Ashwell Village News- May 2021

Front cover by Amy Swain

1

2

Ashwell Village News – May 2021, St Mary’s

Ever since the first Lockdown last March I have enjoyed an early morning

walk. With my trusty trekking-poles, I can quite often circle the village

without meeting a single soul. At other times I am able to greet the regular

dog-walkers, runners, cyclists, bird-watchers and other walkers who are out

early too. We are so blessed to have numerous lanes, paths and byways to

use and explore, - passing the cows at Bluegates, admiring the new fencing

around the Bury, the changing view from Arbury Banks, noticing the crops

appearing again in the fields, the blossom on the trees and the abundant

wildlife. Like many I suspect, I have walked more in the past year than I have

ever done in my life. Sincere thanks are due to the local farmers who maintain the paths across

their land especially now their use must be so much higher than in the past. In recent weeks

there have continued to be early morning frosts and mists and even light April snow. Nothing

can equal seeing the sun rise over the outlying fields as the chill of the early morning gives way

to the Spring warmth of the day. There is new life all around which so fits with the themes of

resurrection and creation that the Church celebrates in these weeks of Easter.

In May the Church again celebrates a festival, this time Ascension Day, the day when we

remember how Jesus withdrew from his disciples and ascended into heaven. The blinding

brightness of the early morning sun on my walks reminds me of that scene, reminding me too

of how the followers of Jesus worshipped their Lord ‘with great joy and were continually in the

temple praising God.’ There are many opportunities for people to praise God at this time such

as the tradition when the choir of St. John’s College, Cambridge ascend the 163 feet to the top

of the chapel tower to sing an Ascension Day hymn to the assembled college in the courtyard

below. Whether that will take place this year in some form, we wait to see, but more locally

there will be a service in St. Mary’s on the evening of Ascension Day (13th May) when you

would be welcome to celebrate this major festival of the Christian year.

As many of us are appreciating the extra, if limited, freedom the vaccination programme is

allowing, let us give thanks for signs of new creation all around us and for the area in which we

are fortunate to live.

Your Friend in Christ, Ian Friars

St Marys Contacts List

Please feel free to contact us.
Churchwardens:
Bernard 624564 berrnard_allen@outlook.com
Sarah 742182 sarah@sarahtalks.me
Pastoral matters
Mark, our Reader 743451 markweaton@gmail.com
Parish Church Office
Antje 01462 743922 office@stmarysashwell.org.uk

3

Rose & Crown Folk: Monday 3rd May 8:30pm - Well Budded Out

Celebrating the merry month, Robin Hood, morris dancing and
maypoles.

A branch of may we have brought you
And at your door it stands;
It is but a sprout, but it’s well budded out,
By the work of our Lord’s hands.
(Hertfordshire May Song)

Until about 100 years ago, May Day was widely celebrated in North Hertfordshire. Most villages
had their own traditions, beginning with the gathering May blossom, incorporating their own
version of the May Day carol, and usually ending with evening bonfires. Records of May Day
celebrations exist for Hitchin, Letchworth, Kelsall, Sandon, St Ippolyts, Therfield and Hare Street
and versions of the May carol were collected from St Ippolyts, Hitchin and Letchworth (then a
village). From 1906, Letchworth Garden City embraced May Day with processions, dancing and a
May Queen. This continued until 1966.
Maypoles in Hertfordshire were said to have been particularly impressive, some being “as high as
the mast of a vessel of a hundred tons” and often higher than the church steeples. Most of our
village maypoles have been lost over the years, but Pirton has a large one, which is still used in
the village May Day celebrations on the village green.
Robin Hood “games” (game = play) during the May Day celebrations were also widespread in
Hertfordshire. In Hexton, for example, it’s recorded that Robin Hood plays were performed until
the early 16th Century during the May Day festivities. Though there is no record of them
performing the Robin Hood plays, mummers were also active in Hitchin on May Day until the late
19th Century. Ashwell Mummers have thought about performing a Robin Hood play during
Ashwell At Home, but this has proved difficult logistically as most of the mummers have other
duties on the day.
There’s probably a great deal more happening on a 21st Century May Day than you might
imagine. Some local villages, like Standon, Pirton and Clifton, have maypole dancing and
celebrate the May with their own village festivals. If you want to see Morris Dancing at its
purest, you’d have to get up before dawn on May Day. Letchworth morris dancers usually “dance
the sun up” at Norton for dawn on May Day and most other local morris sides will be doing the
same somewhere.

If you need the Zoom link for
the session, or want to know
more, contact me.

Ian Chandler
743091

ian.v.chandler@gmail.com

4

St Mary’s Ashwell: Services: Good news!

We are very pleased to announce that we feel able to go back to ‘live’ church services with the
congregation in church from the end of April. The Wednesday morning 10am communion service
will start again on 28th April, and the first 10.45 Sunday morning service will be on 2nd May. This
will be a TGIS and communion service. Evening Prayer will also start in church on the 2nd May at
6pm. Everyone is very welcome.

Please remember to bring a mask that covers your nose and mouth (not just a visor) and observe
all the social distancing and hand cleansing recommendations. If you feel at all unwell, or have
had contact with someone who is unwell please do not attend. We will continue to run Zoom
church for as long as possible alongside the main live service at 10:45 and all the details for
joining can be found on the website www.stmarysashwell.com .

If you have any questions please call Bernard on 01462624564 or Sarah on 742182

Thank you.

RDCT Good News – we hope! Registered in England & Wales, No. 6744379, and limited by guarantee.
Registered charity No. 1127052

Registered office: Royston Hospital, London Road, Royston, Herts. SG8 9EN

By the time you read this, Community Transport should be back to normal – barring last minute
Government change of mind of course!

We are once again available for hairdresser and similar appointments, shopping trips, gym, and
social visits (as long as they are meeting up outdoors or at a garden centre), BUT we will keep our
precautions as before – our rules for one household per car remains, preferably with one person in
the back although we are flexible to take carers or allow sitting in a front seat if back seat is too
difficult, and of course, don’t forget your face mask.

As usual we will try our best to meet your needs, please ring the office on (01763) 245228
between 9:00am and 3:00pm Monday to Friday.

We look forward to seeing you again… The Community Transport Team

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. ashwellvillagenews@gmail.com

FINAL Deadlines for articles for June submission are :

Article Deadline 15th May

Advertising Deadline 10th May Did you know that the

Our AVN Team of volunteers are: Ashwell Village News
is available online?
Julia Mitchell Advertising
( eAVN )
Richard Young Distribution
https://tinyurl.com/
Sarah Talks Editing Ashwell-Village-News

Mark Eaton Finance

Alfie Talks Layout

Ian Chandler Useful Numbers

5

Garden House Hospice

The Garden House Hospice has opened all its shops and is accepting donations once again. Do
check the website if you want to donate to a shop directly as some shops are small and have
limited capacity. Otherwise, donations can be taken to the warehouse off Green Lane in
Letchworth. There is a collection service for larger items of furniture.
The Garden House Hospice now has a few specialty shops - a Vintage shop in Hitchin full of
treasures, a children’s shop at the Oval in Stevenage, a new furniture and electrical shop at
Queensway in Stevenage, and a wedding dress and occasion wear “boutique” in Hitchin.
Thank you for your continued support, whether you donate, shop or volunteer.

Ben Goldscheider

St Mary’s were delighted to support local musician, Ben
Goldscheider in April, as he prepared to launch his new album
Legacy. Here is what Ben has to say about the album.
“2021 is the centenary year of Dennis Brain, arguably the
most influential British horn player of the 20th century and
with this in mind, I wanted to pay tribute to an extraordinary
musician who had a great influence on my own musical
development. As such, I have made a new recording to
celebrate his legacy in which there is music by two composers
he worked with; Sir Malcolm Arnold and Benjamin Britten,
two composers that wrote in his memory, Francis Poulenc
and Sir Peter Maxwell-Davies and then, in a homage to Brain’s pioneering attitude towards new
music, I was given the opportunity by the Guild of Hornplayers to commission two new works for
the album by Huw Watkins and Roxanna Panufnik.
To be able to use St Mary’s Church in Ashwell to film the album release, given that live events are
still so precarious, was an amazing personal connection for me.
The album launch will be available to view on YouTube on the 14th May, with the album being
released on the same date. The latter will be available to buy from the Three Worlds Records
website, Spotify, Apple Music and most other major streaming sites.

Do you need help with Garden Work?
• Available for general garden
maintenance
• Competitive rates

Coming soon Also offering French & German Tutoring to
Date and venue to be confirmed intermediate level
Come along for a ‘socially distanced’
• GCSE preparation
Cuppa and Catch Up • Homework help
with friends old and new • Grammar explanation
(government guidelines permitting).
It will be lovely to see you there. Contact Kimi at: kimiwb123@gmail.com or
More details next month 07990 002846/01462 742648

6

100 Years Ago - May 1921

There was ‘A Sad Case’ with a heart-warming response concerning Mr
George Edwardes. I have yet to work out the full story. He had worked
for Mr Page at the Brewery but had been an invalid for many years. It
seems both his son and daughter were sent to Addenbrooke’s but for
what reason I know not. This caused the family great hardship but the
practical sympathy of their neighbours Mrs Albone & Mrs Auburn, who
collected over £24, helped them through hard times.

A happy event was the wedding of Mr Ernest Martin, licensee of the Six
Bells, and Miss Lizzie Clements, only daughter of Mr Mark Clements. The
bridegroom served with the 9th Lancers in the war and was a former
member of the Ashwell Snowdrop Minstrels, an amateur entertainment
group that was highly active with charity work. The Six Bells was on the
corner of Swan Street and Church Path.

On the third Thursday of the month the Congregational Church (now the
URC) was host to the famous evangelist preacher Gipsy Smith followed by
tea. He had a worldwide reputation as a charismatic preacher but perhaps
came to Ashwell because it was near his parents grave in St Nicholas
Church, Norton.

A Model Dairy, erected for Bluegates Farm on the instruction of Mrs WA
Fordham, was to be open for public inspection prior to use. The Dairy was built by the local builders
firm Messrs F J Bailey & Co just off the High Street on the site of Bacons Yard. It was in use until 1969
when the new modern dairy was built taking the smells and lorries away from the village centre.

The Merchant Taylors School was blessed with its annual visit from the Master and Wardens of the
company. There was the usual distribution of a new shilling (5p) for each boy and the reward of 2/6d
(12 ½ p) for the 55 pupils who had attained 90% attendance. Peter Greener

Ashwell Horticultural Society

As we begin to emerge from lockdown, like butterflies from a chrysalis, our thoughts turn to our

gardens and we look to places to give us inspiration to plant and prepare for the summer season. As a
society we plan to meet again with a series of open gardens in June and July.

In the meantime, I thought I might tempt you to visit some gardens in the area. I have researched their
current situation and am happy to confirm that the following gardens are open but do recommend you
check their websites for further information and booking your visit. Of course, this is only a selection of
the many gardens in our area.

Our last meeting was in March 2020, when we were treated to a talk about Danesbury Victorian
Fernery near Old Welwyn. A fascinating restoration story. The fernery is now open to visitors at
weekends.

We visited Kathy Brown’s garden in Stevington, Bedford some years ago and I am pleased to say that
it will be open this year with pre-booking essential. It is open on Tuesdays and selected Saturdays.

The Swiss Garden in Old Warden is also open for visitors with the added bonus of free entry for RHS
members on Thursdays.

Further afield, Clover Cottage in West Wickham, Cambridgeshire is open on Sunday 13 June from 2.00

to 5.00 pm, as part of the National Gardens Scheme. Josie directed me to an article about Clover
Cottage in the RHS magazine, ‘The Garden’, in the February 2021 issue.

Finally, the charity Perennial, which helps people in horticulture. Jane Buxton has kindly passed on
information about their garden in Bury St Edmunds, Fullers Mill. It is open from Wednesday to Sunday
through the coming months.

Do look at each of their websites, you may be attracted to go and see, and who knows, we may meet

other like-minded members on our travels. Margaret Gilliam CHAIR

Tel. 01462 742040 aandmgilliam@btopenworld.com

7

A Roomful of Elephants: Patrick Forbes

Some of us are lucky enough to have known Patrick Forbes for quite some
time. He is never less than fully engaging, still full of youthful enthusiasm and
fond of saying yes, his stories have enlivened many a meeting and service.

May sees the publication of his autobiography ‘A Roomful of Elephants’ or ‘My
First Eighty Years in the Church’ as it is subtitled.

Published by Bauhan Publishing and priced at £14.95 it is a very entertaining,
fast paced journey through his life, and his observations on the organization of
church and parish life, formed by more than fifty years as an ordained minister.

Highly recommended, this thought provoking book will make you laugh, but also should make
you question some of those ‘elephants’ living in our rooms.

“Partick Frobes, the well known clerical error’ lives with his wife Annette and his trombone in
Hertfordshire.” Long may that last.

Sarah Talks

Poems For May May-Flower Poem:

An Interlude poem: Emily Dickinson

Algernon Charles Swinburne Pink, small, and punctual,
Aromatic, low,
And a bird overhead sang Follow, Covert in April,
And a bird to the right sang Here; Candid in May,
And the arch of the leaves was hollow,
And the meaning of May was clear. Dear to the moss,
Known by the knoll,
Next to the robin
In every human soul.

Bold little beauty,
Bedecked with thee,
Nature forswears
Antiquity.

8

Plastic Free Revolution

An environmental issue that has been incredibly emotive for
everyone, is plastic pollution. Images of plastic in the stomach of
animals or plastic patches three times the size of France floating in
the ocean really slams home how our actions are having a negative
impact on nature. I experimented a few years back with trying to
completely cut out plastic and here’s what I learned.

The first thing I did was choose products from the shelves that appear
to contain no plastic. The problem with this is most items arrive at the
shop packaged in plastic. Each item of clothes usually arrives at the
shop in a polyethylene bag, the food at the deli counter is unwrapped
before it gets displayed etc. But this is a drop in the ocean compared
to the plastic used during extraction, farming, manufacturing and
transportation of the products we buy. You might start choosing clothes made from natural
materials rather than polyester or acrylic to reduce plastic microfibres. If we all started swapping
polyester for cotton at the rate we currently consume clothes there wouldn’t be enough water
available and our carbon footprint would go through the roof.

So, if you’re trying to cut your plastic use, the point is not to get too caught up in whether you
can see plastic in what you’re buying and think more about consuming less new stuff (whatever
it’s made from or packaged in) and wasting less. Rather than swapping plastic for something else
and aiming to only buy plastic free items, try to focus on two things that have a huge impact on
the environment and produce large amounts of plastic along their supply chain........clothes and
food.

I have found the best way to avoid buying new clothes is to find a town with great charity shops. I
use charity shops almost like a ‘library of things’. Especially stuff for the kids which they quickly
grow out of. If you’ve bought something second-hand and less expensive than buying new, it’s
easy to donate back to the shop so you don’t end up hoarding. The Ashwell Mums Facebook
page is brilliant for reusing stuff around the village and always look on eBay before buying new.
You’ll save yourself a fortune!

The other big one is cutting down on food waste. In the UK we waste 10 million tonnes of food
per year (excluding what’s wasted during farming) and a massive 70% of that is wasted by us at
home. The best tip I have for reducing food waste is ignoring best before dates and use your own
judgement to work out if it’s ok to eat. Use by dates for meat and fish are different so I’d stick to
those but fruit, veg, dried and tinned goods past the best before date are usually absolutely fine.
Another good one is to stop peeling veg and to eat parts of veg that we’d normally chuck.
Cauliflower leaves and broccoli stalks are delicious roasted. So the upshot is that by buying fewer
new clothes and wasting less food we will avoid more plastic, save more carbon emissions,
require less land (which could otherwise be wild) and generally use less precious resources than
trying to swap plastic for something else.

Chrissy Batty

9

RT HON SIR OLIVER HEALD QC

MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
FOR NORTH EAST HERTFORDSHIRE

If you have any concerns please contact me
Email: oliver.heald.mp@parliament.uk
Telephone : 01462 486074
or look on www.oliverhealdmp.com

10

Peregrines

Sadly the peregrines did not lay any eggs this
season. It may have been that the female was
too young. We will leave the nest box in place
and hope that they continue to explore making
Ashwell their home. Thank you to everyone
who has sent pictures and communications
about sightings. We have some brilliant pictures
taken by Mike Spencer, which would be difficult
to reproduce in the magazine, but we hope to
make available on the church website.
www.stmarysashwell.com

Zoom details:
Zoom ID: 88572132169

Passcode: 136728

The Mothers’ Union invite you to join them on Thursday 13th May at 10.30am
on Zoom. Peter Chapman will talk about The Ashwell Patients’ Group assisted
by Mark Pilling, Practice Manager.

Caroline 743587

11

12

Object of the Month: AA Sign

After lockdown we all need a sign to show
where we are and how far we can go! About

100 years ago the AA were here to help with a
convenient sign that was placed in the centre of
the villages and towns. They were a great aid to

the new breed of motorists before the advent of
comprehensive road signs.

This sign was found in a barn. The size and
strength of enamel signs made them extremely
useful to fill gaps in fences and holes in shed

walls, consequently many have become rather
the worse for wear, so are really too poor to put
on permanent display. You can see the AA Sign with three Fordhams Pub Signs through the doors

to the museum before they are stored away. Peter Greener

Spring Joy

It has been a real joy for me, and I’m sure others, to see the number of spring bulbs and flowers

around the village. There are mixed opinions about the hyacinths but I have loved their bright

colours and perfume. The war memorial was beautifully planted and tended. The knitted flower

cap on the post box also made me smile! Thank you to everyone who has contributed to these

seasonal displays. Photos by Martin Lush and Sarah Talks

13

14

Youth News

We were pleased to welcome families to St Mary’s on 3rd April
to take part in an Easter trail in the churchyard and to help with
the Easter garden under the lychgate.
The activities helped to remind children about the real message
of Easter when Jesus died and rose again. Prizes included little
chocolate treats and a choice of craft packs to take home.
Two young reporters who attended the event have shared their
stories:
“I had a lovely time doing the hunt for letters to make the
sentence of Jesus (He is risen Halleluia). After we stuck our Easter characters to milk
bottles with stones in them (to help them stand up), we placed them in the Easter
scene by the gate, we put Jesus in the tomb. I planted some flowers in a plant tray
and put other flowers in jugs of water. At the end, we all said a prayer. As we left, we
got to pick a bag of eggs to go home with. I had a great time thanks.” Daisy age 9
“I thought it looked amazing. It was fun to help make it but it is even better to see it.
I was really happy with it. Thank you for reading Lucas”. Lucas age 6

15

16

West End Quire

My first introduction to the music of West Gallery
Quires was made when we attended a lecture at
The Cecil Sharp House ( home of the English Folk
Dance and Song society) by Professor Ian Russell.
His lecture had the catchy title of “The Paradigm
of English Carolling”. He started his talk by
bursting into song and singing each verse of
“While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks” to a
different tune – and we were hooked.

It’s not entirely clear where West Gallery music
developed from but it seems to have been out of
a desire of the church authorities at the end of the
17th century to “improve the quality of psalmody”.
This met with a favourable response from
parishioners who wanted to do more than sit in
silence and listen to a single voice singing the psalms. And whilst singing at first was strictly confined to psalms –
the Word of God only being permitted in the service, it was not long before hymns started to develop. The most
famous perhaps being “While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night” a paraphrasing of biblical texts.

In parish records from all around the country details of the setting up of singing groups can be found and these
groups would sing in the often hastily erected galleries in the west end of parish churches – hence West Gallery
Quires.

Initially the groups would sing unaccompanied and the melody line was invariably given to
the tenor with an underpinning bass line, with contra tenor and treble voices in addition. It
would appear that the introduction of instruments was to assist the relatively untutored
singers to hold their lines against other parts. Whilst fiddles were available in most village
communities the price of a bass instrument would often be beyond the reach of the middling
tradesmen and artisans who made up the quires. Parish subscriptions were used to purchase
a cello, flute or even a serpent.

This beautiful traditional music was found in churches from around 1700 to 1850 when sadly
it was driven out and suppressed by the authorities. Thomas Hardy’s novel “Under the
Greenwood Tree” was described by the author as the story of the Mellstock Quire and its
West Gallery Musicians. It was, he said “ a fairly true picture, at first hand, of the personages,
ways and customs which were common among such orchestral bodies in the villages of the
1850s. In the story the new vicar informs the quire that he intends to replace their traditional
gallery singing and string accompaniment with an accomplished organist.

West Gallery Quires disappeared for a number of reasons – the arrival of Hymns Ancient and Modern replacing the
old musicians’ books of psalms and hymns, the growing industrialisation, the Oxford Movement to name but a few
- and it did not go un-noted that some who sang in the quires would often be in conflict with the squire or vicar.
When the Church of England brought in harmoniums and organs and replaced the quire with surpliced choirs, the
West Gallery musicians either moved to Methodist chapels or sang in pubs or the streets. To this day the singing
continues in and around Sheffield villages at Christmas time. We have stood and sung in pubs such as the Royal
Hotel in the village of Dungworth, so very tightly packed with people that the only way to refresh drinks is to pass
glasses over heads – accompanied by the refrain “pass your glasses to the bar”.

Having sat mesmerised by Professor Russell, and then having attended the Village Carol Festival in Grenoside,
Sheffield ( where if you didn’t get your application form in on the day bookings opened you didn’t have a chance of
attending) we now sing with the Chiltern West Gallery Quire which meets in Welwyn Garden City once a month
( over Zoom during Covid). The music is robust and hearty, and everyone is welcome. Our fabulous MD spends a
great deal of time researching the music of Hertfordshire composers, and our concerts are interspersed with
readings from the Hertfordshire archives, so that there is a fascinating blend of history and song. We start each
rehearsal with a hymn known in the West Gallery world as Gibraltar : the name of the tune written by W.J. White
of St. Alban’s. It cannot help but bring a smile to your face, and reminds everyone of the appeal and joy of West
Gallery Music. For more information contact me or search cwgq or villagecarolson the internet. Melanie Dawson-Dew.

17

18

Amy Swain: Cover Artist Amy Swain

After graduating from university and embarking on a marketing
internship, I decided that it was time to spend more time doing what
I love, painting.
After living in Ashwell for over 13 years, I’ve never become bored of
the interesting, historical, and varied architecture found in the
village. From the church to the lock-up, Ashwell is full of fascinating
houses and local landmarks. That’s why I started Ashwell Art, a
Facebook Page from which I sell my paintings of local village sites,
and paint custom house portraits for people around the village. The
cover art for this issue of Ashwell news is a good indication of what
most of my Ashwell Art pieces look like.
I’m so grateful to everyone that has supported me through Ashwell
Art so far. I’ve been lucky enough to contribute to Mother’s Day
celebrations, anniversaries, and birthdays by painting house portraits
that have been given as gifts. It’s such a pleasure to spend my
weekends painting and (hopefully) brighten up some people’s homes
in the process.
Aside from Ashwell Art, I enjoy painting surrealist pieces because of
their dream-like quality. For me, art is all about endless possibilities,
and I think the surrealist style embodies this to the fullest extent.

If you would like to see more of my work, please visit: Facebook.com/AshwellArt

19

20

Ashwell Pharmacy

During much of last year, and the start of this year we have had to
live with a certain amount of uncertainty and anxiety, particularly
around health issues. We are very fortunate in Ashwell to have the
reliable and friendly advice of Brian Deal and his team at the
Pharmacy. Open six days a week, Saturdays until lunchtime, the
range of services and products available will come as a surprise to a
new visitor, although regular customers know and appreciate the
support they receive.
Brian has been running the Pharmacy for twenty years, since 6th
April 2001 and in that time he has expanded the range of services
hugely, to meet the differing needs of the community. A complete
shop refit has meant that more products can be stocked and
displayed. Not just medicines and healthcare products, but gifts,
jewellery, cosmetics, toys and many essential items at competitive
prices. Brian is very keen to help people manage existing conditions
and the prescriptions that go with them, but also to offer advice for
preventative medicine, offering advice, supplements, vitamins and support.
When travel resumes, the Pharmacy offers a wide range of vaccines and first aid items to help you
travel confidently. Brian also offers flu vaccines and is already working towards providing plenty of
vaccine availability for autumn/winter 2021.
Brian works hard to ensure that his staff can provide
friendly advice and support, even when he himself is busy
elsewhere. Continuity of cover means that people feel re-
assured talking to a pharmacist or assistant, and you can
ask for a private consultation space. Some of the Saturday
sales assistants have gone on to work in medical settings,
and Jenny has been a calm and helpful presence for more
than 35 years!
It is very important for the village and wider community to
realize that we must keep supporting the Pharmacy in order for the Pharmacy to support
us. During the lockdowns Brian and his staff delivered medicines and supplies to many households,
a service they continue to provide when people are genuinely housebound. Now we are able to be
out and about more, please consider a visit to the Pharmacy. There is a dedicated parking space
outside the shop, which means that parking is more available than it once was. Since the Post
Office closed, this end of the High Street is quieter, but the businesses need our support. Ordering

supplies online, or just vising one supermarket is causing real
hardship for shops and businesses on all High Streets, not just
in Ashwell. Take the time to browse the Pharmacy website,
or better still, make a list of household essentials, or
healthcare products and have a walk along the High Street.
Shop local, talk to a knowledgeable and friendly real person
and you will feel better for it.

Sarah Talks

21

Desert Island Discs

Each month we interview someone and ask them to tell us their 8 tracks they would
want to have with them whilst they are stuck on their own desert island. For May we
spoke to Philip Ward.

Philip’s Desert Island Discs

Born in Cambridge in 1969, Philip lived his first two years in Ashwell where his parents
rented the cottage at 32 West End. He grew up in Letchworth before going to University
in Brighton. Philip met his wife Rebecca (also from Letchworth) and they settled in
Brighton where their two sons and eldest daughter were born. Phil’s work took them to
Dublin and Zurich before returning to Hertfordshire in 2008 and settling in Ashwell in
2009 when their fourth (and final) child arrived!

A rugby fanatic and part of Letchworth RFC, he also played for Hove, Worthing and
British Airways. More recently, he’s coached mini and junior rugby at Letchworth where
both his sons have played.

In 2019, Philip established the Ashwell Fit Club, which runs every Saturday morning on the Rec. It’s designed to improve
the mental and physical well-being of anyone that takes part. Whilst largely self-run with good banter, a bit of sweat and
where new friendships are forged – Philip is its undoubted leader. Free of charge, anyone that wants to come along, can.

Here are Philip’s music choices:

Track 1 is Take Five by Dave Brubeck. Dave Brubeck was my introduction to Jazz. I remember my father playing his old
reel to reel recorder early evening before dinner with a Gin & Tonic in his hand, It was always Jazz and Take Five has just
stuck with me. A year before my father died, I took him to see The Dave Brubeck Quartet at The Brighton Dome, a
priceless father and son experience.

Track 2 is Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd. I was first introduced to Pink Floyd when I watched ‘The Wall’ starring Bob
Geldof. The film is directed by Alan Parker with animation by Gerald Scarfe. Stunning music and visuals led me to seek
out their back catalogue including the 1975 album Wish You Were Here. There are many songs I could choose but the
lyrics of this one are just mind blowing.

Track 3 is Don’t You (Forget About Me) by Simple Minds. I saw them live in Milton Keynes Bowl in 1986 when they were
super popular. This song is great to hear live and timeless in its appeal. The song had been a big hit in 1985 with the film
The Breakfast Club, an American teen coming of age comedy/drama directed by John Hughes.

Track 4 is Where The Streets Have No Name by U2. I am a big fan of U2 and have seen them live several times. I prefer
their music from the early years. There just aren’t many groups these days that can take a song that’s over 30 years old
and still get the crowd going.

Track 5 is Right Here, Right Now by Fat Boy Slim. A local hero when we lived in Brighton, which culminated in the 2002
Brighton beach concert hosted by Norman Cook. A mere 250,000 people attended so this song reminds me of all the
good times we had there.

Track 6 is Fool’s Gold by Stone Roses. First heard this in the Hacienda in Manchester in 1990, which was a passing
glimpse of the Manchester scene that had an ever-lasting influence on my music taste. It’s just one of those songs I can
listen to over and over again. A real reminder of being a teenager in the late 80’s early 90’s through Indie mania.

Track 7 is Insomnia by Faithless. More than a one hit wonder, Faithless epitomised the emerging electronic scene in the
1990’s. I can’t remember how many times I danced to this in nightclubs both at home and on holiday but every time it
comes on, everyone goes wild. Another timeless classic.
Track 8 is Paradise Valley by Jay Daniel. I first heard this at the Standon Calling festival. I was in the chill out zone
relaxing with my two boys and this track came on. I heard the song described as shifty electronic funk but for me it was a
moment that synced my love of music with Dan and Josh. Surely, music at its best, when it can capture the imagination
of different generations.

Here’s a Spotify playlist of your suggestions https://tinyurl.com/363nbnvh Now, you can have a luxury item and a book.
We’ve already left the bible and the complete works of Shakespeare on the island for you.

A rugby ball would have to be my luxury item (you shouldn’t go anywhere without one). My book would be “Is that it?”
by Bob Geldof. An inspiration in making Live Aid happen - showing anything is possible.

If you could only have one track?

It would have to be Take Five by Dave Brubeck. It reminds me so much of my father.
Thanks Philip. Enjoy the island. Jack Busby & Bene’t Coldstream

22

23

From an English C ountry Garden… Nourishing your plants

May is a glorious month in the garden, with fresh new growth everywhere from the tree canopy
to the grass under your feet. All it takes is sunshine, fresh air, and a little moisture…

Or does it? How many of us forget that plants need a range of nutrients to keep them going?
When was the last time that you remembered to feed your pots and your borders? If you are a
regular mulcher, and top up your borders with well-rotted organic matter every autumn, then you
are off to a great start. But be honest, if you rarely mulch or you haven’t top-dressed your
containers for several years, your plants could do with a little more nourishment.

The plants most likely to be in need of a good feed are the ones in pots on your patio or your
windowsill. Most composts provide nutrients for a mere 6-8 weeks. After that, it is up to us
gardeners to remember to provide some fertilizer.

Granular fertilisers (like Growmore) will provide nutrients for about 6-8 weeks. The rule of thumb
is to fertilise every other month in the growing season, starting no earlier than April, and finishing
no later than September. The granules gradually dissolve in the soil’s moisture, and that takes
about 14 days, after which your plants will respond with lush new growth. That new growth can
be susceptible to frost, so avoid starting too early in the spring or carrying on into the autumn if
there is a chilly spell on the horizon. Given the need for moisture to carry the nutrients into the
plants’ roots, the granules will have no effect in dry weather. If no rain is forecast, you’ll have
water it in yourself.

Plant food tablets or slow release beads are a form of fertiliser
designed to last for the whole growing season and are most often
used in containers. The gardener only needs to think about feeding at
the start of the growing season. The brightly coloured beads are
fertiliser granules coated in a polymer (and often alarm the
uninitiated who think they are some strange insect infestation). The
polymer starts to decay slowly when the weather is wet and warm,
gradually releasing the plant food. Ideally they are mixed into the soil
when planting up a container for the first time, but if you have a shrub
or some other long lasting arrangement, you can feed it by making a
few holes in the compost with the handle of a wooden spoon, and put
a few beads into each hole.

Liquid fertilisers (like Baby Bio) are another option. They come as a
liquid concentrate that should be dissolved in water. They are fast-
acting, so they should be used only after the danger of frosts has
passed. They need to be applied more often – as often as once a
fortnight - o they tend to be used more commonly for houseplants.

Always read the manufacturer’s
instructions about application rates and the nutrient content of
the fertiliser, and don’t over do it as strong concentrations of
fertiliser can harm your plants. Here’s a tip for applying granular
fertilisers: if the application rate is 30g per square metre,
measure that amount out on your kitchen scales and then pour it
into your hand or a small scoop. That will give you a feel for the
correct amount to cover a metre of ground. Then sit back, and
wait for the results. It will be well worth the effort.

Susan Greenbank

24

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.

To the casual visitor to Ashwell, the village appears a haven for wildlife and in many ways this is true. However, this
picturesque image can be deceptive and not necessarily advantageous to nature. Yes, when approaching from the
countryside St. Mary’s steeple dominates the village which is surrounded in greenery. Our gardens and green spaces
are colourful with planting and at its heart The Springs is a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) with unusual
shrimps and flatworms. Surrounding us is well managed farm land with wide horizons beyond. So, could we say
Ashwell is a Wildlife Friendly Village.

The Wildlife Trust has started a Wilder Future Campaign, Wildlife Friendly Village and we are already in contact with
Risby, Suffolk who have taken up this idea. Their residents wanted to do something to help restore the serious
decline in their natural habitats. The Parish Council, the Village Hall, the local businesses and villagers were
supportive of the project and now there are residents looking after many wild areas around the village. A network of
wild areas, maintained and created by residents, on both public and private land benefits wildlife and people. These
wildlife friendly places could link up with other wild areas to create Nature Recovery Networks. Could we do the
same in Ashwell?

Greening Ashwell is making a start on highlighting the challenges of climate change and bringing community
involvement to help improve our biodiversity and enhance our natural areas. Are they going to really be wildlife
friendly? We are restoring a part of the old Ashwell Street hedge line, the most important ecological corridor passing
through the village, yet other sections are being removed or replaced by close board fencing. We need to convey to
residents that every time a few bits of scrubby thorn are grubbed out it’s more biodiversity loss. A new mixed native
hedge has recently replaced some of these losses and we want to see more of such initiatives.

The maintenance of public verges and green space is always an area for debate. Wild flowers like primrose and cow
parsley are sometimes tolerated along with lots of daffs and recently inappropriate hyacinths but does everything
else have to be close mown lawns, instead of verges with colourful native flora only infrequently cut? Many bee
species and other nectar seeking insects are becoming scarce as native flora disappears and, in some places, MayBee
is campaigning to leave verges throughout May to allow “weeds” to flower and insects to feed and flourish.

We would like the landowners and farmers to engage more with Greening Ashwell as the government is promoting
more tree planting and policies to protect nature. Village residents also need to do their part by planting /replacing
with native species, digging a natural pond, growing wildflowers or mowing the lawn less. These may seem
inconsequential on their own but cumulatively they can make a major difference to the village’s overall biodiversity
gain.

We are planning workshops to inspire people to take action on their own, to build a bumble bee habitat, plant a
wildflower lawn, look out for and encourage hedgehogs, dig a pond to attract dragonflies and much more! Even
people with patios and window boxes can participate in helping nature by having colourful nectar producing plants to
attract butterflies and bees with purpose made insect “hotels'' and bird boxes to increase habitat loss. A small
shallow dish will attract birds to drink and bath as well as feeding stations. The number of house sparrows, starlings
and song thrush has gone down by more than half in the last 25 years and the loss of insect food is one of the causes.

Last month’s article on Re-Wilding has now been picked up by the politicians and is included in at least one election
proposal. The Springs is the source of the River Rhee and flows out of the village as a riparian ecological corridor
(Green Infrastructure) where probably water voles were once common. Wouldn't it be fantastic if we could adapt the
banks of the river to restore more marginal vegetation and help re-introduce this species again and glimpse them like
the kingfishers that flash through the stream.

So, I feel we could develop a Wildlife Friendly Village like Risby www.wildlifefriendlyvillage.co.uk with not only the
village community fully behind the idea but also the parish council and our local members and officers. Greening
Ashwell will be having a Site Meeting on Saturday 15th May 2:00pm on the Museum Green where we will look at this
idea by walking round the village to highlight the pros and cons of a Wildlife Friendly Village.

We will also be having a Green Team Work Day on Sunday 9th May 10:00am Chalk Bank Close to carry on with

maintenance. KEN COYNE GREENING ASHWELL Coordinator

kencoyne@hotmail.co.uk 01462743723 07857844745

25

MEDALS WANTED

Collector & researcher pays highest prices for all medals:
military or civil, groups or single items.

Also buying other militaria, police and civil aviation items.

Tel: 01438 – 811657
SmedalsJ@aol.com

Berry Accounting Services
Litlington, Royston

Offering a friendly personal service for small businesses

• Self Assessment Tax Returns
• Annual Accounts
• Tax Planning
• Business Start-up Specialist
• Business Planning & Support
• Compliance / Disputes with HMRC
• Mentoring
• VAT Returns
• Payroll Services

Contact Jim or Maeve to discuss your requirements
Tel: 01763 852622 Web: www.berryaccounts.co.uk
E-mail:jim1berry@aol.com Mob: 07850 426325

26

At our March meeting Margie, our president, welcomed Irma Kurtz who had
joined us on Zoom from her flat in Bloomsbury, to tell us about her bohemian,
exciting life as a reporter, novelist, agony aunt, traveller and one parent family.
Irma didn’t feel that she was the marrying type but greatly enjoyed bringing her
son up and being a single mum. Her son now lives in Bluegates Farm house with
his wife and four children and Irma loves to visit and enjoy Ashwell’s typical
English countryside. She was fascinated when Margie Wallace, our president,
said that she had been born and brought up in the same house.

For forty-three years Irma was the agony aunt for the Cosmopolitan magazine one of the first to be
written for both women and men. Over the years she received thousands of letters and latterly
emails covering all sorts of worries that mainly young women face. Irma much preferred letters to
emails as the latter seemed impersonal and you could tell a lot from people's handwriting.
As Cosmopolitan expanded its readership to more countries Irma was sent to run the agony aunt
page for a few weeks until a local ‘Aunt’ could be found and in this way she saw and enjoyed many
different countries. She joined the magazine in her mid thirties when she decided that she would like
to have a child and settle down a little.

As a child her parents assumed that she would become a social worker, like her mum and that her
brother would be a doctor. Her brother did follow the family‘s wish but Irma was a free spirit who
wanted to travel and lead a bohemian life involving writing. This didn’t please the family but meant
that she thoroughly enjoyed herself and has no regrets.

From the start Irma had said that she didn’t want to give a lecture but wanted it to be a question and
answer session and so many of us plied her with questions that she answered candidly and with
great humour. She felt that the questions sent to her at Cosmopolitan varied a great deal from
country to country and that in general ladies from the USA tended to blame their men for failings in
relationships whilst women from the UK tended to blame themselves for troubles that arose.

After many questions and lots of amusement Jean brought our ‘Irma’ time to a close and thanked her

for a delightful glimpse into her life and thoughts.

To round the afternoon meeting off, Mary Rutter, with Margaret’s computer skills, gave us a quiz
guessing the names of the artists of pictures shown on the screen. The pictures all came from
postcards that Mary had collected when visiting galleries and they covered a wide spectrum. Scores
weren’t high as some artists were not so familiar to us all, but we enjoyed viewing the pictures and

hearing about the artist’s lives. Many thanks Mary.

In May it will be the AGM, and then on the 21st June there will be a meeting all about spices used in
Indian cooking; their culinary and health giving properties. If you would like to join us please contact
Margaret on margaret@ashwell.uk.com and she will send you the link.

Stay happy and well. Stay happy and well.

27

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

www.ashwell.gov.uk clerk@ashwell.gov.uk

Dr Martin Hoffman`sJottings: Parish Council

From the Ashwell Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday March 3rd 2021
(full minutes on www.ashwell.gov.uk)

The Yearbook of the Parish seems to have gone down well and there are many reports of Parishioners
now knowing who does what when and where. Despite the lockdown there seems to have been some
interesting activities! Thanks to all those who took part in its production and those who distributed the
books, on some pretty foul days.

Because of the Covid situation this year, no community event was carried out for Litter Picking, but
this did not deter the efforts of individuals and small family groups who have carried out valiant
service throughout the year. Thanks to them all, and the size of the bags collected was amazing!
The number of Covid vaccinations for the area has been excellent and are published regularly. The
organisation at the centres carrying this out have been widely praised.
There have been quite few issues concerning Planning, and I will pick out a few (the complete list can
be seen elsewhere on the Council website). After a an incredible wait the District Council will be
meeting to retrospectively give their opinion on the number of five bedroomed houses in the
Townsend Meadow development. These were objected to by the Parish Council (PC) and many of you.
I’m not allowed to predict the outcome, but don’t hold your breath! The development has caused a lot
of disturbance around Philosophers Gate despite frequent intervention by the PC as there appeared to
be little cooperation from the developers.

There was a lively debate on the Listed Building application to combine Nos. two and three
Forresters Cottages. The applicants wished to knock through so that there was the potential for a
downstairs bedroom and self-contained unit of a live-in carer for future use. This would leave a
possibility to reinstate the historic buildings back to their former layout in the future (there would also
be some pargeting added to the front elevation). This will result in the potential loss of two smaller
dwellings. Advice from the Conservation Officer was that as this was not a material change of use,
planning permission would not be required. Concerns were expressed that the Ashwell
Neighbourhood Plan supported retention of smaller units and although the applicants stated that the
re-division back into two smaller houses might be feasible in the future this could not be assured.

My take on this is that it will be decided by the Conservation Officer!
No further information was reported regarding the issue surrounding the sale of Donkey/Dixies
Meadow and information/proposals from the landowners were expected by the time this is published.
There has been direction from central government regarding the recommencement of face-to-face
Council meetings after May 7th (just after our next PC meeting on May 6th). Concern has been raised
by many Councils that the premises usually used do not meet the Covid requirements. It was agreed
that views continue to be canvassed on how our meetings might be held in the longer term i.e. the use
of Zoom, part Zoom and premises such as the Parish Room. I can assure you that from years, in
another place, a tool of relying on facial expression, not only on the person speaking, but also of others
listening is absolutely invaluable!

General Matters (Brief Only).

The Village Hall transfer to the PC of the holding/custodian trusteeship is slowly ongoing.

There is no further information regarding the possible cycleway and car park at the station by the
Cambridgeshire landowner.

The use of the Police notices (Yellow cards) for parking concerns continues subject to the Police
Royston Rural Neighbourhood Team advice.

28

A meeting has taken place with the Highways liaison officer to receive updates on ongoing and agreed
future items.
Small Gains allotment rents are due. Two plots have been relet and there is now no one on the waiting
list.
Pavilion and toilets. These were closed due to ongoing plumbing and electrical problems. Work has
now been completed.
Tree work These are scheduled for the first week in May at the Springs, Recreation Ground and
Cemetery.
Street furniture. The PC noticeboard and open access “community” board are scheduled for
refurbishment dependent upon weather.
St Mary’s Churchyard. Extra strimming will take place and planting of wildflower plugs as part of the
biodiversity project.
Greening Ashwell have been asked to advise the PC where the group is planning to plant trees etc to
avoid overlap with other organisations.
North Herts District Council (District Cllr Tom Tyson)
The wall in Swan Street is scheduled for repair this month.
Support for the PC objections at Townsend Meadow (see earlier).
Hertfordshire County Council (County Cllr Steve Jarvis)
The A505 safety improvements are being assessed at the Odsey, Litlington and Slip End junctions.
Yellow lines at Gardiners Lane/High Street and in Ashwell Street at the rear of school were held up
waiting for others in the cluster area (not in Ashwell!).
Unanimous thanks were given to both Tom Tyson and Steve Jarvis by the Parish Council for their
support and regular attendance and getting things done, which is not easy these days!.
With best wishes to you all and continue to look after yourself and others.

Dr Martin G Hoffman

There have been increased problems of dog fouling in the Churchyard. Piles
of dog mess have accidentally been caught during strimming by the grass
cutters resulting in fouled trousers, equipment etc.
PLEASE CLEAR UP AFTER YOUR DOG AND USE THE BINS PROVIDED.

Litter Lament

It has been lovely over months of lockdown to see so many more people enjoying walking in the
sunshine. What has not been so lovely is the threefold increase in litter. How can people enjoy
the countryside while thoughtlessly chucking their can or empty crisp packet onto the verge or
worse into the ditch?

Thinking of ditches, walkers may have come across deep ditches, bordering paths on farmland,
where a mass of large items of farm and other detritus has come to rest which only a tractor and
bucket can tackle. Far worse has been the dumping of unspeakable piles of junk because people
can’t wait for council tips to open or have paid dubious ‘contractors’ to take the stuff away.

According to one pundit, if we all pick up just one item of litter every time we go out, we should
soon see a huge difference.

Liz M

29

Natalie Terry Virtual PA

Offers a range of business support services to
Enable you and your business to run smoothly.
• Diary Management
• Telephone and email assistance
• Office administration
• Data entry

Contact Natalie Terry
Mobile 07929 276639 Tel 01462 742948
Email natalie@natalieterryvirtualpa.com

30

Wolves and Doors: The Gap Year Students

For the next two issues I decided to talk to two amazing Ashwell
teenagers who have decided to take a Gap year between finishing
school and starting at University. With the usual overseas options
being unavailable, I wondered what they had been doing.

This month I spoke to Ellison Linsley. He has been working as a Games
Tester for Frontier Developments. Ellison works remotely from his bedroom at home.

I asked Ellison what type of games he tests.

Frontier develops and publishes their own games, so I only test their projects. Frontier's games tend to
be focused on simulation and management. Recently they released “Planet Zoo” which is focused
around creating zoos and filling them with animal enclosures, whilst keeping guests happy.

I thought that sounded like a great game. I wondered how Ellison knew what to do every day?

Every day our team is sent an email detailing what we plan on testing and how exactly to test it for that
day. For example, we may do 'regression' testing where we look at a list of issues that developers have
fixed and check over them again to ensure they are actually resolved. In some cases there will be new
issues/bugs caused by a fix to a separate bug.

Bugs caused by bugs sounds pretty tricky to me. I asked Ellison what he thought were the best things
and the worst things about his job.

As a game develops it gets hard to keep track of what features have been fully added, often the QA
teams will struggle to know if something is an issue or just not ready, which can be frustrating.

However, getting to test games is great, you get to make an important contribution to a large project.
Jurassic World: Evolution was added to the Epic Game Store last year; I was involved in making sure the
game was able to work with the new platform properly. As a result, me and my team had our names
added to the credits of the game, which is very rewarding and probably the best part of the job.

That does sound amazing. I assumed that Ellison would recommend this as a job to others who enjoy
gaming. As long as you are passionate about games or interested in their development, unsurprisingly it
involves 'playing' the game. Though it is worth noting that the job isn't just playing the game, more often
than not it is about drilling particular features and pushing the limits of the game to try and break it.

I asked how you would get a job like this and what experience you would need?

Look up any game development companies you are interested in and have a look at their job listings. I
would recommend looking only at companies that have offices in the UK, though remote working may
change that. There are also QA businesses that are outsourced by companies like Frontier, their job
listings will often be on job search sites like Indeed.

They seem to care most about people who are interested in games, games/software development and
who have a lot of experience with using computers. Games are being released on consoles, mobile and
computers so experience with any of those platforms helps. A general knowledge of game design is also
important.

One of the questions I was asked during the interview was "Have you found any bugs in games yourself
before?" so it might be worth keeping note of any issues you stumble across.

I wondered whether Ellison would consider continuing with this career path after university?

I think it’s a good entry job in the computer science industry, especially games development. It gives a
lot of opportunities to see the how a game is developed and the work involved. I don't plan on working
in QA after university, though it would still be a good option to get a start in a company like Frontier.

Finally, I asked Ellison what degree he is going to do and where.

Computer Science with a year in industry, Newcastle University. Of course

Fionnuala F.G.

31

A sunny Spring afternoon - A short Story by Deborah Glanville

Poppy treated herself to a new sun recliner, Dave had his man shed after all, she needed her little bit of
peace and tranquillity. A nice large glass of Pinot Grigio with some ice and a good book - not much to
ask for after babysitting the four grandchildren, it was lots of fun but also very tiring. Sundays were
Poppy's day to recuperate before a busy week nursing at the local hospital Accident and Emergency
surgical ward.

Springtime sun does not last all day and she intended to make the most of this. Poppy loved her new
Dior gold rimmed sunglasses and after sipping some wine adorned her designer glasses, she tilted her
chair, and whispered to herself 'this is the life'. Listening to the sweet sounds of the birds in her garden
trees gathering catkins she closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep. Poppy was an orphan; her parents
were only young when she entered the world and both families apparently decided it was better for
everyone if she was adopted. Her adopted parents were wonderful, and she had no idea she was
adopted until her 18th birthday. It came as a shock and Poppy tried very hard to find her biological
parents but to no avail.

She woke abruptly as the spring sun disappeared behind some clouds and gave an exchange for some
gentle rainfall. Dave called out the kettles on time to come in. As Poppy pushed down on her new
reclining chair, she noticed a sharp pain in her right knee. She stood sheepishly and limped into the
kitchen where Dave was tucking into his second helping of marmalade cake, that he had purchased
earlier at the church spring fayre, leaving Poppy to cope with all the grandchildren. “What is wrong with
your leg Poppy”? he said with a large mouthful of cake and crumbs spilling out of his mouth. “Not sure,
think I overdid it this weekend chasing around after the little ones”. “Nothing a good night’s sleep will
not cure I expect” answered Dave.

Poppy was given the latest information about the new patients and asked to prepare bed no 17 for one
who needed an operation on her knee. The ward sister explained the poor woman slipped down a rabbit
hole while chasing after her Labrador puppy! Lily Porter had twisted her knee badly, sustained a nasty
break and needed surgery. Poppy greeted each patient with a smile as she walked gingerly to bed 17,
her knee was very painful.

Lily was in a deep sleep; she had nestled under the covers and was snoring quietly. Poppy thought to
herself she sleeps cocooned in her sheets just like I do. A smallish man sporting a moustache and with
his arm in a sling in bed 16, said “poor girl only just fallen asleep she’s been in so much pain”. Poppy
pulled up a chair and as she did so notice her beautiful red hair. It is not often you meet someone with
hair so like hers she thought. Poppy whispered quietly “Lily so sorry I need to check you over before
surgery”, Lily stayed in a deep sleep barely stirring. Poppy noticed her slim hands and long fingers, it
bought back a childhood memory, her adopted father used to say, “you will make a great piano player
with those fingers my girl”. Poppy smiled to herself. Suddenly Lily coughed and opened her eyes. Poppy
noticed how green they were, people had often remarked on Poppy's green eyes and luckily, she had
passed them down to one of her granddaughters along with the thick red hair. Hope was the image of
her grandma, even had the long fingers too.

Another cough and Lily began to come round, it was as she sat up that both women noticed the
remarkable resemblance between them. Wow thought Poppy, Lily looks just like me! After Lily was
wheeled away in her bed by a very jolly hospital porter, Poppy picked up her chart to write down her
sats, it was then she had to stop herself from tumbling to the floor as the room began to spin. Lily was
born on the same day as Poppy with the same birthday.

When Lily came back from surgery, not only did she have a new knee but also a new member to her
family. It turned out Poppy and Lily both named after flowers were identical twins and had lived just
two villages apart. Twins do have a special bond and can usually pick up on physical feelings and
emotions, was this why Poppy’s knee had been painful. Because that night as she left the ward, she had
a spring in her step and no sign of any knee pain.

32

The Chronicles of Sir Bark A Lot - Agility

Here we are again, and what a month it has been. We had snow – I love snow,
rain, some very hot walkies (I know I am Spanish and should like that but I
don't) and now as I am telling the Missus what to put in my column, we have little white icy
balls flying through the window. But I do like this time of year, there is colour everywhere on
my walks and when the Missus finishes work it is still light, so I get another
walk. Fantastic!!!!

It is has been a year since the Missus was no longer allowed to go this place called London
and started walking me every day. I always thought London was like this pub that she was
going to every day, but one where you had to wear silly clothes and dogs were not allowed
because I never got invited to go with her. However, I think I might have been wrong as I
overheard the Missus say to the OtherHalf that from June she will have to go back to London
but that it will be agile working. So, now I think London must be this agility place1, and that
confuses me as the Missus was not very good at agility (understatement!!!). When we were
doing agility together, I had to bark at her a lot as she kept getting things wrong and was
permanently confused. She struggled particularly with the commands left and right, and kept
saying left and my other left. I on the other hand was very good at agility, I actually was so
good that the dog teacher lady suggested I did some competition. The OtherHalf liked that
as he likes winning which is why he thought it best if I competed with the dog teacher
lady. Unfortunately, we didn't win. The Missus told me that I got disqualified three
times. Now, I know you all think I got disqualified for barking, but that is the fun thing about
agility, barking is allowed. However, apparently it is not allowed to go and say hello to your
owners when you are running the obstacle course (disqualified twice) or introduce more
clever ways on how to tackle the obstacles – you must jump over the jumps not go
underneath them (disqualified once). I thought I should have been given extra points for
being creative rather than be disqualified. Funnily enough, I never was allowed to compete
again.

This makes me think though that I should suggest to the Missus we should give agility
another go. We went to the sticking needle place this week for my vaccine and the dog
doctor told the Missus that I really must lose weight. I'd rather lose weight by doing agility
or more walks instead of getting less treats.

Anyway, whether London is a pub or an agility place, I
don't really want the Missus to go back. I like it when she
is at home. Since she stopped wearing the silly clothes, I
get to sit with her and get lots of walks. She does still
wears the silly clothes on top, but…the bottom is all
walking stuff. The stuff that is really sexy…thick socks,
chunky boots, waterproof trousers!!!!!

On that note, I think we might be going on a walkies
holiday as the Missus is putting all that sexy stuff in a bag
and she is packing my stuff too. I am so excited

That’s it for now folks,

Sir Bark A Lot

1 Agility is a dog sport where the dog has to run an
obstacle course which involves things such as tunnels and
jumps. There are competitions where dogs get scored on
time taken and errors made.

33

A Bradleys 742043
Halls for Hire
Ashwell Parish Council 743706 742297
Ashwell St Mary’s Parish Church Office 743922 Ashwell School 743922
Ashwell Primary School 742297 Parish Rooms 742913
Ashwell Playgroup 07565 528194 Ashwell Village Hall 742757
Ashwell Village Museum (Curator) 742956 URC Hall 742258
Hinxworth 742931
B Newnham

Bakers (Days) 742202 L
Border Ramblers 743723
Bus Services (Richmonds) 01763 848226 Library Services 03001 234049
Butchers (Crumps) 742255
M

C Mothers Union 743587

Care Guild (Graham Scott) 07545 273483 N

Chimney Sweep (Hinxworth) 07736 172988 Nature Reserve (Warden) 742684

Computers (Sigma) 742783 P

County Councillor (Steve Jarvis) 01438 727122 Pharmacy and Veterinary Medicines 742250

CHURCHES Plumber (Ian Ruggles) 07890 01505

St Mary’s (Rector) 742277 POLICE Herts Rural 101 or 01438 7579240

United Reform Church (Christine James) 742684 Post Office Steeple Morden 01763 852834

Quaker (Ian Chandler) 743091 S

Zoar Baptist 742273 Station (Inquiries) 0345 484950

Roman Catholic baldock@rcdow.org.uk Sports Clubs

Cricket(Richard Young) 07768 792071

CLUBS (Young People) Football (Andrew Hayes) 07990 598905

Asheteria 01763 241587 Karate 07941 926125

Guides(Sue Long) 01223 208337 Tennis ashwellsport@gmail.com

Brownies ashwellbrownies@gmail.com

Rainbows ashwellrainbows@gmail.com T

Scouts, Cubs, Beavers Chair@1stAshwellscouts.org.uk Taxi Services (Baldock) 01462 486666

D Theatre Club Info@ashwelltheatre.co.uk
Dairy (Blunham Dairy)
Delicatessen (Rhubarb and Mustard) 01234 376006 W
Dentist 743462
District Councillor (Tom Tyson) 742353 W.I. margaretwallace7@btopenworld.com
Doctors and Surgery
07546 589377 Cut me out to put on
E 01462 417377 the fridge.
Electrian
07990 977124 Please contact
F 07760 241922
Farm Shop (Sarah’s) Ian Chandler - 743091
01763 852376
G
Garage (Ashwell Garage) 742310
Grocer and Off Licence 742220

H 742040
Horticultural Society
Hairdressers 742298

Sue Birch

34

35

36