On Our Doorstep Baldock April 2023

Welcome to our April issue.

Easter is just around the corner and seems to have crept up faster than ever. That also means the schools break up for the end of term holidays too. We hope you get to enjoy a few days off with family and friends and manage to avoid cracking open those chocolate Easter eggs too early.

We are pleased to be officially hosting the Baldock Festival programme for the second year running. From page 18, you can find the full program with what's on when and where. This year's festival is jam packed with events and occasions for all ages to enjoy. The team behind the festival have put their all into creating a varied and exciting offering this year and we can't wait to see you all there.

The Big Lunch is returning to the high street this year to celebrate the coronation of King Charles. Local restaurants and eateries will be on hand serving up some tasty treats, be sure to get your tickets in advance to avoid disappointment. Tickets can be purchased now!

Congratulations are in order for Maltings Fish and Chip shop who have been named as one of the top 10 fish and chip shops in the country! A massive well done and very well deserved.

A quick word of warning if you haven't already heard; police in North Herts are warning the public to be on their guard following a series of distraction thefts in supermarket car parks, the latest one being just days ago in Tesco Car Park, Baldock. In each case the victims were loading shopping into their vehicles or returning trolleys when the distraction took place.

As always, thank you to all the local businesses that advertise with us, we couldn’t produce the magazine without you. Happy reading!

Paul

& Jacqui

Disclaimer

Letchworth Invincibles League Champions Cup Winners

Letchworth Legends completed the league and cup treble by being promoted into Regional 2 Anglia, winning the Papa John's Cup, being promoted into Regional 1 South East and in the process remaining un-beaten for 37 matches.

It is a massive achievement for the Garden City Club which will play at the highest standard in its history. Formed in 1924 by Arthur Lamb and his friends it has served the Garden City for almost 100 years. With players ranging from 6 up-wards, a vibrant womens' team, mixed ability rugby, The Braveherts and a range of mini, junior and colt sides.

Letchworth join fellow Herts RFU clubs, Harpenden, Herord and Tring at Level 5 in the Naonal Leagues.

President Brian Burke and Chairman Chris Lunnon have been leading the Club for a decade or more with the commiee including Chris Marshall, Andrew Morgan, Nick Lloyd and Director of Rugby and Head Coach Baz Basra have brought unprecedented success to Legends' Lane. The final match saw a large crowd watch Letchworth run seven tries past Thurrock and the game live streamed on VEO. Next season's preparaons are underway, the players will no doubt enjoy the Papa John's Cup with an opportunity to play at Twickenham and the commiee will be extending and refurbishing the clubhouse with the excellent grounds-man Jonathon "Digger" Gardener preparing the pitches. The bar managed by Teresa and the kitchen under Chef Les will be re-stocked and ready to serve in September.

U11 s CUP

WINNERS ’

Great Win For Letchworth rfc U11's winning the Saracens Land rover Defender cup Last Saturday . Their prize is ckets to the premiership final at Twickenham

Player Louie Wakefield also won player of the Tournament out of over 200-300 players

The team played some great rugby and Demonstrated great rugby core values

Danny Ryall mini's Chairman said that the whole Team who aended played some great rugby and really demonstrated just how the sport should be played. The club are very proud of them “

Baldock Celebrates A Beginning! New Royal

In June last year, we were celebrang the longest reign of any Brish monarch with our Coronaon Big Lunch. So much has happened since then; in 2022 it was the Planum Jubilee Big Lunch and less than a year later we're preparing for our Coronaon Big Lunch

Food will be served between 12.30pm and 2pm, while local musicians will entertain us from 12.30pm unl 5pm. Our thanks go to our sponsors:

Ÿ Leysbrook Estate Agents

Ÿ McCole's & Co, Accountants

Ÿ Maple Tree Construcon Consultants

Ÿ Brown & Gammons MG

Ÿ McCarthy & Stone, Rerement Homes

Ÿ EH Crouch Funeral Directors

Costs have risen tremendously and it is our sponsors who make it possible for us to keep cket price rises at a minimum.

Chilli Lounge - Chicken or vegetable curry (of course)

Delizia - Lasagne or Parmigiana

Melanzane (vegan opon)

Chapmans - BBQ (naturally)

The Cock PH - Chilli, jacket potato & nachos (vegan opon available)

Pixies - Cream Tea (Gluten free opon available)

Chez Burton 'Return of the King' cocktail & Cucumber & Elderflower mocktail.

More details are on the BEF website. If you have any quesons, pop down to Pixies for a chat.

(no, I don't mean Coronaon Chicken, although there is a link). King Charles III will be crowned on Saturday 6 May 2023 and a day later, Baldock will be holding our Coronaon Big Lunch in the High Street.

The event starts at 12 noon, but before then, you will see a lot of acvity in the High Street, as we get the site ready to host 350 of the good people of Baldock.

Tickets will be on sale at www.baldockeventsforum.org.uk/biglunch form the 26th March unl 21st April and we have a great selecon of dishes for you to choose from. They will all be on the BEF website, so have a look, get your ckets and come along on 7th May.

Food will be provided by the following local eateries:

Malngs Fish Shop - Fish or sausage & chips

If the sun does not shine on us – all seang will be under cover, thanks to Berry Events, who will be supplying marquees etc; tables & chairs for the day will also be supplied by Knights Templar School & the Baldock Community Centre. But we have decided that the sun WILL be shining on 7 May, so get your union flags out, dress up and make Baldock proud!

You know you want to….

Jim McNally - Chair, Baldock Events Forum

ROYAL BRiTiSH LEGiON UPDATE

A massive thank you to the 30 plus people who gave up their Monday evening to aend the save Baldock Royal Brish Legion extraordinary meeng.

Thanks to the enthusiasm and commitment shown by those who aended, the Baldock RBL has been reinvigorated with volunteers taking on the commiee roles.

The new commiee will take forward the RBL in Baldock to maintain the presence at Remembrance. They are sll looking for a named Poppy Appeal organiser but there were enough volunteers to ensure there will plenty of support to ensure collecng this year will be a great success.

The RBL is open to everyone and the new commiee is planning a number of acvies throughout the year.

Please get involved and pass on the excing news to any friends and colleagues who would like to be involved – we need you!

The RBL would not have connued to date with the commitment of the previous commiee. A huge thank you to Peter Cherry and Joan Howard for all the hard work they have done over the years and for agreeing to stay involved to pass on their knowledge and experse. A thank you also to Al Hayhurst for his work as the standard bearer and for agreeing to connue in the role with the new commiee.

If you would like to join the commiee then please please consider joining the RBL (you don't have to have been a member of the armed services) by ringing the membership helpline on 0800 307 7733.

Easter Eggs at Weston Way

On Monday 20 March, some eggs miraculously appeared at the nursery and there was much conversaon about what might be inside! The children looked in books and used their previous experiences to work out that growing inside were some Easter chicks. It was fascinang to see the amazement on their lile faces when the eggs began to hatch. The experience has helped our young children to learn about growth and development, and the importance of a warm and nurturing environment. The children learnt what the chicks needed in order to survive and all about their life cycle. Some children were able to compare their life cycle to that of other animals. Each year, we recognise the importance of offering our children this enrichment experience and look forward to seeing what may inside the eggs next year!

Compact Station Wagen

If you're aer an estate car, Peugeot might not be the first manufacturer you look towards.

But the 308 SW (short for Sports Wagon) could be right up your street.

With modern looks, an imposing front end and diagonal claw-like day-running lights, it's something different and full of personality.

It is the Allure Premium, on test here, with 17-inch alloys, a 10-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, voice control, LED headlights, leather steering wheel, 3D SatNav, and keyless entry/go.

Power comes from a 130PS 1.2-litre petrol hooked to an eight-speed automac gearbox.

While a 1.2-litre three-cylinder doesn't sound excing, it's excellent for its size. There is quite a bit of low-end grunt to get you off the line and a surprising amount of performance on offer.

The ride comfort is up to the job, and the handling is decent. The 308 SW is adept at taking bends thanks to grippy tyres and a well-tuned chassis. However, the steering needs to weight up sufficiently in the corners to really push limits.

Inside, the cabin is well-designed and futurisc, with a flat-boomed, curiously flat-topped steering wheel. Then there's the i-Cockpit display on the dashboard, which looks lovely and is angled towards the driver.

The screen is clear, responsive, intuive, and highly customisable. Meanwhile, the digital instrument screen is informave and pleasant to look at. That said, the flat-topped steering wheel can obstruct it.

The cabin is reasonably spacious, too, although taller rear-seat passengers might feel a lile cramped. Boot space is 608 litres, which expands to 1,634 litres if you fold the rear seats in a 60/40 split.

In terms of running costs, you'll get 52.1mpg from the PureTech 130 engine, producing 130g/km CO2 in the process.

The 308 SW achieved a four-star safety rang from Euro NCAP. Safety kit, such as automac emergency braking, acve safety brake, blind-spot assist, lane-keep assist, and traffic sign recognion, are included.

The Peugeot 308 SW is a pleasantly surprising contender in the estate market, offering good looks,

praccality, and generous equipment levels.

Furthermore, the French family motor impresses, given the small engine, and its handling defies its large body.

Fast Facts

Peugeot 308 SW [Allure Premium PureTech 130 Auto] as tested:

Ÿ Max Speed: 130mph

Ÿ 0-62 mph: 9.9 seconds

Ÿ Combined mpg: 52.1mpg (WLTP)

Ÿ Engine layout: 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol with front-wheel drive

Ÿ Max Power: (PS): 130PS

Ÿ CO2: 130g/km

Ÿ Price: £30,860

Peugeot 308 SW

The

This month I have been tesng out a bit of tech which from Amazon, focused on home networking.

If you're in need of a reliable and comprehensive Wi-Fi system for your home, the Amazon eero 6 mesh Wi-Fi 6 router system with built-in Zigbee smart home hub may just be what you're looking for.

One of the standout features of the eero 6 is its ability to cover up to 140 m� with Wi-Fi, making dead zones and buffering a thing of the past. With mesh Wi-Fi technology, the eero 6 opmizes your network's performance based on your space, allowing you to confidently stream 4K video, game, and video conference across your home.

Another notable feature is the eero 6's ability to support 75+ devices, thanks to the power of Wi-Fi 6, which increases the capacity and efficiency of your network.

And if you need to expand your system, the eero 6 is compable with crosscompable hardware, so you can easily add eero products as your needs change.

Seng up the eero 6 is a breeze, with the eero app walking you through the process and allowing you to manage your network from anywhere. And if you're an Alexa user, you'll appreciate the eero 6's built-in Zigbee smart home hub, which allows you to connect and control compable devices on your network with Alexa.

But the eero 6 isn't just about performance and convenience; it's also about security. With eero Secure, you get essenal tools like online threat protecon, content filters, and adblocking, while eero Secure+ also includes top-rated security apps like Encrypt.me (hps://encrypt.me/) 1Password, and Malwarebytes.

And with the ability to manage Wi-Fi access for family profiles, you can take the focus away from screens and back to what's important.

Overall, the Amazon eero 6 mesh Wi-Fi 6 router system with built-in Zigbee smart home hub is a solid choice for anyone in need of a reliable and secure Wi-Fi system for their home. With its impressive coverage, device support, and ease of use, it's a great investment that can make a big difference in your day-today life. It made a real difference to the apparent limitaons of my broadband provided router. The Eero 6 is available from Amazon at www.amazon or scan the QR code

DO I HAVE TO PUT UP WITH IT?

There are many types of Arthris, the two most common types of Arthris being; Osteoarthris (OA) which is wear of the joint carlage, and Rheumatoid Arthris (RA) which is an inflammatory auto immune condion. All our joints are lined with carlage, which acts as a protecve cushion for our bones, when this begins to wear down, we begin to develop bony spurs along our joints. These changes which cause arthris can happen as an accumulave affect over a period which is why age is one of the main causes of OA, although OA can affect people of all ages. Other risk factors for OA include being overweight, family history and previous injury.

Arthris can be present in any joint, but is most commonly occurs in your

fingers, spine, hips and knees. You can experience joint sffness, pain, joint swelling and redness, restricon of movement and weakness in your muscles.

Although there is no cure for arthris, arthris can be treated with painkillers and as a last resort surgery. Also lifestyle changes can help the management of arthric symptoms including, weight loss, regular exercise, such as cycling, swimming, Pilates, yoga and walking are good to maintain joint mobility, strengthen muscles and ease pain. Always make sure you have good supporve footwear for walking and any exercise.

Along with lifestyle changes, Osteopathic treatment can also be beneficial for the management of

arthric symptoms. Osteopathy is a form of manual therapy used for treatment of a wide range of ailments and can help to manage arthric symptoms. A range of techniques including joint mobilisaon, tracon techniques and so ssue massage can help to maintain mobility and reduce pain. Your Osteopath also, may give you gentle exercise suggesons to help build strength and stability around the affected joints.

If you are experiencing joint pain or have Arthris and you would like some further informaon, please get in contact with the clinic on 01462 490 141 and one of our Osteopaths will be able to guide and help you.

The Amber Health Team

www.amberhealth.co.uk

LAWN CUTTING HEDGE CUTTING LANDSCAPING PATIOS

Weston Cricket Club

ROGERSONS REMOVALS

It might not seem like it quite yet, but the cricket season is just around the corner. Weston Cricket Club will start the adult cricket season up a division in the Saracens Herordshire Cricket League, aer a successful campaign in 2022. The club commiee have been busy planning for the new season, with the first friendly match scheduled for 22nd April and the league starng on the 6th May at home against Herngfordbury.

We are always on the lookout for new players. We have youth training for children of all ages with some of the youth age groups playing compeve matches, all overseen by friendly, qualified cricket coaches. New players on the senior team are always warmly welcomed and if it's been a while and you want some me to get back into the swing of things (or just pracce your defensive blocks with no swings in sight), then outdoor nets pracce begins on Thursday 27th April. The first youth sessions taking place on Sunday 16th April. For cricketrelated enquiries and any informaon about joining and playing, you can contact Henry, our club captain Henry, at henrysnowdon@hotmail.co.uk

Throughout the season we host a number of family events, which we publicise on our Facebook page - just search Weston Cricket Club. You can also contact us via Facebook for any informaon relang to the club, matches and events, including booking the pavilion, bar, and field.

ASHWELL WESTON

The 38 Baldock Festival Programme of Events

Friday 28th April - Sunday 22nd May

Message from the Chair

Once again, it is a joy to bring what we consider to be one of our town's most fantasc features, the Baldock Fesval.

2023 welcomes the 38th Baldock Fesval and we've got another great line-up of events from so many groups, businesses, and organisaons around the town! We have so many events again this year that we are connuing to spread them over three weeks!

We see the return of some of the town's favourite Fesval events, such as the Gin, Wine, and Whisky tasngs, the Bingo Night, and the Fesval Fun Quiz!

The Street Fair returns on Saturday 13 May and will, as usual,

have tons of entertainment, food, drink, and much more going on. The Ecofest will once again be on the High Street, now on Saturday 20th.

Tickets go on sale Saturday 15 April at Baldock Community Centre before they then become available ONLINE at 1pm. Finally, I must thank every one of the brilliant hard-working commiee members and volunteers who give up their me for free to organise, run, and dy up the Baldock Fesval.

Enjoy our wonderful fesval

Alistair Willoughby, Chair

Tickets on Sale from 15th April 2023

Tickets and entry forms will be available from Saturday 15th April at Baldock Community Centre, Simpson Drive, Baldock Tel 01462 894109

The Community Centre’s opening hours are:

Saturdays:

Sundays: Wednesdays: Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri:

www.baldockfestival.org Keep

Baldock Scarecrow Compeon Baldock and Surrounding areas.

The second year of Baldock's Fesval Scarecrow compeon should ensure some fun sights, with great prizes for the top three child and top three adult entries. Your scarecrow needs to be in view from the road, either on the front of your property or the rear if that is beer from the road or through a window. To enter you must collect an applicaon form from the community centre or print off from our website and then return your form and a photograph of your scarecrow by Friday 12th May (or before) to the community centre. Judging will take place during the Street Fair on Saturday 13th May. The winners will be chosen by public vote from a display of your photos on the fesval Commiee Stand.

Tickets £3.50 from Baldock Community Centre or the Baldock Fesval Website.

Could you pass your driving test again!

Around Baldock and Letchworth. 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

If you are 30 years old or over and have a car and insurance, then why not take a mock driving test again? You will drive from Baldock in your own car collecng a qualified driving instructor who will discuss any faults on a warm-up drive to Letchworth. Then you will drive from the test centre in Letchworth and take a 1/2 hour mock test in your own vehicle. However, any faults will cost you !! Any minor faults will cost you 25p per fault, serious faults £1 per fault and dangerous faults will be £2 per fault! All proceeds will go to the garden house hospice. Why not challenge your friends and family to have a go and help raise money for our local hospice? Tickets £5 per mock test + any faults you occur!! To book please call Sean Smith on 07530532172.

'The Bondor' Baldock Museum

New Museum Display at Baldock Museum. 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

From Saturday, May 13th (Street Fair Day)

New Museum Display: 'The Bondor' is the story of the Kayser Bondor factory in Baldock 1928-1983 which became the centre of the largest hosiery manufacturing business in the Commonwealth and Europe. It is now the site for Tesco.

FREE Entry

28th April - 1st May

Rock, Beer & Sausages - The Ulmate Beer Fesval!

Orange Tree Public House. 4:00:00 PM11:30:00 PM

32 Real Ales, 6 Real Ciders, a Chapman's Sausage Extravaganza and Live Music all aernoon and evening on Saturday and Sunday, along with chilled acousc sessions on Monday aernoon. Saturday: Basket of Puppies - The Allright Jimmy'sAndrea Wilde & The Whisky Chasers - No Sleep Til Bedme - You OK Hun? Sunday: Lester Clayton - Rock, Stock & Basil - Raise The Devil - Real McCoys - Indi & The Vegas - ZeroesMonday: Sam Walker - Mel Quinn - Andrea Wilde - Magenta SlippersThere will be a bonus Chilli CookOff to boot - see separate event details.

FREE Entry

Friday 28th April

Live Music: Mark Smith Open Night

The Hen and Chickens. FROM 7:30 PM Turn up, sign up and join in or just sit and listen. To book a slot please contact Mark direct on - 07791 776796. Their music will cover a fine selecon of classic rock covers, mainly 70s with a couple of 50s, 60s and a few surprise songs thrown in. Loud and lively!

FREE Entry

Saturday 29th April

FIRE Staon Open Day

11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Baldock's very own Knives Out style murder mystery brought to you by Baldock Town Twinning and wrien by Baldock resident, Vivienne Reed. Gather your friends to book a table and join us for an evening of entertainment and dinner. Will you be able to guess whodunit? The cket price includes dinner and dessert, a reasonably priced bar (no BYO, please), as well as the Murder Mystery entertainment and a raffle. This event proves popular and sells out quickly so don't wait to get your cket!

Tickets £25 from Baldock Community Centre or Baldock Fesval Website Cocktail Masterclass @ Chez Burton Chez Burton brings an opportunity to learn how to make 3 of their fantasc cocktails with the top mixologist Richard! During your aernoon session you will be provided with everything you need to recreate some of Chez Burton's infamous cocktails, you will also be entertained with some fun and games along the way, and small plates and nibbles. All of this is included in the cket price! Sessions must be prebooked with Chez Burton. Make sure to book yours early as spaces are very limited!

Sunday 30th April

Live Music: Eminence Front

The Hen and Chickens. FROM 4:00 PM

Classic rock covers band, fast-paced, high energy real raw rock n roll. All are experienced musicians who formed in November 2021 coming from other bands who are sll acve to form a real rock fuel frenzy when live!

FREE Entry

Football Quiz at The Vic

The Victoria. 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

So, how much do you think you know about Football? Come and find out! Max team 6, £2.50 per team member. Raising money for Garden House Hospice

To play £2.50 per team member (Max 6 per team)

Baldock Museum

&

Wednesdays Saturdays

Last chance to see 'Royal Jubilee' at the Baldock Museum. 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM Wednesdays and Saturdays up to and including May 10th at Baldock Museum. Last chance to see 'Royal Jubilee' showing how Baldock celebrated the Queen's Coronaon in 1953 with some earlier celebraons back to Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee for comparison. FREE Event

Come down to Baldock & Letchworth Fire Staon Open Day and have a look around a working Fire Staon, watch the demonstraons and see how Fire Fighters get ready for emergencies. This is a great family day out and a wonderful opportunity to support out local Fire Staon

FREE Event

The Mozart Murders: A Murder Mystery presented by Baldock Town Twinning Associaon St. Mary's Church Hall. FROM 7:30 PM

Monday 1st may

BALDOCK IRISH ☘ DAY

Around Baldock. 12:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Baldocks 14th Irish Day or Fleadh Cheoil takes in the town centre which will be transformed into a small Irish market town with sessions all aernoon, in the Cock and White Lion with music from the finest tradional musicians in the region with some travelling as far as the isles of Wight and Man and even from

Scotlandand the Emerald Isle! There will be a singers stage outside Luna cafe for those who like a few songs along with the music. The Maria Grant school of dancing will perform at all venues from 3:30 in what has become a much-loved event for local people over the years. See you there forCheoil Agus Craic!

Further details BRIAN BURKE

07768274037

FREE Entry

Netball is fun!

Avenue Park. 10:00 AM - 2:00: PM

Come along and try out a game of Netball. The session will introduce you to the sport of netball, whether you haven't played for a long me or you have never played before. All ages and abilies welcome, so bring your trainers and sense of fun to Avenue Park

FREE Event

Cricket Match

Avenue Park. 12:30 PM - 3:30 PM

A nail-bing match will be played between Baldock Cricket Club and a Baldock Select 11 (with a range of special guests!), with coaching available at the nets if you want to give bang or bowling a try. Just turn up from 12:30pm and play from 1pm! For more details please phone Sean Smith on

07530532172 FREE Event

Bowls Club Open Day

Avenue Park. 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Come along and try your hand at bowls. There will be people from the club on hand to give you coaching. You are asked to wear flat shoes to protect the greens. Tea and biscuits will be available in the pavilion aerwards and the bar will be open. For more informaon phone the Club on 01462 892059.

FREE Event

Chilli Cook Off

Orange Tree Public House. 3:00 PM5:00 PM

Cooks! Enter your Chilli for judging! Must be delivered to The Orange Tree by 9 pm on Sunday 30th April. The entry fee is £10 - all going to the prize fund. Full details, terms and condions are available from The Orange Tree.

Maximum 16 entrants. Judges! Buy a £10 cket to judge the Cook-Off - you'll be given a score sheet and be expected to test everyone! Ticket money goes to the Baldock Fesval. Maximum 30 ckets!

Tickets from Baldock Community Centre and Baldock Fesval Website

Teddy Bears' Picnic

Weston Way Nursery. 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM

This Teddy Bears' Picnic, run by Weston Way Nursery, is for children aged seven and under who must be accompanied by an adult. There will also be a Teddy Bear raffle. Bring your own picnic and teddy too. If wet, the event may be postponed unl 9th May or cancelled; phone Weston Way Nursery to check: 01462 89272

Tickets Children £1.50, Adults, babies and teddies FREE, pay on entry

Tuesday Night Bingo from 7:30 PM

The Hen and Chickens Bingo is back at The Hen and Chickens every Tuesday evening. Come early to ensure geng a table. Cash prizes up to £100!! £10 for the first full round of 4 ckets + £2.50 each if you wish to have more. For more details keep an eye on our Facebook Page: facebook.com/TalithaTalle

To play £10 for the first full round of 4 ckets payable on the night

The World's Biggest Pub Quiz Orange Tree Public House. 8:00 PM10:30 PM

Bringing The Uk Pub Industry Together To Raise Money For Good Causes. The World's Biggest Pub Quiz IS BACK! Join us at The Orange Tree, and pubs, clubs and bars across the UK during May & June 2023 to help raise money for Shelter 8pm Start, £5 per head, please book your tables by calling 01462 892341. 50:50 cash split between Shelter and the prize fund. To play £5 per person payable on the night

Tradional Fish and Chips

Malngs Fish and Chips. FROM 6:45 PM

Come and join us for a sit-down 2-course meal in the newly refurbished Malngs restaurants on the High Street. You can eat tradional fish and chips (veggie alternaves available on request) with a so drink and pudding while listening to a few sea shanes and a very fishy playlist. Tickets £20 from Baldock Community Centre or Baldock Fesval Website

Quiz Night at the White Lion

The White Lion. 7:00:00 PM - 10:00:00PM

On the first Wednesday of every month we have a quiz night, come with a team of up to 6 and pit your wits against the brains of Baldock - with a £40 bar tab to the winners! To play £2 per person payable on the night.

Quiz @ The Old White Horse

The Old White Horse. 7:00:00 PM10:00:00 PM

Baldock's premier general knowledge quiz, topical quesons and amiable banter from your host Ash. A range of spot prizes on the night including a first prize of a £50 bar voucher. To play £2 per person payable on the night (Max 6 per team)

Try Bell Ringing at St. Marys Church

St. Marys Church. 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM

Meet by Peter's Door at the foot of the tower to the le of the main door. If you have ever fancied having a go at bellringing or wondered how it was done, this evening will give you the chance to find out. Access is fairly challenging—there are 44 worn steps in the spiral staircase, so appropriate footwear should be worn. No previous bell-ring experience is necessary.

Tickets FREE in advance only from Baldock Community Centre

Thursday

Eight. Fish Supper Club

Eight. 7:00 PM - 10:30 PM

A 4-course menu showcasing the best of Brish seafood supplied by local fishmonger Fish at Home. The menu will ulise the best of smoked fish, shellfish & day boat-caught fish all sustainable and ethically sourced. The 4-course menu with a glass of fizz on arrival is £55. You can add wine pairings for each course for an addional £30.We can cater for veggies, vegans, gluten & dairy-free dietaries.

Tickets £55 from Baldock Community Centre or Baldock Fesval Website

Music Bingo with Magenta Slipperz

St. Mary's School. 7:30 PM - 10:30 PM

Join us for a fun evening of bingo, music and laughter with Magenta Slipperz, new for Baldock Fesval 2023. Doors Open 7.30pm, Eyes Down 8pm...

Tickets £15 from hp://bit.ly/BingoWithMagenta only Fesval Whisky Tasng with Dr Nicholas Morgan

Orange Tree Public House. 8:00 PM10:00 PM

Word-renowned Scotch (and indeed world) Whisky aficionado, historian and journalist Dr Nicholas Morgan is back at The Orange Tree for an evening of rare and fine whiskies. You are strongly advised to have eaten beforehand, and not to drive aer this event. Strictly over 18s only.

Tickets £25 from Baldock Community Centre or Baldock Fesval Website

History in the Aernoon

-Life and Worksof the Famous Composer, Richard Strauss at the Baldock Arts & Heritage Centre. 2:30 PM - 3:30:00 PM

Join us for a talk on Richard Strauss, composer of the 2001: A Space Odyssey theme. A phenomenal composer in his me, spanning both world wars and navigang the Nazi regime, his music connues to delight audiences. Talk includes songs by soprano, Laura Valenne.

Tickets on the door: £6.00 includes tea and home-made cake.

Hartsfield Fun Trail

Hartsfield School. 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

The Hartsfield Coronaon Fun Trail - A fun outdoor event with acvies based on the Coronaon. Prizes for every child. Refreshments and pre-loved Hartsfield school uniform on sale.

Tickets £1 per child from Hartsfield School

Fesval Fun Quiz

Baldock Community Centre.

FROM 7:00 PM

The ever-popular Fesval Fun Quiz is back with its usual light-hearted quiz for all abilies. This always over-subscribed quiz is entry by form only, limited to 25 teams there are no entries accepted on the night. Licensed bar with table service. Prizes for the winning and losing teams. 7:30 prompt start at the community centre.

Tickets £20 for a team of 4 from Baldock Community Centre or Baldock Fesval Website

Cinco De Mayo @ Chez Burton Chez Burton. 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM

Mexican themed culinary delights and lots of tequila! (other beverages are available....) Join the Chez Burton family to celebrate this tradional Mexican fesval in style!!Check out www.chezburton.com for more informaon

Breaking Bands at The Orange Tree Orange Tree Public House. 7:30 PM11:30 PM

An evening of local bands playing from 7.30pm. Check our Facebook Page for details! Free Entry hps://www.facebook.com/The.Orange. Tree.Baldock FREE Entry

Book Fair in aid of The Garden House Hospice

Baldock Community Centre. 9:00 AM2:00 PM

Every year, thousands of pre-loved books are donated to this wonderful event. Our annual Book Fair regularly raises over £800 for our local Letchworth Garden House Hospice, so why not come and pick up some bargains and if you like, donate your own spare books at the Baldock Community Centre.

FREE Entry

Join Us to Celebrate the Coronaon @ The Hen and Chickens

Come and join us to celebrate the coronaon and raise a drink to The King.

FREE Entry

Coronaon Party @ Chez Burton

Celebrate the Coronaon of King Charles III in true CB style with cocktails and cookout! Check out www.chezburton.com for more informaon.

Sunday

Bunngford Brewery Tour 7th May Bunngford Brewery, Therfield. A chance for 2 people to visit the brewery and sample at minimum 6 different beers. Shown round by Charlie and taken through the whole process from beginning to end.

Two Allocated Slots Available: 12:30 PM –2.30 PM and 2.30 PM – 5:00 PM

Tickets £30 per 2 people over 18yrs from hps://shop.bunngfordbrewery.com/coll econs/brewery-experiences

Live Music: Black Squirrels

The Hen and Chickens. From 4:00 PM

The Black Squirrels are a Classic Rock Band from Herordshire.Set ranges from AC / DC to ZZ Top via Bad Company, Free, Rolling Stones and Stereophonics.

FREE Entry

Fesval Gin Tasng

Baldock Arts & Heritage Centre. From 7:00 PM

Perfect for any gin-lover, you will be introduced to six unusual, fine gins for tasng this year! Your hosts, will guide you through the history of Gin, the subtle aromas of the botanicals and the nuances they contribute to the overall taste and flavour of each Gin. Come with friends bring, your own snacks if you want and have a great night. Strictly over-18s only.

You are strongly advised not to drive, operate machinery or start singing Karaoke aer this event. The event will start promptly at 7:30pm

Tickets £30 from Baldock Community Centre or Baldock Fesval Website

Monday

Gregynog Ensemble

Methodist Church, from 3:30 PM

The Gregynog Ensemble, including Baldock based clarinest, Alison Eales, will be performing a programme of English, American and Ukrainian music for string quartet and clarinet. The programme will include the clarinet quintet by Bernard Hermann, composer of music for some of Alfred Hitchcock's biggest films . Alongside Herbert Howells' Rhapsodic Fantasy, Finzi's Romance and Chanson by Ukrainian composer, Gliere.

Tickets £11 from Baldock Community Centre or Baldock Fesval Website

The Knights Templar and their North Herordshire Connecons

Baldock Arts & Heritage Centre, from 7:30 PM

Tickets £6.50 from the Arts & Heritage Centre, Weds and Sats 11am-3pm or on line through the Arts & Heritage Website: bahc.co.uk or on the door if not sold out.

Tuesday

Brass Band Concert

United Reform Church, from 7:30 PM

The Stoold Salvaon Army Band will play a medley of tunes and hymns to delight and entertain you. Refreshments will be served in the interval. Tickets will also be sold on the door.

Tickets £8.50 from Baldock Community Centre or Baldock Fesval Website

Tuesday Night Bingo

The Hen and Chickens, from 7:30 PM Bingo is back at The Hen and Chickens every Tuesday evening. Come early to ensure geng a table. Cash prizes up to £100!! £10 for the first full round of 4 ckets + £2.50 each if you wish to have more. For more details keep an eye on our Facebook Page: facebook.com/TalithaTalle

To play £10 for the first full round of 4 ckets payable on the night Fesval Music Quiz

Orange Tree Public House. 8:00 PM - 10:30 PM

All Tickets and entry forms available from Baldock Community Centre, Simpson Drive, Baldock Tel 01462 894109

Tuesday 9th May- cont

The Annual Baldock Fesval Music Quiz at The Orange Tree. Please call 01462 892341 to book your tables! £5 per head, 8pm start. Profits to Baldock Fesval. To play £5 per person payable on the night

Wednesday 10th May

Tradional Fish and Chips

Malngs Fish and Chips, from 6:45:00 PM Come and join us for a sit-down 2-course meal in the newly refurbished Malngs restaurants on the High Street. You can eat tradional fish and chips (veggie alternaves available on request) with a so drink and pudding while listening to a few sea shanes and a very fishy playlist. Tickets £20 from Baldock Community Centre or Baldock Fesval Website

Eight. Portuguese wine dinner

Eight. 7:00 PM - 10:30 PM

A 4-course Portuguese dinner showcasing the best of locally sourced produce in authenc Portuguese dishes. 4-course menu with a drink on arrival is £50 per person. We will also have James, a local wine expert who will be suggesng wine pairings and talking us through each wine. The accompanying wine flight will be an addional £30. There will be the opportunity to buy the Portuguese wines on offer to take home. We can cater for veggies, vegans, gluten & dairy-free dietaries.

Tickets £50 from Baldock Community Centre or Baldock Fesval Website

Quiz @ The Old White Horse

The Old White Horse. 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Baldock's premier general knowledge quiz, topical quesons and amiable banter from your host Ash. A range of spot prizes on the night including a first prize of a £50 bar voucher.

To play £2 per person payable on the night (Max 6 per team)

Baldock Folk Club with Brooks Williams + Chris Wright

Orange Tree Public House. FROM 7:30 PM

Arrival 7pm for a 7.30pm start

Cambridge UK-based, Statesboro, Georgia US-born guitarist singer and songwriter

Brooks Williams is admired by both listeners and fellow musicians, and has been a leading light on the acousc music scene for three decades. Supporng

Brooks this evening is one of our favourite guitar players, Chris Wright. He also has a fine singing voice and is fast becoming a great all-round entertainer. …. A great night of roots music!

Tickets £10 on door or book in advance from Tony 07990530778

Thursday 11th May

Cafe Luna Quiz Night

Cafe Luna presents a general knowledge quiz on Thursday 11th May. Further details to be confirmed - keep an eye on baldockfesval.org.uk for more info. Around the World in 10 Wines

Baldock Arts & Heritage Centre. 7:30 PM10:00 PM. Join Jamie "Phileas Fogg" Ellis and Rob "Passepartout" Scahill for a tasng of ten wines from around the world! There will be a small amount of cheese and biscuits to reset the palate between tasngs, but feel free to bring your own too. The bar will be open. You are strongly advised to have eaten beforehand, and not to drive aer this event. Strictly over 18s only.

Tickets £20 from Baldock Community Centre or Baldock Fesval Website

Friday 12th May

Breaking Bands

The Orange Tree

Orange Tree Public House. 7:30 PM - 11:30 PM

An evening of local bands playing from 7.30pm. Check our Facebook Page for details! Free

Entryhps://www.facebook.com/The.Oran ge.Tree.Baldock

FREE Entry

12th-14th May

Beer Fesval @ The Cock, Baldock

The Cock Public House.

Beer Fesval @ The Cock from Friday 12th to Sunday 14th May. Live Music in the pub and beer garden with a selecon of 16 cask ales from local and naonal breweries, real ciders from local and naonal producers, cra beer and street food. An event for all the family.

FREE Entry

Saturday 13th May

Baldock Street Fair

Around Baldock. 10 AM - 4:00:00 PM Baldock Street Fair is one of the must aend days in the Baldock calendar with stalls and free shows up and down the High Street.

Ÿ Cra and Charity stalls will line the High Street

Ÿ Medieval Combat Society is back to educate us in Medieval warfare and lifestyle. They will entertain you with Medieval bales and dancing. Come and try on armour and weapons and

Ÿ make lots of noise supporng your favourite knight.

Ÿ Tricky Micky is back again with five 30 minute performances including Punch and Judy. Shows start at 10.30am.

Ÿ Fairground rides - James Harris will bring his fairground rides to delight the children.

Morris Day of Dance

Around Baldock. 10:30 AM - 3:30 PM

This Day of Dance will take place outside The White Lion and at other venues around the town. These tradional Morris sides and other groups from all over the east of England will bring music, dance, fun and colour to add to the fantasc atmosphere of the Street Fair.

FREE Event

St. Marys Church Baldock – Tower Trips St. Marys Church. 11 AM - 4 PM

Tower trips will take place, weather perming, throughout the day from 11am – 4pm. Come and see Baldock from a different perspecve! Refreshments are available. No entry for children under 8. Sensible footwear is required.

Entry £5 adult / £1 child (8-16) on the day. No ckets in advance

'The Bondor'– New Museum Display Baldock Museum. 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

From Saturday, May 13th (Street Fair Day)

New Museum Display: 'The Bondor' is the story of the Kayser Bondor factory in Baldock 1928-1983 which became the centre of the largest hosiery manufacturing business in the Commonwealth and Europe. It is now the site of Tesco. FREE Entry

Solar Viewing

Market Place. 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM

We have all looked up at the night sky and marvelled at the stars and the moon swirling above us. Some of us may have used binoculars or a telescope to look in more detail. But how many of us have looked at the sun? Not very many...........why? Well, it's very bright, hurts your eyes, and if you put a lens in the way will burn and start fires! It's dangerous!

Saturday 13th

Letchworth and District Astronomical Society (LDAS) in conjuncon with The Baldock Fesval have organised a solar viewing day to change this. Come along between 12:00 and 16:00 when there will be specialist equipment and members of LDAS available to let you look at the sun safely and join the small group of people who have observed the sun!

FREE Event

Euchre Cards

The Hen and Chickens. FROM 3:00 PM

The Euchre (yu'ker) comes to Baldock. Three keen Euchre players are hoping to enthuse others in Baldock about this great card game oen played in the seaside towns of Devon and Cornwall. Two sets of pairs compete to win trickssimilar to Bridge/ Whist however there is a twist!! Don't worry all will be explained. You don't need to be a couple, tables of four will be created on the night.

Tickets £5 from Baldock Fesval Website or Community Centre. includes a a glass of wine or a pint, or a so drink of your choice

Cocktail Masterclass @ Chez Burton

Chez Burton brings an opportunity to learn how to make 3 of their fantasc cocktails with the top mixologist Richard! During your aernoon session you will be provided with everything you need to recreate some of Chez Burton's infamous cocktails, you will also be entertained with some fun and games along the way, and small plates and nibbles. All of this is included in the cket price! Sessions must be pre-booked with Chez Burton. Make sure to book yours early as spaces are very limited!

Jazz Spectacular The Knights Templar School

The Knights Templar school. 6:30 PM10:30 PM

Join us for a toe-tapping evening of Jazz played by our two big bands, student ensembles and singers. We will perform many jazz standards and cover a wider range of styles. Doors open at 6.30 pm for a 7 pm o'clock start. There will be a bar available on the night. No ckets available on the door.

Tickets £10 for Adults, £7 for Concessions and £5 for children available from Knights Templar School sbond@kts.school or the school recepon.

Live Music: Jam Session

The Hen and Chickens. 7:30:00 PM7:30:00 PM

Rockers/Rollers/Folkers/Jokers/Pipers/Poet

s/Singers/Dreamers.Acousc Jam, all encouraged to join in, in-house PA with Ma on the knobs. Come and join the funfortnightly on Saturday evenings from 7.30pm FREE Entry

Sunday 14th May

Friends Of Baldock Green Spaces

Conservaon Event

Ivel Springs. 10:00AM - 1:30 PM

Join Friends of Baldock Green Spaces to help your local green space be a great place for wildlife and walks. Path clearance, lier picking and more! Tools and hot drinks will be provided.All are welcome but children must be accompanied by an adult please.

FREE Event

Ashwell at Home 2023

11:00:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Ashwell at Home is an annual fundraising event, when this beauful and historic village welcomes visitors for a whole day of entertainment. The theme for 2023 is 'A Day in the Country' and there will be lots to see and do including free workshops for adults and children, plant sales, live music and entertainment around the village, talks, displays and guided walks, refreshments, lunches and more. Please visit the website: www.ashwellathome.org.uk

Entry is by programme: £10 adults (under 18s free with accompanying paying adult) - available on the day at the event, or £9 in advance from the website: www.ashwellathome.org.uk.

Open Gardens

Around Baldock. 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM Baldock Rotary Club have organised another chance to look around some of Baldock's hidden gardens. Details of the gardens open and a map will be provided when you buy your cket. A minibus will operate to and from the Community Centre to the gardens on a requested basis. All proceeds from this event will go to the charitable causes that Rotary is supporng throughout the year. Take refreshments at the Community Centre Youth Wing (between 2.00pm and 4.00pm).

Tickets £7.00 (accompanied children under 16 free) from Baldock Community Centre, Fesval Website or on the day Bubbly River Concert in Aid of RevIvel St. Marys Church. 4:00 PM - 4:00 PM

The programme includes Mozart's Flute Quartet in A, Rosse Quintet with flute and horn, and the great Schumann Piano Quartet (includes some of the most achingly beauful movements in the l

classical music canon). In aid of Revivel.org.Including Emma Hanan (Flute, category winner of BBC Young Musician 2010), Emma Wragg (Violin, professor of violin at the University of Sheffield), Catherine Wilmers (Cello, London Philharmonic Orchestra), Jill Morton (Pianist), Jonathan Harris (Horn)

Advanced Tickets £13.50 for Adults, £5 for Under 18s from Baldock Community Centre, St. Mary's Church or online at www.cketsource.co.uk/fosm. Tickets on the door will be £15, include canapés and there will be a pay-bar.

Live Music: Fih Wheel

The Hen and Chickens. 4:00 PM - 4:00 PM "Is there a Doctor in the house??Yes there is and with a double bass too.Fih Wheel are back to get the joint jiving!"Their music will cover a fine selecon of classic rock covers, mainly 70s with a couple of 50s, 60s and a few surprise songs thrown in. Loud and lively! FREE Entry

Monday 15th May

Restoring the Upper Ivel Chalk Stream

Orange Tree Pub. 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM

Come and learn about our river Ivel which rises from springs in Baldock, one of only 225 chalk streams in the world. It is a sad story but also an upbeat one. We will present a short video film following its heydey, when the flow supported mills and trout fisheries, through to the current plight of the river. A panel from RevIvel will bring you up to date with progress since the film was completed in December 2022 and also be pleased to answer any quesons you may have. This is a free event so just turn up on the night.

Tuesday 16th May

Tuesday Night Bingo

The Hen and Chickens. FROM 7:30 PM Bingo is back at The Hen and Chickens every Tuesday evening. Come early to ensure geng a table. Cash prizes up to £100!! £10 for the first full round of 4 ckets + £2.50 each if you wish to have more. For more details keep an eye on our Facebook Page: facebook.com/TalithaTalle To play £10 for the first full round of 4 ckets payable on the night

Disney Quiz

Orange Tree Public House. 8:00 PM - 10:30 PM

A quiz of all kinds of things Disney! Why not dress up as your favourite character! 8pm start, £5 per head split 50:50 with the Baldock fesval and the prize fund!Book your tables in advance by calling 01462 892341

Wednesday 17th May

Garden City Brewery Tour

Garden City Brewery, Letchworth

Visit this local brewpub with a microbrewery talk and Q&A with brewer Ben Mair plus, the chance to try some of their many cask ales. 3x 1/2 pints of cask ale included in the cket price. Full bar can be enjoyed aerwards at leisure! With three sessions: 18:30, 19:30, 20:30.

Tickets £12 direct from Brewery at holly@gardencitybrewery.co.uk

Tradional Fish and Chips

Malngs Fish and Chips. FROM 6:45 PM

Come and join us for a sit-down 2-course meal in the newly refurbished Malngs restaurants on the High Street. You can eat tradional fish and chips (veggie alternaves available on request) with a so drink and pudding while listening to a few sea shanes and a very fishy playlist.

Tickets £20 from Baldock Community Centre or Baldock Fesval Website

BALDOCK Folk Club

Promotes PAT CRILLY’s new CD with special guests, Orange Tree Public House, from 7:00 PM

Arrival 7pm for a 7.30pm start.

Renowned Herord-based singersongwriter Pat CRILLY will be launching his

new CD ‘Amber and Gold’ at the Orange Tree during the fesval. Pat is a consummate entertainer and will be joined by several guests on the night including Brian Burke, should be another belter of an evening for the greatest lile folk club around. Admission FREE but please bring cash for raffle and Hat donaon , FREE Event

Quiz @ The Old White Horse

The Old White Horse. 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM Baldock's premier general knowledge quiz, topical quesons and amiable banter from your host Ash. A range of spot prizes on the night including a first prize of a £50 bar voucher.

To play £2 per person payable on the night (Max 6 per team)

Thursday 18th May

Eight. Meet the Maker Cocktail Masterclass

Eight. FROM 7:00 PM James from our local gin disller Copper in the Clouds will be pung on a masterclass to show everyone how to make delicious cocktails at home with minimal fuss. He'll talk through and show how to make 3 signature cocktails using his own gin, vodka & rum. Everyone will get to enjoy

a taste of all 3 cocktails with specially selected bar snacks to accompany each cocktail. You'll then get to enjoy a main course of your choice alongside one of the 3 cocktails that James had made. Tickets for The Meet the Maker Cocktail Masterclass are £70 per person. We can cater for veggies, vegans, gluten & dairyfree dietaries.

Tickets £70 from Baldock Community Centre or Baldock Fesval Website Baldock Community Orchestra United Reform Church. 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM Spring Fesval Concert. The Baldock Community Orchestra presents a selecon of popular and classical music with a touch of Spring. The BCO is a local orchestra made up of musicians from around the North Herts. area. We meet every Thursday for rehearsal in the Letchworth Free Church. If you're interested in joining us, please visit our website hps://www.baldockorchestra.co.uk/ or Facebook. hps://engb.facebook.com/BaldockOrchestra1/

Tickets £7.50 from Baldock Community Centre or Baldock Fesval Website

Friday 19th May

An Evening With Flanders And Swann – as interpreted by Peter Chapman and Mike O'Neill

St. Marys Church. FROM 7:30:00 PM

An Evening With Flanders And Swann - as interpreted by Peter Chapman and Mike O'Neill. Come and enjoy all your old favourites including "The Gnu", "Transport of Delight", "The Slow Train" and of course "The Hippopotamus". Join us for an evening of unashamed nostalgia and fun with plenty of chances to join in. Rosy glow guaranteed!

Tickets £10 per person in advance, from either www.cketsource.co.uk/fosm or the Community Centre (children free). £12 on the night. Pay bar and complimentary canapes.

Breaking Bands at The Orange Tree Orange Tree Public House. 7:30 PM11:30 PM

An evening of local bands playing from 7.30pm. Check our Facebook Page for details! Free Entryhps://www.facebook.com/The.Oran ge.Tree.Baldock

FREE Entry

Herts Variety

Baldock Community Centre, from 7:30 PM

This year there will be Rock and roll, country, love songs, great classics and a tribute to the NHS. Also, all our usual soloists, Sue, Carol, Beth and Terry Gray will be there to entertain you. If you fancy

a sing-along and a laugh, come along and support us. Wonderful music from Geoff and Chris Page, support from Bill, Kimberley and Steve on sound and lights and Andy and his ‘ladies’ on front-ofhouse. All proceeds will go to charity. Tickets £8 for adults and £5 for concessions, via Steve West on 07967 169790 only

Saturday 20th May

Ecofest 2023 Market Place. 10 AM - 4 PM

Join Baldock Beats Waste for this free event on the High Street. Learn about climate change, our environmental impact, going green, and ps & tricks for living more sustainably. Lots of educaonal stalls as well as those selling fantasc sustainable and green products.

FREE Event

Champagne Tasng Evening @Chez Burton

Tasng champagne involves more than just popping a cork....A hosted champagne tasng class with a specially designed menu of oysters and seafood BBQ from 1pm on Saturday 20th May. This is a cket only event and this includes the champagne, food and class. Full details available at www.chezburton.com

Euchre Drive – For experienced players

The Hen and Chickens. 2:30PM - 6PM

The Hen and Chickens will be hosng this year's Baldock Euchre Drive, this is open to anyone who already knows how to play. There will be no limit on numbers, and no advance ckets, but you must know how to play! Newly trained players from last week may prefer to watch…

Turn up on the day, before 3pm to register, as a pair of players, drive will last approximately 2 hours with prizes for winners and runner's up.

Entry £5 per pair payable on the day.

Herts Variety

Baldock Community Centre, from 7:30 PM This year there will be Rock and roll, country, love songs, great classics and a tribute to the NHS. Also, all our usual soloists, Sue, Carol, Beth and Terry Gray will be there to entertain you. If you fancy a sing-along and a laugh, come along and support us. Wonderful music from Geoff and Chris Page, support from Bill, Kimberley and Steve on sound and lights and Andy and his ladies on front-of-house. All proceeds will go to charity.

Tickets £8 for adults and £5 for concessions, via Steve West on 07967 169790

Sunday 21st May

Live Music: Beans & Biscuits

The Hen and Chickens.

FROM 4 PM

A fun Western Swing ouit from rural Herordshire. These guys play both kinds of music in their own inimitable fun style.

Fronted by Marn (Fatman)

Spencer (Teenbeats; The Runs; The Brains Brothers; Sheriffs of Hong Kong; The Big Ears Band) you will be entertained and amused by their personal take on the great Brish and American songbooks.

FREE Entry

Pizza and Cocktail Master Class

The Old White Horse. 5:00 PM7:30 PM

Come and join Jamie and Ash for a pizza and cocktail master class at the #1 pizza place in Herordshire!!! 21st May at 5pm these 2 will be hosng an evening of fun for adults, so get the babysiers in!! Ash will be showing you a choice of 3 cocktails that you will be able to make yourself and learn the history behind the origins of cocktail making. Jamie will show you how to spin dough into a beauful base and cook the pies to perfecon! Trust us this will be a night worth coming too!!!

Tickets £25 from Baldock Community Centre or Baldock Fesval Website

Baldock Gardens

Who would want to be a gardener?

Especially someone who writes about it. The start of this season is proving to be very difficult compared to last year. Last year was early, by now, about three weeks ahead of a typical year, and this year we are two, maybe somewhere near three weeks late.

Easter, the gardening trigger for most people, is the best part of a week earlier than last year; how on earth do we plan for that?

Last year we had our sales tunnels full of fully flowering pansies, primroses and just about every spring flower you could think of, but not this year; most are still tucked up still in the early bud stage, waiting for the snow to stop and the warmer weather to arrive.

Stock for Mother's day is in short supply, but we've managed to bring some good plants on in time. Fuel costs are causing headaches for every grower, as it must be for you all at home. We use kerosene and lots of electricity to heat our growing tunnels, so we now only use it for frost protection, so five degrees centigrade is the trigger temperature for the majority of the bedding and basket plants, and the house plants, its strictly twelve degrees centigrade, any lower and everything is dead.

The trigger temperature of five degrees for the bedding may surprise some of you as being relatively low, but because we work on a low water regime at this time of year, keeping the plants drier than you would expect the temperatures can be lower also, we have pretty powerful heaters that respond with high volumes of warm air.

The extended cold spell is helping us with pest control in that nothing has shown up yet, but we expect them as soon as the weather changes and it warms up. Relatively high humidity is causing the start of fungal problems at the moment that should disappear as the weather warms up. A balance of one against the other Pests or diseases, there is always something looking to eat, chew up or mess up your favourite plants.

Latest news on the compost situation, as you know, the UK Government has decided that we all need to stop using peatbased composts and move over to using

By Graham Tapp

peat-free composts; we now stock both, but there seems to be a customer pushback against the peat free in preference to what they are used to, we are expected to be only selling peat free by the end of the year and to have sold through all peat-based compost stock as soon as is reasonable after that and will only be able to sell peat-based compost stock if it is still left over on site. We will if we have stock left over have to prove that we purchased it in response to customer demand and not in advance of the ban to pre-empt a potential post-ban demand, so If you need it make sure you get what you need in good time; we will not be deliberately breaking the law to supply it.

Peat-free compost is having a lot of research investment at the moment, and while I believe some of it is not quite as good as peat-based, it will be in a year or two.

We have over four and a half thousand bags of compost in stock of all types, ready for the season to start. If you need any advice on what to use, come in and ask me, I'm always around the garden centre somewhere. I understand from speaking to many customers that choosing the correct compost is their most challenging decision choosing plants not so much, so where should you start? I always tell people to select their plants and pick the compost to suit them.

So why do we stock so many types of compost? The answer is that many plants like different conditions, nutrient types, and levels.

Let's start with bedding plants, winter bedding, when planted in early autumn, will need a free draining low, nutrient compost, so it will usually rain a lot through winter, so we need to help them drain that water away. When first planted, the soil will be warm. They will grow at a reasonable rate, so they will require the feed in the compost to allow that, but they will slow down as the weather cools as we move into winter; we do not want them to grow so fast that the plants are soft and will be damaged by the upcoming frosts and cold wind so a multi-

purpose compost would give about four weeks of feed so would be ideal. Spring bedding will need something similar but will need to be working differently; the plants will be growing from a cooler soil that will be getting warmer; this then will need the nutrients to be low to start with, increasing as the soil warms up and the plant gets bigger and bigger, this is achieved by the compost having slow release fertiliser granules within it that are made of various products that expand as they get warmer opening pores that let the feed out if it gets cold they will contract and stop.

Seeds and cuttings need a fine compost with low nutrients so that the feeder roots as they form do not get burnt, some are peat or equivalent based, and some are soil based; they would be John Innes composts.

Pots, tubs and baskets need more substantial and longer-lasting fertiliser, anything up to four months, and a courser mix with water-holding granules included. Shrubs and roses need a comparatively coarse compost with again a long-lasting fertiliser so up to six months.

House plants need a wide range of composts, depending on where in the world they originate from, but importantly if they need to be kept moist, they will need to contain charcoal to stop the compost from going sour and smelling.

A word of warning do not try to use farmyard manure or the like as a potting mix; it is too strong and will poison your plants.

Some plants will be lime-hating and will need ericaceous compost; this contains no lime at all and will be slightly on the acid side of neutral.

Many plants will need soil-based compost; these are called John Innes composts. The range goes from number one to number three, a special seed compost and an ericaceous mix.

I hope that helps with your decision. Enjoy your gardening when it eventually starts.

Cheers Graham.

Too much choice out there? Spend more time deciding what to watch than actually watching something? LET BALDOCK'S RESiDENT TV GLUTTON HELP YOU ON YOUR MiSSiON!

You and Me – ITV X

This is a curious effort by ITV X (which is worth dipping into as it's refreshed, and re-booted Nelix style format is much beer). Industry's Harry Lawtey plays Ben, a carefree young man in London whose life is changed for ever when he misses a bus at the exact same me as stranger Jess (Sophia Brown). What follows has a mix of a Richard Curs film, Cold Feet and This is Us. However, the billing of a 'romanc comedy' are wide of the mark as this is about tragedy, grief and acceptance. I would say that at only 3 episodes long it doesn't allow enough me to allow you to enjoy the more senmental moments as they happen quickly, but do give it a go. Split melines have become a TV cliche and don't always land but, here, there is a clear division between the sunny before mes and the devastaon of what came next. It suits what the show is trying to do.

Happy Valley – iPlayer

I hold my hands up and beg for forgiveness for missing Happy Valley when Season 1 first broadcast in 2014. Not sure why – maybe I thought it had echoes of Heartbeat in trailers and a gentle late Sunday evening Yorkshire lilt. Nowt wrong with that of course, I just like my crime dramas a tad darker and sinister however. Over a long flight to southeast Asia last month, I munched my way through as much as I could and connued when I arrived home. Sarah Lancashire as Sergeant Catherine Cawood and James Norton as Tommy Lee-Royce deserve all the plaudits for their performances as they go head-to-head over 3 seasons following the suicide of Cawood's daughter, who she blames Lee-Royce for. What ensures are 3 seasons of tense, carefully wrien drama that pits two fabulous characters against one another. It's not easy to watch at mes, aer all this is about male perpetrated violence against women and male dominated coercion and control. Set against a backdrop of Yorkshire life, Sarah Lancashire as Catherine Cawood is a no-nonsense Police sergeant who will tell you to your face what she thinks of you and stands by her values – we need more Cawood's in this world. If you've seen it, you'll know. If you haven't all 3 seasons are on Iplayer.

Thank you to all the people that have recommended me as their personal estate agent in Baldock. I love working here and the town has always held a special place in my heart, it's just great!!

With 20 years experience selling homes locally

Curtains, Duvets & bedding

Ÿ

Ashwell at Home 2023

On Sunday 14th May from 11am to 5pm the historic picturesque village of Ashwell opens its doors and gardens to welcome visitors for the 38th year of this 'open village' event, with entertainment for all ages. .

This year's theme is 'A Day in the Country' so, in addion to the muchloved tour of open gardens of many shapes and sizes there will be a range of country-themed acvies, displays and talks to see and do.

What's On?

The programme - which is available in advance from www.ashwellathome.org.uk and announced throughout the day by the village’s very own Town Crier, Includes Stunning gardens both large and small will be open for you to view the many horcultural treasures, with the

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opportunity to ask their creators any quesons you may have or gather gardening hints and ps; together with a plant stall and, new for 2023, ‘Gardeners' Quesons Answered'. Ashwell's own historical herb garden, wildlife allotment and prey village coage garden will all be open too

Country Life including 'Down on the Farm' exhibion of local farming, including farm animals; dog show; tree trail; talks on food producon and buer making

Fun for children with free workshops including drama, cras & folk dancing, junk robots and welly-whanging, storytelling, magic show and a small funfair on the Rec

Live Music concerts and live music around the village from classical, to folk to pop - and everything in-between Dance Morris Men, Tudor and folk dancing around the village - with a chance to join in!

Theatre performance of classic scenes from English comedy and a children's stage school workshop

Workshops for adults including cras, singing and harp mini-lessons

Walks and Talks 'Picnics & Provisions' a guided walk through Old Ashwell; 'Food Producon in a Sensive Environment' and a Tree Trail Arts and Cras displays, demonstraons and workshops with local arsts and arsans

And many other aracons including a visit to the village lock-up (no longer in use!) and the village museum and Ashwell Banger Challenge themed cars display!

Refreshments will be available throughout the day with great value lunches from ploughman's to hot dogs & burgers, and delicious tea, coffee & cake at venues around the village including the school, Parish Rooms, recreaon ground and Village Halls.

This is a fundraising event and proceeds will be distributed to Ashwell Village Museum, Ashwell Primary School and St Mary's Church.

For more informaon visit www.ashwell@home.org.uk

Baldock’s favourite for 30 years

Baldock's favourite for '31' years

Grieving The Loss of a Pet

Grieving the loss of a pet can be as real as any other type of grief, but people oen won't realise how great a loss it can be. For people who haven't had animals in their lives, it might be impossible for them to understand that you are mourning a pet, for someone who has been through it myself recently I understand these real emoons. Dogs, cats, horses and many other pets can be a large part of our everyday lives. They fill your life with companionship. They are ever present, always welcoming and totally dependent on you. Their life span can be up to 15 years, longer for cats somemes.

The Loss of

a Pet is Painful

Physical loss - When we lose a pet the physical loss is enormous. There is no welcome when returning home, no wagging tail or licking. No purring or rubbing up against you. It is a comfort to stroke a pet. They say that it lowers your blood pressure and that pets are great stress busters. In so many ways they enhance our lives - the loss of their physical presence is huge.

The care of animals takes up a lot of me. The change aer the loss of a pet dog or cat can be great. You might feel an empness and wonder what to do with yourself.

Time spent with our pets can be much

longer in the day than even with family members. When there are no other family members, for those living alone, the loneliness following the loss of a pet can be extra painful.

Loss of assistance pets - For those who are disabled, animals are not just a pet but an even more important part of life as they are essenal for everyday living. Those who lose an assistance pet may lose independence and freedom too unl a new, trained animal can be found.

It's only a pet! How many of us have heard that? No, those of us who have lost a pet know that animals become part of the family. Grief for pets can be as great as for the loss of a human. However, there is also guilt. You might wonder why you feel so bad for a pet.

You probably spent more me with your pet than you did anyone else. They always loved you they never judged you, never argued with you, and were always there to talk to. It is a natural reacon to grieve for them.

You have no reason to feel guilt or even a bit foolish. This is such a normal, natural response to the loss of the companion you had for many

Accept how painful the grief for the loss of your pet, your constant friend can be. The human-animal bond is an amazing thing, and there is no shame in grieving for a beloved pet. It's good to have some sort of ritual to say goodbye, especially if children are involved.

St Marys Sporting Update

Families can cry together over the loss. Some people create a lile headstone, or put up a plaque, I have a paw print. Something to remember the pet.

You will never forget your friend, your beloved pet, just learn to cope with each day in a different way without them. There will be an empness at first. Try and fill your me with different acvies.

Many people can't face the empness of the home aerwards and need to replace the pet immediately. Others can't face the fact that they could ever replace their pet. Do what feels right for you.

If you're having difficules don't be ashamed to ask for help. Try some meditaon or hypnosis to help with the emoons and feelings.

Somemes people just don't understand and can say some very hurul things. This can make things even worse, but perhaps these people have never had the joy of the love of a pet so try not to take it to heart.

Kim Holloway www.total-therapy.co.uk

St Mary's have had lots on over the last month, starng with the annual Wix District Football tournament for both our girls and boys. Both teams played some great football and were both in with a chance of winning the tournament right unl the end. Good luck to Stonehill Boys and Lordship Farm Girls in the next round.

We also came really close to represenng our area in the County Indoor Athlecs Championships, but we finished runners up in a very close and entertaining event. Our district has some incredible talent in throwing and jumping, and some rapid children! I am really proud of our children as I had

three different adults from other schools approach me to tell me how great our sportsmanship was. That is what sport at St Mary's is all about.

Our Year 4's also enjoyed a trip to Knights Templar to parcipate in a Badminton fesval. There was an England badminton player helping with the event, and she commented how talented our team were!

In our final two weeks of term, we have 3 netball tournaments, two hockey tournaments, a learn to ride cycling event and some excing PE lessons with a qualified Maral Arts teacher.

Sco Hagland - PE Coordinator

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Bjour and Gun Tag, Baldock!

Baldock Town Twinning are full speed ahead at Baldock Town Twinning with a jam-packed Spring and Summer for members and non-members.

We are pleased to be collaborang again with Leysbrook Estate Agents to run an Easter Trail during the Easter holidays so look out for our carrot-y posters in shop windows around Baldock. For £3 you receive an Easter treat and a crossword to complete as you go through town and find the carrots. If you complete the anagram, you will be entered into a prize draw for a hamper from Leysbrook. For more informaon visit www.baldocktowntwinning.com/baldoc k-easter-trail

On 29th April, Baldock's own Knives Out style Murder Mystery Evening returns as part of Baldock Fesval. The play begins at 7.30pm and ckets will be available for £25 through Baldock Fesval to include an evening of entertainment, a hot dinner plus dessert. A reasonably priced bar will be open on the night. Will you be able to

guess whodunit and how?

Our monthly German conversaon groups will be in session on the first Sunday of the month from 7th May at 9.30am at Café Luna so if you speak a bit of German, or a lot, do come and see us.

Most importantly, our exchange visits will connue with a trip to Eisenberg in July and a visit from our friends from Sanvignes in August. We are always interested in welcoming new members of all ages and backgrounds and we have people in Sanvignes waing to be matched to people in Baldock, so if you think you are able to show a French family a taste of Brish life, then please get in touch at baldocktowntwinning@gmail.com, or visit our website www.baldocktowntwinning.com for more informaon, or like us on facebook or follow on instagram for all our latest news.

BALDOCK & CLOTHALL

Baldock & Clothall WI meet at 7.30 pm on the 2nd Thursday of each month at the United Reform Church in Baldock. Apart from the monthly meeng we have a walking group, coffee mornings, a lunch club, supper club, 2 cra groups, a book club, a green group and are happy to set up any other groups that members may be interested in.

You can just turn up to up to 3 meengs and pay a £3 visitor fee, or contact us via our Facebook page and we can meet for a coffee beforehand if that's preferred.

Come along and see what we're up to and make new friends.

All Boiler Maintenance, Serving & Repairs

Abigail Hucker,Interim Chair, Baldock Town Twinning Associaon

Screen this months new releases

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Out 7th April

While working underground to fix a water main, Brooklyn plumbers Mario and brother Luigi are transported down a mysterious pipe and wander into a magical new world. But when the brothers are separated, Mario embarks on an epic quest to find Luigi. With the assistance of aToad and some training from the strong-willed, Princess Peach , Mario taps into his own power."

Out 14th April

Assassin Club takes place in the world of international spies and elite assassins. In this world of contract killers, Morgan Gaines is hired to kill six people around the world, he soon discovers all the targets are also assassins unknowingly hired to kill each other. Under the guidance of his mentor, Morgan must defeat the other assassins to keep himself and his girlfriend Sophie alive.

big George forman

Out 28th April

From Olympic Gold medalist to World Heavyweight champion, boxer George Foreman leads a remarkable life.

He finds his faith, retires and becomes a preacher. When financial hardship hits his family and church, George steps back in the ring and regains the championship at age 45, becoming the oldest heavyweight champion in boxing history.

the unlikely pilgrimage of harold fry

Out 28th April

Harold Fry is an unremarkable man who has failed at all the important things in life. But when Harold learns his friend Queenie is dying, he is moved to act. He leaves home, walking to the post box to send her a letter, until he realises a letter is not enough. In that moment Harold decides to keep walking, all the way to her hospice, some 500 miles away in Berwick-upon-Tweed.

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The Ashwell Music Fesval is back this May!

Pop the dates in your diary: Sunday 7thSaturday 13th May. Now in its 68th year, the Fesval offers top quality music across a wide variety of genres.

The Fesval was inially started in 1953 Today and has evolved to incorporate performances by professional rock, jazz, classical, big band musicians among others but always includes young people performing as was the original aim.

All money raised goes towards the St.Mary's restoraon fund, Chair of the Fesval commiee, Tracy Young, says “We have a fantasc variety of concerts this year, which we hope will appeal to everyone. We also hope to top the amazing £6000 we raised last year for the restoraon fund!”

VolunteerTreasurerSoughtForLocalCharity

Friends of St Mary's church, Baldock, (FOSM), run various events to fundraise for the repairs and maintenance of our historic church, which is such an important building within Baldock.

We are looking for someone to take on the role of our treasurer, to:

· Maintain the financial records;

· Pay expenses;

· Bank income received;

· Submit gift aid relief claims;

· And produce the annual accounts. Might you be that person?

Could you spare a couple of hours a month ?

The committee meets every 6-8 weeks.

If you'd like to learn more about it, email fosmbaldock@gmail.com

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Victoria Place Dental Surgery