Category Archives: Competition

September Issue Cover Photograph Revealed!

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We are thrilled to announce the winner of our cover image for the September issue of The Three Villages Magazine…

Paul Wood took this stunning photograph by the river with the lovely autumnal leaves and rather whimsical bike propped against the raining. We really loved the colours and the dreamy quality of the photograph. It reminded us of a calm autumn stroll by the river.

We asked Paul to tell us a little about himself…

Hi my name is Paul Wood, aged 55, and I live currently in Hoddesdon. I am married to Tracey who grew up in the village of Stansted Abbotts and through her I still have a good connection with village life. Over 10 years ago I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and at roughly the same time lost my Gran. She left me with a small inheritance with which I used to buy my first digital camera, and thought I would use photography as an outlet to get out and explore the world and fight this disease. Landscape photography chose me as the village is so near, its beauty on my doorstep, I can just walk and never get bored. Since taking up and self-learning photography, I have won several awards, many of which include the village. Autumn is my favourite time of year and that bridge and river too beautiful to ignore.

Thank you to Paul for letting us use this stunning image on the cover.

The September issue is coming soon, so if you haven’t already do be sure to pick up a June issue while you still can. If you need help getting hold of a copy, please do get in touch!

The Three Villages Magazine: June Cover Revealed!

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We have a winning cover image for the June issue of The Three Villages Magazine!

© Alison Cox

This striking photograph was taken by Alison Cox and shows the fields on Rye Common behind the Pumping Station.

Alison moved from Ware to St Margarets in 1990, originally in Cresset Close and The Granary since 1999. She is a keen gardener and dog walker and loves the paths along the New River and River Lea. Her blue roan cocker spaniel, Alfie, loves the fields on Rye Common behind the pumping station, where the photo was taken. She encourages wildlife into her garden and currently feeds at least two hedgehogs a small flock of  goldfinches and some resident pigeons.

Since the last issue, we have been working hard to expand our reach and find new ways to support local business. We have teamed up with Paul King, Managing Director of French & Jupps, who has kindly agreed to write a regular feature exploring the amazing businesses that call The Maltings home. We are also pleased to welcome a new Quizmaster: Terry Collins! Of course, we have our popular Business Spotlight, Charity Focus, Meet a Local and Sports features.

The June Issue of The Three Villages Magazine is very soon off to the printer, so we are on schedule for 1st June publication. If you haven’t picked up a copy of the March issue, make sure you do before they disappear!

We are looking for a cover image!

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We are looking for our next cover image for Issue 10 (June) of The Three Villages Magazine.

Are you a local photographer, amateur or professional? Would you like your work to appear on the cover of our local magazine?

We are looking for a seasonal photograph that showcases our beautiful local landmarks within
the three villages. The deadline for entries is 1st May.

If you would like to enter and showcase your work, please email
threevillagesmagazine@gmail.com

Win a FREE Advertising Spot!

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Our core objective at The Three Villages is to share local news and information, showcase local talent and support local businesses. All those who choose to advertise within our magazine (both online and in print) are able to reach potential customers in our local area, become recognised as a trusted local trader and are also supporting our work in building community, one issue at a time. We have some advertising spots available, so why not join us?

We are offering the chance to win a FREE full-colour, full-page prime advertising spot within the next print issue to everyone who advertises with us. See the inside back cover of the March issue, which is out now, for our first winner: The Red Lion.

ADVERTISE WITH US TO ENTER THE PRIZE DRAW

The annual fee for the rest of the year is now only £90 and includes a slot within every remaining 2024 issue of the print magazine, and inclusion in our advertisements directory and scrolling adverts panel (that appears on every page) on the website.

Sign up now to advertise with us for the rest of the year and be entered automatically into our prize draw!

Email us for more information: threevillagesmagazine@gmail.com.

Winning Cover Photograph for Issue 8!

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We are pleased to announce the winning cover image for Issue 8 of The Three Villages Magazine, which is due out at the start of December!

The photograph featured on the cover this time is by Eric Skilton. Here is it…

© Eric Skilton

We asked Eric to tell us a little more about the photograph and himself…
The photo was taken during last winter using an iPhone. It was at the Amwell Nature Reserve near the Bittern viewing point. It was not long after a heavy snowfall, but before it fell off the trees. It’s actually a colour image; it’s just that there is very little other than black and white.

My wife Janice and I have lived in Stanstead Abbotts (actually St Margarets) for nearly 14 years, having moved from Cheshunt. We are both retired; I was a structural engineer and Janice a social worker. We love the village and everyone around us is so friendly; it’s a great place to live. I spend a great deal of my time walking and chasing balls of various sizes (golf, tennis, padel etc.).

Thank you to Eric for kindly letting us use this striking and wonderfully wintery image.

If you haven’t done so already, get your copy of Issue 7 before it disappears! If you are having trouble getting hold of a copy, please do let us know and we will do what we can to get one to you.

Thank you for your continued support,
The Three Villages Team

We have a winner!

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We are pleased to reveal the cover image for Issue 7 of The Three Villages Magazine, which is due out at the start of September!

The photograph featured on the cover this time is by Nicholas Cox. 

© Nicholas Cox

We asked Nick to tell us a little about the image and himself…

‘The photograph was taken on the village green in autumn, facing north with the sun behind me, so probably a Sunday morning dog walk when I usually go down to Rye House and back.

We moved from Ware to Cresset Close over 30 years ago – we were the third family to move into what was then a new estate. We moved to the Granary in 1999, the last to move into the original phase. I sit on St Margarets Parish Council and also East Herts District Council, representing Ware Trinity on behalf of the Green Party. I’m a self-employed building services design and project manager with long term clients mostly in London. I’m designing my own ground source heat pump for my own home.’

Thank you to Nick for letting us use this stunning image.

If you haven’t done so already, get your copy of Issue 6 before it disappears!

Thank you for your continued support,
The Three Villages Team

Summertime ‘Flash Fiction’ Writing Competition: Extended

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If you haven’t already sent in your entry for our Summertime ‘Flash Fiction’ Writing Competition, it’s not too late!

We have extended the deadline to 11th July, so you still have a little bit of time.

Email entries to threevillagesmagazine@gmail.com and please state in your covering email how you are connected to the three villages.

We look forward to reading the entries and, with local author Annette Hannah, deciding on the winner.

The winner will be revealed and their fiction published in the September Issue of The Three Villages Magazine! They will also receive a free signed copy of Annette Hannah’s latest novel, Lottie’s Little School of Dance (which is due to publish in August 2023).

Summertime ‘Flash Fiction’ Writing Competition

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We have teamed up with local author, Annette Hannah, to run a ‘flash fiction’ writing competition this summer. Annette’s latest book, Lottie’s Little School of Dance, is due to publish shortly. It follows Lottie as she starts a new life in Bramblewood (a setting inspired by our local area of the three villages). To mark Annette’s new book coming out, we thought we would invite our local writers to pick up a pen or boot-up their laptops and get writing! There are just a few rules…

Please send entries to threevillagesmagazine@gmail.com or post to 53 Lawrence Avenue, Stanstead Abbotts, Herts SG12 8TY.

**DEADLINE EXTENDED TO 11th JULY**

Issue 6: Cover Photograph Winner!

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The winner of our Issue 6 cover photograph competition is the wonderful image ‘Rainbow River’ by Gary Forrest.

Rainbow River © Gary Forrest

Gary moved to the three villages along with his family in September 2020 and in his spare time has taken some lovely photographs of the area, including this winning image.

We asked Gary about his photography and here’s what he said:
‘I have been into photography ever since I can remember and have spent a lot of my time doing big game photography in Zimbabwe which was never dull, and I’ve got a lot of stories that I laugh at now but were certainly not funny at the time. Photography around the UK is different, and dare I say it, more interesting, in the way there are clear cut seasons and the amazing variation of photography you can experience just in one place over a year. The historical side is also captivating, and something we never had at home – and I do now and again get a shot of squirrel falling out a tree.’

Thanks to Gary for letting us use this enchanting photograph on our cover.

Issue 6 will be published at the start of June, so if you haven’t done so already, get your copy of Issue 5 before it disappears!

Thank you for your continued support,
The Three Villages Team.

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