Author Archives: Anna Bond

Advertiser of the month: Farrelly Plumbing

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This month, we’re delighted to shine the spotlight on Farrelly Plumbing, a trusted local business providing high-quality plumbing and heating services with professionalism, reliability and attention to detail.

From beautifully designed bathrooms to efficient central heating installations, Farrelly Plumbing offers a complete range of plumbing and heating solutions. Whether you’re dreaming of a modern new bathroom, need a boiler replacement, or require urgent maintenance and repairs, Neil and his experienced team are here to help.

Their services include:

  • All types of plumbing work, including bathrooms, en-suites, showers and hot water cylinders
  • Full central heating installation, boiler exchanges and servicing
  • Ongoing maintenance and repairs

Fully Gas Safe registered and fully insured, you can have complete confidence in the safety and quality of their workmanship. Plus, they offer free quotations, so you can discuss your project with no obligation.

Contact Farrelly Plumbing today!
📞 Call Neil on: 07792 838564 or 01920 421799
📧 Email: neil@farrellyplumbing.co.uk

Visit Farrelly Plumbing for reliable service, expert advice and beautiful results every time.

What we remember will be saved: Stephanie Saldaña talk

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WHEN: Tuesday 28th October at 7pm for a 7.30pm start
WHERE: St Mary’s Church, Ware

St Mary’s Ware is delighted to be hosting journalist and author Stephanie Saldaña to speak about her latest book What we remember will be saved. Copies of the book will be available to purchase on the night.

Stephanie will be joined by Kurdish musician Ferhad Feyssal whose story features in the book. Ferhad will play some traditional Kurdish music. 

Stephanie has offered the talk for no fee, but with the suggestion donations are asked for charity. So any donations received will go to Herts Welcomes Refugees (HWR). Local HWR volunteers with some of those supported by HWR are organising some cakes as part of the hospitality for the evening. 

About the book…
In an era of mass migration in which more than 100 million people are displaced comes this lyrical portrait of Syrian and Iraqi refugees and the belongings they carry. What We Remember Will Be Saved: A Story of Refugees and the Things They Carry is a book of hope, home, and the stories we hold within us when everything else has been lost.

Journalist and scholar Stephanie Saldaña, who lived in Syria before the war, sets out on a journey across nine countries to meet refugees and learn what they salvaged from the ruins when they escaped. Now, in the narratives of six extraordinary women and men, from Mt. Sinjar to Aleppo to Lesvos to Amsterdam, we discover that the little things matter a great deal. Saldaña introduces us to a woman who saved her city in a dress, a musician who saved his stories in songs, and a couple who rebuilt their destroyed pharmacy even as the city around them fell apart. Together they provide a window into a religiously diverse corner of the Middle East on the edge of unraveling, and the people keeping it alive with their stories.

Born of years of friendship and reporting, What We Remember Will Be Saved is a breathtaking, elegiac odyssey into the heart of the largest refugee crisis in modern history. It reminds us that refugees are storytellers and speakers of vanishing languages, and of how much history can be distilled into a piece of fabric, or eggplant seeds. What we salvage tells our story. What we remember will be saved.

About the author…
Stephanie Saldaña is a journalist and religion scholar from San Antonio, Texas, who has spent most of the last twenty years living in the Middle East. Saldaña studied religion at Harvard Divinity School and is the author of A Country Between and The Bread of Angels, hailed by Geraldine Brooks as "a remarkable, wise, and lovely book. Her work has been published in The New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, America Magazine, and Plough, and she has been featured on National Public Radio. Saldaña and her family split their time between Bethlehem and France.
Twitter: @stephcsaldana

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LOCAL CHRISTMAS EVENTS WANTED

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Get FREE promotion for your Christmas event!

We’re putting together a FREE Christmas Events listing in our upcoming December print edition and we’d love to include as many local events as possible – from festive fairs and carol services to workshops, markets, light switch-ons and more!

This is all about supporting our amazing local community, so if you’re organising something special this Christmas, we want to help you spread the word.

Deadline to submit: Friday, 1st November

What to send us:

  • Event name
  • Date(s) and time
  • Location
  • Short description (25–50 words is perfect)
  • Website or social link (if available)
  • Contact details for readers (if needed)

Email your info to: threevillagesmagazine@gmail.com

This is a great chance to let the community know what’s happening and help make this Christmas season truly magical – and it won’t cost you a penny.

Let’s celebrate the season together!

Autumn Gift Fair on Monday 27th October

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The British Red Cross are holding an Autumn Gift Fair, which will take place on Monday 27th October at Fanhams Hall, 10am to 3pm. The funds raised will go towards helping those facing crisis.

There will be a large variety of unique & interesting stalls, including clothing, textiles, jewellery, food and drink, and much more! It’s an ideal opportunity to purchase gifts for family members and friends while having a thoroughly enjoyable day out.

Light refreshments will be available. There is FREE parking within the grounds of the hall.

If you have any enquiries, please get in touch with emmajaneslater@redcross.org.uk.

Hertfordshire Local Resilience Forum

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When emergencies happen, a fast and well-coordinated response can save lives and reduce disruption. That’s where Hertfordshire Local Resilience Forum come in.

The Hertfordshire Local Resilience Forum (LRF) is a partnership of over 60 organisations who work together to keep our county safe, prepared and resilient.

Who’s involved?
The LRF brings together a wide range of services and organisations, including:

  • Emergency services (police, fire, ambulance)
  • Local councils
  • NHS and health services
  • Utility companies
  • Charities and volunteer groups

What do they do?
Hertfordshire Local Resilience Forum plan, train and prepare for the most likely risks to Hertfordshire, such as flooding, power cuts, severe weather, pandemics and more.

They use the Hertfordshire Risk Register and the National Risk Register to guide their planning, so they’re always focused on what matters most to local communities.

They don’t just plan on paper – they regularly train together, simulating real-life emergencies so they’re ready to act quickly and effectively when needed.

Find out more

To learn more about the risks in Hertfordshire, how to prepare for them and what the LRF is doing to keep our communities safe, visit their website HERE.

You’ll find practical advice, downloadable resources and simple steps you can take today to be ready for whatever tomorrow may bring.

Boost your digital confidence with FREE support in Stanstead Abbotts!

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Are you looking to improve your digital skills in a friendly and welcoming environment? The Community Alliance – Broxbourne & East Herts is offering a fantastic opportunity to do just that with their Digital Skills Group in Stanstead Abbotts.

This free, volunteer-led group is perfect for anyone who wants to get to grips with using a computer, tablet or smartphone. Whether you’re new to technology or just want to build your confidence, their Digital Champions will help you learn how to:

  • Navigate your devices with ease
  • Shop online safely
  • Access virtual appointments
  • Stay connected with friends and family

Sessions take place monthly on Wednesdays from 2:30 to 4:00pm at the Nigel Copping Community Building (SG12 8GA).

There are two dates remaining for 2025: 13th November and 10th December.

Booking is essential!
📞 Call 0300 123 1034 to reserve your place.

Just bring your charged device and start your journey toward becoming more digitally confident!

Baby Loss Awareness Week: 9th to 15th October

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Baby Loss Awareness Week, which runs from 9 to 15th October every year, 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.

Sands – the UK’s leading pregnancy and baby loss charity – leads this special week. It is represented by a blue and pink ribbon logo, which 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 Ribbon Display
The 3 Churches Benefice is hosting a Ribbon Display outside St Andrew’s Church, Stanstead Abbotts. You are encouraged to add your own ribbon of remembrance during the week. The church will also be open from 3–5pm on Sunday 12th October for quiet reflection.

The 3 Churches Ribbon Run
From 3pm on Sunday 12th October, a team will run/walk the 5km circuit from St Andrew’s to raise funds for Sands. Walkers and Runners welcome!

To donate, visit https://fundraising.sands.org.uk/fundraisers/sarahforrest

The loss of a baby or pregnancy is heart-breaking, and this is happening to families across the UK everyday.

If you are in need of any support locally, please do reach out to The 3 Churches Benefice: vicar@3churches.net / 07488 914972 / 01920 870009.

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

Saying Goodbye Service at St Albans Cathedral
On 14th October at 7pm, in St Albans Cathedral, Saying Goodbye (part of the Mariposa Trust) will be hosting one of their special services. This is for anyone who has either personally lost a baby at any stage of pregnancy, at birth, or in early years, or who has been affected by family members’ or friends’ loss.

To read more on the charity, please see the Saying Goodbye website, which you can find at: www.sayinggoodbye.org.

Advertiser of the Month – DJ Garage Services

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This month, we’re delighted to shine the spotlight on a true local gem – DJ Garage Services, our Advertiser of the Month for September.

A trusted family business with over 50 years of experience
Located in Stanstead Abbotts, DJ Garage Services is a family run establishment that has proudly served the community for over five decades. Known for their honest approach, high standards and unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction, DJ Garage has built a reputation that truly speaks for itself.

Whether you’re coming in for a routine service or in need of more urgent repairs, you’ll find the team knowledgeable, approachable and fully dedicated to getting you back on the road safely and at a fair price.

Services you can rely on
DJ Garage Services offers a full range of vehicle maintenance and repair services, including:

  • MOT Testing
  • Wheel Alignment & Balancing
  • Brake and Clutch Replacement
  • Engine Diagnostics
  • Tyre Replacement
  • Vehicle Servicing
  • Replacement Parts
  • Petrol and Diesel Engine Work
  • Cars & Light Commercial Vehicles
  • Exhausts and Batteries

Whatever your motoring needs, they’ve got you covered.

Award-winning service
Their reputation for excellence isn’t just local – they’ve earned a 4.9-star rating on Which? Trusted Trader, with customers praising their top-notch service, value and expertise. In fact, 100% of reviewers recommend them, with perfect scores in customer service, quality and value.

Friendly advice or a full service – just get in touch
If you’re looking for expert advice, a quick check-up or a full service, DJ Garage Services is ready to help.

📞 Call: 01920 465431
📧 Email: info@djgarages.co.uk

Support local – drive safe!

An Evening of Wonderful Music with the Beds and Herts Historic Churches Trust

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Enjoy the Galliard Trio playing Beethoven, Elgar, Dvorak, Vaughan Williams and more in the beautiful, historic church of St Mary’s, Ware.

The concert starts at 7.00 pm on Saturday, 4th October. It is followed by light refreshments and the chance to meet and talk with the musicians. 

The event is in aid of the Beds and Herts Historic Churches Trust and St Mary’s Church. 

To book your place and find out more see https://bedshertshct.org.uk/events/.

Tickets are £12 plus Eventbrite booking fee. Cash only on the door – donations are also welcome!

Mark Newbery (Membership Secretary, Beds&Herts Historic Churches Trust)

4Oct2025 PosterDownload

Just a Reminder – AppleFest is Almost Here!

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We’re getting ready for another fantastic AppleFest at St Elizabeth’s Centre – and you’re invited! It’s just around the corner, so be sure to pop the date in your diaries!

🗓 Saturday 27 September 2025
📍 St Elizabeth’s Centre, Perry Green, Much Hadham
🕚 11:00 am–3:30 pm
🎟 Free Entry (donations welcome!)

Enjoy apple picking, live music, a BBQ, local stalls and plenty of family fun – all in support of our mission to empower people with complex needs.

See you at the orchard!
The Fundraising Team at St Elizabeth’s
http://www.stelizabeths.org.uk

Got an event coming up?
The Three Villages love celebrating community! Let us know about your local events so we can help spread the word in print and online.

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