Author Archives: Anna Bond

New D-Day Commemorative Bench in St Margarets

As some of you may have noticed, there is a striking new bench in St Margarets!

St Margarets’ Parish Council received a request from a resident asking if they could provide a bench at the bus stop opposite St Mary’s Church on Hoddesdon Road. They agreed that a bench would be useful for residents, so chose a commemorative bench to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944.

Permission was sought from the Bus Infrastructure and Network Infrastructure Team within the Highways Department at Hertfordshire County Council to place the bench in its location and it was purchased from David Ogilvie Engineering Ltd who specialise in street and park furniture. It was part funded with a £500 Locality Budget Scheme Grant awarded by Cllr Jonathan Kaye at Hertfordshire County Council and the remainder paid for by the Parish Council.

Local resident Matthew King of MK Independent Ltd kindly donated materials and installed the bench. Cllr Jonathan Kaye at Hertfordshire County Council also generously provided a grant towards the cost.

It is really very beautiful and will give residents a place to stop and rest, while also remembering the brave souls who fought for their country and gave their lives for others.

I am sure you will all agree that this bench is a lovely and poignant addition to the village. Thanks go to the resident who suggested it and to the Parish Council for taking up the request.

(Images courtesy of Rev’d Dr Sarah Forrest)

The Stanstead Abbotts Concert Society: 2024/2025 Season

The Stanstead Abbotts Concert Society have some exciting events coming up over 2024/2025 season! So get these dates in your diary…

The Stanstead Abbotts Concert Society meets on the third Sunday of each month at The Parish Hall, Roydon Road, Stanstead Abbotts, SG12 8AB.

Doors open at 7.00pm, for a 7.30pm start and the evening ends at 10.00pm.

Soft drinks are available but please bring your own alcohol.

Tickets are £10 and are available from www.ticketsource.co.uk or call 01920 870558.

Get up to £3,000 for your nature improvement project

We are on the lookout for projects to support with our Environmental Improvement Grant, with up to £3,000 in funding available for people or groups who are hoping to improve nature on their land and in their local communities.

Any project delivering improvements for biodiversity could be eligible, for example tree planting, hedgerow creation, wildflower meadow establishment or pond creation.

The grant is available for Hertfordshire community-based organisations, Parish and Town Councils, and to private landowners and land managers

Find out more about the grant and watch video case studies featuring previous recipients HERE.

Source: Hertfordshire County Council

Help Keep Your Local Air Ambulance Flying: Volunteer at EHAAT’s Stevenage Charity Shop!

Essex & Herts Air Ambulance (EHAAT) is looking for dedicated volunteers to join their team at the recently opened charity shop at 14 The Forum in Stevenage, which has been welcoming the community since July. They need enthusiastic individuals to help support this vital life-saving service.

EHAAT’s charity shops are essential in raising funds to keep their helicopters flying, providing critical care across Hertfordshire, Essex, and surrounding areas. As a shop volunteer, you’ll assist with tasks like sorting donations, pricing items, serving customers, and creating vibrant displays. It’s a great way to develop retail skills, meet new people, and make a meaningful impact on your local community.

Whether you can volunteer a few hours a week or more regularly, they’d love to hear from you. No experience is necessary – just a positive attitude and a willingness to help!

To learn more about becoming a volunteer at the Stevenage shop, visit ehaat.org/volunteer or stop by the shop to chat with the team. Your time could help save lives!

Location: 14 The Forum, Stevenage, SG1 1EH
Tel: 01438 579 408
Opening Times: Monday-Saturday: 09:00-17:00 & Sunday: 10:00-16:00

Equine Table Top Sale and Dog Show on 27th October!

This month’s Equine Table Top Sale and Dog Show is on 27th October.

WHERE: Albury Village Hall, The Bourne, Albury
WHAT TIME: 11am to 1.30pm

EQUINE TABLE TOP SALE
Entry £1 (cash only)
Lots of different stalls offering some lovely items for sale, including some non-horsey things too (like Erin’s Jewels).
Refreshments including homemade sausage rolls and cakes on sale!

Book your tables in advance at £10 – numbers are limited. To book a table get in touch with Gail on 07747300095.

DOG SHOW
Entry £2 per show per dog (cash only)
Ribbons awards up to 5th place for all classes!

All fundraising goes to Cheshunt Animal Rescue, which provide a safe and caring environment for all the animals that come through their doors. They rehabilitate and release wildlife and take in unwanted pets. They strive to find loving forever homes for each and every animal that enters their homes. Find out more about the great work this charity do by visiting their website: https://cheshuntanimalrescue.co.uk.

AND A BIG WELL DONE…
Equine Table Top Sale and Dog Show have just celebrated a big milestone. They have been working hard for 5 years now, raising an incredible £27,557.00 to help support 36 different small charities. Well done to Gail and her team of amazing volunteers!

Baby Loss Awareness Week 2024, 9–15 October

Local Sands supporter The 3 Churches Benefice will be giving bereaved families in Great Amwell, St Margarets and Stanstead Abbotts the opportunity to come together this Baby Loss Awareness Week, 9–15th October.

Sands, the charity that leads Baby Loss Awareness Week, works to save babies’ lives and support bereaved families. The Week is a time for everyone in the baby loss community and beyond to come together, to remember much-loved and missed babies, and raise awareness of pregnancy and baby loss.

This special week is represented by its blue and pink ribbon logo, this image has been the inspiration to create Ribbon Displays up and down the UK, in every community, inviting those who have experienced loss to come together and remember their babies.  

The 3 Churches Benefice is hosting a Ribbon Display outside St Andrew’s Church and opening the church on Sunday 13th October from 2–4pm to support their Ribbon Run, which will take place from 2pm that day. They are putting together a team that plans to walk the 5km circuit from St Andrew’s to raise funds for Sands. Walkers and Runners welcome! To donate, visit the website: https://fundraising.sands.org.uk/s/7321/25326.

The loss of a baby or pregnancy is heart-breaking, and this is happening to families across the UK everyday. During Baby Loss Awareness Week, The 3 Churches Benefice wanted to create a special display to remember all the babies lost, whether recently or long ago. You can add a ribbon to our Ribbon Display on the railings outside St Andrew’s Church, Stanstead Abbots. 

All money raised from the Ribbon Run will go to Sands, so they can continue to support families and reduce baby deaths, by investing in research and championing better maternity care.

For anyone who needs the support of Sands you can find more information on their website www.sands.org.uk . 

Have you got your tickets for Cups on a String?

It’s not long now until the exciting new production Cups on a String comes to Stanstead Abbots!

WHEN?
Wednesday 16th October at 7.30pm

WHERE?
St Andrew’s Church, Stanstead Abbots

HOW TO BOOK
Tickets are priced as follows…
£10 Concessions
£15 Adult
£20 Adult + donation
(Please note a booking fee applies)

To book your tickets call the Box Office at 01904 613000 or book online at ridinglights.org/cupsonastring.

St John’s Quiz Night on 18th October

On 18th October, 7pm for a 7.30pm prompt start at Great Amwell Parish Hall, we are holding the St John’s Quiz, including a fish or chicken and chips supper. Vegetarian option available. Bring your own drink, glasses and crockery. There will also be a Raffle.

Entry fee £20 per person includes dinner. Teams are up to 8 people.

All money raised goes to the St John’s Church Heating Replacement Fund.

Contact Bryan Brace to book your tickets (bjbrace122@gmail.com).

Free Wild Play Family Session

Free Wild Play Family Session funded by Herts County Council

At Groundwork East, we have recently received funding from Herts County Council, to run a free family session in Ware.

Wild play focusses on the benefits of outdoor play. Sessions encourage families to take their learning outdoors to get more active as a family, increasing their levels of physical activity and improving mental wellbeing.

We will be running a session on Thursday 26th September, 12.30–2pm at Post Wood in Ware.

To sign-up, families can scan the QR code on the poster below or book via EventBrite by clicking HERE.

Emily Evans 
Senior Project Officer (Hertfordshire)

Groundwork East Groundwork East is a community and environment charity working across the East of England to create stronger, healthier communities, responsible business and greater prospects for local people.
Find out more at www.groundwork.org.uk/east
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