Parish Link
www.parishlink.org.uk
Easter
April 2015
Issue No. 326
Voice of the villages for 32 years
Serving the communities of Kensworth, Studham and Whipsnade
Page
3
Revd. Nicola Lenthall
The Vicarage
Clayhall Road
Kensworth
Tel: (01582) 872223
e-mail:[email protected]
Dear friends and parishioners,
The weirdness of the Easter story for most of us lies in its ending (which is of
course its beginning as well) - Jesus rises from the dead and is seen by his
friends, and charges them to go and spread the good news of God’s love, and
of the overturning of death into new life. Many theologians over the centuries
have debated what this means: whether it is important to believe in Jesus
bodily rising again (church speak being the ‘resurrection’), whether it is the
keystone of the Christian faith, without which everything else falls down.
What interests me even more than that, in a way, is how and where the risen
Jesus appears to his disciples. Because he comes to see them as they
talk, as they work as fishermen, as they eat together, he brings the cosmic
changing power of God, the Easter revolution of love, into the ordinary and
the everyday. All the things we do now as a matter of course, nattering with
mates, rolling up our sleeves to work, or jumping into the car or onto the train
for our daily commute, as we sit down to eat with family and friends, are the
things into which he brings new life, just as he did with the first disciples.
The risen Jesus is with us now in the very ordinariness of our life, which he
blesses with his constant presence and love. That is the secret of Easter, one
which needs shouting, as we do in all churches every Easter Day, with the
words …
Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
With my love and best wishes for a very happy Easter,
Nicola
The cover shows The Kimblewick Hunt setting off from The Red Lion Studham in rain and sleet for a
5 hour ride through the Bedfordshire countryside on 19th February. Photos courtesy of Bill Bowman
AROUND ABOUT STUDHAM
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7
ST MARY’S CHURCH
Church prayers: in April we shall be praying particularly for all the residents of Dunstable Road and Southern Way. If you would like a special prayer to be said, please
contact Churchwarden, Meg Bender (872967 or [email protected]).
Easter Day is Sunday 5th April. Everyone is very welcome to a special service of Holy
Communion, at 10.30am, to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. It will be a familyorientated service involving the children and young people. And after the service,
please stay for refreshments and an Easter egg hunt.
Children’s Church on Sunday 19th April at 10.30am. Continuing with the Easter
theme, the children and young people will think about the presence of the risen Lord
and what it means to have Jesus as a friend. After the service there will be refreshments including a birthday cake to celebrate all the April birthdays. Everyone is very
welcome.
With all the usual fun, seven quality wines and dinner, St Mary’s Annual Wine Evening on Saturday 25th April, 7.30pm at the Village Hall is proving to be very popular
once again. It’s a ‘full house’ but any last-minute takers should contact John McDougal ([email protected] or 873257) and he will try to squeeze you in.
FRIENDS OF STUDHAM CHURCH
May 16th is this year’s May Fair. It’s a great village
and family day with Maypole dancing, crowning of the
May Queen and many stalls and entertainment. If you
can help - even for just an hour or so, or possibly donate a bottle of wine to the wine wheelbarrow or tombola - contact Emma Mulder (873089) or Des Salmon
(872082)
100 Club: you can now join at any time of the year and, for just £1 per month, there is
the chance to win a £50 first prize and £10 second prize. March’s lucky winners were
Bob Jenkins and Peter Owen. To join, contact Emma Mulder (873089) or download a
form from the Friends’ website.
The Friends of Studham Church are a friendly, non-religious group and all money
raised goes to help the upkeep of the oldest building in the village. Find out more
about the Friends on our website www.studhamfriends.co.uk.
Finally we do need a Chairman and also a Secretary. The positions are not unduly
time-consuming and give you a chance to make a difference to your village. Please
contact John McDougal ( 873257 ) or Emma Mulder (873089) to find out more.
Page 8
WHIPSNADE INCLUDING OLDHILL WOOD
ST MARY MAGDALENE
The Good Friday Service is at 10am, when the children from all three villages make
Easter gardens to display in the churches. At the end of the service we have hot cross
buns.
For the Easter Day service we hope for a bright morning to celebrate Easter and children can join an Easter Egg Hunt in the
Churchyard.
Village Lunch: this month’s lunch is on Thursday 9th April at 12.30am in the Village
Hall. The menu includes a roast, lamb hotpot and fish dish, choice of sweet and tea/
coffee for £6. Everyone is welcome, no need to book. Raffle and bookstall. More
details from Isobel Randall (872552) or Pam Ward (872406).
The Annual Church Meetings (APCM) are on Tuesday14th April at 7.30pm at the
Old Hunters Lodge. Any residents on the electoral roll can attend. The last twelve
months will be reviewed and plans made for the future, including progress on the
Church extension.
Whipsnade Church Quiz Night on Friday 8th May at 7.30pm prompt. Please get
your teams of up to 8 together to make up a table for this popular quiz, or we will make
up a table for you. Tickets £8 including supper from Isobel Randall (872552).
Garden Party on Sunday 24th May at 2pm at Kensworth Gorse. There will be children’s activities and cream teas. More details in May Parish Link.
Whipsnade Summer Fete is on Saturday 4th July from 1.30pm
to 4.30pm. This is the major fund-raising event for our Church
building. David Romans (07943 532342) has volunteered to coordinate the fete this year; offers of help beforehand and on the
day will be appreciated.
A keen gardener is needed to run the plant and produce stall,
also someone to run the bottle stall. Plants - now is the time to
pot up your surplus plants and donate them for the fete - shrubs,
perennials, herbs, trees - please label if possible.
FRIENDS OF WHIPSNADE CHURCH
Our AGM is on Sunday 19th April at 10.15am in the Church. New ‘Friends’ are very
welcome as we raise funds for the Church extension.
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9
KENSWORTH NEWSROUND
KENSWORTH CHURCH PRAYERS: in April we shall say prayers for everyone
who lives in Common Road, from Hollicks Lane to Isle of Wight Lane. If you would
like a particular prayer to be said, please contact Dorothy Blackburn (872670).
KENSWORTH PARISH CHURCH: April sees the joyful celebrations of Easter,
the most important festival in the Christian year. The more solemn time of Holy
Week as Lent ends is marked by special services (see page 14). On Sunday 5th
April, we have the Easter Day service followed by the Easter Egg Hunt for the little
ones and refreshments for the adults. All are very welcome to join in this happiest
of festivals.
Advance notice: the May Queen will be crowned after the Service on Sunday 3rd
May, with music, refreshments and fun things to do! Everybody very welcome.
The Choir still has vacancies for singers and also instrumentalists (for accompanying). Please contact Julia Holder (873465) or Mike Palmer (524183) if you would
like to take part. Ability to read music and sing is helpful, but absolutely not necessary! You just need to enjoy singing and playing. We’ll do the rest. Why not give
us a try? It really is a lot of fun.
Sunday School: on 5th April it’s Easter Day and the Service has special activities
for children, followed by an Easter Egg Hunt. Don’t miss it! On 12th April the subject
will be Thomas and the Resurrection - well, would you believe someone had come
alive again after being crucified and buried? Then on 26th April we’ll learn about
The Good Shepherd.
If you would like your child to join Sunday School, or if you want to be a helper,
contact Katherine Huggins (607841). We welcome all children from 3+. There are
senior and junior sections.
Messy Church: our next meeting will be held on 8th May. Details in the next issue.
KENSWORTH METHODIST CHURCH: for all services, see page 14. Please
join us at our Services and at the Coffee Morning, which will be held on Saturday 4th
April in the Methodist Church Hall, 10.30am -12 noon. A very Happy Easter to all.
KENSWORTH OVER-SIXTIES CLUB: our next meeting is an Easter Tea on
Tuesday 14th April at 2pm in the Methodist Hall.
KENSWORTH LADIES’ CLUB: our next meeting will be on 11th May - more
information in the next issue. In the meantime, we wish you all Happy Easter!
Page 10
THREE VILLAGES HOLIDAY & MORE WHIPSNADE
THE THREE VILLAGES HOLIDAY TO NEWCASTLE
From Tuesday 13th October until Saturday 17th October 2015, staying at the Jury’s Inn Gateshead Quays
Hotel for 4 nights on a dinner, bed and breakfast
basis, visits to Cragside, Alnwick, Holy Island and
Bamburgh (see photo for Bamburgh Castle) will be
made. There will be a guided tour of Newcastle and
a guide will be with the coach for the day, when we
visit Lindisfarne Priory and Bamburgh.
The price is £339 per head and includes all of the
above, plus all travel and tip for the driver. Single supplement is £80. Local pickup places in the 3 villages. Please send £50 deposit to secure a place to Margaret
Maddox at 7 Oakway, Studham or ring (873225) if you require more information.
ZSL WHIPSNADE ZOO
^^^^^^^^
The indoor Visitor Centre opened on 27th March and allows access to tickets and
facilities before the zoo is open so you can make the most of your day. Plus, you
can treat yourself to a coffee and cake in the café, make membership enquiries
or choose a gift from the extended range in the shop at any time during your visit.
WHIPSNADE VILLAGE HALL
Easter Craft and Produce Fair on Easter Monday, 6th April from 10.30am - 4pm.
We have had a wide variety of stallholders apply for spaces, including a couple of
popular returnees like woodturning, Phoenix Cards and Brigs Crafts, as well as
amazingly vibrant eggshell pictures. New stalls include: knitted gifts, home created
original crafts, jewellery, bags, charms, bee and honey goods, plants, glassware,
homeware, aprons, ceramics etc. It should be a fabulous display! Entrance is free
for buyers and light refreshments will be on sale throughout the day, e.g. sausage
or bacon rolls, tea/coffee, cakes, cold drinks, crêpes.
Saturday 25th April 3pm - the official opening of phase 1 of the refurbished Village
Hall and new facilities. A concert by the Shambles Big Band with afternoon tea.
Free, as a thank you to all who have contributed to make the work possible. Everyone is welcome. More information from Eddie Menzel (872317) or Pam Ward
(872406).
^^^^^^^^
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
The biggest lie I tell myself is “I don’t need to write that down, I’ll remember it.”
Page 11
STUDHAM NEWS EXTRA
STUDHAM SCRABBLE CLUB
We meet every Tuesday at 2pm. New members very welcome, whether you are an
experienced player or new to the game. Contact Jean Pigden (872294).
QUIZZES
Quiz Night in the Red Lion is on the first Tuesday of the month at 8pm (7th April). If
you want a curry, phone Garry Ellis (872530). Also we would welcome anyone who
wants to join us on Saturday 18th at Gaddesden Row Village Hall 7pm for 7.30pm.
To book a table please contact Clare (01442 222237).
WHIST CLUB
Every Tuesday evening at Studham Village Hall starting at 7.30pm people get together to play Whist. Would you like to join them? All level of players are most
welcome. Contact Lynne Smith (873371) for more details.
BINGO
On Wednesday 1st, 15th and 29th April starting at 8pm in Studham Village Hall.
WI: ([email protected] studhamwi.wordpress.com)
On Thursday 2nd at 7.45pm in Studham Village Hall, Brian Lofthouse will be talking
to us about his time as a “Studio Props man” when he worked on many high profile
films. We are sure this talk will appeal to many of you, so this is an ‘Open’ meeting, and we invite all ages and sexes to come and join us. The competition is: “My
favourite film prop or picture”. Visitors £3.50. Looking forward to seeing you.
STUDHAM VILLAGE HALL
Fire Safety inspection: Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue Service inspect the Village
Hall every three years. The inspection on 18th February was satisfactory, reflecting the Trustees’ policy of ensuring the hall is maintained at the highest practical
standard.
Committee and Trustees: Annette Harris has stood down as the WI representative as she has moved from Studham. Our great thanks to Annette for her years
of support and work for the Village Hall. Chrys Smith will be the WI representative,
and continue to be the Parish Council representative.
We are pleased to report that Andrea Maxted, the Bingo Club representative and
Parish Councillor, has joined the Trustees.
Annual Village Hall Quiz Night: a diary note for Saturday 30th May. Tickets £10,
fish and chip supper. Contacts: Des Salmon (872082) and committee members.
Please support your Village Hall. Page 12
KENSWORTH EXTRA
KENSWORTH VILLAGE HALL COMMITTEE: at the meeting held in March
plans for the Car Boot Sale on 10th May were discussed. Many pitches are booked
but we have space for more, so please get in touch with Lynn Lewis (873981) to
book your pitch. Refreshments will be available in the Village Hall on the day.
Please do come along with the family - it starts at 12 noon until 3 pm.
Ad Hoc bookings are doing well at the weekends with lots of children’s parties
being booked. Unfortunately, some youths of the village are smoking cannabis
around the hall and this does not help us to hire the hall for children’s parties. The
Police are trying to catch the youths - it’s a big problem - many complaints received.
The Diamond Jubilee Planters are almost completed. The plaques will be fitted when the planters have been treated with wood preservative. The remaining
money in the fund is £102.69 to pay for the plaques. If there is a shortfall the Village
Hall Committee will make up the cost.
More storage cupboards are to be installed in the rear changing room area for
the Toddler Group and a new cleaning cupboard is being built at the bottom of the
stairs to the committee room.
The annual electrical checks have been completed: several fluorescent tubes
have been replaced and bulkhead lights outside. The electrician advised that the
electrical box should be rewired with several trip switches so that when a bulb
blows, it does not take out the whole building’s electrical supply. This will cost about
£1,000, so the committee are looking for a small grant.
FLOWER GROUP: there will be a meeting on Wednesday 29th April at 7.30pm in
Kensworth Church Hall. Contact Shirley Hull (872351) for details. New members
always very welcome.
KENSWORTH FLOWER & VEGETABLE SHOW: advance notice that this
year’s show will be held on Saturday 5th September - further information will appear
in a later edition of the Link. To raise funds towards the Show, the Committee
are organising Margo’s Quiz Evening in the Village Hall on Saturday 13th June,
commencing 7.30pm. Cost will be £7.50 per person to include supper, but please
BYOD. To book a table or individual places or any other enquiries for either event,
contact David Manton (872760).
^^^^^^^^
ORNAMENTAL STONES: if you place these on the verges outside your house,
please make sure they are secure as they can dislodge and fall into the road and
cause damage to passing cars.
BEREAVEMENT SERVICE
CHURCH NEWS
Page 13
When I first experienced bereavement I likened it to waves of the sea. Emotions
and feelings which sometimes are manageable and at others sweep you off your
feet; some of which you can see coming and prepare yourself for, and others of
which you seem to have your back to and engulf you before you know where you
are or how to cope. It is a continuous state of being – there is no way to recapture
‘what there was before’, and the only thing you can do is to try to find the support
structures you need. Even then there is nothing that will be able to stop the pain of
loss, the pain which is part of the nature of being human, building relationships and
living through the joys and hurts of love.
We try to offer support through the network of churches in the villages here; I and
my colleague, Dorothy Blackburn and the Methodist minsters, Neil and Gill, are
around to be listeners; the bereavement support group prepares a tea several
times throughout the year, where those bereaved can come together in a ‘safe
space’; this year we have our special ‘In Loving Memory’ service for all those who
would like to remember those we love but see no longer. All are welcome to the
Methodist Church in Studham at 3pm on 26th April for a short service followed by
refreshments. If you can’t come but would like the name of a loved one to be read
and remembered, then please do e-mail ([email protected]).
Nicola Lenthall
SAVE THE DATES!!
Church Holiday Club, 5 - 15 years in Kensworth
School
Wednesday 22nd July, Thursday 23rdJuly and Friday 24th July, 10am until midday
EASTER VESTRY MEETINGS & ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH
MEETINGS (APCMs)
These are very important meetings in the Church’s calendar and all those on the
Churches Electoral Rolls are invited to attend. The main function of the Easter
Vestry meeting is to appoint the Churchwardens and at the APCMs, the Parochial
Church Councils are elected, and updates are given on such things as finances,
the fabric of the Church and a summary of the last year’s activities in the Church.
So please do come along and have your say:
Kensworth
Tuesday 21st April in the Church Hall at 7.30pm
Studham
Thursday 23rd April in the Church at 7.30pm
Whipsnade Tuesday 14th April in the Old Hunter’s Lodge at 7.30pm
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MORE KENSWORTH
KENSWORTH CRICKET CLUB: we begin the season against Carpenters
on Sunday 26th April. This is at St Georges School Cricket Ground, Harpenden,
2pm start. We are also looking for club sponsors and players of all standards.
Interested? Then please call Duncan Wingfield (872743) or Jon Holt (872896) for
further information.
KENSWORTH PARISH COUNCIL: at the March meeting, the Chairman
expressed concern over the two robberies that took place at the Kensworth Mini
Market. The owner was confronted by two masked robbers wielding knives, taking
money, alcohol and cigarettes on both occasions. Police are asking residents to
be vigilant and report any suspicious activity. As a result the store now has to
close earlier in the evening, which is a loss of revenue to the owner and a loss to
residents of a later-opening store.
At the entrance to the proposed WW1 Garden, the present bollard will be replaced
with a lockable/droppable post to allow access to the site for clearance work. The
electricity substation base has also been removed, providing more space for the
garden. Work will soon commence on clearing the ground and damaged trees,
ready for landscaping.
The Parish Council Highways Representative logs calls with the CBC Highways
team for potholes, damaged trees, footpaths and damaged signs. Residents are
further encouraged to log calls ([email protected]) for action.
There are three allotments available for the current year. Anyone interested should
e-mail the Clerk ([email protected] ) or ring Cllr Jamie Bradley (418213).
At the meeting in March several requests were received for donations by the Parish Council. The council allocate approx. 10% of the annual precept for donations
to local organisations under the heading of ‘Section 137 Money. The following donations were agreed:
Royal British Legion - £75
Kensworth Flower & Vegetable Show - £200
Kensworth Village Hall - £400 Kensworth Community Scheme - £100
Kensworth Two by Two Toddler Group - £550
Parish Link Magazine - £100
The next meeting of the Parish Council is on Thursday 9th April in the Village Hall
at 7.30pm. Residents are welcome to attend the meeting, where there is a Public
Question Time.
Page 17
MORE STUDHAM
STUDHAM TENNIS CLUB
The AGM will be on Wednesday 29th April at 7.30pm at the Club & the President’s
Cup will take place on Sunday 17th May with a BBQ afterwards - please contact
Andrew Jones for more details.
Junior coaching is held at the club every Saturday 2pm - 3pm (members, new
faces and non-members welcome) followed by Adult ‘Rusty Rackets’ from 3pm 4pm (members, new faces and non-members welcome) and is £4 per session for
members and £5 per session for non-members. For more information on coaching
or joining the club, please contact Andrew Jones (andrew.jones@expressvending.
co.uk or 07833 111682. www.studhamtennisclub.co.uk).
SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB
Over Easter, Friday 4th through Monday 6th April, the Club will open at 12 noon, and
will close when the last member has left or 9pm whichever is the earlier.
Membership fees are due for renewal and categories for membership are; Concession (60+), Single (18-59), Family (Couples + children under 18). These may be
paid at any time during this period; please note that Section Memberships should be
paid in the normal manner. We are always pleased to welcome new members, so
why don’t you come and see us? We would love to meet you.
FRIENDS OF STUDHAM COMMON
The monthly work party is on Saturday 18th April. Our main job will be tidying up
on West Common in preparation for the May Fair. All welcome; lunch and tools
provided so, as always, just bring enthusiasm and weather-proof gear. Meet at
the War Memorial at 10am. Contact: Geoff Shute (872732 or geoff.shutelu6@
talktalk.net).
Over the winter season, as well as the usual
scrub clearance, FOSC volunteers and our
regular visitors from Wendover have pruned
all the mature hawthorns along the top
hedgerow of East Common, laid 60 metres
of young hedge and planted more than 80
trees (hazel, rowan, hornbeam, beech and
sweet chestnut) to improve the habitat for
dormice and other wildlife. Warmest thanks
to everyone who has contributed to this great effort.
Page 18
KENSWORTH SCHOOL & GENERAL
KENSWORTH C of E PRIMARY SCHOOL & PRE-SCHOOL
Even though it has been a short half term, we have managed to fit quite a lot in,
including a whole week dedicated to World Book Day. We entered a competition
to win a visit from David Walliams himself, but unfortunately didn’t win! We did,
however, use him as our author for the week and each class focused on one of his
stories. On World Book Day, 5th March, the children were allowed to dress up as
one of the characters from his books.
On Friday 13th (unlucky for some) we had a Mad Hair Day and, after school, a Cake
Sale to raise money for Comic Relief. Well done, everyone!
We ended our Spring term with a day full of Easter activities, including egg-rolling,
egg-decorating and a bonnet parade. We finished the day off with a wonderful
Easter assembly where all the children and Nicola Lenthall contributed to show the
meaning of Easter.
We are hoping to hold a special Senior Tea Party for the over 60’s at 2pm on 17th
April where the children can make some delicious cakes to serve.
We shall return refreshed from our Easter break on Tuesday 14th April, when the
children will have new topics including superheroes and traditional tales, holidays
and pirates, plants and living things and science forces.
It just remains for us to wish everyone a very happy Easter and not too much
chocolate!!!!
For more information about the school please contact Headteacher, Mrs
A Kentish (872336).
Kensworth School Parent Teachers’ Association
If you would like to get in touch with us, please email us at [email protected].
FROM THE TREASURER
^^^^^^^^
Thank you to a kind reader for a donation of £10. If you would like to help keep the
Parish Link free to all village homes, please do contact me - my details are on page
5. Les Randall.
ELECTIONS
Please remember to register your details for voting in the various forthcoming
elections in May: if you have not registered, then you won’t be eligible to vote. The
website address is www.gov.uk/registertovote.
Page 19
MORE WHIPSNADE
WHIPSNADE PARISH COUNCIL
Housing Needs Survey: the recent Housing Needs Survey undertaken for the
Council was presented by Mr Jon Boswell of Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity (BRCC) supported by Mrs Helen Pearson of Howard Cottage Housing Association, who are the Parish Council’s partners in preparing proposals for a scheme.
Jon reported that just under 100 responses had been received with over 35% of
households replying - well above average for these surveys. Over 75% of comments were in favour of a small affordable housing development and 20 respondents stated that they were in housing need and are likely to be able to meet the
qualifying criteria for eligibility. The main preference expressed was for smaller
‘starter’ accommodation either for shared ownership or rental.
On the basis of the survey, Jon confirmed that the scheme, which is being developed in partnership with ZSL on land owned by the Society, met the requirements
to qualify for planning consent from CBC for a development of 10 units. This would
be under ‘Rural Exception Site’ permission - specifically to allow small-scale developments in the Green Belt, which ensures that priority for allocation is given to people with a local connection. For more information, contact Ken France (872375).
Chequers Lane (Studham Lane) maintenance: we have collaborated informally
with Studham PC in recent years to help check the overgrowth and build-up of
leaf litter along the lane to maintain accessibility of this popular route joining the
two parishes. However, it has become evident that more drastic cutting back and
cleansing of the road surface using mechanical equipment is going to be needed.
Although there are bollards at both ends and therefore inaccessible to motor vehicles, the lane is still officially a highway. Ward Councillor Kevin Collins is to take
this matter up with CBC’s Watchman-in-Chief responsible for road maintenance in
the authority to request the establishment of a regular maintenance programme
The next meeting is on Tuesday 12th May at 7.30pm in Whipsnade VH.
WHIPSNADE LITTER PICKING DAY
On Saturday 11th April. Are you fed up with all the litter around our villages? Whipsnade is planning a litter pick around The Green. The hay is used for animal feed
- plastic and other rubbish is not acceptable and can be dangerous for the animals.
Please bring your friends and neighbours, wear gloves and strong shoes, tools
provided. Start at the village gates near the Zoo entrance at 10am and finish at the
gates near the Old Hunters Lodge. Every little help will make a difference, more
details from Ken France (872375) or Pam Ward (872406). Help us Keep Britain
Tidy and be proud to be British.
^^^^^^^^
HEARD IN CHURCH: this being Easter Sunday, we will ask Mrs Martin to come
and lay an egg on the altar!
Page 20
STUDHAM
STUDHAM C OF E VILLAGE SCHOOL
Following on from the news that our school has recently been rated as Outstanding
by Ofsted, we are delighted to announce that Central Bedfordshire have approved
our proposal formally to merge the pre-school and the main school. This is the final
step in the ongoing process of bringing together the pre-school and the rest of the
school, which will allow us to provide a seamless transition for our children from the
age of 2 through to 9 years. After this, they will have the opportunity to move on to
Priory Academy, the best performing school at Key Stage 2 in Central Bedfordshire,
and in the top 1000 nationally.
Vacancies: we are looking for new recruits to replace some long-serving members
of the School governing body who will shortly be moving on. Being a governor is
a very rewarding, if challenging role. Governors do not necessarily need a professional background in education - the main qualification is an interest in ensuring
that we continue to have a top quality first school for our local children. If you are
interested, please contact Chair of Governors, Joan Bailey (872318 or [email protected]). The governing body is also looking for someone with good
organisational skills to take minutes and prepare papers for our meetings. Please
contact the school (872337 or www.studhamschools.org.uk).
World Book Day
Our children took part in the World Book Day celebrations in March with teachers and pupils bringing
in their favourite childhood books. Enid Blyton was
a clear winner amongst the staff (The Secret Seven
for the Headteacher) but the children were far more
eclectic. The picture shows Year 3 & 4 children with
a display of their favourite books.
STUDHAM PARISH COUNCIL: in conjunction with Little Gaddesden Parish
Council, we are in discussions with both CBC and Dacorum Councils regarding the
junction of Pedley Hill with the main Leighton Buzzard road. As this tends to be an
accident black spot, we are in talks regarding the installation of a roundabout at the
junction. As this will require the purchase of land on all four corners of this junction,
and some considerable expense, the discussions will be on-going for some time
yet!
Please, please: can we again request that you pick-up behind your dog when
walking. It really is not pleasant to walk where a dog has left a calling card, and
there is no need: it is not expensive to buy bags for doggy doings, (or pinch Supermarket ones where you can), and there are bins provided for the disposal of said
bags throughout the village. So, please, think of others, and clear up behind Fido!!
Due to the Easter Holidays, our next meeting is on Monday 13th April starting at 6pm
in the Village Hall, followed by our Annual Parish Meeting, starting at 8.15 pm.
Page 21
LOCAL NEWS
RINGING FOR ENGLAND
Many people enjoy the sound of Church bells so why not join us in keeping this old
English tradition alive? On Sunday 19th April from 2pm to 4pm at St John the Baptist, Great Gaddesden, a chance to find out more - and have a cream tea! Learning
starts at 7.30pm on Monday 20th April at St Mary the Virgin, Studham, Tuesday 21st
at St Mary’s, Redbourn and Wednesday 22nd at St John the Baptist, Great Gaddesden. Come to all three or as many as you can, then “Ringing for England” is
on Thursday 23rd at Redbourn at 7.30pm. More information from Angela Blackburn
(07731 943580) or at ringingforengland.co.uk
DUNSTABLE & DISTRICT LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY
On Tuesday 14th April at 7.45pm in the Methodist Church Hall, Dunstable, “The
Battle of Waterloo”, by Paul Chamberlain about the day almost exactly 200 years
ago when the Duke of Wellington led his troops against an army led by Napoleon.
SOUTH BEDS WILDLIFE TRUST
Saturday 25th April: ‘Birds on Blows’, a walk led by Mick Price. Blow’s Downs, Dunstable. 8am-11am. Meet at Skimpot Road/Hatters Way roundabout.
SOUTH BEDS NATIONAL TRUST
On Wednesday 1st April at 7.45pm in the Salvation Army Centre, Bull Pond Lane,
Dunstable, “Poverty, Pauperism and the Allowance System”, a talk by Ian
Waller, genealogist and archive researcher. Visitors £3.
WILD ABOUT ASHRIDGE
On 8th, 10th, 15th and 17th April between 10.30am and 3pm, get closer to nature at
the Wild About Ashridge Gazebo. Holiday fun acitivies whatever the weather. Visit
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ashridge or call 01442 851227.
NATIONAL TRUST ARCHAEOLOGY WALK
Hudnall Common on Thursday 23rd April from 6pm - 8pm. Looking at a range of
features from possible Iron Age settlements to quarry pits of the 19th and 20th centuries. £8 adults, £5 children (01442 851227).
LITTLE GADDESDEN BOWLS & CROQUET CLUB
Once again, we offer you the unique opportunity to play two sports for the one
membership price. The open days are the best time to visit us and try out (9th May
and 6th June for Bowls, 17th May for Croquet) otherwise any Monday morning 10am
- 12noon or Thursday evening 6pm - 8pm for bowls and any Sunday morning at
10am for croquet. We hold numerous events during the year with bowling competitions at all levels. We have qualified coaches and an encouraging youth policy
including low cost entry! Do come and meet us! Alun March (0771 934 2854).