September Parish News
ST ANDREWS CHURCH
Services
& Events for September
|
Sat
6th |
Mothers
Union trip to Kew Gardens, For details call 738435 |
|||
|
Sun 7th |
10.30 6.15pm |
Family Communion “3-16”
meet in the
Family Room |
||
|
Network
groups resume fortnightly meetings. Details from Joy or group leaders. |
||||
|
Wed 10th |
10.30 |
Pram Service |
||
|
Sat 13th |
Historic Churches Bike Ride.
St Andrew’s open 10am – 5pm. |
|||
|
Sun 14th |
10.30 2.30pm |
Morning Praise St Andrew’s Ramblers meet at church. |
||
|
Thu 18th |
8.00pm |
“Footsteps”
meet in the Family
Room |
||
|
Sun 21st |
10.30 6.15pm |
Family Communion “3-16”
meet in the
Family Room |
||
|
Wed 24th |
10.30 2.30pm |
Pram Service in the Family
Room Woodside Home, Harvest
Service |
||
|
Fri 26th |
2.30pm 7.00pm |
Slip End Lowers School, Harvest
Service Harvest Supper in the Village
Hall |
||
|
Sat 27th |
10.00 |
Decorating church for Harvest |
||
|
Sun 28th |
Harvest Festival |
|||
|
|
10.30 12.00 3.15pm |
Harvest Service Bring & Share Lunch in church Harvest Festival at Holy Trinity,
East Hyde |
||
|
|
|
|
||
Normal Service is resumed!
September marks the re-start of activities after the holidays as we launch into a busy programme. Highlights are the resumption of Fellowship and Youth Groups with the popular Harvest Supper in the Village Hall towards the end of the month with the Harvest Thanksgiving service on Sunday 28th. Get your Harvest Supper tickets early; see the advertisement in this issue of Parish News.
Car Treasure Hunt
On a Saturday afternoon at the end of July, seven cars left Slip End at ten minute intervals on a mission into deepest Hertfordshire. Each crew clutched a wad of papers including a map in a sealed envelope, for use only when completely lost.
There were 56 clues to pick up en route, and 10 articles to find for use in case of a tie-break. Definitely not a race and most cars took almost 3 hours to complete the undemanding 22 mile course, some longer! Most clues were relatively easy for those with their eyes open and wits about them. I even went out at 6.30 that morning with my secateurs to do some surreptitious hedge trimming to make sure all clues were visible. There were some red herrings, like ‘How many stars and what is the state of the moon’ at Peter’s Green which had absolutely nothing to do with the Bright Star pub!
There were walk-about stops in Kimpton and Wheathampstead, which led to pleasant and little known corners of these villages, and who knew that an SPC number on a bridge signified it was on the St Pancras to Carlisle line? I didn’t until it was explained to me by my next door neighbour!
The afternoon ended with a pleasant social hour (or two) at the Three Horseshoes on Harpenden Common, where, after the usual heated debate on the validity of certain answers, Alan & Jan Buttery and Steve & Sue Lyons were declared the winners.
Despite the length of time taken, no car had to resort to their map and much fun was had by all. More teams next time please.
Valerie Church
CORONATION GARDENS
I much appreciated the measured tone of Pauline Smith’s note in last month’s PN on the possible refurbishment of the Coronation Garden.
It is clear that any plans to make significant changes to the garden should be fully discussed with Pauline at the earliest possible stage: she quite probably has her
own ideas if funds are available. Also, Pauline maintains the garden at present and will know as well as anyone how any proposed changes would affect year-on year maintenance effort and costs.
If we can afford ‘improvement’, it must be sustainable. Anyway, I quite like the garden as it is!
Under gardener
True Story?
On a Birmingham canal close to Winston Green Prison, a wire mattress got snarled around the propeller of a narrow boat. Barry went off to a DIY store to get wire cutters and a hacksaw. On paying for these, he asked ‘May I have them in a cake please?’
From Brian Church:
I was recently looking ‘Village Life’, a record of the Slip End area which was printed in 1989 to mark the centenary of St Andrews. It says how, in 1958, the Minister of Transport cut the first clod of earth to start construction of the M1. He predicted that this section of the motorway would be completed in 19 months: and it was!
Coincidentally, I noticed a clip of mine in last September’s PNews, gently remarking on the time taken on the welcome new traffic calming measures: that must also be getting close to 19 months by now!
[‘Village life’ is out of print. It includes some fascinating local history and is well worth reprinting ]
Brian Church
Brian: shouldn’t that be a sod, not a clod? You may be deferring to the claggy nature of the subsoil here in darkest South Beds, so maybe we’ll compromise on slod …
Also, after stops and starts, the traffic calming does seem to be complete now. Picking up on an issue Muriel raised in these pages: why not include a pedestrian crossing and an extension of the new bit of isolated footpath which has been put in, leading on to the church and playing field? Aside from cost issues (which will no doubt be a factor) it would be good to have comment from our councilors about this suggestion.
Sorry we were a bit late …
Apologies to our regular readers for the rather late delivery of the August magazine. With a bumper issue and more than twice the usual print run, there were a few problems, both at the printers and in distribution. We are grateful to Paul at the F & R for sponsoring that issue, which was distributed all round. We received kind and encouraging words from Sue & Peter Hammond in Woodside about last month’s issue, who congratulate Sue and the team for a good issue. We don’t always get things right and respect criticism; but an occasional complement like this does encourage us to keep hacking! Thanks Sue & Peter, can’t promise special issues like that too often, but we’ll work at improving quality and content all round. We do appreciate input from all quarters, so if you have anything to say on any local subject, we will be pleased to hear from you as individuals or groups.
Our editor, Sue
It was with sadness that we learnt of the death of Sue Cowell’s mother, Doris Green, on 9th August. On behalf of our readers we extend sympathies and kind thoughts to Sue and her family at this sad time.
David Kingston(Acting editor)
WOMEN’S INSTITUTE
Two outings were recently enjoyed by our members, to the Castle on the Hill and the Chocolate Lady, and to Stanford & Burely House.
The speaker at our August meeting, Helen Turner, told us an incredible story about a preacher at St. Mary’s Church in Luton, whose words affected her so much that she felt impelled to help him in his mission.
With her husband’s blessing she set about finding money for the flight and money to survive on: destination Zambia in Southern Africa!
She met up with three others for the journey and on arrival in Lusaka, a pastor met them and after a night at the local Holiday Inn, reality set in!
The following day was spent traveling in a Land Rover over dusty, bumpy roads. On arrival at their living quarters, under canvas, they were told to keep the tent zipped up to deter the mosquitoes. The heat was unbearable and insects were all of gigantic proportions, 12” stick insects and huge flies.
Women were not allowed to wear trousers there as this was a sign of being a “loose woman”, long skirts and sleeves were the order of the day. People there had nothing and they were not able to grow crops as the elephants eat them or trampled over them; I couldn’t comprehend.
Helen and her colleagues did their best with what they had, but what is the answer?
Forthcoming Dates
Sept 16th: Birthday Meeting
Oct 21st: Pottering at Sotherbys
Nov 18th: Quiz Night
We meet every 3rd Tuesday in the month, 7.30 at the Baptist Chucch Hall in Caddington – see you there!
Patricia Crick
Temptation
A minister parked his car illegally one day, so he put a note under the windscreen wiper.
“I have circled the block ten times and if I don’t park here, I’ll miss my appointment. Please “forgive us our trespasses.””
When he returned to his car he found a ticket from a traffic Warden.
“I’ve circled this block for ten tears and I don’t give you a ticket, I’ll lose my job! “Lead us not into temptation!””.
From the Sunday Post
Educated Guess
As the secretary at our primary school, I handled incoming telephone calls. One day I advised the parent on the line that the teacher she wanted to speak to was busy, but I’d take a message and ask the teacher to call her back. “Is she really busy,” the caller asked, “or just teaching?
ALEY GREEN METHODIST CHURCH
Here are our Harvest Dates in September; we do hope you will join us!
14th: Harvest Festival and All Age Worship at 11.00am.
15th: Harvest Auction in aid of “Seeds for Africa” at 7.30pm.
21st: The Live Circuit Players are coming to lead All Age Worship. Evryone welcome at 11.00am.
During September, members of Aley Green Church will be coming round, door to door collecting in aid of thye National Children’s Homes. Please give this you support!
Heart’s Desire (Patience Strong)
In the working of a garden you discover much as you watch the things you plant respond to nature’s touch.
You are learning all the time and never do you tire of trying to create the garden of your heart’s desire.
Ann Meader.
Autumn on the Allotment
These are coming on well: Brussels picked on a frosty winter’s morning freeze the fingers, so they have to taste good!
FRIENDSHIP CLUB
Our July outing to Bournemouth was very enjoyable. It was a very hot day, so we did enjoy the lovely sea breezes. As always, the Bournemouth gardens were beautiful. Thanks to a generous donation from our late Chairman, Gerald Dyer, our day trip down to Weymouth will be free to Club Members.
On September 25th we are off to Southend for the day and to see the lights in the evening followed by a Fish & Chip Supper.
We meet every Thursday at the Village Hall, where a warm welcome awaits you!
Viv Porter
Doris May Green
My family and I would like to thank everyone for their messages of sympathy, love and prayers on the occasion of my mother’s death on August 9th.
Although mum lived in Markyate she was known to many of the church family, as she often attended St Andrew’s Church with me. Her breathing problems over the last few years made it difficult for her to get about but she fought bravely and persevered until the end. She will be greatly missed by all of us. We held a thanksgiving and celebration for her life at the church and four of her grandchildren spoke lovingly of her, recalling happy memories, which we all shared.
Thanks to Joy for her involvement in the service and to all who came.
Sue Cowell
KEECH COTTAGE NEWS
Various groups in the Village have been helping raise funds for local charities, including the Keech Cottage & Pasque Hospice, which is entirely dependent upon charitable giving. Here are a couple of items, sent in by Jan Crawley and Gillian Plummer, about recent events:
On the 26th July about 80 people friends and families of the bowls club and Village raised money through a BBQ, Raffle, Tombola and “Guess the Name of the Doll”. It took place in the afternoon in the recreation hall and although the weather took a turn for the worse the village chatter and laughter shone through to raise over £450 for the keech cottage . It was great to see so many enjoy themselves yet raise money for a good cause. Lets do it again next year and who knows if the weather is good we could still have Rounders and Bowls matches.
A big thank you for everyone!!!
Jan Crawley
On Wednesday 13th August I organized a Coffe Morning and Ploughman’s Lunch in aid of Keech Cottage and Pasque Hospice. My thanks go to Paula, Shirley, Sandra and Barbara for all their help and also to all those who supported us. To date, the total raised amounts to over £100.
On Saturday 27th September, there will be a Craft Fayre in the Village Hall which will be aid of MacMillan Cancer Relief, where we include Coffee Morning and Ploughman’s Lunches again. All profits will go to MacMillan, so please give your support as these people do a wonderful job looking after those who suffer from cancer.
Gillian Plummer
GARDEN ASSOCIATION
Not an easy summer on the allotments with all the heat and lack of rain! But its an ill wind …. At least the weeds continue to grow! No, not really that bad and the water laid on at the allotments these days, help keep the plants growing with some good crops at the end of the day.
Rent and Membership fees are due on September 26th, 6.30 to 8.00pm at Gill Plummer’s home in Front Street.
Vegetable Garden
We are beginning to think ahead to next year already and following harvest of this years crops, make ready the plots for winter sweetening. Beet, carrots and potatoes can be lifted and stored; carrots and beet in boxes of sand or under mound of earth in the open, the potatoes in clamps. Parsnips are better left in as the frost improves them; so they can be pulled as required. Cauliflowers should have a leaf or two bent over the curds for protection. If you’ve not already done it, bend over onion stems close to the bulb. Seedlings of spring cabbage can be planted into growing quarters.
Fruit Garden
Cut back fruited raspberry canes to 1 foot; plant new strawberry beds, continue to pick apples and pears as they ripen.
Flower Garden
Now is the time to plant bulbs for early spring flowering; prune rambling roses and tie up new runners.
General Work
Keep the ground loose with the hoe; turn over ground after cropping. Burn rubbish as it accumulates. Grass seed will germinate well enough in September to get established before the winter is upon us.
“It’s been a tough year …”
So says Derek Worsley, Chairman of the Allotment Association.
“Problem has been a lack of rain, not just during the hot, dry summer, but there was not a lot during the winter. Tap water doesn’t do the job like a good downpour, but this year that’s about all the water available to us.”
“These brussels are are doing quite well, though. I’ve been watering and we’re hoping for a reasonable crop in the autumn and winter: best to get a bit of frost on them.”
Derek should know, he’s been tending his allotment in Front Street for nearly 50 years.
“I do quite well with fruit, although my raspberries are a disappointment this time, but try one of these blackberries.”
To your gardening correspondent, this was the first try of cultivated blackberries. They are so much meatier and tastier than those we pick from the hedgerows, although that’s the best most of us can get: blackberry and apple pie is always an autumn favorite: this year seems good for apples.
Derek says that there are some spare plots available, so if you can put in a bit of time and effort, the rewards are good not to mention the fresh air and exercise.
“Home grown always tastes better and there are big cost savings too!”, says Derek. “Autumn’s a good time to start an allotment: time to start getting the ground ready for the spring. Get in touch and we’ll sort you out a nice plot.”
A. Marshtit
|