July 2024

Deadline for the August 2024 newsletter is 25 July

Preston Parish Council

Questionnaire On Village Activities

The Parish Council is undertaking an electronic questionnaire to gain the views of the community on some options for village activities and hopes that all residents over the age of 18 will complete it.

The questionnaire can be found by following this link: https://forms.gle/PwnbYzVGd7mgxZgW8

The closing date is Friday 5 July.

Anyone who doesn’t have internet access and would like to complete a paper copy should contact Margaret Trinder:

Bottle Tombola

The Parish Council is organising a bottle tombola on Village Day on Saturday 6 July and will be grateful for any donations of unopened and in date bottles. Contributions can be either left with Jane Clark at Castle Farm where a suitable container will be provided or brought to The Green on the day.

Parish Council Meeting: Thursday 11 July

The next Parish Council meeting will be held on Thursday 11 July 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:

Preston Nursery School

will be hosting a closing down sale in the village hall on Friday 19th July 11-2pm, and Saturday 20th July 9-12pm. There will be lots of puzzles, books and games, as well as dressing up clothes, cuddly toys, dolls and accessories and art and craft supplies – and so much more. Everyone is welcome! An amazing opportunity to purchase good quality items for summer holidays, Christmas etc.

St Martin’s Church and All Saints’ Church Services

Sunday  7th July   9.30am

 

11.00am

St Martin’s All Age Communion

2 Corinthians 12:2-10, Mark 6:1-13

All Saints All Age Communion

Tuesday 9th July    9.40am Informal prayers and quiet time in church followed by coffee
Sunday 14th July   8.00am

9.30am

 

11.00am

All Saints Holy Communion (BCP)

St Martin’s Holy Communion

Ephesians 1:3-14, Mark 6:14-29

All Saints Sunday Praise with baptisms

Sunday 21st July  9.30am

 

11.00am

St Martin’s Family Service

Mark 6:30-34, 53-end

All Saints Holy Communion

Tuesday 23rd July postponed Informal prayers are postponed until August 6th at the usual time of 9.40am.
Sunday 28th July  9.30am

 

11.00am

St Martin’s Holy Communion

Ephesians 3:14-end, John 6:1-21

All Saints Holy Communion

AUGUST

Sunday 4th August

10.00am Joint Service at All Saints, All Age Communion

Please note the time.

Team Vicar of St Paul’s Walden with Preston:

Letter From The Vicar

Dear All,

As I write, we are in the throes of a general election campaign; and as you read this, you will soon know the outcome of that election.

I have observed many factors at work, including different ideas of what matters to us as a society; what is the proper tone for debating matters of public interest; and what counts as ‘true’ in the context of political debate. There has been a notable lack of generosity in the conduct of the campaign.

Politics is about power, and religion is about love, and the general election campaign find these two things often in conflict.

Famously, Jesus said that we should render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s. We can’t and shouldn’t opt out of the things that relate to power and authority in our society. And a good society leaves space for care and compassion by individuals, love being something you cannot and should not compel.

While justice and care for the poor and oppressed is properly the concern of all of us, and so a matter of what governments do and facilitate, it cannot discharge us from everyday acts of kindness and love. These are, in the end, the whole meaning of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We must be free to love; and we must love one another. It’s about treating others with respect and tolerance.

Every blessing,

Stephen

St Martin’s Church 150 Club 2024/2025

The winners in the 2024/25 150 Club (£30 each) were:

No. 92 Mrs J E Murray
No. 97 Mr & Mrs D J Drew

There are a few unsold tickets and we welcome any more participants – tickets cost £20 for the year, with 25 or more 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 email

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.

PHC Development

The information which was presented at the drop-in sessions for the PHC development is now available on the village website. This includes a presentation on the history of the buildings at Temple Dinsley and the plans for the redevelopment of the site. Links to the documents are from the Notice Board on the homepage at: https://www.prestonvillageherts.com/

Community Shop & Coffee House Update From The Working Group.

NHDC have given their approval to change the use of the redundant farm building behind Pond Farmhouse, owned by the Pilkington Farm Partnership (PFP), into a community shop and coffee house.

The Parish Council voted not to support the community shop & coffee house project. Following this decision, the PFP have decided to pause their support of the project until strong support from the village can be demonstrated.

The Working Group would like to thank all residents who have supported the project to date. We can be contacted by email –

The Red Lion Shares available to purchase

As villagers may well know, the Red Lion was purchased from Whitbread by Preston villagers way back in 1982 – making it the first community owned pub in Britain.

There are almost 200 shareholders in The Red Lion Limited – with the option to purchase shares restricted to those living in or within 5 miles of Preston.  There are currently shares available for anyone wishing to purchase.

It’s a great fun investment to “own” part of a pub and gives an added reason to visit  – not only enjoying its outstanding offerings but also to improve the profits!

If you are interested in knowing more about share ownership please email

Village Day – postponed to Saturday 7 September 2024

The inclusion in the print edition has been removed due to the postponement of Village Day by Bad Weather.

New information will be included in the August and September editions of this newsletter and circulated via PNS.