What’s on in January

2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 JANUARY

Branch Out Social Club for Single People 8.30-10.30pm. Cromwell Bar, The Sun Hotel, Hitchin Medium-sized social club for single people aged 50 upwards. Meets every Monday night. Tel: Lorna 01438 233657 Web: www.branch-out.org.uk

3, 6, 10, 13, 17, 20, 24, 27 & 31 JANUARY

Bridge Club. 1pm Howgills, South View, Letchworth £3. Tuesdays and Fridays. Play from 1pm but do come earlier. Beginners and improvers welcome – we play very friendly Rubber Bridge. Tel: Gill Cheaney 01462 686806 Email: bridgeclub@lalg.org.uk

3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 JANUARY

Craftea 10.30am-12pm Baldock Library A great way to meet new people, get craft advice, chat and relax. Web: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk

4 JANUARY

Pic-n-Mix Social Group 10.30am-12pm Letchworth Library Meets the first Wednesday of every month. Each session has a theme or activity. Drop in for a cuppa, a chat and make some new friends!

4 JANUARY

Aircraft Enthusiasts’ Group 1pm Shuttleworth Members Remembers. Meets first Wednesday of every month. Entry to Shuttleworth £19.50 or email to book free entry ticket. Email: 99aegr@gmail.com Web: www.a-e-g.org.uk

4 JANUARY

North Herts Association of the National Trust 7.30pm Christchurch, Bedford Road, Hitchin Non-members £3 on the door ‘More Lost Palaces’. Tel: Mrs Colette House 07831 111062 Email: colettehouse@gmail.com www.facebook.com/nhertsant/

4, 11, 18 & 25 JANUARY

Hinxworth Art Society 10am-12pm. Hinxworth Village Hall Drawing, painting, coffee and chat. No need to book. Occasional oneday courses and demonstrations. Email: 99aegr@gmail.com

6 JANUARY

Beds Family History Society 7pm and 7.30pm on Zoom Drama Theatre, Mark Rutherford School, Bedford ‘Foster Hill Cemetery’ with Bob Ricketts. Web: www.bfhs.org.uk

4, 11, 18 & 25 JANUARY

Baby Rhyme Time 10.30am-11am Baldock Library Free - donations welcome Fun session of songs and rhymes to help your child learn language skills.

4, 11, 18 & 25 JANUARY

Storytime 10.30-11am Stevenage Library Free - donations welcome Interactive story sessions. Web: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk

5, 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 26 & 30 JANUARY

Retired Persons Table Tennis Club Mondays 11am-1.30pm, Thursdays 1.30-4pm Memorial Hall, Stotfold The club plays both doubles and singles. Monthly subscription payable. Vacancies for new members (but not beginners). Email: terrygriffiths50@gmail.com

5, 12, 19 & 26 JANUARY

Hitchin Thursday Art Club 9.30am-12pm. St. John’s Community Centre, St. John’s Road, Hitchin We meet every Thursday for painting and drawing, etc. We are a friendly group who enjoy art and chatting. Tel: Mike 07977 347707

5, 12, 19 & 26 JANUARY

Storytime 2.15-2.45pm Baldock Library Free - donations welcome Interactive story sessions for preschool children.

6 JANUARY

Hitchin & Letchworth RSPB Local Group Meeting 7.30pm. The Settlement, 229 Nevells Road, Letchworth Members free, visitors £4 ‘Gough Island Eradication. What now?’ by Andrew Callender, RSPB Head of Global Policy.

6, 13, 20 & 27 JANUARY

Storytime 10.30-11am Letchworth Library Free - donations welcome Interactive story sessions. Web: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk

6, 13, 20 & 27 JANUARY

Bridge Club 1.30-4.30pm. Springfield House, Old Stevenage Community Centre Play social cut-in Chicago Bridge. Play is informal and friendly. Tel: Richard Bean 01438 221517

6, 13, 20 & 27 JANUARY

Rainmakers International Folk Dance Group 8-10pm. ilbury Hall, Bedford Road, Letchworth New members welcome Tel: Mark 01462 454210 Web: rainmakers.org.uk

9 JANUARY

Icknield Quilters 7.45pm Meets second Monday of the month. Visitors welcome. icknieldquilters.weebly.com/

5, 12, 19 & 26 JANUARY

Sapphire Social Singles Club 8pm The Orange Tree, Hitchin Meet every Thursday. A friendly social group for single people to meet and make new friends - generally 50+ age group. Tel/text: Ian 07900 890583 for info sapphiresocialsinglesclub.co.uk

9, 16, 23 & 30 JANUARY

Monday Painting Group 9am-12pm Letchworth Corner Sports Club, Whitethorn Lane Meets every Monday. Each term we choose a selection of subjects to paint. Tel: Valerie Williams 01462 624439 Email: mondaypainting@lalg.org.uk Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

WHAT’S ON IN JANUARY

9, 16, 23 & 30 JANUARY

Stevenage Singers 7.30pm for 7.45pm The Music Centre, The Nobel School, Mobbsbury Way, Stevenage Stevenage Singers are ready to welcome new voices! Tel: Heather 01438 365769 Email: Info@stevenagesingers.org.uk Web: www.stevenagesingers.org.uk

9, 16, 23 & 30 JANUARY

Staplers Folk Dance Club 8-10pm St Johns Community Hall, St John’s Road, Hitchin Members £3, guests £4 Meets Monday evenings. Dance a wide variety of styles. Everyone welcome. Web: www.staplers.org.uk

9, 16, 23 & 30 JANUARY

Stevenage Choral Society 7.45pm Stevenage Music Centre, Mobbsbury, Stevenage Meets every Monday during term time. No audition necessary. Tel: 01438 365769 Email: info@stevenagechoral.org.uk Web: www.stevenagechoral.org.uk

11 JANUARY

Bedford Local Group of The Wildlife Trust 7.15pm for 7.30pm Priory Methodist Church Hall, Newnham Avenue, Bedford An illustrated talk ‘Wildlife Trust Communities Work in Bedfordshire’ by Ruth Sneath. Ample parking. All welcome. No charge but voluntary contributions appreciated. Tel: 01234 266057 wildlifebcn.org

11 JANUARY

Letchworth Music Concert 7.45pm Howgills, 42 South View, Letchworth Tickets £15, under 18/students £7.50 Emma Halnan on flute and Jaynne Baley on piano. Tickets available at the door.

15 JANUARY

Not Strictly Jazz 5-7pm Tickets £20, 10-18 years £10 Fairfield House, Fairfield Road, Biggleswade Live music performed by exceptional musicians. Tel: 01767 312176 Email: sarahwiggs@hotmail.co.uk

17 JANUARY

Greensands Writers’ Group 7-9pm Free event. Enjoy writing? Join Greensands Writers’ Group for a monthly Zoom meeting. Web: greensandswriters.wixsite. com/website for info

20 JANUARY

Concert by Coull Quartet 8pm. Benslow Music, Benslow Lane, Hitchin Tickets £20, under 27s free Formed in 1974, the quartet has performed and broadcast extensively throughout the UK, and has made tours of Western Europe, the Americas, Australia, China, India and the Far East. https://benslowmusic.org

22 JANUARY

Hitchin & Letchworth RSPB Local Group coach trip to Fen Drayton and WWT Welney Various pick-up times. Coach fare £25 per adult, entry fees may apply Morning at Fen Drayton looking for waders, wildfowl and passerines, afternoon at Welney to enjoy the swan spectacular. Leader Jane Havercroft. Tel: Malcolm 01462 451320

22 JANUARY

Stevenage RSPB Local Group Trip to Rainham Marshes. Meet 10am All-day visit to Rainham Marshes. Meet in the carpark at grid ref 177/ TQ 551790 postcode RM19 1SZ. Leader Graham Beevor. Email: trevorstorey54@gmail.com

26 JANUARY

Stevenage RSPB Local Group Trip to Lemford Springs. Meet 9.30am Morning visit to this H&MWT site which never freezes, for Water Rail, Green Sandpiper and other winter visitors. Meet at reserve gates 166/TL 222123 postcode AL8 7TN. Leader Trevor Storey. Donations requested. Email: trevorstorey54@gmail.com

27-29 JANUARY AND 3-4 FEBRUARY

The New Adventures of Robinson Crusoe. Meppershall Village Hall Adults £13, Child £8, family of 4 £36 HATS present their annual family panto. Evening and matinée performances. www.ticketsource.co.uk/hats-drama

28 JANUARY

Dreamcatchers 10am-4pm Letchworth Library £2 per person Explore the meaning of dreams and create your own dreamcatcher. Fun drop-in session for the whole family. Under 8s must be accompanied by an adult

UNTIL 16 APRIL

Changing Times: A Century of Modern British Art Exhibition The Higgins, Bedford Free entry Visitors will find sculpture, paintings and works on paper by some of the best-known and well-loved names in British art. Web: www.thehigginsbedford.org.uk

EVERY WEEKDAY

Clifton Walking Group Meets on weekdays at 8.30am and in the afternoon for an hour. A friendly bunch of people of various ages and abilities. Monthly weekend walk of 6-8 miles. Group meets for coffee once a month. Tel: Suzanne I’ons 07933 709006 Email: ionssuzanne@gmail.com