Harpendia Summer Magazine-Jubilee edition 2022 by Harpendia

HARPENDIA SUMMER MAGAZINE 2022 Jubilee edition

WHY EVERYONE LOVES HARPENDEN IN SUMMER! EXCITING EVENTS FOR ALL THE FAMILY TO ENJOY

FABULOUS SHOPPING ON OUR FAMOUS HIGH STREET

www.harpendia.com

The New Mayor’s message for Harpenden I am delighted to be serving as Town Mayor for 2022-23 and I am very much looking forward to being out and about meeting the community this summer. This year of course marks the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee so it will be even more special for me to celebrate this event with everyone in the Town. I always enjoy spending time on our High Street with my family, there are so many great shops to browse in and a wide variety of restaurants and cafes to choose from, as well as a great range of services such as hairdressing, beauticians, travel agency and interior design. I have always been particularly impressed by how many independent businesses there are in Town, offering their own unique products and services. I encourage everyone to pay our shopping areas a visit this summer and enjoy some (hopefully) continued good weather! Best wishes Cllr Lisa Scriven Town Mayor of Harpenden The Town Mayor of Harpenden’s Charities for 2022/23 are: The Thin Blue Paw Foundation and the Essex & Herts Air Ambulance. 2

The place to go for modern art in Harpenden Six months ago Molasses House opened its doors in Station Road, following a short period of redevelopment by some of the many talented trades in Harpenden. “It was important for us to show our support for the community we were joining by employing local companies to help with the refit’ said Barrie Woolston, Gallery Owner. Molasses House has developed its own style and reputation. Exhibiting exceptional artwork created by local artists such as Jacob V Jordan, Stephen Cobb, K.NN.TH, Ben Shalom and Johnman Spraycan.

The art scene is vibrant and ever changing so at Molasses House the art is presented to help stimulate the art buyers taste buds with work from internationally acclaimed artists as well as supporting the unique talent located on our doorstep. Described as a breath of fresh, the environment is friendly and inviting to browse at your leisure. “It was important to create a welcoming buzz to the gallery” said Barrie “we try hard to make everyone welcome, buyer, browser or artist”. Those of you who have passed the window will have seen for yourself the range of art available. Next time, cross the threshold you will be guaranteed a warm welcome. 3 Station Road. Harpenden. AL5 3SA 01582 7132222 www.molasseshouse.com

Stylish outdoor living with a summer discount Our new range will bring style and comfort to all your outdoor living. Whether you’re relaxing or entertaining we have everything you need. Furniture; Lighting; Fabrics; Parasols; Lanterns and accessories. ALL with a summer discount using the voucher below. Established in 1988, Lister Interiors provides a unique Interior Design Service to Harpenden and the surrounding areas. Our shop is based in central Harpenden, where you can peruse the latest fabric, paint and wallpaper collections, source a new lamp, rug, piece of furniture, a new throw or cushion, or simply pop in to say 'hello' to the team, and our resident dog 'Stanley' the English bulldog. Have a look at our website to see our stockists and find out more about Lister Interiors, or follow us on Instagram to see some of the items that we have in store before your visit. We look forward to welcoming you. website:- www.listerinteriorsltd.co.uk Instagram:- https://www.instagram.com/listerinteriorsltd/ Facebook:- www.facebook.com/listerinteriorsltd

“Invest now to give confidence in your future”. “Lies, damn lies and statistics” is a phrase often attributed to Mark Twain although a trawl through Wikipedia shows that it uncertain who was the first person to coin the phrase. What is certain is that it appears as appropriate today as ever if you read the headlines! (What will that report say!) Also in the headlines is that nasty beast “Inflation”. I’m sure you will have read in recent news reports that UK inflation rose by 7% in March, its highest rate in 30 years. The large annual rise reflects widespread increases in the costs of most goods and services and has exceeded economists’ forecasts (see a previous article on my thoughts of economic forecasting!). Clearly, it is a more expensive time we are living in with the likelihood of rising prices set for the foreseeable future.

Scott continued: “As an economic concept, the rate of inflation is important as it represents the rate at which an investment is eroded and the loss of its purchasing power over time. The main question that comes to mind is - with some banks oﬀering savings accounts with interest rates of just 0.01% and even fixed interest rates at levels considerably below 2%, is it time to consider an alternative to a traditional savings account? It is more important than ever to ensure that your money is not only keeping pace with the increases in prices we are seeing in most goods and services but attempting to produce a real return, which is the concept of investment performance above and beyond the rate of inflation.

With that I mind I was considering the work we do on our investment committee, of which we are rightly proud, to develop inflation beating investment portfolios and asked our Head of Investments, Scott Draycon, (pictured below) for his thoughts on inflation.

Scott began: “Whilst the cost of living is set to increase, there may be further misery for individuals with cash on deposits as any rises in interest rates to stave oﬀ inflation are not likely to be replicated by increases in deposited interest on savings accounts. During the last year, we have experienced increased enquiries from clients seeking to lessen capital on deposit, benefit from transferring cash ISAs into invested ISAs and reviewing the real value of National Savings and Investments Premium Bonds over the longer term. With 2022 heralding a prosperous year for investors, many of these clients benefitted from taking early action”.

At Lyndhurst, we firmly believe that the best way to achieve a real return and combat escalating rates, is to invest capital in our highly regarded investment portfolios that have a long term objective of producing real returns on capital rather than seeing inflation erode our wealth. We have developed a number of portfolios and investment strategies to tackle the current inflation crisis”. If this situation resonates with you then please call our team on 01582 715777 and they can discuss how we might help. Geoﬀ Newman Development Director. Lyndhurst Financial Management, Lyndhurst House, High Street. Harpenden. AL5 2RT www.lyndhurstfm.co.uk

Wise Guys is your local Gents' barbers. In business since 2001. Located in Southdown we oﬀer a friendly, professional haircutting service. Temperature check before you walk in. Sanitisation of all equipment between each booking Online bookings (appointments only) Card payment only (no cash)

www.wiseguysbarbers.co.uk

Summer has arrived in Coppers Boots and Shoes

We have an extensive selection from many major footwear brands for ladies and gentlemen of all ages. Fresh and distinctively contemporary brands in stock: Holding 20+styles from Birkenstock, Gabor, Ecco, Rieker, Seibel, Fit Flop, Orca Bay, Hey Dude to name but a few. We pride ourselves in never knowingly being undersold in the High Street setting. (Outside of seasonal sales) Opening hours: Mon - Sat 9am - 5.30pm Sunday 10am-2pm

We look forward to welcoming you to our family run business for a professional, friendly service that has been supplying and servicing the Harpenden residents since 1989.

Coppers Boots & Shoes 24-26 High St, Harpenden 01582 460279

Exclusive oﬀers to Fonehouse Harpenden! Leyton Road opposite Waitrose Contact us on 01582 769442. Upfront costs apply. Upfront costs may vary depending on handset. Trade ins can be taken to reduce upfront costs.

Apple iPhone 13 128GB £45.00† per month • 150GB Data (5G) • Unlimited Minutes • Unlimited Texts • 24 Month Vodafone Contract

Samsung Galaxy S22 5G 128GB Phantom Black £41.00† per month / 24 months • 100GB Data (5G) • Unlimited Minutes • Unlimited Texts • 24 Month Three Contract

The above are just 2 examples of the exclusive oﬀers we have in store. Call in and check which suits you best.

All that glitters... Platinum rings are just as good as gold rings BUT only less expensive. Celebrate the Platinum Royal Jubilee with your own ring made in platinum.

You’ll be in good company.

Platinum rings range in price from £600 to £6,000.

Join the Jubilee celebrations and let Loveweds treat you like royalty.

Discuss the options with Loveweds Jewellers of Harpenden; see and touch both types of rings. CAN you tell the diﬀerence? The only difference you’ll see is the price.

A solitaire platinum diamond engagement ring with a certified round white brilliant cut diamond

A platinum diamonds dress ring with micro set halo & shoulder diamonds with a central certed white emerald cut diamond

A solitaire platinum diamond engagement ring with a certified round white brilliant cut diamond with a matching plain court profile platinum wedding band

A five stone diamonds platinum ring with 5 matching claw set emerald cut white diamonds with a matching plain platinum wedding ring with a full platinum diamonds eternity rings with bar-set round white brilliant cut diamonds

A platinum diamonds engagement ring with micro set shoulder diamonds with a central certed round white brilliant cut diamond

A 3 stone platinum diamonds engagement ring with round white brilliant cut diamonds with a matching pave-set diamonds wedding ring with round white brilliant cut diamonds

69c High St, Harpenden, AL5 2SL. 01582 761866 Open Tues - Sat 10am - 5pm

enquiries@lovewedsjewellers.co.uk www.lovewedsjewellers.co.uk

Brayleys celebrates a decade in Harpenden Having opened its doors in June 2012, Kia and Mazda car dealer, Brayleys, is celebrating its 10th anniversary of trading in Harpenden, where it remains the town’s only new car retail business. Brayleys secured the site on Luton Road back in February 2012, which had previously been a Vauxhall dealership until it closed in the early 2000s. It then remained vacant for over ten years until Brayleys’ Managing Director, Paul Brayley, recognised the site’s potential as a dual showroom and service centre for both Kia and Mazda, which were to become brand new franchises for Brayleys. The dealership was officially opened by the Mayor of Harpenden, who was then Rosemary Farmer and Brayleys has continued to focus on serving its customers well and integrating itself into the local community, as a respected and thriving business in the town. A year after it opened, the dealership was named Best New Dealership in the UK at the 2013 Motor Trader Magazine Awards. The judging panel highlighted Brayleys’ demonstration of a clearly planned and executed launch programme supported by sound leadership, innovative marketing and short and long term business aspirations. A decade on and the company is now one of the top performing retailers of both Kia and Mazda brands in the UK, having sold over 12,000 new and used cars to date just from Harpenden. 31 staff are employed at the dealership, including two apprentices. Brayleys is an advocate of apprenticeships, as a means of encouraging young people into a skilled career within the motor industry. The significant growth in hybrid and electric vehicles has created a challenging time for car dealers in finding

technicians with the appropriate skills to work on increasingly complex models. By taking advantage of manufacturer apprenticeship programmes, Brayleys is able to help train young people, so that they can ‘earn while they learn’ with the support of the leading automotive brands that it represents. In addition to its Harpenden showroom, Brayleys has expanded significantly in the past decade and is now a franchisee for Honda, Kia, Mazda, Renault and Dacia. It operates from 15 sales points throughout the Home Counties, Greater London and Thames Valley, offering network coverage around the M25. Following its most recent acquisition of Orpington Honda in Kent, Brayleys has become Honda’s largest private franchisee in the UK with eight showrooms and ten aftersales outlets. Having established his dealer group with the takeover of a failing Honda franchise in St Albans in 2003, Paul Brayley continues to manage the business. After almost two decades of delivering consistently good customer service across its network, as well as organic expansion, he sold a majority shareholding to Dubai-based conglomerate, AW Rostamani Group, in 2018, although he still retains a significant stake in the company, which continues to bear his name.

Paul made Harpenden his home in 2015, which he shares with his wife, Lea and dog, Buster. Commenting on the 10th anniversary of launching in Harpenden, Paul Brayley commented: “We’re very proud of our status as Harpenden’s only car showroom and it’s a responsibility that we take very seriously. We work hard to maintain the appearance of the dealership for both our customers and the community and this includes tending to all the shrubs outside, which are adjacent to the roadside.” “The past ten years has seen our business develop successfully across Harpenden, St Albans and the wider area and we continue to receive a lot of referrals from customers, including those who have put their trust in us from the day we opened. A sense of belonging within the community means a lot to us and we

Classics on the Common. Wednesday July 27th Back in its usual late July slot, Classics on the Common, organised by Rotary in Harpenden, will be delighting the public with its 28th show on Wednesday, 27 July. On-line booking and free tickets for vehicles registered in 1930 or earlier are proving attractive innovations with owners. Chances are you’ll find classic vehicles from every decade of the 20th century at this year’s show. As ever, there’s no charge for spectators but you are asked to donate generously. All the money raised goes to the charities the show supports.

Paul Brayley continue to serve the town to the best of our ability. We are always open to new ideas and suggestions of how we might contribute wherever we can.” 17 Luton Rd, Harpenden AL5 2UA Phone: 01582 464100 https://www.brayleys.co.uk/kia/locations/ brayley-kia-harpenden/

Test your Royal knowledge and you could win a Jubilee hamper worth £150! Twenty-three High Street and Southdown businesses have joined forces with Harpenden Town Council to create an exciting window trail. The trail

will run from Friday 27th May to 5th June and oﬀers a fabulous Jubilee hamper worth £150. Each business will display a Royal themed question in their shop window, and participants are encouraged to follow the trail to answer all the questions. A winner, randomly selected from entries with the most correct answers, will be presented with the Jubilee hamper, put together by Harpenden Town Council. Items in the hamper include high quality treats from the Town’s well loved shops, restaurants and services, from a beautiful Jubilee mug from Serena Hart to delicious chocolates from Thorns, and gift vouchers from Godfrey’s and CY Hair.

Question sheets are available from the Town Hall on Leyton Road and each of the businesses who are taking part: Thorns, Perrys Florist, Threads, Rebecca Jade Beauty & Aesthetics, Godfreys, CY Hair, Serena Hart, Oui of Harpenden, Rennie Grove High Street, Map Stores,

Dickens Hairdressers, Blue Cross, Wine Rack, Parker and Vine, Lister Interiors, Stephanie Randall Florist, Molasses House, Beats School Uniform, Harpenden Building Society, Oxfam Books and Music, Cove Spa, Milehams Discount Car Care, and Rennie Grove Southdown.

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Creating tailor made holidays for you and your family Stepping into TravelFourSeasons office, located just off the High Street in The Forresters feels a world away from travel agents of the past. They do things differently here. The lounge style office has comfy sofas offering barista style coffee of your choice - or even a cocktail should you feel like something stronger. Director, Sean Fletcher has grown his business from his home office and now has a formidable team creating tailor made holidays for each individual client "We think about the details and how to maximise the enjoyment out of every experience and budget. There is no one size fits all, there is always room for a tweak to make the difference - and that is where we excel". Services include Travel Concierge Aimee, who assists with entry forms, covid requirements and all the fun stuff like spa and restaurant bookings "People don't just want a trusted brand anymore, they want to use trusted individuals" Aimee says, "Using the innovative Vamoos app we can create an itinerary that you can access anywhere, print documents, find local hotspots and share with family members. It makes the whole experience so much easier, and all the better to do this in a relaxed and informal setting, with prosecco in hand!". Travel has become so confusing in recent times that speaking with people who can give first-hand experience is essential, and knowing that you are protected should anything go awry gives your holiday vital security. So start ticking off that holiday bucket list and pop in and meet the team!

Tr a v e l f o u r s e a s o n s Open From 9.30am - 5.30pm Mon - Fri. Saturday 9.30am - 3pm 1a The Forresters, High Street, Harpenden. AL5 2FB 01582 320 188 www.travelfourseasons.co.uk

Showcasing colourful bathrooms... made in Britain “After spending more time at home than ever before, having a bright and inspiring space has never been more important. But colour needn’t be limited to a feature wall or statement cushion – the bathroom is a great place to have fun with colour too. So we thought, what better way to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee than to showcase our collection of our homegrown UK manufacturers. Concrete basins have swiftly became Instagram favourites and it’s easy to see why. Boasting beautifully textured surfaces in everything from vertical flutes to horizontal waves, these basins are available in 28 irresistible colours, ranging from deep blue to blush pink. Prepared to go bolder still? Our exclusive collaboration with designer Sam Lander features concrete basins made using centrifugal force. The aptly named ‘Whirligig’ basins are handcrafted by Sam using a range of coloured concretes. Choose one of Sam’s colour concoctions or pick your own for a truly bespoke basin.

How we plan your bathrooms to perfection. Our designer (Dena Kirby) works in the Harpenden showroom to give clients personal attention. She listens to your requirements, paying attention to every detail. Understanding your likes and dislikes and the and dreams for your perfect bathroom. All within your budget of course. Dena can then assess all the elements and create a detailed visual plan illustrating how your new bathroom can look. Both on line and hand drawn.

Call in to the Harpenden showroom and have a chat with Martin (the owner) and Dena. They will make you more than welcome.

More details can be seen online, https:// www.ripplesradar.com/collections/basins

RIPPLES HARPENDEN, 59 HIGH ST, HARPENDEN AL5 2SL 01582 256008 14

Events to enjoy during the Summer

Sounds around the Abbey returns Rennie Grove’s musical spectacular returns for a fourth time, bringing a brilliant mix of rock, pop and West End classics to St Albans Cathedral on Wednesday 27, Thursday 28 and Saturday 30 July from 7pm till 10.30pm.

The Art of Grieving

Directed by Pippa Collins and hosted by Rosemarie Ford, Sounds Around the Abbey will showcase a range of stunning musical and vocal performances in the iconic setting of the Abbey. The Jupiter Singers, a home counties choir spanning pop, rock, musical theatre and Motown, will take to the stage on Wednesday and Thursday. On Saturday, The London Show Choir will bring West End show scores to St Albans with songs from the musicals. There will also be performances from award-winning Hertfordshire-based youth theatre company Brilliant Theatre Arts, all accompanied by a live band. The charity hopes stars of the West End will also be part of these special shows. Senior Community Fundraiser Gemma Ralph, said: “We look forward to welcoming back the wonderful Hugh Maynard (The Lion King, Miss Saigon, Sweeney Todd) who made his Sounds around the Abbey debut last year!” Rosemarie Ford said she was thrilled to be returning, urging people to secure their seats for a chance to “hear these incredible choirs in this most beautiful setting”. All proceeds from the shows will go towards Rennie Grove’s specialist care for local families affected by life-limiting illness. Tickets – priced £10, £20, £25 or £35, with concessions for under 16s accompanied by an adult – are available now from the Cathedral Box Oﬃce. Phone on 01727 890290 or book online at stalbanscathedral.org/sounds-

An arts event we are involved with, with some proceeds benefitting Rennie Grove. The Festival seeks to provide a creative way of exploring and coming to terms with loss and runs 27 May- 04 Sept in St Albans and includes an art exhibition at St Albans Museum, with a film screening, two performing arts events and additional activities running alongside throughout the summer. FULL DETAILS OM NEXT PAGE

The Art of Grieving Festival launches with aim of encouraging conversation around death and loss The Art of Grieving Festival will take place at the St Albans Museum + Gallery in Hertfordshire between the 27th May-4th September. The Festival aims to help break the taboo and encourage openness and conversation about loss, bereavement and death. The Festival will include the work of over 50 artists exhibiting paintings, sculptures, photos, short films, textiles, songs and poetry about loss, bereavement or death. Every piece will be accompanied by a description of the circumstances in which it was created or the inspiration behind its creation. The artists taking part will be sharing intensely personal work and they are doing it because they want to be part of open and honest conversations about this important part of life. Loss of a child; loss of a sibling; loss of a parent; loss of a partner; loss of a home; loss of a relationship; loss of identity; loss due to suicide, cancer, covid - all of these and more will be part of the 3 month exhibition. Festival organiser Kate Ray explains: “ Loss, bereavement and death are all a part of life that is too often ignored or hidden away. The Art of Grieving exhibitions enable artists working in any medium to share work related to these issues. This coming together of artist and audience generates new and important human connections around a shared desire to explore these often taboo subjects. “ That sentiment is echoed by contributing artist Rebecca Gibbs: “ The space that 'The Art of Grieving' exhibition is carving out for not only those grieving but also for others wanting to understand and support is so important. To be part of such a space is extremely enriching for me. Art both in practice as the artist but also as the viewer has been a really important processing tool for understanding myself and my loss. I’m so pleased my art will be surrounded by other powerful and beautiful pieces and will help to create a space where people can visit and know they are not alone in their grief.” Events taking place alongside the exhibition include:

The Art of Grieving documentary by Preston Zeller: theartofgrievingfilm.com 7.30pm Sunday 19th June 2022 at the Sandpit Theatre, St Albans. This amazing documentary follows artist Preston Zeller, who feels compelled to take on a year-long creative project after the sudden death of his 35 year old brother. Preston decides to create an intuitive abstract painting every day for 365 days as a way to process his grief and he shares the ups and downs of this momentous challenge in the film. This award winning and thought provoking film also addresses why Western culture is so poor at dealing with grief and explores whether art can help. Following the screening there will be a Q & A with filmmaker and artist, Preston Zeller and clinical director of the Art Therapy Project, Lindsay Lederman. Profit from the performance will be donated to Rennie Grove Hospice Care.

Good Grief by Ugly Bucket Theatre: www.uglybuckettheatre.co.uk 8pm Wednesday 20th July 2022 at the Abbey Theatre, St Albans A dying man’s last wish: for his friends to create a show about death. 'It’s fast, it’s funny and it plumbs the emotional depths exquisitely... exciting, innovative work' - The Stage. Featured by BBC Stories, Good Grief is a paranormal physical performance of loss, and the memories left behind, brought to you by ‘one of the UK’s most exciting young theatre companies’ – New Diorama. Profit from the performance will be donated to Rennie Grove Hospice Care and The Ollie Foundation. Finding Magic by Beverley Bishop: www.beverleybishop.com Friday 5th August at the Trestle Arts Base Theatre, St Albans Do you believe in Magic? This amazingly poignant and unique show, which has been to the Edinburgh Fringe, was created by Beverley about her journey with grief following the death of her son, Jess Fairweather, who took his own life in October 2018, aged 20. In October 2020 Beverley said, “Finding Magic is about my ups and downs and the grief process so far, but it’s also broader than that it’s about finding life force, finding magic and looking at what it is that makes us feel alive. ''C Arts said 'Equal parts moving and magical, Finding Magic is a story of loss, longing, love and laughter.' Proceeds from ticket sales go to The Ollie Foundation Zentangle sessions and 2 Death Cafes: www.artofgrieving.org.uk At a Zentangle session participants can enjoy 90 minutes of calm where regardless of artistic ability they can create a unique and beautiful piece of art. This mindful art session oﬀers the opportunity to see no mistakes, only opportunities. At a Death Cafe people, often strangers, gather to eat cake, drink tea and discuss death. The objective is to oﬀer an accessible, respectful and confidential space for discussion of this subject ‘to increase awareness of death with a view

SUMMER STREET FOOD SOCIALS on the Concourse Noon to 9 pm. Saturdays.June 25; July 31 & Aug 27. FOOD, MUSIC & FUN

Summer Carnival Sat. June 18

Art on the Common Sat June 18 & Sun June 19

The Highland Gathering Sun July 10

Childwickbury Arts Fair July 1, 2 & 3

I hope you have enjoyed reading this edition of Harpendia Magazine and also enjoy the summer months in Harpenden. Harpendia aims to keep you informed about all the issues aﬀecting life in Harpenden. The latest news updated daily. Business, The High Street, Health, Education, Traﬃc, Local Planning, Hospitality, Entertainment. Contact me if you have a news story. Ron Taylor, Editor. info@harpendia.com www.harpendia.com