harpenden NOW April 23

Welcome to April

With Easter just around the corner, the magazine is ‘choc’-a-bloc with things to do this month from Easter Egg Hunts and Trails to Easter Wine

Tasting and Floristry, as always we’ve squeezed in as much as we possibly can, so keep the magazine handy to make sure you don’t miss anything this month, and of course please make sure to mention harpenden NOW when you call any of the advertisers.

If you run your own business we’d love to include you, it’s so easy just book your space online today!

Jane & Wendy

@theNOWmagazines

Advertising Rates

12 months 3 months

£33 per edition £43 per edition 1/4 page

£40 per edition £52 per edition 1/3 page

£49 per edition £64 per edition 1/2 page

£84 per edition £110 per edition Full page other options are available

You can NOW book advertising online Deadline 5th April for May editions

wendy@theNOWmagazines.com 07983 588313 www.theNOWmagazines.com

Dance With Pat Anslow

Dancing in Harpenden

BALLROOM & LATIN AMERICAN Dancing Classes for Adults

At Beginner & Improver Levels

For more information about joining a class please contact 07789 974866

Out & About

St Albans Cathedral

Wondrous Wall Paintings

Mon - Sat until 31st Dec 12.45 pm

A chance to see four of the Cathedrals finest wall paintings illuminated, reimagining them as they may have appeared seven centuries ago.

Palm Sunday Procession 2nd April

9.30am: Eucharist with Procession of Palms. Meet by the Clock Tower to walk to the Cathedral.

Easter Monday Pilgrimage 10th April 2pm

Meet in the Abbey Orchard at 1pm for a picnic then join the procession into the Cathedral for the Service.

More to Explore: Stained Glass - For all the (male)

Saints 16th April 1.30pm

Hear stories of the male saints featured on the stained glass, some true, some mythical and all inspiring.

St Albans Choral Society: Mozart Requiem

22nd April 7.30pm

A Night at the Opera 29th April 7.30pm £19 - £44

London Concertante present an array of the finest opera arias and overtures, including works from Puccini, Verdi, Rossini and Mozart.

www.stalbanscathedral.org

Waddesdon Manor

Easter Adventures until 10th April 10am-5pm

Enjoy a fun-filled adventure on the Easter trail.

Please book, £3 per trail

Easter Floristry Workshop 1st April 10.30am

Please book, adult £55.20

Easter Weekend Wine Tasting

7th - 10th April 12.30pm & 2.30pm

A selection of fabulous wines from Rothschild Estates will be available to taste with experts on hand to guide you. Please book

Forever Flowers

19th April - 1st May (closed 24th & 25th April) 10am - 5pm, free with grounds admission

A thought-provoking installation of 1000 hand forget-me-nots in the Aviary Gardens, each flower is dedicated to the life and memory of a loved one. www.waddesdon.org.uk

RAF London

Pilot Training 1st - 16th April

Join the pilot training programme and find out if you’ve got what it takes to train like an RAF pilot during WW2. Age 4+, child £5, family £10, please book

Lecture: The Woman Who Saves Pilots

7th April 6pm online

Thomas Withington talks about Lady Joan Curran’s vital pioneering work on chaff which were small strips of metal that jammed radar during WW2. Free, please book

Pillows & Pilots 22nd & 23rd April

Budding aviators can explore the Museum after opening hours, and enjoy Robot Coding and Airfix Workshops, Eye Mask Making, Science Wizards Shows and more. Ages 7 - 15, child £40, adult £15 www.rafmuseum.org.uk

Chiltern Open Air Museum

Easter Weekend 7th - 10th April 10am - 5pm

Explore this 45 acre site, learn about Easter traditions, enjoy some family crafts and see the baby lambs.

May Day Merriment

30th April - 1st May 11am - 4pm

Experience a traditional Elizabethan May Day with dancing and music. www.coam.org.uk

Knebworth House

Easter Trail

Follow the trail around the Gardens looking for clues to complete the word puzzle, and have a go at archery. Please book

Hertfordshire Garden Show

Garden furniture, water features, hot tubs, sculptures and more. Tickets include access to Knebworth Park, Gardens, Adventure Playground and Dinosaur Trail. www.

Shuttleworth

Easter Bunny Flies In & Egg Hunt

8th & 9th April

Look up to the sky at around 11am and watch the Easter Bunny make an entrance. Then follow his helpers into the gardens to find the eggs they’ve behind. £15, child £3 (includes gift)

Birdsong Walk 28th April

Stroll through the Swiss Garden and Woodland Walk, listening out for birdsong along the way.

walk is garden volunteer Huw, sharing his knowledge about our feathered friends. This ticket allows you access to the Shuttleworth Collection and Gardens. www.

Senior Citizens 10% off all prices

Plumbing Services Ltd

●

●

●

Dean Herrington 01727 764217 07830 159010

info@djmplumbing.co.uk

NOW for some Entertainment

Barn Theatre

Treasure Island

24th March - 1st April 8pm & 1st April 2.30pm £14

Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic story of mutiny, murder and money!

Alys, Always 14th - 22nd April 8pm £14

A gripping thriller telling the story of Frances, a general dogsbody on the books desk of a Sunday newspaper. One evening driving home she comes across an overturned car on the side of the road. It’s a twist of fate which presents her with an opening into the heart of the family of a famous novelist.

Welwyn Garden City AL8 6ST

www.barntheatre.co.uk

The Eric Morecambe Centre

Follies

29th March - 1st April 7.30pm & 1st April 2.30pm

With Stephen Sondheim’s show music from the 20s, 30s and 40s, and time-travel trickery this is a fascinating peek into a bygone era.

Rothamsted Park, Harpenden AL5 2FR

Harpenden Record Fair

15th April 10am - 4pm free admission

Whether you’re a collector or browser, there’s music for all tastes in all formats.

An Evening of Burlesque 6th April 7.30pm £29.50

The ultimate variety show, blending cabaret, comedy, music, circus and burlesque, prepare for an extravaganza of glitz and glamour.

The Amazing Bubble Man

7th April 2pm £16, child £14

Louis Pearl explores the breath-taking dynamics of bubbles, combining comedy, artistry, and spellbinding bubble tricks.

Francis Rossi - Tunes & Chat

8th April 7.30pm £31.50

The Status Quo legend takes up his acoustic guitar to bring you some well-known hits and some never performed live before.

Big Girls Don’t Cry 14th April 7.30pm £31.50

Internationally acclaimed tribute to Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, with tracks such as Walk Like a Man, December 1963 (Oh What a Night), Big Girls

Don’t Cry and Working My Way Back to You.

Oas-is 15th April 8.30pm £19.50

The only tribute to tour with a full video show, using some of the same equipment and visuals/footage that Oasis used on tour.

Top Secret - Magic of Science

16th April 2.30pm £13,50, child £11.50, family £36

A fast-moving magical science show filled with mystery, suspense and lots of mess!

The Zombies 20th & 21st April 7.30pm £27.50

From their 60s singles to brand-new songs from their forthcoming album.

Pop Princesses 22nd April 6pm £20

A children’s pop concert with a big difference. Tracy Borman “How To Be A Good Monarch” 26th April 7.30pm £26.50, concs £15

Royal Historian and Chief Curator of Hampton Court and The Tower of London, takes us on an informative audio-visual tour of 1000 years of the twists and turns of the British monarchy from William the Conqueror to Charles III in a show packed with the good, the bad, the great and the mad along with birth, romance, beheading, coronation, abdication, marriage, divorce, disaster and triumph.

Dr John Cooper Clarke - I Wanna Be Yours

27th April 8pm £32.50, £27.50, £22.50

Stand up poet, JCC goes into detail about his early life in Manchester leading up to punk superstardom, drug addiction and his comeback as a major poet.

Darkside the Pink Floyd Show

29th April 7.30pm £26.50

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the iconic album

The Dark Side of the Moon, they will perform the whole album in glorious quadraphonic surround sound, just as it was intended.

The EMC, Rothamsted Park, Harpenden AL5 2FR www.the-emc.co.uk

Abbey Theatre

Sister Act 30th March - 1st April 7.30pm & 1st April 2.30pm

Produced by St Albans Youth Music Theatre, this uplifting, inspiring musical is a tribute to the power of friendship and sisterhood.

Abbey Theatre, St Albans AL1 2DL 01727 857861 www.abbeytheatre.org.uk

Live Cinema

National Theatre Live: The Life of Pi

30th March 7pm & 2nd April 2.15pm

Featuring state-of-the-art visuals, see this epic journey of endurance and hope bought to life.

Royal Opera House: Cinderella

12th April 7.15pm & 16th April 2pm

A timeless reworking of the rags-to-riches story, steeped in the magic of theatre, film, dance and opera bringing new atmosphere to Cinderella’s world. Exhibition on Screen - Vermeer

18th April 8.30pm & 23rd April 4pm

Bringing together masterpieces including Girl with a Pearl Earring, The Geographer and The Milkmaid.

National Theatre Live: GOOD 20th April 7pm

See David Tennant in this reimagining of this

powerful, political play. As the world faces WW2, John Halder, a good, intelligent German professor is pulled into a movement with unthinkable consequences.

Royal Opera House: The Marriage of Figaro

27th April 6.45pm & 30th April 2pm

With more twists than a page boy’s stockings, the story of Mozart’s comic opera will surprise you at every turn. Come for the music and stay for the cross -dressing hilarity, all in one crazy, topsy-turvy day. Campus West, Welwyn Garden City AL8 6BX www.campuswest.co.uk

Voix de Vivre 1st April

Allegri - Miserere, MacMillan - Miserere Stravinsky - Mass, Rheinberger - Fűnf Hymnen

Conducted by Neil MacKenzie with organist

Alex Flood. 7.30pm £16.50, concs £14, £5 St Peter’s Church, St Albans AL1 3HG www.ticketsource.co.uk/voixdevivre

The Alban Arena

Tales from Acorn Wood 1st & 2nd April

Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s beloved stories are brought to life on stage in an enchanting lift-the-flap experience. £16.50, £14.50

Dinosaur World Live

3rd April 2pm & 4th & 5th April 11am & 2pm £15

Grab your compass and join the intrepid explorer across uncharted territories to discover a pre-historic world of astonishingly life-like dinosaurs. Age 3+

An Audience with Paul Merson 6th April 7.30pm £36, with VIP meet & greet £91

An evening of entertainment, banter and stories from Paul’s time playing for The Gunners. 80s Rewind featuring A Capella super-group

The Magnets 8th April 7.30pm £27.50

Sing, dance and party along to all your favourite 80s anthems with this award-winning group.

Friends the Musical Parody 18th April 7.30pm

A fabulous romp through the hit TV show in a hilarious, fast-paced, music-filled show.

Ricky Gervais 19th April 7.30pm £36.50

Don’t miss your chance to see this award-winning stand up comedian. Age 16+

An Audience With Manchester United Legends

21st April 7.30pm £37.50

Hear Brian McClair and Andrew Cole giving an insight into their careers, from putting on the famous red jersey to representing their country.

School of Rock

25th, 26th (BSL), 27th, 28th April 7.30pm & 29th April 12pm & 5pm £15 - £22.50

Performed by St Albans Musical Theatre Company. Having recognised the talent of his young students, teacher and out of work rock singer, Dewey Finn puts together a band of pupils in a bid to win a Battle of the Bands contest.

Nadiya and Kai Once Upon a Time

30th April 7.30pm £26.50 - £46.50

New dance show starring these Strictly superstars, showcasing their incredible ballroom journeys, and shining a spotlight on their love affair with dance.

Civic Centre, St Albans AL1 3LD

www.alban-arena.co.uk

The Radlett Centre

Beach Boyz Tribute Show 2nd April 7.30pm

A stunning show packed with over 30 hits in glorious vocal harmonies and California sunshine.

Fireman Sam 3rd April 12pm & 3.30pm

Join Sam, Penny, Elvis, Station Officer Steele and Norman in an all singing, dancing, action-packed show. £18, £17, age 3 -7

The Jungle Book 5th April 1pm & 4pm

With original music and bags of fun, join Mowgli and friends on a jungle adventure. £15, age 4+

Magical Bones: Soulful Magic 6th April 7.30pm

Britain’s Got Talent finalist takes to the road with a show full of awe-inspiring, high energy magic. £21.50

Romeo & Juliet Ballet 16th April 2.30pm

A passionate portrayal of one of the world’s greatest love stories. £23, £21

Marcus Brigstocke: Absolute Shower

20th April 7.30pm

A blisteringly funny stand-up show, celebrating Marcus’ personal triumphs and small victories of the past couple of years. £19, age 14+

DS:UK - The ON anoTHEr NIGHT TOUR

21st April 7.30pm £25

A Dire Straits tribute act that delivers the music with an attention to detail that few tribute bands strive for.

Shape of You - The Music of Ed Sheeran

28th April 7.30pm £25, child £18

Presented by Chameleon Music Marketing, with heartfelt singalongs, beatbox raps, emotional acoustic compositions, a talented band and more.

The Many Voices of Debra Stephenson

29th April 7.30pm

Take a trip with the star of Dead Ringers, Spitting Image, The Imitation Game and Bad Girls, as Debra hurtles through time in a multiverse of musical icons from Billy Holliday to Billie Eilish and Shirley Bassey to Kate Bush. £22, age 14+

Aldenham Avenue, Radlett WD7 8HL

www.radlettcentre.co.uk

Out & About

Spring Trail 1st - 16th April

Pick up a trail leaflet from the Thieves Lane car park, explore the Park, and discover its amazing wildlife.

Panshanger Park, Hertford SG14 2NA www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk

Luton Hoo Walled Garden

Bluebell Walks 5th, 12th, 19th & 26th April

See the bluebells in areas not usually open to the public, returning along the majestic lime tree avenue. Please book

Talk: Gertrude Jekyll in Bedfordshire

28th April 11am, £7.50, please book

Luton Hoo Estate, Luton LU1 4LF 01582 721443 www.lutonhooestate.co.uk

St Albans Museum + Gallery

Live Sword Fighting 8th April 11.30am - 4pm

Watch a live sword fighting demonstration with weapons and techniques used during the Wars of the Roses at the Second Battle of St Albans. Learn about fighting on foot with a sword, versus on horseback with a lance. £5, please book

Talk: Battlefield Queens 20th April 7pm

Hear how several key women used their power and influence to turn the tide of the War of the Roses ultimately deciding who won. £10 or £6 online St Peter’s Street, St Albans AL1 3DH www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk

Hatfield House

CJ’s Birds of Prey Experiences

15th April 11am - 3pm £12

With birds including the Crowned Hawk Eagle and the stunning Snowy Owl. The display is free, but you will need to buy a park ticket £8, child £4

Argentine Wine Tasting 21st April 5.30pm £36

Tickets include a glass of fizz, sampling of 16 red and white wines, street food snacks, and tango dancers.

The Plant Fairs Roadshow 30th April 11am - 3pm

Buy direct from growers and get advice from the resident plant doctor. £12

Hatfield House AL9 5HX

www.hatfield-house.co.uk

The AT Society

Tee off for AT 19th April 9.30am

Shot Gun Start - 18 holes at Harpenden Golf Course

Skydive 13th May

Take part in an adrenaline filled experience and raise much needed funds for this Harpenden based charity. www.atsociety.org.uk

Seasonal Foraging Walk 22nd April 10am

Forager Jane Simmons will guide you to seek out wild food ingredients, discussing the properties of various hedgerow and woodland plants and sharing tips on how to use them in cooking. Meet at top of Redhill Road, Hitchin SG5 2NY www.bookwhen.com

Photographic Print Exhibition

22nd April 10am - 4.30pm free

Presented by Harpenden Photographic Society including landscapes, portrait, macro, street, abstracts and numerous award-winning images. New members are always welcome so why not go along to find out more. (photo by Anne Marie Smith)

High Street Methodist Church AL5 2RU www.harpendenphotographicsociety.co.uk

The St Albans Sixer 23rd April Register 10am

A running event with a difference - 6 miles, 6 pubs. Run or walk the course around the streets of St Albans, stopping in the 6 pubs where you will be given a drink of your choice. £30 (min £5 will go to charity) Lower Red Lion, Fishpool Street, St Albans AL3 4RX www.facebook.com/TheStAlbansSixer

Coffee Morning 24th April 10.30am - 12 noon

Drop in for a chat and make new friends over a cuppa. Harpenden Library, High Street AL5 2RT

Sustainable St Albans

FoodSmiles Open Day 1st April 2pm - 4pm

See how they make local food, and food-growing more accessible. Hammonds End Farm, Harpenden

Repair Fair 29th April 2pm - 5pm free

St Albans District Fixers are repairing household fabrics and electrical items, take your items along. Please book. St Peter's Church, St Albans AL1 3HG www.sustainablestalbans.org

A Spring Surprise 27th April 7.30pm

Floral demonstration with Harpenden Evening Floral Group, all welcome. £8 on the door. 01582 712315

All Saints Church Hall, Station Road AL5 4UU

Talk: House in the Park 29th April 11.30am

The Hypocaust, Verulamium Park www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk

National Garden Scheme

Beesonend House 30th April 11am - 4.30pm £5

An east garden with pleached hedges and a Japanese -themed border. A south garden with a semi-mature Lebanese cedar. A south-west facing garden with a pond and orchard and a north garden with circular lawn, roses, a vegetable garden and more.

Beesonend Lane, Harpenden AL5 2AB www.ngs.org.uk

Herts County Show 27th & 28th May

Celebrate Hertfordshire’s finest farming, food, entertainment and shopping.

The Showground, Redbourn AL3 7PT www.hertsshow.com

If you would like to get involved and support the Hertfordshire Domestic Abuse Helpline by fundraising or volunteering please email admin@hertsdomesticabusehelpline.org

We are here to listen 9am - 9pm Monday to Friday and 9am - 4pm Weekends and Bank Holidays

Confidential email: kim@mailpurple.org www.hertsdomesticabusehelpline.org

Natural Handmade Candles & Skincare

Have your own Spa at home with our natural products suitable for all skin types. Gift ideas for him, for her and for yourself with Soaps, Lotion Bars, Body Butter, Himalayan Bath Salts, Bath Bombs, Home Fragrance, Soy Candles that burn slower and last longer and lots more. Visit us at The Small Biz Collection, Unit 1 The Village Arcade, 7 High Street, St Albans AL3 4ED

Wholesale also available

Child Contact Arrangements Over School Holidays

Easter holidays are just around the corner and that means for separated families it’s time to think about arrangements for child contact, particularly for those who do not have a pre-arranged agreement in place.

It can be stressful for separated parents so it is best, where possible, to agree arrangements with each other in advance.

Here are some helpful tips:

Find a convenient time at a neutral place to discuss your proposals – reaching an agreement with your ex-partner will help promote an amiable working relationship.

Consider attending mediation together to discuss arrangements for the children. The Mediator will assist you in trying to reach an agreement, and can typically see parties for an appointment quickly, so this is a good solution if difficulties arise. Mediation can take place face to face, in different rooms or virtually which may be helpful if you don’t want to be in the same room.

Agreements reached in mediation are not legally binding, nor are they a Court Order. Some parents opt to have their agreement recorded into a Parenting Plan, which again is not a Court Order but is a record of the agreement and useful for future reference.

If communication does break down you may need to seek legal advice from a Family Lawyer and consider instructing them to write to your ex-partner with your proposed contact, and negotiate the arrangements on your behalf.

As a final resort you may wish to make an application to the Court to define the contact arrangements for your children which can include all special occasions, including holidays. The welfare of the children is always the Court’s paramount consideration as well as the need for an Order balanced against no Order, known as “the no order principle”. Applications should only be made when all else fails. Generally, the courts would want the children to share their time during holidays with both parents, where possible.

01727 576078

Katie Skinner Chartered Legal Executive Rayden Solicitors Harpenden 01582 803679

www.raydensolicitors.co.uk

NOW for the Kids

Easter Eggstravaganza

30th March - 14th April

An egg-cellent day of family fun including an Easter egg hunt, Easter grotto, Easter arts and crafts, Easter bunnies, pig racing and lamb feeding demonstrations, there really is something for every-bunny!

Willows Activity Farm, London Colney AL4 0PF www.willowsactivityfarm.com

Exhibition: The BFG in Pictures

until 23rd April (closed Mondays) free

This ‘phizz-whizzing’ exhibition comes direct from the Quentin Blake Centre for illustration. Go along and enjoy children’s activities, and try drawing the BFG! North Herts Museum, Brand Street, Hitchin SG5 1JE www.northhertsmuseum.org

Easter Fun with Pip and Posy

31st March - 9th May

Join Pip and Posy in their world of play and exploration and follow a family-friendly trail to discover the amazing animals at the Zoo. Please book Whipsnade Zoo, Dunstable LU6 2LF www.whipsnadezoo.org

Animals 1st April 2pm

Fun, interactive and featuring original songs, this empowering and uplifting performance about animals, humans and nature, celebrates the amazing wildlife around us and makes big things feel possible. Age 6+ The Old Town Hall Arts Centre, High Street, Hemel Hempstead HP1 3AE www.oldtownhall.co.uk

Easter Holidays at Rye Meads

1st - 16th April 9am - 4.30pm

Discover the sights and sounds of spring as you solve the riddles to find out who has left their eggs around the reserve. There will also be rock painting and pond dipping at £3 per kit, and an activity trail costing £2. RSPB Rye Meads, Hoddesdon SG12 8JS www.events.rspb.org.uk

Easter Eggstravaganza

1st -16th April under 5s with:

 Meet Winnie the Pooh, Piglet and the Easter Bunny

 'Easter Bunny Hop Dance' and 'Carrot Hunting' show

 Collect your Activity Booklet and hunt for the bunnies

 Easter Egg Hunt & Lamb Bottle Feeding

 Ride on the Hoppy Hay Tractor Ride

 Animal Petting; Bunnies, Chicks, Lambs and more

Aldenham Country Park, Elstree WD6 3BA

www.aldenhamcountrypark.co.uk

Tring Natural History Museum

Cracking Cassowaries 4th - 6th & 11th - 13th April

Discover how wonderfully varied eggs are, from Ostrich eggs the size of your head to bright green Cassowary eggs. After eggs-ploring these, get crafting and make your own egg to take home.

Eggsplore Eggs Trail 1st - 17th April £1

Don your eggs-plorer's hat and search the galleries for hidden eggs. Put your egg-spotting skills to the test and see if you can spot them all. Age 5+

Tring HP23 6AP www.nhm.ac.uk

Harpenden Library

The King of Nothing 4th April 3.30pm £5

An anarchic re-telling of the Emperor's New Clothes, the characters (and the audience) discover people can be made to believe anything. With songs, puppetry, slapstick and more, the two Swindlers (or should we call them ‘actors’) weave their cunning magic on children and adults alike. Ages 5 - 11, please book

Once Upon a Time 9th & 23rd April 10am

Storytime for under 8’s. Suggested donation £1

Harpenden Library, High Street AL5 2RT www.hertfordshire.gov.uk

Hats Made Me: Crafty Creations

5th - 16th April

Make your own boater hat in this fun-filled crafting session. Purchase your hat kit online, pick it up from reception and get making and decorating your boater. Stockwood Discovery Centre, Luton LU1 4LX www.culturetrust.com

Easter Funfair 6th - 10th April

Fun and exciting rides for all ages.

Harpenden Common www.harpenden.gov.uk

Day out with Thomas

7th- 9th April 10.30am - 5pm

Peep peep! Join Thomas and friends for a day of family fun. Enjoy short train rides with Thomas, see the Fat Controller, take a miniature train ride and more.

Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Bucks HP22 4BY www.bucksrailcentre.org

Easter Dragon Quest

13th - 16th April 10am - 4pm £12.50

 Dragon Easter egg hunt in the forest

 Make a clay dragon Easter egg

 Weave a Brighid's eye (Dream Catcher)

 Practice your aim in the hunting zone

 Build a woodland shelter

 Watch the Friction Fire lighting display

 Listen to a Celtic story around the fire

Celtic Harmony Camp, Brickendon SG13 8NY www.celticharmony.org

10.15am, 11am, 2.30pm £2

Index of Businesses

Ken Hodson

Local Computer Hardware and Software Repairs Upgrades and Advice for Home and Business

● No fix, no fee for all repairs - you have nothing to lose!

● Low hourly rate

● Most repairs carried out in your home, if not the computer will be picked up and delivered back to you.

● Problems with Windows / Applications / Games / Internet / Networks fixed

● Friendly training and instruction available in plain English

● Advice given on upgrades - many older computers can be upgraded at a fraction of the cost of a new machine

● Upgrades of hardware and software