Ashwell Village News- July 2021

Front cover by Ashwell Playgroup, p. 19.

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Ashwell Village News – July 2021, St Mary’s

A normal Ashwell year has traditionally followed a pattern of events – Flea Market,
Music Festival, Book Sale and Ashwell at Christmas – interspersed with other
special events during the year. Whilst now, we can only look forward to maybe
one or two of these, there is always a structure to the seasons and to life both
here and elsewhere. I know that some families were able to celebrate “Chreaster”
– a combination of Christmas and Easter and of course the Christian calendar
continues with or without Covid. So we moved onwards from Easter to Pentecost
– the gift of the Holy Spirit symbolised as wind and fire.

Last month Mark wrote about St Alban and the traditional pilgrimage celebrated in
June. In St Albans Abbey recently I asked if it would still take place this year to
hear that it will take place on 27th June. Whilst this is before the July Village news
will be available, I would urge everyone to look on the Abbey web site to see a
YouTube video of the pilgrimage which will include the 12 foot tall puppets and
the story of the death of Alban.

We are lucky to be in the Diocese where our Cathedral has shrines to two Saints –
Alban and a recently restored shrine with a lovely blue covering, to the priest
Amphibalus, with whom Alban changed cloaks. Many European countries have
colourful Mardi Gras festivals and we often marvel at them, whilst here in our
county, we have a colourful pilgrimage with a lovely local story.

Churches and Cathedrals are always a good
place to visit and personally I like to contemplate
the stained glass window in our Lady Chapel - do
have a look if you get the opportunity. It is a
passage from St Matthew’s Gospel including “I
was hungry and you gave me food, I was a
stranger and you made me welcome, I was
naked and you clothed me.” This ties in so
beautifully with the words in Jesus’ one great
commandment - “you shall love your neighbour
as yourself.” How about that as a maxim for the
rest of our year – with or without events!

Andrew Gillborn

St Marys Contacts List

Please feel free to contact us.

Churchwardens:

Bernard 624564 [email protected]

Sarah 742182 [email protected]

Pastoral matters
Mark, our Reader 743451

[email protected]
Parish Church Office
Antje 01462 743922

[email protected]

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100 Years Ago - June 1921

There were quite a few little matters of local concern
reported this month. It must have been a dry spring that
was carrying on into a hot summer. The Springs were said to be lower than ever
before and when the Letchworth Town Band played sacred music on the Rec it was
just too hot so few attended. Even the annual Feast was quieter than formerly. The
heat could also have helped one of Messrs FJ Bailey & Co’s straw stacks to catch
fire. It went out of control and was allowed to burn out.

At a Parish Council Meeting Mr L Haylock, was appointed manager to the water
works and the cemetery.

A letter from Mr Henry Morris, of Windyside, Ashwell, asked for others interested to
contact him about appealing for an earlier school train to Cambridge.

St Mary’s and the Wesleyan Church Sunday Schools both had their annual treats.

Pembroke College, Cambridge advertised the sale by private treaty of Maltings
Farm, Ashwell, containing about 67 acres of arable land with small house, farm
buildings and a pair of cottages. At present we are unsure of where this is but it
might be where we now call Pembroke Farm on the Slip End Road.

A whole catalogue of accidents makes us consider that modern ‘Health and Safety’
may after all have some benefits. Mr Flack, who broke his thigh and had other
serious injuries caused by an accident with Messrs Fordham’s motor trailer was
progressing well at Addenbrooke’s Hospital. Mr Arthur Harradine, who broke a leg
above the ankle whilst in employ of Mr William Cooper, Mr Skerman, employed by
FJ Bailey & Co, the builders had a broken nose and Mr William Searle had a broken
collar bone from a cycling accident whilst acting as temporary postman.

At sport the Lawn Tennis club and the cricket teams were very busy with a mixed
bag of results. The Football Club was already preparing for the next season by
announcing that they planned to field two teams.

However the biggest success of the month must go to the Girls of the Ashwell
County School who competed at the District Sports and took home the Spirella
Sports Challenge Shield. Our picture shows the winning girls with their teacher,
Miss Hyslop.

The other big event of the month, which presumably revelled in the hot weather,
was the Garden Fete organised by the WI and held in the Bury Grounds. There was
a medieval theme for the
stalls and games, a cricket
match and the Choral
Society performed ‘The
Merrie Men of Sherwood
Forest’. All this was

followed in the evening by

dancing. Over 1,000

attended and £115 was

taken with the proceeds

going towards a Village

Hall. If this was not enough

for the WI, 75 members

went off for their summer

outing to Bedford in 3

motor lorries.

Peter Greener

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Community News

As we slowly resume our activities and groups, several issues are becoming
apparent. Firstly, some people are anxious about ‘re-entry’ and meeting in person. At St
Mary’s we have made adaptations to ensure that our services are safe and hopefully
welcoming. Everyone is very welcome to our services at 10.45am and 5pm every
Sunday. Please contact me if you need a lift, or for more details.

Lots of other shops, clubs and services have also adapted and need our support.

Secondly, the long lockdowns have been extremely difficult financially for charities and
organisations. In this edition of AVN there are appeals for help with village charities and
those that serve a wider community. Please give consideration to how you can help.

Meeting friends or visitors for tea is a way of gaining confidence in social situations AND
helping out. The URC summer teas are happening on Saturdays (see page 29) but we
won’t be starting St Mary’s Teas until we can find a new co-ordinator. Denise led the team
brilliantly for a number of years, but with a change in circumstances, needs to pass on the
baton. We thank her for her great work. If you would like to be part of a team, or have
some suggestions, please get in touch.

Sarah Talks 742182 [email protected]

Time for you and time for me, “For what it’s worth: it’s never too late or, in my case,

And time yet for a hundred indecisions, too early to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time
limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay
And for a hundred visions and revisions, the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make

Before the taking of toast and tea the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of

T.S. Eliot it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope
you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet

people with a different point of view. I hope you live a

Come along inside…. We’ll see if tea and life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope

buns can make the world a better place you have the courage to start all over again.”

The Wind in the Willows F. Scott Fitzgerald

Publication

Ashwell Village News (AVN) is published by St Mary’s Church, as a service to
the community.

Correspondence, articles and advertisements in this magazine are not to be
taken as representing the views of either St Mary’s Church or of any of the
volunteers who produce the AVN.

All new articles please contact AVN Team. To avoid disappointment.
[email protected]

FINAL Deadlines for articles for August submission are:

Article Deadline 15th July

Advertising Deadline 10th July

Our AVN Team of volunteers are: Did you know that
the Ashwell Village
Julia Mitchell Advertising News is available

Richard Young Distribution online? ( eAVN )

Sarah Talks Editing https://tinyurl.com/
Ashwell-Village-News
Mark Eaton Finance

Alfie Talks Layout

Ian Chandler Useful Numbers

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A big thank you and farewell from Foxhollow Nursery

We received an email from Margaret Dryden-Smith at Foxhollow Nursery, Hinxworth, and
went along to see what Margaret and Doug had on offer. On a rather dull and dismal day,
it was a lovely visit, in the bright and airy glasshouse filled with all manner of plants,
mostly annuals or bedding in all colours and shapes. The pelargoniums and hanging
baskets will cheer any corner of your garden, and everything is reduced in price for this
final summer season; plants, terracotta pots, urns, statues and stone garden seats.
Do make time to visit Foxhollow if you can. Situated on the Hinxworth Road between the
village and the A1, the nursery is open 9am-5pm seven days a week. Payment is by cash
not cards, or ring Margaret on 07767 012398 to ask about electronic banking. Margaret
writes:
‘We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our customers for their support over
the years as this is our last year of trading as Foxhollow Nurseries. It has been a difficult
decision to make as we have enjoyed every moment. In September the nursery will close
down. We have been trading for over forty years and have met and made friends with so
many lovely people who have returned to see us year after year. Doug and I feel it is time
for us to have the spring and summer to ourselves and pay more attention to our own
garden in the future. The nursery is currently full to bursting with lovely young plants. If
you can pay us a visit this spring and summer we would love to see you to say goodbye in
person.’

Ashwell Horticultural Society

We are delighted to announce that the Horticultural Society have decided to hold their
annual show – on Saturday 4 September in the United Reformed Church Hall at 2.00 pm.
It will be a very different sort of show – no judging, no prizes, no raffle, no refreshments –
but hopefully lots of entries to grow and show. There will be four distinct classes, a fruit
basket, a vegetable basket, a pot plant and a vase of flowers. Entries can be brought to
the URC Hall from 1.00 – 2.00 pm, please ensure your entry is clearly labelled, and please,
only one entry in each class.

We hope this will provide an opportunity for all enthusiastic gardeners to display their
produce and give our members and others the excuse to meet with other members of the
community in a relaxed and informal way.

If you have any queries, please consult our website:

or contact one of our committee members for more information. Happy Gardening to all.

Margaret Gilliam Chair [email protected] Tel. 01462 742040

Friends of Ashwell Museum

As I write this, opening the Museum has once again been delayed until Sunday 25th July.
It will be good to welcome visitors again. There have been changes and we in the Friends
acknowledge how much work Peter, Sarah and their families have put in to prepare for this
day.

Final cleaning and training will happen in the run up to opening. As with all venues we
will have sanitisers and a Track and Trace system in place plus the QR code available. Our
opening Volunteers will be there to help but in reality very little will be different to
previously. We are continuing to just take Donations and now have a new Donations box in
the Foyer. All Donations are gratefully accepted and if you would like to become a Friend
please contact David Hall on 01462743799.

We all know Activities have been non-existent since Covid reared its head last year but we
trust that if all goes to plan we may be able to have an evening lecture in the Autumn but
think that our coach trips should be delayed until 2022 when with luck we all will feel
safer. We will also think about a Friends Evening or Coffee morning when we feel it is right
and safe to do so

Meanwhile we trust all our supporters remain well and look forward to seeing everyone

again. Jill Powell 742318 (Chair) Karen Mills 742155 (Secretary)

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Rose & Crown Folk: Birds of a Feather

Monday 5th July 7:30pm, Rose & Crown garden - Birds of a Feather
(songs and tunes about avian creatures and flight)

Here’s a health to the bird in the bush,
Likewise the blackbird and the thrush;
For all birds of one feather, they will always flock together,
Let the world say little or much.
(Three Maids a Milking did go, trad. English)

Sadly, the church’s pair of peregrine falcons didn’t nest this year, though hopefully
they will next year. Perhaps Ashwell might eventually be well known for its birds
of prey but, for now, it’s better known for its pigeons.
Ashwell has a huge population of pigeons, with all 3 of the main species (Stock
Doves, Collared Doves and Wood Pigeons) represented, as well as a variety of
feral doves and pigeons. Most large villages had a dovehouse, but Ashwell has
evidence of at least 5 large dovehouses situated around the village, the earliest
dating from the mid 17th century (Dixies farm, The Rectory, Whitby Farm, Dove
Cottages and the Grange Dovehouse). Why all the pigeon-keeping, you may
ask.
Well, According to Cussans’ (1893) History of Hertfordshire
“The manufacture of saltpetre was formerly carried out to a great extent in
Ashwell and its neighbourhood (a full account of extracting the salt from the soil of
pigeon-houses etc. is contained in Aikin’s Dictionary of Chemistry). About the
year 1640, John Morton, of Ashwell, who had been “a workeman in the misterie of
making Saltpetre 28 years,” presented a petition to His Majesty’s Commissioners,
praying for the exclusive right to manufacture saltpetre in Ashwell.”
As well as being used to cure pork, saltpetre (potassium nitrate) was a major
source of fertiliser and, perhaps more importantly, the main ingredient of
gunpowder. Until the invention of the Haber process in 1909, it was mostly
produced from bird guano. As John Morton puts it, “dove howses [are] the
principal nourceries for Saltpeter.”
During the Napoleonic war, saltpetre was at a particular premium and good money
could be made from collecting pigeon guano, both from the established
dovehouses and from pigeon lofts in peoples’ houses (you can still see the
entrances for these in the gables of some of the older houses and barns). People
in Ashwell could, no doubt, be spotted carrying buckets of pigeon guano around,
to be converted to saltpetre. Looks like all this history is responsible for the
hordes of pigeons who raid my cabbages if they’re ever left unprotected.

* Hopefully, we’re back live from now on, in the Rose & Crown garden at
present. *

If you’d like to know more,
please get in touch.

Ian Chandler
[email protected]
743091

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Also buying other militaria, police and civil aviation items.

Tel: 01438 – 811657
[email protected]

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Litlington, Royston

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Contact Jim or Maeve to discuss your requirements
Tel: 01763 852622 Web: www.berryaccounts.co.uk
E-mail:[email protected] Mob: 07850 426325

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GREENING ASHWELL

CLIMATE CHANGE is now part of our way of life. The BIG CLIMATE FIGHT BACK by The

Woodland Trust has a target of planting 1 MILLION TREES. GREENING ASHWELL endorses

this by helping to restore natural features of our village through community involvement

and improving sustainable biodiversity to our surroundings.

The events of last month have indicated that we need to use
the summer to review what Greening Ashwell is all about as
some of our village community clearly are confused or do not
even know we exist. Climate change may seem something
that at a local level is beyond our control but I passionately
believe we can collectively change this. Now that we can meet
together, we need to look at what our organisation and work
have achieved and what needs to be done better. Due to
restrictions, we have not been able to engage with the whole
village in a meaningful way, so that our message has not
always been appreciated, especially where it has affected
certain areas.

We will be re-launching Greening Ashwell shortly with an exhibition and meeting to
set out our objectives and goals for the year. To achieve anything constructive we
need YOUR VIEWS on what you think we should be aiming at, including objectives,
goals and views, particularly from the young as well as the older residents. I am
well aware that some of my actions, although well intentioned, have not been
received favourably by some and I look forward to any criticism from this, provided
this is constructive.

We have potentially a great programme of initiatives from helping to conserve our
existing notable habitats, continuing to build on the Green Plan through a digital
platform, creating wildflower areas and planting in National Tree Week (November)
The new committee will focus not only on a membership drive but will re-examine if
the aims and ethos of Greening Ashwell are still valid and if not, what needs to be
done differently. I fully appreciate that due to unforeseen circumstances we need to
change our procedures, particularly in relation to working with the Parish Council
and other authorities to ensure that all permissions and other necessary approvals
have been sought. This includes better engagement with the village community so
that everyone is hopefully on board as we go forward.

This is particularly important as we live surrounded by agricultural fields where
much of the village boundary has few remaining native hedges. These can be
important ecological corridors for wildlife to move safely between habitats. So, it is
essential that we engage with the owners of these areas to see if we can enhance
their biodiversity value. Finding who these owners are has not been easy so we
need contacts who can / have the right approach to achieve this goal, as I am sure
that developing an appreciation of the needs of viable farming with nature
conservation can be compatible.

Without viable management of any new project, it will fail, so the Green Teams
need to have committed members, which could include volunteers from outside the
village to carry out regular routine maintenance and work days. The completed
projects starting with Chalk Bank Close, are developing well along with other
schemes. We hope this will demonstrate what can be achieved with collective effort.
Our next meeting will be on Sunday 11th July 10:00 am meeting at Chalk Bank
Close depending on weather.

As well as Facebook and WhatsApp we now have our Greening Ashwell web site
to enable us to reach a wider audience of individuals and interest groups.

KEN COYNE

[email protected] 01462743723 07857844745

GREENING ASHWELL Coordinator

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Tracy hangs up her tiger suit

A chance encounter on the touchline at an Ashwell Accies
football match led to a teaching career at Ashwell Primary
school for Tracy Young, who retires this summer after
almost seventeen years in post. Tracy came into teaching
later in life, after a career break to bring up her two boys,
Rob and Andy. As a physicist, employed to devise war
games for the military, Tracy met her husband Richard, and
they moved to Stevenage where Richard worked for GSK.

Tracy got involved in teaching after starting as a parent
helper in her boy’s school in Stevenage and worked as a one
to one supporter for a child with additional needs. This led
to Tracy starting a GTP, a very intense one-year course,
training for teachers who already have a degree. Tracy
remembers getting up very early to complete essays and
written work, before teaching all day, or going to Wheathamstead for training days.

When the family moved to Ashwell, Tracy was teaching in Stevenage but learned of a
vacancy in Ashwell, when she met Tracey Bowen at the football match where both had
boys playing.

During her time at Ashwell Tracy has seen
teaching methods cycle round and many
initiatives come and go. Teaching across
all ages, but concentrating mostly in the
Early Years department, Tracy believes
that the child should be at the heart of
teaching, and that all teachers should be
looking to bring out the best in everyone.

Although Tracy has a good science, maths and computing
background, her top subject to teach is literacy, with reading and
story writing particular favourites. Tracy has a fondness for
dressing up, as many of her pupils and colleagues will
remember. Pirate days were carefully planned with Captain Tracy

taking the children through activities and
experiences around the pirate theme. One
very memorable pirate day was almost a
disaster when the caretaker at the time, up
on the roof sweeping leaves, fell through
the roof, luckily not all the way through,
with the children below shouting, ‘the
pirates are attacking!!’ Pirate day had to move to the hall!

Family life is very important to Tracy. Andy had two years at
Ashwell school and both boys went to Knights Templar. The
boys, now grown up, and Richard play cricket for Ashwell. Tracy
has been on many committees in her time in Ashwell, helping
Ashwell Show, the Theatre Club, the Music Festival and the
Governing Body at Ashwell School, amongst others.

Tracy and Richard have lots of plans for retirement, travel and
walking, when restrictions ease among them. Tracy is looking
forward to more time in her garden, but also getting back to
performing with the Ashwell Theatre Club. More dressing up to
come! And the tiger suit? Tracy has been ‘The Tiger who came
to Tea’ for many ‘World Book Days’. The tiger suit may be
retired, and former pupils and parents will remember happy
days with Mrs Young, but it’s the start of new things for Tracy
and we wish her well.

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RT HON SIR OLIVER HEALD QC

MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
FOR NORTH EAST HERTFORDSHIRE

If you have any concerns please contact me
Email: [email protected]
Telephone : 01462 486074
or look on www.oliverhealdmp.com

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Youth News

Since the children returned on 8th March, it has been all systems go at school; here
are some of the Spring / Summer term highlights so far.

Year 5 Maths Challenge
On Tuesday 27th April, four Year 5 pupils
took part in the Herts for Learning annual
Maths team challenge. The competitors had
to complete several rounds containing a
variety of complex problems to solve. Over
250 schools took part with the top 20 teams
making it through to the final.
Congratulations to Jacob, Amelie, Laura and
James for their fantastic achievement in
reaching the final.

Year 5 – David Attenborough Topic

This term we have been learning all about Sir David
Attenborough and a lot of our work has been based
on him. He has even joined us in the classroom as
you can see in the photo!

In English, we were writing his biography. I found out
that the only animal he doesn’t like is rats!.

Then, in topic work, we are finding out how to have a
more eco-friendly life style and do our bit for making
the planet a better place. It has been a lot of fun and
David has encouraged me to help the planet a little
more.

We have all made and written birthday cards to him.
We hope they get to him in the post on time!

By Amelie B

Olympic Dance Workshop
On Friday 30th May, classes across the school enjoyed an Olympic Dance workshop.
They spent their sessions learning a dance sequence that led to a performance at
the end. It was fantastic to be able to welcome external specialists back into school
to give our children this opportunity.

Year 4 – Stone Age Cave Art

Year 4's topic this term is the Stone
Age to Iron Age.

They started the unit by looking at
the Stone Age and the lives of the
people who lived in this period. At
this time reading and writing didn’t
exist, so Stone Age people
communicated through art on the
walls of caves. Year 4 turned their
classroom into a cave and replicated
some of the designs that would have
been used, using charcoal and chalk.

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Ian & Liz invite you to a

Garden Party

on Saturday July 24th 11am-5pm
in Kirby Manor garden
(opposite Ashwell Store)
to raise funds for

Diapalante’s Community Education Centre

in Senegal

Our annual garden party is back! Everyone is welcome
to call in during the day to eat and drink and help us
raise funds for the Diapalante Community Education
Centre. The Centre is in Senegal, West Africa, one of the
world’s Least Developed Countries, where a young
population struggles against the effects of high
unemployment, low wages and underemployment.

The Diapalante Centre is open to everyone who wants to
learn - children struggling in school, those whose never
went to school or had to leave early and those looking
to improve their work and life skills.

During the past year, despite coronavirus, 60 street

Street children children have been learning to read and write, 150
learn to read and primary school children have been improving their
French so they can understand their school lessons, 300

teenagers and adults have gained basic business

computer skills, improved their business English or French and used our library for

homework. Our teenage “Young Leaders” get work experience and skills teaching the

younger children while older volunteers help the street children. Over 500 people

have benefitted from and many of these have also contributed to the Centre’s

outreach.

Everyone at the Diapalante Community Education Centre is determined to repeat or
better this great achievement in the coming months. But our fundraising help is
needed to pay the bills. In the turmoil of coronavirus and the economic hardship that
is now ensuing, we sincerely thank everyone who has reached out to support us
through coronavirus and hope those who are able will come to the garden party.

Liz Chandler, Diapalante (reg charity 1112875) tel: 743091

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From an English Country Garden… Cow Parsley

Regular walks around the countryside over the last 18
months have made us all more aware of our surroundings
and given us more time to notice the local flora and
fauna. This year, May’s display of cow parsley was
particularly spectacular as the verges were filled with a haze
of dainty white flowers. The effect is entirely in keeping
with one of its other names, Queen Anne’s lace.

Sadly, cow parsley has another

name: mother-die. This rather

shocking name comes from the sad

fact that cow parsley looks very like

hemlock and while cow parsley is

edible, hemlock is highly

poisonous. It rapidly affects the

nervous system and shuts down

vital organs. Socrates was

famously sentenced to death by

drinking hemlock. It takes some

skill to differentiate between the

two plants. Cow parsley has a pinkish hue to its slightly

hairy stems, while more mature hemlock stems are not

hairy and have distinctive purple blotches. However, the

blotches do not appear on younger

hemlock stems. In cross-section, a

cut Hemlock stem is usually round

and hollow, while cow parsley

stems tend to look more like celery,

though unhelpfully not

always. Cow parsley has a

distinctive smell, a cross between

aniseed and parsley, which hemlock does not have. However,

the distinctions are not always clear, so the name ‘mother-die’

is thought to have been chosen to deter children from picking

and eating either plant.

A few years ago, I was surprised to find the humble cow parsley elevated to something

of a star at the Chelsea Flower Show (yes, really). There was a horticultural trend

amongst garden designers to juxtapose carefully pruned topiary with plantings of loose

and airy wildflowers. So arrangements of box balls and yew cubes appeared in a sea

of softer planting, whispy grasses and delicate astrantia, nodding hardy geraniums and

yes, drifts of cow parsley. Of particular interest was the black-leafed version of cow

parsley, Anthriscus sylvestris

‘Ravenswing’. Its hazy white flowers

contrasted well with the neat green box,

and the dark foliage was striking against

pink and blue flowers, and amidst pale

green grasses. Anthriscus appeared on

many designers’ plant lists that year,

though in such illustrious surroundings,

you won’t be surprised to hear that it

wasn’t referred to as cow parsley – not

even once.

Susan Greenbank

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18

Ashwell Pre-School needs you!

The cover artists for July are the enthusiastic 2 and 3 year old children who attend Ashwell
Pre-School. The small group setting allows for ‘In the Moment’ personal teaching where
activities are not strictly enforced but evolve from the children’s own interests and
experience. The bright and cheerful sun picture reminds us of how precious these
experiences are for children. We thank them very much for their contribution and send all
good wishes that Ashwell Pre-School continues to flourish and grow.

Ashwell Pre-School, formerly known as Ashwell Playgroup has been running for over 45
years, but without help from the whole community, it might not make it’s 50th
birthday. Covid and lockdowns have been tough for everyone, but some businesses and
organizations have been disproportionately affected, and Ashwell Pre-School is one of
those.
Pre-School is a charity, governed by Ofsted, run by fully qualified educators in Early Years
Education, with a curriculum, which covers the seven key areas of early learning.
Educating our youngest children is a very important part of their learning journey and
taken seriously by the current team of five qualified staff who run sessions from Ashwell
Village Hall. Responding to a need for longer childcare hours, and to build on the good
relationships built up with parents and carers, Pre-School currently offers Breakfast club
from 8.30-9.15, which leads into the full Pre-School sessions from 9.15 to 12.15. From
September an afternoon club running from 12-2.45 will further extend the hours available.
A walking bus offers pick up from Ashwell School.
Ashwell Pre-School is a charity, and relies on fundraising to cover the gap between running
costs and wages and the monies coming in from fees. This is the area that has been
particularly hard hit over the last year with many of the traditional events, like the Duck
Race, Winter Wonderland and others cancelled.
Although families have signed up for the next academic year, there are real concerns
about how to fund the Pre-School going forward.
So how can YOU help?
You may feel that your Playgroup years are far behind you, but as an integral part of the
village community we can all play a part in ensuring that Ashwell Pre-School survives and
flourishes for the future younger members of our village.
SUPPORT fundraising initiatives, the June Treasure Hunt will have happened by the time
this edition of AVN comes out, but hopefully that has been a success. In July look out for
information about the DOG SHOW, an opportunity to meet fellow village dog owners and
show your dogs off. Future events are also being planned, so please do support them in
any way you can, it needs to be the whole village, not just current Pre-School parents.
Would you consider helping to raise funds by joining the EVENTS TEAM? After a
re-organization, Pre-School is overseen by a small group of Trustees, supported by the
Events Team. This spreads the responsibility and allows people to help where they can,
rather than as a committee overseeing the running of Pre-School.

If you have any suggestions or can offer help please contact Julie Darts on
[email protected] or 07403352551

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20

Having forwarded the cheque for £4,000.00 to
Addenbrookes, I am delighted to share some
more information about one of the research
projects for Lymphoma which AFAC is helping to
fund.
“Professor Follows and his team at
Addenbrooke’s are looking into young adults with
Hodgkin lymphoma, who have been treated with
a modified chemotherapy regimen called
‘escalated BEACOPDac’, where the procarbazine
(the drug contained in conventional escalated BEACOPP chemotherapy) has
been replaced with another called ‘dacarbazine’. This substitution is being
made in clinical practice because dacarbazine is known to be less damaging to
ovaries or testes than procarbazine. The aim is to preserve fertility and
reduce stem cell damage in these patients receiving treatment.
The results so far look promising, with almost two years’ median follow-up,
escalated BEACOPDac appears as successful (at treating the disease) as the
traditional escalated BEACOPP. Additionally, patients who received escalated
BEACOPDac needed significantly fewer units of blood transfusion and women
(below 35 years) experienced an earlier return of menstrual periods, than
those who received escalated BEACOPP.
We are very grateful that the fundraising from ‘Ashwell’s Fight Against Cancer’
will continue to transform cancer services at Addenbrooke’s, thank you!”

Christine Scholfield

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22

Desert Island Discs

Ashwell born (1975) and bred, Marc went to St
Christopher School in Letchworth and followed this
up at London Guildhall University studying for an
arts degree. Today he now roasts coffee and
supplies espresso machines to aspiring coffee shop
owners.

He met his wife Wendy in 2000 and they married at
St Mary’s in 2008. They have two lovely girls,
Amelie (11) and Belle (8) who both go to Ashwell
Primary School.

Track 1 – Jerusalem by William Blake

This was played at every end of term and is a lovely piece of music that evokes fond
memories of my school days.

Track 2 – Teardrop by Massive Attack

Whilst at art college, lifeguarding for work and sofa surfing at friends’ houses, this album
was being played in pubs, on road trips at various house parties. It’s a classic record from
the 90s

Track 3 – Born Slippy by Underworld

In the mid-90s I was listening to all genres of electronic music. When I was travelling in
Australia and Bali this was played in clubs and pubs from Sydney to Ubud. It conjures up
images of open roads, the freedom to travel and white beaches, what more could you
want.

Track 4 - Didjeridu Solo No.2 by William Barton

Whilst living in Australia I spent 5 months living in a commune in a town called Margaret
River, working in vineyards and with a local man called ‘Cookie’ in his Didgeridoo shop. He
taught me how to circular breath and play the didgeridoo which we often did after work.

Track 5 – At the River by Groove Armada

In 1998 I had the opportunity to sail from Guernsey to Poole. We left at 4am expecting to
reach Poole by closing time! However, we ended up getting caught in a whirlpool between
two small islands! We dropped the sails and bobbed around listening to this song and
enjoyed a beer, little did we know it would take a further 10 hours to get to Poole!

Track 6 – Rose Rouge by St Germain

I worked in Switzerland as a ski technician and during the summer I was a partner in a
business installing, inflating and training operational crew how to run a tethered helium
balloon flight. These were installed all across Europe and this album always pulled the
different nationalities together.

Track 7 – Three Little Birds by Bob Marley

In 2005, Wendy and I bought a 1976 Bay window VW campervan and set off on a road trip
around Europe. Catching the ferry to Bilbao, we drove through Spain, Portugal as far as
Chefchaouen in the Moroccan Rif mountains to Italy and then France. This reminds me of
long drives through the Italian countryside. Our Campervan is now my coffee delivery van,
driving up and down the A1 full of coffee beans!

STAR TRACK – Better Together by Jack Johnson — Our first dance!

Luxury item: Whilst in Australia I stayed on a deserted island on the Great Barrier Reef. I
played didgeridoo and lived off freshly caught prawns and sundried tuna. I would like a
Leatherman to help whittle a didgeridoo, I think I’ll have plenty of time on the island to re-
learn how to circular breath and play again.

Book – Hairy Maclary from Donaldsons Dairy by Lynsey Dodd

I read this book, I don’t know how many times to both girls. I think after reading the bible
and the complete words of Shakespeare, this would be a nice break and remind me of
them both.

Thanks Marc – some great choices and you can hear them all here https://
tinyurl.com/4fvrte4w

Thanks Marc. Enjoy the island. Jack Busby & Bene’t Coldstream

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Home-Start Article – Fundraising Volunteers

Your Home-Start Needs You!

After a year of “doing things digitally,” we
are re-launching our fun and friendly
Fundraising Group, and we’re looking for
volunteers.

What does the Fundraising Group do?

The Fundraising Group meets regularly to
support HSRBSC’s work in the community
through fundraising activities and events.

Maybe you’d like to be part of our Strictly
Come Dancing event in March next year?
Or help at our Ceilidh in February? Could
you be one of our friendly faces on a stall
at a village fete? Or are you brimming with brilliant ideas for new events?

Home-Start supports local families who are finding life tough; we provide
sensitive, compassionate support to any family who needs a helping hand.
Parenting is sometimes a difficult, lonely place to be. We provide support to
parents to help make their children’s futures so much brighter.

The Fundraising Group is a crucial part of Home-Start’s work. Working closely
with the Fundraising staff, the Group works as a team to map out all of the
charity’s fundraising activity for the year, plan and manage each event as it
comes up, and is key in helping to achieve our target income: around £190,000
every year!

We don’t receive any government funding, and we rely on income from
fundraising events to keep us helping local families when they need us. Can
you help us to transform the lives of local children, and give them the best
start in life?

Come and Meet Us!

We’re hosting a social gathering for new and existing fundraising volunteers on
the 15th July at 10am, at 52 Sun Hill, Royston, Herts, SG8 9AX.

We’ll have tea, coffee and cake, hopefully some lovely sunshine, and you’ll
have the chance to ask us questions and find out a bit more about what we
do.

If you have a little time to
spare – maybe just an hour,
here and there, or maybe more
– we would love to welcome
you to our Fundraising Group.

Whatever skills or experience
you have, whether you’ve done
this before or never done it at
all, we want to hear from you!

www.hsrsc.org.uk/01763
262262/[email protected]

Thank you for helping us to
give children a brighter future.

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Ashwell Theatre Club—Murder at the Springs

On a glorious Sunday afternoon in late May, the village was out in
force trying to solve the mystery of ‘was she/wasn’t she murdered
at the Springs’. One hundred years ago in 1921 there was a LOT of
drama unfolding around the siting of the proposed War Memorial
here in Ashwell. The location near the Cricket Ground was an
obvious choice but the village gossip and trouble maker, who was
NOT well liked, Ashwella Christy wanted it at the centre of the
village near where she lived. Ashwella had been found hanging
over the balustrade at the Springs, now it was the villagers task to
solve the mystery of her demise.
Actors were stationed at various locations
throughout the village and the audience moved in
‘bubbles’ from one to the next trying to decipher
clues. If you were one of our village detectives I
have it on authority from the author of the
cleverly written ‘Whodunnit’ Christine Schwick, that Mrs Christy WAS
murdered, and a LOT of people are accountable. Hercule Petit Pois is
still looking for clues but I can reveal all, just keep it to yourself!
Ashwella Christy died of a snake bite but had been previously poisoned
to render her unconscious and then hung over the Springs to make it
LOOK like suicide!
Why you may ask! Dr Quarentino and Hercule Petit Pois mused over
the corpse and Mrs Christy’s Ghost was still lurking at The Springs
where she and Constable Covid hovered over the Murder scene.
Well, Sherbet Holmes was the criminal mastermind and coerced the participants to hasten
the demise of Ashwella as she had discovered he was actually a World War 1 German Spy
no less. There was no love lost between Mrs Snootypants the snake owner, and Mrs
Christy as she had been spreading nasty rumours about Mrs Snootypants deceased
husband's infidelity with numerous members of the W.I.

Buster Cherry the butler at The Bury had easy
access to poison from the unlocked medical bag
of Dr Quarantino and there was tension between
him and the deceased as she had taunted his
nephew with a white feather making him join the
army despite being only 15 and his life was cut
short in battle. Buster, along with the maid Maud
Lynn, administered the poison and Maud was
glad to see Ashwella gone as she had discovered
the maid was a little light fingered and the
missing pearls from The Bury ‘happened’ to be in
Maud’s care.
To make the Murder look like suicide, the Reverend Morehead assisted by supplying one of
the church bell ropes as a noose as he was angry at Mrs Christy because she had written
to the Bishop suggestion he had engaged in a threesome with Dr Quarentino and Lord
Logan Berry when in fact all they shared was a love of jazz music. The village
strongwoman Vera von Trapp was persuaded by Sherbet Homes to carry the body as she
was sympathetic to his past.
The audience heard fortunes from the gypsies and the village Scout Troop with the clues
along with Meaty Crumpo and his able assistant Arthur Chop!
All great fun, a great afternoon but remember Shhhhhh don’t tell Hercule Petit Pois if you
see him, he is still wandering around the village and will work it out eventually.
Jo Auckland

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ASHWELL PATIENTS' GROUP: BLOOD TESTS

We are fortunate that blood tests
continue to be available by appointment
at Ashwell where a phlebotomist visits
3 times a week. Patients from outside
our area have to travel to hospital for
these tests. However, some of our
patients may need to go to hospital for
because availability there is more
convenient. The walk-in service which
hospitals used to operate has now
changed to appointment only. Please
see to right for details

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Ashwell Pantry News

It’s been over a year since the Pantry first
opened its doors as a bit of an experiment.
Did the community need food help? How
would we manage it? How often would people
use it? What kinds of foods and products did
they need? We have learned much over the
past year, and have helped many members of
our community thanks to the steady stream
of support from the people of Ashwell and
beyond.

Where is the pantry? It’s located in St Mary’s Church, near the baptismal
font under a gazebo.

Who uses the pantry? We don’t require registration but have received
notes of thanks from a range of people who have used the pantry from
families with children to single people living on their own, from Ashwell and
surrounding villages.

What products are most used? The most requested and used products
have been tinned meals/meats/fish, baked beans, condiments, tinned fruit
and veg, coffee, tea, long life milk and juice, pasta sauce, personal care
products/toiletries and laundry/dish soaps. And of course biscuits – everyone
loves biscuits! We are almost always short of all of these things. However,
we can’t use anything that’s beyond its expiry date, unsealed or repackaged
items, or travel sizes.

How is it managed? We have donation boxes in the Church and also at the
Ashwell Village Store, and a team of volunteers who sort the donations,
check expiry dates and make sure the table is organised and stocked on a
daily basis. We take before and after photos to see how much is being taken,
and what items are most popular. A list of items needed is available from the
St. Mary’s Ashwell website.

Can people get help elsewhere? We are a small resource and limit the
number of items each person can take to 6 per day in order to help the most
people possible. For those in greater need we have flyers with info on the
Trussell Trust and “Best-Before Café”. When contacted by supermarkets and
organisations offering free vouchers and products, we pass this information
along to our users through flyers and signs on the table. Finally, when we
have been contacted by the kind people of Ashwell offering free fruit and veg
grown in their gardens, we have directed our users there-we can’t have
fresh items in the church due to our neighbours, the bats.

Do you need more help? Yes! We need a constant flow of donations
especially of the popular items. You can join our Whatsapp group “Friends of
the Pantry” https://chat.whatsapp.com/Kh53xLX4VznCz7ST7QEovw where
we post needed items weekly, or watch for our posts on Ashwell Hub.

Thank you to all who have supported us – you have helped to make a
difference.

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Chairman: Graham Lee (743126)
Office at Bear Farm, 6A Back Street (743706)
Clerk: Jane Porter, Deputy Clerk: Laura Brooks-Payne

www.ashwell.gov.uk [email protected]

Jottings: Parish Council

‘Catch-Up Notes’ from the Parish Council Meeting held on
Wednesday 2nd June 2021

A number of points were reported or discussed that may be of interest, as follows:
• The Ruddery. Following an incident involving a vehicle which resulted in an
injury to a pedestrian on this Byway Open To All Traffic (BOAT) a meeting with
the HCC Rights of Way Officer is being scheduled to discuss what measures can
be taken to reduce non essential vehicle usage.
• Ashwell Surgery. There appears to be a lack of clarity over the ability of
Ashwell residents to book ‘face-to-face’ appointments again with a doctor at
Ashwell. Since Covid the default has been for such appointments to take place at
Bassingbourn. But this is not convenient or practical for many residents, and
with the major reduction in Covid infections a return to more normal practice is
anticipated. This will be clarified with the Surgery and Ashwell Patients Group
and a notice posted on our website.
• Accies facilities at Small Gains. Andy Hayes presented proposals for an
additional container unit to provide toilets and a small utility area to be funded
and maintained by the club. Parish councillors gave their support for the project
in principle and with any application for funding to the Henry Colbron Trust.
District Cllr Tom Tyson also agreed to assist with possible funding from his
NHDC budget.
• Responsible Dog ownership. Complaints have been received about dog mess
left on field boundaries, public footpaths and at the Springs. Dog owners are
reminded that they should bag all dog poo when away from home and take it
home or put it in any of the specially provided dog bins around the village. They
should also keep their animals under full control at all times and be aware of the
possibility of risk to others, however unlikely.
• Planning. The application for 28 houses off Station Road was refused by the
NHDC committee on 27 May, and follows the recommendation for refusal by the
Parish Council.
• Ashwell Lock-Up.

Ashwell Lock-Up – New Sign

The new information sign outside the Lock Up in
Hodwell has been mounted on an attractive oak
board. This was commissioned from Kendals the lo-
cal furniture restorer/picture framer based at
Newnham (they can also refurb your billiard table
there too if needed!)

See their advert elsewhere in this publication.

• Finally… The outdoor swimming pools in Letchworth & Hitchin are now open!!!

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At our May meeting Mary Rutter’s daughter, Caroline Taunt,
spoke to us on Zoom from Germany where she has lived for 40
years. She gave us the most interesting and informative talk on
life in the Mid Rhine region. She studied Modern Languages at
University and eventually went to live in Germany. She became
involved with a group of grape pickers and was introduced to a
man who wanted to learn English and asked her if she would
help. She agreed and ended up marrying him.

Caroline did translating and secretarial work for a while and then took up nursing.
After having three children she continued teaching English and also started a
translation business working with museums and other institutes. She is still doing
these jobs and also finds time to visit her Mum in Ashwell. Mary loves going to
Germany too. All three of Caroline’s children have attended Ashwell school when
they have been stayed with Mary and each has spent a year at Knights Templar
perfecting their very good English and having a wonderful time.
We saw some beautiful photographs of scenery and many interesting places and
were told about the traditions, carnivals and the most eaten food - bread, cake,
meat and sausages. We heard about the wine growing areas, the wine harvests,
the wine-bars, the music and that the National Anthem started off as a poem not a
song. She left us with a favourite recipe for Grandma Trude's Blackberry Quark
Cake. It was so good hearing first hand about another culture.

Our next meeting will be at the URC hall, if government plans don’t change, on July
21st at 2pm when the Welwyn Harmony Singers will give us a live performance. We
always love visitors coming to join our meetings so pop along if you can.

Border Rambles Saturday Teas

Do you want to see our wonderful countryside, keep fit at the URC

and meet up with other sociable people for regular

rambles and longer walks? Border Rambles have a Teas will be starting
regular Sunday walk, the next on 18th July meet at again every Saturday in

2:00 pm from The Three Tuns for around a five miles July and August 3-5pm at

easy ramble. We also have mid-week longer walks that the URC Hall, High

aim for a lunchtime pub sometimes beyond the village, Street.

and interesting ones, like an evening bat walk to see our Please come along and
Natterers bats in St. Marys.
help raise much needed
I try to find a not too muddy route, easy terrain suitable funds for the church and
for all abilities and everyone welcome not just confined other local groups.
to villagers. So, if you would like to join us just turn up
Homemade cakes,
or you can contact me beforehand if you need any
friendly welcome,
further details. Ken Coyne
community support!
01462743723 07857844745 [email protected]

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Natalie Terry Virtual PA

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Enable you and your business to run smoothly.
• Diary Management
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Contact Natalie Terry
Mobile 07929 276639 Tel 01462 742948
Email [email protected]

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HEAVENS ABOVE
The Night Sky in July and August 2021

Welcome to our bi-monthly sky notes. As the nights lengthen after the summer solstice in
June, the Summer Triangle dominates the late evening sky: the bright star Vega in the
constellation of Lyra the Harp is overhead, Deneb in Cygnus the Swan lies to the north-
east with Altair in Aquila the Eagle below. Hercules and Bootes are to the west with the
bright orange star Arcturus. Pegasus is to the east with Ophiuchus and Aquarius below to
the south. Sagittarius and Scorpius are further south with the bright red-giant star
Antares. Moving into August, Andromeda, Pisces and Cassiopeia are rising in the east. See
chart for July 31st or download a superb free planetarium programme for your computer
at: http://stellarium.org/

The Moon – Phases: 3rd quarter 1st July, new moon 10th, 1st quarter 17th, full moon
24th, 3rd quarter 31st, new moon August 8th, 1st quarter 15th, full moon 22nd, 3rd quarter
30th.
The Planets: Mercury appears in the dawn sky in early July but

is then lost in the Sun`s glare, to re-emerge as an evening object during August. Venus

and Mars are both poorly placed evening objects through July and August. Jupiter rises 5
hours before sunrise in July and reaches opposition on the evening of August 19th. There is

a chance to catch the transit of two of the Jovian Moons, Europa and Ganymede across the
giant planet`s disc on the evening of 22nd between 2100hrs and 2300hrs. Saturn is a
well-positioned morning planet in July as it also moves to opposition about 1am on 2nd

August. Neither Uranus nor Neptune are easy to observe at present, being very low from

our latitude.

Meteor Shower: The Perseid shower, derived from the comet Swift-Tuttle, occurs
between July 17th and August 24th, peaking 12th/13th August at up to 150 meteors/ hour.
The radiant lies above the head of Perseus in the north-eastern sky. This year a waxing
crescent moon rising at 10.04pm on 12th should not interfere unduly but may obscure the
fainter meteors.

Notable Deep-Sky Objects for Small telescopes (* denotes binocular object) - See

chart: Open Clusters: M-39*, M-29, NGC-6871* in Cygnus, M-11 (Wild Duck

Cluster) in Aquila. Globular Clusters: M-71* in Sagitta, M-56 in Lyra, M-13, M-92 in

Hercules, M-10, M-12, M-14 in

Ophiuchus,

Double Stars: 61 Cygni, Beta (β) Cygni (Albireo) in Cygnus, Delta (δ) Lyrae*, Epsilon

(ε) Lyrae – The Double-Double* in

Lyra, Planetary Nebulae: M

-57 in Lyra (Ring Nebula), M-27 in Vulpecula (Dumbbell Nebula)*, NGC-6781 in Aquila.

NB: All these objects, and many more, can be found on Stellarium.

Website for July/August: Check out the Perseid Meteor Shower animation at:
www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/meteor-shower/perseid,html

Clear Skies! Mike Taffs [email protected]

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32

The Chronicles of Sir Bark A Lot -

Missing the Missus and the Cone of Shame

Whilst last month was pretty amazing with the holiday and all the adventures,
I fear I can't say the same about this month.

I am dictating this column to the Missus whilst just having been mishandled
at the needle sticking place and being in terrible pain. But more about that
later.

Shortly after we came back from our holiday, the Missus got up early, which I
have come to see as a good sign, it means a long morning walk. However,
she then did the funny dance to get the weird thin black socks on, the ones
that go all the way up (ed. tights). Then the horrible dress came out, I can't
remember the last time I saw her in the horrible dress. I knew what it meant;
she was going to the London. I no longer care whether it is a pub or an agility
place, it means she disappears for ages. I was right, she was back to the
London. Then she had to do it again a few days later, and the next week. I
would sit underneath her desk, wanting her to be there, ignoring me whilst
she talks to the people who are in the room but aren't. I would wait at the
door, waiting for her to come back and run down the garden path shouting
"Polar Bear". When she'd get home, I'd give her the biggest dog hugs ever, I
think she missed me too as she'd hug me so tightly. It might have worked;
she hasn't been back to the London for a while. I am sure she prefers me and
walking socks and clothes to the London with its horrible dresses and weird
non-walking shoes. So, all in all, my charm offensive is paying off, paws
crossed it stays that way.

Now, coming back to me being in terrible pain. The Missus thinks I am
exaggerating, but she just dropped me off and picked me up from the needle
sticking place after like a million years. If it wasn't for you, my lovely readers
who I would never let down, I might have taken a pass on this month's
column. So, what happened? We had gone for a lovely walk a few days ago. I
do recommend the luxury bathing areas near the mooing non-dog farms in
Ashwell to all my fellow canine friends. The cold water is rather refreshing on
a hot summer walk, just make sure your humans carry some sticks to throw
in the stream for you. Don't worry, you don't have to bring them back, just let
your humans throw them for you. But I am digressing, walking through the
fields on our way over, something nasty got in my paw (ed. a grass seed).
Apparently, it needs the needle sticking person to take it out. They just did
that, and it hurts…a lot. More embarrassingly, I am now wearing the cone of

shame, apparently, I am not allowed to lick
my sorry paw. What nonsense!!! The
Missus said I can't do walkies for a few
days. Well fine, what dog in their right
mind, would want to go out wearing that!
In the interim, I'll make the most of the
Missus feeling sorry for me and cuddling
me rather than ignoring me whilst talking
to the people who are in the room but
aren't in the room.

That’s it for now folks,

Sir Bark A Lot

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