October 2020
The village has lost another of its oldest residents. Gladys Kulikowski, who lived at 101 for more than 50 years, has died at the age of 99.
Val Corbett, a fellow resident and lifelong friend, paid this tribute in her eulogy at Gladys’s funeral.
September 2020
A Piccotts End resident is calling for a petition to demand a crossing over the Leighton Buzzard Road.
Michael Taylor, who lives at Riverbank, is asking villagers to join him with a petition after an unproductive meeting with ward councillor Ron Tindall.
September 2020
While the village Book Club’s usual meetings have not been possible under Covid restrictions it hasn’t cramped their literary deliberations. Thanks to Zoom the club has been turning the pages more often than ever. As well as a bi-monthly discussion members have been choosing short stories for the months in between. Summer titles have included Rebecca (Daphne du Maurier), The Machine Stops (E M Forster), The Catcher in the Rye (J D Salinger) and All Among the Barley (Melissa Harrison).
August 2020
Friends and neighbours gathered for an alfresco farewell to popular village musicians Tim & Julia Blinko. Tim, who is Professor of Music at the University of Hertfordshire, and Julia, who sings with the Bach Choir, are moving to Dorset. They will be accompanied by Julia’s mother Pip to a dream home in Shaftesbury. ‘We’ve loved our time in Piccotts End and we will miss the many friends we’ve made,’ said Tim, whose family have lived in the village for 10 years. ‘We’re very much looking forward to welcoming you all to our new home.’
July 2020
Judy Wade, village veteran and HELLO!’s royal correspondent for 27 years, has died at the age of 81 after a short illness.
A trailblazing woman journalist, she reported on royal births, deaths and marriages and crossed the globe on royal tours until her retirement in 2015.
Known for her colourful outfits and larger than life presence, she arrived from her native Australia in 1971 and moved to Piccotts End shortly afterwards.
May 2020
For many it’s a Thursday night ritual and residents in the black and white cottages have been regulars from the start. Thanks to photographer Steve Casey of No 52 who was there to record the latest occasion.
May 2020
Riverbank residents didn’t let lockdown dampen their spirits on VE Day. Safely spaced in the communal gardens they marked the 75th anniversary enjoying tea and cake on a beautiful, sunny Bank Holiday Friday.
April 2020
If you’re a Radio 3 listener you may have heard Penny Gore presenting the afternoon concert this week. But instead of her usual berth at Broadcasting House, during lockdown Piccotts End resident Penny has turned one of her rooms at home into the makeshift studio you can see here.
March 2020
If you’re stuck at home and need help during the Corona lockdown a new aid group has been set up to help. Villagers Maggie Chandler and Holly Cross are offering to do shopping, post mail, collect medicine or give any other assistance required.
January 2020
The festive season is over for another year and residents marked the Twelfth Night finale with a gathering at the Marchmont Arms. It was one of PERA’s best attended events with residents young and old, recent and longstanding, enjoying drinks and nibbles organised by our social secretary Annette Harrison.