Arlesey News Magazine February 2023

Welcome to Feb ruary!

Firstly, we are thrilled to welcome some new adver tisers to our magazine this month, we hope you will make them feel welcome! If you happen to call upon their ser vices be sure to mention where you found their details as it helps them to see ho w well the magazine is working with helping to promo te their business

We have some really interesting letters this month alongside a couple o f stories featuring local young people all pushing themselves to achieve some really good things. We lo ve hearing abou t these stories so please do keep getting in touch with us to let us kno w if you have something to share

This month’s f ront co ver sho t was sent in to us by local reader Georgia Christie who would like to ask our readers if they can work ou t where this picture was taken? This go t us thinking Wouldn’t it be fun if we could use a few o f our for thcoming f ront co vers to keep the fun running? If you kno w where Georgia’s picture was taken then please do get in touch with us using our facebook page and we’ll announce the winner (the f irst person to get in touch with us with the correct answer) in next month’s issue It is o f course just for fun bu t hey, with the gloomy weather and all that is the f irst par t o f the year we’ll take any fun we can get!! We hope you get involved and send us in any pho tographs we can use for this purpose going for ward!

Ar ticles:

Your letters Page 4

Local News Page 5 & 6

News f rom ACORN Page 7 Update f rom Arlesey Rail Users Group Page 9 News f rom Etonbur y Academy Page 10 News f rom Pix Brook Academy Page 11

Family Announcements Page 12 News f rom Fair f ield Lo wer School Page 13 Update f rom Arlesey Bro wnies Page 13 News f rom St Peter ’s Church Page 14 News f rom Arlesey Methodist Church Page 15

Mental Health Matters - Jo Loach Page 17

Februar y fun quiz! Page 18 NEW - Mum with 3 Page 19

Dear Editor,

The teacher in the latest Memor y Lane pho to (Januar y edition) is Hazel Griff iths She was our neighbour in London Road Biggleswade f rom 1962/3 to the mid 1970s.

Sadly Hazel passed away abou t 5 to 10 years ago She originally came f rom Guernsey During her childhood she was evacuated to England when Guernsey was occupied by the Germans, and returned to her parents as teenager She married Tom who was a lecturer at Shu ttlewor th She and Tom died within weeks o f each o ther

Regards

Peacock

Can you help us?

We are keen to f ind a deliver y volunteer to help us with our deliveries in The Rally & Jubilee Crescent If you have half an hour once a month to spare and enjo y helping to keep the community connected then we want to hear from you! Call us on 01462 731986 or email us at arlesey.news@yahoo.com

Dear Editor,

My personal thanks to those who vo ted for me as “Christmas Hero 2022”. I was ver y touched by the award and would like to pay tribu te to the team I work with at St. Peter ’s Church. Also a big thank you to Satchell’s for the superb hamper, f illed with delightful goodies.

Helen Bardell.

Dear Editor,

Just obser ving and musing o ver the proliferation o f muga, play and ou tdoor gym "facilities" which are being presented to our youngsters for their play

Young people lo ve to play and climb - o f course they do, and it's great that they can - bu t Oh the jo y o f climbing trees and turning them into imaginar y ships, homes, war time look - ou ts, etc No w they can have these cold , soul less manu factured versions -

Why, I ask myself, do council planners think it's ok to tear do wn trees for their buildings with all the jo y and wildlife habitat that they pro vide, and pu t up MUGAs, which look the same wherever they are??

I recognise that it would take decades for any tree to gro w branches strong enough Health and safety could be an issue (I have fallen f rom trees many times, with no lasting injur y- Grass is a great landing pad!) - If we really want to leave a legacy for generations to come , couldn't we tr y planting trees - the sor t o f trees that can be climbed ??

Sally Turner

Simon

Netball and Rugby students f rom Samuel Whitbread Academy, a par t o f the Bedfordshire School Trust (BEST ), have taken on their biggest physical challenge yet.

The students, will be travelling to Sou th Af rica in July to compete in an international competition in bo th netball and rugby To co ver the cost o f equipment, kit and excursions, one being to swim with seals, the group set themselves a target o f fundraising £6,000 To help them reach the students set themselves an epic challenge – running a whole marathon by completing one mile ever y hour for 26 hours straight

The fundraiser kicked o ff at 3pm on Thursday 8th December with many o f the par ticipating students and staff wrapped up in hats and glo ves, while o thers opted for a fancy-dress approach and wore onesies to keep them warm! The challenge mo ved f rom Clifton to Biggleswade Rugby Club, to carr y on through the night, with the group po wering on despite the sub-zero temperatures as lo w as -5 degrees! On Friday morning the group returned to school to complete the f inal nine miles – reaching the f inish line at 5pm

The netball and rugby teams were joined by staff members to complete the challenge and raise o ver £10,000!

Donations and sponsorship flooded in, with the students smashing their original target and raising o ver £10,000 to date The students decided to split the proceeds between expenses for the trip and a to wnship they will visit in Cape To wn, whilst on tour.

Pa

Principal Nick Mar tin said: “Despite the cold conditions, sleep deprivation and uncomfor table beds these students never gave up! Their determination, teamwork and commitment embodies our school values o f empathy, teamwork and determination. They are fantastic ambassadors for Samuel Whitbread !”

The GoFundMe page is still open. If you would like to donate visit: https://www.go fundme.com/f/netball-and-rugby-tour- sou th-africa -2023

Claws

24hr

Smashed by Samuel Whitbread Academy Students.

Ben’s Triumphant 1000km Challenge

Local student Ben Clifford cer tainly had cause for celebration in 2022 as he achieved the challenge o f running 1000 kilometres throughou t the year, all for a magnif icent cause Running for the charity Versus Ar thritis, Ben set himself the challenge o f running 20km each week throughou t the year to achieve his goal “I chose to run this challenge to raise funds for this charity as my Mum Emma has been a su fferer o f this disease for sometime ” Ben told the Arlesey News Magazine

“I broke the runs do wn into smaller, more achieveable amounts to enable me to progress and achieve the o verall challenge o f 1,000 kilometres ”

Samuel Whitbread Engineering student Ben, chose to run around Arlesey & Sto tfold with Mum Emma helping him to f inally cross the f inish line in December! “ I was thrilled to raise £500 for the ar thritis charity, whilst helping myself to stay f it and healthy at the same time ”

Ben is hoping to continue his training and one day aims to complete the London Marathon, recently completing a half marathon in just 1hr 49 mins

Mum Emma told the magazine “ I was so proud o f Ben for choosing to help this wonder ful charity - even though at times I think he found it tough, he was thrilled to be able to raise such a great amount o f money for such a wor thy cause.”

Ben’s fundraising link can be found belo w: www.go fundme.com/f/running -1000km-in-a -year-for-versus -ar thritis

Mum Emma (left) pictured wth Ben

Emma joins Ben as he crosses the f inish line o f his 1000k challenge.

Arlesey Conser vation For Nature

A Brief Histor y o f Living on the Arlesey Sea Bed

Much has been made recently o f the impor tance o f preser ving our rivers Arlesey has three main water courses and is par tly surrounded by them The River Hiz on the west, the River Ivel on the nor th, and coming across on the nor th east side we have the Pix Brook The Ivel and Hiz have been victims o ver the years o f o ver abstraction o f water at their well heads This danger to the River Hiz was recognised a few years ago and pumping f rom its Oughton Head source was ceased The debate abou t the Ivel is still ongoing The Pix Brook su ffered f rom contamination f rom the Letchwor th Sewage Works for many years bu t for tunately that is no more Water, especially clean water, is impor tant to communities and many grew along rivers bo th being a source o f food and a highway So ho w did we come to have these rivers? Three quar ters o f a million years ago Arlesey was at the bo ttom o f the sea or rather at the bo ttom o f the Great By tham River Examination o f the ground geology pro ves this by a rich layer o f river allu vium deposits which gives us chalk, clay and gravel This is why there are an abundance o f disused clay pits and gravel pits all around the village and also one large chalk pit (the Blue Lagoon) which pro vided material for making cement

Proo f o f us living on a sea bed can be found deep in the chalk as chalk is made f rom the gradual accumulation o f minu te marine calcite shells Fossilised remains can be found o f some larger shells (See illustration belo w) o f the molluscs that lived in the bo ttom o f the ‘Arlesey’ sea

To give you some indication o f the size o f the Great By tham River, the nor thern bank was in Lincolnshire and went across the Midlands to War wickshire, touching Derbyshire and the sou thern bank somewhere do wn here in Cambridgshire and Bedfordshire. Even two thousand years ago around the time o f Jesus o f Nazareth, the area was still no thing like we have today. A thousand years later the Arlesey area was no thing bu t a large swamp. At that time it was inhabited by the Saxon Gifla tribe led by Alf ric. When The Danes arrived f rom the Nor th Sea the rivers were still ver y navigable. Barges brought coal and took vegetables between Newcastle and Shefford via the River Ouse at the Wash

If you would like to grasp a bigger insight o f that period then Francis Pr yor o f Time Team fame paints a larger picture in his book the “The Fens: Disco vering England's Ancient Depths” ACORN is no t abou t histor y bu t is abou t preser ving what we have left o f the natural environment today Remember most o f what is left today is manmade Vast acres o f the land are no w fast disappearing under housing and the pollu ted water runo ff will end up in our local streams

We hope this ar ticle was no t too dr y and dusty, bu t understanding the past and what happened gave us what we have today and gives us the kno wledge to preser ve what we have no w

If you would like to help maintain this legacy you can contact ACORN via their email address at acorn.arlesey@ntl world.com

Update from Arlesey Rail Users Group

Arlesey Rail User Group continues to act on behalf o f passengers using Arlesey Station In early December I attended a vir tual meeting with various rail industr y stakeholders to discuss punctuality and reliability given the appalling summer ser vice last year Here is what I learned:

The biggest cause o f ser vice delay are: Network o ver run issues, damage to inf rastructure caused by the ho t summer, and train crew shor tages / delay in driver training Seasonal flu is also affecting staff ing no w throughou t the winter - we are seeing some cancellations as a result o f this GTR are no w playing catch up on driver training, we were assured signif icant progress is being made on this no w

Speed restrictions are in place at Alexandra Palace, New Barnet, Stevenage and Peterborough – this is affecting all our ser vices and if I’ve understood correctly these are speed restrictions that have been in place since the ho t weather in the summer – long term track repairs will see this restrictions lifted o ver time For the coming months GTR are building an emergency timetable that runs at 50 mph to cope with a ho tter summer This will mean there would be fewer trains in the system bu t they would run Essentially less disruption This timetable should be ready in Februar y and can be implemented within a few days o f a ho t forecast

There are seasonal peaks and troughs o f trespass, school holidays is always a peak time Stevenage is especially vulnerable and when trespass occurs at Stevenage it will affect our ser vices at Arlesey Stevenage and St Neo ts as they have been identif ied an emerging ho tspo t for trespass access, British Transpor t Police are pro viding some resource to patrol these locations in addition to new technology to aler t staff to people crossing the platform threshold.

There are 46 junctions between London and Ber wick that are still timber. During the ho t temperatures some o f these caught f ire or posed a risk o f catching f ire which lead to closure o f par t o f the rou te. Network Rail are aiming to address each wooden junction on a priority basis.

Work on the East coast mainline digital signal programme costing £1billion in signalling investment on the f irst 100 miles o f the ECM has star ted This involves remo ving the signals f rom the line side and mo ving to an in-cab digital signal Essentially the driver receives a message on ho w far and ho w fast they can go It will be the UK’s f irst intercity digital railway In addition, new lineside equipment and technology was installed between Welwyn Garden City and Hitchin This section o f rou te is being prepared to become the f irst par t o f the East Coast Main Line to operate with digital signalling This is ultimately good news for us

There will be fur ther work taking place at bo th locations o ver the weekend o f Februar y 18 and 19, which will mean no train ser vices in or ou t o f London King’s Cross, St Pancras via Finsbur y Park or Moorgate on those dates We will share more details o f the changes - please check ou t the Arlesey Rail User Group facebook page for timely updates and the Thameslink journey planner app

Essentially the meeting was a big apology for the terrible reliability last year There was a concern amongst the RUGs that it might become perceived as OK for all ser vices to run 5 mins late and that this get normalised as its better than no trains at all. We were assured this is no t the case and running the adver tised timetable is always the target.

To contact the Arlesey

orchard. We are in our f ifth successful year o f GCSE examinations, and the f inal stage o f our development to Sixth Form is no w under way and will be completed this Summer. We are really proud o f our school which brings a mix o f traditional areas steeped in histor y for so many o f you, as well as modern, bright and spacious teaching spaces We are so for tunate to be based on such a large, open and beau tiful green site that the children and staff can enjo y Our specialist subject teachers are well established and eager to take our students through to Sixth Form, and the students are equally excited having been so involved in this new development for their higher education

We have also had the most fantastic ar twork set up on one o f our main stair ways to our Ar t and Pho tography Depar tment created by our Head Ar t and Pho tography, Miss Stacey Smith The ar twork features ar tists, f ilmmakers and product designers to inspire our students

We have had a visit f rom a Development Chef at Taylor Shaw, Etonbur y contract caterers, to look at our break and lunch menus, consider feedback f rom our student focus group and suppor t the school kitchen team to develop their skills The kitchen team do an excellent job o f listening to our students, understanding their needs and making sure there is always something that the children can eat Mrs Brahmachari-Limb, Head o f Per forming Ar ts, is no w f inalising the team for the Summer Term per formance ‘Culture Festival’ and the children are looking for ward to the trips and events coming up for the rest o f the year Our Juniors are looking for ward to being par t o f the Young Voices Choir at the 02 and their trip to the Duxford Air Museum. Our Secondar y students are working with the University o f Oxford, involved in a mock cour t trial and watching a theatrical per formance o f a Christmas Carol.

We are continuing to sho w prospective parents/carers and students (including Sixth Form entr y Sept 23) around our school, and we welcome any o f you f rom our community to get in touch if you wish to see our new facilities. We lo ve hearing your stories o f your time here. Call us on 01462 730391 to arrange a tour

H

A cademy News

Sparks Post ook ! it - t r the h

HUGE

Februar y already! For the f irst time in two years we are no t spending this time o f year pro -occupied with COVID and are instead thinking abou t o ther things for the year ahead.

While one big challenge is hopefully behind us there continue to be o ther pressures that our young people have to face. Undoubtedly the situation globally worries many o f our children as does the continued pressure on household f inances. It is our job to help young people understand the ups and do wns o f life and do our best to keep all things in context. As a school we kno w the value o f discussion and spend time simply talking with the children abou t the world beyond Sto tfold. We kno w that for many o f them their world begins and ends in this par t o f Central Bedfordshire, helping them to consider our place in the world is just one par t o f teaching children and we tr y to do so by giving ever y oppor tunity to have visits and visitors f rom ou tside the school.

” Oa r at co ht n rey G Bernie” En PC m Anne” Ba s hin Hi at Rec e on ne e ng o Andy - ge” Bi n and Ba at h ha e h b S NS and

Britten Jane a ut! oc a t ir s an co-op o e “ t” hing ca o a - o mming s and g tle” & the at ter Car Ian -

As the school continues to gro w fur ther oppor tunities arise as a consequence o f new staff joining the school This year it has been fantastic to have our prospective ar tists enjo ying ar t club, fu ture scientists attending forensics club, Chess club attracting more pupils and the general number o f activities increasing ever y term This will hopefully continue as we look to recruit our next round o f teaching and suppor t staff Over the course o f the next few months ano ther eleven teachers will join the school including music, drama, science, ICT and many o thers As a school that has gro wn f rom under 60 to almost 600 pupils in three years, with a corresponding increase in staff ing, it is great to see the oppor tunities for pupils and staff expand accordingly

The next few months are extremely busy as we begin to prepare our pupils for assessments and the next stage o f their education Working in schools is exciting and fast mo ving withou t any time to pause At PBA we are always thinking abou t the next step, and what needs to be in place to make that successful

For tunately we have a body o f pupils who are bo th receptive and excited by what they need to do next and as such the time really does fly by.

Steve Adams Principal. PBA

Model Rail way Exhibition at Stratton School, Biggleswade SG18 8JB on Saturday 18th Februar y f rom 10am- 4 30pm

REB

ADAM & REBECCA FRICKER

Congratulations on the bir th o f gorgeous Edward ( Teddy) We can’t wait to meet him!

PETER SAUNDERS

5th Februar y Happy Bir thday!

Lo ve f rom your family & f riends x

DHIR A J

Happy Bir thday to my wonder ful husband, I wish you a happy, healthy and successful year ahead. Stay blessed ❤ Lo ve, Komal xxx

DAVINA MASON

Februar y 9th

Wishing you a ver y Happy Bir thday!

With lo ve f rom your family & f riends xx

GEMMA WOOD

26th Februar y Happy 15th bir thday Lo ve f rom us all xxxxxx

News from Fair f ield Park Lo wer School

The new year has star ted with bundles o f energy and enthusiasm at Fair f ield Park! Aside f rom the ‘normal curriculum’ that is our o ffer, we have enriched the pupil’s lives in a range o f ways

The term kicked o ff with Science Week, with the theme o f “Journeys” Some children had the oppor tunity to explore space and planets in the planetarium and their feedback was resoundingly positive – one child beamed as they emerged and said “it blew my mind”! Working together collaboratively to build tall to wers and strong bridges saw the children develop their communication and collaboration skills too Children have also had the oppor tunity to discuss online safety at an IT Conference hosted by Samuel Whitbread Academy and subsequently bring this learning back to their year 4 classes. Our Reception children have also had the oppor tunity to learn safe balance bike skills too – a super precursor to riding bikes and developing their understanding o f road safety. This term’s value is tolerance and gro wing our understanding o f o thers – our Diversity Day which focused on Buddhism gave children the oppor tunity to reflect on stories to learn more abou t the teachings o f Buddhism. Children also had the chance to par ticipate in yoga sessions, develop mindfulness and meditation activities.

There are lo ts o f o ther highlights to look for ward to this term:

• Redborne PE Events, such as Paralympic Event, Swimming Gala, Kurling, Tag Rugby & Badminton

• Mo ther ’s Day Afternoon Tea

• PTA Mo ther ’s Day Gift Room

• Parents Consultations Tuesday 7th/Thursday 9th Februar y

• Class Pho to’s 15th and 16th March

• Parent Book Drop in 3 20pm, Tuesday 21st March

Value o f the month: Tolerance Please contact the school o ff ice should you require fur ther information on 01462 830000 Email o ff ice@fair f ieldparklo wer uk www fair f ieldparklo wer uk

News from Arlesey Bro wnies

The Bro wnies had an exciting run up to Christmas, designing and making their sno wman entr y for the Christmas tree festival, and cooking mincemeat and yule logs. We also enjo yed a special Girlguiding screening o f Matilda the musical and went bo wling too

We’re really looking for ward to the new term with lo ts planned to explore as we get ou t and abou t Bro wnies o ffers girls (aged 7 to 10) exciting oppor tunities to tr y new things, take on challenges, disco ver their po tential, make brilliant f riends and abo ve all have fun!

We have a few places at the moment so if you’d like to join us (or pu t your name on the waiting list if you’re no t quite 7) then register at www.girlguiding.org.uk/joinus, or email us at arlesey.bro wnies@ho tmail.co.uk.

Arlesey

Februar y is here and we look for ward to spring In the churchyard we will be watching ou t for the sno wdrops, aconites and violets to pop their shoo ts through the soil The churchyard is also full o f wild life, birds, bees, small bugs o f all kinds and as it warms up bu tter flies and mo ths So do come and stroll through and see what you can f ind as Spring approaches Although you never kno w we might still be in the grips o f winter! If we are, take that stroll and then come into the church to warm up, On our activities table you will f ind some books abou t wildlife, which might help you to identify what you could see in the churchyard. A jigsaw always on the go and some colouring activities for children, gro wn ups can colour too!

The church is always open f rom 9am – 5pm, and there are books to read in the “Book Nook”, or you can sit and be quiet or chat to anyone else who may pop in. Ser vices continue at the times belo w and we welcome visiting clergy to help during the vacancy. Ever yone is welcome. Thank you to ever yone who entered trees in the Christmas Tree Festival, all those who came to visit and the army o f volunteers who worked so hard o ver the weekend. The winning tree was f rom Chase House, congratulations to them. Thank you to Gill, Sue and Jackie for a great concer t a musical feast o f music. It was lo vely to see so many children at the Crib Ser vice and all the people who came to Midnight mass. Our thanks to the Revd. Amanda Ferris who came to take this special celebration o f the Bir th o f Christ.

My personal thanks to those who vo ted for me as “Christmas Hero 2022” I was ver y touched by the award and would like to pay tribu te the team I work with at St Peter ’s Also a big thank you to Satchell’s for the superb hamper, f illed with delightful goodies

Ser vices

Our ser vice times are:-

1st, 3rd,4th,5th Sundays 9 30am 2nd Sunday All Age Worship 10 00am Ref reshments are ser ved after each ser vice an oppor tunity to chat and socialise Weekdays

Co ffee Mornings Tuesday 10 30am in church 1st Wednesday in the month Afternoon Tea 2 - 4pm All Welcome

News from Arlesey Methodist Chapel

Lo ved and impor tant

22nd Februar y is Ash Wednesday It marks a the beginning o f the Christian obser vation o f Lent, a time o f fasting for some, o f repentance for o thers, and for the taking on o f challenges Some people will abstain f rom chocolate, or social media or something else that they think might be distracting them f rom follo wing Jesus

Others will be challenging themselves by committing to be creative ever y day, or read something ou t o f their comfor t zone Some campaigns will challenge people to live withou t their car or plastic or ano ther thing that’s hur ting the planet

To me, that last challenge is getting nearer to what’s impor tant abou t faith It sho ws that there’s more than a random reason for our world’s existence We don’t have to deny science and histor y to believe that our planet is lo ved by God, and that it’s impor tant to look after it and the people and life that inhabit it In fact bo th science and histor y testify that some radical repentance is in order I’m unsure what I will do differently for those six weeks f rom Ash Wednesday to Holy Week, bu t hopefully I’ll understand something more abou t this place we all share, and o f my place in it

Graham

The Well Co ffee Stop welcomes all ever y Friday afternoon between 2-4pm at Arlesey Methodist Chapel. The team include creative elements for you to look at or tr y ou t. Come and enjo y some f ree ref reshments and a f riendly atmosphere. Call 07747042239 for more information.

Revd. Graham 07340 857386

Graham.Claydon-Knights@methodist.org.uk

WALKS FOR HEALTH

Would you like to join a f riendly local group for a weekly local walk? Walks star t at 10 45am

Meeting points for Februar y: 2nd, 9th & 16thArlesey Station

23rd Etonbur y Wood (entrance by the school.)

For details contact Beth Over f ield 01462 815672

Ho w to self soo th..

As a therapist, I have to commit to Continuous Pro fessional Development (CPD) in order to maintain my pro fessional body membership with BACP. This is because there is new research being under taken all the time, which assists us to expand upon our existing understanding o f human distress and the many ways in which we can understand and thus suppor t our clients to manage and gro w through it.

As recent times have reminded us, life is full o f personal and collective distress and thus the ability to self soo th is pretty impor tant!

Recently, I was fascinated to learn abou t the vagus ner ve which was bought to my attention on a CPD course In simple terms, Scientif ic research sho ws that cer tain stimulation o f this vagus ner ve can evoke a sense o f calm This in turn has various o ther bodily benef its like reducing inflammation and increasing immunity

As it is more po wer ful to experience this phenomenon rather than merely discuss it, this course played a video sho wing several different clips o f interactions between humans and animals

The act o f watching this evoked spontaneous laughter and ‘wo w that is cu te’ sounds I experienced it as soo thing and uplifting It was a great reminder o f what us animal lo vers already kno w abou t the therapeu tic benef its o f the connection between ourselves and our pets By the same token, I kno w o thers for whom animals, such as dogs, can cause great anxiety

As we are all different, the ability to self soo th is no t a one size f its all matter The good news is that there are many ways in which we can stimulate the vagus ner ve to restore a sense o f calm and ability to think clearly

I’ll be writing more abou t that next time.

1. Name the English actress, pictured right, whose most famous f ilm role is playing a character named Hermione Jean Granger?

2. Name the Greek singer with the pop group Aphrodite’s Child who, as a solo ar tist, became famous for high-pitched singing, wearing kaftans and who was cruelly nicknamed ‘ the singing tent’?

3. What was the o verall name o f the American NASA space travel project which, f rom 1968 to 1972, successfully landed astronau ts on the Moon?

4. Hector was a 19th centur y French romantic composer best kno wn for his “Symphonie fantastique” and his opera “The Trojans” What was his surname?

5. The capital o f the US state o f Arizona shares its name with what my thological creature?

6. What is the name o f the device pictured right, a small open wooden cabinet which can display two or three decanters?

7. What is the name o f the ocean liner which, in the 1972 disaster f ilm featuring Gene Hackman and Ernest Borgnine, is capsized by a tsunami while on its last vo yage?

8. What is the four-letter common name o f the ratite bird o f Sou th America which is distantly related to the emu and ostrich and which has two distinct species, the greater (or American) and the lesser (or Dar win’s)?

9. What was the name o f the British pop group who released the 1967 single “King Midas in Reverse”, written by group member Graham Nash?

10. What is the name, which means ‘sea -horse’ in English, o f the structure o f the human brain which lies deep inside the temporal lobe and has a vital purpose in learning and memor y?

11. Name the 20th centur y Anglo -Irish Dame and no velist whose most famous works are “The Sea, The Sea” and “A Severed Head” and who has been played on f ilm by Dame Judi Dench?

12 In “Only Fools and Horses”, what is the f irst name o f the character who is the girlf riend, later the wife, o f Rodney Tro tter?

13 The 12,448 feet high Mount Erebus is the most sou therly active volcano in the world. It is situated on what continent?

14 What is the name o f the Paris based company, logo (right,) famous for their expensive luxur y silk scar ves and o ther similar accessories?

15 What is the name o f the top level foo tball team which plays home games at Johan Cru yff Arena in Amsterdam?

16 Name the Nobel Prize -winning American dramatist who wro te the 1931 play “Mourning Becomes Electra” and the 1941 play “Long Day’s Journey Into Night”?

17. What is the name o f the UK based catalogue retail chain founded by Richard Tompkins during the 1970s and which sprang f rom his Green Shield stamps venture?

18. Give the f irst name and surname o f this “Wacky Races” character.

19. The only kno wn immor tal creature is a Medusa with the scientif ic name Turritopsis dohrnii (sic) What general type o f creature is this?

20. What is the name o f the UK retail company which once sold ar t prints and posters f rom their chain o f stores, including the famous 1976 tennis girl poster, bu t which no w trades as an online retailer?

For more fascinating facts and to do wnload and read my no vels, completely free o f charge, please visit my website at davidstedman co uk or Google David Stedman au thor.

Arlesey

W.I

Tuesday 14th David Tomkins Ventriloquist and Magician Evening star ts at 7 30 sharp All women welcome First V isit Free Come and join a f riendly bunch for a chat and a cuppa and something different !

Monthly update from Mum with

Don’t talk, just Do…

So training was supposed to begin last month and um, ah, it’s still stuck at the ‘beginning’ Admittedly there was Christmas and New Year bu t that is no w just a distant non-excuse for no t having progressed with any signif icant triathlon training yet

Unfor tunately the ugly head o f procrastination has been sho wing o ff for the last few weeks and I’m simply no t much fur ther on than I was when I star ted

I’m a great one for talking abou t my training, sitting in group chats, writing plans, jo tting do wn lists and sub-lists, colour coding my calendar and designing extensive schedules. Bu t these are only useful if they lead to action and none o f these delaying tactics will get me round a 140mile swim, bike, run combination unless I knuckle do wn and do some actual physical training.

So what’s the best way to star t? Firstly I have to commit to when I train and for me most o f my training sessions must be done in the early hours o f the morning. This is so it’s completed before the day is occupied with children, work, activities, housework, and subsequent fatigue. They say that exercising early in the morning o ffers bo th physical and mental gratif ication, it boosts your energy throughou t the day and generally pu ts you in a better mood – so aside f rom the cold and dark and the o ver whelming tiredness you feel when the alarm goes o ff, what’s no t to like?

Hopefully by next month I’ll be fully immersed in my training and no t just ticking o ff boxes on a wall planner, so I’m setting that early alarm clock and I’ll let you kno w ho w I get on

Mumwith3 does Ironman

Down Memory Lane

The Coronation o f His Majesty The King will take place on Saturday 6th May, 2023. In recognition o f this, we thought we would share this extra special pho tograph kindly loaned to the Arlesey News Magazine by Sto tfold resident Chris Webster. The pho to sho ws Mr Webb (Chris’s Dad ) driving his lorr y though Arlesey High Street, loaded up with local youngsters as par t o f the parade held to mark the Coronation o f Queen Elizabeth II on 2nd June 1953. We kno w there are a few faces on here that some readers will recognise! We hope you enjo y tr ying to see who you kno w - as always, if you have any names we always enjo y including them in fu ture issues

Useful Telephone Numbers

General Helplines:

Citizen’s Advice Bureau 01525 402742

Trading Standards Advice Line 0300 300 8136

Samaritans 01462 455333

Bir ths, Deaths & Marriages 0300 300 8089

Sto tfold Good Neighbour Group 07599 925587

Churches

Hope Chapel 01462 686803

King’s Baptist Church 01462 730521

Methodist Church 01462 731167

Salvation Army Hall 01462 731072

Ladies Fello wship 01462 730739

St Mar y’s Church 01462 730218

St Mar y's Church Hall 07727 688877

Friends o f St Mar y’s 01462 834108

Fair f ield Community Church 07376 740410

Local Council

Sto tfold To wn Council 01462 730064

Email:enquiries@sto tfoldto wncouncil.go v.uk

Central Bedfordshire Council 0300 300 8000 Email:customer.ser vices@centralbedfordshire.go v.uk www centralbedfordshire go v uk

Doctor

Larksf ield Surger y Appointments 01462 732244 Enquiries 01462 732200

Ou t o f Hours Ser vice: Call 111 Arlesey Medical Centre 01462 732144

Household Emergencies

Electricity Emergencies 0800 783 8838 Gas Emergencies 0800 111999

Housing

First Garden City Homes 01462 683307 Grand Union Housing - all enquiries 0300 123 5544

Nor th Her ts Road Runners

The next 1st Sat o f the month 5k at Letchwor th Common will be on 4th Feb at 9am. entr y is f ree and open to all abilities. We continue our training sessions with qualif ied coaches on Tues. & Thurs evenings at 7pm. these are open to all runners f rom no vice to experienced runners Why no t come along for a taster session with no obligation all our details are on nhrr org uk or Contact Ian on 07506 429 928 or contact nhrr org uk

Health/Social Helplines

Childline

0800 1111

National Menengitis Trust 0845 6000800

Samaritans 08457 909090

NSPCC 0800 800 5000 Hospitals

Bedford Hospital 01234 355122

Lister Hospital 01438 314333 NHS Direct 0845 46 47

Librar y

Sto tfold Librar y 0300 300 8068

Arlesey Resource Centre & Librar y 01462 731469. Police

Beds Police (Crime repor ting) 01234 841212 Crimestoppers 0800 555111 Pubs

Coach & Horses 01462 734135

Fox & Duck 01462 732434 The Cro wn 01462 731061 The Stag Tavern 01462 731098 Cafe Box o f Cakes Cafe & Cake Shop 07812 055587 Transpor t Trains (National Enquiries) 08457 484950

Whitbread Wanderbus 0300 123 3023 Schools

Etonbur y Academy 01462 730391

Pix Brook Academy 01462 416243

Fair f ield Park Lo wer School 01462 830000

Roecro ft Lo wer School 01462 730336 St Mar y’s Academy 01462 730343

Samuel Whitbread Academy 01462 629900 Nurseries

Pippin Pre -School 01462 834897 Poppies Nurser y 07833 927906 Poppyf ields Nurser y 01462 830008 Busy Bees 01462 734306 Taxi Ser vice Greenacre Transfers Airpor ts & Chau ffeur Ser vices 07555 70 78 48 www greenacretransfers co uk ANSWERS to JANUARY FUN QUIZ on page 18

To contact the Arlesey News Magazine please call 01462 731986

Accountancy & Tax -

Sue Matejtschuk (SCM Accountancy)

01462 624926

Aber y Mo tor Centre 01462 733246

AD Garden Rooms 01438 313765

A JB Fencing 07837 791365

A J Day Builders 01767 314445

Alf ie’s Barbers 01462 658449

Andy Leonard Painter & Decorator 07889 903283

Arlesey Walking Group 01462 638286

Arlesey Pharmacy 01462 731200

Arlesey Social Club 01462 731361

Aquarius Garden Design 01462 731292

Ashwell So ftware / Sigma Off ice 01462 742783

Barn Hair Studio 01462 835611

Bal & Co Mo tor Care 01462 731500

Bews Electrical 01462 834488

Big Minibus Hire 07817 766997

BK Electrical / Brian Kelly 07817545314

Box Of Cakes Cafe & Cake Shop 07812 055587

Brian McInally - Gas & Heating Engineer 01462 337218

Britannia Coaches 01462 436125

Broadband Communications 01462 732628

Brontë’s Floral Designs 07787 847141

BSH Glazing ( Windo ws & Doors) 01462 730884

Bugs ‘n’ Things Pest Control 0800 026 8823

Builders - SJ Brock 01462 231257

Carpentr y by Ray 01462 732814

Carpet Cleaning - ACCS Ltd 01462 629302

Carpets & Flooring - Letchwor th Carpet Centre 01462 481312

Carpets & Flooring - Paul Faulkner 01462 731674

Catsitter - Claire 07984 344997

Centroheat Domestic Boiler & Heating Ser vices 07885 415363

Compu ter Repairs - NIck Saunders 07521 279960

The Cooker Buddy Oven Cleaning 01462 810065

Chris Webster, Sto tfold 01462 834108 (Correspondent for The Comet )

Darren Peters Proper ty Maintenance 01462 733322

Dennison’s - House & Garden Clearance 07522 354141

Dog walking & cat sitting - Smiley Pets 07894 561765

EH Crouch Funeral Directors 01462 834040

Electrician - Terr y C Seymour 01462 236559

Fair f ield Bo wls Club 07811 738599

Fencing (A JB) 07837 791365

Finesse Interiors 01462 896046

First Step Estate Agents 01462 659730

Foo t Health Pro fessional - V icki Eagles 07812 399659

Foo t Pro Podiatr y 07377 536685

The Garden Robin Limited 01462 815968

Gifford Dance Academy 07585 221513

Graham Smith Brickwork & Paving 01462 731829

Greenacre Transfers Airpor ts & Chau ffeur Ser vices

www greenacretransfers co uk 07555 707848

Guides - Sto tfold Guide Association 01462 235273

Henlo w Vets 01462 416416

Heritage Paving 01462 730682

Hypno therapy - Pathway Hypno therapy Rooms 07497157531

James’s Carpentr y & Handyman Ser vice 01462 234292

Jar vis Foo tcare

07816 329363

Kumari Chiropractic 07479 945995

Locksmith Ser vices 01462 290226

Lo ved Gardens 07981 275663

Maintenance Ser vices - SHMS 01462 887366

Mo w & Weedit Garden Ser vices 07765 495200

New Kitchens 01462 812826

Nick Sayer Plumbing & Heating 07456 559756

Nor th Her ts Road Runners 01462 639215

Oven Clean & Repair Ser vices 07878 444559

Painter/Decorator - Paul A Robinson 07761 751634 01462 232642

Paul Adler Opticians 01462 732393

Paul Eley Tiling 07818 000508

Paul Thomas Landscaping 07889 811065

Piano Lessons - Christine Walker 01462 731357

Pilates - Zanna Newton 07719 862371

Plumbing - ALM Plumbing 07950 311963

Plumbing - C Plumb 01462 700862

Plumbing & Heating - GSP Heating & Plumbing 01462 615922

Plumbing - J D Heating & Plumbing Ser vices LTD 07474 444288

Plum-tek 01462 618058

RH Gardens 01462 612033

Regency Flo wers 01462 732616

Remo vals - AG Jenkins 01462 730562

Sto tfold & Arlesey Ro yal British Legion 01462 734133

Satchells Estate Agents 01462 733730

Saunders Garage 01462 730222

Sheldon Electricals 01767 448188

Shel's Shabby Chic, V intage painted furniture & workshops 01462 234228 Solicitors - HR J Foreman Laws 01462 458711

Arlesey News Magazine 01462 731986

Sto tfold Pharmacy 01462 730249

Tailoring Ser vice 07575 417217

Warrens Windo ws 01462 261401

Windo ws - Repairs & Installations (J Garside) 07951 473505

Windo w Cleaning - ACCS Ltd 01462 629302 Yoga - Freda Dodswor th 01767 627611

WELCOME T O

RCCG HOUSE OF MERCY, ARLESEY.

It’s a great privilege and honour to welcome you to our Church, where we experience mercy beyond measure. Join us ever y Sunday. Our ser vice star ts at 10:00 am - 12:00 noon

RCCG

House of Mercy, Arlesey

Village Town Hall, High Street, Arlesey SG15 6SN Telephone: 07903 985690