On Our Doorstep Baldock September by onourdoorstepbaldock

Welcome

Welcome to Your September Edition!

Well, summer might be winding down, but September in Baldock is anything but quiet, and we couldn't be more excited. One word: Balstock.

Yes, it's oﬃcially Balstock month, and G La Roche and his amazing team of volunteers are hard at work, getting everything ready for when the town is taken over by brilliant local bands ﬁlling our pubs, the high street, and venues with live music and good vibes. It's the kind of weekend that reminds you just how special this community really is.

Speaking of local stars, we had the absolute pleasure of watching Archie Davies, rising racing legend, tear it up at Silverstone last weekend. And he only went and took 1st place out of 30 young drivers! An incredible achievement for this talented young man, we can't wait to see where his racing journey takes him next.

In other exciting news, Hype Gym has opened over on Baldock Industrial Estate. Whether you're a seasoned lifter or stepping into the gym for the first time, it's definitely worth a visit. Friendly staff, brand new equipment, and great support for first-timers check it out!

Meanwhile, over on Hitchin Street, say hello to Dapper Dogs, the newest addition to the high street. It's the perfect spot to pamper your pooch with a fresh trim or pick up a tasty treat.

Of course, the end of summer means back to school a sigh of relief for many parents! And for those waving oﬀ kids to university, whether they're heading back or starting fresh, it's a big moment. Wishing all of them (and you!) the best of luck in this next chapter.

We also wrapped up the summer with the Bank Holiday Beer Festival a big thank you to the volunteers who gave up their time (and probably their heads the next morning!) to make it all happen.

Finally, on a personal note we can't quite believe it, but our granddaughter turns 4 this month! We're oﬀ to Lego Land to celebrate and we may just be more excited than she is, well Jacqui is at least

Enjoy the month ahead and hopefully we'll see you at Balstock!..

info@onourdoorstepbaldock.co.uk or 07973

WHO DOES WHAT? UNDERSTANDING YOUR LOCAL COUNCILS

In North Herordshire, many public services are delivered by two diﬀerent councils: North Herts Council and Herordshire County Council. Each has its own responsibilies, and knowing who does what can save me and help you get the support you need more quickly.

North Herts Council

This is your district council, responsible for services that aﬀect your day-to-day environment and local community life. These include:

Ÿ Bin collecons and recycling

Ÿ Planning applicaons and building control

Ÿ Council tax billing and housing beneﬁts

Ÿ Housing services

Ÿ Leisure centres, parks, and open spaces

Ÿ Environmental health and licensing

Ÿ Local events and community grants

Herordshire County Council

This is your county council, responsible for larger-scale services that cover the whole county. These include:

Ÿ Roads, pavements, rights of way, and street lighng

Ÿ Schools, educaon, and SEND

Ÿ Social care and safeguarding

Ÿ Libraries

Ÿ Public health

Ÿ Fire and rescue services

Ÿ Transport planning and bus routes

Not Sure Who to Contact?

If you're unsure which council handles your issue, or you'd like to speak to your local councillor, you can ﬁnd their details by entering your postcode at: www.writetothem.com

Your councillors are there to help. Whether it's a pothole, a planning query, or something more complex, they can guide you to the right place.

Top Tips for Contacng Your Councillors

If you're raising an issue or asking for help, here's how to make sure your message gets the best possible response:

Ÿ Include your postcode. It helps us check whether we're your representave.

Ÿ Be speciﬁc. Menon the exact locaon (for example, “outside number 14”) and describe the issue clearly (What3Words is very helpful for this).

Ÿ Aach photos if relevant. A picture of a broken pavement or missed bin can save me.

Ÿ Say if you've already reported it. Let us know the reference number or who you spoke to.

Ÿ Let us know what outcome you're hoping for. Whether it's a ﬁx, a follow-up, or just clarity. We won't always be able to get the exact result you want, but we'll do what we can. Councillors can't ﬁx everything directly, but we can chase things up, raise concerns, and help you get answers.

This guide is here to make things clearer. If it helps you understand who does what, or saves you a bit of me, then it's done its job.

Cllr Alistair Willoughby Baldock and Letchworth East County Division Baldock West District Ward

A local hospice is ramping up its trading acvity in a bid to generate maximum income for the charity. As part of their new strategy, they have extended their oﬀering of collecng donated furniture and household items, to enre property clearances.

Garden House Hospice Care launched their new 'house services' in July of this year. They now arrange furniture collecons, house clearances, garden clearances, garage clearances, oﬃce removals and a man with a van service for customers. Every penny raised in proﬁt directly contributes toward paent care.

House services cover a large area across North Herordshire and Central Bedfordshire, including Stevenage, Hitchin, Stoold, Letchworth, Baldock, Royston, and all the villages in between.

HospiceExpandsTradingServices toBoostCharitableIncome

There is no maximum or minimum size of collecon or clearance and all items will either be resold or refurbished to be sold in Garden House Hospice Care's stores, or sorted, recycled and disposed of in compliance with environmental regulaons.

A recent customer le the following feedback:

“I am so impressed with how smoothly the clearance of my mum's property went. The team were incredibly professional and well-organised throughout, and the whole process was handled with great care.”

Shaun Baines is Retail Director at Garden House Hospice Care:

“House services are an important part of our retail offering, aligning with the Hospice's values while delivering greater financial returns. We know how challenging it can be clearing a home, for instance following a bereavement, or simply finding someone to help transport or collect large items. Thanks to the range of services we provide,

it enables us to support the local community while raising funds for Garden House Hospice Care.”

Sco Whiteaker, Retail Donaon Centre Manager, adds:

“We are really proud of the model we've built with our house services. Our dedicated team ensure that anyone looking for support with clearances or collecons receives a professional and friendly service, which in turn help the Hospice connue to deliver exceponal care to those who need it most.”

The Hospice costs £8.5 million a year to run. With only a percentage being funded by the NHS, the income raised through their trading acvity is crucial to fund their specialist services. For more informaon or to enquire, visit

www.ghhospicecare.org/houseservices or call The Depot on 01462 678076 (opon1).

The Most Powerful Rolls Royce Ever The Black Badge Spectre

In the realm of ultra-luxury vehicles, few brands capture the imaginaon like Rolls-Royce. This marque has long been associated with exceponal crasmanship - and the ushering in of the Black Badge Spectre elevates this legacy to new heights.

The Black Badge Spectre is an allelectric car. What's more, it's the most powerful Rolls-Royce ever built. I had the privilege of taking this stunning vehicle for a test drive, commencing from the picturesque grounds of Grantley Hall in Ripon - a ﬁng place to begin an experience steeped in elegance and reﬁnement.

The Black Badge Spectre oozes elegance and contemporary ﬂair in its design. The prominent grille commands your aenon, paired with streamlined headlights that boost its presence on the road even further. The radiant paint ﬁnish glistens in the light, while the iconic Spirit of Ecstasy perched on the bonnet epitomises opulence.

Step inside and you're enveloped in an atmosphere of luxury. The heavy doors close with a reassuring thud that speaks of Roll-Royce's solid engineering.

By Tim Barnes-Clay - Follow on Instagram @tbarnsclay

Inside, the meculous aenon to detail is evident - from the scent of the sumptuous leather upholstery to the Black Badge Technical Fibre that seems almost alive under the ambient lighng.

Seng off from the idyllic surroundings of Grantley Hall, I drove around Ripon, soaking in the lush countryside from the comfort of the Rolls-Royce. The first thing that strikes you is the hushed serenity that surrounds you in this magnificent vehicle.

You are also met with exhilarang acceleraon; the immediate torque delivery is simply thrilling. With a 060mph me of just 4.1 seconds, the Spectre deﬁes expectaons of what a luxury vehicle can achieve in terms of performance. The driving experience is remarkable, whether navigang winding countryside roads or merging onto faster stretches of tarmac.

Indeed, handling the Spectre is almost indescribable. While its substanal size might suggest a degree of difficulty in manoeuvring, the steering is intuive, offering feedback that inspires confidence.

The Rolls-Royce feels so agile, capable of negoang ght corners with grace.

The technology within the Black Badge Spectre is as cung-edge as you would expect. The infotainment system has a digital interface that seamlessly combines navigaon and connecvity. A fab feature is the tailor-made audio system, which envelops you in an exceponal acousc experience. Notably, all funcons can be personalised to suit your preferences, ensuring that every journey is disnctly yours.

Safety is paramount in the Spectre as well. It comes with a suite of advanced driver assistance systems, meculously craed to monitor your surroundings and enhance your conﬁdence whilst driving.

The Black Badge Spectre represents an amazing achievement in engineering and design. If you're fortunate to have up to half a million pounds spare and are in pursuit of an extraordinary driving experience steeped in luxury, this Rolls-Royce is sure to leave you more than sasﬁed.

Fast Facts

Rolls-Royce Black Badge Spectre:

Ÿ Max speed: 155 mph

Ÿ 0-62 mph: 4.1 secs

Ÿ Range: 306-329 miles

Ÿ Engine layout: Dual electric motors, all-wheel drive

Ÿ Max. power (PS): 659

Ÿ CO2: 0 g/km

Ÿ Price from: £350.000 to £500,000+

Formed in 2011 by a group of like-minded individuals from North Hertfordshire, Prince Hamlet Lodge is a modern expression of an ancient tradition. We meet atThe Cloisters in Letchworth, where our formal lodge meetings are followed by a relaxed dinner known as the Festive Board, a time for good food, good conversation, and shared values.

Freemasonry is about friendship, integrity, and making a positive diﬀerence, both in ourselves and in our communities.Alongside our regular meetings, we also host social events and interest groups open to all.

OurAviation Interest Group met on the 2nd July at ShuttleworthAirﬁeld and Museum to attend a talk on the 110 years of aviation manufacturing and history in Hertfordshire.There is always the opportunity to have a lunch in the cafeteria and engage in conversation with both Freemasons and guests alike.

We also proudly support local charities, including Stevenage and North HertsTalking News.They help blind and visually impaired people with audio readings from local newspapers and items of general interest 0

If you're curious about Freemasonry and want to learn more, we'd love to hear from you. Email us at ph9864@gmail.com for a friendly and informal chat.

I richmonds-coaches.co.uk

It's That Time Of Year Again…

Are you one of those parents who has survived the school summer holidays and are breathing a huge sigh of relief to have normality back for a while? Are you also one of those parents who have had 'Make a Will' on their backburner 'To Do' list for some me? It's always there lurking isn't it! Wills get menoned by friends or family all the me – maybe aer a loved one is lost, or maybe someone feeling virtuous as they have just made their own Will, and somemes it's a horror story you hear where someone died without leaving a Will!

How many mes have you felt a pang of guilt when Wills are menoned, and you know you should be making yours so that your children would be protected if anything happened to you?

Why not make Autumn 2025 the me when you ﬁnally get around to it? You can then have that smug feeling others get when Wills are menoned – no more guilt pangs!

It may feel daunng to think about your Will, but usually people ﬁnd it way easier than they expect. Having an imparal third party to talk things over with oen helps with making tough

The important things to think about when you have children (and to discuss at a Will appointment) are:

Ÿ Guardians to look aer them physically.

Ÿ Trustees to look aer their money.

If you would like to arrange a no-obligaon meeng (either remote to face to face) to discuss your Will please do contact us at A R K Lasng Powers & Wills (info@arkpowers.com or 01438746977). Just take a look at our 100+ 5 star google reviews –hopefully, that will reassure you that we are the right ﬁrm to help you make these important decisions so that you can put a Will in place that will protect your most valuable assets. decisions where children are concerned. It's usually not as expensive as they fear either!

Ÿ The age you think they should inherit outright (unl then Trustees can look aer their money and they can advance money for anything that is thought to be acceptable for their maintenance, educaon or beneﬁt).

Starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia ColmanIn, the duo star as a picture-perfect couple Ivy andTheo: successful careers, a loving marriage, great kids. But beneath the facade of their ideal life, a storm is brewing, asTheo’s career nosedives while Ivy’s own ambitions take oﬀ, a tinderbox of ﬁerce competition and hidden resentment ignites.

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale

Out 12th September

Grand Finale takes the beloved Crawley family and their staff into the 1930s.The narrative unfolds as Lady Mary finds herself embroiled in a public scandal stemming from her divorce, leading to social disgrace and the jeopardizing of the Crawley name. Simultaneously, the family grapples with looming financial difficulties, forcing the household to confront an uncertain future.

HankThompson, once a hotshot high school baseball prospect, turned unlucky alcoholic, goingnowhere bartender mistakenly gets caught up in a bloody treasure hunt through NewYork City. It turns out that the cat Hank's neighbour left in his care is sitting on a secret. Hidden at the bottom of its cage is a key wanted by a sadistic cop, Russian mobsters, a Samoan hit man, and a pair of psycho brothers .

one battle after another Out 15th September

Bob Odenkirk returns as workaholic ex-assassin Hutch Mansell.To reconnect with his wife Becca (Connie Nielsen) and their kids, Hutch agrees to a good oldfashioned family trip to Wild Bill’s Majestic Midway. But what’s meant to be a wholesome escape in the sunny little tourist town of Plummerville turns into a full-scale bloodbath, after a minor run-in with some local thugs.

Certiﬁcate RunningTime 18 90 mins

The roses caught stealing

Local racing talent Archie Davies was back in acon at Silverstone in August, a track where he's built a solid record over the past couple seasons. With two P3 ﬁnishes here last year, hopes were high heading into the weekend, and Archie didn't disappoint!

Friday's tesng sessions saw Archie pick up right where he le oﬀ. Conﬁdent and consistent, he looked well set for a strong weekend.

Saturday morning and qualifying brought a few challenges. Archie was leading the pack early on, using the slipstream (or "tow") to clock strong lap mes, which is crucial in the Formula Junior Championship (FJC) cars. But aer a lap me was deleted and a tricky return to the track following a tyre pressure adjustment, he ended up with a frustrang P10, his lowest qualifying result of the season so far.

ARCHIE DAVIES BLAZES TO VICTORY

Saturday, Race 1 Starng from P10 on the grid, Archie got straight to work. With clever driving and bold overtakes, he carved his way through the field to finish in P4, just six tenths of a second off the win. It was a ght bale for the podium right up to the chequered flag!

Sunday's race started from a much stronger P4, and Archie launched oﬀ the line with serious intent. By the me the cars ﬂew into the legendary Copse Corner, he'd already jumped up to P3.

He and the top two drivers pulled away from the rest of the ﬁeld, building a sixsecond gap, leaving it a three-way ﬁght for the win. Aer a couple of close calls at Brooklands, Archie stayed paent, waing for the perfect moment.

That moment came on the ﬁnal lap. As the top two scrapped through Copse, Archie saw his chance. With a perfectly med run and some smart race cra, he swept past both drivers into Maggots, taking the lead with style and composure. He held his nerve all the way home to take 1st place, crossing the line in front of the Brooklands grandstand!

From a tough qualifying to a brilliant ﬁghtback and a ﬁnal-lap pass for the win, Archie once again showed why he's one to watch on the junior motorsport scene.

We'll be keeping an eye on where the road (or track!) takes him next — and we're cheering for him all the way!

UNIT 12 BONDOR BUSINESS CENTRE, LONDON ROAD, BALDOCK. SG76HP

Work Ergonomics

We are oen asked whether physical or desk-based jobs are best for the body.

From our point of view one is not necessarily beer than the other. It is how we are using our bodies and what strain we are pung on our bodies that is important.

Desk-based work advice:

When sing for long periods we can start to develop aches and pains due to having a compromised posture or repeve movement leading to muscle fague.

Checking your workstaon for the following could help to reduce the strain placed upon your body:

Ÿ Your back is supported in the chair

Ÿ Your feet are ﬂat on the ﬂoor

Ÿ Your knees are either at 90o to your

Ÿ hips or just below

Ÿ Your screen is arm's length away from you

Ÿ Your forearms can rest on your desk

No maer how well your desk is set up, sing for prolonged periods sll increases the strain on certain muscle groups. Taking frequent breaks from sing not only helps to reduce incidences of pain and improve posture but it also helps to increased energy, lis your mood, and improves focus. If you wait for the pain to kick in before you change posion, it's too late!

Physical work advice:

Oen with physical work most injuries occur when liing and moving, and surprisingly the objects are not always heavy. This is oen because we are more careful when liing heavy

objects, so when liing any object always be aware of your posture. Body posion for liing:

1. Make sure you are stable

2. Both your hips and shoulders facing the object, this will avoid any twisng through your spine

3. Your feet shoulder-width apart, by placing one foot further forward than the other will give you more balance

4. When liing keep you back straight and bend from your knees If you work related injuries are prevenng you from doing what you want/need to do please call the clinic on 01462 490 141 to see how one of our Osteopaths can help you.

Louise Adams M(Ost) N.D MICO Amber Health Clinical Lead

Baldock Gardens

By Graham Tapp

September is here. Where did the summer go? 2025 has so far been the strangest gardening year, starting extremely wet, cold and damp until well into late spring and then extremely hot and dry, nothing we gardeners could rely on. Here in the garden centre, we have done nothing else but water our plants day and night, as have most of the plot holders on the BALGA allotments across the road from us. Well done to them because there are some goodlooking plots with good yields.

This hot weather has been bad news as far as the destructive pests are concerned. The season started with slugs and snails everywhere, mainly because we haven't had any freezing weather to kill them. Well, we all say that, don't we? It's the most common discussion I have with customers when I'm working on the till in the springtime. Actually, slugs and snails are not killed wholesale by cold weather at all, as they adapt to the expected cold weather by lowering their freezing point by changing their cell solute. In simple terms, as the temperature gets down to between 5 and 2 degrees centigrade, they change the concentration of the fluids in their cells and other areas, in effect turning it into anti-freeze. In addition, snails seal themselves into their shells by excreting a thick mucus into the shell entrance, which solidifies, blocking the soft body of the snail inside the shell for the entire winter.

What does kill slugs and snails is entirely the opposite of what we were always told, and that is the very hot weather we have been having this summer. For example, if they get caught out in the open or can't find suitable cover or shade, they will quickly cook. Anything over 60 degrees Celsius body temperature will fry them.

The weather so far this year has caused lots of problems for many amateur and professional growers alike, including us, due to the prolonged cool weather in what was supposed to be spring. As I have written about many times, the beneficial insects tend to like it much

warmer and drier than the nasty bugs they prey on, so the bad boys in the garden get a head start and can do some severe damage before the beneficials can build up enough numbers to make headway controlling the damaging pests.

We had a problem with red spider mites early on. Fortunately, the little sunshine we had at that time warmed our growing tunnels enough for our resident lacewing larvae to start eating the mites at an enormous rate and get them under control. We now have a new microscope to identify these pests and beneficials. It is incredible to see how many mites one lacewing can eat in twenty-four hours.

As we moved on through the summer, we discovered many problem pests that we would never have expected to see in a normal year, but the good guys, the predators, turned up, destroyed, and mostly ate them all.

One evening in mid-August, I discovered something I had never seen in books or the wild, which looked like an Asian Longhorn Beetle, a notifiable pest. A notifiable pest or disease is something which, on discovery, any member of the general public or professionals is required by law to inform the relevant Government authority, in this case, the Animal and Plant Health Agency, having rushed around to get my mobile phone to take a photograph and a cake box from our Cafe to capture it in, it started to get a bit twitchy obiously getting ready to fly away, it did, but not before I got a picture of it. The Beetle's body was about two and a half centimetres long and 6 millimetres wide, black with a white spot on its back, and three centimetres long black feelers with a large white stripe across both of them. Fearing the worst, I sent the photograph in an email to the Agency. I got a quick response and a request for a local Plant Health Officer to make an urgent visit the next day. No sign of the insect or any damage to plants, emergency over. It turned out, on further investigation by them, that it was a semi-rare wasp named Coelichneumon cyaniventris.

This good guy lays its eggs on many species of caterpillars, parasitising them, saving us gardeners from untold damage. Coelichneumon cyaniventris is a nonaggressive wasp that will not harm humans or pets and will not buzz around you. It will calmly sit around and allow you to have a good look at it, as long as you do not get too close and scare it away. Try to take a photo of it so that you can admire it in your own time. It is a lovely-looking insect and a good one to keep in your garden.

I realise that the subject of Bees, Wasps and Hornets is a confusing, scary, and complicated subject to get your head around, so I suggest a straightforward website to visit (www.bpca.org.uk), the British Pest Control Association. Their website is easy to use and very informative, with a downloadable section called ‘Things that sting pest advice sheet,

That has lots of descriptive photos. If you have a problem with buzzing insects, this is the place to start, and if you have a pest control company out to fix a problem, make sure they are part of the association. You can be assured that they will give you the correct information and deal with your problem most effectively.

Bee swarms seem to be the scariest thing I get asked about. I don't find them worrying at all, but I've been involved with bees since I was a young child, having lived on a fruit farm in Kent for years. Bees usually swarm from April through May, sometimes August through to October. These later ones will be small in size and very often do not survive to the next season without help.

The most important thing is to keep out of their way, watch where they go and then call a local beekeeper. Someone will find them a home. Please, remember every Bee needs a home, and saving, don't let anyone kill a swarm.

Whatisitgoodfor JOIN THE CLUB

Reenergised from last month's hiatus (sorry Pinky) I've had a lot of fun doing this month's arcle, this one was inspired by what started as a silly conversaon over a coffee at Luna's. One of my companions menoned that he had some work to do for the Goldfish Club, me in my naivety giggled at the fact that Baldock has a Goldfish club. How very wrong I was. Aer he explained what it was, I was bombarded by the other gatherers with a plethora of eccentrically named clubs and sociees. When I returned home I decided to dedicate this ramble to some of our weird, wonderful and excentric alliances, and set to work on researching. Some, do what they say on the n, there are Appreciaon Sociees, that no doubt just stand around and murmur platudes at Pylons, Water Towers, Clouds, Roundabouts, Bad films, and Boot Scrapers. There is even an Appreciaon Society of the Appreciaon Society. I found a club called the Not Very Good Club. Brish journalist Stephen Pile started the club in the late sevenes for people who were, well, just not terribly good at things. To prove they were worthy, members had to tell their tales at meengs. These would involve such doozies as; A family planning agency distributed condoms stapled to a pamphlet about STDs, perforang the condoms and making them a notterribly-good form of contracepon. The club had to disband when membership surged, making itself successful, and

therefore ineligible to exist.

Universies are a hot bed of clubs for one thing or another, this one caught my eye. The 20 Minute Society at Newcastle University: Members receive unscheduled texts with a random locaon and must get there within 20 minutes. You can ﬁnd The Zombie Apocalypse Survival Society in Manchester.

Other clubs may be eccentrically named but are serious in their endeavour and do magniﬁcent work for their membership. The Guinea Pig Club was a social club formed by aircrew who underwent pioneering plasc surgery, primarily for burn injuries, at Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead during World War II. Led by surgeon Sir Archibald McIndoe, the club aimed to support and rehabilitate these airmen, challenging the percepon that their injuries were life-liming. The club's name came from the experimental nature of the treatments they received.

The Goldﬁsh Club. A worldwide associaon of people who have escaped an aircra by parachung into the water or whose aircra crashed in the water, and whose lives were saved by a life jacket, inﬂatable dinghy, or similardevice. The main aim of the club is 'to keep alive the spirit of comradeship arising from the mutual experience of members surviving,"coming down in the drink".

There are many Clubs and Sociees in and around Baldock, The Young at Heart Club, Folk Club and Mahjong Club to

name but a few, but the one I had to dig really deep to ﬁnd is so shrouded in mystery that the mere whisper of its name could bring the Ghost of Greyfriars School howling through your window. I have a man on the inside who gave me the skinny, I will not peach on him. As a journalist, I cannot reveal my sources.

Baldock Bunters Club was established in 2006 by ex-rugby players with nothing beer to occupy their me and were connuously geng under the feet of the missus. This is a very secreve and select group of old farts who name themselves aer the characters from the Billy Bunter books and wear silly caps. Their chief villain calls himself Harry Wharton. In the beginning, the Bunters set sail for distant islands around the Brish shores to eat and drink their way around the local hospitalies. Having achieved their goal, they have expanded the operaon to a worldwide endeavour (well, nearly). They now aim to visit all Brish baleﬁelds around the globe to pay homage and remember all of our soldiers, sailors and airmen that have fought and died for our country. They have a parcular focus on the heroes of Baldock and the Rugby Club. Their claim to fame is the slightly unnerving, “No Bunter has ever been arrested on Brish soil.”

It's only a maer of me lads.

Baldock’s favourite for 33 years

“You don't have to look far” My Grandma often said, “To ﬁnd someone wishing, They were in your shoes instead.”

Let's be kind out there And make this a better world

Baldock Bard

We're back 6.30 sellers, 7 am buyers See you there!

‘WE GUARANTEE TO BEAT* your existing home insurance renewal quote in the SG postcode.’

For most people their home is the biggest investment they will ever make and the things they keep in it are their most prized possessions.

As your local broker our role is to select the policy most suited to your individual needs. Ensuring peace of mind for our customers is at the heart of what we do.

To make sure your most treasured possessions are properly covered contact the Emperor of insurance

28 Years Later

Too much choice out there?

Spend more time deciding what to watch than actually watching something? LET BALDOCK'S RESiDENT TV GLUTTON HELP YOU ON YOUR MiSSiON!

28 Years Later was a rare incenve for me to visit the cinema recently. I loved 28 Days Later; Danny Boyle and Alex Garland's 2002 zombie apocalypse movie for its visceral style and rusc and griy ﬁlm making . As a young student I was hooked.

Finally , aer all these years , we can forget the lame sequel 28 Months Later and appreciate a proper griy, rusc sequel to “28 Days Later,” with brain-splaer visuals to boot. Danny Boyle and Alex Garland once again deliver.

Set 28 years aer the inial 'rage' outbreak, the UK is sealed off, becoming a quasi-medieval world. Survivors live on a dal island in the north of England cut off from the mainland . Duly , meet Spike, a 12-year-old boy, and his ailing mum and his macho father determined to make him aware just how dangerous the mainland is. Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Jodie Comer play their respecve roles really well here and have added some gravitas to the film.

Soon , we realise that despite a zombie background this is actually a tender coming-of-age story as much as a horror ﬂick. Spike deals with gore, grief, and growing up in a mad world as exposed to him by his father , Ralph Fiennes even makes an appearance as doctor gone slightly mad.

Shot on iPhones, it feels cinemac—raw, vivid, with a punkrock energy.

The infected come in diﬀerent ﬂavours now : slow, slimy “SlowLows,” naked sprinng maniacs, and spine-ripping Alphas. They've evolved aer all these years and this adds a good layer of intrigue

The second half shis from thrill to melancholy, in a well considered way , as Spike and his father realise they can't take on the mainland on their own and the ending is a cliangerleaving us well open for two more sequels which have already been ﬁlmed.

In short, 28 Years Later is a bloody, brilliant part horror, part myth and a welcome re-boot to a franchise with the best of Brish behind it in Danny Boyle and Alex Garland .

With 20 years experience selling homes locally

Thank you to all the people that have recommended me as their personal estate agent in Baldock. I love working here and the town has always held a special place in my heart, it's just great!!

ASHWELL WESTON

We're a couple in our mid-50s who love a bit of sunshine, good food, and a relaxed pace and Puglia absolutely delivered. Tucked in the heel of Italy's boot, this region has a lile bit of everything: history, charm, amazing food, and best of all, no need to rent a car. The local trains are cheap, easy to navigate, and make geng around a breeze.

We started our trip in Bari, Puglia's capital. First impressions? Like stepping into a storybook. The old town is full of character, narrow cobbled streets, whitewashed buildings, and friendly locals going about their day. We loved watching the nonnas making pasta outside their homes and picking up fresh fruit from the bustling market stalls. Life moves at a slower, more genuine pace here, and we quickly fell into the rhythm.

A Relaxed Italian Getaway for Two TRAVEL

Bari Vecchia (the old town) was a real highlight. Kids playing football in the streets, washing lines strung above our heads, and the smell of home cooking everywhere — it all felt very authenc. And don't get us started on the food! Between the street-side pizza slices and the gelato (the ricoa and fig flavour was a revelaon), we were in heaven. From Bari, we caught a regional train to Polignano a Mare, a stunning lile town perched on cliffs above the Adriac. The views were breathtaking, and it was the perfect spot for a relaxed stroll, and a refreshing limoncello spritz, if you enjoy a bit of poetry — literally, the lines of verse are wrien on the stairways and walls around town.

Next up was Monopoli, just down the line. This charming ﬁshing town felt very “lived in” — not touristy, just locals enjoying their seaside home. We had a long, lazy lunch by the harbour with grilled fresh ﬁsh and my favourite bruschea with the sweetest tomatoes

We ventured inland to visit Ostuni, the “White City”. It glows in the sunlight, all bright alleys and sweeping views over olive groves. Then came Alberobello, with its fairytale trulli houses — we've never seen anything quite like it. Very touristy, but worth it. We rounded oﬀ the day with Burrata so fresh and creamy.

Throughout the trip, we were lucky with the weather — sunny every day — and the food never missed a beat. From seafood to cured meats to handmade pasta, every meal was a treat. Not much English was spoken in the smaller towns, but we got by easily with a few Italian basics and lots of smiles. Everyone we met was warm and welcoming.

The best part? Travelling by train meant no driving stress. We could sit back, relax, and enjoy the views between stops. If you're looking for a laid-back, culture-rich escape with loads of ﬂavour and a touch of adventure, Puglia might just be the perfect place

Members of Baldock and Clothall WI celebrated their 105th birthday with, of course, a 1920s themed garden party. Music, food and costumes of the me were all enthusiascally embraced and a fun me was had by all. The WI is an organisaon for all women, with no polical or religious aﬃliaon. Baldock and Clothall branch meet in the evening of the second Thursday of the month at the United Reform Church.

We were delighted to welcome 2 visitors to our party, you are able to visit up to 3 mes before joining. In addion to our regular meengs, which are a mixture of speakers and social evenings we have a number of sub groups, cras, reading, walking, lunch, coffee and supper (we love coming together with food and drinks!) Why not drop in to see us, or email us at baldockandclothallwi@gmail.com to find to find out more.

5 minutes with... Chef Patron Kish from Eight

*I'vedrivenpast,butwhatisEight?

Eight is an independently owned neighbourhood restaurant and bar here in Baldock. Our goal is simple, to create a warm, welcoming space wherepeople canrelax,connect, andenjoy a truly memorable experience. From day one, we've been supported by our incredible local community, and we've made it our mission to give back — especially by championing local producers in everything we do. We source our beef and pork from trusted local farms, our seafood is sourced from Brish waters, day boat caught where possible, and our drinks list reflects our values too, with gin, rum and IPAs from nearby dislleries and breweries. Even our coffee beans are roasted justdowntheroadinWestonbyCampervanCoffee.

*Whatsortoffooddoyouserve?

Wedon'tlimitourselvestoaparcular cuisine orcookingstyle. Instead, our menus are dictated by the seasons, by whatever produceisatitsabsolutebestattheme.Sowhetherit'sSouth Cambridgeshire lamb ribs in a soy glaze with kimchi mayo, Asian slaw and crispy onions, or Rye Harbour halibut with crushed new-season potatoes, courgees, tomato jam and a chive cream sauce — we always aim to let the ingredients shine.

*WouldyoudescribeEightasaﬁnediningrestaurant?

Not at all. We don't see ourselves as “ﬁne dining”, but we do caredeeply about quality whilstalsooﬀering value: greatfood, great service, and great surroundings, without any pretension. In the kitchen, we work hard to source the best ingredients we can.WetreatthemwithcareandletMother Naturedomostof the talking. Our dining room is stylish but relaxed, and our cosy bar is ideal for a spontaneous drink and a nibble. The menu is small and seasonal, changing regularly. Our cocktails are made to order from scratch, and our wines are chosen to complement the menu, ortosimply enjoy with good company. Eight is the kind of place we'd want to visit ourselves, whether it'sabirthdaydinneroranimpromptuWednesdaynighttreat.

*DoyouhostanyeventsatEight?

Wedoandthey'reabigpartofwhatweloveaboutbeinginthis community.Wecurrentlyrunthreemonthlyevents:

1.LiveMusicSaturdays

On the ﬁrst Saturday of each month, we host acousc sets by talentedlocalmusiciansbetween1pmand3pm

2.MonthlyWineSupperClub

Usually held on the third Thursday of each month, our Wine Supper Club is hosted by our brilliant wine supplier James from Wine2Trade. Each month focuses on a diﬀerent wine-producing country. We create a four-course themed menu, and James pairs eachdishwithabeaufulwinefromthatregion.

3.MonthlyThaiNight

ThelastWednesdayofeverymonthisourThaiNight—apersonal favourite of mine. Why Thai? Well, Eight was born from the success of my Thai street food concept. Back in April 2021, just aer lockdown restricons eased, I started trading from a converted horsebox. I'd always loved Thai food — especially the bold, vibrant ﬂavours of its street food scene — and quickly saw that it was underrepresented at local events. That lile trailer became the start of something much bigger, and when the opportunity came to open a bricks-and-mortar restaurant in December 2022, we took it. Our Thai Night is a nod to those early daysandawayofrememberingwhereitallbegan.

*I'veseenEightonWheelsatstreetfoodevents,isthatsllyou?

Yes, that's us! I love taking the trailer out again to serve Thai food at local street food events and fesvals. It's something I genuinely enjoy,notjustthecooking,buttheinteraconwithguestsandthe camaraderie among other food vendors. It's also a brilliant way to introduce new people to Eight. We've had private bookings too, everythingfromweddingreceponstocorporatepares.

*DoyouserveaSundayroast?

Wecertainlydo,andit'sourfavouritedayoftheweek.

The kitchen arrives bright and early to get the roast potatoes crispy and the Yorkshire puddings just right. Out front, we're always excited to check the bookings, especially when we spot regulars we haven't seen for a while. It's a relaxed, family-focused aernoon. We see kids, grandparents, neighbours, and friends cometogetheroverlonglunchesandbolesofwine

*WherecanIﬁndoutmore?

You can always pop in for a chat, we'd love to see you. Or head to ourwebsite:www.eight.co.uk

*Howtoexperienceitforyourself?

Eight is open from Wednesday to Sunday for relaxed weekday dinners, lively weekend lunches, and everything in between. Whether you're popping in for a glass of wine or celebrang somethingspecial,we'reheretomakeitmemorable.

Ÿ SHEDS

SUMMER HOUSES Ÿ GARDEN OFFICES

WORKSHOPS Ÿ POTTING SHEDS Ÿ PLAYHOUSE Ÿ LOG CABIN Ÿ RE-ROOFING Ÿ RE-FELTING

Ÿ SHED BASES

Ÿ FENCING

Ÿ GATES

Ÿ TAKE DOWN & DISPOSE OF OLD SHEDS

Shish Tawook with Pide Bread

It's September. A part of me is over the moon as the kids are going back to school and normal service can resume. The other part? Not so thrilled, it's my birthday month and Summer is winding down.

I'm throwing it back to our recent “business research” trip to Turkey, the one dish we ate over and over again and fell in love with was probably the simplest: grilled chicken skewer, Shish Tawook. I asked around, got recipes from a few generous families, and merged all the best bits into the ultimate version for you.

This recipe feeds four.

Let's Marinate the Chicken Like You Mean It

Ingredients:

Ÿ 800g boneless chicken thighs, trimmed and cut into 4–5 cm chunks

Ÿ 150g plain yoghurt (full-fat – it's worth it!)

Ÿ 40g tomato paste3 garlic cloves, crushed

Ÿ 30ml lemon juice (about 1 lemon)

Ÿ 1 tsp ground paprika

Ÿ 1 tsp ground cumin

Ÿ ½ tsp ground cinnamon

Ÿ ½ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)

Ÿ 1½ tsp salt

Ÿ 2 tbsp olive oil

Ÿ Flavour needs time – like a good wine or a long lunch.

Ÿ Method:

Ÿ 1. In a large bowl, mix the yoghurt, tomato paste, garlic, lemon juice, spices, salt, and olive oil. Give it a proper whisk — this isn't a job for the halfhearted.

Ÿ 2. Toss in the chicken and coat thoroughly.

Ÿ 3. Cover and marinate in the fridge for at least 4 hours, but ideally overnight.

Let's Make the Pide Bread.

Dough Ingredients:

Ÿ 400g strong white bread ﬂour (+ extra for dusting)

Ÿ 7g instant dry yeast (1 standard sachet)

Ÿ 1 tsp sugar

Ÿ 1½ tsp salt

Ÿ 250ml warm water (not hot, think “bath for a baby”)

Ÿ 2 tbsp plain yoghurt

Ÿ 2 tbsp olive oil

1. In a mixing bowl (or a stand mixer with a dough hook if you're posh), combine the ﬂour, yeast, sugar and salt.

2. In a jug, whisk the water, yoghurt and olive oil.

3. Slowly pour the wet mix into the dry while stirring.

4. Knead for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic.

5. Cover with a damp tea towel or cling ﬁlm and let it rise for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.

Ÿ For the Glaze & Topping:

Ingredients:

Ÿ 1 egg yolk

Ÿ 1 tbsp yoghurt

Ÿ Nigella seeds or sesame seeds (or both – we're generous like that)

Ÿ Pinch of sea salt ﬂakes (chef's kiss moment)

Method:

1.Preheat the oven to 230°C (fan 210°C) / Gas 8.

2.Divide dough into two equal balls. Press each into a rough oval or circle (1–2cm thick).

3.Transfer to parchment-lined baking trays.

4.Mix the egg yolk and yoghurt, then brush the tops.

5.Press a border around the edge and a diamond pattern in the centre using your ﬁngers.

6.Sprinkle with nigella and sesame seeds, ﬁnish with sea salt.

7.Bake for 12–15 minutes until puﬀed, golden, and irresistible.

8.Let them rest for a few minutes before tearing in..

Let's Make an Epic Garlic Sauce

Ingredients:

*4 garlic cloves, minced

*1 egg white

*200ml neutral oil (sunﬂower or rapeseed)

*1 tbsp lemon juice

*Pinch of salt

Method:

1.In a food processor or with a stick blender, blitz the garlic and egg white until frothy.

2.Slowly drizzle in the oil while blending constantly to form an emulsion.

3.Finish with lemon juice and salt. Adjust to taste

Let's Skewer the Chicken

1.Soak wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes.

2.Thread 4–5 chunks of chicken per skewer.

3.Heat a grill, griddle pan or BBQ until seriously hot.

4.Cook for 10–12 minutes, turning every 2–3 minutes, until charred and cooked through.

Serve the skewers hot oﬀ the grill, drizzled or dunked in that divine garlic sauce. Add warm pide bread (or rice), a scattering of herbs, and a few crunchy pickles on the side.

Pair it with a chilled Ayran, or a dry rosé like a Grenache.

I hope you enjoy this recipe. It might just be the last time you ﬁre up the BBQ this year, so make it a memorable meal.

Until next month –

, Chef patron of

Baldock Town FC Women are looking for a 16yr+ female goalkeeper for their Womens Development Team. This doesn't mean you have to be a fantasc goalkeeper yet but maybe you are looking to progress to be.

Thank You from the Baldock Beer Fesval Commiee

Goalkeeper Wanted National finalists

They have a fully qualiﬁed GK coach and an exceponal 1st team keeper to help and coach you. All they ask for is commitment to the team.

If this is something you've been thinking about please message Hannah Manton on 07907712360 or email baldocktownfcwomen@aol.com. who knows you could be the next Hannah Hampton or Mary Earps. You wont know, Unless you give it a go.

We'd like to thank everyone who helped make this year's Baldock Beer Fesval happen. It was a real team eﬀort, and we're grateful to all who gave their me. Whether you were behind the bar, helping with setup, playing music, serving food or simply coming along to enjoy the weekend, your contribuon maered.

The fesval depends on volunteers and community support. It's that shared involvement that keeps it going. We appreciate everyone who played a part, however big or small.

We'll be leng you know soon how much was raised. As always, the money goes straight back into supporng our community and the local groups that help make it a great place to live.

Thanks again. We look forward to seeing you next me.

Baldock Town Bowls Club have had an amazing 2025 season, they fought their way through to the ﬁnal of the Tony Allcock Trophy, in Leamington. But it wasn’t to be their day, narrowly missing out to Gerrads Cross Bowls Club.

Huge congratulaon to all the team members on reaching the ﬁnal and represenng Baldock.

In a season deﬁned not only by footballing talent but by character, integrity and sportsmanship, Baldock Town Youth U11 Knights have proudly been awarded the Royston Crow League Respect Award for 2024/25 — one of the league's most presgious honours. This accolade reﬂects far more than success on the pitch. It symbolises the values that underpin true development in youth football: mutual respect,

Champions of Respect

teamwork, humility, and the ability to compete with fairness and dignity. To be recognised in this way by the league is a tremendous achievement and a testament to the culture embedded within the team.

From the first whistle in September to the final kick of the season, the Knights have shown unwavering commitment to upholding the FA's Respect campaign. Whether it be applauding opposion efforts, showing maturity in tesng moments, or encouraging one another through highs and lows, the Knights have embodied the very spirit of the game.

Credit must go to the players, who represent themselves, their families, and their club with class every week.

Their coaches, too, deserve recognion for fostering an environment that priorises values alongside development. And, of course, to the parents and supporters whose posive example has helped shape a team that plays with pride and heart.

Winning the Respect Award is not just about recognion, it's about legacy. The Knights have set a benchmark for others to follow, proving that how we play the game is just as important as the result.

This plaque will hang proudly, not only as a piece of silverware but as a symbol of what this team truly stands for.

Congratulaons to every single member of the Baldock Town Youth U11 Knights. You've made your club, your community, and yourselves incredibly proud.

When I ﬁrst unboxed the Lypertek SoundFree S30, I was immediately struck by their lightweight, streamlined design. At just 23g, these open-ear headphones feel almost invisible when worn, yet they deliver a performance that's anything but. Lypertek has built a reputaon for aﬀordable audio done right, and the S30 connues that story in style.

Pairing them for the ﬁrst me was straighorward. Holding the power buon for three seconds brings them to life, with reassuring tones and a clear ﬂashing sequence to guide you. Once connected, I found the Bluetooth 5.4 link to be rock-solid, with no dropouts even when I wandered around the house or stepped into the garden. With a 10-metre range, you've got the freedom to move without fuss.

Sound quality is where the S30 shines. The 15×10mm drivers deliver crisp, balanced audio with a surprising punch in the low end when you switch to Bass Mode, while Vocal and Balanced EQ sengs give you the ﬂexibility to tailor sound to your taste. I found Balanced mode perfect for podcasts and

Lypertek SoundFree S30 Run, Swim, Sweat, Repeat

audiobooks, while Bass mode made my running playlists come alive.

One clever trick is the built-in MP3 mode. Connect them via the magnec charging cable, and you can drag and drop MP3, FLAC, or WAV ﬁles straight to the onboard storage. For swimmers or outdoor enthusiasts, this is a gamechanger—you don't even need to bring your phone along. Add to that an IP65/IP68 waterproof rang (depending on version), and the S30 instantly becomes a versale companion for workouts, commutes, or even laps in the pool.

Baery life is equally impressive, with up to eight hours of playback on a single charge and a two-and-a-halfhour top-up me. The magnec charging cable clicks into place eﬀortlessly, and handy LED indicators let you know when it's ready to go again. A thoughul touch is the ﬂashing red LED that warns you when the baery dips below 20%, ensuring you're never caught out mid-run or on a long commute.

Controls are intuive too: single, double, or triple taps on the

mulfuncon buon let you skip tracks, take calls, or summon your voice assistant. There's even a night safety light feature—an unexpected but very welcome addion if you're jogging in the evening.

Overall, the Lypertek SoundFree S30 delivers far more than its modest price tag suggests. They're comfortable, durable, and packed with thoughul features that make them ideal for acve lifestyles. Whether you're streaming over Bluetooth or going phone-free in MP3 mode, the S30 keeps you immersed in your music and your world, without compromise. Verdict: Lightweight, versale, and feature-rich, the Lypertek SoundFree S30 punches well above its weight and is an easy recommendaon for anyone seeking dependable, everyday headphones with a dash of innovaon.