stalbanslife

The word Verulam stems from Verulamium (St Albans). You may have noticed this word associated with companies or entertainment all over this city. If not, read on and see who you can support.

Radio Verulam  (92.6 FM) -  St Albans local community radio station  works with local groups and organisations. For details on specialist programmes and opportunities see www.radioverulam.com or email studio@radioverulam.com

Verulam Writers Circle – This local writers’ group meets regularly and welcomes new members.  www.verulamwriterscircle.org.uk or email info@verulamwriterscircle.org.uk

Verulam IT – Quality web design and hosting services; webmaster of this wonderful stalbanslife website!  See www.verulamit.co.uk  or email nigel@verulamit.co.uk

Verulam Electrics – Qualified and reliable electrician based in St Albans. See website for more details www.verulamelectrics.co.uk or contact richard@VerulamElectrics.co.uk

Verulam ASC – St Albans based swimming club which provides training sessions in Marlborough and Westminster Lodge pools. www.verulam-asc.org.uk

Verulam Clinic – Health clinic providing care for adults, children and pregnant women, using both traditional and complementary methods.

www.verulamclinic.com or phone 01727 833100

Verulam Tiles – Located off the London Road,St Albans, Verulam Tiles has a vast collection of tiles and helpful staff. See  www.tile-warehouse.co.uk

B N I Verulam – BNI Verulam operates locally but is part of the larger Business Network International which is a business referral group.  See more information and current vacancies on www.bniverulam.co.uk

Verulam Golf Club – St Albans challenging 18 hole golf course is home to the Ryder Cup and boasts good drainage for all- year-round playing. www.verulamgolf.co.uk

‘If you go down to the park today,

You’re in for a pink surprise,

There are thousands down in the park today,

Running to save some lives’

I am referring to the 3,100 (+) females of all ages who turned up, mainly in pink, at the Verulamium Park in St Albans! In support of Cancer Research UK, they ran, walked, jogged and even wheel-chaired around the 5k course.

This is the 13^th year that St Albans has hosted this popular event. The atmosphere was electric with the presence of personalities like Stuart Miles of Heart FM and Jean Christophe Novelli, ‘the Nation’s Favourite Chef.’

Mary Everest, runner, panted at the end of the race ‘It’s hot but well worth it.’ Her friend Samantha Ponte, another runner, said ‘It’s the girl power for me.’ Both ladies then headed off for their well-deserved cider!

Cancer Research UK is the biggest, single, funder of cancer research in Europe. It supports the work of 4,800 scientists, doctors and nurses in the UK. (Excerpt from Cancer Research Website) It was announced that so far, over £300,000 has been raised at today’s event in St Albans. That’s girl power for sure!

For further information on the work of Cancer Research Uk, go to

www.cancerresearchUK.org

I love fireworks, simple as that. I can’t get enough of them and the annual display at Verulamium Park is always excellent. Luck favoured the brave and the evening was still and crisp. The rain held off till later in the evening allowing for one of my favourite displays for some years. Here is an image to give a flavour of what we enjoyed. See you there next year…..

St Albans has many interesting and friendly clubs. The Friends of Verulamium Park is just one of them, but this caring and educational club is worth a special mention on St Albans Life.

Their motto is: To preserve the natural beauty of this precious space.

The Friends were established in 2000 for those who care about the present and future of the Verulamium Park, which covers part of the ancient Roman city of Verulamium. Frequent talks and activities are organised and for a small donation to become a member, you receive three newsletters per year.

The park itself is owned by the St Albans City and District Council, but not everyone respects the park, so there is a lot of litter collecting to be done, in particular the area around the pub, The Fighting Cocks. This will take place on March 15th this year. Members and children will be out with their black bags and gloves to tidy the place up! As always, more help would be very welcome.

For more information about the park go to the website and see below.

Friends of Verulamium Park – Events 2009

Friday February 20th

Ditch maintenance. Meet at London Gate, 1.45pm, with loppers, gloves, and boots. We will continue the work started on January 16th.

Thursday February 26th

Heartwood  Forest, Sandridge   Pam Farley of the Woodland Trust (St Albans Group) will talk about the new forest. Details can be found  on the Woodland Trust website.

Sunday March 15th

Litter Pick. Meet by the Abbey Mills entrance, 11am-1pm. Bring a plastic bag and wear gloves.

Thursday April 23rd

Memories of a Verulamium Park Superintendent 1968 to 1988. Roy May and Tony Mason, St Michael’s Parish Centre, 8.00pm.

Thursday May 21st

Annual General Meeting followed by Julie Simpson, SACDC project manager for the rebuilding of Westminster Lodge. St Michael’s Parish Centre, 8.00pm

Thursday June 25th

Visit to Oughtonhead Common, Hitchin to see Longhorn cattle with Robert Williams. Leaving the Museum Car Park at 9.45am and sharing cars, or possibly in a coach if enough people are interested, and a pub lunch. The site may be found on Ordnance Survey Map Sheet 166 Grid Reference 168 302.