August 2025
Ena Hartland, a long time resident of the Mill House In Piccotts End, had a wonderful 94th birthday tea last week with friends and neighbours from Riverbank, Pauline, Barbara, Melanie and Susanna. Lots of good memories were shared of Ena’s time living in the Mill House with her late husband Stanley. Ena now lives in St Mary’s care home near the Old Town. Many Happy Returns Ena! with very best wishes from everyone in Piccotts End.
August 2025
Village veteran Mary Wiedman is at it again! Never shy to express her forthright opinions, this time she has laid into the bedroom bores who discuss their sex lives in the pages of the tabloids. Mary, who has lived in the village for some 50 years, regularly features in the letters pages of the Daily Mail and Daily Express, on all matter of topics, from the Beckhams to Brexit. In her latest diatribe to the Daily Mail this week, she laments the empty lives of those who have nothing better to do than discuss their sex lives.
August 2025
The long-awaited decision on an appeal by developers to build 390 houses on the Leighton Buzzard road has been announced – and it’s not good news for the village. Fairfax, against whom Dacorum council and an alliance of residents and other parties mounted vigorous opposition, have been granted outline planning permission,
The Reds Kites that fly iso majestically over our skies are now becoming such a nuisance that residents have launched an appeal to discourage people from feeding them.
April 2025
Plans for a raft of social events, including a Christmas carol party, were announced at the village AGM. Popular events like the Spring Coffee Morning (April 27th), the Safari Supper (September 20th) and the Fireworks Party (November 15th) will make a welcome return, along with a revival of the Scarecrow and Harvest Festival events which were successfully launched in 2022.
April 2025
Spring is in the air! Smell the scent and smell the coffee when we gather at the Marchmont Arms on Sunday 27th April. It’s the annual village coffee morning at the Marchmont Arms. Drop in any time between 11am and 1pm, See you there!
April 2025
Being low down in the Gade Valley means we don’t often get the best of sunsets. But last week, Talip Karamahmutoglu of 118, happened to be in the right place at the right time: passing the Boars Head at about 7.30pm. There he captured this beautiful shot that looks more like a painting than a photo.
March 2025
The village AGM will take place on Wednesday March 26th at 110, Piccotts End, 7.30pm. The agenda, and the minutes of last year’s AGM, are listed below.
January 2025
Villagers are being warned to watch out for a lethal hole in the road. Piccotts End resident John Baldwin re-posted these photos of the missing manhole cover in the middle of the village. They were taken by passer-by Dave Hicks,
December 2024
Joyce Lear, resident in the village since the 1970s, has written her life story, and what a glamorous life it has been! Joyce arrived in London from Newcastle aged only 22 and got herself a job as one of Fleet Street’s youngest female reporters. From the Daily Sketch she progressed to the dizzy heights and glamorous world of glossy magazines where she famously launched the first ever UK edition of Cosmopolitan magazine.