Moorland Women’s Club
BEFORE seasonal greetings are extended to one and all, we look back over the past few months and congratulate ourselves on what we have achieved as a club. First and foremost we have really enjoyed ourselves yet again with speakers, social evenings and workshops and we have become proficient in teabag folding, making of greetings cards to the uninitiated.
One of our social evenings Joan Stevens, our social secretary, entertained us with an hour of musical memories on her new computerised keyboard. This proved a very enjoyable evening culminating in a grand finale by Ivy Cable disguised as a very seductive Gipsy Rose Lee.
Another evening we were shown a film compiled by Mr Keith Barton entitled Boxmoor Trust Countryside. Each season was represented and there were some breathtaking views and it was accompanied by some beautiful music. If you are proud of your heritage you will
thoroughly enjoy this film, we did.
Some members enjoyed a long weekend in Llandudno and Mrs Barbara Franks was thanked for organising it.
We are now in our 45th year as Moorland Women’s Club and we were very proud to congratulate one of our founder members, Mrs May Cheevers on her 90th birthday (picture left). On behalf of the club, another founder member, Mrs Nora Kosmala presented May with a basket of flowering plants and Nora also thanked Mrs Pauline Spendlove for starting the club which had provided many happy evenings for all the members past and present. Mrs May Cheevers, as you can see by the photograph, was ably capable of blowing out the candles on her birthday cake, made by Gerri Piper and we all helped her enjoy the evening of celebrations we had in store for her.
Another evening we were entertained with songs and jokes by Mr David Reeves, a member of the Leverstock Green Players. Mr Roger Sharp brought us up to date on the Hospice of St Francis and members helped swell their funds by purchasing Christmas cards, etc.
We had an evening for chocoholics and the last evening before our Christmas party we were entertained with magic, jokes and songs by Mr Peter Cass.
Our party proved a real success, the eats and punch were to the usual high standards, much enjoyed and after hilarious party games, Joan Stevens once again had brought along her keyboard and we all sang from carol sheets provided by Joan, all the carols we know and love. Many members had a very enjoyable dinner at Martins Pond, Potten End, to finish the club year.
Another year over, another about to begin so with that in mind, to all our members and families and friends, including our three new members and to all who have taken the time to read this report, thank you for doing so, and good health and happiness to one
and all.

Urban Access
THIS support group was established in May 2003 to provide young carers in the Hemel Hempstead area with an opportunity to get together, provide a support network and have fun. The group is part of a countywide framework Carers In Hertfordshire, supporting young people who care for parents or siblings at home. Allasonne Greenhough-Lewis and Garri Wiest, who are both counsellors at Urban Access, Youth Counselling and Information Service in Hemel Hempstead
facilitate the group which meets fortnightly on a Wednesday evening from 7pm-9pm in the Old Town High Street.
Group meetings are always lively with the emphasis on having fun, and letting one’s hair down, and having time to talk to one another. The group chose from a variety of activities from playing games, arts and crafts, ten-pin bowling etc. In this the first year the group have also been to Thorpe Park for the day, and had a demonstration from a local beautician who spoke about skin care and how to avoid the dreaded spots and pimples. In the pipeline there are more plans for visits and outdoor activities such as: Hemel Hempstead Fire Station and the Hertfordshire County Constabulary Training Centre, as well as more bowling and activity centres.
This Christmas the group has been very generously supported by The Odd Fellows & The N&D Seabrook Fund, whose motto is Making Friends and Helping People. At the first Christmas party on December 10 two of the group’s members, Emma Stephenson and Hannah Precious took receipt of a brand new football game and a variety of board games.
The aim of the Young Carers Support Group is to provide support and respite and activities for young carers in Dacorum. The group is free and, as there are spaces for more young people in the group Urban Access would love to hear from any young carer aged 11 to 18 who would like to join. If you would like further details about joining this group, please contact Cindy at Carers in Herts on 01992 586 969 or Pascale Van Dort at Urban Access on HH 252868.

The Odd Fellows & The N&D Seabrook Fund
THE Odd Fellows is a
national society whose motto is Making Friends and Helping People and they exist in the local area. The nearest district is Great Berkhampstead which stretches around the northern section of the M25 having branches from Hemel Hempstead to Harlow and includes St Albans and Barnet.
The district lives up to the helping people part of its motto by making grants to local organisations from its Nelson & Doris Seabrook Fund.
The fund was set up in memory of two loyal members whose name it takes. Since the fund was set up over 30 organisations have benefited by grants.
This year alone has seen the Boxmoor Guides gain a tent, the Hatfield Old Peoples’ Club gain a bingo machine which displays the numbers for the hard of hearing.
The latest gift is to be to the Young Carers Group in Hemel Hempstead who provide leisure facilities for young people. To these the Odd Fellows are providing a Corinthian Football Table and it is hoped the youngsters will get many hours of fun from using it.

Lions Club of Berkhamsted
TWO-HUNDRED and ninety-five pupils at three of Berkhamsted’s schools have taken part in the 16th annual Lions International Peace Poster Contest. The theme this year was Create a Brighter Tomorrow. The contest, now in its 16th year, is open to pupils aged 11, 12 and 13, and attracts over 325,000 entries worldwide.
Maudie Manton produced the winning poster at Berkhamsted Collegiate School; the winner at Bridgewater School was Rebekah Wilson; and at The Thomas Coram School the first prize went to Beatrice Limbert.
At each of the schools, the winners and runners-up showed their posters to fellow students at assembly and received prize vouchers and certificates from Berkhamsted Lions’ president, Maggie Gardner and contest organiser, Lion Derek Salmon.
Maudie Manton’s poster at Berkhamsted Collegiate School depicted identical children with national flags on their backs holding hands around the world, which is silhouetted against the sun. Rebekah Wilson’s poster at Bridgewater School showed a child holding the flame of peace, rising out of the sea towards a pair of doves.
At The Thomas Coram School, Beatrice Limbert’s poster showed a prisoner behind bars, shedding a tear as he paints a landscape with a rising sun.
Reproductions of the three winning posters and runners-up are on display at the Way Inn, Berkhamsted High Street.
Berkhamsted Collegiate School (175 entries, Years 7 and 8) - 1, Maudie Manton; 2, Laura Kirk; 3, Daniella Pena; highly commended - Elizabeth Claire, Thomas Hadden.
Bridgewater School (40 entries, Year 8) - 1, Rebekah Wilson; 2, Ross Reeves; 3, Emma Semmens; highly commended - Scott Halsey, Heather Reed.
The Thomas Coram School (80 entries, Year 8) - 1, Beatrice Limbert; 2, Liam Parker; 3, William Wilks; highly commended - Matthew Bone, Jenny Wade.

Leverstock Green Table Tennis Club Over 50’s
THIRTY-TWO people attended this year’s Christmas dinner at Martins Pond, Potten End, where the food was again excellent and the service superb.
The dinner was attended by our president Charlie Whitehead, 94 years young, but unfortunately he let the side down badly.
He finished his starter and lamb shoulder with ease, together with the extra roast potatoes but he had to leave one spoonful of Christmas duff! He’s promised us that he will do better at next year’s bash on December 8, same time, same place.
Winter table tennis sessions at Leverstock Green Village Hall are Mondays 10am-noon; Thursdays 1.30pm-3.30pm. New members are always welcome.