St Albans Times issue 48 by stalbanstimes

ST ALBANS TIMES INDEPENDENT, INSIGHTFUL, INFORMATIVE LOCAL NEWS FOODIE WRITER RELEASING PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER

WHAT TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN THE DISTRICT NEXT YEAR

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Editor's Note

Highlights 4-6 Highlights for 2024 8-9 Finance 14-15 Common People 18-22 Daisy Cooper 23-24 Opinion 25-33 Mummers 35-36 Theatre review 37-38 Wine 39 City Diary 40 Nostalgia

Toby Shepheard was on hand for one of St Albans Mummers’ Boxing Day performances. As we head inexorably towards 2024, I’d like to take a moment to stop and thank all of those people who have made the St Albans Times a success this year. It seems incredible to think that this time in 2022 I was still pulling together our inaugural issue. What a rollercoaster ride it’s been! Firstly, it would be impossible to put together the entire magazine on my own, so a huge amount of appreciation must go to my dedicated team of journalists and columnists (some of whom are taking a well-deserved break over the festive season). Their commitment to producing the highest quality copy and photos has been unwavering throughout 2023, and I am grateful to each and everyone of them for what they do. Secondly, the incredible support of our advertisers and sponsors also deserves recognition, for without them there really would be no St Albans Times. We’re always looking for any more businesses who would like to be associated with quality community journalism so please get in touch if you’d like to partner with us going forwards. Finally, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy, healthy and prosperous 2024!

MATT ADAMS Editor

41-42 Q&A 47 Feelings Forum

This issue's contributors include: Jon Wilson Cooper, Laura Bill, Darren McCabe, Eris.

Published by St Albans Media Partnership Ltd. The St Albans Times and its journalists are committed to abiding by the Editors' Code of Practice. If you have any complaints about the content of this magazine, please email editor@stalbanstimes.co.uk.

The Alban Pilgrimage. Photo by Emma Collins.

Looking ahead to a packed calendar for the New Year Whether food, music, arts and culture, comedy or

A landmark exhibition, Becoming Us: African Caribbean

dancing is your passion, St Albans has it all covered with

St Albans, opens at St Albans Museum + Gallery on

a packed calendar of events and festivals in 2024.

February 16 and will explore the role of the African

Marvel at Peace Doves, an incredible art installation by

Caribbean community in St Albans and celebrate its

Peter Walker Sculptor at St Albans Cathedral, in which

multifaceted contributions to the city over the past 80

10,000 paper doves will hang from the magnificent

years. Running until June 30.

Norman Tower. Events will take place under the Peace

Hertfordshire County Show is Herts’ largest outdoor

Doves including Peace Dove Lates, Yoga, concerts and

event. With showjumping, equine classes and livestock

performances from January 3-13.

competitions, entertainment and amazing stunts, the

Rana Begum: Ordered Form, curated by UH Arts and

show is loved by everyone whether you’re an enthusiast,

Culture, focuses on the acclaimed artists geometric works

competitor, or excited spectator. Shop ‘til you drop with

created over the past three years and is on at St Albans

independents showcasing their delightful products- with

Museum + Gallery until April 14. The awe-inspiring No.

over 450 stalls there’s something for everyone to enjoy

670 Mesh installation which creates an immersive and

from delicious local produce to craft liqueurs, to garden

sensory environment for the viewer runs from January

accessories to beard oils! Taking place from May 25-26 at

20 to March 17.

The Showground, Redbourn.

Join the fun of the annual St Albans Pancake Day Race

St Albans International Organ Festival will celebrate the

where teams of four compete in walking and running

winners of its 60th Anniversary Competition held in

pancake flipping races. Head down and cheer on your

2023. A special gala concert will take place at St Albans

favourite at the city centre on Shrove Tuesday, February

Cathedral where last year’s winners are expected to

13.

perform on June 8.

St Albans Festival of Film will be a weekend celebrating

Theatre production company OVO’s open-air summer

British film and TV history presented by Renown

festival sees captivating, imaginative and surprising new

Pictures and Talking Pictures TV with celebrity hosts and

versions of classic plays and stories performed in the

guests, stalls and exclusive show offers – look out for Neil

atmospheric setting of the Roman Theatre of

Brand, Britt Ekland, Rick Wakeman… and Hartley Hare!

Verulamium, and is running next year from May 31 to

Taking place at the Alban Arena March 16-17.

September 8.

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Foodies Festival returns to St Albans’ Oaklands College between May 31 to June 1 for a weekend celebrating music, food and drink with live bands, cooking demos by top chefs, artisan market, feasting tent, kids’ activities and more. The award-winning annual festival SustFest (June 7-16) provides inspiration on how to live more sustainably through engaging events and activities held by groups, organisations and businesses across St Albans, Harpenden and the villages. A new EXPO event at the Alban Arena on June 7-9 will be a fun, informative and thought-provoking weekend bringing together leading

St Albans Food and Drink Festival and Comedy Garden are both back in 2024. Photos: Stephanie Belton, Lloyd Winters.

figures in sustainability alongside active community groups. St Albans Folk Festival is a weekend of events including a day of dance, music in local pubs and other venues and a festival concert plus an annual concert in the Roman Theatre at Verulamium between June 14-16. The Alban Festival promises to be fun for all with live music from local musicians, arts, crafts, games and activities, entertainment, street food and shopping from a well-loved selection of traders. The annual Alban Pilgrimage on June 22 starts with an impressive city centre procession of giant 12ft tall carnival puppets and the re-enactment of events which led to St Alban's

Hosted by Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge, Pub in

execution at the hands of the Romans. The day ends with

the Park returns to St Albans’ Verulamium Park between

Pilgrimage Evensong at St Albans Cathedral at 4pm.

September 6-8 for an action-packed weekend to

Next summer a colourful exhibition The Wonderful

celebrate food and music. Dance to live bands and enjoy

World of the Ladybird Artists will reveal the story of the

amazing food created by award winning restaurants and

talented illustrators who played such an enormous part

top chefs in a stunning park setting.

in the success of the much-loved books at St Albans

St Albans Feastival once again promises to be an

Museum + Gallery.

incredible foodie experience where the central streets in

St Michael’s Folk Evening returns to St Michael’s Village

the city centre will be filled with food and drink stalls,

for a wonderful celebration of live music, dancing in the

street entertainment, bars with live music, art and crafts

street plus food and drink. Head down and join the

activities, cookery demonstrations, and fun for all ages in

welcoming community for a memorable evening on

September.

Wednesday July 3.

CAMRA’s St Albans Beer and Cider Festival will be

From July 21-30, St Albans Comedy Garden promises the

serving up thousands of pints of beer, ciders and perries

ultimate remedy this summer with five nights of

from all round the world plus there will be live music,

stupendous open-air stand-up comedy in the glorious

phenomenal street food and snacks promising four days

surroundings of Verulamium Park.

of fun between September 25-28. In October the hugely popular Gin & Jazz Festival will again provide a fantastic showcase for George Street retailers and hospitality venues who open their doors for late night shopping. With live swing jazz music, fabulous food, and of course- gin bars, this free event is a brilliant buzz for all. Don’t miss St Albans Cathedral’s Fireworks Spectacular at Verulamium Park in November, raising thousands of pounds for local charities. Head to the city centre across the festive period in December and January for a fantastic Christmas programme which is absolutely packed with magical events, bringing fun, joy and merriment to all folk. Check EnjoyStAlbans.com for all event listings, including

St Michael’s Folk Evening. Photo: Mike Pugsley.

final dates for events in latter part of the year.

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IN OTHER NEWS... Ladies Sofa to Saddle cycling course launches in January

Local cycling centre St Albans Cycle Hub will be hosting British Cycling’s Sofa to Saddle training programme in January and February. Led by British Cycling instructors the course will teach cycling skills at the Hub to women who are absolute beginners on bikes or who are returning to cycling. The first sessions are bike training, leading to a nationally recognised Bikeabilty test. Passing Bikeability means ladies can take part in an exciting and sociable Breeze ride. “Whether you're a complete beginner or can already navigate more than 50 meters on a bike, our comprehensive course is tailored to help you embark on and savour the joys of cycling,” said Mat Daniels, the Hub manager. “The course will give you the confidence to ride for leisure, to the shops or to work. This can make you happier, healthier and less dependant on cars or buses for local travel.” Taking place on six consecutive Saturdays between January 13 and February 17, each session runs from 10am to 11am. While the standard cost is £50, SADC funding gives a substantial subsidy for residents within the St Albans district , bringing the price down to an affordable £5 per session for all five teaching and exam sessions- the Breeze ride is free! For ladies receiving Universal Credit, the entire course is free of charge. Bike and helmet rental is available at the Cycle Hub at an affordable rate of £7 per session. This option allows participants to access quality equipment without the commitment of ownership, ensuring a hassle-free and enjoyable learning experience. Book online at www.stalbanscyclehub.co.uk/training

IN OTHER NEWS... New Year Message from the Bishop of St Albans The month January takes its name from the Roman god Janus, the god of beginnings and transitions. Doorposts and gateways in the ancient world were often carved with his image. It was unmistakable because Janus had two faces, one looking backwards to where you had just come from, the other looking forwards to where you were going. At the outset of a New Year, we too find ourselves poised between what has been and what is to come. As we look back on last year, we may feel thankful for good people and rich encounters, sad at the death of loved ones, and perhaps regretful of missed opportunities. Looking ahead to a year brimming with possibility, we may feel a similar mixture of excitement, apprehension and fear. It’s why many of us make New Year resolutions: to exercise more, to keep in touch with friends, to diet, to ‘go green’. Resolutions often last until about 4th January – at least mine do. They tend to be about selfimprovement: we resolve to do better, to make this year different. We then get depressed because we don't do better and it isn’t different. It’s just more of the same. It’s why the cynical among us may have already jettisoned the project. Let’s face it. It’s easy to make resolutions about making our lives better. What would be truly transformative would be to make a resolution to make someone else’s life better. Christians have just celebrated God’s great resolution. In his infinite wisdom and love, God resolved to break the cycle of human indifference by sharing our human lot. In the birth of Jesus Christ, God became uniquely one of us: Emmanuel: God with us. It is from this foundation of love that I enter this New Year in hope. I pray that in the months to come, we may all find the strength and the imagination to keep alive the possibility of a world where promises of individuals and nations can be made and kept, a world where needs can be seen and met, a world in which we are committed to each other's humanity. I wish you a very happy New Year. +Alan Smith The Bishop of St Albans

Celebrating five years of Common People indie nights “Sing along with the common people… Sing along and it

Jon, who grew up in Cheshunt, spent the ‘nineties at

might just get you through…”

events including Club X at The Astoria and Feet First at

Five years ago a collaboration of unrepentant and

Camden Palace (now KOKO), and cites The Charlatans as

maturing indie kids decided that what St Albans really

his favourite band from the era.

needed was a celebration of the music they grew up

The idea behind Common People was to create a night

listening to, from Nirvana and Rage Against The

which had no pretensions, which people could just turn

Machine to Happy Mondays and Oasis.

up and enjoy.

The first Common People night took place at The

“It’s a really nice, friendly night, where everybody is

Pioneer Club in February 2019, and raised funds for

happy and chirpy and there’s never any trouble. The DJs

Jossie Lever, a Harpenden schoolgirl undergoing

know what’s going to kill it, but you can’t just turn up and

treatment for a rare form of cancer.

whack on a Spotify playlist, the dancefloor moves, it’s

It was the brainchild of Jon Prayer, Ed Hornsby and

fluid, and you have to know what to put on at the right

Colin Toms, and packed the dancefloor with a mix of

time.”

‘nineties classics and forgotten gems.

Floorfillers include the likes of Killing In The Name,

Run by unpaid volunteers, with alcohol donated by Farr

Teen Spirit, Sheriff Fatman, Where’s My Jumper and of

Brewery, Tring Brewery and Watling Street Brewery, it

course, Pulp’s Common People. “It always goes insane

proved a phenomenal success.

when that comes on!”

Common People has since returned to The Pioneer for a

He refers to the recent regeneration of the club, which

further 15 follow-up nights, snowballing to expand into

included the creation of the new Suet Yard bar, a new

other towns like Hertford, Hitchin and Ely, all raising

sound system and backscreen projection: “The Pioneer

money for local good causes.

Club has always been the second biggest venue in St

“It’s like pretending you’re a teenager again for one

Albans, and after years of being a massively underused

night,” explained co-founder Jon Prayer when asked to

resource it’s now getting the attention it deserves.”

explain its success. “People associate this music with the

Celebrate the fifth anniversary of Common People with a

best time of their lives, and it takes them back to their

special night at The Pioneer Club on February 10 –

youth.”

tickets from www.indienights.co.uk

NEW NOVELIST EXPLORES THE DARK SIDE OF THEATRE

St Albans writer Becky Alexander is probably best known as an expert on the local foodie scene, but she is now hoping to break new ground as a novelist, with her first book exploring the dark side of the highlycompetitive theatre world. “Two years ago, I went to a literary festival and thought right, it’s now or never, I needed to see if I could write a novel. I’d just turned 50, my grandma had died and left me a couple of thousand pounds and I thought, ‘Shall I spend it on the kids and all the boring stuff or on a writing course?’ I was not thinking I'd become rich and famous, just like, can I do it? I didn’t want to have any regrets, so that's why I sat down and tried to do it.” The course, by Curtis Brown, proved to be technical, rigorous and difficult, but she persevered. “They teach you about structure, about the common mistakes that writers make, about the logistics of sitting down and getting on with it, and self-editing.

“There were 15 of us in the group and we checked each other's work and were encouraged to comment ruthlessly, but also in tactful way. So it's a very good process.” Surprisingly, she always knew that she wanted to write about the theatre world. “The idea was to write about cutthroat actors, directors and producers and the idea of why do people want to get on stage? Because that terrified me, the whole idea of it. Why do people attract that criticism and competition? “I know I do quite a lot of actors and casting people and it's quite exposing going out there on stage. I wanted to write about those characters and took it down a sort of thriller route because I thought it sort of makes it more interesting and engaging. It's about these people and what they get away with.” Someone Like You is about a down-to-luck actress who gets a break and tries to make it in the acting world. “She goes to an audition in Soho, and it's really creepy but she doesn't quite know why,

and she comes out of it feeling like, that was so weird and I'm not sure about all this. Anyway, as the novel goes on, you realise that there's a bit of a Me Too type thing with a producer who's interested in her, maybe not for good reasons. So it's her story and the people she meets and the places she goes to and the jobs she gets, and what happens. As part of her research into the technicalities behind theatre, she contacted local company OVO to watch the rehearsals for their production of Macbeth, and was warmly welcomed by directors Janet Podd and Adam Nichols. “They were so nice! I remember how professional they were and how lovely they were actually! So there's no characters based on it, but I sent it to Adam, and told him, ‘don't worry, you will not recognise anybody in here!’ One of the scenes in the novel is at The Minack Theatre [in Penzance], so I also went and watched them there. They were brilliant, absolutely brilliant!

Becky Alexander (centre) was helped in her research by local theatre company OVO, including artistic director Adam Nichols (right). “I also started doing drama lessons with St Albans Best Drama School, and that was fascinating because you get this little glimpse into the local am-dram scene, which is very lovely but also competitive. “I read a lot of articles in The Stage newspaper, pieces on actors in the Sunday supplements, their Wikipedia pages… You think, God, that's such a weird life. They go through so much rejection and so much judgement. Then there’s the producers and theatre owners and you think, how do you own a theatre? How did you get to that point? Who did you tread on to get to the point where you own five theatres? I mean, it's a bit weird. It's a big world, it's very competitive.”

She also received some pointers from local novelist – and good friend – Matt Arlidge: “His main advice that stuck with me was treat it like a job. You sit down every day and you write it. He took himself up to Waterstones, he wrote up there, and he said, even if you don't feel like you've got anything to write about, you have to sit down and you have to do it. I think it was like, get on the ****ing chair! And that's good advice, because otherwise everything else gets in the way. “When I had to finish it I just did it every day, weekends, bank holidays!” So what did her family make of it? “My children were so embarrassed by the sex scenes, as you can imagine.

Oh God what’s mum up to now? But they’re actors so in the end they were OK with it!” Surprising for someone with a food background – Becky also edits food books for Penguin – she wasn’t tempted to write about the comparatively competitive world of highend cookery. “I saw a really good play at the Edinburgh Festival, ages ago, about a murderous, weird chef, and I was quite interested in food critics. But most chefs tend to be quite nice people, they just want to feed people and be nice and hospitable so on the whole I thought it was less cutthroat but maybe next time!” Someone Like You is available digitally from Storm Publishing from January 10.

‘It feels to me like people’s lives are quite fragile at the moment’ It’s fair to say that St Albans MP Daisy Cooper is a

support has gone up a lot in St Albans.

regular at Victoria Street café Baked Nation. I’ve

“I'm very mindful that we live in a place that's seen on

personally met her there on several previous occasions,

paper as very well off, but actually what I see as the MP is

and she greets the staff by name when stepping out of

that there are people you see day-in day-out, who are

the chill December morning into the warmth of its cosy

running our local businesses and working in our local

environs.

area, and I know from talking to them that they're really,

Every table is full to bursting, and we seek refuge in the

really struggling.”

light and airy conservatory, an overhead heater switched

She leans forward to emphasise her point: “It is really

on to keep us warm while we await hot drinks. We have

hard, and I think people feel very ground down. I see that

the place to ourselves, so it’s easy to fall into small-talk

a lot, and it makes you really sad.

about her recent invitation to the launch screening of the

“I came into politics because I wanted to make a

Doctor Who Christmas special before focusing on the

difference. You want to improve services, you want to

topics at hand: a retrospective of the year we are leaving

enable people to live their lives as they choose. And at the

behind, and a look ahead to the one to come.

moment it just feels like everything's broken.

She is very open about her experiences these past 12

“I'm always knocking on doors, and I say to people ‘Hello

months, her third full year as MP, from the highs to the

I'm Daisy, I'm your MP, is there anything I can help you

lows: “The thing that I've noticed is that it's been a very

with?’ And people just say, ‘Well everything’. You know,

difficult year for a lot of people. Everyone talks about the

that's what you get.

cost of living crisis, but it has really impacted a lot of

“There’s normally one or two things, but at the moment,

people, some maybe for the first time ever.

everyone's saying nothing works.

“It’s the fallout of [Liz Truss’] mini-budget and its impact

“It just takes one small thing to happen that you haven't

on mortgages, it's the fact people are nervous about

planned for, like an older parent falling down the stairs,

spending money and it hits everybody, right? It's

or a child suddenly falling ill, or something going wrong

families, it's small businesses, independent businesses in

at work, and suddenly everything falls apart.

particular. The number of people who are either getting

“It feels to me like people's lives are quite fragile at the

benefits or going to the food bank or getting other

moment, and held together in quite a tricky kind of way.

Unlike her predecessor, Daisy prides herself on being a

“The largest part of my job is doing casework, but you

very visible, very approachable Member of Parliament,

can't really talk about because it's confidential.

which of course means she can’t avoid people speaking to

“This year, my team and I hit the milestone of helping

her in the street, on the train, or even down the pub.

people with 30,000 different cases since I was elected,

“I commute to London three or four days a week and

and it was actually really nice as we sat in the office and

people stop me on the train almost every single day to

discussed some of the cases where we've made a

say something. It’s actually really nice when they say,

difference.”

‘Thanks for what you're doing’, or just recently someone

Three of Daisy’s team work exclusively on casework, with

stopped me on the train to say, ‘Oh, thanks for voting

another in Westminster looking after the policy side of

against the Rwanda bill’, for example.

this, as she explains: “For example, someone's bike had

“But sometimes, someone is so pent up, and either

been stolen from St Albans City Station, so we wrote to

they're looking for help, or they want to tell me about

Thameslink about it and I met them on site and said,

something that's happened to them because they just

‘Look, this isn't secure because you can lean over and

want me to know. So it's a real mixture.

take the bike out of the secure bike lock. Where's your

“But I don't mind it at all. If I'm in a hurry on the way to a

policy for fixing that?’ And they didn't have one.

meeting, I'll just say, ‘I'm so sorry, I've got to run for this

“So the biggest portion of my staff budget and my staff

thing, but drop me a line’, or I'll get their details and

time goes on doing casework locally, and it's definitely

contact them.

the most rewarding part.

“But what really strikes me is that sometimes people

“Sometimes you meet somebody in a state of crisis and

don't actively contact their MP until they're in a complete

you can see that they're in a really terrible state, and then

point of crisis. So sometimes I'll say, ‘You know you can

occasionally you see them in a very different setting

just drop me an email about that and I can do this’. ‘Oh

where they are now thriving. Because obviously once

really? I didn't know you could do that’.

you've helped somebody, they get on with their lives and

“I think it's because there isn't a job description for being

don't really get back in touch.

an MP. People do the job very differently, depending on

“But sometimes there are really nice little moments

where they are in the country and what the issues are.

where someone will come over and say, ‘Oh by the way,

“Some MPs pride themselves on the number of times

since I last saw you, this is what's happened in my life’.

they speak in Parliament, but actually don't really do

And it's really lovely. Your heart just feels very warm and

much on the ground in their own area. Others pride

snugly.”

themselves on doing tons of casework but do nothing in

As the national Liberal Democrat spokesperson for

Parliament. So every MP does their job differently

health and social care, her role involves holding the

depending on how they want to do it and also what their

government to account, and also being the party lead on

constituents need.

these issues.

At the very start of the year, I was out there calling for

As party deputy leader, she deputises and supports Ed

Parliament to be recalled early because we had those

Davey with national issues, including supporting

horrific scenes of people stuck in the back of ambulances

candidates in recent by-elections, with a view to the

and the indignity of being treated in corridors. It was

inevitable General Election in 2024.

genuinely a winter crisis like no other. It forced the

“I think a number of candidates around the country

government to hold a summit with big NHS

looked to St Albans as an example of how we won here in

organisations and the rest of it and fingers crossed,

2019 against the trend, so I've been working with other

hopefully, it won't be as bad this year, but we won't know

candidates around the country, including Victoria Collins

probably until the middle of January.”

in Harpenden and Berkhamsted, to help show them what

She also gets to look at the issues people raise with her

the path is to winning, with the hope that at the next

locally, such as GP waiting times or being unable to

General Election we can win as many seats as possible.

“I think we're very conscious that as a party we have

small scale, nine times out of ten it’s probably a national

always overstretched and under-delivered, and that’s not

issue as well.

going to happen again.

“I can take up a lot of local issues and then try and raise

“So we're being incredibly disciplined about making sure

them on the national stage.”

that in the areas we're particularly targeting, we give

Her national work this year has also been focused on the

candidates the support they need to win. The task for us

party’s General Election pledges, which has involved

is to win as many seats from as the Conservatives as

meeting with various organisations and listening to their

possible, but also making sure that we don't miss out on

priorities, speaking with patients’ groups and developing

constituencies by a few hundred votes because we've

what the Lib Dems’ priorities should be.

been putting our focus in the wrong way.

“Obviously the manifesto will get published once the

“In Surrey, we've got the big beasts, Jeremy Hunt and

election is called, but we've already announced a number

Michael Gove, and both their seats are under threat from

of pledges around having guaranteed access to a GP

the Liberal Democrats. We've had a revival in the south-

within seven days, improving access to urgent and

west after winning two by-election victories, and it’s

emergency care for dentistry, giving a guaranteed two

exciting to see green shoots in other areas.”

month limit on getting urgent cancer treatment and

So does she see any signs of how the political wind could

things like that.

be blowing in 2024? “There will be those people who will

“It's been really rewarding to work on these policies, and

see the difference that a hard-working Lib Dem MP can

NHS and social care will be the most ambitious part of

make. They'll look at the difference that local Lib Dem

our policy offering at the next election. You can think of

councillors are making and they'll see that we're

individual people that you've helped who would have

proactive, we communicate, we're visible, and that's how

benefited from these things being in place and it's really

we do our politics. And I think people really like that and

great to have that kind of connection.”

that's why they voted for us.

“But at the same time, there will be a lot of people who

“There have been a number of campaigns that I've been

want to vote against this Conservative government.

fighting for some time now. Some of them we've had a

There are always people like that in every election and

degree of success, others are still really hard work”

every political party plays on it. But I think particularly

She is honest about one major defeat in particular: “The

in the next General Election, there are scores of lifelong

Strategic Rail Freight Interchange, that was so frustrating.

Conservative voters who are internationalists, they're

We fought tooth and nail at the start of this year to

environmentalists, they're pro-business, but they're also

expose the approach the county council was taking to

pro-public sector.

show that there was actually a legal route by which they

“The current Conservative Party has moved so far away

could refuse to sell the land if they wanted to, but

from them and their values and their priorities. I think a

ultimately we lost that campaign.

lot of them are appalled at the state of the country and

“All I can say is that we managed to expose the fact that

they just can't believe how a party which they used to

the county council basically wanted to sell this land to get

vote for has managed to get us into such a flipping mess.

the money from the sale and their claims that they were

“What’s interesting is that the future of the Conservative

reluctant sellers were nonsense. I think if they'd just been

Party is far more uncertain than, for example, the future

up front and straight with everybody in the first place, it

of the Labour Party was when Jeremy Corbyn was in

wouldn't have got so messy. We would have still

charge, as most of the Blairites, who I guess now would

campaigned against it, but at least it would have been

be Starmerites, remained in the party so they could grow

done in a transparent way. I think people just felt really

back and realign the party back to a more centrist

betrayed and lied to.”

position.

Away from rail freight, there are other campaigns she has

“In the Conservative Party, all of their activists now are

run in Parliament, including care home visiting, which

incredibly right-wing. They’ve got very, very few one-

she says means a lot to her personally.

nation party members and they've got very few one-

“A constituent came to me with her experiences of

nation MPs and their voices are almost completely

visiting a parent in a care home during lockdown. It was

silenced.

clear that right across the country there were many

“That’s in part why Liberal Democrats are doing so well,

people in care homes who had died during the

because lifelong Conservative voters look at us and think

pandemic, not because of Covid, but because they were

that their values are closer to ours than they are to the

isolated, and care workers didn't have enough contact

current Conservative party, which has effectively become

with vulnerable individuals to recognise that their

an incredibly right-wing party.”

conditions were deteriorating very quickly.

While it’s tempting to discuss the current state of UK

“I wrote letters to the Government, I led a cross-party

politics for the next few hours, Daisy has a scheduled

campaign, I was writing articles in national media, the

engagement she cannot miss, so we bring the

Daily Express took it on as a campaign, then so did the

conversation back to local issues and the coming year.

Daily Mail, you know, ‘a hug granny for Christmas’ kind

of thing, and then we had another lockdown. “Eventually, just a couple of weeks ago, the Government agreed they were going to change visiting rules in hospitals and care homes, and although it doesn't create a legal right to have a carer with you, it is going to change guidance, so it's a really significant step forward. “When I think back to when I first got that email, I remember reading it thinking, there's no way the Government's going to change these rules. I remember having a Zoom surgery with that particular constituent, and I bump into her in town sometimes. “But I know that now, by working with other MPs and other parties, we've managed to change the situation, so that’s very rewarding.” Looking forwards, there are two major challenges which she has been personally campaigning on. “One is obviously NHS services, we're one of those areas

“I'm helping constituents like that as well and so I know

where we were promised new hospitals at the last

what it's like for them and it's unbelievably tough, it's

General Election and I can't see any way in which there's

unbelievably tough. So I do feel as though we've been let

going to be a spade in the ground before the next one,

down there and I've been basically bashing heads

and so I just continue to be incredibly persistent on that

together, you know, trying to force the county council to

issue. I've asked a few times for the government to

take this seriously and to actually advocate properly for

release the funding to our local hospital trust as I get so

our children in Hertfordshire and at the same time say to

many emails from people saying the disrepair of our

the Government, don't you realise what a big issue this is?

hospitals is outrageous.

“Children have got one shot at their education and their

“The buildings at Watford Hospital are life expired,

childhood and to be told by the Department for

they’re not in a good condition, and some parts are not

Education that Hertfordshire's funding will catch up with

safe, so we have got to get the money out of the

Buckinghamshire in 15 years means a child who is three

government.

today will finish all of their formal education by the time

“The other is a campaign that I've been running for two

that funding is available. I mean that's criminal. It really

years about SEND - special educational needs and

is.

disabilities – the funding of which is absolutely

“So I feel very passionately about that particular

scandalous. I feel like I'm sort of stuck between a sort of

campaign and I'm throwing everything at it a broader

blue-on-blue kind of fight between the county council

debate I think in January which I hope to take part in,

and the Government.

and that's one of those areas where I'm desperate to see

“The county council has been asleep at the wheel for

some progress before a General Election is called."

years now and done nothing about this, and the

But what about Daisy? What has she enjoyed doing away

government equally have set up this ridiculous funding

from politics? She can’t be working all the time?

formula which deprives Hertfordshire children of the

“I do work quite hard and I find it hard to switch off. I do

funding that they should be getting, because they look at

believe in work-life balance, I think it's really important

historical spend rather than current needs.

and I do enforce it amongst my team, but I've never been

“SEND affects lots of different types of families. If you

very good at switching off myself so I do tend to go at

imagine a typical couple in St Albans where maybe

100 miles an hour most of the time.

they've both got degrees, they're working in the city,

“My job is so consuming. It's very hard to switch off

they've got money, they're articulate, they're used to

unless you're completely absorbed by the other thing

advocating for themselves and their children - even

that you're doing, but my husband Rob and I have done

people like that who are equipped with all the resources

some fun things. We had a holiday this year, which was

they need often end up in tears and feel completely

lovely, and we had an afternoon at London Zoo for my

broken.

birthday.

“When I talk to those kind of parents, they always say to

“You know, we get the occasional night out, we try and

me, what must it be like for those families who have busy

have a date night every once and a fortnight. So that can

complicated lives where actually they can't fill out forms

either just be a takeaway or a meal at home, or going out

every single week, they haven't got the time and capacity

somewhere for a few drinks, just to make sure that we

to be sending emails every week to chase things up, they

always have time for us. That’s always in the diary. The

can't afford to employ a solicitor to advise them of a

night can change, but it always has to happen. Date night

tribunal hearing.

at least once every fortnight.”

OPINION

GOOD RIDDANCE TO 2023!

LAURA BILL REVEALS WHY SHE’S GLAD TO BE BIDDING FAREWELL TO THE CURRENT YEAR... Ponderings of misery have been upon me since at least Christmas Eve so if you wanted cheering up… well, disclaimer... Just saying. I partly blame the telly – adverts of dying children, tortured dogs and abandoned donkeys in between gushing families engorging themselves with stuffed olives, prawns and sausage rolls with twinkling Prosecco glasses by the fireplace. And presents. Piles and piles of Love Actually-style wrapping. This whole sickening juxtaposition seems to me to be getting worse and it is not easy to be jolly and joyful after this year, is it? I am tired of seeing person fawning over a ‘fabulous food bank’ or an ‘amazing night shelter’ on social media. People who have never had the experience might think these basic and dehumanising places are wonderful but they would soon change their minds.

An article in The Guardian this week with the headline ‘Shoplifters to benefit most from ending short jail terms in England and Wales’ made me laugh. For a start, who wants to shoplift? Who wants to put in all the effort and risk required when they can just tap their card once and walk out with that warm fuzzy feeling you get from making a billionaire smoking a Havana cigar with his feet on his desk even more money?! Well it’s good news apparently for those forced to steal food for their families this year as they can look forward to hundreds of hours of community service instead of jail. Happy times… I know I’m not the only one to be happy to be rid of 2023. A photo of former councillor Danny Clare with his partner at Heathrow Airport spoke so much to me when I saw it on Facebook this week. Somebody who had so much to give the community was put under so much pressure and stress from social media bullying that he

quit his role. So much unnecessary energy poured into a hate campaign. Remember Professor Tim Boatswain had a similar thing in relation to his voluntary work with Conservation 50 and the Civic Society? Who really decides a good use of their time is to launch a relentless Facebook diatribe against someone they have probably never met? Why not have an actual conversation? Even if you don’t agree with the other person’s opinions surely it’s a much more civilised alternative? In these times where people need good value shops in our super expensive city, we lost Wilko in The Maltings and also saw the closure of Love Brownie and Oliver Zissman’s salad bar Leafy. And still the beloved Smokehouse Deli remains shut as owner Gels Picciuto continues battling it out with SADC over what he says are compromised building control regulations at his premises. Cell Barnes people crying out for a salt beef sandwich or the best eggs benedict they’ve ever tasted will have to walk into town instead.

Add to all this, several people getting in touch with me about failures to their social housing and having to live with leaks, rats or whole families squashed into hotel rooms. I tried to get some answers regarding the Noke Hotel refugees. Yet years on…no definitive comment from the Home Office about what they are doing, what support they are providing and meanwhile confused and bewildered vulnerable people wander around Chiswell Green on an allowance of £1.36 per day - which is now being cut to £1.25. Then there were the road closures on the High Street. How much money was wasted on that particular stroke of genius?! How many people were massively inconvenienced and all for what? After so much blood, sweat and tears, endless meetings, lost sales and frustrated

delivery drivers the whole thing was scrapped and returned to its original situation of the road being open. And if I’m ranting about the state of things, how can we possibly ignore the situation with our overstretched GP surgeries. All I’ve heard all year is people on hold for hours trying to get appointments only to be cut off or told to call back tomorrow. Several stressed GPs and receptionists have suggested that I should call Rishi Sunak if I have a problem or pointed that they are the only person working that day and that they are doing their best. I even offered to volunteer on reception at my own surgery but strangely they declined. The situation reached a personal low for me when I had to return for a second smear test in a matter of months because my original had been mislabelled. What a joy it was to

repeat that particular experience. Even the smallest of pleasures have been ruined. Who can forget my drive-thru dalliance at McDonald’s and the discovery that you pay a stealth tax for Just East deliveries? Meanwhile, the long-awaited Jubilee Square remains just that. The one positive consistency in our year has been Nick the city centre postie, usually in his shorts, bringing a smile no matter what else is going on in the world, magically popping up unexpectedly like the shopkeeper in Mr Benn. I could go on. Don’t tempt me. But at the end of the day we may not always have a GP appointment. Or be able to park (don’t get me started on trying to navigate our tiny car parking spaces!). We may not even have peace. But we always have hope. And that’s what I’m holding onto for 2024!!

St Albans Mummers return for Boxing Day performances "For England and St George!" The story of our nation's patron saint and his gruelling battle with a firebreathing dragon was re-enacted at locations across the city centre on Boxing Day. The tradition of the St Albans Mummers dates back more than 50 years, when a group of friends made up largely of local Morris Men decided to put on a play every Boxing Day, choosing a number of venues across the city. Today they can attract total audiences of nearly 2,000 for the five performances held during the day, which include the Museum + Gallery, the White Hart Hotel, the West Door of the Abbey, Ye Olde Fighting Cocks and St Albans Clock Tower. Thanks to Toby Shepheard for this year's photos.

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THEATRE REVIEW

A CHRISTMAS CAROL DEBORAH HEATH EXPLORES A REMARKABLE INTERACTIVE TAKE ON THE DICKENS CLASSIC AT THE ROMAN THEATRE IN VERULAMIUM...

Quite the best prelude to my Yuletide season was watching OVO’s promenade performance of A Christmas Carol. Staged at various points around the Roman Theatre site, the characters guided their audience between each scene, often with singing and other audience participation. If you like theatre and/or treasure trails this is the show for you! Having already seen the show last year, I was late to get my ticket this time but am very glad I did. This production simply goes from strength to strength and leaves one feeling warm even in these chilly temperatures. The range of experiences presented to us from directors Adam Nichols and Janet Podd were super. Sometimes, it was a simply fantastic straight piece of theatre such as the appearance of the ghost of Christmas Past (played with great strength by Katie Hamilton), which is doubly chilling for it happening in the dark.

Another example was the merging of audience and actors during the Cratchits' Christmas dinner when young spectators were picked to sit at the table and participate. Perhaps the most magical part of the show however, was the middle section in which we all became guests at the Fezziwigs' Christmas party. This was a masterstroke because many people were ready for a hot drink from the bar at this point. We were taught a simple dance routine and enjoyed part singing (it was a little tricky to read the lyrics in the dark) while the atmospheric fairy lights marked out the beautiful historic site. This was a spine-tingling immersive scene which left us warmer in body and spirit and ready for more! I was impressed with everyone’s acting, especially because the performers didn’t appear to be distracted by the cold conditions. Vocal projection was set just right for this outdoor

space, and was altered with skill depending whether the actors were above, alongside or even behind us. Most played multiple roles and switched between them seamlessly such as OVO stalwart Anna Franklin. A shout out for Will Kirkham and Harry Boyd who acted as our guides and kept the singing going. David Widdowson was a thoroughly believable Scrooge and portrayed his extremes of character and emotional journey without a touch of ham (which is sometimes the case with this role.) Knowing the text very well, I felt it had been adapted expertly by Janet Podd.

The play focussed on the most important drivers of the story and was just the right length at an hour – more than this would have been too cold for everyone concerned! The only addition to this production which could possibly elevate it further would be the use of live music – just a violin and ukulele or guitar would have taken it to the next level. Playing outside in the cold with numb fingers is a challenge so I do understand why perhaps the directors had decided against this! Thank you OVO for another fantastic Christmas treat. I can’t wait to see what you bring us next year!

Wine Times DARREN MCCABE OFFERS HIS WEEKLY WINE RECOMMENDATIONS (@DMC_UNCORKED)

Sip smartly: The rise of non-alcoholic wines As we welcome 2024, many of us are looking for ways to start the year on a positive note. Whether you’re aiming to cut down on alcohol, or simply enjoy a lighter drink, there are plenty of options to choose from in the world of wine.

This week I’m introducing you to three wines that offer low or no alcohol, but still deliver plenty of flavour and fun. From a crisp Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand to a fruity fizz from Spain, these wines are perfect for celebrating the new

year without compromising on taste. The Doctors’ Sauvignon Blanc 2022, Marlborough (£10.99, Waitrose; £11.99 (£9.99 Mix Six), Majestic; £12.50, JN Wine) This wine is made from the

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc grapes, but with a lower alcohol content of 9.5%. The winemakers, John, and Brigid Forrest achieved this by using a technique called Selective Leaf Removal, which reduces the sugar level in the grapes without compromising the flavour, mouthfeel or structure of the wine. The wine has a pungent aroma of tropical fruits and herbs, and a crisp and refreshing palate with notes of passionfruit, elderflower and saline minerality. It pairs well with fish dishes, such as smoked fish pie or baked fish with butter and herbs. La Chica Bonita 2022, Valencia DO (£6.99 (£5.99 Mix 12), Laithwaites) This wine is a low-alcohol fizz made from 100% Moscatel grapes by Fernando Tarin Casado, a Moscatel wizard from eastern Spain. The wine has a juicy and grapey aroma with hints of blossom and red apple, and a sweet and fruity palate with flavours of mandarin, apricot, honeysuckle and orange blossom. The wine has a balanced sweetness and acidity, and a light alcohol content of 5%. It is ideal for enjoying with a tea-time cake or spicy tapas. ¡H! Barcelona Alcohol-Free Sparkling NV, Cataluña DO (£6.99, Laithwaites) This wine is an alcohol-free sparkling wine from the Cataluña region of Spain, made from the traditional Cava grapes: Macabeo, Parallada and Xarel-lo56. The wine is fermented and then all the alcohol is extracted, preserving the original aromas and flavours of the wine. It is then carbonated, adding a fine and lively mousse to the wine. The wine has a fresh and fruity aroma of green apples and flowers, and a crisp and tropical palate of apricots and pineapple. It is perfect for pairing with tapas, seafood and light cheeses. I had this the other evening when I took on the role of dedicated driver. I was quite surprised at how sweet it was so only for those with a sweet tooth. I hope you enjoyed this round-up of low and no alcohol wines, and that you’ll give them a try in the new year. These wines prove that you don’t need a high alcohol content to enjoy a delicious and refreshing drink. Whether you’re looking for a dry and mineral white, a sweet and sparkling rosé, or a bubbly and alcohol-free fizz, these wines have something for everyone. Thanks for reading my column this year, and cheers to 2024!

OBSERVATIONS AND MUSINGS

CITY DIARY

TRAFFIC>

CITY CENTRE THROUGHFARE CLOSED FOR FIVE DAYS We’re back in Upper Lattimore Road this week, with a follow-up to last issue’s story about the newly named Ballroom Apartments. It now seems as though the stretch of the road between Victoria Street and Marlborough Gate (not Murlborough as the signs say!) will be closed until New Year’s Eve. It is in order for work to be carried out by Cadent, the gas company, on installing a service for the new apartments, and requires traffic to take a detour via Beaconsfield Road. Let’s hope everything proceeds according to plan and it is all sorted before the schools go back next week!

FIRE ALARM>

EYEWITNESSES REPORT ON CATHEDRAL EVACUATION The evacuation of St Albans Cathedral after candles set off a smoke alarm made national press in the run-up to Christmas. The drama occurred on Thursday evening during a traditional candlelit carols service, and saw more than 1,400 people evacuated from the building. Eye-witness Peter Cook (who took the photo on the right) revealed: "As every year each member of the congregation has their own candle. "The candles are lit in the first hymn. This year it was Silent Night. During the second verse there was a beeping noise, similar to a vehicle reversing. "The choir continued singing and in the third verse it was clear it was an alarm and evacuation was needed. "Luckily we were close to a fire exit and went outside where it was commented that it is not a normal workplace where you would have fire evacuation tests, or an airline where before each flight the emergency exits and procedures are shown." High Sheriff in Nomination Annie Brewster added: "All the candles set off the new smoke detectors - we all had to evacuate during Silent Night and wait for the fire engine to arrive. Thereafter... no candles!" St Albans Dean the Very Rev Jo Kelly-Moore, who was leading the service, encouraged the congregation to use their mobile phone torches when they returned inside after about 25 minutes.

Yesterday Once More: photos from our archives It’s been many years since a carnival procession made its way through the centre of St Albans, but this week’s images recall those momentous events in style. Check out The Leeds Building Society and Britannia in St Peter’s Street! All photos by Tony “Greg” Gregory.

10 FROM 50 JESSIE GRANT We ask a different figure from the local community to choose 10 questions to answer from a list of 50. This week: Local Instagram legend and cake decorator I Am The Disco Cake Queen (iamthediscocakequeen) Jessie Grant.

Where do you walk when you want to think? I don’t have time to walk ATM, but I really love to cycle, Betsy my pink Bobbin has been one of my bestest friends for over 10 years. I try to get to the gym when it opens at 6, we fly together along the Alban Way, it’s so peaceful at that time, there are so many beautiful moments along there. Where do you go to listen to music? I listen to the radio alllll the time, working from home is quite isolating so they’re my music friends. I love Chris Evans on Virgin Radio in the morning, he’s my life guru or Radio 2 and 1. There’s always great music happening and we love a kitchen disco, or dressing up and dancing my tits off makes me really happy on an evening out. Where do you most like to have a picnic in St Albans? We’re big fans of Clarence Park, when we first moved here from London I was blown away by the trees, they’re magnificent. Like all of St Albans, they’ve thought of everything (there’s something for everyone all the time) and it’s just a beautiful place to hang out of an afternoon.

I wake up every day excited for my outfit and once dressed I float around in the dream I’ve created through my outfit for the rest of the day.

Who was your first best friend? I always knew I had the potential to be me, but it took a long time to find the right people to bring her out. I met Alice when I was in my second year at uni and she opened my eyes to my personality and gave me the courage to be myself. She’s one of the coolest people I know and a real-life mermaid. Frank I met a bit later, she understands me wholly, she’s an incredible creative person, it’s addictive. My St Albans friends are some of the most beautiful people I’ve ever met, it blows me away every day that we’re lucky enough to have moved here, it’s such amazing city! What is your favourite single item of clothing? Haha! What a question. Sooooo many amazing clothes to explore; so little time to wear them all, I love the story behind clothes, especially vintage or second hand; what was the designer thinking when they designed it, what was the last person who wore this doing in it? clothes are a magical cape of wonderment. I wake up every day excited for my outfit and once dressed I float around in the dream I’ve created through my outfit for the rest of the day.

Were you well behaved at school? Definitely not, my father said: ‘rules are made to be broken but only the silly people get caught’, or words to that effect. I had a lot of fun! If you could travel back in time and offer your younger self some advice, what would it be? I don’t think it would help to be honest, I have a fierce drive and I go with my heart, also if you’re not making mistakes are you even learning?! Are things getting better or worse? Definitely better, I love watching the world grow and change it’s very exciting. Have you ever had a nickname? Yup, JessaRoooni, good times! What super power would you like to have? I’m pretty sure I already have a few: cake fairy, kitchen disco dancer!

ST ALBANS TIMES why you should talk to the times! The St Albans Times is now arguably the go-to media to find out what is happening in the district, providing content which harks back to the core principles of journalism: accuracy, balance and accountability. Readers can access either the weekly online current affairs magazine or stories on a dedicated website and it is promoted extensively through social media. The Times is produced with a sense of positivity and passion for the Cathedral city and the surrounding district. It offers an editorial oversight calling on years of accumulated local knowledge and understanding of both the marketplace and the local news agenda. It has already cemented a reputation for quality and expertise which cannot be found elsewhere, and is widely referenced across local Facebook groups

If you'd like to your business to feature in the St Albans Times please email us at advertising@stalbanstimes.co.uk To contact the newsdesk email editor@stalbanstimes.co.uk

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ERIS: OPINION WITH BITE surviving christmas week As you spend yet another day banged up with your loved ones, watching indifferent TV whilst nursing a food baby belly, you may consider whether everyone else is as bored as you are and what you can do to enliven the festive period between Christmas and the New Year. Of course, if someone in your family is a superorganised Penelope Planner, you will already have the rest of the week mapped out. A visit to the races, football or rugby, tickets for the cinema, a delayed visit to the nearest pantomime or ballet, your time for the next few days will be planned to the last minute. If you’re really lucky, it won’t include bracing walks in pouring rain with a very reluctant dog who will show his disgruntlement by shaking himself dry over you the minute you take your coat and boots off. If you’re even luckier, you won’t be forced out on a family bicycle ride with whining kids, where you’ll experience the real meaning of Christmas, aka loving them enough not to push one of the little blighters under a car.

Many families will have a Sammy Sunshine, who loves nothing better than a good oldfashioned Christmas complete with family games. Of course, you need something the whole family can play. Charades work, but keep the sniggering at less talented or vertically challenged family members to a minimum, as do most popular board games. Tread carefully though. Cards against Humanity is not suitable for the young or the straight-laced elderly. Although you may never look at Grandma the same way again after her response to ‘Santa took _______ out of his sack and _________ it’. You didn’t think it was anatomically possible. What can be entertaining are the Debbie Downers, often over-represented amongst teenage girl family members. The King’s Speech could trigger a half-hour lecture on white male privilege and/or the disgrace of travelling to COP 28 in a jet. This can be fun if an older, male relative has come down South.

Especially if he likes Nigel Farage and has been honing his opinions with GB News. Fireworks will ensue. Of course, you can avoid the woke/climate lectures, arguments and any resulting unpleasantness by commenting that Sarah Ferguson joined the Royal Family walkabout after church. That will trigger the aunts and you can snooze through their picking the last morsel of flesh off toe-sucking/Epstein/Philip hated Fergie etc. You’ll have to be careful though, you don’t want a re-run of the great Christmas 2022 fiasco when the teenagers thought Meghan was lovely and the aunts expressed the overly strong opinion that she was a conniving, American actress minx. So any mention of Harry or Meghxit needs an immediate request for someone to walk the dog. The teenagers will scarper and finding the poor mutt, by now hiding under the spare bedroom bed, will take up lots of time and divert everyone else. So enjoy your Christmas week, and remember, there’s a lot to be said for boredom.

THE FEELINGS FORUM WEEKLY THOUGHTS ON FEELINGS AND RELATIONSHIPS BY JON WILSON COOPER, DIRECTOR OF COUNSELLING TRAINING, THE ALBANY CENTRE, ST ALBANS

THE CLOSING OF A YEAR A year ends every day - we mark a number of them as we go through life; the end of the financial year if you’re in business, the end of an academic year if you’re involved with education, the end of a sports season. We have personal years that we mark such as wedding anniversaries, birthdays and we also tend to notice and honour tragic personal milestones such as the date of a loved one’s death, and huge collective tragedies where there has been catastrophic suffering and loss. Shared milestones can offer the possibility for shared support in celebration and commemoration so that we are not alone, and our feelings can be validated by those around us. The whole range of these possible experiences might have occurred for any one of us in the last 12-month period. When we look back, we can review both our achievements and our struggles - the joy regarding the gains we have made as well as the pain we can feel acknowledging the losses and struggles that the last year contained. When we are feeling down it can be hard to remember anything other than previous periods of pain and suffering. I have found whenever I’ve experienced a loss it seems to trigger recollections of all the losses I’ve experienced and its hard to recall happy times. It can even be tempting for us not to engage in new relationships or new experiences because of the fear of the pain of loss that might follow when we re-invest. Pleasure and pain are inevitable for any feeling person. Certainly, being the relational social beings we are, we have the capacity to experience a massive range of emotions from the subtle to the extreme even though it might be very tempting at times to numb them, deny them, avoid them, and pretend they don’t exist. However, if we don’t have any feelings, we would not be able to successfully navigate ourselves through life. If I was completely physically numb, I could easily cause myself serious harm by accidentally putting my hand on a hot stove because nothing is telling me not to! Likewise, if I don’t feel any emotional pain in separating from those I love, then what would stop me from just drifting away? Indeed, If I managed to completely numb myself, surely, I wouldn’t feel love for others at all? Pain is the price we pay for having a functional nervous system. Our feelings tell us we are alive and without them we would be automatons with no connections to anyone or anything. We do though have some choices about what we focus on. When we look back it is important to acknowledge the painful bits because in doing that we can then continue to work through what we need to in order to continue the process of healing. Healing can be ongoing; in the case of significant losses those loved ones stay missing which means “getting over a loss” is an unrealistic expectation. However, we can move on to a place of being able to see the whole experience that we had of them - the wonderful times,

the funny times, the loving times as well as the pain of losing them. We can choose to balance our recollections celebrating their birthdays as well as facing the sorrow of the anniversary of the day they left. It is vitally important to keep a balance in all our recollections because if we don’t celebrate the good stuff, our achievements, our triumphs over adversities, our moments of delight, then the struggles become all the harder. Enjoying each other whilst we are together can be what we wished we had done after the time has passed; regret can be one of the hardest things to deal with. We also need to revel in what we’ve done well especially if what we have done has also benefitted others, noticing that our actions have caused a net gain in the balance sheet of our existence. If we didn’t succeed as we would have like in some areas perhaps there can be learning in that, or even a nudge into a new direction that might be more fulfilling? In short as we come to the end of another year, try to remember everything!

IN OTHER NEWS... Harpenden photographer achieves international acclaim

Local photographer Steve Collins has two Harpenden-based images in the final of the fiercely contested Guild of Photographers Image of the Year Competition. The Guild is a highly respected UK based association for photographers, which has members from overseas as well. Each year it runs an online monthly photographic competition, judged by internationally respected judges with awards given to the best entries. During 2023, the competition has attracted around 12,000 entries from the most talented of photographers. It has recently been announced that from all the entries across the year, the Guild’s Judges have selected no more than 10 images in various genres to go forward to the annual Image of the Year Final. Those selected are the best of the best, and two images by Steve, both previously awarded Gold by the Guild back in March in their Image of the Month competition, are now shortlisted as top ten finalists within the category “Urban”. Guild director Lesley Thirsk said: “One of the Guild’s aims is to drive standards and creativity amongst photographers. Our competition certainly does that, for the standard of the entries we see each month is quite staggering. “To have an image recognised by the Guild in the monthly competition is difficult enough, so to have two images selected as being two of the best in a category for the end of year Final is without doubt an incredible achievement, and shows just how talented a photographer Steve is.”

Steve, who is also chair of Harpenden Photographic Society, added: “I was thrilled earlier this year that these two Harpendenbased images were awarded Gold by The Guild of Photographers in their Image of the Month competition. “Now that they have been shortlisted for the overall final from the many thousands submitted across whole year is on a whole different level. “I couldn’t believe it when I found out!”

IN OTHER NEWS... New village business raises cash for Wheathampstead Community Group Friends Adam Stanley and Jordan Harris have just opened a new specialist physiotherapy practice in Wheathampstead Memorial Hall in the heart of the village. Adam has previously worked in general practice clinics, specialist sports injury settings and professional football and rugby. Jordan recently completed an MSc in physiotherapy as St Mary’s University and has a wealth of experience in elite professional rugby across the men’s and women’s domestic and international formats. Their clients have included AFC Bournemouth, Canberra Brumbles (Australia), Loughborough Men’s Rugby, England Women’s Rugby and Old Albanians RFC and the new Wheathampstead clinic offers physiotherapy, home visits, one-to-one rehabilitation, sports massage and offers training programmes for first aid and event trauma. The clinic was opened by villager Annie Brewster, ex-Chairman of Hertfordshire County Council, at a launch party attended by friends, family and Adam and Jordan’s past clients present. An auction and raffle were held which raised £824.00 for the Wheathampstead Community Group, a village charity who supports residents who need help including transportation to hospital appointments. Annie said: “A specialised physical therapy clinic in Wheathampstead is yet another, splendid addition to the fantastic facilities in our village. I am sure residents will make Adam, Jordan and all their team feel most welcome and I wish them the very best of luck.” Jordan said: “We are delighted to have found the perfect location for our practice in this historic village.” Adam added: “We are looking forward to getting involved with the local community that appears to be very active indeed.”