Little Hadham Parish News

December 2007

Rector of Parish: Revd. Chris Boulton 01279 842609e-mail: rectory@muchhadham.com

Team Vicar: Revd. Jeanette Gosney Asst. Priest: Revd. Clive Slaughter01920 822619 01279 844955

e-mail: vicar@braughing.org.uk e-mail: cp.slaughter@virgin.net

Churchwardens: Don Gibson 01279 771325, Mick Crace 01920 821963

Editor : Jan Finn, Ash Cottage, The Ashe, Little Hadham, SG11 2DX (771113) e-mails to htfp@clocktower.co.ukAll articles for inclusion; sponsorship; and payment for advertising in the next issue

must be received by the18th of the month. (cheques payable to Little Hadham PCC) Little Hadham Parish News is distributed free by St Cecilia’s church

Can you smell Carrots?

22

Letter from the Rectory“Deck the halls with boughs of holly: ’tis the season to be jolly!”

The new born child will be everywhere soon; planted in Madonnas’ arms, in hay-strewn stables or more quaintly under snowed gables, gothic angular or baroque plump, naked or elaborately swathed, encircled by Della Robbia wreaths, garnished with whimsical partridges and pears, drummers and drums, lit by oversize stars, partnered with lambs, peace doves, sugar plums, bells, plastic camels in sets of three. It is as if the infancy were the whole of creation; or Christmas were the only season to be jolly and mindful of others. Surely God’s love is present every day and hour and joy is not confined to Christmas?

I find it quite hard to be both jolly and mindful of others: when we remember for example that 500 people on average sleep rough every night on our city streets; or that untreated AIDS kills 6,000 people a day in Africa. While laughing and joking with the family, the sensitive conscience is never far from thoughts of human sorrow; and as the bottles are uncorked or the turkey sizzles in the oven, the shadow of the hungry one passes gently by the kitchen wall. Thankfully there are organisations like the Salvation Army, Christian Aid, the Children’s Society and a range of Charitable Bodies helping others on our behalf. We only have to provide the money. That is why over Christmas the churches collect for a variety of proven charitable causes to provide an extra Christmas present for the needy and poor.

Nevertheless I hope we will continue to deck the halls with boughs of holly and remember to be jolly. The holly itself is a symbol of both suffering and joy; with the red berries and sharp prickles representing Christ’s own passion and the evergreen leaves symbolising eternal life in Him. Sorrow and joy coexist: and for Christians the jollity is not just family pleasure and neighbourly love, but the deep and joyful faith that God comes close to us in the person of Jesus. Amid all the cynicism, I hope we do not lose hold of this important Christmas message. Christians should not always be miserable; after all, we have so much to celebrate.

Therefore deck the halls with boughs of holly; have a jolly celebration; and come and join us in Church if you can.

Chris Boulton.

ContentsLetter from the Rectory 2Aladdin 3 LH & A Social Club 4More home births? 5 Mothers & Toddlers Group 5A Fairtrade Parish 6A New Year’s Resolution 7 December events . . . 8

. . . coming next year! 9Gratuitous Socks? 9Cricket Club News 9Christmas Puzzles 10 Parish Council News 11 Questionnaire 12 Green Street 14 School News 15

Lights of Love 17Spotty Swim 17Parish Pics 18Regular Events 19Useful Phone numbers 19Su Doku 19Church Diary 20

3

“ALADDIN”

this Pantomime will be stunning!Wonderful sets will transport you to old China with

all your favourite characters.the costumes are lavish, and with songs to delight you,

we promise you an evening you’ll never forget.tickets are now on sale! there will be six performances

for you to choose from, including two matinees with reductions for children under 14 years.

these sell out very quickly so don’t delay.the prices are the same as last time:

Friday, 18 January, 2008, curtain up: 7.45 p.m. £7Saturday, 19 January, 2008, curtain up: 2.30 p.m. £6 adults, £4 children (under 14)Saturday, 19 January, 2008, curtain up: 7.45 p.m. £7Friday, 25 January, 2008, curtain up: 7.45 p.m. £7Saturday, 26 January, 2008, curtain up: 2.30 p.m. £6 adults, £4 children (under 14)Saturday, 26 January, 2008, curtain up: 7.45 pm. £7

BOXOFFICE:01279842160&771697

A big thankyou to those of you who deliver

The Parish News every month

without complaint.

Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas

and a Peaceful New Year

4

Little Hadham & Albury Social Club

Details: 01279 654939(mob) 07761 681230

Holiday BungalowNorth Norfolk

• 30% discount Nov - March

• Sleepsfour,suitablefor partiallydisabled

• Non-smoking•All-inclusive

• Weeklylets&short breaksinpeacefularea

•Comprehensiverates

• Withineasyreachofthe coast,Sandringham, Norwichandmanybird andnaturereserves

• Smalldogswelcome

Q: Why does Santa have three gardens? A: So he can hoe-hoe-hoe.

In November we had a very interesting demonstration of woodturning – it was amazing to see a rough piece of a tree trunk become a mushroom or an apple, with amazing natural colour combinations revealed in the wood. There was also a sales table and Christmas purchases were made. A little earlier in the month a group of us visited Royston Cave. This also was an excellent trip and we would recommend a visit, bookings can be made via Royston Library.

There will not be a meeting in December, but those who have booked will enjoy a Christmas Dinner at the Catherine Wheel, Albury. Our January meeting is on the 8th, and Olivia Elton Barratt will be telling us about her year as Prime Warden.

Enquiries, please phone 658585 or 771580.We wish you all a Very Happy Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Peaceful New Year.

ALBURY ACORNS PRE-SCHOOLFor children of 2 - 5 years of age.Sessions held in the village hall:

Weekday Mornings: 9am – 1pmTuesday, Thursday: 12 – 3pm

For more details please contactVanessa Daley: 01279 771205

advert removed advert removed

advert removed advert removed

5

More home births?

Mothers & Toddlers GroupIT IS WITH great regret that we have learned of the closure of the Mothers & Toddlers Group

after 30 years in the Village Hall. The Group was set up by Ennis Rogers and Gill Stigwood in an attempt to get young mums together to help and support each other, and is now a member of the Pre-school Learning Alliance.

This is due to the majority of babies and toddlers attending with child-minders or nannies with only one or two mothers left to organise the Group. The other carers are not interested in becoming involved or getting to know other mothers which was the aim of the Group when it was set up. This situation has greatly saddened the Village Hall Committee. Not only will we lose the revenue from the booking, but we feel that this will also affect the village as the closure of the Group will result in a lack of communication and support between young parents within our community. Our school supports older children, but young mums with new babies need contact with others in the same situation to share their problems and concerns.

Is there anyone out there willing to help the Group?

I would like to respond to Barbara Taylor’s joyful article about her new neighbours, and the birth of Baby George at home, from the November issue of the Parish News. My family moved into Cradle End in November 2005 – myself, my husband Dan, our daughter Jasmine (then nearly 3 and starting at the Playgroup held in the wonderful Little Hadham School, now just begun her first term at the school!), and my parents Vicky and Trevor. Along came Charlie, born at home on 10th June 2006. It was wonderful being able to introduce him to his sister and the whole family just a few minutes later, and we could all watch the World Cup Football comfortably in our own home that afternoon. A fantastic experience and I definitely recommend it (the birth...although the football was quite good too!)

(I am sure there is at least one other baby born at home - Harry Walker, son to Helen and Steve, and brother to Matthew and Jack – was born at Hadham Hall exactly one week before my Charlie.)

Alexis Starr

advert removed advert removed

6

Working towards making Little Hadham Parisha Fairtrade parish . . .

FAIRTRADE mark means: Price – Farmers receive a fair and stable price Premium – Producer groups receive a social premium Planet – Greater respect for the environment Power – Small farmers have a stronger position in world markets People – A closer link between the consumer and producers

To make Little Hadham a Fairtrade parish 5 goals need to be achieved:

1 Council passes a Resolution supporting Fairtrade,2 A range of Fairtrade products is readily available in the area’s shops & catering establishments,3 Fairtrade products are used by a number of work places and community organisations,4 Attract media coverage and popular support for the Campaign,5 A local Fairtrade steering group is convened to ensure commitment to Fairtrade Town status.

More information can be found at www.fairtrade.org.uk/get_involved_fairtrade_towns.htm

I am looking to encourage all organisations in the parish to stock Fairtrade products for consumption or selling. Over 300 towns, counties and villages have now become Fairtrade locations, so why not us ? For more information please contact me, Andy Morris Parish Councillor, at andy@morris66.freeserve.co.uk

advert removed advert removed

7

Recycle! – a new year’s resolution

Q: What do you get when you cross a snowman with a vampire? A: Frostbite.

•An automatic dishwasher uses less hot water than doing dishes by hand •If every one in the UK took a shower (not a power shower) rather than a bath we would save as much water in a week as it would take to fill Wembley Stadium ten times. •Put a brick or a bottle filled with water into the cistern and save as much water in one day as a citizen in the developing world uses for all their needs. •Reduce the thermostat - concentration levels reduce by 50% when temperature rises above 24 degrees. •Don’t overfill the kettle, only boil the amount of water needed for your cup of tea. •Turn the tap off when cleaning your teeth, the water saved in one street alone would fill an Olympic sized swimming pool in a year. •A hosepipe or sprinkler can use 1100 litres of water an hour - as much as a family of four would use in two days - so use a water butt in the garden and save the water from cooking to water the plants. •Buy a solar charger for your phone, camera and MP3 player. •Recycling a plastic bottle

Continued on page16

advert removed advert removed

8

December events . . . in the Village Hall unless otherwise stated

1 Sat,“The Showstoppers”, Castle Hall,Hertford, 7.30pm, will feature many of the songs that have “stopped the show” in London, New York, and now in Hertford, such as Kiss Me Kate, South Pacific, Phantom, Evita, and Les Miserables. The principal singers with the Showstoppers Chorus will also present some of their most popular songs, poems, and stories taken from their Christmas concerts. All proceeds to Isabel Hospice. For further information please contact Jack Laidler on 01992 586010 or twolaidlers@yahoo.co.uk

2 Sun Christmas Bazaar, 12 - 3pm,Little Hadham School.

4 Tue, Parish Council, 8pm. Note new day. If you are interested in your village, come along.

7 Fri, “Lights of Love”, Market Square, BS 5pm Details on page 17.

9 Sun, 4km Jingle Bell Fun Run, WGC.

Be there with bells on! Supported by the Howard Centre, this 4km walk/run at Stanborough Lakes will be a sight to see. Run in fancy dress if you wish, as a pudding or Christmas Fairy maybe. Entry is £10 for over 16s; under-16s free. Teams and individuals welcome. Spot prizes on the day for best dressed runners. Entry includes a glass of mulled wine (over 18s only) and a mince pie. Come and see Santa in his grotto and make it a great new Isabel Hospice event. Call Lisa Seccombe on 01707 376782 for details and an entry form.

9 Sun, Stansted Village Music Club, 3pm, St John’s Stansted. The Guildhall Strings with Mozart Dvorak Janacek Strauss and Tchaikovsky. Tickets from Stansted Carpets, Chapel Hill, Stansted; Nockolds Solicitors, Market Sq, BS; Sonia Levy, 31 Chapel Hill, Stansted (815282) or at the door. £10, Children £3. Members’ children £1.

13 Thur, Mobile Library, see box, page 19

15 Sat, Christmas Party for under-5s,2.30-4.30, St John’s Church Hall, Gwynns Walk, Hertford. Tickets £5 per family from Charlotte 07837 383035. For Isabel Hospice.

15 Sat, LHCC Christmas Concert. 8pm The New Edition Singers in an evening of seasonal entertainment to help raise funds for the club. (See poster, page 13)

19 Wed, Annual Carol Service, HaileyburyChapel, Hertford Heath 7.45pm for 8pm.This annual service organised by the Rotary Club of Amwell and District is always a beautiful occasion. The retiring collection will be for Isabel Hospice. For information please contact Pam Shepherd 01707 330686.

20 Thur, “Way Inn” coffee morning, 10-12.Meet friends and neighbours over a cuppa. Details below.

26 Wed, Watton Dip! The Bull, Watton-at-Stone. In aid of Isabel Hospice this Boxing Day event will take place after a charity football match in the morning with the Watton Dip (along the lines of the more famous Whitby Dip that takes place up north each year!) A giant paddling pool will be used and money raised will be donated to the Hospice. For more information please contact Gill MacDonald, 01707 330686.

27 Thur, Mobile Library, see box, page 19

29 Sat, Farmers’ Market, 9-12noon.

The ‘Way Inn’Come and meet friends and

neighbours over a cup of tea or coffee. Rear of village hall,3rd thursday of the month,

10 - 12 noon

9

. . . coming next year!

Many thanks to The Pantomime Group for sponsoring this page

Yes! It’s sock time again!Please help me to send a record number of clean wearable men’s socks for the homeless in Cambridge.

Thanks to all who left parcels of socks on my doorstep during the year. They make a good foundation, but we stil l need MORE SOCKS.Please leave socks or the price of a pair with me, Ann Clayton, next to the Nag’s Head by December 10th.Thank you very much and Happy Christmas to all.

18 Jan, Jazz Evening, Haileybury. Information & tickets: 01707 376782.20 Jan, Stansted Village Music Club, 3pm, St. John’s Stansted. McLeod/Sturfalt Duo17 Feb, Spotty Swim for Isabel Hospice. Contact Pam Shepherd or Julia Skinner on 01707 376782 More details on p17.

8 March, Village Music Club, 7.30pm Thomas Barber (oboe) accomp’d by James Southall.

Cricket Club NewsWith the season now over the Cricket Club’s focus now moves onto our fundraising event.

Following on from the successful musical evening ‘Showstoppers’ that was performed 18 months ago, we welcome back the New Edition Singers in a new show entitled ‘Christmas Allsorts’. The show takes place on Saturday 15 December at 8.00pm in the village hall and promises to be an entertaining evening of festive music and laughter. (See poster, page 13)

Tickets will be available from either Eileen Booth at the Village Hall Post Office or Neil Oxborrow on 01279 506062 and are priced at £7 (£5 for concessions).

The club will be holding indoor Cricket nets on Sunday mornings from 12 January in the Bishopsport sports hall at the Bishop’s Stortford High School. The nets begin at 10am and we would welcome anyone interested in coming along to get some cricket practice.

Even if you have never played before but would like to ‘give it a go’ then you will be more than welcome. Further details are available from either Andy Yarwood on 01799 540041or Neil Oxborrow on 01279 506062.

10

Old TV Ads

Village WordsearchALADDIN

ASHBADMINTONBROOKBANKS

BUS STOPBYPASSCECILIA

CHURCHFARMERS MARKET

FORDHADHAM HALLHADHAM ROADLITTLE HADHAMMUCH HADHAM

PANTOMIMEPARISHPORCHRIVER

SCHOOLTHEATREVILLAGES

WHIST DRIVEYARD

1. B___!B___!B___!B___!E___B___2. W____C__I_T__G__________?3. H___Y__M________Y___T____T____?4. G_T_W___O_A_E__5. Y__’__W_____W____T__Y_____W___W___ Y__ B____Y___T____W___P________6. N__H____T___D_D_____C__B_S___A_Y___ F___W___M___G____F____L_____7. D_____P____M____D__8. AM______H_________E____D__P___U_A T__O_B____A__S__“B____M____H____”9. N___!W____H________!10. O___F_____,M___T_M___Y___M____W____11. T___I_L_____Y__C__A_____,W___C____L___12. I’_AC______’_F____A__N__C___

Fill in the spaces . . . answers on page 17

I C H C E C I L I A N T R E D M

S H C E V I R D T S I H W A U A

E R R F S U B Y R A D M B H S H

O I O L A E A N A I D I C C T D

L R P L E R D S M D A M L A H A

D H A D H A M H A L L C O S E H

V S N W I Y I E F B A E I F A E

I B T F A R N T R I U R N P T L

L O O H C S T O L S A S H S R T

L U M I N T O D C P M I S A E T

A L I C E K N H R L I A G T L I

G T M E B F U N D A P P R N O L

E O E A T R O O K Y H Y C K O P

S N N O C H S U B A R S H S E D

A K E H A D H A M R O A D U S T

S H H W U M M A H D A H H C U M

Find the words listed . . .which word is missing?

11

P A R I S H C O U N C I L N E W SMEETINGS will in future be held on the first TUESDAY of the month. The change means that when a larger-than-usual audience is expected, we can use the main hall with its speaker system. The result will be better acoustics and more space. The next meeting, when AN UPDATE ON ALL THE ISSUES BELOW will be provided, is on Tuesday December 4 at 8pm.

‘No’ to traveller site in Little HadhamThe Parish Council (PC) has declared itself opposed to a gypsy and traveller site in Little Hadham. An East Herts Council (EHC) report identifies two potential sites on farmland between Millfield Lane and the A120. District councils are obliged to find sites for travellers. It is estimated that 45 additional pitches are needed in East and North Herts up to 2011 and up to 20 further pitches every five years. A site of 15 pitches would involve 26 caravans and 51 people. Site criteria include access to a school, doctors, public transport and main roads.

Objections listed by the PC include proximity to houses, loss of amenity, increased traffic and risk of accidents on the A120, the loss and degradation of arable land, damage to the rural aspect, and a negative impact on house prices.

The PC will seek more information and may challenge the EHC report. A public consultation begins in Spring 2008. The PC has already received the support of Little Hadham representatives on the district and county councils and of Oliver Heald MP.

Development at Bury Green FarmThe PC has invited Romehold, which owns Bury Green Farm, to stage an exhibition to explain plans for developing land formerly occupied by the Glaxo buildings. The four options are high cost homes, a retirement village, a secure data centre for City businesses, or a number of

small industrial units. Romehold says it would concentrate on the scheme that receives most local support.Look out for details of the exhibition.

Anyone for tennis?How should the playing area beyond the new playground next to the Village Hall be used? That’s the question being asked in a questionnaire in this Parish News. (see over) Options include a five-a-side soccer pitch, tennis court, and a hard surface under the basketball net. Any money the PC puts towards the scheme will be DOUBLED with an EHC grant, so it is important that we have your views – and those of every member of your family, particularly youngsters – on what would be best for the village. Please take a couple of minutes and complete the questionnaire NOW and post or deliver it straight away. Your answers will help the PC find the best solution for the rest of the playground and balance that against other priorities on which to spend limited funds.

Other headlines• Information is still awaited on what plans the owners have for development of the Hadham Water site following the closure of the bottling plant. • PC representatives made a powerful case for an end to rat-running through Bury Green and Westland Green when they presented a petition containing more than 100 signatures to the County Roads and Transportation Panel. The committee will consider it in January. • The PC voted a donation of £600 to Little Hadham Primary School. • Should we be a Fair Trade village? That’s up for discussion on December 4.

Please play your part in the community and come along to your next Parish Council meeting. Everyone is welcome.

12

Pitch In Your Ideas – a questionnaireIN THE OCTOBER Parish News, the Parish Council invited suggestions for the development of the football play area beyond the new playground next to the Village Hall.

Now we want to follow up with a simple questionnaire.

The good news is that we have obtained a grant from East Herts Council to put towards the cost. Because it is matched funding, the grant will effectively double the amount that the Parish Council decides to put into the ‘pot’ PROVIDED that it is spent on playground facilities AND it is used before the end of this financial year (March 2008).

But before deciding how much to commit to the project, the council has to consider the many other demands on its funds. One example is the war memorial wall that needs replacing or at least repairing. That’s why we would like your views on what improvements you would like to see in the playground area, or whether the money should be spent on something else.

Please take a few moments to fill in the questionnaire below, and send or deliver by

Monday10 December to Cllr Geoff Williamson, Clouds, Ford Hill, Little Hadham, Herts. SG11 2AZ

Please study the options first and then tick ONE box with your preferred choice.

Football pitch, levelled, with new goal posts, suitable for local 5-a-side competition

Creation of a tennis court, either grass or hard surface *

Creation of a combined tennis/football area (this is possible) *

Basket-ball goal – move present unit, turn around to face away from sun, provide tarmac base

Other idea(s) for football play area or the playground (please specify which) .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

INSTEAD of any of the above:

Repair the wall surrounding the war memorial

The money to be used as a starter fund for a more substantial wall surrounding the war memorial

Other ideas (not relating to the football play area and playground) ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

If more funds were required to fulfil a preferred option, would you be prepared to make a donation (state YES or NO) and if YES, how much? ...............................................................

* Note the money available is unlikely to cover total costs of these options, but could be used as a starter fund, though this would not qualify for the East Herts Council grant if the work is not completed by March next year.

Name: ...............................................................................................................................................................................................Address: ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................Phone no: ............................................................................................................

13

Little Hadham Cricket Club presents

NEW EDITION SINGERSperforming

An evening of seasonal entertainment,music and laughter

atLittle Hadham Village Hall

on Saturday 15 December at 8.00pm

Licenced bar opens at 7.30pm

Tickets: Adults £7.00 Concessions £5.00from

Eileen Booth at Little Hadham Post Officeor Neil Oxborrow 01279 506062

advert removed advert removed

14

Mrs Susan Parker out shopping at Bishops Stortford. Time she was away her house caught fire being an old Thatch and Plaster it did not stand a chance. Knowing her to be in Stortford a man on horse back went to tell her. When the man saw her coming home and told her “Well no one can get in the house as I have the key.” The same time the Fire Service came by. Susie began to run the two miles home with the key in her hand knowing only to herself that the firemen could not get in until she got home. The house was burnt flat only the chimney standing when she got home. Saying she would leave the Key with a neighbour next time she went out, when she got a new one.

Memories of Little Hadham, 1900 -1914,written in 1966 by Mr Fredk. George Harris, aged 70)

Green Street approximate 1908

Q: What do snowmen eat for breakfast? A: Snowflakes

advert removed advert removed

15

Little Hadham School“Believing and Achieving”

Seasons Greetings!

As you can imagine, school is buzzing with ‘Christmas Fever’, especially with the whole school off to Stevenage Panto on 6th December.Oh yes we are!

Our Key Stage 1 pupils are really busy rehearsing their Nativity version called ‘Humph the Camel’. This year, we are staging the actual performance in the evening of 13th December. Our Senior Citizens are very welcome to join us for the Dress Rehearsal at 10am. on Wednesday 12th and stay on for refreshments afterwards.Similarly, our Key Stage 2 pupils invite you to join us for our annual ‘Carols around the Tree’ at 2pm on Monday 17th December. Tea and mince pies will be available after the concert.

Our Nursery pupils are looking forward to their trip on the Santa Express at Audley End on the 14th. Will they spot Santa in the forest?On Wednesday 19th December, we will be holding our ‘Carols by Candlelight’ Service in St Cecilia’s Church at 6.30pm. Everyone is welcome to join us in this very special service.A very exciting and busy time ahead!

Hope to see many of you at our Christmas Bazaar on . . .

Sunday 2nd December from 12-3pm.

Merry Christmas to you all!Liz Stockley, Head

advert removed advert removed

16

Recycle! continued from page 7

Q: What do you call people who are afraid of Santa Claus? A: Claustrophobic.

saves enough energy to light a 60 watt light bulb for six hours. •An average TV left on standby consumes up to 20% of their full power. Turn off TV and DVD players. Do not leave on standby. •Recycle your magazines when you have finished reading them, take them to the dentist/doctor’s waiting rooms. •We use 3.5 million tonnes of plastic each year. Recycle your plastic, look out for the triangular recycling sign on the bottom of plastic bottles. •If every office worker in the country used one less staple a day, we could save 120 tonnes of steel every year. •Recycle print cartridges. •Use a ballpoint pen from start to finish – nearly 14 million are sold worldwide every year. Please remember: companies will only carry on recycling if you buy recycled products. THINK GREEN!

advert removed

advert removedadvert removed

17

Lights of Love Ceremonies1. Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Esso Blue 2. Which Cat Is The Grandmother? 3. Have You Macleaned Your Teeth Today? 4 .Go To Work On An Egg 5. You’ll Wonder Where The Yellow Went When You Brush Your Teeth With Pepsodent 6. Now Hands That Do Dishes Can Be Soft As Your Face With Mild Green Fairy Liquid 7. Drinka Pinta Milka Day 8. A Million Housewives Every Day Pick Up A Tin Of Beans And Say “Beanz Meanz Heinz” 9. Nuts! Whole Hazelnuts! 10. Opal Fruits, Made To Make Your Mouth Water 11. This Is Luxury You Can Afford, With Cyril Lord 12. I’m A Cadbury’s Fruit And Nut Case

ANSWERS to the Old TV Ads quiz on page 10

Isabel Hospice, 2008 – Spotty SwimCome and join in - it’s Contagious!

We are launching our 2008 Fun Swim. It will be our Fourth Fun Swim; at Haileybury pool in Hertford Heath on Sunday 17th February 2008. There is a decidedly spotty look to it this year and a collective 100 miles is still our target to swim.

Our 2007 swimmers really pulled out the stops and raised almost £30,000 between them, swimming an amazing 250 miles. We cannot hope to reach those dizzy heights this year but we can have some fun and in the process raise more funds for Isabel Hospice. Every £1 raised makes a difference and every £1 raised in the swim goes directly into the service.

Churchills Chartered Surveyors in Hertford, Digital Media Services of Covent Garden and Haileybury School in Hertford Heath sponsor the event. Everyone can join in - young and not so young, families and companies, clubs, pubs, neighbours – everyone.

Register on line at www.isabelhospice.org.uk or fill in and return a registration form to Julia Skinner, Hill View Cottage, 23 Wormley West End, Nr. Broxbourne, Herts, EN10 7QN.

Trees will be lit throughout the Isabel Hospice area in different locations during November and December. If you would like to donate a light in memory of a loved one, to be lit on a tree of your choice, please contact the fundraising office on 01707 376782 and a form will be sent to you. The duration of each ceremony is approximately half an hour; carols will be sung throughout by local choirs. Finally, the lighting of the tree in memory of loved ones that are unable to be with us at Christmas time brings a fitting close to our very moving ‘Lights of Love’ ceremony. A star will be available after the ceremony to take home and hang on your own tree during the Christmas period.

The following ceremonies will be taking place:

Sawbridgeworth Baker’s Walk, Bell Street 4.00pm 1st December Hertford Hertford Castle 4.00pm 1st December. Bishop’s Stortford Market Square 5.00pm 7th December

Q: What nationality is Santa Claus? A: North Polish

Wordsearch: the missing word is RIVER

18

Some memories

from the last

few months . .

Parish Pics

19

Badminton: 8.00pm MondaysBrownies: 4.30 - 6pm Tuesdays, term-time. Judi Wheeler 654624Carpet Bowls Club: Social and League,8-10pm Fridays, Eileen Booth 771426Farmers’ Market: 9.00-12 noon, last Saturday of month. Brenda Kain 771028Karate: 5-6pm Wednesdays,Catherine Petch, 771636Mobile Police Station: 9 - 11am first and third Tuesday, in the car park.Music Makers: For under-fives. 1.15 - 1.50 & 2.10 - 2.45 on Thursdays in the Nursery at LH School. Kate Muscroft 656518Playgroup: 1.00pm - 3.30pm Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays in the Nursery at LH School. Lisa Wilkins, 776275LH Post Office: 9.00 - 11am Tuesdays and Thursdays, rear of the Village Hall in the Doctor’s Reception Room.The “Way Inn”: third Thursday of monthWhist Drive: Last Thursday of month.Ross Barron, 771694

in the Village Hall unless otherwise statedRegular events

Citizens’ Advice Bureau, Bishop’s Stortford: 0870 126 4083

Editor, Parish News: Jan Finn, 771113

Environment Agency Incident Line:0800 807060

Highways Fault reporting: 01438 737320

Mobile Library info: 01438 737333

Police non-emergency phone number (local rate): 0845 3300222

Power cut helpline 24hrs: 0800 7 838 838

Road or Pavement problems, call Highways on 01438 737320

Stansted Airport Noise Complaints:0800 243788

Traveline: 0870 608 2 608

Village Hall bookings: Mrs Fardell, 771697

Water/Sewage problems, call Thames Water on 0800 376 5325

Useful phone numbers:

13th & 27th DecemberMobile Library

Nag’s Head from 13.45 - 14.05The Smithy from 14.10 - 14.30Bury Green from 14.45 - 15.05

This is a fortnightly service.

P W B U N

O

U R P X

R U A

X A O B

A R X

R P X N

B

O P N W U

SUDOKUno.16Complete this grid so that each row,

column and block of 9 squares contains the letters of the words

UNWRAPBOXOnly one solution, no need to guess

There is a service of Holy Communion every Wednesday at 10.30am at St Andrew’s.

December diary for Little Hadham and Albury(part of the Ash and Quin Valleys’ team incorporating

Much Hadham, Braughing, Furneux and Stocking Pelham.)

Log on to www.thehadhams.com for issues dating back to May 2006

2 Sunday Advent Sunday9.30am Matins at St Cecilia’s, Little Hadham 11.15am Parish Communion with Sunday School at St Mary’s, Albury

5 Wednesday8.00pm PCC meets at St Cecilia’s, Little Hadham

6 Thursday9.00am Holy Communion at St Cecilia’s, Little Hadham

7 Friday7.30pm Christmas Choir practice at St Cecilia’s, Little Hadham

9 Sunday Advent 29.30am Shared Communion at St Cecilia’s, Little Hadham

13 Thursday7.30pm Choir practice at St Cecilia’s, Little Hadham

16 Sunday Advent 3 8.00am Holy Communion at St Cecilia’s, Little Hadham 9.30am Family Service in the Village Hall, Little Hadham No evensong at Albury

17 Monday7.30pm Christmas Carol Service choir practice at St Cecilia’s, Little Hadham

19 Wednesday6.30pm School Carol Service in St Cecilia’s, Little Hadham

21 Friday7.30pm Christmas Carol Service choir practice at St Cecilia’s, Little Hadham

23 Sunday Advent 411.15am Shared Communion at St Mary’s, Albury6.00pm Service of Nine Lessons and Carols, St Cecilia’s, Little Hadham

CHRISTMAS EVE6.00pm Christingle Service in St Cecilia’s, Little Hadham 11.30pm Midnight Mass at St Andrew’s, Much Hadham

CHRISTMAS DAY9.30am Family Communion at St Cecilia’s, Little Hadham

30 Sunday Christmas 19.30am Shared Benefice Communion at St Cecilia’s, Little Hadham