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May Queen Francesca adds
a smile to festivities
Francesca Kirkland was treated like royalty when she was crowned May Queen in Aldbury on Monday.
The lucky Aldbury School girl, had her name picked out of a hat to be this year's May Queen.
The 11-year-old has lived in Stocks Road, Aldbury with her family for the last four years since moving from Berkhamsted. Proud mum Linda said: “I was standing outside the school and all of the children and mothers kept smiling at me, but they didn't say what was happening.
“My daughter came out of school and said that she would be the May Queen. I was thrilled, we were all thrilled.”
Villagers celebrate ancient festival
FINE weather smiled on thousands of people flocking to Aldbury's famous May Fair this Bank Holiday.
The popular event, organised by The Friends of Aldbury School, once again proved a hit with both villagers and those travelling from further afield.
New attractions included Tring Swing Band from Tring School (who were raising cash for their Chile trip), archery and a laser shooting game.
A massive 2,000 hotdogs were sold during the day and fundraisers are hoping to have raised thousands of pounds for village groups. It takes about six months to organise the event and this year a traffic committee worked with the police to keep traffic flowing in and out of the village.
One organiser, Linda Kirkland, said: “It is a real village event. It is for fundraising, but it is a real community thing. It is a bit early to know how much we raised, but it looks good.”
Man on prostitution charge
A TRING man will appear in court next week.
Graham Samson, of Western Road, Tring is charged with conspiracy to traffic within the UK for the purposes of prostitution, conspiracy to control prostitution for gain and conspiracy to launder the proceeds of crime.
The 41-year-old administrator will appear at London's Bow Street Magistrates on Tuesday, May 9 with six others facing charges.
The arrests follow a month- long operation code-named Operation Bateria. Arrests were carried out several months ago after a series of raids.
Also appearing in court is the owner of the escort agency Stephen Drew, 50, of Hazel Grove, Hatfield, Paul Drew, 22, and Kerry Lyn Drew, 26, of Bradshaws, Hatfield, Christopher Drew, 24 and Carly Wright of Millwards, Hatfield and Lisa Stuart, 37, of Jubilee Close, Henlow, Bedfordshire.
Stephen Drew is charged with conspiracy to traffic within the UK for the purposes of prostitution, conspiracy to control prostitution for gain, conspiracy to launder the proceeds of crime, possession of 17.4 grams of crack cocaine and possession of a firearm - a CS gas canister.
Paul Drew, a barman, is charged with conspiracy to launder the proceeds of crime.
Christopher Drew and Kerry Lyn Drew, both receptionists, Carly Wright, a barmaid and Lisa Stuart, a receptionist, are all charged with conspiracy to traffic within the UK for the purposes of prostitution and conspiracy to control prostitution for gain.
All are on unconditional bail.
Tring community asked for input on school's £300,000 resource
Learning centre open to all for bright ideas on courses
RESIDENTS in Tring are being asked to give their opinions and ideas on a range of community activities being scheduled at Tring Learning Centre.
This summer the centre will be opening its doors to the wider community with a whole host of courses and activities, such as discovering your family's past, finding out how people in Tring coped during the Second World War and creating your own oral history archive.
The school wants to encourage people who are interested in the learning centre to have a look around and tell staff what activities they would like to see at the centre.
Community relations manager at Tring Learning Centre, Heather Simms said: “We are asking the community what they think and what they want to do, so we are really welcoming comments and ideas.
“If we fit with the community, I think it is going to work well.”
Postcards promoting the learning centre and asking for feedback are being distributed around the town this week.
Tring School opened the learning centre in October last year and students buried a time capsule to mark the occasion.
It took about a year and £300,000 to convert the school's old hall which is now fitted with computers, laptops and a library.
Tring Learning Centre has already hosted a range of courses such as Indian and Chinese cooking lessons, parenting, interior design and Chinese calligraphy.
The theme for activities and talks planned for this year is ‘discover your roots'. Mrs Simms said: “I think there is a lot more people can do with their heritage and if it can be made fun it is something that can be handed down to their children.”
The whole school will also be open to the community with the school hall and sports hall available for hire.
Mrs Simms said: “I'm very happy to show people around and talk to people and share ideas.”
To comment on Tring Learning Centre or to arrange a tour of the school and learning centre contact Heather Simms on 01442 821067 or email hsimms@tring.herts.sch.uk
Special awards for voluntary duo
TWO local people have been awarded for more than 40 years of voluntary service. Pat Killington, from Nathaniel Walk in Tring and Kay Heron-Edmends, from St Johns Road in Hemel Hempstead were invested as members of the Order of St John in a special ceremony held in London.
They were also presented with the Insignia, an award approved by The Queen.
Both are volunteers for St John Ambulance; Mrs Killington for 22 years and Mrs Heron-Edmends for 20 years.
They were both presented with their Insignias at the Grand Priory Church on Thursday, March 30.
Sir Brian Jenkins, the Prior of the Prior of England and the Islands, presented them with their prestigious awards at the event in Clerkenwell, London.
He said: “Mrs Heron-Edmends and Mrs Killington are being honoured at the investiture ceremony in recognition of their dedicated and exceptional voluntary service in the Order's charitable foundations: St John Ambulance and the St John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem.”
The investiture ceremony, which more than 100 people attended, takes place four times a year.
Residents asked to comment
on flats plan
Tring residents are being invited to give their opinions on proposals to convert buildings in Akeman Street into flats and commercial premises.
Consensus Planning, the group working on transforming the Rose and Crown Hotel in Tring, have come up with proposals to convert 64-68 Akeman Street.
If given the go ahead by planning bosses the lower floor would be commercial units, with flats above.
Locals are being invited to attend a special meeting on Friday, May 5, to take a tour of the buildings, which are all connected internally and discuss key issues.
X-Tek Systems sold the buildings to Lamgam Properties when it moved to Icknield Way.
There are only eight parking spaces with the properties, which cannot be increased, so Consensus Planning has come up with a scheme, which will see workers share spaces with residents.
Workers will be given parking space priority during Monday to Friday office hours and residents will get priority at other times.
Proposals include 10 flats on the top floor and a glass roof in the centre of the building to increase natural light.
The meeting will be held on Friday in the Salvation army Hall, ALbert Street, Tring from 7pm to 9.30pm.
To find out more contact Consensus Planning on 01727 852496.
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