty impressive history in the Women’s singles, which is often overlooked by the British media.

Dorothy Round Little won her first title in 1934 — the same year as her British male counterpart Fred Perry also won his first. She won her second Wimbledon title at age 29 in 1937. A devout Christian, she often refused to play on Sundays.

She published two books, Modern Lawn Tennis and Tennis For Girls. After her retirement in 1939 she worked as a coach, journalist, and president of the Worcester Lawn Tennis Club.

Florence Angela Margaret Mortimer Barrett beat another English player Christine Truman Janes to become Wimbledon’s women’s singles champion in 1961. She was aged 29 and partially deaf.

Ann Haydon-Jones had already won the French Open and U.S. Open twice before winning Wimbledon in 1969. She first showed her talent as a young girl. Her father was a table tennis champion and he encouraged her competitive spirit. She played the famous Billie Jean King several times but never beat her until her win at Wimbledon. Haydon-Jones was also the first left-handed female singles player to win the championship.

Virginia Wade was a maths graduate, famed for her powerful serve. She defeated Billie Jean King at the US Open, earning her first Grand Slam title. She went on to win the Australian Open in 1972, and in 1977, nearly a decade after her first victory, Wade would become Wimbledon’s last British singles winner for 36 years. The year she won, defeating Dutch player Betty Stöve at Wimbledon was the Queen’s Silver Jubilee and Queen Elizabeth II herself was present to enjoy her victory.

It remains to be seen whether current British number one Johanna Konta can better her semifinal performance in 2017 to add her name to the list of amazing female British tennis players who have held the Wimbledon trophy aloft.

By Tracey Anderson

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Food & Drink

Courgette, Chorizo and Red Leicester Muffins With three children under the age of 11, savoury muffins have become a staple part of my life in recent years.

They are basically brilliant as they are practical, tasty and easy to vary. Once you have the base mix sorted (it very much resembles a scone dough), you can add whatever extras you want: grated vegetables, strong cheddar, whole cherry tomatoes dropped in at the end – the possibilities are absolutely endless. This lovely variation was made on my show by an old friend of mine, Alec Goodhand, from the Lower Red Lion pub in the heart of St Albans. He’s an excellent chef and loves creating simple family treats for my programme. These muffins may change your (packed lunch) life, mark my words!

Ingredients: 3. Dice up the chorizo and mix it in. Throw in the 230g self-raising flour remaining dry ingredients.

175ml whole milk 4. Pour in the milk and the olive oil and break the eggs 1 courgette into the mix.

130g chorizo 5. Using a wooden spoon, or even a hand whisk, mix 130g red Leicester everything well together. The mix should not be 60ml olive oil runny, nor should it be dry. Add a little extra milk if 2 medium eggs it appears a bit “floury”.

3g salt 6. Line a muffin tin with paper muffin cases (or simply ½ tsp dried thyme grease the muffin tin holes) and dollop a good soup Pinch of black pepper spoonful of the mix into each case/tin.

7. Bake in the oven for around 15-20 minutes. You’ll 1. Pre-heat your oven to 180C/ Gas Mark 4 know they are ready when they have risen into a 2. Grate the courgette and squeeze out any excess nice dome and are golden on top. liquid with your hand. Pop this into a large bowl 8. Leave to cool and serve. These are best eaten on the and grate the cheese into it too. day you make them but they can also be frozen and warmed through at a later date.

Hear wonderful recipes on Nick Coffer’s Weekend Kitchen every Sunday morning on BBC Three Counties radio at 11am. You can also join Nick every weekday afternoon at midday for brilliant local guests with great stories to tell and all the music you want for your early afternoon.

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Junior Try Golf

at John O’Gaunt Golf Club

John O’Gaunt Golf Club, located in Sutton Park, Potton near Sandy has a proud tradition of supporting and encouraging junior golf and has worked hard to build and maintain a strong Junior Section.

Traditionally our junior members were the sons, daughters and grandchildren of club members: In recent years we have accepted youngsters from within the local community from non-golfing backgrounds. The Club is keen to continue this trend and in 2017 the Club launched an initiative by providing coaching opportunities in local schools and by inviting various youth groups to the Club where basic coaching was on offer using the extensive outdoor practice facilities.

More recently the Club staged what turned out to be a very successful Junior, “Try Golf Day” on Good Friday, 19th April. 24 youngsters attended each of the two hour sessions held in the morning and afternoon and to cater for the demand a third

Local News

Try Golf Day at John O’Gaunt Golf Club Good Friday 19 April 2019

session took place on Saturday 18th May. All coaching was with Club Professional Lee Scarbrow and Teaching Professional Tom Bushell and included all aspects of the game, from driving to chipping and putting.

As a result a great deal of interest was created and has borne fruit with several new recruits who have been welcomed into the younger Pee Wee Club and Junior Section. The Club will be holding similar events in the future to promote golf in the local community to continue to grow our already very active Pee Wee Club and Junior sections. If you would like your child to learn to play golf please do not hesitate to contact us.

Details of our Summer Golf Camps for those aged from 5 – 17 years can be found on the club’s website: www.johnogauntgolfclub.co.uk or by email to tom@johnogauntgolfclub.co.uk

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Local News

Willian Bowls Club - Centenary Year

Willian Bowls Club is 100 years old this year and the second oldest in North Herts.

Originally next to the Fox Inn, Willian, but now based on Norton Common, Letchworth.

Throughout the Season Willian will be offering “Come and Try Centenary Bowls” Open Days, to anyone wanting to have a go.

The Club participates in many local initiatives such as the Letchworth Festival and supports local Charities such as Garden House Hospice.

It also receives excellent support from both North Herts District Council and Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation.

For many of it’s older members the Club offers not just bowls, but an opportunity to those just retired to stay active.

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Also for those on their own or widowed, they can socialise with others in a similar position.

Finally, for those who used to participate in more active sports when they were younger, an opportunity to still take part in a competitive environment.

The Club plans a “Centenary GALA Day” in July, when Bowlers from local Bowls Clubs will be invited to enter Teams, involving well over 100 Competitors from North Hertfordshire.

Willian Bowls Club has always been known for being very friendly and welcomes anyone wanting to “Come and Try”, plus Tea and Cake of course !

Starting on Tuesdays at 2pm and Thursdays at 6pm.

For more information, ring David on 01462 642790 or www.willianbowlsclub.org

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House of Colour

Colour & Style Tips

Every Man Should Know 1. Adding a little of the right colour – Men often veer towards neutrals as their go to, whilst women tend to be more colour adventurous as a collective, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

Understand whether cool or warm colours suit you and if bright or more muted tones are for you. For business dressing try using one brighter colour as an accent with two neutrals and for casual two or three colours (contrasting or complementing).

2. It’s the detail that counts – Whether your style veers towards the more edgy, natural or classic, the power of dressing is all in the detail. Like a breath of fresh air, the best way to update your look is with a quality new accessory. Use scarves or ties to give a pop of colour. The right style sunglasses and watch can help you ooze style..

3. Spend more money on less pieces of clothing – Avoid buying poor quality, excessive items that you don’t need, eliminate mistake purchases and reduce the volume of clothes ending up in landfill. Think about buying fewer, better-quality items that will last longer. It is win win for your wallet and the environment.

4. Think capsule - A capsule wardrobe gives you loads of benefits, like lots of outfits from a smaller number of clothes and gives you confidence that you will always look great. Think of it as a pyramid. At base level, choose everyday clothes in your best neutrals such as denim, winter coats, smart jackets, and expensive boots and bags. The middle level contains patterns and textures that suit your style and colour palette e.g. in shirts, polo shirts and jumpers and other tops. These are probably in your ‘wow’ colours - perhaps a smart chocolate jumper for Springs, or a deep burgundy shirt for winters. The top level are your statement items and accessories which people will notice immediately such as a red tie, some dapper shoes in a brighter colour and wonderful statement rucksack or bag or some serious sunglasses.

5. Liven up your shirt collection – Prints and patterns are having quite the party in the men’s aisles at the moment with assorted patterned shirts making their way onto the high street shelves. Have fun and add zest by taking the

plunge with a floral, striped or perhaps checked shirt, depending on your style, when you go out for an evening, but know whether bold or subtle, large or small patterns suit you. For some, lightweight linen is great for the summer whilst polyester is a sweaty man’s nightmare and is bad for the planet.

6. Shop for a suit in person – Most men have at least one suit, but never buy your suit online because the perfect fit is so important. Consider exact arm and leg length, trouser fit (straight, slim, hem etc) and jacket fit (including single vs double breasted, buttons etc). Take your time to buy the right suit and bear in mind a good tailor can make basic alterations. Always use a suit bag for storage.

7. Glasses - There is a huge choice on the market so know what your best colour palette is and the frame shapes that suit you. Try several colours such as a brown, navy, grey and gold or silver on, depending on what colours suit you, for a fun look why not try a red. Shape and weight are key – consider thin or thick frames, a sporty look, aviator, wrapped or oval lenses. If they look part of you, they are right, if they shout louder than you, they are wrong.

8. Make sure everything fits well. Clothes should skim your body so that they are neither too tight, nor too loose. There is nothing worse than the wrong trouser length, ill-fitting t-shirts and shirts, or a badly fitting suit, particularly when the buttons can’t be done up!

By Jennie Billings, Colour and Style Consultant, House of Colour www.houseofcolour.co.uk/jenniebillings e:jennie.billings@houseofcolour.co.uk

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Dear Citizens Advice I’m 3 months pregnant and just beginning to show, so last week I thought I’d sit down with my manager and let them know before any speculation could take place. My manager was really happy for me, but this week I’ve been pulled aside and told they’re letting me go due to poor performance.

I’ve worked here for 2 years and never had any negative feedback so I don’t understand. Could they be sacking me just for being pregnant? Is this legal?

Citizens Advice

It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been working for your employer, being fired because of pregnancy, or pregnancy-related issues, is automatically classed as unfair dismissal.

Although your employer said you were being sacked for poor performance, you’re right to be suspicious as this only came to light after you told your manager about your pregnancy. If your employer says your dismissal has nothing to do with you having a baby, you will need to prove that it was. You can ask your employer to send you written reasons for your dismissal.

As you have been employed for two years, your employer can only dismiss you for specified fair reasons, such as gross misconduct or persistent poor performance. Except in the most serious cases of gross misconduct, your employer will be expected to follow a fair process and show the dismissal was for a fair reason.

If you want to challenge the dismissal, you can take your case to an employment tribunal. You should first raise a grievance with your employer and contact the Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service about Early Conciliation. Be sure to act quickly as time limits in employment tribunals are short.

To prepare for the tribunal, gather as much evidence as possible. This includes emails with your employer about your pregnancy, previous performance appraisals, and correspondence about you being dismissed. The Citizens Advice website can help you with this. www.citizensadvice.org.uk

For more information or to find out about volunteering go to www.stevenagecab.org.uk Citizens advice Stevenage is open Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 10am–3.30pm and Friday 10am-12.30pm

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Finance

New graduate?

Manage your finances like a pro

Obtaining a university degree is a fantastic achievement, and not only in academic terms.

It’s also a huge challenge to deal with money as a student, so if you’ve emerged relatively unscathed financially, again, many congratulations.

Entering the world of work, however, means you’ll now need to change financial focus and think about income tax, pension contributions and student loan repayments.

With this in mind here are a few aspects of graduate finance you might want to consider as you transition into the world of work.

Graduate bank accounts and student overdrafts Graduate bank accounts allow you to pay off your student overdraft over a period of time. Typically, you’ll be offered a 0% interest overdraft facility that reduces each year for up to three years from the date you graduate, although individual offerings may vary.

Additional benefits of graduate bank accounts commonly include: • Cash back on regular bills or general spending.

• Interest on credit balances.

• Cash incentives if you change banks.

Considerations when choosing a graduate bank account Credit rating Your credit rating and general financial position will be checked prior to opening or changing your account. It’s worth knowing that it can be as detrimental to have no credit rating as a bad rating – this is because the bank has no knowledge of any previous financial behaviours.

Overdraft terms It’s important to be aware of the terms and conditions of your overdraft facility. Make sure you understand the rate by which the overdraft amount they offer will reduce each year so you can budget, plan ahead, and avoid having to pay off costly debt.

When the graduate term ends When the two or three year graduate term comes to an end, you’re likely to be switched to a ‘standard’ current account with its associated

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By Ann Haldon interest and fees. If you haven’t been able to pay off your student overdraft during this time, the additional monthly interest can significantly impact your finances.

Your work situation If you’ve not yet secured work, a graduate account that offers the longest interest-free period is likely to be the best option. Your personal circumstances will dictate this, however.

Which graduate account?

Here are just a few of the graduate accounts currently available, to give you an idea of what might be on offer: • Barclays Higher Education Account: up to £3,000 interest-free overdraft in the first year following graduation; cash back offers.

• NatWest Graduate Account (existing customers): up to £2,000 interest-free overdraft in the first year after graduation; Tastecard 2 for 1 meal offer.

• HSBC Graduate Account: up to £1,500 interestfree overdraft in the first year following graduation and up to £1,000 in the second year.

Paying off a student overdraft and managing your money well as a university graduate can set you up for life. Whether it feels like a steep learning curve or you’ve already adopted some good financial habits, your future self will definitely thank you.

Barclays Higher Education Account www.barclays.co.uk/current-accounts/highereducation-account NatWest Graduate Account personal.natwest.com/personal/current-accounts/ existing-customers/graduate-account.html HSBC Graduate Account www.hsbc.co.uk/current-accounts/products/ graduate moneyfacts.co.uk/guides/students/just-graduatedwhat-happens-now moneyfacts.co.uk/guides/students/graduate-bankaccounts

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31

BBQ

Maple Glazed Pork with

Mediterranean Veg Kebabs These chunky meat kebabs with a sweet sticky glaze are perfect for a barbeque or al fresco supper served with warmed flatbreads and salad.

750g lean pork fillet, cubed Juice of 1 lemon 2 tbsp olive oil 2 tsp dried oregano 1 garlic clove, crushed 2 large red peppers, deseeded and cubed 2 courgettes, sliced 2 red onions, peeled and cubed 6 tbsp maple syrup 4 tbsp tomato ketchup 1 tbsp mild mustard 1 Place the cubed pork in a non-metallic container and add the lemon juice, half the oil and the dried oregano and garlic. Toss to coat then cover and leave to marinate in the fridge for 3-4 hours or overnight.

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2 Thread the pork, pepper, courgettes and red onion onto 8 long metal skewers. Cook on a preheated barbeque or under a hot grill for 10-15 minutes, turning frequently, until the pork is cooked through and the vegetables are lightly charred.

3 Meanwhile, mix the remaining oil, maple syrup, ketchup and mustard together and brush all over the kebabs for the last 2-3 minutes of cooking time, until glazed and sticky. Serve immediately.

TIP - Marinating the meat in lemon juice and oil will make it extra tender. Add some chopped chilli for a spicy touch or add 2 tbsp light soy sauce, if liked.

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Prolific Pests

Garden

By Pippa Greenwood www.pippagreenwood.com

Bugs and beasties thrive in warmer weather, so how should these common problems be dealt with?

Aphids - Aphids such as greenfly and blackfly suck sap from plants and can transmit viruses, sometimes with disastrous consequences.

You can use a strong jet of water to blast aphids off plants, but be thorough or they will soon be back!

Alternatively, spray with a suitable insecticide – I prefer a more environmentally friendly soap-based insecticide. Biological controls such as native two-spot ladybirds and their larvae can also be introduced – see www.pippagreenwood.com/ products/protect-your-crops for more information.

Aphids breed rapidly, so regular control is necessary.

Caterpillars - Caterpillars can do a lot of damage to plants and vegetable hearts.

One of the best methods is to pick the pests off and either squash them or place them on the bird table.

Caterpillars are easier to spot at dusk or very early in the morning.

You can buy a mixture of nematodes to spray onto your plants and kill the caterpillars without harming humans or pets.

Some caterpillars produce quantities of fine webbing to bind leaves or other plant parts together to create shelters. It is hard to get a pesticide or nematodes mix to reach them, so handpicking or squashing is often best.

For susceptible vegetables such as calabrese, broccoli and other brassicas, stop the adults laying their eggs with horticultural fleece, netting or very fine Micromesh, either as pull-out tunnels or sheets of material cut to shape and pegged down. These keep a wide range of pests, including caterpillars,

away from the plants.

Woodlice - Woodlice are rarely responsible for causing damage and are rather like vultures, moving in to clear up debris created by other pests.

I say leave them be.

Earwigs - Earwigs cause damage to petals or leaves, particularly on the flowers of plants such as clematis and dahlias. They can be controlled with contact insecticides but many prefer to trap the earwigs.

One of the best ways to do this is with an inverted flowerpot – stuffed loosely with hay, straw or similar material – on top of a bamboo cane, and positioned amongst susceptible plants. The earwigs climb in and the pots can be emptied regularly.

Mildew - Powdery mildew coats plant leaves, stems, buds and petals with a white flowery deposit, and can prevent fruits from swelling normally or cause leaves to distort or fall early. Prompt action is essential and suitable fungicides are available.

Keep the damage to a minimum in the first instance by ensuring that the plants are kept well-watered – plants which are dry around the roots seem particularly prone to mildew attack. In addition, try to ensure a good flow of air around the plants, as stagnant, moist air seems to have a similar effect and can make matters worse very quickly. Careful pruning or weeding often solves the problem.

Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood. com and you’ll find some great gardening items: Nemaslug, ladybirds and other great natural pest controls, stylish cloches, practical and pretty plant supports, the fantastic SpeedHoe, gardening tools, planters, Grower Frames, signed books and more!

Or why not book Pippa for a gardening talk at your gardening club?

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35

Pets

Rehoming Appeal

Daisy

Daisy is a gentle girl who is looking for a home that will help increase her confidence with other dogs and life in general and to teach her to walk well on the lead.

She is just under 3 years old and will make a great addition to any family. She can be homed with older children/teenagers and would prefer to be the only pet in the house.

If you can offer this gentle girl a home, please contact Julie on 01763 289827.

Alternatively, please email Philippa at info.rats@gmail.com who will be pleased to forward your enquiry onto the team.

View other dogs, cats and small mammals currently in our care for re-homing on our website: www.rats-animalrescue.co.uk or facebook: www.facebook.com/ratscharity.

Our next RATS event is our 35th Anniversary Companion and Novelty Dog Shows on 7th July at G & M Growers, Upper Caldecote from 10.00 a.m. onwards. Please come along to support us.

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Our Pride - Your Joy • Conservatories • Orangeries • Sunrooms • Porches • Composite Entrance Doors • Bi-Folding Doors • Energy Rated Glazing • Garage Conversions • Tiled Roof Garden Rooms • Re-Furbish Your Existing Conservatory Your specialist local company, who build with care and dedication from design to completion

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Animal Stories

This month we have two lovely cats both in need of loving new homes. They came into our care back in May and have been advertised for some time, but with not one single enquiry.

Firstly we have our cute little tortie cat, Dolly.

Through absolutely no fault of her own, one year old Dolly had already had two homes before she found herself in our care, so she is now looking for her forever home! Although shy to start with, once Dolly has been given time to settle she is truly a loving, friendly cat who loves a good fuss. She has plenty of energy to play and keep herself amused, would suit most family homes but would prefer to be an only cat.

Also looking for a new home is our very own black beauty, Diamond. Sadly found as a stray with no microchip and nobody to claim him. We believe he had got himself very lost, far away from home, so he took it upon himself to find his own place to live! He simply found a home he liked, moved into the garden and never left. Approximately four years old, this chunky fellow loves nothing more than a fuss and a cat nap, he really would make an excellent lap cat. Diamond would suit most family homes but would also prefer to be an only pet.

These are just two of the cats we have in our care patiently waiting for their forever homes, but we have lots of others too! For more information about Dolly, Diamond or any other cats in our care, contact our Branch by either emailing adopt@ rspcabedsnorth.org.uk or phoning 01234 266965.

Pets

Sadly, strays like Diamond are a fairly regularly occurrence within the RSPCA. Although we always try our hardest to reunite lost cats with their owners, without a microchip it is much more difficult.

Microchipping is when a tiny electronic chip is inserted into the pet animal, usually situated under the skin between the shoulder blades.

Most pets will not feel the implanting of the chip, with vets believing it feels like having a typical vaccination. The microchip contains the owner’s personal information which links the pet back to them, making it much easier to reclaim them if lost or stolen. The microchips can be read by special scanners which will give out the individual chip number, which can then be checked against the chip company’s online database. Most vets, rescue centres and animal charities have these scanners which means if a lost or stolen pet animal is handed in, the owner can be contacted to be reunited their pet. However the microchip will only hold the data it was first registered with, therefore it is vitally important all details are correct and kept up to date so the owner can be easily contacted.

Microchipping is such a quick, easy and small procedure which gives pets a little extra security and owners peace of mind.

Speak to a vet for more information.

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41

Garden

1

By Katherine Sorrell

Garden Buildings A well-designed outdoor structure, whether for work or relaxation, can make a wonderful addition to a garden.

The humble garden shed is the last word in practicality, indispensable for storing everything from half-used pots of paint to lawn feed and balls of string. But why be satisfied with just a shed, when other types of garden building can be much more glamorous – and equally useful?

From pavilions to pods, summerhouses to shepherd’s huts, all sorts of outdoor structures are possible, provided you have space for one in your garden. They take many forms, from quirkily decorative to all-singing, all-dancing, year-round rooms – an open-sided gazebo, for example, might simply be a shady space in which to relax on a hot, sunny day, while an insulated, secure room could be an invaluable home office (and

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potentially save you the five-figure sum it costs to move to a bigger house). In short, an exterior home-from-home can be used for anything from outdoor dining to practising meditation, and will enhance the overall look of your garden, too.

If you are considering adding a garden building of some kind, the best place to start is by assessing your outside space and considering how much square footage is available. It is important to leave a reasonable amount of garden to enjoy (and so as not to devalue your home). What do you need the structure for? If it is simply a cosy nook in which to put your feet up with a glass of wine after a day in the garden, a small, circular gazebo with a diameter of two or

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SHIRON

Domestic Appliances Repairs of

Washing Machines Tumble Dryers Dishwashers Electric Ovens Electric Cookers Electric Hobs VAT Registered Specialist in Hotpoint, Indesit, Ariston, Creda and Whirlpool appliances.

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GAS SAFE REGISTERED

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three metres may suffice, while a craft room, for example, would need to be more spacious, and a home office might be much larger still.

Whatever you decide on, whether off the shelf, customised or entirely bespoke, is limited only by your imagination and your budget – and sometimes by whether you’ll be granted planning permission. Most garden buildings are considered ‘permitted development’, but it’s vital to check with your local authority. If the structure is going to be larger than 15 square metres, or used for sleeping in, then it will have to pass building regulations, too. Bear in mind that, unless you have been granted planning permission to do so, you can’t put an outbuilding in your front garden, nor can it be higher than 2.5m if it’s within two metres of a boundary. You’ll also want to think about how close you want the room to be to your house, whether the ground is sloping, where there are trees or other potential obstructions, how the sun falls at certain times of the day, and which way you want the windows and door to face.

Next, go into detail about function. Do you want heating, lighting, plug sockets and maybe a kitchenette or bathroom? If so, unless you’re opting for solar or wind power, consider how you will connect utilities. Insulation is vital (think walls, floors and roof if the space is going to be used beyond the summer months), and so is good security. If anything valuable is going to be stored in the space, glass windows (perhaps even double glazed) are better than plastic, and a sturdy door with a proper lock will be necessary.

Some may prefer rustic simplicity, perhaps a

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yurt with solar lighting and a sheepskin rug, or a thatched rotunda with a deck chair and weather vane, but others may opt for full-on opulence, which may take the form of underfloor heating, floor-to-ceiling bi-fold doors, an entertainment system, cinema set-up, ensuite bathroom, a green roof or a hot tub. Comfort and luxury are no longer limited to indoors – just step outside and see.

How much will it cost?

A small, DIY timber summerhouse should cost less than £1,000 – but you can easily spend a five-figure sum on a garden building, depending how large and lavish you go (David Cameron’s shepherd’s hut is said to have cost around £25,000). It really makes a difference whether the structure is conventional timber frame or highperformance structural insulated panels, while finishes such as cedar cladding and plastered walls all add up. For a fully functioning, yearround garden room, £10,000 to £20,000 is a very rough guide; but do check whether your quoted price includes gaining the necessary permissions, groundworks, connecting utilities, delivery and installation.

Summerhouse painted in House White No 2012 Exterior Eggshell, £69 for 2.5l Farrow & Ball: 01202 876141; www.farrow-ball.com.

Enhance a small summerhouse with a lick of paint and some sleek blinds.

Cuprinol Garden Shades, £29.76 for 2.5L: 01604 752424; www.cuprinol.co.uk.

Multi-purpose Garden Igloo, £849, Cuckooland, 01305 231231; www.cuckooland.com.

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45

ROGERSONS

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Time of Year

Pool Power!

By Sarah Davey

Stay cool in a pool this summer

Kids love to splash in a pool on a hot summer’s day. If you are thinking of buying one, we have some top tips.

Inflatable pools - These are easily inflated so can be up and filled as soon as the sunshine appears. Smaller inflatable pools are ideal for toddlers and can be inflated by one person with a good set of lungs, but larger pools can accommodate the whole family - you will probably prefer to inflate these with a pump!

Quick up pools - These are super-easy to set up. Spread the pool out and inflate the top ring. The design of the pool means that as you fill it with water the sides of the pool will rise up. These are particularly good if storage space is tight.

Frame pools - Sturdier pools with a bigger bathing area. Frame pools are ideal for larger families and groups of teens. Look for rust-resistant galvanised metal frames; heavy-duty PVC and polyester 3-ply walls; beams and joints that pin or snap together for fast, easy construction. A filter pump to keep the water clean, and a repair patch kit to mend small tears or punctures.

Site your pool on a level surface, with plenty of room to make it easy and safe to get in and out. Remember, toddlers and young children should be supervised at all times.

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ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Easy Suduko

Hard Suduko

Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 box, contains the digits 1 through to 9 with no repetition. Use your logic to solve the puzzles.

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Time of Year

Ready, Steady, MOW! Choose the right mower for your lawn Regular mowing is the key to an attractive, green and healthy lawn. You’ll need a mower, but which one should you choose?

Small lawns - Many suburban homes have tiny lawns. A manual push lawn mower or rotary mower is powered by you pushing it rather than by electricity. The blades are mounted in a cylinder, which revolves when the mower is pushed. This produces a precise, even mowing result. They tend to be very compact which makes them manoeuvrable and easy to store.

Small or medium-sized lawn - If your lawn is a little bigger or you don’t fancy a manual mower, an electric lawn mower might be for you. They run from a power source and make light work of your lawn. Electric mowers for smaller lawns are usually very easy to manoeuvre around objects.

Most come with a handy container or bag to collect clippings. They are also pretty quiet and are available in energy-efficient versions. Just be aware that even with a small lawn you will probably need an extension cord. It’s wise to invest in a power breaker for safety. Accidents do happen.

Larger lawn - Petrol mowers are good bigger lawns, where an extension cord becomes impractical.

These mowers are powerful, but also heavy as they are often quite sizeable. They are less environmentally friendly because of the exhaust emissions. If you have more than 500 square metres of grass, you’ll probably be better off with a

ride-on petrol mower.

All lawn mowers are available in various mowing widths. Generally speaking, the wider the lawn mower, the quicker you’ll get the job done. But you need to consider that wider mowers are less manoeuvrable.

As a rule of thumb small lawns require a mowing width of around 29-33cm (11-13 inches); mediumsized lawns require a mowing width of around 38cm (15 inches).; large lawns may require widths larger than this, but all choices will depend on whether the lawn is ornamental, with features like ponds and trees, in which case a smaller mower might be better, or whether it’s more of an open grassy space.

Most mowers are height adjustable. In other words, you can increase or decrease the distance between the blades and the ground to cut the grass at just the right height for you or the time of year.

You can now buy mulching mowers. These cut the grass clippings into tiny pieces and blow them evenly into the grass. This method has the advantage of preventing the soil from drying out and gives fungus less chance to develop.

A strimmer is a useful gadget for neatening up along walls, fences and the edge of flowerbeds. You can get more powerful versions which will let you attack weeds too. It’s best to wear safety goggles when using one as they generate a lot of flying debris.

By Tom Hancock

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n O s ’ t Wha 1, 8, 15 & 22 July Stevenage Choral Society 7.45-9.45pm Stevenage Music Centre, Nobel School, Stevenage The society meets every Monday during term time.

Free the friendly choir with a free session. No audition necessary. Meet like-minded people of all ages and abilities. Try out a wide range of music, from the classics to show songs and be part of a friendly and supportive team, putting on excellent performances whilst having fun. Tel: 01438 365769 Email: info@stevenagechoral.org.uk Web: www.stevenagechoral.org.uk 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 July Stevenage New Pathways 1-4pm Friends Meeting House Cuttys Lane, Stevenage £2 inc. hot drink & biscuits. A friendly place to meet and talk over issues in a positive way. Maybe go for walks, bring in speakers, form a craft group.

Email: katiewilsonmind@gmail.com 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 July Hare & Hounds Hash House Harriers 7.30pm H5 are a social running and walking club for mixed abilities, meeting every week in the Bedfordshire area. The trail is set by our hare from a local pub and typically lasts 1 hour covering between 3 and 4 miles. Family and dog friendly. Full details of the trails can be found online or via email.

Email: info@h5hashers.org.uk Web: www.H5hashers.org.uk 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 July Staplers Country Dance Club 8-10pm St John’s Community Hall, Hitchin Staplers is a social folk dance club. It’s easy to start as all the dances are walked through first then called and you don’t need to come with a partner; lots of us come on our own. We are a friendly group and you will be made very welcome. Car parking is available next to the hall. We meet every Monday apart from bank holidays and some school holiday dates. Tel. 01462 624144 or 01462 680995 Web: www.staplers.org.uk 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 July Branch Out Social Club for Single People 8.30-11pm Cromwell Bar, The Sun Hotel, Hitchin Branch Out meets every Monday night and is a medium-sized Social Club for single people. It was formed in 1995 to bring together single, divorced, widowed and separated people, aged 40 upwards, from the Herts, Beds and Bucks area. The club organises regular events, such as dinners, discos, meals, parties, Sunday walks, theatre and concert visits, day and weekend trips and holidays.

Tel: Lorna 01438 233657 Web: www.branch-out.org.uk

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2, 9, 9, 16, 23 & 30 July Stevenage Bridge Club 7.30pm Priory Nursery, Stanmore Road, Old Stevenage To play Duplicate Bridge. A host system is run to find partners, if required. A wide level of ability play at the club. Tel: Phil Cooper 07957 813434 4 July The Arts Society North Herts Talk 11am & 2pm The Spirella Ballroom, Letchworth £7 on the door. Talk by Frank Thrower on Dartington Glass. Frank Thrower was a glass designer who worked with Dartington Glass for almost 20 years.

This lecture will look at the history of the company and the designs that made Frank famous. All welcome. Email: theartssociety.nh@gmail.com Web: www.theartssocietynorthherts.org.uk 4 July Tuesday Talk: The Master Engraver 7pm for 7.30pm The British Schools Museum, 41/42 Queen Street, Hitchin Tickets £5 inc. tea/coffee. The Master Engraver: Frederick Landseer Grigg - an illustrated talk about this local celebrity by the popular lecturer James Willis. To book tickets please call the Museum or book online. Tel: 01462420144 Web: www.britishschoolsmuseum.org.uk 4, 11 & 18 July Roundabouters Country Dance Club 8-10pm Friends Meeting House, Cuttys Lane, Stevenage Friendly club for English country dancing. We welcome new members, both beginners and experienced. All dances walked through; club and guest callers ensure a varied programme.

Tel: 01438 727239 Email: roundabouters@live.co.uk Web: www.roundabouters.org.uk 4, 11, 18 & 25 July The Hitchin Thursday Club 9.30am-12 noon St John’s Community Hall, Hitchin A friendly group which meets every Thursday morning for recreational painting, drawing, etc..

The group is very easy going in its attitude to art only doing your own thing. Still Life and raffle every month. No qualifications required - just come along with your drawing gear and you’ll receive a very warm welcome. Tel: Pauline 01767 315553 4, 11, 18 & 25 July Sapphire Social Club 8.30pm The Orange Tree, Hitchin We are a small and friendly group for single people generally aged 50 and above. We offer a variety of social events during the month. New members are warmly welcome.Tel: Joyce 07952 678021 Web: www.sapphiresocialsinglesclub.co.uk

This is a small selection of the What’s On for the full listing please go to our website www.villagermag.com

In July

4, 11, 18 & 25 July Stevenage Plus Social Group 8.15pm for 8.30pm Holiday Inn Express (opposite Matalan), Stevenage £2 - first night free Stevenage Plus Social Group is a fun and friendly social group with members in their 30s and 40s from Stevenage, North Herts and surrounding areas. We have a varied programme of events on Thursday and Saturday evenings as well as day trips and weekends away. New members always welcome.

Tel: 01438 231550.

Email: welcome@stevenage.plus Web: www.stevenageplus.co.uk 5, 12, 19 & 26 July Springfield House Friday Bridge Club 1.30pm Springfield House (the home of the Old Stevenage Community Centre) To play cut-in Chicago Bridge. Play is informal and friendly. Tel: Richard Bean 01438 221517 5 & 19 July Stevenage Survivors Poetry Group 7.30pm Quaker Friends Meeting House £2 inc. drink & biscuits 6 July The Signals Museum Open Day 10am-4pm The Signals Museum at RAF Henlow is open to the public. Entry is free but official photo ID such as a driving licence, passport or over 60s Bus Pass is required to get an entry ticket from the Guardroom.

See website for full information.

Web: www.rafsignalsmuseum.org.uk 6 July Stevenage Therapy Day 10am-4pm Friends Meeting House, Cuttys Lane, Stevenage Free event. Creative writing meditation, art, etc.

Teas, coffees - bring a packed lunch Tel: 07513 913185 7 July Stevenage RSPB Local Group trip to Heartwood Forest 10.30am Morning walk looking for birds and grassland butterflies. Meet in the car park at 10.30am. Map Ref 166/TL 172109. Postcode AL4 9DQ. Walk leader Jacqueline George. This is the final event of our current Programme. More events to follow starting in September.

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n O s ’ t Wha 7, 14, 21 & 28 July ALF Peer Support ‘PoppIns’ 6-8pm Armstrong House, Norton Road, Stevenage Adept Living Foundation (ALF) CIC weekly PoppIn; a gathering place where people come together to experience friendship, support and fun. Run by volunteers free of charge - donations gratefully received towards running costs.

Tel: 01767 220129 Email: contact@alfcic.org Web: https://alfcic.org 11 July The Arts Society North Herts Talk 7.30pm The Queen Mother Theatre, Hitchin £5. ‘Our Great British Parks’ an illustrated talk on the history of our parks, from Royal Parks to Pleasure Gardens and Victorian Public Parks. This is a special evening lecture as part of Hitchin Festival sponsored by The Arts Society North Herts.

Tickets available from the Festival Box Office, Hitchin Information Centre, Churchyard Hitchin.

Web: www.theartssocietynorthherts.org.uk 11 & 23 July Hitchin & District Probus Club 12 noon for 1pm Priory Hotel, Hitchin Social club for retired and semi-retired professional and business men which meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month for lunch. Organised visits and events throughout the year. New members welcome.

Tel: Roger Burt 01438 351891 Email: roger@mazda20.plus.com 13 July A Tapestry of Treasured Musical Moments 4pm Woolmer Green Village Hall, Woolmer Green Adults £14 (Advance £12), Under 16s £5 Stevenage Choral Society Concert. Tallis to Taverner. Pimm’s (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and nibbles for sale. Tickets available by email, online or on the door.

Email: info@stevenagechoral.org.uk Web: www.wegottickets.com/StevenageChoral 13 July North Herts Guild of Singers Concert 7.30pm Coptic Church Centre, Stevenage Tickets £14, Full-time Students £8 Carl Orff: Carmina Burana, Brahms: Liebeslieder Waltzes. Conductor Harry Bradford; Pianos Colin Spinks & Richard Carr and Percussion Ensemble of London. Tickets online, by telephone or from David’s Bookshop or Hitchin Initiative.

Tel: 01438 861185 or 01462 79010 Web: www.nhgs.org.uk

17 July Hitchin Flower Club 7 for 7.30pm Church House, Church Yard, Hitchin Visitors £6.50 “Deja Vu” a flower arranging demonstration by Nadira Burke.

Tel: Michelle 01462 637874 Facebook: Hitchin Flower Club-NAFAS 20 July Join the Dots Forest School Great Wymondley Village, near Hitchin Sessions every third Saturday of the month for children 2+ years, with additional dates in school holidays. Come and join our fun filled sessions involving games, den building, flora and fauna identification and much more. 2-5 years, 10.30am12.30pm £16, siblings £12. 6-11 years, 1.15-4pm £20, siblings £18. Everyone welcome.

Email: alison@jointhedotsforestschool.co.uk Website: www.jointhedotsforestschool.co.uk 20 July Wine, Women And Song 7.30pm St Marys Church, Hitchin Tickets £10 Award winning choir, Caritas Harmony, are delighted to return to the Hitchin Festival with a concert of popular and well known songs. In aid of the local charity, Herts Young Homeless. Tickets from Festival Box Office, 1a Churchyard, Hitchin.

22 July RSPB Hitchin & Letchworth Local Group Spring Walk 11am Free. Butterfly Walk on Therfield Heath, near Royston. For RSPB members who are interested in butterflies this walk, which will last for about two hours, will concentrate on finding and identifying the chalkhill blue, one of Britain’s rarest butterflies, as well as some of the other species that are on the wing at this time of year. Meet at the car park off the Therfield Road (O/S 154: TL 347 405).

Tel: 01763 249459 Email: martinrjspc@hotmail.com 26 July Hitchin Book Club 5pm Orange tree, Hitchin Admission £2.50 A friendly group who meets the last Friday of each month. No pressure to read books just turn up for a drink and chat.

Web: https://hitchinbookclub.simdif.com or https://www.meetup.com/Hitchin-Book-Club/

To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

Deadline for What’s On entries is the 12th of the previous month.

What’s on entries to whatson@villagermag.com

In July

31 July-29 August* Victorian S.T.E.A.M. - Children’s Activity Days 10am & 1pm The British Schools Museum, 41/42 Queen Street, Hitchin £5 per child. * Every Wednesday and Thursday.

Come and celebrate the Victorian age of S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Mathematics). Marvel at Victorian ingenuity, creativity and eccentricity, then take your fun creations home with you! Suitable for ages 4-11.

Booking highly recommended.

Web: www.britishschoolsmuseum.org.uk Until 24 November The British Schools Museum 41/42 Queen Street, Hitchin Adults £5.50, Children 5-17 £3, Under 5s free The British Schools Museum re-opens for public visits. Normally open on Fridays 10am–4pm, Saturdays 10am–4pm and Sundays 2pm–5pm but please check the website for details of temporary changes to regular opening hours and of special activities and extra opening times during school holidays. Last entry time for the museum is 30 minutes before closing time, but the shop and cafe (free entry) will be open until the published closing times. Discounts available for family groups. It is recommended that allow at least two hours for your visit. On the first Sunday of each month you can enjoy a Victorian lesson at no extra charge. Lessons start at 2.30 and 3.30pm - don’t be late! These sessions are very popular and advance booking is recommended.

Tel: 01462 420144 Website: www.britishschoolsmuseum.org.uk Hitchin & Surrounding Areas Fun & Social Stuff A welcoming social group based in Hitchin, but, also includes the surrounding areas. We arrange monthly socials, drinks socials, live music, pub quizzes, cinema, etc.. The group is a variety of people over 18 getting to know others in a social and friendly setting whilst also enjoying themselves.

Email: meetup3@outlook.com Web: https://www.meetup.com/meetup-groupHVrvZZiQ Hitchin Bridge Club Hitchin Bridge Club plays duplicate bridge several times each week. All levels of experience welcomed, hosts are available at some sessions for players without a partner. Workshops each month on topics for improving players. Beginners courses are run every year starting in October. For further information please contact Margaret or visit the website. Tel: Margaret 01462 623447 Email: mee.hitchin@ntlworld.com Web: hitchinbridgeclub.org.uk

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Parenting

Budget Friendly Family Fun

By Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk Have fun with the kids this summer, without breaking the bank.

Kids Pass Kids Pass gives you 40% off cinema tickets and money off a range of restaurants and days out. You can even get discounts on holidays with Haven, Butlins, Eurocamp and other companies. The pass costs around £40 a year, but a month’s trial costs just £1.

Think small Check whether your local amateur dramatics society is performing any plays suitable for families. Smaller venues are a lot cheaper than well-known theatres and young children really won’t care if an actor is an award-winning thespian or Mark from the corner shop. Older kids could even join the drama youth group. Don’t discount larger theatres altogether, however, as some offer discounts during the summer holidays. Children can attend a host of London shows for free during August’s Kids Week, as long as they’re accompanied by a paying adult – see www. officiallondontheatre.com/kids-week.

Party time Clubbing together with other parents can help to keep costs down. Having a kids’ party at a soft-play centre, theme park, pottery barn or other activity centre often costs less per head than buying the activity and food separately for each child. Use PayPal’s Money Pools to collect the money from everyone.

DIY A trip to a pottery workshop usually costs upwards of £10 a child, but if you buy the paints and pots

online you can get that down to around £3 or £4 per child. Likewise, a home tie dye kit costs less than £15, which gives you enough dye for around ten children’s T-shirts. Fabric pens are even cheaper (and less messy). Try eBay for kits, T-shirts and other items to dye, such as cotton bags or pillow cases. Bulk buy with other parents to save money.

Cheap days out Keep an eye on social media and www.familiesonline. co.uk for cheap days out. Libraries and councils sometimes organise holiday activities, such as storytelling and crafts. Country fairs often have lots on for kids and entrance is often free for under-16s as long as they’re accompanied by a paying adult.

(Tickets are usually cheaper if they’re bought in advance.) For less than £15 for one adult and four children, you could enjoy a day out with aerobatics displays, ferret racing, motocross displays, puppet shows and more. Just remember to pack a cool bag with a picnic and ice pops, otherwise you’ll spend a small fortune on hotdogs, chips and ice-cream.

Cashback Cashback sites such as Quidco and Topcashback give you money back every time you buy something online from one of their retail partners. They also offer discounts. When we checked, Quidco was advertising a fourteen-day Walt Disney pass for the price of seven days, and money off various flights. If you register your credit and debit cards with Quidco, you can also earn money when you shop on the high street, whether you’re buying kids’ clothes or treating the family to lunch out.

To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

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June’s Puzzle Solutions and Winners Last Month’s Crossword Winner Mr S Barker from Sandy Winner of Battle Proms Tickets Paul Calow from Huntingdon

Winner of Folk by the Oak Tickets Miss P Ray from Stotfold

Easy

Hard

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The Villager Prize Crossword

Complete the crossword, fill in your details below, cut out this page and send to the address below before

16th July 2019 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP

Prize

ÂŁ25

Across 1 Unable to hear (4) 3 Previously (8) 9 A lawn game (7) 10 Tease (5) 11 Produced (12) 14 Period of time (3) 16 Stop (5) 17 Feminine pronoun (3) 18 In spite of (12) 21 Shoreline (5) 22 Placing (7) 23 Daily (8) 24 Requests (4) Down 1 Twelfth month (8) 2 Embellish (5) 4 Not in (3) 5 Dimensions (12) 6 Entrants in a race (7) 7 A toy (2-2) 8 Adequately (12) 12 Map or diagram (5) 13 Communications (8) 15 Mean (7) 19 Departs (5) 20 Land measurement (4) 22 Small vegetable (3)

Name: Tel:



Address:

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Books

Book Review The Library of Lost and Found

by Phaedra Patrick

Librarian Martha Storm finds a book containing a dedication from her grandmother. But the dedication is dated several years after her grandmother supposedly died. The book sets Martha out on a quest that will rock her safe, predictable life and remind her of who she really is. A hugely enjoyable, warm hug of a book.

Stone Mothers

by Erin Kelly

Marianne is back in her home village, and desperate to keep a secret hidden that could destroy the life she’s built over the last 30 years. A secret that ties her to her childhood sweetheart, Jesse, as well as the MP responsible for shutting down the local asylum. This chilling psychological tale is a slow-burner but well worth sticking with.

Internment

By Samira Ahmed

Set ‘15 minutes into the future’, Internment tells the story of 17-year-old Layla, who is sent to a Muslim-American internment camp in the middle of the Californian desert. Similar to the real JapaneseAmerican internment camps of World War II, this camp is a dangerous place to stand out. Layla’s parents want her to keep her head down and not attract the attention of the vicious camp director. But Layla is prepared to risk her life for her freedom. A powerful page-turner about the price of turning a blind eye to bigotry.

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By Kate Duggan

A Boy and his Dog at the End of the World

By C. A. Fletcher

Griz is growing up in a postapocalyptic world where massinfertility has decimated the human population. His community is tiny and life is difficult. When a stranger steals the family’s dog, Griz sets out to get her back, on a journey that will take him from his tiny island on the Outer Hebrides across Scotland and Northern England. Perfect for fans of The Road and Station’s Eleven. .

The Dollmaker

by Nina Allan

Andrew and Bramber start writing to each other because of their shared interest in dolls. As their friendship grows, Andrew decides to visit Bramber at the institution she calls home. Andrew and Bramber’s story is interspersed with tales written by another dolllover, Ewa Chaplin, which Andrew reads on his journey. A beautiful, strange, multi-layered book you’ll want to keep reading long after the sun has gone down.

Outlander

by Diana Gabaldon

If your idea of the perfect holiday is spending several days on a sun lounger with a good book, then the Outlander series could be just what you’re looking for. On a trip to the Scottish Highlands, Claire Randall steps through a circle of stones and finds herself transported from 1946 to 1743, where she’s taken prisoner by Scottish outlaws. The hit TV show is now into its fourth season and the books are even better

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Call now for a free, no obligation quotation 61

Premier Painters and Decorators

Premier Painters and Decorators are a professional, punctual and hard working company delivering outstanding quality of work to our clients in and around Stevenage From wallpaper hanging, feature walls, coving and cornice work. We even clean facias, soffits and guttering. (PVC or Wood) If you would like to take advantage of our services, require a quote or advise please do not hesitate to contact us. Be assured when Premier quote a job there are NO HIDDEN EXTRAS. Private and commercial, exterior and interior painting services.

For a free quotation please contact Gary on Tel: 01438 353793 Mob: 07733 227961 Email: info@premierpd.co.uk

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