Arlesey NEWS
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From the Editor
Welcome to March!
We’re always excited when we finish a brand new issue of the magazine, it brings a great deal of satisfaction when you know that a par ticular issue is a really good read and has lots of quality content. If we do say so ourselves, your March issue is a great one Hopefully you’ll notice a few tweaks we have made to some of our regular items, alongside the introduction of our brand new ‘Arlesey Histor y’ page which we hope will gain really good momentum and build as the months go on Thank you to ever yone that has come foward to help fill these pages for the next few months!
As always we are grateful for the continued suppor t we receive from the community in helping to compile your Arlesey News Magazine We welcome a few new adver tisers to this edition, please look out for them and be sure to mention where you saw their adver t, should you give them a call. We hope you love our front cover this month, we think it is just stunning! Huge thankyou to Debra Bullock for sharing this amazing picture of St Peter ’s Church with us and allowing us to use it!
We hope you enjoy reading all the local news we have for you inside this issue - our round- up of some of our local marathon runners will leave you in awe we’re cer tain! Best of luck to anyone taking par t this yearwe would love to hear how you get on!
We hope you have a wonder ful March!
Until next time!
Joanne - Editor
With thanks to this month’s contributors:
Debra Bullock (FRONT COVER) Jo Loach, Our local schools, groups and organisations, The Need Project, St Peter ’s Church, NHRR, Arlesey W I, ATFC, Roger Watson, ACORN, all of our regular contributors & all our local adver tisers
Contact: arlesey news@yahoo com or write to us at Arlesey News Magazine, 78 Hitchin Road, Stotfold, Her tfordshire, SG5 4HT Tel: 01462 731986
You can also contact us via our facebook page
Deliveries: We have over 120 volunteers that deliver the News Magazines If for any reason you do not receive your copy of the magazine please contact us to let us know Published by Stotfold News Ltd Printed in memor y of Roy West
Our local Marathon runners! Page 4
bump in the ro ad Page 7
ws from Gothic
my Page 9
sey Town FC update Page 17
Lo ok back at Arles ey His tory Page 20
Your letters
News from Gothic Mede Academy News from Etonbur y Academy News from Pix Brrok Academy Family Announcements Update from ACORN Local Church News Update from Arlesey Town FC Mental Health Matters Update from the Need Project NEW - Memor y Lane
Page 4,5,6,8
Page 7
Page 9
Page 10
Page 11
Page 12
Page 15
Page 16
Page 17
Page 18
Page 19
Page 20
All this alongside all our usual news from our local churches groups, clubs & organisations..
www justgiving com/g ardenh ouseh ospice
Announcements: We are happy to accept family announcements by post telephone, email or through our facebook page If you would like to make a donation in return for your announcement then please visit the website above
Please mention that the donation has been made on behalf of the Stotfold & Arlesey News Magazine
Arle
Mede Acade
NEWS
Marathon Effor t From Our Local Runners
Etonbur y sixth-form student Aimee
New will be running this year ’s London Marathon in aid of Spinal Research UK
“I decided to run the London marathon for Spinal Research UK as they helped to save my nans life ” Aimee told the Arlesey News “Over time I discovered a passion for running and star ted with shor t runs, leading to a half marathon and now a full in a few months time!
Asked about her aims for the race itself, Aimee told us “I’m not setting myself any par ticular goals with times to complete, I just want to be able to run at a comfor table pace and enjoy the experience, environment and really live in the moment ” “I will have my family and friends to suppor t me Ever yone has been helping with donations, training and advice!” Good Luck Aimee! https://www. justgiving com/page/aimee -new-1727166045961
Mark Ilsley will also be running the London Marathon in aid of Children with Cancer UK Mark told us “They’re an amazing charity helping with cancer research in Children and also helping with suppor t for families who have children affected by this terrible disease.” Mark has assured us that he will be wearing trainers for this race! https://www.justgiving.com/page/ mark-ilsley-5
Jon Harnett will be running the Brighton marathon in April for mental health charity MIND. Jon is keen to help get rid of the stigma attached to talking about mental health; “If you could spare the cost of a pint or cup of coffee and help me achieve my goal I will be extremely grateful” he told the Stotfold News www.justgiving.com /page/jon-harnett-brighton-marathon2025
Caroline Musgrove will be running the reverse London Marathon, star ting at the finish and running through the night to the star t. Caroline is running for Cardiac Risk in the young
Paul Sharp will also be taking par t in the London marathon - he is running or AGE UK His fundraising link is: https://2025tcslondonmarathon enthuse.com/pf/paul- sharp
Sophie Fletcher will be running in aid of Garden House Hospice Care in this year ’s London marathon. Sophie’s Mum Louise Fletcher, passed away at the Hospice in 2001 Sophie will be running to both celebrate her Mum and to give thanks to the wonder ful care they gave to her and her family at such a hard time. https://www justgiving com/page/ sophie -fletcher-1722688722463# sharePage
We would like to wish all local marathon runners the ver y best of luck with both their training and their upcoming races. What an incredible achievement with memories to last a lifetime!
GOOD LUCK EVERYONE! We can’t wait to hear how you get on!
Aimee New
Mark Ilsley
Paul Sharp
Sophie Fletcher
Jon Harnett
Caroline Musgrove
Petition A gainst High Street Speed Bumps
Arlesey resident Alex Stables recently launched a petition to remove the speed bumps in front of the Arlesey Grange Development. The traffic calming measures beside the White Horse Pub and the entrance to the Cala Homes site are cited as negatively impacting both Arlesey residents and local motorists. Residents closest to the bumps repor t experiencing vibrating/ ground tremors caused by vehicles not slowing down enough to go over the bumps.
Alex told the Arlesey News “ the main purpose of the petition is to to engage with the Council in order to have the bumps removed and ideally replaced with a traffic calming measures like a zebra crossing or something which means motorists, residents and the Council will be pleased with the outcome ”
Residents have until 12th March to register their suppor t: The easiest way to locate the petition is to simply Google ‘Central Bedfordshire Council E petitions Arlesey.’ The petition is second on the list and is easy to navigate and to sign should you wish to do so.
Kitchens & Bedrooms
Windows Internal/External Doors
Skir tings -Architraves -Dados Stairs -Handles -Balustrades
Handle & Lock Replacements
Loft Hatches
Flat Pack Furniture
All aspects of carpentr y N o job too small
Fair field W.I NEXT MEETING
AGM and Beetle Drive
Wednesday, 5th March 7pm Ever yone is welcome - for more information please contact: fair fieldbedswi@gmail.com
CRIME FIGURES ARLESEY
Januar y 2024
The most recent crime figures from the Poilce national website:
Violence & sexual offences - 12 Anti- social behaviour - 2
Burglar y - 1
Criminal damage & arson - 6
Other crime - 8
Remember in an emergency call 999 To repor t a crime online contact www.police.co.uk
The speed bump outside the Cala Homes Development
1st Arlesey
Scouts Sleep Out To Help Out
The 1st Arlesey Scouts will once again be giving up their beds for a night. This year they will be sleeping out to raise money for ‘Feed Up Warm Up’ a homeless charit y based in Hitchin and Stevenage They will be sleeping out during the first week of March. To help them raise money for this wor thwhile cause visit: Last years sleep out event https://www.justgiving.com/page/arlesey- scouts1?utm medium=FR&utm source=CL
News from Arlesey Brownies
We’ve welcomed four new brownies this term and they are having a blast! First, we got messy making our own slime! Then we tested our own memories and have star ted to make some rummage boxes to help people with dementia And we’ve just visited the Librar y where we talked about our favourite books and how reading makes us happy Paula the fabulous librarian explained how books are organised, then we designed our own book covers and explored the shelves to find books on all sor ts of subjects and of course lots of famous authors.
We’re looking for ward to doing our Charities badge later in the month by holding a sponsored torch trail, where we’ll glow in the dark and raise money for Bliss, the baby charity
Brownies is for girls aged 7 to 10, so if you like to tr y new things, make brilliant friends and have fun, come for a taster evening!
Check out our Facebook page to see all the things we do and DM us or email us at arlesey.brownies@hotmail.co.uk to find out more about joining.
Your LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Dear Editor,
I’m planning a number of projects during 2025 to raise money for charity and raise awareness for ADHD and neurodiversity
The charity is called ‘Meeting up with Angels’ maybe you have heard of them? The website is www personablepor traits co uk/hyper focus
If you go here there’s a blog entr y giving a summar y of ever y thing I’m planning, you can also view the huge amount of creative activities we have planned for the year ahead
I’d love it if Arlesey News Magazine readers could join us on this journeyfor more details can be found on our facebook page Personable Por traits Please do reach out to us if you are interested in joining us on our journey!
Paul of PersonablePor traits
Dear Editor,
I would like to thank Ricci of Crown Sweeps for recently doing such a fantastic job of cleaning our chimney as it had not been swept for some time!
Ricci was extremely cour teous and did a fantastically thorough job We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him and his chimney sweeping ser vice Thank you Arlesey News for adver tising his ser vice in your magazine Mrs Clements.
Call us on 01462 731986 E: arlesey news@yahoo com Find us on facebook
NEWS
News from Arlesey W.I
Our members meeting on 11th March is our AGM and games Night. We’re asking people to bring any three unwrapped items in a bag, to the approx values of 50p, £1 00 and £1 50 You will not go home with the items you brought but you will have fun!
The Februar y Indoor Boot Sale was a great success both for bargains and for stall holders, so we are holding another one The funds raised are going towards the repairs to the Hall. Having just put in a new kitchen floor funds are much needed so do please come along
The WI INDOOR BOOT SALE
Saturday 1st March 2025 11 00 - 2 00pm, sellers arrive 10 15 am Only £10 per table Turn your unwanted items into cash and not have to stand in a cold wet field or car park Come along and bag a bargain, there'll be plenty Entr y FREE. WI tea and coffee available. To book a table ring Rita 01462 638347
Calling All Children & Teens
Get active this March with some FREE spor ting activities provided to our community by Amplius, (formerly Grand Union Housing) The project aims to encourage children to lead active and healthy lifestyles, whilst improving physical activity levels by providing diverse and engaging spor t and fitness activities; initiated by funding in 2023 from BeActive Bedfordshire: Inspiring Young Lives.
On March the 3rd 10th 17th and 24th, ever yone is welcome to join them on Mondays for Basketball between 4pm – 5pm at the Arlesey Road MUGA (next to Stotfold Football Club- SG5 4HE) for ages 8 - 16 years.
Arlesey Youth Club is also open on Fridays til the end of March at the following times: 10am – 12pm -all welcome to the Community Café 12pm – 3pm ages 18 - 25 drop by and see the youth team for suppor t with job searches / CV writing etc 4pm - 5pm Homework Hour for young people aged 11+ who many need a little suppor t 5pm – 6pm Basketball 6pm - 6 45pm Dodgeball
News from Gothic Mede A c ademy
Welcome to our news for March.
Bikeability
A huge well done to all the Year 4 students who took par t in our Bikeability course at the end of Januar y As par t of the course the children were able to develop essential cycling skills, learn valuable road safety awareness, and increase their confidence while riding their bikes Thank you to the Bikeability instructors and staff for their guidance and suppor t
Last month we welcomed Alistair Strathern to Gothic Mede Academy. While at GMA, Alistair held an assembly with the children, where he was able to tell them all about his work as an MP. The children asked some great questions and shared ideas about suppor ting our local community. Alistair also met with Mrs Sugden, our SENCO to discuss SEND provisions in the local area.
We look for ward to updating you on more news in April.
Visit from Alistair Strathern
The Year 4 children thoroughly enjoyed the Bikeability course
The local MP held school assemblies to engage with the pupils.
News from Etonbur y A c ademy
This term we have welcomed many parents to our 'meet your mentor' sessions, where they had the oppor tunity to view students' work and engage in face - to-face interactions The Academic Mentor evening presents an oppor tunity for us to provide you with initial and progress data regarding your child or children for the year Additionally, the children have completed a reflection booklet focusing on goals and reviewing their per formance from the initial term.
Our year 11 GCSE WJEC hospitality & catering students have now completed their practical exams. They have been busy producing some exceptional dishes for their exam. Students have demonstrated many high-level skills in their dishes and have had a professional attitude to learning enabling them to create the most outstanding dishes. SLT learning walks. have taken place throughout the school, carried out by members of the senior leadership team. Impressions we over whelmingly positive from the informal obser vations.
We continue to provide students with various trip oppor tunities. Year 6 visited Duxford, our choir per formed at Young Voices at the O2, ar t students explored galleries in London, the Wadham Project students attended a seminar, and our GCSE PE students went climbing in Milton Keynes Year 9 students have been exploring their GCSE options through taster lessons in all subjects available, including some they may not have encountered before We offer a wide range of GCSE options at our school, and students have explored subjects such as media, health and social care, photography, business studies, sociology, psychology, and BTEC spor t
We are delighted to share that applications for enrolment at Etonbur y Sixth Form for September 2025 are open and can be made via our website Applications are managed in house by our Sixth Form team, if you have any
questions, please do contact our Head of Sixth Form, Mrs Dowden, via email cdowden@bestacademies.org.uk. We are also offering tours of the new purpose built Sixth Form facilities and assistance with course choices and applications Please call 01462 730391 to book a tour or speak to our 6th Form administrator. If you would like to book a school tour, call 01462 730391 or email eta -office@bestacademies org uk We believe we offer a compassionate and exceptional educational community, and we invite you to come and see for yourself what makes Etonbur y special. Mrs J Young Principal
News from Pixbrook A c ademy
Welcome to March 2025. It is extraordinar y that we are in March already and that it is 2025! In schools, perhaps more than any other environment the year is punctuated by cer tain points in time.
September is all about the new academic year and settling new pupils into school, Januar y is another fresh star t with the longest term behind us and lots of staff recruitment and then we approach Easter with preparations for assessments and thoughts moving to the summer and another group of pupils joining again the following September
Just like the school day with is regular bells and ver y clear expectations at each point in the day the school year is no different and it always amazes me how fast time flies The last few weeks have seen a huge amount of activity, from exciting trips such as Young Voices at the O2 and pupils attending the Gordon Craig theatre to visits from dignitaries such as Beds PCC John Tizard. He took the oppor tunity to tour the school and discuss some of the challenges faced in the local area and reflect on the growth of the school over the last five years.
It is always interesting to take visitors around the school, pupils are universally interested and communicative about the school and the work they are under taking.
We have also had a number of occasions where parents have been into school including our year 9 options evening where Mr Szwajbak presented to parents on the options process and then parents were given the oppor tunity to meet with subject depar tment heads to consider choices The senior team also had one -one meetings with all pupils to discuss pupil aspirations and advise on potential choices over the next two weeks
Over the next half term we will continue to recruit staff to cater for the growth in the school, we will have over 1000 pupils in September 2025 One of the most enjoyable aspects of being par t of a growing school in this community is being able to meet and recruit so many local people Pix Brook Academy has grown so quicky over the last few years that it is easy to forget that just a few years ago there were six of us working with 53 pupils.
In September there will be approaching 150 staff working with our pupils, most of whom live in the local area.
It has always been par t of the mission of this school to be par t of this community and I’m pleased to say that it does feel that we are, for which I am most grateful
We look for ward to updating you next month’
Mr Adams PBA Principal
Family announcements
www justgiving com/gardenhousehospice
Announcements: We are happy to accept family announcements by post, telephone, email or through our facebook page If you would like to make a donation in return for your announcement then please visit the website above Please mention that the donation has been made on behalf of the Stotfold & Arlesey News Magazine
Why not surprise someone with an announcement in the Arlesey News Magazine?
All we need is your chosen wording and a photograph (if you would like) and we’ll do the rest! Email us at arlesey.news@yahoo.com
In Loving memor y of ELLEN ELIZABETH PARCELL
8/3/66-7/3/23
Forever in our thoughts
Love Mum, John, Ronnie, James & Rosie xx
TAYLOR JER AM 24th March
Happy 10th Bir thday beautiful!
Have the most amazing day at the Theatre & Beach! Mum, Dad, Alex & Charlie xx
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NICOLA GREEN
Happy 40th Bir thday! Love from Gus, Stanley & Pickle xx
To contact
SOPHIE PHILPOTT
Happy 13th Bir thday Lots of love, Daddy, Meg, Sienna & Louis xxx
REMEMBERING
Ernest (John) Rix
13/2/22 -10/3/04 & Doreen Jean Rix
6/1/24 - 3/3/21
Our Loved Ones Leave the World But Never Leave our Hear ts John, Verna, Mel, Pete, Jack, Connie, Gav, Jo, Reece, Connor & Harr y John, Liz, Matthew,Andrew, Ruth, Sam & Emma x
PAUL SOPER HAPPY 59+1 BIRTHDAY!! 13th March
Wishing you a lovely bir thday with love from Sharon & all your family xx
DAVE NICKERSON 6th March
Dave turns 21 again! (and then some )
I hope you have an amazing day& you’re looking for ward to this years surprise bir thday trip! Clue 1 will be inbound soon!
Love from Sophie XX
ALEX JER AM 13th March
Happy big 16th Bir thday dude! Hope you enjoy driving your dream car (Mustang GT ) lots of love Mum, Dad, Taylor, Charlie & Lucy xx
MAUREEN ANNE MEADOWS of Clifton and more recently of Fair field Manor Care Home passed away on 5th Februar y 2025, aged 86. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother The family expresses their gratitude for the suppor t received during this difficult time. Her funeral and remembrance ser vice will be held at All Saints Church Clifton on Tuesday 4th March at 1pm https://www memor ygiving com/maureenannemeadows
Update from ACORN
Arlesey Conser vation For Nature - March Update
As we approach the end of our financial and planning year and look back at the last 12 months it is clear that the ACORN Team have, once again, delivered a fantastic ser vice to Arlesey and more widely Bedfordshire nature We have recently co-opted two more local committee members and also now have five young volunteers, two of whom are completing the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award; their volunteering effor t, energy and commitment remains the cornerstone of ACORN
Our group terms of reference remain unchanged, at our core we seek to preser ve nature and promote access to nature locally In the last 12 months we have under taken a broad range of work which has seen our members and the committee getting involved in par tnerships and physical volunteering, driven through local requests for action or obvious demand from littering and broken gates to offering opinions on local planning and development, providing a local voice to the Etonbur y Green Wheel and Arlesey Development Stakeholder Group . Recent representations include the closure and re -routing of Footpath 3 from the High Street to the railway crossing, footbridge repairs and development of the paths over the old landfill in Mill Lane
Following last year ’s sur vey related to bio-diversity net gain we continue to bear in mind local residents request for additional woodland and tree planting to increase public green spaces and wildlife corridors benefiting the parish of Arlesey in the longer term Reviewing our financial position, equipment and volunteer suppor t, we are confident that we have the capability to complete tasks into 2025
Work Par ties continue to have a positive impact through a range of countr yside In coming months our focus will be on the wider path network and a project with Arlesey Town Council in the area of West Drive Over the last 12 months in the Arlesey Old Moat and Glebe Meadow Nature Reser ves, nearly 400 hours have been volunteered comprising of 24 Work Par ties and 150 volunteer sessions If you’d like to help but do not want to be a formal volunteer, you can! Join us on Facebook and share your updates -we always want to hear about any concerns such as fallen trees, fly tips and flooding updates This is best achieved by uploading the What3Words App and giving us the exact location reference allowing us to help tidy up or repor t matters directly to landowners or the CBC Rights of Way Officer
Richard Liversidge - ACORN Committee Chair
News from Our Local Churches.
Hello from St Peter ’s Church!
During the month of March, after the enjoyment of pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent Lent is the season of preparation for Holy Week and Easter, the most impor tant time in the Christian year Lent lasts for 40 days (plus six Sundays) reflecting the 40 days and nights that Jesus spent in the wilderness immediately after his baptism, grappling with temptation before beginning his public ministr y
The word 'Lent' comes from the old English word 'lencten' - the word for the season we now call spring, reflecting the fact that in springtime, the days lengthen as daylight hours increase. Lent is the springtime of the Church's year. Just as we might spring -clean our houses to get ready for the summer, Lent can be like a spring clean of our spiritual lives as we prepare to celebrate Easter. I wonder how you might have a ‘spring clean’?
Lent is aIso a time when folks give something up or plan to do something with regularity, even better if it suppor ts other people. Why not think about what you can do during Lent, perhaps there is something to give up or something to give!?
St Peter ’s Church is open ever y day and ever yone is welcome to come into the church to enjoy the space, a place of peace and prayer or join in any of the Sunday ser vices We look for ward to seeing you
All are welcome to Ser vices at St Peter ’s in March 2025
2 March at 9 30 am Holy Communion
Wednesday 5 March at 10 00 am Ash Wednesday Holy Communion
9 March at 10 00 am All Age Worship
16 March at 9 30 am Holy Communion
23 March at 9 30 am Holy Communion
30 March at 9 30 am Mothering Sunday Ser vice
Weekdays in Church in March
Coffee Morning – Ever y Tuesday at 10 30 am Afternoon Tea – Wednesday 5 March from 2pm to 4pm
The church is open ever y day for visitors – do come in and sit in the warm or read a book in the Book Nook! Ever y Blessing, Revd Jenna Dearden Email: revjennadearden@gmail.com 07708 666612 or 01462 731227
BRICKWORK & PAVING
All work completed to a very high standard. Friendly, family run business Tel: 07703 17 1857 / 01462 7 3182 9
Have you got
questions about the Christian faith?
In March Fair field Community Church will be star ting a three -week course called HOPE EXPLORED 7.30-8.30pm on Tuesday 11th, 18th & 25th March 2025 Fair field Bowls Club, Kingsley Avenue, Fair field Park, SG5 4GY Over these three weeks we will look at the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and will show that Christianity is about real hope: a joyful expectation for the future, based on true events in the past, which changes ever y thing about our present Please contact office@fair fieldcc org uk or call 07376 740410 for
Update From Arlesey Town FC
As we bed into 2025, there is plenty to be excited about at Arlesey Town FC After a successful trial period in collaboration with our new merchandise par tner Roxa Teamwear, we are excited to unveil our new club shop, where our suppor ters will be able to purchase 1st Team kits, training wear, hats, scar ves, pin badges etc Please visit https://www arlesey townfc co uk/ to check out our full range of options at incredibly affordable prices
On the ATFC Youth set up side of operations, they have just announced their open trials for the upcoming 2025/26 season. We inviting young, talented players to showcase their skills, and join our budding, teams for the future.Available Age Groups: U9 & U10 (RCYFL) U11 & U12 (Chiltern Youth League) U13, U14, U17 & U18 (Eastern Junior Alliance) U17 & U18 (Southern Counties Floodlit) Visit our website to register.
Where the current 1st Team are concerned, poor weather has put pay to a couple of matches, but The Blues have played two crucial games at the summit of the league. They lost 4-1 to runaway leaders MK Irish, who will surely now take the title, as they have built a 13-point lead However, the race for 2nd to 5th place and a spot in the end of the season playoff is heating up nicely Tommy’s boys played Potton at Home, in what many would class as a “6 pointer ” , with a 2-0 victor y At the time of writing, ATFC are now in 5th place on goal average, but equal on points with 3rd place
Saturday 1st March 15:00 v Crawley Green (Home)
Tuesday 11th March 19:45 v Tring Athletic (Away)
Saturday 15th March 15:00 v Aylesbur y Vale Dynamos (H)
Saturday 22nd March 15:00 v Colney Heath (Away)
Saturday 29th March 15:00 v Dunstable Town (Home)
Discounted home game tickets and club Membership can be purchased at www.arlesey townfc.co.uk
WELLBEING WALKS
March 20th Etonbur y Woods (entrance near Etonbur y Academy)
March 27th Corner of Hospital Rd, Arlesey
For more details contact Beth Over field on 01462 815672
Nor th Her ts Road Runners
The first Sat of the month 5k at Letchwor th Common will be 1st March at 9am This is open to runners of all abilities and the entr y is free so just turn up on the day We continue our training sessions on Tues and Thurs with qualified coaches and meet in Letchwor th at 7pm. We welcome runners of all abilities so come along for a taster session. our details are on www.nhrr.org.uk or call Ian 07506429928
Mental Health Matters
Winter – ing
I can’t claim to have coined the above term, nor can I recall where I found it! But it was referring to the flurr y of new activities in Januar y in contrast to Winter offering a time to pull back, hunker down and rest, in preparation for the new star ts in Spring.
Like many, I love Winter on the run up to Christmas but I’m over it by the drear y days of Januar y.
However, in learning to Winter well, I realise it is a waste to wish away these cold, damp months Or indeed to wish away any par t of these fragile, fleeting lives of ours As I have recently been reminded through the death of a friend, life can be taken in an instant
Therefore, to wish away Winter or the working years or any thing else, is to fail to understand how precious each moment of each day is. Even those we struggle to get through. Because ever y season offers its own rewards and challenges.
Winter may require us to be more proactive about looking after our mental health, especially if prone to
Jo
SAD For me, Winter is an invitation to instigate all that I love in this season but hate in Summer I write this with my feet up (shoes off!), gazing out the window at the sea on a break The combo of clouds and cold removes the crowds which makes it my favourite time to go.
Back at home, I am decorating my house and getting shot of the old to bring in the new-old, cour tesy of second-hand retailers. I love creative projects which in turn, enrich my mental health. Plus, I wouldn’t do this in warmer seasons because I’m too busy playing outside!
Embrace the oppor tunities this Winter … for these too shall pass!
It goes without saying we are so so busy. In the last year our parcels have gone up from approximately 550 a month to 847. This is something we expected, because year after year it gets busier. On top of that we give away 369 bags of before food in Januar y.
We have two vans on the road, 5 to 6 days a week, which pick up food or are delivering food parcels, throughout Central Bedfordshire and surrounding areas The project functions, with hubs throughout Central Bedfordshire and beyond
Update from The Need Project
Last year, in my repor t, I said we are looking for a permanent home for the project. We believe we have now found it and are in the process of purchasing it and hopefully we will get the key soon.
We have made some friends and been involved in some amazing situations and also some sad ones, but it is a joy to be involved, and we thank God for that. Whatever happens next, our priority is, was and always will be feeding our neighbour along with any thing else that we can do. In closing we have no idea where this project is going to lead us All we know is that Gods favour is upon our project and as long as he does that and we keep in line with his leading, it’s a great place for us to be Praise God always - Gordon
847 parcels provided in 23 working days • 369 top- up-bags collected from our Pop- up sites • £86,465 estimated value of the food for the month • £6,602.50, the average monthly cost to run the charity • 667 food parcels (an increase of nearly 27% in food parcels vs last year) 1301 adults, 1018 children & 83 pensioners helped.
Down Memory Lane
Welcome to our new-look Arle histor y page! We thought it wo great place for residents to learn more about the town we live in, to hear about the histor y, the characters that lived here before us and stories of days gone by.
Arlesey has grown immensely over the years with many residents joining us from other towns and villages. We know that Arlesey is steeped in local histor y and was (and still is,) a wonder ful place to live. Please do help us to keep this page alive by contributing to it with your stories and photographs - We know that we have some incredibly knowledgeable local histor y buffs living amongst us and we’d be thrilled if you would lend us some of your stories, pictures and memorabilia for future issues!
In response to the photograph of the chefs featured in your December issue, I have some of the names of the people pictured: Left to right Jack Batey, Alec Deveraux, Clive Batey, Unknown, Unknown Basil Cooper & Reg Buck Regards, Ros Smith
London Brickworks - A look back: If you are new to Arlesey, and assumed it had been just a typical rural village that has slowly expanded, you may be surprised by what went on in times gone by One of our readers sent in this aerial photo of the old London Brickworks He explains:
“This was one of several brick works in the area, which dug out the local Gault clay, and used the railway (opened 1850) to transpor t the bricks in vast numbers to London The railway line can be seen at the bottom of the picture, with goods sidings to load up the bricks The view is looking West, with Arlesey Common on the right The tall chimneys were a notable feature of the landscape, and provided the power ful draft for the furnaces baking the bricks Originally built in the 1850’s by Rober t Bear t, it was renamed in 1898 as Bear t’s Patent Brickworks, and again in 1928 by the London Brick Co, and kept going until relatively recent times.
“After production ceased and the works were demolished, the excavated pit was used as a landfill site, and the site of the works became Arlesey Business Park (still in use). The landfill site is now closed and capped off with a mound of soil. A detailed planting and restoration plan was put for ward in 2011 (revised in 2013 and 2019), which would have created an attractive green space – some planting has cer tainly taken place, but current intentions are unknown. It will be some time before public access can be considered for the whole area – gas and pollution from the landfill will continue to be generated and extracted for many years – but the plans did include a public footpath around the boundar y of the site Sadly this has yet to happen ” Editors Note: We recall being able to watch one of the huge chimneys being demolished from the safety of the school field at Gothic Mede in the 1980’s and being envious of those chosen out of the hat to press the ‘demolition button’ - The amount of dust was just incredible - an awesome sight!
Did you know?
The replica pump found outside the Community Centre today was built by local builders Peter & David Sharp and is based on the original water pump that used to be situated near to Primrose Lane The present day pump is top left
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Rev'd Emmanuel Onabanjo
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Arlesey Town Council Town Council Office
Arlesey Community Centre, High Street, Arlesey, Beds
SG15 6SN Phone: 01462 733722
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Mick Jackson 07970 734416 ( Treasurer)
arlesey acorn@gmail com
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Beds Police (Crime repor ting) 01234 841212
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Stotfold and District Children's Centre 01462 730623
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01462 731200
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Nor th Her ts Road Runners 01462 639215
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Painter/Decorator - Paul A Robinson 07761 751634 01462 232642
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Plumbing - ALM Plumbing
Shel's Shabby Chic, Vintage painted furniture & workshops
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506144 The Arlesey News Magazine
The Rooms Hair and Beauty 01462 835538
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01462 234292
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