Deadline for the December 2020 newsletter is 25 November.
Christmas Tree 2020
Given the current circumstances, The Preston Trust is not holding a Christmas tree lighting event this year. However, the tree has been ordered from Highfield Nurseries. We intend to put it up, in its usual place outside the Red Lion, having it decorated and lit by the 1st December.
Preston Parish Council
MP’s Local Business Survey
Bim Afolami, our MP, is currently conducting a survey for local businesses in the constituency to understand the impact that the pandemic has had on local businesses and what further support they require to be successful in the future.
The Parish Council has been asked to direct local businesses to the link and ask them to fill in the survey: https://www.bimafolami.co.uk/business-survey
NHDC Local Plan Hearings
The Local Plan hearings will be held virtually between 23 November and 11 December. They will be live streamed on NHDC’s you tube channel. Links to the hearing timetable and you tube are below.
https://www.youtube.com/c/North-hertsGovUk
Luton Airport pre-application consultation on further capacity expansion
This application will seek to vary 5 existing conditions to increase capacity from 18mppa to 19mppa. The consultation closes on 11 November. Further information can be accessed at: www.luton19mppa.info
What 3 Words
What 3 words is an app which gives any location in the world in three words. Preston Parish Council is promoting the use of this system which is already used by all our emergency services and the NHDC Fly Tipping Team. The appropriate what 3 words are on the information boards in Wain Wood. Further information, including how to download the free app can be found at: app@what3words.com.
To use what 3 words when reporting fly tipping, describe the location in the usual way, then add the 3 words from the app. This can help the driver locate the fly tipping more easily.
Readings And Services For November
During the lockdown period the church of All Saint’s, St Paul’s Walden will be closed and no ‘live’ services will take place. However, each Sunday worship is recorded and can be viewed on line. For details see the website for a church near you. www.achurchnearyou.com/church/7580/ which will provide a link to the youtube recording.
The church will be open for private prayer between 10am and dusk.
St Martin’s church remains closed for building works.
| Sunday 1st November | All Saints’ Day |
| Holy Communion | |
| 1 John 3:1-3 | |
| Matthew 5:1-12 | |
| Sunday 8th November | Remembrance Sunday |
| 1 Thessalonians 4:13-end | |
| Matthew 25:1-13 | |
| Sunday 15th November | |
| 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 | |
| Matthew 25:14-30 | |
| Sunday 22nd November | Sunday Next before Advent |
| Ephesians 1:15-end | |
| Matthew 25:31-end | |
| Sunday 29th November | Advent Sunday |
| Isaiah 64:1-8 | |
| Mark 13:24-end |
Team Vicar of St Paul’s Walden with Preston:
Len Grosvenor-Brown
Thank you so much for all the kind messages of sympathy received after Len sadly passed away on 2nd October 2020. They are hugely appreciated by us and have brought us comfort over the last few weeks. HIs funeral took place on Friday 23rd October at Harwood Park Crematorium and was attended by close family and friends due to the Covid restrictions..If anyone would like to make a donation we are collecting for the amazing palliative care team at The Garden House Hospice in Letchworth.
Many thanks Gina, Denise, Barryjohn and families.
Letter From Our Vicar
November is a special month for remembering – for memory within the church and the community. At the start of the month, we remember Christians everywhere on All Saints Day (1 Nov). The day after – we remember all those who have died in the faith. Together, in these two days, we are thinking about the “whole company of heaven”
But remembering has a powerful national and local resonance on 11th November – when the commemoration is of the fallen in war, the injured and those still bearing scars, the bereaved and their loved ones.
Memory matters, because it is a valuing of people and of the past. And on the occasions I have cited, it is a truly proper and appropriate thing to do.
And if, once we have acknowledged and honoured the memory, we turn to hope for the future, then we will have made firmer foundations for church and community alike.
Elsewhere you will read of the arrangements for a service of Holy Communion on All Saints Day which falls on a Sunday. The following Sunday will be Remembrance Sunday with a service in St Paul’s Walden at 10:50am and at the War Memorial in Whitwell at 3 pm.
With every blessing
Stephen
Services At Christmas
We still cannot say with certainty what the COVID-19 restrictions will be as we approach Christmas.
We are working on the assumption that there will still be restrictions requiring us to be socially distanced in church. This undoubtedly will require us to modify our provision of services at Christmas where numbers are usually very high and vastly in excess of what we can manage on a socially distanced basis.
To ensure a fair allocation of places, we are planning to issue tickets for the carol service and the crib service at St Paul’s Walden.
Arrangements at St Martin’s Preston will depend on the progress of the extension works, expected to be completed before Christmas.
Please look out for detailed announcements in the December issue of the magazine or the Preston Newsletter
Canon Stephen
St Martin’s Church 120 Club Draw 2020/2021
The winners in the October draw in the 2020/21 120 Club (£30 each) were:
No. 124 Mr & Mrs B J E Lapthorne
No. 64 Mrs A L Broughton
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.
PC Johnie Streeter and PCSO Heather Burrows can be contacted regarding local community issues. Their contact details are as follows:
PC Johnie Streeter: 07525 905431 or 01438 757604 Johnie.streeter@herts.pnn.police.uk
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.
Shares In The Red Lion
As most villagers will know, the Red Lion was purchased from Whitbread by Preston villagers way back in 1982. Funds to do this were raised from the issue of shares in a newly created company, The Red Lion Limited and currently there are some 180 villagers owning shares.
Share ownership is restricted to those living in or within 5 miles of Preston and there are a few shares available at the moment for purchase.
A great fun investment and a good reason to visit it, to check it is doing well !
Interested ? Please give me – Brian Waters – a call at The Chequers – (contact details in the print edition). I’d be pleased to tell you more.
COVID 19: Preston Help Line
Preston Parish Council and The Preston Trust would like to remind Preston residents that the helpline continues to be available during the on-going corona virus situation.
The phone line will be monitored daily from 8.00am to 8.00 pm.
Please note that the answer phone will pick up calls coming in after 8pm and the caller will be linked to a volunteer the following day.
Please stay safe and remember to follow the latest Government guidance.