#Stevenage July 2019

# STEVENAGE Text

The unique digital magazine for Stevenage promoted by social media

Jul y 2019

Simon's £50,000 ride

Clair e Au st in

A fundraising ride has raised more t han £55,000 for St evenage Communit y Trust On 15t h June 2019 Simon Galbrait h founder of Redgat e Soft ware and Ent repreneur began his cycle ride from Land's End t o John O'Groat s.

As a key support er of St evenage Communit y Trust over t he last 10 years, Simon cycled 938 miles in a bid t o raise £45,000 t owards St evenage Communit y Trust 's dedicat ed fund t o be donat ed t o Home-St art Hert s.

This will ensure t hat every one of t he 21 family's on Home-St art 's wait ing list in St evenage can receive t he support t hey need.

Click h er e t o su ppor t St even age Com m u n it y (lef t ) w it h LouTr ise u Yexley st

St evenage Communit y Trust President and Int ernat ional best -selling aut hor Ken Follet t and Simon generously mat ched every donat ion pound for pound, t ripling t he final amount raised.

The Trust is t he Charit y of t he year for t he Mayor Simon Speller and as a keen cyclist who has complet ed Land's End t o John O'Groat s in bot h direct ions, he has provided advice and encouragement for Simon and generously added his backing for t he campaign.

Please visit : ht t ps:// www.cyclingforst evenage. org.uk/ for more informat ion.

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Reece runs for 980 miles!

Fairlands Valley Spart an runner Reece McCullagh has complet ed t he John O?Groat s t o Lands End epic run.

His original plan was t o do t his in 30 days but Reece has complet ed it in 29!!! 1 day ahead of his planned t arget , covering 980 miles in t ot al! It ?s been an incredible challenge, most in horrendously wet condit ions, all t he more ast onishing bearing in mind t hat Reece only st art ed running in January 2018 when he signed for FVS! This has been done t ot ally unsupport ed. He has camped and carried all his equipment .

He has done t his all for t he charit y Mind. You can make a donat ion t o Mind via ht t ps:// www.just giving.com/fundraising/reece-mccullagh Read, en joy an d sh ar e

Richmond House welcome for key decision maker Stevenage-based Richmond House Group has hired a new head of investments as it seeks to rejig its discretionary offering.

the business?s discretionary funds, with plans to consolidate similar portfolios into a smaller number of vehicles.

Adam Jones joined the firm earlier this month, having previously worked as a vice president private banker at Barclays Wealth Management.

Prior to his most recent role at Barclays, Jones spent seven years at Rathbones as an investment manager, having moved there from Smith & Williamson in 2010.

He replaces the company?s former investment management director Emma Wilkinson, who left in May to join regional rival Westbury Asset Managementas director of investments.

Jones (pictured) said: ?I am incredibly excited to have joined Richmond House at a time when the opportunity to add significant value through more active investment decision making is so great. ?Since joining the firm I have been consistently impressed by both the quality of our leadership and the calibre of our investment team, which stands us in great stead to continue on delivering excellent outcomes for our clients whilst driving significant future growth for the business.?

He added that part of his role will be to review

He joined Smith & Williamson in 2008 to help set up its Birmingham office alongside 25 colleagues from Barclays Wealth, where he had a previous one year stint after gaining his investment management qualifications as a trainee at Fyshe Horton Finney.

Richmond House chief executive officer Paul Beasley said: ?In the short time Adam has been with Richmond House he has already demonstrated the added value he will bring. His client facing experience will add a new dimension to our communications and his clarity of thought around markets and support systems will give enhanced confidence to clients and their advisers. He has a vital contribution to make to our long term growth plans.?

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Acting chief exec offers invite to business event Stevenage Borough Council's acting chief executive Matt Partidge has sent out an open Invitation to come along to Stevenage Borough Council?s Annual Business Event.

Following the success of last year?s inaugural Annual Business Event and as part of their ongoing commitment to engage with our business community, you are invited you to the Annual Business Event on Tuesday 23rd July between 12pm and 2.30pm at the Novotel Hotel, Stevenage.

Commenting ahead of the event Matt said: "Since last year?s event, SBC have signed a major new agreement to work in partnership with Mace on the long term transformation of Stevenage Town Centre.

"This agreement will boost the economic vibrancy and vitality of

our town centre and provide much needed residential, retail, restaurant and leisure uses for current and future residents, businesses and visitors.

"We have also entered into a separate agreement with REEF for the development of a further mixed use scheme in the town centre which is already on site.

"You may also be aware that our Local Plan has been adopted and will now be used to guide the future development of the town.

"We are keen to share further news on these developments, as well as respond to the priorities that local businesses raised with us at last year?s event and set out how Stevenage will contribute to the Herts Local Industrial Strategy, as well as consider how local businesses can get involved."

From last year?s Business Event,

one of the topics businesses requested was a further focus on skills development at future events. With this in mind, SBC will be sharing details of further support and resources available to businesses to assist with matters such as recruitment, upskilling and future workforce development, including Apprenticeship Reforms.

The event will also outline support available for businesses that wish to enter global markets along with information concerning access to finance to help future proof your business.

On top of all this you will be able to network with peers, senior SBC officers and elected Members and get your questions answered.

If you wish to attend RSVP to Mena Caldbeck, Business Relationship Manager

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Sponsored by #Stevenage

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What's on in

#Stevenage STEVENAGE 10K Spon sor ed by #St even age

Inside this month's#Stevenage Magazine there isso much going on and we are delighted to preview the final few weeksahead of the superb Todd in the Hole festival which takes place on July 19-21. Follow our linksto get your tickets.

We are also delighted to look back on another amazing Stevenage Day and if that doesn't show you what a remarkable community we have here in Stevenage, our two storieson the cycle ride and runs from both endsof the country show what endeavour and willingnessto raise money for charity there is

Tick et s f or Todd Fest ival special

if you have a story you think that we should tell then don't forget to contact usat the addresses below.

And of course if you are a business which islooking to really get your name out there through the powerful medium of digital and social media then make sure that you advertise with usand see uspromote your products and services to the people of #Stevenage. Digital allows people to read about you on the go - on their mobiles for instance, and they are also just a click away.

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Stevenage Day hits 60 with an event to mark the diamond delight

St evenage Day recent ly marked a fant ast ic anniversary wit h it s diamond day held at King George V Playing Fields.

W it h a crowd which is believed t o have exceeded 30,000 people, t here was plent y t o see and do wit h a number of live displays and ent ert ainment s along wit h a number of st ands which represent ed charit ies and organisat ions in St evenage and t he surrounding area.

Marking 60 years of t he event t here were a host of act ivit ies including inflat able horse riding, a birds of prey exhibit , a pet t ing zoo, a mount ain bike freest yle exhibit ion, famous cost umes charact ers, a beach area, inflat able rides, elect ric go cart s, Junk Drumming and circus at t ract ions. New for 2019 t here was also a gaming pod st ocked wit h t he lat est games and consoles where friends were able t o compet e wit h each ot her.

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ARK team ready to give clients peace of mind The Team at A R K Last ing Powers & W ills are qualified t o act as W ill, Last ing Power of At t orney and Funeral Plan consult ant s. They are regulat ed by t he Societ y of W ill W rit ers. You can have peace of mind knowing t hat your needs will be looked aft er by a professional company wit h all t he processes, syst ems and insurances in place t hat are necessary in order t o ensure t hat you and your family will be prot ect ed from t he worst . Comment ing on t he t eam, Karen Greenall (pict ured far right ) said: "Our et hos is t hat want t o focus on t he local communit y and on helping local people.? ?We are a professional but caring service. I have been in cust omer service all my life and have an NVQ in cust omer service, as well as W ill indust ry relat ed qualificat ions. Those who use A R K know t hat it is a very personal service ? we get t o know our client s and offer a friendly, jargon-free service. There is absolut ely no pressure t o buy when you are speaking t o any of our consult ant s.?

Amazingly around 66% of t he populat ion don?t have a W ill and while t here are some circumst ances and scenarios where t hey not so import ant , people should always double check what would happen wit hout a W ill before deciding not t o make one. Sadly, even when people do realise t hat t hey should make a W ill t o prot ect t heir family, it is always a backburner job.

As Karen confirms, W ills can be essent ial for many people in a number of circumst ances saying: "W hen you have children, appoint ing guardians is vit al and oft en couples don't underst and t hat t he way t heir est at e will go can be dependent on t he order in which t hey die. If you have children from different relat ionships t hings can easily go wrong. A

W ill is needed t o t ry t o prot ect propert y from t hird part ies such as care cost s and new part ner scenarios.?

A R K can also assist wit h Last ing Powers of At t orney. Alt hough associat ed wit h t he older populat ion and Alzheimer's or dement ia; loss of ment al capacit y can be as a result of an accident or st roke at a younger age. W hen ment al capacit y is lost all account s belonging t o t hat person are frozen, and it t akes a long and expensive court process t o get t hose account s freed up. If you have a Last ing Power of At t orney in place before you lose capacit y all of t hat st ress for your family will be avoided.

The provisions of Probat e services is offered in conjunct ion wit h a firm of solicit ors, but t he t eam at A R K hold an init ial meet ing wit h t he client t o give advice, and t o gat her informat ion and document s.

They are aut horised t o act as consult ant s for bot h Dignit y and Safe Hands Funeral plans and offer no obligat ion home visit s t o explain t he opt ions t hat are available. www.arkpowers.com info@arkpowers.com

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Safe space service for abuse victims extended On Monday 24 June, Stevenage Against Domestic Abuse (SADA) extended their Safe Space service for domestic abuse victims into North Hertfordshire.

The Safe Space offers a safe haven to victims, survivors and their families fleeing domestic abuse by providing a location to make what can be life changing decisions. It is fully furnished and available for a maximum of seven days.

The opening of the new North Hertfordshire space brought together domestic abuse survivors and representatives from Stevenage Borough Council and North Hertfordshire District Council (NHDC).

Leader of Stevenage Borough Council, Cllr Sharon Taylor said at the event, ?I am delighted to officially open the second Safe Space in Hertfordshire.

Domestic abuse affects people everywhere. It has no boundaries of class, religion, age, gender or financial circumstances. SADA has already helped so many people and the launch of this new space means that we can support even more people who need our help.?

NHDC?s Executive Member for Housing and Environment, Cllr Gary Grindal said: ?This new Safe Space property in North Hertfordshire will provide a vital lifeline to those who are fleeing domestic abuse.

We hope the property will be a first step for victims who have sought help and are looking to rebuild their lives after living through the trauma of domestic abuse. Working in partnership with SADA has enabled us to support domestic abuse victims in the district more closely and we thank them for their support with this important work.?

The ground-breaking service was set up to support all victims of domestic abuse. It has supported over 350 victims and has received over 40 referrals since April 2018 for its Safe Space for accommodation.

The Safe Space can be accessed through SADA, partner agencies or by self-referral. For further information regarding the events taking place over the campaign or if you need to talk to Stevenage Against Domestic Abuse, call Stevenage Borough Council on 01438 242666

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#Stevenage magazine

First call for nominations to Stevenage Pride St evenage will once again applaud t he good work of members of it s communit y at t he Pride of St evenage Awards 2019 being held at t he IBIS Hot el on Sat urday 28t h Sept ember.

In addit ion, t he Judges?Special Award will be given t o an individual or group t hat has made an out st anding cont ribut ion t o t he t own and it s resident s.

If you have a friend, neighbour, colleague or group t hat you feel is wort hy of recognit ion, nominat ions are now open for all seven cat egories:

To nominat e, simply go online at www.st evenage.gov.uk/pride-awards choose t he cat egory you wish t o nominat e in and fill in t he request ed det ails. The deadline for nominat ions is 5pm 12t h August 2019.

- Caring Award Celebrat es individual act s of kindness, volunt eer, charit y and communit y work - Dedicat ion Award For longst anding dedicat ion t o volunt eer work in St evenage - Ent erprise Award Rewards an individual or organisat ion t hat makes a real cont ribut ion t o business life in St evenage - Green Award For helping t o help keep St evenage clean and green - Sport ing Award Recognises an out st anding cont ribut ion t o sport and healt hy act ivit ies in t he t own - Team Award Salut es t hose who work t oget her t o improve t he local area, enhance people?s lives or provide support and opport unit ies t o communit y members - Young St ar Award For a group or individual t hat has made significant achievement s at school, college or in t heir local communit y

W inners will be chosen by a panel of judges chaired

by Leader of t he Council Sharon Taylor OBE, and also including awards part ners and t he Yout h Mayor.

Finalist s will be informed aft er t he judging. All t hose who receive a nominat ion are invit ed t o a Mayoral aft ernoon t ea at t he Council?s Civic Suit e lat er in t he year. ?Alt hough we have been running t hese awards for more t han a decade, every year I am humbled and ast ounded by t he way in which our communit y produces such remarkable act s of kindness and self-sacrifice,?said Chair of Judges, Councillor Sharon Taylor OBE. "Underpinned by what some might regard as an old-fashioned sense of decency and generosit y, from bot h young and old, it shows t hat people are st ill, despit e all our current t urmoil and perceived differences, fundament ally good, honest and caring and t hat ?s somet hing our t own should be ext remely proud of. ?The Pride of St evenage Awards is a chance for us t o come t oget her, celebrat e, and say t hank you t o some great people and recognise t he amazing work t hey do for us.?

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Online shopping applicat ion ShopAppy is adding a new service in part nership wit h Box Bike Delivery t o deliver shopping t hroughout St evenage.

W hen people order it ems online t hrough t he ShopAppy app t hey can eit her choose t o click and collect inst ore at one of t he 34 different independent st ores signed up t o t he service, or at one of t he click and collect point s in t he t own cent re (West gat e Cent re or Gordon Craig Theat re) for free.

If t hey choose t o use Box Bike, however, t he firm will cont act t he cust omer t o arrange a delivery at t heir convenience t o eit her t heir home or office wit hin St evenage. There will be a small delivery fee of ÂŁ4, which is paid direct ly t o Box Bike. The service will be available unt il 6pm, Monday t o Sat urday. Deliveries can also be given t o a neighbour or put in a designat ed safe place. ShopAppy and Box Bike will be launching t he new offering in t he t own square on Sat urday 20 July from 11am ? 1:30pm. Free ÂŁ10 ShopAppy vouchers will be on offer (for t he first 50 signed up) as well as furt her infor about t he scheme.

Marcus Vere, owner of Box Bike Delivery, said: ?We're really pleased t o be part nering wit h ShopAppy and St evenage Borough Council in providing t his unique delivery opt ion for ShopAppy businesses and cust omers. We already successfully deliver hundreds of it ems each week t o cust omers across t he t own, and are looking forward t o using our reliable and green 'box bikes' for t hose t imes when delivery is t he preferred opt ion.

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Box Bike team up with shop scheme

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360 Play is excit ed t o announce t hat we are host ing a Parent and Toddler Fayre at 360 Play on Wednesday 11t h Sept ember.

This is a great opport unit y for local families t o browse st alls from local businesses, find out more about local t oddler classes and nurseries and so much more!

Wedding and party package There?s all t he usual 360 Play fun t o be had t oo making it a great day out for young families.

If you are a local business or baby or t oddler service, support group, nursery or anyt hing baby and t oddler relat ed and would like t o find out more about t aking part , please message us via Facebook or get in t ouch, cent remanagerst @ 360play.uk.com t o find out more Read, en joy an d sh ar e

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Time running out to register for Stevenage Striders 10k event

You would have to go back to 1995 to find the last time a 10K road race was offered to all members of the public. In more recent years we have had the Race for Life for ladies. This gave us the germ of the idea to launch the Stevenage 10K and coupled with encouragement fro Councillor Simon Speller and Sport Stevenage we set the date, 15/9/2019.

the parks. It seemed so apt to use Hampson Park as our park for the start and finish. The park is named after Tom Hampson who won the gold medal in the 800 metres at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics in 1932, setting a world record in the process. In 1954 he moved to Stevenage and worked for the development corporation.

We wanted to focus on a race route in Stevenage that would be safe for runners but at the same time celebrate areas of the town that many enjoy but often, unfortunately, take for granted -

The race route leaves Hampson Park before entering and passing through a circuit of the north end of Fairlands Valley near the totem pole maze and bridge and then through King George V Park,

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millennium gardens, the war memorial, high street and pretty Avenue. It utilises the towns famous cycleway network.

The Stevenage 10K has been set up to encourage the local population to get their running shoes on, take part in this community event and take on the course! For many, this builds on to their regular running of the ever popular Stevenage 5K ParkRun. Whilst there will be members of local running clubs taking part, the expectation is that the majority of participants will be keen runners

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who are not part of a running club.

Stevenage Striders are organising the event and are very grateful to the support they have received from the main sponsors and supporters - Wagstaffs accountants, ASK Physio, odyssey sports club, Mather Marshall Knebworth and Stevenage Community Trust. The latter have been a regular supporter of Stevenage Supporters throughout the period since the club was launched in 2013.

The race is limited to 400 entries in its inaugural year but it is expected to grow each year. Part of the proceeds from the race will be donated to the two elected charities for 2019 - TRACKS autism and Stevenage and Community Trust.

The money raised for charity will be a key theme for the race and is expected to grow year on year as the race grows.

Runners in the race receive a finishers t shirt and bespoke medal.

There will also be a free cake stall for runners, with donations also being taken for TRACKS autism.

Runners can also expect spot prizes.

Trophies will be awarded to the first three men ad ladies, as well as those winning their age category. The race starts and runners will be set off by the mayor of Stevenage. http://stevenagestridersrc.org.uk

Organising race committee Marc Hagland, Lisa Liversidge, Phil Deaves and Chris Leigh.

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Final weeks of tickets sales as Todd in the Hole set for best festival yet

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Born out of a love of t he Hert fordshire count ryside, great food, awesome music and, well, beer, Todd in t he Hole is one of t he most excit ing new fest ivals in t he UK. Held across t hree days in t he middle of t he summer, t he fest ival t akes place on 19-21 July.

The event in 2018 saw over 6,000 people at t end over t he course of t he weekend, all enjoying t he incredible weat her and t he likes of t he Count erfeit St ones and Cloudbust ing, as well as a pick of t he region?s best new t alent .

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Despit e boast ing a st acked line-up of great bands, t his is much more t han your regular music fest ival; feat uring everyt hing from The Great Brit ish Elvis Off, wall of deat h, t ug of war compet it ion, chilli eat ing cont est , t o a fun filled Family Arena. This is unlike any fest ival you?ve ever been t o, and we know it isn?t one you?ll forget in a hurry.

Nest led in t he heart of t he Hert fordshire count ryside, easily accessible from St evenage and Hit chin, t he fest ival aims t o highlight all t hat is good and great about bot h t he count y and t he count ry.

Spread over 3 days and wit h over 60 bands playing over t he weekend, t he line up includes, Absolut e Bowie, Definit ely Could Be Oasis, 7 Wonders of Fleet wood Mac, Upbeat Beat les, Roadrunner, Great Brit ish Elvis Off, Bubounce, Toni Lee as Karen Carpent er, Mark Sullivan plus loads more.

It 's just about t he music t hough, our award winning st reet food

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vendors and t hemed bars will ensure you're well fed and wat ered and our brand new Family Arena will keep t he kids ent ert ained all weekend.

For t he daredevils among you we're excit ed t o announce t hat Dougie Lampkin MBE, 12 t imes FIM Mot orcycle Trial World Champion is going t o be joining us on t he Sunday and demonst rat ing his skills on a specially creat ed Todd Trials Track.

That 's not all, t his year we're offering Camping and Glamping plus aft er part ies in our woods where Ibiza legend, Dave Pearce will be headlining on Friday night .

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If you want qualit y t ime, good vibes, a lit t le bit of magic, summer fun and t o share new experiences wit h friends and family visit www.t oddint hehole.co.uk t o purchase your t icket s.'

A range of packages are available for businesses and VIP guest s while t here are st ill opport unit ies t o sponsor t his remarkable fest ival. For furt her det ails cont act : sponsors@t oddint hehole.co.uk For t icket s head t o: ht t ps://t oddint hehole.co.uk/ t icket s/

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A meal at Mr Mulligan's At Mr Mulligan's Lost World of Golf you celebrat e any special occasion by playing a round.

And along wit h a great game, you can also have a great meal t hanks t o a new cafĂŠ upgrade.

They are now serving hot dogs, paninis, wraps, sharing plat es and kids meals.

You can also creat e your own sundae and creat e your milkshake. W het her it 's our 11 Thursday night Dat e Night s or a family day out for big and lit t le kids of all ages, you know t he answer, make it Mr Mulligans!

For full updat ed informat ion on t his and all event s which are coming up at Mr Mulligan's Lost World of Golf head t o our Facebook page ht t ps:// www.facebook.com/

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PAUL FRY on # St evenage

Stevenage's link to a dream of space travel It's what they term a flashbulb memory: an event so large that you remember where you were and what you were doing at the time it happened.

So it was with Apollo XI, and Neil Armstrong's giant leap for mankind as he stepped on the surface of the Moon, 50 years ago this month. Yes, 50 years!

I was at Nobel School and I recall very clearly how a teacher came into the main hall, wheeling in a black and white TV set that was perched on long legs ? itself resembling some kind of space vehicle ? and turned it on so that we could see the re-run of Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin's historic lunar walks.

It was a re-run because it had happened at 2.56am GMT ? way past my bedtime, although some fellow, more bleary-eyed schoolmates had received special dispensation to stay up to see it live.

The Eagle had landed on July 20,1969 at 3.17pm, Eastern Standard Time (five hours later in the UK), so many more of us were at least able to share in that moment.

I recall having an online argument with someone who said my mind had played tricks with me as July 20 was too late in the year for me to have been at school. But another Apollo fan backed me up and preserved my sanity with research that showed the term didn't end until July 27 that year.

The Apollo XI Moon landing is an event that is brilliantly, graphically

retold in the BBC World podcast 13 Minutes to the Moon - the length of time it took from the Eagle separating from the Command Module and descending to the lunar surface.

It was a time of high drama ? of lost communication with the control centre in Houston; of the mission coming seconds from being aborted because Eagle had overshot the landing site and Armstrong was trying to land on cratered terrain with only a limited amount of fuel, knowing how much they would need to blast off and reunite with Michael Collins in the Command Module as it circled the Moon.

The podcast gives riveting first-hand accounts of the mission, with facts such as how the Eagle lander had to be slowed from orbital velocity of 3,800 miles per hour to a landing speed of about 2mph; how an overloaded computer triggered an alarm that almost led to the landing being aborted ? and how the average age of the staff in Mission Control was just 27 ? experts in their field barely out of college.

And for all the conspiracy theories and claims it was staged, like in the movie Capricorn One, or the claims that Stanley Kubrick (of 2001: A Space Odyssey fame) faked it all, I still believe it is one of man's greatest technological achievements in my lifetime. It's certainly one of the most enduring memories of my youth ? topped only by a certain event in 1966, of course.

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It is all the more remarkable when you consider the computer power that was available then: It's staggering to believe today's iPhones are more powerful than the computers that took those brave men to the Moon and back safely ? a mission spanning more than eight days and involving calculations of the utmost complexity.

The 8088 chip which formed the basis for the groundbreaking IBM PC, in 1981, little more than a decade after Apollo XI, had eight times more memory than Apollo?s Guidance Computer 16k versus the spacecraft's 2k.

While people look back at the cost and wonder if it was worth it ? especially as earlier missions cost too many lives, and as the US considers putting astronauts back on the Moon, we should remember the many spinoffs that cut across many aspects of our lives and which we take for granted Just consider this little lot: CAT scanner: this cancer-detecting technology was first used to find imperfections in space components.

Microwave ovens Computer microchip; Cordless tools: power drills and vacuum cleaners use technology designed to drill for moon samples.

Flame-resistant textiles

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Ear thermometer: a camera-like lens that detects infrared energy we feel as heat was originally used to monitor the birth of stars.

errors in spacecraft signals helps reduce scrambled pictures and sound in satellite television signals.

Freeze-dried food

Scratch-resistant lenses: astronaut helmet visor coating

Home insulation uses reflective material that protects spacecraft from radiation.

Invisible braces: teeth-straightening ceramic brace brackets made from spacecraft materials.

Joystick: this gaming device was first used on the Apollo Lunar Rover.

Memory foam: created for aircraft seats to soften landing.

Satellite TV: technology used to fix

Shoe insoles: athletic shoe companies adapted space boot designs to lessen impact by adding spring and ventilation.

Smoke detector: Nasa invented the first adjustable smoke detector.

Swimsuit: Nasa used the same principles that reduce drag in space to help create the world?s fastest swimsuit for Speedo.

Water filter: domestic versions borrow a technique Nasa pioneered to kill bacteria in water

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taken into space.

I'd be thrilled to see man go back to the Moon. In the meantime, Stevenage folk can be rightly proud that the town is at the forefront of space exploration with the development of the ExoMars rover due to land on the surface of Mars in March 2021 if there are no delays.

It will bear the name of DNA pioneer Rosalind Franklin and was officially given that moniker by astronaut Tim Peake at the Airbus?

Mars Yard in Argyle Way. The six-wheeled rover is designed to explore the Martian surface and is equipped with instruments and a drill to search for evidence life.

And the rover was built entirely in Stevenage.

I think I might stay up to watch that one...

Tollers solicitors can guide you through the employment law maze St icks and st ones may break my bones? . ? and workplace banter could also land you in hot water.

Rebecca List, Partner and Head of Employment law at leading regional law Firm Tollers Solicitors remarks on a case regarding harassment in the work place.

It?s hard to imagine a situation whereby being called a ?fat ginger pikey?in the workplace would not be considered to be harassment, but this was the surprising decision of the Employment Tribunal in the case of Evans v Xact ly Corporat ion Limit ed. This case makes for interesting reading for any employer who has ever had to deal with the fallout from workplace banter.

Whilst the Employment Tribunal accepted that ?on the face of it?the comments were certainly demeaning and derogatory and could ?potentially? be discriminatory, they were not held to be so in

the claimant?s case. They also found the claimant to be an active participant in a culture of ?jibing and teasing?where such banter was considered normal and widely accepted. There was no ?unwanted conduct?and in any event, the claimant was not offended by it.

However, employers should not see this outcome as carte blanche to ignore office banter, especially where targeted at personal traits or ?protected characteristics?such as gender, age, race or disability, however innocuous it may seem. This particular claimant was unsuccessful because he was a willing participant and not genuinely offended, but the outcome for the employer could well have been very different, and here lieth the warning: be wary of accepting workplace culture as justification for offensive or discriminatory conduct. One man?s banter could be another man?s offence.

Communicate your workplace polices to your staff to remind them of the expected standards of behaviour, and be seen to be actively managing staff employees whose behaviour falls below this standard.

Investigate any complaints of harassment or bullying promptly and keep a detailed record of your investigation. Harassment is a subjective measure and intention is largely irrelevant, whereas context is everything.

Tollers employment team are here for you? and are happy to carry out a full review of your employment contracts, your terms and conditions of employment, your equality and diversity policies and your disciplinary procedures to ensure you don?t fall foul of office banter... Talk to tollers today on 01438 901095.

Except ional people Except ional service Except ional delivery

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Talking about death the big conversation Talking about deat h Hands up, how many of us have had a conversation about death? If not, you?re not alone. It?s a tough thing to talk about. We avoid the enormity of the subject with phrases such as ?kick the bucket?and ?pop your clogs?.And if we do happen to mention in passing that we?d like to be buried, not cremated, it?s usually followed up very quickly with a change of subject!

In fact, 55% of people prefer to say ?passed?or ?passing?, while only 29% will say ?dead?or ?dying?.If it?s hard to even say the word, how can we expect to have a conversation?

Unfortunately the simplicity of the language we tend to use to talk about death reflects the basic nature of the conversations we are having with our loved ones.

W hy don?t we t alk about deat h?

It is said that death and taxes are the only two certainties in life, so why is the latter talked about so much more?

You can?t scroll through social media these days without seeing a tax reminder or an advert for bookkeeping software!

One reason we don?t talk about death is because we?re all living longer. Even though death is a natural part of life, many of us don?t experience the loss of someone close to us until later on in our lives. Illnesses and diseases that would claim the lives of our ancestors are no longer a threat, and so we are not as close to death as they were; hence it?s a fear of the unknown.

Another reason is that it is seen as a taboo subject; people think they might jinx themselves for bringing it up.

Trust us, you won?t!

Dying Mat t ers Awareness Week The Dying Matters Coalition aims to raise awareness of the importance of talking more openly to friends and family about dying, death and bereavement. Their annual awareness week ran from 13-19 May 2019 and the theme is ?Are We Ready?? [https://www.dyingmatters.org/]

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They?ve put together some quite astonishing facts, which show how ready we really are: -

Just 35% of adults said they had made a will Just 30% had let someone know their funeral wishes Just 7% had written down wishes or preferences about the care they would want if they couldn?t make decisions

W hy is it import ant t o t alk about deat h?

These figures speak for themselves and highlight just how much we need to start talking about death ? for everyone?s benefit. Here are four more good reasons to start a conversation: -

A ?good death?: Talking about dying and your wishes makes it more likely that you ? or your loved one ? will die as you wanted to (for example,

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at home) because plans can be made in advance. This will bring comfort to those left behind, knowing the deceased had a ?good death?and that it was as they wanted.

The grieving process: Once we start being more open about death, we can help others through the grieving process by having a conversation with them.

A time to reflect: By choosing to talk about death, it can help us to reflect on our own life and goals we still wish to fulfil.

From here, we might want to create a bucket list, or start to make plans for our own funeral.

Reduce stress: As we spoke about in last month?s blog, talking can greatly reduce stress and avoid family disputes when someone passes away.

How can we t alk more about deat h and dying?

There are so many books and resources out there that can be a good starting point, as well as some brilliant TED talks that really get you thinking about death as a natural process.

Death cafes are a way to get out and talk to others about it. They allow people to meet up in a relaxed setting and talk over tea and cake, share their thoughts and learn about other people?s experiences. Take a look at: https://deathcafe.com/

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Wedding and party package Can you af f ord t o miss t he Forum's wedding package?

As l ong as booking is made by t he end of t his year wit h deposit paid it can be used f or t he ent ire 2020.

For a remarkabl e ÂŁ3,000 you can have excl usive use of t he f ul l suit e upst airs incl uding Fairview suit e. Incl udes: -

Room f rom 10am-midnight Cat ers up t o 500 Ful l use of t he kit chen and abil it y t o bring in booze and f ood.

Incl ude securit y 1 hot el room Col our t heme upl ight ers and use of screens f or phot os

For part ies, weddings recept ions, birt hdays and charit y event s we are t he venue f or you.

Book by Sept ember 30 2019 and use t his t o t he end of 2019.

Part y package incl udes: -

Noon - Midnight Ext ended bar l icence on appl icat ion ÂŁ500 per room, accommodat e 200 peopl e.

Can increase capacit y by booking a second room f or a 50% discount .

Incl udes dance f l oor, securit y, t abl e l inen and bar st af f , upl ight er and screens.

Cal l us now on 01438 779955

And how about our amazing part y package?

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Book the best conference facilities for your business

Do you want t he very best f or your business?

The Forum Conf erence and Banquet ing Suit es in St evenage of f er t he f inest f acil it ies and t he best rat es - and we now have a special booking of f er which wil l al l ow you t o book f rom now unt il April 30 2020.

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Dail y Del egat e rat e - f rom just ÂŁ25 f or a minimum of 10 peopl e Every 10t h person is f ree and a bot t l e of f izz f or t he booker.

Ideal meet ing space f or 20 peopl e, af t ernoon t ea cof f ee and cakes and l unch

Arrival t ea cof f ee and f resh baked past ries avail abl e Take a break wit h mid-morning t ea, cof f ee and biscuit s Af t ernoon hot and col d working buf f et l unch avail abl e Af t ernoon t ea, cof f ee and a sweet t reat f or al l del egat es Al l bookings incl ude f ul l use of st at ionery, room hire and equipment hire

Quot e Code: Forumbiz19 Cal l 01438 779955 and book now

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Brilliant businesses in High Street need you After our amazingly successful piece in our last edition on Middle Row and the independent shops in that area, we have turned our focus on other shops in Stevenage High Street.

The shares and likes we have gained by putting these businesses in the spotlight has been amazing, so don't forget make sure if you need a product or a service which they offer head down to them and keep them in business in #Stevenage

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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

Email: bjpfalvey@gmail.com Search for Bren's Phot o's on Facebook

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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

Copy writ ing

Social media market ing

Media t raining

Market ing

Crisis management

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

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 Wednesday at 7.15pm. For more information go towww.stevenagectc.org.ukor call Jim on 07939 687509 or Jill on 07816 625901.

What 's on in # STEVENAGE 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

Join the SportScene team There is a new radio show on the circuit that any sports fan in the area would be mad to miss.

SportScene started broadcasting their weekly show earlier in August on SG1 radio, the online radio station broadcasting live from their studio in Stevenage Town Centre.

Presented by Steve Watkins, Jay Drackford and Dean Thompson, there is a wealth of local sporting knowledge that has been tapped into, with the trio aiming to showcase any sport local to the area.

Steve Watkins said ?It was an idea that was dreamed up by Jay, who quickly shared his thoughts with myself and Dean, and we were hooked. We went to station owner Ray Medwynter and he loved the idea, and two weeks later we were live on air! ?In the first show we were honoured to have former Arsenal goalkeeper Bob Wilson as a guest, speaking about his charity, the Welwyn Garden City based

?Willow Foundation?, and his golf tournament recently held at Hanbury Manor. ?The response has been phenomenal in the early days. We have had local clubs represented, with sports including Football, Netball, Running, Iron-Man, Cricket Rugby and Cylcling, and have even included the great work being done with the Aqualina Synchronised Swimming club. ?It has so far been a case of building relationships with the clubs, so that we can follow their fortunes in the future. But we are also keen to get involved ourselves, with Jay already running the local Park Run, and Dean is lined up to have an evening of Synchronised Swimming, which of course will be covered on the show! ?We still need to hear from any new clubs with a story to tell, whether it be news, results, fixtures or events, and we are happy to speak on the phone, get guests into the studio , or simply

read out any news from a club. The aim is to cover ANY local sport, without prejudice or bias. Where at all possible of course!?

The show can be contacted at any time via email at sportscene@sg1radio.co.uk, via twitter @sg1sportscene, or on the SG1 Radio Facebook Page.

The show is broadcast every Wednesday evening between 9-10pm, and can be accessed at www. sg1radio.co.uk, on mobile phones by downloading the SG1 Radio app, via tune-in radio on a smart device such as sonos or alexa, and is also now being broadcast live with video on Facebook, which has added an extra dimension, and encouraged interaction from the sportspeople of the area.

Previous shows can also be played again, with links on Facebook and Twitter.

For further details, contact the team at sportscene@sg1radio.co.uk

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Unlimit ed: How t o apply online Step 1 Make sure you have your bank details and a recent passport photo Step 2 Complete the easy application process and use your temporary pass straight away Step 3 We will post your Unlimited card to you Step 4

Visit one of our Cineworld cinemas Step 2 Find a member of staff or use a sign up tablet in cinema Step 3 Complete the easy application process and use your temporary pass to start enjoying Unlimited movies Step 4 Start enjoying Unlimited and related offers We are delight ed t o t eam up wit h Cineworld St evenage t o offer you t he chance t o win five pairs of 2D t icket s t o any film (subject t o availabilit y).

To ent er simply follow and like our Facebook page @st evenage magazine and ent er our compet it ion when post ed asking who you would t ake wit h you.

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Ashr idge Est at e

# St evenage Jul y 2019

PROPERTY

The unique guide to property news in #Stevenage

#STEVENAGE PROPERTY: THE INTERACTIVE WAY TO VIEW YOUR AGENT

DIRECT LINKS TO WEBSITES, EM AILS, VIDEO AND PROPERTY DETAILS

# PROPERTY STEVENAGE Let 's f ace it - w e live in a digit al w or ld - w h en

t h e agen t s w h o ar e act in g on beh alf of bu yer s,

w as t h e last t im e you u sed pr in t t o t r y an d bu y

seller s, lan dlor ds an d t h ose look in g t o r en t .

or sell a h ou se or t o look f or a pr oper t y t o r en t .

In t h ese pages you w ill f in d live lin k s st r aigh t

Th e on lin e w or ld allow s f or qu ick an d easy

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t h em or ar r an ge a visit - all f r om t h e com f or t

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of you r ow n ph on e.

101 High St r eet , St even age

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Tel 01438 231200 m ar k sim on est at es.co.u k

TLC est at es, 4 Bak er St r eet , St even age

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61-63 High St r eet ,

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St even age Tel 01438 316846 w w w.pu t t er ills.co.u k

86 High St r eet ,

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St even age Tel 01438 728444 h om esan dm or t gages.co.u k

A-Top Pr oper t y Let t in gs, 1 Dr aper s Way, St even age

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Tel 01438 369173 con t act @a-t oplet t in g.co.u k

# PROPERTY STEVENAGE 24 M ar k et Place St even age

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19 M ar k et Place,

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St even age Tel 01438 312312 st even age@w r igh t sof .com

Ow n Hom es, 2 M iddle Row , St even age

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Tel 01438 367753 sales@ow n -h om es.com

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Call 0800 0248 914

8 M ar k et Place, St even age

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Tel 01438 728444 st even age@con n ells.co.u k

74 High St r eet , St even age

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Tel 01438 870673 en qu ir ies@agen t h ybr id .co.u k

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Agent Hybrid falls bet ween t radit ional and online est at e agency. Our aim is t o deliver a personal, one-t o-one est at e agency experience, whilst delivering a service of excellence.

ht t ps://my.mat t erport .com/show/ ?m=GCbcjmCyYn

Click on t he image of our Monument Court propert y (above) and t ake a walk t hrough using t he lat est Agent Hybrid Technology

w w w.agen t h ybr id.co.u k

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Our marketing packages are inclusive of: - Professional photography - Extensive Online Advertisement - 3D Floor plans - Local High Street Office - Accompanied Viewings and Open House Agent Hybrid offer two fee options and both include a full estate agency service.

OPTION 1: £1150 upfront, nothing to pay on completion.

Add £150 for a walk through tour.

OPTION 2: 0.95% of the sale price, payable on sale completion, no sale no fee. Walk through tour included.

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74 High St r eet , St even age Tel 01438 870673 w w w.agen t h ybr id.co.u k

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Placing the focus our customers Text

Hom e an d M or t gages St even age, 86 High St r eet , St even age Tel 01438 728444

em ail st even age@h om esan dm or t gages.co.u k

Homes and Mortgages Estate Agents are ready and waiting to help the Stevenage community with all its property needs, be it buying, selling or renting, Homes and Mortgages are committed to providing great value customer service for all our clients.

Situated in the heart of the historic Old Town and set over three floors, each department provides a professional, welcoming and comfortable environment for all of our customers. We have a team of 9 full time, experienced Sales and Lettings staff on hand to deal with any property enquiry.

W hat 's new? The rebranded branch and heavy investment in IT has set Homes and Mortgages up to stand out in 2017 and for the future. Our experienced and dedicated staff all share the same view in providing a fantastic customer experience and are heavily focused on the importance of transparency between ourselves and our customers.

The IT software is excellent at allowing vendors and Landlords 24/7 access to information regarding their property. At the click of a button, vendors can see feedback, current interest from web portals and can track the progress of a sale online. Likewise, Landlords have the option to view property maintenance schedules and access statements. mailt o:st evenage@homesand mort gages.co.uk

Click on t h e im ages an d lin k dir ect ly t o t h eir det ails on lin e

Dealing with all property needs

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Hom e an d M or t gages St even age, 86 High St r eet , St even age Tel 01438 728444

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Click on t h e im ages an d lin k dir ect ly t o t h eir det ails on lin e

Placing the focus on our customers Text

Hom e an d M or t gages St even age, 86 High St r eet , St even age Tel 01438 728444

em ail st even age@h om esan dm or t gages.co.u k

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Click on t h e im ages an d lin k dir ect ly t o t h eir det ails on lin e

For a top service Text

rely on A-TOP A-Top Pr oper t y Let t in gs, 1 Dr aper s Way, St even age Tel 01438 369173

em ail con t act @a-t oplet t in g.co.u k

If you are looking for a t eam t hat you can t rust t o deliver t ime aft er t ime t hen A-Top Propert y Let t ings in Drapers Way, St evenage is t he one for you.

A-Top, which is owned by founder Mervyn Terret t , has gained an impressive reput at ion as t he go-t o agent for all your propert y needs whet her you are looking t o rent or are a landlord seeking t enant s. W it h a combined market experience of more t han 60 years, t he st aff at A-Top are t he most knowledgeable in t he business and along wit h advice on t he rent al market , t hey can also provide informat ion which allows cust omers t o make t he most informed choice possible. Over t he past 33 years t he t eam lead by Mervyn has seen t he local market undergo a wide number of changes, but t hrough t hem all A-Top and it s experienced st aff have always given t he very best and most informed service.

There have been plent y of changes which have alt ered t he let t ings landscape in St evenage. Through t hem all however t he reliabilit y of A-Top Propert y Let t ings has remained a const ant and t heir port folio of excellent landlords has increased dramat ically.

Comment ing on t he t eam Mervyn said: ?W hat once was a rarit y in t he UK i.e. rent ing, is now so common as a source of income/ invest ment for landlords and of mobilit y for professional working t enant s.

We are delight ed t o be able t o use our expert ise t o help bot h t enant s and landlords.?

For furt her det ails cont act 01438 369173 or email cont act @a-t oplet t ing.co.uk

For a top service Text

rely on A-TOP A-Top Pr oper t y Let t in gs, 1 Dr aper s Way, St even age Tel 01438 369173

em ail con t act @a-t oplet t in g.co.u k

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The independent local estate agent Text

2 M iddle Row , St even age Tel 01438 367753

w w w.ow n -h om es.com

St ephen Harris and Michael Not schild est ablished Own Homes in 2008, operat ing as a successful, independent local St evenage est at e agent .

Here at Own Homes, we understand that each property and sale is individual and therefore tailor our service to suit your specific requirements.

We have prominent offices ideally situated in the heart of Stevenage Old Town. One in Middle Row covering lettings and mortgages and one on the High Street to deal with sales.

Our recent expansion and our double fronted office allows us the scope and ability to serve Stevenage and the surrounding residential areas.

Passionate in all we do, we pride ourselves on delivering the highest level of service.

Selling and letting a property can be a stressful time, which is why we go the extra mile to make your involvement with us as enjoyable and professional as possible.

Working in Hertfordshire for the past 10 years has enabled Own Homes to develop a comprehensive understanding of residential property in the local areas of Stevenage, Hitchin and surrounds.

We have an established an experienced team, on hand to work with you throughout the selling and buying process, ensuring personal contact is maintained from start to finish.

We use a number of marketing styles to ensure your property, whether you are selling or letting, gains maximum exposure and a smooth efficient sale. This includes advertising in local newspapers and glossy magazines, as well as Internet marketing. Our double fronted office also allows people to see

our properties in both windows.

To arrange a free valuation, or to find out more about Own Homes and the services we provide, simply call 01438 367753 or email sales@own-homes.com. You can also visit our office.

Awards In recognition of our outstanding service, we've been awarded two gold winner awards by the British Property Awards, one for being the top Estate Agent in Stevenage and another for the top Estate Agent in the South East. We're very proud of these awards as the Own Homes team has worked tirelessly to provide industry leading property services in and around the area.

Award winners!

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2 M iddle Row , St even age Tel 01438 367753 w w w.ow n -h om es.com

Putterills Stevenage - talk to the professionals Text

61-63 High St r eet , St even age Tel 01438 316846

Founded by Tony Putterill in 1992, with our first office in Welwyn Garden City, Putterills are now celebrating 26 years of serving the Hertfordshire community.

We have grown from our original branch in Welwyn Garden City to having offices in Knebworth, Hitchin, Stevenage Old Town and St Albans, as well as a partner office in London?s Mayfair. Each of our sales offices are overseen by a Director who is actively involved in the day to day running; this helps to ensure that we are providing the highest possible levels of advice and service. All of these offices are prominently located to ensure all properties receive the best possible exposure.

In addition to our network of sales offices, we have an award winning Land and New Homes department.

Our specialists help landowners maximise the development opportunities for usually previously

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used land known as Brownfield, as the country struggles for space for new homes. We have always believed that our task is to provide our clients with the best, up to the minute, expert advice when dealing with what is usually their greatest asset.

Our clients have a wide range of emotions and circumstances and we help guide less experienced first time buyers, provide yield information and advice to investment buyers, schooling information to families, hold the hands of those who have not moved for many years and deal sensitively and professionally with those. Over the last few years, we are proud to have won a number of national awards which we believe underline our philosophy of being Trusted Property Experts.

2017 saw Tony Putterill retire and hand the reins of the company over to Mark Shearing. Mark has been in agency in Hertfordshire since 1982

and joined Putterills in 1993. As the company moves into a new era with changing markets, advances in property marketing and the use of technology, our aim is simple - to keep at the absolute forefront of full service Estate Agency and to continue the exceptional levels of service and advice that our clients have been able to rely on over the last 26 years.

Our primary purpose has always been to provide an outstanding customer experience and our core values continue to represent this: EXCEPTIONAL ? we are passionate about delivering excellence.

RESPECT ? we respect and value those we work with, both our colleagues and our customers.

EXPERTISE ? we deliver outstanding skills and knowledge in all we do.

TRUST ? we act with honesty and integrity at all times.

Putterills see massive rise in sales on 2018 Text

61-63 High St r eet , St even age Tel 01438 316846

Putterills are delighted to report that despite stories that the property market is sluggish, year to date they are a staggering 50% ahead in sales than this time last year!

Managing Director Mark Shearing says ?Many buyers and sellers believe that the property market is slow at the moment, but our results to date show this is clearly not the case. The market has indeed been tough over the last year or so, but there are always people that need to move. Having over 25 years?experience in Hertfordshire gives us a huge advantage in tougher markets and enables us to adapt to a good old fashioned estate agency service, like talking to people, finding out their real moving requirements and matching them with like-minded sellers, something many online agencies or even younger firms either cannot do, or seem to have forgotten how to do.

Prices have softened a little, so realistic pricing is essential, but equally you are likely to end up paying a little less for your next home, so it all balances out in the end.

We are also encouraged by the numbers of first-time buyers coming back into the market place, as low interest rates remain it is often cheaper to buy than to waste money

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renting.

Hertfordshire enjoys almost full employment with a wide diversity of employers, so whilst we are close enough to London to have many commuters living in the county, we are not dependant on London buyers.

Our sales of new homes have risen significantly this year, with our specialist New Homes Department now handling 20 sites offering over 200 homes for sale. Many new homes? buyers are using the Government?s Help to Buy Scheme, which, contrary to most people?s understanding, is NOT just for first-time buyers.

There have been some very notable performances from our branches. Our Hitchin sales office has just had its best sales month EVER! Outstanding results.

Our Welwyn Garden City office has sold more homes in excess of ÂŁ1 million this year than in all of last year, a clear sign of returning buyer confidence in the upper market.

Our Stevenage office has had a stunning month for listing new properties to sell and this improved choice has encouraged more buyers to commit.

St Albans office has had its best month this year for both sales and new instructions and we are actively looking for additional staff to meet

demand here.

In Knebworth, again, they are ahead of last year as many people want to take advantage of this thriving village?s excellent facilities - including its own station.

The conveyancing process remains painfully slow, with some chains taking many months to get to the point of exchange. Sales progression and dealing with issues during the conveyancing period is one of the most important and time-consuming jobs an estate agent carries out.

Having experience and being well-known by local surveyors and solicitors is paramount and something Putterills are professionals at.

Choosing an estate agent who does not offer this service, or has a remote centre dealing with all their cases, is a false economy and can cause considerable stress and frustration at what can be an already difficult time.

In summary, the market is fine, with a good level of buyers, but they need to be encouraged and looked after, so at this time, more than ever, choosing the right agent to handle your transaction is paramount and we hope that our selling success this year speaks for itself!!!

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Shepherding you home the life of an estate agent Text

61-63 High St r eet , St even age Tel 01438 316846

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W ho'd Be An Est at e Agent ?

Duncan Price of Put t erills explains what being an est at e agent really means.

Some people t hink our job is easy. They t hink t hat propert y just sells it self. That a buyer appears from nowhere, loves a house or flat and agrees t o buy it - just like t hat . Some t hink t he sale t hen speeds effort lessly t o a sat isfact ory conclusion and wit hout any ot her assist ance. Let me t ell you it doesn't work like t hat well not for most of t he t ime anyway.

A 'proper' est at e agent 's job is not t o sell houses; rat her it is t o move people. Moving anyt hing is oft en complicat ed, can be fraught wit h difficult y and have unforeseen consequences. Just t hink about moving t win six-year-olds singlehandedly from home t o school every morning, or moving a cent ral heat ing boiler, or moving 250,000 t ons

of crude oil half way round t he world, or moving a herd of sheep from one hillside t o anot her. It all t akes planning, pat ience, knowhow, experience and resolve. It means expect ing t he unexpect ed, problem solving and, when ot her people are involved, t he highest level of t act and diplomacy.

I don't know about you, but if I want ed t o move a herd of sheep I would hire a shepherd.

And, in a way, t hat 's what est at e agent s are. We arrange for somet hing wit h lot s of moving part s - each wit h a mind of it s own - t o end up where it should be on t he dat e it is supposed t o be t here.

Est at e agent s shepherd people, cont ract s, surveys, mort gages, removals, wit hdrawals,

gazundering, false st art s, disappoint ment s, t he unforeseen and t riumphs from one place t o anot her.

Somet imes it 's a smoot h process. But all t oo oft en it isn't . You may not t hink it 's wort h paying for a shepherd at t he beginning. But believe me, at t he end, when it has been sheet ing down wit h rain all day, t he quad bike has broken down, a fox snat ched a lamb and a large group of unreasonable ewes made a long break for freedom you will t hink a shepherd is wort h every penny.

W hy are we est at e agent s? We do it because we enjoy being shepherds. Some may t hink t hat selling houses is not much of a job, and in many ways t hey might be correct . But moving people and families on t o t he next st age of t heir lives and making it as seamless and st ress-free as possible is a job we enjoy and t hink is well wort h doing.

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Portfolio - for serviced apartments in #Herts Text

Tel 0800 0248 914

Booking a holiday is possibly one of the greatest feelings and counting down the days when you?re having an awful day at work or are just desperate to get away from home can seem like a joy, but there can be a downside. Hotels. While some people may see staying in a hotel like a dream, it can actually be a nightmare if you?ll be staying there for a long time, especially if on a business trip or secondment. With that said, here are the top reasons to stop staying in hotels for your business travel trips.

Limit ed Wardrobe Space Packing for a holiday or for a business trip puts you on one of two teams, you?re either naturally gifted and find it a breeze or it?s the worst part of the trip for you, but one thing unites these two camps ? limited hotel space.

If you love to pack an outfit for every possible occasion you will know how difficult it can be to cram your clothes into tiny hotel wardrobes, or even worse live out of a case. Staying in a serviced apartment fixes this and means you have a home away from home and all the storage you could need.

You feel like you?re t rapped Walking into a hotel room can at first glance feel wonderful, everything is conveniently within arm?s reach and for the first day you love it. Then the second day comes and the third day and by the fourth you feel like you almost can?t breathe.

Hotels just aren?t feasible for long periods of time or for anyone who likes a sense of space, after all, who wants to feel trapped by the same four walls for the entire of their trip?

Privacy? W hat privacy?

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Hotels may seem like a good idea for a romantic night away, but if you?re travelling with family or small children or even colleagues, then all sense of privacy goes straight out of the window when you?re all sharing a room just feet away from each other.

Forget staring dreamily into each other?s eyes when you wake up, you?ll probably be staring at a toddler who immediately wants to play or be woken by another family member?s snoring and that?s not even mentioning the housekeeper who always turns up at the most inconvenient times!

Serviced apartments let you have time to yourself no matter how many you have brought along for the trip, so you can sleep well and feel like you have privacy if you are all loved up.

Money money money!

Straight to the point hotels aren?t cheap.

Even for the savviest of spenders and the keenest bargin hunters, you may think booking your hotel means it?s all done, dusted and paid for but you will undoubtedly end up incurring extra fees.

Whether you give in to the lure of room-service with its extortionate service charges, or buy a film to keep energetic youngsters occupied, your bill when you check out can hit you like a smack in the face and leave you wanting a more affordable option.

Meals on wheels Speaking of room-service, while this may seem like a decadent treat on the first night, by the time you come back from a long day of exploring and are tired, it is so easy to have a burger brought straight to door along with its crazily hiked-up price and extra delivery charges. This can not only wreak havoc on your bank account,

but also on your waist-line and by the time you leave, the only thing that will be thinner is your wallet.

Serviced apartments absolutely win here, as having a fully equipped kitchen at your fingertips means it?s easy to rustle up something quick and delicious that will probably be healthier for you and will also save you money! If you want some tips on how to eat well when working away from home check out next weeks blog post, or check out our apartments to find out why it?s time to say goodbye to hotel hell and wake up to apartment heaven!

Though staying in a hotel may seem like the obvious option at first, there?s no denying that a serviced apartment brings with it a number of benefits that a hotel just can?t offer.

At Portfolio Serviced Apartments we specialise in providing luxury serviced apartments and temporary homes for corporate and business travellers. We offer a secure spacious base which can become a home from home for longer staying guests. Portfolio Apartments are located throughout all of Hertfordshire including Stevenage, Welwyn Garden City, St. Albans and Hatfield, whilst through our partners we have access to over 90,000 luxury apartments across the globe.

So whether it?s a placement in St Albans or a secondment in San Francisco, Portfolio is consistently the favoured choice for travelling professionals.

For more information,get in touch. Our team at Portfolio looks forward to helping you soon.

Give our friendly team a call on 0800 024 8914 (Mon ? Fri 9-6pm) or visit our website to view our modern serviced apartments.

101 High St r eet , St even age Tel 01438 231200 w w w.m ar k sim on est at es.co.u k pr oper t y@m ar k sim on est at es.co.u k

Partners with vast knowledge of the local area Text

Mark Simon Estates is an established Estate Agency situated at: 101 High Street, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 3HR. Here at MarkSimon Estates, we have over 40 years combined experience of Estate Agency within Stevenage and its surrounds.

Our Partners Mark Sollis & Simon Jacob both grew up in Stevenage and therefore have a vast knowledge of the area and its surrounds.

This in itself, is proving an invaluable asset to prospective Vendors and Purchasers seeking a property which meets both their needs and expectations in a home.

?To Mark, Many t hanks for all your hard work selling my house for us in Jessop Road. You went t he ext ra mile in so many ways. You always kept me well informed and I knew I could t rust you t o carry out everyt hing you promised.?

From H.

?To MarkSimon Est at es & your t eam, Thank you for being t here t o help us. ?

Mr K & Miss T

Click here for MarkSimon Twitter

?To Mike and everyone at MarkSimon Est at es, A Big t hank you for all your help selling our house, Best wishes.?

The W ?s

Click here for MarkSimon Facebook

The agent with more than 18 years experience Text

TLC est at es, 4 Bak er St r eet , St even age Tel 01438 219282

em ail let t in gs@t lcest at es.co.u k

TLC est at es is sit uat ed in t he delight ful set t ing of St evenage Old Town.

We pride ourselves on t he personal and professional services we offer t o all landlords and t enant s alike We offer very compet it ive rat es we are one of t he very few let t ing agent s only left in t he t own . W it h over 19 years of experience in t he St evenage market we are sure t o offer you t he best of services from under one roof.

Renowned for our open and honest approach ,TLC will give you t he full informat ion on t he market .

Many of our landlords and t enant s have been wit h us since we opened in 2000 and we are known for our close work wit h bot h.

Pop int o our Baker St reet off ice or give us a call and find out how TLC can help wit h your let t ings needs.

The Connells team that you can trust Text

8 M ar k et Place, St even age Tel 01438 318080

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Connells Estate Agents in Stevenage are located in the Town Centre along Market Place, and within walking distance of the Train Station.

We would love to help you sell or rent your home or find a property to rent or buy in and around the Stevenage area, as well as the villiages Walkern, Knebworth, Little & Great Wymondley, Gravely & Aston.

Connells Estate Agents in Stevenage are managed by Gary Young. Gary has had a successful estate agency career over the last 20 years. Gary is supported by Callum Souter who is the Sales Executive with four years experience behind him, Oz Ansari who is the branch valuer, and Melanie Retberg the Branch Administrator.

Our in-house Mortgage Consultant Juliet Twining, is fully trained and qualified to advise you on the right mortgage product to suit your needs.

Connells Lettings would love to help you rent your property.

Lettings Manager Patricia Bowden has 10 year's experience within the Lettings industry and is assisted by Trainee Lettings Negotiator Ben Brooks. With their combined experience and extensive knowledge of the area and rental market, are always happy to offer their assistance to new and experienced buy to let investors and first time landlords

alike.

Whether you are looking to sell or rent your property, we offer FREE market appraisals. Please feel free to pop into the branch or call 01438 318080 (Sales) or 01438 318258 (Lettings).

We offer a range of property related services all under one roof.

In house Mortgage Consultant.

Premium Marketing Packages available including Floorplans, Professional Photography, audio tours, and premium listings on Rightmove & Zoopla We have pioneered a dedicated service called The Property Finder

- You tell us what you are looking for and we will find it We know how the Stevenage market moves - our staff are local and extremely knowledgeable.

Their in-depth and up to date local experience.

Over 10 years?worth of experience and knowledge within the local market.

A professional team providing services to suit all your needs including property management, accounts and high quality administration.

We accompany all viewings, we believe it is really important, we?ve been trained to do it so you get really good feedback.

Making the Wrights choice

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19 M ar k et Place, St even age Tel 01438 312312

Wrights is proud to be an independent estate agency with our own unique values and ethos.

We have been in business in Hertfordshire for over 30 years and our experience in helping our customers to buy, sell or rent their properties is second to none. Over the years we have built a professional and enthusiastic team and we now have three branches based in the towns of Hatfield, Stevenage and Welwyn Garden City.

Wrights was founded in 1983 by Melvin Wright. Melvin was an experienced estate agent who began his career working for W.H.Lee based in the village of Ware and then moved on to their Stevenage office. As he progressed in his career Melvin was asked if he would open another branch of W.H.Lee in Harlow. Whilst pondering this decision Melvin happened to see that a shop unit in Hatfield was for sale and this made up his mind ? he would start his own estate agency! He picked up the phone to the agent and said he wanted to buy the unit, and so

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Wrights Estate Agency was born on the 15th August 1983.

Due to Melvin and his team?s hard work and determination Wrights Estate Agency really took off in Hatfield. Just 10 years after Wrights first opened its doors in Hatfield Melvin made the decision to open another branch in the lovely town of Welwyn Garden City. And so in 1993 Wrights of Welwyn Garden City was founded.

As the Wrights team had such a wealth of knowledge about the Hertfordshire housing market it made sense to open another branch, and because Melvin had previously worked in Stevenage he decided to based his next office in this lively town. Wrights were the first independent estate agents based in the town centre and where we led others followed - it soon became a prime location for a number of estate agencies.

Independent agency, independent values When asked just what makes Wrights so successful we tell

people that it is our independent values and experience. We pride ourselves on our professionalism, our knowledge and our honesty.

We really care about our customers and put them at the heart of everything we do.

Our success is also built on great teamwork and our family values extend to the whole of the Wrights team. We make our offices a welcoming place to work and this is evidenced by the fact that we have team members who have been with us for over 20 years!

So now you know our history let us help you plan your future in the property market. Whether you are looking to buy, sell or rent get in touch with any of our three branches and we will be happy to help you.

19 M ar k et Place, St even age Tel 01438 312312 h t t ps:/ / w w w.w r igh t sof .com / br an ch / st even age/

Geoffrey Matthew property innovators Text

24 M ar k et Place, St even age Tel 01438 720100

w w w.geof f r eym at t h ew.co.u k

Geoffrey Mat t hew Est at es are a propert y business wit h offices in Harlow, St evenage and Great Ashby t hat specialise in t he sales and let t ing of resident ial propert y.

Over 25 years of experience in propert y and finance give us an unparalleled insight t o t he needs and desires of sellers, purchasers, landlords and t enant s alike.

W it h a dedicat ed, hardworking, innovat ive forward-t hinking t eam t hat use modern met hods and good old-fashioned cust omer service, we offer a unique bespoke service t ailored t o you.

Tel 01438 720100 w w w.geof f r eym at t h ew.co.u k