#Herts August 2019

# HERTS A

February 2019 AUGUST 2019 December 2018

All t h e t op even t s an d Th eubu f eat r essin iness Oscar #Her t ss season begin s in #Her t s

Ch am ber aw ar ds w in n er s t ak e a bow

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What's on in #Herts

YOUTH M USIC Kids h ead f or Alber t Hall

GET YOUR ENGINES READY Ou r M ain Even t gu ide in clu des classics at Redbou r n

CAN YOU CARE? Appeal f or car er s

TAKE TIM E OUT FOR A TIPI TREAT Au br ey Par k Hot el of f er s deligh t f u l even t s

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT Focu s on t h e w or k of SEC Gr ou p

UNLIM ITED FILM S

INTO THE DESERT

Win Cin ew or ld t ick et s

Pau l Lan gbr idge t ak es u s in t o t h e h ear t of Jor dan

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SEC Group provide the inspiration for fit-out as Air Business move into The Beacon head office

Inside The Beacon: The Landmark Head Office in Hert fordshire for Air Business Air Business has recently moved into its new home, The Beacon, a landmark head office facility in the

heart of Hatfield. The move comes after an extensive design and fit-out process supported by Hertfordshire based SEC Group.

Air Business is a market-leader in global mail fulfillment, distribution

and subscription management.

Previously based across a number of facilities in Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire and Essex, they took the strategic decision to bring everything under one roof aimed

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at creating greater efficiencies, becoming more environmentally friendly and to improve their seamless customer experience.

The new landmark head office and distribution facility on Mosquito Way in Hatfield was specifically built for Air Business and is named The Beacon. This is in honour of the Hatfield Beacon which once stood on the site, guiding trainee fighter pilots back to the old airfield during World War II. ?We were completely new to this type of project and we chose the SEC Group as our design and

fit-out partner as they took the time explain each stage of the project and guide us through the many different options?comments Lenka Booker, Customer Experience Director at Air Business. ?The SEC Group worked with us to ensure all our requirements were met, as we had a very strict budget given the scale of the project?.

The SEC Group has provided Air Business with a dynamic, more efficient and pleasurable workspace. This includes an open plan office, large break-out area,

various co-working and meeting spaces, alongside some quiet areas for differing work styles, in addition to extensive production facilities. ?I really enjoy working at the new office. In comparison to our old environment where departments were separated, we?ve come into an open plan space which brings different departments together which has helped to improve communication?comments Eugenia Young, Senior Commercial Manager at Air Business.

As well as being a new, key landmark on Hatfield Business Park, this is also one of the SEC Group?s landmark projects, displaying all of the facets they can offer their clients across their three businesses.

Lenka Booker comments further that ?The Beacon is an amazing workspace and it is a head office that everyone is very proud of. We have had great feedback from our employees and customers?.

You can take a tour of the amazing new head office at: www.sec-online.co.uk/thebeacon

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Songwriters in #Herts given showcase chance at the Royal Albert Hall Young Hertfordshire songwriters are being given the opportunity to showcase their talents at London?s iconic Royal Albert Hall next year.

The Hertfordshire Music Service is offering young people who go to school or live in the county an opportunity to perform their own song as part of the Hertfordshire Schools?Gala on Sunday 8 March 2020.

Submissions can be made by students uploading their original song(s) to the Hertfordshire Schools?Gala online chart. The deadline for entries is 31 August.

To support this opportunity, the Music Service is running full day songwriting workshops in music centres throughout Hertfordshire during the summer holidays. Dates and venues are: Monday 29 July ? Watford School of Music, Rickmansworth Road, Watford Tuesday 30 July ? Bishop?s Stortford Music Centre, Birchwood High School, Parsonage Lane, Bishop?s Stortford Thursday 1 and Friday 2 August ?

Stevenage Music Centre, Nobel School, Mobbsbury Way, Stevenage Tuesday 6 and Wednesday 7

August ? North Herts Music School, Highbury Road, Hitchin Thursday 8 and Friday 9 August ?

Mid Herts Centre for Music and Arts, Birchwood Avenue, Hatfield

and Localism, said: ?Hertfordshire is full of talented, young musicians and this is a fantastic chance for them to show off that talent before a huge audience.

The cost is ÂŁ25 for a one-day songwriting workshop and ÂŁ50 for a two-day workshop. Places are available free of charge for young people receiving support from Hertfordshire County Council?s targeted support teams, free school meals or remission of fees.

Please call 01438 844713 to discuss this option.

?The songwriter competition has been running since 2003 and during that time we?ve received some fantastic entries and seen some fantastic performances. I look forward to hearing the songs submitted this year.?

Councillor Terry Douris, Cabinet Member for Education, Libraries

Young people interested in entering can create an account and upload songs at: songwriteronline.co.uk/gala

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Ashbourne crown the family business winner The 2019 Inspiring Herts Business Awards??Family Business of the Year Award?was presented by Peter Smits, Managing Director of Ashbourne Insurance to Dobsons Home of Cheshunt. Winners from nineteen categories were presented with their trophies at a black tie event at St Albans Cathedral on Thursday June 13th 2019 with guest of honour in attendance, the Lord-Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, Robert Voss CBE with 350 guests, judges, finalists and sponsors.

Hertfordshire Chamber Patron, Ashbourne Insurance sponsored the award for the second year to honour all the family-run businesses who help contribute significantly to the UK?s economy.

The Highly Commended ?Family Business of the Year 2019?award went to Shepherds Property Sales and Lettings. The other finalists in this category included: Bain & Bridges, BAS Associates, Colin Hill Bar and Catering Supplies, M.K. Ginder & Sons and The Allendale Group.

The Inspiring Herts judges commented that Dobsons Home is ?a stand-out family business, with a very impressive history and a strategy for investment in the future - moving with the times and embracing change whilst keeping

to core family values. A well-deserved winner!

And new for 2019 Herts Chamber has introduced a Highly Commended category, in recognition of those companies that really impressed the judges.?

Peter Smits commented, ?We fully endorse the business award-entry process and the benefits it brings to staff engagement, brand recognition and insightful analytics. As a National Family Business Award Winner, Judge and Ambassador, we congratulate Dobsons, Shepherds Property Sales and Lettings and all the finalists. We know from first-hand experience that running a successful family business brings multiple challenges and in equal

quantity rewards.

Helen Dobson, Director at Dobsons Home was delighted with the win and said,?Heartfelt thanks to Ashbourne Insurance for sponsoring the Family Business Award and selecting us as the county winner ? our team, customers and 4th generation family business are over the moon.

Dobsons Home is a kitchen, bathroom and glazing company.

For more information visit www.ashbourneinsurance.co.uk Follow on twitter @AshInsServices

Photo caption: (left to right):Kevin Milne, Director of Dobsons, Peter Smits MD Ashbourne Insurance and Helen Dobson, Director of Dobsons

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Care and compassion at the heart of Maria Mallaband Care Group Now recruit ing care and nursing st af f at Monread Lodge Nursing Home Are you caring and compassionate?Are you an experienced nurse, a newly qualified nurse, experienced carer or looking to start a career within a care homes? We?d love to invite you to take a tour of our home and meet us in person!

We have opportunities for staff to join us as nurses, nurse associates, senior carers, and care assistants. Are you interested? We can offer full time, part time or casual opportunities, training & support, some of the best pay rates in the area, and great employee benefits.

Care is at the heart of what we do here at Maria Mallaband Care Group. We're an established family-run care provider, and we deliver care to over 3,500 residents across our 80+ care homes nationwide.

Our mission is to be the best quality; most highly regarded Care Provider in the United Kingdom and our vision is to create a home from home environment for both residents and staff.

We are committed to being an Investors in People employer, which means that we continually invest in your personal training and development. MMCG is a place where your career truly starts to grow For more informat ion about our roles on offer please give us a call on 01438 518310, email us at recruit ment @mmcg.co.uk or visit mmcg.co.uk/careers

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Aubrey Park - a stunning backdrop for Tipi weddings and events Text

Tipi Conferences & Event s Packages The demand for experiential conferencing and events in Hertfordshire is becoming more and more apparent. We wanted to go beyond a solution, to innovate with a fresh, new and exciting events space for all our corporate clients. With the flexibility to design any layout you desire; we can create anything from exciting product launches to motivational meetings or surprise gala dinners following a hard day at work.

Tipi Wedding Packages Imagine your own Tipi wedding suitable for all English weathers, with heaters and fire pits as the temperatures drop, or embracing nature in the

summer when the sun is shining.

Either way, enjoy one of the most eclectic wedding venues Hertfordshire has to offer. Tipi weddings at Aubrey Park have been designed to give you various options for your dream

day.

To book one of our Tipi events, give us a call on 01582 792105 or email us: events@aubreypark.co.uk www.aubreypark.co.uk/tipis

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Art in #Herts ready to go on tour of schools and county museums

#Herts magazine More than 800 works of art are being donated to schools, museums and community organisations by Hertfordshire County Council.

The donations are all part of the county council?s ongoing review of its artworks, this phase of the project aims to ensure works can be taken out of storage and displayed as widely as possible to members of the public.

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Cabinet Member for Education, Libraries and Localism, Cllr Terry Douris said: ?We?re delighted that so far 150 artworks from the county council collection have been gifted to a variety of local organisations and will displayed within Hertfordshire schools, leisure centres and museums. ?These artworks will now be accessible to Hertfordshire residents, inspiring visitors in a variety of public venues.?

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Three still life works by Leo McDowell which will soon be on display at Birchwood Leisure Centre, Hatfield.

As well as being a nationally recognised artist who lived in Essendon, Leo was head teacher at Hatfield School when it closed in 1990 and he is fondly remembered by many of his pupils.

Another of his works, ?Ginger Cat with the Head of Apollo?is on display in the Welwyn Garden City Central Library.

Pieces by another local artist, Michael Brennand-Wood, have been gifted to Welwyn St. Mary?s Primary School, a school which Michael visited in the 1990s and 2000s to host workshops for pupils that inspired their creativity.

The school?s Deputy Headteacher, Sheila Anstey said: ?We still have a number of children's pieces inspired and created during these fantastic

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workshops in and around the building. He was an enthusiastic friend of the school during that time and was a great creative male role model. I'm thrilled that we will become custodians of these four lovely pieces and look forward to using them to inspire future teachers and classes as they have done in the past.?

Some historical taxidermy specimens, including a hedgehog, a polecat and a variety of birds have also been gifted to the handling collections at the Natural History Museum at Tring and the North Herts Museum. North Herts Museum have been gifted works by artists John Mills, Margaret Brynhild Parker and Robin Mackertich.

John Mills was recently at the museum giving a talk and viewed his print ?Dancer?that he hadn?t seen since producing it in 1960. Another of his works, a bronze sculpture entitled ?Rembrandt as Titus?(1966) also came from the Hertfordshire collection.

Visitors to the iconic, timber framed Ashwell Village Museum in north Hertfordshire can see a wonderful collection of works by the Ashwell-born artists, Marie and Pauline Whitby.

Hertfordshire County Council has also gifted ?Dinner Hour?, an oil painting by Marie Whitby, along with her ceramic ?Cricket Team?to the Ashwell Village museum.

Curators Sarah Talks and Peter Greener and other volunteers welcome visitors, and run monthly ?Makers in the Museum? sessions, which feature a different artist or maker, looking at items in the Museum collection.

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Bushey Museum and Art Gallery houses nationally significant collections by Sir Hubert von Herkomer, Lucy Kemp-Welch and Lucy Marguerite Frobisher and pupils of their Bushey art schools.

The museum now owns 33 works by a range of these artists, donated by Hertfordshire County Council. One of these works by Marguerite Frobisher, ?Bushey Church, Autumn?is included in the current exhibition, ?Painting the Seasons ?

Colour in Art?which runs to 5 January, 2020.

We are working on plans to conserve and display Peter Collingwood hangings in Welwyn Garden City.

Collingwood was one of the first fellows at Digswell Arts Trust, Welwyn Garden City in 1957 and became a world renowned weaver.

A magnificent example of his work, entitled ?Sprang? was restored in 2012 before being installed in the Welwyn Garden City Central Library.

Working in partnership with Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, the eight-ton stone sculpture ?Pearl?has been returned to her original home in White Lion Square in Hatfield town centre.

Created by James Butler RA, the internationally renowned sculptor in 1970, Pearl spent some time at Hatfield School in New Barnfield, under the headship of Leo McDonald, before being put into storage.

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The spectacular delights of a visit to historic Jordan Paul Langbridge pays a visit to the Middle East

Jordan Sharing a border with Syria, Iraq and Israel, Jordan is a haven of peace in a volatile region. With Ryanair and Easyjet now flying direct from the UK to the capital city Amman as well as Aqaba in the south of the country, it is also becoming more affordable and at just 5 hours flying time to this desert Kingdom it is starting to be seen as a unique and interesting long weekend destination.

Given the briefness of my travel window I had to make some choices on the landmarks that I wanted to see.

The ruins of Jerash, the citadel in Amman, scuba diving in the Red Sea and relaxing by the Dead Sea were all attractive options, however for me there was no competition, it had to be the Mars like landscape of Wadi Rum and Petra, the ancient city carved in to the cliffs of the Musa Valley.

Arriving at half past midnight on Friday morning I headed for the convenient and friendly Al Qatal Building, just outside the airport grounds for a short nap before collecting my car and heading south as the morning call to prayer sounded. The Desert Highway

that pierces the country is in desperate need of repair, however the thrill of driving through the middle of such an uncompromising environment ensured the 320km passed fairly quickly.

Entering the UNESCO heritage site that is Wadi Rum Protected Area I met Nayef, my Bedouin Guide and co-owner of Wadi Rum Traditional Camp. Friendly, helpful and welcoming, Nayef summed up the cross-section of Jordanian people that I had dealings with, making it an open and warm, in more ways than one, country to visit. On his afternoon jeep tour, Nayef showed me some of the main sites of the desert, wonderous rust coloured geological formations creating natural bridges between giant swathes of rock, incredible sand dunes, Petroglyphs carved in to the almost plastic looking sandstone millenniums ago and a lonely fig tree perched above a small camel farm, famous for being the site of renowned scenes in Lawrence of Arabia.

It was under one of these breath-taking cinnamon mountains that Nayef?s camp was situated, a simple set up of raised canvas tents, a concrete shower block and a small room that doubled as a bedroom and

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kitchen for the camp porter/chef where the evening meal was prepped, before being baked in a sub-terranean pit in traditional Bedouin style. Despite being in the latter stages of Ramadan an amazing feast

was provided, including roasted chicken, carrots, aubergines and potatoes, all barbequed underground, accompanied by sweet and moreish Bedouin tea.

After the sun had set a cool breeze picked up through the valley and the camp fire was most welcome as I lay beneath the multitude of stars, as bright as anywhere I had seen, content and entertained by 5 fellow guests and a guide called Mohammed, a cheeky chap who revelled in his leading role with traditional tales.

We were up early on Saturday morning to head off in our different directions, for myself this was north to one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, Petra.

Founded by the nomadic Nabateans as a trading post possibly as early as 11,000 years ago, it had been affected by different passing empires and tribes by the time of its decline in 7th century AD, influence which is highlighted by the very Roman theatre that takes pride of place along the Colonnade between the infamous Treasury and The Monastery, a building amongst the hills on the outskirts of the city which is believed to have been converted from a tomb to a church under the Byzantine Empire. All of these incredible monuments, alongside the countless others on the site, are definitions of the word beauty, majestic in the intricacy of their facades, adornments and the legendary urn, as well as in the scale of engineering that they display.

Jordan has everything that could be required for a long weekend or a 2 week holiday, with more diverse cultural and culinary experiences than your average city break, alongside the popular ingredients of historical discovery and relaxation all within manageable distances for individuals or families.

The people are beyond friendly and helpful with a ready humour and are, in my opinion, the real highlight of a stay in Jordan, even with all the awe-inspiring ancient and natural highlights that the country possesses. It is recommended to visit in March/April time to avoid the worst of the heat, however my trip at the end of May was not unbearably hot and was probably made more comfortable for going outside of high season when the queues were sparse and areas such as the Treasury were easier to capture without being bumped and avoiding oblivious photo-bombers ruining that perfect Insta-shot.

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#Herts steps in to declare a climate emergency Hertfordshire County Council has declared a climate emergency and committed itself to developing an ambitious programme to improve sustainability in the county.

The declaration received unanimous cross-party support at the meeting of the full County Council.

The motion commits the county council to developing a Sustainable Hertfordshire Strategy that will set out the policies, strategies and implementation plans needed to embed sustainability across all the councils operations and services.

Leader of Hertfordshire County Council David Williams, who proposed the motion, said: ?I?m pleased that we?ve made this important declaration and I?d like to thank the councillors from all parties who backed this. It?s vital that we have this clear and solid commitment to improving sustainability. ?As a county council we?re well-placed, not just to reduce our own environmental impact but to help the whole county become more sustainable. If we make the right policies and decisions we can help reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality, promote energy efficiency, reduce waste, promote more environmentally friendly land use and more.

?This declaration is only the beginning of course, and now we need to develop our Sustainable Hertfordshire Strategy to identify the practical steps we need to make environmental sustainability business as usual for us as we work with the ten district councils to manage growth in the county.?

The Sustainable Hertfordshire Strategy will be presented to the county council?s Cabinet before the end of the year.

The strategy will build on existing initiatives including the county council?s Air Quality Strategy, Energy Strategy, Climate Change Resilient Communities Strategy, Pollinator Strategy and work to promote recycling and reduce single-use plastics.

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Rural police teams link up over summer break using ANPR devices School is out and so are officers from the North Herts Rural Neighbourhood police team.

Joining forces with colleagues in St Albans, officers and PCSOs launched Operation Astare on Friday 15 July ? a rural Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) based operation tackling rural crime across the summer.

The teams will be tackling hare coursing, criminal damage to fields and crops and fly tipping, as well as theft and burglary in rural locations.

North Herts Rural Sergeant Guy Westwood explained: ?Operation Astare will be running throughout the rest of the summer enabling us to gather intelligence about who is

travelling through the area, as well as detecting and preventing crime.

It also allows us to disrupt the activities of criminals coming into North Herts from other areas. ?We know that many criminals travel into our rural areas from outside of the county and then use key routes and some of the back roads that lead off them, to make quick escapes. With the harvest season nearly upon us we will see an increase in the number of reported hare coursing incidents as the fields start to be cut.?

In North Herts ANPR was used on the A505 into Hitchin, with a vehicle based on the outskirts of Hitchin and another patrolling the tracks along Lilley Bottom Road which are often used by criminals

to avoid major routes. Another vehicle was based in Kimpton to provide support for the Harpenden officers with their mobile ANPR camera on the Lower Luton Road, in case anything was displaced.

In St Albans officers used a mobile ANPR kit to monitor the A1081 Luton Road and had a stopping point at the junction with The Common, Kinsbourne Green.

Sergeant Westwood added: ?I hope these operations will provide reassurance to our local communities. I would also like to thank the many law abiding motorist for their patience and understanding in supporting these proactive operations.?

Offley Place officially open Hester Ballroom

Offley Place Country House Hotel has just completed the construction of its new 250 seater venue space: The Hester Ballroom. The new ballroom beautifully complements the character and elegance of the 17th century main Manor House, with a modern rejuvenation.

Three large chandeliers hang from the main skylight positioned in the centre of this Ballroom. The ceiling is delicately adorned with chalk white mouldings, all designs incorporating natural elements historically symbolic of good health and fertility, appropriat e wishes for the many weddings and joyous occasions that will be held in the ballroom.

All elements of the Ballroom have been designed and curated bespoke for the space, from the crystals in the chandeliers to the subtle sage paint on the walls.

These carefully positioned decadent touches are juxtaposed with the exposed brickwork repurposed from the demolition of previous buildings on the site.

Surrounded by views of the 27 acres of parkland which is at the heart of Offley Place, the Hester

Ballroom offers a glimpse of the natural serenity of the quaint village of Great Offley.

A large patio space that spills out onto the parkland surrounds the Ballroom, ideal for sitting outdoors in summer weddings and for children to play. The wide inbuilt stage offers the perfect place for any speakers or bands for parties. The Ballroom hosts two separate bars, one within the main space and the second in the adjoining lobby area, named The Gabriel Bar. As a mark of respect to the rich tapestry of history of Offley Place, each room of the Manor House has lovingly been named after a personage of historical significance and The Hester Ballroom is no different.

Named after the niece of Sir Thomas Salusbury, once a Lord of the Manor, Hester Thrale was known for her diaries detailing the stories of the London elite circles of the time. After the decease of her first husband, Henry Thrale, which had been a marriage of convenience - Hester had the chance to remarry her one true love, the impoverished Italian musician, Gabriel Piozzi.

The Gabriel Bar boasts exposed brickwork and a black conduit lattice lighting reflecting the rough background of its namesake, however glimpses of the chandeliers and skylight echo the glamour of Hester Ballroom, eternally combining these two lovers in this building.

Offley Place has always been a family home, passed down through the generations and this is definitely visible in the intimate size of the house. It bears all the character of a charming stately home, whilst maintaining that warm, intimate feel of any family abode. The Hester Ballroom extends this opportunity to larger communities making Offley Place the perfect setting for weddings of any size, bringing two different families together as one.

Having been bought from the council in 2003, owner Hamid Sabahipour has spent years refurbishing the

main house to mirror its original glory, most prominently building the iconic Offley Place Conservatory addition - a delicate expansion of the Manor House which has hosted most of the celebrations and weddings held at the venue so far.

The addition of the ballroom has always been an ambition of his to add to Offley Place. This has been accompanied by his daughter Nazlee Sabahipour; the director in their family business, L?Hote Hospitality which consists of several sites that span across Offley and Baldock.

The team at Offley, headed by Hamid Sabahipour look forward to unveiling their last two years hard work in this recent venture. With the addition of this new ballroom, they welcome the many celebrations and joyous occasions to be held in the space.

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Taking a look at Herts' very special habitats Hert fordshire is home t o some very special habit at s t hat are rarer t han giant pandas and as special as Amazon rainforest s. So rare and precious t hat Hert s & Middlesex W ildlife Trust has a dedicat ed Living River Officer looking aft er t hem. Sarah Perry t ells us everyt hing about Hert fordshire?s chalk rivers.

A dash of orange and blue darts past, so fast you only just see it plunge into the water. The hunt was successful, the kingfisher emerges with a small fish in its beak. It perches on a low-hanging branch enjoying its meal. We?re at the River Mimram, a small chalk river which rises from a spring in North Hertfordshire and flows together with the River Lee in Hertford.

The Mimram is one of only 200 chalk rivers worldwide, of which nearly 10% can be found in Hertfordshire alone. Our chalk rivers come from the Chiltern Hills where rain water permeates layers of chalk to the aquifers below.

From there the water emerges through fissures as springs. This water is a stable temperature, rich in minerals, pH-neutral and crystal-clear. Chalk streams are shallow and fast-flowing.

This creates the perfect conditions for a huge array of wildlife ? from the smallest mayfly, dragonflies and other invertebrates to fish and

Kin gf ish er by Pau l Th r u sh birds such as kingfishers and herons as well as our fastest declining mammal, the water vole.

A whole ecosystem depends on chalk rivers.

However, they are under pressure from Hertfordshire?s rising population and the associated increase in water usage. Up to 60% of our domestic water comes directly from the chalk river aquifers and more water usage means more abstraction from the rivers?underground aquifers. Add periods with little rain, like last summer and winter, and many rivers are facing hardship ? with them all wildlife that relies on them. Over-abstraction leads to a

reduced water flow which enables silt to build up. Furthermore, our rivers suffer from pollution from urban and agricultural sources, invasive species and past physical modifications such as weirs, dredging or straightening.

The task at hand is a huge one ? no one single organisation can manage this alone. Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust is working together with farmers, local communities, river groups, the private sector and volunteers to restore our rivers.

It?s not only conservation organisations: Everyone can help Hertfordshire?s rivers! Because much of the water for our homes, workplaces and schools comes from the same aquifers that feed our chalk streams, we can make a direct impact by using less water: Every drop you save at home will be one more drop for wildlife!

Find out more on hert swildlifet rust .org.uk/ livingrivers

River M im r am by Pet er Tat t on

The Main Event Great events to catch in #Herts 27TH JULY - 28TH JULY 2019

Pendley Shakespeare Fest ival

Fest ival of W ildlife at Panshanger Park

Celebrating 70 years of Shakespeare at Pendley!

This free family festival celebrates the rich diversity of wildlife in Hertfordshire and Middlesex and features walks, talks, family activities and conservation demonstrations. You will be joined on the weekend by local conservation groups, food producers, artists and craftsmen there's plenty to see and do!

2019 is the Pendley Shakespeare Festival?s platinum anniversary, and it?s marked by performances of one of the Bard?s greatest tragedies and one of his most hilarious farces. Macbeth (31st July - 4th August) "Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it." When the victorious Macbeth is presented with a prophecy, a path of ambition, jealousy, and duplicity is laid down before him.

events@hmwt.org 01727 858901 331ST JULY - 11TH AUGUST 2019

One of the nation's favourite

30TH JULY - 29TH AUGUST 2019 Ashridge Advent urers Enjoy a morning or aft ernoon session of led act ivit ies and craft s and learn more about Ashridge's animals and plant s. The t heme changes each week. 30 Jul & 1 Aug: Den building 6 Aug & 8 Aug: Pond dipping 13 Aug & 15 Aug: Nat ural art 20 Aug & 22 Aug: Minibeast s 27 Aug & 29 Aug: W ild woods (sensory act ivit ies) Recommended for ages 4-10.

Booking essent ial ? please call t he visit or cent re on 01442 851227.

tragedies, Macbeth tests the bounds of love, loyalty, and lust for power in murderous fashion. The Merry Wives of Windsor (7th 11th August) "Wives may be merry, and yet honest too." An ill-advised attempt to seduce two married women leaves Falstaff in a heap of trouble. What follows is mischief, confusion, and ridiculous practical jokes. One of the most frenetic and saucy of Shakespeare's comedies: the tale of Falstaff's self-inflicted muddle is never one to miss.

Pendley Manor Spa & Leisure Tring HP23 5QY

The Main Event Great events to catch in #Herts

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11TH AUGUST 2019 Sunday Jazz Lunch (11t h August 2019) Join us at The Melbourne Club to enjoy a delicious traditional 3-course Sunday Lunch with the fabulous vintage jazz sounds of Miss Jones. Alexandra Jones trained in Musical Theatre at The Brit School of Performing Arts and has perfected the art of Vintage Jazz from the 1940s and ?50s.

Alexandra provides the perfect sound for a relaxing Sunday Lunch.

The Oak Room is located on the Brocket Hall Estate and enjoys stunning views over 543 acres of beautiful Hertfordshire countryside. ÂŁ35 per adult |

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ÂŁ17.50 per child Lunch is served from midday until 3pm.

Address Brocket Hall, Welwyn AL8 7XG Contact reception@brocket-hall.co.uk 01707368700 Visit Website 15TH AUGUST 2019 Family Discovery Morning: Terrific Tudors Some of the most famous Kings and Queens of England were

the Abbey?s monks and make your very own puppet to take home.

Suitable for children ages 3-11. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Address St Albans Cathedral Trust Sumpter Yard St Albans Hertfordshire United Kingdom AL1 1BY Contact mail@stalbanscathedral.org 01727 890200

Tudors, but what was life like in St

7TH SEPTEMBER 2019

Albans 500 years ago? and would you like to have been there? Find out more with stories from one of

Redbourn Classics Mot or Show and Village Fet e

The Main Event Great events to catch in #Herts

Classic vehicle show and village fete with 300 classic cars, trucks, tractors and motorbikes on Redbourn Common in the heart of the village. Go kart rides and small fairground for children, live music, bar, food and drink , fun for all the family. This is a fundraising event run by volunteers for local charities , so there are donation buckets at the gates - suggested donation £2 per adult , £5 per family- and all proceeds go to local charities.

Address Redbourn Common AL3 7BU Contact redbournclassics@gmail.com 07887886048

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11TH SEPTEMBER 2019 The Hospice of St Francis Ashridge Golf Day Don't miss our ever-popular Ashridge Golf Day! Registration from midday Nearest the Pin & Longest Drive Competitions Beat the Pro Raffle Live auction 3 course evening meal Join us on Wednesday 11th September, for a fantastic 18 holes on this prestigious course followed by a delicious three-course meal and live auction. With on-course competitions including Beat the Pro, Longest Drive and Nearest Text the Pin this golf day is a fantastic way to entertain clients, spend time with friends or colleagues. A Stableford, best three from four competition, with a shotgun start

at lunchtime, teams of four or individual golfers are all welcome, with members priced at £65 and non-members £100. Ashridge Golf Club is a wonderful venue, set within 350 acres of tranquil surrounds in an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Address Golf Club Road, Berkhamsted HP4 1LY Contact fundraising@stfrancis.org.uk 01442 869555 Visit Website Entry Price £65 for members and £100 for non-members

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Just the ticket for Tom's Pub in the Park Pub in the Park, St Albans, #Herts Sept 13-15

Pub in t he Park brings t oget her brilliant food, live music and Michelin-st arred chefs all served up in a beaut iful local park, making for t he ult imat e pub garden unlike any ot her.

W het her you?re a foodie fanat ic searching t o t ast e dishes creat ed by some of t he world?s best chefs, or a music lover who can?t resist t he chance t o wat ch your favourit e music act s live, Pub in t he Park has got you covered.

The pop-up pub and rest aurant

line-up include t he likes of Tom Kerridge?s The Hand & Flowers, Dylans Kings Arms, At ul Kochhar?s Hawkyns, Thompson St . Albans, Tim Allen?s Flit ch of Bacon and many more, each serving mout h-wat ering t ast ing dishes for you t o enjoy.

Music act s will rock t he main st age t hroughout each session, so dust off your dancing shoes as you?re in for a t reat ! The headliners include Tom Odell, Razorlight and W ill Young alongside ot her great act s

including The Rifles, Toploader, St ereo MCs and more.

Alongside all of t his (if it isn?t enough!) t here?ll be plent y of bars serving all sort s of bevs from cockt ails t o cold ones, chef demonst rat ions, mast erclasses, t ast ings and plent y of shopping from art isans and lifest yle brands!

Don't miss out on t he fest ival t hat everyone's t alking about and grab your t icket s here. ht t ps:// www.pubint heparkuk .com/st -albans

Proms back with a programme of joy BBC Proms 2019 (various locations) July 19-Sept 14 today. This season celebrates the 20th anniversary of BBC Radio 3?s New Generat ion Art ist s scheme, featuring 12 of its alumni.

Elsewhere, other notable debuts take to the concert platform, including Leeds International Piano Competition winner Eric Lu and Lithuanian soprano Asmik Grigorian. Once again, BBC Proms Learning offers a diverse range of creative opportunities beyond the concert platform. Initiatives such as BBC Proms Inspire for composers, Proms Yout h Choir Academy and the Proms Yout h Ensemble will reach hundreds of young people this year.

Marking the 150th anniversary of founder-conductor Sir Henry Wood?s birth, the 2019 BBC Proms presents one of its most diverse programmes yet.

Remaining faithful to Wood?s mission to ?bring the best classical music to the widest possible audience?, the Proms offers a wealth of genres and styles in a range of contexts. Whether it?s Murray Perahia performing Beethoven?s Fourth Piano Concerto with the Vienna Philharmonic under Bernard Hait ink or a Prom dedicated to the genius of Nina Simone with Ledisi and Jules Buckley, the quality and range of what?s on offer showcases the very best of music.

Henry Wood was arguably one of the world?s first audience

developers, committed to increasing access to the arts. The Proms?proudest tradition is that of daily Promming (standing) tickets ? a Henry Wood innovation to reach the broadest audience possible. This marks the fourth year that up to 1,400 Promming tickets will be available for £6 for every Prom. And, to further mark the Promming tradition, a special Proms at ... Bat t ersea Art s Cent re will see all tickets for the event priced at £6. Over at the Royal Albert Hall, 100,000 t icket s will be available for £15 and under.

As an educationalist, conductor and champion of young people, Henry Wood provided countless opportunities for aspiring young artists to get involved in classical music; it?s a proud tradition that the Proms continues to reflect

At the church where he was buried, Proms at ... Holy Sepulchre London will continue the celebration of Wood with a special concert from the BBC Singers under Chief Conductor Sofi Jeannin. The Proms at ... Cadogan Hall series is underpinned by a historical journey through classical music, celebrating some of the most notable women composers of the past, from Hildegard of Bingen via Barbara St rozzi and Clara Schumann ? both of whom have anniversaries this year ? to the present day with a BBC commission from Freya Waley-Cohen. Offering a fresh take on the history of classical music through the eyes of women, each concert in this series will contain at least one work by a woman composer of the time.

From afropop to jazz, East Coast hip-hop to South Italian pizzica, and elect ronica to medit at ive list ening, this will be a truly eclectic celebration of the diversification of music. A Prom

devoted to the music of singer, pianist, and social activist Nina Simone explores her background and enduring influence; and an exhilarating evening of dance, song and spectacle, Duke Ellingt on?s Sacred Music is presented in a Late Night Prom. From breakdancing to MC-ing and DJ-ing to graffiti art, The Breaks will honour the global phenomenon of hip-hop and, in particular, breakbeat culture. The Lat e-Night Mixt ape Prom will bring together an eclectic range of classical and contemporary sounds. Bringing the popular concept of a music-mix into a ?live? context, this Prom will feed into the experiential model that drives so much of music consumption today, where immersion and discovery is key.

Fifty years after Apollo 11 landed on the Moon, the Proms ponders how composers across the centuries have imagined and created the sound of space. The first work heard at the 2019 BBC Proms will be a BBC commission and world premiere from Zosha Di Cast ri, Long Isthe Journey, Short Isthe Memory, inspired by this monumental event. On the very day that marks the 50th anniversary of the Moon Landings, Holst ?s The Planetsis complemented by John Adams?s ever-popular Short Ride in a Fast Machine. The CBeebies Prom, which will be broadcast on the channel, will offer families the chance to travel through time and space with some famous faces including Mr Tumble and Chris Jarvis, hosted by YolanDa Brown, featuring the Chineke! orchestra under KwamĂŠ Ryan.

Other highlights in this strand include: the UK premiere of Anna

Thorvalsdot t ir?s Metacosmos ? a musical metaphor for falling into a black hole ? conveniently timed just three months after astronomers captured the first ever image of a black hole, as revealed last week. Public Service Broadcast ing orchestrate their ground-breaking 2015 concept album The Race for Space, a mix of music and broadcast recordings portraying the tale of the US/Russian ?Space Race?.In a Proms first, the Sci-Fi Film Music Prom features scores from cult space and sci-fi films, including St eve Price?s Gravity and Mica Levi?s Under the Skin, presented by

disappearing language of nature, will feature spoken word and beat-boxing. John Lut her Adams?s In the Name of the Earth ? a huge, landscape-inspired choral work ? will feature four community choirs with over 600 singers. Finally, a brand new work by Hans Zimmer, Earth will receive its world premiere this year.

the London Cont emporary Orchest ra under Robert Ames.

showcase for the vibrant orchestral life that existsin the UK, and a celebration of the diversity of contemporary music in the 21st century. All of thisisunderpinned by the proud tradition of ?Promming? which allowsaudiencesto enjoy this vast range of music for just ÂŁ6 per concert. Aswe celebrate 150 years since Henry Wood?sbirth, the Proms continuesto explore new ground whilst celebrating the founding principlesof the festival - to bring the best classical music to the widest possible audience.?

A number of concerts targeted specifically at families will use compelling storytelling to highlight topical debate. An exploration into our roles as guardians of our planet complements a study of the solar system. Alongside famous works inspired by the natural world, three new works highlight how music can be relevant to the times in which we live and, in this case, support the conversation around sustainability and protection of the planet. The Lost Words Prom, based on Robert McFarlane and Jackie Morris?s popular book about the

David Pickard, Direct or, BBC Proms, says: ?The Promsin 2019 givesa snapshot of all that ismost exciting in our musical world today.

It isthe chance to hear some of the most celebrated ensemblesand artistsfrom acrossthe globe, a

The Proms has always been at the forefront of cultural and musical innovation, bringing the best new works to audiences. As a global

visionary, Sir Henry Wood gave the world and Brit ish premieres of hundreds of works at the Proms including Stravinsky?s The Firebird, Sibelius?s Violin Concerto and Schoenberg?s Five Piecesfor Orchestra. This year, we celebrate 33 of t he pieces t hat Wood int roduced to UK audiences, alongside 33 new works for 2019.

New music highlights include Radiohead?s Jonny Greenwood curating a Late Night Prom culminating in the world premiere of his Horror vacui. The piece simulates electronic sound using 68 string instruments played acoustically. Proms at ... Bat t ersea Art s Cent re will showcase boundary-crossing and provocative composer-performers, featuring experiments at the cutting edge of music and technology with Jennifer Walshe, Crewsdon & Cevanne and Oliver Coat es.

Elsewhere, Mart yn Brabbins presents a 21st-century companion to Elgar?s ?Enigma?

Variations 120 years on. Based on a new anonymously written theme, this work features variations by 14 living composers including Sally Beamish, Sir Harrison Birt wist le, Dai Fujikura and Judit h Weir.

Henry Wood?s Proms seasons were famous for nights dedicated to one composer. In celebration of that concept, the final week of the 2019 season replicates Wood?s original programming: a Monday evening of Wagner, a Wednesday evening of Bach and a Friday evening of Beet hoven. More than a century ago, these concerts were perhaps the first example of ?box-set binging?.

As part of a celebration of Berlioz at 150, Sir John Eliot Gardiner and the Orchest re Révolut ionnaire et Romant ique present the rarely performed opera Benvenuto Cellini and Nicholas Collon and Aurora Orchest ra bring a dramatic treatment of Symphonie fantastique with actor Mat hew Baynt on.

Other composer anniversaries include: Louis Andriessen at 80, Pet er Eöt vös at 75 and Sir James MacMillan at 60. A special focus on Weinberg, who would have

been 100, includes his String Quartet No. 7 and the London premieres of his Cello Concerto and Symphony No. 3.

Once again, BBC Radio 3 enables the festival to reach millions each year by broadcasting every single note and, new for this year, audiences now have ready access to the Proms through the BBC Sounds app allowing them to engage with the festival anytime, anywhere. There are 25 Proms on TV for audiences to enjoy and the Proms magazine show returns to BBC Two on Saturday nights throughout the festival.

Across more than 90 concerts over eight weeks, the Proms draws the world?s greatest classical musicians to London. From Mart ha Argerich and Daniel Barenboim to Joyce DiDonat o and Sir Ant onio Pappano, the festival will amplify the work of today?s most acclaimed artists. Mezzo-soprano Jamie Bart on will feature at the world-famous Last Night of t he Proms, Sheku Kanneh-Mason will perform Elgar?s Cello Concerto, and Nicola Benedet t i and Pekka Kuusist o will contribute to a season-wide survey of well-loved and lesser-known violin concertos.

Of particular note: in the bicentenary year of Queen Victoria?s birth, St ephen Hough performs Mendelssohn?s Piano Concerto No. 1 on her very own piano. Loaned from the Royal Collection Trust by Her Majesty The Queen, this will be the first time the Erard piano will be played outside Buckingham Palace. The programme also includes songs

written by Prince Albert .

Once again, the BBC Orchest ras and Choirs form the backbone of the BBC Proms, appearing in over a third of the concerts this summer. Newly appointed Chief Conductor Designate of the BBC Philharmonic Omer Meir Wellber and Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra Dalia St asevska both make their Proms debuts this summer, and Karina Canellakis becomes the first woman to conduct the First Night of the Proms. Alongside the BBC Orchestras there is a wealth of international orchestras, from the Vienna Philharmonic with Bernard Hait ink & Andrés Orozco-Est rada and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchest ra with Mariss Jansons to the Shanghai Symphony Orchest ra which makes its Proms debut in its 140th year under Long Yu. Since it was first introduced in 2017, the Relaxed Prom has become one of the most popular events in the Proms calendar. This year it returns to offer a relaxed performance around core classical repertoire of Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky. The Prom will be fully accessible to family members of all ages, children and adults with autism, sensory and communication impairments and learning disabilities, as well as individuals who are Deaf or hearing impaired, blind and partially sighted or living with dementia. Henry Wood?s vision brought to life, this event is truly open to all.

Tollers trio fundraiser thanks to cycle ride Giving back to those that support us, whether through volunteering, fundraising or providing support is very important to leading regional law firm Tollers Solicitors.

Duncan Nicholson, the Firm?s Managing Partner said ?At Tollers we take our corporate responsibility very seriously, we work hard to ensure we are engaged with and working in partnership with the local communities we serve and one of the ways we do this is by working with a number of locally based charities across our geographies?.

With this in mind on Wednesday 10 July 2019, three solicitors from Tollers Solicitors set off to ride from London to Paris, a distance of 300 miles, with the aim of completing the challenge in less than 48 hours in order to raise much needed funds for a local Northamptonshire based charity Cransley Hospice.

It is not common to ride the route in 48 hours. Ordinarily organisers of London to Paris cycle challenges plan for them to take place over 3 or even 4 days, but the Tollers trio where determined to cover the combined 900 miles in this timeframe.

The Three intrepid cyclists Roger Reed (from the Personal Injury Department), Duncan Nicholson (Managing Partner of the firm) and Tristan Benson (Head of the Dispute Resolution Team) were more than up for the challenge having trained hard over the last few months, with many lunchtime rides, cycling events and sportifs under their belts.

The ride was 100% funded and planned by the Firm, so that every single penny raised went to Cransley Hospice. The local hospice provides specialist care for patients with life limiting illnesses and as with many charities of this nature Cransley simply could not operate without the help of donations from the public.

The team where up bright and early on the first morning to start the ?Tour de Tollers?and set off from London?s O2 arena at 5am. They made good progress, with only a small sat-nav problem at the beginning resulting in a few minor delays negotiating their way out of London. They arrived in Dover at 12.30, were they loaded their bikes onto their

support vehicle and boarded the ferry. During the crossing they had the opportunity to refuel and review the French route, as well as have a well-deserved rest. On arrival in Calais they jumped back on their bikes to continue their journey to Hesdin, in Northern France, and arrived at their overnight stop at 9.45pm. Following some refreshments they retired for the night for a well-earned rest after the first day of their mammoth trek, having covered 150 miles.

The following morning the cycling trio were up early to embark on the final 150 mile leg of their journey to Paris.

After a hearty breakfast to fuel them on their way, they left Hesdin at 8.10am. The weather on the day was a blistering 31 degrees and despite some issues ensuring they stayed hydrated in the heat, the team made good progress finally arriving at the iconic Arc De Triomphe at 9.30pm.

Having shattered their 48 hour target, riding the 300 miles in around 39 hours, the team are now taking a well-earned rest before they get back in the saddle. To date they have raised over ÂŁ4000 against their original target of ÂŁ3000, with donations continuing to come in. The team are delighted that their efforts will make such a significant contribution to the hospice and the vital support they provide.

Roger Reed, said of their effort ?We made it to Paris and beat our target! At times when our muscles ached we put things back in perspective and reminded ourselves of the reason why we were doing the ride. Cransley Hospice provide an invaluable service to the community and the sponsorship we received will help them maintain the highest levels of care and treatment for their patients and their families. We have been overwhelmed by people?s generosity and so grateful for all the support we received.

We would like to express our thanks to everyone who followed our progress, sponsored us and supported us on our journey?.

The Firm are extremely proud of the team?s achievement and can?t wait to see what this intrepid trio plan next?

Except ional people Except ional service Except ional delivery

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On the final journey Funeral t ransport : Making your last journey personal There are many sayings in life about journeys and travel. A journey is a common metaphor for life itself and they form the basis of numerous inspirational quotes.

But we?re also a generation of physical globetrotters. We plot where we want to go, what we want to do; we have scratch maps to complete, bucket lists to fulfil.

So the final journey we make after we?ve passed away is, surely, just as significant. By choosing a mode of transport and a route to take to the final resting place, which are personal to the deceased, a funeral can feel more about their life than their death. It?s not about going into the dark and unknown, but celebrating life and creating more memories.

Our blog on personalising funerals [link to personalising funerals blog] touched on transport, but here we?ll look at it in more depth.

Why is funeral transport so significant?

There are two aspects to personalising funeral transport.

Firstly, it allows the deceased to travel in a way that is very personal to them, whether this is

by their own planning before they pass away, or down to friends and family fulfilling their wishes on their behalf. This might be in a vehicle they owned themselves, something they loved going in, or perhaps even always wanted to experience!

There was a story in the news recently of a man who?s dying wish it was to have his coffin transported in the bucket of the JCB he drove for 30 years. There are some beautiful pictures online of the JCB taking him on the short journey from his home to the funeral, followed by his family and friends on foot. (https://metro.co.uk/2019/04/24/ granddad-taken-funeralbucket-jcb-9294632/) The second aspect is about those left behind. Depending on the transport chosen, they can walk alongside, drive, or, in the case of a hand pulled bier, even carry their loved one themselves and be beside them right until the end. In some cases, following a traditional black hearse in a funeral car may feel quite distant and unfamiliar for the bereaved, perhaps even a bit stressful. It?s important to see how something as seemingly insignificant as the transport can

help our stress and mental attitude at such a difficult time. [link to funeral stress blog] A study by the Co-op revealed that more and more people want their funerals to be personal and celebratory affairs with Land Rovers and rainbow-hued vehicles to take them to their final resting places ? and companies are responding to these wishes up and down the country!

W hat t ypes of t ransport are available?

At Austin?s, we can arrange various modes of transport and always do our best to make your wishes happen. Aside from our traditional black hearses and limousines, we can offer?

A motorbike hearse with a sidecar for the coffin A VW campervan, A variety of different model Land Rovers A 1950 vintage lorry A hand pulled coffin bier, which has been in the Austin?s family for generations A horse-drawn carriage with black or white horses

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At last - the heat is here!

Put conservat ory plant s out side It can be difficult to judge but as the warmer months approach then you should be able to place conservatory plants outside without fear of any damage from colder weather.

Wat er when needed Watering is of course essential and you should pay special attention to tubs and new plants if they show any sign of being dry. However gardeners must also make sure that they are water-wise and do this without waste of this precious resource.

Do t he deadheading It?s an art form in itself and one which comes into it?s own now as you should be deadheading.

A vital part of gardening,

Th e # H er t s t eam of ex per t s gi v e you som e t op t i ps an d j obs t o do as t h e gar den n eeds our at t en t i on ... deadheading of bedding plants and repeat-flowering perennials helps to ensure continuous flowering and therefore a great display.

Pamper your pond Now is the time to turn your attention to your pond. In the drier months you should clear algae, blanket weeds and debris from ponds. You should also make sure that it is at the correct level and that it is topped up regularly.

Order your cat alogues You may have barely begun to appreciate the garden this year

but it is already time to start thinking about 2017. It?s an exciting time for some gardeners and a chance to look ahead but you should really be considering ordering catalogues for next year?s spring-flowering bulbs.

Give t he lawn a feed It?s something that is very often overlooked but in the summer months you should give the lawn a quick-acting summer feed. This should especially be done if you have not given it a spring feed Look aft er your woodwork Like any part of the garden items such as woodwork also appreciate a little care. If you have the chance give woodwork a lick of paint or preserver, while the weather is dry.

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Wedding and party package

East er is f ast approaching and we?ve been hat ching some f un pl ans f or t he l ong weekend.

There wil l be l ot s of egg-cit ing act ivit ies t o join in wit h, al ong wit h al l t he usual 360 Pl ay f un.

Make sure you join us on Good Friday or over t he East er weekend f or egg decorat ing, egg rol l ing, egg and spoon races (a great way t o make sure your l it t l e one get s some eggs-ercise) and more!

There?s al so l ot s of f un spring act ivit ies t o join in wit h in our messy pl ay area over t he East er hol iday.

Wit h sof t pl ay and sl ides, messy pl ay, dodgems, a carousel , rol e pl ay and more, t here?s somet hing every-bunny wil l enjoy t his East er.

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Spotlight on #Herts

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Welwyn Parish is located in central Hertfordshire and has a population of approximately 10,000.

The Parish boundary follows the old Great North Road (now B197), the A1M motorway and parallel

London-York-Edinburgh railway. The parish comprises the village itself, Digswell, Oaklands and Mardley Heath. Welwyn village is home to a vibrant economy and vast number of thriving independent businesses. We stopped off in Welwyn and took a look

at this lovely village and are proud to present some of the businesses here.

Simply click on the image and link straight to their website to find out more about them and to get in contact.

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For r esult s t oday speak t o t he com m unicat ion exper t s at Spit f ir ePR Media rel at ions

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Proud publ i sh er of #Herts @h ash tagh erts For al l your mark eti ng and soci al medi a needs: 07539 782979 w w w .spi tf i repr.com darren@spi tf i repr.com @DarrenI sted1 @h ash tagh erts

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Ashr idge Est at e