Dates to Remember
| Tue 5 Sept | Church Cleaning 4.00pm |
| Wed 13 Sept | Parish Council – Village Hall 8.00pm |
| Sat 16 Sept | Community Book Swap – Village Hall – 10-11.00am |
| Fri 22 Sept | Harvest Supper – Village Hall -7.30pm |
| Wed 27 Sept | Preston Village Society – St Martin’s House – 8.00pm |
| Fri 29 Sept | Harvest Auction – The Red Lion – 8.00pm |
| Tue 3 Oct | Church Cleaning 4.00pm |
Neighbourhood Plan Update
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 5.00 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 progress and to add your opinions and comments on any aspect of the Neighbourhood Plan to the Steering Group. We will look forward to seeing you there.
Preston Village Society: Wednesday 27 September
This month’s meeting is being held at Mary Young’s, St Martin’s House, Church Lane on Wednesday 27 September. There will be a talk entitled Tomb builders in the Valley of Kings.
Last month’s tea afternoon raised £165 for Garden House Hospice. Thank you to everyone who supported this event and to Margaret for hosting it.
Community Book Swap
The Community Book Swap will continue to be held on the first and third Saturdays of every month from 10.00 to 11.00am in the village hall starting on Saturday 16 September. There are plenty of books and DVDs available so it is not essential to bring one to swap. Please feel free to use this as a library.
The Red Lion – Harvest Auction
The annual Harvest Auction will be held on Friday 29 September at 8.00pm. Would those donating produce for the auction bring to the pub in the afternoon. Proceeds will be shared between Preston Primary School, Colts Cricket and St Martin’s Church.
St Martin’s Church and Parish Services
| September | Service | Sidesman | Reader | |
| 3rd | 11:00 am | Family Communion at All Saints’ | ||
| 10th | 9:30 am | Malcolm Lowle | Di Blockley | |
| (Romans 13:8-end, RCL p.355 Gospel: Matthew 18:15-20) Intercessions: Elizabeth Bunker Chalice: Carolyn Hill | ||||
| 17th | 8:00 am | All Saints’. Holy Communion (BCP) | ||
| 9:30 am | Meta Reeves | Paul Constantinidi | ||
| (Romans 14:1-12, RCL p.361 Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35) Intercessions: Hugh Reeves Chalice: Meta Reeves | ||||
| 3:00 pm | Animal Service at St Paul’s Walden Bury | |||
| 24th | 10:00 am | Harvest Family Service | ||
| 11:00 am | All Saints’. Holy Communion | |||
| 6:00 pm | Harvest Praise | Andy Cole | Sue Griffiths | |
| (2 Cor. 9:6-15, RCL p.1159 Gospel: Luke 12:16-30) | ||||
| October | ||||
| 1st | 11:00 am | Harvest Family Communion at All Saints’, followed by Harvest Lunch | ||
Weekday services in Whitwell
Every Tuesday 9.30am. Morning Prayer at the Parish Office
Alternate Wednesdays 9.30am . Holy Communion at Lime Tree House – 13 and 27 September
St. Martin’s Church 120 Club
The winners of the last two draws in the 2017/18 120 Club (£30 each)
July
No. 13 Mrs R Brown
No. 64 Mrs A L Broughton
August
No. 125 Mr P J Caller
No. 119 Mr & Mrs R Lamb
A Letter from our Team Vicar
Rosemead, 61 High Street, Whitwell SG4 8AH. ☎ 01438-871658 or 01462 686808 email: elizabethbunker@hotmail.com
Dear Friends,
Since the July/August Newsletter we have enjoyed another successful Village Day. I was sorry to miss the event this time but I’m sure we are all very grateful to those who planned the day and those who organised events on the day iAN INVITATION to you all: THURSDAY 12 OCTOBER, 8.00 – 9.00pmtself.
During the past week we have had an almost autumnal day of non-stop rain – great for the gardens of course – and some pleasant summer days with an occasional shower. I hope that during the rest of the school holidays we will enjoy some really warm sunny days again.
Today the sun is shining and the sky is blue – just the kind of weather we need for Holiday Club at Whitwell Pavilion on Wed 30 August. Thurs 31 August and Fri 1 September from 10.00am till 12noon. Our theme this year is Jonah and the Whale. For more details please contact the Parish Office or Helen on 01438 871665.
At All Saints’ 11.00am Family Communion on Sunday 3 September we will be featuring some music, words and craft from our Jonah and the Whale Holiday Club.
And on Sunday 17 September at 3.00pm we will be holding an Animal Service in the grounds of St Paul’s Walden Bury. Members of both churches in this parish and the Hitchin Anglican churches are invited to this service. We hope you will come along with your dogs, horses, rabbits etc.
This year our Harvest Festival takes place on Sunday 24 September with the Family Service at 10.00am and our usual Harvest Praise at 6pm. Details about the Harvest Supper and the Auction are on the Harvest card.
I look forward to seeing you at one or more of the services and events coming up.
With my prayers and good wishes to you all.
Elizabeth
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!
Liz Hunter, PT committee member
Harvest Supper: Friday 22 September
This year the Harvest Supper will be held on Friday 22 September in the Village Hall, 7.30 for 8.00pm. Tickets, priced £12, include a welcome drink and a two course meal and can be obtained from Sue Griffiths ☎ 434194. Numbers are limited to 40, so please call soon!
If you have a vegetarian preference, just let Sue know well in advance. Please bring your own
bottle. There will be a Raffle, so donations of prizes would be very much appreciated. Families who have moved into the Parish recently are especially welcome, but anyone living in the village is warmly invited so do come and join us.
Quiz and Chips
The Friends of St Martin’s Committee would like to thank everyone who supported their Quiz and Chips event in July which raised £287.
Hitchin Foodbank
Many thanks for your ongoing support and contributions to the Hitchin Foodbank. The most urgent need is for strong carrier bags. Also required are: sponge puddings, long life fruit juice, dried milk, noodles, sugar and toilet rolls. They are currently oversupplied with pasta and rice. Donations can be deposited in the blue box in the garage at Lychgate House, Church Lane.