December 2024
Samuel Pepys kept his diary for 10 years between 1660 and 1670. It was a tumultuous time. The Restoration of the Monarchy with King Charles the 2nd, the Great Plague and the Great Fire of London. Pepys had plenty to write about and a fascinating read it is too. He only stopped because he feared for his eyesight after years
November 2024
A miserable, wet and cold evening this week and I’m settling in for a warm night in front of the TV. A knock on the door. Who could this be at 7pm?
November 2024
Villagers enjoyed a night under the stars at the annual fireworks party. A light drizzle failed to dampen spirits as they tucked into soup and hot dogs before the sky was lit up by fantastic fireworks.
October 2024
A former resident who was one of the village’s best known figures has died at the age of 91. Julia Baird, who lived at Owl Cottage (No 98), passed away in July at a retirement home in Cornwall after leaving the village two years ago.
September 2024
A campaign group led by Alice Millest of the Boars Head has launched an appeal fund to fight a controversial housing plan. Alice and a team representing communities in the Gade Valley want to raise £30,000 to employ a barrister to take on the Fairfax group, who want to build 370 houses on a stretch of green belt land by the Leighton Buzzard road.
June 2024
The village signs have been planted out with a floral welcome. Summer petunias and geraniums replace spring daffodils and tulips as Piccotts End gets ready to celebrate summer. Many thanks to Sue and Yvonne for offering to keep them watered as hot weather finally arrives.
June 2024
I’m always full of admiration for all those hard-working, enterprising people who are up before the crack of dawn to provide a service. Like the lovely ladies at Amanda Jane’s in Queen’s Square who get up at 2am every morning to travel to London to buy fresh fruit. Not up quite that early but still daft o’clock is the Old Town’s newest entrepreneur, Lesley.
If you like an early morning coffee, head over to Epicure, the Old Town’s latest coffee shop. It’s run by Lesley and her staff of early risers. ‘We’re open every day Sunday to Saturday from 8am. Call in for croissants, coffee and cakes.’
May 2024
Did you see them? A few lucky residents captured lovely photos of the Northern Lights when they made a rare appearance over the village this week. Alison Gellman and Lydia Fribbins both grabbed the chance to snap them, this photo was Alison’s.
April 2024
If you missed the PERA AGM or need a reminder of what happened, you can read all about it by clicking https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/cjc9sy5lxxibbqf4ca8p0/2024-Minutes-of-AGM.pdf?rlkey=0dqk3qsmyrn0v5ciuajqsz3xd&st=5chx5kco&dl=0