Deadline for the November 2022 newsletter is 25 October.
Parish Council Meeting: Thursday 20 October
The next Parish Council meeting will be held on Thursday 20 October at 8.00pm 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: Lisa Lathane, Clerk to the Parish Council:
Apologies From James Estates
James Estates would like to apologise most sincerely for any inconvenience caused to Preston residents by work taking place by a contractor on land adjacent to Dungarvan during the Queen’s funeral.
The Autumn Litter Pick 2022 : Saturday, October 15th, 10.00am – 12 noon
The crab apples are falling, and the squirrels are feasting on the hazelnuts and the walnuts, so Autumn has arrived! Thus, it is time once again for our seasonal activity of an Autumn Litter Pick. The Preston Trust committee would like to invite you to come and help pick up the litter around the village and parish. If we have sufficient volunteers, we would like to rake up and clear the twigs and leaves on The Green and around the pond.
Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear, and bring your own gardening/DIY gloves. We will bring the Hi-Viz jackets, the litter picker tools, the black plastic sacks and some disposable gloves. As usual, we will work in pairs along each lane and footpath, and bring the filled sacks back to St. Martin’s Place in Church Lane.
Just come along and lend a hand, please! This ‘chore’ does not usually take too long, nor require too much effort, and, of course, it really does make a difference.
You are all very welcome!
Liz Hunter and Rae Reynolds, Preston Trust committee members.
St Martin’s Church and All Saints’ Church Services
| Sunday 2nd October | 9.30am
11am |
St Martin’s All Age Holy Communion
2 Timothy 1:1 – 14 Luke 17: 5 – 10 All Saints All Age Holy Communion (with Oscar’s Baptism) |
| Sunday 9th October
Harvest Festival |
8am
9.30am
11am |
All Saints Holy Communion (BCP)
St Martin’s Holy Communion Philippians 4: 4 – 9 John 6: 25 – 35 All Saints Sunday Praise, followed by Harvest Lunch at All Saints at 12 |
| Sunday 16th October | 9.30am
11am
|
St Martin’s Family Service
All Saints Holy Communion 2 Timothy 3: 14 – 4: 5 Luke 18: 1 – 8 |
| Sunday 23rd October | 9.30am
11am |
St Martin’s Holy Communion
2 Timothy 4: 6 – 8; 16 – 18 Luke 18 : 9 – 14 All Saints Holy Communion |
| Sunday 30th October
All Saints Day |
10am | Joint Parish Communion Service at All Saints |
Team Vicar of St Paul’s Walden with Preston:
A Letter from Dawn Jenkins
This Season of Autumn, Is my favourite month. It always reminds me of Keats ‘s poem Ode to Autumn which starts with the line “Seasons of mists and mellow fruitfulness” So when I am dog walking early in the morning and the sun is just rising, yet to warm up the nip in the air, the wisps of mist lies over the lower fields of the village, with the delicate jewel like webs clinging so beautifully to the hedges along the path, and the crunch of the dry leaves sound underfoot, I can’t help but thank God for this wonderful place in which we live.
Last month with the passing of Her Majesty, it was apparent once again how important it is, that at times we come together and support each other whatever our walks of life. The number of people who journeyed to London to pay their respects was unprecedented and the comments from those interviewed, talked about the conversations and emotional support that they found from others in the crowds around them.
At the end of this month we celebrate All Souls day and will have time to remember those loved ones we see no more. This is followed by our Church Patronal festival of All Saints day. It’s important, I think to not only remember the Saints past, but to also remember the Saints of today. Those people who go out of their way to make life a little easier in our lives, ready to help at a moment’s notice, who pick up shopping or post a letter or cheer us when we are low. Living in this village I’m sure you all know someone who fits that description. Thank you for all the little things you do that help. It’s what builds and strengthens this community.
In writing this month’s letter I am aware that my time in the Parish as Reader will shortly be coming to an end. As Brean and I move to pastures new, near Chichester and take on a more challenging role of helping to look after grandchildren. We will both be leaving with heavy hearts. Our years here have been truly blessed with wonderful friends. We’ve enjoyed the support of strangers when we first arrived, to the diversity of community activities here in Whitwell. The exceptional talents of our performers, and a community that put people and working together first. If you have not experienced this yet, give it a go! There are so many different groups in this village that need support to continue, as Our Lord Jesus said “Seek and you will find, ask and you shall receive; knock and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him that knocks the door will be opened”.
Every blessing to you all and a huge thank you.
Dawn
St Martin’s Church 150 Club 2022/2023
The winners in the September draw in the 2022/23 150 Club (£30 each) were:
No. 64. Mrs A L Broughton
No. 90. Mrs J M Davies
Preston Village Voices – SAVE the DATE
Monday 12th December 2022
Preston Village Voices warmly invite you to an evening Celebration of Christmas Carols, Songs and Words in aid of Tilehouse Counselling.
Please save the date and join us for this thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining event. Refreshments will be available.
Details on how to book tickets will follow.
Preston Village Voices
Beds & Herts Bike ‘n’ Hike – 10th September 2022
My sincere thanks to all the generous people who sponsored me on the Bike’n’Hike this year. On the route via Hitchin, Ickleford, Letchworth, Baldock and surrounding villages, I visited 24 churches.
So far a total of approximately £550.00 (+ Gift Aid) has been raised.
Half of this will be donated to St. Martin’s Preston and the remainder to needy church projects in the diocese. – Ita
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: Tinned Rice, Biscuits, Tinned Fruit, Tinned Meat (not pies), Longlife Juice, Longlife Milk (not skimmed), Sponge Puddings, Toilet Rolls.
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
Unfortunately our Hitchin centre now finds itself short of volunteer drivers and asks if anyone with their own transport would be willing to help us at this difficult time, when there is such a demand for our services. The urgent need at the moment is for Friday morning drivers as our present driver will very shortly be unavailable for a period. Depending on this appeal, we are hoping that any volunteers would be on a rota, so that they would only need to work one Friday per month. Volunteers should contact
