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From the Editor
Welcome to April!
We hope that by the time you are reading this we are all enjoying more of the sunshine we were cruelly tempted with last weekend!
Inside our April issue, you’ll find lots of really interesting ar ticles and a jam-packed calendar of for thcoming events, alongside our usual selection of local adver tisers who continue to suppor t us month in month out! You’ll also find that we have welcomed some new businesses to the magazine this month and we thank them for trusting us with their local adver tising
People often ask us how the magazine is actually funded and we forget that it isn’t always obvious to ever yone exactly how it all works In shor t, your Stotfold News Magazine is paid for purely by our local adver tisers The businesses you see on all of our pages contribute towards funding your magazine. They are all responsible for paying the print costs each month and without them, we simply could not do the job we do It is never said enough but we truly do appreciate ever y single one of our adver tisers for their suppor t That said, if you are a local business owner and are not yet adver tising with us, then you too could help play your par t in keeping our magazine around for years to come. - Give us a call today to find out how
This month we are busy preparing for our 20th bir thday next month, as well as getting ready for yet another fantastic Stotfold Mill event (more details on page 8)so another busy one ahead! Until next time with our celebrator y issue!
Joanne Editor
With thanks to this month’s contributors:
Nikki Williams (FRONT COVER) Stotfold Town Council, Stotfold Mill, Stotfold Football Club, Our schools, David Stedman (Quiz,) Stotfold Ar t Group, Our local Churches, The Need Project, Jo Loach, NHRR, Teasel, SGNG, PoetsIN, Pix Gymnastics, Stotfold Judo, Stotfold Runners, Stotfold Girl Guiding Stotfold Twirlers
News Magazine, 78 Hitchin Road, Stotfold, Her tfordshire, SG5 4HT Tel: 01462 731986
As k the Expert Page 12
News from Stotfold Mill
Mental Health Matters
Local Life
News from Stotfold Town Council Update from Teasel News from Stotfold Librar y Family Announcements
Update from The Need Project News from Stotfold Football Club
Local Spor ts News
NEW LOOK Church Ser vices & News
NEW LOOK Monthly Fun Quiz!
NEW LOOK Down Memor y Lane
Page 5-11
Page 12
Page 13
Page 14
Page 15
Page 16-17
Page 18
Page 19
Page 20
Page 29
Page 31
Page 32-33
Page 34-35
Page 36
Page 37
All this, alongside all our usual news an events from our
Please
our
Flipping gre at fun at the Stotfol d Pancake race! Page 7
Mental health charity nee d your help Page 9
Local Li fe with Katie fro m Wi lbury Farm Page 15
STOTFOLD Diary Of Events..
St Mar y’s Church Summer Fete
Saturday 12th July
Vicarage Garden Church Road 2-4pm.
STOTFOLD
GARDEN CLUBMeetings and Trips *** CHANGE OF DATE ***
Wednesday 9th April 2025
Talk by Geoff Hodges –‘All Muck and Magic’ Tea and Coffee ser ved Please bring any plants to sell Meetings are held on the 2nd Wednesday of the month
St Mar y’s Church Hall, For more information, contact Peter on: (01462) 834854 or 07758649721
Saturday 26th - Stotfold Town Council Duck race
Thursday 8th - Stotfold Town Council
VE Day Beacon Lighting
Saturday 17th – Plant Sale
St Mar y’s Church Hall – 10-12
Saturday 24th Pippin Open Morning
Saturday 14th – Book Sale & Coffee
Morning St. Mar y’s Church Hall 10-12
Saturday 28th - STOTFEST
Saturday 12th – (NEW DATE)
Summer Fete – Vicarage Garden, Church Road 2–4pm
Saturday & Sunday 19th & 20th
Stotfold Ar t Group
Exhibition and craft sale - Stotfold Mill
Monday 25th Stotfold Walking Market
Saturday 6th Cream Tea Afternoon –
St Mar y’s Church Hall 2-5pm
Saturday 20th - Stotfold Town Council Outdoor Cinema event.
Saturday 11th – Jigsaw Sale
St Mar y’s Church Hall 10-12
Saturday 8th – Winter Fair
St Mar y’s Church Hall 2-4pm
Saturday 15th - Table Top Sale
St Mar y’s Church Hall 10-12
Saturday 29th - Stotfold Town Council
Christmas Light Switch On event
Saturday & Sunday 6th/7th – St Mar y’s Church - Christmas Tree Festival
Useful Telephone Numbers
Citizen s Advice Bureau
01525 402742
Samaritans 01462 455333
Register Bir ths, Deaths & Marriages
0300 300 8089
Stotfold Good Neighbour Group 07599 925587
Churches
Hope Chapel
Electricity Emergencies
0800 783 8838
Gas Emergencies 0800 111999
Librar y
Stotfold Librar y
Police
01462 686803
King’s Baptist Church 01462 730521
Methodist Church 01462 731167
Salvation Army Hall 01462 731072
St Mar y’s Church 01462 730218
Fair field Community Church 07376 740410
Local Council
Stotfold Town Council
01462 730064
Central Bedfordshire Council 0300 300 8000
Doctor
Larksfield Surger y Enquiries 01462 732200
Out of Hours Ser vice: Call 111
Arlesey Medical Centre 01462 732144
Hospitals
Bedford Hospital
Lister Hospital
Transpor t
Whitbread Wanderbus
01234 355122
01438 314333
0300 123 3023
0300 300 8068
Beds Police (Crime repor ting) 01234 841212 Crimestoppers 0800 555111
Hall Hire
St Mar y's Church Hall 07727 688877
Roecroft Centre 01462 730264
Stotfold Memorial Hall 01462 730264
St Mar y’s Church Hall 01462 730264
Schools
Etonbur y Academy 01462 730391
Pix Brook Academy 01462 416243
Fair field Park Lower School 01462 830000
Roecroft Lower School 01462 730336
St Mar y’s Academy 01462 730343 Samuel Whitbread Academy 01462 629900 Taxi Ser vice
Transfers
Roecroft Marathon Mum Puts her Best foot For ward FOR FORLS
Roecroft Lower School Mum
Rachael Jones plans to put her best foot for ward when she takes par t in this year ’s London Marathon after winning a ballot place for the race which takes place on April 27th
Rachael’s two children both attend Roecroft Lower School which made the choice to suppor t FORLS an easy one to choose. Rachael told the Stotfold News Magazine “My children have loved their time at Roecroft and I wish to give something back to this school for all their hard work in teaching our children by raising money to help improve their school librar y”
Mrs Cross, Headteacher at Roecroft added “We’d all like to wish Rachael enormous luck and resilience - we are sure she will be amazing!”
Rachael added, “Not only am I a mum, I am a midwife For many children at Roecroft I was present at their bir ths or during their pregnancies, making this cause even more impor tant to me.” “Any donations made to my Justgiving fund will go directly to the Friends Of Roecroft Lower School charity.”
The QR code below will take you directly to Rachael’s fundraising page if you wish to help suppor t her!
Editor ’s note: We’d like to once again wish all of our local runners the ver y best of luck for the many different marathons we have coming up, including London on April 27th
We can’t wait to hear how you all get on!
Rachael in training
Stotfold Ar t
Group
News Update.
About ten years ago we were asked to provide a display of paintings for the informal dining room at the back of the Stag Pub on Brook Street This has been a successful venture and many members have sold work with 10% being donated to landlady Jan's favourite charity
Many thanks go to Jan and Les for their continued suppor t The ar twork has recently been changed, with three ar tists at a time showing 3-4 paintings for about two months, then the display will be refreshed So if you are at the Stag for a pint or a meal, we hope you enjoy the ar t group's effor ts
For more details on our group, please contact our Secretar y on 07821 502367 The most recent ar twork display at The Stag
Good Neighbours Enjoy A Super Lunch
After days of drear y weather and lots of rain, Februar y 11th arrived at least dr y but chilly Thankfully this enabled most of the clients from the Stotfold Good Neighbour Group to get together for their yearly lunch at St Mar ys Church Hall
The SGNG would like to thank the wonder ful teachers and pupils from the Academy of Central Bedfordshire for making ever yone feel welcome Over 50 clients, together with a number of volunteers enjoyed delicious soup, sandwiches and desser ts with lots of chat and laughter
The proceeds from the lunch amounted to £210 00 which will be donated to a children's charity The Group wishes to thank all those who helped to make the day a success.
STOTFOLD DEFIBRILLATOR LOCATIONS
Defibrillator Locations: Greenacre Centre • The Co-op • The Barn • Kings Baptist Church • Stotfold Conser vative Club • Stotfold Football Club • Stotfold Memorial Hall • Roecroft School • Hitchin Road Recreational Ground • Pippin Pre -School • Etonbur y Academy • St Mar y’s Academy • Pix Brook Academy • Stotfold Salvation Army Hall • The Mossman Centre •The Rooms• Stotfold Mill Please check individual accessibility as some of these facilities may have their own individual opening hours.
The SGNG enjoying their annual lunch
A Flipping Great Time
Stotfold Pancake Race 2025!
The sun shone for the Stotfold Town Council Pancake Race 2025, held at the Parade on the High Street on the 1st of March Competition was fierce for the adult competition, with a Town Councillor race thrown in for good measure!
The children’s races were won by Ashley - children’s race 1, Jessica - children’s race 2, Elodie - children’s race 3, Abi & George children’s race 4, Ivy - children’s race 5 Georgie - children’s race 6 and Freddie - children’s race 7
For more details on future events planned by Stotfold Town Council, see their ar ticle on Page 17 of this months’s issue.
Cllr Sat Dhaliwal took the winning medal for the Town Councillor race
Local Mental Health Charit y Needs Your Help!
With mental health issues continuing to rise among all ages, it’s no wonder that our local resources are finding themselves incredibly stretched and under funded just to keep the wheels in motion. Anyone that has found themselves having to access local mental health provisions will be only too aware of funding issues and waiting times both playing their par t in preventing those in need from gaining the help they so desperately require.
For tunately we are lucky to have some excellent resources based right here on our doorstep One such organisation is locally based mental health charity PoetsIN ”It wasn’t until I came out of a cycle of drink and drugs at an earlier age that I began to learn about healthy coping mechanisms and to talk about what was going on inside ” Paul told the Stotfold News Magazine, ”I set up this charity alongside my co-founder Sammie so that people of all ages don’t have to struggle as we both did having undiagnosed mental illnesses from a ver y early age ”
Now in their 8th year as a charity, PoetsIN form a huge par t of our local mental health provision, with schools, CAMHS, doctors, NHS, physiologists and social prescribers referring more people to them than ever before due to the efficacy of
the help they provide Paul continued, ” We have never turned anyone away, but we are now having to look at ways to generate more funding to ser vice the high levels of need ”
”Currently our suppor t (which comes in the form of group sessions, 1:1 six week programmes or individual mentoring ser vices) is being delivered to schools right on your doorstep, ever y day of the week - However, we need more help financially to be able to sustain the levels of demand we are currently experiencing ”
PoetsIN are looking for suppor t from local companies either through sponsorship or donations and also asking that local schools and community events keep them in mind for any future fundraising that they do. Paul is keen to stress, ”businesses that are looking to give back to the local community are actually able to offset costs of helping our charity against their profits, so it really is a win-win scenario for all.” ” We would also be incredibly thrilled to receive help from any other groups looking for a local charity to suppor t for 2025.” You can contact Paul at info@poetsin.com or check out details on poetsin.com. Their facebook page is incredibly helpful too and packed full of ideas and resources - why not take a look?
Co-founder Paul in action in one of our local schools last month
MARCH
Stotfold Guides Enjoy Crafts At World Thinking Day 2025
Stotfold Girl Guiding celebrated World Thinking Day in Februar y For this event, each unit celebrated a different countr y, we had a range of crafts to complete including creating and designing Hawaiian lei's, Danish hear t baskets, Australian aboriginal ar t and Indian rangoli pictures. Around 80 of our girls from across all units came to this celebration and
enjoyed interacting with their fellow rainbows, brownies and guides If you have any interest in joining Stotfold Girl Guiding as a volunteer or for your daughter to join this community, please do not hesitate to get in touch by emailing us at:
stotfolddistrict @girlguidingher tfordshire.org.uk
Stotfold Good Neighbours need your help! Could you spare an hour or two to drive residents to appointments? Hours to suit, plus we reimburse all petrol costs. We are also looking for helpers to put away the chairs and tables after our ‘Friends on Friday’ meeting at the Memorial Hall? Could you spare half an hour? If you think you can help with either of these, please call 07599 925587 www.stotfoldgoodneighbours.org
Stotfold Girl Guiding enjoyed Thinking Day 2025 and produced lots of great crafts!
Glen Russell - Qualified Remedial Hypnotist & Anxiety Coach
I specialise in helping individuals overcome anxiety and regain control of their lives. As a remedial hypnotist, anxiety coach, Anxiety UK therapist, and control system practitioner, I use a tailored approach to address deep-rooted fears and limiting beliefs. Whether through hypnotherapy, coaching, or advanced mindset techniques, my goal is to help you achieve clarity, confidence, and calm.
Health anxiety, also known as hypochondria, is a persistent fear of having a serious illness, despite medical reassurance It leads to excessive checking of symptoms and frequent doctor visits which can severely impact daily life Sufferers often misinterpret normal bodily sensations as signs of illness, leading to a cycle of worr y and reassurance - seeking The condition can result in emotional distress, avoidance of medical care due to fear of bad news, and even physical symptoms caused by anxiety itself Over time, this can lead to social withdrawal and depression
Hypnotherapy can be an effective tool in overcoming health anxiety by addressing the subconscious fears driving the worr y. It helps reframe negative thought patterns, promote relaxation, and build a healthier relationship with uncer tainty, allowing individuals to regain control and live more freely
To find out more about health anxiety and other issues which may be causing you problems with day to day life, you can contact Glen on 07497 157531 or email glen@ thepathwayhypnotherapyrooms co uk
Your LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Each month between now and December, our letter of the month will WIN one if our 20th Anniversar y tote -bags! Email us your letters to stotfold news@yahoo co uk
* LETTER OF THE MONTH *
Dear Editor,
I wanted to write in to express my thanks to our Town Rangers who have made such a positive contribution to our town over the last couple of years Ever y day they are visible in the town, litter collecting, doing odd- jobs and generally helping to keep our town looking great. Their presence is ver y warmly welcomed in the town - thank you to Stotfold Town Council for providing this ser vice to local residents.
Name withheld.
Editors note: Although our letter writer preferred to stay anonymous we were able to contact her to provide her with her ver y own 20th Bir thday Stotfold News Magazine tote -bag! If you would like to be in with a chance to win one - simply pop us a letter through our email or our facebook page for use in one of our future issues!
FOR MORE BUSINESS LEADS? Get seen by the right people at the right time and secure more leads with Google Ads.
Dear Editor,
Just to update your readers, the total points scored at our recent Charity Dar ts Night was 171,960! - Way more than we expected! The final tally of monies raised was £2135 00 for Macmillan Cancer Suppor t Thank you to all involved
Kind regards
field W.I NEXT MEETING Weds 7th MAY 7pm
BIRTHDAY PARTY (INC FOOD) Enter tainment provided by Tony Tutton ‘My life in music’ Covering music from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. All welcome! fair fieldbedswi@gmail.com
Paul Robinson Call us on 01462 731986 E: stotfold news@yahoo co uk Find us on facebook.
News from the Mill.
While I'm writing this, I have noticed there's this big, yellow-y coloured thing up in the sky apparently, it's the sun It feels like quite a long time since we've seen it, and what a joy it is! Hasn't it been amazing to see the days getting lighter and brighter lately? Up in the Nature Reser ve the flowers are blooming and the trees are budding up, ready to burst into leaf and (best news of all) you only need one pair of thermal socks when working in the Mill it must be Spring! And that can only mean one thing - the Mill is OPEN AGAIN! Come and visit us on Sundays from March until October, watch the Mill in action, enjoy a visit to the Tea Rooms and then browse the new stock in our lovely Kingfisher Shop There are toys and trails for our younger visitors, and the beautiful Nature Reser ve to explore if you fancy a bit of fresh air - It's a great way to spend a peaceful Sunday afternoon
Do you want to know what happens at the Mill during our closed season? Well, here's a little snippet from a couple of our teams...
One Saturday afternoon in Februar y the ladies who volunteer in the Tea Room met for their annual Tea & Cake afternoon. It’s a chance to catch up with what ever yone has been up to since we closed for the winter break at the end of October. There was plenty of chatting, eating cake and drinking tea. On a more serious note, rotas were handed in with shifts for the new season. The team are looking for ward to ser ving you on 30th March!
The Milling Team had a get together on a sunny Saturday afternoon in early March They walked round the Mill to refresh their memories on how all the machiner y works and the health & safety requirements of using the machiner y They also saw all the new items that Head Miller, Ray Kilby, has added to the various displays around the Mill and finished the afternoon with a cream tea in the Tea Room Delicious!
If you love the Mill and want to see it continue running, please consider joining us as a volunteer The roles are varied, the time commitment flexible and the result is that our unique building will continue to delight and intrigue visitors for years to come We have recruitment days on 30th March and 13th April, from 2-4pm, but speak to any member of the team during a visit and they'll point you in the right direction If you've got any questions about the Mill, please contact us via enquiries@stotfoldmill com www.stotfoldmill.com
Mental Health Matters
The
waves of grief
I’ve just returned from a week by the rugged coastline of Cornwall The sun did shine (mostly), the skies were blue, and so too were the waves of the sea It was breathtakingly beautiful, windy and bluster y but totally enlivening! I loved it!
As I walked along the coastline with a friend admiring the stunning seascapes, I was reminded of the wisdom of the waves
As I’ve just lost a good friend, I’ve been reacquainted with the pain of grief. As I watched those wild waves, I saw the similarity between these and the waves of grief. What I mean is that if we allow ourselves the time and space, the waves of emotion arise within us until they reach a crescendo,
before crashing down and dissipating And then the next wave comes; some are bigger than others and sometimes are calmer than others However, when we resist these rising waves of emotional grief, they fall back within, without peaking in a way that allows them to naturally dissipate They effectively stay in the system where they await another chance to come through us
Unlike us, the sea doesn’t resist its natural rhy thm’s, it goes with the rise and fall as nature intended But us humans can find it unbearable to facilitate this. Instead, we may fight it, thus prolonging the pain of the process.
It can be especially difficult to bear such emotional pain if our family didn’t know how to do this or to teach us Finding the right counsellor and therapy can be significant in suppor ting us to allow our emotions to come through the system, rather than get stuck in it As counselling can be an excellent way to keep learning, grieving, healing and growing, I have just star ted some more myself!
LOCAL life..
Firstly, we have to star t by mentioning your recent nomination for the Countr yside Alliance Awards this year! It all sounds ver y exciting! Can you tell us a little bit about it?
The Countr yside Alliance Awards, also known as the "Rural Oscars," celebrate and recognise rural businesses, communities, and individuals who make significant contributions to the countr yside These awards are prestigious to win and cover categories such as local food, butchers, pubs, rural enterprises, and village shops/post offices It is an honor to have been nominated by our wonder ful customers for the local food categor y!
For those readers that perhaps aren't as familiar with you guys at Lower Wilbur y Farm - can you remind us how long you have been at the helm and what brought you to this area in the first place?
Lower Wilbur y Farm is a Central Beds Council Farm which gives people like us a star ting point to run your own farm. I'm from a farming background, my parents and brother farm in Cambridgeshire and I knew from an early age that that is what I wanted do!
We took over the tenancy in 2015, and my business plan always included a farm shop to supply the local community with locally reared, grass fed meat
One thing that has cer tainly seen a huge change since you took over Katie has been the fantastically stocked farm shop that you currently have - what else can visitors look for ward to when they visit, especially now we are just seeing the beginnings of Spring?
At this time of year we are in full flow of lambing! It really is an amazing time watching new lives be born So when you visit the shop, you will see the pregnant ewes in the cour tyard and if you are lucky might even see one being born! There are also ewes and lambs turned out in the fields!
It's lovely to see the lambs racing about and chasing each other! There are also the resident pigs in the cour tyard, Flamingo and Squishy, they love saying hello to ever yone!
We love to learn m ore about our wond erful m agazine advertisers!
If you have a local business and would like to par ticipate in a future LOCAL LIFE feature then get in touch!
introduce you to anothe r of ou r & Arlesey N ews Magazine advertisersing to Katie from Lowe r Wilbu ry Farm
Ever ybody knows that farming is a 24 hour job When you do manage to get time to yourselves, what do you enjoy doing and how do you manage to switch off I love pottering around in my garden with a glass of wine!! We also love going to shows throughout the summer months showing our sheep! It's great to catch up with all our friends and have a BBQ in the evening after we've shown!
If anyone is visiting the Farm shop for the ver y first time which items of your fresh produce would you recommend they tr y first to really experience the authentic Lower Wilbur y Farm experience?
It's hard to just choose one thing, but I think our rib eye steaks are amazing! Parred with some boiled new potatoes and green beans!
Kati e - Lower Wilbury Far
Stotfold Town Council News from
STOTFOLD CEMETERY OP
Are you interested in Stotfold Ceme Do you have family there, or enjoy of the cemeter y and surrounds? St Needs You!
Stotfold Cemeter y Open Day: 26 A
Our Cemeter y, established in 1896, for by the Council since inception and we recognise the impor tance of the site both for those who come to remember loved ones and for those regularly visiting to take a stroll around the different sections We are hoping to encourage a local group that take pride in our cemeter y and who can help us understand what local users most want for the site Come and learn about the histor y of our cemeter y, why it was established and how some of the people buried there that have contributed to the town over the last 125 years We have a number of historic records regarding the cemeter y, some fascinating registers covering burials for each section of the cemeter y, practical advice for researching your family tree, and even maps of different areas and old photographs of townspeople from Stotfold.
Any volunteers who wish to help on the day are ver y welcome, this hopefully will be an open forum event, and ever ybody’s par ticipation is welcome
Stotfold Cemeter y from above, captured by Town Ranger Darr yl Shields
The refurbished Chapel will be open, we’re hoping to take some record books on the day to allow people to look through and some of our albums of photos
Stotfold Town Council News from
NEW LOOK UPDATE!
Welcome to our new look monthly update As we strive to keep you informed on all of our news ever y month, we have reshened things up slightly to make things clearer, hopefully you will find our new format easier to read
We will also include a rolling calendar of for thcoming events each month so that you are able to see ever y thing we have coming up in the town at a glance. Make sure you put the dates on your calendar and come along and get involved
Wishing you a ver y Happy Easter. Cllr Steve Buck - Stotfold Mayor.
PANCAKE R ACE
Thank you to ever yone who came to the Pancake Race, either to take par t or as a spectator It was the first of many fun events we have planned for Stotfold this year We think you will agree, a great deal of fun was had by all! Congratulatoins to all of our winners!
Diar y of Events:
27th March - 8th May Dinosaur egg hunt
10th April - Plant a sunflower - biodiversity event
26th April - Duck race
30th April - Annual Town Meeting
8th May - VE Day Beacon lighting/fish & chip supper
28th June - STOTFEST
25th August - Stotfold Walking Market
20th September - Outdoor cinema event
31st October - Halloween Event
9th November - Remembrance Sunday parade & ser vice
29th November - Christmas light switch on event
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - WEDNESDAY 30 APRIL 2025, 7PM MEMORIAL HALL, HALLWORTH DRIVE
The Town Council is launching a public consultation on the future of the Simpson Centre, opening at the Annual Town Meeting Residents are invited to share their views on how best to use this impor tant community asset. The Simpson Centre, was acquired by the Town Council to protect the librar y, which has now relocated to the Greenacre Site With the building soon to be vacant, the Council is considering several options, including selling the land with planning permission for affordable housing, or repurposing it for community use
The consultation will open at the Annual Town Meeting, where residents can learn more about the options and ask questions. Following this, an online and paper consultation will be available for wider par ticipation Your feedback is crucial in shaping the future of the Simpson Centre Whether you believe the site should be sold to fund other community improvements or retained for public benefit, we want to hear from you.
Dinosaur Safari
Prepare to be amazed as beautifully decorated eggs reveal incredible augmented reality dinosaurs! Little explorers can open these eggs and learn fascinating dino facts while meeting the prehistoric residents.
The Dinosaur Safari trails work by utilising QR codes, without the need for players to download or sign up to any thing The trail consists of 10 egg picture boards located in public spaces Families will be able to star t the trail by scanning any of egg’s QR codes to bring a dinosaur to life on your phone
You will learn the dinosaur ’s names and facts about them as well as being able to have fun taking silly selfies and videos in augmented reality
Update from TEASEL.
Our Winter clearance work has continued, cutting back more trees on the roadside boundar y of JohnStan Wood in the reser ve, and coppicing some of the big Hazel trees there and in the corner near the picnic benches Like the willow pollarding and coppicing earlier this year, Hazel trees respond in a similar way when cut right back to a stump –sending out new straight ver tical branches. Hazels were traditionally managed in this way , as the new growth is ideal for constructing fences, with thicker branches used as poles, and thinner ones for weaving between the poles. We hope to produce enough poles ready to finish off the “laid” hedge along the left hand side of Meadow 2 next Winter. The rest of the cut material is being used to extend the “dead hedging” alongside the woodland paths, and reinforce the boundar y fencing.
By the time you read this, we will have halted the Winter work, to ensure the wildlife is not disturbed as they become more active – building nests and raising their young Hopefully the muddy paths will have dried out, and our visitors can enjoy the full range of environments –wildflower meadow, woodland and wetland – that have been created in this small reser ve
Kitchens & Bedrooms
Windows
Internal/External Doors
Skir tings -Architraves -Dados
Stairs -Handles -Balustrades
Handle & Lock Replacements
Loft Hatches
Flat Pack Furniture
All aspects of carpentr y
Summer priority work is keeping the paths clear, plus any ad-hoc tasks, and no doubt processing the already cut branches will carr y on for some time
Finally, a big “ThankYou” to all our hardy volunteers who have turned out for our cold and muddy Winter work par ties, and achieved so much for the Nature Reser ve and other green spaces around town Until next month.. Teasel
The winter clearance continued in JohnStan wood in March
Recent coppicing work under taken
EVENT FOR ADULTS
Ever y Friday - Knit and Knatter 10.30am-12pm
Ever yone is welcome no matter your skill level! Whether you’re already a master crafter or want to learn something new, come and join our friendly knitting and crochet group. Have a cuppa, meet new friends who are always willing to lend a hand and help teach you how to hone your skills
ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN
School Holidays
From April 8th – 19th there will be FREE crafts and activities for the children available from the Librar y each day we’re open, as well as our regular children’s events Just ask a member of staff for a pack on arrival
Ever y Tuesday
Stor y and Rhyme Time, 10 30am and 11:15am Please note: Sessions are now limited to 10 children maximum, on a first come, first ser ve basis (recommended for children aged 0-5)
Ever y Saturday, 10am-12pm
Pokémon Club! Come along to trade your own cards and play the trading game we have at the librar y! Beginners are welcome. (recommended for children aged 6+)
Pokémon GO Community Day! Excited about catching a shiny? Come into Stotfold Librar y on Saturday 8th Februar y which is the community day weekend there will be Pokémon themed activity packs!
Ever y Saturday 10-3pm Lego Club!
Come along to build with our Lego and Duplo! (recommended for all ages)
Our family announcements are FR
Family announcements
www justgiving com/gardenhousehospice
Announcements: We are happy to accept family announcements by post, telephone, email or through our facebook page If you would like to make a donation in return for your announcement then please visit the website above Please mention that the donation has been made on behalf of the Stotfold & Arlesey News Magazine
Why not surprise someone with an announcement in the Stotfold News Magazine?
All we need is your chosen wording and a photograph and we’ll do the rest! E:stotfold.news@yahoo.co.uk
ANGELA
Ever yone at Stotfold Runners would like to wish a ver y Happy 70th bir thday to an absolute stunner! We hope you have the best celebrations!
AMBER KING
27th April
Happy 20th
Bir thday!
Love from us all xx
JANET & WILLIAM BEVAN
Happy 90th Bir thday Janet
Also wishing you both a ver y Happy 70th Wedding Anniversar y on the same day!
With love from all the family x
CHARLIE
Happy 21st Bir thday! Love from Jamie and Mr Bojangles xx
CJ
Wishing our 1st born C J a ver y Happy 21st Bir thday!
We hope you enjoy your special day! Lots of love Mum, Dad, Alex, Taylor & Charlie xx
EMILY TOMPKINS
10th April
Wishing you the best 18th Bir thday We are so ver y proud of you Keep being you and you will fly high. Enjoy your trip to France and we can't wait to celebrate with you on your return Love you to the moon and back always, Diane, Ric, Jay, Billy and the rest of your crazy family xxx
News from Pippin Pre -School
We enjoyed welcoming back all our children last month and began March celebrating St David’s Day with Daffodils and Welsh Cakes, followed swiftly by World Book Day and Mother's Day
We were delighted with the safe arrival of our ducklings at the beginning of March!! They arrived in their incubator and hatched during their first 36 hours The children held them and watched excitedly as they took their first swim, this has been a lovely experience for children (and staff )
which we hope to do once again next year
We wish to thank all our parents and staff for wearing fantastic costumes to celebrate World Book Day The children enjoyed talking about their favourite books and went home with a book voucher to use at their local book store. We suppor ted Comic Relief on 21st March, children came to Pippin wearing red with crazy hair! We wish to thank all our families and staff for suppor ting this event and helping us raise money for this fantastic charity.
We would like to say a really BIG THANK YOU to local businesses that donated to our Easter raffle; Stotfold Junior Football Club, Talent Shore, Aqua Sensation, Stotfold Junior DC, Hair by Phillip, Jordans Mill, Morrisons and Mugnificent Gifts Our Easter raffle will be drawn on the 3rd April Easter Holiday Club will operate for the first week of the Easter Holidays 7th -10th April and offer two sessions 8am to 6pm and 9am to 3pm Summer Half Term sessions will be available to book from 1st April
As a reminder, we've par tnered with easyfundraising, allowing you to raise free donations with 8000+ retailers www.easyfundraising.org.uk/cause/pipp in-pre - school/ We have raised over £340 to date, which is a fantastic amount.
Thank you for your interest in our Pre -School. We wish you all a wonder ful Easter!
The ducklings have kept us all enter tained!
A fantastic World Book day took place in March, with some fantastic costumes from ever yone!
Quote of the month: “Friendship is the golden thread that ties the hear t of all the world” John Evelyn
Welcome to our news! Our children are loving their time outdoors, with nature hunts a firm favourite Brad, our Outdoor Specialist, has brought many forest school activities to our children this month Our resident, ver y brave, robins are still ver y much in situ and we are looking for ward to seeing their tiny fluff-ball fledglings appearing! In our outdoor spaces, children have been working together on den building, creating assault courses and turn taking activities All these activities suppor t their social development beautifully, especially when enjoyed in the sunshine
Children are exploring authors, creating beautiful ar twork and lovely re -enactments They have also been enjoying a wide range of musical styles; classical, cultural, pop, to name a few! They have loved learning new dance styles with Charlotte, our dance teacher, and also been inspired by music to move in a variety of ways.
STOTFOLD
Our Spor ts Co-ordinator, Ellie -Mae, has built a lovely spor ts programme into both nurser y and after school club, ensuring children have many activities to enjoy, alongside our usual crafts and games Many thanks as always, to our families for their continued suppor t This makes our par tnership so much easier and is ver y much appreciated by us all
Poppies and Poppyfields offer breakfast club, nurser y sessions, afterschool club, and full day care
For Poppies, St Mar y’s Academy site, contact billpoppies@gmail.com, and for Poppyfields at Fair field Lower School, please contact billpoppyfields@gmail.com.
BAL & CO. MOTOR CARE
News from Fair field Park Lower School
Year 2 and 4 children had the oppor tunity to enjoy afternoon tea with special loved ones in their lives, sharing delicious cakes, tea and juice and spending some quality time together for Mother ’s Day. The PTA also kindly hosted our Mother ’s Day gift room to give all the children an oppor tunity to select them a special gift
In the last week of term we focused on ‘Grounds Week’ During the week we focused on developing the school grounds and exploring what grows and lives in and around school We learnt how we can take care of our grounds all linked to our golden thread throughout the curriculum of ‘The Environment’
We were ver y grateful for some donations from local garden centres which enabled us to build bug hotels, animals homes and do some planting. We created a wildflower garden to encourage pollinators.We have also had some children take par t in KS2 girls football & Hockey events!
Don’t forget, the last day of term is Friday 4th April and we look for ward to welcoming the children back for the star t of the Summer Term on Tuesday 22nd April
Value of the Half Term: Thoughtfulness
Fair field Park Lower School Dickens Boulevard & Ruskin Drive 01462 830000
Did you know?
We have two spacious school halls both of which are ideal for bir thday par ties, children’s activities, clubs and celebrations. Our facilities are easily accessible. Please call to enquire.
News from Roecroft Lower School
Welcome to our April news.
I think we can happily say we are well into Spring, and I am hopeful that April has bought with it some brighter weather. We have some exciting news for the whole of Stotfold this month; as of the 8th April, we will be hosting holiday clubs over the holiday periods for the children of Stotfold (and beyond) between the ages of 4 and 12. We hope that this will fill a gap in the needs of local families that ever y year are tasked with finding exciting holiday activities for their children On page 7 you will find the adver t with more detail and how to book
This month we have an update form Miss Emmerson, our Head of Curriculum ‘Over the Spring term, KS1 have been super busy with their new topics of learning Year 1 have been focusing on the theme 'A Knight's Tale' and have been thoroughly enjoying the stor y 'How to Catch a Dragon' The classes were inspired to design their own dragon traps to catch some 'Roecroft Dragons' and ever ybody wrote a set of clear, detailed instructions for building a dragon trap
In Year 2, learning has been based upon the topic 'Kings and Queens' and the children have learnt about the histor y of some of our most famous monarchs such as Henr y VIII, Elizabeth I and Victoria. They have also learnt about our current Royal family through exploring a variety of sources and have discussed the event of King Charles III's Coronation. To add to the excitement, we even had a design and technology day where the children used many food skills!
We planned and created our own cake and sandwiches to make an afternoon tea In the afternoon, we then enjoyed eating these together whilst pretending to celebrate King Charles being coronated! In other areas of the curriculum, the children have worked hard on some nonchronological repor ts based upon animals This utilised a lot of tricky English skills such as using different openers, expanded noun phrases, headings and statement sentences Now the end of term is approaching, I know we all cannot wait for our Easter breaks and will be keeping our fingers crossed for some lovely
Spring sunshine! After the holidays, we are then looking for ward to a Summer full of activities including our Year 2 Knebwor th Park trip and our Year 1 trip to Her tfordshire Zoo!
We look for ward to updating you on more of our news next month! Mrs Cross.
Owl class with their afternoon tea for the coronation of King Charles III
News from St Mar y’s A c ademy
During March we celebrated World Book Day and Red Nose Day where our children dressed up and enjoyed themed activities and competitions both in school and at home
Our Year 3 children took par t in a Faith Tour to Bedford which was not only educational but a really cultural day for them
Our parent’s association the SMSA held a ver y successful Mother ’s Day Gift event where the children could choose their own present from a selection for their mums, grandmothers and carers They also organised a Happy Bags collection and held a fun chocolate bar Wonderlicious event – who had the golden tickets to win a prize?
Not only do these events provide lots of fun, but the money raised enhances the education and experience of all the children in our school
We are hoping some of the funds raised will help towards more IT resources for the children to enjoy!
On Wednesday 2nd to Friday 4th April our Year 4 children will be attending our residential ‘Rock UK’ trip, an adventure packed trip and we hope a ver y exciting and educational one for all involved Historically our Year 4’s have always thoroughly enjoyed themselves and really benefited from the whole experience
Please see our website for more information and pictures on these fun events
Due to the two week break, April is a relatively quiet month for us Our last day of term before Easter is Friday 4th April and following the holidays, the children will return to school on Tuesday 22nd April
Our older children have much to look for ward to on their return! Years 3s will be learning how to play African drums and Year 4s will be learning bicycle skills
Until our next instalment we wish you all a ver y pleasant Easter break.
It doesn’t seem possible that we are now at the end of the spring term Our Juniors are approaching their primar y assessments, our year 11 students are imminently taking their GCSE examinations and our year 13 students are on the verge of star ting their A Level exams. This marks the inaugural year of sixth form examinations at Etonbur y Academy.
Our Etonbur y Juniors immersed themselves in World Book Day. I am so impressed with the incredible effor t that ever yone has put into the celebrations for this day Our Juniors looked superb dressed as their favourite book characters World Book Day is such a fantastic oppor tunity for students to immerse themselves in the magical world of books and reading It's hear t-warming to see young minds so enthusiastic about literature and stor y telling Whether it's diving into a classic tale or discovering a new favourite author, the world of books is waiting to be explored by each and ever y one of us Let's continue to cherish the wonder of stor y telling and celebrate the magic of books together!
Our school's commitment to community and charity events has always been a cornerstone of our ethos, and this year's par ticipation in Comic Relief was no exception. The enthusiasm and generosity shown by
our students, parents, and staff was fantastic, enabling us to raise an impressive amount for Comic Relief this year
A big congratulations this month to our spor ts teams, who are taking advantage of the warmer weather with numerous after- school fixtures. The Year 10 ‘Shredded Lettuce’ band, recently showcased their incredible talent at The BLMK Battle of the Bands 2025. Schools from all over Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes par ticipated, sending their bands to per form on stage at this exciting event
We are delighted to share that applications for enrolment at Etonbur y Sixth Form for September 2025 are now available on our website If you have any questions, please do contact our Head of Sixth Form via email cdowden@bestacademies org uk
Did you know we have the best GCSE results in Central Bedfordshire? If you are looking for a Year 9 place for your child in September 2025 we have limited places available, please call the school office to book a tour by calling 01462 730391 or emailing eta -office@bestacademies.org.uk. We believe we offer a small, compassionate, and exceptional
educational community, and we invite you to come and see for yourself what makes Etonbur y special Please continue to share in our values, Ever yone is respectful, Together we care and Always aim higher
Mrs J Young – Principal Etonbur y Academy www.etonbur y.org.uk
Pupils enjoyed World Book Day by coming to school dressed as their favourite book characters
News from Pixbrook A c ademy
As we approach the end of the new half term we are already more than half way through the academic year The last couple of weeks have been really busy for all, but in par ticular our year 6 pupils who have completed a full round of mock SATs exams As you would expect pupils have responded magnificently All available staff were used to suppor t the pupils providing many rooms with a small
number of pupils in each We are obviously working hard with this year group including Wellbeing lessons, revision strategies and brain food! We know this can be a ner ve -wracking time for young people and as such we have tried to make things as normal as
possible
This last term has also included a large number of appointments that have been made in preparation for next years continued development of the curriculum and growth of the school It is par ticularly exciting to prepare for this growth and speak to colleagues excited about joining the school and developing their own curriculum areas. It is always interesting to speak to other colleagues about their experience
and this also give us an oppor tunity to talk about the work happening at PBA It is easy to forget that staff training happens regularly and teachers and other colleagues spend their time thinking about, discussing and planning the learning experience for our pupils March also saw us immerse ourselves in World book day for KS2 pupils, a visit to the Tate Modern for our GCSE ar t pupils, a visit of the vir tual planetarium for year 5 and year 8 pupils and the month finishes with a GCSE geography visit to Walton-on- the -Naze
Overall, a busy time at school, but that’s always the case. At least at this time of year we can begin to look for ward to the warmer weather! Have a great Easter from all at Pix Brook Academy.
Update From The Need Project
Well, sad to say, we had another record-breaking month in Februar y With 737 food parcels, which were packed and delivered, throughout our area, in only 20 working days This amounts to approximately 2,500 bags of food, not counting the 300 odd bags from our top up points People are really finding things ver y tough and there seems to be no end to the situation
I continue to be amazed, by the generosity of people, who buy into what we are doing. From prayer, kind words, smiles and financial suppor t.
We are getting closer to getting the keys to what will be, we hope our permanent home in Stotfold. Then, we can develop the upper space, to allow for our vision for our community and for our future development as a charity. It is exciting, but for me, it’s taking far too long, but, I know that my God’s timing is per fect, so we tr y and stay focused on that
The architect team have star ted on plans for the upper par t of our new building, which quite honestly should be amazing and so good for our community, but information about all of that will follow
One amazing thing happened last week I was approached, by a lovely couple, who came up to me in our church car park and said
they wanted to help, as they had read previous repor ts They were ver y keen to help and with that they gave us £25,000 pounds, which when gift aided means £30,000, towards the development This totally secures the work on the lower level, which is the main purpose of the project, which lets us feed people
In closing, I would like to say thank you all so so much for suppor ting the project Without you, we are no good to anyone, just a noise, but together we can with Gods help achieve incredible things.
Phase 2 of the project seems miles away financially, but so did Phase 1 and we now have funds to cover all of Phase 1, which a year ago was not possible. Phase 2 funding is just getting star ted, so watch this space. If you wish to know more about how you can suppor t us, please call me on 07496 833940
In closing, thank you to all the amazing volunteers who work
project throughout Central Beds and now fur ther afield.
We look for ward to updatin you next month, Praise God always, Gordon
737 parcels provided in 20 working days • 314 top- up-bags collected from our Pop- up sites • £51,045 estimated value of the food for the month • £6,602 50, the average monthly cost to run the charity • 737 food parcels (an increase of nearly 23% in food parcels vs last year) 1593 adults, 1196 children & 278 pensioners helped.
Gordon (left) and some of the Need project team pictured recently outside their Stotfold base
News from Stotfold Football Club
During Februar y the First Team won one, drew three two and drew two of their three league fixtures and also progressed in the Bed Senior Trophy Final winning 2-0 at home to Queens Park Crescent at home in the semi-final. The Women’s Team won one and drew one of their league fixture and progressed in the Legue Cup winning 2-1 at home to Real Bedford Ladies and Girls Development in the Quar ter Final. Fixtures
WE NEED MORE VOLUNTEERS TO HELP OUR CLUB!
Please suppor t the club by taking up our sponsorship and adver tising promotions Details are on the club website Come on you Eagles Up the Fold
JSJ Stadium New Roker Park Arlesey Road Stotfold SG5 4HE 01462 539297 www.stotfoldfc.co.uk
Please follow us on Instagram, X & facebook
ANSWERS TO APRIL FUN QUIZ on page 36
1 Ed Sheeran; 2 King Kong (pictured is actress Fay Wray as Anne Darrow); 3 “The Last LEG”; 4 Namibia; 5 Angel HAIR; 6 BR AINS (from “Thunderbirds”); 7 STOMACHER; 8 Yorkshire (East); 9 Ventriloquism; 10 Nelson (real name Lester Joseph Gillis)
Local Spor ts News
Inspired by the London Marathon?
Ever thought about joining a running club?
Look no fur ther, Stotfold Runners meets four times a week, welcomes all abilities, and is a great place to make long lasting friendships in the community!
We meet ever y Monday/Wednesday and Thursday at 7pm & Sundays 10:30am Check our Facebook page for meeting points, run distances, and seeing the planned route on the day! Visit facebook com/groups/stotfoldrunners
James’s Carpentry & General Handyman Service
Exterior & Interior Property Maintenance
* Decorating
* Furniture Building
* Painting
* Carpentry & more
* Carpet Cleaning FREE QUOTATIONS
T: (01462) 234292 or 07887 871212 Graham Smith
BRICKWORK & PAVING
Covering all aspects of brickwork old & new, plus patios, driveways
Twirlers take home 30 top 3 places in
Stotfold Twirlers have just taken par t in their first United Twirl England Area competition in Leicestershire. This competition was a qualifying competition for the National championships in May at Crawley.
We took home a total of 30 top 3 places and have six girls through to the National finals All girls per formed beautifully and some competing in new events, ability levels and age groups
The girls train at Fair field Community hall on a Friday evening and combine their twirling with Acro and dance If you are interested in seeing what we do, please find us on facebook or email Sonia crook@hotmail com for more information
Nor th Her ts Road Runners
Entries are now open for the Greenway Challenge on 11th May The star t will be at Standalone Farm and details are on our website www.nhrr.org.uk. Greenway Challenge
The 1st Sat of the month 5k at Letchwor th Common will be 5th April and this is open to runners of all abilities Entr y is free so just turn up on the day We continue our training sessions on Tues and Thurs with qualified coaches and meet in Letchwor th at 7pm We welcome runners of all abilities so come along for a taster session Our details are on nhrr org uk or contact Ian 07506429928
Nor th Her ts Road Runners would like to wish all marathon runners good luck for their chosen marathons this year!
Stotfold Twirlers Off To Nationals.
Stotfold
Leicestershire
Local Spor ts News
Pix Brook Gymnastics On The Move.
The doors closed for gymnastics sessions at Pix Brook Academy on the 15th Februar y The school provided us with a fabulous facility and during the last 3 1/2 years enabling us to build up our membership to over 270, extend our range of classes to Home Education, SEND and Adults as well as building a wonder ful community of over 50 parent and toddlers in our playgym classes ever y week. We are also extremely grateful to Stotfold Town Council who have suppor ted our growth at the Memorial Hall and given
Stotfold Judo Club Recent Results
The group have completed at many competitions lately, most recently the British School Championships in March The results were as follows:
Hari Crowley - silver
Nisha Rickman - silver
Lewis Dixon - DNM
Jay Crowley - DNM
WELLBEING WALKS
us the much needed additional storage for our equipment Thank you Pixbrook Academy for being our host during these years
We are delighted to have signed an agreement with Arlesey Town Football Club (ATFC) for use of their function room This is a wonder ful oppor tunity for us to open up to more members and to expand our classes into the day time During half term our equipment was transpor ted, the coaching team, committee members and some of our wonder ful parents came along to help make a few adjustments to ensure the hall
The group have also successfully competed at the Eastern Area Regional Schools Championships, The English Open and the Chalfont Championship.
Stotfold Judo Cllub offer a three week free trial to any new members, just email stotfoldjudo@gmail com for fur ther details
For more details contact Beth Over field on 01462 815672
was ready to open on the 26th Februar y
From September we will have exclusive use of the function room 7 days a week We are planning to offer a range of classes during the day, to include pre school, playgroups, home education and classes for older adults We will also be able to reduce our waiting list with additional classes
If you would like to join the waiting list please email: pixgymnastics@gmail.com or visit our website www.pixgymnastics.co.uk.
Arlesey Town Football Club - The new home of Pix Gymnastics The club offers a variety of classes from pre - school age
April Church Ser vices
April Ser vice:
Sunday 6th
Sunday Ser vice 11:15am
Sunday 20th
Easter Ser vice 11 15am
Rev'd Jenna Dearden 07708 666612
revjennadearden@gmail.com
Rev’d Jane Wheatley
E:jane.wheatley5@btinternet.com
KINGS BAPTIST CHURCH
April Ser vices:
Sunday 6th 10 30am
All-age family ser vice
Sunday 13th 10.30am
Ser vice with communion
Friday 18th 10 00am Good Friday ser vice
Sunday 20th 10 30am
Easter Sunday celebration
Sunday 27th 10.30am
Ser vice with communion
Prayer meetings:
Wednesday mornings at 10am
Sunday evenings at 6pm 01462 730521
www kingsbaptistchurch co uk
HOPE STRICT BAPTIST CHAPEL
Mill Lane, Stotfold. SG5 4NU
April Ser vices:
Wednesday 2nd, 23rd
Prayer Meeting 7.15pm
Sat 5th Young People’s Meeting 7pm
Sunday 6th, 13th, 27th
Sunday School 9 15am
Morning Worship 10 30am
Afternoon Worship 2.15pm
Wednesday 9th, 30th
Evening Worship 7.15pm
Sunday 13th, Bible Class 7pm
Friday 18th Good Friday Worship 10am
Sunday 20th [Easter Day Ser vices]
Sunday School 9 15am
Morning Worship 10.30am
Afternoon Worship 2 15pm
Minister Mr G.E. Hadley
01462 686803
www.hopechapelstotfold.org
April Ser vices:
Mon-Sat 9am Morning Prayer
Wednesday 2nd 9 45am Communion
Thursday 3rd 10 15am Little Angels
Easter Ser vice in Church
Sunday 6th: 8am Parish Communion
10am Parish Communion
4pm Tea Time Praise Family Ser vice
Wednesday 9th 9 45am Communion
10.30am Lent Discussion Group
2pm Hymns for Fun
7.30pm Lent Discussion Group
Sunday 13th – Palm Sunday
10am Communion & Sunday School
4pm – Families at Four Palm Sunday
6pm – Stations of the Cross
Monday 14th 7.30pm Holy Week
reflection & Compline Night Prayer
Tuesday 15th 7.30pm Holy Week reflection & Compline Night Prayer
Wednesday 16th 9 45am Communion
2pm Hymns for Fun
7 30pm Tenebrae ser vice Reflecting on the emotions of the passion stor y
Thursday 17th 6 30pm Maundy
Thursday Last Supper meal (Please sign the list in Church if you are joining us )
Friday 18th – Good Friday
2 00pm Good Friday Hour before the Cross Bible readings & reflection
4 00pm Families at 4 Easter Gardens
Saturday 19th 7 30pm Easter Eve –Ser vice of Light and Renewal of A reminder that God is in the silence and his light still shines
Baptism Vows
Sunday 20th – Easter Day
6.30am Sunrise Ser vice -Cemeter y 7.30am Easter Breakfast Roecroft Ctr 10am Easter Day Ser vice
4.00pm Fair field Manor Ser vice
Monday 21st 11am Youth Pilgrimage and picnic from St Mar y’s Church to All Saints Church Radwell. Wednesday 23rd 9.45am Communion Sunday 27th 10am Parish
Communion with Sunday School Revd. Bill Britt on 01462 730218. www.stotfoldchurch.org.uk
April Ser vices:
Sunday 6th 10am Jennifer Rogers
Sunday 13th 10am Rev Emmanuel Onabanjo (Holy Communion)
Sunday 20th 10.45am Easter Day
All Age Worship at Letchwor th Central Rev Emmanuel Onabanjo (Holy Communion)
Sunday 27th 10am Alison Finch
Minister Rev Emmanuel Onabanjo 07464 881751
April Ser vices:
Sunday 6th
Morning Ser vice 10:30am
Sunday 13th Palm Sunday
Morning Ser vice 10:30am
Sunday 20th Easter Sunday
Morning Ser vice 10:30am
Sunday 27th
Morning Ser vice 10:30am Contact 07351 514457/
Email info@fair fieldcc.org.uk www fair fieldcc org uk
April Ser vices: Prayer Meeting Ever y Sunday –10:00–10:15am
Family Friendly Worship
6th, 13th, 27th 10:30am
Home League Women’s Meeting 2-3
Tuesday 1st Member ’s afternoon
Tuesday 8th Catherine Lacey
Tuesday 15th Capt Adrian Allen
Tuesday 22nd Wendy Rowlands
Tuesday 29th Capt Gemma Allen
Special Ser vices
Sunday 13th Messy Church 1-3pm
Fri 18th Good Friday Ser vice 10:30am
Sun 20th Easter Worship 10:30am
Captains Adrian & Gemma Allen, 01462 731072 (Office)
www.stotfoldsalvationarmy.org.uk
The Green, Stotfold. SG5 4AN
FAIRFIELD COMMUNITY CHURCH Community Hall, Stotfold, SG5 4JJ
GUTHLAC’S ASTWICK Astwick Road, SG5 4BH
Church News & For thcoming Events
ST MARY’S CHURCH
Wedding couples afternoon 26 April
If you are interested in getting married in your Parish Church contact Revd. Bill on 01462 730218. You might want to come along to a Wedding Preparation afternoon on Saturday 26 April 2 - 4pm Christenings held on the 4th Sunday of each month Please contact Sara Clark on 01462 625270
Funerals The church is available for any local person’s funeral For information speak to your funeral director or telephone Revd Bill Britt on 01462 730218
Fellowship events in April: Wednesday 2 April 10 30-noon Community Coffee Morning; Saturday 5 April St Mar y’s Church Quiz in the Hall; Women’s Fellowship Wednesday 16 April 2 30pm in the Church Hall; Friendship Lunch noon Tuesday 29th April at The Stag
Please check our website www.stotfoldchurch.org.uk
STOTFOLD SALVATION ARMY
CHURCH NEWS – APRIL
Spring is here, and so are plenty of ways to connect at Stotfold Salvation Army! Ever y Tuesday (2:15–3:45pm), Music 4 Memor y, ( Tibbs Dementia) brings the power of music to those with dementia and their Carers, while Little Stars Baby & Toddler Group ( Wednesdays, 09:30–11am, term time) fills the morning with laughter
On April 2nd, our Book Club (7:15 – 8:15pm) launches with The Salt Path by Raynor Winn join us, whether you've read it or not! The next morning, Hobby Hub (April 3rd, 10:30–12:30) offers a cozy space to craft, sip tea, and unwind
Need a relaxed chat?
Drop in for Toast of the Town (April 10th, 10:30 –12:00) for tea, toast, and friendly faces.
Later, on April 21st, our Fellowship gathering (7pm) will celebrate Easter with a Hot Cross Bun gathering.
For a bit of fun, Connect: Youth Club for Grown-Ups (April 24th, 10:30–12:30) returns come laugh, play, and reconnect with your youth! Looking for a Bible discussion group? Lyfe Groups meet throughout the week contact us to find one that suits you We can’t wait to see you!
STOTFOLD METHODIST CHURCH
Stotfold Methodist Church welcome you to come aong and enjoy their Scrabble Club. Why not pop along ever y Monday from 2pm for a cup of tea and a chat.
ST GUTHLAC’S ASTWICK
As April unfolds, we begin to see signs of new life all arounds us; This natural renewal mirrors the spiritual renewal we celebrate during the Easter season For Christians, Easter is a time when we rejoice in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. His victor y over death is not just a historical event; it is a promise of new life for each of us. No matter what struggles or challenges we face, the resurrection reminds us that hope is never lost, and God’s power to redeem and restore is always at work. Just as nature awakens in spring, God invites us to experience spiritual renewal, opening our hear ts to His transforming work, and the knowledge that He can make all things new in our lives. As we embrace the beauty of spring, may the Easter season bring renewed faith, fresh hope, and the joy of knowing that we ser ve the true Saviour of the world
FAIRFIELD COMMUNITY CHURCH
Fair field Community Church
You are welcome to the Palm Sunday Ser vice & Lunch on 13th April and Easter Sunday Ser vice, 20th April at 10.30am. To register for lunch, contact 07531 514457 or info@fair fieldcc.org.uk please state dietar y requirements.
KINGS BAPTIST CHURCH
King’s Baptist Church invites you join them for a shor t ser vice of peaceful contemplation and reflection Good Friday, 18th April, at 10am All are welcome
On Wednesday afternoons we host Home from Home, in par tnership with The NEED Project, from 1pm to 3pm Drop in for tea, coffee, cake, and biscuits - All ages welcome Toddlers group: We run Tots & Toddlers on Mondays from 9:15am–11:00am, during term time and Works of Hear t, our informal ar ts and crafts, first Monday of the month at 8pm
If you are not able to come to our Sunday morning ser vice, please know that the ser vice is streamed online. You will need to use the Zoom software on your smar t-phone or computer to watch it. The meeting ID is 8269783610 and the passcode is 730521.
SALVATION ARMY FELLOWSHIP 21st April Easter Coffee & Hot Cross Buns
Join us for hot cross buns & a cup of tea!
Our meetings are open to all - All meetings held at The Salvation Army Church Road, Stotfold For enquiries telephone: 01462 731072
APRIL Fun Quiz!
Theme: HUMAN BODY! Presented by Stotfold’s ver y own Brain of Britain, David Stedman Answers on page 31 (no chea
1 Name the massively successful British pop singer and song writer,pictured left, whose UK number one hit singles have included “Shape of You” and “Eyes Closed”?
2 The fictitious Skull Island is the home of which monster, first appearing on cinema screens in 1933 and terrifying the character pictured right?
3 What is the title of the British television late night satirical sketch show hosted by Australian comedian Adam Hills with regular sidekicks Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker?
4 Skeleton Coast National Park is situated in which countr y, formerly known as South West Africa?
5 What two-word name, suggesting a hirsute heavenly being, is used in English to describe the even thinner version of the thin Italian pasta capellini?
6 In an animated British television series from the 1960s, what is the nickname of the charac Hiram K. Hackenbacker pictured right?
7 What is the nine -letter name of the triangular decorated panel once used to fill the front opening of a woman’s dress or bodice, as illustrated right?
8 In which county of eastern England can you visit Flamborough Head (pictured right) and Spurn Head?
9 The name of what form of enter tainment is derived from the Latin meaning “belly speak”?
10 In the nicknames of US gangsters over the years, if Al Capone was “Scar face” and Jack Diamond was “Legs”, what was the surname, which he used as an alias, of “Baby Face” (right)?
For more fascinating facts and to download and read our quizmaster David’s novels completely free of charge visit davidstedman co uk
Down Memory Lane
Does anyone recall the VE Day celebrations in Stotfold in 1945? Reader Mollie Jennings would like to know if anyone remembers having their photograph taken in the playground at St Mar y’s School on the day and if they are still living in Stotfold today?
Readers memories;
We are so lucky to have been contacted by a few Stotfold residents who have memories of past Stotfold and we look for ward to featuring them as the months go on Firstly, we have memories from Ivy English
”Much of this I learned from my late husband ” ”He came to Stotfold when he was six years old, there was no electricity as it came in about 1936/37 ” ” When it first arrived, they knocked on all the doors asking if anyone wanted it ” ”His parents said yes,so they were given one light downstairs.” ”The next door neighbour said no. A new fangled idea. It will never catch on!”
”During the war, after Dunkirk, wounded soldiers were brought here to Fair field and housed in many huts.”
”The coaches were lined up from the hospital to the crossroads. Locals went out with trays of tea for them.”
”For many years there was a ship in Harold Smiths yard in Regent StreetIt was one of the Dunkirk rescue boats ”
Did you know Stotfold used to have it’s ver y own Fire Station?
During a Town Council meeting on Januar y 13th 1911, The Chairman, a Mr Flitton, began the notion for Stotfold to have it’s ver y own Fire Station ‘The pound’ was the chosen location (corner of Rooktree Lane and The Green ) Later this moved to Regent Street opposite the Church Road junction and finally it was shifted to Hitchin Road (close to the Parish Hall) or ‘ tin box’ as it was more commonly known In Januar y 1913 a fire hand car t was purchased from Mr Cain (the High Street Blacksmiths) for the sum of £9. The brigade eventually disbanded in 1927 when Baldock became the new station for Stotfold.
Do
pubs in Stotfold?
Maybe hard to imagine, but once upon a time, there were 20 different pubs in Stotfold - See which ones you remember...
1.The Peewit
2.The Bell
3 The Crown
4 The Jolly Butcher
5 The Plough
6 The Boot
7 The Coach & Horses
8 The Cricketers
9 The Queens Head
10 The Fox & Duck
11 The Black Lion
12.The White Har t
13.The Stag
14.The Pig & Whistle
15.The Two Brewers
16.The White Swan
17.The Two Chimneys
18.The White Horse
19.The Sun
20.The Chequers
Quite the pub crawl or so we are told! We’d love to hear your stories of past landlords and landlady’s of Stotfold!
Pictured above right: The Black Lion.
Where did the name ‘Stotfold ‘ originate?
Stotfold has seen many forms, including Stodfald in 1007, Stotfauld in 1227, Stottesfold in 1343 and Statfold in 1780 The general consensus is that the name Stotfold as we know it today derived from the fact that ‘Stots’ (half-grown horses) were folded in the parish on their way along the Great Nor th Road (A1m)
Stotfold Lock- up
Stotfold lock- up was used for the ‘ temporar y detention of people’; mostly those who had committed crimes or were being held before the local magistrate. The lock- up was located next to Hope Baptist Chapel on Mill Lane and was used up until 1839 when Police Stations took over
Stotfold made the national papers arrived 30 hours late back from holiday and was promptly dismissed The campaign to re -instate her was
Twenty
Stotfold
Source: Stotfold Pubs & Publicans - Ber t Hyde
Business Directory
AD Garden Rooms
Adams Osteopathy
A JB Fencing
A J Day Builders
Alfie’s Barbers
All Wrapped Up - Balloons and Florist
Amber ’s Alterations
Andy Leonard Painter & Decorator
Arlesey Walking Group
Arlesey Social Club
Ask Phil (Garden Rooms, Driveways, Windows)
Aquarius Garden Design
Barn Hair Studio
Bal & Co Motor Care
Bandits Pet Shop
01438 313765
07498 670345
07837 791365
01767 314445
01462 658449
07886 569134
07941 010447
07889 903283
01462 638286
01462 731361
01462 545729
01462 731292
01462 835611
01462 731500
07787 502906
Bews Electrical 01462 834488
Big Minibus Hire
BK Electrical / Brian Kelly
07817 766997
07817 545314
Box Of Cakes celebration cakes to order 07812 055587
Broadband Communications
BSH Glazing ( Windows & Doors)
Bugs ‘n’ Things Pest Control
Builders - SJ Brock
Carpet Cleaning - ACCS Ltd
Carpet Cleaning - The Cleaning Hub
Carpets & Flooring - Paul Faulkner
Catsitter - Claire
Computer Repairs - Nick Saunders
The Cooker Buddy Oven Cleaning
Chris Webster, Stotfold
01462 732628
01462 730884
01462 735999
01462 231257
01462 629302
07990 297297
01462 731674
07984 344997
07521 279960
01462 810065
01462 834108 (Correspondent for The Comet )
Crown Sweeps
Darren Peters Proper ty Maintenance
Dennison’s - House & Garden Clearance
Drain Doctor
Electrician - Terr y C Seymour
Fair field Bowls Club
Fencing (A JB)
Finesse Interiors
First Step Estate Agents
Foot Health Professional - Vicki Eagles
Mice & Tidy 07835 983807
Mow & Weedit Garden Ser vices 07765 495200
New Kitchens 01462 812826
Nor th Her ts Road Runners 01462 639215
Orange Hen Travel 01707 903761
Oven Clean & Repair Ser vices 07878 444559
Painter/Decorator - Paul A Robinson 07761 751634 01462 232642
Paul Eley Tiling 07818 000508
Paul Williams Home Repairs & Maintenance 07881 289161
Piano Lessons - Christine Walker 01462 731357
Piano Lessons - Elmitt Piano Academy 07449 461465
Pilates - Zanna Newton 07719 862371
Pippin Pre -School 01462 834897
Pet Grooming - Paws & Claws 07913 005268
Plumbing - ALM Plumbing 07950 311963
Plumbing - C Plumb 01462 700862
Plumbing & Heating - GSP Heating & Plumbing 01462 615922
Plumbing - J D Heating & Plumbing Ser vices LTD 07474 444288
Plum-tek 01462 618058
Poppies Nurser y 07833 927906
Poppyfields Nurser y 01462 830008
Ray The Carpenter 07885 020895
Roecroft Centre - Maureen Winters 07727 688877
Regency Flowers 01462 732616
Stotfold & Arlesey Royal British Legion 01462 734133
Satchells Estate Agents 01462 733730
Saunders Garage 01462 730222
Sha Care Ser vices 03330 062644
Sheldon Electricals 01767 448188
Shel's Shabby Chic,
07838 916915
01462 733322
07522 354141
01462 730769
01462 236559
07811 738599
07837 791365
01462 896046
01462 659730
07812 399659
Foot Pro Podiatr y 07377 536685
FullFlow Pressure Washing
Gifford Dance Academy
Graham Smith Brickwork & Paving
Green Door Lettings Management
Greenacre Transfers Airpor ts & Chauffeur Ser vices
www greenacretransfers co uk
Guides - Stotfold Guide Association
Henlow Vets
07306 085207
07585 221513
07703 171857
01462 510765
07555 707848
01462 235273
01462 416416
Hypnotherapy - Pathway Hypnotherapy Rooms 07497157531
James’s Carpentr y & Handyman Ser vice
Jar vis Footcare
Kumari Chiropractic
Liams Butchers
Locksmith Ser vices
Lower Wilbur y Farm
Maintenance Ser vices - SHMS
01462 234292
07816 329363
07479 945995
07584 979361
01462 290226
07988 771107
01462 887366
Vintage painted furniture & workshops 01462 234228
Sigma Computer Ser vices 01462 742783
Slimming World 07515 557803
Solicitors - HR J Foreman Laws 01462 458711
St Mar y's Church Hall 07727 688877
Stotfold Ar t Group 07821 502367
Stotfold Bowls Club 07739 760719
Stotfold Conser vative Club 01462 730534
Stotfold Football Club 01462 539297
Stotfold Gardening Club 01462 834854
Stotfold Good Neighbour Group 07599 925587
Stotfold Junior Football Club 07706 951263
Stotfold Judo Club 07872 594499
Stotfold Twirlers 07732 505614
Stotfold Mill 01462 734541
Stotfold News Magazine 01462 731986
Stotfold Pharmacy 01462 730249
Stotfold Shor t Mat Bowls Club 01462 629575
Tailoring Ser vice 07575 417217
The Rooms Hair and Beauty 01462 835538
The Rooms Holistic and Beauty Academy 07946 521266
Warrens Windows 01462 261401
Waste Removal (Josas Waste) 07739 488472
Wellco Heating Ser vices
07783 190780
Windows - Repairs & Installations (J Garside) 07951 473505
Window Cleaning - ACCS Ltd
01462 629302
Window Cleaning (Jacks) 07950 510589
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