#Stevenage May

# STEVENAGE Text

The unique digital magazine for Stevenage promoted by social media

May 2019

The big title fight is coming to #Stevenage

Clair e Au st in (lef t ) w it h Lou ise Yexley

The big fight will soon be here and #St evenage is delight ed t o t eam up wit h Queensberry promot ions.

compet it ion in t he coming days. But don't worry you can st ill get t o t he event by booking your t icket s now!!!

We have four t icket s t o give away for t he event at St evenage FC on Sat urday May 18.

Follow our Facebook page and wat ch our

Get your t icket s by clicking on: ht t ps:// www.venuet oolbox.com/st evenagefc/ ASP/ bookTicket s.asp?dept =Spect at ors

Text

Text

Text

Text

Big fight undercard takes shape

Billy Joe Saunders?WBO Interim world super middleweight title showdown with Shefat Isufi on Saturday May 18 looks to have a fascinating undercard.

Saunders takes on the WBO No.1 ranked super middleweight Isufi at Stevenage FC ? and a number of the top young players in the boxing business will be taking to the pitch bidding to score with knockout performances on the night.

Queensberry Promotions have announced that unbeaten heavyweight Joe Joyce will make his debut for the stable on the evening. Joyce is a mandatory contender for the EBU European title After missing out on featuring on the recent Leicester show through illness, the snappy featherweight Ryan ?The Piranha?Garner returns to the ring for his ninth professional fight. The exciting 21-year-old from Southampton has recorded six KOs from his eight fights so far and is looking to get himself in title contention this year.

Former world amateur champion Willy Hutchinson will have his eighth pro fight in what will be his fifth fight inside a year as the Scot gathers experience in the light heavyweight division, while cruiserweight James Branch jr from Hainault enters into his fifth

pro fight seeking a first KO finish.

Unbeaten super lightweight Sanjeev Sahota returns to the ring at Stevenage looking to build on his 11 wins so far, with gym-mate Harley Benn having his seventh fight at super welterweight.

Long-standing Team GB servant Harvey Horn from Chigwell continues building towards domestic flyweight title action with his sixth pro fight.

In a further special attraction on the night, the multi-titled standout amateur star Lisa Whiteside is set to turn professional and will make her debut at the Lamex Stadium.

The decorated flyweight ? a natural rival for Nicola Adams in the pro ranks ? is a seven-time national champion and a 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist, who also won silver at the 2014 world championships, having won bronze at the 2012 edition. She is also a European championship silver medallist from 2011.

Also featuring on the bill is Streatham super bantamweight Chris Bourke (2-0), Hitchin super middleweight Graham Tirrell (9-0), London light heavyweight Ollie Pattinson (9-0), Aylesbury light heavyweight Adi Burden (8-0) and Milton Keynes middleweight Conor Wright (7-0).

Read, en joy an d sh ar e

Text

Text

Who is your candidate in 2019?

It has been a t ough one on t he st reet s over t he past few mont hs for our polit icians and t he wannabe candidat es.

Just ask anyone who has been knocking on doors and it looks like t here could be a very low t urnout at t he local elect ions.

Text Manor: James David Corrigan (Conservative) Robin Gareth Parker (Lib Dem) David Stanley Wood (Labour) Mart ins Wood: Jill Brinkworth (Lib Dem) Teresa Lynn Callaghan (Labour) Bret Ray Facey (Conservative) Old Town: James Robert Phillip Fraser (Conservative) George Eric Pinder (Lib Dem) Loraine Graziella Rossati (Labour) Elizabeth Genevieve Sturges (Green) Pin Green:

Disillusionment wit h polit ics in general over Brexit may be t he root and despit e a spicy local campaign which has seen t he ret urning officer/act ing chief execut ive dragged int o a polit ical argument , it seems t he word on t he doorst ep is t hat people have had enough of all t he main part ies for t he t ime being. See t he following pages where we t ake a look at t hose st anding, hear from t he four main part ies and gauge where t here may be a surprise or t wo when t he result s are announced from t he 13 wards.

Naomi Ruth Collins (Green)

Bandley Hill:

Shephall:

Andrew David Anderson (Lib Dem)

Celia Gwendolyn Lawrence (Conservative)

Adrian Richard Brown (Labour)

Charles Galton Darwin Littleton (Lib Dem)

Nicholas Rohan Foster (Conservative)

Michael Andrew Malocco (Green)

Bedwell:

Sarah Jane Mead (Labour)

Liz Harrington (Labour)

St Nicholas:

Nicholas John Leech (Conservative)

Claire Lesley Parris (Labour)

Nick MacMillan (Lib Dem)

Daniel Peter Charles Snell (Lib Dem)

Victoria Louise Snelling (Green)

Mandi Tandi (Conservative)

Chells:

Symonds Green:

Stephen John Booth (Lib Dem)

Michael Downing (Labour)

David Peter Ingarfill (Green)

Clive Hearmon (Lib Dem)

Pam Stuart (Labour)

Richard David Warr (Green)

Matthew Paul Wyatt (Conservative)

Alexandra Marianne Young (Conservative)

Longmeadow:

Woodfield:

Nigel Robert Bye (Lib Dem)

Neil Geoffrey Brinkworth (Lib Dem)

Alexander Michael Farquharson (Conservative)

Jim Callaghan (Labour)

Chris Webb (Labour)

Graham Edward Lawrence (Conservative)

Andy Facey (Conservative) Ross London (Lib Dem) Jeannette Audrey Thomas (Labour) Roebuck: Paul Matthew Barber (Lib Dem) John Gardner (Labour) Martin John Malocco (Green) Janet Marie Munro (Conservative)

Read, en joy an d sh ar e

Text

Text

Text

Will apathy rule?

Let's face it, local elections have never really been guaranteed to get the juices flowing, writes Darren Isted.

faithful and whip in all those postal votes.

Such apathy is a shame because as has been noted it really did kick off in Stevenage.

Indeed in a town like Stevenage where the balance of power has been held by one party so convincingly for such a long time it does tend to stifle any hopes of a vigorous and vibrant campaign

Did the Tories make a mistake with their leaflet which raised questions about the Labour reserves and claimed they weren't being spent? Or was it a clever ruse to get the Labour response they wanted - and which ended embarrassingly with the Returning Officer/Acting Chief Executive drawn into a political dispute which was both unseemly and counter-productive.

Now before the Cons and Lib/Dems kick off I fully appreciate that they try their best - indeed Robin Parker has for many years succeeded in running what at times has felt like a one-man opposition to the ruling Labour group.

Ironically this year it got nasty and we had the threat of people being dragged to the polls on the back of a major story.

That allied to the massive rise of social media and forums which allow all the secret and not-so-secret party members to spout their party line should have meant that we might all be taking a keen interest in the 2019 battle.

Instead the dreaded Brexit has killed all that dead.

From what I hear (and of course you can see it plainly online as well) people are simply not engaged with politics at the moment.

The national farce has seeped down to a local level and like it or not, people simply do not trust politicians at the moment, or believe in any of their politics.

This of course may be a phase and normal service may resume, but for the meantime it's looking like a battle even to get out the party

Either way, and probably most tellingly, it's just the sort of caper which switches voters off even more and which may deal another blow to the turnout.

And that's a shame as there are some intriguing issues to be settled this time.

For starters will Pam Stuart get back in Chells this year after her shock defeat in 2018, you can be sure Chells Way will have seen some hard work from the main contenders.

And will Tory leader James Fraser hold on in the Old Town after his party took a seat there last year by just 2 votes? It has always been a battleground and this year is no exception.

Finally an outside bet for an upset (and only if the Conservatives have been working hard) will be the unseating of Labour grandee John Gardner from Roebuck. They had a majority of just over 100 last year but with the mood of the public this year who knows?

Read, en joy an d sh ar e

Text

Text

Text

Lib dems vow to continue fight against Labour and Gresley Park Local Liberal Democrats have been the effective, constructive and active opposition group on SBC since 1982. We make the running, against the huge Labour majority, by tabling formal questions and motions, suggesting Scrutiny items and raising important issues. Where and when we can, we keep in touch all year ? not just at election time - with newsletters, Residents?

Meetings, Surgeries, and Street Meets.

explained several times at SBC meetings at which Conservative councillors were present!

Before you vote, do remember that the Conservative opposition on SBC say and do little and ? most important of all ? have recently distributed town wide a leaflet which contains lies, and fake news, and shows clearly that they have no understanding at all about the local finances of SBC. They have no excuse for this ? in recent years, Lib Dem Councillor Robin Parker has had the figures, that the Tories wrongly quote, clarified and

free periods.

Longmeadow - Nigel Bye

- Put funds back into local residents?parking

Manor - Robin Parker

schemes.

Old Town - George Pinder

- Increase Locality Budgets so local people decide

Pin Green - Ross London

Our plan for Stevenage: * Launch a town-wide rubbish clean-up campaign led by the new Neighbourhood Wardens.

- Push for one recycling bin ? which in our survey, 84% of residents want.

- Review excessive car parking charges with short

Labour and Tories.

- NO to Gresley Park! Oppose East Herts building on the edge of Stevenage and burdening our crumbling roads, services and infrastructure.

The Lib Dem candidates are: Bandley Hill - Andrew Anderson Bedwell - Nick Macmillan Chells - Stephen Booth

Martins Wood - Jill Brinkworth

Roebuck - Paul Barber what gets priority.

Shephall - Charles Littleton - Stop selling off our green spaces. Children need somewhere to play!

St. Nicholas - Daniel Snell

- Back the regeneration of the Town Centre ? stop it being a political football between

Woodfield - Neil Brinkworth

Read, en joy an d sh ar e

Symonds Green - Clive Hearmon

Text

Text

Text

Local Greens pledge power A Green councillor for Stevenage would work to protect our green spaces and support wildlife-friendly housing.

We want people to live in harmony with our environment. The local elections in May 2019 are a chance to take a stand, to unleash the power of fresh thinking and communities to make lives better ? to vote Green.

A vote for the Green Party in May is a vote for putting control over decisions that affect our communities firmly in the hands of democratically elected councillors, and the communities they represent.

We would give a voice to communities affected by new housing developments, ensuring that local services are delivered hand in hand with these new developments to avoid unsustainable pressure being put on existing services.

A Green councillor would ensure new housing meets high standards in terms of insulation and where possible build in local renewable energy resource. More democratic decision making will enable communities to respond directly to the challenges they face, putting power in the hands of the people. As our public services dwindle, our climate breaks down, our green spaces shrink, and our wildlife declines we need that power more than ever.

We have Green candidates in Bedwell, Chells, Pin Green, the Old Town, Roebuck, Shephall, and Symonds Green. They?ve all lived in Stevenage for a long time and are passionately committed to a

sustainable future for the town, including good schools, jobs and housing. You can find out more about them here https://northherts.greenparty.org.uk/candidates/.

A single Green councillor can make a huge difference. The Green Party offers a unique plan to reinvigorate local government at its time of greatest challenge - to unleash new thinking and community power to make local lives and places better. Electing one more Labour or Conservative councillor doesn?t make a difference ? Green changes everything.

Our local government programme here https://www.greenparty.org.uk/assets/i mages/national-site/le-2019/localgovernment-programme-2019-04-04.pdf

Read, en joy an d sh ar e

Text

Text

Text

Labour pledge actions Stevenage Labour Party is delighted to announce our Labour and Co-operative Party candidates for the local elections in May. As we launch our campaign our candidates will be standing on a manifesto driven by actions that Stevenage people have told us are their top priorities, including;

- Introducing four Neighbourhood Wardens to help keep our local areas clean, green and safe - Recycling pilots with better new containers to encourage even more recycling in the town

- Regenerating our Town Centre - Delivering new council homes

- Tackling the key health issues which face our residents by working with our partners on the award-winning Healthy Stevenage programme

- Ensuring our local areas are clean, green and safe - Working with partners to improve health care facilities, including mental health - Improving our bus and rail service accessibility and creating living streets In spite of the difficulties of cuts to funding from this Tory government, our Labour council has stood side by side with Stevenage people and continues to deliver the facilities and services that make such a difference in local areas. Our candidates this year are pledging to be hard-working advocates and champions of Stevenage people, they will be all be calling on homes all over the town during the campaign so you can meet them and get to know them better.

We are proud of the record of delivery of Stevenage Labour Council as it has maintained the services to Stevenage people in spite of funding cuts and continues to deliver over 120 local services that we know matter to people for an average cost per household each year of £187 or just £3.60 a week. Some of our initiatives this year have included; - Building new council homes for Stevenage residents in Pin Green, Bedwell, Bandley Hill and with plans for more in Symonds Green and Hertford Road

- Over £1million investment each year to refurbish and refresh our children?s parks involving our young people in designing their own play spaces - The only council in Hertfordshire to have a biodiversity action plan in place to protect our natural environment.

Dave Wood, Chair of Stevenage Labour Party said ?We are confident that if you vote for our Labour candidates in May, you can be assured of a strong voice on the council and a hardworking representative of your area?

Sharon Taylor, Leader of Stevenage Council said ?As austerity bites ever deeper, it is vital that we have councillors that will stand side by side with our community and all the families and individuals that make Stevenage the great place it is. Voting for our Labour candidates will give us the strong team we need to deliver the ambitious vision that we share with you for our town?

Further information about all our candidates can be found on the Stevenage Labour website www.stevenagelabour.org

Read, en joy an d sh ar e

Text

Text

Text

Conservatives aim for shop led regeneration ELECTION STATEMENT FROM CLLR JAMES FRASER, OLD TOWN WARD, LEADER OF THE CONSERVATIVE GROUP. ?The Conservative team on SBC want to see real regeneration for Stevenage.

We believe the new town centre should be led by new shops which is why we are so pleased to see the excellent Park Place development come to fruition.

We often become involved in solving problems quickly that residents tell us Labour have ignored.

In recent times I have had cases of council disrepair, and a big anti-social housing case all of which have seen lasting and successful results.

All our councillors are keen to maintain efficient public spending, most recently with me drilling into the details of the council?s new company for property investment.

My personal beliefs lie in low taxation, personal

responsibility, and in providing speedy service with good, lasting results for the constituents. I particularly love case work, taking on and solving individual problems for residents.

On the south side of Stevenage, the local Conservative team there can be found out most weekends clearing woodland paths, removing rubbish from public spaces, and building the community garden at Lismore.

Our SBC team include County Councillors Phil Bibby and Adam Mitchell who we work in close partnership with to get the best results for Stevenage at County level. These members of our team were instrumental in providing traffic calming for Great Ashby Way and the resurfacing of Canterbury Way is about to start.

We look forward to continuing to put our communities first and carrying forward our projects and ideas for the town?s successful future?.

Read, en joy an d sh ar e

Text

Text

Text

Stevenage from the sky

Click on t he link and view a fascinat ing video uploaded by St eve Balst one. This includes a look at St evenage from t he sky, focusing in t he Eagle Building and t he surrounding area.

Read, en joy an d sh ar e

What's on in

#Stevenage The nights are now lighter and the summer monthsare really close at hand.

STEVENAGE 10K Spon sor ed by #St even age

360 EASTER FUN Big plan s at cen t r e

Inside this month's#Stevenage you'll newson a host of major storiesin the town with a focuson the elections and of course the big fight at Stevenage FC. Keep an eye out for our competition for tickets on Facebook!!

We are also delighted to offer an exclusive 10% off with Mr Mulligans while continuing our sponsorship of the Stevenage 10k with the Stevenage Stridersin September. So 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 us promote your productsand services to the people of #Stevenage.

Digital allowspeople to read about you on the go - on their mobiles for instance, and they are also just a click away.

10% OFFER 10% of f at M r M u lligan s

#STEVENAGE - THE UNIQUE DIGITAL M AGAZINE GOT A STORY TO TELL US? St or ies an d f eat u r es: dar r en @spit f irText epr .com WANT TO ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS OR EVENT?

Text Sales: h dm digit alsales@gm ail.com FIND OUT M ORE ABOUT HASHTAG DIGITAL M EDIA w w w.h ash t agdigit alm edia.co.u k Text

PROPERTY GUIDE 30 pages of pr oper t y

Tw it t er @h t agst even age Facebook @st even agem agazin e

Text

Text

Text

360 Play is passionat e about get t ing back t o basics and giving children and t heir families t he chance t o enjoy act ive, creat ive and engaging play.

Aft er school children need t he chance t o unwind aft er concent rat ing in t he classroom all day and 360 Play provides a safe and secure environment where t hey can do t hat what ever t he weat her.

Wedding and party package We are proud t o support our local communit y and on 13t h - 17t h and 20t h 23rd May we are giving some local schools t he chance t o visit us for a play session aft er school free of charge. This is a great opport unit y for children t o explore t he cent re and enjoy spending t ime wit h t heir friends. If you would like t o nominat e your school t o come along t hen please t ag t hem in t he comment s or send us a message on Facebook including cont act det ails.

W it h soft play and slides, messy play, dodgems, a carousel, role play and more, t here?s somet hing everyone will enjoy t his East er.

Visit 360play.co.uk t o find out more

Read, en joy an d sh ar e

Text

Text

Text

Can your business earn a Queen's award Businesses in Stevenage are being encouraged to enter the Queen's Awards for Enterprise. The Queen?s Awards for Enterprise are for outstanding achievement by UK businesses in the categories of: Innovat ion Int ernat ional t rade Sust ainable development Promot ing opport unit y t hrough social mobilit y What happens if your company wins?

If you win you?ll be: Invited to a Royal reception

-

Presented with the award at your company by one of The Queen?s representatives, a Lord-Lieutenant Able to fly The Queen?s Awards flag at your main office, and use the emblem on your marketing materials (for example, on your packaging, advertisements, stationery and website) Given a Grant of Appointment (an official certificate) and a commemorative crystal trophy

Innovat ion To apply for the Innovation award, you must also: -

The awards are valid for 5 years.

-

Winners have reported benefiting from worldwide recognition, increased commercial value, greater press coverage and a boost to staff morale

-

Eligibilit y To apply for the Queen?s Award for Enterprise your organisation must: Be based in the UK (including the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) File its Company Tax Returns with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) Be a self-contained enterprise that markets its own products or services and is under its own management Have at least 2 full-time UK employees or part-time equivalents Demonstrate strong corporate social responsibility

-

The Sustainable Development award will open for applications in Summer 2019. Promoting Opportunity through social mobility To apply for the Promoting Opportunity award, you must also:

Int ernat ional Trade

-

To apply for the International Trade award, you must also:

-

-

Invention, design or production of goods Performance of services Marketing and distribution After-sale support of goods or services

Sust ainable Development

-

Have made a minimum of ÂŁ100,000 in overseas sales in the first year of your entry and show year-on-year growth Prove that your organisation has achieved outstanding growth in overseas earnings relative to your business size and sector

Have an innovation that has not been sold before Have had your innovation available on the market for at least 2 years Have recovered all the investments made in your innovation or show that the innovation will recover its full costs in future Show outstanding commercial success as a result of innovation over 2 years - or continuous commercial success over 5 years

Your innovation should be in one of the following categories:

Your organisation can be a business or non-profit. Each of the award categories has additional entry criteria.

-

Prove steep year-on-year growth (without dips) in overseas sales over 3 years - or substantial year-on-year growth (without dips) over 6 years

-

Have had a social mobility programme running for more than 2 years Provide evidence of the programme?s benefits (for example, to your organisation and employees) Your improvements should help socially disadvantaged individuals or groups and be in one of the following areas: Work experience, careers advice or mentoring for young people Offering non-graduate routes such as traineeships or changing recruitment practices-

Read, en joy an d sh ar e

Text

Text

Busy month for Bikestop SPIDI TOUR 2019 is a series of events that have run in mainland Europe for a number of years. In 2018 we were the very first and only venue in the UK and it's back for 2019 by popular request and we are proud to again be the only one in the UK. It means Old Town Stevenage is on the same list as Milan, Rome and Venice - what an accolade!

On May 4 it will feature a 100 mile rideout, starting and finishing at Bike Stop including a stop at the Super Sausage in Northamptonshire. You do need to pre-register to not only reserve you place but also your "rider pack" (including a Spidi Hi Viz ,unique Spidi T shirt and Bike Stop Cafe voucher) all for just ÂŁ10: https://www.spidi.com/eu_en/spiditour So come in early and enjoy the food and refreshments before the 10.30am prompt briefing and the ride starting at 11am. Back to Bike Stop sometime after 3pm.

On 11th and 12th May, Ducati Cambridge will be hosting the Ducati 2019 Roadshow, at Bike Stop in Stevenage. The Ducati Roadshow offers a great opportunity to view the very latest Ducati range, and take a test ride of your favourites with the California Superbike School, who will be in attendance with their professional riders to give you tips on how to get the very best out of your chosen bike.

Over the course of the weekend feel free to turn up at your leisure to join both the Ducati Cambridge team and your fellow bike fans. Previous years have seen a

wide range of riders join in the fun, and the relaxed atmosphere offers a fantastic opportunity to see the very latest in design and performance. Ducati Cambridge offers a professional service from a small but passionate team, and are here for all of your Ducati needs, from Sales to Service and the latest in Ducati apparel.

Bikes available for test rides include Diavel 1260S, XDiavel, Multistrada 1260 Enduro, Multistrada 1260 S Touring, Multistrada 950S, Panigale V4, Supersport, Hypermotard 950, Monster 797, Monster 821, Scrambler Full Throttle and Scrambler Desert Sled.

Our meeting point, Bike Stop located at 104 High Street, Stevenage, is a wonderful location offering no less than seven showrooms of men?s and women?s clothing and accessories and free parking. After taking a test ride of your dream Ducati, you can pop inside the Bike Stop CafĂŠ for delicious food and refreshments to talk all things bike with your fellow riders. It?s a favourite stop for those within and riding through Stevenage making it the perfect location for the Roadshow.

Popular models may get booked up ahead of time, and limited slots are available, so please get in touch with Ducati Cambridge in advance to secure your slot. Bike availability is subject to change. Test rides are available to riders 21 and over with a full motorbike licence, and please don?t forget your full safety gear on the day.

To pre-book your test ride on either 11th or 12th May, please contact the team at Ducati Cambridge on 01223 317959 or on enquiries@ducaticambridge.com

Read, en joy an d sh ar e

Text

Text

Text

They did it!

After an anxious 6 hour wait to see if the clouds would break, we finally made it up into the sky. writes Louise Yexley.

A briefing on how not to knock your instructor out, and reassurance that the parachute had 3 failsafe mechanisms to ensure the chute opened made us feel much better.

Suited and booted we made our way to the aircraft and slid in front of our instructors where we were hitched together on the assent to 12000 feet above the clouds and into the sun.

The doors were opened and 2 by 2 the divers jumped out of the aircraft. With no time to think it was the turn of Claire followed next by Louise. ?What did you think when you sat at the edge of the plane??we?ve been asked so many times. Well to be truthful, not a lot, it happens so quickly that you don?t really have time to think and you just

have to go with the flow as the instructor pushes you out anyway. I remember thinking when I was freefalling that it was extremely cold. You?ve only got a jumpsuit over your normal clothes and you are falling about 120mph for 45 seconds so I guess a bit of cold was to be expected!

Once the parachute was deployed you focus more on the view. You?ve got time to move and turn around but before you know it the airfield is coming up and it?s time to land. Landing was actually extremely gentle. No bumps or dragging across the grass. The instructors touchdown and you just step forward and you are down!

What an adrenaline rush! All that build up and it?s over within 5 minutes of jumping out. Would we do it again?

Well Claire would but Louise isn?t so sure about doing it again....

Read, en joy an d sh ar e

Text

Text

Text

Tickets now available for Todd in the Hole

'Todd in t he Hole 2019 - A fest ival born out of our love for t he Hert fordshire count ryside, our love of good food, count ry shows and rockin' live music.

We've creat ed t he ult imat e regional fest ival, bringing a broad sect ion of t he communit y t oget her t o share a showcase of ent ert ainment and fun.

Spread over 3 days and wit h over 60 bands playing over t he weekend, our 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.

We're not just about t he music t hough, our award winning st reet food 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

Read, en joy an d sh ar e

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 .

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.'

Text

Text

Text

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?

Read, en joy an d sh ar e

Text

Text

Read, en joy an d sh ar e

Text

Text

Text

Read, en joy an d sh ar e

Text

Text

Ex cl u si Text Text v e !!! 1 0 % of f o Si m p l y f FOOD qu ot e o r GOL # STEVE F N AGE w h en b o ok i n

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/

Read, en joy an d sh ar e

g

Text

Text

Text

The latest Stevnage Arts Forum networking session involved interactive stalls to provide updates on ongoing projects, including: -

-

-

-

The Stevenage Festival and Cultural Strategy launch event 1 Jun 2019 Battle of the Bands as an extension of Rock in the Park and Stevenage Festival Arts and Health project, led by Mind in Mid Herts Round 2 of Stories from the Gordon Craig, led by Stevenage Museum Art in Architecture, led by Woolenwick School Branding of Stevenage Re-Imagined

Our local net work as part of t he Hert fordshire Cult ural Educat ion Part nership -

-

Have secured ÂŁ10-12K for the network Had our first meeting in Feb and aim to continue developing the meetings We would like to host a meeting for the Forum to meet the Network

Museum?s t ransit ion-

-

-

Funding bid to the Heritage Fund led by the Museum to test new approaches and develop new audiences as we explore a new location for the Museum. To include: A celebration of the 60th anniversary of the New Town?s unveiling A new model of the New Town with hologram images of actor interpreters located in the

Stevenage Arts Forum update Visitors Centre Cycle Fest ival-

-

-

-

-

Heritage Fund bid for 2 years of the Cycle Festival led by SBC and the Cycle Hub Looking to recognise the cycleways as a heritage asset and increase engagement May include: Interpretation panels and artwork located on the cycle network Exhibition in the cycle hub School packs and workshops about cycle network Oral histories Led bike rides Suggestion made to integrate the walking festival

-

Public Sculpt ure Project -

-

-

Led by Herts & Beds Cinema Club First screening at Springfield House was successful (nearly 60

Read, en joy an d sh ar e

Arts Council funding bid to highlight public sculpture Led by the Museum and North Herts District Council Part of the Year of Culture 2020 Focusing on Harry Bates in Stevenage

Open Mic Night -

Old Town Cinema-

tickets sold) There are further screenings planned Looking to expand and make it a more permanent programme with arts and heritage films and community engagement

-

Initiative discussed by John Prebble Interest in open mic night, including Stevenage Writers and working with schools Poetry exchange projects have been successful in the past

Text

Text

Sponsored by #Stevenage

Read, en joy an d sh ar e

Text

Text

Text

Text

Wedding vow to Cromwell Hotel Cromwell Old Stevenage is the perfect wedding venue to host your special day. The remodelled 16th century farm house offers a mix of character and contemporary style in the heart of the historic Stevenage Old Town.

With a peaceful gazebo garden area and intimate or larger function rooms licensed for civil ceremonies, there?s a variety of romantic choices so you can say ?I do?in picturesque surroundings.

The talented wedding and events team will assist in creating you an unforgettable and magical day with attention to every detail so you can stay calm, relaxed and enjoy every moment before spending your first evening as a married couple in one of their luxurious suites.

Close to the motorway, public transport and with 77 bedrooms, your guests can make the most of the

celebrations with no need to worry about where everyone will stay or travel home.

They are currently offering 25% off the ?Romeo and Juliet?package on selected dates remaining in 2019.

To see why the hotel is the perfect place to celebrate your marriage, visit their wedding preview evening on Wednesday 13th March from 6pm and visit the website www.cromwellsteveange.co.uk for more details. You can also email wedding Manager, Liz at events@cromwellsteveange.co.uk

2019 is the 25th anniversary of the Stevenage Festival and it?s going to be bigger and better than ever.

The whole thing kicks off on Saturday 1 June with a parade of drummers invading the town centre to celebrate the launch of the

Festival. More fun follows the following weekend with the ever popular Stevenage Day, including Rock in the

Park, taking place at the King George V Playing Fields. Full details of the festival programme can be found on the website www.stevenagefestival.co.uk or follow us on Facebook for the latest information.

Read, en joy an d sh ar e

Text

Text

Text

Clair e Au st in (lef t ) w it h Lou ise Yexley

Read, en joy an d sh ar e

Text

Text

Read, en joy an d sh ar e

Text

Text

Text

Read, en joy an d sh ar e

Text

Text

Text

Text

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.

-

-

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

Read, en joy an d sh ar e

Text

Text

Read, en joy an d sh ar e

Text

Text

Text

Text

PAUL FRY on # St evenage

New Zealand tragedy is in our thoughts The debate on inter-generational fairness has been joined in recent weeks, with suggestions on how some of the benefits currently enjoyed by the elderly ought to be removed and passed down to the younger generations.

At first glance, this might have some merit. But rather than implementing policies that could increase poverty wages and deal with outrageous rents fuelled by overpriced housing, the House of Lords proposals would do little more than ensure a more equally miserable life for all - and do little to lessen social tensions between young and old.

It is hard to believe that Lord True and his committee really understand what it is to be poor.

Or that they understand how our elderly see such benefits as free TV licences and bus passes as token but deserved rewards for their lifetime's contribution to society.

His lordship even suggested the elderly re-skill and continue to contribute to the common good even after they reach pension age.

Still, I suppose there is a not inconsiderable skill in sitting on the finest leather, dozing after that third lunchtime glass of port and an inestimable lunch, while collecting £300 just for turning up

for the odd debate. Sadly, hobbling down the aisles of B&Q offering advice on which end of a power drill to point at a wall is somewhat less well rewarded.

There are some better off elderly folk who would willingly forgo such benefits as the winter fuel allowance ? something the late nightclub owner Peter Stringfellow tried to do. But then he not only could afford to do it, but the close physical proximity of dozens of coquettish young beauties meant it was all he could do not to actually overheat or self-combust.

There is an argument, too, that perhaps some of these pensioner benefits could be means tested.

But then why should not even the better off receive these benefits when they have also contributed to broader society?

I fear that Lord True is well wide of the mark. If the younger generations seem poorer in comparison to today's elderly, with their free prescriptions and triple-lock pensions, we need to look at making society fairer as a whole and not pit one portion of it against another.

Without wishing to make this too party political, the Tories have always excelled at stirring divisions. But the fact is Labour

Read, en joy an d sh ar e

has so often failed to roll back all ensuing unfairnesses created by the Tories.

People say of my generation that we benefited from free university education, North Sea oil, and the Right to Buy laws that sold off much of the councils' housing stocks, offering many of us a leg up on the housing market. All of this is true.

But we also got out the other end of all that to be greeted by corporate pension scheme failures, the moving of the retirement goalposts (particularly for 1950s women) - and one of the meanest state pension levels in Europe.

The maximum weekly state pension is about £140 in the UK, £304 in France, and £513 in Spain.

In Germany there is no upper limit.

The proportion of pensioners? earnings from publicly-provided benefits is the smallest in the UK, at just 43 per cent. In France, Germany and Spain, it?s closer to 70 per cent.

Britain undoubtedly has a serious housing crisis and the younger generations for whom the dream of owning their own home is passing so many by while others can only get going thanks to the 'bank of mum and dad', remortgaging to free equity to

Text lend a helping hand. This is the only sense in which Margaret Thatcher's 'trickle-down economics' is working... where the people that initially benefited then put themselves in deferred hock in their golden years.

It's long been my belief that the very unsexy subject of pensions has been sorely neglected by the state and been one of the biggest factors in fuelling the housing crisis.

Pension funds have profited from a rising housing market and so have those who were able to leverage the funds to buy to let.

Buy to let has been attractive largely because of failings in the state pension system. A house with tenants is an asset that brings in a good income and will be a retirement nest-egg more golden than the pitiful state pension, which we are in any case having to wait until we are older and increasingly more infirm to claim.

Given the numbers of buy-to-let landlords, no political party is going to annoy them so much that they will lose their vote, so we get consistently rising rents. And we get a growing number of bad landlords.

A friend had a private rented place that needed some work doing.

They feared complaining too often because of their insecure tenancy.

When they left, all the work they'd asked for was done ? and the rent went up by 20 per cent. At a time of unreliable, zero-hours contracts and pay so low that it needs topping up by the state.

Private pensions have long been touted as an answer ? but too many such schemes have profited from us with overly high admin charges along the way and been prone to mismanagement or even theft, as workers with BHS and Carillion and all too many others would claim.

Instead of having a body to

Text recover a portion of what has been taken out by unscrupulous company directors, it would surely be far better to have all pension moneys paid into a central fund for safekeeping, much as some private rental deposits are nowadays. It is many years since Robert Maxwell plundered the Daily Mirror pension scheme, leaving many group employees with little or no pension and yet nothing was even done to stop such injustices.

There is undoubtedly some disparity between how our generations have been treated.

But this has always been the case.

And levelling the playing field down is not the answer - or taking away benefits such as the free TV licence for the over-75s. We are generally living longer, although life expectancy figures have actually stalled of late, but there are not too many over-75s who can waterski across the lakes at Fairlands Valley, or even cope with a full day's work, as Lord True might have us doing. Indeed, I would argue it is better to step aside from employment to let younger people have a job.

Many of the unfairnesses have resulted from the likes of Lord True's governmental peers ? of all political shades - mismanaging the economy, selling off the country's assets to hand tax cuts to the richest, and squandering squillions of rounds in North Sea oil revenues ? and not using the receipts from Right to Buy sales to replenish state housing stocks, as was initially promised.

By far the biggest playing field unleveller has been the changing nature of work.

When I left school, there was a veritable smorgasboard of well-paid careers I could have picked from. But not so now. So many of those jobs have gone and automation threatens to deepen the employment divide by

Read, en joy an d sh ar e

Text hollowing out middle-income work perhaps even more than lower-paid, menial jobs.

We might need engineers now, but what about when the machines that perform tasks for those engineers become clever enough using Artificial Intelligence to learn how to do the engineering bit themselves?

So many jobs that we took for granted when we children of the Stevenage New Town pioneers left grammar school have now gone, familiar companies that provided those roles have gone, too ? such as Kodak and ICI. Typing pools, supermarket checkout staff and even a number of warehouse staff have already been replaced during my working life. Soon to is likely to be delivery drivers.

Among the biggest challenges facing future generations will be climate, social care and automation. My own generation has talked about them but signally failed to address them, or to varying degrees has even denied them.

They were certainly not on my radar during my days at Nobel. But pupils there now will undoubtedly already have some sort of grip on the issues. It was in that respect that I have been heartened to see school pupils demonstrate loudly recently in a bid to spark action on climate change.

And when I start to ponder the potential horrors of climate change, it makes that free TV licence somewhat more appealing.

David Attenborough might not be around to wag his finger in BBC epics on the subject by the time I get my freebie. But if the worst predictions on our planet's future are correct, it might be all I can do to stay inside in the cool while the North Sea tide laps against the more prominent bumps in Six Hills Way.

Indoor Market feature Text

Have you been t o St evenage Indoor Market recent ly?

If you haven't been for some t ime you must make t he t rip - and go t o support an incredible number of St evenage based independent s.

Text

There are new businesses opening each day here we t ake a look at just a few.

Click on t he image and follow t he link t o find out more.

We will be feat uring more in coming edit ions

Read, en joy an d sh ar e

Text

Text

Read, en joy an d sh ar e

Boro highlights Text

Bor o go in t o Sat u r day 's gam e w it h t h eir play-of f dr eam st ill alive an d h opes of a bu m per cr ow d - h er e w e pr esen t t h e m on t h's m at ch h igh ligh t s Sat u r day Apr il 27 EFL Lge 2 M an sf ield Tow n 1 Bor o 2

M on day Apr il 22 EFL Lge 2 Bor o 1 Exet er 1

Fr iday Apr il 19 EFL Lge 2 Por t Vale 1 Bor o 4

Sat u r day Apr il 13 EFL Lge 2 Bor o 3 Car lisle 0

Sat u r day Apr il 6 EFL Lge 2 Gr im sby 0 Bor o 2

Text

Tips to personalise your funeral plans Personal ising your own f uneral There are lots of initiatives around to help people start talking about death, and part of that conversation is funerals. Most people know whether they want to be buried or cremated, but some have whole sections of their funeral planned out; from the music they want played to what they want people to wear.

Who remembers the scene from Love Actually where Liam Neeson?s character is talking about his late wife?s funeral requests, one of which was he should take Claudia Schiffer as his date?! She also chose photos of herself to be shown on screen while ?Bye bye baby?by the Bay City Rollers played out as her coffin left the church.

Your wishes We fully support people wanting to have a say in their own funeral. It?s a way to let your loved ones know how you want to be remembered on the day; perhaps by planning things they wouldn?t think to do in their time of grief. Personalising a funeral doesn?t have to cost the earth ? there are lots of little things you can do, even just having your photo displayed on top of the coffin. Just remember, while a bit of pre-planning can take a lot of pressure off your loved ones when the time comes, it?s nice for them to be able to add their own touches to express how much you meant to them, so perhaps don?t try and plan every last detail.

Our Little Green Book could be a good starting point for you to think

about the various decisions that need to be made. You can find it at: https:/ / www.austins.co.uk/ austins-funeral-guide.html

First t hings f irst Typically you would put big decisions about your death in your will. When it comes to your funeral, the most important questions your loved ones should know the answers to are: -

-

Do you wish to be buried or cremated?

Where do you want to be buried or your ashes scattered?

Do you want a religious ceremony, or one at a crematorium or woodland site etc.?

Personal t ouches Flowers or donations: Do you want a particular type of flower, or perhaps a special arrangement for your coffin? If you have been in a trade, you might want an arrangement made out of tools instead.

Coffin: There are many different types of coffin from traditional wood to wicker, but it?s not all about the material. Did you see in the news recently that one dedicated primary teacher from Bath had her coffin decorated in her pupils?drawings?

Transport: While it can sometimes be overlooked, the transport you choose can be hugely symbolic of your life. For instance, the families

of bikers often ask for fellow bikers to accompany the coffin in a motorcycle procession. Other symbolic modes of transport include VW campervans, vintage lorries and traditional horse and carriage.

Eulogy: You can write your own eulogy in a traditional style, or perhaps as a poem. You could also select your own readings and even ask someone close to you to read them, if they are comfortable doing so.

Music: For some people, music is a huge influencer in their lives. If you have a special song, or an artist you love, or have come across something that sums up you and your life, then the music you choose can add a very special touch.

Photos: You may want to choose some photos of yourself for the order of service, or to be on display at the church or crematorium. We are the only funeral director in the UK to create unique films and photo slideshows that can be played during a service and kept by friends and family afterwards. https:/ / www.austins.co.uk/ austins-tribute-services.html Funeral pl ans Of course, we can?t overlook cost.

The average funeral costs around ÂŁ4,000 and there are many funeral plans available to pre pay for your funeral. Our Hertfordshire Funeral Plan is exclusive to us and, unlike many other plans available, customised specifically to your requirements. Find out more at: https:/ / www.austins.co.uk/ funeral-plan.html

Tollers solicitors - proud to take an active role in Stevenage community Tollers Solicitors have always strived to take an active role in the local communities they serve and have fully embraced Hertfordshire since opening their Stevenage office 5 years ago.

last 3 years, as well as supporting staff to take part in adventures and experiences, put on by the charity, to raise additional funds. In recent years this has involved tours of the House of Lords, taking part in Strictly Jive Swing and dressing up for an Abba sing-a-long! We also offer free appointments to patients of the hospice and their families.

Each year the firm choose a Charity of the Year to support and encourages staff to get involved both with our chosen charity and with other charitable organisations local to our offices.

Just some of the organisations we support in Stevenage are: Age Concern St evenage - one of the oldest charities in the town, we have supported them since we first opened. Last year they were one of Tollers?Charities of the Year (alongside Age UK branches local to our other offices) and we are looking forward to presenting them with their cheque in the next few weeks.

Tollers offer a free monthly legal advice clinic for Age Concern Stevenage which gives residents of the town a chance to pop in for legal advice in an informal setting.

We also offer reduced priced wills for anyone who comes to us via Age Concern and offer support to the charity itself as and when required, whether it be attending

events, sharing on social media and have a member of staff who has now joined their Executive Committee.

St evenage Communit y Trust established in 1990 and providing funding and support to both local individuals and charitable organisations. We are proud to have already run two will weeks for the charity which have raised nearly ÂŁ10,000. Sharon Brown from the Stevenage Trusts and Estates team has been a trustee since 2016 and was appointed as vice-chair in 2017.

Garden House Hospice in Let chwort h - The Stevenage office also has very close links with the hospice and have taken part in their ?Make a Will?Week for the

St evenage Old Town Business and Communit y Part nership ? Tollers Stevenage office is lucky to be situated so close to the Old towns historic High Street and we are proud members of the Partnership. The Firm take part in their various events throughout the year to showcase all the Old Town has to offer.

We also regularly participate in the National Free Wills Network and the Animal Aid Will Writing Scheme.

As Tollers Stevenage office grows we hope to become involved with more local organisations and schemes in and around the Stevenage area.

To find out how Tollers can support all of your legal requirement s For Business and For You, Talk t o Tollers on 01438 901095.

Text

Read, en joy an d sh ar e

Text

Text

Read, en joy an d sh ar e

Text

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

Text

Read, en joy an d sh ar e

Text

Text

Text

2

Text

Text

Text

Chance to help Jordan's trek Jordan Dutt is currently studying at the University of Lincoln and working with the charity ?Future Sense Foundation?which is an international development charity that works to better the lives of disadvantaged people living abroad. In June, he is heading over to Thailand for three weeks to actively volunteer for the charity in an Elephant Sanctuary and within the Local Hill tribes.

As part of his trip, he is required to raise a large sum of money to aid the work the charity are doing now and will continue to do in the future. For this reason, in April, he is completing a sponsored walk from Lincoln to Stevenage - 100 miles in just 4 days! Eager to find a challenging way to raise the money as well as increase the awareness of the charity, the route will pass through different

communities of the places we pass through.

Commenting on the walk Jordan said: "I am very excited to be doing this fundraiser for the charity, as I know it is going to be physically and mentally tough but I can?t wait for the challenge!

"It is a true privilege to be able to work with this charity, considering the amazing work they do abroad, and an even greater privilege that I have the opportunity to actively get involved in Thailand! places across the country which he hopes to get involved and intrigued in the work this wonderful charity do.

All preparation for the walk is well underway, with routes and plans gradually getting finalised with lots of help from the local

Read, en joy an d sh ar e

"I will be very grateful for any donations you can make, the best way to do so is via my online fundraising page https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com /JordanDutt Alternatively, you can check out his Facebook page ?Jordan?s Thailand Fundraising?or send an email."

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

Text

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

Make the most of the Unlimited Card to enjoy Cineworld benefits ENJOY UNLIMITED FILMS Watch all the films you can handle at any Cineworld for just one monthly fee SAVE ON SNACKS AND DRINKS Get 10% off all in-cinema food and drink. Plus get 10% off at Cineworld Starbucks licensed stores.

ACCESS TO PREVIEWS Be the first to see a movie with special Unlimited member advance screenings SAVE ON EVENT CINEMA We don?t just show movies. You can also get selected discounts on live Opera, National Theatre, live sport and gigs PREMIUM MEMBERSHIP After a year we?ll upgrade you to a premium membership for free, giving you 25% off in-cinema food

and drink and unlimited 3D movies at no extra cost

Start enjoying Unlimited films and great offers

RECOMMEND A FRIEND

Unlimit ed: How t o apply in person

Unlimited members can get free months of membership when they recommend Unlimited to their friends!

Step 1

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.

Text

Ashr idge Est at e

# St evenage April 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

t o t h e agen t s - so h it t h eir w ebsit es n ow , em ail

con n ect ion t o all h ou ses f or sale or r en t , w it h

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

f u ll f act s at you r f in ger t ips an d in st an t lin k s t o

of you r ow n ph on e.

101 High St r eet , St even age

Text

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

Text

Tel 01438 219282 let t in gs@t lcest at es.co.u k

61-63 High St r eet ,

Text

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

86 High St r eet ,

Text

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

Text

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

Text

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

19 M ar k et Place,

Text

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

Text

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

Text

Call 0800 0248 914

8 M ar k et Place, St even age

Text

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

74 High St r eet , St even age

Text

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

Text

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

Text

SOLD Text

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.

Text

SOLD

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

SOLD

SOLD

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

Text

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

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

Text

Text

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

Text

Text

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

Text

Text

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

Text

Text

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

w w w.pu t t er ills.co.u k

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 annual awards ceremony for 2018 has gained two awards for the Stevenage office again!

Duncan Price who is the Senior Valuer and Branch Manager was awarded (Right). ?TOP VALUER 2018?

This is recognised by the volume of properties when clients chose to entrust Putterills to sell their property. Duncan said ??I am delighted to receive this award for the sixth year running. I have been in this business for nearly thirty years and have been at Putterills Stevenage for fifteen of those. I am not set targets as most agents are because we feel as a company that we earn the business by giving sound and honest advice based on experience and expertise. Many of our clients have either dealt with us before or have been recommended to use us. Above all they choose us because we are expert in what we do.??

With a double whammy Nigel Eveleigh Sales Manager, scooped

Put t eril l s St evenage of f ice pick up success wit h annual awards doubl e

?THE MOST RECOGNISED SERVICE PROVIDER 2018?also for the sixth year running!

the client?s timescales, and handle some of the most difficult of situations.

This award is measured by the volume of clients who particularly mention thanks to certain members of staff.

Nigel said ??whereas I am naturally pleased to accept this award, I am more pleased that our clients, both sellers and buyers, have been delighted with our level of service.

No two sales are the same as all of the circumstances of our clients are different. We simply cannot have a ?one size fits all?approach.

With my experience in this tempestuous business I do my utmost to manage each sale to get our clients to where they need to be??

Nigel receives countless letters and cards with numerous mentions on our customer care surveys. Nigel has more than thirty years in the business and manages the sale progression within the branch. Often this is the most challenging part of the transaction, but with his knowledge and experience he manages to meet

Tracy Kosmalski, Director, added ??I am always proud of the people that work with me, every single one of them, but to have Duncan and Nigel recognised in this way makes me even more pleased that they are at Putterills Stevenage.

They are old hands in this ever changing business, with so much experience between them, and this is what matters the most.

We pride ourselves in delivering the best level of service and for clients to take the time to recognise this, I could not ask for more. ??

Text

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?

w w w.por t f olio-apar t m en t s.co.u k

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 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.

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

w w w.con n ells.co.u k

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

Text

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

w w w.w r igh t sof .com

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