3 BEDROOM HOUSE FOR SALE IN SADLEIR ROAD, ST. ALBANS, HERTFORDSHIRE, AL1
A beautifully presented and extensively enhanced three to four-bedroom family residence, perfectly positioned in a peaceful and picturesque setting just south of St Albans’ vibrant city centre and ideally situated within easy reach of highly regarded junior schools and St Albans City Station, offering fast and direct links to London St Pancras.
Over £300,000
1 BEDROOM APARTMENT FOR SALE IN BEACONSFIELD ROAD, ST ALBANS, HERTFORDSHIRE, AL1
3
BEDROOM HOUSE FOR SALE IN PARK STREET LANE, PARK STREET, ST ALBANS, AL2
BEDROOM HOUSE FOR SALE IN PROSPECT ROAD, ST ALBANS, HERTFORDSHIRE, AL1
4 BEDROOM HOUSE FOR SALE IN WATFORD ROAD, ST ALBANS, HERTFORDSHIRE, AL2
BEDROOM HOUSE FOR SALE IN ARTHUR ROAD, ST ALBANS, HERTFORDSHIRE, AL1
3 BEDROOM HOUSE FOR SALE IN MOUNT DRIVE, PARK STREET, ST ALBANS, AL2
3 BEDROOM HOUSE TO LET IN RIVER HILL, FLAMSTEAD, HERTFORDSHIRE, AL3
NEWINSTRUCTION
£1,200 pcm (£277 pw)
1 BEDROOM MAISONETTE TO LET IN LARKS RIDGE, WATFORD ROAD, ST ALBANS, AL2
1 BEDROOM APARTMENT TO LET IN HIGH STREET, ST ALBANS, HERTFORDSHIRE, AL3
NEWINSTRUCTION LETAGREED
4 BEDROOM HOUSE TO LET IN TELFORD ROAD, LONDON COLNEY, ST ALBANS, AL2
NEWINSTRUCTION
LETAGREED
WANT AN INSTANT PROPERTY VALUATION?
Watch our short step-by-step guide to learn how it works and what to expect from your personalised property report.
2 BEDROOM HOUSE TO LET IN CHILDWICK GREEN, CHILDWICKBURY, ST ALBANS, AL3 INDUSTRIAL TO
2 BEDROOM APARTMENT TO LET IN ASHFIELD COURT,ST ALBANS, AL1
NEWINSTRUCTION
APARTMENT TO LET IN HATFIELD ROAD, ST ALBANS, HERTFORDSHIRE, AL1
Editor’s Note
When I said that we were working on a comprehensive history of the Herts Advertiser on the occasion of its 170 birthday, a few people asked me a very bemused: “Why?” th
To which my simple answer was: “Because nobody else is going to do it ”
It’s sad that this milestone anniversary will probably go overlooked by that very publication, whereas when it marked the 160 in 2015 we spent the best part of a year commemorating the occasion with a specially designed logo and series of reflective features th Regardless of the fact that I devoted 14 years of my life to that selfsame journal, the Herts Ad’s place in the history of modern St Albans should not be overlooked, even though it is sadly now little more than a shadow of its former self So using scrapbooks, cuttings, personal letters and photographs collated by pioneering journalist Beryl Carrington and others, plus material kept in our own archives, we have arguably succeeded in putting together not only the most comprehensive history of the HA ever published, but also a social commentary on the events and developments during this period from the perspective of the title and those who worked there
Many of the pictures included in this piece have never been published before, including behind the scenes photos of staff from across the decades, and hopefully provide a fitting tribute to the legacy of all of those who worked at the HA during the past 170 years
Editor MATT ADAMS
Matt with his copy of the first ever HA Image by Abu Sayed
Oaklands College played host to a variety of different festivals over the weekend Photo: John Andrews
Carrying on regardless: developer ignores site planning restrictions
The row over plans to build homes on a swathe of St Albans Green Belt land continues, with developers continuing to carry out enabling work on the site despite not having secured planning permission.
Cala Homes have already cleared a section of land between the A1081 Harpenden Road and the B651 St Albans Road of flora and fauna, causing large scale damage to an eco-system that connects to Heartwood Forest and is home to red list birds, badgers, owls, bats and many other protected species They want to build a residential development of up to 150 homes on land to the rear of 112-156B Harpenden Road, which will join up with the adjacent Woollams scheme of 1,000 new homes
Now they have moved in with industrial lawn mowers during the ground nesting season for skylarks, and relocated Common Spotted Orchid plants in breach of council instructions to the contrary
These latest developments come as they continue to push forwards with plans for the site, including asking SADC to take into account a reserved matters application relating to flood management
But on Monday the application was withdrawn from the agenda of the development management committee in response to issues surrounding the unauthorised movement of orchids
Committee chair Cllr Edgar Hill said: “This item has been withdrawn as on 24 June 2025 St Albans district council advised that it would not support or agree to a translocation of the orchids without the submission of a botanical survey and translocation strategy-protection measures as requested by Herts Ecology. However, the applicant has advised today, 30 June, that such works have already been undertaken and the translocation of orchids has taken place
“As a consequence, the requirements of Condition 2 as recommended can no longer be met and for this reason the
application has been withdrawn from the agenda pending the receipt of further information relating to this matter to allow members of the development management committee to fully consider this issue.
“Upon receipt of this information, a further consultation exercise will be undertaken and the application will be reported back to the development management committee in due course There will be no debate or discussion on this item at this time ”
In response to the application being withdrawn, a spokesperson for Cala Homes said: “In preparation for approved archaeological survey work, a specialist landscape consultant carefully moved the Common Spotted Orchids to another area of the site where a fence has been placed around them to ensure their continued protection.”
Meanwhile, local campaigners have reported that industrial lawn mowers have been carrying out works during the ground nesting season despite ecology reports stating that this should not be the case
Gee Smedley from campaign group CLASH, fighting to save north St Albans Green Belt, said: “The operator on site claimed there has been a survey and no ground nesting birds are present. Was this the same survey that missed the badger setts?
“There are skylarks all over the area, all fully documented by the Hertfordshire Natural History Society and the Woodland Trust, and the area forms part of the ecological corridor supporting Heartwood Forest
“St Albans council failed to enforce any of the detrimental action taken by Cala Homes in October 2024, simply categorising it as ‘regrettable’. What is it today? ‘Unfortunate’?
“Cala either don't care or don't understand about the right survey times or the right ecological approach and clearly think they can simply carry on in this manner without properly informing the authorities ”
Counting down the days until M Fest
There’s just a couple of days to go until this year ’ s M Festival – a popular community music event which is now in its 15th year
Taking place at The Marlborough Science Academy on Saturday, the charity fundraiser will include live bands, food and drink, fairground rides, children’s entertainment and arts and crafts
Since M Fest was launched in 2009, it has raised in excess of £140,000 for Marlborough Science Academy and other local causes.
Acts performing on the day include Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalists Electric Umbrella, Fame Academy singer-song writer Sinéad Quinn,’90s cover band Common People, ’80s party band Six Go Mad, and Tom Billington’s band Pump It Up
Tom is the co-founder of Electric Umbrella, a member of noughties indie combo Mohair and guitarist at Young Voices, the largest school choir concerts in the world, which perform at huge venues across the UK, including London’s O2 and the Co-op Live venue
Also appearing will be Wider Load, a group made up of former MSA students, playing in tribute to their friend and bandmate Paul Cattermole, the ex-S Club 7 star who tragically died in 2023.
School choirs from Prae Wood, Mandeville and Heathlands primary schools will also be taking to the stage Parent volunteer Jez Carter has been responsible for band booking and liaison at M Fest this year, which means he is involved in everything to do with the music side of the event.
That has included securing acts, working out the running order, and making sure each performer has what they need on the day, from soundcheck to stage time.
He explained: I’m the point of contact for the artists before and during the event, and I’m there to ensure their experience is smooth and enjoyable so they can focus on putting on a great show ”
Coordinating the music acts across the day is like fitting together a jigsaw puzzle, he said
“We start by confirming the headline acts and then build the day’s lineup around them, making sure we have a good balance of genres, tempos, and energy levels to keep the crowd engaged throughout. Timing is key, especially with changeovers between acts, so we work closely with our sound team and stage crew to keep everything running to schedule ”
Although they have appeared at M Fest in the past, this year Electric Umbrella and Sinéad are performing on the back of their TV appearances in the spring, which adds a new level of excitement to the show
“There’s a real buzz around both acts this year, especially after their brilliant showings on Britain’s Got Talent. Both have always been crowd favourites at M Fest, but I think the BGT performances reminded people just what talent we will have on stage
“Electric Umbrella, they’re more than just a band! Their message, their energy, and their inclusivity strike a real chord with people I expect the crowd’s response to be bigger and more emotional than ever We’re lucky to have them both back on the M Fest stage.”
What is it that he looks for when booking an act?
“We’re always on the lookout for performers who bring something memorable That might be great musicianship, infectious energy, or a unique story Because M Fest is such a family-friendly, community-focused event, we ’ re also looking for acts who can connect with a broad audience It’s not just about how they sound, but how they engage with the crowd and contribute to the spirit of the day If they leave people smiling and singing along, we ’ ve done our job right ” Away from the stage, Marlborough students have also been doing their bit to promote the event
Erle Felkers, TMSA head of music, tasked his Year 8 students with creating posters, promotional videos and podcasts about the event, to encourage their involvement if they weren’t performing.
Following closely-fought auditions, M Fest will see a line-up of acts drawn from the Marlborough community, who will be taking to the stage in the afternoon.
Erle says this is a fantastic opportunity: “This event is very important for our students, as one of the biggest things it gives them is a platform to grow and build in their confidence, as confidence is a huge trait to have as a musician, especially as a young teenager
“This event also teaches them the discipline in learning how to prepare and rehearse for a major event, and it allows them to collaborate with other students they might not have ever spoken to at the school if it was not for music That is why I hope that this festival will grow from strength to strength every year, as it is so important for our students to be part of.” If you have yet to buy your tickets, the St Albans Times has a special discount code available: StAlb8nsT!m3s2025
To obtain the discount, go to the tickets page at https://mfestival co uk/tickets/, input the code in the box marked Use Ticket Access Code, and scroll to the bottom of the page for the special St Albans Times prices
Jez added: “Expect a packed day of incredible live music, brilliant food and drink, and a welcoming, joyful atmosphere. M Fest is about community, fun, and celebration There’s something for everyone, kids, teens, parents, and grandparents alike We’ve got music, activities, stalls, and loads of surprises, it really is the highlight of the summer for so many people around here, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back ”
IN OTHER NEWS...
Staff become stakeholders at award-winning St Albans jewellers
St Albans’ award-winning jewellery business, Harriet Kelsall
Bespoke Jewellery on Chequer Street, has announced two major milestones: a transition to employee ownership and the appointment of a new managing director
This announcement is especially meaningful for founder Harriet Kelsall, who was born and raised in St Albans She attended St Albans High School, and her family are well known in the city community where her father served as a local doctor and her mother worked at St Albans Cathedral
Over the past 26 years, the business has become known not just for its creativity, but for its pioneering work in ethical and sustainable jewellery practices, earning national recognition and accolades including Bespoke Jeweller and Ethical Jeweller of the Year
It has now offficially become an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), which means its skilled and passionate team are now key stakeholders in its future
Harriet said she intends to stay in the business for many years to come, combining her role with her other nonexecutive director roles, adding: “I’m extremely happy for this transition - it’s something I’ve been working towards for a long time In many ways, our company has long operated in the spirit of employee ownership, with a collaborative culture and shared leadership This move formalises our already embedded ethos.”
Coinciding with this change, Rebecca Howarth, who has been an integral part of the team for 20 years, has been appointed as the company’s new managing director.
IN OTHER NEWS...
At last! Dangerous stretch of major road is finally repaired
Herts Highways have finally acted to repair a major route in and out of St Albans which has been riddled with potholes for months
Local campaigner Andy Love wanted to raise awareness of the road surface of St Julian’s Hill, the part of Watling Street (A5183) shortly before Park Street roundabout, and contacted the St Albans Times to highlight the issue
Now the worst sections of road leading down to the Park Street roundabout have been repaired and resurfaced
Andy said: “I'm so grateful to the St Albans Times helping to raise the profile for those fed-up with the dreadful state of St Julian's Hill road surface and specifically those that had reported this section of road during the last six months using the online Highways fault reporting tool, only to be notified that it was either being looked into or had been resolved as not needing immediate attention
“Although it has taken much longer to have these repairs undertaken than many would have hoped for or expected, I do understand that this work would have needed to be to be properly drawn up, signed off and fitted into Highways’ planned works and repairs schedules
“The timing of these repairs also means that the upgrade works on the Park Street roundabout, that are due to start later this summer, will hopefully take less time and cause less inconvenience because these repairs were undertaken beforehand and not during the upgrades The upgrades for the Park Street roundabout will include the introduction of traffic lights to all but two exits of the roundabout, with a requirement for the speed limit to be reduced to 50mph for all approaches and exits that currently have a higher speed limit
“A speed limit reduction on this busy area of road infrastructure in south St Albans should help to improve road safety and also reduce vehicle emissions and noise pollution ”
IN OTHER NEWS...
Baton is passed as president stands down from Rotary Club
Rotary members, dignitaries, and friends gathered at Verulam Golf Club, the home of the Ryder Cup, to celebrate the conclusion of Claudio Duran’s year as President of St Albans Verulamium Rotary Club
The dinner was held in the presence of guests including St Albans Mayor Cllr Teresa Heritage, and Her Excellency Mrs Ximena Fuentes, Ambassador of Chile to the United Kingdom, reflecting Claudio's strong ties and contributions to both local and international communities
Also in attendance were the former High Sheriff of Hertfordshire, Annie Brewster, and the Rotary District Governor Elect, Kendal Pitt, along with many other Rotary members and supporters from across the district
Throughout the evening, guests reflected on the highlights of the past year, including community service projects, youth engagement, and international outreach, before Claudio officially welcomed the new President, Robert Newton
WELLNESS IN THE CITY
HOW ST ALBANS RESIDENTS ARE TAKING CONTROL OF THEIR HEALTH IN 2025
In recent years, wellness has gone from a buzzword to a way of life—especially here in St Albans. As we emerge from the shadow of the pandemic, more people than ever are recognising the importance of proactive, preventative healthcare.
At Visage Private Medical, we’ve seen a powerful shift: our patients aren’t just coming to us when something’s wrong— they’re coming to stay well. Whether it’s a busy professional booking a full health check, a parent seeking support with their child’s nutrition, or a woman navigating the challenges of perimenopause, one thing is clear: people in St Albans are ready to take charge of their health.
A New Era of Preventative Care
Modern life is fast, and stress, poor sleep, and long work hours can quietly erode our health. That’s why many of our patients are opting for wellness packages that include fullbody blood panels, mental health screenings, hormone checks, and lifestyle coaching. These packages give patients clarity and control—helping detect issues early, support weight management, and improve energy, mood, and sleep quality.
Mental Health in Focus
Mental health is no longer a taboo subject—and rightly so. We’re seeing increasing numbers of patients looking for discreet, GP-led support with anxiety, low mood, stress, and burnout. We offer private, personalised mental health checkins for both adults and young people - because mental wellbeing is just as important as physical health.
Weight Loss with Medical Support
Forget fad diets. Our medically supervised weight loss programmes are designed to be safe, sustainable, and effective. We combine lifestyle guidance with options like prescription medication where appropriate, and tailor everything to the individual. This is about long-term wellness—not quick fixes.
Health at Every Life Stage
From nutrition advice, baby feeding and development to neurodiversity, complex medication management, blood tests and long term conditions, Visage Private Medical supports your family through every chapter of life. Our bespoke wellness services ensure you get the care you need, when you need it—without long waits or rushed appointments.
About Visage Private Medical
At Visage medical we are committed to making high quality, compassionate healthcare accessible to everyone. Our flexible private doctor and specialist referral services are designed to fit into your life, with options for in person appointments at our St Albans clinic or online consultations from the comfort of your own home.
Bookings are easy, simply call, email or book online to secure your appointment today. Our experience team of GP’s offer patient centre care for individuals and families of all ages building strong doctor relationships rooted in empathy, trust and respect.
We are proud to be part of the local community. Esther has owned Visage Dental for over 10 years and, as a local resident, is passionate about caring for people and supporting families in the area.
Visage Medical is the sister practice to Visage Dental, with two locations — one in Harpenden and one in St Albans. By integrating these services, we are able to offer a more comprehensive approach to patient well-being, addressing both preventative and therapeutic needs under one roof. Our lead General Practitioner, Dr Anna Benson, is not only a highly respected and experienced family doctor but also a valued member of the local community, where she resides with her family. With years of clinical experience and a deep understanding of the healthcare needs of families across all ages, Dr Benson is known for her compassionate approach and unwavering dedication to patient care. She brings a warm, personable touch to every consultation and is deeply committed to delivering holistic, patient-centred healthcare that goes beyond treating symptoms - focusing instead on long-term wellbeing, preventative care, and building strong, trusting relationships with each of her patients.
EYES ON SEVEN
Seven years. ‘Is it only that long?’ we hear you cry…!
Whether you ’ ve only just realised that EYES on St Albans is that yellow glasses shop next to Fade to Black or youve been with us since the beginning, it is 7 years since Jez first opened the doors to eyewear and eyecare of excellence
If this isn’t an opportunity to get some tenuous 7 related eye facts into our article this week we don’t know what is So here goes
1 In some cultures, 7 is a lucky number – and eyes are often linked with luck or fate
Think:
The ‘evil eye’ talisman (often blue often you guessed it, circular and eye-like);
Seven years’ bad luck if you break a mirror – because the mirror is said to reflect your soul through your eyes!
Jez reckons it’s his lucky number too – so we asked him why
2. 7 on his back
Back in the days when his knees werent so dodgy Jez was frequently found on the rugby pitch With number 7 on his back as flanker for Verulam School, and occasionally, OVs
Possibly also the number of shirts with glasses on that Jez owns
3. It all started with Leeds #7
It wasn’t just rugby the young Mr Levy was inspired by In the (ahem) early ‘70s he was a big fan of Peter Lorimer who played number 7 for Leeds Football Club Which considering Jez is a local lad makes us question why he chose to support Leeds but on we go
4. Seven muscles move the eye
Each eye is controlled by seven extraocular muscles (if you count the accessory levator muscle):
1 levator palpebrae superioris (raises the eyelid)
So if (when?!) your eyes roll at a bad pun seven muscles made it happen!
5. Seven Colours of the Rainbow
Your eyes perceive the visible light spectrum in seven classic colours:
Those with colour vision deficiency can’t always see all of these which is where EnChroma glasses can help We’ve been helping people see more colours for all of our 7 years too
6. Seven layers in in the eye (Retina edition)
The retina (the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye) has seven major layers each playing a role in visual processing
With OCT scanning as standard (and at no extra cost) weve been examining the health of retinas since we opened –helping our fabulous optometrists ensure your eyes are as healthy as they can be
7. Seven is the key to optical illusions
There are 7 classic types of optical illusions, often used in psychology and vision science:
1 Literal illusions
2 Physiological illusions
3 Cognitive illusions
4 Ambiguous images
5 Distorting illusions
6 Paradox illusions
7 Fictional illusions
Your eyes can be tricked in seven sneaky ways – just like our 7 graphic is proving!
So here’s to the next 7 years… bringing you spex, hugs and rock ’n’ roll on the sunny side of the Quadrant!
Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet
IN OTHER NEWS...
Initiative aims to tackle scourge of plastic on children’s comics
A group of young St Albans eco-activists have launched a campaign to ban plastic toys and wrapping on children’s comics and magazines
Apparently, there are an average of 10 pieces of plastic on each comic, which equates to 10 million pieces of plastic a week and over half a billion pieces of plastic a year
The initiative is run by the junior Climate Club hosted at The Green House, a community eco-hub in London Road, and also involved the eco-councils from Cunningham Hill, Prae Wood and Abbey C of E Primary schools
The Climate Club members have been busy gathering signatures and writing letters to present to the CEO of Tesco, hoping that if they lead the way other supermarkets will follow
They were joined at The Green House by St Albans MP Daisy Cooper, and the children explained all about their aims, read some of their powerful letters and then asked for her help to spread the word.
You can join the children’s campaign and sign an online petition by visiting the Kids Against Plastic website: kidsagainstplastic co uk
PIP claimants left confused and anxious about Government changes
St Albans people living with disabilities say they are stressed and upset by Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s latest cashsaving measure, after he announced changes to the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) system which mean many claimants could lose financial support
PIP is a benefit which enables people – working or not - with a range of debilitating conditions to live their lives more fully and is devised of two components – care and mobility In order to qualify, a person has to prove that their condition affects their daily activities in terms of caring for themselves and/or mobility
It is already an arduous application system which declines around half of applications with many claimants having to appeal the decision before they are then granted any payment.
The PM argues the Government’s new Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill is a positive step to help encourage disabled people back into employment yet many claimants insist it is PIP which enables them to go to work, by paying for taxis where they cannot use public transport, for example
After a massive backlash, he made a U-turn, proposing that the changes would not affect current PIP recipients - only new claimants from next year
But this would effectively create a two-tier system for people who need financial support due to living with disabilities
This week saw 11 hour changes to the bill which means no changes will be introduced before a review into the recommendations, although many of the PM’s own party remain opposed to the revised proposals
th People are now left very confused as to what will happen with PIP as the PM has now said he will review the situation in autumn 2026 This will no doubt increase the anxiety of people who rely on PIP or who feel they may need it in the future
We spoke to several local PIP recipients to find out what they thought about the changes
St Albans resident Allen, who didn’t want to give his last name, lives with a severe neurological condition and mental illness
“My PIP assessment was brought forward by nearly a year due to the proposed changes - I was in a flare struggling with pain and mental health already The forms are onerous and designed to make any claim difficult to complete Consequentially I struggled to return the form which meant my benefit was cancelled despite me calling them ” He said that he thinks people do not understand how stressful and distressing the recent PIP announcements have
been and that the “constant uncertainty” has caused him anxiety and added to his feelings of powerlessness: “There is no respect for the impact this has had on people’s mental health - It’s exhausting and dehumanising”
Allen added that he wished the Government recognised how damaging these prolonged wait times and last-minute changes are for people who are already vulnerable and under enough stress just trying to manage their daily lives
Nikki Bowles works in St Albans and receives PIP for a back injury due to a recent spinal fusion and ankle injury which she sustained at work
She said: “I get PIP - I’m registered disabled and have a Blue Badge and now they’re making it even harder for people It’s just an absolute disgrace
“I am a genuine hard-working person who has paid into the system since I was 16 All they seem to do is take from the genuine people
“I understand there are people that abuse it and these people are the ones that need to be helped back into work I am a genuine claimant with a genuine lifetime disability, and I should not have to jump through hoops to get what I’m entitled to ”
Though she is pleased the PM appears to have changed his mind, she is worried for the disabled community generally and thinks it sends a message of mistrust and shows a lack of compassion towards them.
St Albans resident Chantelle Nassari is a PIP recipient and accessibility coordinator
As well as chairing St Albans Access Forum for St Albans council she has helped oversee accessibility at events, for planners and even on the film Wicked
She said: “It is an incredibly terrifying and volatile time for disabled people
“I think most disabled people are feeling the anxiety because there is no consistency There is no stability or safety net
“People could have been dependent on a certain income for years and there was nothing put in place under the new proposed changes to advise or support a person to adjust
“The criteria of having to evidence your entitlement changes without warning so even if you have valid cause to qualify it’s really hard to target the point scoring system, using their current keywords.”
Chantelle, who is also an ambassador for Shopmobility, added: “Mustering the energy for all of this is a challenge when so much energy is taken up by your disability
“The impact of these changes exacerbates ignorance and discrimination and supports the medical model of disability ”
She said that when people have to constantly prove their need for financial support, it chips away at their sense of self and value
She agreed with Nikki that it also impacts the view society places on the validity and contribution of disabled people.
Meanwhile, Harpenden MP Victoria Collins Victoria Collins, yesterday challenged the Prime Minister in Parliament over the damaging impact of the Government's chaotic handling of the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Bill, highlighting real cases of vulnerable constituents left in uncertainty by the rushed legislative process
Victoria emphasised that the Government's handling of the issue has fundamentally damaged trust at a time when it is most needed: "The most vulnerable in society shouldn't live in fear of their Prime Minister Does he see how this has eroded trust when we need it most?"
Following her question, Victoria said: "This Government's chaotic approach to welfare reform has been very worrying
“When you ' re making decisions about support that keeps disabled people in work and independent, you need to get it right the first time
“The fact that they had to perform a last-minute U-turn shows they didn't do their homework, and vulnerable people have paid the price for their incompetence."
Finally, assistant service manager at St Albans Mencap Peter Macphee added his thoughts: “The proposed changes to PIP have caused real anxiety among people with learning disabilities and their families PIP is a vital source of support, and the uncertainty around its future has left many fearing they won’t be able to afford essential services and care
“Although recent Government statements suggest some softening of the original proposals, people are still fearful Many are unsure what the concessions actually mean in practice, and whether they will be protected. Until there is clear reassurance that support won’t be reduced or restricted, that sense of insecurity remains
“We’re especially concerned about future claimants. Any changes that make it harder to access support, risks excluding those with genuine need
“Reforms must be fair, inclusive, and developed with input from the people affected ”
Chantelle Nassari
SADC on trial: what will be the verdict over new Local Plan?
Imagine you ’ re on trial for murder but there are only prosecution witnesses – that’s the analogy SADC leader Cllr Paul de Kort used to describe the current state of the Local Plan process.
In the concluding part of our latest interview with the man in charge of the administration, we move beyond local government reorganisation to examine two other issues: the Local Plan process and the new hierarchy at County Hall –both of which will have a major impact on the future of St Albans and the wider area
Independently appointed planning inspectors Matthew Birkinshaw and Thomas Bristow are currently in the process of carrying out an examination of SADC’s Local Plan to determine whether it has been prepared in accordance with the relevant legal requirements and that it is ‘sound’.
The previous version of the Local Plan – which allows for the building of 15,000 homes across the district in the period up to 2041 – was withdrawn in November 2020, well before this stage in the process, due to a lack of cooperation with neighbouring authorities
“To be clear, the politicians are well out of it, and it’s the officers who are working incredibly hard to answer the hundreds of questions from the inspectors, who are being extremely thorough
“Everything is negative though, because anybody who is reasonably positive isn’t allowed to speak, and they only want to hear from people who are going to say negative things or question at the best – like a murder trial where you only hear from the prosecution
“The first examination was scheduled for three days with a reserve day if needed, but that wasn’t taken which is good and we ’ re now nearly two months beyond it and still in the game
“This means we ’ re in the best position we ’ ve been in over 30 years
“The recent hearings were on the duty to cooperate and the release of Green Belt land, and because the inspectors don’t want a running commentary they don’t give interviews, so we can only go on the fact that it’s still proceeding, we were asked a lot of tough questions but nothing we felt was insurmountable or surprised us ”
Speaking to the St Albans Times last July, Cllr de Kort explained how the council had taken the decision to fast track the Local Plan process in the face of loud opposition
“Accelerating the Local Plan does not evade the new housing targets proposed by the Government However, if we do not speed up the process, we could be forced to delay submission of a Local Plan by two to three years in order to take on
board the proposals as they come into effect
“Importantly, this delay would mean that we would be less able to defend against speculative developments in areas which could cause the most harm to the Green Belt
“Once the Local Plan is adopted, we will have to start work on an update straight away should the Government’s proposals for higher housing numbers come into force ”
He now feels justified in having taken that decision
“We were told before we submitted the Local Plan that it was ridiculous to be going so fast as there was no rush, so there were bound to be mistakes, but then the same people were saying we needed to hurry up [because of the changes to the National Planning Policy Framework].
“It’s like a big sports game where the coverage beforehand said it was going to go one way, but the only way you ’ re going to find out the result is to look in the paper
“The fears that were expressed have not been realised, although of course we ’ re not over the line yet…”
He is also less confident about the pressure to immediately start work on a follow-up based on increased Government housing targets.
“Well although we’ll have to get on with it there won’t be the same urgency as all of the original homes will need to be built first
“[Any new Local Plan] will cause anxiety and angst, but at least people won’t think it’s coming down the road tomorrow, and I hope in this area there won’t be the land banking problems you see elsewhere ”
Having fought a war of attrition against the Conservative administration at HCC, St Albans Liberal Democrats have now found themselves in the contrasting position of working hand-in-hand with their county colleagues after seizing control in May
programme of key improvements well underway the first signs are promising
So does he feel the conversation has now changed?
“It always helps if you ’ re associated with a party in power, because you just get listened to more
“The only way an opposition party got listened to under the county structure was in the formalised debates You know, when it was a case of we said this, and they said, ‘ no that’s not right’, and then everyone filed a press release saying how they’d made this important point
“Now you can actually have a proper dialogue and say there’s an emergency with this thing or that thing, and you can say positive things if something is working, which if you ’ re an opposition party you must never say publicly to the party in power
“So it’s a more mature conversation Steve Jarvis the leader has been around a long time, in some of the other executive posts are people who’ve been around a lot longer than me, and from St Albans Helen Campbell is deputy on highways, and new county councillor Ajanta Hilton is on public health
“People forget that public health is out there and run at that level, but it’s got a budget of about £50 million so it’s not a trivial thing ”
Quite how Lib Dems at district and county level work together long-term remains to be seen, but with a 100-day
“There’s going to be a big kind of panel discussion on the issues there are around SEND provision, which do seem to go beyond simply budgets, and I hope a different approach to deliveries on highways issues…”
As always, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and the Liberal Democrats have a lot to prove in the coming months For Cllr de Kort though, his focus will remain on St Albans, and how the council tackles several major challenges during SADC’s final years of existence
“Part of our legacy is to ensure we ’ ve got the very best deal for our residents
“The one thing I can say to people is that there is a real housing crisis in St Albans – whether that’s homelessness, people on the social housing register or the cost of private housing – and if we ’ ve done something about this and not just built a whole bunch of million pound homes then that will be something to leave behind
“There are lots of pressures because the Government really just wants to build, and the developers know this, but we ’ re the party speaking up for local residents and communities and want them to have a decent lifestyle in a place like this, and that’s our biggest challenge for the next two and a half years before the end of SADC.”
Cllr Paul de Kort
IPHONE WILLS - WHY THEY AREN’T LEGALLY VALID IN THE UK
Max George, pop star from the Wanted, hit the headlines at the start of the year when he revealed that he wrote his will on his iPhone, whilst in hospital, and before undergoing emergency heart surgery
Reflecting on his instructions for his assets, which he left on his phone, he said “that first night I wrote a will, I thought I was going to die”
Although the act of documenting his last wishes, during this traumatic life event, will be understandable to many, it is important to outline that Max’s iPhone will would not have been a legally binding will Although digital text is technically writing, to have been considered a valid will, a physical document signed by him and witnesses would have been required This will be a surprise for many given our reliance on phones in this digital age
The Law Commission is considering the current legislation and whether electronic wills should be recognised However, until any changes take effect, it is essential that a will is on paper to be legally binding
Requirements for making a valid will
Wills are primarily governed by the Wills Act 1837 Under section 9, no will is valid unless: it is in writing, signed by the testator, or by some other person in their presence and by their direction; with the intention of giving effect to the will; signed in the presence of two witnesses, who are also in the presence of the testator
You should also be aware that if you need to prepare a will in another country, for example if you own assets abroad, the requirements for making a valid will there are likely to be different to the UK requirements
Implications for an invalid will
Following a death where there is no valid Will in place, your estate would pass under the Intestacy Rules, whereby the law will determine who will inherit your estate
This may result in your assets not passing to those you would wish to benefit, for example, as in Maxs case, long-term partners who are not married to the deceased would not automatically inherit under an intestacy
Rebecca Napier Associate
How can Sherrards assist you with your will
Max’s story highlights how important it is to ensure you have a valid will in place
To avoid being left without a will, and your wishes not taking effect on your death, we encourage you to contact us at Sherrards By consulting with one of our private wealth experts, we will assist you in creating a valid will, specific to your personal circumstances, which will provide security for your loved ones
If you would like advice on preparing your will or have questions about the validity of your existing arrangements, our dedicated private wealth team at Sherrards is here to help
IN OTHER NEWS...
Beer, gin, pizza and wellness at The Quadrant fun day
Nadya Giffen Therapies
celebrated their second year at The Quadrant in Marshalswick by showcasing a new range of wellness gifts and organising a summer fun day
The Phoenix Barber Co set up a gin bar and beer garden on the main strip of The Quadrant alongside La Scatola pizza
Nadya said: “This is the first time we have been allowed to use this space so we thank The Quadrant management for allowing us to hold this event
“As the event was so successful, we will be holding talks with the management team and hope we can hold more events like these and maybe a market!
“Watch this space!”
Hardynge Choir to perform a concert of opera choruses
Following a successful performance of Handel’s Messiah in April, The Hardynge Choir will be performing a concert of Opera Choruses at St Nicholas Church in Harpenden on Saturday July 5.
Under their music director, Michael Veazey, the choir will sing a selection of well-known choruses, including the popular Nessun Dorma from Puccini’s Turandot, the powerful patriotic anthem The Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves from Verdi’s opera Nabucco, the Villagers Chorus from Rossini’s William Tell, and the Voyagers Chorus, a delightful chorus from Mozart’s opera Idomeneo Soloists will sing the famous Pearl Fishers duet by Bizet
Tenor soloist Jordan Wilson has been praised for his clarity of tone and sensitive musicality Having a strong love of choral singing, he has sung at venues across the country and worldwide, including St Paul’s Cathedral, Liverpool’s Metropolitan and Anglican Cathedrals, and St Nicholas Basilica in Amsterdam
Alongside his solo work, Jordan sings regularly at Chelmsford Cathedral as the tenor lay clerk Bass soloist Ed Walter has collaborated with leading British orchestras at renowned venues across London and beyond. He has broadcast for the BBC and recorded with the London Choral Sinfonia, NYC, the Rodolfus Choir, and the award-winning Epiphoni Consort, with whom he has recently won the 18 International Choir Festival in Tallinn, Estonia th
In a change to the accompanist listed on the choir’s publicity, the choir will now be accompanied by Jennifer Carter, who has played at the Edinburgh Festival, LSO St Luke’s, the Bristol Colston Hall, the Barbican Centre, St James Piccadilly, St John’s Smith Square, St Martin-in-theFields, the Royal Albert Hall and Kings Place and has also toured Norway, France and Germany with her piano trios. Further details and tickets are available at www hardyngechoir org
Edible sunshine...
Elena Hogg, founder of local culinary company FOOD by Elena, makes the most of the fruit from her husband’s apricot tree.
My husband’s prized apricot tree has borne fruit. This is an event, because in the seven years since it was planted, it has only produced three measly apricots, and they were hard and largely flavourless. This summer, one year after its inaugural but meagre fruiting, it has gifted us twenty-six plump, blush-orange apricots. Most are still on the tree, but some fell in the recent winds – our young tree not yet being hardened to unseasonal gusts. The apricots that fell were greedily gathered by my husband, who looked a bit like Gollam from Lord of the Rings. I may even have caught him sniffing the fruit and murmuring, “Preciousssss…”
Precious is right, though. Unlike the apricots you can buy at the supermarket, which are often quite muted in flavour, the
ones from our tree are brimming with floral sweetness and give a good punch of tartness all in the same bite.
With the first haul, my mind immediately began racing through all the delicious things to make with them.
Apricot jam? Perhaps a cobbler? But then I realised that adding a lot of sugar to them would almost entirely mask their natural flavour, so we ended up eating them exactly as they were, au naturel, with just some tangy, crumbly Wensleydale to nibble on alongside.
I’d got the apricot bug, though, and had a hankering to make them the subject of a culinary tribute.
So I bought a couple of the best punnets I could find and began the important business of choosing what dishes to make.
Summer equals salad, in my book, so first up was a sweet-and-savoury mix of apricot with salty, crumbled feta, because feta has been sent to us by the food gods, who know just how superbly it complements anything fresh, juicy and sweet, like watermelon, grapes, or properly ripened cherry tomatoes.
The apricot slices and feta rubble were joined by some peppery rocket for contrast, and sprinkled with sunflower seeds for crunch. Drizzled then with some good olive oil and sherry vinegar, it was food those same gods would approve of.
Next, something indulgent and comforting. A crumble crossed my mind, but I didn’t want to hide the apricots under or inside anything. This led to the idea of a tart, which made sense on two levels: it would glorify the golden apricot both visually and gustatorily, and would also make use of a shortcrust pastry case that I had made for a client’s quiche before realising they’d actually ordered a lattice. If you don’t happen to have homemade pastry cases to hand, you could use a
shop-bought one, or buy some ready-rolled pastry to make your own. Don’t be put off making one from scratch, though, because it’s fairly straightforward compared with other kinds of pastry, and I always remember Nigella advising her viewers that, if you don’t let your nerves show, the ingredients won’t misbehave. Pastry, like animals, can sense anxiety and will play up if it thinks you’re worried. So show it who’s boss, even if it’s all an act.
The tart topping was already fully imagined in my mind – beautiful crescents of apricot laid out in perfectly concentric
circles (because – just sometimes – the precise rather than the rustic must be attempted). But the filling was giving me pause.
I didn’t want anything too stodgy like a frangipane, nor anything so insubstantial as a no-bake mascarpone filling whipped up with some sugar, which would’ve felt like an injustice to the apricots. So I decided to make a low-flour custard with more milk than cream for lightness, and not too many eggs so as to give a soft, yielding texture. What really made the dish, though, was lightly
poaching the apricots in a syrup infused with lemon zest, which lifted and brightened the whole thing.
The end result was definitely worth all the effort and – best of all – I had an opportunity to dig out my favourite kitchen gadget – my blowtorch, which I used to just catch the edges of the apricots so that their beautiful sunset colour popped against the blackened parts. Plus I had lots of fun brandishing the blowtorch 007-style and telling my kids I was Bond.
Brûlée Bond; licence to char.
Summer Sounds event brings the
best of St Albans to The Maltings
Who would have thought that the hottest place in town on a Friday night would have been a shopping centre?
But there was no disputing the fact that The Maltings Summer Sounds was one of the highlights of the city calendar so far this year
Thousands of people came over the course of the evening to enjoy live music by Brilliant Theatre Arts, Grace George, Flabba, and Dirty Stereo.
They tucked into food by local vendors including Chicken George, Infuse Modern Indian Bistro, Waffle Wands and Peddling Pizza and cooled down with drinks from the Youth Talk Prosecco bar, Black Bridge Distillery, The 3 Brewers of St Albans, Bunkum Rum and Fade to Black
In celebration of Pride Month, the evening was hosted by the iconic drag queen Fiona Flange
Retailers pulled out all the stops with special offers, goodie bags and vouchers
Theresa Kennedy, owner of Up We Pop hosted a Spin to Win event where guests spun the wheel for a goodie bag and glass of Prosecco She raised a total of £600, with all funds raised going to local charity Donna’s Rescue Dogs
Simon Cox, manager of Clipso hair salon, said the event had “ a great atmosphere and party vibe”
He added: “The Clipso St Albans team sincerely hopes that this will be the first of many more to come ”
The Youth Talk prosecco bar, sponsored by The Maltings, helped raise funds and awareness for the local mental health charity
Jim Lewis of Youth Talk said: “What an amazing evening at The Maltings Summer Sounds! We were so grateful to be invited and to have our Prosecco Bar sponsored Thanks to everyone ’ s incredible support, we raised nearly £700 – that’s another 14 counselling sessions we can now offer to young people in St Albans ” Centre manager Richard Marrett explained why they decided to hold the event: “We are very proud of the retail offering at The Maltings and created Summer Sounds to showcase our amazing independent and brand name stores
“The Maltings plays an active role in the community of St Albans, encompassing a substantial proportion of St Albans city centre, which we are very proud of “Summer Sounds was organised to embrace and unite the
Photos by PR4, FL1 Digital, 1 Sec Stop, Craig Shepheard and Karen Jennings
community, retailers, residents and local businesses Summer is a key trading season, and we wanted to showcase the amazing products and services our retailers provide and remind people to shop in-store and support local businesses ”
One of the obvious things about Summer Sounds was the very diverse mix of businesses, artists, traders and visitors on the night – something which is very important to the centre.
“Diversity and inclusion are at the heart of everything we do at The Maltings, not just during special events like Summer Sounds, but in our everyday operations. St Albans is a wonderfully multicultural city, and we are proud to reflect and support that spirit within our centre Summer Sounds was all about showcasing our vibrant retail community, uplifting local businesses, and creating an inclusive space for people to come together ”
Crucially, Summer Sounds was an entirely independent event, not associated with the district council or St Albans BID, although it did of course have their full support
“Summer Sounds was organised by The Maltings as a standalone event for the retailers within the centre and not a replacement for any events that have recently been cancelled elsewhere in the city centre
“The Maltings is a private entity, and whilst we are proud of our relationship with St Albans council, as a business we are wholly separated from them We welcome the events designed to drive footfall to the city centre and encourage St Albans council and St Albans BID to continue and increase community-focused events ”
Having worked in the hospitality industry for over 20 years prior to joining The Maltings, over half of which was in St Albans, Richard has built great relationships with local food and drink traders from St Albans and the surrounding area, which helped to ensure a wide selection of outlets
“The stalls at Summer Sounds included a diverse mix of regular market traders and local businesses, with the furthest away being only 9 5 miles from The Maltings
“We also supported one of our charities, Youth Talk, to have a stall to raise funds to support their essential work providing free counselling services to young people in St Albans
“Due to the astounding success of Summer Sounds, this will become an annual event, and we are already planning a Christmas event For future events, we will welcome applications from all traders to come and attend ”
What feedback has he received since Friday? “We have had so many positive comments on how the event was run, the music, the support for local charities from local residents, visitors, traders on the evening and most importantly, our shops within The Maltings, with an overwhelming number of requests to repeat it every year. The success of Summer Sounds was a true reflection of the incredible collaboration between our retailers, local businesses, and The Maltings team
“As our first big event, Summer Sounds was a valuable learning experience We’ve heard the feedback about advertising and really appreciate people taking the time to share their thoughts
“Next time, we’ll be looking to increase visibility with more posters around the centre, and we’d also love for people to follow us on social media to stay in the loop with future events, retailer news, and special offers
“In the meantime, we will continue to support the shops of The Maltings, build on the local community spirit that we embrace within the city centre and look forward to welcoming all our visitors in the future ”
More than 600 young people set to shine at Herts School Games
Oaklands College will be hosting the Herts School Games Celebration Event 2025 for the second time this Friday, welcoming over 600 children and young people from across Hertfordshire for a day of inclusive, inspiring, and development-focused sport.
The event gives pupils aged 7–16 the chance to experience the buzz and excitement of a major multi-sport celebration Set in the grounds of Oaklands’ Smallford campus, the day will include an official opening ceremony, co-hosted by two young sporting ambassadors from St Peter’s School, St Albans, and attended by a large group of VIP guests, including local mayors, councillors, Sport England, Youth Sport Trust representatives, school leaders, and Oaklands College senior staff and sports academy heads
Oaklands deputy principal for strategy, partnerships and business development, Claire Dolan, said: "Oaklands is known across the country for our excellence in sports coaching, and are passionate about the life-changing benefits of sport to young people So this event is a highlight of our year and we are thrilled to host it again It’s an event that brings together so many schools and champions the power of sport to inspire, engage, and transform lives "
Headlining the day is Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, one of Team GB’s most decorated sprinters and a triple Commonwealth Games gold medallist, who has also shone on TV – as a Gladiators star and a contestant on the 2024 Christmas Special of Strictly Come Dancing Harry, known for his charisma and commitment to youth sport, will open the event and spend the day encouraging and inspiring participants
In addition, 12 Sporting Champions young athletes already competing at high levels in their disciplines will be on hand throughout the event to support, engage, and mentor participants
The day will feature nine activity zones, reflecting the core pillars of the Hertfordshire School Games: Inspire & Engage and Aspire & Develop. Events will be led by trained young leaders from local secondary schools and supported by Inclusion Champions and a youth media team capturing the excitement throughout the day.
Activities include:
Active 60 Carousel – Year 4 pupils from non-engaged schools;
Ultimate Frisbee – Year 5 pupils from engaged schools yet to reach finals;
Herts a Knockout – Year 8 pupils not in regular competitive teams;
Inclusive Cricket & Golf – For KS2 pupils with additional needs;
Inclusive Transition – Year 6/7 pupils preparing for secondary school;
Tennis Skills Festival & Inclusive Tennis – For nonplaying and SEND pupils; Girls’ Football – Year 3 pupils new to team sport or club involvement
Funded by Sport England’s National Lottery programme and delivered nationally by the Youth Sport Trust, the School Games initiative is designed to provide inclusive opportunities for every child to enjoy the benefits of sport In Hertfordshire, the programme is coordinated by 12 School Games Organisers (SGOs), delivering events and competitions tailored to pupils’ development levels across the county
The 2025 event supports the national School Games' pledges to promote youth engagement, physical literacy, and tackling inequalities, with a shared goal: to place sport and physical activity at the heart of every young person ’ s school life
170 YEARS OF LOCAL NEWS IN ST ALBANS
TO COMMEMORATE THE MILESTONE OF THE HERTS AD’S 170 ANNIVERSARY, WE TAKE A LOOK BACK OVER THE HISTORY OF THE TITLE, SOME OF THE MAJOR STORIES IT HAS COVERED IN THIS TIME, AND HOW IT WAS FORCED TO REACT TO CHANGING SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC PRESSURES OVER THE DECADES... TH
It was 170 years ago next week that St Albans saw the publication of the first edition of a dedicated local newspaper for the city, and indeed the wider community. The repeal of newspaper stamp tax in 1855 had prompted the launch of many local papers across the country, and in St Albans Richard Gibbs the Elder used his long-established print business to do the same
Based out of The Clock House at the base of the city’s medieval Clock Tower, he was inspired by his brother’s success with the Aylesbury Times, launched in 1836 as a tool by the Liberal John Gibbs to tear strips out of the Tories, nobility, landowners and squires.
The first edition of the St Alban’s Times and Herts Advertiser [yes that’s where our name comes from!] was published on Saturday July 7 and cost one and a half pence Three hundred copies were produced on a hand-operated press and the news included the latest developments in the Crimean War, syndicated from a London-based news provider
The front page featured adverts and local train timetables, with news only found inside There were no headlines, photos, colour or gaps, just very small words crammed onto its broadsheet pages
Additionally, the scope of the paper was much wider, with local news from Hertford to Harpenden, Rickmansworth to Codicote, and national news from across the UK. There was no railway in St Albans at this time, but the paper included a timetable from Hatfield to London on the Great Northern Railway, and details of the service of omnibuses from the Peahen Inn to connect with the trains at Hatfield
No sooner had the newspaper begun publishing than it found itself fighting to preserve the Clock Tower, which the council hoped to demolish to save money A campaign supported by St Albans Architectural and Archaeological Society resulted in the creation of a restoration fund and the subsequent renovation of the tower by architect George Gilbert Scott
Early editions also reflected dissatisfaction with the long hours endured by shop assistants and agricultural workers, with calls for the early closing of the town’s shops
The paper reported on how church bells rang until late in the evening to mark the arrival of the first St Albans train on May 8 1858, with a civic procession from the Town Hall to the station and a grand dinner in the newly-built Corn Exchange
A busy Herts Ad newsroom in the 1980s
One of the first murders reported in the newspaper was in 1875 when groom George Hill was convicted of the “shocking murder of an illegitimate child”, his infant son William.
th
The late 19 century saw frequent cases of infectious diseases in the town – including major smallpox outbreaks in 1872, 1899 and 1900 - which the Herts Ad blamed on St Albans’ uncontrolled development and lack of a public sewerage system. The newspaper ’ s ongoing calls for proper sanitation resulted in the eventual completion of a sewerage system in 1884, and the introduction of inoculations saw future outbreaks eliminated.
In August 1877, the newspaper reported on the town of St Albans becoming a city following the founding of the Diocese and the enthronement of the first Bishop, Thomas Claughton
Although Gilbert Scott had started work on the restoration of the Cathedral, his death in 1878 resulted in amateur architect Lord Grimthorpe taking over, resulting in the western façade we see today.
The 1880s saw Ernest Gibbs step in as editor and coproprietor with John Bamforth, brother-in-law of the founder, and in August 1887 employees from various departments of the HA notably formed their own cricket club after several successful matches between the ‘jobbing’ and the ‘ news ’ sides of the business After one match about 24 Herts Ad cricketers “partook of tea at the Coffee Tavern, French Row, with Mr Ernest Gibbs presiding”.
One of the most influential journalists in the newspaper ’ s history was Harry Benjamin Carrington, who joined as chief reporter in 1896, going on to become editor through two world wars and over 30 and a half years before his retirement in 1947
When he arrived the city’s population was just 15,000, and he went on to report on the building of new schools, many churches including St Saviour’s, St Paul’s and Marlborough Road Methodist, and new houses and factories
Henry John Whittick became editor in early 1896, probably before April of that year, and remained in the role until 1900, when he moved to the Express and Star in Wolverhampton as chief reporter While still in St Albans he married Amelia Louisa Hartley Tyler at some point in 1899 In 1906 the Postmaster General insisted telephone poles should be built along the west side of St Peter’s Street, prompting another newspaper campaign which culminated in the wires being placed underground despite great technical difficulties, ensuring the street’s vista was preserved
Richard Gibbs, the newspaper ’ s founder, lived to see the title mature into a well-established title by the time of his death at the age of 76 in 1909, including celebrating its golden jubilee in 1905, when he said: “Many remarkable things have occurred since that far-off date in 1855, and one of the most striking historical features of the intervening period has certainly been the growth of newspapers as a factor in the national progress ”
There is a brass memorial honouring him in Dagnall Street Baptist Church.
(Above) Smart reporters in the 1890s; (left) Moot Hall, where the HA was once based; (below) Mr Tyson, Mr Drage, Miss Baulk and Miss Moreton, the HA’s first woman reporter
The Herts Ad reported on how American industrialist Andrew Carnegie was granted the Freedom of the City in October 1911 in recognition of his donation of a public library, the building in Victoria Street now occupied by Miller & Carter It also covered the career of cinema pioneer Arthur Melbourne-Cooper, who tried to put St Albans on the movie map when he filmed Sleepallday Fire Brigade in Redbourn and Shenley and used London Colney for Off for the Holidays
As war loomed in 1914, the Herts Ad reported on the arrival of soldiers from various regiments into the area, with the 22 London Regiment initially stationed at Gorhambury, where they were reviewed by both King George V and Lord Kitchener nd
The death of Ernest Gibbs in 1917 saw his brother Herbert take over the management of the newspaper, with Harry Carrington having become editor the previous year In November 1919, when the HA was 64 years old, a new press was installed which was capable of producing 24,000 copies and hour, and the size was permanently enlarged to 12 pages
The paper reported: “By the rigid exclusion of all that is likely to be offensive or derogatory to the best interests of our readers, we have endeavoured to merit the title of ‘ a family newspaper ’ in the strictest sense of the word.
“We have avoided sensationalism, preferring to devote our energies to a faithful chronicling of events occurring within the county, at the same time eschewing anything in the way of sectarian or political bias, and endeavouring, by candid criticism and comment, to lead public opinion upon matters
of outstanding import ”
Just a few years later, in 1925, the Herts Ad celebrated its 70 birthday with a luncheon at the Town Hall, although the only woman present was Mayor Margaret Wix th
Editor Harry Carrington established the Herts Ad Santa Claus Fund during the depression of the 1930s, helping more than 10,000 local poor children over the next decade by providing new clothes and toys as well as paying for children’s parties.
“Considerable damage to the Regent” said the paper after the original Alpha Picture Palace – the city’s renamed first cinema – was burnt down in December 1927.
Working for the paper between 1925-1930 was Leonard North, who recalled in 1985, for the 130 anniversary: “My earliest recollections of hours spent in a little ‘cubby hole’ in the Dagnall Street premises, reading and correcting proofs th
“On promotion to junior reporter I carried out ‘calls’ in the city and one of the ‘perks’ was free admission to the cinemas and dances ”
Laurence Putin, who worked at the HA in the 1930s, reflected:
“I remember with great affection wo members of staff who took great care of the newcomer – the Editor, kindly Mr HB Carrington, who died in 1951, and Lionel Drage, chief reporter, who died at a great age only a few months ago
“The fact that I was sacked by the management after some two years – entirely my own fault – was a turning point in my career, for I went to join the Press Association, survived a tour of bombing operations with the RAF and emerged unscathed as a Squadron Leader, and became Day Editor of Reuters News Agency ”
An official group photo from the 1920s, with Harry Carrington as editor, Len North and Bob Carrington as apprentices, Mr Aubrey Eddy as manager, Mr Harding as advertising manager, and Miss Randall in charge of women’s features
A works day out to Clacton on May 26 1951.
Editor Harry Carrington
Another reporter working during this period was Richard Dring, who served a four-year apprenticeship in the midthirties, and recalled: “The first story I was sent on was to find a white blackbird a reader claimed to be a daily visitor to her garden Well it did not appear for me, and the unforgiveable sin was committed of having fallen down on a story
“Then there was the grave digger of London Colney who fell into the grave during the funeral service and broke his leg, and the rent collector who lost the contents of his satchel down the drain he was inspecting with the happy result of most of the pound notes being recovered at the local sewage farm
“‘Church Calls’ provided the opportunity each week to visit the clergy of all denominations for tit-bits of church news
Many were the interesting and lively discussions that took place, and some even with the Bishop himself. To my lasting memory, I remain accused by the Reverend Kirk Bryce of having altered the Word of God in reporting one of his sermons!”
Transport between jobs was not easy, and usually undertaken by pushbike, but the first photographer, Frank Schraivogal had a motorbike and sidecar
The 1920s also saw the traditional male newspaper environments welcome their first women journalists, with the first being Kathleen Moreton at the start of the decade, and then Gwen Randall from 1923 to 1931
Gwen was quite prepared to carry on with the job when she married, but this idea was quashed as it was considered impossible for her to attend evening engagements if her husband was waiting for his supper to be cooked How things have changed!
Kathleen Wilson took over from her (remaining until 1946 when her husband returned from the war), and Harry Carrington’s daughter Beryl joined in 1935, beginning a career at the Herts Ad which lasted for 70 years and becoming a true pioneer in her field
Beryl and the other female reporters proved invaluable during the Second World War, when journalists including George Davies, Roy Bentley and Doug Walton were called into service, with the women keeping the title going during the conflict
Even before war was declared, the first evacuees arrived from London by train, and the Herts Ad of September 8 1939 reported: “Householders have responded magnificently to the appeals for accommodation ”
Wartime also saw a shortage of newsprint keeping paginations low and strict censorship preventing the reporting of events that people had seen with their own eyes, challenges which impacted on what stories could be included and how much space provided
Reporting during this period was Kathleen Gansert, the title’s children’s correspondent Auntie Kittie, who organised competitions and giveaways to local youngsters She recalled her wartime experiences: “At first we sat twiddling our thumbs, with the paper reduced to half its size and very little social life to report, but filling sandbags, joining voluntary war efforts, helping with evacuees, and air raid warden service, or even just learning first aid, soon filled our time…
Local newspaper editors attend the opening of County Hall in 1939.
Herbert Gibbs, proprietor of the Herts Advertiser, was Mayor of St Albans in 1932 He drove one of the first cars in St Albans and instigated the planting of the floral mile along Sandridge Road
Richard Gibbs the Elder, who founded the Herts Advertiser in 1855
“But as the lads were called up one by one, the ‘reserveds’ and the ‘oldies’ on the paper became the men and women of the moment – our diminished responsibilities suddenly grew to alarming proportions!
“It was to honour those who had gone off to war that we worked so hard – 60 to 70 hours a week, feeling our job was very subsidiary
“All honour to our long-suffering editor, Mr HB Carrington (on his second war); our chief reporter throughout was a sergeant major of World War I, LR Drage, who kept us hard at it
“But we all had our moments of fun together – especially at The Bell!”
Victory in Europe saw “ gay scenes in St Albans and other places” according to the Herts Ad, but controversy followed three months later when the Cathedral’s Dean Cuthbert Thicknesse refused to give thanks to God for Japan’s surrender after atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
As we moved into the late 1950s and 1960s, paid-for newspapers enjoyed a renewed heyday, until the later rise of free newspapers impacted on their revenue in much the same way that the internet would do half a century later
The onset of the 1950s also saw the death of Harry Carrington, marking the end of an era for the paper
Grace Crookhall-Greening, who joined in 1950, came to the city from the defunct Manchester City News: “I remember the work in glimpses Sweating out a County Show, writing interminable rabbit results in the press tent, fortified by beer
and stamina; having fascinating running arguments with clergymen on weekly calls, and listening to the bereaved who needed to talk (perhaps one of a reporter’s incidental acts of real service in those more leisurely days) and finding the impression of the departed hard to match with the po or pinched face in the open coffin, having my republican sympathies extended to include the very new Queen, when she looked so slight and solemn and vulnerable distributing the Maundy Money ”
This was the occasion when the new Queen Elizabeth visited in June 1952 to mark the Diocese’s 75th anniversary She was to return in 1982 to open the Abbey’s new £1m Chapter House, constructed using half a million replica Roman bricks. Sean Day-Lewis started work at the Herts Advertiser in early 1954: “I was let loose on the customary wide range of reporting duties and in the evening was allowed to pose as a critic of the arts
“My superiors, associate editor Lionel Drage in particular, were very tolerant of my 22-year-old pretensions It did not matter if it was music, drama or painting, I was able to pontificate with opinion uninhibited by knowledge.
(Above) Back from the war: Douglas Walton, who had been a radio operator in the Merchant Navy, Beryl Carrington, “Desert Rat” George Davies and Roy Bentley who was in the RAF, in the Dagnall Street newsroom (Below) Stopping for a snack on an office outing
(Above) Harry Carrington’s 50-year anniversary party at the Town Hall in 1946, for which he received an illuminated address and a silver tea set (below)
Journalists including Harry Hand and George Davies meet the Chief Constable in Hertford
“I looked around and could not see a spark A little later George rang again saying that from house he could see the whole skyline lit up This time Drage had difficulty in suppressing his rage and I was told not to come back until I had found the fire
“It was indeed a spectacular affair, an entire paper factory alight from top to bottom. It was lucky our deadline was weekly!”
December 1957 saw the newspaper report on the mysterious disappearance of schoolgirl Anne Noblett She had alighted from a bus in Lower Luton Road between Wheathampstead and Harpenden and was never seen alive again. A month later her body was found in Whitwell, having been kept in a deep freeze for that time Her murderer has never been found
The next year saw the beginning of a long fight to preserve the River Ver, one that has continued to the present An alliance between Lord Verulam, archaeologist Sir Mortimer Wheeler and the St Albans Industrial Employers Association challenged plans to pump five million gallons a day from the river by the Luton Water Company.
Although it was agreed to cap this figure at two million gallons daily, the amount of abstraction from the Ver slowly increased until the formation of the Ver Valley Society in 1976, and a protracted campaign to save the river But with water companies still mistreating this rare chalk stream to this day, the battle continues on
With congestion becoming a growing problem in the medieval city, in 1961 the Herts Ad covered the fledgling Civic Society’s campaign to prevent the inner ring road scheme – effectively a dual carriageway through the city centre which would have meant hundreds of housing being demolished and the character of St Albans ruined forever
When the Chequers Cinema closed in June 1962, plans were unveiled for a supermarket on the site, only for the council to reject the scheme and decide to hold a competition to build a new shopping centre
The winning design by Samuel Properties was for a covered shopping mall which would be closed at night A campaign led by St Albans Civic Society and the Chequer Street Action Group resulted in 20,000 people signing a petition opposing the scheme in March 1979 That July Samuel pulled out and a new design by Bredero Consulting was chosen which became known as The Maltings Shopping Centre
In 1965 the Herts Advertiser Printing Co Ltd was bought by Luton-based Home Counties Newspapers Ltd, and by the late 1960s, there were four editions of the Herts Ad – covering St Albans, Harpenden, Borehamwood and Welwyn and Hatfield – with a staff of 27 reporters and six sub-editors working on what was one of the UK’s largest broadsheet newspapers
The introduction of new technology saw the end of the hot metal days and the introduction of computers, transforming the way that newspapers were produced and allowing for better design and the widespread use of colour
The Herts Ad enjoyed a world exclusive in September 1979, when it officially revealed that Rober Runcie, the Bishop of St Albans, was to become the next Archbishop of Canterbury, hours before any announcement from Downing Street
The following year, the new Archbishop sent his congratulations on the title’s 125 anniversary: “Since we left St Albans in March we have missed many things, and not least being kept in touch with local news through the columns of the Herts Advertiser The paper has built up over the years a reputation for up-to-the-minute news combined with a sensitivity to the needs of the locality ” th Asked what he thought about the Herts Advertiser, comedian Eric Morecambe joked, “I never read it!” but then added: “Local newspapers are a marvellous and excellent thing and I think everyone should read them The only thing I don’t read is the adverts!”
After the deaths of five St Albans schoolchildren and a teacher when a coach carrying Verulam and Beaumont pupils overturned in the French town of Ledignan in May 1985, the newspaper supported the efforts of a disaster appeal launched in the wake of the tragedy
In September 1987 the Herts Ad increased its circulation to 65,000 copies a week after switching from selling for 14p to becoming a free newspaper
A report in an issue of the St Albans Review from September 27 said: “For years it has seen a dwindling circulation from its 1967 peak of 41,000 copies a week Latest Audit Bureau of Circulation figures showed sales of just 18,024 copies a week ”
1988 is infamous for the introduction of Herts county council’s notorious one-way system, which brought traffic to a standstill and saw shoppers stay away in droves Around 30,000 signed a petition calling for its removal, with HCC scrapping the scheme the following January
A century after reporting on infectious disease outbreaks in St Albans, the Herts Advertiser was one of the first media to cover cases of the MRSA superbug in 1989, and also led calls to retain accident and emergency and maternity hospitals at City Hospital, a long-running campaign which unfortunately failed to succeed
July 1990 saw the newspaper report on the murder of internationally acclaimed pianist Joan Moffitt, killed in a frenzied axe attack by her husband Roger, a patient at Hill End Hospital following a nervous breakdown, who also took his own life
Former staff photographer Tony “Greg” Gregory was drinking in the Waterend Barn on the night of November 20 1991 when a 7pb Semtex bomb exploded in the doorway of the building adjoining the Civic Centre
He was able to snap the only exclusive pictures of the attempted IRA terrorist attack, which had intended to go off following an Alban Arena performance by the Blues and Royals military band
(Above) Ronald Riggs retires and enjoys a lunchtime drink with colleagues; (below) assorted images from the newspaper’s long history
This was the second failed IRA attack in the city, following a bomb exploding on the railway line just south of St Albans, fortunately not when any trains were passing
In 1993 the newspaper reported on the rehallowing of the pedestal of the Shrine of St Alban following its £150,000 restoration, an event attended by the Queen Mother
The Herts Ad’s Save Our Cinema campaign might have failed to prevent the closure of the Odeon in London Road in August 1995, but less than 10 years later it was instrumental in fundraising for the building to be purchased and restored as what is now The Odyssey
Celebrities passing through the district have also featured in its pages, including Dirk Bogarde, George Best, Bobby Moore, Alec Guinness, Matt Damon and Tom Cruise, but there has also been coverage given to those prominent people who made St Albans their home.
They included the likes of Samuel Ryder, founder of the world-renowned Ryder Cup as well as being a local politician and philantrophist, racehorse owner Jim Joel - whose horse Maori Venture won the Grand National - film director Stanley Kubrick, physicist Professor Stephen Hawking and comedian Eric Morecambe
But there have been just 13 “ proper ” editors – based out of St Albans and immersed in the local community – as opposed to the current content curators who work remotely and have little investment in the city and district
When the 12 incumbent, Noel Cantillon, retired in 2009, his farewell party marked the only occasion when five of these were gathered in the same place: Mike Daniels, Robert Richardson and Alan Booth joining Noel and his successor to the role Matt Adams Their predecessors included Henry Whittick, Don Smith, William Tyson, Frederick Usher and a Mr Galbraith (first name unknown) th
Of the baker’s dozen of editors, pioneering journalist Beryl Carrington worked under eight of them during her serviceincluding her father – and carried on contributing postretirement until her death in 2005 at the age of 86.
The Herts Ad wasn’t the only newspaper to publish locally during the past 170 years, but it is the only print title still in production. The St Albans Review, the St Albans Observer, the Mid-Week Advertiser and the Harpenden Free Press have all fallen by the wayside over this time
Other rival titles include The Hertfordshire Standard & St Albans Citizen, which was launched in 1877 to provide a Conservative alternative to the Herts Ad’s Liberal stance A copy of short-lived publication The St Albans Reporter was included in a bottle when the foundations of the public baths were laid in September 1876, and another title, the St Albans Gazette and County Advertiser lasted from 1899-1907
The Herts Advertiser has enjoyed many homes over the decades, including the Moot Hall – now occupied by WH Smith From 1898 to 1970 the newspaper ran from offices based in the former Wesleyan Chapel in Upper Dagnall Street, before moving to Campfield Road and then a modern building at Porters Wood industrial estate But when advertising staff were relocated to the regional office of owners Archant in Stevenage, the two-floor building was no longer needed
Editors Robert Richardson, Alan Booth and Mike Daniels in 1985, when the Herts Ad marked its 130 anniversary th
Company bosses threatened to relocate the entire news team to Stevenage, prompting then-editor Matt Adams to instigate a campaign to retain a local presence, with directors barraged by complaints from politicians, residents and community activists.
He was eventually able to negotiate rooms in empty council properties, with the surviving editorial staff moving first to Market Chambers in Market Place, and then into 7 French Row, which at the time had been unused for the best part of 10 years
This final location was to remain their home through the departures of the last sub-editor (Jim Bluck), news editor (Madeleine Burton) and staff photographer (Danny Loo), as diminishing revenues and a drive for cost-saving efficiencies from head office took its toll on staffing
With a skeleton staff proofing their own pages, a reliance on submitted images and a move towards templated page designs, the glory days of the paper were truly in the past Paginations were cut, contributors were dropped, and the title slowly began to wither away
The last nail in the coffin was the devastating impact of the Covid pandemic, which drove away property advertising and saw the two remaining members of the Herts Ad team – Matt Adams and reporter Laura Bill – forced out of French Row and into Dagnall Street Baptist Church, not far from where the newspaper had once occupied a large office building
That reprieve was only granted following a second campaign to remain local, with the then-minister of Dagnall Street, Rev Simon Carver, accommodating the staff in the vestry, which meant being subjected to regular organ rehearsals and the odd funeral service.
The events leading up to the sale of the Herts Ad’s parent company Archant to Newsquest meant even this office space was deemed to be financially prohibitive, and the team moved into space donated by William Lawrence Advertising Agency – owned by Matt’s long-term friend Roy Scott - before both left the title forever in 2022
Nowadays the Herts Advertiser – that once-proud, campaigning bastion of local journalism across the St Albans district – is far removed from its glory days An quickfire array of trainee reporters have been tasked with contributing to its pages over the past few years, many not even based locally, and the real focus of their attention is now on website traffic, leading to a reliance on what might be described as clickbait content
The newspaper now has no office, no doorstep distribution, and the accumulated local knowledge of decades of editorial staff has sadly been lost forever But while its eventual fate remains one to mourn, the history it recorded, the stories it told and the people who worked for it over the past 170 years should never be forgotten But while the Herts Ad fades away, local news will never die, with new titles like the St Albans Times stepping in to embrace the challenge
Based on research by Madeleine Burton, Beryl Carrington, Noel Cantillon and others Photos from the collections of Andy Lawrence and Tony “Greg” Gregory
(Top and centre) A huge editorial team and large offices during the Herts Ad’s 1980s heyday; (bottom) the legendary Beryl Carrington
Beryl Carrington officially retires from the newspaper
IN OTHER NEWS...
Dark secrets and global tensions collide in gripping drama
Enlightenment, by BAFTA-winning playwright Shelagh Stephenson, opens at the Abbey Theatre Studio in July with a chilling exploration of truth, trauma, and the search for a missing child in a world fractured by conflict while probing the emotional cost of living in a fearful, surveillance-driven, society In a society obsessed with information and control, Enlightenment follows Lia and Nick, an affluent, liberal couple whose son, Adam, vanishes without trace while travelling in Southeast Asia As months pass, their grief leaves them open to exploitation from inside and outside the family What begins as their desperate search for the truth spirals into a disturbing confrontation with media manipulation, political terror and the fragility of identity Director of the Company of Ten production, Rosemary Goodman said: “The studio is the perfect setting for this intriguing play often referred to as a psychological thriller This is not, however the typical whodunnit but more how a dangerous situation can be resolved By setting it in the round, our audience will find themselves drawn into a tense and spine-tingling drama played out on a minimalist set enhanced by projected images and sound effects Rehearsals are intense – we rarely even stop for a break as the talented cast of six work hard bring this play to life I defy anyone not to be on the edge of their seat as the play nears its denouement ” Shelagh Stephenson, acclaimed for The Memory of Water and Five Kinds of Silence, delivers a thriller that blends domestic intimacy with chilling geopolitics First performed at the Royal Court Theatre in 2005, Enlightenment is a psychological puzzle set against a world of global anxiety as relevant today as ever, forcing us to question what we believe and who we trust Enlightenment can be seen from Friday July 4 to Saturday July 12 at 8pm, Sunday July 6 at 2.30pm, and performances take place in the Company of Ten Studio
To book tickets please go to www abbeytheatre org uk or call the box office on 01727 857861.
ERIS: OPINION WITH BITE
two sides of the same coin
Are the hard left and right so different?
Both groups idolise their leaders. The left idolise ‘activists’ ie people who sound off about issues, but seldom know how to resolve them, for example Greta (I came, I saw nothing, I ate a sandwich) Thunberg. The Right like ‘strong’ men like Nigel (Look at me, Mum) Farage. Both groups operate in social media silos, only coming out to protest. The left are organised and plan their protests. They damage property, make a nuisance of themselves and try to disrupt other people’s lives. They feel whichever cause they are protesting about that week overrides everyone else’s right to live their lives peacefully.
The right exchange horror stories, usually in very local social media sites. They are prone to sudden explosions of anger, driven by specific local events, usually involving immigrants, resulting in rioting, which can quickly spread. What both groups have in common is they hate. The left hate the rich, anyone to their right, and the Jews. Their hatred is visceral.
“Kill a Conservative MP”, “Tax the rich”, “Kill
the IDF”, “From the river, to the sea”. They share historical libels about Jews, for example, ‘they are baby killers’, as a justification for their hate. They chant their slogans, sometimes not even understanding what they mean, for example, that they are calling for the genocide of a whole race. Or maybe they do, but don’t care.
The right hate Muslims and immigrants, but especially young, male, illegal immigrants. They view immigrants as taking their jobs, their housing, hurting their women and changing their culture. They feel powerless and unheard.
The grooming scandals have turbo-charged this antipathy and given them a sense of burning injustice. They are less organised and issue focussed than the left, with trouble tending to erupt following social media reporting of specific local incidents allegedly involving migrants, such as the Stockport reporting.
What is really different about the two groups is their supporters’ demographics.
The ‘left wing’ are well off, educated, middle class ‘liberals’. Passive aggressive and
quick to cancel anyone they disagree with, as they must be ‘evil’. Convinced of their virtue and horrified if you accuse them of ‘hate’ Meanwhile, they chant their death slogans excitedly, all in it together. At Glastonbury they were feted and promoted by the BBC and protected by the police as they partied in their fenced in and protected campsite.
The “right wing” could be seen out with their bricks and Molotov cocktails rioting in Ballymena and Larne. Poor, working class, many prospectless and predominantly men. They are demonised by the media, especially the BBC, as a bunch of racists. The police deal with them roughly, the riot police moving in promptly with water cannon and plastic bullets during the most recent riots. Do they act differently because one group is connected and articulate and the other is not? Are they treated differently because they are different social classes?
Fundamentally, are they not just two sides of the same racist coin?
THEATRE REVIEW
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
DEBORAH HEATH EMBRACES THE GOLDEN AGE OF DISCO AT THE ROMAN THEATRE FESTIVAL FOR OVO’S ‘SEVENTIES TAKE ON THE BARD’S COMEDY.
On opening night in late June, I experienced my own midsummer night’s dream as once again OVO rose to the occasion to deliver a summer smash hit in the magical setting of the Roman Theatre. This is no easy task – here is Shakespeare’s most often performed comedy and in fact I can’t even remember how many versions I have seen over the years I am sure I was not alone in this regard because the auditorium was packed with theatre-goers clearly eager to see a play they knew well
There is a reason for it being produced so often; quite simply it delivers! It’s lively, fun, usually musical and ideally suited to an outdoor space What could OVO possibly do to make it even more appealing?
All photos by Elliot Franks
This interpretation is the brainchild of Adam Nichols and Matt Strachan and is directed by Adam himself It scraps Athens for 1970s Lancashire’s ‘Furthergate Working Men’s Club’ with Theseus and Hippolyta as proprietors
The forest mechanical scenes are in the equally fun American Discoland. As well as being a fitting physical environment for the play, the 1970s setting highlights some interesting issues in Shakespeare’s text, particularly around the role of men and women and whether things have changed I enjoyed considering these weightier questions alongside the joys of the play
The production is packed with things that OVO do best – live music with talented actor-musicians moving seamlessly between roles, clever multifunctional scenery (watch out for the snooker table), fabulous costumes and all thanks to the vision of a hugely talented director
As the audience entered, we were greeted by compere Phil O’Strate (Mark O’Sullivan) giving us a relentless stream of 1970s jokes which could have fallen flat in lesser hands It was a marvellous way to set the scene. Also, very much of the period was the threeman (almost naked) balloon dance – one of the funniest moments in the play
OVO are very skilled at using audience participation and didn’t fail to disappoint during this production
Some lucky people ended up on stage as dancing partners or stooges but everyone else was encouraged to join in with key lines of songs and even do some John Travolta style dancing moves from their seats
A really impressive touch was the way the dialogue flipped between Shakespeare’s original text and shorter moments of modern speech to fit the interpretation
For example “You Yorkshire teabag” was an insult that felt very much in the Shakespeare spirit. These moments never jarred at all and to be honest sometimes I didn’t even notice the flip Adam Nichols handled this adaptation concept really well where others might have failed.
I hold the whole cast up as a perfect example of a well-functioning actor-musician company who knew how to use the whole set effectively Tom Cagnoni shone once again as musical director.
The arrangement of “Gimme Gimme, Gimme” and the final medley were particularly impressive
The choice of songs was spot on in supporting the themes and environments of the play yet was also enjoyable on a purely aesthetic level
Those actors who didn’t play instruments proved themselves to be great singers and dancers. If I’m honest I missed Bottom’s ass’s head but I liked Adam’s alternative idea and Christopher Chandler’s performance.
Grace Bassett was as ever, an absolute delight to watch throughout This production has a very welcome take on the role of Helena, and Grace mastered it In fact, Act II in which the story of the four lovers really hits the ground was so full of energy and physical comedy that I didn’t want it to end.
A highlight included Hermia (Hannah Brownlie) playing the guitar over Lysander (Charlie O’Connor)
Demetrius isn’t the easiest role to play as the character isn’t very likeable but Rory Dulku gave him just the right chinks of humanity whilst showing him up to be a narrow minded and hot-blooded lover These four talented actors exuded chemistry in their energetic team work – well done!
Design was also outstanding Cieranne Kennedy-Bell’s costumes were well researched, big and beautiful with some clever practical design elements that I won’t spoil in this review Simon Nicholas’ set celebrated both locations perfectly with slick transitioning and I loved the way the disco sparkles complemented the perimeter fairy lights as the sun set.
I saw the first performance of this play and although there were a few minor sound teething issues I know these will be sorted out - sound and lighting design was very impressive overall I couldn’t have had a more joyous evening OVO’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is quite simply a celebration of everything they stand for; a bold reimagining of a classic tale from a hugely talented company of performers, technical and behind the scenes crew Furthermore, this is the ideal time of year to stage the play and I couldn’t imagine many better environments for doing so This is a mustsee show so please grab a ticket before it is too late!
Wine Times
DARREN MCCABE OFFERS HIS WEEKLY WINE RECOMMENDATIONS (@DMC UNCORKED)
The
With the sun shining and your friends are gathered in the park for a picnic, what could make these moments even better? Tinnies! These tinned alcoholic drinks are the ultimate game-changer, offering convenience, variety, and a whole lot of fun for any occasion
Gone are the days of lugging around heavy bottles or dealing with the hassle of mixing drinks With Tinnies, you can crack open a can and enjoy a perfectly crafted beverage in seconds
Whether you’re a fan of rich red wines, refreshing spritzes, or
Tinny takeover is here!
delicious cocktails, there’s a Tinnie for every taste and every moment
Perhaps the most exciting development in the world of Tinnies is the availability of the pre-mixed spritz, these ready-to-drink concoctions offer the perfect solution for those who love a well-crafted drink but don’t want the hassle of mixing ingredients
M&S queen of the pre-mix, Jenny Rea has performed her magic again this summer with her creation of four new drinks
The Hugo Spritz is a refreshing and
aromatic drink that’s perfect for a sunny day.
This delightful beverage combines the flavours of elderflower and mint with white wine, all you need to do is add a slice of lime. The Hugo Spritz offers a light, floral sweetness with a zesty finish It’s like a garden party in a can!
The Sake Spritz brings a unique fusion of Japanese elegance and Western effervescence This innovative drink includes Sake with a cool lychee flavour, great with a garnish of cucumber or lime wheel. This spritz is light and crisp, with the
smooth, slightly sweet notes of sake complemented by the light fizz
The Limoncello Spritz is a vibrant and zesty cocktail that captures the essence of Italian sunshine. This lively drink is a perfect blend of sweet and tart The Limoncello provides a bold, lemony sweetness, balanced by the dry bubbles.
The Aperitivo Spritz, a classic favourite, is synonymous with Italian aperitivo culture Move over Aperol, this orange-red aperitivo provides a refreshing bittersweet taste with notes of orange and herbsperfect for the warmer weather Pop in an orange slice to add visual appeal and also enhance the citrusy aroma.
All four drinks are only 6% ABV and £2 50 a tin!
Also new to market, renowned Spanish winery Codorníu is gearing up for summer with the launch of Codorníu Spritz, the brand’s first wine seltzer range These sparkling cans combine the elegance of sparkling wine with the vibrant flavours of natural fruits
As Spain’s oldest winery, Codorníu has built an exceptional reputation for producing high-quality yet affordable cava Their new canned collection transforms their signature sparkling wine into portable, single-serve delights with a fruity twist, perfect for summertime celebrations on the go Codorníu Spritz cans are available in three refreshing flavours: orange, lemon, and raspberry. Each can combines natural summer fruits with hints of exotic spices and hibiscus, all married with light, effervescent bubbles These sparkling beverages are fresh and invigorating, with a delightful spicy finish
I enjoyed the Raspberry Spritz made with natural raspberry and hibiscus flavour, cardamom extract, and a blend of wine. You’ll experience effervescent and sweet summer raspberry flavours, harmoniously blended with the calming touch of soft verbena spice. The light bubbles add a lively and refreshing quality The finish is fresh and tangy, with a lingering berry citrus fruit aftertaste
And their Orange Spritz, combing natural orange flavour, cardamom extract, and a blend of wine Expect vibrant flavours of freshly squeezed orange juice, interwoven with spicy and minty notes The light effervescent bubbles add to the fresh and tangy finish, leaving a pleasant, lingering zest that invites you to take another sip Both coming in at 5 5% ABV and £8 75 from Amazon
Verulam School honours career of its first female teacher - now 99
The first female teacher at Verulam School, Olga Hopkins, has been recognised for a life of service by the opening of the new Hopkins Study Room
Olga, a remarkable 99 year old resident of Brampton Road has led an extraordinary life of dedication, but for Verulam staff and pupils she will always be remembered as their inaugural ‘Ma’am’
At just 18, she volunteered for the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) during World War II, contributing to the war effort She began her initial training in 1943 As she excelled in her intelligence tests, Olga was assigned as a Wireless Mechanic trainee at the Royal Technical College in Glasgow. Throughout her service in the WAAF, Olga worked on Blenheim Bombers and Ansons, carrying out radio inspections and transporting radio equipment. She vividly recalls the joy and relief on VE Day in 1945, joining her comrades in celebrating the end of the conflict In 1947, Olga was demobilised from service and went to study at Cardiff University, later becoming a teacher
Following the war, Olga broke new ground in education by becoming the first female teacher at Verulam School, where
she taught English.
Her pioneering presence led to a unique tradition: students and staff alike were initially unsure of how to address her Given her experience in the war, Olga suggested “Ma’am”, a title that continues to be used today Her husband also contributed to the school, serving as a teacher during the 1960s, 70s, and 80s Olga was honoured at the 80th VE Day celebrations at Buckingham Palace in 2025
On June 26, Verulam School welcomed back Olga, accompanied by her daughter Katherine, who shared tea and cake with headteacher Fergal Moane and history teacher Jack Pettitt, as memories were exchanged and the impact of Olga’s time at Verulam fondly recalled
Following tea, Olga and Katherine toured the school, visiting both familiar and new spaces. The highlight of the visit was when the school dedicated a special space in her honour - the room next to the Library will now be known as The Hopkins Study Room This celebratory tribute will open for student use in September 2025 as a quiet independent study space during break and lunchtimes a fitting legacy for an English teacher who inspired so many
IN OTHER NEWS...
St Albans Mayorship’s future uncertain due to council reforms
Whether St Albans' historic Mayoralty continues in the wake of local government reorganisation will be determined in the coming weeks
The role, which dates back to 1553, has its long-standing civic and ceremonial duties protected by statute, with a district councillor holding the position since SADC was created in 1974 The current office holder is Cllr Teresa Heritage
But with the district council facing abolition as part of a Government drive to form new unitary authorities by May 2028, the position's future is uncertain
SADC is now considering holding a community governance review to explore ways of preserving the Mayoralty, as well as whether to create a new parish council covering a large, unparished section of St Albans
The review was recommended by the strategy and resources committee at its meeting on Thursday and was previously supported by the city neighbourhoods committee
Full Council will now decide at its July meeting whether to go ahead with the review
Much of St Albans district has a parish or town council which organises community events and looks after assets such as open spaces, play areas and allotments
There are nine such councils in the district: Harpenden, Harpenden Rural, Redbourn, Wheathampstead, London Colney, Sandridge, Colney Heath, St Michael and St Stephen
However, much of the city is unparished including around 28,000 households in Batchwood, Bernards Heath, Clarence, Cunningham, Hill End, Marshalswick West, Sopwell, St Peters and Verulam wards.
Council leader Cllr Paul De Kort, chair of the strategy and resources committee, said: “One of the many challenging tasks we are now faced with is the Government’s reorganisation of district and county councils
"Over the next few years much of our senior officers’ time, focus and resources has to be diverted to dealing with the many complex issues that arise from this
“The Government has said little about their plans for parish councils, but they form an important part of our local government system and should not be forgotten
“This seems the right moment to re-examine our current parish and town council arrangements in detail to see if improvements are necessary I hope Full Council will accept the recommendation for the community governance review.
“In particular, we want to find out what the options are for continuing with the St Albans Mayoralty
“We also want to see if there is an appetite for a new parish council among our residents in the unparished area We need to look at the potential benefits to residents, the cost of creating a new council and its future funding.
“Such a parish council could eventually provide a home, as it were, for the Mayor of St Albans at some point after the district council is abolished.”
The Mayor is elected at SADC's annual meeting in May and chairs full council meetings
They also represent the city and the council at various events, raise funds for charity and support local voluntary groups
The office’s civic and ceremonial functions were established in various Royal Charters and Letters Patent
A future option could be to create charter trustees, comprising councillors from the new local authority whose wards lie within the historic boundaries of the Mayoralty
They would then take on the role of preserving the city’s civic tradition, either on a permanent or transitional basis
Beaumont once again ‘Outstanding’ following Ofsted inspection
Beaumont School has had its ‘Outstanding’ status reaffirmed following its first Ofsted inspection in more than 10 years.
The quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and the sixth-form provision have all been assessed as ‘Outstanding’ following May’s Ofsted inspection.
The last Ofsted report for the school was published in March 2014
Students were praised for their “exemplary attitudes to their learning and engaging with the wealth of opportunities available”, behaving with maturity as well as feeling “empowered to play a role in maintaining the school’s high standards of behaviour”
A significant proportion of students newly join the school in the sixth form and due to the “welcoming and inclusive nature of the school” they have quickly felt valued, said the inspectors
The school’s annual student-led community sport and music festival was highlighted for raising funds for charity as well as providing students with opportunities to perform for the local community and enrol in leadership and planning roles to develop their character and skill set
The report said reading underpins the curriculum in the school. Pupils who struggle to read get the support they need to help them to catch up quickly, and there is an established culture of reading in the school
The school also provides pupils with the most complex needs with effective additional support, including working with external agencies, ensuring pupils with SEND achieve very well
Beaumont’s headteacher, Martin Atkinson, said was delighted to share that the institution had maintained the highest standard of recognition by Ofsted He said the report was an incredible achievement, capturing the spirit of the school as well as the happiness
RESTAURANT REVIEW
CINNAMON
MATT ADAMS QUESTIONS
WHETHER 15 YEARS IS THE LONGEST GAP BETWEEN REVIEWS OF THE SAME RESTAURANT...
It’s a decade and a half since my first local restaurant review, and the menus here still bear witness to this deed with my rather grandiose proclamation that “the search for Harpenden’s best Indian restaurant begins and ends at Cinnamon” – but does this testimony still hold true?
Nestled away in Thompsons Close behind the High Street, the (yes everybody uses the definite article) Cinnamon used to enjoy close proximity to longvanished spa and gym Breathing Space, but this has now sadly been converted to flats, meaning it’s somewhat out on a limb in the town
It’s fair to say that if you don’t know it’s there, there are no signs to steer you down that particular side street, and something is definitely needed to draw diners from the main shopping area to see what they’re missing out on.
It’s also deceptively big, with a small frontage opening TARDIS-like into a huge restaurant area which seats just under 70 covers, with a very traditional ambiance of Asian music and mood lighting, and would make the perfect venue for a big family occasion
There’s one thing which certainly hasn’t changed about the Cinnamon over the years, and that’s the high quality of the food It has built its reputation on generous servings of exceptional Indian cuisine which ultimately never disappoints when it comes to taste
After an appetiser of papadams, I opted for an old favourite, Crocodile Tears, succulent pieces of chicken breast matured in a rich spicy marinade of dill, fennel, black pepper, honey and a trace of mustard oil, roasted in a tandoor oven with shallots and bell peppers, served with a sauce of pineapple and baby cucumber
Sweet, hot and flavoursome, it’s no surprise why this dish is one of the highlights of the menu. It could so easily be lost in a barrage of ingredients, but instead offers a perfect balance of flavours which leave you wanting more
My partner chose the ponir (paneer cheese) tikka on puri, served with thin bread The cheese was crispy with a delicious tandoori flavour, but needed a touch of sauce, so she used the dips from our papadams to avoid it being too dry Not a major criticism, but worth bearing in mind
There’s a well known risk of over-ordering in Indian restaurants, but even though we resolved to share our side dishes when it came to the mains, it still proved a challenge working through the ample portion sizes. You won’t leave hungry, that’s for certain
For my main, I opted for another chicken dish, the shahi rezella, prepared with yoghurt, butter, onion, cardamon, cinnamon, ginger, garlic, bullet green chilli, jafran and rose water, served in a thick sauce
There was nothing to cry about when it came to my partner’s choice, the Weeping Tiger consisted of whole tiger prawns cooked in a pan and coated
with a sauce which she said was to die for – slowly released aromatic flavours which came together in a fusion of taste
Tropical Bangladeshi pumpkin doesn’t feature on many menus, so was an interesting pick for a side dish, which we had alongside courgette bhaji and some pilau rice, all of which provided subtle accompaniments which did not overpower the mains.
Other Indian restaurants may have come and gone in Harpenden – who remembers Café Jeera in Station Road or Rice and Spice in Southdown? –but the Cinnamon is still holding onto its crown as the king of them all, and we were glad to be back
If there’s anything missing from the restaurant’s offering it’s probably an out-reach team to create more of a presence in the local community
It would be great to see them cooking at Harpenden farmers’ market, or serving lunchtime wraps to students from nearby St George’s or people working from home, as this will only encourage evening trade.
Appealing to Harpenden’s early evening family crowd is also recommended, perhaps with some child-friendly dishes to encourage them to dip their toes into the cuisine? Although there’s a budget-friendly buffet served Mondays to Wednesdays, most mums and dads will confirm that you simply can’t parent adequately after that amount of food, so more tapas-style dishes might be a better option
It’s fair to say that once you’ve sampled what they’re serving at the Cinnamon, you’re unlikely to visit any other local Indian restaurant, but it’s getting those feet through the door in today’s post-pandemic environment which is key to ensuring it’s still here in another 15 years, so please give it a try
St Albans Cathedral Peregrine chicks revealed as trio of males
The three Peregrine falcon chicks at St Albans Cathedral have now been ringed at the age of three weeks - and they're all males
The ringing was carried out by Barry Trevis, a licensed birdringer and nest recorder, who holds a Government license to visit the nests of this specially protected species, and who has been responsible for ringing all of the Peregrine pair’s chicks since they first bred on the nest in 2022
Barry also built the Peregrines’ nest tray and led the team that installed it high up on the Cathedral He said: “We know from the webcam live-stream that the parents have looked after the chicks well, so when we checked them over we saw that they were all in good condition
“We fitted a ring on each of their legs. One is a British Trust for Ornithology metal ring, a bit like a license tag, the other is a larger ring which is coloured orange with black lettering which means we’ll be able to track them in years to come.
“The birds are ringed to provide information on their origins and future movements
“The colour rings mean we can tell where they come from, how old they are, and who they are It gives us a much better idea of how long they live, their movements around the UK and even abroad, as well as their relationships – helping us to understand their family trees
“At the same time the birds are ringed, we weigh and measure them to ascertain the sex of the birds Females are much bigger than the males and we were able to conclude that this year ’ s brood consists of three males ” Ringing has enabled one of last year ’ s chicks, now a juvenile, to be identified at Port Meadow in Oxford.
Its presence was reported to the British Trust for Ornithology by Thomas Miller, who saw and photographed the bird ‘XSR’, which was ringed at the Cathedral on May 27
2024 The bird has been seen in Oxfordshire regularly over the past six months
Lea Ellis, engagement manager at Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust said: “There are so many people that build a real connection with the Peregrines as they watch them on the webcam so it’s great to know what happens to the chicks once they become independent and leave the nest Thanks to the ringing process, we now know of sightings of two of them – their first chick, Artemis, was seen in Norfolk and now we have this fantastic news that one of last year ’ s chicks looks to be making his territory in Oxfordshire ”
The Very Reverend Jo Kelly-Moore, Dean of St Albans added: “It’s a real joy to see the Peregrines thriving once again on the Cathedral. They’ve captured the imagination of thousands, both here in St Albans and online across the country The live cam has become a powerful reminder of the beauty of the natural world and the important role our sacred spaces can play in supporting wildlife We’re proud to share this journey with so many, and to play a part in protecting these extraordinary birds.”
The public can continue to enjoy a live, bird's-eye view of the Peregrine falcons via the webcam installed on their nest tray, as the chicks develop through to fledging The webcam, sponsored by Opticron, can be viewed via the Cathedral’s website at stalbanscathedral.org/peregrine-live-cam Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust and the St Albans Local RSPB Group have organised a series of Peregrine Watch events within the grounds of the Cathedral over coming weekends These events enable the community to find out more about these magnificent birds of prey from the volunteers on hand and to get a close up view of the Peregrines through telescopes and binoculars, which are provided. The full schedule of Peregrine Watch events can be found at: hertswildlifetrust org uk/events
The Trust has launched a Peregrine Sponsorship Pack, available in both postal and digital forms, with all proceeds going towards supporting local wildlife More information can be found at hertswildlifetrust org uk/shop
The Peregrine falcon chicks after being ringed at St Albans Cathedral (left photo by Barry Trevis, above photo by Andy Day )
Town carnival proves a summer spectacular
Shade was in short supply at a scorching Harpenden Carnival on Saturday
But the relentless sunshine didn’t put off the thousands of people who swarmed to the Common for an afternoon of live music, food and fun
Highlights included entertainment by award-winning Cha Char Chimps, world famous circus performer Richard Filby and live music on stage by Sam Lewis, Strike Free and The Carnegies Funfair rides, a bubble performer, archery, a climbing wall and laser tag kept the children entertained which the wide variety of food and market stalls, and outdoor bars, with community seating
Liam Stanbridge, director of mortgages at Turtle Mortgages, this year’s principal sponsors, said: “We were proud to support this year’s event in Harpenden and be part of such a brilliant local celebration It was great to meet people from the community and explain how we help people feel confident and informed at every stage
“Big thanks to the organisers for such a well-run and enjoyable day, we loved being involved ” Harpenden Town Mayor Cllr Beth Fisher said: “Thank you to everyone who attended the Harpenden Carnival on Saturday It was a fabulous day in the sunshine and it was lovely to see so many people enjoying the free entertainment on Harpenden Common
“Harpenden’s community events are so important to the town and it was a real pleasure for me to be involved in such a great event, presenting the prize on behalf of our principal sponsor Turtle Mortgages and collecting donations with our dedicated volunteers
“The charities supported this year include my chosen charities the Herts Domestic Abuse Helpline and the King’s Pantry Foodbank, plus other good causes selected by the Round Table who will all really benefit from the funds raised. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, stallholders, participants and visitors, money raised over the years has supported countless organisations.”
Photos by Steve Collins unless stated.
Photo by Terry Day
Photo by David Butler
Photo by David Whitbread
Photo by David Whitbread
Photo by Tim Tate
10 FROM 50 STEVE CLARKE
We ask a different figure from the local community to choose 10 questions to answer from a list of 50. This week: Steve Clarke, education officer at St Albans Cathedral, who can often be found dressing up as a medieval monk or King Offa, much to the delight of visiting schoolchildren.
What's the first thing you do after you've woken up in the morning?
Decide whether to switch off my alarm!! I wake up to Eloise by The Damned, so am more than happy to let it play and play.
Do you remember your first kiss?
I don’t remember my last kiss, let alone my first...
CD, vinyl, download or streaming?
Vinyl. Every time. The feel of the record in your hands, the album artwork, the crackle of the stylus, the warmth of the sound... CD is OK too, but don’t get me started on the evils of download or streaming...
What TV did you watch as a child?
Our one. As the youngest child in the family, I was the remote control too...
Who is your favourite St Albans musician or band?
Deaf Shepherd are (were?!) a cracking covers ban, I spent many happy hours listening to them in various pubs in St Albans. Steve Townsend is a legend!!
I would travel back to
300AD to see if the story of St Alban happened as we tell it now. As someone who works at the Cathedral, it might cause a few problems if we had to change the narrative...
Where would be your preferred place locally to get married?
I was lucky enough to get married at the Cathedral – it doesn’t get much better than that! Although tying the knot in the old Roman Theatre would’ve been pretty cool...
What’s your favourite St Albans pub?
It would have to be the Lower Red Lion – great beer, very friendly staff and a lovely, traditional building. Although, at £1.99 a pint, the Waterend Barn gets a very honourable mention. The Jolly Sailor is also a special pub to me. It was my local for many years and I’ve spent many happy at time watching football whilst enjoying a bargain priced Jolly Burger.
How long would you survive a zombie apocalypse?
A matter of minutes. Because, unlike Simon Pegg and Nick Frost in Shaun of the Dead, I wouldn’t risk damaging any of my vinyl by using them as defensive missiles.
If you had a time machine, what year would you choose to visit and why?
I would travel back to 300AD to see if the story of St Alban happened as we tell it now. Did the River Ver really stop flowing? Did the executioners eyeballs really fall out? Was Alban really the first Christian Saint and Martyr in Britain? As someone who works at the Cathedral, it might cause a few problems if we had to change the narrative...
Most inspirational St Albans person - living or dead?
My dad. He was born in Bricket Wood in the 1930s, went to Sunday School at the Abbey; attended Townsend School; returned to the Abbey as a Sunday School teacher; had his first job at a company in London Road; got ordained at the Abbey, and is now buried there too. His work ethic, kindness, compassion and moral integrity were truly inspiring.
CITY MUSE
SPORT>
MARLBOROUGH’SWIMBLEDONPRODIGY
Pupils parents and staff at The Marlborough Science Academy have justifiably been overjoyed at the success of former pupil Oliver Tarvet after he became the first British man since 2017 to come through the qualifying rounds at Wimbledon and earn a place in the tournament's main draw
You don’t need us to tell you how he’s been playing this week, as there s coverage all over the national media, so instead we’ll try to capture some of the excitement at his former school
Marlborough has been raving about his success with posts across social media and beyond: “What an incredible achievement for Oliver Tarvet, a former student at The Marlborough Science Academy Qualifying for the main draw at Wimbledon is no small feat, especially for someone currently ranked world No 719
“At just 21 years old, Oliver has made history as the first British man since 2017 to come through the qualifying rounds and earn a place in the prestigious tournament's main draw Growing up in St Albans, he began developing his tennis at Batchwood Tennis Academy while studying at Marlborough before continuing his journey in the United States with collegiate tennis at the University of San Diego This is only the beginning of what looks set to be an incredible sporting career The entire Marlborough
CITY CENTRE>
community is immensely proud and we’ll be cheering him on every step of the way ”
His PE teacher Chris Packard added: We are all incredibly proud of Ollie His hard work, dedication and endeavour are a testament to him and he deserves all the accolades he is receiving Ollie was a great student to work with always excelling in everything he did on the sportsfield or court We can t wait to continue cheering him on at Wimbledon and look forward to seeing him continue to excel over the coming years ”
Unfortunately Oliver was knocked out in his second round match against Carlos Alcarez, but you can be sure this isn’t the last we ’ ve heard of the Marlborough alumnus
WHATHASHAPPENEDTOMUSEUMBENCH?
Questions were asked after a popular bench located outside St Albans Museum + Gallery mysteriously vanished
Sponsored by St Albans BID, it was officially opened in 2021 by local resident Maureen Sivyer (pictured inset), who had campaigned for almost a decade to have a permanent bench placed there
Mrs Sivyer had set up a petition on Facebook, with the help of her daughter and granddaughter during her bench campaign
She said at the time: It s a pleasure to see people sitting on the bench and enjoying the lovely vista of the avenue of trees towards St Peter’s Church ”
But although it has recently been removed St Albans BID has confirmed that it is merely being spruced up as it was looking a bit tired and should be back in place within the week
Pioneer Club brings Glasto to St Albans
The highlights of this year’s Glastonbury Festival could be enjoyed on the big screen at Sunday’s Pioneer Club open day.
The event featured food and drink, stalls and entertainment, a selection of DJs throughout the day as well as an acoustic stage featuring local talent.
Free sessions included taster sessions in the skatepark and dance classes with their dance partner SASA.
Music and commercial director Jon Prayer said afterwards: “Thank you so much to everyone who came to our Glastonbury Open Day on Sunday. It was great to see the whole venue open and full of people! From kids trying skateboarding for the first time to a full house to watch Rod Stewart's slot at Glasto we couldn't have asked for anything more!
“I would like to say a big thank you to all the staff and volunteers who played such an incredible part of the day ensuring that everything ran smoothly. This year we went bigger and better than last year and that was only possible because of them!
“We are a venue with the community at its heart so events like this are a key part of that we do, that's also why we will always try to keep ticket prices affordable and have free activities once people are on site
“Oh and rest assured we're not having a fallow year in 2026!”
Photos by Stephanie Belton
Flashback: 1957
WHAT MADE THE NEWS IN THE HERTS ADVERTISER DATED: FRIDAY, JULY 5, 1957
Following our recent acquisition of a bound volume of the Herts Ad from 1957-1958, we present a unique 52part series looking at the stories, ads and photographs featured in the corresponding week 68 years ago, reflecting a period of 20th century history which saw major changes both in St Albans and across the wider district
FIRE DESTROYS PREFAB AND KILLS BUDGIE
A prefabricated house at 36 Valley Road, together with all of its contents, was destroyed in a fire at 2.30am during what was said to have been the hottest night for eight years.
Residents Mr and Mrs George Martin were asleep at the time, as was Mr Martin’s brother who was staying with them, but they were woken by Mrs Martin and escaped unharmed.
All of Mrs Martin’s clothes, which she made herself, were lost, and a budgie was killed. Mr Martin saved his best suit, two mattresses and a small quantity of linoleum. The cause of the blaze was not known.
LEAD STORY: A POOR BUS SERVICE IS BLAMED ON THE SLOW DEVELOPMENT OF THE VALLEY ROAD INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, WITH JUST TWO BUSES EACH MORNING AND EVENING SERVING THE SITE.
SPOTLIGHT STORY: NO HOUSES IN SHADOW OF ABBEY
A decision was made not to build on land at Verulam Hills Farm, a sweep of meadow between the Abbey and King Harry Lane, following a public inquiry.
The Housing Minister dismissed an appeal by Offa’s Land Ltd against the refusal of St Albans City Council to permit the division of the land into plots for 65 homes.
He said the land should be left undeveloped in view of its proximity to the Abbey and to Verulamium.
At the inquiry, a petition was handed in signed by 64 local residents, protesting at the proposal which divisional planning
officer Mr HDA Butcher described as one of several vantage points in the area from which “very fine views” of the Abbey and Verulamium were to be enjoyed.
The city council eventually bought the land, which adjoinedthe south bank of the River Ver, from Lord Verulam in 1961 to protect it from residential development pressure
Verulam Hills Farm is now marked by a group of trees and scrubland north west of the running track. Some of the field boundaries are still visible, in particular between the west of St Columba’s College and the former golf course
OLD CONTEMPTIBLES MARCH AGAIN!
Sir -I was interested to read of the exhibition at the Odeon Cinema, St Albans. I noticed that Mr Melbourne Cooper mentioned the old tollhouse in London Road I have in my possession the deeds of my house going back over 100 years and a plan showing that my house was known as 3 Verulam Place The site from Nos 1-4 was the Tollgate and Turnpike I have several plans and they all show that this was so In 1878 all this property belonged to the Verulam family. I still have the deeds. I wonder if Mr Melbourne Cooper can tell me how this confusion over the two could occur?
Phyllis M Gillman, 9 Old London Road, St Albans
Note: In the Herts Advertiser Centenary Supplement published in July, 1955, appeared an article in which it was stated that one of several tollgates or entrances to the city was at “the junction of London Road and Old London Road”
A 1914-1918 war rally in St Albans saw the remnants of “General French’s contemptible little army” gather in Market Place. At their head was Field Marshal Lord Ironside who had been a junior officer at the time. Members of the Old Contemptibles Association had met ahead of a thanksgiving service at St Peter’s Church to mark their 25 anniversary. th After the service the men, their wives and friends, had tea at the drill hall in Harpenden Road. Lord Ironside spoke to them of “those anxious months”, adding: “I pay tribute to the German Army. They were stout fellows and good soldiers, but we just happened to be a little better.”
From clubfloor classics, through sausages, cider and noughties pop, and ending up with country and western, there was a diverse mix of entertainment at the Smallford campus of Oaklands College this weekend.
Kicking off with the Ibiza Orchestra Experience on the Friday night, there were plenty of white isle anthems alongside appearances by Professor Green and Phats and Small.
The Cider and Sausage Festival saw Scouting for Girls headline in the wake of a host of tribute acts and Barry Evans himself, former EastEnder Shaun Williamson’s legendary Barrioke, plus plenty of food, drink and other entertainment
Wrapping up the weekend was the Summer in Nashville country music festival, which included a mix of tributes and original acts, concluding with the UK’s number one country band, One Night in Nashville
We’re promised repeat performances from all three festivals next summer
All photos by John Andrews
Town became a wartime haven
As the dark stormclouds of war gathered over Europe, the village of Harpenden was already preparing to receive evacuees from big cities across the UK
September 1939 saw the arrival of 96 children from four London schools followed later, in July 1940, by 250 children from Hastings All were swiftly allocated to their billets by an organisation which had been preparing since February Pamela Doran, curator of Harpenden Museum, said “Harpenden was a safe haven in a time of war. As World War II was declared, Harpenden was ready to receive its first evacuees The Government encouraged parents to send their children out of cities to safer places which were less likely to be bombed ” Whilst many children settled quickly into their new lives, getting to grips with new household ways was harder for some. Coming from a free and easy life in the East End of London they found stricter expectations of behaviour hard to live up to, causing many a worried host to despair and request a rest after only three months! Some evacuees tried to appear streetwise and tough in the face of village children, but often went too far, ending up in trouble with the police and facing juvenile court, typically for shoplifting. Many of the shops and houses we know today were put to good use during the war years Glyn Griffiths, the well-known jewellers, was a first aid base for minor injuries and ailments For more serious illnesses, 13 Salisbury Avenue became St Martin’s Lodge Sick Bay
One evacuee, Iris Bone, from Enfield, who was billeted in West Common, recalled her own experiences living in Harpenden: “There were only two real wartime incidents that I can remember. A German plane crashed in a garden in West Common Way And a barrage balloon caught fire on the common ” Iris also remembered spending many nights tucked up under a heavy wooden dining table, just in case!
David Kendall, chairman of the museum committee, added: “About 50 children enjoyed their time so much, they and their families remained in Harpenden after the war endedsome to this day ”
The exhibition Harpenden in WWII runs to September in the Eric Morecambe Centre in Rothamsted Park and is open 11am-3pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, but check the website for confirmation www.harpenden-history.org.uk
(Top) Children emerging from an underground shelter in the garden of a Harpenden house; (below) Iris Bone was evacuated to the village from Enfield
(Top) Harpenden evacuees from Hastings; (top left) Government poster to encourage parents to send children to safer places; (bottom left) a Harpenden billet; (above) children being evacuated by train
Yesterday Once More: photos from our archives
Sir Thomas Lipton plays Santa Claus by giving rides to children at Coleman Green, presenting them with a box of chocolates afterwards. Lipton was the founder of Lipton Tea, a merchant, philanthropist and yachtsman who lost five straight America's Cup races He died at Osidge on October 2 1931 and bequeathed the majority of his fortune to his native city of Glasgow, including his yachting trophies
Photos from the collection of Andy Lawrence
BUSYBATCHWOODAREHOLDINGTHEIROWN
In the over sixties ladies National Pairs competition Sandra Clark and Sue Swain (substituting for Lesley Tutt) reached the semi-finals playing Lois Hall and her partner at Herts BC. Unfortunately after a slow start they lost their game 17-10 Nevertheless, a tremendous achievement to get this far In the men ’ s county singles competition John Turkentine is through to the second round
beating Roy Avery from Welwyn Garden City BC 21-4
In the ladies County Two Wood Singles competition Yvonne Mc Auliffe played Jill Alsop from Harperbury coming through with a win 15-21 playing on a neutral green at Welwyn Garden City Yvonne is now through to the final 16 of the ladies competition to be played at Herts BC on July 11
Batchwood Hall BC continue to do well in the St Albans and District men s and ladies’ competitions In the men ’ s Vasen Two Wood Triples David Gauthier and his team played Kevin Yiu from St Albans BC and won 18-11 Mark Trembling and his team played Stephen Jewell and his team from Potters Bar winning 27-18
Both teams are now through to the third round
In the St Albans and District men s singles competition David Richardson, David Gauthier and John Bell are all through to the third round
In the Steve Howe Officers Singles Brian Parkes John Bell and David Richardson are all through to the second round
The ladies are also doing very well The district pairs Sue Swain and Joyce Hopkinson played Anne Beattie and Sheila Grimmant at Welwyn and District in a very tight game winning 1816
In the ladies’ district singles on a very warm morning Yvonne McAuliffe played Diane Jewell at Potters Bar winning 21-10
Jenny Gauthier played Brenda Bennitt, both from Batchwood Hall BC with Jenny winning 21-14
Jackie Bell came through beating Elaine Wulcko 21-10
All three ladies are now through to the second stage of the competition
In the ladies Champion of Champions
Jackie Bell played Sarah Hughes last year ’ s champion from St Albans BC and in a long game of 25 ends eventually won 21-16
Batchwood played in the area semi-finals of the National Tony Allcock competition against Harpenden BC B team
Two teams played with two men and two ladies on each team
Unfortunately, after a very had battle both teams from Batchwood were beaten with an overall score of 35-30 Harpenden now going through to the area finals
In a friendly match against North Mymms at home Batchwood Hall won overall with a score of 72-21 Sue Swain, Yvonne McAuliffe Richard Cleal and Ian Teo were Batchwood’s top rink, winning 28-5
