Preston Parish Council
The Annual Parish Council Meeting will be held on Thursday 12 May at 7.30pm in the Village Hall when Chairman and Vice Chairman will be elected. This will be followed by
the Annual Parish Meeting at 8pm. Annual Reports by the Chairman of the Parish Council and Local Organisations will be given at this meeting. Anyone who would like to attend these meetings should register with the Clerk by Tuesday 10 May so that socially distanced seating can be arranged.
Contact details are: Lisa Lathane, Clerk to the Parish Council:
Open Gardens And Tea: St Pauls Waldenbury: Sunday 15 May 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
They will also collect cakes if necessary.
New Community Facilities – Shop, Cafe & Village Hall
Many thanks to all those who have responded to the recent questionnaire regarding new community facilities in the village. We’ve had just over 120 responses to date and there’s still time to provide your feedback by the end of April if you haven’t already done so.
The next stage of this exciting project is to share the results from the questionnaire with the village and provide an update on the scope and vision of the project as well as the preferred location, funding etc. We plan to do this at a drop-in session on Sunday 22nd May between 10.00am and 12.00noon in the Village Hall.
All are welcome to attend.
St Martin’s Church and All Saints’ Church Services
| Sunday 1st May | 9.30
11am |
St Martin’s All Age Communion
Acts 9: 1 – 6 John 21: 1 – 19 All Saints All Age Communion |
| Sunday 8th May | 8am
9.30am
11am |
All Saints Holy Communion (BCP)
St Martin’s Holy Communion Acts 9: 36 – end John 10: 22 – 30 All Saints Sunday Praise |
| Sunday 15th May | 9.30am
11am |
St Martin’s Family Service
All Saints Holy Communion Acts 11: 1 – 18 John 13: 31 – 35 |
| Sunday 22nd May | 9.30am
11am |
St Martin’s Holy Communion
Acts 16: 9 – 15 Luke 24: 1 – 12 All Saints Holy Communion |
| Sunday 29th May | 10am
11am |
Joint Service of Holy Communion at St Martin’s
Acts 16: 9 – 15 John 5: 1 – 9 All Saints All Age Communion |
| 5th June
Queen’s Platinum Jubilee |
8am
10am |
All Saints Holy Communion (BCP)
Thanksgiving Service at All Saints |
Team Vicar of St Paul’s Walden with Preston:
A Letter From Our Team Vicar
It was really good to see our church so full on Easter morning – all ages coming together in celebration of what is vital about the Christian faith, namely, that light always and in the end triumphs over darkness.
And from now until Pentecost – or Whitsunday as we used to call it – we are in the great period of Eastertide – the period of new life, purpose and joy. We need to grasp and hang onto this Easter hope, that all will be well, that God has a loving purpose for the world, especially as we continue to see such devastation in Ukraine and of course grave shortcomings elsewhere in the world, whether of war, persecution, tyranny or famine.
In addition to 5 June being the celebration of the Day of Pentecost, it is also a National Day of Jubilation for our remarkable Queen. A service of thanksgiving will be held in the parish church, All Saints, St Paul’s Walden, a church well known to Her Majesty and much loved by her. Please note that this service of thanksgiving will be at 10 am. You will be very welcome.
With every blessing, Stephen
St Martin’s Church 150 Club 2022/2023
The winners in the April draw in the 2022/23 150 Club (£30 each) were:
No. 40 Mr M C Mercer
No. 48. Mr R J Palmer
Hitchin Foodbank Shortages
The following items are the most urgently needed: Juice (longlife); Sponge Puddings; Tinned Tuna; Cereal Bars (packs of 5); Tinned Meat (meatballs, hot dogs etc.).
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.
For more information please visit letchworth.foodbank.org.uk.
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 Preston Platinum Jubilee Celebrations – Your Help…
In just over a month’s time we will be coming together to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and our special community.
Can you make bunting, or maybe you’d like to try? There will be an easy to follow guide on how to create bunting (although you may have a way you prefer) and an invitation to get together with others while you are doing it.
When you are looking at old photos do you ever think ‘goodness that was me in 1952!’ If you do, whether you were a new born or already ‘Strolling and Jiving’ please may we use your picture for a fun Guess Who Game?
You may not play cricket, but who doesn’t enjoy the cricket teas? Will you bowl someone over with culinary skills?
Are you Preston’s Star Baker? With categories to cover all age groups we would like you to amaze us with your cakes and bakes on a royal theme. It will be anything that will satisfy a sweet tooth…
Is that I can’t bake we hear? Don’t worry; you can decorate a potato with a royal theme in our “Mr Potato Head“ competition. As with the Great Preston Bake Off there will be different categories including adults!
It s time to search for your crowns and tiaras – We are asking everyone who comes to the Street Party if they would like to wear fancy dress of some kind to do with royalty, the ‘50s or simply red, white and blue.
There are lots of exciting events planned and you will soon receive all you will need to know about getting involved in any of the above and taking part in the celebrations.
Preston Celebrates The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
The Preston Platinum Jubilee Celebrations (PPJC) committee representing Preston Cricket Club, Preston Parish Council, St. Martin’s Church, The Preston Trust and The Red Lion has been formed to work together with Preston Nursery and Primary Schools, and you to create a wonderful celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and our special community.
Please save the following dates for joining in the celebrations. There is something for everyone to enjoy!
Thursday 2nd June: – Starting at 8 30 pm on the Village Green
An evening to coincide with the national lighting of the Jubilee Beacons
Friday 3rd June: – Starting 2 00pm. – time to be confirmed.
Rounders (and other games) at the Rec.
Friday 3rd June: – Starting at 7 30 pm. – time to be confirmed.
A Right Royal Quiz at the Red Lion.
Saturday 4th June: – Starting at 2 30pm
Afternoon tea on the Recreation Ground watching the 2nd II team play at home
Saturday 4th June: – Starting at 7 30 pm
An evening of music and food at The Red Lion
Sunday 5th June: – Starting at 10 00 am at All Saint’s Whitwell
A commemorative Church Service
Sunday 5th June: – Starting at 12 00 am
A street party and picnic in front of The Red Lion with games and competitions on The Green.
All this events are free but we will be asking you to book your places for the Street Party to ensure we have enough tables and chairs. It will be bring your own food and drink. Squash and water will be available and the Red Lion will be open, serving tea & coffee as well as its wonderful range of drinks.
There will be further information about each of these events, how you can on book your places, enter the competitions and ways you can help, delivered to your door at the beginning of May Please look out for it. We will also be sharing all the information and requests on Face Book, on Instagram, in the Newsletters and via the PNS A long list but, hopefully that means everyone will know what will be happening as Preston celebrates the Platinum Jubilee. We are looking forward to the whole Parish coming together in fun and laughter.
David, Jane, Jo, Malcolm, Richard, Rae, Ray and Vicky – The PPJC committee
If you have any suggestions, questions, or would like to offer to help please: 
or join us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/prestoncelebratesthequeensjubilee/
and Instagram www.Instagram.com/Prestonsjubileecelebrations