Deadline for the December 2022 newsletter is 25 November.
Carols near The Christmas Tree on The Green, Sunday 4th December at 6.00pm
The Preston Trust committee warmly invite you all to come along to this village event. A beautiful, decorated Christmas tree will be in position, 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. 6.10pm. A group of outstanding instrumentalists, accompanied by members of our very special 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 near the Christmas Tree, it is hoped that Preston’s wonderful, euphonious Village Voices will be able to perform for our and their enjoyment, inside The Red Lion… More details will be in the December Newsletter.
The Preston Trust will provide several gazebos, on the pub side of The Green, if the weather looks to be wet and chilly. 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 there!
St Martin’s Church and All Saints’ Church Services
| Sunday 6th November | 9.30am
11am |
St Martin’s All Age Holy Communion
2 Thessalonians 1-5,13-end Gospel: Luke 20:27-38 All Saints All Age Holy Communion |
| Sunday 13th November
Remembrance Sunday |
9.30am
10.50am |
St Martin’s Holy Communion
Romans 8:31-end Gospel: Luke 21:5-19 All Saints Sunday Worship |
| Sunday 20th November | 9.30am
11am
|
St Martin’s Family Service
All Saints Holy Communion Colossians 1:11-20 Gospel: Luke 23:33-43 |
| Sunday 27th November
Advent Sunday |
9.30am
11am |
St Martin’s Holy Communion
Romans 13:11-14 Gospel: Matthew 24:36-44 All Saints Holy Communion |
| Sunday 4th December
|
9.30am
11am |
St Martin’s All Age Communion
All Saints All Age Communion |
Team Vicar of St Paul’s Walden with Preston:
A Letter From Our Team Vicar
November is the month for memory and for looking back – sometimes with sadness, as we remember those who have died, especially the fallen in war, and often with thanksgiving as we recall people we have known and loved. The book of condolence for the late Queen was a vivid reminder of this remembering, with both sadness and thanksgiving.
November is also a time for looking forward to the season of Advent which is the season of hope. We need this hope amid all the pressures which bear down on us, pressures domestic, local, national and international.
And we can say to ourselves that strong communities depend on this combination of memory and hope.
Meanwhile, we said goodbye last month to our Reader, Dawn, who has now moved to Hampshire to be near her son and grandchildren. I have been so grateful to her since my arrival, and I know that church and community have benefited greatly from her care and concern. We presented her with a cheque and a picture after the recent pet service as a sign of our gratitude.
I have also very greatly valued Tracey Papworth’s support since I came here in October 2019. On top of her increasingly demanding full time job, Tracey has produced virtually every pew sheet and order of service for us every week since then, and this has been tremendous. Tracey, thank you!
My role as a part- time vicar involves a lot of admin, most of which does not need to be done by an ordained priest. We have therefore recruited a part-time Parish Administrator to take the weight of most of this admin. Emma Fisher is the Parish Administrator and I am really looking forward to what Emma brings to this role. Welcome!
With every blessing,
Stephen
St Martin’s Church 150 Club 2022/2023
The winners in the October draw in the 2022/23 150 Club (£30 each) were:
No. 16 Mrs R C Welch
No. 83 Mrs H Marsh
Preston Parish Council
Casual Vacancy
Preston Parish Council has a casual (temporary) vacancy for a Parish Councillor from December 2022 to May 2023. All Parish Councillors, no matter how long they have been in post, have to stand down and be re-elected at this time. The vacancy will be filled through the co-option process.
Information about the work of the Parish Council can be found on the Parish Council section of the Preston village website.
Anyone who would like to discuss the role of Parish Councillors should contact:
Margaret Trinder, Chairman of Preston Parish Council:
Tel: 01462 435339 or Email: chairman@prestonpc.uk
For further written information about the role of a Parish Councillor, the co-option process, eligibility to be a Parish Councillor and an application form please contact Lisa Lathane, Clerk to Preston Parish Council:
Tel: 07887 875442 or Email: clerk@prestonpc.uk
The closing date for expressions of interest is Friday 25 November
Parish Council Contacts
Preston Parish Councillors now have dedicated Parish Council email addresses. The main contacts for the Parish Council are included in the print edition of this newsletter
Further details about Preston Parish Councillors and our contact form are available on the village website: https://www.prestonvillageherts.com/key-organisations/preston-parish-council/parish-councillors/
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:
email: prestonclerk@gmail.com or phone: 07887 875442
The Litter Pick and The Green Clean Saturday 15 October
Once again, the Preston Trust committee is very grateful to those 17 adults and 6 children who kindly volunteered for this ‘parish task’.
Special thanks are due to Tom for his idea of using a ride-on mower, for dealing so speedily with a thick layer of damp leaves on The Green, and then taking a large leafy load down into Wain Wood. It was a very good effort! The grass on The Green is already recovering from the summer drought, thanks to our care. Whilst the Green looked wonderful after everybody’s efforts it will need to cleared again before winter sets in so please look out for a message on the PNS nearing the end of November
Special thanks are also due to our enthusiastic children: Eva and Amelia, Jayden and Melody and Emily and Harry, for their determination and stamina. It was also good to see young Aritz and baby Beatrix supervising their parents’ efforts!
It was a pleasure to see that there weren’t as many bags of litter collected on this litter pick, due in part to what appears to be a smaller number of people dropping litter, but also to the growing numbers of parishioners who are picking up rubbish on their walks in and around the parish. This has not gone unnoticed and is very much appreciated.
Sincere thanks to everyone.
Liz Hunter and Rae Reynolds, Preston Trust committee members
The Preston Trust:
An Evening Talk, Thursday November 24th, 7.30pm- 9.00pm
‘Confessions Of A Property Man’
The PT committee are organising a series of evening talks this autumn and winter, in our Village Hall.
Our first Talk will be given by Hugh Reeves, a well known resident and dog-walker of this parish. During his career dealing with many properties and managing estates,
Hugh encountered all sorts and conditions of men, from Dukes to dustmen! Hugh hopes that his talk will be interesting, and, at times, amusing.
Coffee and shortbread will be served.(other refreshments will also be available)
You are all warmly invited to come along and enjoy this informal event. There is no charge, but donations will be appreciated.
An Evening Talk “Luton Airport expansion threat – latest update” – LADACAN
In light of the recent Inquiry, the still-pending Development Consent Order (DCO), and the parlous state of LBC/LLAL finances Andrew Lambourne of LADACAN will be giving a talk, as titled above, sometime in January. More information will follow in the December or January Newsletters and via the PNS.
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 Claire Ross and PCSO Heather Burrows can be contacted regarding local community issues. Their contact details are as follows:
PC Claire Ross: 01438 757604 claire.ross@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.
Reporting Scam Emails and Texts
Please report suspicious emails to Action Fraud at: report@phishing.gov.uk
Scam text messages should be forwarded to 7726.
Hitchin Foodbank Shortages
The following items are the most urgently needed due to recent strong demand: Sponge Puddings, Tinned Rice, Tinned Custard, Dried Milk, Pasta Sauce (no pasta please), Tins of carrots, peas, sweetcorn, Tins of fruit, Biscuits.
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 Village Voices
Sadly we have had to cancel our planned Christmas Concert on Monday 12th December.
We will however be supporting other Christmas events planned in the village and we look forward to seeing you all there.