Great Ashby October 2019

VILLAGER The

October 2019

and Town

Life

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

In this issue The History of

Witches

Win tickets to see

We Love Little Mix Win £25 in our Prize Crossword

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Inside this issue...

Win Tickets to the Festive Gift Fair

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The History of Witches................................................................4 Fireworks - How they work!.......................................................8 Win a Family Ticket to see We Love Little Mix...........................10 Win Tickets to the Festive Gift Fair............................................12 Winnipeg - Canada’s Gateway to the West...............................15 Wood Green - The Animals Charity...........................................17 The Big Draw - October 1st to 31st...........................................18 Ragdale Hall Spa: The Experience.............................................21 How to dress well for your job..................................................22 The Jack O’Lantern...................................................................25 Beds and Herts Youth Organists Training Scheme.....................27 The Screen Time Debate...........................................................28 Is early repayment right for your mortgage?............................31 The Rock Garden is Alive...........................................................34 RSPCA Hertfordshire East News................................................36

Nick Coffer’s Weekend Recipe...................................................38 Beautiful Blueberries...............................................................41 Chilterns Walking Festival Kicks Off..........................................43 Things that go bump in the night.............................................44 Panto: the UK’s quirkiest tradition?..........................................47 Puzzle Page..............................................................................48 Red Hat Society - My Fair Ladies...............................................51 Fun Quiz...................................................................................51 What’s On.................................................................................52 Prize Crossword........................................................................58 Book Review............................................................................61

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Wood Green, The Animal Charity

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, Tracey Anderson, Solange Hando, Karen Campbell, Trevor Langley, Jennie Billings, Aoife Brennan, Louise Addison, Ann Haldon, Pippa Greenwood, RSPCA, Nick Coffer, Rachael Leverton, Kate McLelland and Kate Duggan

Advertising Sales/Local Editorial Nigel Frost • Tel 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com Photography - Олена Сушицька 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

By Catherine Rose

The History of Witches Magical rites and rituals have long been an important part of ancient pre-Christian civilizations. The earliest witches were often respected wise women who lived by and honoured the cycles of nature and had expert knowledge of how to use plants to make potions for healing. They sometimes acted as village midwives.

However, witches also came to be labelled devil worshippers and heretics and were persecuted for hundreds of years.

The image of a witch as a cackling hook-nosed crone bent over a cauldron was probably cemented by Shakespeare in his depiction of the three witches in Macbeth. But it was the Bible itself that helped seal their fate with the Book of Exodus

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in the Old Testament stating: “thou shalt not suffer a witch to live” (22:18).

Witch hunts began in the mid-fifteenth century with witches popularly being burnt at the stake, hanged or drowned. The latter method was the result of a test devised to root out a genuine witch, which in any case proved fatal.

It was believed that if a witch was bound (usually by tying the thumbs to the toes), then thrown into water and subsequently sank (which would normally result in her drowning), she was innocent; if she floated however, she was guilty and so put to death anyway. A variation of this method was the ducking stool.

Prior to this, confessions were extracted by various forms of torture including the witch’s bridle – an

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iron headpiece which inserted a tongue clamp in the victim’s mouth after which they were hung against a wall, depriving them of sleep and nourishment.

A book called The Malleus Maleficarium (The Hammer of Sorcery), written by Catholic Dominican monks Jacob Springer and Henrik Kramer, was published in Germany in 1486. It declared the practice of witchcraft to be heresy and explained how to identify a witch and what to do when you found one. Their belief that women were morally weaker and therefore more prone to the influence of the Devil became the basis of a gender bias that was to endure.

The book sold so many copies between 1486 and 1500, it was second only in Europe to the Bible.

In 1542, practising witchcraft was declared a crime in England and the post of Witchfinder General was created to rid towns of ‘troublesome and dangerous’ witches.

The famous Pendle witches were three generations of one family who, in 1612, were paraded through the streets and hanged in Lancaster. Witchfinder General Matthew Hopkins, who oversaw purges in East Anglia and Essex, was responsible for 300 executions. Hopkins put 68 people to death in Bury St Edmunds between 1645 and 1646 alone.

From 1500 to 1660, it is believed up to 100,000 people in Europe were accused of witchcraft and more than half of these killed, with the highest number of executions taking place in Germany.

Religious professor Barbara McGraw has noted that some German towns had no women left in them.

The hysteria subsequently spread to America with the famous Salem Witch Trials in 1692, but over the following hundred years or so the

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prevalence of witch-hunts died down, with new laws introduced to protect innocent people from being falsely accused at a time when someone could be put to death for having a hairy mole (the Devil’s mark) or owning a black cat (believed to be a supernatural entity)!

Witchcraft has long been associated with evil but in fact, modern witchcraft rejects the Devil on the basis that he is a Christian concept. Witches often practice the ancient pagan religion of Wicca (or Wicce) whose root beliefs lie in revering the natural world with a creed of ‘harm none’. Wiccans also believe in the ‘Law of Three’ which means that whatever you send out into the world, whether good or evil, will come back to you threefold.

Therefore, putting a hex on someone will only result in something three times worse happening to you!

In Wicca, witches are considered healers, protectors and teachers. Spells, incantations and charms are taken from The Book of Shadows, which despite its sinister name is an encyclopaedia of ancient wisdom for practising witchcraft and magick.

However, there have been other somewhat darker religions pertaining to magic and the occult over the last 100 years. Once described as “the wickedest man in the world”, the notorious Aleister Crowley founded the cult of Thelema at the turn of the twentieth century, which advocated “do what thou wilt” in the practice of magic.

The Church of Satanism was set up by Anton LeVey in 1966. It focused on hedonistic principles and ‘sins of the flesh’, while The Temple of Set was inaugurated by Dr Michael Aquino in 1975.

Although named after the ancient Egyptian god of darkness, it didn’t believe in the power of a deity but in man’s limitless potential that could be unleashed by using ‘dark’ magic to benefit the individual rather than others.

Whether for good or evil, magic spells and witches continue to intrigue and fascinate us, particularly at this time of year with the coming of Samhain, or Halloween.

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Time of Year

Fireworks

By Tracey Anderson

How they work!

Most of us love watching fireworks, but have you ever thought about how rockets work? It’s a fascinating science and if you read on, you’ll be able to amaze your friends in the pub after attending your local display.

Fireworks are essentially small missiles designed to explode in a controlled and colourful way. The word ‘firework’ originates from the Greek word pyrotechnics, which means, ‘fire art’ or ‘fire skill’; and modern rocket designs require both in huge amounts.

Rockets mostly consist of five main parts.

The tail or the stick – This protrudes from the bottom and ensures the firework shoots in a straight line, which is important for two reasons: first, so that the rocket doesn’t fly off in a random direction, and injure someone; and second, because it aids accuracy and precision when creating complex displays.

Fuse - This is the part that allows the firework to be ignited safely. It allows a time delay before the main part of the firework (the charge) begins to burn. This charge ignites other, smaller fuses that make the interesting, colourful parts of the firework (the effects) explode a little later. In a basic rocket, the main fuse consists of a piece of paper or fabric that you light with a match.

In a complex public firework display, fuses are lit by electrical contacts known as wirebridge fuseheads. When the firework technician pushes a button, an electric current flows along a wire into the fusehead, which ignites the main fuse. Electrical ignition has the advantage it can be done at a very safe distance.

Charge - This is actually a fairly crude explosive designed to blast the rocket up into the sky. Some rockets travel at speeds as fast as a fighter jet. The charge is usually made up of tightly packed, coarse explosive gunpowder (known as black powder) and simply sends the firework high into the air, clear of spectators; it’s not responsible for the spectacular colours.

Effect - This is the business end of the firework. A single firework may have just one effect, or several, packed into separate compartments which fire off in sequence, ignited by a timedelay fuse. Effects are explosives too, but different from the main charge. Each effect is made up of more loosely packed, finer explosive material, often fashioned into separate ‘stars’, which make up the small, individual, colourful explosions from a larger firework. The arrangement of patterns and colours depend on how each effect is made and packed.

Head - This is the top part of the firework which contains the effect or effects. Sometimes the head has a pointed nosecone to make the firework faster and more aerodynamic and improve the chance of it going in a straight line.

However, you choose to enjoy the fireworks this year remember safety should always be paramount. Follow the firework code.

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WIN a FAMILY TICKET (for 4 people) to see

We Love Little Mix “The Ultimate Little Mix Experience”

We Love Little Mix The Ultimate Little Mix Party!

Tuesday 22nd October 2019, show at 6pm Bedford Corn Exchange Tickets £15 If you love Little Mix, you are going to just L.O.V.E this show!

Featuring four fantastic singers and dancers who really capture the look, the sound, and all the dance moves of one of the UK’s best loved Girl-Bands.

Little Mix came to fame after winning X Factor back in 2011 and have gone on to release five albums and many hit singles, including four number-ones.

We Love Little Mix features all-live vocals, breath-taking costumes and an impressive light and video show. This non-stop, high-energy show is packed with all your favourite Little Mix songs including DNA, Wings, Salute, Black Magic, Love Me Like You, Secret Love Song, Shout to my Ex, No More Sad songs, and many more.

The perfect half term treat for all the family!

Tickets available from www.bedfordcornexchange.co.uk and from the box office in Bedford Harpur Suite 01234 718044

For a chance to win a family ticket simply answer the question and complete the form below and send to: We Love Little Mix Competition, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP. Deadline: 16th October 2019.



WE LOVE LITTLE MIX COMPETITION ENTRY

How many number one singles have Little Mix had?

Name: Tel: Email: Address:

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advertorial

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The biggest and most lively indoor Christmas Shopping Fair in the Midlands is back!..... with so much choice, fabulous bargains and great musical entertainment The Festive Gift Fair 14-17th November 2019 NEC, Birmingham From the moment you arrive, you’ll be caught up in the fabulous atmosphere, anticipation rising as you browse 300+ stalls overflowing with thousands upon thousands of unusual gifts, stocking fillers, decorations and artisan food & drink at prices worth celebrating! It’s an Aladdin’s cave of sparkling stalls offering more choice, more variety and more fun than the High Street, and it’s all under one roof.

The run up to Christmas Day involves a lot of planning and most of us have so much to do and so little time to do it! Take the pressure out of Christmas shopping and find all the presents you want at the one-stop shop Festive Gift Fair. When your bags are full, just drop them off at the Present Creche and continue to shop some more!

No other Christmas fair in the UK has as much entertainment in one hall to get you into the Christmas spirit…

The Grinch will be up to his usual menacing antics! • Father Christmas will be mingling The Stilt Jazz Band will be legging it up the aisles! • The UK’s largest snowman will be amazing the children The outrageous Panto Dame will be causing havoc around the hall The fabulous CHRISTMAS BAND will be performing throughout the day.

THE BASETONES will have you toe-tapping as you shop, with their Motown-style Christmas harmonies For more information and how to book your advance tickets please visit www.festivegiftfair.co.uk

We have 10 pairs of tickets to give away Simply send your name and address by 16th October 2019 to: Festive Gift Fair, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP The winners will be drawn at random. If you are not a lucky winner, adult tickets are priced from just £6.00. Book now by calling The Ticket Factory hotline on 0844 581 0808 or online at www.theticketfactory.com

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Winnipeg

Travel

By Solange Hando

Canada’s Gateway to the West On the edge of the prairies, Winnipeg is one of the sunniest cities in Canada, multicultural, vibrant and the capital of Manitoba.

Named ‘Muddy Waters’ after the big lake out of town, it is located at the confluence of the Red River and the smaller Assiniboine where, before the Europeans arrived, the First Nations had been trading for thousands of years.

Times have changed but set in acres of greenery, the ‘Forks’ remain a popular meeting place. In this National Historic Site, converted warehouses and new buildings beckon with craft shops and gleaming stores, al fresco cafés and a convivial market hall serving food from all over the world.

Here’s the Old Spaghetti Factory, there a rail carriage full of Victorian candy, an art exhibition or the observation tower for stunning city views.

Down by the water, wild flowers wave in the breeze, Canadian geese peck undisturbed and locals stroll quietly along the river or meditate under the trees, inspired by a painting or a poem on the back of a lonely seat. There’s bright sunshine in summer, dazzling ice in winter for skating on a rink or on the river trails used by commuters on their way to work.

On the northern bank of the Assiniboine, the grand Legislative Building is topped by a golden statue of Hermes, the god of trade, while around the corner, close to the Forks, Winnipeg claims the only museum in the world fully dedicated to human rights. In an innovative spiralling building inspired by mountains, clouds and prairies, twelve galleries lead up to the Tower of Hope, rising high above the city and the Red River spanned by the Esplanade Riel. Honouring Manitoba’s founder and Métis leader, this iconic pedestrian bridge connects the Forks to the French Quarter,

a lovely relaxing place with early 1900s facades, restaurants, pastry shops and the rebuilt St Boniface cathedral, Mother Church of Western Canada. Equally enticing are Little Italy, Chinatown and the cool Osborne Village, well known for street art and ethnic eateries.

Meanwhile, in the south-west, the Assiniboine Park Zoo is a treat for animal lovers, its highly praised conservation project caring for almost 200 species on 80 acres of ground from pools and enclosures to dens and rugged areas. Spot a rare snow leopard or red panda, look out for reindeer, Arctic fox, yak, tiger, camels, snakes, poisoned dart frogs, butterflies and birds such as the colourful scarlet ibis, and much more. But most breathtaking is the ‘Journey to Churchill’, exhibiting the different habitats of North Manitoba and – in the best natural environment – looking after polar bears whose life would otherwise be threatened. Some are orphaned cubs, others fully-grown creatures who acquired a taste for human flesh. Also loved by everyone in the park area is the statue of Lieutenant Harry Colebourn and the young bear he rescued, calling her Winnie after Winnipeg, his Canadian home, and who was the inspiration for the legendary character of Winnie-the-Pooh.

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STOTFOLD MILL

WORKING

STEAM WEEKEND

SAT 5TH & SUN 6TH OCTOBER 2019

The Attractions Include...

Ploughing Displays by: - Heavy Horses - Steam Engines - Vintage Tractors

Also Featuring: - Threshing Machine - Saw Milling Machine - Stationary Engines - Commercial Vehicles - Vintage Cider Press - Traditional Crafts

Farming Past and Present:

See farming equipment - supplied by Oliver’s, founded - in the 19th Century

-

14th YEAR!

Fun Stuff For Kids:

NEW!

- Vintage Swing Boats - Fair Rides

Mill Open Both Days: - Stotfold Mill Flour for Sale - Randall’s Tea Room - Kingfisher Gift Shop - Milling Demonstrations - Hot/Cold Food & Drink - Licensed Bar in the Marquee

SHOW OPEN DAILY: 10.30AM - 5.00PM

www.stotfoldmill.com Mill Lane, Stotfold, Bedfordshire SG5 4NU This event is sponsored by Saunders Garage.

Daily Admission Prices: Adults: £7.00 Senior Citizens: £5.00 Children: £4.00 (Under 4 are free)

FOR NEWS ON THE STEAM WEEKEND FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK OR TWITTER 16

Registered Charity No: 1086392

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Local News

Wood Green, The Animals Charity Wood Green’s aim is to help every pet and pet owner that comes to them.

Wood Green, The Animal Charity’s aim is to bring pets and people closer together, providing pets with loving homes that they deserve whilst empowering owners with the knowledge to take the very best care of their beloved pets. Wood Green offers free pet advice to anyone who needs it, whether you are considering having a pet in the future and need guidance on pet choice, or you already have a pet and need some general advice or intensive support. In a year, Wood Green found loving homes for more than 4,000 pets and reunited 164 pets with their owners. Their dedicated team gave one-to-one care and support to 2,343 pets and their owners, with more than 10,000 veterinary consultations and around 3,200 operations carried out.

Sponsoring a pet pen is a meaningful way to be part of rescue pets’ journeys at Wood Green and help the financial effort in providing the best quality treatment and care possible – from shelter, regular nutritious meals and veterinary care to training, love and affection. Pets at Wood Green stay for an average of 30-35 days, meaning you will play a vital role in giving a number of adorable pets the happy ending they deserve. You will receive regular updates from your dog, cat or small animal pen and follow pets’ amazing journeys, seeing first-hand how your support is making a difference.

Find out more at woodgreen.org.uk

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Time of Year

The Big Draw October 1st -31st October is the official month of the worldwide project The Big Draw, which promotes the benefits of drawing for children and adults.

I enjoyed art at school but like many kids I stopped drawing when I realised I’d never be ‘good’. Turns out you don’t need to be. The beauty of drawing is that you get all the benefits even if you make the average toddler look like Da Vinci.

Drawing develops fine motor skills - Drawing provides immediate visual feedback that changes depending on the type of pencil, pen or crayon used and how its manipulated. This feedback helps to identify the best ways to produce the desired result. Fine motor skills are important for writing and typing in school, but are also great for adults with arthritis or mobility issues.

Drawing improves hand-eye coordination - If you’re trying to reproduce what you see then you are exercising hand-eye co-ordination. This helps with writing but also in sport!

Drawing helps you see - By drawing objects in

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By Karen Campbell

proximity to each other we learn about distance, size, perspective, and texture. It makes us really look at the world in ways we may never have done so before.

Drawing aids concentration - Studying an object, focussing on form and detail takes time. If we’re enjoying that process it aids concentration. This is helpful for both children in school, but also older people, particularly in early stage dementia.

Drawing improves problem-solving - How do you connect body parts, convey distance or size, represent emotion or texture? These are all creative problems to be solved.

Drawing boosts confidence - If you practice, you improve and feel good, whether you’re an adult or a child, that’s a confidence boost you can take into other areas of your life.

Drawing is a great activity and beneficial for any age group or ability level. Look out for local activities related to The Big Draw.

For more information visit https://thebigdraw.org

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Countrywear

FREE Postage & packing until Christmas

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Food and Drink

Ragdale Hall Spa: The Experience Ragdale Hall Spa has won numerous awards, over many years. This world-class spa can boast awards and commendations, including Best UK Spa, UK’s Best Destination Spa, plus Best All-Round Health Spa. The different areas, within this venue, have parts which capture inspirations from global destinations.

Having six pools (including a rooftop infinity pool, aqua gym and candle pool) and with a river of warm water, leading to an outside paradise, all is very calming. The gymnasium and exercise studios are stateof–the-art and extensive daily programmes have regular ‘devotees’. A wealth of thermal experiences have steam rooms and saunas appealing to many, including the volcanic salt bath. Numerous treatment rooms (100+ qualified, experienced therapists), beauty express areas, the pavilion and impressive shops, all have something to occupy, continually. Indeed, from manicure to makeover!

Included in several packages and deals is the fabulous buffet lunch. Starters are served or help yourself from the buffet. The buffet offers a lot of different foods that include seafood, fish and meat choices. Stir fry, honey-glazed roast gammon and a good deal more are very popular, too. Mohamed Bardouz is the Dining Room Manager and ensures all guests have a memorable, most enjoyable dining experience. All cuisine is cooked and presented to perfection by the brigade of very talented chefs, kitchen personnel and carvers. Desserts can be served and are also help yourself from the buffet, that includes yoghurts and chilled options. Complimentary mineral water and tea or coffee are included, also.

With several packages being available – from a short visit to an extended stay – there is always time to take the opportunity for a treatment (or three!). From a few minutes, to deep massages, it is very worthwhile including this aspect in a visit to Ragdale Hall Spa. Mountain bikes, tennis courts, plus croquet and more, are all available, too.

For evenings the dining room is transformed, with pristine, candle-lit table settings adding to the ambience.

All courses are served, to table. The 90+ beautiful, inviting bedrooms offer wonderful, comfortable accommodation.

Gift vouchers are available – perhaps surprise someone special?

Ragdale Hall Spa, Ragdale Village, Nr Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire LE14 3PB General Enquiries. Tel: 44 (0) 1664 434831 Reservations. Tel: 44 (0) 1664 433000 E-mail: enquiries@ragdalehall.co.uk E-mail: reservations@ragdalehall.co.uk www.ragdalehall.co.uk

As always, Enjoy!

ey Trevor Langl

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House of Colour

How to Dress Well for your Job

Whether your work place is really casual or quite formal what we wear does affect how we are viewed at work. What we need are some hard and fast ways to look professional, dress well for our job and feel good so we can leave home for the day with confidence (and not spend ages in the morning fretting over it!):1. Knowing what suits you means you can spend a little longer in bed, with your kids or at the fym in the morning. If your capsule wardrobe is full of clothes that fit you, are the right style for you and in the best colours for you then you can save a huge amount of time (and money) and eliminate wardrobe stress first thing.

2. The Corporate Look – Only one in 10 employees are thought to wear a suit to work. It may be that in very formal or conservative jobs a suit still signals professionalism but what’s wrong with adding some flare? If you dress like everyone else then you may feel like you fit in more easily, but you are less likely to get noticed.

If tailored jackets don’t suit you go for a more unstructured jacket or a cashmere or a good quality cotton cardigan in a colour that makes you look radiant.

3. Take Pride - Being well groomed and wearing the right size and style can make or break your professional look. Wearing shoes that make you walk badly or being unkempt is a poor start to you entering the room for an important meeting. Taking care of yourself sends a message that you take care with your work and also your colleagues.

4. It is all in the detail - We all suit different hemlines, necklines, trouser lengths, lapels and sleeves, not to mention of course colours etc.

Know what suits you rather than necessarily opt for the latest trend.

5. Wearing quality – it says we are successful because we have investment power. Quality is always better than quantity for your look, not to mention your wallet and the environment too.

Cost per wear is a great philosophy for life.

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6. Colour – Only 1 in 4 of us can look good in black whether that be a suit or other workwear and that includes the gents. Choose the colours that makes you look fresh and dynamic not drained, but in your mind professional.

7. Personalise your work attire with easy-update, ready to grab accessories such as gorgeous bags, scarves and quality jewellery to add oomph.

Perfectly pair with a fabulous pair of shoes that can boost your confidence and empower neutral smart attire in particular. Use a pattern shoe such as snakeskin, a bold colour or detail depending on what suits your personality.

8. Be authentic - Know who you are. Mark Zuckerberg, Oprah Winfrey, Melinda Gates and Richard Branson all have a clear work look that makes them themselves. If you have a bubbly and bright personality, then try a gorgeous funpatterned blouse with cigarette trousers. If you are a classic dresser then ooze timeless style with a gorgeous shift dress. Add a ruffle or two if you have some gorgeous curves. Being and dressing true to yourself actually leads to stronger bonds with your peers and removes barriers in the workplace.

9. Confidence bags the job – It is important not just how you are perceived by others but how you feel about yourself. Have a bit of variety in your wardrobe so you can feel confident if you need to be authoritative and chic because you have a big meeting, or more relaxed and creative because you are writing an important document.

Always be authentically you but dress for the day ahead to be confident.

10. Understand Smart Casual – If your job role is more casual still always opt for a smart-casual to give the best impression. Be on your boss’s radar for all the right reasons. The old adage still stands - dress for the job you want, not the job you have. Over half of workers believe a casual dress code is more affordable and takes less upkeep, and more than one fifth say they felt more able to express their personality, but this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look good at work.

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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104 Ampthill Road, Shefford, Beds SG17 5BB To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

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The Jack O’ Lantern

Time of Year

By Aoife Brennan

Why we carve pumpkins at Halloween We think of the Halloween pumpkin lantern as an American invention but in fact it was the Irish who took the tradition of carving pumpkins to America, except the original Jack O’ Lantern was not a pumpkin because they didn’t exist in Ireland. Celtic cultures actually carved turnips on All Hallows’ Eve and placed a glowing piece of coal or a candle in them, to ward off evil spirits.

There are many stories behind these turnip lanterns but one of the most popular comes from The Tale of Stingy Jack.

Stingy Jack was a grumpy old drunkard who liked to play malicious tricks on just about everyone including his family, friends and his mother. He was proud of his antics and boasted that he could trick the Devil himself. The Devil heard about Jack and paid him a visit. Jack was as good as his word and tricked the Devil into climbing up an apple tree.

Once the Devil was in the tree, Stingy Jack hurriedly placed crosses around the base of its trunk. The Devil couldn’t touch the crosses, so he was stuck in the tree. Stingy Jack made the Devil promise him not to take his soul when he died. Reluctantly the Devil agreed, and Stingy Jack removed the crosses, and allowed the Devil to climb back down.

Many years later, when Jack died, he found his way to the pearly gates of Heaven. Saint Peter told him that because he’d been mean and cruel and

had led a miserable, worthless life he could not let him enter Heaven. Stingy Jack then went down to Hell. The Devil smiled mischievously and said he was bound by the promise he’d made in the apple tree and would not allow him to enter Hell. Stingy Jack became really scared. He had nowhere to go and was doomed to wander about forever in the dark Netherworld between heaven and hell. He protested to the Devil that there was no light, so the Devil tossed him a piece of coal from the flames of Hell. Jack always carried a turnip with him because it was one of his favourite foods. He hollowed out the turnip and placed the glowing coal the Devil had given him inside. From that day onward, Stingy Jack roamed the earth without a resting place, lighting his way as he went with his ‘Jack O’ Lantern’.

On all Hallows’ eve, it became the tradition for Irish people to hollow out Turnips, swedes, potatoes and beets. They placed a little light in them to ward off evil spirits and keep Stingy Jack away. These were the original Jack O’ Lanterns. In the 1800’s waves of Irish people travelled to America in search of better lives. These Irish immigrants quickly discovered that American Pumpkins were bigger and much easier to carve, so they began to use pumpkins for Jack O’ Lanterns. Eventually this new trend found its way back across the Atlantic to Ireland and the UK.

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Local News

Beds and Herts Youth Organists Training Scheme Whenever you visit the Royal Albert Hall you can’t but help notice the impressive array of pipe in the huge organ at the back of the stage. If you’ve been to one of the Proms concerts where it has featured, you would surely have been amazed by the way it can dominate a whole orchestra playing at full blast. Have you ever thought about what it is like to play that organ - or, indeed, the organ at your local parish church?

Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire have some of the finest organs in the country, including the wonderful instrument at St Albans Cathedral. And now Beds and Herts Organists’ Association is calling upon budding musicians to take up the organ by offering free lessons - yes free lessons!

The association has secured funds to offer a year’s free tuition to young musicians up to the age of 25 who are interested in learning the instrument. Prospective players will no doubt already have some keyboard skills, but the scheme is open to anyone who has a particular musical aptitude and who would be interested in playing at their local church, whatever denomination.

David Warner, president of the association said: “The Young Organists’ Training Scheme provides a truly unique chance to learn to play the organ - the king of all instruments.” Anyone who is interested, or who knows of someone who might benefit from the scheme, should contact johnwitchell73@gmail.com and visit the website www.bedsandherts.org where there is an online application form.

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Parenting

By Louise Addison

The Screen Time Debate How much is too much?

For many parents battles over screen time and devices have become a frustrating part of family life. So how much screen time is too much for kids? Well, it’s complicated. For some years parents have been advised to limit media consumption, but new research suggests it’s the quality not the quantity that matters.

Until quite recently parenting advice centred around the concept of screen time quotas with a Goldilocksstyle sweet spot of two or so hours of screens a day, beyond which media use could become harmful. But now the advice is more conflicting. There seems to be a general consensus that under the age of six there should be no more than one hour of “high-quality programming” per day, but for older kids the advice is simply to “place consistent limits on the time spent using media” and to designate some screen-free time as a family. Unfortunately it’s not clear whether “consistent limits” means four hours playing a video game on a Sunday every week, or whether three 20-minute sessions on an iPad is preferable to one hour-long session.

What is clear is that for young children one of the most important things is whether parents and kids play, watch or browse together. The nature of screen time matters. Passive TV is potentially more harmful than game-playing, socialising, or using creative apps. Psychologists are likening our media diets to what we put on our plates. It’s not just about digital junk-food, it’s about the relationship we have with technology and the role it plays in our family life. We need to avoid using screens to distract teens or younger children from uncomfortable emotions, in the same way we wouldn’t encourage the use junk food to soothe them.

Interestingly a recent study of 20,000 parents published by the Oxford Internet Institute and Cardiff University determined that there was no correlation between limiting device use and children’s wellbeing.

Another study by the University of Michigan on children aged four to 11 similarly found that it was how children use devices, not how much time they spend on them, which is the strongest predictor of emotional or social problems connected with screen addiction.

Although specific screen time limits are out of date, there is evidence that excessive use has negative impacts, affecting sleep, health and mood. Screen time, in and of itself, is not harmful – but reasonable restrictions vary greatly, depending on your child’s behaviour and personality. A useful strategy for parents is to ensure that what they’re watching, playing and reading is high-quality, age-appropriate and safe – and to join in wherever possible.

Balancing the online and offline world seems to be key, and that may vary greatly from family to family.

Research shows that not having access to the digital world has a negative impact on kids too – so it’s all about finding the right amount for your family, with an holistic approach.

There’s a lot to be said for knowing your child and using your common sense!

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Are you returning to higher education and need some help with university costs?

Do you live in post codes SG1 or SG2?

Then the Betty Game Opportunities Trust may be able to help you with a small grant towards the cost of books, equipment, travel etc.

Further information about the Trust and how to apply for a grant is available on our website www.bgot.org.uk or email BGOT2015@gmail.com

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Finance

By Ann Haldon

Is early repayment right for your mortgage?

If you have money left over at the end of each month, or have received an unexpected lump sum, you may be thinking about paying off your mortgage early. You can save large amounts in interest and potentially cut your mortgage term by years but it’s not always the best option.

So what factors do you need to consider before deciding whether to clear your mortgage early?

Does your mortgage allow for overpayments?

Not all mortgage products let you overpay and some will charge you for doing so, but many allow borrowers to overpay up to 10% of the outstanding mortgage with no penalties. If you’re not sure about the terms and conditions of your mortgage, get in touch with your lender or check the original documentation.

Are you enrolled in any pension schemes?

If you’re currently paying into a pension scheme it could be more beneficial in the long run to increase your contributions because of the tax relief offered by the government. If not, consider using the extra money to start saving taxefficiently for your retirement.

What are the current savings rates?

Although savings rates have been extremely low in recent years, there may be a fixed rate or longer term savings account that offers a higher rate of interest than that charged by your mortgage lender.

Do you have significant unsecured debt?

Paying off more expensive debt such as credit card and store card balances, and unsecured loans, is always a good idea if you have residual income

and should be prioritised over paying extra sums to your mortgage. Once this type of debt is paid off you’ll automatically increase the amount of money you have available each month and can then consider overpaying your mortgage, which is a lower cost debt.

Do you need extra life insurance?

You probably had to take out a life insurance policy to cover your mortgage loan amount, but it might only cover death rather than illness or disability.

It’s a good idea to review your insurance needs from time to time – you may want to change from a fixed period that covers your mortgage term to a ‘whole-of-life’ policy where the timing of a payout isn’t restricted, for example.

Do you have an emergency fund?

If you lost your job, could you pay the bills for at least six months? If not, it would be worthwhile building an emergency fund with your residual income rather than paying down the mortgage.

A mortgage is typically the largest debt that people take on. It represents a huge financial commitment whatever your stage of life, and paying it off early always seems a very attractive option at first glance.

Before you do, though, consider some of the other areas where the money could be put to better use, at least for a while – then you can go ahead with confidence and potentially shave years off your mortgage term. www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/shouldyou-pay-off-your-mortgage-early

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Choose BMAS for safe, high-quality

easy-access bathrooms Are you struggling to get in or out of the bath or to manage the step up into the shower? You may even be worried about slipping or falling. If you or a loved one are experiencing bathing difficulties, it makes sense to speak with a specialist before making any adaptations to your bathroom.

Trust the mobility bathing experts

When using the Bathing Mobility Advisory Service, you really are in expert hands. Unlike some bathroom companies, we specialise in mobility bathing and are passionate about helping people bathe safely in their own home.

With over a decade of experience, BMAS have installed hundreds of wet rooms, walk-in showers and walk-in baths. Built on family values, we put you at the heart of everything we do and pride ourselves on the personal service we offer.

We take care of everything from design to completion

We don’t believe in hard sell and our advice is provided without any obligation.

Your bathroom will be meticulously designed and our products are of the highest quality.

All work is completed on time by our own tradespeople who will respect you and your home.

Introducing our Hitchin showroom

The BMAS showroom in Hitchin will be open soon. Here you will be able to see the quality of our products and workmanship for yourself. You will also receive free advice from our experts.

We manage every aspect related to creating your perfect bathroom. We start by listening to you and finding out about your needs whilst assessing your current facilities during a free in-home visit.

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Free In-Home Design Consultations Available Now To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

33

Gardening

By Pippa Greenwood

The Rock Garden is Alive…

If you have ever dreamed of Sound of Music landscapes, then create your own! A garden mountain range might not be possible, but you may have space for your very own rock garden. So what do you need to do?

You’ll need to choose a fairly sunny spot, ideally away from overhanging deciduous trees – most alpine plants like a fair bit of light and detest becoming clogged up with deteriorating leaves.

Even if space is limited, make the rock garden on as large a scale as possible, for more impact and planting opportunities, and a more realistic feel.

If possible include gullies running down the rock garden, perhaps ending in a pond or pool, by arranging rocks so that water can over or between them. Where the water runs beneath rocks (rather the over them) you should use guttering or drainage pipes that are hidden by soil or rock outcrops.

Get yourself a good selection of rock from local or mail-order suppliers and don’t be tempted to use old chunks of concrete – the end result will look like a rubble pile with plants!

Use a pile of rubble or broken bricks to create the classic mound shape – this will be hidden by the good-looking rocks. The rubble pile also ensures good drainage; alpines typically hate being too wet.

Use upturned turves on top of the mound, laid grassy side down. Then add a layer of sandy soil, to a depth of about 30cm (12in), over the top of the turves; these prevent the soil from slipping down amongst the rocks. Then, using string and pegs,

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mark out where you want each outcrop of rock.

Once the soil is well-firmed, use a spade or a trowel to dig out a hole for each rock; this keeps the rocks securely embedded so they won’t shift even in heavy rain.

Use smaller bits of stone beneath the rocks to wedge them firmly. Add more soil over these bits of stone and then more soil between the rocks when they are in position. Water well to settle the soil, topping up if necessary.

Alpine plants are available in nurseries and garden centres now, but just choose a few – buying more throughout next spring and summer will give you an array of alpines to provide flowers and interest throughout most of the year.

Arrange your plants, still in their pots, on the surface of the soil. When you are happy with how they look, use a trowel to make a planting hole, then remove the pot, pop the plant in the hole, and fill in around it with some compost. When you have finished planting you can top-dress the soil surface with good-looking horticultural grit or gravel.

Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood. com and you’ll find some great gardening items: Nemaslug and controls to sort out lawn infestations 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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Pets

RSPCA Hertfordshire East News

Xander came into our care at the RSPCA Hertfordshire East branch, because he had been in a road traffic accident. Xander was taken to a local vet by a kind member of the public. Unfortunately, Xander was a stray. No one came forward for him and he was not micro-chipped, neither had he been neutered. Xander needed urgent veterinary treatment, and as a result of the road traffic accident he had a diaphragmatic hernia. He also suffered a fracture to his pelvis and on top of all this he was covered in ticks.

Xander received amazing veterinary treatment at Hitchin Veterinary surgery. Stuart and his team did a fantastic job. He then went off to recover with cage rest and a lot of TLC with one of our volunteer fosterers.

Xander has now had the all-clear from the vets and is really ready for his new forever home! He loves human company. He is such a sweet, loving cat who adores human interaction. We are looking for a quiet home away from roads, somewhere he can get all the fuss and attention he deserves.

Xander can live with older children, as they will understand how to be gentle with him. He would also love a garden, and now that he has been neutered, he is less likely to wander.

For more information please call RSPCA Herts.

East branch on 01462 672278 or email info@rspcahertseast.org.uk Why is it important to get your pets neutered?

• Females will not be able to get pregnant • Males will not be able to impregnate females

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• Neutering prevents the risk of testicular cancer in males and uterus infections and cancers in females. Neutering can also reduce urine marking and roaming.

Please come along to our Charity Shop, 19 Churchyard, Hitchin and grab a bargain or two.

We stock a wide variety of men’s, women’s and children’s clothes, jewellery, shoes, books, CDs, DVDs, toys and so much more. If you have any items you no longer need, why not donate them to the shop, even if some of the clothes are damaged, we can recycle them. Just drop them off at the shop or, if they are too heavy, drive round to the back door when the shop is open and ring the bell.

We would be very pleased to see you.

If you know of any venue or local event taking place in the near future, please let us know by telephoning the office number below. We would be happy to come along with our large stock, where the public can take as many books, CDs, DVDs as they want, and even cuddly toys, in exchange for a donation of their choice, all going towards vital fund-raising to help animals in our care who need vital assistance.

In the event of an emergency or cruelty, please call 0300 1234 999 Branch Office: 01462 672278 Why not follow us on Facebook:www.facebook.com/hertfordshireeastbranch or on our website:www.rspca-hertfordshireeast.org.uk

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Food & Drink

Pineapple Teriyaki Grains with In the ten years since I started hosting the Weekend Kitchen on BBC Three Counties Radio, the rise in popularity of vegetarian and vegan dishes has been phenomenal. We’ve come a long way from the days where guests would say “it tastes good for a vegan dish”. Chefs are now creating fantastic food, standing alone for quality in its own right. First comes the taste, second comes whether it happens to be vegan or not. One such very creative young chef is Greg Owen, who runs the funky Monstera Canteen in Luton. His food is fabulous, and this lovely vegan dish was a big hit on my show. Don’t be concerned by the list of ingredients. You can sub in and out any grains, and just use any vegetables which you have to hand.

Ingredients: Serves 4 Grains 100g brown rice 100g pearl barley 100g freekeh 80g wild rice 80g oats Sauce 4 tbsp soy sauce 1 can pineapple slices or chunks 2 tbsp Mirin 1 tbsp garlic 2 tbsp brown sugar (or maple syrup) 1 tsp ginger (optional) 1 tsp garlic powder (optional) 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar (optional) Vegetables 50g edamame beans 50g carrot, chopped 50g courgette, chopped 1 small Leek, sliced 1 Red onion, chopped 1/4 chilli (optional) Handful of Rocket (optional) Coriander leaves (optional) Sesame seeds (optional) For the Crispy Mushrooms 4 large flat mushrooms Plain flour Panko breadcrumbs Unsweetened soya milk (or any similar milk) 1 tsp apple cider vinegar

Crispy Mushrooms

1. Cook all the grains as per the packet instructions.

You can cook them all in the same pan, or, better still, in a pressure cooker.

2. Chuck all the sauce ingredients in a blender, blitz and set aside.

3. Mix a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a smallish bowl of milk and whisk with a work for a few seconds. The acidity will naturally thicken the milk into a butter milk style.

4. Prepare a bowl of plain flour and a separate bowl of breadcrumbs.

5. Remove the stalk and slice the jumbo mushrooms horizontally into two discs.

6. Dust in flour, then dip in the milk, then into breadcrumbs to coat. You can shallow fry them, deep fry them, or spray with oil and bake in the oven too.

7. Sauté all the veg until they are cooked but still with a nice bite.

8. Mix in the sauce, then add the cooked grains, stir for another 2 minutes and plate up!

9. You can garnish the top of this dish with rocket, chopped chillis, coriander and sesame seeds.

10. Finally slice the cooked crispy breaded mushrooms and arrange on top to serve.

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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Garden View

Beautiful blueberries

By Rachael Leverton

I love blueberries and they are not only incredibly good for you but also quite simple to grow. They thrive in a sunny border or in a pot on a balcony or patio, so there’s no excuse for not harvesting a crop of your own.

In addition, they are a generous plant. All varieties produce pretty white flowers in the spring, followed by delicate green fruits which ripen to deep blue. If that wasn’t enough, the foliage then turns pink and peach for Autumn.

Blueberry bushes do require an acid soil to thrive but if you don’t have that (I don’t!) then use pots of well-drained ericaceous compost. When you need to re-pot, choose a pot just a few inches larger because they fruit better in a snug pot!

Ensure it has adequate drainage holes and put some stones or crocks in the bottom and keep it raised so it doesn’t become waterlogged. Water with rainwater from your water butt, especially if you live in a hardwater area. Make sure they are watered well while they become established and also while the fruit is ripening. Feeding with tomato food helps too. Poor or erratic watering causes the blueberries to shrivel or split, and noone likes a shrivelled blueberry!

If you have acid soil you can plant blueberry

bushes at any time of year when the ground is soft. Dig a hole twice the size of the root-ball and spread the roots as you refill the hole to the base of the stem. Press the soil down with the heel of your boot.

Blueberries are sun-lovers and will fruit most abundantly in full sun. They are better grown in pairs to allow for cross-pollination. If you can bear it, remove the flower buds in the first year after planting because it encourages strong stem growth better fruiting for the following year. They don’t require any pruning for a few years. After that thin overcrowded or unproductive branches in winter after the leaves have fallen. Remember blueberries fruit on branches produced the previous year, so each year remove one or two of the oldest canes to make space for the more productive younger stems.

In the winter move pots to a sheltered area or the shed for protection.

NOTE – Our feathered friends love blueberries as much as we do so make sure you protect you harvest with netting!

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Happy Gardening 41

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Local News

Chilterns Walking Festival kicks off Photo Credit: Chiltern Conservation Board

The Chilterns Autumn Walking Festival runs from Saturday 5 – 20 October 2019 with over 80 guided walks in the beautiful Chilterns View details and book your walk online at: www.visitchilterns.co.uk/walkingfest Now in its third year the Chilterns Walking Festival has established itself as one of the main contenders in the region’s bountiful events calendar. With more walks, more activities, more crafts and more dates, this October’s Festival is set to be bigger and better than ever.

The walks provide opportunities to meet artists, craftspeople, farmers, archaeologists, historians, countryside rangers, food producers and storytellers of the Chilterns, and each walk is guided by an experienced walk leader who will bring their story to life.

Whether you’re interested in sampling local drinks and produce, finding out about the history of the Chilterns heritage, or trying out a new activity or experience with your family, there is something for everyone at the Chilterns Walking Festival.

Here’s just a sample of the types of walks on offer: • Family Friendly: From Iron Age time travelling and stunning autumnal walks with breathtaking views, to ghostly tales from the riverbank, there are many walks perfect for getting outdoors and spending quality time with the family • Explore and Discover: The Chilterns is brimming with history and heritage and with so many places to explore it is no surprise that there are many walks offering the chance to discover more about our rich heritage and precious ancient landscapes. Why not take a ride on a heritage steam railway from Princes Risborough to Chinnor, explore and discover Grims Ditch or hear the story of the 1830 machine breakers’ riot

Saturday 5 October!

• Learn and Do: Whether it’s mastering tree identification, practicing map and compass navigation, or trying Nordic walking or a watercolour workshop, there are opportunities to get involved and try something new • Food & Drink: What better way to end a scenic walk than by sampling some of the fabulous food and drinks by local producers. Why not try a gentle guided walk around Wilstone Reservoir Nature Reserve followed by a distillery tour and gin sampling? Or sample the famous “Bedfordshire clangers” on a ranger-led walk around the beautiful Barton Hills National Nature Reserve and Farm • Storytelling: For those looking to escape the everyday and immerse themselves into something a bit different, why not try one of our storytelling walks such as Ghostly tales from the Riverbank: complete with hooded monks, phantoms & headless horsemen • Health & Wellbeing: Focussed on sharing techniques and tips to increase health and improve general wellbeing, we have developed a number of walks from yoga and mindfulness to a visit to Amaravati Buddhist monastery Chilterns Conservation Board People & Society Officer Annette Venters said “We are delighted to be offering lots of new walks to spark interest and add to the mix. There are still plenty of challenging hikes, but we’ve included a greater number of shorter walks too, with the emphasis on learning and discovery, meeting the people and producers of the Chilterns, and spending time in inspiring landscapes.’

With over 80 guided walks, activities and events, the 16-day Chilterns Walking Festival has been designed to appeal to different age groups, interests and levels of fitness. There will be walks for young families, for people with limited mobility or with canine companions.

Details of all guided walks, events and activities available in the autumn programme can be found on the website www.visitchilterns.co.uk/ walkingfest. Most are free of charge though some require a small fee which is clearly shown. To assist walk leaders with expected numbers, most events must be pre-booked. There’s already been lots of interest, so please do book early to avoid disappointment.

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Technology

Things that go bump in the night How to protect your tech from disaster

Ghosts aren’t the only thing we need to worry about over Halloween: there’s also the ever-present risk of dropping or damaging your device. Whether it’s lumps, bumps or ending up underwater, all kinds of horrors can affect our phones, tablets and laptops.

One way to prevent problems is to look for hardy hardware in the first place. For example, many smartphones (e.g. a recent Samsung Galaxy or iPhone) now boast what’s called IP68 certification, which means they’re water and dust resistant. If you have an older phone, you can buy protective cases that promise IP68 protection for around £15.

It’s important to understand what IP68 and its sister rating, IP67, actually mean – and remember, water resistance is not the same as waterproofing. IP67 and IP68 tell you that a phone can be immersed in a specific depth of water for a specific amount of time: one metre deep and half an hour for IP67, rising to one and a half metres for IP68. This means

that when new, your phone can be dropped in pure water and survive for a short time.

Pure is important, because chlorine in swimming pools or salt in the sea is very corrosive.

Repeated exposure to either will eventually wear away the seals and damage your phone’s water resistance.

One of the biggest dangers for devices is being dropped or scratched. Solve the former with a protective case, and the latter with a screen protector. Plastic screen protectors are harder to fit properly because of air bubbles, but glass ones can crack and can be hard to remove when they’ve been scuffed.

Protective cases come in a variety of flavours, styles and prices.

The trick is to think about what kind of protection you want, so for example if you’ve got kids it’s worth looking for a relatively thick case with very large lips, so when – and it’s a case of when, not if – the device gets dropped, the case keeps the screen well away from the floor. Some kids’ cases include

carrying handles that make them less likely to be dropped in the first place.

For grown-ups, it’s about striking a balance between substance and style: you want protection, but not so much protection you can’t fit it in your bag or pocket. Slim cases can still do a very good job of protecting your phone’s back and sides, but they do leave the screen relatively exposed: it’s a good idea to look for one that still has a bit of a lip around the screen and to put a good screen protector on too.

No matter what protection you use, it’s designed for relatively minor things – so for example most protective cases are designed to protect from drops of a few feet, not from the top of a ladder. If the worst happens and your phone is seriously and expensively damaged, check your home insurance: it may well cover the damage to your phone. If you have a bank account that offers various rewards for a monthly fee, you may have phone insurance in there too.

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Quirky Britain

Panto: the UK’s quirkiest tradition? Oh, yes it is!

Christmas may seem a long way off, but such is the

By Kate McLelland popularity of pantomime, the best seats could have already disappeared in a puff of fairy dust.

Pantomime is a British tradition that’s guaranteed to mystify anyone who is unfamiliar with our culture. The name itself creates confusion: when US-based Baywatch actor Pamela Anderson received her first offer to appear in pantomime in Liverpool in 2010, she was convinced she would be “miming in a box” (bizarrely, she agreed to do it anyway).

Like most traditions, pantomime has grown from customs and practices that have been transformed over time by changing tastes and fashions.

There’s nothing like a Dame One of pantomime’s best-loved characters is the ‘Dame’.

Nearly always played by a man, the Dame is generally portrayed as a vain, foolish woman, determined to get a husband at any price. But, with the possible exception of the villainous Ugly Sisters in Cinderella, the Dame never fails to gain the audience’s affection. It seems that we Brits simply love the idea of a man acting out a female role.

Maybe that’s because the practice of men appearing as women on stage is deeply embedded in British culture.

Until the law was changed in the early 1660s, it was illegal for women to act in theatres, so audiences were used to seeing men performing in female attire.

Copying Commedia Commedia dell’arte was a broad type of comic performance popular in Italy between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries, which is said to be the forerunner of our traditional pantomime. Based on ‘stock’ characters, the plots generally featured a pair of lovers, a mischievous servant, a clown or pierrot character and a money-grabbing old man.

While pantomime’s young lovers have changed little from Commedia dell’arte days, some of the other characters have been reworked to fit different plots. The clown is still with us in the shape of daft but lovable Simple Simon or Wishee Washee, while Cinderella’s footman Buttons is a pale reflection of the Commedia’s high-spirited servants. Finally, the stock character of the old man appears variously as the foolish Baron Hardup (Cinderella), the villainous Fleshcreep (Jack and the Beanstalk) and the power-hungry Abanazar (Aladdin).

Harlequinade to pantomime In the seventeenth century, British theatre borrowed some of Commedia’s characters to create an early type of pantomime known as a ‘Harlequinade’. But pantomime as we know it today was created when audiences began to demand more and more spectacle. Canny theatre producers discarded the less popular parts of the Harlequinade but kept the transformation scene, where Harlequin waved his magic baton (nowadays a fairy wand) to show fairytale characters and scenes dramatically changing before the audience’s eyes. By the Victorian era the Harlequinade had become the two-act pantomime we would recognise today.

So pantomime goes on, changing year on year to suit current tastes, but in many respects remaining true to its earliest origins. It’s the one theatre entertainment that can successfully play to an audience aged between two and ninety-two, but will it continue to do so for centuries to come? Oh, yes it will!

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Codeword 1

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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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Local News

Red Hat Society - My Fair Ladies The Herts/Beds branch of the Red Hat Society is celebrating its 10 year Anniversary. The chapter called My Fair Ladies recently enjoyed a get together over a meal at the Three Horseshoes, Norton. There was much laughter over the tales of how our ladies had heard about and joined up with the RHS and some sadness about absent friends.

The Red Hat Society is a growing “disorganization” of women who meet middle age with humour and enthusiasm. The inspiration behind the Society lies in the poem “Warning” by Jenny Joseph, about a woman who decides that when she grows old she will wear purple with a red hat and do lot of other things she never could as a 'sensible adult'.

In November 1997, a California woman named Sue Ellen Cooper, inspired by the poem, began giving vintage red hats with a copy of the poem as gifts to her friends when they had their 50th birthdays. The friends passed on more hats to their friends, and soon the group found themselves going out to tea and lunch together dressed in their beautiful red hats complete with purple dresses. Eventually the group became large enough to form a Society, and

once the newspapers carried articles about them, the idea spread like wildfire. Ladies everywhere wanted to prove there could be fun after fifty for women of all walks of life.

Today, there are about 100 chapters in the UK including My Fair Ladies based on the Herts/Beds border ! So if you are a local lady wanting to improve your social life and fancy some fun, friendship and a little frivolity, you may want to know more about the Redhatters. If so, please contact Pam via email myfairladies2@gmail.com of see the website http:// myfairladies-redhatters.weebly.co

Ghosts 1. Which famous literary character is haunted by a ghost called Banquo?

2. Named after Ghostface Killah from the hip hop group the Wu-Tang Clan, which social networking app has a ghost called Ghostface Chillah as its logo and mascot?

3. Ghostface is the name given to the killer or killers in which film series?

4. How is the ghost of Jennet Humfrye known in the title of a 1983 book by Susan Hill?

5. In the Harry Pottery novels, what is the nickname of the ghost that haunts the first floor girls’ lavatory at Hogwarts, with author J.K. Rowling saying she was inspired by “the frequent presence of a crying girl in communal

bathrooms, especially at the parties and discos” of her youth?

6. Which famous song is played on a jukebox in the famous pottery scene from the film Ghost?

7. In the video game Pac-Man, what colour do the ghosts turn when Pac-Man eats a power pellet?

8. Who had a hit single in 1984 with the theme song from the film Ghostbusters?

9. How many ghosts visit Ebenezer Scrooge in the Charles Dickens novella A Christmas Carol?

10. Which famous person won a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor for a cameo role as himself in the 1989 film Ghosts Can’t Do It?

1. Macbeth 2. Snapchat 3. Scream 4. The Woman In Black 5. Moaning Myrtle 6. Unchained Melody (by the Righteous Brothrs) 7. Blue 8. Ray Parker Junior 9. Four 10. Donald Trump

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n O s ’ t Wha In October

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

1 & 8 October Parent Career Coaching Workshop 10-11.30am Symonds Green Community Centre, Stevenage £12.50 per session. Four Tuesday sessions with Jessica Cox, accredited career coach and recruitment professional, who will help you if you are a parent returning to work, looking for a new job or considering a career change. You will gain the tools to get you noticed, write a CV that stands out and much more. To book please call or visit the website.

Tel: Jessica Cox 07388 537435 Web: https://peakperformancehr.co.uk/contact/ 2 October North Herts Association of National Trust 7.30pm Christchurch, Bedford Road, Hitchin Visitors £2. ‘The Capable Mister Brown’ by garden historian Russell Bowes, who takes a look at the life and work of Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown. Born into poverty and obscurity, he became renowned across the world as the father of the English landscape garden movement. Visitors welcome. Refreshments 3 October The Arts Society North Herts 11am & 2pm Spirella Ballroom Letchworth Visitors £7 on the door. Talk by Anne Sebba entitled ‘That Woman or The Duchess of Style’ a reassessment of Wallis Simpson. All visitors are welcome. Web: theartssocietynorthherts.org.uk 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 October 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 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 October 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.

Still Life and raffle every month. No qualifications required - just come along with your drawing gear.

Tel: Pauline 01767 315553 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 October 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

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3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 October Stevenage Plus Social Group 8.15pm for 8.30pm Holiday Inn Express (opposite Matalan), Stevenage £2 - first night free. 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. New members always welcome.

Tel: 01438 231550. Email: welcome@stevenage.plus Web: www.stevenageplus.co.uk 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 October Sapphire Social Club 8.30pm The Orange Tree, Hitchin A small and friendly group for single people generally aged 50 and above, offering a variety of social events during the month and the opportunity to meet and make new friends.

Tel: Joyce 07952 678021 or Ian 07900 890583 Web: www.sapphiresocialsinglesclub.co.uk 4 October RSPB Hitchin & Letchworth Local Group 7.30pm ‘The Settlement’, Nevells Road, Letchworth Garden City Local group members free, Visitors £3. ‘Titchwell: the Future’ by Lizzie Bruce. One of the RSPB’s most famous nature reserves, Titchwell attracts over 200 bird species per year, including breeding marsh harriers and avocets. Discover how it has developed since purchased by the RSPB. Tel: 01763 249459 Email: martinrjspc@hotmail.com 4, 11, 18 & 25 October 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 October The Signals Museum Open Day 10am-4pm The Signals Museum at RAF Henlow is open to the public. Entry is free but official photo is required to get an entry ticket from the Guardroom.

Web: www.rafsignalsmuseum.org.uk 6, 13, 20 & 27 October Hare & Hounds Hash House Harriers 11am 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. Email: info@h5hashers.org.uk Web: www.H5hashers.org.uk

7, 14, 21 & 28 October 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 7, 14 & 21 October Stevenage Choral Society 7.45-9.45pm Stevenage Music Centre, Nobel School, Stevenage The society meets every Monday during term time.

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 7, 14, 21 & 28 October 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.

Car parking is available next to the hall. Meets every Monday apart from bank holidays and some school holiday dates. Tel. 01462 624144 or 01462 680995 Web: www.staplers.org.uk 7, 14, 21 & 28 October 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. The club organises regular events day, and weekend trips and holidays. Tel: Lorna 01438 233657 Web: www.branch-out.org.uk 8 & 22 October 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. New members welcome. Tel: Roger Burt 01438 351891 Email: roger@mazda20.plus.com 10 October Stevenage RSPB Local Group trip to Tyttenhanger 9.30am Meet at the Willow Farm car park at 9.30am. Leader Trevor Storey. Grid Ref 166/TL 190042 Postcode AL4 0PF. Booking not required.

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n O s ’ t Wha In October

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

What’s on entries to whatson@villagermag.com

10 October Truth for a change 7.30pm Hitchin Town Hall, Brand Street Free admission. ‘Lifestyle’ with Safia Minney (People Tree) and Steph Killingbeck (A Life With Less). Expert talks and discussions on the problems and solutions around climate change.

Refreshments. Get your free ticket on Eventbrite.

Email: Nicky Clarknandmclark@tiscali.co.uk

12 October Murder Mystery Play & Supper 6.30 for 7pm British Schools Museum, 41/42 Queen Street, Hitchin Tickets £15. Death at The Granby Arms. Can your table unmask the murderer? Chilli (vegetarian option available if ordered) plus pudding buffet.

Tables of 6. Cash bar. Advance booking essential.

Tickets from S. Brown, 38 Turnpike Lane, Ickleford, Hitchin SG5 3XA. Please make cheques payable to ‘Friends of The British Schools Museum’.

15 October Stevenage RSPB Local Group 7.30pm The Friends Meeting House, Cutty’s Lane, Stevenage RSPB Members £3, Non-members £4, Under 18s 50p. Peter Holden MBE, well known broadcaster, conservationist and long-time member of the RSPB, will present his talk ‘Birds: Their Hidden World’. Tel: Trevor Store 01438 226014 Web: www.rspb.org/groups/Stevenage 15-19 October ‘Anything Goes’ 7.45pm Woodside Hall, Hitchin Hitchin Thespians present ‘Anything Goes’ with music and lyrics by Cole Porter.

Tel: Box office 01462 641575 Email: boxoffice@hitchinthespians.org.uk Web: www.hitchinthespians.org.uk 15-19 October Radiant Vermin by Philip Ridley 7.45pm The Queen Mother Theatre, Hitchin Tickets £10. When Jill and Ollie are offered their dream home by a mysterious stranger, the couple enter a Faustian pact within this comedy that packs a punch, satirising greed, consumerism, and asks the question, is a new kitchen worth a human life? A fast-paced, jet-black comedy, RADIANT VERMIN is a provocative satire about the housing market, homelessness, and the nature of inequality. Get ready to be appalled at yourself for laughing out loud at the horrors revealed in this diabolically funny play. Box office 01462 455166 Web: qmt.org.uk

16 October Hitchin Flower Club 7 for 7.30pm Church House, Church Yard, Hitchin Visitors £6.50. ‘Shades of Autumn & Harvest’ a flower arranging demonstration by Morag Bennett.

Tel: Michelle 01462 637874 Facebook: Hitchin Flower Club-NAFAS 17 October Annual POhWER Shout About It 10.30am-2.30pm Ibis Forum, Conference & Banqueting Suites, Danestrete, Stevenage Free event. Open to everyone in Hertfordshire.

Information stalls held by local support service providers, activities and performances. All visitors will receive a free POhWER bag, a cup of tea and a piece of cake. It is a great way for people to find out about the local services and how they can get help and support when they need it. Sponsored by our local Charity Partner - Chilli Lounge, Baldock.

19 October 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 19 October Weston Music Society Concert 7.30pm Weston Parish Church, SG4 7DJ Tickets £16 inc. programme & interval drink, 19-25 years £5, Under 19s free. Cavendish Winds - Mary Tyler, Clarinet; Katy Ovens, Flute; Alice Quale, Bassoon; Henry Clay, Oboe; Charlie Ransley, Horn.

Call or email to reserve tickets. Tel: 01462 790573 Email: felicitylowe@yahoo.co.uk Web: www.westonmusicsociety.org.uk or https:// www.wegottickets.com 20 October RSPB Hitchin & Letchworth Coach Trip Coach fare Adult £16, Under 18s £8. Coach trip to Holkham and Wells. This Norfolk coastal strip provides great habitat for arriving winter visitors and passage migrants, such as yellow-browed warbler (coach returns from Wells). Coach departs Hitchin 7.30am, Letchworth 7.45am and Royston 8.05am. Leader: Martin Johnson Tel: 01763 249459 Email: martinrjspc@hotmail.com

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20 October Stevenage RSPB Local Group trip to Abberton Reservoir 10am An all day visit to this Essex Wildlife Trust reserve for autumn migrants, waders and wildfowl. Meet in the Abberton Reserve car park at 10am. £2 donation required. Leader Graham Beevor. Grid Ref 168/TL 964177 Postcode CO2 0EU. 24 October Truth for a change 7.30pm Hitchin Town Hall, Brand Street Free admission. ‘Truth’ with Rupert Read (Extinction Rebellion/UEA). Expert talks and discussions on the problems and solutions around climate change.

Refreshments. Get your free ticket on Eventbrite.

Email: Nicky Clarknandmclark@tiscali.co.uk 25 October Hitchin Book Club 5pm Orange tree, Hitchin Admission £2.50. A friendly group who meets the last Friday of each month.

Web: https://hitchinbookclub.simdif.com or https:// www.meetup.com/Hitchin-Book-Club/ 29 October Dancing for Fun 10am-12pm British Schools Museum, 41/42 Queen Street, Hitchin £3 per child inc. light refreshments, Adults free Come and enjoy Maypole Dancing and English Country Dancing. For children 6+. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Numbers are limited, so please book in advance online.

Web: www.britishschoolsmuseum.org.uk 30 & 31 October Rats, Bats and Cats Halloween Fun Days 10am-12pm & 1-3pm British Schools Museum, 41/42 Queen Street, Hitchin £5 per child inc. drink & biscuit, accompanying adult free. It’s that spooky time of year again so join us for a frighteningly fun crafty day. Activities for children aged 4-11 years. All children to be accompanied by a responsible adult at all times. Booking is highly recommended. www.britishschoolsmuseum.org.uk 30 October-2 November MOJO by Jez Butterworth 7.45pm The Queen Mother Theatre, Hitchin Tickets £10. The play is set in Ezra’s Atlantic Club in Soho during the summer of 1958. Silver Johnny, Ezra’s seventeen-year-old rock ‘n’ roll protégé, is causing a sensation at the club. Two petty crooks, Sweets and Potts, high on amphetamines, introduce us to this criminal milieu. Box office 01462 455166 Web: qmt.org.uk

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Crossword Solution for The Villager September Edition Last Month’s Crossword Winner - Mr T James from Huntingdon Ed Byrne Competition Winner - Cloe Turnbull from Hitchin

September’s Codeword and Suduko Solutions

Easy

Hard

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To find out more call Nigel on 01767 261122 or email nigel@villagermag.com To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

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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 October 2019 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd

Prize

ÂŁ25

Across 1 Actors in a play (4) 3 Grow or enlarge (8) 9 At rest (7) 10 Odd (5) 11 Numerical (12) 14 Short sleep (3) 16 Very angry (5) 17 Epoch (3) 18 However (12) 21 Call in (5) 22 Spiciest (7) 23 Agitated (8) 24 Classification (4) Down 1 Ritual (8) 2 Divided (5) 4 Head movement (3) 5 Necessities (12) 6 The mean value (7) 7 Beige (4) 8 Exploratory (12) 12 Adjust (5) 13 Tape container (8) 15 Crushes (7) 19 Foe (5) 20 Above (4) 22 Owns (3)

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Inground & above ground pools servicing & maintenance Pool toys & chemicals | Hot tubs & Spas Steam showers & gazebos

Visit our showroom: Unit 1C, St Francis Way, Shefford Ind Estate, Beds SG17 5DZ Tel: 01462 819003 | www.crystalleisurepools.com

With over 20 years experience we love repairing and restoring wooden floors to their former glory Family run business • Excellent workmanship Extensive range of floor lacquers and oils Call us on: 07470 238 817 or email: info@ndwoodflooring.co.uk Visit our website to see examples of our work www.ndwoodflooring.co.uk or find us on Facebook ndwoodflooring

GAS SAFE REGISTERED

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“Quality is not expensive, it’s priceless”

Extensions, Refurbishments, Loft and Garage Conversions, Landscaping and General Building Internal and external work with many local references View our testimonials at www.hertfordshirebuilders.co.uk

Loft Conversions

Extensions Open Plan Living

Garage Conversions

Garden Rooms & Landscaping

Refurbishments

Architect drawings and planning applications catered for Estimates and ideas FREE

www.hertfordshirebuilders.co.uk Call Richard on 07818 061505 60

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Books

Book Review

By Kate Duggan The Dutch House

by Ann Patchett

This is a book about the bond between siblings, the repercussions of past events that echo down the years and the attachment people can feel for a place. In this case, the place is a big, grand house, and the siblings are Danny and his big sister, Maeve. Their mother flees when Danny is just a toddler, leaving Maeve to step into her shoes. When the children gain a stepmother, they soon learn they’re not welcome in their own home and the future they had planned comes tumbling down. A beautifully written, gentle book, The Dutch House is one to savour.

Tall Tales and Wee Stories

by Billy Connolly

Tall Tales and Wee Stories brings together some of the most popular sketches from Billy Connolly’s 50 year career in comedy, including Jojoba Shampoo, The Last Supper, Shouting at Wildebeest and more. Dip in when you need an instant pick-me-up after a bad day.

(Just don’t read it on the train, unless you don’t mind snorting with laughter in public.)

ROGERSONS

REMOVALS

Time to Cook

by Nadiya Hussain

Like to eat home-cooked food but often struggle to find the time? This book is for you. From batch-cooking to making the most of leftovers, plus plenty of quick and simple recipes, Time to Cook is a treasure trove of ideas. Enjoy Harissa Bean Pizza for brunch (with just ten minutes hands-on time), followed by One Tray Peanut Chicken for dinner and Caramelized Biscuit Traybake for pudding.

Man with Van

Removals • Clearances • Deliveries Pick-Ups • Items disposed of Flat pack assembly Anything Considered Friendly and reliable at a cost you can afford

Tel: 01462 627074 Mob: 07867 531368

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Appliance and Electrical Repairs Appliance and Electrical Repairs All makes of washing machines, dishwashers, cookers, hobs and hoods repaired, serviced and sold.

No call out charges on accepted quotes Member of DASA 30 years 35 years local work experience Used as expert on BBC Watchdog

01525 753547 or 07836 242122 G.J. WATKINSON

Wood Suppliers

FOR SALE

Seasoned Hardwood Logs Any size load Telephone: 01438 355489 Mobile: 07721 508383

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