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From the Editor
Welcome to March!
We’re always excited when we finish a brand new issue of the magazine, it brings a great deal of satisfaction when you know that a par ticular issue is a really good read and has lots of quality content This month we are beyond excited. If we do say so ourselves, your March issue is a great one Hopefully you’ll notice a few tweaks we have made to some of our regular items, alongside the introduction of our brand new ‘Stotfold Histor y’ page which we hope will gain really good momentum and build as the months go on
As always, we are grateful for the continued suppor t we receive from the community in helping to compile your Stotfold News Magazine and the continual commitment from all of our adver tisers We have welcomed a few new adver tisers to this edition so please do look out for them and be sure to mention where you saw their adver t, should you decide to give them a call Thank you to Julia Green for the absolutely stunning swan picture we have used for our cover this month - what a picture! We think you’ll agree!
We hope you enjoy reading all the local news we have for you inside this issue - our round- up of some of our local marathon runners will leave you in awe we’re cer tain! Best of luck to anyone taking par t this yearwe would love to hear how you get on!
We hope you have a wonder ful March, we look for ward to seeing lots of you at the first Stotfold Pancake Race on March 1st (see page 9 for details! Until next time...
Joanne - Editor
With thanks to this month’s contributors:
Julia Green (FRONT COVER) Stotfold Town Council, Stotfold Mill, Stotfold Football Club, Our local schools, CBC, David Stedman (Quiz,) Stotfold Ar t Group, Our local Churches & local organisations, The Need Project, Nicola King (Amplius) Jo Loach, NHRR, Teasel, John Hyde (Stotfold Histor y page )
Road, Stotfold, Her tfordshire, SG5 4HT Tel: 01462 731986 You
Bowls Cl ub Ne ws Page 7
Cel ebrating our local maratho n runne rs! Page 5
Line up at Sto tfo ld’s firs t pancake race ! Page 9
Local Li fe with Mick & Be v Stotfold CC Page 15
Local Sports New s Page 33 NEW Pan-Disability fo otbal l initiative Page 13
Local Life
Mental Health Matters
Update from Teasel News from Stotfld Town Council News from Stotfold Mill
Family Announcements
NEW LOOK Monthly Fun Quiz!
Free Spor t For All News from Stotfold Football Club
Local Spor t
NEW LOOK Church Ser vices & News
Update from The Need Project
NEW LOOK Down Memor y Lane
Page 5-13
Page 10 Page 15
Page 16
Page 17 Page 19 Page 18
Page 20
Page 29 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33
Page 34-35 Page 36 Page 37
All this, alongside all our usual news a events from our local schools, groups & organisations..
NEXT ISSUE - APRIL Please note: ou adver tising deadline will be the 6th MarchCall us for detals 01462 731986
STOTFOLD Diary Of Events..
St Mar y s Church, Stotfold Table Top Sale
Saturday March 15th
Church Hall 10am Tables £5.
Tel Chris Webster 01462 834108
Raffle and refreshments
Proceeds for St Mar y’s Church Charity No 1131275
STOTFOLD GARDEN CLUB -
Meetings and Trips
Wednesday 12th March 2025
Talk by Jim Palne – ‘Gardening in the shade’ 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
Email: stotfoldgc@gmail com
Saturday 15th – Table Top Sale
St Mar y’s Church Hall 10-12
Saturday 17th – Plant Sale
St Mar y’s Church Hall – 10-12
Saturday 25th Pippin Open Morning
Saturday 14th – Book Sale & Coffee
Morning –St Mar y’s Church Hall – 10-12
Saturday 5th – Summer Fete –Vicarage Garden, Church Road 2–4pm
Saturday 6th Cream Tea Afternoon –St. Mar y’s Church Hall 2-5pm
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 & Sunday 6th/7th –Christmas Tree Festival –St. Mar y’s Church.
a
at stotfold.news@yahoo.co.uk
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
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
01234 355122
Lister Hospital 01438 314333
Transpor t
Whitbread Wanderbus
0300 123 3023
Electricity Emergencies
0800 783 8838
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
01462 730336
St Mar y’s Academy 01462 730343 Samuel Whitbread Academy 01462 629900
Taxi Ser vice Greenacre Transfers Airpor ts & Chauffeur Ser vices
Marathon Effor t From Our Local Runners NEWS
Etonbur y sixth-form student Aimee
New will be running this year ’s London Marathon in aid of Spinal Research UK
“I decided to run the London marathon for Spinal Research UK as they helped to save my nans life ” “Their continued research positively impacted my nan’s life over the last few years ”
“Over time I discovered a passion for running and star ted with shor t runs, leading to a half marathon and now a full in a few months time! The training has been hard and mentally challenging, however i’m still pushing through to get me to the big day.“
Asked about her aims for the race itself, Aimee told us “I’m not setting myself any par ticular goals with times to complete, I just want to be able to run at a comfor table pace and enjoy the experience, environment and really live in the moment.” “I will have my family and friends to suppor t me Ever yone has been helping with donations, training and advice!” Good Luck Aimee! https://www.justgiving.com/page/aimee -new1727166045961
Mark Ilsley will also be running the London Marathon in aid of Children with Cancer UK
Mark told us “They’re an amazing charity helping with cancer research in Children and also helping with suppor t for families who have children affected by this terrible disease ” Mark has assured us that he will be wearing trainers for this race! https://www.justgiving.com/page/ mark-ilsley-5
Jon Harnett will be running the Brighton Marathon in April for mental health charity MIND Jon is keen to help get rid of the stigma attached to talking about mental health; “If you could spare the cost of a pint or cup of coffee and help me achieve my goal I will be extremely grateful” he told the Stotfold News www justgiving com /page/jon-harnett-brighton-marathon2025
Caroline Musgrove will be running the reverse London Marathon, star ting at the finish and running through the night to
the star t Caroline is running for Cardiac Risk in the young
Paul Sharp will also be taking par t in the London marathon - he is running or AGE UK His fundraising link is: https://2025tcslondonmarathon. enthuse.com/pf/paul- sharp
Sophie Fletcher will be running in aid of Garden House Hospice Care in this year ’s marathon Sophie’s Mum Louise Fletcher, passed away at the Hospice in 2001
Sophie will be running to both celebrate her Mum and to give thanks to the wonder ful care they gave to her and her family at such a hard time https://www.justgiving.com/page/sophie -fletcher-1722688722463#sharePage
We would like to wish all local marathon runners the ver y best of luck with both their training and their upcoming races. What an incredible achievement with memories to last a lifetime! GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!
Aimee New
Mark Ilsley
Caroline Musgrove
Paul Sharp.
Sophie Fletcher
Jon Harnett
Stotfold
Ar t Group
This month Val has given us a last look at winter with this atmospheric snowy watercolour painting.. By contrast, Geoff' Hoile's sunny oil painting shows an ar tist capturing the scene in front of him, including the ar tist himself This then becomes "a picture within a picture "which Geoff has entitled "The Droste Effect".
Email us at stotfoldar tgroup@outlook.com or visit our facebook page - Stotfold Ar t Group
The First Sign O f Spring
Captured by Stotfold Town Council Ranger Darr yl Shields
You will no doubt have seen our Town Rangers out and about in Stotfold under taking a wide variety of jobs and duties Whilst going about his usual jobs, Ranger Darr yl saw the oppor tunity to snap this wonder ful spring picture!
The shot was captured during the ver y first week of Februar y whilst he was out and about on his daily rounds
Its just stunning, we think you will agree! Thanks for sharing this with us Darr yl
Snowdrops in the sunshinecaptured by STC Ranger Darr yl
Winter val - by Val
Geoff ’s Droste Effect oil painting
NEWS
A Greener Future
For Stotfold Bowls Club!
On the 8th of Februar y Stotfold Bowls Club took deliver y of a new motor mower Nothing too surprising here you may think Some of you will have walked past the Green on Brook Street in the summer and seen the grass being cut on a regular basis
Fair field W.I NEXT MEETING
AGM and Beetle Drive
Wednesday, 5th March 7pm
Ever yone is welcome - for more information please contact: fair fieldbedswi@gmail.com
Crime Figures Stotfold & Fair field December 2024
The new mower is an impor tant step for ward in that it is electric powered with a rechargeable batter y and will help to reduce their carbon emissions and associated noise. The club are ver y pleased to acknowledge the suppor t of Stotfold Town Council in the purchase of the new machiner y in the form of a par tial grant and they thank them for this as they begin their transformation to a brighter green future!
If you are interested in playing Bowls and want to have an introduction at no cost please go along to their Open Day on the 25th May when you can have a go suppor ted by current members All you will need is flat shoes, (e g trainers ) Please look out for fur ther details in the Stotfold News and around the Town closer to the date The club look for ward to meeting you!
K
Isted - Chairperson and the Bowls Club Committee
( The most recent crime figures available from the Police national website)
Violence & sexual offences - 20
Antisocial behaviour - 10
Criminal damage & arson - 4
Other crime 9
Burglar y 1
Public Order 2
Source: www police co uk You can repor t crimes online REMEMBER - PLEASE REPORT NON URGENT TO OUR LOCAL POLICE USING THE 101 NUMBER In a emergency always call 999.
Members of Stotfold Bowls club alongside Stotfold Mayor Cllr Steve Buck
NEWS
Charit y Fundraising Quiz...90’s St yle!
Regular readers of the Stotfold News Magazine may recall several appeals and fundraising events which took place last year to raise awareness and funds for DKMS, an international charity dedicated to the fight against blood cancer and blood disorders. The fundraising was in suppor t of local youngster Amelie who was diagnosed with leukaemia at the age of just three. Amelie’s family and friends continue to campaign to register more potential stem cell donors in order to help other children and patients fighting the disease.
The fundraising team are back to work once again this year as they plan to under take an incredible mission to the Sahara Deser t in suppor t of DKMS To help raise funds for this the team are hosting a music quiz to test you on your 90's music knowledge Do you know your Backstreet Boys from your Boyzone? Can you name all of the members of Westlife? How many number one hits can you name for Kylie Minogue?
If you fancy grabbing yourself a team and battling it out to be the 90’s quiz champions, then grab your tickets now There is also a silent disco to follow the quiz where you can put your lyric knowledge to the real test!
Tickets are priced at just £15 each and can be purchased by texting Jen on 07917 447245.
DKMS launched in the UK in 2013 and are the biggest stem cell register in the UK They have registered over 1 million blood stem cell donors to date and helped to give over 2,500 people a second chance at life
BAL & CO. MOTOR CARE
Quality used cars & vans supplied Excellent after sales care, our warrantees cover both parts & labour
Motor vehicle servicing and general repair work undertaken, any make or model.
2 Arlesey Road, Stotfold, Hitchin, Herts SG5 4HA Formerly Cramps Garage Sales (01462) 732400 Services and Bodywork (01462) 731500
Flipping Good Fun!
Help celebrate Pankcake day 2025
Stotfold will host its ver y own Pancake Race along the High Street on Saturday March 1st Come along and chat to your Stotfold Town Councillors, enjoy the race and tr y your luck!
There are medals to be won for the fastest adult, fastest child, fastest business owner and of course fastest Stotfold Town Councillor Bring your own fr ying pan, pancakes will be provided There’s no need to register in advance Local business La Crêpe Franglaise will be situated on the High Street parade for you to buy some tasty treats The Mayor's charity ‘Respite at Home Volunteers West Mid Beds and Ivel Valley’ will be there with their collection buckets for anyone wishing to donate to this wor thy cause.
Do come along and suppor t the event on Stotfold High Street, Saturday 1st March from 10:00-12:00 -
We look for ward to seeing you there!
Are you willing to tr y your luck at Stotfold’s ver y first Pankcake Race!
Dear Editor,
I’m planning a number of projects during 2025 to raise money for charity and raise awareness for ADHD and neurodiversity The charity is called ‘Meeting up with Angels’ maybe you have heard of them? The website is www personablepor traits co uk/hyper focus - visit our website to see the summar y of ever y thing we have planned!
I’d love it if Stotfold News Magazine readers could join us on this journey - more details can be found on our facebook page Personable Por traits Please do reach out if you are interested in getting involved!
PaulPersonablePor traits
Dear Editor,
I would like to thank Ricci of Crown Sweeps for recently doing such a fantastic job of cleaning our chimney as it had not been swept for some time!
Ricci was extremely cour teous and did a fantastically thorough job We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him and his chimney sweeping ser vice. Thank you Stotfold News for adver tising his ser vice in your magazine
Mrs Clements
Dear Editor,
As we have been lucky to have been chosen to be the Stotfold Mayor's chosen charity until May we'd like to take this oppor tunity to thank him and all the team for their suppor t with our fundraising over the last year
Here are a selection of events which you will find us at during 2025 - we hope to see you all there!
Saturday 10 & Sunday 11 May Stotfold Steam Fair, come and find us in the red tent for fun and games!
Saturday 28 June Stotfest, Stotfold, live music and we will be there with our famous Tombola!
Mon 25 Aug – Stotfold Walking Market Pop along and have a chat with us about what we do and maybe join us! We are a friendly bunch!
Thank you
Kind regards
Nicola Mills (Respite at Home Volunteers Manager)
Help Shape Central Bedfordshire’s SEND Strategy
Central Bedfordshire Council is updating its Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Strategy and is inviting children, young people, parent carers, and professionals to share their views
As par t of the current strategy refresh, the Council is working in par tnership with Bedfordshire, Luton, and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board (BLMK ICB) and SNAP Parent Carer Forum to ensure the updated plan reflects the needs of the community.To suppor t this, a questionnaire has been launched for children and young people, parent carers, and professionals working with children.
The aim is to understand what matters most to them and whether the current priorities remain relevant or need to change.
To take par t in the sur vey, visit www centralbedfordshire gov uk/sur veys
The closing date is Monday 17 March A draft of the 2026–2029 SEND Strategy, will go out for public consultation in the summer
STOTFOLD DEFIBRILLATOR LOCATIONS
Defibrillator Locations: Greenacre Centre • The Co-op • The Barn • Kings Baptist Church • Stotfold Conser vative Club • JSJ Stadium (Stotfold Football Club) • Stotfold Memorial Hall • Roecroft School • Hitchin Road Recreational Ground • Pippin PreSchool • Etonbur y Academy • St Mar y’s Academy • Pix Brook Academy • Stotfold Salvation Army Hall • NEWLY ADDED ****The Mossman Centre & now also on the High Street parade on the side wall of The Rooms! **** Please check individual accessibility as some of these facilities may have their own individual opening hours.
NEWS
Does Your Child Love Football & Have A dditional Needs?
Does your child enjoy football but would benefit from some additional assistance on the pitch?
Does your child have physical, learning or sensor y disabilities?
Stotfold Junior Football Club are launching a brand new initiative aimed specifically at children requiring extra help and assistance in order to play and enjoy the game of football
The initiative is due to take place on Saturday afternoons on the 3G pitch at the Pendleton Spor ts Centre, Stotfold. The sessions are aimed at children aged 5-16 years of age.
To register your interest in receiving more information on the group, please contact Paul Duggan at paulstotfoldjuniors @gmail com
The objective of the group is continue with the aims of Stotfold Junior Football Club in making football accessible to all regardless of disability or any additional needs.
Pan-disability football is the biggest disability- specific football format in England and provides a safe space for children to enjoy the benefit of taking par t in a team spor t.
your dream home
We operate to the highest standards of practice and integrity required by the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) Our track record in leasehold enfranchisement is also acknowledged by ALEP (Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners)
We are here to provide you with expert advice for the purchase or sale of: Get your instant conveyancing quote from our website today. Or visit us
Contact us: t: 01462 458711 e: homes@hrjforemanlaws co uk
to make an
only legal advice you will ever need. Since 1591.
Hello Stotfold
Did you know that The Barn has been par t of the Stotfold community for nearly 30 year s. We star ted small with just upstair s and grew quickly to ll the whole barn, evolving along the way.
The building star ted as a The Barn Hair Studio, then added beauty ser vices and a barber s. Who remember s our Sun Shower s and the Tremor-board, ha ha.
Now we have evolved again.
The Barn is now a fully managed work place, giving home to a selection of independent businesses. These provide a range of dif ferent ser vices.
Despite being separate businesses, each works happily with the other s to provide clients with an enjoyable experience. Our ser vices include The Hair Studio, Hair by Den, The Barber Room by Sarah, Kumari Chiropractic, Victoria Beauty, Olympea Aesthetics and Sarah Scoot Beauty
On entering The Barn you will nd a warm welcome from Steve, the Barn manager. Alternatively, call our reception team on 01462-835611 who will happily help with booking appointments and enquiries Gents you can also book online.
It couldn’t be easier.
We are all looking for ward to WELCOMING New Clients this year while continuing to spoil our existing clients.
So pop down and say hello, take a look around and meet the team BOOK A FREE consultation and see how we can help you
For more information visit our website www.thebarnstotfold.co.uk. You’ll nd prices and opening times along with a message from me Julie
PS.
Fancy working with us? We have space to let. For more information call 01462-835611 , email reception@thebarnstotfold.co.uk or pop in and see Steve.
LOCAL life..
Finding out more about the people behind our local businesses...
Each month we like to introd uce you to another of our wonderful Stotfold & Arlesey N ews Magazine advertisers - this month we are talking to Mick & Bev, Managers at Stotfold C onservative C lu b
Mick & Bev, you are familiar faces to so many people in Stotfold, but for those people that do not know you well, can you give as a ver y brief rundown of how long you have been in charge at Stotfold Conser vative Club and what lead you to Stotfold in the first place? We actually first visited the club on a night out and were met with such friendliness that when we heard the present Steward was moving on, we jumped at the chance to apply to take over and have loved ever y second since!
Over the last few years, what have you enjoyed most about Stotfold and the people that live here? The people make it for us! Our members are always happy to get their sleeves rolled up and get involved and the residents of Stotfold have always been so suppor tive of the clubespecially when it comes to our charity events!
As your work involves a great deal of time spent meeting lots of different people, we thought we'd ask you both who are the most famous people you have ever met (not necessarily in the Conser vative Club or maybe they were!) I have met George Lucas, Valentino Rossi and Harr y Kane - quite the mix! We have also had Troy Hawke and Paul Sinha at our comedy nights! As we enjoy going to various car shows we have also met Richard Petty ( The King) an American racing driver
If you could both transpor t yourselves away from work for a while and visit anywhere on ear th for a well earned holiday, where would you choose and why? High on our bucket lists are Hawaii and Australia We absolutely love Cornwall and have visited there each year since 2000. As a family we have travelled across America and actually got engaged on top of the CN Tower in Toronto, Canada.
You have a jam-packed diar y of events at the Conser vative Club and your jobs most definitely involves meeting many different acts and enter tainers - which nights do you enjoy working most and why? Band nights and Comedy nights stand out for us we love seeing our customers enjoying themselves and letting their hair down! Another favourite for us is the Charity Nights we put on as we get
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!
so much satisfaction in helping to raise money for the various good causes we have suppor ted over the last few years we have been at the club.
We especially love the summer months especially as we can open the doors up and really enjoy the outside area with all of our wonder ful customers.
Mental Health Matters
Winter – ing
I can’t claim to have coined the above term, nor can I recall where I found it! But it was referring to the flurr y of new activities in Januar y in contrast to Winter offering a time to pull back, hunker down and rest, in preparation for the new star ts in Spring
Like many, I love Winter on the run up to Christmas but I’m over it by the drear y days of Januar y
Get In Touch With Us
Call us on 01462 731986
E: stotfold news@yahoo co uk Find us on facebook.
However, in learning to Winter well, I realise it is a waste to wish away these cold, damp months. Or indeed to wish away any par t of these fragile, fleeting lives of ours As I have recently been reminded through the death of a friend, life can be taken in an instant
Therefore, to wish away Winter or the working years or any thing else, is to fail to understand how precious each moment of each day is Even those we struggle to get through Because ever y season offers its own rewards and challenges
Winter may require us to be more proactive about looking after our mental health, especially if prone to
SAD. For me, Winter is an invitation to instigate all that I love in this season but hate in Summer. I write this with my feet up (shoes off!), gazing out the window at the sea on a break The combo of clouds and cold removes the crowds which makes it my favourite time to go
Back at home, I am decorating my house and getting shot of the old to bring in the new-old, cour tesy of second-hand retailers I love creative projects which in turn, enrich my mental health Plus, I wouldn’t do this in warmer seasons because I’m too busy playing outside! Embrace the oppor tunities this Winter … for these too shall pass!
Jo is a BACP Accredited Psychodynamic Counsellor and an Integrative Super visor with an MA in Contemporar y Therapeutic Counselling. joloach.com. jo.loach@gmail.com.
Back in mid-Januar y we tackled the annual task of har vesting the willow stems from the Osier Bed Osiers are willow varieties selected for use in weaving, and are traditionally grown and har vested each year as a crop for a variety of purposes
As with any coppicing, the stump is left and new growth occurs as long, straight branches These can be used for various “ar ts and crafts” – but also a traditional par t of hedge laying, plaiting the tops of the posts together
As you can probably tell from the photos, the ground is ver y “swampy”, but willows are generally quite happy in such conditions (although some of the stumps are probably in need of replacing now)
One of our other annual winter tasks is clearing out the ditch which runs through the wetland area of the Nature Reser ve This has almost disappeared with bullrushes and other water-loving plants, which provide good cover for the ducks, but they need areas of open water too
Willows and Alder trees also love the wet conditions, and then add to the problem by dropping their leaves into the water, which then rot down to make (smelly!) mud. We probably wont get it finished before the nesting season star ts again, but hopefully as you will see from the pictures above, we have star ted to make a positive difference.
Update from TEASEL.
New life will soon be returning to our local green spaces with the coming of Spring.
Do tr y and find time to get out and enjoy our local countr yside.
We look for ward to updating you on our news in future editions of the Stotfold News
Magaine
Teasel For fur ther details and to find out how to become involved contact 01462 733309
Recent Osier cutting by Teasel in the nature reser ve
The newly cleared area looking much improved
The ditches in need of some heavy duty clearing work
The ditches looking much improved
News from the Mill.
Have you seen our socials lately!? Mr Kilby, our head miller, has recently invested in a brand new, state of the ar t piece of kit for the Mill We're calling it the Randall Rover, and, while we might not be par t of the Space Race, it's making a huge difference to the Mill Race! Check it out:
https://www.facebook.com/stotfoldmi
Mr Kilby is using the Rover to help clear the weed that floats down river towards the Mill, where there's a risk the weeds will catch in the Mill wheel and cause all sor ts of mischie It's a vital but thankless task, and (at this time of year) pretty chilly too although apparently wheeling two or three barrowloads a day from the river to the compost heap is an excellent cardiovascular workout
30th March 2025
Come and join the volunteers at Stotfold Watermill keeping the wheels of history turning 2.00pm - 4.00pm at the Mill
Would you like to join Mr Kilby in his herculean effor ts? We are recruiting volunteers for this year ’s open days as you will see from the poster above
If you would like to know more about Stotfold Mill, get to meet local people and make new friends, learn new skills or get some great experience for your CV, then come along to our Volunteer Recruitment Days on 30th March and 13th April to find out about joining the team at the Mill
Our first open Sunday this year is also 30th March, and we’re looking for ward to welcoming you back to the Mill!
Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm Wednesdays 1pm - 5pm
Wheeled Spor ts Facility
Following the Full Council meeting on the 29th Januar y 2025 the site sur veys for the Wheeled Spor ts Facility have been instructed. On receipt of the results, Betongpark will complete the re -design using both the site data and the feedback from residents following our public consultation Once the final design has been prepared, the Town Council will then move towards the planning phase of the project
Simpson Centre Public Consultation & Annual Town Meeting
Councillors would like residents to give their input on the future of the Simpson Centre following the relocation of the librar y The options for the Simpson Centre will be subject to public consultation, and as par t of the process, will be presented at the Annual Town Meeting 7pm, on the 30th April 2025 We would encourage residents to attend this meeting to join the discussion and express their views The Annual Town Meeting will also be a chance for you to hear about the results of our recent resident's sur vey
For thcoming Events:
We have a busy events programme planned for the spring beginning with dinosaur themed augmented reality trails which will run for 6 weeks from late March There will be two shor t walks (approx one mile each) where you can hunt down images of eggs then use your smar tphone to open them up and meet the dinosaurs inside You will be able to take selfies and videos with the dinosaurs, learn lots of dino facts and download a free puzzle pack at the end
During the Easter holidays we will be running a plant a sunflower event where you can pot a seed with us and take it away to plant in your garden.
We will also be joined by the Shefford & Stotfold Youth Involvement team who will be running a bug hotel workshop. Keep an eye on social media for more details nearer the time.
2025 marks the 80th anniversar y of the end of World War II. Victor y in Europe Day, VE Day for shor t, is the day celebrating the formal acceptance by the Allies of Germany’s unconditional surrender on the 8th May To celebrate we shall be hosting a fish & chip supper at the Con Club on the 8th May Tickets will be £10 and will include a por tion of fish & chips and some war time enter tainment Book your tickets either at the Con Club or at The Greenacre Centre VJ Day (Victor y in Japan) is 15th August 2025, and more details will be released nearer the time
We would like to encourage residents to join us at The Green for the lighting of the beacon at 21:30 followed by coming together with the whole countr y at this time to and sing the wonder ful and uplifting British patriotic hymn - ‘I Vow to Thee My Countr y ’ It will bring the community together at one moment in time, providing a wonder ful ’tribute’ to the many millions that paid the ultimate sacrifice during the dark days of WWII
Thank you for your suppor t of our Town Council, we look for ward to bringing you more updates on our year ahead inside the April issue of your Stotfold News Magazine.
Family announcements
TAYLOR JER AM 24th March
Happy 10th Bir thday beautiful!
We hope you have the most amazing day at the Theatre and the Beach!
Love Mum, Dad, Alex & Charlie xx
In Loving memor y of ELLEN ELIZABETH PARCELL
8/3/66-7/3/23
Forever in our thoughts
Love Mum, John, Ronnie, James & Rosie xx
PAUL SOPER
HAPPY 59+1 BIRTHDAY!! 13th March
Wishing you a lovely bir thday
With love from Sharon & all your family xx
SOPHIE PHILPOTT
Happy 13th Bir thday Lots of love, Daddy, Meg, Sienna & Louis xxx
IN MEMORY OF DOUGLAS KING
Who played football for Stotfold in the 1950s but sadly passed away aged 39 on 9/3/75
50 years without you Dad, but loved and missed ever y day
Your Michelle.
IN MEMORIAM GEOFF BOUNDS
1/9/51 - 25/2/24
Although a year has gone, you will always be in my hear t and missed ever y day Lovingly remembered with all our love Shirley, Julie, Helen and family
DAVID LESLIE SIMS
1933-2025
David died peacefully at home as he wished on Januar y 30th aged 91 He and his family moved from Letchwor th to Stotfold in 1985 and he was ver y happy to be a Stotfold resident for the next 40 years He will be greatly missed by his family & friends
ALEX JER AM 13th March
Happy big 16th Bir thday dude!
Hope you enjoy driving your dream car
(Mustang GT ) lots of love Mum, Dad, Taylor, Charlie & Lucy xx
MAUREEN ANNE MEADOWS
of Clifton and more recently of Fair field Manor Care Home passed away on 5th Februar y 2025, aged 86 She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother The family expresses their gratitude for the suppor t received during this difficult time. Her funeral and remembrance ser vice will be held at All Saints Church Clifton on Tuesday 4th March at 1pm https://www memor ygiving com/maureenannemeadows
News from Pippin Pre -School
During the month of March, children will be par ticipating in some fun events including World Book Day and Comic Relief For World Book Day (6th March) children are invited to come to Pre -School dressed as a character from their favourite book! We will be also be suppor ting Comic Relief on the 21st March, children will be encouraged to come to Pre -School with crazy hair and par ticipate in different activities throughout the day
Throughout the month, children will be learning about baby animals and will have the oppor tunity to watch some baby ducks hatch. This is a ver y exciting time for the children, they choose the ducks names, hold them and watch them take their first swim. For fur ther information please visit https://www.incredibleeggs.co.uk/. Each month the children learn about a different countr y -This month they are learning about the British Isles.
Our holiday club will be open the first week of the Easter holidays from Monday 7th April to Friday 11th April inclusive We charge £40 per day day, contact us for details
We are delighted to be holding our annual Easter Raffle once again this year, prizes have been kindly donated from Stotfold Junior Football Club, Stotfold Junior Development Centre, Talent Shore, Aqua Sensation and Hair by Philip to name a few, thank you to you all for your generous donations The winners will be announced in next months issue
As mentioned previously you can now suppor t us from the comfor t of your own home while shopping online! We've par tnered with easyfundraising -Please sign up now, your ongoing suppor t is gratefully received. www.easyfundraising.org.uk/cause/pippin-pre - school/
We have recently registered with Recycle4Charity and are accepting old ink car tridges for recycling. For each ink car tridge recycled via the programme we will receive up to £2 donation. We have a collection box in the office ready for your donations. Thank you for your interest in our Pre -School. We look for ward to sharing more of our news with you again next month
This term we have explored ‘Our World’, sharing various cultures, types of home and environments and the different animals and communities who live there. We also had fun looking at similarities and differences between each other, celebrating our own individuality and respecting similarities and differences Chinese New Year was celebrated with music, dance and dragon dancing with our beautiful dragon which was created by our children Noodle painting, making masks, using chopsticks and dancing to Chinese music were also enjoyed
After half term, we enjoyed sharing popular authors, with World Book Day in March incorporated within this The Gruffalo remains a firm favourite and in readiness for this, we have decorated one of our rooms as The Gruffalo’s Child, complete with fir trees, snowy scener y and a cave
Spring is peaking around the corner with snowdrops in the Centenar y Woods, amazing sunrises and sunsets and days are lengthening
In our wild areas children have enjoyed looking for fur ther signs of spring, spotting bulbs and buds with their magnifiers! Our After school clubs have also enjoyed construction, craft activities, including clay, collage, modelling and ar t They equally love outdoor games and spor ts as the evenings are drawing out!
Poppies and Poppyfields both offer breakfast club, nurser y sessions, afterschool club, and full day care, from Monday to Friday during the term and additionally offer holiday club
Quote of the month: “Let nature be your teacher ” by William Wordswor th
We look for ward to updating you on more of our news in next month’s issue of the Stotfold News Magazine.
In the meantime you can get in touch wit us at any time to request a site visit or to cha to us about how we can help.
Poppies age range is 2 years old to Reception, while Poppyfields is 2 years old to Year 2.
For Poppies, St Mar y’s Academy site, please contact billpoppies@gmail.com, and for Poppyfields at Fair field Lower School, Dickens Boulevard site, please contact billpoppyfields@gmail.com.
The Gruffalo remains a firm favourite
News from Fair field Park Lower School
Welcome to our news for March. Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 have been learning all about mastering numbers. The children are now excellent are subitising which is when you can look at a number of objects and know how many there are without counting
Exterior & Interior
Property Maintenance
* Decorating
* Furniture Building
* Painting
* Carpentry & more
* Carpet Cleaning FREE QUOTATIONS
Year 1 have been using rekenreks These help the children with counting, adding and subtraction
The children are looking for ward to World Book Day and will be dressing up in their pyjamas or comfy clothing and sharing their favourite books and stories together
Kitchens & Bedrooms
Each year group will be focusing on a different author in the hope that they might add another favourite book to their pile!
Reception will look at the author
Rachel Bright
Year 1 will share stories by Nadia Shireen
Year 2 will be gathering books by Nathan Br yan.
Year 3 learning about Maria Farrer.
Year 4 reading poetr y and books by Joseph Coelho.
Value of the Half Term: Trust
Fair field Park Lower School
Dickens Boulevard & Ruskin Drive office@fair fieldparklower uk 01462 830000
The rekenreks providing some fun learning oppor tunites for Year 1
Author Nadia Shireen
News from Roecroft Lower School
This month we have an update from our Early Years Lead Practitioner, Miss Ashby: ‘Over the Spring term our topic in Reception is 'Planet Ear th and Beyond!' Our class teddy bears Freddie, Dave and Bob have been going on holiday to different countries around the world and we have received postcards from them each week, telling us about their adventures We also found out about Alexander Graham Bell and his friend Thomas Watson who invented the first telephone Next, the bears travelled by ferr y to France and explained to us that even though the boat/ferr y they travelled on was really big and ver y heavy, it still floated We even did some floating and sinking experiments ourselves
When the bears went to China there was a ver y special celebration going on - it was Chinese New Year! We celebrated this in school too, by finding out about how Chinese families prepare for and celebrate Chinese New Year We shared the Zodiac stor y together and even tasted
some Chinese food, which was delicious. Freddie, Dave and Bob have now flown off into space! They are having a great time and have been to the International Space Station just like the astronaut Tim Peake We have found out about Tim Peake as well as Neil Armstrong, who was the first man to walk on the moon We are looking for ward to the rest of
their adventures, finding out about the different planets and stars in our Solar System. Maybe Freddie, Dave and Bob will meet some friendly aliens too! To end the half term, we had a lovely visit from the Theatre of Widdershins They came into school to per form a play called ‘Pigs and Bears Don’t Come in Pairs!’ This was a wonder ful way to end the term and we loved watching the show ’
Watching the Reception children make such huge rates of progress is simply joyous Thank you to the team for their hard work and dedication, and to our families who show such suppor t and really throw themselves into school life
Mrs Cross and the team.
Children enjoying the chinese food tasting in Early Years
News from St Mar y’s A c ademy
Februar y was a busy month for our Year 4 children who had the ver y exciting and special experience of par ticipating in the Young Voices Concer t involving over 9000 school children within the O2 in London
We will be sharing ideas and stories once again to celebrate World Book Day on Friday 7th March The children will be invited to come into school in their pyjamas/non- uniform with their favourite book They can even dress as their favourite book character if they would like!
We have the first of our assemblies by Amethyst Class on 7th March Jet and Emerald will follow on the 12th & 19th Parents are as always invited to watch Parent/Teacher Consultations are planned for the week commencing Monday 10th March and will be in person in school
On Wednesday 19th March our Year 3 children will take par t in a Faith Tour to Bedford Here the community works together to enable the children to visit a Church, Gurdwara
and Mosque. This helps them build an understanding of how different communities and religions work together. Our Year 3s will have also star ted their swimming sessions! March will also be an active month for our parent’s association with the planned Happy Bags and Mother ’s Day events We will once again be suppor ting Red Nose Day on Friday 21st March and are inviting our children to come in non- uniform clothes Towards the end of the month our Year 4 children will be preparing for their residential ‘Rock UK’ trip, an adventure packed event and we hope a ver y exciting and educational one for all involved
The holidays will then be upon us as we break up on Friday 4th April for Easter We will return for the Summer Term on Tuesday 22nd April
There are also a number of spor ting events planned through the month so please do visit our website www.stmar ysacademystotfold.co.uk for fur ther information and updates regarding what is happening currently and what is still to come.
News from Etonbur y A c ademy
This term we have welcomed many parents to our 'meet your mentor' sessions, where they had the oppor tunity to view students' work and engage in face - to-face interactions. The Academic Mentor evening presents an oppor tunity for us to provide you with initial and progress data regarding your child or children for the year. Additionally, the children have completed a reflection booklet focusing on goals and reviewing their per formance from the initial term.
Our year 11 GCSE WJEC hospitality & catering students have now completed their practical exams. They have been busy producing some exceptional dishes for their exam. Students have demonstrated many high-level skills in their dishes and have had a professional attitude to learning enabling them to create the most outstanding dishes SLT learning walks have taken place throughout the school, carried out by members of the senior leadership team Impressions we over whelmingly positive from the informal obser vations
We continue to provide students with various trip oppor tunities Year 6 visited Duxford, our choir per formed at Young Voices at the O2, ar t students explored galleries in London, the Wadham Project students attended a seminar, and our GCSE PE students went climbing in Milton Keynes Year 9 students have been exploring their GCSE options through taster lessons in all subjects available, including some they may not have encountered before We offer a wide range of GCSE options at our school, and students have explored subjects such as media, health and social care, photography, business studies, sociology, psychology, and BTEC spor t
We are delighted to share that applications for enrolment at Etonbur y Sixth Form for September 2025 are open and can be made via our website Applications are managed in house by our Sixth Form team, if you have any questions, please do contact our Head of Sixth Form, Mrs Dowden, via email cdowden@bestacademies org uk We are also offering tours of the new purpose built Sixth Ffrm facilities and assistance with course choices and applications Please call 01462 730391 to book a tour or speak to our 6th Form administrator
If you would like to book a school tour, please call 01462 730391 or email eta -office@bestacademies org uk We believe we offer a compassionate and exceptional educational community, and we invite you to come and see for yourself what makes Etonbur y special. Kindest regards Mrs J Young Principal
All types of electrical work under taken. Installation, Fault finding, Heating controls. Test and inspection, EV charge points, NICEIC approved contractor
News from Pixbrook A c ademy
Welcome to March 2025 It is extraordinar y that we are in March already and that it is 2025! In schools, perhaps more than any other environment the year is punctuated by cer tain points in time September is all about the new academic year and settling new pupils into school, Januar y is another fresh star t with the longest term behind us and lots of staff recruitment and then we approach Easter with preparations for assessments and thoughts moving to the summer and another group of pupils joining again the following September Just like the school day with is regular bells and ver y clear expectations at each point in the day the school year is no different and it always amazes me how fast time flies.
The last few weeks have seen a huge amount of activity, from exciting trips such as Young Voices at the O2 and pupils attending the Gordon Craig theatre to visits from dignitaries such as Beds PCC John Tizard He took the oppor tunity to tour the school and discuss some of the challenges faced in the local area and reflect on the growth of the school over the last five years It is always interesting to take visitors around the school, pupils are universally interested and communicative about the school and the work they are under taking
We have also had a number of occasions where parents have been into school including our year 9 options evening where Mr Szwajbak presented to parents on the options process and then parents were given the oppor tunity to meet with subject depar tment heads to consider choices The senior team also had one -one meetings with all pupils to discuss pupil aspirations and advise on potential choices over the next two weeks
Over the next half term we will continue to recruit staff to cater for the growth in the school, we will have over 1000 pupils in September 2025. One of the most enjoyable aspects of being par t of a growing school in this community is being able to meet and recruit so many local people. Pix Brook Academy has grown so quicky over the last few years that it is easy to forget that just a few years ago there were six of us working with 53 pupils, in September there will be approaching 150 staff working with our pupils, most of whom live in the local area.
It has always been par t of the mission of this school to be par t of this community and I’m pleased to say that it does feel that we are, for which I am most grateful
Mr Adams
PBA Principal
MARCH Fun Quiz!
1 Which exceedingly good brand of cakes was created in the 1960s and since the 1970s has been Britain’s best- selling brand of cakes?
2 What is the surname of Rob, pictured right, the British comedian and presenter who, in recent years, is well-known for his p fellow comedian Romesh Ranganathan?
3 Dove Cottage (pictured below left) in Grasmere, Cumbria, was the home of which 18th-19th centur y English poet and his sister?
4 Give the surname of Jermain (pictured right), the footballer who won 57 caps for England, scoring 20 goals; and was awarded an OBE in 2018?
5 Which 18th-19th centur y British national hero was created 1st Duke of Bronte for saving Sicily from Napoleon owing to his victor y at the battle of Aboukir Bay?
6 Name the Suffolk river which flows 11 miles from Ipswich to enter the sea at Felixstowe?
7 In a petroleum internal combustion engine, what device is illustrated right?
8 Authors Henr y Fielding in the 18th centur y and Helen Fielding in the 20th centur y wrote books featuring an eponymous central character with what same surname?
9 Give the common name of the migrator y British bird pictured right, a superb flyer with sooty brown plumage and a white throat?
10 In “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott, what is the surname - appropriate this month - of the sisters Jo, Beth, Meg and Amy?
For more fascinating facts and to download and read our quizmaster David’s novels completely free of charge, please visit davidstedman.co.uk or Google David Stedman.
Free Spor ts For All
Does your child love spor t? Get your children active this March with some FREE spor ting activities provided to our community by Amplius, (formerly Grand Union Housing) The project aims to encourage children to lead active and healthy lifestyles, whilst improving physical activity levels by providing diverse and engaging spor t and fitness activities; initiated by funding in 2023 from BeActive Bedfordshire: Inspiring Young Lives
On March the 3rd 10th 17th and 24th, ever yone is welcome to join us on Mondays for Basketball between 4pm – 5pm at the Arlesey Road MUGA (next to Stotfold Football Club- SG5 4HE) for ages 8 - 16 years We then offer Multispor ts (a choice of hockey, football, basketball or dodgeball) from 5 15pm – 6 15pm over at the Greenacres MUGA, Valerian Way, Stotfold SG5 4HG also for ages 8 – 16
The Grand Active program delivers 1-4 hours of spor ts/ fitness activity weekly (including vir tual) for ages 8 – 25 years in Stotfold, Arlesey, Fair field and surrounding areas The aim of the programme is to successfully engage children and young people in the Bedfordshire area, whilst providing them with hours of various physical activities and spor ts Alongside the benefits to health, the programme also helps to address social isolation issues among young individuals, as well as providing a focus for those at risk of possible criminal exploitation For the full events calendar please visit the website below.
www.guhg.co.uk/suppor t/youth-involvement/grandactive/
News from Stotfold Football Club
Due to the wet weather Januar y was a month of postponements with 5 matches being lost. The First Team losing one and drawing one of their remaining league fixtures. The Reser ve Team won one and lost two their three league fixtures and also progressed in the Bed Senior Trophy winning 4-1 at home to Ampthill Town and they now play Queens Park Crescent at home in the semi-final.
The Women’s Team won their only league fixture and progressed in the Beds Junior Cup winning 4-0 away to Biggleswade Utd Women’s Development to reach the final where they will play Luton Town Ladies Reser ves
Can you help we need more volunteers to help our growing 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, Bedfordshire, SG5 4HE 01462 539297 www.stotfoldfc.co.uk
News from Stotfold Junior Football Club
This month we would like to give a few mentions to local businesses who have kindly suppor ted our clubs through sponsorship.
Firstly, a big thank you to Laila Laraman (Your Personal Estate Agent) for suppor ting our U18 Stotfold Junior Blacks with their matchday tops https://lailalaraman exp uk com/
We would also like to thank the ‘Zoe’s’ at The Rooms for sponsoring and suppor ting the U13 Lilac Girls https://www therooms co uk/ Your suppor t is also ver y much appreciated
Please remember to come and suppor t us and use our facilities at the JSJ Stadium on Arlesey Road Stotfold. All enquires email:enquiries@stotfoldjunior fc.co.uk
Stotfold Blacks pictured with Laila Laraman
U13 Lilac’s pictured with Zoe & Zoe
Local Spor ts News
Calling all dance clubs, gym clubs, judo clubs...Whatever your spor tWE WANT YOUR SPORTS NEWS! stotfold news@yahoo co uk
Total Self Defence Celebrate Recent Gradings
Recently gradings meant that Total Self Defence Jujitsu Club celebrated one new yellow stripe belt, one new Orange stripe belt and three new full green belts at their Sunday kids class held at Pixbrook Academy.
Details on their classes can be found at: www totalselfdefence co uk
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! Scan the QR code or visit facebook.com/groups/stotfoldrunners
BEING WALKS
March 20th - Etonbur y Woods (entrance near Etonbur y Academy)
March 27th Corner of Hospital Rd, Arlesey
For more details contact Beth Over field on 01462 815672
Nor th Her ts Road Runners
The first Sat of the month 5k at Letchwor th Common will be 1st March at 9am. This is open to runners of all abilities and the 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 www.nhrr.org.uk or call Ian 07506429928
FAIRFIELD BOWLS CLUB 2025 SEASON
Fair field is a friendly, fun and competitive bowls club passionate about promoting the game of bowls.
We are inviting new and experienced ladies, men and juniors to join for the 2025 season, which runs from April until September
Reduced membership fee for newmembers for the first year(Match fees apply)
Petanque
Why not give this spor t a tr y Join our club and play petanque. It’s an outdoor spor t for all the family played all year round.
Signing on Day Saturday April 5th April 10.00am to 4.00pm
Like to know more?
Call Bob Robinson on 07801 473585
Email: bob.a.robinson@gmail.com
www.fair fieldbowls.com
March Church Ser vices
Road, SG5 4BH
March Ser vice:
Sunday 2nd
Holy Communion 11:15am
Rev'd Jenna Dearden 07708 666612 revjennadearden@gmail.com
Rev’d Jane Wheatley
E:jane.wheatley5@btinternet.com
March Ser vices:
Saturday 1st
Young People’s Meeting 7pm
Sunday 2nd,9th,16th,23rd,30th
Sunday School 9.15am
Morning Worship 10 30am
Afternoon Worship 2 15pm
Wednesday 5th
Prayer Meeting 7 15pm
Sunday 9th Bible Class 7pm
Wednesday 12th, 19th, 26th
Evening Worship 7.15pm
March Ser vices:
Sunday 9th 9am Parish Communion
Sunday 23rd 9am Parish Communion
Revd Bill Britt on 01462 730218
www stotfoldchurch org uk
Have you got questions about the Christian faith?
In March Fair field Community Church will be star ting a three -week course called HOPE EXPLORED
7 30-8 30pm on Tuesday 11th, 18th & 25th March 2025 Fair field Bowls Club, Kingsley Avenue, Fair field Park, SG5 4GY
Over these three weeks we will look at the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and will show that Christianity is about real hope: a joyful expectation for the future, based on true events in the past, which changes ever y thing about our present
For more details please contact office@fair fieldcc.org.uk or call 07376 740410 for details
Monday 24th Prayer Meeting 7 15pm
Minister Mr G.E. Hadley 01462 686803 www.hopechapelstotfold.org
March Ser vices:
Monday-Saturday ever y week:
9am Morning Prayer
Sunday 2nd 8am Parish Communion
10am Parish Communion
4pm Tea Time Praise Ser vice
Wednesday 5th 9.45am
Ash Wednesday Ser vice
7 30pm Ash Wednesday Ser vice
Sunday 9th 10am Parish Communion with Sunday School
Wednesday 12th 9.45am Parish Communion 2pm Hymns for Fun
Sunday 16th 9am Parish Communion
10am Parish Praise Ser vice
Wednesday 19th 9.45am
Parish Communion
Sunday 23rd 10am Parish Communion with Sunday School
Tuesday 25th 7 30pm
Annunciation Ser vice
Wednesday 26th 9 45am
Parish Communion
Sunday 30th 10am Mothering Sunday & Parish Communion
Revd Bill Britt on 01462 730218 www stotfoldchurch org uk
March Ser vices:
Sunday 2nd 10am - David Latter
Sunday 9th 10am - Rev Emmanuel Onabanjo (Holy Communion)
Sunday 16th - No ser vice
Sunday 23rd 10am Rev Jacob Donkoh
Sunday 30th 10am - Yvonne Johnson
Minister Rev Emmanuel Onabanjo 07464 881751
March Ser vices:
Sunday 2nd Ser vice - 10:30am
Sunday 9th Connect Ser vice - 10am St, Thomas of Canterbur y 103 Bedford Road, Letchwor th SG6 4DU
Sunday 16th Ser vice - 10:30am
Sunday 23rd Ser vice - 10:30am
Sunday 30th Ser vice - 10:30am
Contact 07351 514457/ Email info@fair fieldcc.org.uk www fair fieldcc org uk
March Ser vices: Prayer Meetings
Sunday 2nd, Jackie Rober ts 10am
Sunday 9th, 16th & 23rd 10am
Sunday 30th Major Howard Russell (DC) 10am
Sunday 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd
Family Friendly Worship 10 30am
Home League Women’s Meeting:
Tuesday 4th 2-3pm Capt Adrian Allen
Tuesday 11th 2-3pm Pamela Smith, Tuesday 18th 2-3pm Capt Gemma Allen
Tuesday 25th 2-3pm
John & Jen Street
Captains Adrian & Gemma Allen, 01462 731072 (Office)
www stotfoldsalvationarmy org uk
Radwell Ln, Baldock SG7 5EP
FAIRFIELD COMMUNITY CHURCH Community Hall, Stotfold, SG5 4JJ
Church News & For thcoming Events
ST GUTHLAC’S ASTWICK
Join us at St Guthlac’s Church this March
This month is often a turning point of change from cold winter to the first signs of spring On the 5th March the season of Lent is obser ved for 40 days (not counting Sundays) and is inspired by the time Jesus is said to have spent fasting in the wilderness At its core, Lent is about pausing, reassessing and making small changes - whether that’s giving something up, taking on a new habit Some people use it as a time to focus on kindness, gratitude, or helping others In a way, Lent is like early spring A chance to clear away the old and prepare for something new Whether or not faith is par t of your life, the idea of renewal and reflection is something we can all connect with. So if you are inclined to star t a new habit, why not join us for our monthly ser vice. You’ll find a friendly welcome and a cup of tea after the ser vice!
ST MARY’S CHURCH
St Mar y’s Church will once again host The Stotfold Passion Play of Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection will be per formed by Year 4 students from St Mar y’s Academy at 10 00am on Friday 28 March No tickets are required. Parents, grandparents and carers, together with members of the public and invited to attend the per formance
There are so many activites to take par t in and come along to at the Stotfold Salvation Army. Ever yone is welcome to come along Ever y Tuesday we have Music 4 Memor y ( Tibbs Dementia) Led by a qualified Music Therapist, 14:15 – 15:45. This is a great session which bring enjoyment to all. Carers are of course welcome also. During term time we run our Little Stars Baby & Toddler Group each Wednesday from 9:30 – 11:00. A great oppor tunity to connect with other parents and introduce your babies to others.
On Thursday 6th March we host our Hobby Hub Join us for a hot beverage whilst hobbying at your own pace, 10:30-12:30 if you are free on Thursday 13th March we are holding our Toast of the Town session - Drop in for tea, toast and a chat, 10:30-12:00
On Monday 17th March ever yone is welcome to our Fellowship meeting which takes place from 7pm This month we have a Community Policing Q&A by PCSO Tasha Healey Youth Club for grown ups? Why not? Thursday 27th March our Connect group meet from 10:30-12:30
Please contact us for more information on our Bible Discussion Groups, (Lyfe) these run at differenttimes each week and we always welcome new members
Lent: The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday 5 March There will be Ash Wednesday ser vices at 9 45am and 7.30pm. Lent Discussion Groups, will be held 10.30noon and 7 30pm-9 00pm on Wednesday: 12 March, 19 March, 26 March and 9 April. Thinking about getting married? If you are interested in getting married in your parish church do contact Revd. Bill on 01462 730218 You might want to come along to a Wedding Preparation afternoon on Saturday 26th April from 2 00pm to 4 00pm 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. Telephone Revd. Bill Britt on 01462 730218. Fellowship events in March: Wednesday 5 March 11am Community Coffee Morning; Table Top Sale, Church Hall 10-12 Saturday 15 March Women’s Fellowship Wednesday 19t March 2 30pm in the Church Hall; Friendship Lunch noon Tuesday 25 March at The Stag www stotfoldchurch org uk
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
FAIRFIELD COMMUNITY CHURCH
Fair field Community Church SAVE THE DATE; 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 email info@fair fieldcc org uk informing them of any dietar y requirements
SALVATION ARMY FELLOWSHIP
All meetings held at The Salvation Army Church Road, Stotfold. Open to ever yone! This monthCommunit y Policing Q&A with PCSO Tasha Healey All enquiries Telephone: 01462 731072
Update from The Need Project
goes without saying we are so o busy. In the last year our arcels have gone up from pproximately 550 a month to 47 This is something we r year it gets busier, but this increase has been larger than we expected But we are managing to keep up with demand at the moment On top of that we give away 369 bags of before food in Januar y Which, unless we gave it away would end up in landfill this is valued at approximately £3,690 These figures reflect how sad and worr ying it is for those people with families, who are experiencing food pover ty All we can do is keep on tr ying to help sourcing food and getting it to those who need it as quickly as we can We have a referral system in place, which means that ever y person who has our food, is far as we can be sure is in real need
We have an amazing group of over 60 volunteers, who put in at least 300 hours a week labour Without those people we would not be able to function correctly or do any thing like we do now For those people I’m so so grateful
We have two vans on the road, 5 to 6 days a week, which pick up food or are delivering food parcels, throughout Central Bedfordshire and surrounding areas. We also have a massive following on Facebook, over 4 3K followers, who when we need them, respond incredibly well and always interested in what we are doing
The project functions, with hubs throughout Central Bedfordshire and beyond We now have packing and deliver y hubs in Cranfield, Flitwick, Stotfold, Gamlingay and Biggleswade This ensures a swift response to need Last year, in my repor t, I said we are looking for a permanent home for the project
We believe we have now found it and are in the process of purchasing it and hopefully we will get the key soon. We can develop it, so we don’t have to rent premises anymore and have somewhere permanent to develop, to suit our growing ministr y.
We have made some friends and been involved in some amazing situations and also some sad ones, but it is a joy to be involved, and we thank God for that. Whatever happens next, our priority is, was and always will be feeding our neighbour along with any thing else that we can do We continue to be amazed by Gods amazing provision for this project and we realise the massive responsibility we have to ser ve correctly in a Christlike manner
In closing we have no idea where this project is going to lead us All we know is that Gods favour is upon our project and as long as he does that and we keep in line with his leading, it’s a great place for us to be Praise God always Gordon
847 parcels provided in 23 working days • 369 top- up-bags collected from our Pop- up sites • £86,465 estimated value of the food for the month • £6,602 50, the average monthly cost to run the charity • 667 food parcels (an increase of nearly 27% in food parcels vs last year) 1301 adults, 1018 children & 83 pensioners helped.
Down Memory Lane
histor y page! We thought it would a great place for residents to learn more about the town we live in, hear about the histor y, the characters that lived here before us and stories of days gone by.
Stotfold has grown immensely over the years with many residents joining us from other towns and villages. We know that Stotfold is steeped in local histor y and was and still is, a wonder ful place to live. Please do help us to keep this page alive by contributing to it with your stories and photographs - We know that we have some incredibly knowledgeable local histor y buffs living amongst us and we’d be thrilled if you would lend us some of your stories, pictures and memorabilia for future issues!
Do you recall any previous Stotfold residents named Franklin or Underlin? Whilst helping her 82 year old aunt find out information on her bir th father, Stotfold resident Tora Chessum discovered that his ancestors could infact be traced back to Stotfold Nothing strange about that you might think? Nothing strange until you learn that except he was infact an Australian Pilot! (she was conceived during World War ll) - Do you have any information which could aid Tora in her quest to obtain more information? If so, get in touch with us and we’ll pass it on!
Did you know? In the 19th centur y, Stotfold was regarded as a wealthy place The saying was that to live in Stotfold, one had to have £100 and a pig!
This picture was kindly loaned to us some time ago by Margaret Moore who told us all about the Stotfold Carnival that took place during the 1960/70’s This photo was captured during ‘It’s a knockout’ held at the old Roker Park Football Ground. The two competitors are Rev Vernon Nor th and Colin Moore - the local signwriter
Stotfold made the national papers way back in 1937 when 500 residents protested at the dismissal of local Nurse Marshall It appears that after some confusion, the popular Nurse arrived 30 hours late back from holiday and was promptly dismissed The campaign to re -instate her was lead by the Ex-Councillor Harr y Hyde with residents threatening to withhold their monthly contribution to the nursing association until she was given her position back The association stood firm, citing that the nurse needed stronger disciple!
Do you have an interest in local history? Do you have any items you can contribute to this feature? Please do get in touch with us at stotfold.news@yahoo.co.uk or call us on 01462 731986
Did you know that Stotfold used to have a cinema? More for our more recent residents, Stotfold did indeed have it’s ver y own picture house!
The Regent Cinema was equipped with a Christie 2Manual/8Ranks organ, originally installed in La Scala Cinema, Glasgow pictured above
The Regent Cinema closed in May 1952 when it was conver ted into a bingo hall and then later a social club
The site along Arlesey Road was demolished only recently
Local Adver tiser Director y
AD Garden Rooms
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 Pharmacy
Arlesey Social Club
01438 313765
07837 791365
01767 314445
01462 658449
07886 569134
07941 010447
07889 903283
01462 638286
01462 731200
01462 731361
Ask Phil (Garden Rooms, Driveways, Windows) 01462 545729
Aquarius Garden Design
Barn Hair Studio
Bal & Co Motor Care
Bandits Pet Shop
Bews Electrical
Big Minibus Hire
BK Electrical / Brian Kelly
Box Of Cakes Cafe & Cake Shop
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
01462 731292
01462 835611
01462 731500
07787 502906
01462 834488
07817 766997
07817545314
07812 055587
01462 732628
01462 730884
01462 735999
01462 231257
01462 629302
07990 297297
01462 731674
07984 344997
07521 279960
01462 810065
Chris Webster, Stotfold 01462 834108
(Correspondent for The Comet )
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
Foot Pro Podiatr y
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
House of Fitness Pole fitness
Mice & Tidy 07835 983807
Mow & Weedit Garden Ser vices 07765 495200
New Kitchens 01462 812826
Nicky’s Nails 07747 042239
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
Sheldon Electricals 01767 448188
Shel's Shabby Chic,
01462 733322
07522 354141
01462 730769
01462 236559
07811 738599
07837 791365
01462 896046
01462 659730
07812 399659
07377 536685
07306 085207
07585 221513
07703 171857
01462 510765
07555 707848
01462 235273
01462 416416
07840 268099
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
Windows - Repairs & Installations (J Garside) 07951 473505
Window Cleaning - ACCS Ltd
Window Cleaning (Jacks)
01462 629302
07950 510589
