Deadline for the February 2023 newsletter is 25 January
Shares in The Red Lion
As most villagers will know, the Red Lion was purchased from Whitbread by villagers way back in 1982. Funds to do this were raised from the issue of shares in a newly created company, The Red Lion Ltd and currently there are some 180 villagers owning shares.
New share ownership is restricted to those living in or within 5 miles of Preston and there are a few of shares available at the moment for purchase.
A great fun investment and a very good reason to check it is doing well – with thanks to Ray & Jo who manage it so well.
Interested? Please give me a call at
I’d be pleased to tell you more.
Brian Waters
Parish Council Meeting: Thursday 12 January
The next Parish Council meeting will be held on Thursday 12 January 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: Lisa Lathane, Clerk to the Parish Council:
St Martin’s Church and All Saints’ Church Services
| Sunday 1st January | 9.30am
11.00am |
St Martin’s All Age Communion
Galatians 4: 4-7 Luke 2: 15-21 All Saints All Age Communion |
| Sunday 8th January | 8.00am
9.30am
11.00am |
All Saints Holy Communion (BCP)
St Martin’s Holy Communion Ephesians 3: 1-12 Matthew 3:13-end All Saints Sunday Praise |
| Sunday 15th January | 9.30am
11.00am |
St Martin’s Family Service
All Saints Holy Communion 1 Corinthians 1: 1-9 John 1: 29-42 |
| Sunday 22nd January | 9.30am
11.00am |
St Martin’s Holy Communion
1 Corinthians 1: 10-18 Matthew 4: 12-23 All Saints Holy Communion |
| Sunday 29th January | 10.00am | Joint Parish Service at St Martin’s
1 Corinthians 1:18-31 John 2: 1-11 |
Team Vicar of St Paul’s Walden with Preston:
A Letter From Our Team Vicar
A New Year gives us the chance to take stock, to make fresh resolutions and to do things differently.
It is an opportunity well worth taking. The decisions we make – and stick to – can make all the difference in the world to us. So it makes sense to choose wisely what resolutions and decisions we will make for the year ahead.
How will we choose, since 2023 is likely to be especially challenging?
Maybe we just need to ask ourselves a simple question: what one decision, if I made it consistently and stuck to it, would make all the difference to my life or to someone else’s life?
We have just celebrated Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ. In Jesus, God made a decision for us and for our flourishing. The reassuring fact is that having made that decision, God has stuck with it and sticks with us constantly.
With every good wish for 2023
Stephen
St Martin’s Church 150 Club 2022/2023
The winners in the December draw in the 2022/23 150 Club (£30 each) include, as in previous Decembers, an extra ticket from those who have not won in the past 5 years:
No. 18 Mrs M T Drumm July 1st 2023 – Village Day and the return of the Scarecrows!
No. 1 Mr A G Cole
No. 108 Mrs J Evans
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.
Hitchin Foodbank Shortages
The following items are the most urgently needed: Instant coffee (100g); 1ltr Long Life milk; 1ltr Long Life juice; Dried milk, Dried potato, Tinned tomatoes; Jam.
Please ensure items are undamaged and in date. Donations can be deposited in the blue box in the garage at Lychgate House, Church Lane, or at Waitrose and Sainsbury’s. Thank you for your continued support; for more information please visit letchworth.foodbank.org.uk
Preston Trust – Please save the dates:
January 2023 – A talk by Andrew Lambourne of LADACAN.
May 2023 – A Village Celebration for the Coronation of King Charles the lll.
July 1st 2023 – Village Day and the return of the Scarecrows!
More information about the Coronation Celebration and Village Day events will be in the February newsletter. The date of Andrew Lambourne’s talk will be sent via PNS once confirmed.