This months pictures taken from around the village in late March 2019 and Offley Holes in April 2017
Dates to Remember
| Fri 3 May | Village Hall AGM – Village Hall – 11.00am |
| Wed 24 Apr | Parish Council – Village Hall – 8.00pm |
| Wed 17 Apr | Preston Village Society – The Willows – 8.00pm |
Parish Council Elections
On 2 May, there will be elections for all members of the Parish Council. Anyone interested in standing for election should contact Lisa Lathane, Clerk to Preston Parish Council, either by 07887 875442 or by email at prestonclerk@gmail.com for further information and a nomination pack.
Please note: Nominations have to be hand delivered by appointment to NHDC at the Council Offices, Gernon Road Letchworth by 4.00pm on Wednesday 3 April.
Preston Parish Neighbourhood Plan Second Submission: Regulation 16 Consultation
The Regulation 16 Consultation is available on the NHDC website:
www.north-herts.gov.uk/approved-neighbourhood-areas-preston.
The closing date is Thursday 25 April.
The Neighbourhood Plan and associated documents are available on the Preston Neighbourhood Plan website: www.preston-np.org.uk/your-say/
Open Gardens And Tea: St Pauls Waldenbury: Sunday 7 April 2.00 -5.00 p.m
Would anyone be able to make a cake or two to sell with the tea? Whatever you enjoy making will be gratefully received. All proceeds to St Martin’s Church. Cakes can be delivered to Meta Reeves, tel 456567 or Chris Challans, tel 423304. They will also collect cakes if necessary.
The Red Lion
Congartulation to Ray and Jo at the Red Lion being awarded CAMRA North Herts Pub of the Year for the 3rd year running.
St Martin’s Church And All Saints’ Church Services
| April | Service | Sidesman | Reader | |
| 7th | No Service at St Martin’s | |||
| 11.00am | Family Communion at All Saints’ | |||
| 14th | 9.30am | Palm Sunday | Mike Kellard | Various |
| The Passion Gospel: Luke 22:14- end of 23, RCL p. 842 Intercessions: Alec Dickinson Chalice: Alec Dickinson | ||||
| 14th | 7.00pm | Holy Week Service at All Saints’ | ||
| 15th | 7.00pm | Holy Week Service at St Martin’s | ||
| 16th | 7.00pm | Maundy Thursday. Holy Communion at All Saints’ | ||
| 17th | 2;00pm | Good Friday. The Last Hour at All Saints’ | ||
| 21st | 9.30am | Easter Day | Malcolm Lowle | Sue Griffiths |
| Acts 10:34-43, RCL p.214 Gospel:Luke 24:1-12 Intercessions: Hugh Reeves Chalice: Di Blockley | ||||
| 11.00am | Family Service at All Saints’ | |||
| 28th | 9.30am | Lent 3 | Andy Cole | Anna Lawson |
| Acts 5:27-32 RCL p.859 Gospel: John 20:19-end Intercessions: Doreen Sansom Chalice: Mike Kellard | ||||
| 11.00am | Holy Communion at All Saints’ | |||
| May | ||||
| 5th | No Service at St Martin’s | |||
| 11.00am | Family Communion at All Saints’ | |||
Weekday services in Whitwell:
Alternate Wednesdays 9.30am. Holy Communion at Lime Tree House – 3rd, 17th April
Stagenhoe: 17th April. 11am Holy Communion
Lent Course – Who is the Christ?
Continues on Wednesdays from 2 – 3pm.
For further information call Dawn 01438-871831 or Meta 456567
Lent Lunches
are this year taking place in the Village Hall in Whitwell on every Wednesday between 12.30pm and 2.00pm until Easter.
Church Cleaning
The church is cleaned on the first Tuesday of every month starting at 4.00pm. Anyone wishing to assist please contact Margaret Cashin 420073.
A Letter From A Member Of The Congregation At St Martin’s
A letter from a member of the congregation at St Martin’s
Dear All,
First a mention of the Family Service on St Patrick’s Day, 17thMarch at St Martin’s with the theme being “Let’s Go Green”. It was a lively celebration of all things green, including recycling and living in an eco-friendly way. The service had to a large extent been put together by the children themselves and it was lovely to see the enthusiasm and keenness of the many children taking part. Adults could learn a thing or two as well!
“Oh, to be in England now that April’s here”! So wrote Robert Browning in his Home-thoughts from abroad. How true! We, who live in this pleasant corner of Hertfordshire are indeed fortunate, surrounded as we are with a gentle, rolling landscape of fields and woodland.
April is the month when plant growth is ‘taking off’ in earnest and we are witnessing a form of resurrection all around us. The season of Lent, which began on Ash Wednesday 6thMarch leads us towards Easter. It is the journey to the cross and ultimately to the resurrection of Christ three days later. A journey often requires a map or a reliable satnav to help us reach our destination. There are plenty of ‘maps’ to help us on our spiritual journey through Lent. One of them is the Parish Lent Course on Wednesday afternoons called “Who is the Christ?”
It helps us to explore different aspects of Christ’s character and to see from a fresh perspective who He really is. The titles of each session reflect some aspects of the nature and character of Jesus and what they mean for us and for our world today. Attributes like “The Builder”,” The Humble King”,” Holy King” and “The Harvester” are all applicable to Jesus and there is so much that we can learn from studying them in detail and which will also help us to know Him better.
Do come along if this is the “map” you are looking for to guide you on your journey to Easter!
Best wishes,
Meta
St Martin’s Church 120 Club 2019/2020
A few ticket payments are still outstanding for this year’s 120 Club, and there are a few tickets left for sale. Therefore we have decided to postpone the first draw to next month. We welcome any new participants – tickets cost £20 for the year, with 25 prizes of £30. This is an important source of income for St Martin’s Church to help maintain the building and churchyard. If you would like to join please call Richard Blockley on 457631.
Neighbourhood Watch
The number to contact at North Herts Police for all non-emergencies (including witnessing of fly-tipping) is 101 or 01707 354000.
For removal of fly tipping which has already occurred, call NHDC 01462 474000 or online at www.north-herts.gov.uk, then follow the links to Transport and Streets, Street Cleaning and Fly Tipping where there is a form to complete to report the details.
PC Matt Jenkins and PCSO Heather Burrows can be contacted regarding local community issues. Their contact details are as follows:
PC Matt Jenkins: 07736 225349 or 01438 757604
PCSO Heather Burrows: 07847 364955 or 01438 757604 or heather.burrows@herts.pnn.police.uk
In the event of an emergency or if you witness a crime taking place please call 999.
Preston Village Hall – AGM
The Annual General Meeting of the Village Hall Committee will take place in the hall on Friday 3 May at 11.00am.
Preston Village Society
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 17 April at 8.00pm at Pam Stark’s, The Willows, Butchers Lane. Tricia Thompson will give a talk entitled: Those Were The Days: Life in the 40s, 50s and 60s.
A Big Thank You To All The Litter Pickers
The 2019 Spring Litter Pick held on Saturday 16 March.
On behalf of the Preston Trust committee, very many thanks to the 30 volunteers who very kindly came out to join in our Spring cleaning task, last Saturday morning. It was really heartening to have such a large, cheerful and enthusiastic team, especially in such inclement weather!
With so many pairs of hands available, we managed to clear all the lanes and the footpaths. The litter was the usual muddle of plastic, glass, rubber, metal and cardboard; NHDC have now collected all of this for us. Special thanks to the quartet who raked and collected up all the fallen branches, twigs and twiglets on The Green, and barrowed them over to Wal with his shredder, in front of the Red Lion. It was a very good effort by us all.
Our thanks also to those walkers and dog-walkers who regularly, throughout the year, collect up any litter which they see on their usual walks – this is just ‘good-housekeeping’ for the parish, and is much appreciated. Please continue to report any ‘fly-tipping’ which you see, in the usual way. Our sincere thanks again.
Liz Hunter, Preston Trust committee member
What Can You Do To Help Save Our Planet?
As the Portfolio holder for Green Issues at North Herts. District Council, I have been working with Officers and outside agencies to form a forward strategy to improve our environmental awareness, and engage with our residents, employers, and educational facilities, to make a real difference.
Future generations will rely on our actions today, to enable them to enjoy a clean and safe environment.
I plan to introduce a programme which will include:
- Encouraging school “Ambassadors” who will enhance awareness of green issues to their school colleagues.
- Competitions at Primary level, raising awareness amongst our younger students.
- Forming partnerships with the media, to raise awareness to the public.
- Consider an Award scheme encouraging employers of all sizes to become greener, more waste aware operators.
- Maybe a “Green Family of the Month Award”.
We will install free “Drinks and Re-fill” water fountains in our outdoor pools and parks.
We will encourage the use of refillable water bottles, and promote free refill stations in our shops and strategic public places.
We will promote the use of re-usable eco-friendly shopping bags, and encourage retailers to use bags which can be readily compostable.
We will encourage shops to sell goods which are minimally wrapped in recyclable materials.
Councillor David Barnard
Executive Member for Leisure and Green Issues
NHDC
North Herts District and County Councillor representing Preston and rural areas.
Open Gardens Day – Sunday 26 May – The 27th Year!
Many of our lovely gardens will be open to visitors this year again. There will be Teas in the Village Hall and BBQ and Plants and Honey on the Green as well as a spectacular Flower Festival in the Church.
Please bear the Plant Stall in mind when you divide or propagate your plants this Spring!
If you have never opened your garden before but would like to do so this year or if you will be free to give a hand on the day, we would be delighted to hear from you!
Liz 433859, Pam 422315 or Meta 456567.