From the Editor
Welcome to October.
Autumn is our favourite time of year for many reasons. As we write this column, we’ve just experienced some tremendous storms, closely followed by glorious sunshine within literally five minutes of ending. It’s crazy weather this year for sure!
This month things have been really busy as we star t to think about the festive season ahead (it’s never too early!) We’re looking for ward to Stotfold’s ver y first ‘Screen on The Green’ at the end of September and of course, we’re also busy getting ready to take par t in the Working Steam Weekend during the first week of October Full details can be found on our back page!
We welcome yet more new adver tisers to the publication for which we are ver y thankful including, a brand new business to Regent Street with a lovely Stotfold family connection - turn to page 7 to find out more
Lastly, as the weather star ts to change and the darker evenings star t to draw in, we’d like to thank all of our deliver y volunteers for ensuring your magazines are getting through your letterboxes come rain or shine - we are truly blessed with the ver y best team of helpers for which we are ver y, ver y grateful
All that is left to do is wish you all a lovely October. If you happen to be visiting the Mill event be sure to stop by and say hello!
Until next month!
Joanne - Editor
With thanks to this month’s contributors:
Dave Skinner (FRONT COVER) Stotfold Town Council, Kevin Duff (Local Life) Stotfold Mill, Stotfold Football Club, SJFC, Our local schools & colleges, Stotfold Ar t Group, Our local Churches, The Need Project, CBC, Jo Loach, NHRR & all our usual regular contributors.
Letters
Local Life with Kevin Duff
News from Stotfold Town Council
Update from Stotfold Mill
October Fun QUIZ
Mental Health Matters
Family Announcements
Update from The Need Project
Update from SFC/SJFC
Local Spor ts News
Church Ser vices & News
Update from Stotfold Librar y Down Memor y Lane
Sto tfo ld we lco mes Jo die Beale to Rege nt St Page 7
Lo cal LIfe with Kevin Duff fro m Satchell s Pages 11
Stotfol d Bow ls
STOTFOLD Diary Of Events..
Fair field W.I
Why not come along and see for yourself what fun we have! Ever yone is welcome!
1ST OCTOBER - 7.00PM SPEAKER - BEV SABBATELLA
Greek Dance Lesson Bev will be giving us a Greek Dance lesson! Come along and join in the fun! Email fair fieldbedswi@gmail com for details!
Graham Smith BRICKWORK & PAVING
Covering all aspects of brickwork old & new, plus patios, driveways & fencing. All work completed to a very high standard. Friendly, family run business
Tel: 077 03 171857 / 0146 2 731829
OCTOBER
Saturday 11th – Jigsaw Sale St Mar y’s Church Hall 10-12
NOVEMBER
Saturday 8th – Winter Fair St. Mar y’s Church Hall 2-4pm
Sunday 9th - Remembrance Sunday ser vice & parade
Saturday 15th - Table Top Sale St Mar y’s Church Hall 10-12
To book a table £5 Call Chris Webster 01462 834108
Saturday 22nd Stotfold Community Christmas FairTo book a stall call Chris 01462 834108.
Saturday 29th - Stotfold Town Council Christmas Light Switch On event
DECEMBER
Saturday & Sunday 6th/7th – St Mar y’s Church -
Annual Christmas Tree Festival
Wednesday 10th Big Christmas Carol Sing 2pm St Mar ys Church
To list your event here please call 01462 731986 or email stotfold news@yahoo co uk
Useful Telephone Numbers
Citizen s Advice Bureau
Samaritans
01525 402742
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
01234 355122
Lister Hospital 01438 314333
Transpor t
Whitbread Wanderbus
0300 123 3023
300 8068
Beds Police (Crime repor ting) 01234 841212 Crimestoppers 0800 555111
Hall Hire
St Mar y's Church Hall 07727 688877
Roecroft Centre 07727 688877
Stotfold Memorial Hall 01462 730064
St Mar y’s Church Hall 07727 688877
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
Greenacre Transfers
Airpor ts & Chauffeur Ser vices
70 78 48 www greenacretransfers co uk
Stotfold By-Election Results
Due to the resignation of Councillor Helen Wightwick the vacancy arose in the Office of Councillor for Central Bedfordshire Council –Stotfold Ward The by-election took place on Thursday 11th September The results were as follows:
By-election results - 11 September 2025
Election results
Candidates Description Votes
Rachel Danae Burgin Labour Par ty 532
Ian Dalgarno Conser vative Par ty 559
Katie Fiona Hill-Lines Green Par ty 416
Marion Ann Mason Reform UK 823 Elected
Neil Stevenson Liberal Democrats 339
Reform UK candidate Marion Mason has been elected to Central Bedfordshire Council, she becomes the second Reform UK member on the local authority Councillor Mason lives in Arlesey The par ty’s share of the vote was 30 8 per cent in taking the seat from the Labour Par ty, after the resignation of councillor Helen Wightwick in July
Former CBC councillor and ex-deputy Bedfordshire Police and Crime
Commissioner Ian Dalgarno was runner- up for the Conser vative Par ty with 20 9 per cent share of the vote Labour candidate Rachel Burgin finished third with 19.9 per cent of the vote, Stotfold’s Kate Hill-Lines finished four th for the Green Par ty with 15.6 per cent, ahead of the Liberal Democrats’ Neil Stevenson on 12.7 per cent. Cllr Marion Mason will now ser ve alongside Cllr Kat Woodfine as CBC Ward Councillor for Stotfold.
Table Top Sale Saturday 15th November St Mar y’s Church 10am-12noon
To book a table £5 telephone Chris Webster 01462 834108 Raffle and refreshments Registered Charity No: 1131275
&
Skir tings -Architraves -Dados Stairs -Handles -Balustrades Handle & Lock Replacements Loft Hatches
Cllr Marion Mason elected for Stotfold
Stotfold & Shefford Youth Involvement Team
This year ’s summer programme Thrive 2025 proved to be a huge success, with a large variety of fun activities offered to over 500 young people in our area
This summer the team visited Arlesey, Stotfold, Shefford, Sandy, Biggleswade, Brackley, Kettering, Clifton, Fair field, Broughton MK, Langford, Cranfield, Ickwell, Stanford, Upper Caldecote and Meppershall, hosting 165 activity sessions over 245 hours! A large range of different activities were offered for ages 8-25yrs over 6 weeks including basketball, football, badminton, foot cricket DJ workshops and more
The summer finale was a trip to Wicksteed Park Trip which was enjoyed by ever yone involved As par t of their work, the Youth involvement team also spent valuable time on detached youth work walking around and engaging with young people ‘hanging out ’ This is an incredibly impor tant aspect of the work that they do, opening up
conversations with young people and building relationships through communication.
As par t of the summer programme the Riverside Park
shelter was treated to an extra special facelift by the Youth involvement team together with some ver y talented volunteers We think you’ll agree they did a grand job
The Youth Involvement team are keen to thank anyone that came along to take par t and helped make it such a huge success
Youth
The Riverside Youth shelter wth it’s brand new look
Jodie Keeps The Beale Name in Regent Street
Roy and Roger Beale first opened Beale Bros Butchers back in 1978 after taking over Lincolns Butchers from a family member. The brothers then acquired the smaller shop next door, selling vegetables which they later moved outside of the main shop. Since then the smaller shop to the side of the butchers has been a card shop, Regency Flowers, a coffee shop, hairdressers and now a brand new skin clinic.
Roy’s Granddaughter Jodie Beale is thrilled to have opened her brand new clinic, offering a vast range of skin treatments and therapies Jodie told the Stotfold News “I’m so proud to be the next generation of the Beale family to run a business from this shop and I hope my Grandad would have be ver y proud of ever y thing I have achieved ” Jodie Beale Skin Clinic can be found at 22 Regent Street.
Stotfold Ar t
Group
These flower paintings were on display at our Summer exhibition
Jenny Musselwhite's colour ful watercolour features foxgloves and Heather Keys has painted some beautiful cosmos.
Did you pop along to our exhibition? Has it made you think about joing us? We are always looking for new members, for more details contact stotfoldar tgroup@outlook com or call 07821 502367
Jenny’s Cosmos watercolour
Pictured left, the familiar sight of the late Roy Beale behind the butchers counter and pictured right, Roger Beale pictured together with Jodie and Nan Nora Beale
A Record Breaking Stotfold Walking Market for 2025
With the unpredictability of the weather during August, many fingers were crossed for a sunny Bank Holiday for this year ’s Stotfold Walking Market Worries were soon brushed aside as the sun came out, alongside hundreds of visitors to the 160+ stalls we had taking par t in the day!
The market always provides such a great atmosphere in the town with people milling around and finding themselves a bargain!
Huge thanks must go to Stotfold Town Council for assisting with the stall listing for the day and to Stotfold Salvation Army for opening up their hall, providing space for stallholders and offering a much needed
refreshment stop for anyone wishing to pop in for a cup of tea & cake!
Lastly, thank you to Satchells Estate Agents for providing us with over 100 adver tising boards to help publicise the event.
If you took par t in this year ’s Walking Market, thank you for your suppor twe hope you had a successful day!
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 • MJ Ryalls (Baldock Road) Please check individual accessibility as some facilities may have their own individual opening hours.
Crime Figures Stotfold & Fair field JUNE 2025
( The most recent crime figures available from the Police national website)
REMEMBER - PLEASE REPORT NON URGENT TO OUR LOCAL POLICE USING THE 101 NUMBER In a emergency always call 999. Violence & sexual offences - 13 Antisocial behaviour - 6 Other theft - 2 Public Order - 3 Drugs - 2
Criminal damage & arson - 3 Other crime - 13 Burglar y - 2
Source: www police co uk You can repor t crimes online
Your LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Dear Editor,
I star ted my small proper ty maintenance business nearly 3 years ago and running a monthly adver t in Stotfold News has been my primar y method of adver tising I have had a steady stream of work as a result of running the adver t - I don’t think my business would have sur vived through these difficult economic times without the magazine; I now have a group of loyal customers who contact me if they need any work doing to their homes, so I would highly recommend using Stotfold News to any company looking to bring in new customers P Williams Proper ty Maintenance.
Dear Editor,
We really enjoy adver tising in the Stotfold News Magazine as it's a lovely way for people to notice us and be reminded that we're here Being a long standing florist at the hear t of Stotfold on the High Street, it's impor tant for us to stay connected with the community, and the adver ts definitely help us reach both familiar faces and new customers
Thank you for all of your help All at Regency Flowers.
Dear Editor,
I have had placed an adver t in the Stotfold News Magazine since it star ted back in 2005 I believe it has helped establish my company I still adver tise monthly as it helps introduce me to people who may not have had the oppor tunity to make contact with me, and has helped find leads in more leaner periods I also find the people from Stotfold prefer to use tradesmen from Stotfold or the more local area, so will carr y on using The Stotfold News as my preferred source of adver tising for these reasons
Thank you for all of your help over the years
Andy Mar tini
ALM Plumbing & Heating Ser vices
Dear Editor,
Having just received my September Stotfold News Magazine I can't thank you enough for publishing my ar ticle regarding the book I have written about my son. I will treasure this copy forever. Kind regards, Thevaki.
Editors note: Thank you so much for trusting us to tell your stor y
Dear Editor,
We would like to show our appreciation for one of your adver tisers Geoff Reid of Full Flow Cleaning Pressure Washing. Driveways. Patios and Decking. He has pressure washed our patio this morning
A superb job efficiently done. It had not been washed for three years and was in a mess to say the least It now looks better than when it was first laid Geoff is a ver y friendly guy and nothing is too much trouble for him! We can thoroughly recommend him, and we will be contacting him again. A first class professional ser vice!
Jan and Doug Howard.
BAL & CO. MOTOR CARE
Quality used cars & vans supplied Excellent after sales care, our warrantees cover both
LOCAL life..
Each month we like to us our local commu nity, inc T his month we are talking to Ke vin Du ff from Satchells Estate Agents
Kevin, You have been Branch Manager at Satchells now for many years You must know an awful lot about Stotfold and seen many changes during your time here?
Yes, I have seen many, many changes but for the most par t these have been really positive for Stotfold This is a really great place to live and to work - We are ver y, ver y for tunate that we have such a great community around us
Speaking of community - what do you think makes Stotfold stand out from other local towns and villages? For me it is the people We have some ver y community minded residents here which really is unique From local businesses to your neighbours next door, Stotfold is ver y for tunate to have some fantastic people living among us who help make it such a great place to live
Having known you for many years we know you enjoy travelling and socialising with friends and family. When you are not working, how do you choose to spend your time? Nothing means more to me than my family, I am blessed with incredible grandchildren who enjoy being spoiled by their Grandad - this as you can imagine, gives me a great deal of enjoyment. Life is for finding happiness in ever y thing we do and surrounding ourselves with the best people in order to achieve this.
Staying topical, we have recently had a bi-election in Stotfold which in itself has raised a fair amount of topical debate and highlighted some impor tant community issues When you are introducing Stotfold to anyone that knows ver y little about our town, what are the three most poignant things you would choose to highlight about the town and why?
Personally I choose to focus on our schools (especially if they have a family,) our convenience for major transpor t links and lastly, the wonder ful community spirit I mentioned earlier Our community events really help to highlight this and as a local business, Satchells are always keen to suppor t these wherever we are able to
Lastly, If you could grant three wishes to your young grandchildren as they grow up and discover the world, what would they be and why? This is an easy one for me I would wish them good health and happiness I realise this is only two but I truly believe this is all you need in life to succeed We live in fairly uncer tain times and can all face some tough challenges along the way If you are able to live a healthy, happy life wherever possible, then in my opinion, it helps build a really great foundation for the future.
Kevin Duf f - Satchell s Stotf old
Stotfold Town Council News from
Exciting News – Stotfold Skate Park Moves a Step Closer!
Stotfold Town Council is delighted to share that plans for a brand-new skate park at Greenacre Park are moving for ward After months of consultation, planning advice, and careful review, we are now getting ready for the next stage of this exciting community project
Planning Approach
We’ll be developing the skate park under permitted development rights, which allows us to move for ward more quickly A separate planning application for the lighting will follow, so the facility is safe and accessible all year round The Town Council has also been advised to install a new access path from Angelica Avenue - a recommendation that will help improve accessibility but will introduce additional costs and considerations for the project’s deliver y.
Funding
We also want to be clear about how the skate park will be funded. Instead of using Section 106 developer money as originally suggested, the Town Council will be allocating £100,000 contribution through the release of some reser ves which had been built up for other activities. This also means that the project will not be funded through an increase in council tax specifically for this project. The entire build is costed at £300,000 with additional funding through external grants, and fundraising effor ts While a general increase in council tax may be considered next year to address rising operational costs and financial pressures, this specific project will not contribute to that We’ve already invested in sur veys, consultation, and community engagement to make sure the design meets local needs
Diar y of Events:
Please
What Happens Next?
• Application for permitted development/ move to next stage • Finalise the funding package/approve the revised strategy
• Seek funding for the remaining funds to build the park • Work with Betongpark, to bring the design to life
• Keep residents updated ever y step of the way
Cllr Steve Buck, Mayor of Stotfold said, “I can’t promise I’ll be the first one to drop into the bowl, but I am thrilled that Stotfold is getting its ver y own skate park! This project has been driven by the enthusiasm of our young people, and it’s fantastic to see it coming to life I’m looking for ward to seeing skaters, scooters and bikers enjoying the park and who knows, maybe a few of us older ones might give it a go too!”
Councillors and officers would like to thank ever yone who has taken par t in the consultation and shared their views. This project has been shaped by the community, and when complete, it will give young people and families in Stotfold a safe, inclusive, and fun place to enjoy for years to come.
Stotfold Town Council is committed to being open about how decisions are made and how money is spent. As the skate park project moves from planning towards funding and ultimately construction, we’ll keep residents updated and make sure there are plenty of oppor tunities for the community to stay involved
Please contact Stotfold Town Council using the contact details below with any questions
Remembrance Day Ser vice & Parade
The Remembrance Day ser vice and parade will take place on Sunday 9th November
Please gather at the War Memorial in Stotfold Cemeter y at 14:30, ready for the ser vice to begin at 14:45
Following the laying of wreaths, there will be a parade to St Mar y’s Church for the full ser vice at 15:30 A temporar y road closure will be in place during the parade to ensure ever yone’s safety
Stotfold Town Council
Cemeter y Toilet Block Consultation –10th October 2025 – 11th November 2025
You will have noticed that this month’s Stotfold News Magazine contained a questionnaire for residents to complete in respect of the Cemeter y Toilet Block.
Constructed in the early 20th centur y the toilet block is in need of modernisation, following a structural sur vey highlighting issues with the building An architect has provided designs to remodel the building for use as a unisex, accessible toilet with storage space to be used by the Town Council The Town Council are looking to gauge public opinion to the proposal and gather feedback from residents as to the preferred option of modernisation to aid Councillors with the final decision on the future of the building
Please read the information contained in the leaflet provided or on our website. To provide your feedback either scan the QR code or go to our website where a link to the online form is available or you can return your completed questionnaires to boxes held at the Greenacre Centre, Conser vative Club, Salvation Army or The Barn The consultation will close on Tuesday 11 November 2025
There will be a public meeting held at the Greenacre Centre between 4pm - 8pm on Wednesday 22 October 2025. Additional copies of the questionnaire can be obtained from the Greenacre Centre.
Stotfold Town Council decides future of the Simpson Centre
Stotfold Town Council would like to thank the 269 residents who took par t in the recent consultation on the future of the Simpson Centre The Council is grateful for residents taking the time to respond both online and via the Stotfold News questionnaire The consultation revealed a clear split in community opinion, with results showing a 50/50 divide between those wishing to keep the Simpson Centre and those suppor ting its sale to invest in other areas of the town At its meeting on Wednesday 3 September 2025, Stotfold Town Council carefully considered the future of the site
After full debate, members resolved to progress with the option to sell the site While the Council recognises that some residents suppor ted the idea of retaining the Simpson Centre for community use, it was agreed that this was not a reasonable or sustainable approach The building, now over 50 years old, would require substantial investment to bring it up to modern building standards. In addition, the running costs associated with a refurbished facility would create an ongoing and significant burden on council tax. There is also no cer tainty that refurbishment would be fully feasible. The preferred option when it came to selling the site was for over 55 housing. The Town Council will now investigate how best to progress with this decision. Selling the site ensures that the Council can secure a capital receipt and reinvest directly into the refurbishment of the Memorial Hall and other town assets. This approach will deliver a sustainable, accessible, and modern community facility for long - term benefit to the town.
Cllr Danny Matthews, Chair of the Buildings Management Committee, said: “This has been a difficult decision, and we want to thank residents for the time they took to respond to the consultation In the end, members felt we could not justify placing an additional financial burden on council taxpayers for a building of uncer tain viability By choosing to sell the site, we will be able to fund the refurbishment of other Town Council assets like the Memorial Hall which would create a facility that can ser ve the whole community for decades to come ”
The results of the public consultation have been made available to view on the Town Council’s website, and a printed copy can be collected from the Council offices at the Greenacre Centre You can also access this by using the QR code below The Town Council remains committed to keeping the community updated as the project progresses
For fur ther information, please contact Stotfold Town Council using the contact details on the opposite page
Stotfold Town Council News from
Stotfold Allotment Competition Winners Celebrate August brought the annual Stotfold Allotments Competition, and despite an unusually dr y star t to the growing season, our allotment holders rose to the challenge Thanks to recent sunshine and showers, most plots were looking beautifully cared for and bursting with life The competition once again highlighted the commitment and skill of our allotment holders, with some ver y tasty looking vegetables There were even some ver y handsome dahlias on show.
This year ’s judging panel included Mayor Cllr Steve Buck, Cllr Liz Anderson, Public Realm Manager Susan Riley, and Allotments Officer Sue Ward. Together, they assessed plots across both sites for Best Plot and Best Eco-Plot. Winners for 2025: Best Plot
• Nor ton Road: David Moss (NR10A)
• Common Road: Mar tin Glover (CR42A / CR43A)
Best Eco-Plot
• Nor ton Road: Julie Hyde (NR11)
• Common Road: Ian Mynott (CR45B / CR46B)
Stotfold has two allotment sites Nor ton Road and Common Road providing space for around 130 tenants. If you’d like to join our waiting list for either site, please contact the council New tenants are always welcome to be par t of our thriving community of hard-working enthusiasts For details please contact Stotfold Town Council using the contact details overleaf
Winner Ian Mynott pictured with Cllr Liz Anderson
Winner Julie Hyde pictured with Stotfold MayorCllr Steve Buck
News from the Mill.
This Autumn has been par ticularly busy at the Mill as we are now in the completion phase of works to restore our historic Mill chimney which has been under-wraps since May for urgent brickwork repair. The newly installed wooden boardwalk in Meadow Three - which has been built throughout the summer months - has also been completed The Mill chimney restoration project has been delivered for the enjoyment and safety of our community - and for future generations It has been fully funded by the Mill and by the ticket sales from our major events
This year ’s Working Steam Weekend & Agricultural Show which will be held on Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th October (10.30am-5.00pm) looks to be our biggest and best yet! Our October event brings a taste of years gone by – Relax and enjoy a slower pace of life and experience the age of working steam and traditional ways of milling and working the land. Heavy horses, steam engines and vintage tractors combine to give a real taste of bygone years – before modern tractors took over (and when GPS and AI-enabled ploughing wasn’t even dreamt of!)
There really is something for ever yone to enjoy at our 19th Stotfold Mill Working Steam Weekend & Agricultural Show:
• For our Steam Enthusiasts – Experience living -histor y through our working steam engines, traction engines, Showman engines and steam ploughing exhibitions
• For ‘Motor Heads’ - Witness the power of vintage tractors in our tractor pulling battles, explore our vintage vehicles and militar y displays
• For those interested in Milling, Local Histor y and Conser vation – Watch the UK’s widest water wheel in a corn mill in action, spanning an impressive 14-foot wide, and meet the millstones that grind the wheat into our famous ‘Skyfall’ flour: Sam (200 years old, weighing 1½ tonnes) and George (15 years old and weighing 2 tonnes)
• For Families - We have our ever-popular vintage fair rides and swing boats We also have donkey rides this year and some friendly Alpacas to meet!
• For Food Lovers - We have a wide choice of caterers, and of course our licensed Bar in the marquee selling local ales, spirits and soft drinks – or feel free to bring a picnic. Our Randall’s Tea Room in the Mill will also be available for refreshments, light bites, cakes and cream teas
• For Crafters and Christmas ‘Early Birds’ - we have our trade and craft tent where you can buy local crafts, cards, gifts, food and drink – or visit our Kingfisher Shop within the Mill to buy our freshly milled flour and delicious local oats, jams, chutneys, cards and gifts
• For Music Fans – We will be enter tained by Nick Moyster at 9pm for those on- site on Friday night, Deser t Penguins at 9pm on Saturday night (who featured at May’s live@theMill), and Lock, Stock and Basil (rock ‘n’ roll band) on Saturday at 2pm
• For Campers – Enjoy 3 nights of camping plus entr y to the Show, Mill and evening music for just £110
Tickets are being kept at last year ’s prices – offering really great value for the whole family. ‘Early bird’ discounted tickets are available NOW on our website at £8 for adults, £4 for children ( Those under 4 go free) Working Steam Weekend 2025 - Stotfold Mill Tickets will also be available on the gate at the price of £10 for adults and £5 for children. Well-behaved dogs are welcome! (Note: Mill Lane will be closed to non-residents – follow signs to our free parking).
WE NEED YOU! Stotfold Mill and Nature Reser ve are powered solely through the work of our volunteers.
If you can spare a few hours to help out at this event –or if you have skills in marketing, photography, research, education, conser vation, catering, or perhaps you could see yourself as a Miller or a Charity Trustee – please get in touch at: enquiries@stotfoldmill com
The ever populat craft tent at last year ’s Working Steam event
OCTOBER Fun Quiz!
October fun quiz! Theme: PLACES in BRITAIN and IRELAND! Presented by Stotfold’s ver y own Brain of Britain, David Stedman (Answers on page 24)
1 Pictured below is future British actress Rachael Stirling with her actress mother. Who was her mother?
2 What is the surname of the disc jockey and presenter pictured top left during the 1960s?
3 Which British pop singer has had UK hit singles with “Galway Girl” and (with Stormzy) “Take Me Back To London”?
4 What surname is shared by film characters Crocodile, played by Paul Hogan; and Major, played by Charlton Heston; and was the surname of the boxing trainer who trained the great Muhammed Ali?
5 Irish actor Adrian Dunbar plays Superintendent Ted Hastings in which popular British television series?
6 What is the name of the decommissioned warship, now a famous tourist attraction, pictured below?
7 Which English city is known as the chocolate capital of the UK, being home to Terr y’s and Rowntree’s, with a bar beloved of lorr y drivers also named after it!?
8 The popular style of chair pictured right shares its name with which English town?
9 The culinar y term Dubarr y is derived from the 18th centur y cour tesan Comtesse Du Barr y and indicates a variety of dishes made with which vegetable as a garnish?
10 This city on the River Dee is famous for its shopping area known as the Rows (pictured below)
and is also the home of the oldest continuously operated horse racing track in the world, founded in 1539 Which city is this?
For more fascinating facts and to download and read my novels, completely free of charge, please visit my website at: davidstedman.co.uk or Google David Stedman author.
STOTFOLD NEWS Call us on 01462 731986 E: stotfold.news@yahoo.co.uk Find us on facebook.
Bir thdays
Mental Health Matters with Jo Loach
Ever yone of us has a bir thday! And many of us are bought up with stories surrounding our bir ths and maybe even conception! Our original bir thday is usually, not always, when we are given the name that others will know us by Unless we change it
Like many, I was born to parents who already had a girl, ‘ordered’ a boy and got me! However, they shared their first name choice for a girl was Lindsey, but they changed it at the last minute to Joanne. When I found my faith at thir ty, I realised God had inter vened on my bir thday to call me Joanne, which means, ‘God is gracious’! Following the most challenging three years of my adult life, I have just celebrated my fiftieth bir thday in a LARGE way! And I’m still going!
However, bir thdays are not always a joyous occasion. They can be an emotionally charged time, full of unfulfilled hopes and expectations! They can also turn up the volume on the pain of those we have loved and lost, in whatever way
We all deal with bir thdays differently, some favouring the ‘it’s just another day’ approach, of just wanting the day to be done Others go all out milking it for all its wor th (me this year) and many are somewhere in the middle There is no right or wrong, just our personal preference
The change of a decade can be par ticularly per tinent whether due to self-imposed, age -related expectations, or those of Society (real or imagined) As a fifty-year-old woman, I’m unmarried, childless, Volvo-less, only just sor ting my pension after ten years of procrastination and largely unconventional. Thanks to being thrown out of home at seventeen, I got on the proper ty ladder young, so I do have a small mor tgage!
And I love my life (mostly!)
Jo is a BACP Accredited Psychodynamic Counsellor and an Integrative Super visor with an MA in Contemporar y Therapeutic Counselling Email: jo loach@gmail com You can read more from Jo on her blog: joloach.com
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Domestic violence
Wishing our BEN a ver y, ver y Happy 50th bir thday!
Bring on the celebrations!
All our love, for always
Carolyn & Erin xxxxxx
STEVE AND LYN HAYES
Congratulations on your Golden Wedding Anniversar y - 4th October Fifty years of love, happiness and devotion to each other.
The most wonder ful parents and grandparents, we love you all the world, from Sarah, Calum, Karen, Philippe, Mia, Rémi & Léo
EMILY LOIS
Happy 8th Bir thday
We hope you have an amazing bir thday - You make us so proud! Lots of Love Mummy, Daddy, Max & Misty xxx
JAKE A Z ZOPARDI
Happy 18th Bir thday
Lots of love Mum, Dad, Hannah , Nanny Steph and Kira
CILLIAN
Happy 8th Bir thday Love from Mummy, Daddy, Trent Nutmeg xx
NIKKI JEPPS
Happy 50th Bir thday Lots of Love Mum, Derek & Buddy x
Have the best time celebrating xx
IVY LOU 20th October
Happy 10th Bir thday
All our love Mum Dad Luca and Lylah xxx
ROSIE
Happy 5th bir thday!
Lots of love , Mummy, Daddy & Ror y xx
DIRECTORS
354 257
SG5 4LD
NEED PROJECT Update
Welcome to our news and information for October Please follow us on our social media to keep up to date with all of our latest developments We truly appreciate the suppor t of our community - Thank you
Another busy month, numbers are down due to the summer holidays and the fact that there are food vouchers being given out by agencies. This gave us a chance to catch up a bit, but these vouchers end at the end of August. We had an incredible garage sale and made nearly £600, which is amazing, so thank you to all who suppor ted us and a special thanks to our volunteers who as usual came through brilliantly Our numbers this month for referrals are 504 and top up bags are 457 The food for the top up bags would other wise go in landfill if we didn’t give it out We have had a lot of interest in my job and the cutoff date for applying is mid-September Then begins the inter view process
The chapel phase 1 work is going well, and we hope to move our food operation and be fully working, out of the lower floor, by the end of October During October we hope to have an open day to show people our new food operation With phase 2, which is the upper floors, we have had to do some of the work in tandem with the phase 1, so when we star t working on phase 2 it doesn’t inter fere with our food parcels in anyway This has caused a few issues which we had to deal with earlier than hoped but it is going ok We need a lift fitted for wheelchair access, over the 4 levels and this alone is estimated at about £50,000 and with lowering the entrance level for disability access, which we obviously need to do, this and the other work involved is not cheap God has been so so good to us, we never imagined 4 years ago, we would be where we are now and in such a blessed position and we are confident the funds we need to finish will come. Our architect is doing drawings and visuals for Phase 2, so we can chase funding and show people what the upstairs will look like and how it will benefit our community and clients. In closing, thank you all for your incredible suppor t. Without it, we would not be able to do any of the things we do in our community. Blessings and praise God always, Gordon
OUR MONTH IN FIGURES:
504 parcels provided in 20 working days • 457 top- upbags collected from our Pop- up sites • £37,330 estimated value of the food for the month • £6,602 50, the average monthly cost to run the charity 754 adults, 613children & 34 pensioners helped (includes best before food )
News from Pippin Pre -School
We have had a busy few weeks settling our new children into the pre - school, we are pleased to announce they have adjusted to their new routines beautifully. The children’s play so far has been focused on the topic of ‘All About Me’, learning about their body, talking about their homes and families
Our AGM is being held on Tuesday 14th October, 7 30pm at Pippin All parents/carers are invited and encouraged to attend the meeting which will consist of a review of the last year ’s events and funds raised This is also when the new Committee members for the year ahead are voted in For any parents/carers interested in joining our
Committee this is your oppor tunity to find out about us! If you can spare a little time each month to attend our meeting and help out with fundraising activities we would love to hear from you.
Our next Holiday Club will be during the October half- term (Monday 28th October to Thursday 30th October inclusive) We offer option one 8am to 6pm and option 2 9am to 3pm Our full day is priced at £40 and our shor ter day is priced at £25 Please contact the office info@pippinpreschool co uk regarding availability We are pleased to announce our holiday club will also be open during the Christmas holidays on 22nd and 23rd December 9am to 3pm
As adver tised in last month’s issue, we are delighted to invite you to our Open Evening on Monday, 10th November, from 6:15pm to 7:30pm If you are looking for a Nurser y place or a Breakfast/Afterschool Club place for Roecroft Lower School star ting September 2026, please come along! You'll have the oppor tunity to:
• Tour the building
• Meet our friendly staff
• Ask any questions you may have
We look for ward to welcoming you!
We continually require items for our gluing table and welcome any old buttons, milk bottle tops, ribbon and old bir thday cards. Please drop any items off to the office during term time. We wish to thank ever yone who has donated so far. We look for ward to sharing more of our news with you again next month.
Pippin Pre -School, Buttercup Road, Stotfold, SG5 4PF www.pippinpreschool.co.uk info@pippinpreschool
News from St Mar y’s A c ademy
By the time this item is published, our children will have settled into their new classes and joined the many extracurricular clubs we have on offer We are pleased that our decarbonisation project has finally been completed! Our ground source heat pumps are up and running and ready for the colder months to come and our solar panels have been making the most of the recent good weather, providing electricity for school We are proud to be one of the most energy efficient schools in the countr y and happy to be able to do our par t to help the environment. This has only been achievable cour tesy of the Depar tment for Education who have fully funded the whole project.
Early in October we will once again take par t in a whole school Har vest Festival Celebration - a special assembly enjoyed by all of our children at a time when helping others is really appreciated We are once again suppor ting the Need Project with donations
October also sees the return of 'Open the Book' assemblies An amazing group of volunteers from our local churches come into school on six mornings each term to share a Bible stor y with the children - complete with costumes, props and audience par ticipation! The children thoroughly enjoy these and we thank the team for taking these assemblies for us
Alongside our daily Collective Worship - Moonstone, Cr ystal, Jet, Opal and Coral Classes will be leading assemblies at 9 00am on 8th, 10th, 15th, 17th and 24th respectively Parents of children in these classes are invited to attend and enjoy these Please check our weekly newsletter and/or the school website for more information and updates
Our individual and family photographs will be taken on Thursday 9th October – ideal gifts for that ‘season’ that will be upon us all too quickly!
Our New Parents Information Evening is planned for Thursday 23rd October at 7.00pm. Families of children star ting school in September 2026 are invited to come along for an information evening about star ting school and what they can look for ward to during their time at St Mar y’s Ever yone is welcome!
Finally, we should mention that we are well into the new learning mission for the Autumn Term, including 'All About Me' in Reception Classes, ‘Nur turing Nurses' in Key Stage 1 and ‘The Anglo Saxons' and ‘The Stone Age’ in
Key Stage 2. Look out for our termly curriculum over view for more details! We are only just back at school from the summer break, but the Autumn Half Term is from Monday 27th to Friday 31st October 2025
St Mar y’s School Lettings
We have a spacious school hall available for hire at competitive rates by local clubs and businesses
Please contact the office on 01462 730343 or email: admin@stmar ysacademystotfold co uk
Our decarbonisation project has reached completion - pictured above, the new solar panels
News from Roecroft Lower School
Welcome ever yone to Roecroft’s October news.
I imagine we are all in the depths of Autumn now, and if you are any thing like me, you are thoroughly enjoying the crisp autumn air, cosy evenings at home and copious hot drinks. The star t of a new school year has rolled round once again, and the children have settled wonder fully into their new cohor ts We are also incredibly proud of our new star ters, welcome to the Roecroft family! We cannot wait to enjoy and celebrate you all over the coming years
This month we have an update from my Head of Curriculum, Mrs Harrington: In Key Stage 1, we have had a fantastic star t to our
Autumn term after our summer break. We were all eager to get star ted in our new year groups and have now settled into our classrooms beautifully. We have enjoyed getting to know our new teachers through fun circle times, we have shared special memories from our summer and have also taken par t in lots of lovely friendship activities.
In Year 1, our new topic is 'A Toy Stor y' We have star ted looking at the ar tist Andy Warhol, focusing on his use of colour and repeating patterns We will now be creating our own block patterns from toys that we have sketched and look for ward to making our own printing tiles to complete our design
We will be creating these out of polystyrene, so will have to etch our designs onto them carefully! In other areas of the curriculum, we have been reading the exciting stor y 'Lost in the Toy Museum' and have enjoyed oppor tunities to act out the different scenes, such as the toys playing hide and seek! We now look for ward to carr ying out some writingbased activities to retell the events in order and to also describe some of the characters using adjectives
Elsewhere in KS1, Year 2 have also launched their new topic called 'Fire and Ice' The children have already learnt so much about the historical events of 'The Great Fire of London' and have enjoyed exploring ar tefacts to suppor t discussion for the causes and consequences of the fire.
The children have applied their new knowledge to writing a recount of this event and have been super excited to design a mode of transpor t in DT, suitable for putting out fires! The children learnt about axles, wheels and a chassis and then practically explored skills to combine these components into a vehicle. We also have lots of exciting events coming up after half term, such as topic days, handwriting competitions and inter-house competitions It has been such a positive star t to the school year and it is so lovely to be back together as a Roecroft family, living our values together
We look for ward to updating you again next month!
ANSWERS TO THE OCTOBER FUN QUIZ . . .Page 16
1 Diana Rigg; 2 Tony BLACKBURN; 3 Ed Sheeran; 4 DUNDEE; 5 “Line of Duty”; 6 H.M.S. BELFAST; 7 YORK (Yorkie bar); 8 WINDSOR; 9 Cauliflower; 10 CHESTER
News from Fair field Park Lower School
Welcome to our October update;
The children this term so far are showing fantastic learning behaviours in the classrooms and wider school environments We place a huge impor tance on suppor ting our children move from one year to the next and also suppor ting those new to our school The time spent developing positive relationships and setting expectations enables the children to then par ticipate effectively and independently in their learning – we are ver y proud of them
The children are settling into their new roles as Eco Councillors and School Councillors following school elections As well as representing the views and opinions of our classes, school councillors have also been thinking about how we can be responsible for our school environment
Ever y week we pick a cloakroom that is awarded ‘Tidy Ted’ we also have been involved in creating community volunteers who help around the school Eco- Councillors are thinking how we can be more sustainable, use less energy and recycle.
Value of the Half Term: Respect Fair field Park Lower School, Dickens Boulevard & Ruskin Drive office@fair fieldparklower.uk 01462 830000
News from Pixbrook A c ademy
As the vibrant colours of autumn begin to appear, Pix Brook Academy proudly reflects on a truly fantastic first few weeks
Despite the typical unpredictable British weather, our students have been an absolute credit to themselves and the academy, demonstrating remarkable perseverance and a wonder fully positive attitude. It has been a joy to see them arrive each day, proudly showcasing our school uniform with such smar tness and enthusiasm. Our new Year 5 students have settled so well and are cer tainly enjoying the pastries and sweet treats at breaktime!
A standout moment was the inaugural meeting of our student-led School Parliament We were incredibly honoured to welcome local MP Alistair Strathern who engaged directly with our Year 6 and Year 11 student representatives.
It was truly inspiring to witness our young leaders discussing pivotal projects focusing on sustainability, equality & diversity, and the exciting development of a new PBA School House system. Their passion and insight promise to bring about meaningful change within our school community.
All types of electrical work under taken. Installation, Fault finding, Heating controls. Test and inspection, EV charge points, NICEIC approved contractor Tel: 07817 545314 E:bk electrical@outlook com
Beyond the classroom, we've had the pleasure of welcoming hundreds of current parents and carers to our successful welcome and introduction evenings, reinforcing the impor tance we place on the vital home - school par tnership
In a couple of weeks, we have one of the biggest events of the academic year: Open Evening
Our Open Evening takes place on Thursday 16th October 2025, 3:45pm-7:45pm. We genuinely cannot wait to welcome prospective pupils through our doors and I look for ward to sharing the fantastic work under taken by my students and staff
For more information please contact our school office on 01462 416243 or email: pixbrook@bestacademies.org.uk
Charlotte Linehan Pix Brook Academy Principal.
The past month has flown by, ever yone at Etonbur y Academy is settling back into the school community and daily routines Here at Etonbur y we have a culture of high expectations and our students achieve in many different ways We know that ever y child is different and that one size doesn't fit all That's why we provide an inclusive education that recognises the individual and equips ever y child to succeed We're an outward looking community where ever yone is valued and their talents and personality are celebrated.
It's fantastic to see whole school extracurricular activities in full swing, to include dance, drama, debate club, various spor ts, yoga, warhammer, choir, LAMDA, ar t, LGBTQ+ and more. The number of children exploring new interests is remarkable and we are proud to have so many staff who are prepared to give up their own time to lead on these activities and inspire our students
Etonbur y staff and pupils enjoyed a fantastic summer celebrating another year of excellent GCSE results’ We are delighted with our first set of A Level and BTEC exam results and thoroughly enjoyed celebrating with our students on results day this summer 96% of students got into their top choice of
university
At the time of writing preparations are well under way for our Prospective Parent Open Evening, Thursday 2nd October. This year we have Primar y presentations at 5 00, 5 30, 6 00 and 6 30pm with Mrs Young and at 7 00pm we have a presentation for those visiting who wish to make an application to one of the secondar y school years Please visit our website for fur ther details and to book a place at one of our presentations
Our Sixth Form open evening is planned for 6th November. We provide a unique, professional, dynamic, enjoyable and highly personalised learning environment for post 16 study. We would be delighted to welcome you to the evening. If you would like more information or a Sixth Form tour please contact cdowden@bestacademies.org.uk If you would like a personal tour for entr y into years 5 to 11, please do get in touch with us on 01462 730391 or via email School tours for prospective parents provide a real sense of what we offer here at Etonbur y We believe we are
a small, compassionate and exceptional educational community
Come and see for yourself what makes Etonbur y special EVERYONE is RESPECTFUL TOGETHER we CARE ALWAYS AIM HIGHER
News from Stotfold Football Club
Sadly a ver y poor star t for the first team with no wins in the league. Injuries and unavailability have not helped but Eddie and his management team will be doing all they can to get some wins under their belt. They also exited the FA Trophy at the first attempt losing 2-0 at home to Mildenhall Town The Reser ves have also found the going tough having won three and lost six of their nine matches The women’s team star ted their season on 7th September with an FA Women’s Cup tie at home to Toby Women First from Essex
Fixtures
Team Month/Date KO H/A Opponents
1st 4 10 25 3 00 Away Flackwell Heath
Reser ves 4 10 25 3 00 Home Rushden & Higham Utd
Women 5 10 25 2 00 Away Langford Ladies
Reser ves 7 10 25 7 45 Home Belstone
1st 11 10 25 3 00 Home AFC Dunstable
Women 12.10.25 2.00 Home AFC Welwyn Ladies
Reser ves 14.10.25 7.45 Home Langford
1st 15 10 25 7 45 Away Enfield
1st 18 10 25 3 00 Away Bar ton Rovers
Women 19 10 25 2 00 Away Real Bedford Ladies and Girls (Beds Women’s Junior Cup 2nd round)
1st 25 10 25 3 00 Home Rayners Lane
Reser ves 25 10 25 3 00 Away Rothwell Corinthians
Women 26.10.25 2.00 Home Ampthill Town Ladies 1st 28.10.25 7.45 Away Biggleswade Town
LET’S GET BEHIND ALL OF OUR TEAMS AND GIVE THEM THE BEST SUPPORT. COME AND JOIN US 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 SG5 4HE T:01462 539297
www.stotfoldfc.co.uk https://twitter.com/stotfoldfc https://facebook.com/stotfoldfc ttps://www.instagram.com/stotfoldfc
As with all of the Stotfold Junior football teams, we often reach out to local businesses to help with the purchase of kit and necessar y items required to run a successful season
This season, the Stotfold Junior U18 Ambers are pleased to have secured sponsorship from two local businesses, FB Chain and The Malay Cour tyard. The team would like to thank both businesses for their suppor t.
If you own a local business and would like to find out how you can get involved in helping suppor t any of the Junior teams this season then please contact Andy Bainbridge at enquiries@stotfoldjunior fc co uk
Stotfold Bowls Club Update
Stotfold Bowls Club is pleased to announce the following successes and near success:- Debbie Roe (pictured above) won the Bedfordshire Ladies over 55 competition for the second year running and the Stotfold Ladies A team won the East Beds League 3rd Division and were EBL Knock Out Cup runners up
We congratulate them on their successes and the growing strength of the Ladies section Well Done!
For more information on joining our friendly club please email secretar y@stotfoldbowlsclub with your contact details
WELLBEING WALKS
Are you looking to make new friends?
Wellbeing Walks are a local walking group where ever yone is welcome Walks star t at 10 45am
October 2nd/9th - Scout Hut, Baldock Rd, Stotfold 16th/23rd - The Crown PH, The Green, Stotfold. 30th - Arlesey train station. Contact Beth Over field on 01462 815672
Nor th Her ts Road Runners
The Standalone 10k is on 5th Oct and entries may still be available just check on line nhrr.org.uk/standalone 10k
The 1st Sat of the month at Letchwor th Common will be on 4th Oct at 9am and is open to runners of all abilities with free entr y
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 07506 429928
The Stotfold Ladies A Team East Beds League 3 winners and EBL Knock Out Cup Runners Up
October Church Ser vices
October Ser vices:
Prayer Meeting Ever y Sunday –10:00am
Family Friendly Worship 10.30am
Ever y Sunday 5th/12th/19th,26th October.
Tuesday Home League Meeting – 2-3pm
7th Led by Irene Howard
14th Led by Catherine Lacey
21st Led by Capt Gemma Allen
28th Led by Hazel Thompson
Captains Adrian & Gemma Allen, 01462 731072 (Office) www stotfoldsalvationarmy org uk
October Ser vices:
Morning Prayer Monday-Saturday ever y week: 9am
Wednesday 1st 9 45am
Parish Communion
Sunday 5th
8am Parish Communion
10am Parish Communion
4pm Tea Time Praise Family ser vice
Wednesday 8th
9 45am Parish Communion
Sunday 12th
10am Parish Communion and
Sunday School
Wednesday 15th
9 45am Parish Communion
2pm Hymns for Fun
Sunday 19th
9am Parish Communion
October Ser vices:
Sunday 5th
Har vest Festival family ser vice
Sunday 12th
10.30am Sunday ser vice with communion
Sunday 19th
10 30am Sunday ser vice
Sunday 26th
October Sunday ser vice (with Communion) (British Summer Time end)
For more details on our ser vice times please contact us on the details below Tel: 01462 730521 www.kingsbaptistchurch.co.uk
The Sunday ser vice is streamed using Zoom The meeting ID is 826 978 3610 and the passcode is 730521
STOTFOLD METHODIST CHURCH
Welcome you to come along and enjoy their Scrabble Club.
Why not pop along ever y Monday from 2pm for a cup of tea and a chat. Ever yone is welcome to our friendly group Please ring 01462 731167 for venue details
10am Parish Praise ser vice
Wednesday 22nd
9.45am Parish Communion
Sunday 26th
9am Morning Prayer
10am Parish Communion and Sunday School
Revd Bill Britt on 01462 730218 www stotfoldchurch org uk
October Ser vices:
Sunday 5th 10am Paul Cooper
Har vest Festival
Sunday 12th 10am Rev Emmanuel Onabanjo (Holy Communion)
Sunday 19th 10am Barbara Cook
Minister Rev Emmanuel Onabanjo 07464 881751
October Ser vices:
Sunday 5th Morning Ser vice 10:30am
Sunday 12th Morning Ser vice 10:30am
Sunday 19th Morning Service 10:30am
Sunday 26th Church Connect SundayRCCG House of Mercy 10:00am Arlesey Village Hall, Arlesey High Street, Beds SG15 6SN
Alpha Course 9th Sept - 18th Nov
Fair field Bowls Club 7 30pm - 9pm Contact 07351 514457
Email:info@fair fieldcc org uk
October Ser vices:
Saturday 4th; Young People’s Meeting 7 00pm Sundays 5th; 12th; 19th; 26th; Sunday School 9 15am
Morning Worship 10.30am Afternoon Worship 2 15pm Wednesday 1st; 15th; Prayer Meeting 7 15pm Wednesday 8th ;22nd; 29th; Evening Worship 7 15pm
Minister: Mr G E Hadley 01462 686803
www.hopechapelstotfold.org See chapel Notice Board for details
October Ser vice:
Sunday 5th St. Guthlac’s Har vest
Thanksgiving Ser vice 3pm
For more details on the ser vice and our collection for the Need Project, see our ar ticle on the facing page. Rev'd Jenna Dearden 07708 666612 revjennadearden@gmail com
October Ser vices
Sunday 12th
3.00pm Har vest Ser vice
Sunday 26th
9.00am Parish Communion
Saturday 1st
7 30pm Quiz Night Radwell Village Hall Revd.
Revd Bill Britt on 01462 730218
www.radwellchurch.org.uk
Church News & For thcoming Events
On Sunday 5th October we have our Har vest Thanksgiving Ser vice at 3:00pm, to which all are welcome. There will be a food collection for the Need Project. Please bring tinned donations. Our offer tor y collection will be donated to the farmer ’s charity, R ABI https://rabi.org.uk
This year many farmers across the UK have faced a difficult har vest Drought stress has left crops struggling, yields uncer tain and livelihoods under pressure A sober reminder that despite all our technology and skill, we remain deeply dependent on the rhy thms of creation and ultimately, on the Creator Himself The bible reminds us “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth ” (1 Corinthians 3:6)
So how do we respond? With gratitude - however difficult that will be, for whatever has been gathered in, even when less than hoped With compassion - for farmers, workers and communities under pressure, carr ying heavy burdens With trust - that the day will come when the ear th is renewed and God’s abundance will be fully revealed Please keep all our UK farmers in your prayers Bernadette - Churchwarden
KINGS BAPTIST CHURCH
Children & youth Children aged 5 – 12 are welcome to join King’s Kids Youth aged 13 and above are invited to join our youth group, typically held on the 2nd and 4th Sundays each month At the moment we are not able to provide a super vised crèche Parents are welcome to take their younger children into our Community Room on Sunday mornings, we ask you to remain with your children the whole time Communion 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month. We have an ‘open table’ and invite all who acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Saviour to share Communion with us. We also encourage children to par ticipate. We use non-alcoholic grape juice, and glutenfree wafers are available. Prayer Meetings Join us for a time of reflection, worship and prayer for the needs of individuals, our Church, our community, the nation, the world and of course ourselves, Wednesday mornings at 10:00am and on Sunday evenings at 6pm. Monday 6th October Works of Hear t our informal and fun ar ts and crafts which star ts at 8pm. This months topic is “Leaf Print Cards”. Materials are provided Friday 31st October Light Par ty -a par ty to celebrate the light of Jesus Hot food, Drinks, refreshments, goodie bags etc Ever y Wednesday Home from Home In par tnership with the Need Project, drop in from 1pm to 3pm for tea, coffee, cake, and biscuits Bring your knitting, or sit and chat, play games, do a jigsaw, or maybe take par t in a fun quiz! All ages welcome Tots & Toddlers ever y Monday during term times 09:15 to 10:45
We’d love to welcome you at Stotfold Salvation Army. Monthly Monday Fellowship group - 20th October (7pm) A talk by Stotfold News ‘Celebrating 20 Years at the Stotfold News Magazine’ 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.
Wednesdays: Little Stars Baby & Toddler Group: Morning 9.30am-11am, Afternoon 1.00pm – 2.30pm (term time only- no sessions on 29th October)
The Stotfold Book Club - Wednesday 24th September at 7 15pm, and ever yone is invited Thursdays brings different monthly activities: 2nd Oct – Hobby Hub (10:30am-12:30pm) a comfor table place to craft, enjoy a drink, and meet new people 9th Oct – Toast of the Town (10:30am-12:00 noon) with drinks, toast, teacakes and friendly faces 23rd Oct is a chance to ‘Connect’ (10:30am-12:30pm), a ‘Youth club for adults’, a relaxing place to chat, refreshments, and many different games to enjoy We also have several Bible Discussion (Lyfe) groups that meet throughout the week at different locations Please contact us for fur ther information
ST MARY’S CHURCH
Are you a younger man with questions about faith? We are holding a discussion group for men who have questions about God and who Jesus is and what his followers believe The six weekly discussion groups star t on Sun 5 October 8pm at the Roecroft Centre contact Revd Bill on 01462 730218
Community Coffee Morning 10 30-12
Wednesday 1 October Har vest Fellowship Meal 5 30pm Sat 4 October-Roecroft Centre Please contact Revd Bill 01462 730218 Jigsaw Sale 10am - noon Saturday 11 October, Church Hall Women’s Fellowship Group 2 30PM Wednesday 15 October. Quiz Night 7.30pm Saturday 18 October in the Church Hall. Friendship Lunch will be held at noon on Wednesday 29th October at The Stag contact carolyn.bleach@sky.com Men’s Big Breakfast 9.00am Saturday 25 October at The Stag. Whist Club alternate Tuesdays at 2pm Contact Elaine Drur y 07925 192007
Annual Memorial Ser vice for the bereaved Sunday 2 November Our Annual Memorial Ser vice for the bereaved will be held on 3 00pm on Sunday 2 November at 3 00pm There will be a list in church to record the name of the deceased person you would like remembered Or telephone 730264 or email maureen winters5@gmail com Candles will be lit whilst the names are read. Getting married? Contact Revd. Bill on 01462 730218. Christenings Contact Sara Clark on 01462 625270 .Funerals speak to your funeral director or telephone Revd. Bill Britt on 01462 730218.
News from Stotfold Librar y
Stotfold Librar y, The Oak Hall, The Greenacre Centre, Valerian Way, Stotfold, Hitchin SG5 4HG Opening hours -Monday - CLOSED Tuesday - 9am to 1pm Wednesday - 2pm to 6pm Thursday - 9am to 1pm Friday9am to 1pm 2pm to 6pm Saturday - 9am to 4pm Sunday - CLOSED
The cafe inside of Stotfold LIbrar y is open at slightly different times to the main facility - in the event that you choose to visit during these hours, then you will still be able to use our self- ser vice machines to borrow,
return and renew books with your librar y card. You can also use our public computers for 2 hours FREE ever yday (PIN required) Print from our public computers using the selfser vice machine next to the printer (PIN required) Without your librar y card you can
Browse the librar y, return librar y books, play board games use our laptop bar and power por ts use the photocopier *Please Note* wireless printing will NOT be available during unstaffed hours
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.
*NEW* Ever y First Friday of the month, Adult Cosy Colouring Club, 2pm-5pm
Have you ever wanted to take par t in the growing trend of colouring bold and easy designs with alcohol markers? Come by Stotfold Librar y
on Friday 3rd October for a cosy colouring afternoon for adults, where we will provide free sheets from known colouring book authors and alcohol markers. Ever y adult will have the same picture to colour so that we can all see the different colour interpretations after wards! Alternatively, feel free to bring your own books and pens too!
ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN
Ever y Tuesday - Stor y and Rhyme Time, 10 30am and 11:15am (recommended for children 0-5)
*NEW* Ever y Thursday, SENsor y Morning, 9 30am-12pm The lights will be dimmed, calming music played, and a black tent with glow toys will be available for some calming sensor y play (recommended for all ages)
Ever y Friday - Board Game Club
3 30pm-5pm After school club to play some of the librar y’s selection of board games. (recommended for ages 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+)
Ever y Saturday 10-3pm Lego Club! Come along to build with our Lego and Duplo! (recommended for all ages )
STOTFOLD GARDEN CLUB
Meetings and Trips
Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month at St Mar y’s Church Hall Wednesday 8th October - Talk by Katherine, The Tea Break Gardener: ‘Post War Parks and Gardens’ Tea and Coffee Ser ved For more information contact Peter on:(01462) 834854 or 07758649721 E:stotfoldgc@gmail.com
Down Memory Lane
STOTFOLD HISTORY - Do you have an interest in local histor y? We would love to hear your memories, see your photographs and find out more about the histor y of our townGet in touch with us by calling 01462 731986 or email us at stotfold news@yahoo co uk
Stotfold Population - How times change!
The Domesday Book of 1086 contains an entr y for Stotfold listing a total of 21 villagers, 14 smallholders and 6 slaves.
As these individuals would have been heads of households, this number should be multiplied by at least four to provide an idea of the actual figure Stotfold has since seen a steady increase in its population - 2021 records show a little over 12,000
The Hear th Tax of 1671 records 82 dwellings in Stotfold- It has been estimated that this represented a population of about 357 The largest number - 12 - were in the house of William Abbice To give some comparison, there are 82 dwellings nowadays in Silverbirch Avenue alone!
Population Figures
1086: 200 1671: 357 1801: 494 1851: 1,395 1901: 2,768 1921: 3,197 1951: 5,153 1991: 6,434 2001: 6,107 2011: 9,520 2021: 12,308
Stotfold - The Domesday Book The Domesday Book was commissioned by William the Conqueror (1066-1087) during Christmas 1085 It was designed to show who held ever y piece of land in the newly conquered Kingdom of England
The Domesday Book of 1086 recorded that the Manor of Stotfold was held by King Edward in 1066 and his tenant was Eskil of Ware By 1086 the Manor was held by Hugh de Beauchamp who was also tenant in chief
The manor included four mills valued at £4 and meadow for 7 ploughs The manor was wor th £20 in 1066 but had increased to £25 in 1086
Business Directory
AD Garden Rooms
A JB Fencing
A J Day Builders
Alfie’s Barbers
All Wrapped Up - Balloons and Florist
01438 313765
07837 791365
01767 314445
01462 658449
07886 569134
Andy Leonard Painter & Decorator 07889 903283
Arlesey Walking Group
Arlesey Social Club
01462 638286
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
01462 731292
01462 835611
01462 731500
07787 502906
01462 834488
07817 766997
BK Electrical / Brian Kelly 07817 545314
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
Clean Kept Yard
Computer Repairs
The Cooker Buddy Oven Cleaning
Chris Webster, Stotfold
01462 732628
01462 730884
01462 735999
01462 231257
01462 629302
07990 297297
01462 731674
07984 344997
07376474239
0777 7113107
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)
First Step Estate Agents
Foot Health Professional - Vicki Eagles
07838 916915
01462 733322
07522 354141
01462 730769
01462 236559
07811 738599
07837 791365
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
HB Bakes
07306 085207
07585 221513
07703 171857
01462 510765
07555 707848
01462 235273
01462 416416
07878 209112
Hypnotherapy - Pathway Hypnotherapy Rooms 07497157531
James’s Carpentr y & Handyman Ser vice
Jar vis Footcare
JPT Utilities
Kumari Chiropractic
Liams Butchers
Locksmith Ser vices
Lower Wilbur y Farm
Maintenance Ser vices - SHMS
Mice & Tidy
01462 234292
07816 329363
01462 735450
07479 945995
07584 979361
01462 290226
07988 771107
01462 887366
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
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
Pooches Parlour 07852 520471
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, 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
Window Cleaning (Jacks)
07835 983807
01462 629302
07950 510589
Yoga - Freda Dodswor th 01767 627611
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