Once upon a time Hemel Old Town was bustling with people and alive with shops selling everything from fruit and veg to furniture. Today it’s a ghost town, empty, desolate and looking like something out of The War of the Worlds or The Day of the Triffids. But on our daily walk this week I…
A plan for 400 houses on the other side of the Leighton Buzzard Road has been received by Dacorum Council. Documents lodged with the planning dept show a large development between Galley Hill and the Pumping Station. Residents Association secretary Michael Nidd says the plan is not a planning application but a ‘scoping document’ to…
New arrivals in Piccotts End are never more welcome than when they come in a little bundle of joy! So we offer our warmest congratulations to Kate and Ian Keevil of Wall Cottage, proud parents of baby Phoebe. She was born in October and her mum has already labelled her ‘a little rascal’! We believe…
Dacorum has recently published details of its new local plan, part of which will have far-reaching consequences for Piccotts End. Michael Nidd, our residents’ association secretary, is urging everyone who wishes to make their feelings known during the consultation process to do so before the closing date of February 28th. He says: ‘The rules of…
Happy new year everyone. 2020 has given everyone plenty of time for reflection. What have we learned to value from such a dreadful year? Counting our blessings might be one. Sue Leach and her husband Michael, pictured here, have lived in the village for nearly 20 years. I was chatting to Sue last week about…
A warm welcome to Sam and Andy Ramsden who have just moved to the village. They are the new owners of Astley House, No 138, previously owned by Tim & Julia Blinko. Sam is a barrister and Andy is a solicitor and they come to Piccotts End from south London via roots in South Africa.…
It was Christmas with a difference, but residents found novel ways of celebrating despite the Coronavirus lockdown. Following a Christmas Eve ringing of bells, at 11am on Christmas morning many tuned in to a virtual carol recital performed by our musicians Jane McClelland and Simon Lillystone. Hark the Herald Angels Sing and O Little Town…
Piccotts End was a picture of lights and echoed to the ring of bells on Christmas Eve. Determined not to let Covid ruin the festive season, villagers pulled out all the stops on decking homes with some amazing displays of twinkling lights and illuminated reindeer. And at 6pm Riverbank residents, accompanied by Holly Cross at…
PERA chairman David Stanier and his committee would like to wish all the Piccotts End residents a safe and happy Christmas time. He writes ‘It is sad we have have had to abandon our regular social activities this year, but given half a chance next year will be better. Early in the new year we…
Like the great travellers who introduced exotic plants such as the Fuchsia to these shores, I love the idea of seeing them flourish here, even if my easyJet flights hardly qualify as great. My latest imports are now to be seen flowering prolifically as far afield as Cornwall, France and Dorset, as well as here…