Henlow apr 18 by Villager Mag

VILLAGER The

Issue 113 - April 2018

and Town

Life

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

In this issue Win tickets to

Harpenden Blues Liberate your

Wardrobe Win £25

in our Prize Crossword

Bringing Local Business to Local People in

Langford, Henlow, Shefford, Stanford, Hinxworth, Ickleford, Caldecote, Radwell, Fairfield Park, Shillington, Pirton, Upper and Lower Stondon, Gravenhurst, ur Holwell, Meppershall, Baldock, Stotfold, Arlesey, Hitchin & Letchworth Yo EE To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

FRco1py

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Inside this issue... 10

Win Tickets to Classic Ibiza A Memorial to Post.....................................................................4 Bless You! It’s Hayfever Time Again.............................................8 Win Tickets to Classic Ibiza with Ministry of Sound...................10 Win Tickets to Harpenden Blues Festival..................................12 How Eggstraordinary...............................................................14 Declutter Your Life....................................................................17 April Fool!.................................................................................19 Casanova: World’s First Museum & Experience.........................20 Why Colour (& Style) Matters in the Workplace........................23 Liberate Your Wardrobe............................................................25 Fight Fatigue & Pain.................................................................27 Belgrade..................................................................................28 Best Foot Forward....................................................................30 2018 A Centenary Celebration - The WI....................................33 Listening Volunteers from Samaritans.....................................35 Fun Quiz...................................................................................36 A Day in the Life of Bedfordshire Archives Service....................39

A.M. Optometrists - Making Eye Care Clearer...........................40 Plant a Butterfly Garden...........................................................42 Greensand Country Announces Summer Festival.....................47 Overhaul Your Lawn.................................................................49 Feeling Stressed Out? Take a Walk with a Llama.......................50 John Bunyan Boat Team Reveals 2018 Cruise Programme........52 R.A.T.S. Rehoming Appeal........................................................55 Animal Queries.........................................................................57 Nick Coffer’s Weekend Recipe...................................................59 Puzzle Page..............................................................................60 What’s On.................................................................................62 Schoolreaders Launches Book Club Quiz Challenge..................67 Helping to Save Lives One Cake at a Time.................................69 Wordsearch..............................................................................70 Prize Crossword........................................................................74 Book Review............................................................................76

A.M. Optometrists

Get your business off to a flying start this year

Advertise with the Villager Magazine... prices start from just £35.00 +VAT per month

Editorial - Catherine Rose, Louise Addison, Roberta Snow, Tracey Anderson, Tom Hancock, Trevor Langley, Jennie Billings, Suzanne Roynon, Solange Hando, Sarah Davey, Rachael Leverton, Pippa Greenwood, RSPCA, Nick Coffer and Kate Duggan. Advertising Sales/Local Editorial Nigel Frost • Tel 01767 261122 • nigel@villagermag.com Photography Paul Grecaud 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 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

A Memorial By Catherine Rose

to Post

In the era of email and smartphones, many believe the art of letter writing is declining. So, what of the history of our postal system, once the only way people could communicate across long distances? During medieval times, letters were usually handwritten on velum and sealed with wax (there were no envelopes in those days), after which they were sent via messenger on horseback, or even by trained hawk or carrier pigeon. In 1507, Cardinal Wolsey decided to make post more official and appointed a Master of the Posts (later to become the Postmaster General). His job was to manage a postmaster in each major town who would keep a team of horses and post boys – often a hazardous task for these riders thanks to highway robbers. In 1635, the Royal Mail was founded and the first official post or ‘letter’ offices were set up. By 1660 letters were being inked to show the date they were mailed using a hand-held stamp, also known as a ‘Bishop stamp’ after its inventor, Henry Bishop. The cost of postage wasn’t rationalised, however. There was corruption and widely varying charges applied to different areas and routes, for example over bridges with tolls. As it was the recipient who had to pay, post was often refused on the grounds of cost, resulting in losses and an inefficient system. In 1837, polymath Sir Rowland Hill wrote a pamphlet – Post Office Reform, its Importance and Practicability – which outlined suggestions to revolutionise the postal system. At that time there was a postal charge for distance and an additional one for each sheet of paper sent which resulted in many people writing ‘between the lines’, i.e. turning the paper around 180 degrees and writing the second page in the spaces between the lines of the first. (There is a wonderful example of this in a letter on display at Jane Austen’s House Museum in Alton, Hampshire.) Hill made a case for abolishing the existing complicated and expensive postal tariffs. He

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suggested introducing a penny post across the board for standard letters of an ounce or less, paid for by the sender, with higher rates of postage for packets and parcels dependent on weight. This idea proved popular with the public and together with the Postmaster General Lord Lichfield, they came up with the idea of using a small label “covered at the back with a glutinous wash” that could be stuck to an envelope to show that the sender had paid the required postage. Named after the original hand stamp method used for postmarking, the postage stamp was born. However, it was perhaps not as novel as it is claimed for similar pieces of paper, attached to documents using lead staples, had already been in use to denote paid taxes for several hundred years. It was decided to place the postage stamp in the top right-hand corner of the envelope to speed up postmarking (also known as cancellation), because postal workers would be using their right hand. In 1839, Hill ran a competition to design the first postage stamp with a prize of £200. There were nearly 3,000 entries. In the end, it was R. A. William Wyon’s depiction of a young Queen Victoria’s profile that was chosen, based on a bust he had modelled of her when she was just fifteen and which was subsequently used for a commemorative medal on her first visit to London as Queen. Another artist, Henry Corbould, drew the head and embellished the background. The whole design was then line engraved for printing. The Penny Black was officially launched in May 1840, followed two days later by the Tuppeny Blue. More than 70 million letters were sent annually over the next two years, a figure that had more

than quadrupled by 1850. Along with the demand for post came the production of folded envelopes. The initial stamps were printed onto sheets of paper and then manually cut using scissors. Perforated sheets to facilitate tearing were introduced in 1854 after Henry Archer invented a perforating machine. The Penny Red was the first to appear with the characteristic edge we now associate with stamps. Other countries soon followed suit with their own postage, but the UK remained the only country that did not geographically identify itself on its stamps, the reigning monarch’s head being deemed sufficient. The explosion in letter sending necessitated another invention – the post box. Surprisingly, it was the Victorian novelist Anthony Trollope who introduced the iconic pillar box in 1853. Initially, it was designed in green to blend with the surroundings, but it soon became clear that people needed to be able to spot it and green was replaced with the now familiar and famous ‘pillar box red’. Postcodes were phased in between 1959 and 1974 to help with the sorting and delivery of letters. It is interesting to note that when looking back prior to Hill’s founding of our modern postal system, rural addresses often only consisted of a number and the name of the village – fine for a messenger on horseback searching through a handful of houses. Today, we can sit at our laptops and send a message in the blink of an eye. And with companies increasingly going ‘paperless’, who knows what the future will be for our postal system?

By Catherine Rose

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Time of Year

By Louise Addison

Bless You!

It’s Hayfever time again Hayfever is on the increase, says the British Allergy Foundation. The most likely explanation for this is that summer is starting earlier and pollution is rising. Pollution traps pollen in the atmosphere and holds it there. As a result we’re all being exposed to many more allergens, particularly those of us who live in towns in cities. No wonder we’re all sneezing. The body’s immune system is a wonderful creation. It responds to nasty substances such as viruses and bacteria by generating special antibodies which help to neutralise them. These helpful antibodies are actually large protein molecules of a category known as IGG. Unfortunately, there is another set of antibodies from a category known as IGE. These are less helpful because they tend to over react to allergens, which are harmless materials such as grass pollen. The problem lies with our mast cells. These are cells choc full of histamine and other substances capable of producing inflammation. The IGE molecules cling to the mast cells and when an allergen enters the body it sticks to the IGEcoated mast cells and triggers them to explode, whereupon they release all their histamine and cause an inflammatory response. Some of us have high levels of IGE in our bodies and some of us don’t. Those with high IGE levels

are more susceptible to allergies. In the case of hayfever it triggers runny noses and itchy eyes, but it can also trigger asthma if the response occurs in the airways and eczema if it occurs in the skin. Susceptibility does have a genetic basis. However, scientists also know that the immune system develops very early so early exposure to an allergen may affect the development and number of immune cells present, so later in life an allergic response to a particular allergen is more likely. We can’t yet reduce the number of IGE cells in a body but a few years ago scientists discovered that IGG and IGE molecules have different structures and bind differently to mast cells. Thus new medications are now being developed with the ability to disable the IGE and stop it binding to mast cells in the first place. In the future we may be able to relieve the misery of hayfever altogether. Wouldn’t that be lovely? Current Treatments Anti-histamine tablets Impede the body’s immune response so preventing symptoms. Nasal Sprays Work directly on the affected area and leave the rest of the immune system alone. Injections Offer long term protection but are only used in severe cases because of their ongoing nature. REMEMBER - Do not wait until symptoms start. Ideally begin to take medication 3-4 weeks before the start of the hayfever season.

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Truly Independent

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In association with

Win 2 tickets to Classic Ibiza

with Ministry of Sound at Hatfield House Classic Ibiza with Ministry of Sound is returning to Hertfordshire on 1 September. The concert sees the Urban Soul Orchestra (USO), DJ Goldierocks and a host of live vocalists perform some of dance music’s most iconic tracks in the delightful grounds of Hatfield House. Here’s what to expect: 1. Dance music A-listers: USO have performed with a veritable who’s-who of dance music, including Nightmares On Wax, Groove Armada and Robert Miles. 2. Superstar DJ: Goldierocks has performed exclusively for Kate Moss, Madonna, The Rolling Stones, Giorgio Armani and the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge. 3. Get set to select: The set-list includes some of the biggest dance-tracks dating back to the 90s. At Easter you can vote for your favourite track to be added to the set on Classic Ibiza’s Facebook page (@ClassicIbiza). 4. Family friendly: Classic Ibiza is a concert for all

the family, so whether you’re six or 60 you are assured of having a fantastic evening. 5. Food for thought: You can bring your own picnic and refreshments or take advantage of the local street-food vendors and bars on site. 6. A night of two halves: Classic Ibiza starts with a chill-out set, where you can relax over a glass of bubbly, or dance along as the sun fades. The music gets ramped up in the second half and you’ll be transported to a magical, alfresco celebration, with accompanying lasers.

Visit: www.classicibiza.co.uk or call 01630 674342. Tickets: Adults: £39.50, Children (5 –16): £17.50, Under 5’s: free, Car-parking: free. Simply send or email your entry by 16th April 2018 to: Classic Ibiza Competition, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP. Email: nigel@villagermag.com The winner will be drawn randomly.



CLASSIC IBIZA TICKET COMPETITION ENTRY

To win 2 free tickets to Classic Ibiza answer the question below and email or post your response by 16th April 2018. Classic Ibiza sees the Urban Soul Orchestra, DJ Goldierocks and a host of live vocalists perform which kind of music? A: France music  B: Prance music  C: Dance music  Name: Address: Tel: Email: 10

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advertorial

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Win 2 tickets to

Harpenden Blues, Rhythm & Rock Festival “Bringing great sounds to Hertfordshire” Showcasing the quality of live music in the UK; with The Pretty Things headlining and five other very different but striking bands in the line-up, this will undoubtedly be another a great festival and an occasion not to miss! No need to worry about searching for food and drinks on the day either, there will be a range of alcoholic/nonalcoholic beverages, real ales available and a varied menu that should meet everyone’s taste! Through their entire career, The Pretty Things have written, performed, and created informed, intelligent, groundbreaking, and original music, enabled by powerful, melodic writing that has kept this incredible band alive for nearly half a century. Sadly, this iconic British band is calling it a day this year and after an incredible career spanning 55 years, they intend to go out with a bang exactly the same way they came in! So don’t miss this opportunity to experience The Pretty Things live one last time and get your tickets now at only £25, by calling 01472 349 222 or online at www.solidentertainments.com/blues/harpenden/ tickets.html. Harpenden Public Halls, Southdown Road, Harpenden, Hertfordshire AL5 1PD

HARPENDEN BLUES FESTIVAL COMPETITION ENTRY To win 2 free tickets to The Harpenden Blues Festival simply answer the question below and send your entry by 16th April 2018 to the address above. Name The Pretty Things first three singles that appeared in the UK Singles Chart in 1964 and 1965?



Simply send or email your entry by 16th April 2018 to: Harpenden Blues Competition, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP. The winner will be drawn randomly from the correct entries.

Name: Tel: Address: 12

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Time of Year

How Eggstraordinary!

By Roberta Snow

It’s ironic that most of the traditions associated with the principle religious feast of the Christian year have no basis in Christianity at all. The word ‘Easter’ comes from an Anglo-Saxon fertility goddess called Eostre, who was associated with spring and new beginnings. Both Easter and Passover centre around re-birth, and bond neatly with the Anglo-Saxon festival of ‘Eostre-monath’ – Eostre’s month. Hot cross buns, traditionally eaten on Good Friday, are linked to the Jewish festival of Passover. Originally they were made from unleavened bread, an important Passover food. Nowadays they are more palatably leavened and marked with a cross to serve as a reminder of the crucifixion. As an aside you may notice they are more expensive this year due to a global shortage of raisins and sultanas! The tradition of eating chocolate eggs stems from Eostre, when eggs were given as gifts to celebrate the end of winter and as a symbol of new life and fertility. Chocolate was an ingenious German addition much later. The Easter bunny seems to have been a German invention too, though it stems from Eostre again. The original association was the hare but rabbits look similar so they kind of hijacked the show. German children made nests in the garden and good children were left coloured hard-boiled eggs over night as a reward. Egg rolling on Easter Monday is an eccentric British custom. As a child I was told the egg represented the rolling away of the stone blocking Jesus’ tomb, but research shows that the custom predates the arrival of Easter Breakfasts (Villager)_ppl.pdf 1 14/03/2018 ChristianityTCH here. It’s great fun though, whatever the history behind it. 16:11

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Time of Year

Declutter Your Life It’s that time of year when we get the urge to Spring Clean If you can’t lay your hands on items you need because they’re buried under piles of junk; if you’re constantly moving items from one pile to a new ‘temporary’ pile; if you find yourself thinking, “I can’t throw this away, it might come in useful one day,” you’re probably a clutter-victim. Californian blogger Dave Bruno wrote The 100 Thing Challenge. He set himself a year-long experimental task of reducing his belongings to 100 items. Although it started as a challenge he actually chose to keep living by his new rules afterwards, saying he prefers the simplicity. It would be tough for most of us to emulate Bruno exactly, but he has a point. Most of us probably put far too much time, effort and money into acquiring, keeping and storing possessions, and sometimes it’s good to let go. If you’re ready to de-clutter, then we have a few simple tips. If you feel you need help, there are experts in de-cluttering who will guide you through the process of letting go. De-cluttering Tips Deal with one room at a time the task will seem less daunting. Stick with that room until it’s finished. Choose a nice day - Take the room contents outside. Psychologically it’s easier to sort and let go if you’re one step removed. It’s also less likely that the clutter will make it back inside.

Sort everything into three piles - Label them dump, donate and keep. Be realistic: if the item in question hasn’t been used for over a year it is unlikely you will ever use it. Deal with the dump and donate piles - Do this before anything comes back into the house. It’s much harder to mess up your good work if the stuff is physically gone. Sort and label - Place the remaining items in clearly labelled boxes. Make sure there is one temporary box to house items which really belong in another room. As each room is sorted those items can be replaced, and other misplaced items can be housed there while the de-cluttering process continues. Replace everything that remains - The maxim ‘A place for everything and everything in its place’ is a good one. Keep small items in clear plastic boxes and store them in cupboards or wardrobes. When you’re done instigate a ‘one thing in: one thing out’ rule. It will make you think twice about acquiring something if you know something else must go. Finally, once a week, take two bags and go through your home. One bag is for rubbish, the other for items in the wrong place. When you’ve finished throw the rubbish away and replace the misplaced items. Follow these small steps and you too can declutter your life.

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By Tracey Anderson

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Time of Year

April Fool! By Tom Hancock The origins of April Fools’ Day seems to be lost in time but like many traditions probably has a number of historical roots. There was certainly a Roman festival called hilaria around that time of year, to celebrate the vernal equinox. The most popular theory about ‘modern’ April Fools’ Day is that it began to take shape in late 16th century France. At that time, there was a switch to the Gregorian Calendar under Charles IX. Prior to this there had been a New Year’s week (March 25th-April1st) , and under the Gregorian system, New year’s Day fell on January 1st. As with any change there was some resistance, and many people stubbornly refused to accept the new system, continuing to celebrate New Year on April 1st.

These people were ridiculed and labelled ‘fools’ by the general populace and were often the butt of jokes and pranks. They were known as poisson d’avril, or April fish, possibly because a naïve young fish is easily caught. Over the years the custom of prank-playing spread to the general population and eventually to Britain, where schoolboy pranks are still the order of the day. Watch out!

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Food and Drink

Casanova: World’s First Museum & Experience Italy is known for producing numerous products of high-quality. Italian designer fashions and cars are very much recognised and sought-after, globally. Many visitors return regularly to Italy, for the enjoyment of beautiful landscapes and coastal areas, plus explorations of Italy’s history and cultural heritage. There are many more attractions and qualities the country has to offer, including very impressive glassware, porcelain, lace and furniture, plus wonderful cuisine and wines, for example. Giacomo Casanova lived during the 18th century. Born 2nd April 1725, in Venice, he lived for 73 years. During his life, the legendary Giacomo Casanova was an adventurer, poet, musician, writer and spy, amongst his many attributes, as well as being renowned for his encounters with females. Entering the University of Padua, at twelve years of age, Casanova graduated at age seventeen with a degree in law and constantly searched to satisfy his desires for love and lust. During the early part of the 21st century Carlo Parodi envisaged the creation of a Museum & Experience, to offer everyone the opportunity to learn and discover about the life of Giacomo Casanova. Carlo Parodi, founder of Giacomo Casanova Limited and the Giacomo Casanova Foundation works tirelessly, along with professionals, that include university professors, plus many other knowledgeable and skilled personnel and has created the Museum & Experience, for all to enjoy. The first Giacomo Casanova Museum is located in Venice. As well as the very interesting memorabilia, which includes paintings and artefacts from Casanova’s life and times, modern technology and multimedia inclusions allow visitors, of all ages, to engage in - and discover – the world of this charismatic man. The romances of Giacomo Casanova, plus the styles and ways of life, of that era, hold much interest and fascination, evoking and satisfying curiosity and intrigue. From Mr Carlo Parodi: “I’ve decided to offer a tribute to Casanova, a man of love, poetry, music and adventure, giving evidence of the educated, cultivated, learned and refined gentleman - Giacomo Casanova.” Other Giacomo Casanova Museum & Experience venues, permanent and temporary, are planned to be located in several cities, including Prague, Saint Petersburg, London, Paris, New York, Tokyo and Beijing. Standard and VIP tickets are available, plus many very memorable additional features, including Romantic Days (and Nights) Packages – Perhaps surprise someone special? For all information and more details, https://igg.me/at/casanovaexperience/x Facebook, Instagram and YouTube: @giacomocasanovafoundation

As always, Enjoy!

ey Trevor Langl

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House of Colour

Why Colour (& Style) Matters in the Workplace

Could the colours and styles you wear help you achieve more in the workplace? Whether we like it or not, how we present ourselves in the workplace can alter how people see you and your company brand. A new boss should aim to exude authority but also be approachable; a manager presenting to a new client needs to look professional and memorable for the right reasons. Given we make up our minds about someone within the first few seconds of meeting them, it follows that our first impressions alone can alter future relationships between client and service provider, boss and employee, or colleagues. However, it’s also never too late to change! The truth is it is harder these days to get a job and progress in your career. We are needing to work harder and smarter, and part of that is by standing out in positive way and being noticed for all the right reasons. When we liaise, present, network and manage we need to look and feel good. Top Tips for Making The Right Impression At Work 1. Wear clothes that fit you. Very baggy shirts and oversized jackets may look slouchy and un-kempt. In the same way, tight fitting dresses, skirts and shirts could give your colleagues and clients the wrong impression. 2. Get to know your red. Red in the workplace is so powerful and can be worked with any seasonal palate. For example, if you are a Winter, opt for deep burgundy and blue based reds. If you are a Summer, try Cherry red variations. Autumns are best in fiery brick reds and Springs in bright and warm Geranium reds. Alternatively keep it subtle

with just one item of red, like a bold red lip, or a scarf or tie for a man. 3. Pair bold shirts or blouses with neutral jackets or vice versa. Work clothes don’t have to be boring, but you don’t want to dazzle and distract with a rainbow of colours. One impact colour and two neutrals are a good rule of thumb. Add an extra colour with your blouse, belt, scarf, bag or shoes to make your outfit ‘pop’, it will make you more memorable to everyone you meet. 4. Quality speaks loudly, so pay attention to getting good quality shirts, blouses, jackets, accessories etc. for work, that extra investment will send the message that you are worth it! 5. Accessorise! A silk scarf will soften an otherwise harsh tailored suit, or layering necklaces could give an edge to your outfit dependent on your ideal style.

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By Jennie Billings www.houseofcolour.co.uk/ jenniebillings jennie.billings@houseofcolour.co.uk

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By Suzanne Roynond

Life Coaching

Liberate your wardrobe Wardrobes can be scary places! They hide clothes you never wear, sale bargains which were unflattering when you got them home and clothes you kept in case you lost weight but in the meantime went out of fashion. These clothes clutter your space and energy. If your wardrobe is crammed then often the clothes you wear regularly end up thrown over a door or stacked on a chair. They get crumpled and spoiled. When you learn to manage clutter, taking care of your clothes and getting dressed in the morning will be significantly easier. So grab a coffee or glass of wine and head for the bedroom. Put all your clothes on the bed and survey them with a critical eye. Anything you adore and wear regularly goes straight back into your wardrobe provided it doesn’t need repairing. (Put it to one side and fix it!) ‘Occasion outfits’, evening dresses or tuxedos get to go back for another year provided you love them and they still fit. If you work on the principle that

you wear 20% of your clothes 80% of the time you now have a significant pile of clothes you don’t wear – perhaps they are the wrong size, remind you of sad times, missing buttons or are tatty. There will also be items you had forgotten you own. Anything you are never going to wear again goes straight into a recycling bag. For clothes you aren’t sure about, try each item on – how does it feel? If it’s unflattering, too large, too small, triggers unhappy thoughts or is damaged, ditch it straightaway. Note: It’s never a good idea to hang onto something in case you drop a dress size. If you lose weight you deserve to celebrate with new clothes. Don’t give these unworthy outfits a second more of your time – they have no place in your life. On the other hand, if you try on the item and it feels amazing, put it in the wardrobe and make a point of showing it off at the first opportunity.

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Follow the same principles with t-shirts, gym gear, underwear, socks, out of season clothes, handbags, make up, jewellery, scarves and coats. Anything baggy, saggy, discoloured, missing a mate, broken or moth-eaten won’t do your appearance or your self esteem any favours – say goodbye to it now. Oh, and that swimsuit – you know the one with the dodgy elastic? Out! Making space in your wardrobe is incredibly liberating. You make better use of the clothes you love to wear and save valuable time and effort every day. Most people choose to bag their clothes and take them straight to the charity shop. The sooner clutter of any kind is out of your house, the better you will feel. If however you have the time and inclination to Ebay your stuff or it’s suitable for a dress exchange then go for it and enjoy the new space you have created in your life. Suzanne Roynon is a personal performance life coach www.yoursuccess.coach

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Local News

Fight Fatigue & Pain – Free Event People who are experiencing exhaustion and chronic pain are invited to a free drop-in event on Saturday 28th April. Between 12pm and 2pm anyone is welcome to find out more about Fighting Fatigue & Pain, a project run by Letchworth charity Herts MS Therapy Centre. Extreme fatigue and chronic pain can result from many conditions, including Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and ME – and many others. The Herts MS Therapy Centre in Letchworth helps anyone with a long term condition, not just Multiple Sclerosis. It offers Physiotherapy, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, APS Pain Reduction Therapy and specialist exercise sessions to help people improve their quality of life. Oxygen Therapy helps some people recover faster after injury, surgery and cancer treatments. It’s also great for increasing energy. Some people find it reduces pain, especially people with Fibromyalgia and CFS.

On 28th April, free test sessions are available. Rachel B says: “Without my Oxygen Treatment in Letchworth I would still be in agony from Fibromyalgia and probably jobless and depressed. I can’t even begin to explain what a difference it has made for me.” Nicki H has MS. She adds: “Also, it’s great to meet other people who have an idea of what you’re going through. It’s nice to have a chat with other people at the Centre.” Mark Boscher, the Chief Executive of Herts MS Therapy Centre added: “If you, or someone you know, lives with long term pain or fatigue – from any condition - maybe we can help them to gain more energy and feel less pain. Please come on Saturday 28th April.” To book your free test session, call Claire on 01462 684214 or email openday@hmstc.net

Fighting Fatigue & Pain: Free Event Saturday 28th April 2018, 12pm – 2pm Visit to find out about:

• Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

(may accelerate healing, boost energy, reduce pain)

• APS Pain Reduction Therapy • Specialist physio and group exercise sessions (tailored to people with medical conditions)

Free test sessions available – book your place now!

Fighting Fatigue & Pain

We’re at Herts MS Therapy Centre, 30 Campus Five, Letchworth, SG6 2JF. Just turn up! For more details call Claire on 01462 684 214. This event is kindly sponsored by Coloplast. Discover continence and urology products for intimate healthcare needs.

www.hertsmstherapy.org.uk

Hertfordshire Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre is Charity 299524 and Company 2215165 Registered Office 30 Campus Five, Letchworth, Herts SG6 2JF

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Travel

Belgrade

Whichever way you arrive, the first sight of Belgrade takes your breath away, the ‘White City’ rising like a sphinx above the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. Up on the hill, the iconic spire of St Michael’s, the Orthodox cathedral, dominates the old town but all eyes are set on the citadel spreading along the ridge, 125 metres above the valley. This strategic location fired up battles and invasions for almost 2,000 years, razing the city to the ground 44 times, but in the new independent Serbia peace has come and the old fortress sprinkles towers, turrets and walls in the wonderful oasis of Kalemegdan, the city’s central park. Birds twitter all around and there are statues and flower displays, grand staircases, fountains and gates, a few crenellations, a couple of museums and churches and lots of winding paths and shaded seats where locals come to chat or play chess. Visitors stroll along the beautiful cliff top promenade to enjoy the views, the modern city in the distance, the bridges, the cruising boats anchored along the Sava, the green waters of the Danube flowing around the Big Island’s nature reserve. Excavations have revealed the presence of the Vinca, one of the oldest prehistoric cultures in Europe, the Celts, Romans and many others, but surviving fortifications only date back to the 18th century, rebuilt by Austro-Hungarian and Turkish rulers. The ‘old town’ is even younger, claiming 200 years at the very most, but is stylish and colourful with tree-lined streets, outdoor restaurants and stunning buildings ranging from Romantic or Renaissance style to neo-Baroque, Art Nouveau or early Deco,

in white or pastel hues. The wide pedestrian street Knez Mihailova is everyone’s favourite, the place to meet friends, enjoy a drink or browse the luxury shops before heading to the vast Republic Square. There you can gaze at the equestrian statue of 19th century ruler Prince Michael, the National Theatre and the National Museum containing some 290,000 exhibits from around the world. Most valuable is the Miroslav’s Gospel, the oldest Cyrillic manuscript of its kind, with 362 illuminated pages dating back to around 1180. Belgrade has myriad churches, including Saint Sava rebuilt in the 20th century and now one of the largest in the world, honouring the country’s medieval patron saint and founder of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Saint Sava is set on the Vracar plateau but nearer to the town centre is an elegant cluster of former palaces, now turned City Hall and Presidential Seat, enhanced by lawns and flower beds. Look out for the House of the National Assembly across the park, pristine white and fronted by sculptures of ‘Black Horses Playing’. Relaxed and cosmopolitan, easy to walk around, Belgrade is a delightful capital, from the gently buzzing centre and waterways to the lovely Botanical Garden or the secluded Bohemian District around Skadarska Street. Once home to gypsies, this steep cobbled lane is full of old charm, a hideaway for writers, artists and savvy visitors. There are intriguing paintings and trompe l’oeil, antique and ethnic shops, small galleries and inviting flowerdraped terraces serving delicious food and wine at affordable prices. Guitar, harmonica, violin or tamburitza, traditional music sounds in every corner, late into the night but a world away from the throbbing nightclubs and floating restaurants along the Sava. Meanwhile on the cliff-like ridge, all is quiet and the old citadel glows high above the mighty rivers.

By Solange Hando

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Time of Year

Best Foot Forward London Marathon 22nd April 2018 What do Paula Radcliffe, SpongeBob SquarePants and a man in a diving suit have in common? Answer: They’ve all run, or in the last case walked, the London Marathon. I was thirteen years old in 1981, when the first London Marathon took place. I remember being awestruck at the sheer number of people willing to put themselves through the agony of running twenty-six miles, for charity, for themselves or for their country. I cried when Norwegian Inge Simonsen and Dick Beardsley from the USA linked hands to finish in a dead heat. It is an amazing achievement to run a marathon but why do people do it? The reasons given include:

• A get fit challenge • The buzz of taking part in a massive organised event • To raise money for a charity close to their heart. • To step out of their ordinary existence and chase a momentous goal. Will Dillard, a professional coach from Atlanta thinks it’s down to instinct. “Our lives have become more comfortable,” he says, “We don’t have to worry about where our next meal is coming from; but something inside of us still wants to know if we can survive if confronted with that kind of challenge: it wants to find out.” The fact that I seem to lack this instinct does not stop me admiring anyone who has a go, so if you’re running on April 22nd, I wish you luck: I am unworthy.

By Sarah Davey

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Women’s Institute

2018 A Centenary Celebration

May Parker Federation Trustee

By Catherine Rose

Many early leaders of the WI were active in the women’s suffrage movement and to them an important part of the new organisation was to encourage the fuller participation of women in public life. WI’s were considered the rural counterpart of the banding together of women in the urban areas for the common fight for freedom and independence of both thought and action. Suffragist groups existed all over the country and under many different names, their aim being to achieve the right for women to vote through constitutional and peaceful means. As early as 1832, a Suffragist named Mary Smith presented the first women’s suffrage petition to Parliament. As we know, nothing came of that petition or many others which followed, and the blatant lack of consideration to the women’s formal requests for suffrage caused women to believe more pressure was needed to validate their cause, culminating in the Women’s Social & Political Union (WSPU) being formed in 1903 by Emmeline Pankhurst and two of her daughters. However, when WW1 broke out in 1914 she encouraged Suffragettes to help with the war effort so, for a while, their campaigns ceased, but success followed when, in 1918, the Representation of People Act gave (some) women the right to vote. The WI movement was closely linked with the campaign for suffrage, and many of the early members were some of the most resolute women in the country, realising that women working together could effect change. One of those women, WI member Margaret Winteringham, was elected Member of Parliament for Louth in 1921, and she was both the first English born female MP and only the second woman to take up her seat. She worked with the WI on some of its earliest campaigns in raising the age of consent from 13, and ensuring fathers supported their children born out of marriage. The achievement of the women’s movement has seen maternity leave rights, equal pay, and domestic violence legislation.

At the end of the First World War, in 1918, there were 700 WIs and by the end of 1919 there were 1,405. Today the National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI) is the largest women’s organisation in the UK with around 212,000 members in more than 6,000 WI’s across England, Wales and the Islands. 2018 also marks the centenary of the first WI opening in what is now the Huntingdon & Peterborough Federation of WIs, the Federation setting an amazing array of very interesting and exciting events for its members throughout this celebratory year. The Federation consists of a Board of Trustees overseeing all of its WI’s within the Huntingdon & Peterborough area, having WI advisers, health & safety, data protection, finance and property officers, with sub-committees relating to public affairs, creative crafts and cookery, events and leisure and membership. We also have a Denman ambassador - Denman being the WI’s centre for learning for women (and for men), members and non-members, with residential courses including accommodation, set in the picturesque village of Marcham near Oxford. In this year of celebration let us not forget that many rights and privileges we take for granted were fought for through campaigns and petitions by pioneering women of the past.

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Local News Listening Volunteers from Samaritans of North Herts and Stevenage answered over 28,000 calls last year and need your help to do more Samaritans of North Herts and Stevenage are proud to have a brilliant team of volunteers who help keep the branch open and answer the phones to anyone who needs to talk. Talking doesn’t have to just be done over the phone; our volunteers also respond to emails and SMS messages that can be sent in anonymously to Samaritans. In 2017 alone, our volunteers: • Answered 28,246 calls • Spent 5,991 hours on the phone listening to callers • Replied to 1,876 emails • Responded to 4,300 texts Gill McLearnon, Director of Samaritans of North Herts and Stevenage said: “Our volunteers are all very different and come from different walks of life but all are valuable and I am very proud of the contribution that each and every volunteer makes in enabling us to be there to help those who need our service. Of course, we’re always looking for additional people to join us and help us to do more in 2018.” The North Herts and Stevenage branch of Samaritans is one of more than 200 branches throughout the UK and is based in Hitchin. Samaritans has over 20,000 volunteers who give their time to listen to people struggling to cope. The vision of Samaritans is that fewer people die by suicide. Volunteers work to achieve this vision by making it their mission to alleviate emotional distress and reduce suicidal throughs and behaviours through the power of listening. In order to maintain a round-the-clock service, we rely on our listening volunteers to answer calls, fundraising volunteers to help raise the c.£20,000 a year required for branch running costs, and our support volunteers to help with administration,

publicity and IT tasks. Our brilliant team of outreach volunteers also give talks, attend events and get out into the community to spread the message that Samaritans are here to listen, any time, free from any phone. If anyone is interested in becoming a volunteer with the local branch they can find out more about the different volunteering roles and how to apply: https://www.samaritans.org/branches/samaritansnorth-herts-and-stevenage/volunteering-northherts-stevenage Upcoming information evenings will take place on Tuesday 20 February and Monday 19 March – call 01462 455333 or email north-herts.volunteering@samaritanseast.org.uk to register your interest. For more information about the Samaritans of North Herts and Stevenage please contact Karys, Publicity Officer at nh.sams.karys@gmail.com

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Fun Quiz - East and West 1. Which body of water is known by names that translate as “the East Sea” in Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands and by a name that translates as “the West Sea” in Estonia? 2. Which country was known as the Dutch East Indies when it made its first and only appearance at a FIFA World Cup in 1938? 3. What is the most westerly capital city in mainland Europe? 4. Which other English county borders both East Sussex and West Sussex? 5. What are the names of the two rival gangs in West Side Story? 6. In which county would you find the town of Lowestoft, which is the most easterly settlement in the UK? 7. What name did the Western Allies use to refer to the bestknown crossing point between East Berlin and West Berlin during the Cold War? 8. The term West Bank is normally used to refer to a region in the Middle East that lies to the west of which river? 9. What is the name of the local London Underground station in EastEnders?... Walford East or Walford West? 10. If you flew due east from Edinburgh airport, what would be the first country you would fly over after leaving Scotland? 1. The Baltic Sea 2. Indonesia 3. Lisbon 4. Surrey 5. The Sharks and the Jets 6. Suffolk 7. Checkpoint Charlie 8. The River Jordan 9. Walford East 10. Denmark

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Local News

A Day in the Life of Bedfordshire Archives Service Bedfordshire Archives & Records Service is the public archive service, or county record office, for Bedfordshire and the internal records management service for the three unitary local authorities of the county. The archive service deals with documents that have been selected to be kept permanently because of the important information they contain. The records management service deals with paper records created by the authorities that need to be kept for the moment to meet business or statutory requirements but that will be destroyed once that requirement ends. That may sound dull but our days are full of variety. It is Monday so the day begins with a short staff meeting so that: everyone has the chance to raise anything that may have an impact on the service, knows what is happening this week, and we can review any feedback and issues. Today we also give ourselves a pat on the back for completing the listing of over 5,000 sales particulars from the 19601990s that we received in December. Then duty staff prepare for today’s researchers – subjects include: Wrest Park paintings, religious houses after the dissolution, Ampthill workhouse, Stotfold schools and Luton airport logs. The rest of us scatter to get on with our tasks including: • Responding to a councillor about celebrating the 150th anniversary of stations on the Midland mainline. • Looking for things required by The Higgins museum for their forthcoming exhibition on Bedfordshire women. • Retrieving material from the Russell collection for the forthcoming display on Humphry Repton at Woburn Abbey. Conservation checking and

packaging it ready for collection by the Woburn Abbey curator. • Responding to the first of the day’s written enquiries – subjects range from: a request for work experience, through a 1930s Biggleswade bicycle theft, to the history of a house in Elstow. • Discovering that those sale particulars we listed have just the answer we need to help a couple about to buy a house. • Preparing for the family and local history workshops and talks being given in Central Bedfordshire libraries. • Authorising timesheets of temporary staff working on externally funded cataloguing projects – one for the collection of Bedfordshire wills 1536-1857, and one for Richardson & Houfe’s architects’ drawings from their Ampthill office, 1913-1978. • Ordering conservation supplies so that we can properly protect our holdings. • Speaking to the job centre about a possible new volunteer. • Adding the descriptions for 250 documents to the online catalogue - each document catalogued has to be: carefully handled, read, numbered, described and properly packaged. • Retrieving 49 documents for customers (and putting them away again) - each document has to be located within our five kilometres of shelving and we may have to climb a ladder to get the box from the shelf before finding the exact document within the box for delivery to the searchroom. On the records management side, there are: Freedom of Information requests and incoming records to process, sending out records required back by departments, authorising payment to our storage contractor… there’s never a dull moment.

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Photography: Darren Harbar Photography

A.M. Optometrists

Making Eye Care Clearer A regular eye examination for you and your loved ones is a vital health check. Even if you are happy with the spectacles you already wear, you should still have your eyes examined every two years, and sometimes it may be necessary to do this more frequently. As well as giving you an up-to-date lens prescription, an optometrist can also detect health problems in the initial stages such as glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetes before they could cause permanent damage to your vision.

But looking after your vision is more than simply having a regular eye exam. A.M. Optometrists has teamed up with lens manufacturer Shamir UK as part of their ‘Enrich Life’ campaign to encourage people to think about having multiple eyewear that meets all their needs. The bottom line is that you wouldn’t wear the same pair of shoes for everything you do, so why wear the same pair of spectacles? To this end, with every full-price lens purchase until the end of July, A.M. Optometrists and Shamir are offering one or more additional pairs of lenses at half price. The offer covers the full range from single vision, bi-focal and varifocal lenses to Shamir’s specially designed lenses for computer, sports or workspace use. The only stipulation is that the lenses must be anti-reflection coated - a premium coating that has a two-year guarantee. Janet England, Practice Manger at A.M. Optometrists says: “We are the only country in Europe that sees

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spectacles as a grudge purchase with one pair doing the job. In Italy, for example, it is usual to own at least five pairs of spectacles that are coordinated with different outfits. “Everyone needs a spare pair in case your main pair is lost or broken but having more than one set of spectacles can also help you see better when doing different tasks.” Your spectacles can now be as varied as your wardrobe with technological advances meaning lenses are tailor-made to match the varying needs of every individual. Do you spend most of your work time focused on a computer screen? A.M. Optometrists can provide you with spectacles that use Shamir’s Computer™ lenses. These give a wide field of near and intermediate viewing, offering sharp vision up to 1.5m and preventing not only eye strain but neck and shoulder problems too. If you need greater depth of field, you can opt for Shamir’s WorkSpace™ or Office™ lenses that allow you clarity whether you need to focus on your desk or the other end of a conference table. Meanwhile, Shamir’s Autograph InTouch™ lenses meet the needs of our modern lifestyles - designed for the head-eye-hand positions used during daily tasks such as driving, reading, watching TV or operating a smartphone/tablet. With their varifocal lenses, A.M. Optometrists now takes detailed facial measurements for optimal comfort and vision. One recently satisfied customer said: “Having worn glasses for over 30 years, this is the first time I’ve put on a pair that felt instantly right as these do.” A.M. Optometrists also provides specialist sports spectacles, ideal for children that play rugby and football. “It’s not safe for children to wear spectacles on the field” explains Janet. “These days they have to wear proper protective eyewear” As well as prescription lenses, A.M. Optometrists’ sports spectacles have special rubber cushioning inside the frame and a head strap to keep them firmly in place. Other sports eyewear available includes swimming goggles either with a ready-made prescription for

as little as £35 or custom lenses; diving masks and cycling spectacles. But you needn’t limit yourself there. Sunglasses have come a long way too with tints, mirror coatings and polaroid lenses now available to fit virtually any prescription. The latest premium-range plastic photochromic lenses, Transitions®, change colour in sunlight but are vastly improved from the old Reactolite lenses of the 1980s with more colour choices and a much faster reaction time. Having selected your lenses, A.M. Optometrists has a wealth of up-to-the-minute frames to choose from. “We have a new hand-painted range designed in America and manufactured in Italy called Matisse” says Janet. “We are also now stocking Longchamp, famous for Le Pliage folding bags.” And for the petite woman, there is the lovely new Nifties range. A.M. Optometrists also sells Lindberg, Calvin Klein, Lacoste, Ray Ban and DVF. Men’s ranges include Flexon, Skaga, Ted Baker and Jensen.

Because one pair is never enough. SPECIAL OFFER

ENRICH LIFE SPONSORED BY SHAMIR LENSES 2ND PAIR OR MORE LENSES SUPPLIED AT 50% DISCOUNT. A.M. Optometrists 29 Leys Avenue, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3ED 01462 486123 Email: info@andrewmerryoptometrists.co.uk www.amoptometrists.com

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Garden View

Plant a

By Rachael Leverton

Butterfly Garden

Fascinating fact…Winston Churchill loved butterflies so much he had a garden designed specifically to attract them. His family home was the beautiful Chartwell, but you really don’t need a grand estate to attract butterflies because they will happily flock to the tiniest plot if the planting is right. When planting for butterflies we need to consider their life-cycle, and of course they start life as caterpillars. Butterflies choose to lay their eggs where there is a good food supply for their hungry offspring. A patch of nettles in a sunny spot is all you need to attract the red admiral, the small tortoiseshell, the painted lady and the peacock. If you want the common blue (though sadly these are not that common now) plant some birdsfoot trefoil, also known as lady’s fingers and properly named lotus corniculatus. A packet of sweet rocket seeds (hesperis matronalis) is a good investment. One pack produces flowers in all shades of lilac. They have a sweet scent, which is more powerful in the evening, and as a bonus they attract the orange tip butterfly. So, having satiated the caterpillars, we need to address the feeding requirements of the adult butterfly. The most famous butterfly-attracting plant is

probably Buddleia davidii, hence its other name, the butterfly bush. It grows well in most soils but needs to be pruned back hard every year so the flowers, and hence the butterflies, are kept at eye level. Don’t worry too much if you know very little about pruning, Buddleias are hard to kill! Sedum spectabile must be one of the easiest plants ever to grow and even thrives in my poor soil. Its dusky pink flowers are always smothered in butterflies and bees when they open in late summer. Caryopteris clandonensis, or to use its more romantic name, blue mist spirea is also a wonderful butterfly magnet and very easy to grow. You can now buy packets of wild flower seeds and butterfly mixes. Try some among your borders and you’ll be rewarded with fluttering, jewel-like visitors all summer. Butterfly Essentials Sunshine - plant butterfly-attracting plants in the sunniest spots Shelter - the site needs to be out of the wind Roosting spots - Butterflies need somewhere to sleep. They prefer to be high so plant climbers like honeysuckles and clematis. Nettles and wildflowers - if space is at a premium try growing them in pots. It works really well.

Happy Gardening

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Local News

Greensand Country

Announces Summer Festival This summer, from 26 May to 3 June, Greensand Country, an island of beautiful countryside, which includes the Greensand Ridge stretching from Leighton Buzzard to Gamlingay, will host the first ever Greensand Country Festival. Taking place across the landscape, the festival will include a number of exciting events, activities, talks, exhibitions and competitions, including guided walks, have-a-go wilderness crafts, family wildlife activities, open air theatre performances and 4x4 adventure challenges. The 9-day festival will be a celebration of everything that people love about Greensand Country, and will showcase our distinctive, beautiful and loved countryside. Claire Poulton, Programme Manager at the Greensand Country Landscape Partnership says: “The Greensand Country Festival is an exciting step forward in promoting the unique history, wildlife and culture of our highly attractive landscape, and will encourage people to visit, enjoy and have a better understanding of Greensand Country. “Working in partnership with businesses and attractions across the landscape, the festival will engage local visitors, people from neighbouring towns and villages, and families who are new to the area, inspiring them to get out into the countryside and explore the many events and activities on offer.”

Clophill Heritage Trust, the local voluntary community charity which runs the Clophill Eco Lodges and St Mary’s Old Church, is running a number of events and activities as part of the Greensand Country Festival. Founder Ali Bradbury explains: “We are delighted to be involved in the first festival, and look forward to welcoming new visitors to Clophill, who are keen to discover more of Greensand Country and its impressive landscape.” For further information about Greensand Country visit greensandcountry.com, Tweet us @greensandsocial or find us on Facebook and Instagram. The Greensand Country Landscape Partnership is led by the Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity and the Greensand Trust and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. It is made possible by National Lottery players. Without them we couldn’t fund the project.

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Garden By Pippa Greenwood www.pippagreenwood.com

Overhaul

Your Lawn It has rained so much in recent months that my lawn has taken a battering, though the flower and vegetable beds are starting to pick up. Over-wet conditions can cause roots to die off and will reduce the oxygen in the soil. Worse still, any areas of the lawn you’ve walked on or moved a wheelbarrow over will have become compacted or squashed. Thus, the air spaces in the soil are dramatically reduced, and the heavier your soil is, the worse the problem is likely to be. So for green grass that’s ready for summer, it’s time to get to work. Check over your lawn mower and see to anything that needs sorting. If necessary, take it to a reputable outlet for a service as soon as possible. If your grass needs cutting, make sure you don’t set the blades too low for the first few cuts, as this weakens growth and makes weed invasion more likely. After mowing, you can relieve some of the soil compaction to allow air down to the roots, making for better growth and healthier grass. If only small areas are compacted, drive a garden fork into the lawn every 4-6 inches or so, getting the fork tines to a depth of 4-6 inches, then gently ease the handle of the fork back and forth to enlarge each drainage hole. Next, mix some sieved garden soil or loam with horticultural sand (about one part soil/loam to nine parts sand) and brush across the lawn and into the holes you’ve made. The result is a drainage system over those compacted areas. If the soil in the garden is quite heavy or contains a lot of clay, the whole lawn will benefit from aerating.

I recommend you buy, borrow or hire a ‘hollow-time aerator’, either as a hand operated one, a machine or a mower attachment. This cuts cylinders of soil from your lawn and when filled with the ‘top-dressing’ mix above will result in longer-lasting drainage channels. Any moss should be removed, so apply moss killer and then rake it all out after the time specified on the pack. The lawn will look worse initially, but it allows more air to the roots of the grass plants and gives them more space to grow and spread too. Lawns that have suffered from waterlogging benefit from a suitable feeding regime. Whether you choose a granular or liquid feed, make sure that it is a spring lawn food formulated to give the balance of nutrients lawns need now. Granular feeds must be watered in unless it rains shortly after application. Walking on a very wet lawn soon wears it out and kills off grasses. To repair bald or thin patches, roughen up the areas using a rake and then sprinkle a suitable seed mix on to match the existing grasses. If you’ve not got many patches to sow, you can buy small patch repair packs. Once all the work is done, keep off your lawn for a few weeks to allow it to take advantage of all that TLC and grow away really well. Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood. com and you’ll find some great gardening things: ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ (where you receive your chosen garden-ready vegetable plants in May accompanied by weekly advice and tips from Pippa) plus Nemaslug, bio-controls, gardening tools, raised bed kits, Grower Frames, signed books and more!

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Quirky Britain

Feeling stressed out?

Take a walk with a llama

According to the advertisement strapline for one of the many llama trekking trips available in the UK today: “You feel calmer when you walk with a llama”. Llamas originally came from South America, where local people have used them as pack animals for hundreds of years. Their specially adapted feet padded, like a dog’s - together with their friendly natures made them the perfect companion for long treks across the mountainous Andes region. What happens on a llama trek? Although llamas are able to pull carts and carry up to 25% of their body weight, they are not suitable for riding, so your trekking experience will be limited to leading your llama on a halter as you walk along. At first glance this may not seem like much of an ‘experience’, but trekkers report that leading a llama is a surprisingly relaxing and calming experience. A UK llama trek can involve anything from a half-day trip (ending with a cream tea, of course) to a ramble lasting several days. Brenda Stevens, a member of the British Llama Society and owner of the trekking company UK Llamas, offers visitors the opportunity to halter and groom their llama before leading them into the country lanes and footpaths around the village of Mosterton in Dorset. Llamas are usually well-behaved but have been known to pause on their route if they find a particularly tasty hedgerow plant. Brenda explains: “Our llamas enjoy nothing more than exploring the village and helping our neighbours by ‘trimming’ their bushes and trees along the way!” What makes llamas so special? Llamas will also stop in the middle of a trekking expedition if they sense the presence of wildlife, helping their human companions spot creatures they might otherwise fail to see on a countryside walk. With their sharp senses and strong protective instincts, they are often used on farms to guard lambs, ducks and chickens from attack by predators. Hardy and undemanding, they are also placed in paddocks to provide companionship for horses and ponies. Perhaps it is this ability to bond with other species that has singled llamas out as ideal travelling

companions for humans. In spite of rumours that llamas can spit in spectacular fashion if angered, this rarely happens. In fact, many UK llama owners have become so confident of their animals’ good behaviour that they have started to involve them in animal therapy sessions. Parties and celebrations are another growth area for the ‘llama experience’. James and Suzanne Benson from Nidderdale Llamas even make their animals available for hen parties and weddings. For hen parties the llamas are equipped with pink ‘L’ plates on their tails, while participants can hire sashes to wear as they walk. At weddings, llamas can meet and greet guests and provide a focus for photographs. Suzanne says: “We can arrange for two llamas or one llama and one alpaca to accompany the bride and groom through the ceremony, walk down the aisle, even carry the rings!” Paying to lead an animal on a countryside ramble may seem like a slightly eccentric thing to do, but there’s little doubt that llama trekking is a magical and unforgettable experience for those who take part. To quote one happy customer who reviewed his trekking trip on the TripAdvisor website: “Quite simply one of the BEST days out we have had.”

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CMY

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Local News

Photo by kind permission of Bedford B.I.D. “Love Bedford

John Bunyan Boat Team reveals their 2018 Cruise Programme Following their most successful season in 2017, the John Bunyan Boat Team have now published on their website their cruise programme for the 2018 season. The Public and Special Cruise favourites are included along with some new ones. This year’s public cruises launch on Saturday 7th April with an evening Fish and Chip Supper Cruise from Sovereigns Quay (next to Star Rowing Club, and close to Riverside Bedford,) The first monthly Jazz Cruise of the season sails from The Barns Hotel on Thursday 19th April along with a Motown-Soul Cruise with DJ Keith Stewart on a monthly basis commencing on 10th May. The Afternoon Tea Cruise to The Barns Hotel commences on Wednesday 2nd May and runs throughout the season. Our standard Sunday Afternoon Cruises sail from Priory Marina and Sovereigns Quay from 13th May with the Thursday Afternoon Cruise sailing from Sovereigns Quay from 14th June. The Saturday afternoon Tea Cruises with the Bedford Swan Hotel run from the Swan Steps (at the bottom of Newnham Road) from 2nd

June whilst the Saturday Evening Sunset Cruises with the Bedford Swan Hotel runs from 26th May. The Anchor Lunch Cruise to The Anchor Inn, Great Barford with return by coach sails from Priory Marina, the first one being 20th June @ 10.00am. A new innovation is a Walkers Special run on Thursdays @ 1.30pm offering a one-way ride from Priory Marina to Sovereigns Quay (in the Town Centre) The passengers are then free to enjoy Bedford Town Centre with a walk back alongside the river to Priory Marina (visiting the cafes etc. on the way!) Another new cruise is “Folk On The Boat” run in association with Mill Race Folk and will feature various folk music artistes. The first of these is on Thursday 14th June from The Barns Hotel. Full details of the cruises, times, prices etc. can be found on our website www.johnbunyanboat.org

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Our services extend across Beds, Herts and Cambs from RS Fencing 54

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Local News

Rehoming Appeal Dandy

Dandy is a male, long-haired guinea pig, under a year old. He is very quick so needs an experienced home only. He is happy to be handled and groomed and would be suitable for an indoor home. If you could offer Dandy a home, please call Hazel on 01234 357788. Any potential home will be vetted by one of our volunteers. Alternatively, please email Philippa at info.rats@gmail.com who will be pleased to forward your enquiry onto the team. View other small mammals, dogs and cats currently in our care for re-homing on our website: www.rats-animalrescue.co.uk or facebook: www.facebook.com/ratscharity. You can also see photographs and details of the animals in our care in our charity shop in Hitchin Street, Biggleswade SG18 8AX. Open Monday to Saturday from 10.00 am until 4.00 pm.

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Pets

Animal Queries Dear RSPCA vet, I have two gorgeous 6-month-old kittens – Stanley and Mabel. My husband says I should get them micro-chipped, but is it really necessary and will it hurt them? Cath, Kempston Dear Cath, Your husband has given you excellent advice. You’ll have discovered by now how adventurous cats can be! Even if your kittens wear a good quality safety collar and tag (which we suggest at all times, ideally with a bell to warn your local birdlife) these can get lost or removed. Microchipping your kittens will give them the best chance of being identified and returned to you if they become lost or stolen. Heartbreakingly, thousands of pets are lost every year, and many are never reunited with their owners. Microchipping can change that. A microchip will give both Stanley and Mabel their own unique code. They can then be scanned and matched to your contact details, which are kept on a database. Make sure you update these details every time you move. Please don’t worry that this will hurt them. If you saw them being carried around by their mother, you’ll have noticed that each kitten has a loose fold of skin on the back of their neck. This is where your vet will inject a tiny microchip. Most animals

don’t even notice – it’s certainly no worse than an injection that we all expect human babies to have! You obviously love your kittens. For the cost of a few take-away coffees, microchipping is a great investment and the best way of protecting them. It’s also recommended for all other animals and birds. The RSPCA run regular microchipping events – so keep an eye out for one in your area.

ANIMAL QUERIES is one of a series of articles brought to you by the RSPCA Bedfordshire North Branch www.rspca-bedfordshirenorth.org.uk

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HERTS OVEN CLEAN Herts Oven Clean is a domestic oven cleaning specialist in Hertfordshire. Non-caustic, fume-free solution individually prepared for each customer. Ovens, Hobs, Grills, Extractors, Agas, Microwaves and Gas Barbeques. Call Richard on 01438 813492 Bring a sparkle to your kitchen today. 58

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Three Counties Radio

TRADITIONAL HOME-MADE JERK CHICKEN One of my greatest pleasures on the Weekend Kitchen is how the food we feature directly reflects the wonderful diversity of the three counties we broadcast to. We can have British classics, great curries, Turkish and Middle Eastern treats, traditional pastas, fiery stir fries and much much more. Recently I welcomed Sacha Ojo on to the programme. She launched her catering company, Sacha’s Kitchen, in Bedford when it became clear that her friends’ love of her Jamaican cooking suggested she deserved a much wider audience. Jamaican food is all about warmth, generosity and family –three words which describe Sacha perfectly. Obviously she had to give us her Jerk Chicken recipe. Apparently there are more Jerk Chicken recipes than there are days in a lifetime – Sacha’s family recipe is absolutely wonderful. Jerk sauce ingredients: 2 bunches spring onion, chopped 2 tbsp thyme 1 tsp fresh ginger, chopped 4-6 garlic cloves, chopped 1 tsp cinnamon powder 1 tbsp Pimento (Allspice) 1 tbsp coarse black pepper ½ tsp freshly grated nutmeg 2 tbsp dark brown sugar 2 tbsp soy sauce 2-4 Scotch Bonnet chillis, chopped (adjust to taste) 6 tbsp water Chopped parsley to serve You can use whatever cuts of chicken you want – leg, thigh or even breast. Allow a couple of pieces per person. This is plenty of marinade to serve four people. It goes without saying that you can also cook this chicken on the barbecue!

1. Place all the sauce ingredients into a food processor and blend until you get a smooth consistency. 2. Adjust for taste and heat, by using more or less chilli. 3. Wash the chicken pieces (skin on), in water mixed with a really good squirt of lemon. 4. Slash small slits onto the chicken. Massage all the marinade into the chicken and leave in the fridge overnight. 5. Place in a tray and cover with foil. Bake at 160C/ Gas Mark 3 for 30 minutes then remove the foil, turn the oven up to 200C/ Gas Mark 5 and bake for another 10 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked through and a lovely deep colour. 6. Scatter with the chopped parsley and serve with chips, mash or rice.

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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Codeword 1

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. 60

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n O s ’ t Wha In April

Deadline for What’s On entries is the 12th of the previous month. What’s on entries to whatson@villagermag.com

2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 April 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, to socialise and enjoy one another’s company. 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 3, 10, 17 & 24 April Stevenage Bridge Club 7.30pm Priory Nursery, Stanmore Road, Stevenage To play Duplicate Bridge. A host system is run to find partners, if required. Tel: Phil Cooper 07957 813434 4 April Stevenage Family History Society 7.15pm for 7.30pm Friends Meeting House, Cuttys Lane, Stevenage Visitors £3 inc. refreshments A talk by Meryl Catty titled ‘Masters of the Seas’ about the life and career of a 19th century Merchant Seaman. Web: stevenagefhs.site88.net 4 April North Herts Association of the National Trust 7.30pm Christchurch, Bedford Road, Hitchin Non-members £2 on the door Talk on ‘Roads Were Not Built for Cars’ by Clifton Hughes. Non-members welcome. Membership of the National Trust not necessary. Tea and coffee served during the evening. Second-hand books and homemade preserves are on sale at every meeting.Tel: Colin Cropley 01462 713391 Email: colinecropley@gmail.com 4, 11, 18 & 25 April Baby Rhyme Time 10.30-11am Baldock Library Free event 4, 11, 18 & 25 April Toddler Tales 2.15-2.45pm Letchworth Library Free event

4, 11, 18 & 25 April Vivace Choir 7.30-9.30pm Edgeworth House, 121 High Street, Arlesey We are looking for keen singers to join our fun and friendly choir. Find out more about the choir and its concerts online. Web: www.vivacechoir.co.uk 5 April Arts Society North Hertfordshire Lecture 11am or 2pm Spirella Ballroom, Bridge Road Letchworth £7 - pay on the door The Arts Society North Hertfordshire presents a lecture by Caroline Rayman on ‘Three Great Families and their gardens’ - a talk on the gardens of the Astors, The Sackville-Wests and the Rothschilds. Visitors welcome. Free parking. Email: theartssociety.nh@gmail.com 5, 12, 19 & 26 April Roundabouters Country Dance Club 8-10pm Friends Meeting House, Cuttys Lane, Stevenage £3 per week inc. refreshments, Annual subscription £5 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. First week free. Tel. 01438 727239 Web: www.roundabouters.org.uk 5, 12, 19 & 26 April 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 and the opportunity to meet and make new friends. Potential new members are warmly welcome to come along and meet us with no joining fee for the first two months. Tel: Joyce 07952 678021 or Ian 07900 890583 Web: www.sapphiresocialsinglesclub.co.uk 6 April Hitchin & Letchworth RSPB 7.30pm The Settlement, Letchworth, SG6 4UB Mark Thomas talks about ‘Life of a Bird Detective’. What is it like to investigate crimes against wild birds? What goes on behind the scenes? How do you catch the killers? All will be revealed!

6, 13, 20 & 27 April Springfield House Friday Bridge Club 1.30pm Old Stevenage Community Centre To play cut-in Chicago Bridge. Play is informal and friendly. Tel: Richard Bean 01438 221517 7 April 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. www.rafsignalsmuseum.org.uk 8 April Radwell Spring Open Day 2-4.30pm Radwell Mill Come along to see the grounds of Radwell mill open to the public including the petting farm, duck race, hot and cold food, craft stalls, raffle, fire engine, tractor rides, Morris Men performing and lots more to see and do. Well-behaved dogs welcome. Parking on site. Tel: Linda 01462 835428 for craft stall enquiries 9 April Icknield Quilters 7.30pm for 7.45pm start Baldock Community Centre Visitors £4. Speaker will be Julia Gahagan who is giving a talk on miniature quilts. Visitors welcome. Web: www.icknieldquilters.co.uk 9, 16, 23 & 30 April Staplers Country Dance Club 8-10pm St John’s Community Hall, Hitchin Staplers is your local 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 bring a partner, lots of people go on their own. It is a friendly group and you will be made very welcome. Car parking available next to the hall. Tel. 01462 895567 or 01462 624144 Web: www.staplers.org.uk 10 April Zoolab 2pm Baldock Library £2 per person An action-packed adventure meeting tree frogs, snakes and tarantulas!! Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult. Tel: Baldock Library phone 01707 281533 for tickets Web: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/litfest

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n O s ’ t Wha In April

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

11 April Henlow Branch R N A 7.30pm Community Centre, The Gardens, Henlow The Henlow Branch of The Royal Naval Association meets on the second Wednesday of each month. Tel: Jack Stafford 01462 850618 12 April Stevenage Floral Art Society ‘Spring Workshop’ Doors open 7pm for 7.30pm start High Street Methodist Church Hall, Stevenage Old Town Visitors £7. An evening for you to make your own arrangement. Entry fee includes refreshments and tuition. Beginners very welcome. Tel: Margaret 01438 880086 to book & find out what you need to bring 12 April Baldock & Clothall WI 7.30pm United Reformed Church, Whitehorse Street, Baldock Visitors £3 including refreshment and raffle ticket Facebook: www.facebook.com/ baldockclothallwi 12 April Stevenage Floral Art Society 7.45pm High Street Methodist Hall Visitors very welcome. 15 April Stevenage RSPB Trip 7.55am Titchfield Haven A coach trip with the Hitchin and Letchworth Group to this NNR on the Solent. Reserve admission £4.25, Concessions £4. Meet at the rear of Waitrose store on Primett Road at 7.55 am. Please call Paul Collis to book and confirm cost. Tel: Paul Collis 01438 861547 15 April Biggleswade Antiques Fair 9.30am-4pm The Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade Entrance £1.50 This antiques fair offers a diverse range of antiques and collectables so whether you are a professional dealer, an avid collector or just looking for something special, this monthly fair is the place to visit. Café serving breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea. Tel: 01480 382432 or 07906 647346 Web: www.madisonevents.co.uk

17 April Stevenage RSPB 7.30pm Friends’ Meeting House, Cutty’s Lane, Stevenage Members £3, Non-members £4, Under 16s 50p Jonathan Forgham will present a talk entitled ‘A Walk to Hel, on a peninsular in Poland!’. There will be a Plant and Flower Bring-and-Buy stall. 19 April Letchworth District Gardeners Association 7.45pm Talk by Robert Brett on ‘Developments at Hyde Hall’. Web: www.ldga.org.uk 19 & 26 April Moo Music Sandy, Biggleswade & Shefford 10-10.40am Shefford Baptist Church Moosical fun for your little one! Music & movement classes for 0-5 year olds in Sandy & Sutton. New sessions in Shefford! Come and join in the fun with your little moover. Email: Heather sandymoo@moo-music.co.uk Web: www.moo-music.co.uk/sbs Facebook: www.facebook.com/moomusicsandy 19 & 26 April Baldock Community Orchestra 7.15pm Knights Templar School (Room CS1), Baldock £7 per week or 10 week term £50 A friendly group of musicians... Come and give us a try, first session free! Tel: Rachel Dawson 07818 480332 20-28 April Spring Exhibition 2018 Daily 10am-4.45pm Community Museum Gallery, The Arcade, Letchworth Free admission 21 April Langford Garage Sale Trail 10am-1pm £5. Raising funds for TRACKS Autism, 1st Langford Brownies and 1st Langford Cubs. Have a table top sale at your home and support our local good causes. Households taking part will be listed on a map which will be made available on the day at key points around the village. Any proceeds from the stall are yours to keep. Please come along to Langford and bag a bargain in our village wide Garage Sale. Tel: 07905 667427 Email: jo.smith@langfordscouts.org.uk to book your stall

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21 April Weston Music Society Spring Season 7.30pm Weston Church Tickets £15 inc. programme and interval drink, Under 19s free. Gary Ryan (classical guitar). A Fellow of the Royal College of Music, Gary is well known to all guitar enthusiasts both as player and composer and as examiner and competition adjudicator. Tickets can be reserved by telephone or email. Tel: 01462 790573 Email: felicitylowe@yahoo.co.uk Web: www.westonmusicsociety.org.uk 22 April A day in the woods Bottoms Corner Wood, Gravenhurst £65 inc. course fee, all materials, tea, coffee, fruit and cake. Make a willow obelisk plant support. Learn how to create something beautiful for your climbing plants. Booking essential. Tel: Wassledine 01462 711815 Web: www.wassledine.co.uk/a day in the woods/ courses and events 22 April Willian Bowls Club Open Day 11am-4pm Norton Common, Lower Bowls Green, Letchworth New Bowlers welcome, free tuition plus tea and cake! All equipment provided. Also any Tuesday at 2pm or Thursday at 6pm. (24 April onwards). Tel: David 01462 642790 Web: www.willianbowlsclub.org 28 April A day in the woods Bottoms Corner Wood, Gravenhurst £75 inc. course fee, all materials, tea, coffee, fruit and cake. Make a willow hurdle. Have a go an at ancient craft. Booking essential. Tel: Wassledine 01462 711815 Web: www.wassledine.co.uk/a day in the woods/ courses and events 29 April A day in the woods Bottoms Corner Wood, Gravenhurst £70 inc. course fee, all materials, tea, coffee, fruit and cake. Make a willow ball. Create something decorative for your home or garden. Booking essential. Tel: Wassledine 01462 711815 Web: www.wassledine.co.uk/a day in the woods/ courses and events

Alan George

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BARTON SCAFFOLDING IAN SIMPSON Carpentry and Joinery All aspects of carpentry work undertaken Kitchens, Bedrooms, Doors, Windows 25 years experience Free estimates Please call 01462 851695 or 07967162448 E-mail ij_simpson@hotmail.com

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Local News Schoolreaders Launches Book Club Quiz Challenge on World Book Day – 1st March 2018 Schoolreaders, the charity aiming to improve literacy amongst primary school children in the UK, is launching the Schoolreaders Book Club Quiz Challenge on the 1st March 2018 to coincide with World Book Day. The Challenge runs until May 24th. Book Clubs across the UK are invited to sign up to the challenge and enjoy a quiz at one of their meetings plus raise important funds for Schoolreaders, which matches and provides volunteers to listen to children read in primary schools. Upon registering for the challenge, Book Club members are sent a pack of materials to host a fun literary-based quiz evening at one of their Book Club meetings. Completed quiz forms can be returned to Schoolreaders and the correct entrants will be entered into a draw to win either a case of Prosecco or book tokens for each member. Jane Whitbread, Founder of Schoolreaders, comments: “One in four children are leaving

primary school not being able to read to the required standard and this can put limitations on their life chances. On average, it costs Schoolreaders just £15 to provide a child with a weekly one-to-one reading session with a volunteer for a whole academic year, a small sum for a major benefit for each child. We hope that we can encourage lots of Book Clubs to sign up to this fun challenge and join us in reaching more children, helping improve their literacy and increasing their life opportunities.” To register your club for the Schoolreaders Book Club Challenge, please visit www.schoolreaders. org, and you will then be sent the quiz pack along with advice on how to make the most of the challenge.

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Painting & Decorating Property Maintenance Quality Workmanship Papering, Coving etc. Interior and Exterior Work Free Quotations Call W Firkins & Partners Ltd 01462 814117 or 07939 267083 Est 1981 20 Clifton Road, Shefford, Beds

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Gas Plumbing & Central Heating

Free estimates No job to big or small 35 years experience

07973 410957 | 07415 100610 | 01462 815386 68

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Local News

Helping to save lives… ...one cake at a time Are you a star baker, precise with icing, or just love an excuse for a get together? Essex & Herts Air Ambulance (EHAAT) are looking for people like you. The Charity is asking its supporters, and cake lovers, to host their own A Very British Afternoon Tea throughout June. Whether you’re looking to host Afternoon Tea in your back garden, or entice the office with a cake showdown, the Charity’s free fundraising pack has tips and recipes for you! Within your pack you will find some fun activities including a tea-tasting competition, your own Great Bake, fun games and how to create your own Crew using gingerbread men. This year’s campaign features a former airlifted patient of the Charity, Kate Oliver. Eight years after a road traffic collision, which left her in a coma with life changing injuries, Kate has made a good recovery and

now runs a successful tearoom. She shared her story and some of her top baking tips for the Charity’s A Very British Afternoon Tea fundraising pack, and will be hosting her own tea party in June. Maria Alexander, EHAAT’s Head of Fundraising, said: “We are appealing to individuals, community groups and businesses who love cake to gather their friends and colleagues, put on an apron, and get baking! Last year’s A Very British Afternoon Tea was an extraordinary success, and we hope that this year’s initiative will continue to raise much-needed funds for our life-saving service.” A Very British Afternoon Tea is sponsored by Berryworld. For more information and to receive your free fundraising pack you can visit www.ehaat.org, call the Fundraising Team on 0345 5040 055 or email afternoontea@ehaat.org

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

Art Abstract Artist Brush Charcoal Colour Crayon Draw Easel Frame Materials

Medium Mural Oil Paint Palette Paper Pastel Pen Picture Pigment

Shade Sketch Skill Style Tint Tone Wash Water

Find the names associated with art in the grid and the remaining letters will spell out a related phrase

Visit our beautiful

Bathroom Showroom ...With more than 50 displays of bathrooms, furniture & fittings Free in-house 3D design service Quality products from leading manufacturers Experienced staff offering impartial advice Free delivery within a 20 mile radius of our showroom

01438 725309

bathrooms@stevenageplumbing.co.uk www.stevenageplumbing.co.uk

Caxton House, Caxton Way, Stevenage, Herts. SG1 2XS 70

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Electrician

www.hertsandbedselectrical.co.uk

Up to 50% Off With our all inclusive priced deals. Ranges and prices on Facebook Ken Seaby Carpets

Do you find it difficult to get someone to come and do a small job? Fault finding/repairs Extra lights and sockets New fuse boards Rewires P.A.T testing Landlord inspections

FURNITURE MOVED, OLD CARPETS REMOVED IF REQUIRED

FREE ESTIMATES We call with samples and measure Carpets fitted in about a week

01462 733203 / 07748 532632 CARPET CLEANING SPECIAL OFFER 2 rooms cleaned for £40 Small carpet re-fitting work undertaken

Qualified electrician  Fully insured Reliable service  Tidy work Free quote  Satisfaction guaranteed

Call Nigel on: 01462 506076 / 07941295883

LEAK SHIELD

Need A Plumber Fast? No Call out Fee

Call Alex on

07762773796 for friendly advice Blocked Drain • Toilet Overflowing No Hot/Cold Water • Leaks & Tap Repair Bathrooms • Drain CCTV Survey Burst Pipe • Toilet not filling up Stop Cock Replacement

hour Emergency Service Local | Reliable | Qualified

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James Cullip

Painting & Decorating

• interior/exterior - all aspects • wallpaper hanging • coving • general household maintenance • plastering services available • free estimates • fully insured

References available t: 01462 817 122 m: 07899 888 545 e: go_on_james@hotmail.com www.cullippaintinganddecorating.co.uk 10 Mill Lane, Campton, Shefford, Beds

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March’s Puzzle Solutions and Winners Last Month’s Crossword Winner Mrs Maureen Ratcliffe from Huntingdon Winner of the Blockheads Competition Glen Axford from Biggleswade

Winner of the Twelfth Day Competition Roger Dilley from Henlow

Easy

Hard Chase HP advert_ppl.pdf

CMY

14/09/2017

11:15

CHASEHOUSE DEVELOPMENTS LTD All aspects of general building and landscaping undertaken. Driveways | Patios | Fencing Garden walls | Block paving Turf | Artificial grass | Decking Please contact Dan for more information and for a free estimate Chasehousedevelopments@outlook.com

01438 416872 07717 241701

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The Villager Prize Crossword

Prize

ÂŁ25

Across 7 Buff up (6) 8 Equality (6) 9 Throw (4) 10 Used by trains (8) 11 Tangled (7) 13 Dizzy (5) 15 Frighten (5) 17 Laughed (7) 20 Fuel (8) 21 Applaud (4) 22 Light wind (6) 23 Hug (6)

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

ď&#x20AC;˘

16th April 2018 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP

Down 1 Pillar (6) 2 Cash register (4) 3 Agitated (7) 4 Ruin (5) 5 Fighting (8) 6 Remained (6) 12 Revenue (8) 14 Without sound (7) 16 Seats (6) 18 Authorise (6) 19 Repaired (5) 21 Surrender (4)

Name: Tel: Address:

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PLUMBING & HEATING LTD FULLY QUALIFIED — 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE

INSTALLATION Boiler installation with 7 - 10 year warranty Boiler breakdown & power flushing Frozen condense pipe rectified Boiler service and landlord certification

PLUMBING Bathroom installation Wetroom installation Mains pressure upgrade General plumbing work & maintenance

BOILER INSTALLATION Combi and system boiler’s upgrade Underfloor heating Warm air and powermax upgrade Boiler breakdown repair

218627

CALL: 01462 292247 / 07753 817469 Email: info@dhplumbinglimited.co.uk

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Books

Book Review By Kate Duggan Be Happy With a Book Whether you love curling up with a psychological thriller or prefer biographies, enjoy flicking through a cookbook or need business advice, we’ve got just the book to keep you and your e-reader happy.

Anything You Do Say by Gillian McAllister

A split second decision has lasting implications for the protagonist in this tense psychological thriller. Late at night, believing that she’s being followed, Joanna lashes out, pushing her pursuer down a set of concrete steps. Does she call an ambulance, or walk away? Both scenarios are then explored. Ingenious, original and fast-paced, this is perfect for fans of Gone Girl and Girl on a Train.

The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters

It’s 1922, but the roaring twenties have yet to reach the quiet corner of London where Frances and her mother live. Frances has resigned herself to a life spent looking after the family home, but the arrival of lodgers Lilian and Leonard Barber reawakens her life, energy and passions. Paying Guests was published in 2014 and was named ‘Fiction Book of the Year’ by The Sunday Times, for good reason. A modern classic, it’s beautifully written, with believably flawed characters, plot twists and a building tension that’ll keep you reading ‘just one more chapter’ until late into the night.

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Classifieds Accountants

Carpentry and Joinery

Tim Jordon

Carpentry and Joinery Made to measure quality timber products supply and fit. Doors, Windows, Stairs, Gates, Kitchen Worktops, Wood staining, painting and varnishing Station Road, Lower Stondon, Beds. Tel: 01462 850363 or 07544 790071

Aerials and Satellites AERIALS & SATELLITES T/A Broadband Communications Established 1993

Electrical Contractor Electrical Contractor

N A Bush

• Domestic & Commercial • Extra Lights / Sockets • New Circuits • Full or Partial Rewires • Test Inspection Certificates • Consumer Unit Upgrades

Aerials & Satellites • Digital Aerials Freesat & Satellite Installations Commercial IRS Systems All Work Guaranteed • CAI Approved C.1616 Based in Stotfold www.broadbandcommunications.co.uk

Neil 07981 310939

Tel: 01462 732 628 • Mob: 07860 436 217

Word Ladder

Change one letter at a time (but not the position of any letter) to make a new word - and move from the word at the top of the ladder to the word at the bottom, using the exact number of rungs provided.

C I T Y

Experienced Qualified and Insured All work guaranteed

n.bush744@btinternet.com

Furniture Repairs FURNITURE REPAIRS

Wobbly legs on chairs and tables remedied Jammed and broken doors fixed Here isTired oneand marked surfaces brightened up Rejuvenate your wooden furniture both possible solution antique and modern

(others mayCall exist) Jamie Robinson on CITY

01462 835619/07940 400742

pity pits

Plastering Services

Jamiepots Robinson Classified.indd 1

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T O W N

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Classifieds Plastering Services

Removals

MUSCLE & MOTOR

James Geekie Plastering All types of plastering - big or small

Jumbo van with up to 3 men. Helpful, efficient and friendly service for all your moving, carrying, and domestic disposal needs, including house and garage clearance.

Interior/Exterior Work Undertaken Re-skim Rooms, Walls, Artex & Ceilings Dry Lining and Screeding

Call Richard on: 01767 317387 or 07968 787496

Tel: 07792 415356 or 01462 490598 Email: james.geekie@hotmail.co.uk

Email: muscleandmotor@gmail.com www.muscleandmotor.co.uk

Removals and Storage

Plumbing and Heating

removals, storage, archive and shipping • House and office moves • Large and small vehicles • Local/long distance and overseas removals • Containerised storage • Extremely high quality customer service Call for a no obligation quotation

01582 572967

enquiries@stephensremovals.com

Property Maintenance

Roofing

Stephens Dinky ad_02.indd 1

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oalinutetinoannces S e m o DIYneraHl property m Ge

All jobs undertaken Call Darren on 01462 850786 or 07710 462544

Property Maintenance

Wheelie Bin Cleaning Scrubbish ad Feb 2018.pdf

ren Fripp classified.indd 1

23/02/2018

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08/03/2017 09:49

R. CHAPMAN

Home & Garden Services

Patio’s Driveways Fencing Brickwork Painting & Decorating Tiling 20 Years Experience - No Job Too Small!

Prices from £3.99 per bin, cleaned every 4 weeks To book visit our website

www.scrubbish.co.uk or call our office on

01462 850575 or 07950 311881 78

01462 416565

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VILLAGER

VILLAGER The

The

and Town

Issue 113 - April 2018

and Town

Life

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

In this issue Win tickets to

Classic Ibiza Liberate your

Wardrobe Win £25

in our Prize Crossword

Life

Bringing Local Business to Local People in

FRco1py

Bringing Local Business to Local People

Your local full colour A5 monthly magazine delivered free of charge to 1000s of homes and businesses in your local area. The Villager and Town Life is dedicated to promoting local businesses, charities, community groups and everything else in your local area.

For more information or to reserve your space please contact Nigel on:

Tel: 01767 261122

Email: nigel@villagermag.com Web: www.villagermag.com

USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS Alcoholics Anonymous........................0845 769 7555 Anglian Water......................................08457 145 145 Bedford Hospital...................................01234 355122 Lister Hospital.......................................01438 314333 Addenbrooks Hospital..........................01223 245151 Benefits for people with Disabilities.....0800 882 200 Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue...............01234 351081 Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue..............01438 729041

Carers Line............................................0808 808 7777 ChildLine.....................................................0800 1111 Citizens Advice.....................................0844 245 1290 Crimestoppers........................................0800 555 111 Cruse Bereavement Care......................0333 252 9152 Floodline..............................................0845 988 1188 Frank—Drug Advisory..........................0800 776 600 National Debt Line...............................0808 808 4000

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Gas Emergency......................................0800 111 999 NHS Direct...................................................0845 4647 National Rail Enquiries........................03457 48 49 50 Non Emergency Police Line................................... 101 NSPCC.................................................0808 800 50000 Relate.................................................... 0845 48 49 50 RSPCA Cruelty Line..............................0300 1234 999 Samaritans...................................................... 116 123 Tax Credit Helpline...............................0345 300 3900 Victim Support....................................0845 30 30 900

Registered Charity No: 1086392

THE 16TH ANNUAL

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27/02/2018 10:19