June 2026
After nearly 40 years in the village, our former PERA secretary, Marilyn Hughes, has said goodbye. Marilyn, who lived in Mill Close, was s stalwart of village events during the Millennium years, organising everything from summer garden parties to safari suppers. She is pictured here with her daughter Amy and husband Derek during the London Olympics in 2012 when they were officials for Hertfordshire during swimming events. Sadly,
May 2026
villagers gathered at the revamped Marchmont Arms for the annual spring coffee morning. But it was more of a coffee moaning as the unseasonally cold weather brought out the hats, coats and talk of climate change, what climate change! PERA’s chairman, Simon Lillystone, welcomed everyone and said he looked forward to another year of social events.
April 2026
Michael Nidd was a larger than life character in all respects and it is with great sadness we report his passing at the age of 81. Michael, who lived with his wife Pat at the Old Bakery, dedicated himself to village causes from the moment he and Pat moved to Piccotts End in 1976.
Good news for Hemel residents: the Old Town is about to welcome a new Italian restaurant. Morelli’s will open in early February, taking the place of Old Tom”s Bar in the High Street. The head chef is Fabrizio Morelli, who also runs Morelli’s in Luton. He will be partnered by his maitre d’ Nico. It’s more than 7 years since the Old Town’s last Italian closed. That was the ever popular Alberto’s, which closed its doors when the owner Alberto Valota retired.
January 2026
January is generally a quiet month for the fireworks company I run. Time, then, to turn my attention to another of my passions: marmalade! This is the month for making it, when the bitter Valencia oranges arrive in the shops. My Sunday mornings wouldn’t be complete without three
January 2026
Next month’s Safari Supper has been postponed. Carole Cohen, who had been organising the event, said that while a good number of residents had signed up, it wasn’t quite enough to make it work. She plans to announce a new date in September when warmer weather and lighter evenings will hopefully encourage more people to take part.
December 2025
Village volunteer Melanie Mackney is one of the leading lights behind the launch of a new repair cafe which has opened at Grovehill Community Centre. Local residents can bring along their small electrical items, phones and laptops, bicycles even typewriters to be repaired. The shop is open on the first Saturday of every month and has already delighted residents who had their favourite tops, lamps and radios brought back to tip top condition. Two mobile phones which had problems with sound and displays were repaired and a laptop with a battery bracket rattling around inside was fixed.
November 2025
We have been receiving regular notifciations via the village whatsapp gropu of a ‘lost cat’. Here he is, pictured in leafy Piccotts End Road looking like a white owl with his pointy ears, ready to pounce on an unsuspecing vole. Ragdolls are not known to be adventurous, preferring to stay in the warmth of their home than venture out into the great unknown. Our older ragdoll Coco
November 2025
We haven’t even had Christmas yet but our busy social committee are already planning their exciting 2026 calendar of events. Top of the list is the return of our Safari Supper, where residents can meet each other in their own houses over a meal. Next year year’s supper will be held on Saturday February 7th and the organisers hope that many Piccotts End residents of all ages will take part.
This popular village event happens every other year. Basically it’s a magical mystery tour of neighbours’ houses with a free meal thrown in! The mystery is that you don’t know who’s coming until you open the door!