Arlesey News Magazine July 2023

The Barn,12A Queen Street, Stotfold SG5 4NX

Welcome to Ju ly!

Are we actually in Summer? Seems like tempting fate bu t as we write this month’s column we are at last enjo ying the sunshine and all that it brings along with it Someho w sunshine makes ever y thing feel so much nicer

We bring your attention to a few par ticular items inside this month’s magazine - We received so many positive comments abou t last month’s update f rom The NEED project, we have the second instalment this month on page 7 Page 9 pro vides us all with an update f rom your newly elected Councillor for Central Bedfordshire Council, Jodie Chiller y (who also incidentally pro vided us with the most interesting ar ticle this month celebrating the 100th year o f our local War Memorial ) Thank you Jodie. Alongside our usual school news round- up’s and regular features, there is a lo t to read inside our July edition.

Huge thanks to Michelle Lawson for allo wing us to use her wonder ful picture for this month’s f ront co ver If you are a keen pho tographer or just happen to capture a nice sho t, then we would LOVE to hear f rom you!

DON’T FORGET, if you belong to a local group, club or organisation, then you MUST turn to page 8 There is a chance to WIN £500, cour tesy o f Satchells Sto tfold

All that’s left is for us to wish you a wonder fully sunny month ahead..we hope this glorious weather continues for many weeks to come!

Until next time..

Joanne

Local News Round Up

Ar ts and Leisure Group has something for ever yone! Enjo y snooker? A countr yside ramble? A wild walk? Perhaps a book discussion? Theatre ou ting? Or just meeting like -minded people? Letchwor th Ar ts and Leisure Group has something for you If you were one o f the many who visited our stand at the recent Sto tfold Steam Fair and Countr y Sho w you’ll kno w that this unique organisation, which last year celebrated its 35th anniversar y, is no t just for Letchwor th people bu t has a warm welcome for anybody f rom the surrounding district Indeed, 40 per cent o f LALG’s 1,500-plus household members are f rom ou tside Letchwor th, with some 50 f rom Sto tfold and Arlesey alone With some 130 leisure activities ever y month, LALG demonstrates ho w enthusiastic volunteers can create something magical.

The non-pro f it organisation was the brainchild o f William Armitage, who ran Letchwor th’s David’s Bookshop working with bro thers David and Simon and two non-family directors Conceived as a bookshop club, the plan was for single subscription access to numerous activities. Annual household membership then was £5 Today it is just £10, with no more to pay o ther than any room hire, transpor t or food and drink costs

Trips and events, Ar ts and Books, Crafts and Gardening, Food and Drink, Languages, Social Groups, Spor ts and Games, Walking Groups (17 cater for all levels) are among the many group categories Monthly members meetings (with a small charge to ward room hire) have fascinating speakers Litter pickers have collected o ver 1,000 huge bags o f rubbish in the past 18 months V isit the lalg org uk website to disco ver more or if you are in Letchwor th pick up a newsletter f rom David’s Bookshop. Or check us ou t on Facebook at https://www facebook com/LALGLetchwor th/ Thoughts on possible new groups are always welcome at newideas@lalg org uk Proposals f rom Sto tfold and Arlesey are par ticularly welcome.

The Barn, Sto tfold, raise a whopping £1100 for the Garden House Hospice.

A massive thank you to our customers at The Barn who raised a huge £1100 for The Garden House Hospice in Letchwor th The winner o f our prize draw was Sandy Thomas

Julie and I had the privilege o f presenting the funds to some o f the staff there who do an amazing job Throughou t the weeks o f the draw I heard f rom people either directly, or indirectly touched by the work that they do

Many people praising no t only the kindness sho wn to the patient, bu t also the care and suppor t sho wn to family and f riends.

It costs £7 million to run the hospice, £6 million o f which has to be raised and funded by donation The Barn is delighted to have contribu ted a small par t to this mammo th task and will continue to suppor t The Hospice with its fu ture fund raising effor ts.

Hear tfelt thanks f rom Steve, Julie & The Team.

Would you like to receive weekly recordings o f local news stories and national magazines? Stevenage and Nor th Her ts Talking News (SNHTN) are here to help We co ver Stevenage, Hitchin, Letchwor th, Baldock, Ro yston, Sto tfold, Arlesey and surrounding villages Ar ticles read are taken f rom the local newspapers This is a completely f ree ser vice run entirely by volunteers for those with impaired vision, sight loss, or any physical condition which prevents the reading o f a newspaper, to help keep up to date with what’s going on in the local area National magazines are also do wnloaded f rom the RNIB together with o ther interesting and useful ar ticles. Each week you will receive through the post a memor y stick containing the recordings selected, read by our volunteer readers You will be able to listen by inser ting the memor y stick into a player, which we can lend you and which is ver y easy to use. When you have f inished listening to the memor y stick at your leisure for that week, you simply post it back to us in the plastic wallet pro vided with the return address already printed on it – no postage costs involved – so that we can use it again. If this is something that you think would interest you please do contact us Our dedicated telephone number is 07856 736108 and our email address is info@snhtalkingnews co uk

To contact the Arlesey News Magazine please call 01462 731986

Stevenage and Nor th Her ts Talking News o ffer ser vice to residents o f Arlesey.

Dear Editor,

I would like to thank you and Arlesey Conser vation for Nature (ACORN) for their fantastic recent ar ticles in your magazine, and I would like – as a lifelong member o f ACORN and as an initial member o f the committee all those years ago – to invite ever y citizen in Arlesey to join ACORN for thwith (especially the younger members o f our community) in order to safeguard and impro ve our environment

We need ever y citizen to get involved in mitigating climate change and to impro ve wild habitats for the animals we share our planet with and, in so doing, impro ving our o wn lives.

To f ind ou t more information abou t ACORN and ho w to join please e -mail acorn arlesey@ntlworld com

Many Thanks

Doug Landman

Dear Editor,

I am still looking to purchase a shell cameo brooch with a gold f rame if any o f your readers have one they would like to pass on Perhaps they could call me on 07788 597009 if they have any thing suitable

Thank you in advance

Patricia Dear Editor,

I would like to let people kno w there is a Charity Fair/Table

Top Sale – Sunday 2nd July, 2023 – 10am – 2 pm at the STMA Hall, 10 Hitchin Road, Shefford, SG17 5JA

Tables £5.00 - Ref reshments – Raffle

While I realise this is no t taking place in Arlesey, I am aware that many people suppor t this fantastic cause and may be interested in suppor ting this

To Book a Table – Contact Bridie on 01462639279

Email: bridget smith@u wclub net or Carol on 07455103223

All Proceeds to Alzheimer ’s (Fight Against Dementia)

FREE Pr escription deliver y ser vice to ALL

Ar lesey and Stotfold r esidents

FREE Repeat pr escription "dr op-of f" and collection ser vice fr om

Ar lesey Medical Centr e and Lar ksfield (Stotfold) Sur ger y.

Mon to Fri 8.45am - 1pm & 2.00pm - 6.15pm

Satur day & Sunday - Closed

Tel. 01462 731200

Arlesey War Memorial - Reaches 100!

Written for the Arlesey News Magazine by Jodie Chiller y

The War Memorial on the junction o f House Lane, Church Lane and the High Street was constructed and erected in 1923 It was unveiled to the community during a ceremony held on the 15th July 1923.

Community groups including residents, families o f the fallen, the War Memorial committee, Ex- ser vicemen, Arlesey Silver Band, Nursing Sister, Women’s Institu te, Friendly Society, Cricket Club, Foo tball Club, School children and Ambulance United Choirs were all in attendance and placed individual flo wers at the base o f the memorial resulting in an impressive display

The Ceremony held in 1923 no t only marked its o ff icial unveiling bu t also the transfer o f its upkeep to the responsibility o f the Parish Council This was accepted by the then Chairman W.J Crawley. The responsibility o f its upkeep to this day rests with Arlesey To wn Council, who have in recent years replaced the bollards a number o f times, its location on a three way junction has led to traff ic

colliding with them! In addition each year a specialist contractor is engaged to look after the marble and engraving, and the To wn Council paint the steps

The idea o f a memorial was f irst discussed at a meeting in 1919 and at a Parish Council Meeting in early 1923, parishioners included The Lamplighter, Representatives o f the War Memorial Committee, members o f the Parish Council and members o f the public, laid plans for the War Memorial The cost less the two bases could amount to £200. The Chase site was chosen, near to the Chestnu t tree, the Clerk was instructed to place the order with Mr. Borro wdale.

10th

Februar y 1923

The order for the construction o f the memorial was placed with stone masons Borro wdale f rom Worksop in No ttinghamshire were contracted by Arlesey Parish Council in 1923. Reflecting the uniform o f the f irst world war infantr y, the soldier is facing sou th, with Brodie Helmet, Shor t Magazine Lee -Enf ield (SMLE rifle) SD tunic and trousers, ankle boo ts and long ‘pu tties’

At the unveiling ceremony, o ver 60 floral tribu tes f rom relatives and o ff icials were placed at the base o f the memorial including f rom the Ladies War Memorial Committee, which included Mrs T King, Mrs B Crawley, Mrs Goodwin, Mrs Pateman, Mrs Presland, Mrs To tt and Mrs Topham, the Parish Council, the Cricket and Foo tball Clubs, WI and Por tland Brick Comany.

Finally the transfer o f the Memorial to the keeping o f the Parish Council was accepted follo wed by the Last Post

Arlesey Remembers You and the Arlesey Community Events Committee are planning a commemorative event to mark the memorial's centenar y We are hoping to recreate the original flo wer display by inviting the modern day equivalent community groups to gather at the Memorial and place flo wers (we will supply) on Sunday 9th July. Please contact Arlesey Remembers You for fur ther details.

(Jodie.gravett@btinternet.com)

May 2023 Facts & Figures:

* 705 parcels pro vided.

* £45,825.00 (estimated value o f food this month.)

* £6,602.50 (average monthly cost to run the charity.)

* 95 (amount o f additional food parcels this month,) an increase o f 22% on the same time last year.

We hope you enjo yed our f irst installment o f news in last month’s Arlesey News Magazine Here is the run-do wn for the last few weeks

This month with your help We have managed to make a difference to 1,666 adults, 109 pensioners and 1,458 children This includes our best before food that we give away

Our latest statistics belo w, sho w what parcels we delivered in May.

NEW - Update from the Need Project

develop, in Sto tfold, somewhere we could operate our food pro vision f rom and develop a community space which would benef it all in the local area. If you would like to donate to wards this fund, please go to our donation page on our website www.theneedproject.org/donate and give your donation the reference ‘Building Fund’.

Please call me if you have any questions abou t the Project or our fu ture plans

Gordon.

This saw a massive increase f rom April o f nearly 100 additional food parcels, which is the second largest month since we star ted the Project We continue with your help and pro vision to carr y ou t the task before us We are interested only in feeding hungr y people, regardless o f colour, creed, gender, or faith If you are hungr y and need food, we will help

I am so grateful to all our volunteers throughou t our Project and to the paid staff, who always go the extra mile Withou t all o f them the Project could no t operate. Bu t more impor tantly, withou t your suppor t with prayer, food, f inance, and a kind word, we could no t be doing what we do and for that I am so thankful

As previously mentioned, we are currently in rented premises, which are no w a bit small for our needs. It is for that reason, we are tr ying to source funds to bu y and

Update - From Cllr Jodie Chiller y

New Execu tive on CBC:

Leader: Adam Zerny Depu ty and Children's Ser vices: Hayley Whitaker, Finance: John Baker, Highways/Waste: Simon Ford, Communities/Health: Rebecca Hares, Adult social care: Mark Smith Planning: Mar y Walsh

The f irst FULL Central Bedfordshire Council Meeting since the election took place on the 27th May where an Independent administration was elected to run Central Bedfordshire Council Some o f you asked during my election campaign if I would be joining the “Independent Group or Network”. I thought long and hard abou t this and researched the options carefully

It became clear to me pretty quickly that joining the group would pro vide suppor t, advice and an oppor tunity to learn abou t the workings o f local go vernment f rom those who have experienced it themselves and experience the journey with newly elected members just like me The Independent Group is NOT a par ty, there is no whip and I am f ree to vo te on matters in the best interests o f you, the residents The group is a diverse mix o f individuals with var ying political views, life experiences and pro fessional backgrounds. Cllr Nick Andrews (Labour) also represents Arlesey & Fair f ield ward, we have met several times and plan to work together in the best interests o f the residents, we are bo th new so please be patient with us while we learn the ropes!

In the election, Independents won the highest number o f councillors (27), with the Conser vative group reduced f rom 43 councillors to 20, Lib Dems winning 10, Labour 5 and Greens 1 Councillors o f all groups were invited to propose members to f ill the key positions on the council

The new Independent administration plans to do things differently;

- We won’t be taking the full Special Responsibility Allo wances claimed by our predecessors. We will take a third less, which will save the Council in excess o f £110,000 per year.

- We will begin to work to mo ve to more flexible meetings so that more members o f the public can attend.

- We have commenced an immediate constitu tional reform o f the way the council works, in order to make council meetings and procedures more accessible for the public

- We will begin a forensic review o f the council's f inances.

- The council committee chairman and vice chairman will no longer all be f rom the same group. For the f irst time ever on CBC these have been shared ou t propor tionately between the different groups

Business/Assets: Steve Watkins, Sustainability/Climate: Tracey Wye, Chairman: Gareth Mackey, V ice -chairman: Sue Bell

ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR:

In response repor ts o f anti social behaviour in Arlesey (some incidents o f intimidating behaviour, drug related issues and street nuisance) o ver the last few weeks, the CBC Community Safety Team have visited Arlesey rec and Arlesey You th Club o ver several evenings to engage with the young people, (and o thers) This team are a fantastic resource who CAN RESPOND to repor ts o f antisocial behaviour To f ind ou t more abou t this team or repor t any concerns to them please see here https://www centralbedfordshire go v uk/ /community safety its well wor th familiarising yourself with ho w they can help.

YOU TH PROGR AMME:

Nicola King f rom the Grand Union You th Involvement project, who also works with the Community Safety Team gave a summar y o f the You th Involvement Project in Arlesey & Fair f ield at the Arlesey To wn Meeting This included work around education on anti social behaviour and engaging with young people on the street This summer, the project has a focus on working with Arlesey, Fair f ield & Sto tfold with a summer programme that will host a wide variety o f activities for ages 8-17 o ver the six weeks It will o ffer a mix o f ou tdoor activities, cooking, ar ts, shor t mat bo wling (this is f irst!) f itness and much more

LETCHWORTH RECYCLING CENTRE Good news, Cllr Nick Andrews has liaised with Nor th Her ts representatives to establish that the Recycling Centre in Letchwor th, can be used by residents o f Arlesey & Fair f ield - as long as you pro vide ID that you live in Central Beds / Arlesey or Fair f ield.

RELIEF ROAD:

CBC and SISK held a ver y well attended and lively public drop in session to discuss the current phase o f construction o f the new road linking the A507 to the High Street. I am hoping a follo w up event will be held for those who were unable to attend this one, I'll keep you posted CBC are also planning to publish a Q&A page based on the many questions residents posed at the meeting Please contact me direct for the link to that and I will for ward and disseminate when it becomes available.

jodie chiller y@centralbedfordshire go v uk

Jodie Chiller y, your recently elected Councillor for Central Bedfordshire Council talks to the Arlesey News Magazine abou t the recent developments o f the last month and ho w you, as residents o f Arlesey, can have your say

All Abou t Weeds...

All abou t weed(s)

Quite a few o f you will have heard abou t weed or Cannabis sativa to call it by its bo tanical name bu t what abou t o ther weeds?

The f irst question is what is a weed? Some say it is just an unlo ved plant or a plant gro wing in the wrong place. The dictionar y def ines it as “a wild (no t deliberately cultivated ) plant gro wing where it is no t wanted” Grass found in arable f ields are classed as a weed bu t in your garden is something to enjo y Indeed some people spend hours mo wing and pampering their patch o f grass

For co ws it is their staple diet The strange thing abou t cannabis it does have medical proper ties apar t f rom getting people high

Many o f our weeds do have medicinal proper ties and were used to treat many ailments right up until the second world war. Some people still believe in using plant-based treatments Scientists think there are many undisco vered plants and treatments yet to be disco vered in the rain forests A no table treatment o f modern times was for breast cancer using taxol which is derived f rom the needles o f the yew tree

So, what is in plants that gives it medicinal proper ties? Alkaloids are found in some and are extremely toxic and were rarely used in folk medicine Glycosides are ano ther complex chemical compound and the one in Foxglo ves works on the hear t muscle Other plants work as laxatives and some as sedatives

There are many major charities set up to save animals bu t as far as we kno w only Plantlife speaks for the plants, “although the Lorax does speak for the trees” (Dr Seuss)! The impor tance o f weeds [flora] on our planet’s sur vival is o ften o verlooked Insects eat plants, birds eat insects and so on in an ecological chain So, what is meant by an ecological chain? In simple terms it is a case o f what eats what, in order There is an old song that explains it in the full, entitled ‘On Ilkley Moor Baht ‘at’ (Google it)!

The

Do

Do you kno w your weeds?

The problem in pro tecting a singular species, plants, and animals, is there is a danger that the common species become less common It is a f ine balancing act You will f ind when you walk the Glebe Meado ws that some plant species have disappeared This happens naturally and seeds can lay dormant in the ground until the right conditions arrive The poppy for instance is an arable weed and needs cultivated ground to sur vive. . The seeding plants in meado ws need an annual hay cu t, a bit o f turning and dr ying (tedding) for the seeds to pop ou t.

The dried o vergro wth then needs taking away o ther wise it decomposes and enriches the soil The coarse ruderal vegetation gro ws best in rich soils. The f inest wild plants need poor soil, and the best varieties are found on chalk do wnlands.

During the war (tr ying no t to sound like Uncle Alber t f rom Only Fools and Horses) Chicor y roo t was used as a substitu te for co ffee You can still bu y Camp Chicor y and Co ffee essence in shops today, so it must have something going for it War time food shor tages had a lo t o f people eating wild plants as well as f ruit picking in the hedgero ws dandelion leaves, and nettles for instance One word o f

cau tion on eating fungi Although most are edible the few that are no t contain some o f the nastiest toxins there are They work as ner ve agents in the same way as No vichock does and far quicker If you are no t an exper t, then stick with shop purchased fungi as you should with o ther wild plants you might be tempted to eat.

Next time you walk through the meado ws look do wn and see ho w many different plant species you can see. It doesn’t matter if you don’t kno w their names You can no w take a picture with your smar tphone and an app will identify it for you (more or less) When bo tanists look to identify a variation o f plant species, they look in detail to get that species right, even dissecting a stalk and counting ho w many cells are around the stem wall.

If you have young children, you can star t them on leaning to identify plants by counting ho w many different types o f yello w flo wers, blue flo wers, white flo wers etc Next time you visit the Glebe meado ws see if you can count ho w many different species there areYou will be surprised P.S mind the co w pats!

“Still a fool and their money … etc ”

Family announcements

ELSIE JUNE CHANDLER

24th July

Happy 7th bir thday to our gorgeous, kind & funny girl

Lo ve you always, Mummy, Daddy and Pippa xxx

NANNY

Happy 75th Bir thday

With Lo ts o f lo ve Tillie & Lyla xxx

GARY KING

23rd July

Happy 50th Bir thday!!

We hope you enjo y your celebrations!

Lo ve all the family xx

IMOGEN

28th July

Happy 7th bir thday to our beau tiful little princess All our lo ve Mummy, Daddy, Callum, Colby, Albie, Ellis & Oscar x

MELANIE ALDERTON & NIKKI TURLEY

5th July

Happy bir thday ladies! From Monica, Lyndsay, Wendy & Donna xxxx

EDWARD HYDE

12th July

Happy 98th Bir thday! Lo ve f rom all the Family xx

SUSAN ARCH

27th July

Happy 75th Bir thday!

Best wishes and with lo ts o f lo ve f rom all the family xxxx

BARRY WEBSTER 19th July

Happy Bir thday Baz! Lo ve f rom us all (& Peggy!) xx

JACKIE BU TT

We would like to thank ever yone for all your lo ve and suppor t o ver our mum Jackie Bu tt’s passing Thank you to ever yone who attended her funeral she would o f been o ver whelmed to see ho w lo ved she was. Mum lived in Arlesey her whole life o f 76yrs and will be remembered for caring for the children at her belo ved Acrewood day nurser y, riding her bike up and do wn the village and stopping for chats, and catching the bus with her cousin and best f riend Ber yl

We would like to say a ver y big thank you to Benedict’s Funeral Ser vice for being so wonder ful looking after us and seeing our mum on her f inal journey we will forever be grateful to you all your amazing And to the Garden House Hospice Letchwor th who sho wed our mum so much lo ve, suppor t and respect you are all incredible Thank you all Ellie, Kerr y and family xxxx

We have recently had a wonder ful time experiencing music, dance and ar t f rom different continents and countries in our Ar ts Around the World Week. We were lucky enough to have trained dancers come and lead dance workshops for each year group

Year 4 kicked o ff Ar ts Around the World Week with an Af rican dance workshop and singing some traditional and popular Af rican songs They used their skills o f symmetr y and plo tting points on a graph to create some spectacularly symmetrical Af rican masks The children learned abou t the influential f igure o f Nelson Mandela; considered the impact that he had on his countr y o f Sou th Af rica and the world; and drew a por trait o f him f rom a secondar y source

Year 1 had a great time f inding ou t abou t Australia in Ar ts

Around the World Week They made pictures o f the Sydney Opera House, found ou t abou t the Great Barrier Reef, read Dreamtime stories, played cricket, and created some amazing Aboriginal do t paintings (to name bu t a few activities!)

Year 2 learnt all abou t Greece. They designed their o wn Greek vases, learnt a Greek dance and learnt some songs They linked their English work to Greece to by writing instructions for ho w to make a Greek salad The children go t to make a Greek salad and eat it!

Pupils enjo ying Ar ts Around the World week

Greek salad was enjo yed by Year 2!

Pix Brook A cademy News

The summer term and the rou tines and processes necessar y for the completion o f one term and the star t o f ano ther are in full swing. It is interesting to reflect on the last few years and also consider ho w in some ways, schools are the same as we remember f rom our o wn time in school and yet also so different My recollections o f the summer term at school are o f endlessly ho t days, tr ying to write in boiling classes, cricket matches after school and the wait for the summer holidays to arrive. In that regard, schools are no different today than they were then (Although as I write we are still awaiting the endlessly ho t days!)

The next few weeks will include the usual end o f term activities, with assessments counterbalanced by trips and visits New classes will be created for new pupils and pupils who have no w been at the school for four years will be thinking abou t the next stage in their education where choices can be made and the impor tance o f all subjects ramps up

We look for ward to Step up day where we will welcome 180 new pupils and o ver 20 new staff The gro wth in the school continues unabated and it is bo th exciting and challenging

managing so many new people into the school. For tunately we have a really strong body o f experienced staff who kno w our pupils well and have been instrumental in the development o f the school o ver the last few years

Looking ahead to the second half o f the summer term it will be great to see all pupils involved in our spor ts day that includes a huge range o f competitions and races, the sustainability visit f rom Willmo tt Dixon who will be working with our year 6 pupils, the year 7 end o f term trip, maths challenge, the completion o f the schools inaugural chess tournament, miscellaneous parents evenings and o f course the SATs results.

Having f ive year groups in the school means that PBA is a ver y different school f rom the one star ted by BEST in 2019. We have managed extraordinar y gro wth, mo ved f rom one small building to a really large school, sur vived the COVID pandemic and worked hard to create bo th the ethos and vision for the f irst Free school in Central Bedfordshire.

If this is combined with our position as an extended secondar y school that is also destined to transition to a secondar y school in the next few years it is clear to me why this school feels so different f rom the one I attended

Ever y year is so different f rom the previous one and any one o f these changes would be a signif icant challenge to manage on its o wn To be navigating so many, and to be thriving is a testament to the staff and pupils who come ever yday and work so hard and the parents who consistently suppor t the school in what we are tr ying to achieve: Educating the socially responsible citizens o f the fu ture remains our mission and we will continue to do all we can to make that a reality.

Enjo y the summer break when it arrives.

Steve Adams Principle.

To contact the Arlesey News Magazine please call 01462 731986

We star ted the second half o f the summer term with lo ts o f activities, trips, workshops, GCSE exams and various spor ting activities along with a variety o f enrichment oppor tunities across all years

Our Year 6 pupils enjo yed a day trip to the Warner Bro thers Harr y Po tter Studio, walking in the foo tsteps o f Harr y Po tter at Hogwar ts. Ever yone thoroughly enjo yed their post SATs treat exploring the wonders o f the Wizarding World and sharing the magic o f the studio tour.

Transition events have been taking place with visits to local feeder schools led by Ms Young and Mr Evason We are really looking for ward to meeting ever yone who will be joining our ETA community next academic year

We kno w this can be a time full o f excitement and or ner ves for those involved, it's ver y o ften a combination o f the two Often, we f ind this is eased by the children and families attending the various transition events we have scheduled to introduce them to Etonbur y and begin their journey into Secondar y education The next few months will be exciting for ever yone and we look for ward to welcoming our new star ters to ETA and suppor ting ever yone with their transition

News from Etonbur y A cademy

Our Student Voice Eco Team has been busy distribu ting flo wer seeds and compost ready for our ECO day, today Well done, ano ther great initiative led by Hayden and Sam In year 9 and o verseen by Mrs Brahmachari-Limb Year 5 had a fantastic time at their interactive World War I workshop. They learnt lo ts abou t life in the trenches and ho w soldiers looked after themselves They f inished the workshop with a VR experience!

ETA this week received three attendance awards f rom Fischer Family Foundation (FFT ). Primar y Award, Secondar y Award and Whole School Award Etonbur y has been ranked within the top 25% o f similar FFT Schools in England for our spring term attendance across all categories - we are exceptionally proud o f this achievement and our National School Attendance Award Thank you ever yone for your contribu tions to wards achieving this!

We have hosted vir tual Year 10 parent consultations this half term to discuss progress and achievements Please continue to share in our values, Ever yone is respectful, Together we care and Always aim higher Ian Evason – Execu tive Principal Etonbur y Academy www.etonbur y.org.uk

Year 5 enjo y the interactive WW1 Workshops

Our Monthly update from Mum with 3

The race against time…

As I write this, on a late Sunday evening, it hits me that in exactly 16 weeks at abou t this time o f night I will hopefully have just become an Ironman! It’s incredible that ano ther month o f training has flo wn by in the blink o f an eye, and we are getting closer and closer to this goal Over the last few weeks I have competed in a couple o f races which have helped me feel that I am on schedule The f irst race was a sprint triathlon; a top athlete will take more than half an hour to complete the 400m swim/24km bike/5km run that comprises a sprint triathlon I wasn’t that quick bu t happy with my result and enjo yed the event

The second race I completed was a little longer being a ‘half ironman’ distance involving a 1900m swim, a 56mile bike and a 13 1mile run The swim star t was the equivalent o f being inside a washing machine set to a fast spin cycle: o ver 250 people all swimming o ver each o ther searching for some open water to settle into their rhy thm Once I’d relaxed and could concentrate on my swim stroke, the rest felt good

Ou t o f the water and a run into the transition area They say that transition is the 4th discipline in triathlon and mine was a lo t to be desired. I struggled to get my wet suit o ff, dithered with my decision to wear socks, and took ages to pu t on my cycling glo ves I grabbed a handful o f suncream and set o ff with my bike, smearing the factor 70+ around my face and ears. An undulating course around the Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire countr yside and I felt strong for most o f the bike distance I practised my nu trition with what felt like constant eating and drinking along the way and tried to keep my effor t consistent

Back into transition, a change o f shoes and ou t onto the run And this is where it star ted to hur t. 13 miles o f running in increasing temperatures, the f inal few miles were no t pretty! Bu t I f inished and it was OK So all I have to do no w is double that distance. There’s still a long way to go and a lo t less time to do it in bu t, f ingers crossed, we are getting there Mumwith3 does Ironman

Paws & Claws

WALKS FOR HEALTH

Would you like to join a f riendly local group for weekly local walk?

Walks star t at 10 45am Meeting points for July: 6th The Cro wn PH, The Green, Sto tfold 13th, 20th, 27th Arlesey train station

For details contact Beth Over f ield 01462 815672

One Hundred Pounds and a Pig! H a s

Mental Health Matters - Jo Loach

Stotfold News Magazine Facebook Post Sparks HUGE Response!

The Change

Last month I wro te abou t change per se This month I’m writing abou t The Change, o ther wise kno wn as menopause. I recently watched the f ilm, ‘Are you there God, it’s me Margaret’, based on a book by Judy Blume. I was struck by the excitement o f these young girls eagerly awaiting the arrival o f their periods. Their school had educated them abou t what to expect as their body’s prepared for womanhood.

Ho w different it is for women when their body’s mo ve to wards the end o f their periods A woman is in menopause after twelve consecu tive months withou t a period. Ho wever, there is a distinct lack o f education for women or medical pro fessionals (this is changing), abou t what to expect as they mo ve to wards menopause

The transitional period before menopause is called perimenopause As hormones play many roles in the functioning o f the body, there are many ways that the body may malfunction during perimenopause due to changing hormone levels This typically star ts in the for ties bu t can star t much earlier

There are many physical AND mental and emo tional changes that may occur during perimenopause. Women are as different when star ting their periods as when ending them. Some don’t struggle and some do whether physically, mentally or emo tionally

Physical changes may manifest around digestion, spatial awareness, weight gain, regulating body temperature, f requency and heaviness o f periods Mental and emo tional changes may present around brain fog, indecision, anxiety, reduced self-esteem/conf idence, depressed mood, sleeping issues, fatigue, irritability, mood swings, reduced tolerance for noise and a desire to withdraw socially

Arlesey W.I

Tuesday 11th July 7.30pm

Angela Tarbox - Declu tter your home.

First V isit Free Come and join a f riendly bunch for a chat, cuppa and something different!

We look for ward to welcoming you!

Arlesey W I Hall, High Street, Arlesey

As with all changes, the need to keep talking is paramount, especially to o ther women So too is seeking medical suppor t f rom someone kno wledgeable, willing to listen, believe and work with what you are experiencing and available.

Jo Loach is a BACP accredited Counsellor and Super visor, with an MA in Contemporar y Therapeu tic Counselling

Nor th Her ts Road Runners

Entries are no w open for the Standalone10k on 1st Oct. www standalone10k org uk The next 1st Sat o f the month 5k at Letchwor th Common will be 1st July 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, why no t come along for a taster session with no obligation Contact Ian

News from St Peter ’s Church

The grass in the churchyard has been gro wing faster than it can be mo wn! Ho wever, Darren and his team are doing a great job at keeping us neat and tidy We are ver y grateful to the To wn Council for their f inancial suppor t with the mo wing It has enabled us to use the Community Payback teams for o ther projects in the church yard. They have also been clearing and tidying some o f the older graves that are no longer looked after by relatives. In August we will be doing a topple test o f all the headstones in the churchyard. This is required by law as a Health and Safety issue If any headstones are found to be unstable they will be laid

do wn and a no te pu t onto the grave Relatives and families, NOT the church are solely responsible for the maintenance and care o f their headstones A gentle reminder too, that edging o f any kind around the grave, or stone chippings, are no longer allo wed.

On Sunday 2nd July our ser vice will be at St. Gu thlac’s Church Astwick at 11 15am This has become a regular feature o f our worship and hopefully can take place ou tside in the sunshine It will be follo wed by a picnic for all those wishing to stay I am sorr y to say that the process o f appointing a new V icar is still ongoing It is no w a year since Revd. Geo ff rey Boult retired and we pray that a new incumbent will be found soon We still continue with all our ser vices and activities, we and God, kno w that the right person is ou t there somewhere

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

11AM-12N00N Toddler and Parent/Carer Group

1st Wednesday in the month Afternoon Tea 2- 4m All Welcome

Helen Bardell Churchwarden 01462 731227 07967144571 email; vicar@arlesey org uk churchwardens@arlesey.org.uk

News from Arlesey Methodist Chapel

“30-40, breakpoint”

The Wimbledon Championship begins in July. It’s a tense competition, knockou t, each opponent facing the o ther, kno wing that in order to beat them they must “break” them, win a game f rom a disadvantage o f having to receive their opponent’s ser ve The players ser ving dread hearing the umpire call “break point”

Being “broken” sounds like something more serious than in a tennis game Broken is a word we use for the effects o f severe anxiety or the end o f a relationship It speaks o f being left in a weak or violated state, o f reaching “breaking point” The psalm I read this morning, psalm 147, speaks o f God as po wer ful and caring, one who “heals the broken-hear ted” and who “binds up their wounds” Jesus himself said “Come to me, all you who are wear y and are carr ying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11 28)

Personally, anxiety has been an issue for me o ver many years. I f ind the image o f Jesus calming the storm ver y helpful when anxiety o ver whelms or situations are diff icult Our opponent will no t be a talented tennis player -it may be a diff icult relationship, or a bereavement , a stressful situation, or a fears for the fu ture Bu t in all these, God is there for us , in Jesus Christ, to save us through those “break points” , f rom being crushed.

There will be plenty o f emo tions displayed on the Wimbledon tennis cour ts this month They may remind us that life doesn’t always go in straight lines And if our life’s “ser vice games” are faltering and our returns are going wide, may God help us to turn to him, the true umpire, and f ind that he is our faithful champion and cer tain rest. Graham

The Well Co ffee Stop welcomes all ever y Friday afternoon bet ween 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 free refreshments and a friendly atmosphere

Call 07747042239 for more information.

Kitchens & Bedrooms

Windows

Internal/External Doors

Ski r tings -Architraves -Dados

Stai rs -Handles -Balustrades

Handle & Lock Replacements

Loft Hatches

Flat Pack Furniture

James’s Carpentry & General Handyman Service

Exterior & Interior

Property Maintenance

* Decorating

* Furniture Building

* Painting

* Carpentry & more

* Carpet Cleaning FREE QUOTATIONS

T: (01462) 234292 or 07887 871212

Down Memory Lane

Seems as Summer looks like it may at last be here, we have chosen this wonder ful picture, kindly loaned to us f rom Simon Spoor for our Memor y Lane picture for July. Do you kno w what year this could have been? Do you recognise anyone in the pho to? We are desperately in need o f some new ‘old pho tographs’ and are ver y happy to collect them to borro w and then return. Give us a call on 01462 731986 or send an email to arlesey.news@yahoo.com if you can help!! Graham Smith

Covering all aspects of brickwork old & new, plus patios, driveways & fencing.

All work completed to a very high standard. Friendly, family run business Tel: 07703 171857

Useful Telephone Numbers

733722

Email: clerk@arlesey-tc go v uk

Central Bedfordshire Council, Prior y House, Chicksands, Shefford SG17 5TQ 0300 300 8000

Email customer.ser vices@centralbedfordshire go v uk

www.centralbedfordshire go v

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