Clubs and Community News: Long serving flower club chairman gets retirement gift

Retirement gift

Audrey Elliston, chairman of Stoneycroft Flower Club in Hemel Hempstead, presented retiring secretary Christine Linton with a gift on behalf of the club at the January meeting. Christine has served the club as a much admired secretary for eight years and it was with a great deal of regret that the club said farewell and grateful thanks to her at the AGM.

A cheque for £350 was also presented to Sue Bolton for Dacorum Mencap, the club’s annual charity for 2014.

King’s Langley Women’s Institute

The January meeting was opened with president Margaret Dicks wishing everyone a Happy New Year. It was agreed that everyone enjoyed the Christmas party, the food was excellent and the play performed by the drama group superb.

A trip to see Blood Brothers has been booked for February.

Members were asked if they would be interested in a trip to Hampton Court later in the year.

Dates have been arranged for the book clubs, debating society, film society and rambling club (weather permitting).

The speaker for the evening was Dr Tony Maisey who gave a talk on spare part surgery, and although a serious subject, it was an interesting and amusing talk.

The club meets on the second Tuesday of the month in the Community Centre, Kings Langley at 7.30pm. All ladies are welcome, enquiries to Mrs Linda Brady on 01442 831763 or Mrs Rene Gardner on 01923 264754.

Dacorum Community Choir

December was a very busy time for members. In addition to participating in festive celebrations in various venues around Dacorum, members entertained a visiting choir from Neu Isenburg, Hemel’s twin town in Germany. The visitors enjoyed a barn dance and joined with Dacorum Community Choir in a concert at St John’s Boxmoor.

Late in November the choir managed to be in two places at once. Some members sang at Frithsden Vineyard Christmas Fayre whilst a separate group sang for the Grovehill Christmas lights switch on.

The following day approximately 25 members, led by accompanist Judi Kelly, sang in Queen’s Square, Adeyfield, to a very enthusiastic crowd including the mayor and Mike Panning MP. The audience joined in with well-known Christmas songs.

Further Christmas engagements included singing at the Probus Christmas event at Boxmoor Playhouse. The seasonal repertoire included the late John Gardner’s jubilant arrangement of The Holly and the Ivy which was loudly applauded.

After scrumptious mince pies and sausage rolls, provided by a Probus member, the choir joined with their hosts to sing more familiar numbers. Musical director Rufus Frowde tuned in to his bass notes in leading the choir with Good King Wenceslas, then the group split into 12 mini choirs for The Twelve Days of Christmas which was quite challenging but good fun.

Two days later the choir joined the congregation of the Church of the Resurrection in Grovehill for their Christmas Crib concert. The church was beautifully decorated and several children took part in playlets illustrating the Christmas story.

The choir reassembled on January 6 for the spring term. The choir is in the process of developing the 2015 programme and has some dates already in place including a performance at the Evergreen Club in King’s Langley on April 2. A spring concert at St Mary’s, Apsley is planned for May 9, and the choir will be hosting a ‘Come and Sing’ workshop as part of Volunteer Arts Week on Saturday May 16. More details of all these events will be given nearer the time.

The choir has a very enthusiastic membership and has a reputation as the ‘friendly choir’. New members are welcome at any time of the year. Visit the website www.dacorumcommunitychoir.org or speak to Dianne on 01442 874988.

If you require a choir to perform for your organisation call Sally on 01923 260440. The choir is particularly keen to expand performances into residential homes and other community groups, and has previously sung for ‘Singing for the Brain’ and the ‘Heather Club’.

Little Gaddesden Women’s Institute

In January Stephen Hearn from Tring Auction Rooms spoke about his work.

He explained how his early professional cricketing ambitions were dashed forever by being co-opted into employment with Tring Livestock Market.

He said, more by accident than design, he was involved in the transformation of the well known and respected auction rooms and moved from selling pigs, sheep and cattle to the sale of fine art and furniture sold there today.

This is the time of year for WI annual membership renewal (other than pro rata) and any aspiring members wishing to join at this time should just turn up at the next meeting, to be held at 7.30pm at the village hall on Thursday February 19. Dr Brenda Harrold will be speaking about wild flowers of the Chilterns plus there will be all the usual WI business, competition, reports, raffle, tea and biscuits.

Berkhamsted on Board

The launch night of a regular weekly cafe games night takes place on Wednesday February 18. Berkhamsted on Board will take place every Wednesday evening thereafter from 6-9pm at The Bell Caffe on the High Street.

This will be the first of its kind in the town and has come about because there is a resurgence in game playing and other towns have successful board game nights.

The games are for all ages and it is hoped this will bring the old and new community together over popular social game playing. £1 entry to cover administration. For more information call Ruth Roman on 07761 154846.

Berkhamsted Citizens Association

Beatles fans will be interested to hear an illustrated talk by Mark Lewisohn, a local resident and world renowed authority on the Fab Four.

The Beatles - Tune In will be presented at Sessions Hall, Berkhamsted Town Hall on Thursday February 5 at 8pm.

Entry is free to BCA members, £2 for non-members/visitors deductible from £5 for annual household membership. Dacorum card holders half price.