October 2017

Dates to Remember

Tue 3 Oct Church Cleaning 4.00pm
Thurs 5 Oct Neighbourhood Plan Drop-in – Village Hall 5.00pm to 8.00pm
Sat 7 Oct Community Book Swap – Village Hall – 10-11.00am
Sat 7 Oct Neighbourhood Plan Drop-in – Village Hall 10.00am to12.00 noon
Thurs 12 Oct CPRE Talk – Village Hall – 8.00pm
Wed 18 Oct Preston Village Society – Pryor House – 8.00pm
Sat 21 Oct Community Book Swap – Village Hall – 10-11.00am
Sat 21 Oct Village Clean Up – The Green 10.00am – 12.00noon
Wed 1 Nov Parish Council – Village Hall 8.00pm
Sat 4 Nov Fireworks at the Red Lion 7.00pm
Tue 7 Nov Church Cleaning 4.00pm

Fireworks at The Red Lion

This Year’s Fireworks Display and Barbeque will take place at the Red Lion on Saturday 4 November from 7.00pm. Fingers crossed for a fine, star-lit evening!

Preston Parish Council – DOG Fouling

Recent incidents of dog fouling in the village have been brought to the attention of the Parish Council, particularly on the Recreation Ground and Castlefield. The Parish Council would like to remind dog owners that it is their responsibility to clear up after their animals, something which really isn’t difficult to do. There are dog bins in various areas of the village to help residents and visitors to the village.

Please help to keep Preston a dog faeces free zone so that we can all enjoy a healthy and attractive environment. Evidence of dog fouling can be reported to NHDC  01462474000 or online at www.north-herts.gov.uk, then follow the links from environment and planning.

Adders

The Parish Council has been informed that a resident was bitten by an adder amongst the raspberries in his garden and would, therefore, like to ask all residents to take care in their gardens and to cover up appropriately.

St Martin’s Church and Parish Services

October Service Sidesman Reader
1st11.00amHarvest Family Communion at All Saints, St Paul’s  Walden followed by Harvest Lunch.
8th9:30 amRichard BlockleyPaul Constantinidi
   Philippians 3:4b-14, RCL p.381        Gospel:Matthew 21:33-end
Intercessions: Doreen Sansom   Chalice: parameter value error i=189 j=197 k=
15th8.00amAll Saints, St Pauls Walden. Holy Communion (BCP)
9.30amMalcolm LowleRichard Gill
   Philippians 4:1-9, RCL p.388       Gospel:Matthew 22:1-14
Intercessions: t.b.a.   Chalice: t.b.a.
11.00amFamily Service at All Saints, St Pauls Walden
22nd9.30amElizabeth HunterRichard Blockley
   1 Thess. 1:1-10,RCL p.395             Gospel:Matthew 22:15-22)
Intercessions: Meta Reeves   Chalice: : Elizabeth Hunter
29th9.30amBible SundayMeta ReevesHugh Reeves
   Nehemiah 8:1-4a, 8-12  RCL p.402  Gospel:Matthew 23:30-35
Intercessions: Elizabeth Bunker   Chalice: parameter value error i=196 j=204 k=
November
5th10.00 amAll Saints SundayMalcolm LowleJenny Mason
   Revelation 7:9-end, RCL p. 416  Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12
Intercessions: Hugh Reeves   Chalice: Meta Reeves
All services are at St. Martin's unless stated otherwise

NB From November 2017 until March 2018 inclusive the service on the first Sunday in the month will be held at St Martin’s Preston at 10am.

There will be NO SERVICE AT ALL SAINTS, St Pauls Walden on these Sundays.

Weekday services in Whitwell

Every Tuesday 9.30am. Morning Prayer at the Parish Office

Alternate Wednesdays 9.30am . Holy Communion at Lime Tree House on the 10th and 24th October.

St Martin’s Church 120 Club

The winners of the September draws in the 2017/18 120 Club (£30 each) were:

No.   31  Mr A J Griffiths
No.   60  Mr P Storey

A Letter From Our Team Vicar

Rosemead, 61 High Street, Whitwell SG4 8AH.
 01438 871658 or  01462 686808

Dear Friends,

At the end of August, Holiday Club was held at Whitwell Pavilion as usual. This year the main story on which we based our activities, craft, songs and games was Jonah and the Whale. We made whales, painted whales and discovered amazing facts about whales and we made some links between Jonah’s story in the Old Testament and Jesus’ life in the New Testament. More than 20 children came along over the three days – it was good to have children from Preston School too this time – and they all seemed to enjoy themselves.  The adults certainly did. Thank you very much to Helen Beavis and the team.

By the time you read this our Harvest celebrations will be nearly over. Our final services are on Sunday 1 October at All Saints’ followed by lunch and the Preston Primary School Service on Wednesday 4 October at St Martin’s.

We have a very special occasion coming up at All Saints’ this month. On Sunday 15 October we will have a Family Service at 11.00am at All Saints’ when we will be celebrating the saints – more recent saints as well as those in the early Church. And on that same occasion we are celebrating the ministry of Ann Males in this parish and her service to the community in Whitwell.  Ann was a licensed Reader for nearly twenty years but her ministry began long before that, continues now, and will I hope carry on for many more years. Please join us in church on this special day for the short service and afterwards for an opportunity to celebrate Ann’s years of ministry as we say a formal ‘Thank you’ to her (and John) for all she does in this community and enjoy ‘fizz’ and cake together.

With my prayers and good wishes

Elizabeth

Beds & Herts Bike ‘n’ Hike – 9 September

Many thanks to all those who sponsored me on the Beds & Herts Historic Churches Trust bike ride. I visited 21 churches on a 31-mile round trip and raised £230. Half of this will be donated to St. Martins’ Preston and the remainder to needy churches in the diocese.

Preston Village Society

This month’s meeting is being held at 8 pm on Wednesday 18 October at Rosemary Brenham’s, Pryor House, The Green.  Derek Henderson will give a talk entitled “Attracting Wildlife to your Garden”

Knitting Wool

Pam Stark has been knitting hats, scarves and mittens for children in Syria where the winters can be very cold.  She is now beginning to run out of wool.

Do any of you have unwanted wool you could let Pam have or she has some very easy patterns and would be happy to let you have copies? 01462 422315  or email: pamstark@hotmail.co.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 Veolia 0800 328 6023.

PC Matt Jenkins and PCSO Heather Burrows can be contacted regarding local community issues –  01438 757604.

In the event of an emergency or if you witness a crime taking place please call 999.

An Invitation To You All:  Thursday 12  October, 8.00 – 9.00pm

The Preston Trust committee would like to invite you all to the Village Hall for a Talk and discussion on ‘The work of the Hertfordshire branch of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England’. The talk will be given by Kevin Fitzgerald, TD, DL, Hon. Director of the branch; he is an engaging speaker with much experience in this role.

CPRE campaigns nationally and through its county branches for a better future for England’s countryside. CPRE Hertfordshire, a charity, was founded in 1928; it works from a small office in Old Welwyn, has 3 members of staff and many volunteers, and 1200 members across the county. It advocates the sustainable use of the land and other natural resources; it lobbies for sustainable transport policies. It endeavours to influence planning policy, when the countryside is threatened.

Working in partnership with the Chilterns Conservation Board, one current initiative of the branch is a proposal to extend The Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, southwards to Kimpton. If agreed, this extension would include the parish of Preston.

This will be an interesting evening, very relevant to this community as we create our own Neighbourhood Plan. Do come and join us!

The 2017 Autumn Clean Of Our Parish

The Preston Trust would, once again, like to invite you all to come and help pick up litter around the village and parish. Talking to a couple at a meeting in Codicote two weeks ago, they said they come over regularly to The Red Lion because ‘the village always looks so clean and well cared for’.  That was music to my ears!!  They also like the drink and food at the Red Lion!

Do, please, come and join us on The Green, on Saturday 21 October, 10.00am – 12 noon. Wear appropriate clothing and footwear, and bring your rubber gloves! And a HiVis jacket, if you have one. I will have plastic rubbish sacks to give out to you. We will work in pairs along each lane and footpath, and then bring the filled sacks back to The Green.

We had 30 people out helping with our Spring Clean in March this year. I should very much like to see much the same number again on 21 October!  Just come along………..

Neighbourhood Plan Updat

The Steering Group have arranged two drop-in sessions to update local residents on the progress of the Neighbourhood Plan. These are being held on Thursday 5 October from 5.00pm to 8.00pm and on Saturday 7 October from 10.00am to 12.00 noon. Both sessions are being held in the Village Hall. Please come along to view and comment on the proposed vision and objectives for the Neighbourhood Plan. The Steering Group will look forward to seeing you there.

Preston Cricket Club

The end of nnother season: a tough season but with some superb cricket being played by all our teams, both juniors and seniors.

In the Saturday Saracens Herts League our 1st X1 finished 6th in Div 2A. The 2nd X1 finished 7th in 5A, the 3rd X1 finished 4th in 9B (having been promoted last year) and the 4ths had a good season too. On Sundays in the Sunday Beds League our 1st X1 finished high in Div 1 having been promoted last year and the Sunday 2nd X1 played several enjoyable games this season and won the majority.

It has been another busy year for the club with four Junior cricket sides being managed and all four doing superbly well and winning some of their leagues, thanks to the Coaching Team.

We’ve been supported generously with the ground management of both Preston and Whitwell. Huge thanks go to Callum Blair who has been assisted by Pete Murrell, Rupert Bruce, David Fleckney and a few others, including Bob Welch.

Once again our teas have been superb and the Club would like to thank all those people who have helped produce them each week. I hope we can ask you all again next season.

It’s also been excellent to see many from the village playing – Clarkie who we asked to come out of retirement and who’s saved the day on more than one occasion. Young Tom Chambers who was thrown straight into our Saturday 2nd X1 and who’s played superbly – a real talent for the future, especially with his wicket keeping and batting. Great to see Gillan Ide wearing the Preston shirt for the first time, and many others from the village also playing across our senior teams.

Thanks for the support we’ve had from The Red Lion throughout the summer. Ray and Jo have kept us very well fed and watered once again.

Finally, a big thank you to Blake Mills, our overseas player this year who we welcomed from Melbourne in May. Blake has met many from the village and has been a regular face in the pub. He’s been an invaluable help to Preston Cricket Club and scored a lot of runs and bowled fast when we’ve asked. Thanks Blake – a new mate for all of us and safe travels when you leave us towards the end of Sept.

Thanks also to Paul and Rosemary who have so generously helped the Club welcome Blake and looked  after him. We couldn’t have done it without you and you have all of our sincere thanks.

Full match reports – www.prestoncricketclub.co.uk

Thanks – Mark Waters

07796544683