#Stevenage July 2018

# STEVENAGE June 2018

YOUR GUIDE TO

STEVENAGE DAY: STEVENAGE DAY: PICTURE REVIEW

ALL THAT'S

OF THE BIG SAVE THE DATE FOR

GOING ON

EVENT TOWN'S BIG EVENT

KNEBWORTH:

TOLLERS:

SPOTLIGHT

LEGAL EXPE STEVENAGE

NEW M AYOR:

COUNCIL:

WE WELCOM E

EXCLUSIVE

M ARGARET

VIDEOS IN

NOTLEY

THIS EDITION

2

What's on in

#Stevenage

WESTGATE SUCCESS Spot ligh t on Cu r t ain Sh op

DO YOU REM EM BER EARLY DAYS OF TOWN? We look back w it h Old M em or ies of St even age 2

NEW M AYOR Welcom e t o M ar gar et Not ley

FOCUS ON TOLLERS Solicit or s w h er e ser vice an d deliver y ar e alw ays except ion al

GREAT DAY St even age Day r eview

UNLIM ITED FILM S

READY FOR A GREAT EVENT AT KNEBWORTH?

Win Cin ew or ld t ick et s

We pr eview an am zin g su m m er at t h e st u n n in g ven u e

Stevenage BC in action Find out how parent s, t eachers and pupils at Peart ree Spring School worked wit h St evenage Borough Council t o creat e an inspiring ent rance t o t heir

school. And whyt hey?re commit t ed t o working wit h all St evenage people t o renew our t own. www.st evenage.gov.uk/ourneighbourhood

Summer in Stevenage will be buzzing with events and new shops

By Town cent re manager Tina Benson We?re so looking forward to the summer in Stevenage and already the town is buzzing with community events and new shops opening. A huge welcome to Shakeaway selling milkshakes and smoothies on Queensway, as well as Mini Sam off licence at the Forum, and welcome back to the revamped Greggs store in the Town Square.

To tempt you into town further, we?re hosting a continental street market along Queensway from 4-7 July, with food from around the world. We?ve a fabulous array on offer including Greek Souvlaki, Hazel?s German BBQ, Oriental Charcoal Grill, Salsa Fusions, the Great British Cheese Company, The Finest Fudge company and much more. Drop by daily, 10am to 6pm.

We?d love you all to come along to raise money for a brilliant cause, the first Saturday in July, when there is a special charity event for Make A Wish. There will be stalls, an inflatable slide, rides, and a golf game, on 7 July, 10am to 6pm, in the Town Square. It?s all to raise money to help make dreams come true for seriously ill children. Parking is free at St George?s multi-storey that day

too, from 8am to 6pm.

You may have spotted some fencing around the fountain and clock tower. It?s all because we?re replacing some broken slabs and cleaning the fountain pump to ensure our landmarks stay looking good. We?ll be doing a few more improvements around the town later this year ahead of our exciting major regeneration with renowned international developer Mace. I?ll let you know when I have all the details.

We welcome suggestions from

other community groups who would like to put on events, so if you have one in mind please email: tcm@stevenage.gov.uk. Or if you have other ideas you can always contact me via social media @lovesteveneagetc on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. www.stevenagetowncentre.com www.st evenaget owncent re.com

Last chance to enjoy the Stevenage Cycling Festival 2018 Take t o t wo wheels for St evenage Cycling Fest ival 2018 This July a host of fun cycling activities and events continue in Stevenage. The 2018 Stevenage Cycling Festival offers something for everyone to enjoy and take part in, whether they are cyclophobic, absolute beginners or regular cyclists.

Borough Council, said, ?Stevenage has a unique cycling heritage, with more than 45km of cycle track across the town, and our second Stevenage Cycling Festival is the perfect way to celebrate this.

Other highlights included a fun skills course for children aged 5-14 at Pin Green play centre on Saturday 7 July.

The Festival Finale is a Family Fun Day at Hampson Park on Saturday 8 July.

The festival is organised by a dedicated team of volunteers and professionals from Herts Cycling, Cycling UK (Stevenage branch), British Cycling Breeze and Ride Social Champions, Decathlon, Stevenage Cycle Hub, Outspoken Cycles and Stevenage Borough Council.

The Festival has already celebrated Bike Week ? 9 to 17 June ? with different events including a series of free, led rides, in and around Stevenage. Most of them are free to join and open to anyone.

Cllr Richard Henry, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Leisure at Stevenage

?It includes events for people of every age and ability, and I?m hoping to see lots of local people taking to two wheels to enjoy the festival and really get the benefits of pedal power.?

There are lots events taking place throughout July. Head to www.Stevenage.gov.uk/ cycling-festival The Tour Series and the Stevenage Cycling Festival are supported by presenting sponsor Mulalley, Wates, and Kyle Smart Associates Ltd.

SBC announce £45m programme to refurbish 4,000 homes in flats Council invest s in repairs t o 550 blocks of flat s Stevenage Borough Council has announced a £45million programme to refurbish 4,000 homes in hundreds of blocks of flats across Stevenage.

Contractors Mulalley and Wates Living Space have been appointed for a five-year programme to carry out essential repairs to 550 blocks of flats, starting later this year.

Work will vary from block to block, but could include roofs, windows, structural repairs, rewiring, fencing, paving, signs and some redecoration of communal

areas.

This is part of the council?s plan to invest £1bn over the next 30 years to ensure existing properties are safe, sustainable and warm and build quality new council homes for local people.

The council has already invested £64million on internal work to council homes in the last seven years, including renewing kitchens and bathrooms where needed, to bring them up to a decent standard.

Councillor Jeannette Thomas, Executive Member for Housing, Health and Older People, said:

?This is a major programme which will prolong the life of these homes, and ensure good quality housing for local people. We are pleased to have two experienced contractors to undertake this work to make these flats fit for the future.?

Further information is available online: stevenage.gov.uk/council-housing

The dedicated Tollers team provide effective dispute resolution advice Tollers Disput e Resolut ion t eam: Dedicat ed t o support ing t he St evenage communit y?

action.

Lupa Akthar from the Tollers Stevenage dispute team has experience across a broad range of areas including commercial litigation, debt recovery, as well as commercial and residential property disputes. She is known for her pragmatic approach to dealing with disputes and also for her ability to provide clients with clear and commercially sound advice.

The Stevenage Dispute Resolution team are able to assist with pursuing and defending a wide range of issues that our clients find themselves facing. Our experienced team represent and advise both private individuals and commercial clients.

Light at t he end of t he t unnel for Commercial Disput es?

Our team understands the stress an unresolved dispute can place on you and your business. The cost of bringing a claim or defending a claim can often be expensive. We have an exceptional reputation for achieving successful resolutions and can help you to find the light at the end of the tunnel without the need for court proceedings.

Where possible, we take advantage of arbitration, mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution to help resolve your disputes quickly and cost-effectively. However, if

Lupa?s areas of expertise are: · Debt Enforcement · Contractual Disputes (both Commercial and Private) · Possession Claims litigation becomes necessary, our litigation specialists will guide you through the process, providing clear advice which is consistent with your commercial goals.

Our solicitors deliver innovative and commercial solutions to meet your needs. We listen to our clients and tailor our approach accordingly. We establish the merits of your case and provide you with a suggested course of

· Commercial and Residential landlord and tenant disputes · Claims under Trusts of land and appointment of Trustees Act 1996 For more information on how our Dispute Resolution team can assist with any dispute you may find yourself facing? Talk to Tollers on

01438 901095 and the team will happily assist you.

Except ional People, Except ional Service, Except ional Delivery

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

All smiles for a glorious Stevenage Day The weather was perfect last month for the 59th annual town show at King George V playing fields - which included a beach with Victorian seaside activities, a petting farm and birds of prey, and free hot air balloon rides, as well as a host of stalls and rides.

To celebrate Fathers?Day there were free dads and families photo shoots on offer, and the chance to have a go at electric go-karts and giant Scalextric.

There was also be a food court offering a range of delicious and diverse snacks, along with musical entertainment, and a licensed bar, and the best of our fabulous local talent on show in the main arena.

The popular Rock in the Park music festival was also back for 2018, with acts performing on twin stages from midday to 7pm.

Stevenage Day 2018 was

sponsored by Specialist Cars, and supported by a range of local businesses who generously donated raffle prizes. These included a Cineworld annual pass, a ÂŁ50 Rump and Wade voucher, a family ticket for the Gordon Craig Theatre, a free horse riding lesson at Courtlands Riding School and free tickets for Airspace.

Councillor Richard Henry, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Leisure, said: ?It?s a great opportunity for local people to come together and have fun in the sunshine and support local charities and organisations at the same time.?

Phot ography by Brendan Fal vey

If you have enjoyed t hese images of #St evenage by Brendan Falvey and would like t o find out how t o order t hem cont act on t he det ails supplied here

Monks Wood

Email: bjpfalvey@gmail.com Phone 07572681805 www.brendanfalveyimagery.co.uk

Phot ography by Brendan Fal vey St ained glass window at St Andrew and St George

If you have enjoyed t hese images of #St evenage by Brendan Falvey and would like t o find out how t o order t hem cont act on t he det ails supplied here

Fairlands Valley Lakes

Email: bjpfalvey@gmail.com Phone 07572681805 www.brendanfalveyimagery.co.uk

Focus on t he West gat e Cent re

Tailor made quality at The Curtain Shop A popular double act in the Westgate Centre are Martin and Bob who are well known for their tailor made curtains and blinds at The Curtain Shop.

Martin and Bob are legendary in the town having first opened in the Indoor market 45 years ago before moving on to premises in Park Place.

They have been in Westgate for the past five years and believe it to be 'The best place to trade in the town.'

At The Curtain Shop they are renowned for producing bespoke curtains and blinds which are fitted free of charge. They also have a great reputation for net curtains which can be purchased safe in the knowledge that all alterations will be free of charge as well.

They have many books of fabrics to chose from, and with their experience in the business they make sure of the very best job offering final measure and fit too.

Some new amazing Spring additions to The Curtain Shop will allow you to brighten up your home and add a splash of colour with some gorgeous materials. They have a large choice in fabrics and all curtains can be tailor made in their workshop with Martin in the shop and Bob out and about fitting and measuring Sometimes the simple things work best! Blinds make and finish a room perfectly and Martin and Bob can help you find the right style, colour and look for your home!

Come and see them in the Westgate,

Stevenage they are open Monday Saturday 9am-5.30pm.

01438 725288

Focus on t he West gat e Cent re

Make Mahers your first choice for repairs, keys, and so much more Based in Unit 2a, in the Westgate Centre in Stevenage, Mahers, has over 30 years of experience.

Come t o us for keys Mahers cut a huge range of specialist keys including Yale Superior keys and offer a single household or cylinder key at ÂŁ5 or two for just ÂŁ7.50. We also stock: - House keys - Car keys - Security keys - Licensed fun keys Engraving and t rophy supplies Don't forget t he t rophies for your end of season present at ion. Mahers is one

of St evenage's leading suppliers of t rophies, medals, cups and awards.

We have a large collect ion for you t o browse.

- Trusted supplier to many clubslocally - Offer competitive prices - First class customer service.

Shoe repairs All types of repairs: - Heels - Soles and heels - Leather soles and heels.

Ot her services - Watch batteries and repairs - Engraving on jewellery and plaques - Locksmiths and auto-locksmiths For furt her det ails cont act : Tel - 07446 102570 Email MaherService@yahoo.com

Opening Hours Mon 9am-5.15pm Tues-Fri 9am-5.30pm Sat 9am-5pm

Book a date for summer events at Knebworth Knebworth House, Park, Gardens, Adventure Playground and Dinosaur Trail will be open to the visiting public daily from 2nd July until 30th August.

The Park, Gardens, Adventure Playground, Dinosaur trail, & & Tea Room will be open from 11:00 am; with the House open 12:00 noon and the Raj Exhibition open from 1:15 pm; last admission for all areas is 4:00 pm for a 5:00 pm close.

Crowned best ?Big Day Out?in the Hertfordshire Tourism Awards, Knebworth House, Park, Gardens, Adventure Playground and Dinosaur Trail offers plenty to do for all the family. Continuing the action packed season, there are plenty of events to enjoy this summer, which will appeal to a wide range of interests.

Following a successful debut last year, the Matombo Garden Sculpture Exhibition is currently on display through the 28-acres of Formal Gardens until 2nd September for both the enjoyment of visitors and for collectors to purchase.

The Great British Food Festival 21-22nd July will feature over 70 artisan food, craft and gift stalls, tasty

hot food vendors, great cooking demos by top chefs, kids?cookery and circus workshops, and live music. This will be a great foodie day out for the whole family.

Discover the great selection of unique items at the Decorative Salvage & Vintage Fair on 28-29th July, including vintage, reclaim and ornamental items for your home and garden sold by top antiques dealers from across the UK and Europe.

Expect to find a veritable feast of treasure.

The Country, Crafts & Steam Fair on 11-12th August has something for everyone: all day entertainment will include steam engines ? full size and scale, birds of prey flying displays, terrier racing, petting pens, historical re-enactment, demonstrations of rural skills and much more.

On 18th August, aspiring palaeontologists and brave explorers can tackle the Dino Adventure. Find the dinosaur eggs hidden in the trail of 72 life-sized pre-historic creatures to claim an exciting reward. Trail sheets will be available on the day from the

Gift Shop for ÂŁ1 (sold separately to Park & Gardens admission, last sale 3:00 pm). Enjoy hands on experiences with live reptiles, hunt for hidden fossils at the Dino-Dig Palaeontological Site and join Tara from Tiny T?s for storytelling.

With up to 1,000 classic and collectable vehicles taking part each day at the Classic Motor Show 26-27th August, the arena will host a series of parades and interviews, including the ?Decibel Duel?where owners compete to find the loudest car of the show.

Entry to all of these events, along with the Park, Gardens, Adventure Playground and Dinosaur Trail on visitor open days until 30th September is included with a 2018 Season Ticket, making for a great value fun-filled season!

To discover more about the events at Knebworth House this summer or the great benefits that a 2018 Personal Season Ticket has to offer, visit our website www.knebworthhouse.com or phone the Estate Office on 01438 812661.

Stevenage welcomes new mayor as Margaret Notley takes office The Mayor of Stevenage for 2018/19, Councillor Margaret Notley, has taken office.

her year as Mayor, and hopes to hold a charity concert and a civic or community service.

She is also looking forward to attending the Pride of Stevenage awards, and is planning to hold a fundraising curry night and a Christmas carol service.

Margaret came to Stevenage with her parents in 1956, and lived in Longmeadow originally. She married David Notley in 1975 and moved to Symonds Green. Daughter Louisa was born in 1978 and son Peter in 1981, and both went to Woolenwick schools where Margaret is a Governor.

She was first elected as a councillor for Symonds Green ward and served from 1992-1996. After her husband passed away she took a step back from politics until she was elected as a councillor for Woodfield in 2000. She has served on many committees including as vice-chair of the Community Select Committee.

As chair of Symonds Green Community Association, Margaret has been active in her local area for many years. She is also a strong supporter of the town?s international links, as a member of the Stevenage-Ingelheim-Autun Twinning Association and the Stevenage-Kadoma Link Association.

During her year in office, Margaret will be supporting the charities Carers in Hertfordshire, Stevenage District Scouts and TRACKS autism.

The Deputy Mayor is Councillor Simon Speller.

Most of her working life was in the jewellery trade, starting with making jewellery in Hatton Garden, London, and finishing in a jewellery shop in Stevenage Old Town.

When not on council duty, Margaret loves spending time with her grand-daughter, Keira and all of her family and friends, as well as going to the theatre, cruise holidays, seeing her brother and his family in Canada and listening to Elvis.

Margaret aims to meet as many organisations as possible during

The new Mayor said: ?I am delighted to serve as Mayor and will use the opportunity to support the many local groups that work to make Stevenage an even better place and such a strong community. As well as backing the important work of my chosen charities, who support young people and carers in different ways, I will attend as many events as possible. Although it will no doubt be a hectic year, I?m really looking forward it.?

If you would like to invite the Mayor to your event, email the Mayor?s Secretary tracey.frost@stevenage.gov.uk

Above: Th e Tr avel Of f ice in St even age Tow n Cen t r e Belw o St even age Old Tow n

OLD M EM ORIES OF STEVENAGE 2 Ou r t h an k s t o t h e adm in s on t h e Old M em or ies of St even age 2 Facebook Gr ou p f or per m ission s t o u se t h ese pict u r es.

If you h ave an y im ages or st or ies w h ich w ou ld be of in t er est t o r eader s of #St even age please em ail dar r en @spit f ir epr .com

High St r eet n ow an d t h e t u r n of t h e cen t u r y

Time for a little extra sunshine at Parkrun Stevenage parkrun ? Event #107 Well this morning began with a bit of a drama as your RD realised just before 8:30 that we had an "electronic kit not where it should be" situation. And the bag containing the stopwatches and scanners wasn't anywhere between the car boot and the finish area! They were located at home, so a quick dash back to Panshanger ensued and the timers were on site 5 minutes or so after 9am.

So a massive thank you to fellow RDs for getting the rest of the team sorted while I was retrieving the kit, and apologies to the runners for the ten minutes or so delay to the start today. Fortunately it's June not January and a gorgeous morning so hopefully it wasn't too much of an inconvenience! And well done to the runner who caught me with a well-delivered "have you got the time?" and had me looking at my watch as he neared the end of the first lap. Excellent timing sir, and got the bite it deserved!

Big thanks to the whole team of volunteers who did a tremendous job as always.

Eleanor and Stella were first timers on

scanning today and produced a perfect set of scanning files so well done to them first time on that role.

A special mention and congratulations to Jude Barton, Carolina Lopez and Alastair Moye who all ran their 50th parkruns this morning. Well done also to the 13 people attending their first ever parkrun this morning. We hope you really enjoyed it and this is the first of many.

We had one issue with the results file where runner number A4384903 owned

by Helen Holden was scanned in both 40th and 182nd positions across two different scanners. I've removed the 40th position result in order to be able to save and progress the results, but can Helen or the person she was with please drop us an email with the correct other runner number and confirm the correct order please and we'll get those tidied up for you.

On to the summary: This week 277 people ran, jogged and walked the course, of whom 27 were first timers and 51 recorded new Personal Bests. Representatives of 23 different

clubs took part.

The event was made possible by 18 volunteers: Laura KIMPTON - Ems SOUTHERINGTON - Ken JUDE - Helen MOYE - Chloe MARSHALL - James MARSHALL - Esperanza CASTRO Wendy BREWSTER - Paul BREWSTER Stella GARRETT - Tony RANDFIELD - Joe COLGAN - Richard GLAISTER - Paul JENNINGS - James ASTLEY - Alan FORD - Shelbe MOONBEAM - Eleanor DOSWORA Stevenage parkrun started on 28th May 2016. Since then 4,963 participants have completed 26,325 parkruns covering a total distance of 131,625 km, including 5,930 new Personal Bests. If you are interested in volunteering, please cast your eyeballs over the roster page: http://www.parkrun.org.uk/ stevenage/futureroster/ and email the team at stevenagehelpers@parkrun.com

What 's on in # STEVENAGE INS: Every Friday afternoon, So Healthy, a gentle exercise class takes place from 1.30pm to 2.30pm at Bedwell Community Centre. Please contact the INS for more information on 01438 725400 or emailinfo@irishnetworkstevenage.org.ukor follow the group on Facebook or Twitter.

St evenage Fl oral Art Societ y: Call Margaret 01438 880086 for more details.

St evenage Liberal Synagogue: For further information phone 01438 300222 or visitstevenageliberalsynagogue@gmail.com St evenage Fibromyal gia Support Group:Meet on the second Wednesday evening, 7.30 to 9.30pm, and last Tuesday of the month, 12.30pm to 2.30pm, at Poplars Community Hall. A weekly coffee drop in from 1pm to 3pm takes place on Wednesdays at Encore Coffee House, in the foyer of the Gordon Craig Theatre. Call the helpline 0844 8872 373 or 355 for more info. All welcome.

St Andrew and St George:Parish Mass on Sunday at 10am. A toddler group takes place on Wednesdays from 10am to 12pm. All welcome. For further details please email Kimcuttylanegroups@gmail.com.Morning Prayer Monday to Thursday at 9.30 am. Weekday Masses on Monday at 10am, Tuesday at 12.30pm and Thursday at 10am. Compline at 8:30 pm on Thursdays. For more information

visitwww.stevenagechurch.org.

Debt ors Anonymous:Meetings are held every Tuesday evening at 8pm at The Living Room, No 15 The Glebe, Chells Way. For more information visit:www.debtorsanonymous.org.uk St evenage Corey?s Mil l Lions Cl ub:Lion are part of the world's largest community based Service Organisation and are looking for more members to assist with the work in the community as volunteers. Meetings are held on the second Monday of the month in Symonds Green starting at 7.45pm. Membership fee is nominal. To find out more call 01438 489247 or 07903 444052 or visit the group on Facebook.

St arl ight Dance Academy:Adult tap dance classes, for all ages, with a fully qualified teacher take place from 1.15pm every Friday at the Community and Arts Pavilion, Roaring Meg Retail Park, Stevenage.

Age Concern, St evenage:Pop in for a cuppa every Monday, 10am to 12pm, at Swingate House. Age Concerns provides bookings for Britannia Coaches,a hire service for mobility scooters and wheelchairs during opening hours. Free 20-minute appointments for benefits and legal advice, and a footcare clinic are held every Tuesday and Thursday (fee payable). Age Concern's offices are open Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 3pm and Thursday 9.30am to 1.30pm, ground floor, Swingate House, Stevenage town centre.Call01438 314164 for more.

St evenage Museum:St George?s Way, Stevenage, hosts a wide range of events throughout the year for families, children and adults. Open 10am to 4.30pm Wednesday to Friday, 10am to 5pm Saturday. Call 01438 218881 or emailmuseum@stevenage.gov.ukfor more.

Cycl e UK St evenage:Starter cycle rides will set off from Costello?s Cafe by the Sailing Centre in Fairlands Valley Park at 10.30am every Saturday.

Evening rides from the green by Springfield House Community Centre take place every

What 's on in # STEVENAGE Wednesday at 7.15pm. For more information go towww.stevenagectc.org.ukor call Jim on 07939 687509 or Jill on 07816 625901.

St evenage Writ ers:Meet every Wednesday from 5.30pm to 7pm in The Snug Bar at The Dun Cow, Letchmore Road, Stevenage. Mutual support for writers at all levels, something for everyone. Next two months the group is working on getting their Annual together. For more details contact Tony Burtonponytailpoet@gmail.com.

Pl ay Go:Takes place every Tuesday from 7.30pm in Letchworth or Stevenage on alternate weeks.

Persons under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. For more information, visithttp:/ / www.letchworth-go.org.uk/ letchgo St Hugh and St John's Church: Blaze Youth Club for anyone aged 7 to 14 takes place every Thursday during term-time from 5.45pm to 7.15pm. Have fun playing games, sports, making crafts, baking, cooking, and art, The first Thursday of the month is family night where families are invited to come for a meal and a short service. ÂŁ1.50 per week.

Roundabout ers Count ry Dance Cl ub:English country dancing every Thursday, 8pm to 10pm, at Friends Meeting House, Cuttys Lane SG1 1UP. Newcomers are always welcome, both beginners and experienced dancers. To find out more call 01438 727239, visitwww.roundabouters.org.ukor just come along.

St evenage Bridge Cl ub:New players are needed at Stevenage Bridge Club and Springfield House Friday Bridge Club. Stevenage Bridge Club meets at 7.30pm to play Duplicate Bridge at the Priory Nursery, Stanmore Road, Old Stevenage. Contact Phil Cooper on 0795 7813434. Springfield House Friday Bridge Club meet on Friday afternoons at 1.30pm to play cut-in Chicago Bridge at Springfield House. Contact Richard Bean on 01438 221517.

Mol l y Vickers School of Dance:Lessons in Ballet, Tap, Freestyle and Contemporary at Bedwell Community Centre, Stevenage. For children (18 months+) and adults, first trial class is free! For

more details call Lisa Holt on (01438) 723450 or Stacey Hurst on (01438) 315580.

Oval Communit y Circl e:Come along to a free social group held on the first Thursday of the month anytime between 9:30am and 11am at the Oval Community Centre, Vardon Road. For more information contactenquiries@ovalcommunity.comor 01438 359404.

Love t o Dance:Fun and friendly sessions for anyone aged 50 and over take place every Friday from 1.30pm to 3.30pm at Hampson Park Community Centre, Webb Rise, Stevenage, SG1 5QU. Just ÂŁ5.50 per session. For more information call 0203 675 7215 or emailclarebellchambers@saracens.net St evenage Spirit ual Group:Meet every Sunday (except Bank Holidays) at Springfield House, Stevenage Old Town. Sunday meetings take place from 7.30pm till 9pm with a different Medium each week. All welcome.

Just Sing Communit y Choir:Come along and sing every Thursday during term time from 7pm to 9pm, at Grace Community Church. Hydean Way, Stevenage. First taster session free and no auditions are required. Contact 07785568463 or visit the websitewww.justsingcc.org.uk Pil at es:Sessions take place at Datchworth Village Hall on Thursdays from 1.30pm to 2.30pm/ Beginners are recommended to attend an introductory class. Call 07732897404 for more information.

Wou ld you lik e t o pr om ot e you r gr ou p or even t f or f r ee?

Do you w an t t o sh ow t h e people of #St even age you r gr ou p in act ion ?

Sen d you r copy an d pict u r es t o dar r en @spit f ir epr .com an d w e w ill do ou r best t o pu blish t h em in Wh at 's on in #St even age

Ways to keep the ashes of a loved one Wit h t h e popu lar it y of cr em at ion st or age can be var ied With cremation on the increase, there are now many different ways to keep a loved one?s ashes. We look at some of the options?

made to fit into your home. You could have a pretty floral urn, a teardrop-shaped urn, a wooden heart, a box decorated with dried leaves or a fabric urn made from wool and embroidered with a name plate.

Int erment and burial The traditional storage for ashes is an urn or casket that can be buried in a cemetery or perhaps in a natural burial ground. Today you can choose one made from a range of materials including banana leaf, seagrass, oak and bamboo.

There?s even one made of corn starch that decomposes when it?s underground.

Wat er urns If you?d like to have a water burial for your loved one, you can get biodegradable water urns made from natural materials such as recycled paper. They?re designed to float on the water for long enough to say your goodbyes before they gently sink.

Scat t er t ubes Some people prefer to scatter ashes in

For t he garden

a place that had a special meaning to the person they?ve lost ? perhaps a favourite woodland walk or a clifftop overlooking the sea. Scatter tubes come with special easy-to-scatter tabs and can be recycled or composted afterwards. They can also be personalised with a picture that celebrates your loved one.

Rain, snow, sun ? urns and caskets made from natural materials will withstand the elements to stay with you as each season passes. These weather-friendly caskets come in a range of designs from pretty pebbles through to Buddha heads. * At Austin?s, they have a range of urns and caskets that are provided by Forever Urns.

For t he home When you want your loved one close by, there are urns and caskets that are

19

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Enjoy a contemporary experience with a stay at the Ibis Hotel

When the day is over, guests at the Ibis Hotel, Stevenage, can relax in their contemporary restaurant and bar - CafĂŠ Green.

All rooms are fully air conditioned, en suite with double shower, telephone, tea and coffee making facilities and free WiFi.

The restaurant is situated on the ground floor of the hotel. Here you will find a tasty selection of light snacks and traditional dishes on a delightful menu, at great value prices.

At a glance:

The informal bar stocks a range of beers and wines, coffee and soft drinks.

Contact the team to find out this weeks' theme and to book your table by calling 01438 779955.

98 fully re-furbished bedrooms King size beds and luxury showers The Ibis

Flat screen TV?s

Modern and inviting, the new Ibis room has everything you need: a comfortable bathroom, modern decor, hardwood floor, internet and a flatscreen TV with the best international channels.

Family friendly Lift Complimentary Wifi Restaurant Parking close by

Visit our new websit es for more informat ion www.forumcb.co.uk and www.fairviewhot els.com/ hot els/ ibis-forum-st evenage

Work doesn?t have to be hard to be productive. We?ve made our conference rooms an easy-going, inspirational space with the privacy and tranquillity you need to work in comfort. All our superbly appointed meeting rooms are located in a self-contained area on the first floor, with a range of room sizes and configurations, as well as a dedicated and experienced support team to make your event in Stevenage a success.

The Ibis Forum has a total floor area of 660m2 and ideal for creating stunning exhibitions, trade fairs or public shows; with a welcome foyer for

registrations and refreshments, and break-out syndicate rooms. Our in-house catering team are on hand to provide refreshments, and offer a choice of delicious menus for lunch, from finger buffets to sit-down meals to suit all budgets, or if you prefer you can hire our self catering kitchen.

Weddings A wedding is all about traditions, your individuality, heritage and culture.

The Ibis Forum is the ideal venue for couples seeking a luxury wedding location. Our state-of-the-art banqueting facilities are among the largest and best equipped in the region, and we can accommodate up

to 625 guests. And using the latest technology, with spectacular built in LED lighting and plasma screens as a backdrop, we can give your wedding a real WOW factor.

We understand that you will require specialist caterers for multicultural weddings and here you will find a modern self-catering kitchen for your chosen caterer. Exclusive hire of Forum includes entire floor, Fairview Suite, bar and kitchen. This includes tables and chairs, dance floor, use of the self-catering kitchen and complimentary bedroom in the adjoining Ibis Hotel. Call about special offers : 01438 533018.

Visit our new websit es for more informat ion www.forumcb.co.uk and www.fairviewhot els.com/ hot els/ ibis-forum-st evenage

Sponsors and part ners t oget her wit h t hose from t he charit ies

Creating the perfect Espresso Martini Lite We asked On The Green to come up with the recipe for this perfect summer cocktail which combines the best of cold drink, booze and a caffeine hit!

How t o make:1. Prepare a cafetière of coffee (or instant, whichever is your preference) and allow it to go cold

Our version is a lite version so has no cream in it, making it more guilt free that some of the other full fat recipes.

2. Ice a martini glass to chill the glass

Ingredient s:25ml vodka 25ml kahlua 12.5ml white vermouth Cold coffee Coffee beans and ice cubes to decorate

3. Fill the cocktail shaker (or anything with a water proof seal lid) 4. Poor all the ingredients into the shaker 5. Shake well for 10 seconds 6. Strain into the chilled glass (tea strainer or similar fine meshed strainer works if you don?t have the cocktail shaker set)

7. Decorate with coffee beans and a couple of ice cubes 8. Drink 9. Repeat (as many times as you want to but please drink responsibly!)

If you don?t have the ingredients and kit to make at home, you can always come to ours and we?ll make it for you.?

All t he best , On The Green

Ashr idge Est at e