Harpendia spring master 2016 issuu

The UK & the Global Economy Victoriana Expert and Blogger Extraordinaire A warm welcome awaits you at Brayleys

What’s on at Harpenden Public Halls

Harpenden Food Teacher shortlisted for World Cookbook Award

The best Wedding Rings

The SPRING Edition APRIL 2016

Spotlight on Harpendia’s Amanda Thomas

The Budget 2016. An Art or a Science?

Art on the Common Exhibition The Home of The timelines for the affordable openingFashion of Designer Harpenden’s new in Harpenden secondary school

MASTER CHEFS?

Dental Care for all the Family The Home of affordable Designer Fashion in Harpenden

Harpenden news updates Check out the Harpendia web site daily

www.harpendia.com Harpenden’s future as a town has been in the news for the last few months following the contributions by local residents and commercial undertakings about SADC’s Strategic Local Plan.

You can read about the ‘revelations’, particularly those affecting the north west of Harpenden on the Harpendia web site where land owned by Legal and General in both Herts and Beds could be sold to supply more than 1,500 homes.

From the Editor.

April 2016.

Spring weather seems to have arrived after the wettest winter on record School places are still an ongoing issue in both primary and secondary schools.

Housing development is another big issue to be resolved in November (see the editorial on the left.)

AND even more pressure on the infrastructure with parking being a daily nightmare in the town.

Key issues on infrastructure have failed to be addressed in the official documentation and building on land that borders adjacent counties has provoked strong responses by all concerned.

Little can be done now until the various parties meet with the Planning Inspector in November to consider SADC’s plan and the views expressed by respondents who requested a presence at that meeting.

A big thank you to all the contributors and the writers who have contributed to this edition. If

you want to contribute to the Summer edition please contact me.

Ron Taylor. info@harpendia.com

ALSO FEATURED INSIDE: Why you should join Harpenden’s Probus Secundus Club How to enjoy Hertfordshire’s Walking Festival Wonderful times at St Matthews Care Home and Holidays in Bordeaux.

How The Global Economy Affects The UK

By Clem Chambers. CEO of ADVFN The world economy is ever more bound together into one system. It might not be the butterfly in the Sahara flapping its wings that causes a storm on the other side of the world, instead economically it might be little trouble in big China that sends an economic storm around the globe to Europe.

There isn’t much our politicians can do about it beyond sandbagging the country. They try but the global economic gales that come and go cannot be prevented on a national basis.

So what economic turbulence is going on elsewhere in the world that might fetch up on our shores in the near future?

The three key ones are: China’s recession Oil prices US interest rates China’s recession is a major drag on the world economy. Recent stock market slumps have been a reflection of problems in Shanghai and Shenzhen.

Janet Yellen, the Chair of the US federal

Meanwhile in the States, the Federal Reserve, America’s equivalent of the Bank of England, is trying to get interest rates back to normality. It’s having a hard time, because the US and global economy is still shaky, but nonetheless normality is the goal. This will make it harder for the world to have a boom. Remember booms? However, there isn’t going to be any sudden explosion in interest rates any time soon so the US will not tip us all into the financial abyss by jacking up interest rates quickly.

Overall the picture for most people is, ‘more of the same.’ That might seem a little grim but the reality is, the last time a global economic storm hit in 2008, our economy was as close to disaster as it has ever been.

Thankfully trouble on the horizon in 2016 is minor in comparison.

Money flows and when parts of the system get into economic troubles, money slows down and the machine of wealth creation loses momentum.

Counterbalancing China’s woes is the drastic fall in the price of oil. Energy is the lifeblood of our society and cheap energy gives everyone a jump start. Cheap energy should feed back into growth. The trouble is, growth makes energy more expensive so as growth rises so does the cost of energy which slows growth back down again. Nonetheless, the falls in the price in oil will be priming a global economic recovery.

Clem Chambers (below) is the CEO of ADVFN, a financial website for private investors: www.advfn.com

Totally the best for Wedding Rings in Harpenden

Total Fashion All nearly weds want to be in fashion with the latest styles or be in keeping with tradition. Trending right now is the retro look of the 70’s with wide width rings coupled with diamond cut laser engraving...OR multi colour rings from yellow, rose and white gold or platinum and palladium. Tell us what you want or bring in a photo reference and we will design to order.

Total Choice Having set the highest standard for your ring is no use unless the jeweller can show you examples in the shop.

Loveweds have access to more samples than any other jeweller in the South East so you can see and compare the rings and try on over one hundred different styles in one visit.

Total Service Now you’ve made up your mind on the ring and the design you need to know it will be made on time. Dealing direct means our rings are created within 7-21 days. When we agree a date with you we deliver on time.

Totally the best price Being part of Hatton Garden means we have access to the best goldsmiths and jewellery designers in the country and we offer trade prices to all our customers.

Gold and platinum are bought by weight at ‘live’ prices so costs can fluctuate subject to the demands of the ‘market’. If the market price drops we will pass on the saving to you.

Totally the best for you Don’t just take our word, see what some of our customers say on the next page :

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

Just a few of the many customer appreciation letters

THE BUDGET 2016 Economic forecasting is an art rather than a science and many artists fail at the first attempt This is an initial reaction to George’s budget an hour after he sat down. Jeremy was quite right to point out that he continues to miss all his targets, which only goes to show the folly of setting targets in the first place! However, to continually revise down the “positive” numbers and revise up the “negative” numbers would have Mr Micawber turning in his grave. It really is time for Chancellors around the world to stop believing that economic forecasting is an art rather than a science and realise it is complete guesswork!

Enough of the rant and on to how the budget will affect the typical Lyndhurst client. I will do that by looking at the budget from the perspective of a 30 year old saver and then a 66 year old spender. So firstly the saver, what’s in it for them?

Well from April 2017 the ISA allowance will increase from just over £15,000 to £20,000 which means if the 30 year old contributes the maximum allowance each year for the next 36 years and assuming an average tax free return of 5% then at 66 the ISA will be worth well over £1.3million. Of course, most 30 years won’t earn enough to save £20k a year but you get my drift.

In addition, if the 30 year old opens a lifetime ISA they will be able to save up to £4,000 a year and any savings they put in up to the age of their 50th birthday will receive an added 25% bonus from the government. The current Help to Buy ISA can be transferred to the Lifetime ISA

from 2017. They can then use the savings either to buy their first home or save for their retirement, withdrawing tax free any amount after their 60th birthday.

On a personal taxation front the 30 year old is also likely to be the beneficiary of the increase in tax free personal allowance to £11,500 in April 2017 and the increase from £42,385 to £45,000 from April 2017 of the threshold at which they pay 40% tax.

So what of our 66 year spender client who is in retirement? For the wealthier ones the reduction in Capital Gains Tax from 28% to 20% and from 18% to 10% for basic rate taxpayers will be welcome for any investments that are not held in a tax free wrapper. In addition, the existing dividend tax credit is being abolished from April 2016 and a new dividend allowance of £5,000 per year is being introduced. Tax on dividend income above the allowance will be charged at 7.5% for basic rate tax payers and 32.5% for higher rate taxpayers.

And finally, unless our 66 year old smokes, the alcohol and fuel duty freeze will ensure that the trip to the grandchildren and any celebrating does not break the bank!

Geoff Newman, Director Lyndhurst Financial Management Ltd Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. www.lyndhurstfm.co.uk

Find the key you will go straight to paradise There is a shrine called Zenkoji in Nagano, Japan,, which has a passageway under its altar with a hidden key in it. It is said if you find the key you will go straight to paradise.

Naturally when I visited, I went into the passage and found the key. I didn’t go straight to paradise. I did however collapse that night and nearly die, which is about as close to paradise as I’ve ever been. The virus that struck me put the young chap who gave it to me on a ventilator and in intensive care for four weeks.

While I lay deliriously in bed, it occurred to me that the passage represented a life. You walked through the passage and like any good Buddhist re-entered the passage for another incarnation. If you turned the key in the first visit, something would be awaiting you on the second.

Should I go back and test my thesis and see if on the second walkthrough, having turned the key the first time around, an open door would await?

No; I let the characters of my book take that journey. For me one glimpse of a short cut to paradise was enough.

The Shrine is a Kindle Single story by Clem Chambers available from Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/ShrineKindle-Single-Clem-Chambers-ebook/dp/B01AWAU8TK

The Food Teacher shortlisted for 2016 Gourmand World Cookbook Award Following success in national business awards and a string of appearances at Food Festivals and Community events, Katharine Tate, The Food Teacher, has now been shortlisted for the world renowned Gormand Cookbook Awards.

curriculum requirements, but can be delivered within the classroom.

Katharine is delighted to be a finalist in a competition, which is described as the ‘Oscars of Food Awards’. “For my book to be shortlisted from over 26,000 food and wine books produced each year is a huge achievement. As the Food Teacher I encourage children and families to think about what they eat and to embrace a healthy lifestyle. When writing No Kitchen Cookery, I set out to use my experience as a teacher and nutritional therapist to help solve a very real problem faced by a number of schools across the UK. To get this level of recognition for a book I wrote and published myself is amazing.”

Katharine has also written a companion book, ‘Heat-Free and Healthy’, which illustrates how both adults and children can create simple, nutritious food at home without using a cooker. These are both available at Food Teacher events and direct from her website (www.thefoodteacher.co.uk) and Amazon.

The Food Teacher, Katharine Tate, (above) lives in Harpenden and is a qualified teacher and award winning registered nutritional therapist. Following the success of her work in schools, a series of community talks and demos, and her everincreasing popularity on social media, Katharine released her first books in November last year.

One of these books, ‘No Kitchen Cookery for Primary Schools’ has now been shortlisted alongside 8 other entries from around the globe in the “professional” category of the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards. The Gourmand World Cookbook Awards have been running for 21 years, and the final takes place on 29th May 2016 in Yantai, China. Previous Gourmand award winners include Jamie Oliver, Michel Roux, and Paul Hollywood.

Katharine was inspired to write ‘No Kitchen Cookery for Primary Schools’ after discovering that many Primary Schools in the UK no longer have access to a school kitchen or cookery space. With the return of cooking and nutrition to the school curriculum in 2014, this innovative book provides teachers with an outline for cookery lessons that meet the

Marissa Davis, (above) Headteacher, Harpenden Academy: “What a motivational book this is - the recipes bring the fun and sunshine into the serious subject of eating well and healthily for our children.

With clear instructions and photographs which both inspire and support the recipes. A magical mix of lessons for now and lessons for life, for children.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Katharine Tate, The Food Teacher Mobile: 07802 894997

Email: info@thefoodteacher.co.uk Facebook: thefoodteacheruk Twitter: foodteacheruk www.thefoodteacher.co.uk

On May 3rd Geoff Newman will be setting out on a 192 mile Coast to Coast walk to raise funds for the Dallaglio Foundation

Almost two years ago, while in transit between the UK and Australia, my friend Fraser Griggs collapsed in Dubai Airport, having suffered a major stroke. He was 46 at the time.

I am happy to say his recovery has been remarkable and, although there is still a way to go, he has confounded doctors with his progress.

To celebrate his recovery, in May this year Fraser and I - together with 10 other 'reprobates' - aim to walk across England on the famous 'Coast to Coast' walk, a distance of 192 miles (309 kilometres).

We begin our jaunt on May 3rd and will be raising funds for the Dallaglio Foundation, which provides support and opportunities for underprivileged children. Read more here: www.dallagliofoundation.com

I should stress that every penny/cent we raise goes directly to the charity. The virgin money site takes no commission and we are personally paying for all our expenses.

We are hoping to raise £10,000 for this great cause and I am hoping you might be able to help by sponsoring us. You can do this by clicking on the following link, and I can't tell you how much I/we appreciate your support: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/c2c16 On a personal note it will be just over two years since I had stents fitted and this will see whether they really work as the ascents during the walk are the equivalent of climbing Everest I’m told!

Geoff Newman, Lyndhurst Financial Management. Harpenden.

Meet Harpenden Author Carol Hedges Victoriana Expert and Blogger Extraordinaire

By AmandaThomas

Carol Hedges is one of our best known local authors (see Harpendia Winter 2013) and signed copies of her Victorian crime novels are stocked by gift shop, Serena Hart in Harpenden High Street.

For many years Carol’s literary output was confined to the ‘Spy Girl’ series, crime fiction for nine to 13 year olds. Then in 2013 ‘Diamonds & Dust: A Victorian Murder Mystery’, the first of a new series of adult Victorian crime novels, was published. Since then two more books have been launched, ‘Honour and Obey’ (2014) and ‘Death and Dominion’ (2016) – and there are more to come! Set in 1860s’ London, the books follow the exploits of Victorian detectives Leo Stride and Jack Cully.

Further titles include ‘Murder and Mayhem’, out later this year, and ‘Rhyme and Reason’ in 2017.

Carol’s latest books are self-published under her own inprint, Little G. They can be found on Amazon’s Create Space and E-books and have received some fantastic five star reviews.

‘Death and Dominion’ has recently been submitted for the Crime Writers’ Association readers’ award, Dagger in the Library. It is also Carol’s first book to feature a sex scene. “This has proved to be very useful,” she explained, “as it means the book can also be described as a romance title on Amazon!” Every little helps with marketing and the book is also doing extremely well in the so-called Werewolf charts in the United States.

One of the pitfalls of no longer being with a mainstream publisher is the lack of editing support. However for Carol this is not a problem as husband Martyn, or Mr Detail as he is known in literary circles, has become a trusted proof reader and editor; he has now started working for other writers as well.

Carol’s social media presence is extraordinary.

She has almost 8,000 followers on Twitter and her blog, carolhedges.blogspot.co.uk, is hugely popular and extremely entertaining. She also has a Facebook page called ‘The Curious Victorian’, or ‘A Delightful Dip into a World of Mysterious Victoriana’. Carol has developed this into a one-woman show – a ‘Victorian London Experience’ - which incorporates readings, artifacts and an insight into her research. All three books are available for only £20 at these hour-long talks for which Carol charges a £100 fee.

Carol Hedges is in discussions with gift shop, Serena Hart to do a book signing this summer – look out for further details in forthcoming issues of ‘Harpendia’!

Article continues on next page.

Article concludes Carol is also well known in Harpenden for her work with the Harpenden Independent Partnership and the fight against unnecessary development in the town.

The group is well supported locally and whilst it is not a political party two members already have seats on the Town Council. Carol added, “We are pro development but in the right place for the right people and for the right reasons.”

Carol Hedges is a busy woman and her blogspot hilariously documents her other role as a grandmother in her ‘Adventures of L-Plate Gran’, which warns to “Never underestimate the power of grandmas!” It is amazing that Carol even has time to write books, but she is already planning a re-launch of her children’s titles, and, of course, there are more books to come in her adult crime fiction series.

www.hicks.co.uk

Carol’s Master Plan is, however, extremely simple and characteristically tongue-in-cheek: in her own words, “To ultimately avoid dementia!”

change for transactions on or after 17 March 2016.

The main rate of fuel duty for both petrol and diesel are to remain frozen at 57.95 pence per litre.

Thereafter SDLT will be charged at each rate on the portion of the purchase price which falls within each rate band. The new rates and thresholds are as follows: Transaction value band

Rate

£0-£150,000

0%

£150,001 - £250,000

2%

£250,001 +

5%

VEHICLE EXCISE DUTIES Vehicle excise duty rates are to be 13real| terms VAT by increasing maintained in the duty by the RPI. This is a consistently applied policy as rates have increased in line with inflation since 2010. The next increase in rates will apply on 1 April 2016.

For new leasehold transactions, SDLT is already charged at each rate on the portion of the net present value (NPV) of the rent which falls within each band.

On and after 17 March 2016 a new 2% rate for rent paid under a non-residential lease will be introduced where the NPV of the rent is above £5 million.

VAT

EXEMPTION FOR CLASSIC VEHICLES

The new rates bands and thresholds for rent paid under a lease are:

BUDGET

Net present value of rent

Rate

REPORT 2016

BUDGET REPORT 2016 3 | Business Announcements

11 | Duties

A 40 year rolling exemption for classic vehicles was announced in Budget 2014. £150,001 - £5,000,000 1% Budget 2016 now makes this a permanent £5,000,000 + 2% exemption for classic vehicles so that on Higher rates of SDLT will be charged on purchases of additional residential properties, such 1 April each year vehicles constructed more as second homes and buy-to-let properties. The higher rates will be 3 percentage points than 40 rates years before January that year The positive of VAT1are unchanged, above the current SDLT rates: automatically be exemptatfrom paying so thewillstandard rate remains 20% and Thresholds Existing SDLT rates New additional vehicle excise that there 8 the reduced rate atduty.

5%.It is reported property SDLT rates are around 10,000 classic vehicle owners. £0-£125,000 0% 3% STAMP DUTY LAND TAX £0-£150,000

0%

RATES

DUTIES

The first ch powers to d appoint a VA power to in the UK. It w as regards

CHANGES TO VAT Reforms were introduced to the charging provisions for non-residential p The second REGISTRATION AND The stamp duty land tax (SDLT) charged on purchases of non-residentia 8% to make on DEREGISTRATION INCOME FROM SPORTING and transactions involving a mixture of residential and non-residential p FUEL DUTY 13%TESTIMONIALS severally lia THRESHOLDS Contact us on to discuss change for transactions or after 17 March 2016.

15%

£125,001-£250,000

2%

5%

£250,001-£925,000

5%

£925,001-£1,500,000

BENEFITS IN KIND 10% The law regarding the taxation of benefits

Over £1,500,000

in kind is being clarified with effect from 12%

REMAINS FROZEN

All income received by an employee from a sporting testimonial or benefit match will be chargeable to income tax and NICs.

your personal finances overseas bu Thereafter will be charged at each rate on the portion of the purch The taxableSDLT turnover threshold, which concept of there ‘fair bargain’ applies of overlap or a gap The announcement also provides arrangementsThewhere is only a period There will be a one-off exemption of within each rate band. The new rates and thresholds are as follows to general taxable benefits where the falls through the requires a person to register for VAT, £100,000 of the income received from taxable amount is based on the cost to the in ownership of a main residence.

6 April 2016.

employer of providing the benefit.

held during a single testimonial or 7 events | Personal Announcements Transaction value band

Rate

Both of thes royal assen

5%

ELECTRO

will be increased from £82,000 to £83,000 testimonial year.

Companies purchasing residential property willIf be subject to goods the orhigher including an employee receives services rates, 0% If the proceeds exceed £100,000£0-£150,000 will from their employer at the same cost as a perPAYE annum. the first purchase of a residential property. Properties purchased underneed £40,000, to be applied. member of the public there is nofor benefit £150,001 £250,000 2% exemption will not be available if the caravans, mobile homes and houseboats will bein kind. excluded from the higher The rates.

The threshold below which a VAT-registered 4 £250,001 +

BUSINESS PERSONAL CAPITAL TAXES ANNOUNCEMENTS ANNOUNCEMENTS concept of ‘fair bargain’ does not 9 The | Captial Taxes

Hicks & Co Vaughan Chambers Vaughan Road Harpenden Hertfordshire AL5 4EE admin@hicks.co.uk 01582 766677 www.hicks.co.uk

CORPORATION TAX

apply to the taxation of certain benefits in kind which have specific charging rules, such as beneficial loans, accommodation and company cars.

right to the testimonial is contractual or customary.

person applytransactions, to deregister be charged at each rate on For newmay leasehold SDLTwill is already COMMU of the net present value (NPV)toof £81,000 the rent which increased from £80,000 perfalls within each band.

Rates for the climate change levy (CCL) are to increase for 2017/18, 2018/19 On and after 2016registration a new 2% rateand for rent paid This undermeasu a non-r annum, and 17 theMarch relevant and 2019/20. The CCL main rates will increase in line with RPI. will be introduced where the NPV of the rent is above £5 million. charge in th These increases are partly intended to replace tax revenues lost as a result of the abolitionderegistration threshold for Legislation will be introduced in Finance Gains in excess of the limit will be subject The new rates bands and thresholds for rent paid under amissing lease are:trad CAPITAL GAINS TAX RATES acquisitions will also be Bill 2016 to amend the definitions CGT atintra-Community the prevailing rate. Any employee of carbon reduction commitment energy efficiency scheme. The reduced rates ofof CCLto for The rates of capital gains tax (CGT) are ‘partnership purchase arrangements’ shareholder shares that were issued before changingRENEWALS for disposals of relevant assets Net present value£82,000 of rent to £83,000 Rate fraud. It wa BUSINESS RATES OF THE qualifying businesses inREPEAL the climate change agreement scheme willpurchase be amended and ‘share arrangements’ midnight increased on 16 March 2016 willfrom not be made on or after 6 April 2016: for entrepreneurs’ relief purposes by subject to any lifetime limit when sold.

ALLOWANCE• the 18% rate The government will permanently double £0-£150,000 0% of CGT, which applies such, as it w TRIVIAL BENEFITS IN KIND excluding the material disposal itself If any employee shares are pershareholder annum. to individuals whocost are notofhigher rate the small business rate relief in England The renewals allowance for the and arrangements which predated both transferred to a£150,001 civil partner or spouse, the -estates £5,000,000 1% Anti-avoidance rules w introduction. persons’ are entitled to the basic taxpayers,As will be reduced to 10% announced, the material disposal and an associated PERSONAL ALLOWANCE AND previously a statutory 11 January transfer will be treated as being made for from 1 April 2017. At the same time, the replacing tools which provides traders disposal and are independent of the All £5,000,000 these changes will take effect from a consideration which rate gives rise toreduction a gain • the 28% rate of CGT will reduce to 20% effect from tax + 2%budget day to countera HIGHER RATE THRESHOLD government will raise the small business and property businesses with tax relief will exemption from income tax for qualifying material disposal. equal to the transferor’s unused lifetime Treasury Or • disposals of residential property that do arrangements put17/03/2016 in place. 04:44 The legislationallowance will be backdated 11 limit, provided that•thethe consideration rate reliefStatement_March16.indd threshold in England to rateable be withdrawn.

1 Higher April 2016 and will total income the taxaround Thekind personal willand bewillincreased not qualifytrivial for privatebenefits residence reliefin rates ofdoes SDLTrestriction will prevent be tocharged on purchases of additional residen costing £50 or apply to associated disposals madeless on not exceed the market value of the shares The new rules will Those apply evenperp if the and the receipt of carried interest will from £11,000 in 2016/17 to £11,500 in values of up to £12,000 tapering applies where the relevant The impact of the change is intended to or after 18 March 2015.

This fixreduction the acquisition cost and as willsecond homes buy-to-let properties.

The higher rates will be 3p 2,000 businesses from having to register continue towill be taxed the 18% and beatintroduced from 6 April 2016. The transferred. overseas developer has no perman to £15,000. of the person acquiringfinance the shares.costs or property profits are The requirement that the material disposal 2017/18. ensure that tax relief28% forrates expenditure on of CGT and collect above the current SDLT rates: of business assets is 5% or more of exemption also remove the charge establishment in the UK. The profits in the financial year 2016 to 2017. higher than the total income The threshold at which business rate bills in replacement tools •will be obtained undertowill provisions will be introduced enableThe a higher rateshare threshold willorincrease the claimant’s in the company INHERITANCE TAX MEASURES taxpayer to use any unused income tax subject to either income tax or corp England are calculated using the standard the same rules as those which to 1A NICs, not2016/17 apply where to the £33,500 fromapply class with does a incorresponding frompartnership £32,000 Existing SDLT‘disappear’ rates Ne The government will legislate to ensure basic rate band in the most •changes the total income is a measure of the net claimant disposes of the whole of the TheThresholds tax depending upon the business s that the residence nil-rate band will alsowill also raise the turnover multiplier to properties with rateable values other capital equipment. beneficial disregard way.

PERSONAL in 2017/18. entitled to a full for class 1 national insurance interest and Individuals has previously held a taxable income after other reliefs pro be available when a person downsizes or to the Exch used by the developer. of £51,000 and above from 1 April 2017. larger stake.

This change will see businesses claim tax personal to tolimit foron orincome tax self-assessment 0% ceases own a home after ENTREPRENEURS’ RELIEF: taking effect later in theallowance year. will not be liableALLOWANCE £0-£125,000 3% • any carried forward tax reduction is 8 July 2015 where assets are passed on EXTENSION TO LONG TERM The annual uprating of business rates will relief under the capital allowance regime or, higher a reverse ch EMPLOYEE SHAREHOLDER rate tax until their total income death to direct descendants.

INVESTORS BAD DEBT RELIEF FOR5% ‘3 £125,001-£250,000 line accounts’ and increase given in any subsequent year in whichthe entry STATUS EXEMPTION change from the RPI to the CPI, from in the case of residential landlords, for the exceeds 2% £43,000 in 2016/17 and £11,500 £45,000 Legislation will be introduced to ensure that Entrepreneurs’ relief will be extended PEER-TO-PEER LENDING customer m Employee shareholder shares issued as TAXATION OF TERMINATION property income is received, even if 1 April 2020. cost of replacing domestic itemsinsuch a charge and to IHT willexit not arisethresholds when to external investors unlistedas trading in 2017/18. for the income tax 5% cash consideration for entering into employee £250,001-£925,000 8% a pension scheme member companies. This new relief will apply Tax relief will be allowable on bad d theredesignates is no restriction on the deduction shareholder agreements after midnight on FROM 2017/18 appliances or furnishings.

PAYMENTSThe NICs due, rather funds for drawdown but does not draw a 10% rate of CGT to gains accruing upper earnings limit will also 16 March 2016 will be subject to a lifetime £925,001-£1,500,000 10% on peer-to-peer loans aga 13 basis accounting, they are aligned incurred of finance costs inso thatthat year, as the loan 9 | Captial Taxes all the funds before death. This will be on ordinary shares in an unlisted trading limit of2018 £100,000 exempt gains with for thewill to remain in line the higher With effect fromincrease April employers backdated to apply to may deaths have on or after held bythe individuals that were The new measurecompany will repeal renewals other peer-to-peer income. been repaid. purposes of CGT. Over £1,500,000 12% 15 with the new VAT registration threshold.

6 April 2011. newly issued to the claimant and acquiredrate threshold. allowance on or after 6 Aprilbe2016 for required to pay NICs on termination

CLIMATE CHANGE LEVY

The new rules will apply for income received from testimonial events held on or after 6 April 2017 where the testimonial was awarded on or after 25 November 2015. If the testimonial was awarded before 25 November 2015 then existing arrangements will apply.

SELF-EMPLOYED CLASS 2 NICS ABOLISHED FROM 2018

The rate of corporation tax will reduce to 17% for the financial year commencing 1 April 2020. The planned reduction in corporation tax to 19% from 1 April 2017 remains unchanged.

Statement_March16.indd 1 LOANS TO PARTICIPATORS

In order to keep the tax rate in line with the higher rate of tax on dividend income, the loans to participators tax rate payable will increase from 25% to 32.5% on loans or benefits conferred by close companies on or after 6 April 2016.

CORPORATION TAX REFORM OF LOSS RELIEF From 1 April 2017, companies will only be

17/03/2016 04:44

able to use losses carried forward against VAT FRA Hicks & Co up to 50% of their profits above £5 million.

TheREFORM announcement alsoWEAR provides arrangements where there is a period OF THE AND EXTENDING FARMERS income tax purposes and from 1 April 2016 payments to anPROPERTY individual above AND£30,000.

TRADING Vaughan Chambers TEAR ALLOWANCE AVERAGING PERIOD for corporation tax purposes.

If a group, the £5 million allowance will The govern in ownership of a main residence. employer, agency or third party that OVERSEAS BUSINESSES AND CLASS 2 NATIONAL ALLOWANCES This rule appliesINCOME where income tax is Vaughan Road apply per group. With respect to the current As announced at Summer Budget 2015, have the choice of ave pays the worker’s intermediary and it penalty for Companies purchasing residential propertyFarmers will bewill subject to the higher INSURANCE FOR The government will introduce a new also due.

ONLINE streaming rules, the use of losses arising the wear andMARKETPLACES tear allowance is being their profits for income tax purpose Harpenden Hertfordshire RELIEF ON will become their obligation to decide if ENTREPRENEURS’ £1,000 allowance for property income and the first purchase of a residential property.

Properties purchased for und SELF-EMPLOYED PERSONS on or after 1 April 2017 will be more in spring 20 ASSOCIATED DISPOSALS abolished from April 2016. Landlords 2 years or 5 years. This was annou AL5 4EE Changes are to homes be the introduced to give HMRC new £1,000 allowance for trading income the rules apply to the contract and if so, flexible so that the losses will be useable, caravans, mobile and houseboats will be inexcluded from the2015 high EMPLOYER PROVIDED will be able to deduct actual costs of earlier Autumn Statement 10 | Savings &aPensions for new consideration on or after 17 March 2016, and have been held for 8 2016. at Statement_March16.indd least 3 years from 6 April There will be a lifetime cap for investors of £10,000,000.

17/03/2016 04:44

FOR SALE

CAPITAL TAXES SAVINGS & OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS PENSIONS Finance Act 2015 introduced new rules

At present, a self-employed person in the intentio to combat abuse of entrepreneurs’ relief from April 2017. Individuals with less than when carried forward, against profits from account and pay the liabilities through realbut they had PENSIONS greater powers to tackle non-compliance replacing furnishings. apply from April 2016. unintended consequences ADVICE business required to pay class 2 national £1,000 of either source of income will no other incomeisstreams or other companies which prevented entrepreneurs’ relief being 2017.

CLIMATE CHANGE LEVY admin@hicks.co.uk time Information and deduct the relevant available on associated disposals when longer need to declare or pay tax on on the part 14ofFROM businesses that | overseas Other Announcements within a group.

The available exemption from tax and insurance contributions (NICs) if their profit PROFITS TRADING IN NON-DOMICILE TAXATION a business was being sold to a member 01582 766677 tax and NICs. Rates for the climate change levy (CCL) are to increase for 2017/18, 20 that income.

The new m Legislation will be introduced in Finance of the family as part of the succession Gains in excess of the limit will be subject AND DEVELOPING UK LAND national insurance for employer arranged CAPITAL is over the small profitsOF threshold.

From GAINS TAX RATES avoid paying VAT on sales made to UK From April 2017 non-UK domiciled planning for the business.

TAX DEDUCTIBILITY and 2019/20.

The CCL main rates will increase in line with RPI. UK dom www.hicks.co.uk Those with income above £1,000 willrate. be Any Bill 2016 to amend the definitions of to CGT at the prevailing employee The government is acting to ensure that individuals will be deemed pension advice will increase from services of April 2018, class 2 national insurance The rates of capital gains tax (CGT)ALLOWANCES are CORPORATE INTEREST throughfield online marketplaces.

CAPITAL FOR able to deduct their expenses in the usual consumers there is a level playing they have been resident theaUKref ‘partnership purchase arrangements’ shareholder before These increases are partlybetween intended to replace tax revenues lostinas EXPENSES £150 to £500 from April 2017. shares that were issued will be abolished and only class 4 NICsfor disposals of relevant assets changing associated manner or simply deduct the BUSINESS CARS non-UK resident developers of UK property the past 20 tax years.

Thisreduced was ann and ‘share purchase arrangements’ midnight on 16 March 2016 will not bewill reduction There be 2 aspects to the changes, of carbon commitment energy efficiency scheme.

The New rules will be introduced from made on or after 6 April 2016: will be payable. As class 2 NICs currently £1,000 allowance. and UK developers. in Summer Budgetover 2015.landlin for entrepreneurs’ relief purposes by subject to any lifetime limit when sold.

The 100% first year allowance for 1 April 2017 to limit the tax relief that large qualifying businesses in the climate change agreement scheme will be a BUSINESS PREMISES which HMRC will not automatically apply, enable self-employed individuals to 18% buildrate of CGT, which applies In addition individuals who were bo The legislation will introduce a standard 2016 excluding the multinational enterprises can claim for• their thecars material2017 disposal itself FINANCE COSTS RESTRICTION businesses purchasing low emission internet.

It d If any employee shareholder shares are RENOVATION ALLOWANCE entitlement to the state pension to and other who are not higher rate UK and who have a UK domicile of trading profits but set useof rules onlyfortotaxing tackle the highest risk interest expenses. individuals and 3 arrangements predated both FOR LANDLORDS £15,000 £6,000 transferred to a civil partner or spouse, thefrom trading in and developing will be extended for a further years until which supplies. will revert to their UK domiciled sta derived The business premises renovation contributory benefits, class 4 national Relief on interest payments will be taxpayers, will be reduced to 10% compliance cases. will be will introduced relating the material disposal and an associated Legislation transfer be treated as tobeing made April 2021. whilst they are resident in the UK. land for in the UK. restricted to 30% earnings, with allowance will expire on 31 March 2017 for insurance will ofbeUKreformed in April 2018 so finance costs on residential properties disposal and are independent of the Statement_March16.indd 11 a consideration which gives rise toItawill gain the 28% rate of CGT will reduce to 20% The government will also legislate t be introduced from report stage exceptions for groups with legitimately• high From April 2018, the carbon dioxide on or after 6 April corporation tax incurred and 5 April 2017 for 2017 in order that self-employed people can continue to material disposal. equal to the transferor’s unused lifetime inheritance tax (IHT) on all UK resid and will take effect from the date of interest payments. to ensure that: • disposals of residential property that dobelow which cars are emission threshold income tax. build benefit entitlement. or flexi-access drawdown pension who DIVIDEND TAXATION not qualify for private HELP TO SAVE The legislation will beINSURANCE backdated and will TAXlimit, provided that the consideration does STATE AID MODERNISATION property indirectly held through an PREMIUM DISGUISED REMUNERATION residence relief eligible for the first year allowance will • individual beneficiaries of deceased would currently tonot useexceed all of this structure from 604:44 April 2017.

Statement_March16.indd 1 AVOIDANCE apply to associated disposals on havepremium the marketSCHEMES value of the shares HMRC is to be given additional powers 17/03/2016 The standardmade rate of insurance The existing dividend tax credit and is being in low income working the receipt ofIndividuals carried interest OFFSHORE PROPERTY decrease to 50 will g/km from the current OFF-PAYROLL WORKING IN fund before or pay 45%Atax tax will increase from age 9.5% 23 to 10% with raftThis of measures be introduced cost to collect information on certain state aids or after 18 March 2015. transferred. will fixare theto acquisition abolished from April 2016 and acontinue new to be taxed households will be able to save up to at the 18% DEVELOPERS from 1 October targeted at employers, companies and and share this information with threshold of 75and g/km. Similarly, the carbon effectcharges THE PUBLIC SECTOR a year of up2016. to 70% on lump sum of any the person acquiring the shares. dividends allowance of £5,000 28% per month into a Help to account that the material disposal TheSave requirement individuals using tax avoidance schemes the European Commission through rates of CGT£50 Statement_March16.indd 3 17/03/2016 04:44 dioxide emission threshold for the main rate CLAIMS payment to continue tobeaccess their A new measure will introduced to Statement_March16.indd 13 gateway. The intended purpose As isfrom April 2017, public sector bodies MANAGEMENT that fall within the disguised remuneration a legal being introduced. and receive a 50% government bonus assets is 5% or more of of business REGULATION funds as they wish after their of capital allowances for business cars will • provisions will be introduced to enable a legislation. of this measure is to allow HMRC to collect ensure that profits from trading in UK land and agencies will become responsible for Statement_March16.indd 9

17/03/2016 04:44

SMALL BUSINESS RATE RELIEF CLICK TO REPORT CLICKHERE HERETHRESHOLD TOREAD READTHE THE FULL FULL BUDGET REPORT https://pwcrm.securelogin.co.uk/cache/practiceweb/ https://pwcrm.securelogin.co.uk/cache/practiceweb/ hicksPWP_Budget2016_purple_print.pdf hicksPWP_Budget2016_purple_print.pdf after 2 years. the claimant’s share in the company or Tax on dividend income above the INHERITANCE TAX MEASURES

There23rd is to bebirthday. a tougher regulatory regime 7 The measures will also apply to employers, Statement_March16.indd to use any unused income tax reduce from the current rate of 130 g/km are management always to UK tax by introducing operating thewill taxberules that at: applytaxpayer to partnership thesubject claimswhere companies The government allowance charged Account holders can then choose to does notforapply companies will and individuals an legislatethat to used ensure basic rate band in the most to 110 g/km. specific rules to tax the full amount (CMCs) including by introducing a senior off-payroll working through limited claimant disposes of the whole of the employeeof benefit trust (EBT) arrangement continue saving under the scheme for

• 7.5% for basic rate taxpayersbeneficial way.

REDUCTION OF LIFETIMEresidence nil-rate band will also

that the managers regime, requiring reauthorisation

additional data to help the UK contribute towards the monitoring of and compliance with state aids. This measure will have effect from 1 July 2016.

Turnstyle sets the scene for fashion in Harpenden

By Ron Taylor

Where else in Harpenden can you find two floors of designer fashion in clothes and shoes at prices that start from just £40 for a pair of Gina sandals. £30 for a Max Mara dress or £15 for a pair of J Brand jeans.

OK they may not be brand new but they have been lovingly looked after by their previous owners.

If you’re 35 or over we have lots of clothes for you and even some for the under 35’s. New stock daily.

TOP BRANDS inc: Betty Barclay; Burberry; j Brand; Carolina Herrara; Gina Shoes; karen Millen; Max Mara; Raph Lauren and more.

If you’re not ready to buy then maybe you have some clothes/shoes you’d like to sell without the hassle of going on line. Call in and see me for a friendly chat and honest advice.

New owner Elaine Norwood “I’m looking forward to welcoming new clients and old friends to help with their quest for designer clothes and shoes at affordable prices here in Harpenden.”

84B High St.Harpenden

(That’s between Healthy & Wise and Charles Wilson) 01582 769898 www.facebook.com/turnstyleharpenden Open 10 - 4 Mon - Sat. Closed Wed.

Beautiful Bordeaux, a lot more than great wines ...a great place for a holiday.

By Ron Taylor. Editor

There’s so much to do and see in the Bordeaux region from the greatest vineyards in the world, to stunning countryside and the regional capital, Bordeaux with it’s amazing heritage. A city full of history, museums, galleries, restaurants and beautiful architecture. We stayed a short distance from the centre in Saint Medard. On a bus route into the centre and plenty of local shops and restaurants. Brigitte Schoell has a delightful B&B where you can enjoy a fabulous ‘French’ Breakfast after a comfortable night’s sleep.

A warm welcome awaits you in Saint Medard at: <lasabliere33@gmail.com> La Maison de la Sabliere Saint-Medard-en-Jalles chambresdhotes33.com.

Want to be a Master Chef?

Watch the new series on BBC1...Buy some cookery books from WHS in Harpenden...

Get Cooking

A fabulous selection of cookery books from many famous chefs for beginners and experts alike, all available in Harpenden at WHSmith

Welcome to Brayleys.

Bray Br ayleys Harpenden en

Spring into action and visit Harpenden’s award winning Kia and Mazda dealership.

Spring is here already and 2016 is shaping up to be another busy year for Harpenden’s only new car retailer, Brayleys.

Representing both Kia and Mazda franchises at its showrooms on Luton Road, the award-winning dealership has a range of new cars to tempt Harpenden motorists, from two of the world’s most innovative manufacturers.

One of those is the fantastic all-new Kia Sportage, now in its fourth incarnation and firmly established as one of the UK’s best selling Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV). In fact, so popular is this latest version, which launched

last month, more than 1,500 orders were placed across the UK during its first weekend on sale. Brayleys has seen significant interest from local residents and a number have already been ordered. The new Sportage range consists of 18 trim versions, three engine variants and three different transmissions, so there’s a model to suit any requirement. Fuel economy ranges from 37.2mpg to 61.4mpg on the combined cycle with CO2 figures starting at 119g/km, making the Sportage one of the most fuel-efficient cars in its class.

a PCP purchase of the entry level Sportage ‘1’ 1.6 GDi. With 130bhp on tap, fuel economy of 42.2 mpg and a luggage compartment that expands from 503 litres to a capacious 1,492 litres, the allnew Sportage bristles with safety and driver assistance systems, including Hill-start Assist Control, Trailer Stability Assist and Electronic Stability Control with Downhill Brake Control as standard.

Added features such as electrically adjustable door mirrors, LED daytime running lights and cornering lights are all included Brayleys is offering in the standard ‘1’ a special £500 deposit specification. What are contribution towards you waiting for?

On the other side of the showroom, Mazda has been busy adding to its growing trophy collection with the all-new Mazda MX-5 winning the title of Best Convertible at the 2016 What Car? Awards. The latest generation of Mazda’s iconic Roadster was also named as Best Convertible Buy for under £25,000, so it’s no wonder that this rear-wheel-drive marvel is still the world’s best selling twoseater sports car of all time.

Mazda’s clever engineers have taken the 4th version of the MX-5 to new levels of driving pleasure with the introduction of a perfect combination

of 50:50 weight distribution in a sleek KODO-design body, that’s 100kg lighter than its predecessor. The MX-5 is small enough to suit UK roads perfectly, great value, easy to live with and brimming with the simple joys of opentop motoring.

To arrange a test drive of the all-new Kia Sportage and Mazda MX-5, as well as other cars in the ranges, visit www.brayleys.co.uk or pop down to our showroom where you’ll be warmly welcomed.

www.brayleys.co.uk

brayleys.co.uk

Get the keys to your Kia At Brayleys

The All-New Sportage now available at Brayley Kia

Brayley Kia (Harpenden)

17 Luton Road, Harpenden, AL5 2UA 01582 447384 Fuel consumption in mpg (l/100km) for the All-New Kia Sportage range: Urban: 28.2 (10.0) – 52.3 (5.4), Extra Urban 43.5 (6.5) – 67.3 (4.2), Combined 37.2 (7.6) – 61.4 (4.6), Co2 emissions 177 – 119g/km. MPG figures are official EU test figures for comparative purposes and may not reflect real driving results. Model shown: All-New Kia Sportage ‘GT-Line’ 1.6 T-GDi 174bhp 6-speed manual (AWD) at £24,350 OTR.

FOR ALL THINGS MAZDA

Visit Brayley Mazda (Harpenden) Brayley Mazda (Harpenden) 17 Luton Road, Harpenden, Hertfordshire AL5 2UA 01582 447385 www.brayleys.co.uk

The official fuel consumption figures in mpg (l/100km) for the Mazda Range: Urban 30.4 (9.3) – 74.3 (3.8). Extra Urban 51.4 (5.5) – 88.3 (3.2).

Combined 40.9 (6.9) – 83.1 (3.4). CO2 emissions (g/km) 161 – 89.

Wonderful times at St. Matthews with support from the whole community

We had a wonderful afternoon at St Matthews  in January. We invited St Luke's school (special needs ) to a party. What a wonderful party we had. Everything, the children's presents, the chocolates, the hot dog rolls, the paintings the residents did in activities to deck the walls, were all donated.

The organisations that donated where the local community at Redbourn and Harpenden ,the Harpenden Salvation Army, the Skewbridge public house, our own families of residents.

Our own resident volunteer musicians David Clement Horton , from the bootleg Bee Gee band and professional singer Mia Chevais . We had our own therapy PAT dog belle

with support from the whole community We had a professional photographer donate video and photos -- Bernie Hoedt.

We had music, old fashioned games like pass the parcel, put the tail on the dragon and lucky dip for treasure. Plus dancing and singing.

Fabulous food like hot dogs, gateaux, squash and fruit cocktails.

The children had a wonderful time chatting to our residents, and did not want to go home.

St Matthews Care Home , Chequer lane , Redbourn , Herts AL3 7QG Tel. 01582 792042 Manager Alina Veresau Stmatthews@bmcare.co.uk http://www.bmcare.co.uk

COMING SOON to Harpenden Public Halls Thursday 7th April 7.30pm

Thursday 14th April 2.00pm Afternoon tea concert with complimentary tea and biscuits!

HisWay!

The Frank Sinatra Story With

Soulful voices, beautiful gowns and a fabulous stage show.

Robert Habermann

The songs and remarkable story of Frank Sinatra, from band singer to 1940s 'Pop Idol'.

Thursday 28th April 7.30pm

A memorable evening of nonsense from probably the greatest comic storyteller to grace the stage.

Friday 29th April 7.30pm

The fascinating tale of how two young boys became the world’s most successful music duo of all time.

Saturday 30th April 8.00pm

Saturday 14th May 8.00pm

CHRISTIAN O’CONNELL

CRAIG CAMPBELL’S Canada’s funniest export!

Absolute Radio’s awardwinning breakfast show DJ in his own stand-up show.

Thursday 26th May 7.30pm

Buddy Holly

& The Cricketers Britain's most popular Buddy Holly act.

A unique tribute to Orbison and The Wilbury's.

PUBLIC HALLS

Derek Acorah The Soul Reunion Tour 2016 One of the most respected Spiritualist Mediums of a generation.

Saturday 4th June 7.30pm

Thursday 2nd June 7.30pm

HARPENDEN

Friday 27th May 8.00pm

An unmissable journey spanning five decades of music from the legendary "Man In Black"

BOOK ONLINE www.harpendenpublichalls.co.uk BOX OFFICE 01582 767525

Southdown Road, Harpenden, Herts, AL5 1PD (Two minutes walk from the train station) www.harpendenpublichalls.co.uk

Dental Care for all the Family Fully independent private practice serving the local area for over 70 years •Affordable family dental care •Pain free and laser dentistry •Cosmetic dentistry •Oral Care Plan

•Dental Implants •Invisible orthodontics •Dental hygiene and periodontal services •Flexible payment options

•2 Douglas Road, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2EW •Tel: 01582 712470 • •Email: practicemanager@waysidedental.co.uk •Web: www.waysidedental.co.uk

Follow these top ten tips for a confident smile 1.

Have regular check ups with your dentist. At Wayside we believe that prevention is better than cure and recommend check ups every 6 months.

2.

Brush your teeth twice a day, before you go to bed and in the morning before you have your breakfast.

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t brush your teeth within an hour of eating or drinking anything acidic as acid softens the enamel which can, when soft, be damaged by brushing.

3.

We recommend using an electric toothbrush as studies have shown that an electric toothbrush does a better job of cleaning your teeth and removing plaque. If you prefer a manual toothbrush, choose a small to medium sized brush head with soft to rounded nylon bristles.

4.

Use a toothpaste with fluoride-just a pea sized amount for children over the age of 3 and a smearing for under 3. Spit out excess water but do not rinse.

5.

Keep sugary foods and drinks to mealtimes only-it is frequency of sugar intake that causes decay.

6.

Clean between your teeth with interdental brushes or floss-cleaning the surface cleans only two thirds of your teeth.

7.

Using a mouthwash helps, but not immediately after cleaning your teeth as it washes away the fluoride.

8.

9.

10.

Smoking damages teeth and gums so if you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t give up, ensure you also visit your hygienist regularly.

Brush your tongue as bacteria on the tongue can cause bad breath.

If your dentist has prescribed a night-guard, wear it!

2 Douglas Rd. Harpenden 01582 712470 www.waysidedental.co.uk

Spotlight on Harpendia’s Amanda Thomas

By Amanda Thomas

When she’s not working with Editor, Ron Taylor on ‘Harpendia’, author and historian Amanda Thomas spends her time researching and writing books about social and medical history for Yorkshire-based publishers Pen & Sword.

Here Amanda gives an insight into what it all entails.

‘Cholera: The Victorian Plague’ is my second book about the water borne disease which ravaged the world’s population in the nineteenth century. Cholera first arrived on British shores in 1831, arriving from the Continent at the port of Sunderland on the north east coast. In the years that followed and in the outbreaks of 1848-9, 1853-4 and 1866 it killed thousands of people here and millions worldwide. However, cholera is not a disease of the past and continues to pose a threat to public health, indeed in many places it is endemic.

imminent threat of Britain’s second cholera epidemic and in Lambeth, as elsewhere, the task of improving living conditions for ordinary people was considered too great and too expensive. The papers at Lambeth revealed an air of hopelessness and a deep-rooted sentiment that the poor could not - and in many cases should not be helped, and that I found most compelling.

‘Cholera: The Victorian Plague’ was commissioned by the publishers Pen &Sword in 2013. I already had a long-standing relationship with the company as we had worked together at the family history show ‘Who Do You Think You Are? Live’ in London and I had written for their magazine ‘Your Family History’. Since then I have joined their stable of history authors and am working on several more books.

Cholera took me all over the country, from Sunderland to York and from Kent to Bristol. I also spent a lot of time in London meeting scientists working on cholera today and talked to researchers all over the world about whether cholera today is even the same strain as that of the Victorian era.

Editorial continues on next page

The first book I wrote on the subject, ‘The Lambeth Cholera Outbreak of 1848-49’ was published in 2010 and was written as a result of a question from a distant cousin. She had wondered why a branch of her family had disappeared in 1849 and together we visited Lambeth Archives in London. Here I uncovered a series of papers written in 1848 by the Lambeth District Sanitary Commission whose investigation into the deplorable state of Lambeth’s streets and the working poor mirrored those of other commissions around the country. They were responding to the

Editorial continues The solution would be to exhume some victims, and quite a few people – both scientists and archaeologists - have expressed a desire to do this. It was, after all, the recent excavation of plague pits in London which gave researchers the opportunity to discover that in the Middle Ages the rapid spread of plague was not because of rats and fleas but because the disease had mutated and began to spread through the air just as colds do today. There is a possibility that cholera too may have spread like this and not through contaminated water, but to find out more, you will need to buy the book!

The difficulty of writing a book which people are going to use as a basis of their own knowledge - and as evidence for further research - is that it needs to be as accurate as possible. One of the things I quickly realised is that some historians simply copy the work of others and don’t take the time to look at the original sources again. Spending hours at the British Library and at archives around the country is exhausting, but I feel it is extremely important to go back to original documents.

One startling example of this is the long-held assumption that Dr John Snow, who had been responsible for removing the water pump handle in Soho (and therefore stopping cholera), was a poor-boy-made-good. This was simply not the case. The story of John Snow had been hijacked by an American historian in the early twentieth century as he felt it embodied the American Dream, but the myth had been repeated over and over again.

Ironically it was an American researcher who

pointed this out at a lecture I attended and he was absolutely correct. Snow came from a family of yeoman farmers in Yorkshire and he was quite well connected. Moreover, he was also not the only person in Britain who had worked out cholera was a water borne disease and the work of Bristol’s Dr William Budd was in many ways far more important.

The research for any book is always excruciating. The background reading and taking notes can take weeks, and then when the time comes to write it all up, it is easy to forget the original thread. Just as painful is knowing when to stop. I recall reading some comments online by another writer interested in cholera in which he mentioned a famous Victorian doctor I had never heard of. If I had missed this piece of evidence, then what else had I overlooked? That caused me many sleepless nights. The most reassuring moments were going to lectures and conferences, talking to others and realising that I was working along the right lines.

My books take two years to research and write up but the worst moment of all is sending the first draft to the Editor who then sends it back covered in red ink. I developed a thick skin a long time ago, but comments such as ‘I don’t understand’ and ‘Are you sure?’ are hugely unsettling, and reinforce the importance of meticulous research and note taking. It is then easy to expand any sentence which isn’t as clear as it should be and also to write back in the margin, ‘Yes, I am sure!’ - and to be able to explain why.

Editorial continues on next page

Editorial concludes The best moment for any author has to be the day when the books arrive from the printers. I knew when mine were going to arrive as Pen & Sword sent me a lovely email, but I was unprepared for the moment when the courier arrived with the large box containing 20 free copies. I could hardly contain my smugness when I signed for them and managed to close the front door before screaming and jumping in the air. I immediately posted a photograph of the opened box on Facebook.

Since then the marketing has not stopped and in the weeks after the book was launched in September 2015, my handbag always contained press releases and books – even if I was going to the supermarket. You never know who you might bump into in Waitrose! I have given talks, I had a major book signing at Waterstones in Canterbury and I have just started giving radio interviews. The book is selling very well and I occasionally check stock levels at Waterstones in Piccadilly (when I am passing) and their neighbours Hatchards. I always take a photograph whenever I see the book in a shop and the thrill never goes away.

‘Cholera: The Victorian Plague’ is also now available in the US and worldwide and seems to be doing pretty well. I have been extremely fortunate to have had fantastic reviews from

absolutely everyone; the book is also sensibly priced.

Above: At the 'Working in Publishing' careers event at the University of Kent at Canterbury (UKC) in March. Pictured with Amanda from left are Emily Cook from 'Doctor Who Magazine' and Dr Jeremy Scott, Senior Lecturer in English Language & Linguistics, UKC. Photograph, Mike Laycock, School of European Culture and Languages, UKC.

I am now working on my next title for Pen & Sword, ‘The Non-Conformist Revolution’ about dissident entrepreneurs in the Industrial Revolution. It will pick up some of the stories from the cholera book about forward-thinking surgeons who trained at Edinburgh University and the revolutionary tendencies of the new emerging middle classes in the late 1700s.

There are some fascinating and surprising stories and I cannot wait to go through all the pain – and ecstasy - all over again.

Hertfordshire’s Walking Festival May 2016 Countryside Management Service will be coordinating a fun and exciting festival that will showcase the best Hertfordshire has to offer.

All walks are free and there are plenty to choose from to suit all abilities and interests from nature trails, singing jaunts, pub history walks and bird walks..

Find out more at: www.hertsdirect.org/walkingfestival OR call 01992 588433

Q. How to increase your circle of friends in Harpenden?

A. Join Probus Secundus Club Just retired? Would you like to increase your circle of friends in Harpenden?

Then consider joining Probus Secundus Club for retired professional and business men. Enjoy good food and friendship, information and entertainment in the company of like minded local men.

The Club meets monthly for lunch at the Harpenden Golf Club at Hammonds End followed by a short talk by an invited speaker.

Additionally, the Club holds spring, summer and autumn lunches at various venues when Members can bring their partners.

Come as a guest to one of our monthly lunches and see what you think!

Like to go out but find driving and looking for parking spaces a bind? Then we have the answer. We run outings and events by coach on a regular basis through the year when Members are encouraged to bring partners and guests. Like minded Members are also encouraged to get together for one off small group events , such as a sporting fixture or beer festival.

Lacking exercise? Then Probus Secundus can help. We have a Walking Group which meets monthly for a walk and a pub lunch across many parts of the Home Counties.

Enjoy stimulating discussion? Then again we have the answer. Our informal Discussion Group meets monthly in the Skew Bridge, Southdown Road for discussion on a topic introduced by a member followed by lunch.

Do you play golf? Our members participate in tournaments across the area against other Probus Clubs.

Interested? Then get more details by visiting http://www.probus-secundusharpenden.co.uk or contact our Membership Secretary John Minchin on 01582 766976

ART on the COMMON HARPENDEN June 11& 12 Art on the Common is a two-day event showcasing the work of over 40 local artists. A wide range of works are featured including paintings, ceramics, fine art photography, sculpture, jewellery, glass, wood and handmade greeting cards. The event has been part of Harpenden Townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Summer programme for more than 30 years.

This year, Art on the Common will take place on the weekend of the 11th & 12th June 2016 opening 10.00 - 17.00 both days. It will coincide with Harpenden Summer Carnival which will take place on Saturday 11th June.

This is a unique open air event in a wonderful location. The tented village, close to Harpenden Town Centre, will give you the chance to purchase outstanding original pieces directly from the artist.

So come along and take home a unique piece of artwork or designer jewellery.

If you would like to know more about the event please contact us at: aotc.harpenden@gmail.com or look at www.artonthecommon.co.uk

All proceeds from pitch charges and sales commission will be donated to:

Track the timelines for the opening of Harpenden’s new secondary school in Sept 2018 The dates below were issued on Feb 22 by the School Trust and HCC. at a public meeting organised by The Harpenden Parents Group attended by over 200 parents.

CAN THE DATES BE ACTIONED ON TIME?

DATE

ACTION

March 2016

Agree ‘Heads of Terms’ for the land purchase by HCC + agreement to lease land to the School

March 2016

Launch School web site

May 2016

Uniform planning

August 2016

Develop school building plans & appoint build contractors

Dec. 2016

Review final building plans. Submit planning application

April 2017

Formal Consultation period

May 2017

Policy development. Result of planning app.

July 2017

Building work commences

Sept 2017

Recruitment of School Principal

Oct 2017

Procurement plans for the school budget

Jan 2018

School Principal starts work 1day per week

Feb 2018

Recruitment of senior staff

April 2018

School Principal starts work full time

May 2018

DfE check ensuring School is ready for opening

June 2018

Ofsted pre opening inspection

August 2018

Partial handover of School to the Trust

Sept 2018

School officially open for students

Dec. 2018

Handover of permanent buildings

Jan 2019

Permanent buildings open

Editor: Ron Taylor Contact: info@harpendia.com Daily news updates: www.harpendia.com Video Channel: Type â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;harpendiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in the Youtube search box Editorial Consultant: Amanda Thomas

Coming soon Harpendia Summer Edition 2016