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Redbourn Care Group and Community Newsletter No 13

This newsletter aims to provide information which could be useful to all Redbourn residents during the Coronavirus pandemic, focussing on local information and responding

to questions being asked in our community.

Calls answered 10-2 weekdays

Redbourn Care Group 01582 794550

We continue to provide help for anyone, of any age, in our community. We are aware that many of you still feel nervous and lacking confidence to leave your home and that you might be feeling rather lonely and isolated. Friendly phone calls are available if you would like someone to talk to or to seek some guidance. We continue to offer help with shopping, arranging journeys to medical appointments and have a team of volunteers helping with prescription deliveries. So as long as you have asked the Crown Pharmacy for them to be delivered, then they should arrive as a matter of course. Do not hesitate to call us, we will be happy to hear from you. Contact details for organisations are listed in a document “Coronavirus Directory” on the Redbourn Care Group website https://redbourncaregroup.co.uk/ Please share this newsletter with friends and neighbours. Let’s not forget those who are still isolated at home. Do find out if neighbours would like a printed copy of the newsletter. Handing out a copy of our newsletter for those who may be feeling down can help lift their spirits and keep them in touch and give them some activities to do. All previous newsletters can be accessed on the website. We try to ensure our information is as accurate and up to date as possible. We only use photographs with permission. Please let us know of useful information or stories you would like to share for our next newsletter. Email info@redbourncaregroup.co.uk Many thanks Redbourn Care Group (registered charity 297955) This is a newsletter for everyone. No matter what your circumstances.

This newsletter 7th August 2020 includes: -

• Good news stories - page 2

• Coronavirus updates - page 2

• Redbourn Leisure Centre Update – page 3-4

• Around our village – page 4-6

• Activities for youngsters – a new quiz for you - page 6

• Can you help AIR? Update- page 7-8

• Answers to Spot the Difference and a Redbourn quiz – page 9

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Good news stories ‘You've worked really hard on the newsletter! It's a brilliant publication! Keep up the good work!’

‘Can I please say a big thank you for the amazing

work you've been doing over the past few months and the help you've given to so many Redbourn residents, including myself, which has been very much appreciated. The weekly newsletters which I receive by email have been extremely interesting and very welcome’. ‘In reply to your questionnaire, I don't anticipate needing much support from the Care Group in the next few months. I now have access to regular supermarket deliveries and can get to medical appointments under my own steam. However, as I am still in the "shielded" category it would be very helpful to continue having my prescriptions delivered, if that's possible.’ ‘Weekly 'friendly phone calls' have also been gratefully received for the past few months, but are not really needed any longer, as I am now able to get out and I have regular contact from family and friends.’ Coronavirus (COVID-19) updates

When we put together the newsletter, we endeavour to provide you with the most up to date and accurate information. Virus guidelines and information about testing seem to change daily which can make it very confusing and anxiety making for the vulnerable and for many of us. According to the BBC (www.bbc.co.uk – 7th August), the daily confirmed cases are starting to edge up again (950 – 6th August) after they fell significantly from their April peak as a result of

lockdown restrictions imposed a month earlier. But the number of tests being carried out is also increasing – and these tests are targeted at areas where infections rates are higher. The official total for deaths is now 46,413 with 49 further deaths recorded (6th August). We have seen clusters of cases in some areas of the country which has led to specific restrictions being imposed in specific places. We must not become complacent. We all need to play our part in stamping out the virus. This is the only way to reduce infection in our county. The best way of doing this is to continue social distancing, washing our hands regularly and thoroughly and following the recently updated rules and guidance on face coverings. Face coverings must now be worn in shops, supermarkets, shopping centres, banks, building societies and post offices, as well as train and bus stations and airports, on public transport and in NHS health settings. From 8th August, face coverings will also need to be worn in cinemas, galleries and places of worship. Some people are exempt from wearing face coverings. If you have any symptoms that could indicate you might have coronavirus, it’s vitally important that you get a test. It’s quicker and easier now than ever before. Remember too that if you’re contacted by the national NHS Test and Trace team, you must follow their advice and self-isolate, to prevent the virus from taking hold in Hertfordshire again and threatening more lives. Booking a test is quick and easy. The booking site www.gov.uk/coronavirus will show the testing centres available for the next day and you should have your test done as soon as possible after your symptoms first develop. Coronavirus symptoms include a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste. (Source: NHS Local Resilience Forum 31st July 2020).

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We have been asked to share this statement by the Redbourn Recreation Centres and Playing Fields Trust REDBOURN LEISURE CENTRE STATEMENT AUGUST 2020 To Stakeholders, concerned residents of Redbourn and users of Redbourn Recreation Centre. As you will all be aware the Recreation Centre was unfortunately forced to close due to the Covid-19 crisis. The Trust has been in regular contact with Everyone Active, who run the Centre on our behalf, but their resources have been badly stretched by the crisis with the majority of their staff on furlough and their business facing the crippling costs of the crisis with the closure of all their centres across the country. Given the new social distancing regulations and a number of other industry guidelines, it was not going to be financially viable to re-open the leisure centre in the normal way. Subsequently, the Trust and Everyone Active have worked hard to develop a phased approach to reopening whereby the centre could re-open for key stakeholders to use the facilities - such as football, cricket, bowls and gymnastics. Although not an ideal situation, this was the only basis on which it was possible to re-open or otherwise face a huge financial hit which neither Everyone Active or the Trust could shoulder. However, as part of the agreement, all existing gym and group exercise members are able to attend neighbouring venues at Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre, Hemel Hempstead Leisure Centre and Berkhamsted Leisure Centre at no extra cost. Block bookings and other user groups will be contacted shortly with more information. Fortuitously the Trust had been looking at the viability of building a second sports hall from as far back as the middle of 2019. This was to improve the facilities for stakeholders and residents, as well as providing a permanent facility as part of a major joint investment with SAADI Gymnastics. It was decided that rather than build a new hall for SAADI it would be better to build a new hall for all other sports as the needs / requirements for various sports have changed in the 25 or so years since the current sports hall was originally built. The Trust has therefore developed a proposal for a new hall with superior facilities, some of which, in in light of the new Covid regulations have become essentials rather than luxuries. Some of the features of the new hall include: -

- State of the art ‘Pulastic’ compound soft flooring for multi-sport use such as netball, football, badminton, indoor cricket, basketball etc.

- Hall to be slightly bigger than the current hall for sports such as netball / cricket for whom the current hall was always fractionally too small

- Superior LED lighting - Air circulation system - Thermo double skin PVC inflated roof system, translucent to allow natural light to enter - 40mm insulated steel cladding for improved heat retention - Viewing gallery - Provide an additional space for more frequent and larger fitness and wellbeing classes – especially

important due to new social distancing guidelines The plans for the new hall have been developed throughout the Covid period and we are now in a position to submit the new plans for planning permission and they will shortly be made available to the local groups and the public to view. Additionally, we are currently investigating ways of increasing the size of the current fitness suite by internally expanding into the underutilised changing room area behind the existing space. We are hoping this will allow a cost effective and quick solution to enable Everyone Active to re-open the fitness suite with all the appropriate social distancing guidelines for the gym equipment in place. We also hope this will allow an increase in the number of stations and improve lighting and the customer experience.

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If you have any queries or would like further clarification please do not hesitate to email the Redbourn Recreation Centre and Playing Fields Trust on rrcpft@gmail.com or Everyone Active on redbourninfo@everyoneactive.com

Hertfordshire Residents urged to help Prevent Local Lockdowns With life returning to our high streets and lockdown restrictions easing, Hertfordshire residents are being encouraged to do all they can to prevent COVID-19 from resurging in our county. The Hertfordshire Resilience team have today provided us with their latest update, please see attached. Hertfordshire Resilience Update. – 29 July 2020. This includes the following: - “Being able to meet with a wider circle of friends and family and visit shops, parks, pubs and hairdressers are every-day freedoms that many of us are able to enjoy again. But we can only do all of these things if we continue to work together and control the spread of coronavirus. If we start to see the number of new cases rising in Hertfordshire, we will be forced to take measures that limit all of our freedoms, in order to save lives. We all need to play our part in stamping out the virus. This is the only way to reduce infection in our county. The best way of doing this is to continue social distancing, wash our hands regularly and thoroughly and following the rules and guidance on face coverings. Face coverings must now be worn in shops, supermarkets, shopping centres, banks, building societies and post offices, as well as train and bus stations and airports, on public transport and in NHS health settings.” Top Ten Covid-19 Scams the public should be aware of. (Neighbourhood Watch email 30th July 2020) Using the coronavirus pandemic as an opportunity, fraudsters are using sophisticated methods to callously exploit people, with many concerned about their financial situation and the state of the economy. UK Finance today reveals ten Covid-19 and lockdown scams which criminals are using to target people to get them to part with their money. Please see this link for information issued by UK Finance, "Take Five to Stop Fraud" revealing the top ten COVID-19 scams - Top ten COVID-19 scams Around our village

Redbourn Parish Council have launched their new website on 1st August. It is easy to find your way

around and to look at what is happening in our vibrant village. https://www.redbourn-pc.gov.uk/ . One of the working parties, that was set up in 2017 by Teresa Finnigan and Ivan Hickmott, is the Friends of the High Street (FOTHS). They want to look at ways the High Street can better serve its residents, local businesses, and visitors. Issues such as parking have been on the agenda together with many other aspects to aim to enhance our historic High Street including:

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Our Redbourn Village Market which is now happening again after some closure due to Covid-19. The next market is on Saturday 8th August from 10-1pm at the Village Hall. Please come and support us. Future ones are planned every 2nd Saturday in the month up to November 2020. “Another reason why the village market is so important is that it brings the community together, gets them visiting the High Street and is very important for those who don't want to venture too far.

The Parish Council are getting some signs for the lamp posts and tape for the floor to remind local residents on social distancing whilst out and about in the High Street and while queuing outside the shops. I haven't spoken to many shop owners, but from who I have spoken too they are doing okay, slowly getting back to some normality”. Teresa Finnigan - cllr.teresa.finnigan@redbourn-pc.gov.uk

In September 2019 Redbourn Emporium Community Craft Hub helped to promote a community hub in the Old Post Office. Redbourn Emporium was up and running, with regular workshops, community events, selling specialist items such as craft, gifts and food products from people who have a Redbourn connection. Sadly, at this time, this lovely facility is not running.

History of our Local Streets Local resident, Joyce Clayton has spent several years putting together a history of our local streets and buildings and this information now on the Redbourn Village Online website. She has also kindly added several heritage walks around the village too.

Views of Redbourn in Lockdown Pat Schofield has delighted many of us with her beautiful photographs of Redbourn since March 23rd shared on the Redbourners Facebook page. A selection of these have now been put into a booklet supported generously by Martin Howe. The booklet was intended as a gift to the residents and staff of St Matthews Care Home who have worked selflessly throughout the crisis. Martin’s wife, Anne, was resident during this time. The booklet was to provide ‘access’ to some of our lovely village to provoke discussion and bring back happy memories. Annie Manning was happy to share on Redbourners that she had used the booklet and it has been well received by The Fox family. They send their sincere thanks -can you see June and Podge? If you feel you would like to have a copy of the booklet, please call 01582 794550. There are some copies available. If it proves popular, we can always have a few more printed. If you can make an offer of a donation to Redbourn Care Group to support the cost of printing it would be appreciated.

All photographs by kind permission of Pat Schofield

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Other local places to visit ‘I wanted to share with you a wonderful walk I had last week. As there were no prescriptions for us to deliver, instead Wendy and I decided to go and see a tree at St Stephens in St Albans! So we walked. 29,996 steps to be accurate (about 17 kms)! A beautiful walk along the Ver (part of the Ver Valley Walk 4) . Gorhambury drive was closed (although since has reopened), through St Michael’s churchyard, across Verulamium park and by the King Harry. The ‘tree’ is a Cedar of Lebanon with a 9 metre girth. It is reputed to be the tree under which Henry VIII secretly wooed Anne Boleyn and may have been planted in Tudor times. Absolutely worth the walk but, if you go to look for it, it is really well hidden. A great ‘treasure hunt’!’.

http://www.riverver.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/the-redbournbury-walk.pdf Ver Valley Walk 4 www.enjoystalbans.com/listing/verulamium-park/ Verulamium Park https://www.gorhamburyestate.co.uk/ Gorhambury House https://www.thekingharrystalbans.co.uk/ The King Harry Further information from Kew Travel the World at Kew Satisfy your wanderlust at Kew this year. Holidays might look a little different this year, but the scents and sights of Kew can whisk you away. Bask in the glory of the Californian summer with our Redwood Grove. Get your Spanish holiday fix with our Mediterranean Garden. Adventure around Asia with our Japanese Garden or experience the Himalayas with our incredible Rhododendron Dell. This summer, create the holiday of a lifetime in a day. Remember, advanced ticket booking is essential.

A jolly quiz and don’t blame me for these answers! Some are crazy!!: -

1. What only comes down but never goes up? 2. In all months in a year which month has 28 days or more? 3. If you drop a yellow hat in the red sea what does it become?

4. What is middle of Paris? 5. On a menu what is Bombay Duck? 6. What is a Blue Whale’s heart the same size as? 7. Which is the biggest spider in the world? 8. On a normal computer keyboard with which number does * share a key? 9. Who was the first Twitter user to reach 20 million followers? 10.What animal can run the fastest: an elephant, squirrel or a mouse? 11.Which fruit is the most popular and most consumed in the world? 12.Which singing voice is the highest pitch? Soprano, tenor or baritone?

Book your tickets to travel the world at Kew

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Active in Redbourn (AIR) www.activeinredbourn.co.uk Community calls have now been taking place weekly since early in May. Our intention is to bring some sunshine into people`s lives in these troubled times. Calls offer an eclectic mix of the light-hearted and the serious, a blend of entertainment and information. They are always provided by, and for, Redbourners. Our schedule offers the richest of ingredients and we are delighted that the following have all agreed to participate as our guests:

• Redbournbury Mill

• Redbourn Players (every month)

• David Mitchell – Chair, Parish Council

• Redbourn Playing Fields Trust

Come and join us every Wednesday at 11am for free.

Our Wednesday August 12th call is a “food special” featuring Redbournbury Mill and Local Nutrition Practitioner, Katherine Horstmann. Please note that we will not be running our on-line well-being workshops during August

Redbourn Care Group are pleased to support our friends in Active in Redbourn as they invite others in the village to join their community group and play a part in helping Redbourn to become the healthiest village in England. Please see the next page for further information

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Answers to Spot the Difference and a Redbourn quiz Did you spot the 12 differences? 1. Toilet paper logo colour 2. Paper towel pattern 3. Cannellini versus black bean 4. Missing yeast packet 5. Inverted colours on wipes logo 6. Spray bottle eyes shift the other direction 7. Different soap top 8. Hair dye colour 9. Spider 10. Tuna logo colour 11. Pasta boxes colour flipped 12. Gluten-free flour A Redbourn Quiz

Identify the places around our village

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