Deadline for the January 2023 newsletter is 21 December.
Carols Near The Christmas Tree On The Green And The World Cup In Qatar Sunday 4th December at 4 30 pm
Please note the new time of 4 30pm for the start of this village event, to which The Preston Trust committee warmly invite you all to come along to. Some of you may have already seen the beautiful Christmas tree outside The Red Lion.
Ray and Jo have once again kindly agreed to prepare the mulled wine and mince pies, the juice and nibbles.(Including some “free from” alternatives for those with allergies) The winners from the our JMI School’s Christmas Competition will switch on the tree lights at c. 4 55 p.m.
A group of outstanding musicians including Richard Coles, accompanied by members of our very special Preston Village Voices, will lead us in singing five, lovely familiar carols.
Carol sheets will be distributed and they will be available to download onto your phones or to access from the Village website www.prestonvillageherts.com
After the Christmas tree is lit, and we have sung some carols, it is hoped that the wonderful, euphonious Preston Village Voices will be able to perform, for our and their enjoyment, inside The Red Lion. Their aim is to sing a few carols (hopefully with some audience participation please) and then entertain everyone with a medley of Christmas songs. This will be followed by the World Cup being shown for those who would like to stay and watch the next England match (assuming they get through – sorry to all the Welsh fans…)
Thus, wrap up warm, bring your torches and phones, and come along to join in, please. This is always a simple, enjoyable and beautiful way to start the Christmas season. We look forward to seeing you on The Green at 4 30pm.
SG4 in The Red Lion at Christmas
Save on heating costs and join your neighbours for an evening of Music & Mince Pies in The Red Lion on Friday 23rd December from 7pm.
Your local village band, SG4, will be showcasing a set of popular music covers including some carefully curated seasonal favourites.
Drinking, singing-along and clapping in time permitted. Hope to see you there.
St Martin’s Church and All Saints’ Church Services
| Sunday 4th December | 9.30am
11.00am |
St Martin’s All Age Holy Communion
Romans 15: 4-13 Gospel: Matthew 3: 1-12 All Saints All Age Holy Communion |
| Sunday 11th December
|
8.00am
9.30am
11.00am |
All Saints Holy Communion (BCP)
St Martin’s Holy Communion James 5: 7-10 Gospel: Matthew 11: 2-11 All Saints Sunday Praise |
| Sunday 18th December | 8.00am
9.30am 6.00pm |
All Saints Holy Communion (BCP)
St Martin’s Christingle and Crib Service All Saints Carol Service |
| Saturday 24th December
Christmas Eve |
3.00pm
9.00pm |
All Saints Crib Service
St Martin’s Holy Communion Hebrews 1: 1-4, 5-12 Gospel: John 1: 1-14 |
| Sunday 25th December
|
10.00am
|
All Saints Holy Communion
Galatians 4:4-7 Gospel: Luke 2:1-14 |
Team Vicar of St Paul’s Walden with Preston:
A Letter From Our Team Vicar
These winter months are likely to be very difficult. You may be facing 2023 with fear or a feeling of hopelessness – whether for the world, for this nation facing its many challenges, or for you personally.
In the run up to Christmas, we observe the season of Advent – time for confronting darkness and pain and suffering, including our own suffering, failure, or regret.
Darkness needs light. I believe that Jesus is the light in that darkness, not only for us personally but as the World’s true light. I do hope that you will be able to join us for the Christingle Service on 18 December, where the symbol of light is so vividly shown, and also at the service on Christmas Eve at St. Martin’s.
As we journey through Advent and towards Christmas, let us trust that Jesus, the light of God, will hold us together and see us through.
With every blessing,
Stephen
St Martin’s Church 150 Club 2022/2023
The winners in the November draw in the 2022/23 150 Club (£30 each) were:
No. 10 Mrs HJ Constantinidi
No. 28 Mr & Mrs P Walder
Parish Council Meeting: Thursday 1 December
The next Parish Council meeting will be held on Thursday 1 December at 8pm in the village hall. Any member of the public who would like to raise an issue to be discussed at this meeting should contact the Clerk.
Members of the public who would like to speak to the Parish Council in person should register with the Clerk prior to the meeting.
Contact details are: Lisa Lathane, Clerk to the Parish Council:
Local Government Boundary Commission Consultation
The NHDC Consultation on Ward Boundaries is open until Monday 9 January 2023 and is available at:
https://www.north-herts.gov.uk/have-your-say-new-ward-boundaries-proposed-north-herts-council
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. If you use the What3Words app, please include the three words for the location of the fly tipping.
PCSO Heather Burrows can be contacted regarding local community issues.
Contact details are as follows:
PCSO Heather Burrows: 07740 745168 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.
Reporting suspicious activity
Please report any suspicious activity or vehicles you may witness in the locality.
Call the police on the non-emergency number 101 or report it online by using the website www.herts.police.uk/report and follow the links.
The North Herts Museum – a splendid Exhibition, on until 29.01.23
Two exceptionally talented professional Hitchin artists, James Willis and Carl Laubin, are showing 73 items of their recent work. Carl’s paintings are in oils, James’s are mostly in watercolours, with five in graphite on gesso.
Having lived in the town since he was 5 years old, James knows the town and its buildings very well – he loves painting the townscapes! Delightful views of very familiar streets and landmarks are all depicted in his crisp and delicate paintings. His ‘capricci’, where he repositions some buildings, give us a challenging visual quiz! Don’t miss his bird’s eye view of the town – it is ‘Aerial Hitchin’, no 74, hanging opposite the Museum Shop. James’s work has earned him the compliment of being ‘the Canaletto’ of Hitchin!
Carl’s oils depict scenes from further afield – Hatfield House, Greenwich, Norfolk, Yorkshire, Germany and the USA. His meticulous architectural paintings are truly masterpieces! But he also loves walking along Charlton Road and the footpaths in the northern part of Preston parish! 12 paintings capture views of the fields and woodland of Target Plantation and Pinnacle Hill, and across to Offley Holes Farm.
Almost all the items are for sale, prices range from £500.00 to £5000.00. 14 of James’s paintings are available as prints, with prices of A2 size at £100, and A1 size at £150. The excellent catalogue of 80 pages shows all the 73 works, and has several articles on art and architecture. Greetings cards of several paintings are also available.
The Museum is open, Tuesday – Saturday 10.30 – 4pm, 10 – 4pm on Sundays, closed all day on Mondays. Entry is free! The Cafe is excellent!
Do visit – you will be impressed by the quality of the drawing and painting. It is a pleasure to see scenes of our local neighbourhood, so beautifully illustrated by two nationally respected Hitchin artists.
Liz Hunter