1 The WI enjoy the new bench provided with funds from the Ashwell Show
2
3 7 July 6th Sunday after Trinity 9.15am Family Service, St Nicholas’, Hinxworth 10.45am Thank God it’s Sunday, St Mary’s, Ashwell 5pm Holy Communion, St Mary’s, Ashwell 14 July 7th Sunday after Trinity 9.15am Holy Communion, St Nicholas’, Hinxworth 10.45am All Age Communion, St Mary’s, Ashwell 4.00pm Evening Prayer for Mary Magdalene, St Mary’s Magdalene Caldecote No evening service in Ashwell this week. 21 July 8th Sunday after Trinity 9.15am Holy Communion, St Nicholas’, Hinxworth 10.45am Parish Communion, St Mary’s, Ashwell 5.00pm Sacred Space, St Mary’s, Ashwell 28 July 9th Sunday after Trinity 9:30am BCP Communion, St Vincent’s, Newnham 10.45am Parish Communion, St Mary’s, Ashwell 5.00pm Evening Prayer, St Mary’s, Ashwell Plus, every Wednesday morning at 10am, Midweek Communion Service, followed by refreshments and conversation. “In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, on the seventeenth day of the second month—on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. And rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights.” Genesis 7, verses 11 & 12 Will it ever stop raining? As I write, in mid-June, it feels like we’re still in early spring. Grey clouds are a constant companion, and every time I think I might manage to mow the lawn, another heavy downpour catches me. I haven’t yet put my jumpers away and I keep reaching for an extra blanket in the evenings! Possibly we’re all wondering what’s happened to summer, and an article I read this week said it wasn’t due to improve for a while yet (although, maybe by the time you’ve read this, it has!). It’s apparently all to do with the jet stream, and the wind that’s coming in from the arctic, although it’s not as bad as the summer of 1975 (before I was born!), when it snowed in June. When the weather feels quite as miserable as it does this week, it can sometimes feel a little difficult to give thanks for the blessings of rain and running water. And though I usually enjoy the rain, the weather has a very real effect on our souls and never-ending dark clouds seldom lift our spirits in praise or thanksgiving. We naturally want light, warmth and sunshine, and the perpetual gloom begins to get us down. But, of course, water is necessary for life. Like the body of the earth, our bodies too are over threequarters’ water. We are a watery people, living on a watery planet; and though we sometimes moan about the rain, we also know the huge challenges faced by those who don’t have adequate access to water. And we know that, despite our grumbling over the weather, we enjoy having the weather to talk about! Reminded of this, how good then that this month we are able to join together again for the Springs Festival – a chance to celebrate this source of water and life in our own village. Let’s just hope it doesn’t rain! Chris Ashwell Village News - Letter from Chris To contact Chris Tel: 01462 742277 or email: [email protected] Benefice Services
4 A few words from ASHWELL UNITED REFORMED CHURCH At the time of writing, we are looking forward to Revd Stan Chatikobo’s first Sunday morning worship with us – on 23rd June. This will mark the beginning of another chapter in the story of Ashwell United Reformed Church. It is ten years since our last dedicated Minister – Jenny Simmons – moved away after ten years leading and guiding us. During this time, the Elders of the church have together made sure that worship has continued, social events have been planned and the buildings have been looked after. All this with the help of Jim Dalgleish, a retired Minister who, fortunately for us, moved to Royston, came to share worship with us one Sunday, decided he liked us, stayed and is now one of our Eldership team. During the next few months, Revd Stan will lead worship for us regularly and join in with other activities such as CAMEO and our social gatherings. Stan will also serve other URC’s at Walkern and Knebworth, so he will have a widespread pastorate. We are looking forward to getting to know friends at these two churches even better as well as those at the other churches in the North Herts Local Area Group. Looking outside our own immediate community, there will of course be other national events happening in early July! The one that might have the most impact upon us is the General Election: We pray for our statesmen, leaders and rulers. May they be quiet in spirit and clear in judgement, able to understand the issues that face them. May they think often of the common people on whose behalf they must speak and act. May they remember that in keeping Your laws is man’s only good and happiness. Grant them patience, grant them courage, grant them foresight and great faith. In their anxieties be their security, in their opportunities be their inspiration. By their plans and their actions may Your kingdom come, Your will be done. Amen, God Bless Chris SUNDAY SERVICES AT THE URC IN JULY SUNDAY 14TH JULY AT 10.45AM Preacher: PETER ROGERS Coffee after the service SUNDAY 28TH JULY AT 10.45AM Preacher: CHRISTINE WARREN Worship will include Holy Communion TO BOOK THE CHURCH HALL: PLEASE RING SAN CARSWELl 01462 742757 CAMEO Wednesday 10th July 2.30 – 4.30pm 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 [email protected] FINAL Deadlines for articles for August’s submission are: Article Deadline 15th July Advertising Deadline 10th July Our AVN Team of volunteers are: Sarah Talks Editing Alfie Lien-Talks Layout Mark Eaton Finance Julia Mitchell Advertising Ian Chandler Useful Numbers Richard Young Distribution Did you know that the Ashwell Village News is available online? ( eAVN ) https://tinyurl.com/ Ashwell-Village-News
5 C.A.M.E.O.: Come And Meet Each Other CAMEO is a social gathering for people of all ages. The main object is simply to enjoy time together over tea and cakes and conversation. Here is the plan for our July meeting: 2.30 arrive any time after 2.30; you will be made welcome 2.45 Summer is here (we hope)! Enjoy a strawberry tea and challenge the brain with a light quiz. 3.30 a brief Thought for the Day 3.35 tea, scones, strawberries, cakes and conversations 4.30 time for home (but do leave earlier, if you need to) Where? Ashwell URC Hall, High Street, SG7 5NL When? 2.30pm Wednesday 10th July Who? All welcome; just turn up (or) Contact? Chris James; 742684 [email protected] Not able to make it? Then the next CAMEO will be 14th August. Please feel free to contact us. Chris 742277 [email protected] Julia Mitchell(Churchwarden) 07817961703 [email protected] John Chilton (Churchwarden) 07841055407 Mark, our Reader 743451 [email protected] Parish Church Office : Guy 01462 743922 [email protected] Usual parish office opening times are 10-12 Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. St Marys Contacts List For almost four years, it has been (mostly!) a pleasure and a privilege to put together the Village News every month. Highlights have been the Christmas edition to every house last year and getting to know some of the delightful regular contributors. Taking over in early spring 2021, we were all still getting used to the post Covid world and having a project to work on was a helpful distraction. Now the time has come to hand it on to another person or small team, to take it forward and hopefully find new ways of representing the churches, charities and organisations that make up community life in Ashwell. We would like to have a new person in place for the January 2025 magazine. Next month’s magazine will have more details, but if you think you might like to take on the Editorship and Layout roles in the AVN Team you can find out more by emailing [email protected] I would like to say a very big thank you to everyone who helps deliver, produce, sort adverts, writes articles, sends wonderful photographs or artwork, or supports us in any way and our printers. A particularly big thank you goes to Alfie who uses his digital skills to produce a layout better than any I can conjure up! Ruth Rowntree writes….. At the recent Cameo meeting, Ruth was very pleased to meet the new Minister for the URC Reverend Stan Chatikobo and his family. The Chatikobos’s have come from Zimbabwe, a country which Ruth has visited. Ruth was very pleased to be able to talk to the family and share refreshments with them. We wish the family all the very best as they settle into their new home and begin their ministry with the local group of URC churches including ours in Ashwell. New Year, New Start for the Village News
6 Chairman: Graham Lee (742834) Office at Bear Farm, 6A Back Street (743706) Clerk: Jane Porter, [email protected] www.ashwell.gov.uk June Parish Council meeting News items from Ashwell Parish Council: the main points from the Ashwell Parish Council meeting in June are included below. This month’s meeting was a busy affair, covering several items of local interest. Playground improvements: this month councillors will consider the best way to involve the village in identifying affordable options, planning and getting upgrades done. There will be an appeal for input on the Ashwell Hub. As an aside, the Parish Council also felt that the Hub should be used more for communication in general. Future of the Pavilion and public toilets: because these are important village assets, the topic is a big issue. The Parish Council is currently working up broadly costed options as the basis of a village consultation. Please do look at the details on the Ashwell Village website: https://www.ashwell.gov.uk/pavilion-and-public/ Traffic hazards along Claybush Hill and the Ruddery: the Parish Council received emails and representations from parishioners at the meeting about traffic travelling at inappropriate speeds. Our County Councillor, Steve Jarvis, will ask Highways to install speed survey equipment on Claybush Hill, which should provide data indicating the sort of measures necessary. However, depending on what they are, there may be budget constraints. Some years ago Councillor Hoffman and his team checked traffic speeds. This could be looked at again. Steve Jarvis will also ask Highways to deal with protruding kerbs on Claybush Hill. Overhanging vegetation is another problem and the Parish Clerk will approach the landowner about that. Ashwell Housing Needs Survey: the Survey closed at the end of May. It should help inform the type of future development needed and acceptable in the village. The results will be collated and reported later. On the topic of housing, parishioners should also be aware that help is available from North Herts Council if they are thinking of building their own dwelling, see: https://www.north-herts.gov.uk/sites/northherts-cms/files/Updated Guidance on Self Build Register.pdf Antisocial parking: if there are problems it was suggested that parishioners should make a direct approach to our PCSO, Chris Braybrook. Posting contact details on the Hub will be looked at (note: this information is in the 2024 Yearbook). Sports Day: once again, many thanks to the organisers of this event. It’s an important part of what makes Ashwell a great place to be. The next Parish Council meeting will be on 3 July at 7pm in the Parish Room. WI members were very pleased to see the new bench finally installed at the top of Angel’s Meadow. The Ashwell Show had kindly given us the money to purchase the bench for everyone to relax on and enjoy. Last month we enjoyed our AGM which also included a quiz and humorous readings. On July 17th we are looking forward to welcoming Sharon O’Connor, who is an historical researcher and will give us a talk entitled ‘Finding Hester in relation to Operation Mincemeat’. As always, everyone is welcome and the meeting begins at 2 in the URC Hall.
7 In the week of 5th May we brought live music events to Ashwell, in both St Mary’s Church and the URC Hall. Eight performances highlighting the talent in our Village as well as others from further afield. The Young Persons evening was a wonderful event with students from the Village School and Knights Templar showing us how music is an important part of their lives. This augurs well for the future of music in the village! James Pearson, a former pupil in Ashwell Village School, returned to give a concert to the entire school and a stunning concert on the Friday evening of the Festival. The finale was an evening of Soul music which had most people out of their seats dancing in the aisles! During the Saturday concert Chris Campbell, our Rector, presented Tracy Young, our outgoing Committee Chair, with a bouquet of flowers, thanking Tracy for her sterling work on the Committee over several years. The Festival was a financial success raising just over £3,500 for the Church’s Restoration Fund. We are now looking ahead to the Ashwell Music Festival for 2025! During next year’s Festival we will be marking the 70th Festival Season. If you would like to help the team plan the Musical Events in 2025, don’t’ be shy! Come and help us by contacting either Chris Campbell, whose contact details are in this magazine or John Rowlands at [email protected]. Thank you all so much for supporting us in 2024 and we look forward to an exciting Festival in 2025. Last year we were able to put on another great show and we were able to again distribute over £30,000 to local clubs, charities and good causes! But we can not do it without your help. If you are willing to give 2 (or more) hours of your time on Show Day, please email [email protected] or call 07980 922386. Jobs on the day include marshal and park cars (over 18s only please), sell tickets at the gate and check pre paid tickets. Not forgetting the clear up from 5pm. If you would prefer to do a particular job please let John know. If you cannot help on Show Day itself, we also need help setting up the Show from 9am (when the bacon rolls should arrive) on the preceding Saturday. Jobs on the Saturday tend to be a bit more manual in nature, like getting posts & ropes out of sheds and setting them up around the showground. Or bake a cake and enter the Great Ashwell Bake Off run by Ashwell WI. Don't forget all volunteers get free entry to the Show and are asked which organisations they would like to see benefit from the proceeds of the Show. Thank you. Ashwell Show Committee Ashwell Show – August Bank Holiday Monday, 26 August 2024. We will also be running our very popular Ashwell Show Eve Sunday night event for the village again this year. Look out for details shortly. Ashwell Show Ashwell Music Festival 2024
8 Last month we had a change from the original plan on our program. We decided to hold a coffee morning/bring and buy to raise money for the MU ‘Summer of Hope’ appeal. This is something launched by MU every year to raise much needed funds for whichever worthy cause they see fit, whether in the UK or for the very valuable work that MU carries out abroad. This year their chosen project is the support of women in the Democratic Republic of Congo where our work is already empowering women to release themselves from the cycle of poverty. Here in the UK we take literacy and numeracy skills for granted but for these women who have little or no education being able to read, to count and to learn agricultural skills means that they are able to grow and sell their own crops in order to feed their families. Monies raised from this year’s campaign will enable MU to continue their existing Literacy Circles as well as starting new ones in four more dioceses, reaching another 4,800 participants. We thoroughly enjoyed our morning chatting to each other over delicious coffee and cake in true Ashwell fashion and people gave very generously. At the time of writing we have raised an amazing £131.50 for this worthy cause. That’s enough to pay for agricultural training for one person and support a literacy training training session for one village! My thanks go to all who helped to make this a success. Next month, we are having yet another change to our planned program. We will be meeting in the church at 2.30 where we will be hosting the MU branch from St Albans Abbey, who are coming to look at our lovely church. We will have a short talk from Chris, some music on the organ played by John and of course, tea and cake served by us! It will be a lovely opportunity to meet other MU members. Viv Hollow, Group Contact Dear Readers The big news at the time of writing is the recent planning decision in favour of the solar farm at Bygrave. Strong objections on the grounds that it would harm a precious landscape in a very rural setting weren’t quite enough to persuade the planning committee to refuse permission: their vote was tied. The committee chair, who had initially abstained, then had the casting vote and chose in favour of the proposal. It’s a blow to the local objectors who had worked so hard for over two years to get the planners and their committee to understand the harms of the proposal: all in vain, and now we will have to get used to the idea of a radical change to the vista from the top of Claybush Hill. Bygrave was also the location of the big Cereals event in June. It’s a highlight of the farming calendar and attracts exhibitors and visitors from far and wide. As expected, there was a considerable amount of local traffic congestion at peak times in Newnham and Bygrave, which caused some concern. Otherwise, I was impressed by the on-site organisation. I enjoyed my visit there despite not knowing too much about the agricultural industry (even though my father worked in crop protection for most of his professional life). The landowners have a licence to hold events at Bygrave Woods and our licensing authority is responsible for making sure these are properly run and conform to all the relevant legal requirements. This applies to the music festivals as well, of course. If you have any questions or concerns about these please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Tom Tyson (District Councillor) [email protected] Tom Tyson
9 The events of the Annual Feast, which lasted several days with a fair on the Rec and the schools closed, has no mention in the newspaper apart from two special cricket matches. On the Monday an Ashwell team played an XI chosen by Mr A Angell and on the Tuesday Mr C Parrish of Guilden Morden brought a team. They had a good game but Ashwell won. The Cricket teams were very busy throughout the month. The 2nd XI played an exciting game when they went to Arlesey and won by just 1 run. They also won at Henlow. The 1st team had a winning streak beating Arlesey, Henlow, Baldock and Potton. Mr John Beresford gave the second of his lectures on local history in which he translated, from the Latin, the 1457 will of William Freeman, merchant of Ashwell. The will is very comprehensive and generous. He asks for his body to be buried in the chapel of the Holy Trinity in Ashwell church and that the chapel shall be paved with stones called Flaunders. He leaves money for every priest that attended his funeral and for one ‘honest and suitable chaplain’ to celebrate divine service in the chapel for the next 3 years. There are many other legacies given to his family, religious orders, his servants for and charity too. Notable awards are: to clothe seven poor peasants twice in seven years in cloaks or coats; to the repair of the torches in the ward of Dokelake; to the wife of William Horpell 20 shillings and a washing basin with one hanging spout; for the repair of the road to Henxworth. His wife Alice is well looked after and receives all his tenements and lands and any remainder. A new association, the ‘Women Unionists’ held a meeting and talk in the Technical Room (now the Parish Room). I do not have enough detail to solve the true purpose of this association. Before WWI there was a society of the same name that promoted women’s suffrage in members of the Conservative and Unionist Party. This seems to have been disbanded when suffrage was granted in 1919 so perhaps the Ashwell association was just a women’s branch of the Conservatives. The Congregational Church, which is now the URC, held several special Anniversary services and the Men’s Club were putting their new games room in the Village Hall to good effect with a Billiards match against a Royston team. 100 years ago: 1924 July
10 We had a very enjoyable visit to Knole in Kent on May 22nd with 48 of us appreciating the house, gardens and conservation studio. Thank you to everyone who made the best of a rather gloomy day but not as bad as some we have had recently .We had an excellent driver Andy who got us there in two hours avoiding what he had heard was a blocked A 1. We are now looking to visit Bury St Edmunds on Wednesday 25th September .The cost per head will be £30 and we have chosen a Wednesday due to it being Market Day. For those who do not know Bury there is plenty to do and see The Abbey and Gardens are always delightful and if anyone is interested tours of the Theatre which is a unique Georgian one these can be arranged as can tours of the Green King Brewery. Please ask us if interested in these so we can see if bookings are needed. Please contact Monica Boggust 01462742463, Hilary Masham 01462742416 or Karen Mills 01462742155 Our next event in the village will be a cheese and wine evening in the Museum on Friday 20th September 7-9pm This is for all our Volunteers and Friends and anyone who may want to know a bit more about us Do pop in for a glass and say Hello. On Wednesday 13 November 7.30 pm in the URC we will be showing some old films that are in the Museum. This will be a ticketed event £10 per ticket to include a glass of wine Tickets available nearer the time April 2025 does seem a long way ahead but we have been advised that Warhorse the play will be at Milton Keynes Theatre for the last two weeks in April and we are considering the matinee on 30t . We have already had some interest but as tickets are already selling we need to book soon With a group discount, tickets in the stalls are likely to be £43 with some in the Upper Circle £30 . If not interested in the theatre why not join the coach for a day’s trip to Milton Keynes? If interested please contact Monica Boggust 01462742463, Hilary Masham 01462742416 or Karen Mills 01462742155 A lot to put your mind to but we do look forward to welcoming you on some of our activities and also want to say we are planning a stand at the Ashwell Show so if there do come and visit With Thanks as ever to all our Supporters Friends of Ashwell Museum
11 Year 6 Bikeability Year Six were lucky enough to have PCSO Chris Brabrook come in and run three bikeability sessions the first week after half term. We were completing our Level One Bikability, which teaches us to maintain our bikes, control our bikes when riding, and be aware of our surroundings. In our sessions we learned: ● How to check our bikes over to make sure they are safe to ride on. ● How to safely place our bikes on and off the road. ● PC Brabrook also taught us how to break in emergency situations. He taught us how to play a few games to help boost our confidence on the road - we played games such as King of the rings and a slow bicycle race. We also learnt how to look behind us and pedal one handed! It was so much fun to work with PC Brabrook and have this opportunity of a once in a lifetime lesson and we feel much more confident to be safe on our bikes. Written by Belle and Olivia (Year Six) Year 5 Trip to Duxford This term we have been learning about World War Two and on Tuesday 4th June we went on our school trip to Duxford Air Museum. We travelled by coach and it didn’t take too long. When we arrived we went into one of the hangers and found out we had to make minidocumentaries about the museum. We were split into groups and went round the hangers with clapper boards, microphones and phones to film with. Our films had to be less than one-minute! We explored the different planes, like the V1 flying bombers and other WW2 vehicles like ambulances. We also filmed inside Anderson shelters and got to see the giant spot lights. After lunch we explore the other hangers and got to see tanks and ships from different wars. It was really cool. We even got to go inside some of the planes and sit in the seats and look out the windows. We also got to go inside an actual Concord Plane – it smelt a bit weird. It was a really fun day and we learnt lots. Written by Bethan and Sebastian (Year Five) Ashwell primary school
12 On Sunday 12th May at the Ashwell at Home day, the Mid Life Crisis Car Club put on a display of 11 cars in the Village Hall car park. The cars on display ranged from an Alvis 3litre, a brace of Mazda MX3’s, Volvo Amazon, Saab 9-3 convertible, Reliant Scimitar GTE, Porsche 911, Jaguar F type convertible, MGB, MGB GT and Audi TT convertible. Thank you to all MLCCC members that supported the wonderful Ashwell at Home event, a great day was had by all. Not only enjoying all that was on offer, beautiful gardens, lovely food from Crump’s sausage rolls to cream teas in the URC hall and Parish Rooms, all basking in the wonderful sunshine, which allowed the convertibles to at last “drop their tops” after a long, wet winter! Thank you to Cliff Jenkinson for inviting the MLCCC to this years’ event, also a thank you to MLCCC Chairman, John Wilkinson, for “rallying” the cars together for such an enjoyable way to spend a sunny Sunday. If the display of some of the cars in our club has enticed you to join the MLCCC, please contact our Chairman on [email protected], or via www.midlife-crisis.org.uk Mid Life Crisis Car Club display at Ashwell at Home
13 “Sounds like something from Harry Potter”, is usually what people say when I bring Mugwort into the conversation. Also known as the dreaming herb, with an ability to enhance our nighttime visions and intuition, it certainly wouldn’t be out of place in a Harry Potter story! However this powerful plant is better known for its benefits for women’s health, digestion, and stressrelated issues. And it’s ready to harvest this month. Once known as “the mother of all plants”, Artemisia is named after Artemis, the Greek Goddess of the hunt, children, wildlife and the moon (interestingly Mugwort’s silvery-ball-shaped flowers resemble tiny little moons). Mugwort is part of the daisy (Asteraceae) family, and native to Europe and Asia. You’ll find it growing in low-nitrogen soils, such as roadsides and uncultivated areas. I’ve spotted some lovely patches along Ashwell Street, just beyond the caravan park, and along Partridge Hill. Historically, Mugwort was used in cooking and, as both an aromatic and bitter herb, it would’ve been added stews and soups for flavour, and for stimulating digestion and helping the body process fatty meats. Before Hops (which are a sedative) were used in beer-making from around 800 AC, Mugwort was a popular brewing herb. If homebrewing is your thing, you can find recipes online to make your own Mugwort beer. Although I’ve not tried it myself, I imagine it would be quite a different experience to more soporific “hoppy” beers. 16th Century Austrian Physician, Paracelsus, said, “What is Venus other than the Mugwort growing in your garden”. In the ancient practice of medical astrology, Venus rules the body parts specific to women, and to this day, Mugwort is used to ease menstrual pain and irregularities in menstrual cycles, as well as given to women in labour. Please note, Mugwort should NOT be used during pregnancy. Mugwort has warming and antispasmodic actions, meaning it helps to relax the nervous system and smooth muscle tissue — making it a champion herb not just for menstrual cramps, but tired legs and feet too, for the walkers out there. This relaxant effect can help ease stress-related tension, which in turn can relieve digestive and sleep issues caused by stress. Although be warned, although Mugwort can help you get to sleep, a night of vivid dreaming doesn’t always feel restful! The simplest way to enjoy Mugwort is a hot water infusion (also known as a cup of tea). Steep a couple of teaspoons of the fresh leaves and flowers for 10 —15 mins, strain, and add honey to taste. Enjoy! By Katie Shellard, Massage Therapist and Sensory Herbalist www.katieshellard.com Herbs of Ashwell: All about Mugwort | Artemisia vulgaris
14
15 (Songs from San Marino and the USA.) The next folk session is 1st July at 8:30 in The Rose & Crown. All welcome. So why don’t we go Somewhere only we know… (Somewhere Only We Know, Keane) San Marino is the 5th smallest country in the world, about 4 times the size of Ashwell parish. It has a population of 33,000, about the same as Letchworth Garden City. It’s the world’s oldest surviving republic, having been founded as a republic in 301ad and having a well established democratic system. Unlike Letchworth, San Marino has only one traffic light. Also unlike Letchworth, it’s a pretty mountainous country. They are probably best known in the UK as having one of the worst national football teams in the world. They did once score against England (in 1992) but last time out (in the World Cup qualifiers in 2021) they lost 10-0 to England. They have won only one international football match, a friendly against Lichtenstein (a very slightly bigger country) in 2004, which they won 1-0, though they have drawn a total of 10 matches. With such a small population, it’s hardly a surprise (how well would Letchworth do against, say, France?). Anyway, their national sport is rock throwing, so football has to take second place. They also have a traditional form of wrestling, known as La Lotta Sammarinese The most characteristic food is Piadina, a kind of pancakey pasty with a variety of fillings and It’s one of the few countries in the world which doesn’t have a Macdonalds. San Marino has a number of traditional dances, with their own tunes. Dance forms have been passed down through generations, and there is social dancing at their frequent festivals. One circle dance, La Ridda, is performed at festivals, including the Mediaeval Festival which re-enacts the founding of the republic. There are also a number of single-sex dances including ones that are women only. Folk music also plays an integral role in San Marino’s cultural heritage, and is characterized by lively melodies and joyful lyrics. The main instruments include the accordion and guitar,though the Pifferi, a cheerful type of fife often played with drums, is regarded as synonymous with Sammarinese music. Back in Ashwell, the Springs Festival is this month, with traditional music and merriment. Some of our traditions go back to mediaeval times too, but there won’t be any rock throwing. If you’d like to know more about the folk session and our music, please get in touch. Ian Chandler [email protected] 743091 Rose & Crown Folk: International Evening
16
17 Thank you! For your generous response to our Appeal for sewing machines. The donated machines will make a big difference to the sewing of Re-usable period packs by our members at The Diapalante Community Education Centre. PS. It is not too late to donate your sewing machine we can always use some more. Liz Chandler 743091.
18
19
20 Registered in England & Wales, No.06744379, and limited by guarantee. Registered charity No. 1127052 Registered office: Royston Hospital, London Road, Royston, Herts. SG8 9EN Supported by: Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group * Hertfordshire County Council * North Hertfordshire District Council * Cambridgeshire County Council * South Cambridgeshire District Council * and various local Parish Councils
21 For our June meeting we were following a Japanese tradition of studying a number of different views of an iconic landmark. In Japan that might be Mount Fuji, but we went for St Mary’s church, which like Fuji towers over the surrounding countryside and can be seen from miles away. It is no wonder we have over 700 listed images of St Mary’s church in the collection and many more where the tower and spire appear in the background of photographs and pictures in all mediums. We looked at early photographs showing the churchyard to be free of the trees which dominate today. Building work on the tower, spire and weathervane were all recorded as were the teams of builders (all local people). Earlier drawings of the church by Beatrice Christy and Charlotte Morice are also great records of earlier incarnations of the building, particularly the interior. From time to time well intentioned people have subjected the church to major alterations. Fashions change but we were all very interested to see big box pews, intricate stonework in the chancel and screens in different places. Understandably artists have been drawn to the church and we looked at a variety of different representations in paint, charcoal, lino prints, ink and one memorable model made of straw for a harvest festival decoration. People were encouraged to bring their own pictures and we shared stories and enjoyed seeing these new ‘views’. We marvelled at the skill we have within the group, as artists, as historians, as enthusiasts. With tea made and cake served people had a chance to create their own view of the church. Thank you to everyone for their contributions. Next meeting July 9th will be with Katie Shellard, Sensory Herbalist. 2.30pm in the Museum all very welcome. Makers at the Museum
22 Seems I was a bit over-optimistic last month with my statement that spring had finally arrived. I can't believe that summer is starting in a few days, and we mainly had autumn weather and only a few days of spring. But we remain hopeful! With our road trip coming up, I am being taken more often to the pub as part of my training regime, which if you would ask the Missus and the OtherHalf is a mixed bag of success. She says I am much better behaved when I am joined by my mate Honey and her gang, but unfortunately it is not an option for them to come on the road trip with us. I guess they will have to put in more practice. On the road trip, now the Missus likes a list, but she is going a bit list-mad. She is making lots of complicated lists of hotels, restaurants, places to visit, distances, even a "Sir Bark a Lot" list with all the things I will need. I think she should chill a bit, after all everybody loves me, even now I only have one eye. She sometimes calls me "One Eye" these days, which I don't think is very nice, my hair has grown back, so if you don't know, you don't even notice that I only have one eye. Actually, I am quite proud of how I am coping with one eye. I occasionally bump into things but 99.9% of the time, I am fine. I might prefer to be on the lead a bit more rather than running free, but the Missus would say that I have always been a bit funny about the lead. I like a routine and part of the routine is that there are parts of the village where I run free and parts where I am on the lead. Sometimes they forget to put me on the lead at the right point, and then I bark to remind them. The Missus and the OtherHalf think that is weird. The Missus used to have a dog that would run away when she would try and put him on the lead. Honestly, I don't understand why but then I am a sheepdog and I like to stay close to them to make sure they don't get into trouble. On that note, the Missus might be in a bit of trouble. Before the road trip, she will be disappearing a few times again with her little suitcase. The OtherHalf and I are not big fans of that anyway, but now she will be away on the OtherHalf's birthday, how inconsiderate! I hope she brings back some nice treats for him to make up for it. I will try and rescue the day by giving him loads of cuddles and keeping him company whilst he is watching the football…keeping my paws crossed that England wins, as he gets a bit grumpy when they lose. That’s it for now folks, Sir Bark A Lot The Chronicles of Sir Bark A Lot– Lists, lists and more lists With summer events in full swing, ticket scams are on the rise. Scammers target fans of events like Wimbledon, the Paris Olympics, concerts, and the Euros. Stay vigilant to protect yourself. Scammer Tactics: • Counterfeit Tickets: Fake tickets or tickets for non-existent events. • Price Gouging: High-priced tickets for sold-out events, scammers vanish after payment. • Fake Websites: Professional-looking fake sites mimicking official ones. • Social Media Scams: Using platforms like Facebook Marketplace and eBay to sell fake tickets. How to Avoid Scams: 1. Buy from Official Sources: Use authorized vendors and event organizers. Verify websites for HTTPS and a padlock symbol. 2. Avoid Social Media Offers: Don't buy from individuals on social media or through unsolicited messages. 3. Be Skeptical of Deals Too Good to Be True: If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. 4. Use Secure Payments: Use credit or debit cards for better protection. 5. Check Accreditation: Look for sellers who are members of the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR). If You’ve Been Scammed: • Contact Your Bank: Inform your bank or card company if you’ve shared financial information or made a payment. • Report to Action Fraud: Call 0300 123 2040. • Seek Advice: Contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline at 0808 223 1133. Stay vigilant, follow these tips, and enjoy your summer events. For more help, contact Citizens Advice North Herts or Citizens Advice Stevenage at 0800 144 88 48
23 As I write this in June, the wildflowers are blooming around the village and the hedgerows are full of blossom and buzzing with bees. It is good to see the areas recently planted by Greening Ashwell flourishing, for example the wildflower patch at Ashwell Surgery which we planted with the help of the Ashwell Brownies and Guides. When you read this the summer holidays will be looming and for those with school-aged children (or grandchildren), there is no better way to fill the days than spending time outdoors getting closer to nature. It’s healthy, enjoyable, and best of all its free! As our children will be the future custodians of our planet, why not help them to understand and learn about nature? The wonder of their explorations is a gift they will take with them into adulthood. Burn off some energy outdoors and enjoy the beauty of our village and local surroundings! With this in mind, here are some activities you might like to try. Youngest children - Go on a bug hunt, how many minibeasts can they spot? Hunt under stones, logs or on plants. Go further and make a bug hotel! Create a wild picture. Get the children gather a range of different coloured objects (leaves, feathers, petals etc) and arrange them based on colours or shapes to make a pattern or picture. Build a Den. Head to the woods and make a shelter from branches, twigs etc (without damaging any trees). As an alternative, make a smaller den for imaginary creatures such as fairies to live in or a refuge for woodland animals. Go paddling. Find a local watery place and take a net, magnifying glasses and see what’s in the water. Always encourage the children to handle all finds gently returning them to their habitat. Take water safety seriously. Older children – Become rewilding heroes! Make wildflower seed bombs (see recipes online) and sow them! Make a nature journal – give your youngster a scrapbook or journal to hold paintings, drawings, pressed flowers, etc. Sleep out under the stars! – camp in the garden and encourage the children to listen to the night sounds of birds and animals. Give them a pair of binoculars or a telescope. Alternatively, go for a night-time walk, take a torch to shine upwards to attract insects which will in turn attract bats. Then turn off the torch to tune into your senses. Listen to the dawn chorus – get up at dawn (yes dawn!) and listen to the amazing natural orchestra Nature Photo Shoot – teens will enjoy taking some artistic shots on their phones of the natural world and sharing them with friends. Or download an app on their phones to identify plants and see how many they can identify. Organise a nature themed outdoor picnic, combing eating outside with wildlife spotting. We hope you have lots of fun outside over the summer! website: www.greeningashwell.org.uk Fionnuala George- joint chair: [email protected] Clare Spencer- joint chair: [email protected] Sherran Chalkley-secretary: [email protected] Greening Ashwell Many thanks to everyone who contributed in any way towards making this such a successful occasion again this year. It was a sunny and happy day and many of the visitors, from both home and further afield, were keen to tell us how much they enjoyed the event. The total amount raised was just under £11,000, rather less than the record £12,000 in 2023 but still not bad for a day’s work! Apart from a small portion kept back to help launch the 2025 Ashwell at Home, this sum will be shared between the Museum, the School, St Mary’s Church and Ashwell Preschool, with a small donation to the United Reformed Church. After 40 happy years on the committee, the last few as chairman, I am now retiring from organising this event. New faces and ideas are really needed and will be really welcome. If you would like to become involved in helping to organise Ashwell at Home in the future, please get in touch. Thank you for all your support. Cliff [email protected] 742592
24
25 Once the Romans left the country was slowly and then more rapidly invaded by The Angles, Saxons and Jutes. They were all from what is now northern Germany and the Danish peninsular (now Jutland). The placenames they brought mainly occur at the end of the name and are as follows: Enjoy! Burgh/Bury/Borough these started out as fortifications but later became towns. Alfred the Great established many as a defence against the Viking invaders. Burn/Brook small river. Ford is a shallow river crossing sometimes naming the river or later developed into a town named after an individual. Ham/Hamm was a village/homestead. Hamm a river meadow. Sometimes the second m was left off. Ing means people of. Hence Birmingham is the homestead of the people of Birm. Mouth names called after the river whose mouth it is. Ley/ly/leigh meadow or clearing. Hence Burnley is a meadow near a brook. Stone/Ston/Ton All mean a town. Wick a trading place. Stead a clearing or a settlement. Worth also means a homestead. Next came the Vikings. Their place names are most frequent in places to the east of a line between Chester and London known as the Danelaw. By a large village usually named after an individual Rugby, Derby, Whisby etc. Thorpe/Thrup a small village or hamlet. Scunthorpe etc. Toft site of a house or building. Dalr/or dale so many in Yorkshire. Holmr/Holmm flat ground by the river. Myr swamp. Byker farm in marshy land. Thweit small homestead. Ness a headland for example Shoeburyness. Gate/Gade entrance to town. The Normans brought many new names. A lot were the names of William the conqueror’s henchmen. Montgomery, Barry, Burke, Walden. And then there was the ending ville or neux. I think Theydon Bois might be a later name which came with Edwards the thirds wife. A challenge. Get your map out and look at Lincoln and see how many Viking endings you can find. Look for By, Thorp or Holme. Quite interesting. Also interesting are those Anglo-Saxon ones. Look for Borough, Ton and Ham Wordsmith: Place Names A further useful meeting has taken place of the Zero Carbon Ashwell group. It is too soon to go for a full website, but there is a need for a ‘landing page’ for people to register their interest. The group is finalising a leaflet which will go to all households, look out for yours. The group is looking for people with useful skills, helping with spreadsheets, project management etc. Do please get in touch. If anyone has had experience of fitting solar panels, ground or air source heat pumps or other low carbon measures please contact the group to let them know the pluses and minuses. For more information or to offer help email [email protected] Stop Press. You can apply for a free survey from the National Energy Foundation, which is funded by the Government. A consultant will come to your house and assess where you can improve the energy efficiency of your house, and what grants are available. You can visit www.superhomes.org.uk/bedsherts/ or email Anne for more information. Zero Carbon Ashwell Group
26
27 Crossword by Falaise Clues Across 9. Go caving down the messy loop. (7) 10. Small guitar, originating in United Kingdom? (7) 11. Old Scandinavian, makes you snore. (5) 12. About the South, think, and hope this person is there when needed. (9) 13. Sounds bad, followed by campaign friend and how he or she uses grammar. (13) 20. Sage, been around a long time. (4) 21. Alternating current around car in West Africa. (5) 22. Six tsars, vain but confused. (4) 23. Elected but just won’t sit, like Sinn Fein at Westminster. (13) 32. Always more than one side to it. (9) 33. Send your money back – watch! (5) 34. Alison intended to give you something nutritious. (7) 35. Featuring Ella at the end of November: not a long story. (7) Clues Down 1. Assorted pines with backbone. (5) 2. Wild West or my tempest. (6) 3. Separates Isle of Wight, the lonest. (6) 4. Mount Eric sorted out measurementsystem. (6) 5. Awkward mule is getting breakfast. (6) 6. Posh opera took the bull by the horns. (6) 7. Genetic pioneer to repair the Spanish. (6) 8. Pub, the morning after. (5) 13. Uncertain magis write letter in Greek. (5) 14. They smell and it pushes its way forward. (5) 15. Precious stone and a way into the garden. (5) 16. Roman historian, no American,master of unspoken innuendo. (5) 17. Semi-arid South American region – could be tea company? (5) 18. Louis is Italian. (5) 19. Unknown in Orient, has rising effect. (5) 24. Indian food, hundred in northern sea. (6) 25. Mess around with aged GT: you’re a marked man. (6) 26. Excess, gone East and South, fourscore and ten. (6) 27. Sad Lin, surrounded by water. (6) 28. Like Nat, I’ve lived here all my life. (6) 29. Wimple? Face South, not West; it’s easy. (6) 30. A quiet friend could shock. (5) 31. Tear around with tea, a rare pleasure. (5) Solution to June crossword: Across: 7.Swiper 8.Eritrean 9.Ascorbic 10.Kettle 11.Self help 12.In-laws 13.Flourishing 18.Spread 20. Near miss 22.Crater 23.Liberals 24.Minatory 25.Racism Down: 1.Twister 2.Spoonful 3.Arable 4.Ticklish 5.Brutal 6.Marlowe 8.Exceptionally 14.Undertow 15.Numeracy 16.Ephraim 17.Useless 19.Extras 21.Arbury
28 Spot the difference Results for June’s copy: how many did you find? Can you spot July's 12 differences. After our talk about my future nears Feverish disquiet for both of us, I walk To a park and sit on a bench at night after telling you That I do not want to follow your plans. I have done worse, I think. You call again when I am there, and I see your face On the phone. But you are not with me. Am I sitting on that bench right now? Or am I seeing myself sitting there when you say, “But what about me? What am I going to do? What was all this for if you aren’t ... ” I want to stay in that moment now And now and now, but I can’t Remember the rest you said (or are saying) But only my reply, “I’ll do it then. I’ll do it. I’ll do it myself. Let me make that choice—” Am I making Sure to remember every word (Or am I acting it out) but that is how I know— And if this memory is a piece falling out From what really happened, a poor copy usable until the last Attempt at recall fails and the dark takes it, Then we will not meet as we met on the bench, But only here in the moment of this poem That barely resembles the night, The echo of which is the foundation of this structure Without instruments or notations for how fast Or slow the scene should be played. Poem for July Park Bench - Jack Jung I know you are not reading this out loud. The voice in you is the only sound. We will never speak as well as it speaks. There is no true silence because of it. We are loud despite it, ringing air, Creating differences that split open— The ray of sunlight splits through the tree’s Green leaves and will keep shining on this bench When I am gone and when the tree is gone And when this bench is gone And when you are gone. Yes, I will come back here. If I wait long enough before my return I will not know where this was going. This bench was a tree with branches. When they made me play a tree In a Christmas pageant, I thought there was a tree In the story, and I stood pretending still. I was a shade for a doll meant to be the babe And the doll had a sound box. A little girl played the mother. She kept crying When we needed her to sit on the stage. We got a bench for her. Not knowing what her character will go through After the event we players were a part of On the stage, the girl rocked her lifeless doll To sleep. And I sit on my bench And look down on your face, Wondering about the girl under my arms. When pressed the doll said, “I love you. I love you with all my heart.”
29
30
31
32