Quest for New Administrator at St John's Church

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PETER D HANNABY
Painter & Decorator
Interior and Exterior work
Undertaken
For competitive quotations
Please call
Mobile: 07765 250092
Home: 01442 288956
MAGAZINE ADVERTISING COSTS
Why not use this parish magazine to advertise your business. There
are eleven issues per year with double issue in December/January.
Charges are: Full Page £115 per annum
Half Page £80 per annum
Quarter Page £60 per annum
For part year charges are pro rata of the annual rate rounded up to
the nearest whole pound (e.g. 1 month/issue full page 115/12 =
9.58 rounded up = £10 charge)
To discuss your requirements or for further information, please
contact Sally Bates, 01442 266912 or 07792 768236
or email: magazine@stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk

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THE VICAR’S LETTER
Dear Friends,
Each November we spend the month remembering. We
remember: the Saints of the Church – both formally
recognised by the Church and those known to us locally – on All Saints’ day
(1st
); our dear departed loved ones on All Souls’ day (2nd
); the plot to blow-
up Parliament and the King on Bonfire Night (5th
); and all who gave their
lives in the service of our Country on Armistice and Remembrance Sunday
(11th
). These are poignant yearly reminders of important people we have
known and loved and whose memory we cherish; of witnesses to Christ
whom we are encouraged to imitate in faith; of the folly of war and the
horrendous loss of life armed conflict inflicts.
Remembering is good. It reconnects us to the past with the hope that we
will learn from mistakes made and mature in joys shared. But remembering
can also be painful. Of pains and hurts that have not fully healed; of
forgiveness not given or received. Recently, the escalation of violence in
Israel–Palestine has caused me to remember a pilgrimage I went on to the
Holy Land nearly 20 years ago (itself an act of remembrance!). I condemn
the violence committed, on both sides, to land and peoples that are so
special, whilst remaining confused and perplexed as to why we have not
learned the lessons of past times of violence? It is not hard to understand
why tensions are riding high. For the Palestinians they resent people
occupying their homes and land – often taken by force – and being ghetto-
ised and controlled: their right to come and go, their water and energy
supplies not to mention food and medical supplies. For the Israelis they feel
constantly threaten by violent attacks and are baffled that the land they
regard as their ‘promise’ is having to be shared. They assert their right to
defend themselves after the horrors of holocaust and have built barriers
and trained an army to squash any violence towards them. Hate and
distrust of the other runs from generation to generation. And yet until both
peoples are prepared to learn the lessons of the past there can be no
peaceful future.
Cont’d.

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Many of the problems that now exist in the Holy Land also existed in the
time of Jesus – we read about them each time we open the Bible. The
same is true for Muslim and Jew when they read their sacred texts. Our
Scriptures contain our shared heritage and the struggles and joys we, as
people of God, have endured and celebrated. But our Bible not only recall
past acts, it also looks forward – forward to a time when all creation will
be united in God’s loving embrace; forward to a time when wars will be no
more and all will be subject to Christ’s just and gentle rule. Perhaps it is
also fitting that during this month of remembrance we also recall the King-
ship of Christ during our observance of the feast of Christ the King on the
last Sunday of the Church’s year?
May this month of remembrance bring us joy and hope in the midst of
pain and sadness and may it remind us of the eternal promise of God: that
he will be our God as we will be his people if we walk in the ways of his
commandments and the love of his Son for all people.
Every Blessing,
Quest for New Administrator
Following the announcement that Hilary will be leaving us at Christmas to
take up a Team Vicarship in north Devon we are looking to appoint a new
administrator. Details and application form are on our website:
www.stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk/administrator.
Please pray that we find the right person for this important role. If you are
interested in applying, I would be happy to have a conversation with you
about it. Application deadline: 13 November.

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PARISH DIARY FOR NOVEMBER 2023
Enquiries regarding baptisms weddings or marriage blessings are
always welcome.
Please contact the Vicar.
Morning Prayer is said Daily at St John’s at 9.00am.
You are most welcome to join the clergy in prayer.
Evening Prayer is said privately for the life of the Parish unless details are below.
St John’s is open daily 9.30am-5.00pm for private prayer
(10.30am-5.00pm on Saturdays)
The Parish Eucharist and worship resources will continue to be recorded and
made available at www.stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk/suspended-services-resources
Wed 1 ALL SAINTS’ DAY
10.00am Holy Communion with remembrance of departed
loved ones followed by coffee St John’s
5.00pm Evening Prayer St Francis’
Thur 2 All Souls’ Day
11.00am Mountbatten Lodge Communion Mount-
batten
Lodge
8.00pm Requiem Mass St Francis’
Fri 3 12.30pm MaSJ Lunchtime Concert - Star Flutes - flute quintet
St John’s
5.45pm Junior Choir Practice St John’s Hall
7.00pm Choir Rehearsal St John’s
Sat 4 7.30pm Concert: Hemel Symphony Orchestra St John’s
Sun 5 All Saints Sunday
8.00am BCP Holy Communion St John’s
10.00am All Age Eucharist St John’s
10.00am Sung Mass St Francis'
11.30am Morning Worship St Stephen's
12noon Holy Baptism St John’s
4.00pm Annual Memorial Service St John’s
Mon 6 7.45pm Together on Monday Club St John’s Hall
“Donkey Tales” Speaker: Maggie Taylor
8.00pm Confirmation Class The Vicarage

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Tues 7 9.30am Tiny Tots: Stay & Play & Service St John’s
Hall
Wed 8 10.00am Holy Communion followed by coffee St John’s
Thur 9 8.30am-3pm MASJ Unisound: Strings Music Making Day
St John’s
Fri 10 7.00pm Choir Rehearsal St John’s
Sun 12 Remembrance Sunday - Third Sunday before Advent
9.30am Parish Eucharist with Act of Remembrance
St John’s
10.00am Sung Mass with Act of Remembrance St Francis'
10.50am Civic & RBL Act of Remembrance
War Memorial
11.30am Morning Worship with Act of Remembrance
St Stephen’s
Mon 13 12noon Burial of Ashes: Alexander & Winifred Mason
St John’s
2.00pm Poetry Group 53 Beech-
field Road
Hall
8.00pm Church Meeting: PCC St John’s
Hall
12noon Burial of Ashes St John’s
3.00pm Friendship Tea St John’s
Hall
4.00pm Baptism Preparation St John’s
8.00pm MASJ Board Meeting Parish
Office
Thur 16 11.00am Mountbatten Lodge Communion Mount-
batten
Lodge
Sat 18 10.00am Countdown to Christmas Fayre St John’s

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Sun 19 Second Sunday before Advent
10.00am Parish Eucharist St John’s
11.30am Morning Worship St Stephen's
12noon Holy Baptism St John’s
Mon 20 7.45pm Together on Monday Club St John’s
Hall
The Liberty Tea Rooms Speaker: Kerry-Anne Cooper
Hall
8.00pm Church Meeting: Communications Committee
Zoom
8.00pm Church Meeting: Finance Committee Zoom
Sat 25 2.00pm Burial of Ashes: Andrew Bartley St John’s
Sun 26 CHRIST THE KING: Sunday Next before Advent
10.00am Parish Eucharist St John’s
11.30am Holy Communion St Stephen's
6.30pm Deanery Confirmation Service St John’s
Mon 27 8.00pm Church Meeting: Fundraising Committee Zoom
Hall
Thur 30 St Andrew, Apostle

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PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL
The PCC met on 19 September, eleven members being present. Wilf
Stepto was co-opted as a member of the PCC and as a Deanery Synod
representative. Nicholas King has taken up office as PCC Secretary.
The Vicar reported that the parish seemed to be in good heart. Congrega-
tions appear resilient, and numbers are holding up well. Much good work
is being done behind the scenes by the churchwardens.
The provision of additional clergy remains under consideration by the
diocese. At the moment there are other priorities within the deanery.
Finances are in good shape. It was resolved to apply to the diocese for
the deficit on our 2020 Parish Share to be written off.
Electrical installations have been tested and inspected satisfactorily.
Work is in hand to continue the installation of Perspex secondary glazing
at St John’s and St Francis’, and to resolve continuing problems with wi-fi
at St John’s. It was resolved to invest £2,000 to upgrade our internet
provision and networking throughout St John’s enabling the integration of
various different systems: CCTV, wi-fi throughout, Streaming equipment.
Further safeguarding training has been taking place.
The use of the nave Altar (on loan from St Francis’) will generally
continue, although the Vicar hopes to use the High Altar from time to
time.
Growth was reported in youth numbers. Proposals will be developed for
an after-school group to meet in the Hall.
It remains the aim of the Director of Music to restore a choral presence
on Sunday mornings. However, recruitment of choral scholars is proving
difficult. Congregational numbers for Choral Evensongs have been
encouraging.

- 9 -
The Communications Committee has been tasked to address the state of
notice-boards and to resume Parish Profiles in the magazine.
Arrangements have been made to inspect new chairs for the Hall. A fund-
ing gap remains for this project.
Outline discussions are under way to mark the 150th
anniversary of St
John’s next year in an appropriate manner.
The next meeting of the PCC is on 14 November.
Nicholas King
Hon. Secretary
St John’s Lunches are more popular than ever. All are very appreciative
and it is a very social occasion. It would be good to hold the lunches more
regularly but unfortunately those who cook are very few and not getting
any younger! Help with the cooking, serving and clearing up would be
much appreciated and would enable us to hold more regular lunches.
If you would like to volunteer or find out more information, please speak
with Marian Davies in Church.

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All Souls’ Services: Wednesday 1 and Thursday 2 November
There are many in the Parish who have lost loved ones, both in recent years and
in years gone by. Although they have died, our prayer and certain hope is that
they live on with Christ in his eternal Kingdom. Names of departed loved ones will
be read out at both the Wednesday 10.00am Service of Holy Communion at St
John’s and at a Requiem Mass for the Departed at St Francis on Thursday at
8.00pm. You are invited to light candles in memory of departed loved ones and,
should you wish for names to be read out, to please provide these on the
relevant form at the back of our churches.
Annual Service of Remembrance
Over the past year the Ministry Team has taken, or assisted with, many Funerals
and Memorial Services of parishioners. At our Annual Service of Remembrance,
to be held this year on Sunday 5 November at 4.00pm, we shall be inviting
friends and families of those who have died to remember their loved ones before
God and to give thanks for their lives. If you have lost someone this year but we
weren’t involved in their funeral, or would like to attend and remember loved
ones who have died in previous years, you will be most than welcome.
Countdown to Christmas Fayre
Our annual Christmas fundraiser will soon be upon us. Please do come along and
support our Fayre on Saturday 18 November, 10.00am-2.00pm. Donations of
things to sell will be greatly appreciated. For more details please see the Weekly
Newsletter.
St Francis Patronal Festival
During a moving and uplifting celebration of High Mass and Benediction it was
good to be able to give thanks for, and pray for the life of St Francis’ Church
within the life of the Parish. Around 40 people attended and the service at which
Carole Lewis, our Lay Reader, gave an excellent sermon, Fr Ben returned as litur-
gical deacon, and our Choir sang beautifully.
Earlier in the day St Francis’ hosted an open day with refreshments which was
well attended and supported. Just under £700 was raised for church funds.
We are very fortunate to have 3 churches of different styles within the Parish and
it was great to be able to celebrate this diversity.

- 11 -
Deanery Confirmation Service
On Sunday 26 November at 6.30pm St John’s Church will host a Deanery
Confirmation Service during which Bishop Jane (our new Bishop of Hertford) will
Confirm 6 members of our congregation and hopefully folk belonging to neigh-
bouring parishes. This is a milestone moment on the journey of faith for these
people and I ask that as many of our regular congregation are present to support
them in their public profession that Jesus is their Lord and Saviour. Please pray
for them in the coming weeks as they make this public declaration of faith.
Sermon Series
Throughout September and October the Ministry Team gave sermons on
Mission and Evangelism with the hope of debunking the myths around Evange-
lism (telling the story of Jesus) and encouraging us in our shared Mission (task)
of inviting people to come to know Jesus and sharing the Faith. I hope this has
been informative as well as helpful. Not everyone will have been able to be in
church every week so the collected work will be published in a small booklet for
those who would like to catch-up on what they missed/need help with insom-
nia/would like to re-read a week.
Sunday 3 December – Advent Sunday
Advent Sunday marks the beginning of a new Church Year and the beginning of
the Church’s countdown to Christmas. In Advent we are encouraged to think
about how we can best prepare ourselves to welcome the Son of God as he
comes among us as the babe of Bethlehem. To help us in this thinking we begin
the year with an Advent Procession – like a Carol Service but with music and
readings to help us reflect on the coming of Christ -– at 6.30pm at St John’s. Like
last year we will be inviting choirs and individual singers from neighbouring
Churches as we once again welcome our brothers and sisters in Christ from
across the Deanery to join us in this act of worship. Please put this date in your
diary for what will be an excellent way to start the new Church year.
Remembrance Sunday
The Council and local branch of the Royal British Legion are once again organis-
ing the Civic Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial on Remembrance
Sunday. A Parade involving veterans, local uniformed organisations, a detach-
ment from RAF Halton, and Civic dignitaries will take place along with the usual
wreath laying. However, the observance will be slightly different this year in that
we will sing at the observance. There will be No RBL Service of Remembrance in
church this year. Please see the Parish Diary (earlier in this issue) for timings and
services within the Parish.

- 12 -
Junior Church
Thank you to our Junior Church leaders for all they are doing to encourage our
growing and flourishing Junior Church each week and at Tiny Tots. A special
thank you for the Messy Church they organised on Sunday 22 October which not
only lived up to its name but was fun, informative, and included uplifting
worship. Keep up the good work Junior Church.
Thank you…
To the Venerable Charles Hudson, Archdeacon of St Albans, who gave an
excellent sermon at October’s Choral Evensong If you missed the service – filled
with the delightful sound of our parish choir – and/or should like to hear Arch-
deacon Hudson again a recording of the service is available on our website.
Watching and Waiting…
Advent is traditionally a time of watching and waiting for the coming of Christ.
We know he is to be born on Christmas Day, so in the preceding weeks we take
time to lookout for the signs of his coming among us. This is often done in
prayer. During Advent I would like us to try again to committing to sitting or
kneeling in contemplative quiet for 5 minutes before the Service begins. This
time will be triggered by the organ playing before the Service. I hope you will find
this time helpful to your journey of faith and our celebrations this Christmas.
Parish Christmas Card/Flyer
Once again, as a Church we will be wishing every household in the Parish a
Happy Christmas by giving them a Christmas card which includes all our Service
times on it. If you are able to help distribute these cards, please collect a
‘distribution route’ from the back of St John’s which will be available very soon.
Thank you in advance for helping share the Good News of the birth of Jesus with
all who live in the Parish.
Christmas Plans 2023
Once again I look forward to celebrating the joyful birth of Christ – the Babe of
Bethlehem. The Calendar has dealt us a tricky hand this year with four Sundays
falling in December – the last of which also being Christmas Eve. After consulta-
tion, it has been decided to offer our usual Sunday services on Advent 4
(24 December) in the morning along with our usual Christmas Eve Service in the
afternoon. Please do support these services and those who are working hard to
make sure they happen. Advent 4 is the final Sunday of preparation for Christ’s
birth and is not to be confused with Christmas Eve/Morning when we actually
celebrate his birth. I hope I will see you at one or more of these services.
Due to the popularity of the Christingle services we have decided to ticket this
service again. Ticket availability will go live on 1 December - please make a
reminder in your diary as tickets go quickly.

- 13 -
Countdown-to-Christmas Fayre
Saturday 18 November 2023, 10 am – 2 pm
Preparations for this year’s Countdown-to-
Christmas Fayre are well under way. Held in
St John’s Church and the hall, it is always a
fun and bustling event – a chance to pick up a
few early Christmas presents, buy home-
made cakes, preserves, have coffee or a quick
lunch and chat in the hall, with some fun
games for young and old. The church will be
festive and glittery to get everyone into the
Christmas spirit!
A cast of thousands (okay – that’s possibly
hyperbole – but it’s a lot of people!) come
together to transform the church and hall for
one day only, and make this fayre a success
each year: from stallholders and helpers, to
makers, to comms, and the team that set-up
and clear-up. And, of course, all our visitors
and customers! With so many coming
together, it makes for a lovely community
event, as well as an important fundraiser for
St John’s.
We still need help and if you can lend your hands we would be delighted
to hear from you. Specific requests for help will be made via the News-
letter, but if you think you can help on the day or contribute in other
ways, please let Cathy Shaw (catharineshaw@hotmail.com) or the Vicar
know.
All in all, we are getting excited – please come along on the day and help
us make the Fayre fizz and sparkle!

- 16 -
HALLS FOR HIRE
ST JOHN’S HALL - Well equipped hall suitable for use by special interest
groups, clubs and societies. Ideal for family parties and special occasions.
Please contact Hall Bookings Secretary on 07939 226977 or email:
hallbookings@stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk for further information and availabil-
ity.
ST STEPHEN’S HALL, CHAULDEN - (opposite Tudor Rose) - Sunny Hall with
tiled floor suitable for dancing and exercise groups as well as being ideal for
children’s parties. Please contact Jean on 01442 257023 for further
information and availability.
ST FRANCIS HALL, HAMMERFIELD - Well equipped hall suitable for use by
special interest groups, clubs and societies. Ideal for family parties and
special occasions. Please contact Hall Bookings Secretary by email: stfran-
cishallbookings@stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk for further information and
availability. More urgent queries can be handled by leaving a message on Paul
Davies mobile phone: 07802 442908
Please Note: St. John's Church PCC cannot accept any responsibility for goods or services

- 17 -
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nail trimming, cracked heels
In the comfort of your own home
Call Graham Spendlove, MCFHP, MAFHP
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Book now 07799 033974

- 18 -
Herts Musical Memories deliver vibrant, therapeutic music
sessions designed to help connect people to their memories
through singing. The group is aimed at people worried about
their memory or their voice, those living with dementia, their
carers, or anyone who likes to sing and have fun - everyone
is welcome!
The Hemel group meets on Tuesday afternoons at
St George's URC Hall. For more information please call
07515 633486.
Prayer for November 2023
Father God,
November is not many people’s favourite month, unless there is a birth-
day or a delight in bonfires. Short days, sometimes dismal weather can
lower our mood. The days of springtime optimism and summer sunshine
seem a long way away, whether we look back or forward.
Help us Lord, whatever the month, whatever our circumstances, what-
ever our mood, to know the reality of Your presence and peace; to
treasure each new day and know it is transformed by You into the most
precious and beautiful gift. Help us not to waste a single one of them,
Lord. Thank You so much for November days.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
By Daphne Kitching

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Christmas Tree Festival 15–19 December 2023: “Peace on Earth”
The time of this year’s Christmas Tree Festival approaches fast. Letters
have been sent out to potential sponsors of both indoor and outdoor
trees, the trees have been commissioned, and the publicity designed.
If you would like to sponsor/decorate a tree but have not yet contacted
Jean Hammond, then she would love to hear from you
(jeanandrob@live.co.uk)!
The theme of “Peace on Earth” seems particularly appropriate at this
time, but can be interpreted in many ways for the purpose of tree-
decoration. Let your imaginations run riot!
We will be looking for volunteers to man the door/steward the Festival, or
to serve refreshments, and there will be sign-up sheets at the back of
church. Do, please, sign up if you can help. We will also need people to
be a Duty Manager for each day. Another area where help will be needed
is for the set-up and in January take-down of the Festival, organised by the
Vicar, i.e. the so-called “heavy brigade” of the relatively fit. If you can help
on the Monday morning or evening, 11 December, please contact the
Vicar, or talk to Alan Munford if you are offering to help with the cabling
etc. The majority of the trees will remain in church over the Christmas
period, and be taken down at Epiphany, so that is when further help will
be needed from the “heavy brigade”.
That apart, we hope you have put the Festival dates (15-19 December)
firmly in your diaries and that you have told all your families and friends
about it, so that everyone has the chance to come and view the trees and
admire the ingenuity of the decorators. Take the handbills and share
them far and wide! This year, the trees will not be decorated until just
before the Festival opens, so no free sneak previews! Admission will be
£2.50 on the door, and accompanied children will go free. The cost of
tree sponsorship remains the same as last year, despite the fact that, like
everything else, our costs have gone up. We are sorry, but we will not be
able to keep the prices down for next year.

- 21 -
The Festival opens as usual on the Friday and runs until the end of the
following Tuesday. The Vicar will conduct the usual Carols Around the
Outdoor Trees, starting at 2.00 pm on Saturday 16th
. This has become
part of the annual Boxmoor calendar and is very well attended, so do
come along if you can and have a good old sing – the more the merrier.
By the way, Santa promises to drop in at the end of the carol singing, with
plenty of sweeties for all the kiddies and also all the young at heart!
Anne Lyne
Photos from previous year’s Christmas Tree Festival.

- 22 -
'Music Percentage Club Update’
Congratulations to the winners of the September
Music Percentage Club draw:
Nicholas King 1st £15
Sheila James 2nd £8
Richard Lyne 3rd £4
If you know of someone who would be interested in joining the Music
Percentage Club and supporting Music at St John’s in this way there are
forms in church or please contact Mark Harbour on 01582 841019 or see
him in church.
*********
SMILE-LINES
As for those signs found outside churches:
Church carpark sign…FOR MEMBERS ONLY. Trespassers will be baptised.
No God – No Peace. Know God – Know Peace.
Free Trip to heaven. Details Inside!
Searching for a new look? Have your faith lifted here!
Outside one church is a picture of two hands holding stone tablets on
which the Ten Commandments are inscribed. A headline reads: ‘For fast
relief, take two tablets.’
When the restaurant next to a church put out a big sign with red letters
that said, ‘Open Sundays’, the church reciprocated with its own message:
‘We are open on Sundays, too.’
Come in and pray today. Beat the Christmas rush!

- 23 -
DEC 2023/JAN 2024 - PRICE 60p
Please note the deadline for articles for the joint edition of the magazine is
Sunday, 5th November.
You can e-mail direct to magazine@stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk or leave articles in
magazine pigeonhole or deliver direct to 27 Beechfield Road. Please note any
articles sent by email should be in A5/A4 format (MS Word or MS Publisher
preferred). Thank you. Sally Bates, Editor, Tel No. 266912 or Mobile 07792
768236.
PLEASE NOTE
Website for St John’s Boxmoor is:
www.stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk
E-mail: office@stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk
Website for Music at St John’s is http://masj.org.uk
Facebook Page: St Johns Church, Boxmoor
NEWSLETTER: If you would like to receive a copy of the weekly Newsletter by
e-mail, please contact Alan Munford - alan.munford@btinternet.com with your
e-mail address and he will arrange to send it to you.
Please send any items for inclusion in the Newsletter to the Parish Office at the
email address: newsletter@stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk
SUBSCRIPTION TO MAGAZINE
If you would like to receive a copy of St John’s Parish Magazine on a regular
monthly basis, please email alan.munford@btinternet.com or telephone him on
01442 242543 or complete your details below and return tear-off slip to:
Mr. Alan Munford, 16 St Nicholas Mount, Hemel Hempstead HP1 2BB
Name…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Address ………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
...........................................................................................................................
Contact Telephone Number ………………………………………………………………………...

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DISCOVERY OF THE ROMAN VILLA IN GADEBRIDGE PARK 60 YEARS AGO
On returning home to Hemel Hempstead for Christmas at the end of my
first term as a student in York in 1962, the main change that had taken
place in those three months was the opening of the Leighton Buzzard
Road. This route had been outlined in the New Town Plan of 1947, but
when it was first operational it only stretched between the Plough or
“Magic” Roundabout to the roundabout at the bottom of Warners End
Road. The construction of the remainder of the road through Gadebridge
Park began at the same time, but after Roman artefacts came to light
work was undertaken the following year. (When I was a child the only
way into the park by the old Police Station was over a stile!). So it was,
that 60 years ago a Roman villa was discovered just a few yards north of
Galley Hill.
This is perhaps not surprising as the first Roman remains in the town
were discovered in the grounds of Boxmoor House when the railway
came to Hemel Hempstead in 1837.
When the Romans arrived in 43 AD being near to the main city of Verula-
mium, now called St Albans, they made a considerable and immediate
impact on the local area. Under Roman organization most of the local
countryside was split up into a series of estates, each with a large villa as
its operational centre. These villas served as homes to the wealthy fami-
lies, but were also working farms, which included barns, granaries and
workers’ accommodation. In both the Gade and Bulbourne valleys the
available evidence appears to indicate that these villas were regularly
spaced about two miles apart along the valley floor. The Roman occupa-
tion lasted from 43-410 AD and the villas from the early part of this
period were often half-timbered with painted plaster walls, flanked by
corridors. In the 2nd century they were replaced by more substantial
masonry structures, which often included mosaic floors and an under
floor heating system (hypocaust).
Archaeological evidence suggests the Gadebridge villa had undergone
four different stages of construction before extensive modernization in
the 4th century. Cont’d…..

- 26 -
The 2nd century house was made up of a single-storey range of rooms
with two southern wings and a surrounding corridor. A few years later
the house was extended. New wings were added, the south-east range
being used as servants’ quarters, work rooms and kitchen. The other wing
on the south west was detached from the house and contained a kitchen
with three brick ovens, a barn and further servants’ accommodations.
In the early 4th century the main villa was reconstructed. This later
rebuilding seems to be proof of a prosperous period in the estate’s
history. The wings were extended, the thickness of part of the founda-
tions indicates that the villa may have had upper storey rooms forming
towers at each end and a gate house gave entry to the inner courtyard of
the villa. Hypocausts were installed. In one of the heated rooms the
remains of a geometric mosaic decorated with snow flake patterns were
found.
In the second quarter of the 4th century the very large bathing pool and
massive hypocaust, which are the most remarkable feature of the excava-
tion, were built. The hypocaust room measuring 65 feet by 17 feet need-
ed two stoke-holes to heat it. The bathing pool, 68 feet by 40 feet, only a
little smaller than the famous pool at Bath and larger than the public
baths at Wroxeter, near Shrewsbury, was at the time bigger than any
other pool found on a villa site in Britain. It was fed by water from the
River Gade or from a natural spring. In the pool the water was 4 feet 6
inches deep, as was shown by the position of the overflow and by staining
on the wall plaster. It was entered by five steps, the lowest of which
served as a bench around the interior walls. Over 160 coins and trinkets,
such a rings and coiled bracelets were found in a leat to the north of the
pool. This bath was far larger than was required for the resident family
and slaves and it is possible that the estate had become economically
dependent on the baths and was not principally a farm.
The prosperity of the villa did not endure, for by about 353 AD both baths
and villa had been abandoned, only one outbuilding remained in use. The
reason for this decline is uncertain but it appears some farming continued.
A cattle compound of timber posts was made at about this time and
remained in use until the beginning of the fifth century.
Cont’d….

- 27 -
The excavation was supervised by David Neal, who with his family had
been among the first residents of the New Town. He wrote a full report
of the excavation which was published by the Society of Antiquaries. A
copy can be seen in Hemel Hempstead Library. Among the projects
David Neal was involved with during his career was work on Lullingstone
Roman Villa at Eynsford, near to where I taught in Kent, which among
other things had a succession of wall painted pagan and then Christian
“worship rooms.”
A further excavation was carried out in 2000 to mark the Millennium.
Seeing the archaeologists and volunteers at work was interesting to
reflect that as they painstakingly undertook their tasks, traffic was
pounding along the road a short distance away over part of the villa now
permanently underground. I wonder what the original residents would
have made of that?
60 years ago I was also engaged in a ‘dig’ but 200 miles away in York,
which has a wealth of Roman artefacts from its days as a settlement
known as Eboracum. It formed a module in the history course I was
doing and I had to produce a “report” which contained a commentary
and information on the finds, together with maps, plans, diagrams,
sketches and photographs. We have a wealth of heritage around us, but
I wonder if we pon-
der to think there is
even more under
our feet?
Graham Gibbs
The photograph is of Leighton Buzzard Road at Moor End. It was taken
from the top of the circular car park, where Premier Inn now is. It was in
1963!

- 28 -
Discover the magic…
Nestling in 23 acres is Lockers Park Prep School; a special place where
boys have been achieving excellent results with an enthusiasm for life for
150 years.
With only 190 pupils it’s no wonder that every teacher and staff member
know each boy by name, what their personalities are and what their
potential is, whether they are a day boy, flexi-boarder or full boarder.
The Good Schools Guide compliments Lockers Park: “Everything about the
school is focused on bringing out the best in boys – from the 40-minute
morning break where they can tear around fields and woodlands with just
enough time for a bit of den-building.”
Mr. Taylor, the Headmaster, describes how our Learner Profile centres
around key skills that we believe will propel our boys toward success.
These criteria apply to all facets of school life, and the boys gain substan-
tial benefits from comprehending how these skills evolve.
“We have combined this with Critical Thinking lessons, interactive teach-
ing techniques and optional Saturday school means our academic success
is demonstrated through boys achieving Common Entrance with their very
best results, passing to an impressive range of first-choice destination
schools.”
Out of our 26 leavers last year we had eight scholarships and the boys
went to 16 different schools ranging from local ones such as Berkhamsted
and St Albans through to Harrow, Rugby and Oundle.
Beyond the classroom, our boys enjoy an enviable range of opportunities.
These include excellent sport; unparalleled music, art and drama. Our
school choir regularly sings in competitions as well as at Chapel. We really
are a home from home for many; breakfast is available every morning,
and each boy has the option of staying on to do prep and have supper.
Cont’d..

- 29 -
Parents who want their sons to fulfil their potential can have a Private
Headmaster Tour and see the magic of Lockers Park for themselves.
Register at www.lockerspark.co.uk

- 30 -
at St John’s
in the month September
HOLY BAPTISM
17 September Fatemeh Dehghan Selden Hill
May the Lord of his great mercy bless this child and give her
understanding of his wisdom and grace.
HOLY MATRIMONY
9 September Fiona Creese and Paul McDonald
O God, our Father, whose greatest gift is love, bless those, we ask you,
who within your presence take each other in marriage.
FUNERAL & MEMORIAL SERVICES
4 September Angela Jarman Spencers Way
11 September John Graham Moore Standring Rise
27 September James Peter Herbert Gade Close
May these souls and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy
of God, rest in peace.
BURIAL OF ASHES
4 September Marjorie Laura Walker Lime Tree Manor
Care Home
7 September Pamela Groom Dunstable
7 September Ronald Joseph Groom Houghton Regis
11 September Pauline Joyce Burke Adeyfield Road
12 September Vincent Paul Keen Taunton

- 32 -
Dacorum CAN (Climate Action Network) Think Global, Act Local - are holding the
following events in November 2023
Monday 20 November
Dacorum Climate Action Network Conference - 6 pm—8.30 pm
The Forum, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 1DN
Adult Clothes Swap
Friday 17 and Saturday 18 November
The Forum, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 1DN
Swap up to 10 good quality items and pick up the same number of ‘new to you’
items. Enjoy.
All these events are Free. However to register your interest in the conference or
for times about clothes swap, drop off and swap times please email :- sustainabil-
ity@dacorum.gov.uk or Telephone:- 01442 228000
Toilet Twinning Day
Saturday 18 November 2023
Twin your toilet for £60
“Every toilet twinned helps a new family living in a poorer community and the
average size of a household is 6 people”.
Visit www.toilettwinning.org for further information.
Email:- info@tearfund.org
Telephone:- 020 3906 3906
FREE TOY SWAP
Saturday 2 December 2023
St Stephen’s Church, Long Chaulden, Hemel Hempstead HP1
2BY Drop off Toys from 10 am. Stay for refreshments, Swap
Toys from 11 am - 12 noon Maximum of 5 Toys each to swap -
for 5 ‘new to you’. In good condition please.
For further details contact The Green Team:- Rosie Shaw, Mark Harbour or Dee
Fisher 07748 307979
Advent Sunday begins Sunday 3 December.
We are sure you will be seeing chocolate advent calendars in the shops. Maybe
you might also consider buying a Divine, Fairtrade one, to help support the cocoa
farmers obtain a fair price for the ingredients? or one with the real Christmas
story. www.meaningfulchocolate.co.uk

Produced and printed by the Parish of Boxmoor

Quest for New Administrator at St John's Church

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