An Independant Bookseller - 3 July 2014

At our Summer meeting we greeted Stephen Poulter, ex BBC producer turned bookseller and author. He began by telling us about the problems of being an independent book seller these days and of the numbers of bookshops closing. Consequrently he had to look for alternative ways of selling books and so began to contribute to books on local history, originally town based and then for Befordshire and Hertfordshire. We were treated to an alphabetical tour of the county of Hertfordshire through photos and enjoyed a guess where this is quiz and were then told about the town itself.

Village events mentioned during our tell us what's happening session were from Jean Handley who talked about her latest book now on sale all proceeeds going to the British School Museum in Hitchin and the recent trip to Belgium to lay a wreath for "Our boys."

Chris Hoefkens informed us of the forthcoming Sandon event of life in the villages 100 years ago with poetry readoings, music provided by the Taylor family and an Act of Remembrance.

Our Autumn meeting will be on Thursday 2nd October ( please note change of date) at 8pm at Rushden Village Hall. As our speaker has been taken ill we are looking for an alternative.

The First Woman Bomb Disposal Expert - 24 April 2014

If you want to know why as a female army officer you should wear six pairs of knickers to functions or how the first woman bomb disposal officer ended up in a brothel in Ecuador on her birthday with eleven soldiers you will have to ask someone who attended April's Village Link meeting. As you can imagine, the talk was extremely amusing and very much enjoyed by everyone.

This was followed by Jenny's delicious nibbles.

Forthcoming events mentioned by members were the villages commemoration of the beginning of WW1 on Saturday  12th July commencing with a concert at 2.30pm at Sandon Church.

On 4th May 2014, Jean Handley will hand over her research on the WW1 Soldiers of Rushden to St Mary's Church for display.

Friday 16th May is Sandon Cinema Night.

Our next Village Link Meeting is on Thursday 3rd July when we are hoping that Stephen Poulter, ex BBC producer and now author will talk about his recent book on the History of Hertfordshire.

On Thursday 6th October, we are looking forward to a talk by Andrew Hambling on The Somme Offfensive.

Judge Lindsay Davies is unable to talk in October but will be coming to speak in February on Forced Marriages.

If you would like to become a member of Village Link please email me at john.lever@btinternet.com

Police Forensics - 27 June 2013

Anyone interested in crime missed a very informative meeting last night if they weren't at Village Link when Martin Leadbetter spoke on The Forensics of Fingerprinting, its past, present and future. It has been known about since the 17th century but it wasn't until the turn of the last century that it was adoped by police forces across the world. Currently one in ten people in Britain have their fingerprints on file. They are used not just for establishing guilt but also innocence, identity and even for telling fakes from the real thing.

Our next meeting is on Thursday 17th October at 8pm when a representative from Paradise Park Broxbourne will speak on Breeding and Conservation.


Entry is £10 for a year's subscription or £4 for one meeting

The Baldock Skeleton Find - 28 February 2013

Our next meeting is on Thursday 28th February when Keith Fitzpatrick Matthews will speak on The Baldock Skeleton Find. We would also like to draw villagers' attention to the proposed expansion of Luton Airport which we will discuss after the meeting.

From Rags to Royal Rags

Eddie Rowland’s talk to Village Link proved a real hit, from his tales of his father’s POW boat being torpedoed to his name dropping of the rich and famous he has dressed. Starting with the Beatles and ending with our country’s leaders, he never ceased to amuse and inform.   Our next talk will be by Keith Fitzpatrick- Matthews on Thursday 28th February 2013  (Please note change of date) at 7.45 for 8pm and the following talk will be on Thursday 18th April 2013 when we will have a speaker on Stem Cell Research.   The Village Hall will be undergoing repairs during the first three weeks of February so please note change of venue for various events to Wallington Village Hall. Annual membership is £10 for four meetings or £4 for a single meeting.