st albans NOW Nov 14 by wendy robertson

st albans

November

2014

Off With a Bang! Remembrance Services St Albans Literary Festival The Odyssey Cinema

NOW at the Alban Arena Christmas Lights On! BBC 3 Counties Consumer Advice NOW

What’s on and lots more

read ‘the NOW magazines’ monthly

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Welcome to November

A hearty welcome to all our readers... ..with the clocks going back and the nights drawing in, our thoughts turn to Bonfire Night, fireworks, roast chestnuts, muddy walks with the dog, and the home comforts of hot chocolate, woolly jumpers and a roaring fire. So wrap up warm and go and enjoy everything from a Christmas Fayre or concert to the Christmas Lights Switch On and the fabulous festive Market in the Cathedral Grounds. Then when you get home, curl up with ‘st albans NOW’ and a cuppa to decide what event to book up for next! This month sees the first ever St Albans Literary Festival with an amazing line-up of authors, so make sure you snap up your tickets quick. Hope you enjoy the read, give us a shout if you want anything new in ‘the NOW magazines’. And of course if you need a local business pick up ‘st albans NOW’ or read it every month online. We hope your month goes with a bang! jane & wendy www.theNOWmagazines.com

Childwickbury Christmas Market

for wonderful presents

Remember Them

remembrance services & walks

St Albans Literary Festival

literature, poetry, blogging & more

For Remembrance 10 street memorials

NOW at the Local Theatres 16 The Maltings & Abbey Theatre

Christmas Lights On! 20 ...and the Christmas Market

The Odyssey Cinema 21 opening soon

Consumer Advice NOW 22 parking ticket advice

Off With a Bang! 25 local firework displays

NOW at the Alban Arena 38 music, comedy & theatre

NOW in the Garden 40 www.theNOWmagazines.com To advertise call 07983 588313 / 291 Deadline for Dec: 10th November

sowing, planting & pruning

What’s on in November 42 & December 44 Index of Businesses 46 accountants to windows & doors

To Advertise: 07983 588291 jane@theNOWmagazines.com

Come and Visit Our New Shop Special Occasion Wear Elegant Evening Gowns One off Designs Prom & Ball Dresses Playful Party Dresses Wedding Attire Hat Hire Accessories Handbags Available On-line Hair & Make-up Advice Personal Service Dresses £20 - £90

Seymour Styles 19 Seymour Road St Albans AL3 5HN by appointment Mon - Fri 4pm - late Sat 11am - late 07443 562313 01727 839658 sharon@seymourstyles.co.uk or shop on-line www.seymourstyles.co.uk

Enter as strangers and leave as friends It all started when my daughter Hannah was shopping for her prom dress... £500 later and a good experience but not a great one. Then I had an idea, and shortly after a good friend gave me a notebook with a quote on the front cover....'All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.' Walt Disney ... 6 months later and hours and hours of work.... my dream... Seymour Styles.... came true. I now source individual dresses from all sorts of places; vintage shops, antique markets, clothes fairs; wherever I see something that takes my eye.

Setting up a new business can best be described as a learning curve, a bit like the curves in my logo (designed by daughter Hannah.) There are ups and downs....never be put off.... remember what Walt said about courage! 'Enter as strangers and leave as friends'. We believe all our customers deserve the best service and that’s why our one to one appointment system works. Time to browse, time to try on as many dresses as you choose and time to have the personal service that everyone deserves.

Childwickbury Christmas Market 'Completely different Christmas shopping' On the 29th and 30th November from 10am - 5pm Childwickbury Estate will be opening its gates for their sixth Christmas Market. Housed in the charming Victorian stable block the market will again be offering its high quality and inspiring range of art, crafts and foods to start the Christmas shopping season. Horse boxes and tack rooms will be opened up for artists and crafts people selling gifts including wooden toys, stained glass, jewellery, quilts, pottery, clothing, fabulous hats, tableware, fine art and more. If you want food gifts then we have Childwickbury Honey, preserves and homemade sweets, Christmas cakes to order and hampers. Hot drinks, freshly cooked food and mulled wine will be available. With free entry and parking why not get your Christmas preparations off to a great start at Childwickbury.

THE FLOWER SCHOOL “Come and be Creative with Flowers” Let florist Anita Lindeman teach you how to make stunning arrangements with beautiful flowers and foliages, in a calm relaxed atmosphere. Delicious refreshments included at Childwickbury workshops.

Christmas Wreath Workshops £30 Fri 5th Dec 10 - 12.30pm New House Park Sat 6th Dec 10.30 - 12.30pm Childwickbury Thurs 11th Dec 7.30 - 9.30pm St Michael’s Parish Centre

Christmas Wreath Masterclass Workshop £40 Make a truly original design for your door this Christmas! Sat 13th Dec 10.30 - 12.30pm Childwickbury

Seasonal Table Decoration Workshop £35 Weds 17th Dec

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3 Week Christmas Floristry Course £95 27th Nov / 4th & 18th Dec 7.30 - 9.30pm Childwickbury Make a Christmas swag, door wreath and table design

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NOW at the Cathedral All Saints Sun 2nd November 9.30am Parish Eucharist 11.15am Choral Eucharist 6.30pm Memorial Evensong Choral Eucharist for All Souls Mon 3rd November, 5pm

Remember Them Remembrance Sunday Sunday 9th November War Memorial, St Peter's Street, St Albans 10.20am - 11.30am Starting with a parade from M & S, St Peter's Street. St Albans Cathedral 8am Eucharist 9.30am Parish Eucharist 10.55am Choral Eucharist of Remembrance 6.30pm Solemn Evensong War Memorial Church Green, Harpenden 10.50am Starting with a parade from The Royal British Legion, Leyton Road at 10.40am to Church Green in the centre of town.

Remembrance Day Tuesday 11th November St Albans Cathedral There will be a two minute silence and act of remembrance in the Cathedral at 11am

Walks: Street War Memorials / Armistice 9th & 11th November 11am Walk to each of the memorials and hear the story behind some of the names. St Albans Tour Guides meet in front of the Old Town Hall, adult £4, child, £2 Tourist Information Centre 01727 864511 www.stalbanstourguides.co.uk

Poppy People Needed Anyone who is interested and available for a few hours or more in helping with the ‘Poppy Appeal’ for this year should contact the local Poppy Appeal Coordinator Don Dell on 07747 467836

Talk: Church of England and the First World War Thurs 6th November, 7.30pm A glimpse of the response of the Church to the conflict, and how the clergy and people of the Church wrestled and engaged with the issues that arose. £9. Remembrance Sunday Sun 9th November see adjacent article Lunchtime Organ Recital Weds 12th November, 12.30pm David Newsholme, Assistant Organist, Canterbury Cathedral. Free. St Albans Bach Choir Sat 15th November, 7.30pm Performing Handel’s Messiah. £12, available by calling 01727 890290 or online at www.stalbanscathedral.org/whatson/music Annual Service of Remembrance & Thanksgiving Sun 24th November 2.30pm (Dove Release at West End) 3pm Service This moving annual service provides a special occasion to remember loved ones. Talk: Poets versus Historians: Competing Narratives of World War One Thurs 28th November, 7.30pm Examining the literary interpretation of World War I offered by poets such as Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon. £9. St Albans International Organ Festival: Organ Recital Sat 29th November, 5.30pm Margaret Phillips, U.K. Tower Tours Sat 29th November, 11.30am, 1pm, 2.30pm Advent Procession Sun 30th November, 6.30pm Sung by the Cathedral Choir. Candlelit service of readings and music, marking the start of Advent. www.stalbanscathedral.org

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Literature, poetry, blogging and more!

6th - 9th November This month sees the City's first Literary Festival, a four-day celebration of story-telling, great works of literature, journalistic writing, poetry, non-fiction, copywriting and blogging! St Albans has some particularly heavyweight literary boasts. The first draft of the Magna Carta was drawn up in St Albans Cathedral; Francis Bacon, scientist and writer, often thought to be the author of some of Shakespeare’s plays, lived in Gorhambury House; Dickens penned some of Bleak House in the City; and the brilliant scientist Stephen Hawking was educated at St Albans School, the oldest public school in the country.

7th November A Girls’ Night Out A Novel Way to Relax! The Bistro, Westminster Lodge 7.30pm £12.50 Enjoy a glass of bubbly while you listen to 3 top chick-lit authors chat about their new books and muse about life. 8th November We’re Going on a Bear Hunt and Other Stories St Albans Library, Here’s a taster of what’s planned The Maltings 10am, ages 6 and under free 6th November Celebrate the 25th anniversary of Murder Mystery Dinner this favourite book with children’s Abbot’s Kitchen, writer Kirsten Lester. St Albans Cathedral 7.30pm, £35 8th November Three top authors will be An Evening of Tudor Literature speaking in between courses. The Lady Chapel, Festival ambassador Kate Griffin St Albans Cathedral will talk about her book Kitty Peck 7.30pm £12.50 and the Music Hall Murders, BBC news presenter Martine MJ Arlidge, author of Eeny Meany Croxhall presents best selling and James Carol, author of authors Leanda de Lisle and Broken Dolls will discuss their Conn Iggulden for a night work. Guests will be able to ask exploring the Tudors, with music questions and speak with the from St Albans based vocal folk authors. trio ‘Said The Maiden’. 6th November 8th November An Evening With Terry Wogan Best of British Crime Old Town Hall, St Albans Waterstones Bookshop, 7.30pm £12.50 St Albans Sir Terry will be talking about his 7.30pm £7.50 new book "The Little Book of Listen to 3 of Britain's best crime Common Sense...or Pause writers; Collette Macbeth, Julia for Thought with Wogan", Crouch and Claire McGowan. followed by a Q & A session 9th November and book signing. Speaking Works 7th November Active Story Telling In Search of Elizabeth Bennet Inn on the Park, Old Town Hall, St Albans Verulamium Park, St Albans 7.15pm £12, students £8 11am & 2pm, £2 Popular historical seamstress, Encouraging children to tell their Gillian Stapleton delivers a own stories and act them out with Costume-in-Context presentation, friends. peeling back the layers of history to reveal the woman that Jane Tickets from St Albans Tourist Austen imagined. Information Centre 01727 864511 www.stalbanslitfest.co.uk

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There are two names on the plaque; Charles Javelau and Frederick Deamer. Charles was 17 There are 40 memorials in St Albans to local men when the war started and was killed in Belgium in September 1917. Frederick Deamer, the second who lost their lives in the First World War. Most name on the plaque, like Charles lived in obvious of these are the City Memorial on St Peters Green, which stands over the names of Orchard Street. 643 men, all of whom had close associations with We then walked onto the memorial in Lower St Albans, and the unique collection of 10 Dagnall Street and sang a hymn which was sung memorials in the streets around the Abbey. at the original Dedication Service “Through the Others are easily missed. How many customers night of doubt and sorrow onward goes the of Nat West in St Peters Street realise that they pilgrim band”. The girls’ choir from the Abbey pass within three feet of a memorial every time sang an anthem based on Rupert Brooke’s poem they enter the bank. This memorial is dedicated “If I should die think only this of me; That there’s to Henry Yarde Martin, a bank clerk living in for ever England”. Bedford who joined up at the outbreak of war. Sixteen names on this memorial have been reAnother often overlooked, is near the Ziggurat instated. One, William Kalabza, was the son of a building in Grosvenor Road, on the site of Edwin Czech émigré. He married Emma, a St Albans Lee’s boot factory and remembers 13 of its girl and they had two sons. William worked first employees killed during the war. as a bootmaker and then served in the Army. The 10 street memorials in the Abbey Parish The family were planning to emigrate to Canada have the words “For Remembrance 1914and William went on ahead. But his wife became 1918” with the names listed of the men who lived ill and he returned home shortly before she died in the immediate vicinity and were killed in the in 1914. He then joined the Canadian war. The memorials were unveiled in the 1920s. Expeditionary Force and was killed at Ypres in But time has taken its toll and over the years one 1915, leaving his orphaned sons to be cared for had lost a brass plaque and another had become by their grandparents. illegible. There are many other interesting stories behind

For Remembrance

In 2002 this was remedied and a service for the reinstatement of these two memorials, which I attended, took place. The service started in Orchard Street, where the missing brass plaque had been replaced. The names on the memorial were read out and there was a two minute silence followed by the ‘Last Post’ and ‘Reveille’.

the plaques in the city, and if you would like to find out more why not book one of the guided tours arranged by St Albans City & District Tour Guides visit www.stalbanstourguides.co.uk for more information. Elizabeth Eastwood St Albans City & District Tour Guides

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NOW at the Maltings

NOW at Abbey Theatre

An Evening of Poetry, Music and Song Vers Poets in association with Redbourn Folk club 1st November 7.30pm £7.50 / £5 A cabaret atmosphere bringing poetry and music together with cult poet Donald Gardner and Anne-Marie Fyfe (former chair of the Poetry Society and compere of regular sell-out events at the Troubadour Café). Music and song from the Redbourn Folk Club. Educating Rita 13th - 16th November 8pm / Sat & Sun 3pm £10 / £8, concs £7 When a hairdresser from Liverpool begins her quest for a greater understanding of books, she discovers her greatest obstacle is the attitude of the literary establishment. Willy Russell’s iconic play is hilarious and insightful. Katie’s Jumping Fleas 21st & 22nd November 8pm £10 / £7.50 High-energy St Albans based ukulele troupe. Puccini’s La Bohème Opera OVO 27th & 28th November 7.30pm £14 A lost key and a power cut bring a young seamstress and a struggling writer together. Their love story is played out against the backdrop of Paris in the grip of freezing winter weather. Hyde & Seek by Michael Daviot 6th December 8pm £10 Inspired by a childhood nightmare caused by Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, this show is part biography, part autobiography. For 50 years Stevenson and his work have woven through Michael's life in good times and bad; he uses this story to intimately explore family, memory, identity, addiction, mental health and the many faces of Mr Hyde. Food of Love @ Xmas OVO 12th & 13th December 8pm £10 / £7.50 OVO’s house band, presents smooth and seasonally themed jazz classics ranging from the mellow to the upbeat, with liberal helpings of Sinatra, Simone and Fitzgerald. Mulled wine and mince pies will be served. Book early to avoid disappointment! Maltings Arts Theatre St Albans www.maltingsartstheatre.co.uk www.ticketsource.co.uk/ovo 0333 666 3366

My Boy Jack 7th - 15th November A remarkable insight into the mind of one of our best-known authors: Rudyard Kipling, creator of The Jungle Book and the Just So Stories. It’s 1913 and England is getting ready for war. Kipling is torn between love for his son and an unswerving belief that his country must defeat Germany at all costs. Shakespeare Schools Festival 17th & 18th November 7pm Local schools perform in what promises to be a wonderful evening of entertainment. Only Fools and Boycie 22nd November 7.30pm An intimate evening with Only Fools and Horses actor John Challis. In this one-off show, he will reveal secrets from the set with stories and anecdotes from his dazzling career. A Pleasing Terror 26th November 8pm Over a century after they were first published, the ghost stories of MR James still retain their power to terrify and amuse. A gripping one-man show. Songs from my Suitcase 4th December 8pm Singer-songwriter Juliet Lawson playing original material that explores the full spectrum from jazz to folk to blues. Always lyrical and sometimes eccentric. Beauty and the Beast 19th - 22nd & 27th - 30th December A breathtaking retelling of a traditional tale Abbey Theatre Westminster Lodge 01727 857861 www.abbeytheatre.org.uk

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Dance The Long Nights Away! Have you always harboured a secret desire to learn to dance or are you simply looking for a different experience to kick off 2015? The Hospice of St Francis is looking for 20 couples up for the challenge of learning to dance the Paso Doble and the Charleston as part of its 2015 Strictly Learn Dancing competition helping to raise much needed funds. The couples will enjoy 6 weeks of dance tuition starting in January, with professional dance teachers from ‘Baila-Cusworth Dance School’. The challenge culminates in the glittering Strictly Learn Dancing Grand Finale next March at Centenary Hall, Berkhamsted. Promising a fun night with lots of razzmatazz, and one couple being crowned Champions. St Albans couple Carey and David Boswell realised a dream when they learned the Argentine Tango and Samba in last year’s competition, taking part to thank the Hospice for the care David’s mother received. Carey said: “We felt participating in Strictly would be a glittering tribute to David’s mum. We’d never done anything for charity in this way before but were blown away by the care she received. I’d always wanted to learn to dance although David would rather get on a bike so he was a little nervous, but practising was such fun, we had a lot of laughs and it was such a lovely thing to do together.” Fran Martin, Senior Community Fundraiser comments, “We’re now in the fifth year of the competition and over the past four years have raised well over £100k for the Hospice which is fantastic – enough to keep one of our beds open for a year. So come on, shake off your inhibitions and come and dance the winter nights away for the Hospice!” Places are limited so get in touch with the Hospice today to find out more! Call 01442 869555 or visit www.stfrancis.org.uk/strictly

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Christmas Lights On! St Albans Christmas Lights Switch-on St Peter's Street Sun 16th November 5.30pm An afternoon and early evening spectacular of pantomime stars, street entertainers and fun for all the family. A fun fair for the children and plenty for the adults too! Local traders and caterers kick start the festivities with seasonal themed menus, mulled wine and Christmas gifts. A welcoming, festive vibe to really get you in the mood for Christmas. Harpenden Christmas Carnival and Lights Switch-on Harpenden High Street Sun 23rd November 12 noon - 6pm Held in conjunction with the Farmers Market which starts at 12 noon. Acts will be on stage from 1pm and the lights will be switched on by the Town Mayor at 5pm. Santa's Grotto is open from 12.30pm . Other attractions will include fairground rides, charity stalls and late night shopping. Wheathampstead Christmas Lights-up Thurs 27th November 6 - 8pm Santa, fairground rides, local shops, mulled wine and mince pies. Southdown Christmas Lights Switch-on Fri 28th November 6 - 8pm Live music, children's fairground rides, shops opening late and a Christmas Fair at the Methodist Church, lights on by the Town Mayor at 6pm. Batford Christmas Lights Switch-on Sun 30th November 4.30pm Live music, rides, face painting, raffle, kids tombola, Santa gift hunt and refreshments. Lights switched on at 5.30pm.

St Albans Christmas Market Thurs 27th November - Sun 21st December Sun - Weds 11am - 6pm Thurs, Fri & Sat 11am - 8pm St Albans knows a thing or two about markets, having one of the oldest regular markets in the country, dating back to the 9th century. So what better City to hold a European-style Christmas Market? The 25-day event with up to 60 stalls selling high quality gifts and products will take place in and around the beautiful Vintry Garden, adjacent to the Cathedral. Browse handmade gifts while enjoying a mug of mulled wine. So why not come and browse. www.stalbanscathedral.org

The Odyssey Cinema is Nearly Ready! The carpets are laid, the lights are in and the 23ft high cinema screen is ready for its audience! The Odyssey Cinema in St Albans promises to provide a film watching experience like no other. With an Art Deco theme, and 1930â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s characteristics it offers seating for up to 500 people. The original building has been preserved as much as possible. Architects have worked closely with the owner, James Hannaway, using original photographs to help get the design just right. The Long Opening Weekend: 27th - 30th November Keep an eye on the website for the regular programme of films, starting on 1st December. London Road, St Albans www.odysseypictures.co.uk

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Consumer Advice NOW Jonathan Vernon-Smith is the Sony Award winning midmorning show presenter for BBC Three Counties Radio. During his consumer hour he helps listeners with their consumer problems and now shares his advice here with you.

Dealing with Parking Tickets We’ve all been there - you return to your car to find a luminous yellow packet stuck to your windscreen. The dreaded parking ticket! But when should you pay up and when should you fight it? If you've parked somewhere you shouldn’t, and as long as the company/council has made you aware of their rules on parking with clear signage, you should just pay up quickly. Delaying will only mean that the bill goes up. Pay it, learn from it and move on. In many cases though, things are not so clear. Often motorists are left confused as to what parking restrictions are. In these cases it’s worth appealing, just follow these simple steps: 1 Do Not Pay if you intend to appeal. Paying a parking fine is an admission of liability. 2 If appealing, do so as soon as possible and write to the company asking them to put the penalty on hold until they have investigated your appeal. 3 Make sure you gather as much evidence as possible. 4 Take photos of your car in position and the signs or lack of them nearby. 5 If you’re claiming exceptional circumstances (i.e. you were suddenly taken very ill and had to abandon your car in a place you shouldn’t have), then obtain supporting letters etc. 6 If you can, get witnesses to back up your claims and provide you with a statement. 7 Stick to the timeline dictated by the company or council. If you are late submitting information, then you will lose by default. When you receive a parking penalty from a council these are fully enforceable and need to be taken seriously. Private parking company ‘fines’ are slightly different. Firstly, they are not ‘fines’, but merely invoices, and unless the company is prepared to take you to court for

payment, are non-enforceable. That’s not to say you shouldn’t consider carefully how to deal with them. If you’ve parked on private land and broken the rules, pay the fee requested as long as you consider it reasonable. If you don’t, then consider paying an amount based on an equivalent charge for a penalty on a public road. The company would have to sue you for the difference and explain to a judge why the extra money is necessary. To appeal use the company’s own appeals process first. If you are unsuccessful most companies will have their own separate appeals process that you can use to escalate your complaint. Finally, the best way to deal with parking tickets is to avoid getting one in the first place. Always look for signs and road markings to see if you are allowed to park there.

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Off With a Bang!

Sat 1st November OA Fireworks Spectacular

Sun 2nd November Butterfly World Fireworks

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Butterfly World, Chiswell Green Gates open 4.30pm, fireworks 6.15pm Book in advance, no tickets on the night. Ticket £6; under 3's free. 01727 869203

Sat 1st November Verulamium Firework Spectacular Verulamium Park, St Albans Gates open 6pm, fireworks 7.30pm Enjoy what has become one of St Albans' great family events. A truly explosive evening! Tickets £5 from The Alban Arena Box Office 01727 844488.

Sat 1st November Hatfield House Fireworks Gates open 5pm, bonfire 6.30pm A space themed evening with entertainment in the build up to the firework display. Adult £8, child £4, under 5’s free. Cash only on the night www.hatfield-house.co.uk

Sat 1st November

Wheathampstead Firework Display Beech Hyde Primary School Gates open 6pm, display 6.45pm. Adult £4, child £3

Sat 8th November Crabtree School Family Fireworks Crabtree Lane, Harpenden 6.30pm, £7, family £25

Sat 8th November Harpenden Scout Group Firework Display Kinsbourne Green Common, display 6.30pm adult £6, child £5, indoor viewing area

Sun 9th November

Harpenden Rugby Club Fireworks Extravaganza Redbourn Lane Gates open 3pm, fireworks 6pm Adult £8, child £5, family £25 www.hrfc.com

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Bricktraders Inn The Park! 22nd & 23rd November We buy, sell and trade pre-loved LegoÂŽ bricks. Everyone welcome from the youngest and most casual builders to serious collectors. Come and join in. Lego sets, parts and figures Brick'n'mix and Build'n'buy Spares and instruction books Make-a-minifigure Inn on the Park, Verulamium Park, St Albans 10am - 5pm www.bricktraders.co.uk

This year BBC's Children in Need appeal will be held on 14th November. Since 1980, Children in Need has supported children's projects in the UK by raising over ÂŁ650 million. Why not get involved this year and donate or raise some money for a very worthwhile cause. www.bbc.co.uk/childreninneed

ART CLASSES FOR KIDS!

Holiday Workshops and Term Time Classes in ST ALBANS

www.fineart4kids.com

07949 293463

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NOW at Wimpole Hall Hedge Laying Course 1st November 9.30am Learn how to lay a Midland style hedge using axes and billhooks. £90 Wild About Fungi 2nd November 11am & 2pm Discover the varied non edible fungi at Wimpole and the many that live on trees on a guided walk with the Forester. Adult £6, child £4 Talk: Heavy Horses 4th November 11am An introduction into the daily lives of Wimpole's Shire horses, including an opportunity to meet these gentle giants. £12 Christmas Craft Fair 15th & 16th November 10am Wimpole's festive season starts up with their fantastic Christmas Craft Fair. Find unique and unusual presents from over fifty craft stalls, visit

NOW at the Museums www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk Sat 1st November 11am - 3pm Day of the Dead Activities Museum of St Albans Discover the Mexican holiday ‘Day of the Dead’ which occurs around the same time as Halloween. Design your own masks and cards. £2 . The Clock Tower is also holding a Day of the Dead exhibition. Sun 2nd November 2pm - 4.30pm Meet Queen Boudicca Verulamium Museum Storytelling sessions by Boudicca at 2.30pm & 3.30pm. Free Sat 8th November 1pm - 5pm Soldiers’ Stories Family Event Museum of St Albans Step back 100 years and meet two Gunners from the Royal Artillery, home on leave with tales from the front. Free (small charge for craft activity) Verulamium Museum Museum of St Albans 9a Hatfield Road St Michael's Street AL1 3RR AL3 4SW 01727 819340 01727 751810

the Stable Block shops and enjoy mulled wine and mince pies. £4 (under 14's free) Learn the Art of Ferreting 29th November 10am An introduction to ferrets, nets and traps used to control rabbits. £80

Wimpole Estate Arrington, Royston, Cambridgeshire, SG8 0BW 01223 206000 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wimpole-estate

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A New Lip-Reading Class in Harpenden Lip-Readers Hear Better Did you know that one in six people in this country have some kind of hearing problem? Hearing loss can affect anyone of any age. Hearing aids have improved enormously, they use all the advances in modern technology, but they still don't cure hearing loss. It is still a problem to hear in noisy social or work environments, but all is not lost. Lip-reading classes teach you to let your eyes help your ears fill in the things you miss. The best thing you can do if you find you are having problems hearing is to join a lip-reading class, but classes are few and far between, that’s why I have started a new class in Harpenden. My name is Molly Berry, and I am profoundly

Five Miles to Fabulous will ride the St Albans Green Ring on Saturday 15th November A gently paced women only cycle ride, organised by South Herts CTC starting from Morrisons supermarket, Hatfield Road at 9.30am. The Green Ring is a proposed cycling and walking circular route around St Albans. Some sections are already in place, such as the Alban Way and Verulamium Park, the extension of the shared pavement route along Griffiths Way and the widening of the path across Bernards Heath. The rest is currently in design. The Green Ring should be completed by Spring 2015. www.southherstctc.org.uk www.stalbans.gov.uk/planning

deaf, I started losing my hearing when I was in my thirties, and 5 years ago I was given a Cochlear Implant. It was very successful, and so I decided to retrain as a lip-reading tutor to pass on the skills I relied on. Classes are enormous fun, we laugh a lot, and as well as lip-reading I explain audio-grams, we look at equipment that can help and strategies to help in all sorts of situations. The classes are on Tuesday mornings, from 10.30 - 12.30pm at the Quaker Meeting House, 12 Southdown Road, Harpenden. Do come and join us. You can email me at mb.lipreading@gmail.com or call / text 07741 095921

Get Your Skates On! Experience the magic of ice skating at Van Hage with the return of their real Ice Rink opening Thursday 13th November. For the first time the Ice Rink will be covered by a ‘clear skies cover’ allowing you to skate in all weathers! It will be surrounded by a fully heated marquee with a café, comfortable seating and a skate-exchange desk featuring top-quality skates of all sizes. Van Hage, Great Amwell Herts, SG12 9RP www.vanhage.co.uk 01920 870811

NOW at Dunstable Downs 2nd November Make a bird feeder 2pm - 3.30 pm Help our feathered friends get through the chilly winter by creating a wooden peanut bird feeder or cosy nest box. 50 things Activities 2pm - 3pm, free Bring the kids and get involved with National Trusts 50 things to do before you’re 11¾. You'll get to cross another activity off your list and get outdoors and discover something new! 23rd November Stir Up Sunday 11am - 3pm, free Make a Christmas wish as you stir the giant Christmas pudding. Pudding tastings and treats to take home. Chilterns Gateway Centre 01582 500920 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunstable-downs

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War and Peace In November we remember Armistice Day, a moving and contemplative time of the year. It’s particularly poignant this year as we mark the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of World War 1 and remember those who gave their lives fighting in the trenches, and for the lost generation who never returned. Whether they’re based on fact or purely fiction, the stories and novels of WW1 still resonate today. Here are some of the most unforgettable.

Line of Fire: Diary of an Unknown Soldier Barroux (Author) Sarah Ardizzone (Translator)

This remarkable and unusual book came from the chance discovery of a diary. French writer and illustrator Barroux found the journal of an unknown soldier in a rubbish heap on a Parisian street. Barroux’s simple and often stark pencil illustrations have brought the words of the soldier to life and given us a rare glimpse into the first two months of WW1.The diary begins just as France officially declares war, and the soldier’s often heartrending descriptions cover a broad spectrum of emotions: from the physical ache and rub of boots in the here and now, to the hope and longing for his family and for a safe passage through the conflict. What became of the soldier we will perhaps never know, but here we have a rare glimpse into a moment and a life, in time.

A Farewell to Arms Ernest Hemingway

Based on his own experiences of the First World War, volunteering for the ambulance service in Italy, This is a love story between Frederic Henry (a Lieutenant serving in the ambulance corps of the Italian Army) and a nurse called Catherine Barkley. Set against a brutal and bloody backdrop, the novel is full of moments of sheer romanticism and passion. Hemingway’s

descriptions of war are truly unforgettable and the themes of love and death make for a very dramatic read.

powerful story has become both an emotive stage show in the West End and a Hollywood blockbuster.

All Quiet on the Western Front

Regeneration

Erich Maria Remarque

A group of young, idealistic and gung-ho teenagers are excited and fired-up by their teacher, eager to enlist to fight in the war. What follows is the horrific realisation of what conflict really is, and the terrors of life in the trenches are soon revealed. Paul Baumer was one of those students for whom the war was at first an adventure. The young group of classmates fall apart after the first bombardment, leaving the survivors languishing in a hell of their own choosing. Paul vows to keep on living and to fight against a war that pits young men against others of the same generation. War Horse Michael Morpurgo

From the pen of the acclaimed children’s author, comes a story that has captivated kids and adults alike. Joey is a beautiful young foal who is sold to the army and quickly finds himself charging into battle as the war rages in France. Told through Joey’s eyes, this is a powerful story about friendship, humility and humanity. Joey battles to stay alive and never lets go of his dream of returning home to his original owner, Albert and the farm life he left behind. This

Pat Barker

Pat Barker’s novel was inspired by her grandfather’s own experiences during World War 1 and a lot of the characters are based on the accounts of individuals who were treated for ‘shell-shock’ and post-traumatic stress disorder (although it wasn’t recognised as such at the time) at Craiglockhart War Hospital in Edinburgh. The title refers to the research carried out by psychologist W.H.R. Rivers into nerve regeneration after mental and emotional trauma, and explores the medical practices and treatments of the time. The story centres on an English officer who is sent to a military hospital after refusing to continue to fight in the war. The Guns of August Barbara W Tuchman

The thirty days leading up to the start of World War One have been brought to life in Tuchman’s Pulitzer Prizewinning novel. It focuses on why the war broke out, who was involved and why it wasn’t prevented. Her attention to detail is incredible and as those last few weeks spill out in front of us, you can almost feel as though you are reliving it, one hundred years on. It makes for incredibly powerful and thought-provoking reading.

Julia Reading BSC (Hons) MChS, HPC Registered Podiatrist

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For an appointment please phone

07746 472781 Tuesdays Nash Pharmacy (next to Waitrose) 2 Ermine Close, St Albans

Mon & Fri / Tues or Wed pm Southdown Clinic Harpenden UK registered charity no 297489

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Frost Fair Hatfield House 21st - 23rd November An exciting and vibrant Christmas Fair offering an early taste of festive feel for all the family. Up to 200 stands of exciting, unusual and original gifts ► Crafts Men and Women Showing off their Skills ► Fine Food Fair ► Entertainment from Choirs, Dancers and Street Entertainers ► Drop in Workshops including Creative Christmas Decorating with Flowers and Greenery ► Meet Father Christmas ► Dine in The Coach House Restaurant or enjoy tea and coffee in the marquee ► Hatfield House Gift Shop ► The Stable Yard shopping adult £5, under 15’s free, book in advance and get 10% off www.frostfair.co.uk www.hatfield-house.co.uk

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NOW at the Alban Arena Grease presented by St Albans Operatic Society 4th - 8th November 7.45pm Sat 2.30pm £18.50, £17.50 Featuring unforgettable songs from the hit movie including ‘You’re The One That I Want’, ‘Summer Nights’, ‘Greased Lightnin’ and many more. Miranda Sings 10th November 7pm £22 The international YouTube sensation brings you a hilarious night filled with comedy, hit songs, magic tricks, dramatic readings of hate mail, and never before seen videos. You won’t want to miss seeing this lipstick-wearing, epileptic eyebrowed, crooked-smiling beauty live and in person! That’ll Be the Day 13th November 7.30pm £24.50, £22.50 Trevor and the gang celebrate the festive season by bringing back the good times with all your Christmas classics, plus hilarious comedy routines. Join in the festive fun this Christmas! Shane Filan: You and Me Tour 2014 15th November 7.30pm £35, £32 In 2010, the band Westlife called it a day, and Shane decided to go solo recording his debut album, You and Me, and is now promoting it on tour.

Marty Wilde’s Rock n Roll Party featuring Eden 26th November 7.30pm £25, £23 Kane and John Leyton with The Wildcats performing their own hits Marty, John and Eden show us how Rock n Roll shaped the music we still enjoy to today.

Jason Byrne - You Name the Show 27th November 8pm £17.50 It’s January and I’m asked, as I am each year “What’s the name of your show, Jason?” I ask The Sensational 60s Experience “Do you mean the one that will be on in August, 16th November 7.30pm £26 and by the time I get there my show content will Six legendary names from the 1960s deliver you have changed at least 546 times?” “Yes”, they a night never to be forgotten. Featuring: say. So I’ve been asking the audiences to name Herman’s Hermits, The Swinging Blue Jeans, the show. The best name will win £500, there will Dave Berry, The Union Gap and The Ivy League. be a leader board on stage each night, and by Dancing in the Streets the end of the tour, my show will have a name… 23rd November 7.30pm £26.50 thanks to you lot. Join the original and the best celebration of The Enchanting Tale of The Nutcracker Motown’s Greatest Hits guaranteed to have you 29th November 2.30pm singing along and dancing in the aisles. £22.50, £24.50 Rumours of Fleetwood Mac 25th November 7.30pm £32.50, £22.50 Replicating the power and subtlety of Fleetwood Mac just let timeless classics such as Black Magic Woman, Albatross, Go Your Own Way and many more, take you on a nostalgic evening of outstanding music.

Clara and her nutcracker doll, which magically transforms into a princely soldier. Their adventures see the Prince and Clara combat the Mouse King, and join the Sugar Plum Fairy on a wonderful trip to a Kingdom made entirely of sweets. The Alban Arena www.alban-arena.co.uk 01727 844488

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NOW in the Garden

season. Tender plants, and any Prunus should not be pruned until late Spring. Protection To protect your garden mulch beds of Sowing and planting herbaceous perennials or semi hardy plants but This is the last time winter bedding such as use grit around the plants. The grit will stop forget-me-nots, primrose and winter pansies can moisture collecting and rotting the stems while be planted. You can also still plant tulip and lily the mulch will keep the roots warm. bulbs this month. Tulips can be planted in the Newly planted trees, shrubs and hedges should ground but the lilies should now be planted in be protected from the wind and cold weather. pots. Where there is no natural shelter, consider This is also the perfect time to plant roses. To installing a netting windbreak for the season. avoid rose sickness avoid planting where roses To protect deciduous plants from frost surround were grown previously. with fleece, straw or bracken. To protect As long as the soil remains workable, this is also evergreens without reducing their visibility, a a good time to transplant young trees and shrubs sheltering structure such as a wooden frame to more suitable positions. However, established covered with clear polythene can be used. plants are unlikely to move well and may be Bring in any tender plants this month and protect better left in their current location. alpines from wet weather by placing glass or Pruning plastic on top supported by legs or bricks. Continue to cut down faded herbaceous Insulate large planters with bubble wrap or perennials. Ornamental grasses and horticultural fleece and raise patio containers bamboos can be cut back this month. onto feet or bricks to help prevent root damage Pruning and renovation of many deciduous trees, from damp and cold conditions. shrubs including bush roses and hedges can be Happy Gardening! carried out from now throughout their dormant James Lanwarne Lanwarne Landscapes

Justin Leon Garden Maintenance All Aspects of Gardening Undertaken

Including Decking Overhaul Patio Washing & Repair Also offering Painting and Decorating

07789 961233

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What’s on in November 42

1st Champions of Magic Watford Colosseum, 7.30pm, £22, £17 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk 1st - 9th Firework Displays see page 25 2nd The Snow Queen Hawthorne Theatre, WGC, 01707 357117, 3pm, £10, family £36 5th, 12th, 19th Wednesday Lunchtime Recitals St Peter's Church, 01727 855485, call for details of individual events, 1pm, free 6th - 9th St Albans Literary Festival see page 8 7th Folk at the Maltings The Maltings Arts Theatre, St Albans, 0844 870 0887, 8pm, £10, concs £8 8th Robert Wolfe - Theatre Organ Concert St Albans Organ Theatre, 03003 65 65 65, 2.30pm & 7.30pm, adult £10, child £5 Autumn Reflections Concert St Saviour's Church, Sandpit Lane, 07884 231958, 7.30pm, adult £18, concs £15, child £1 Frank Skinner Watford Colosseum, 7.30pm, £28.50 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk Soldier's Stories see page 30 Lantern Festival see page 46 8th & 9th Remembrance Weekend RAF Museum, Hendon www.rafmuseum.org 8th & 9th / 29th & 30th Arts For Herts Markets St Albans Town Hall Sat 10am - 4pm & Sun 9.30am - 3.30pm 9th St Albans Mummers Workshop Museum of St Albans, please book 01727 819340 13th That’ll Be the Day see page 38 Dreaming of Kate Watford Colosseum, 7.30pm, £20, £17.50 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk 14th - 16th Harpenden Arts Club Exhibition Harpenden Public Halls, Fri & Sat 10 - 6pm, Sun 10 - 4pm, free 15th Victor & Albert Hawthorne Theatre, WGC, 01707 357117, musical comedy duo in the age-old tradition, 8pm, £13 The Grand Vintage Fair The Jubilee Centre, Catherine Street, 10am - 4pm 16th T.Rextasy Harpenden Public Halls, 01582 767525, 7.30pm, £18 16th - 30th Christmas Lights Switch On see page 20

17th & 18th Shakespeare Schools Festival see page 16 19th Display: ‘Aden’ St Albans, Harpenden & District Philatelic Society, St Mary's Church, Childwickbury, 01582 762284, all welcome, 8pm 21st - 23rd Frost Fair see page 36 22nd Dance Organ Day St Albans Organ Theatre, Camp Road, 03003 656565, 11am, adult £12, child £5 Sibelius's First St Saviour's Church, Sandpit Lane, 01727 857422, 7.30pm, £14, £10, £5, £1 23rd Lanwarne at Burston see page 40 Annual Service of Remembrance & Thanksgiving St Albans Cathedral, 2.30pm Harpenden Christmas Carnival see page 20 25th Reminiscence Museum of St Albans, Hatfield Road, 2pm, free 26th Festive Day Burston Garden Nursery see page 41 26th Nov - 24th Dec Santa’s Spectacular Grotto & Festive Farm Fun Willows Farm Village, 0870 129 9718, 10am - 5.30pm www.willowsfarmvillage.com 27th Talk: Philanthropy, Venality & Reform see page 26 27th & 28th Puccini's La Bohème see page 16 27th - 30th Odyssey Cinema Opening Weekend see page 21 27th Nov - 21st Dec St Albans Christmas Market see page 20 28th Kast off Kinks Harpenden Public Halls, 01582 767525, 7.30pm, £20 / £18 29th Carillon Chamber Choir Concert St Saviour's Church, Sandpit Lane, 01582 763774, 7.30pm, £15, £13, £5 Walk: Ashridge Estate discover the significance of the commons to the shaping of Ashridge's human & environmental history,1pm & 3pm, £15, £10, please book 01442 851227 Christmas Fair British Schools Museum, Hitchin, homemade cakes, crafts, bric-a-brac & more, museum café & shop open, free, 10 - 2.30pm 29th & 30th Childwickbury Christmas Market see page 5 30th Redbourn Village Christmas Market 11am - 4pm

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What’s on in December 44

3rd Wednesday Lunchtime Recital St Peter's Church, 01727 855485, The Princess Helena College Musicians, 1pm, free 4th Songs From My Suitcase see page 16 5th Dec - 4th Jan Jack & the Beanstalk Panto The Alban Arena, 01727 844488 6th Christmas Extravaganza Sandringham School, The Ridgeway, fun zone, Christmas shopping market, chocolate & bottle tombolas, Santa's grotto, hot food, mulled wine & more, 11 - 3pm Bach Christmas Oratorio High Street Methodist Church, Harpenden, 01582 462024, Amici Voices, adult £15, concs £5, 7.30pm Nicholas Martin - Theatre Organ Concert St Albans Organ Theatre, Camp Road, 03003 65 65 65, 2.30pm & 7.30pm, adult £10, child £5 Hyde & Seek see page 16 6th Dec - 11th Jan Eastern Approaches Museum of St Albans 01727 819340, annual showcase of work by artists living across the East region, Mon - Sat: 10am - 5pm, Sun: 2 - 5pm 7th Stockwood Christmas Fair Stockwood Discovery Centre, Luton, 01582 548600, carols, crafts, gift & food stalls & a visit to Santa 11 - 4pm, adult £3, child £2 The Jingle Bell Jog & Reindeer Run Waterend Barn, St Peters Street, 01442 820740, in aid of Rennie Grove Hospice Care, from 11am, registration 9am, Jingle Bell Jog £17, Reindeer Run £10 www.renniegrove.org/jinglebelljog Christmas Fair Ashridge Visitor Centre, 01442 851227, 10am - 3.30pm 8th Shake, Rattle & Sing St Albans City Station, Soroptimist women’s group, carol singing in aid of St Albans & Hertsmere Women’s Refuge, stop & sing from 6pm 12th & 13th Food of Love at Christmas see page 16 12th - 22nd Snow White & the Seven Dwafs Harpenden Public Halls, 01582 767525 13th & 14th Arts For Herts Markets St Albans Town Hall, Craft Fair & Tea Shop, Sat: 10am-4pm, Sun: 9.30am - 3.30pm

14th Santa Dash Hemel Hempstead, 01442 869555, in aid of The Hospice of St Francis, 10am, adult £15, child £5, family £35 includes Santa suits, www.stfrancis.org.uk/santadash St Albans Farmers Market St Peters Street, 9am - 2pm The Christmassy Christmas Show of Christmassy Christmassness Weston Auditorium, UHArts, family show, ages 5+, 11am & 2pm, £10 / £8 19th - 22nd / 27th - 30th Beauty & the Beast see page 16 20th Carols On The Hour St Albans Cathedral each service lasts 30 minutes, enough time to sing some uplifting carols with the Cathedral Choirs, on the hour, every hour 11am - 4pm 23rd FestiveLea Harpenden Public Halls, 01707 377029, Lea Singers Charity Christmas Concert, an evening of uplifting music, 7.30pm, adult £15, concs £5 www.leasingers.co.uk 26th St Albans Mummers various locations in St Albans City Centre, 01727 864511, for over 40 years they have performed their adaptation of George & The Dragon on Boxing Day 28th Harpenden Farmers Market 10am - 2pm

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Index of Businesses

Accountant TaxAssist Accountants Aerial Installations Concorde Aerials Beauty Skin & Tonic Bicycle Repairs Cycletech Hertfordshire Biographer Bound Biographies Blinds Colourblindz Builder Selfgen

45 15 31 34 9 11 7

Business Opportunities Ranjit Jotangia

Carpentry / Joinery Chris Smyth

Charity Traid Children’s Art Classes FineArt4Kids! Chiropodists Julia Reading Kathy Witchard Cleaning Big Yellow Carpet Brite Daily Poppins Domestico Domestique Linda & Karen Cleaning Services Murray’s Cleaning Services Conservatory Roof Solutions Nu-Look

35 28 35 35 27 27 23 23 22 23 27 7

Counselling / Sex Therapy Michael Stock

Dance & Drama Stagecoach Theatretrain

29 29

Domestic Appliance Repairs Leigh Hibon

Education Kumon

Electricians Alban Electrical Services I & B Electrical MLC Electrical Sol Projects Ltd

14 15 14 15 & 47

Hot Tubs A5 Hot Tubs

Insurance NFU Mutual

Back Cover

Ladies Fashion Seymour Styles

Oven Cleaning Ovenmaster

17 19 19

Fencing Verulam Fencing

Painters & Decorators CB Decorators M & M Decorating

Financial Management AMR Financial Management

Pet Care Your Paws Pet Services

Flooring Estella Flooring

Plasterer A. Merson Plastering

Flower Arranging Workshops The Flower School

Plumber DJ&M Plumbing Services Ltd

17 & 47

Foot Care Golinska Foot Care

Pond Maintenance Women With Waders

Garden Centre Burston Garden Centre

Property Maintenance Nick The Handyman

Recruitment Agency KA Marketing

Gardening / Landscaping Garden Life Landscapes Justin Leon Lanwarne Landscapes Supagrass

43 41 40 41

Retirement Homes McFarland Park & Leisure Homes

9 3 11

Gas K25

Shutters Just Shutters The Harpenden Shutter Company

Glassware Repairs Chipped Glassware

Tree Surgeons Fircroft Tree Services.co.uk

Goalkeeper Coaching GK Icon

TV Repairs JB TV Services

Windows & Doors AA Window Repairs Cloudy2Clear Sash Restorations Ltd

12 13 12

Hairdresser Mobile Hairdresser

Health & Fitness Fitness Pilates Intelligent Pilates The Fit Lab

37 2 39

Hearing Services The Hearing Healthcare Practice

Lantern Festival Sat 8th November 4.30 - 6pm St Peter's Church, Lower Gustard Wood, Wheathampstead, AL4 8RU Last years lantern festival, run by Outdoor Child, was hugely popular, and this year they are preparing even more fun for everybody, with interactive storytelling, lantern walk in the woods, fantastic face-painting and open fire (weather permitting). Come and enjoy this magical time of year! Child £8, siblings £6, babies free theden@outdoor-child.com 01582 855054 We have made every effort to ensure that any material published in st albans NOW is correct and can accept no liability for any errors or delays in publication or distribution, st albans NOW accepts no responsibility for its advertisers .

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01727 764217 www.djmplumbing.co.uk