Forty-five-year-old Gavin Gost has always had artistic flair and studied art and photography at Oaklands College in 1995 but a moment in lockdown rekindled his desire for being behind the camera and his passion for taking pictures is developing But it was reaching out to an old friend that set him off on a path to a new way of life founder of Shoesmiths (now Timpsons) – The Maltings Shopping Centre’s key cutters – needed some help at his shop and asked Gavin if he would give it a go and shoe repair but it was the people I met that made me really love the place.” He elaborated: “I enjoyed talking to the customers There is such an eclectic mix of people walking in daily I’ve met some amazing people while working at the shop.” He said it gave him a deeper awareness of the human connection and made him want to get involved in local projects and go to places he hadn’t been to before “Walking past every day on my way to work really made me want to take amazing photographs so I popped in and chatted with gallery owner Olesya who was so generous with her time We talked about what I could do with them in order to move forward She gave me lots of advice and said I should just keep snapping and get out there.” he took photos at a celebrity event at the gallery last month and got some great shots of Jake Wood and Ray Winstone He visited a community group too: “Shelley Hayles invited me down to her Tuesday group at Cottonmill Community Centre for people from different generations to connect got to know them and took tons of pictures Now I go weekly not to take pics but just to sit and chat and spend time with them “Right on our doorstep here in St Albans there are some brilliant places to snap: market day full of history and the aged architecture is breathtaking.” He also enjoys what he calls the “unexpected consequences” of taking a picture: “A customer came into the shop to have his boots repaired and as we chatted I really noticed something about him as we talked that I wanted to capture “I showed him some of my pictures and asked if I could take his portrait for my portfolio “His wife loved the photo and sent it off to a London modelling agency and he is now working as a model I’m so glad that I captured a moment that made an impact in that way.” Gavin added: “Working in a shop has helped me to discover and be a part of what is a really strong community in St Albans.” He is keen to get out and take more photos locally so do get in touch with him if you would like to be part of his journey You can help keep quality local journalism alive by making a one-off donation or set up a regular direct debit Any contributions will help ensure the long-term future of the St Albans Times ©2025 St Albans Times. All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy | Website by Moxie You can help keep quality local journalism alive by making a one-off donation or set up a regular direct debit. Any contributions will help ensure the long-term future of the St Albans Times. A live stream of a peregrine falcon nest on top of a cathedral has been taken offline after reports the birds' eggs were deliberately smashed. The birds, Alban and Boudica, first nested on the roof of St Albans Cathedral in 2022 and a popular online video stream was launched the following year. At about 10:30 BST the feed was shut down after an individual was seen walking across the nest destroying the eggs. The Very Revd Jo Kelly Moore, the Dean of St Albans, said: "We are so desperately sad at the harm done to eggs in our peregrine falcon nest here in the tower at St Albans Cathedral." Hertfordshire Police said it was investigating the incident. The live camera feed is a project run by St Albans Cathedral in partnership with Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust. In a post on Facebook the cathedral said: "We are currently working with the Rural Operational Support Team at Hertfordshire Constabulary, and a person is assisting the police with their inquiries. "The live cam will remain offline until further notice." Image source, St Albans CathedralImage caption, The live feed was deactivated after the incident at about 10:30 BST Last year 519,882 people viewed the live feed, the most popular day was 9 May when 12,598 tuned in to see three newly hatched chicks. A BBC Three Counties Radio listener named Beverley told presenter Roberto Perrone that she "felt sick" as she watched the incident happen on the live stream. She recalled: "The female bird was sitting on the egg and all of a sudden there was a noise that spooked her, it sounded like a door opening. "Then I saw a man's leg enter in front of the camera. He stood there for 30 or 40 seconds before literally walking across - he didn't stamp but he stepped on the eggs and just kept walking." Image source, Barry TrevisImage caption, More than half a million people watched the falcons last year on the St Albans Cathedral's website Peregrine falcons remain loyal to their nest site, which means the cathedral is now an established breeding ground. This year the pair had laid three eggs in the shingle nesting tray which replicates their natural clifftop nesting habitat. The Very Revd Jo Kelly Moore said: "We are very grateful for the support offered at this time to resolve what has taken place." Chloë Edwards, the director of nature recovery at Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, said the charity was "saddened" by the news. She added: "Peregrine falcons have full legal protection under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 and we welcome the efforts of all those involved in thoroughly investigating this incident to uphold the law and safeguard these remarkable birds." Peregrine eggs crushed at St Albans Cathedral Do you have a story suggestion for Beds, Herts & Bucks? Contact formContact formFollow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, external, Instagram, external and X, external Improved cameras for peregrine falcon live stream Three falcon chicks hatch in cathedral nest Falcons return to cathedral for third year in a row Related internet linksSt Albans Cathedral St Albans War Memorial to host VE Day 80 anniversary event Teen drink-driver admits failing to stop after crash Welwyn Garden City care home named one of the best in the UK Trump threatens huge tariff on films from non-US studios like Leavesden Street Fathers comes to Luton to make positive change on streets Dunstable District Scouts annual St George's parade and renewal of promises Information about BBC links to other news sitesTop storiesLive. King salutes military procession as royals lead events marking 80 years since VE Day Red Arrows, royals and street parties: What to look out for on VE Day at 80 Israel security cabinet approves plan to 'capture' Gaza, official says Custom fireworks and standby firefighters: How the Vatican makes its smoke signal Long-distance romance and closure from husband's death - your memories of Skype Parking chaos and poo: The price of Mam Tor's fame Polygamy and pageantry on display at a mass wedding in South Africa How Katy Perry became the Hot and Cold popstar Teen mental health: When to seek help and what parents can do Politics Essential: Get the latest news and analysis delivered to your inbox every weekday The final series of Man Like Mobeen has arrived Louis Theroux visits the West Bank to meet Israeli settlers St Albans Stud homestead is coming on the market A historic Geelong mansion that played a big part in one of the most famous Melbourne Cup stories of all time is being prepared to hit the market St Albans Stud has a direct link to 10 Melbourne Cup winners and another 13 through breeding lines but the eastern Geelong property’s role in Phar Lap’s 1930 victory is probably its most famous Legend goes that Phar Lap trainer Harry Telford quietly asked then-owners whether he could hide the famous horse in secret at St Albans Stud after an apparent shooting attempt on Derby Day RELATED: Landmark Newtown ‘trophy home’ commands top dollar $90m apartment project on Barwon River approved Ex-public housing reaps nearly $9m in northern suburbs sell-off That year ‘Big Red’ had won his first Cox Plate and was looking unbeatable for the first Tuesday in November But at Caulfield on the Saturday before the race the champion thoroughbred was returning to the stables after trackwork when he was apparently shot at from a nearby vehicle Whether it was connections to notorious gangster Squizzy Taylor or bookies who stood to lose big time when the short-priced favourite won or whether there was even a gun has been subject of much debate but there is no doubting St Albans Stud’s early pedigree The grand veranda is one of the home’s most striking features The mansion designed by Melbourne architect James T Conlan and built in 1873 for prominent horse trainer James Wilson and plays a big role in the suburb to this day from the original gatehouse intact on Wilsons Rd nearby streets named after Melbourne Cup winners and several significant trees dotted around the area leading to a VCAT heritage ruling in 2024 surrounding a landmark tree that marked a gravesite potentially affected by a subdivision proposal in a nearby neighbourhood Geelong businessman Dean Montgomery has owned the 30-room brick mansion since 2010 who is preparing to list the mansion for sale said it’s a special home which the owners had maintained and improved This Homestead Drive historic property is coming on the market An interior photo shows the grandeur of St Albans Homestead from when it was last sold He really is a true custodian to those period-style homes,” Mr Fort said “What he has done is countless amount of maintenance works carried out on the property as well the stable area and the gardens being improved dramatically “It’s got a good pedigree and a historical significance to stained glass windows honouring celebrated horses the property is expected to hit the market with price hopes circa $7m-$7.5m third parties have written and supplied the content and we are not responsible for it completeness or reliability of the information nor do we accept any liability or responsibility arising in any way from omissions or errors contained in the content We do not recommend sponsored lenders or loan products and we cannot introduce you to sponsored lenders We strongly recommend that you obtain independent advice before you act on the content realestate.com.au is owned and operated by ASX-listed REA Group Ltd (REA:ASX) © REA Group Ltd. By accessing or using our platform, you agree to our Terms of Use. It’s Hedgehog Awareness Week between May 4-10 and probably everyone is aware of how Britain’s favourite mammal is in trouble The hedgehog was red-listed as ‘Vulnerable to Extinction’ in 2020 In the 1950s there were estimated to be around 50 million hedgehogs in Britain The number of hedgehogs in the countryside has declined significantly in the last couple of decades Intensive mono-culture farming has seen both the removal of hedgerows and the increased use of insecticides which means no food or habitat for hedgehogs The hedgehog’s last safe haven is our own gardens but even in suburbia their numbers are going down In St Albans it is noticeable that you don’t even see as many hedgehog casualties on the roads which is in itself an indication that there are fewer of them around Roads are of course one of the biggest killers of hedgehogs with hundreds of thousands killed every year in the UK But there are many other reasons that hedgehogs are struggling Hedgehogs can travel over a kilometre a night visiting 20-30 gardens to find food (and mates!) which means having to travel further and cross more roads caterpillars and worms is also becoming more difficult to find slug pellets and rat poisons contributes to hedgehog fatalities And then there is the contentious issue of injuries to hedgehogs by suburban foxes whose numbers locally have increased in recent years Over half of the admissions to the London Colney Hedgehog Rescue last year were due to fox attacks but they are hard-wired to hunt small mammals and although not all foxes will attempt it many can’t resist snapping at a hedgehog’s spindly back legs as it runs there are very simple steps we can all take to help the hogs: Make a gap of a couple of inches under existing fencing If you are replacing a fence with one with concrete running boards ask the contractor to put in a hedgehog hole Leave a couple of metres at the end of your garden to go wild: don’t cut the grass An old pallet piled with your garden cuttings is a great place for a hog to nest and find food slug pellets or leave rat poison at ground level or in the open They are lethal to birds and amphibians as well as hedgehogs make sure there is a ramp or shallow edge to enable a hedgehog to get out They are apex predators that do not need human intervention as it artificially increases the fox population and leads to territorial shrinkage offer dry cat biscuits with high animal protein inside a hedgehog house that can’t be accessed by foxes or cats Clear rubbish and netting from your gardens If there’s anything a hedgehog can fall in or get stuck in grassroots wildlife organisation ‘Wilderhood Watch’ runs various initiatives to help boost biodiversity at the local level encourages neighbours to get together to make their gardens accessible and hedgehog friendly while alerting motorists to the presence of hedgehogs in that area with hedgehog traffic signs More information can be found at https://wilderhoodwatch.org/projects/hedgehog-street/ Hedgehogs first evolved 15 million years ago Jill Stevens is a volunteer at London Colney Hedgehog Rescue and a member of Wilderhood Watch Share to FacebookShare to LinkedinSt Albans Mayor will lay a wreath at the City’s war memorial to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day senior Council officers and representatives of the Royal British Legion Everyone is welcome at the event at the memorial in St Peter’s Street at 9.30am on Thursday 8 May It will be an opportunity for the community to come together and pay their respects to the millions of victims of the Second World War will join more than 300 criers across the UK and Commonwealth and read the VE Day 80 Proclamation VE Day occurred on 8 May 1945 when Nazi Germany surrendered to Britain and its allies bringing an end to the Second World War in Europe will take place at St Albans City and District Council’s main offices from 10.30am after the wreath laying Any veteran wishing to attend should email mayoralty@stalbans.gov.uk with family and friends welcome to do so on their behalf The Union flag will be flown from St Albans Museum + Gallery where a new display exploring the varied wartime experiences of local people launches in the Assembly Room at 10am This display highlights the unique personal stories of eight individuals from across the District with topics ranging from evacuation to life as a Prisoner of War there will be a free performance of wartime songs by a local choir on Saturday 10 May when the community group The Monday Choir will sing the hits of Vera Lynn and other 1940s favourites.  The Charter Market on Saturday 3 and Wednesday 7 May will be VE Day-themed with traders encouraged to put up red white and blue bunting as well as other appropriate decorations It is a great honour to lead the District’s celebration of VE Day 80 I hope many of our residents will join me at the war memorial as a wreath is laid in memory of all those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms and way of life There are many other events people can attend and I would urge them to go along to the Museum + Gallery to see the VE Day display and listen to the choir I am particularly looking forward to hosting a coffee morning for our veteran servicemen and women This will be a chance for me to meet people from our District and thank them for their service to the country Among the other events taking place around the District to mark the historic occasion are beacon lightings at Highfield Park This is part of a national initiative with more than 1,000 beacons being lit at 9.30pm across the country begins at 8.30pm with the Town Crier reading the proclamation at 9.20pm there will be a short service at St Mary’s Church at 8pm followed by the 9.30pm beacon lighting at the village’s war memorial This is being organised by Redbourn Parish Council people will be encouraged to join in the communal singing of  I Vow To Thee My Country and the National Anthem the Parish Council is organising a free VE Day exhibition at Marford Memorial Hall uniforms and other artefacts to bring to life the wartime stories of residents and evacuees There will also be a street café selling 1940s style cakes and other treats there will be a special Choral Evensong at 5pm Everyone is welcome and the event will include prayers for peace across the world will join the nationwide Ring Out celebrations with a glorious ringing of the bells Contact for the media: John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer: 01727-819533;  john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk.  A St Albans man has been charged after a pedestrian was allegedly hit by a car and left unconscious on the road in St Albans on Tuesday It’s alleged the pedestrian was struck on Main Road East between Branston Road and Wahgunyah Drive at 4.11am on February 11 It’s alleged the driver hit the man with his vehicle and continue to drive without stopping was located by another driver with serious injuries and emergency services were called The Hillside man was transported to hospital where he is in a critical but stable condition A 46-year-old man from St Albans was arrested this morning after attending a police station He was subsequently charged with fail to stop and fail to render assistance following a serious injury collision He has been bailed to appear at Sunshine Magistrates’ Court on June 2 This charming red cape-style home in St. Albans Town has two bedrooms and a versatile den The living and dining area are situated conveniently around a fireplace with a wood stove insert Get a selection of the Messenger's best reporting direct to your inbox each and every morning St Albans Messenger is a weekly newspaper established in 1861 covering Franklin County Samessenger.com publishes new content daily Our beat reporters are on the ground covering local government Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: We ask a different figure from the local community to choose 10 questions to answer from a list of 50 a social group founded by Sophie and Lisa for women looking to meet new people make friends and enjoy the great outdoors: @womenwho_walk a lovely circular walk and it’s always very quiet Sophie: You can find us in The Boot whenever there’s live music on And The White Swan for more ‘late night’ music Lisa: Love the Ye Olde Fighting Cocks when they have music outside in the garden Play country!” is the most used phrase in my house Where do you most like to have a picnic in St Albans Watching people come and go whilst eating Silver Palate sandwiches watching the photographers trying to snap the Kingfisher What’s the first thing you do after you’ve woken up in the morning Sophie: Feed my two cats and make a green tea What’s your favourite place to have breakfast in St Albans What’s your favourite hidden gem in the district it’s not such a hidden gem but there’s a walk there I love from Sandridge and it always feels so good when you see the Brocket Arms after hiking through fields to get there Lisa: Punchin’ Palooka’s secret garden Hertfordshire County Council – St Albans District – candidates for Thursday 1 May 2025 elections Asterisk*  - denotes a sitting Councillor standing for re-election in the same ward candidates for by-election in the Redbourn ward on Thursday 1 May ** The two candidates with the most votes will be elected There are ten county divisions in the district and all county councillor seats are up for election Poll cards will be issued in late March and voters are asked to check to see which polling station they should attend as there may have been a change.  there are also by elections taking place in the below areas you’ll receive two poll cards and (if you’ve applied for a postal vote) two postal vote packs Each ballot paper will clearly indicate which election it relates to and how many candidates you can vote for.  •    St Albans City & District Council (Redbourn ward) - 1 vacant seat•    Harpenden Town Council (Harpenden North town ward) - 1 vacant seat•    Harpenden Town Council (Harpenden South town ward) - 2 vacant seats•    Harpenden Town Council (Harpenden West  town ward) - 1 vacant seat  You must be on the electoral register in order to vote. If you've recently moved, it's important that you register at your new address. Visit our Electoral register and voting page for details of how to register See the key deadlines section below for information on the registration deadline.  Voters are required to show photo ID when voting at a polling station. Visit our Elections Act and Voter ID page for more information.  With the Easter bank holiday weekend (18 – 21 April) falling shortly before polling day residents who are going to be away around the bank holiday or election may wish to apply for a postal or proxy vote Postal vote packs are due to be despatched between 11 April and 22 April (depending on the date the postal vote was applied for) and must be completed and returned by 10pm on 1 May Visit our Electoral register and voting page for details of how to apply. See the key deadlines section below for information on the postal and proxy vote application deadlines.  Below are the deadlines for registering to vote (if you're not already on the electoral register) and (if you don't have photo ID) applying for a Voter Authority Certificate.   Notices related to the 1 May 2025 elections will appear below.  you will be sent a poll card which contains the address of your polling station Polling stations may change depending on the election. In the run-up to an election, you can also find details of your polling station by using Democracy Club’s polling station finder If you have any questions about this election, please take a look at the questions below and on our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ page. Information is also available on the Electoral Commission’s website If you can’t find an answer to your question below Email: elections@stalbans.gov.ukTelephone: 01727 819294 The Electoral Commission’s Candidate or agent pages contain comprehensive guidance for candidates.  Nomination packs for the Hertfordshire County Council elections will be available below to download To assist with calculating candidate spending limits the 1 March local government elector totals will be published below per county division.  Completed nomination papers can be submitted from Friday 21 March and must be received by no later than 4pm on Wednesday 2 April. Nomination papers must be delivered by hand to: the Deputy Returning Officer Candidates are encouraged to submit their nomination papers for checking as early as possible so that there is time to correct any mistakes For further information, and to arrange an appointment to submit nomination papers, please contact Electoral Services on 01727 819565 / 819554 or elections@stalbans.gov.uk Once the nomination period has closed (4pm on Wednesday 2 April 2025) please see the "Statement of Persons Nominated" under the Election Notices section above The results will also be displayed at: St Albans City & District Council Offices you will need to bring an acceptable form of photo ID This requirement was introduced as part of the Elections Act 2022 For more information about acceptable forms of photo ID, and what to do if you don't have photo ID, please visit our Elections Act and Voter ID page.  The first two digits of your year of birth are pre-printed on your postal voting statement The digits are pre-populated in the first two boxes of the year of birth based on your date of birth This is done to assist electors to complete this section of the postal voting statement correctly If you live in an area with multiple elections you might receive a separate postal voting pack for each election / referendum If you aren't able to return your postal vote pack in time via Royal Mail you can return it via reception at the Civic Centre offices (during office hours) or at your polling station on polling day You will only be able to hand in your own postal vote and the postal votes of up to five other people Political campaigners can only hand in their own postal vote and postal votes for up to five other people that are either close relatives or someone they provide regular care for.  Anybody handing in a postal vote in person at the council offices or at a polling station must complete a short form.  Postal vote packs are usually sent out around two weeks before election day If you've not received your postal vote pack by four working days before election day contact Electoral Services on 01727 819294 or elections@stalbans.gov.uk We can only issue a replacement before 5pm on election day.  A teller is a volunteer working for a candidate or a political party They stand outside polling stations to record who has voted They do not work for the Returning Officer Tellers can:• Ask for your elector number• Wear a small coloured rosette to show which candidate or party they work for Tellers can't:• Intimidate electors or demand their elector number• Prevent electors from entering the polling station• Attempt to influence how electors vote St Albans Community Pantry has been awarded a bronze Smiley Award in the category for charities with turnover under £100,000 Often referred to as the Oscars of the charity world the Smiley Awards ceremony took place in March at Indigo at the O2 in London The awards were presented by a host of other celebrities including Patsy Kensit Patsy Palmer and several Love Island graduates The award recognises a compelling documentary about the charity’s work created by independent filmmaker Nicky Jeffes which showcases the organisation’s efforts to combat food waste and food insecurity in the St Albans community Nicky said: “It was a privilege to make this film for the St Albans Community Pantry I wanted to highlight what I see as the ‘perfect equation’ of the work the charity does good food that is destined for landfill and on the other you have individuals and families going hungry “I especially want to say thank you to the people I filmed for being so brave and honest with me when speaking about their very personal experiences with food insecurity.” St Albans Community Pantry (SACP) operates as a hybrid food bank and food rescue operation with a vision of closing the loop between food waste and food insecurity The entirely volunteer-run organisation rescues surplus food from local supermarkets and offers it to the community through their community fridge and bread pantry ensuring that good food doesn’t go to waste while helping those in need SACP provides targeted assistance to vulnerable individuals and families experiencing hardship through weekly boxes of predominantly fresh produce the charity distributes food boxes to over 400 individuals each week while also hosting regular community lunches and tea gatherings for local residents This recognition from the Smiley Awards highlights the significant impact that small charities like St Albans Community Pantry can make in addressing critical community needs through innovative approaches and dedicated volunteer efforts The film has also been selected by the British Film Institute to be included in a project called On Screen Heritage which will preserve key online works The BFI praised the documentary in an online article stating: “The film captivatingly conveys a sense of warmth for the local community in support of people facing challenging circumstances.” You can watch the film here we mark the historic 80th anniversary of VE Day families and communities of our great nation coming together to unite and celebrate 80 years of peace since the end of Word War II in Europe that so many millions paid the ultimate sacrificed to achieve it If you’re wondering what’s happening locally across the district we’ve put together a simple guide setting out events taking place on Thursday and on other days around the anniversary 9am – The Town Crier will undertake the VE Day Proclamation outside the Clock Tower 9.30am – The Mayor and the Town Crier will pay their respects and lay a wreath to the fallen at the war memorial 9.30am – The Union Flag will fly from the roof 10am – St Albans Museum + Gallery will be marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War with the opening of a new display in the Assembly Room which centres on the experiences of individuals from across the district as a way of humanising and personalising the wartime topics we think we know 5pm – Special Choral Evensong sung by the Abbey Singers The Cathedral Change Ringers are also part of the National Ring Out in Celebration which is happening from bell towers across the land at the same time people across the UK took to the streets to celebrate the end of the Second World War in Europe join the Cathedral for their own VE Day celebrations and dance the night away in the Nave The evening start with drinks and puddings before dancing to vintage sounds performed by the Fleetville Swing Band A pay bar will be running and tickets to include a pudding are £20 8.30pm – Gathering on the Green at Highfield Park 9.20pm – The Town Crier will read the VE proclamation St Albans Mayor Cllr Jamie Day will make an address and light the beacon Over 1,000 beacons and hundreds of Lamp Lights of Peace will shine throughout the United Kingdom with the flames from them representing the ‘light of peace’ that emerged from the dreadful darkness of war After the Beacon is lit the audience will listen to the immortal words of Winston Churchill From city and town squares to village greens the nation will come together at this special moment in time to sing the hymn ‘I Vow To Thee My Country’ honouring the many sacrifices that secured our freedom 10.30am – Opportunity for veterans to join the Mayor for a coffee morning in the Council Chamber Please contact the Mayoral office to confirm attendance by May 7 either by email at mayoralty@stalbans.gov.uk or call 01727 819544 9.15pm – Speech from Mayor of Harpenden Cllr Pip Liver 9.35pm – ‘I Vow To Thee My Country’ singing musical entertainment and a singalong of popular songs from the era May 5 2-4.30pm – WWII themed displays in the church a dance demonstration and music in the hall 10.30am – Community café with WWII themed food 8-10pm – WWII themed displays in church with refreshments including at 9.30pm the lighting of the brazier and a formal tribute by county councillor Sandy Walkington St Albans will transform into a unique Egyptian extravaganza with an annual cultural event coming to town this weekend attendees will truly get a ‘taste of Egypt’ at the St George Coptic Orthodox Church’s free two-day festival From traditional Egyptian and Coptic foods like koshari and market stalls – there’s something for everyone according to the church’s Makarious Rizk “We’re hosting it to bring people together “It’s a great opportunity to experience authentic traditions Mr Rizk said organisers were expecting hundreds of people to descend on St Albans for the event “Whether you’re from the Coptic community or simply curious to explore Egyptian culture “We have been running our festival for several years and have welcomed thousands of visitors “Events like ours celebrate Brimbank’s multicultural spirit by allowing different communities to share their traditions Visitors can also learn about the Coptic heritage during the festival The Taste of Egypt Community Festival will kick off from 9 am onwards on both days at 77-79 Henry Street People from across Brimbank and the wider western suburbs descended on St Albans to join in the local Lunar New Year event celebrations on January 19 From eclectic cultural performances and unique stalls to captivating entertainment but a concerted recruiting drive will help change the club’s fortunes The club’s new coach explains their bold strategy Please call us on 1800 070 535 and we’ll help resolve the issue or try again later Any Questions? Please call 1800 070 535 Saturday & Sunday 7:00am – 11:30am (AEST) The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity in St ALBANS — Learn about your rights and responsibilities as a renter at an upcoming workshop series from Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity each workshop has a different focus and will be located at Franklin Grand Isle Community Action at 5 Lemnah Drive "Tenant Skills" includes the fundamentals of tenant rights and responsibilities as well as fair housing and disability law "Finding Housing" focuses on strategies for overcoming barriers to finding housing (such as a past eviction no landlord references or a criminal record) and skills for conducting an organized housing search "Sustaining the Rent" shares strategies to financially prepare for renting including understanding how credit affects the ability to pay rent and skills needed to track spending build a budget and find resources to help meet housing and basic needs All three workshops are also offered as live Zoom sessions once a month, and as fully online, self-paced courses, accessible whenever suits your schedule. Click here for more information If you have questions or would like to schedule an interpreted class, please email classcoord@cvoeo.org or call 802-660-3455 ext Firefighters responded to reports of a house on fire in St Albans about 2.30am on January 30 Crews arrived on scene within four minutes to find smoke and flames issuing from the front two rooms and roof space of a single-storey brick residence entered the property and began an internal attack on the fire as well as protecting the adjoining properties however they will be treated by Ambulance Victoria for mild smoke inhalation The fire was deemed under control by 3.25am The cause of the fire is not yet known but it will be investigated by Fire Rescue Victoria specialists Firefighters will remain on scene for some time there’s something for everyone at this year’s Free Comic Book Day St Albans comic shop Chaos City – based in Heritage Close – will be opening its doors to customers from 11am on Saturday May 3 Customers can select a maximum of five per person or family Owner Marina De Sclavis said: “We’re thrilled to run this event and see our regulars as well as introducing new people into the world of comics If you’re one of those environmentally-minded people who recycles everything they get their hands on then you probably noticed the disappearance of the soft plastics cage at Tesco Metro in St Peter’s Street recently… St Peter’s ward Green Party councillor Juliet Voisey told us: “City centre residents have been puzzled to find the soft plastics recycling facility removed from Tesco St Peter’s Street without any notice or explanation St Albans Green councillors were alerted to the problem and are in contact with Tesco HQ to try and find out the reasoning behind it as Tesco had committed to a nationwide soft plastic recycling programme earlier this year Investigations have revealed that a significant portion of soft plastics collected for recycling up to 70 per cent (from Sainsbury’s and Tesco) – was incinerated for energy recovery rather than being recycled into new products This has raised concerns about the effectiveness of such schemes and their environmental impact Greenpeace UK has been calling on governments around the world to agree on a Global Plastics Treaty to address the issue of over production of plastics “Kerbside recycling for soft plastics is set to be introduced by councils by March 31 2027 and Aldi should be providing soft plastic collection points We would urge residents to return their soft plastics to these stores helping prevent landfill waste and putting pressure on retailers to cut down on excessive packaging.” The St Albans Times contacted Tesco to find out what was happening with the cage and was told it had been temporarily removed while they carried out some “updates” and would return soon The supermarket insisted they work hard to recycle the materials they collect for example some are recycled into new items but where it is not possible to recycle the collected plastic they put it to alternative uses to avoid these materials going to landfill and added: “We have had confirmation from the sustainability department that the container for the soft plastics will be reinstated at St Peter’s Street store within one to two weeks after we pointed out to them that we would have to direct people to other city centre stores and that they were marginalising residents who live in the centre by not providing the soft plastics container “By reducing this option to the larger stores they were relying on those that drive and excluding those in urban spaces who travel sustainably to city centre stores.” Police are appealing for information following a theft and deception in St Albans in December It is understood the offenders scammed a woman through an online payment app The offenders then attended the victim’s address in St Albans and stole the credit card on December 3 Ongoing enquiries revealed $41,000 was spent on the stolen credit card the following day It was used to purchase mobile phones and jewellery from stores in the Brunswick area Police have released images and CCTV of two men they believe may be able to assist with their inquiries of large build and has a two-stripe tattoo on his right forearm He was wearing a black and white floral shirt Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) Out of the smog from the coal fires of Victorian St Albans Lampooned as Edward the Caresser by novelist Henry James Bertie was notorious for his love of gambling and horse racing and his self-indulgence in fine wines Edward VII made no official visits to St Albans although he did once end up in Harpenden by accident his car broke down on the way to Luton Hoo and he spent a couple of hours by the Common awaiting a relief car the Edwardian era is generally accepted to extend to 1914 The calm before the storm which was to come wrote in 1913 that England was “a land where it seemed that it must always be summer” underground railways and electric trams became familiar sights in Edwardian England and helped to spread job opportunities and prosperity It was a time of the unstoppable rise of Progress with a capital P The Wright Brothers took to the skies for the first time and the largest ship in the world Unrest amongst working people demanding a more powerful voice in government and better working conditions helped push a ‘new liberalism’ More women could access education and thus new ideas and information Their demands for a political voice grew stronger inspired by a Salvation Army fundraising practice The WSPU branch led by Emmeline Pankhurst adopted more controversial tactics But then they were fighting against the attitude that “you may as well give votes to dogs as to women” (said by the husband of the writer Society was definitely turned on its head when in Folkestone in 1907 a Beauty Show for Gentlemen was held there was standing room only and over a thousand spectators were turned away Female audience members were the judges and the mood The winner was awarded a bicycle and a silver watch a thirty-year-old “tall and handsome widow” offered herself as a prize saying she would marry the winner so long as he was good looking and earned £100 a year A potentially romantic story if only the winner hadn’t already been engaged These changes gradually became reflected in fashion From America came the ideal of female perfection who drew luscious looking women with S-shaped silhouettes and seriously big hairstyles The all-important S-shape had to start with the appropriate lingerie underwear and general clothing was mass produced in factories and available by mail order or in department stores Fisks spread over four buildings in the High Street selling everything from general drapery and clothing to carpets and furnishings In 1908 the Fisks bought 17 High Street and this became its footwear department the Little Red Lion pub next door lost its licence and the Fisks bought this as well William Fisk wanted to knock down the medieval shops at 17 19 and 21 High Street in order to replace them with something more modern if a female resident of St Albans wanted to buy lingerie often highly decorated with lace and satin ribbons a pair of drawers and a corset to go over these Edwardian corsets were described as ‘health’ corsets as they were less restrictive than the Victorian corsets of the previous century which were all about creating a tiny waist But now the focus was on the S-shaped silhouette By 1912 ‘combinations’ had become popular with younger women combining the chemise and drawers into one piece to which garters could be attached to hold your stockings And if you’re quietly laughing to yourself at the contraptions into which women strapped themselves for the sake of fashion and vanity just bear in mind that corsets were recommended for men too It was suggested that they could be explained as helpful for bad backs came the freedom for women to play sports like golf or tennis and participate in motoring or cycling Outfits became adapted to work for both sport and daywear Wealthy women wore evening or tea dresses of silk Two-piece outfits became popular with decorated tops blousing loosely from skirts French designer Paul Poiret led the way in creating long loose dresses shockingly free of corsets created a move away from the S shaped silhouette sinuous patterns and simple ‘handmade’ designs The seriously big hairstyles of long hair swept up into buns or coils needed big hats But sailor hats and boaters were also popular The more daring started wearing tuxedos at evening events although these were first seen as disgracefully informal Then ‘sack suits’ started to come into fashion Linen suits for summer were topped by a straw boater or Panama hat – often made in St Albans The Edwardian period not only brought change to the appearance of the people of St Albans but added more variety to St Albans’ hotchpotch of historical styles There was a surge in demand for larger houses close to the railway station for commuters to London New Edwardian villas of red brick with tidy front gardens began to be built porches with wooden frames and parquet flooring Red brick was also used in the new larger buildings such as the Salvation Army Citadel in Victoria Street It was decorated with terracotta ‘dressings’ and its roof crenellated like a fortress The Salvation Army was a significant part of St Albans life with its Campfield Press print works employing over 350 people Just opposite the Salvation Army Citadel was the Carnegie Public library the people of St Albans could now browse amongst the shelves and borrow books for free All thanks to philanthropist Andrew Carnegie’s generosity Another striking building was constructed where once stood the Bull Inn on Holywell Hill when there seems to have been an awful lot of building going on architect Percival Blow was commissioned by Samuel Ryder to design a new head office for his mail order seed business A stained-glass dome on the first floor flooded the interior Samuel Ryder was a significant influence on Edwardian St Albans but also serving as a councillor and mayor he led the protest against the Postmaster General’s plans to erect telegraph poles along St Peter’s Street The complaints were so vociferous that the Post Office backed down And that’s why we now have trees lining the street there was a bit more ready cash to spend on just having fun There were weekend sporting events and racing a popular English performer who crossed the Atlantic to become a star in America proved an appropriate description of the end of the Edwardian era Dark undercurrents were stirring in Europe This short period of peace and prosperity ended with an assassin’s bullet in Sarajevo kicking off world-shattering events which changed England for ever History in colour: www.stalbanstourguides.co.uk Offering public walks and private walks and talks Police are appealing for information following a suspicious grassfire in St Albans on Wednesday afternoon Emergency Services were called to a grassfire between Denton Avenue and the Western Ring Road about 12.30pm The grassfire quickly spread toward homes in the area but firefighters were able to contain the blaze preventing any property damage or injuries Investigators are keen to speak to anyone who observed suspicious activity in the area prior to the fire Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au Strong debuts from a handful of recruits and a barnstorminng performance from a key midfielder has helped St Albans end a longstanding round 1 voodoo Councillor Melissa Cadwell and deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles officially open Aldershot Reserve's new dog park THE anticipated opening of Aldershot Park in Geelong’s eastern suburbs has finally arrived with a new fenced dog park basketball half court and connecting path network all at the community’s disposal in St Albans Park The City of Greater Geelong’s $1.07 million fenced dog park and path network investment was made possible through $989,141 in funding from the Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program The basketball half court was built through the Council’s open space renewals budget costing $165,000 “A fenced dog park was a major priority for the community when the master plan was developed so it’s amazing to see it now open and being enjoyed by local residents and their dogs,” Mayor Sullivan said “The new and expanded 1.2km network of sealed paths replaces the old gravel paths to create better links to different parts of the reserve while the sealed car park increases accessibility for the community “We appreciate the Australian Government’s funding support of this project and look forward to delivering more improvements in the reserve over the next couple of years.” there are separate areas for active and passive dogs Deputy Prime Minister and Federal Member for Corio Richard Marles said dog parks are an incredible asset to the city “I’m thrilled to see Aldershot become such a success for our St Albans Park community “The Albanese Government has worked with the City of Greater Geelong to see this park come into fruition and can now be enjoyed by all – including our furry friends.” The improvements fall with Council’s Aldershot Reserve Master Plan which can be viewed on the City’s website