Anne From the Vicar Revd Anne Donaldson Have you ever tried prayer? We are in that time zone between Jesus’ resurrection, going back to heaven from whence He came, and His gift of His Holy Spirit at Pentecost (4 th June this year). Jesus’ resurrection means that He is still with us today – still very much alive and still wanted to do whatever we will allow Him to do to love us and help us. His Holy Spirit is still here ready to enable and empower us too. This makes an amazing difference to our lives if we let Him. Prayer is part of all that. Because Jesus is still here He hears our prayers. And because His Holy Spirit is here He answers those prayers in His loving power. Granted, not always the answer we would like – He knows far more than we do and knows what would be best for us, so sometimes He gives us an answer that is slightly different, or tells us to wait, or even says ‘no’. But He always does what is best for us. Prayer is powerful. Worth a try, if you haven’t already done so. The song writer in the Old Testament (Psalms) wrote ‘O taste and see that the Lord is good’. And praying to Him is a way to do that. I don’t know where I’d be without prayer. When you pray things happen!! The Archbishops are asking us to pray especially between 25 th May and 4 th June (Ascension Day to Pentecost). They did so for the 1 st time last year and other denominations joined in. This year it has been planned with other denominations and other countries! It’s a truly global ‘wave of prayer.’ How about being part of it? You could pray on your own. But prayer together with others seems to be so much more powerful – in the Bible and today! So plan to have a phone call with a friend every day, or meet for coffee or a pint! And pray for a few minutes in that time. Or pray with someone else on the train to or from work. In a lunch break. Whenever!! There will be resources available via email and website. Or simply choose 5 people – family, friends, colleagues, whoever – and pray for them every day and see what the good Lord does with your prayer. Timing-wise it an ideal time to pray for the General Election! There’s Brexit, Syria, and so much more too – but you won’t necessarily know how the Lord has responded to those prayers!! Please join in this wave of prayer – you can’t lose and you may gain so much. If you pray with someone else it will deepen your friendship too! No particular words are needed – just chat to God as you would to your friend!! He’ll hear and He will answer. I pray you will know that answer.
Transcript
Anne
From the Vicar
Revd Anne Donaldson Have you ever tried prayer? We are in that time zone between Jesus’ resurrection, going back to heaven from whence He came, and His gift of His Holy Spirit at Pentecost (4th June this year). Jesus’ resurrection means that He is still with us today – still very much alive and still wanted to do whatever we will allow Him to do to love us and help us. His Holy Spirit is still here ready to enable and empower us too. This makes an amazing difference to our lives if we let Him. Prayer is part of all that. Because Jesus is still here He hears our prayers. And because His Holy Spirit is here He answers those prayers in His loving power. Granted, not always the answer we would like – He knows far more than we do and knows what would be best for us, so sometimes He gives us an answer that is slightly different, or tells us to wait, or even says ‘no’. But He always does what is best for us. Prayer is powerful. Worth a try, if you haven’t already done so. The song writer in the Old Testament (Psalms) wrote ‘O taste and see that the Lord is good’. And praying to Him is a way to do that. I don’t know where I’d be without prayer. When you pray things happen!! The Archbishops are asking us to pray especially between 25th May and 4th June (Ascension Day to Pentecost). They did so for the 1st time last year and other denominations joined in. This year it has been planned with other denominations and other countries! It’s a truly global ‘wave of prayer.’ How about being part of it? You could pray on your own. But prayer together with others seems to be so much more powerful – in the Bible and today! So plan to have a phone call with a friend every day, or meet for coffee or a pint! And pray for a few minutes in that time. Or pray with someone else on the train to or from work. In a lunch break. Whenever!! There will be resources available via email and website. Or simply choose 5 people – family, friends, colleagues, whoever – and pray for them every day and see what the good Lord does with your prayer. Timing-wise it an ideal time to pray for the General Election! There’s Brexit, Syria, and so much more too – but you won’t necessarily know how the Lord has responded to those prayers!! Please join in this wave of prayer – you can’t lose and you may gain so much. If you pray with someone else it will deepen your friendship too! No particular words are needed – just chat to God as you would to your friend!! He’ll hear and He will answer. I pray you will know that answer.
Church News
Lunches for Charities: Thursday for 4th May for ‘The Amy Wallace Magpie Trust’ and Thursday 1st June for Herts Air A mbulance. Come and join us – everyone, of all ages, is welcome to these free lunches at 1pm in the Wilshere Hall, Stanstead Abbots. Please invite friends to join you. The lunch in April raised £108 for CanalAbility.
June Parishes Magazine Items for the next edition should preferably be emailed to [email protected] or left at the Vicarage by 16th May at the latest please. Copy can also be given to Lynne Heraud.
Transport to Church. If you would like a lift to church please phone one of the Churchwardens (see back cover of this magazine).
From our Registers
We offer our condolences to the families and friend s of Mavis Roberts Fusion Court 24th March (St John the Baptist) Rose Francis Folly View 27th March (St Margarets’) George Baldrey New River Avenue 30th March (Woollensbrook) Joan Winch Willowthorpe 3rd April (Woollensbrook)
St Andrew’s church is praying for:-
Abbotts Rise, Abbotts Way, Mill Race - week beginning 7th May Cappell Lane - week beginning 14th May Hollycross Lane, Easneye, All Nations - week beginning 21st May St Andrew’s School - week beginning 28th May
Please note: The Administrator works on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9.15am until 2.15pm and can be contacted on
01920 870115
Need a lift to hospital?? If you need a lift to take you to a hospital appointment, hospital visiting etc, or
short-term help with shopping, dog-walking (eg. during or following an illness), or would like a visit or a prayer
call 3 Churches Careline: 01920 871678 between 9am and 6pm (except in an emergency) We’ll do our best to help
Lunches for Charities in Wilshere Hall at 1pm
Thursday 4th May for 'The Amy Wallace Magpie Trust' The Amy Wallace Magpie Trust is a registered charity supporting young people with cancer by granting their wishes, organising special days & purchasing recreational items for cancer units. The charity was set up in 2010 by a local Ware family of Nick and Pam Wallace in their daughter’s name to try and raise much needed funds to support children and youngsters where they need it the most Amy’s parents saw for themselves how the little ‘extras’ meant such a lot to Amy. It is their aim to help
others who are going through the same trauma and hopefully make a difference.
Thursday 1st June for Essex and Herts Air Ambulance They are truly a life-saving Charity kept airborne thanks to everyone who plays their lottery, makes a donation, enjoys their events, fundraises and volunteers in aid of EHAAT. Their aim is to save lives, reduce or prevent disability, or suffering from critical illness and injury, by delivering a first class pre-hospital emergency medical service to the people of Essex, Hertfordshire and surrounding areas. Without access to National Lottery funding and with limited support from Government, they continue to rely upon the generosity and goodwill of the people and businesses of Essex and Hertfordshire to remain operational and keep saving lives – working together funded by you! Their first aircraft was launched in 1998, only a year after the fundraising began and each month they continue their miraculous works which you can read about on their website at www.ehaat.org. During this March alone they responded to 81 missions; including 46 classified as medical, 32 road traffic collisions and 20 falls.
Have you just moved in?
Or know someone who has? We provide a pack to welcome people into the Villages. It has information about bin days, doctors, children’s activities…. If you see someone has moved in near you, please ask the Vicarage for a pack for you to give to them, a good way to introduce yourself! They are kept at the Vicarage so we can endeavour to keep them up to date!
St Andrew’s Celebration Celebrating in a hurting world
on 7th May at 10.15am
Recent events on Westminster bridge and reports on NHS resources show that today's world can be full of fear, anger and illness. What gives us hope? Is it developments in science and medicine? Hoping that one day there will be cures, and disease resistant crops to prevent hunger, or is it simply our individual (selfish) ambition for the next holiday, fun with friends and the comforts of our
lives? Unfortunately, the daily news also shows us how vulnerable these things can be. It only takes the right circumstances for economies to collapse, threatening our quality of life and even basic daily needs as seen in recent bank collapses, the Greek economy, or the increasing numbers of displaced migrants. All show how dramatically our fortunes can change and how quickly we can lose control. So can we really celebrate or is this a case of us burying our heads in the sand, pretending that all is going to be fine while ignoring the harsh realities of our world? Our celebration service in May will explore this theme. Our God wants us to live fulfilled, confident and joyful lives with Him, and He has given us everything we need to do so. Join us to discover how the worries of daily life can be put in perspective, how God helps practically with these needs and how fear and insecure hope give way to the celebratory joy of God's everlasting love.
Services at St James Church, Roydon Road, Stanstead Abbots during 2017
Rogation Service 28th May at 3.00pm
Midsummer Holy Communion 18th June at 8.45am
Patronal Festival Evensong 23rd July at 3.00pm
Harvest Holy Communion 17th September at 8.45am
Advent Carols ��� 3rd December at 4.00pm
Regular evening Bible Study and Home Groups
Bible Study Group led by Revd Glyn Howdle held at 342 Stanstead Road at 7.30pm on alternate Monday evenings. Contact number 07769435003.
Elizabeth Goldsmith (01920 422065) hosts the Home Group on alternate Tuesdays at 7.30pm in the Wilshere Hall. (Please check the diary pages for the actual dates).
Men’s Breakfast & Bible Study The next meeting is on Saturday 6th May from 8.00am
to 9.30am in the Wilshere hall, Cappell Lane. All men welcome – of any church or none!.
For more information please contact the Goldsmiths on 01920 422065.
Rediscovering the Heart of Business
Evening events that seek to connect the heart of business with the most important things in life, the series concludes with: 23rd May - ‘The roles of business in tackling pover ty & fuelling economic development’ 13th June – How can we become complete business peo ple?
Being held at All Nations Christian College and led by business consultant Peter Hanney and All Nations Staff each evenings format is as follows: 7.45pm for 8pm start, finishing at 9.30pm. Starting with an introduction and Biblical challenge, then small group discussion and real-life application and concluding with feedback and prayer. The events are FREE. However, you can make a donation to the Student Bursary Fund at the College.
Please register for your place by contacting the college reception on 01920 443500.
TICTACs This is a group for secondary school youngsters. We meet once a week in the Wilshere Hall Upper Room for an hour on Wednesdays from 6.30pm. Please do come and give it a try, no commitment to join! Just turn up
Rogationtide Service at St James Church
(the old Parish Church, just beyond the A414 on the road to Roydon)
Sunday 28th May at 3.00pm
This celebration recognises our rural setting. The prayers in this service take place outside,
as we pray for the crops in the fields around us, then pray for other aspects of work
in the countryside around us.
Come, sit back and experience this wonderful old church and enjoy wonderful singing in amazing acoustics.
St Margarets are planning an outing
on Saturday 24 th June to Wintershall Estate, Guildford, Surrey to see ‘The Life of Christ’.
The greatest story of all time is movingly recreated by the Wintershall Players – a cast of over 200 – with authentic detail,
outstanding quality sound and music. The Life of Christ is a passion play not to be missed. It is both educational and entertaining, amusing and serious.
This is an open air production which unfolds across three captivating acts from 10am to 3.30pm
To book your place please contact Lyn Paddon on 01920 318991, at the time of going to print we
only have 11 places booked, therefore, we need to reduce the size of the coach to 16 and the cost will need to increase slightly to £36 per pers on , for the travel and
entry. Please bring along your own packed lunch and drinks.
St Margaret’s Parish Church is open throughout the year every
Saturday morning for refreshments
10.45am – 12.15pm Please pop in.
Pentecost: 4th June
The third great Festival of the Church’s year, in which we joyfully celebrate the gift of God’s Holy Spirit to His people.
His Holy Spirit gives each of us the guidance we need day by day, and the inner power to follow it. He sets our lives on fire.
All 3 churches join together 10.30am Holy Communion for all ages together in Riverside Park (next to Jolly Fisherman). Craft for the children included. Bring something to sit on!
Everyone is very welcome to come along and join in with this event
Volunteers Needed at St James’ Church
Do you enjoy local history, and are available some Sunday afternoons over the summer?
We would like volunteers to "man" the church on some Sunday afternoons throughout the summer when it is open, to greet any visitors, and if possible read the guide book beforehand to answer any questions. It is a peaceful
way to spend a Sunday afternoon, 2.30pm-5pm. If anyone is interested,
please contact Anne Sauntson on 01279 793328. Also the church will be open for the Heritage Weekend, September 9th/10th,
so if anyone could spare a couple of hours then it would be greatly appreciated.
St James Church, Roydon Road, Stanstead Abbots
Open Sunday Afternoons
St James Church will be open for visitors on Sunday afternoons 2.30pm to 5.00pm ,
from 4th June through to 24th September Come and look round this beautiful historic church.
But sorry - no teas as there is no electricity or water supply!
News from Stanstead Abbotts Parish Council
Everyone is invited to the Annual Parish Meeting on Thursday 11 May from 7.15 onwards, welcome drinks and nibbles. This year we are hoping to have speakers from Much Hadham to talk to us about creating a Neighbourhood Plan, a representative from the Amwell Magna Fishery, who are involved in an extensive river restoration programme to support our native population of wild brown trout; and hopefully a representative from Easneye.
Summer Afternoon Tea Served in Easneye House
Saturday 20th May 2017 Saturday 17th June 2017 Saturday 15th July 2017
Saturday 19th August 2017 2:30pm - 5:00pm
Pre-booking is essential as spaces are limited
Groups welcome
To book your table call Sean Watkiss Conferences Manager on 01920 443538 or email: [email protected]
Would You Like to Meet Up with Other
Pre-School Children and their Carers?
Carers of pre-school children (a parent, grandparen t or childminder) all are welcome to come along to Wilsh ere
Hall (next to St Andrew’s church)
EVERY FRIDAY 1.00pm – 3.00pm
Children can play while the adults have an opportunity to relax, chat and support each other
over a cup of tea or coffee.
FREE (no subscription or weekly fee) EVERYONE WELCOME
MAY Saturday 6th - Charity Race Night in aid of Isabel Hospice, St John’s Hall, Churchfields, Hertford, SG13 8AE: 7pm Cariad Marketing are hosting a Charity Race Night, with a fish’n’chip supper in aid of the Hospice. The night will follow a simple tote system: All tickets will be £1 each; 50% of the money collected will go straight to Isabel Hospice, the rest will be divided between the winners. There will also be number of fundraising activities on the night. Sponsorship of horses and jockeys – available on the night. Raffle and Licenced bar – all proceeds to Isabel Hospice. Also Race sponsorship. Call Cariad on 01992 582824 for tickets. Friday 19th - Old Tyme Music Hall, Thalian Hall, Br idge Road East, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 1JU: 8pm Singing and Dancing with fish-and-chip supper. Join us for another fantastic show from the Thalians group of performers all in aid of Isabel Hospice. Expect the usual dramatic singing and dancing to a classic theme! The audience are encouraged to dress to impress and follow the theme. Tickets are £13 and include a fish-and-chip supper. To buy your tickets, contact Val Robinson at 01707 382500. Friday 19th – ‘The Roaring Twenties and All That Ja zz’, Meadow Barn, Tewin Bury Farm Hotel, Hertford Rd, Welwyn AL6 0JB: 7.30pm-midnight. Join us to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of Isabel Hospice. The Twenties are roaring back into style, classic cocktails, tuxedos & ‘All That Jazz’. Join us for an evening of twenties fun, music and dance with the piano and saxophone playing. So slick your hair and wear your buckle shoes & dance to the music and songs of the era! Tickets £75.00pp to include champagne reception and three course dinner. Please contact event organisers Suzanne Coleman on 01438 798869 or Barbara Doherty on 01279 842140 Saturday 20th - Jumble Sale at Thundridge Village H all: 2pm – 20p entry. All money raised goes to Isabel Hospice. Sunday 21st – ‘On Your Bike’ Hadham Road, Bishop’s Stortford, CM23 2QE: 8.15am – 3pm Help make our eight sponsored bike ride in Bishop’s Stortford a WHEEL BLAST! With a 25k, 50k and 100k route on offer through the beautiful Hertfordshire countryside, this is the perfect event for families and those looking for a challenge. On the day there will be a BBQ, music, entertainment, bike doctor and stalls. The money raised allows Isabel Hospice to continue to care for local patients and their families in
East Hertfordshire. For more information call us on 01707 382 500. Friday 26th - Spring Charity Golf Day at Essendon C ountry Club, Bedwell Park, Essendon, AL9 6HN: 8am – 6pm. Our Spring Golf day is being held in the picturesque 400 acre estate at Essendon Country Club in Hertfordshire’s traditional countryside. We are teeing off on the new course, one of two unique 18 hole courses. Upon returning from the course, you will be served a two course lunch followed by an auction of prizes. All proceeds will go to Isabel Hospice. A team of 4 is £500.00. For more information please contact Liz Laing on 01707 382 500.
Food Bank Collection We collect for the local Food Bank in Hertford. They would like dry foods of all sorts, long-life liquids, and tinned foods – they help people who are sent by Social Services, CAB etc, when they cannot afford to feed their family until the next cheque comes in. They also need toiletries and cleaning products. Please put your contributions in the box in the Co-op or in the churches, and we will take the contents to Hertford.
Thank you for your thoughtfulness. People are bein g really generous. Please keep it coming as help is still needed in th ese particularly trying
financial times.
Did you know Dial-a-Ride transports residents living in Stanstead Abbotts to Hoddesdon for shopping trips on the following days? Thursdays 1:30pm – 3:00pm
Fridays 10:00am – 11:30am Dial-a-ride is a door to door transport service for Hertfordshire residents who
are aged 75 years and over, or who are registered with a permanent disability, this includes children. Further details about the Dial-a-ride service, including
charges, are available on our website at www.hertsdirect.org/dialaride
The best online resource for the village of Stanste ad Abbotts, with news and wide-ranging information on the amenities, events, activities and
businesses within the village. Regularly updated. Take a look and add it to your favourites!
Regular events in the three churches:
TICTACs (Year 7+ students): weekly in term time at 6.30pm on Wednesdays in the Wilshere Hall Upper Room. Phone 01920 870115 Prayer Meeting: Tuesday mornings 9.30am – phone 01920 870580 Monday study group Alternate weeks 7.30pm. phone 07769 434 997 Tuesday Homegroup : Alternate weeks 7.30pm. phone 01920 422065 Friday study group Alternate weeks 9.30am phone 01920 870115 Alpha Courses Enquires - 01920 870115 Crèche: toys and books are at the back of St John’s and St Margaret’s churches and
in the tower area at St Andrew’s Sunday School : (see Diary pages) at St Margaret’s every Sunday, 10.30am on 1st and 3rd Sundays, 11.00am on 2nd Sunday (Family Service 10.30am on 4th Sunday) at St John’s , on 2nd Sundays during the 9.30am service St. John the Baptist Bellringers: Thursdays 7.30pm-9pm St. Andrew’s Music Group: one Wednesday each month, 7.30pm in Church St. John the Baptist Choir Practice : Saturdays 10.00am in Church St. Margaret’s Church coffee : every Saturday 10.45am – 12.15pm Church Tots’ Time: Fridays 1.00pm – 3.00pm in Wilshere Hall
Evergreen Club of the Three Villages Twenty-seven members had a wonderful time at the lunch and entertainment put on by Mickie Driver in celebration of Vera Lynn's 100th birthday. The food was good, the five singers were even better! We all really enjoyed ourselves. Our outing to Easneye was most interesting - Robert Hunt told us so much - even going back to when the villagers spent the summer in the valley and their winters high on the hill in safety from the elements. The Buxtons had the house built in the 1800's and we were shown various rooms including Mrs Buxton's bedroom on the first floor. After our tour, we had a welcome cup of tea and biscuit or cake and went home still chatting about remembered times at the house including when it was an orphanage, and teas dances during the second world war. Thanks to everyone who set up such an interesting visit. We are planning to go to Capel Manor on 15th May. Please ring me, Rosemary 01920 424140 to book your place. Rosemary Imroth
Would you like to come along and join us? Do come and join us on a Monday afternoon from 2-4pm if you are lonely, in Stanstead Abbotts Parish Hall, Roydon Road. Let me know if you would like to come, Rosemary Imroth, 01920 424140. And if you would like to be collected, phone Ann Hardy, 01920 870526 A nice tea and good company costs £1 each time you come.
News from the
Wider Church
Thy Kingdom Come is a global prayer movement, which invites Christians around the world to pray between Ascension and Pentecost for more people to come to know Jesus Christ. What started out as an invitation from the Archbishops’ of Canterbury and York in 2016 to the Church of England has grown into an international and ecumenical call to prayer. The hope is that:
• people will commit to pray with God’s world-wide family - as a church, individually or as a family;
• churches will hold prayer events, such as 24-7 prayer, prayer stations and prayer walks, across the UK and in other parts of the world;
• people will be empowered through prayer by the Holy Spirit, finding new confidence to be witnesses for Jesus Christ.
"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has co me upon you; and you will be my witnesses …to the ends of the earth. When he had said this…he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight…Then they returned to Jerusalem … and were constantly de voting themselves to prayer… When the day of Pentecost had come they were all to gether in one place... All of them were filled with the Holy Spir it... and that day about three thousand persons were added." Acts 1,2 “In praying 'Thy Kingdom Come' we all commit to pla ying our part in the renewal of the nations and the transformation of co mmunities." Archbishop Justin Welby
In these churches St Andrew’s will be open for prayer every day 25th, 27th, 30thMay, 1st ,3rd June at 7.30am. 26th, 29th, 31st May, 2nd June at 7.30pm There are prayer sheets for individuals, friends and groups available via email from [email protected] and paper copies in each church Please do join us and other churches of all denominations around the world. This could make such a difference to our world and so many people’s lives
For help with debt –
CAP (Christians Against Poverty) 0800 328 0006 (free call)
Stanstead Abbotts Local History Society
Well, the things that went on in Stanstead Abbotts! Who would have thought it? Ten thousand people all making their way up to a field just off the Hunsdon Road to witness a hanging! A festival occasion, apparently. Not one to be missed. The victim was a local lad who had committed a murder in the vicinity. The custom was to take a portable gallows to the culprit’s neighbourhood so that the hanging might act as a deterrent to any other rogues in the area! This was just one of the colourful stories that Ken Griffin shared with us at our April meeting. The amazing thing was that in the early part of the period that Ken covered so many minor misdemeanours (theft, poaching, fraud etc) were punishable by death. Although it transpired that the majority of these capital offences were commuted to deportation to Australia, Tasmania or Bermuda. (It was Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton, father of the builder of Easneye, who was the MP responsible for reducing the number of offences culpable of hanging from 232 to just 6 – and eventually one). Members will find more of Ken’s memorable stories in the SALHS Newsletter edited by Terry CollinsNow we look forward to one of our very significant meetings General Meeting on May 12 th at 7.30pm . We keep the business part to a minimum – and the eating and drinking to a maximum! We will also have the pleasure of hearing from the Atkins family. Their roots in Stanstead Abbotts go deep and so we look forward to hearing all the “juicy” bits of our village’s history over the past century. We’ll also catch up on progress of our plans for a museum and historic notice-boards. Our Treasurer, Glenis Collins would like to remind members that annual subscriptions are now due: £8.00 per person; £15.00 per couple.The next date to save is that of June 9 th when we’ll hear all about the exciting events that went on at the Hunsdon airfield during the war. David Gibbs willbe coming to share his expertise and knowledge about that.Incidentally the details of all our monthly meetings are available from our website www.salhs.org.uk. In fact there’s so much there documents etc. And maybe you can add to it. Additionally there is a hard copy of our meetings on the board at the entrance to the car park Bob Hunt
St Andrew’s Evening Prayer Group
on the 1st Monday each month 7.30pm – 8.30pm in Wilshere Hall (next to St Andrew’s Church) Just turn up. Come in and pray for our ministry
Stanstead Abbotts Local History Society
Well, the things that went on in Stanstead Abbotts! Who would have thought field just off the Hunsdon
Road to witness a hanging! A festival occasion, apparently. Not one to be missed. The victim was a local lad who had committed a murder in the vicinity. The custom was to take a portable gallows to the culprit’s
that the hanging might act as a deterrent to any other
This was just one of the colourful stories that Ken Griffin shared with us at our April meeting. The amazing thing was that in the early part of the period that
minor misdemeanours (theft, poaching, fraud etc) were punishable by death. Although it transpired that the majority of these capital offences were commuted to deportation to Australia, Tasmania or Bermuda.
ilder of Easneye, who was the MP responsible for reducing the number of offences culpable of hanging
and eventually one). Members will find more of Ken’s memorable stories in the SALHS Newsletter edited by Terry Collins
ward to one of our very significant meetings - our Annual . We keep the business part to a
and the eating and drinking to a maximum! We will also have the s in Stanstead Abbotts go
deep and so we look forward to hearing all the “juicy” bits of our village’s history over the past century. We’ll also catch up on progress of our plans for
like to remind members that annual subscriptions are now due: £8.00 per person; £15.00 per couple.
when we’ll hear all about the exciting events that went on at the Hunsdon airfield during the war. David Gibbs will be coming to share his expertise and knowledge about that. Incidentally the details of all our monthly meetings are available from our
. In fact there’s so much there – photos, maps, etc. And maybe you can add to it. Additionally there is a hard copy
of our meetings on the board at the entrance to the car park.
St Andrew’s Evening Prayer Group
Just turn up.
REUNION OF ST JOHN'S PRIMARY SCHOOL
The reunion of Great Amwell pupils, circa 1945-1955
will be on Thursday June 8th 2017 at 11.30am
We will meet at George 1V Pub, have a walk round the village & the church, have lunch in the Pub & share memories!
If you are interested, or know anybody from this era who would like to join us, do be in touch!
Contact Jennifer Searle 01438 358404 for more details.
Need Help with a Problem??? Contact the East Herts Citizens Advice Service Meade House, 85 High Street, Ware SG12 9AD
Open: Mondays Tuesdays and Thursdays 10am – 2pm Adviceline telephone service is also available
Monday – Friday 10am-4pm Tel: 03444 111 444 There are also drop-in sessions in Bishops Stortford, Buntingford and
Sawbridgeworth. For details of these, check website www.ehcas.org.uk
Come and Try Sailing! Hertford County Yacht Club is Hertfordshire's oldest Sailing Club
and on
Saturday May 13th from 10:30am to 3:30pm we will be welcoming people to our “Try Sailing Open Day”
at our lake in
Lea Valley Park, Marsh Lane, Stanstead Abbotts. Refreshments available at a small cost, but there is no charge to sail.
You can borrow a buoyancy aid and sail around our lovely lake
experiencing the joy of wind and water with some of our experienced
helms. There will be lots of different boats to try and you can even have a
go yourself in our smaller single-handed dinghies.
If you really like it we will talk to you about joining our friendly club and
becoming a regular sailor.
Open to all, any age. Bring spare clothes/trainers just in case !
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO LISTEN TO CHILDREN
READ IN LOCAL PRIMARY SCHOOLS
Can you spare an hour or two a week to listen to children read in a local primary school? “Schoolreaders” is looking for more volunteers in Hertfordshire to carry out this important role. “Schoolreaders” is flexible and will match your availability to an appropriate, local school. Our volunteers find the scheme incredibly rewarding, knowing that a few hours helping a child learn to read each week can have such a great impact on their life chances. Please visit the website www.schoolreaders.org to join or call 01234 924111 for further information.
MERRY WIDOWS (and widowers!)
We meet on the second Wednesday of each month for coffee now at the
Parish Centre, Sacred Heart, King Edwards Road, Ware at 10.45am. We
also have occasional outings and visits to the cinema, theatre etc. Please
contact Judy Heilpern Brown 01920 871743 or
Mary Hallett 01920 870527 for further information.
Wednesday 10th May meeting at Dominic Forte's house for coffee,
10.30am onwards, 7 Warner Road, Ware SG12 7NL (01920 468336)
Don't forget anyone who is divorced or separated is also welcome at any
of our meetings
STANSTEAD ABBOTTS CEILIDH SOCIETY
We will be back on Sunday 21st May with a concert by the fantastic Winter Wilson duo (www.winterwilson.com) at the Parish Hall, Roydon Road, Stanstead Abbotts.
Doors open 7:00pm for 7:30pm. Tickets are £6 in advance or £8 on the door. Also available online at www.ticketsource.co.uk or contact 01920 877588/01920 870558 for tickets and further information. Soft drinks and snacks available. Please bring your own alcoholic drinks. Thank you to all who have supported us so far and we hope to see some new faces too.
Daytime Study Group This Study group usually meets on alternate Friday mornings 9.30am to 10.30am in St Margaret’s parish church. That means that children can play in the crèche corner in church while we have coffee and discuss. We are currently working our way through the book of Acts. We next meet 5 th and 19 th May, and June 2nd
Revd Anne Donaldson
Hire the Wilshere Hall The hall next to St Andrew’s Church is available for both one-off and regular bookings. The ground floor room seats 40 around tables, and up to 70 if tables are not required. It has a well-equipped kitchen area. There are toilets, including disabled, and some parking. For bookings contact: Maureen Freeman on 01920 870632.
Card making classes Card-making classes are in the Wilshere Hall, on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month from 1.00-4.00pm All materials are provided and whatever you create is yours to take home with you. Come and give it a try. For further information please contact Janet Dance on 01920 871262
Mad Chatters A ‘drop in’ with no commitment, so folk can come and meet new friends. We just chat. It may also be that some within the group decide to go to the theatre together or whatever. So be it. Someone said it’s for church folk – it is for absolutely anyone, of any age, in the 3 villages. You are very welcome to join us on the last Monday of each month at 7.30pm in the Red Lion restaurant.
We next meet on 29th May 2017
Amwell Society
On March 31st Tom Foy, who is the Chairman of our Parish Council, gave an excellent talk on medical imaging and how it has evolved. He began by talking about X-ray, which was discovered accidentally by Roentgen in 1895 and quickly put into practice, originally recorded on photographic paper – now done digitally. It will pick up bone and calcified tissue but not much else, Dangerous radiation is involved so the dose must be regulated. The machine must be calibrated regularly, but X-ray has a low cost. Secondly CT scans; the first was in 1971. The computer assembles a composite image of a collection of X-ray pictures. The equipment is much more expensive than X-ray and the dose of radiation higher, but it has the ability to differentiate between soft tissues. There can be risks of adverse reaction. Thirdly Ultrasound: which is based on high frequency sound waves. This is inexpensive, portable and safe to use in pregnancy. Then MRI scans: The first ever was 1977 in New York. It is based on very powerful magnetic fields, therefore the machine is cumbersome. No magnetisable objects can be allowed in the scanner room because of the risk of death due to projectiles. You can’t take your credit card in there! There are issues with noise, claustrophobia, and it takes much longer than a CT scan. Cooling of the apparatus requires a continuous supply of liquid helium, which is scarce. Finally – PET scans: Positron Emission Tomography, available from 1975, is now equipped with CT or MRI to enable 3D imaging. It is dependant on a low dose but high intensity emission of positrons. The patient is injected with a substance containing a radioactive isotope whereby the scanner detects the location of even small lesions. There are safety issues – the energy from the positron is intense and the hardware expensive. The tracer has a short life so time is of the essence. The equipment must be automated and surrounded by concrete walls and costs millions. The performance and image quality is improving. As well as for diagnosis it can also be used to assess treatment effectiveness and it has applications in pain research, epilepsy and has a future as a research tool e.g. in drug development. Tom showed us examples of the images from each of the types he had mentioned and asked at each stage of his talk who in the audience had experience of each system. All had had X-ray, fewer a CT scan of MRI and only two a PET. This was an interesting and informative lecture.
