Dear Members,
Happy New Year to you all and I hope it will be a prosperous one. Unfortunately, our secretary, Felicity Webb, has had to resign, although she will continue to monitor and run our social media. Consequently, the Chamber is looking for a member to join our committee and take on the role. Committee meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month at 6.00PM at Bill’s on the High Street. If anyone can help, please contact Pete Elsworth on peteels12@gmail.com. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Felicity for all the work she has done for the Chamber as our secretary.
CAR PARKING
Dacorum Borough Council have given notice as to their proposed charges. There are 8 half floors.
The times are between 8.00AM to 6.00PM Mondays to Sundays, and there are 3 different rates.
Floors 0 to 3
Maximum stay of 4 hours
Up to 1 hour – 80p
1-2 hours – £1.50
2-3 hours – £2.20
Up to 4 hours – £4.00
Floors 4 and 5
Maximum stay of 10 hours
1-4 hours – same rates as above
4-10 hours – £4.00
Floors 6 and 7
Business season tickets are available; the charge for a business ticket payable annually in advance will be £375. However, there are only 78 available and some of you have already informed me that you are interested. It will be on a first come first served basis.
All of this is still open for discussion and the Chamber will be putting in objections to the opening and closing times and also to increase the business parking times. The document does not give any indication as to what happens after 6.00PM.
Please contact me with any comments etc. by Thursday 16th and I will collate them and send them to Dacorum. All responses have to be received by 20th January. Furthermore, if you want to take advantage of the business rate please let me know asap at peteels12@gmail.com
OUR TREASURER
Shirley Hall, our treasurer and portfolio manager for Haines Watts, has decided to take the plunge and is doing a parachute jump on the 29th March. Her charity is the Hospice of St Francis. You can read her story and find out how to donate on www.justgiving.com/Shirley-Hall5
NEW MEMBERS
Terence Ritchie SA LAW
Gladstone Place, 36-38 Upper Marlborough Road, St Albans, Herts, AL1 3UU
Tel: 01727 798000
Legal Services Company
BDCC EVENTS
The next event is our lunch meeting at the Highwayman, High Street, Berkhamsted on Wednesday 19th February at 12.30pm to 2.00pm. This is our first lunch meeting of 2020 and the previous year has proved to be very successful. Price is £20 for members and £25 for non-members and places can be booked via our web site www.berkhamsted-chamber.co.uk
Our next breakfast champagne meeting is at Berkhamsted Cricket Club on 11th March where we will have a presentation from Young Enterprise Teams. For information the breakfast dates for the rest of 2020 are 13th May, 1st July, 16th September and 11th November. All start from 7.15am and cost £15 for members and £20 for non-members, it is the same price as last year.
The Chamber barbecue is on Thursday 25th June and is being held at Bill’s on the High Street.
On the 30th and 31st August the Chamber is running the Berkhamsted Medieval Festival at the cricket club and Kitchener’s field. We are hoping that members will get involved, and in some cases, run a stall promoting your business, although you will have to dress appropriately and there will be a charge. If you want more information, please contact peteels12@gmail.com. We are aiming at a footfall of between 3000 to 4000 attendees.
This year in conjunction with Solario Racing, the annual Ronnie Scott evening/night at Windsor races will be on Monday 29th June. As usual Simon Double will tell you all the winners, and as usual I will ignore his advice and lose all my money!
BDCC TRAINING
Sue Dobinson has issued a chamber of commerce training survey, which we would like you to complete so we can understand the training needs that members have. Could you please complete a short survey https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/RJX3P6Q
We will also be running a sales training course with Dexter Moscow in March at the Cricket Club this will be on Wednesday 25th March.
MEMBERS’ NEWS
AgeUK Dacorum
They are holding their AGM at the David Evans Court Theatre Station Road Tring HP23 5QY on Tuesday 4th February 10.30AM to 2.30PM. Although they will be presenting the annual financial figures the bulk of the meeting is on the theme of loneliness and how we as society, can help combat it. David Evans will be the opening speaker, the event will be hosted by Nigel Barden and there are interactive workshops, other charities will be present offering information. It is free and if you cannot make the full event please come along for an hour or so. More information is available from admin@ageukdacorum.org.uk. For information, AgeUK Dacorum is part of the AgeUK umbrella, but is not funded by AgeUK and is an independent charity in its own right.
Berkhamsted Town Hall
The Town Hall Trust in conjunction with Gadebourne Lodge and Home-Start are holding a Burns ceilidh on Saturday 25th January. The event starts at 7.00PM and consists of:
- A piper to welcome you
- Address to the Haggis in lallands
- 3 course meal with coffee
- Some Scottish songs
- A couple of toasts
- A dance band playing jigs, reels etc with a caller
- Auld Lang Syne
There is a full bar which sells beer, wines and of course whisky
Contact peteels12@gmail.com for tickets at £40 each and any further information
Dress Highland, Black Tie, Lounge and Birthday.
Bills
For those of you who are having a dry January, I personally am having a dry Ginuary, and have decided to try a vegetarian diet. Bills on the High Street are offering a Veganuary menu for the month and have created some brand new dishes. Download some pics and the menu at https://we.ti/t-h1MkBTvYnS There is also a Veganuary game which comes with prizes at https://bills-web.co/2ZWkrlS and I am informed everyone is a winner!!!
Connect Dacorum
They are holding a charity golf day for Community Action Dacorum at Stocks Golf Club on Monday May 18th. Tee off as a shot gun start, is at 1.00PM with prizes, nearest the pin and longest drive. The price is £80 per person or £320 per team inclusive of tea/coffee on arrival, evening meal and team prizes. Contact Cindy@communityactiondacorum.org.uk .
They are also running a networking event at the Old Town Hall, 196 Berkhamsted High Street, on Friday June 19th from 12.00PM to 14.00PM. This event, aimed at making connections, will have the Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, Robert Voss CBE, to talk about the Queen’s award for Enterprise and the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. Tickets are available at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/connect-dacorum-making-conncetions-tickets-8901017482.
Home-Start Herts
On the 25th February they are organising a Pancake race day in St Albans, with both a walking and running race. They are looking for teams of four and expect to have over 30. If you want more information and how to participate please contact suzy@home-startherts.org.uk
Raydens
They will be holding a VE Day gala on Friday 15th May at Berkhamsted Cricket Club in the evening. Please put the date in your diaries and when more information is received you will be informed.
Rotary
In 2020 they are running three main events:
- The famous Berkhamsted Half Marathon run on 1st March 2020
- HMS Pinafore concert at Berkhamsted Castle on 12th July 2020
- Fireworks at the Berkhamsted Cricket Club on 7th November 2020
They are looking for sponsors or advertisers as all events are very well attended and draw good crowds to Berkhamsted. For more information on all events, please contact Rotary on spomsorship@berkorotary.org or tel: 07947 140108
The Home Office
They have a special offer for people signing up in January for home from home hot desk memberships for £199 + VAT in February, March and April. There are also other improved membership options. Their address is Pennyroyal Court, Station Road, Tring, HP23 5QY. Please contact info@thehomeoffice.com for more information.
The Hospice of St Francis
So, you want to learn to dance? They are holding six weekly dance sessions with a glitterball finale at a secret location. If you would like to give it a twirl then look it up on-line at www.stfrancis.org.uk/strictly. It starts this month.
The Vyne Theatre
On Friday 24th January they are hosting the Budapest Café Orchestra, who play a range of traditional folk and gypsy music, and resetting of some classical greats. Please contact the Vyne Theatre admin@berkhamstedartscentre.co.uk.
Traveltime
Our local independent travel agent is moving to a new home in Berkhamsted High Street. In fact, just opposite their current office in the Robert Martell building at number 254, next to the alleyway to Waitrose. They will also be running an optional book by appointment system, an out of hours service and a travel lounge in their new location. Email yourdreamholiday@traveltimeworld.co.uk for more information.
William Young Tailors
Our bespoke tailor is also moving to Robert Martells in March.
OTHER NEWS
Colin Lillicrap of Colin Lillicrap Associates has told me that there will be a new tranche of low carbon workspace grants available to Hertfordshire/Bucks businesses in the next few weeks. There is a recommendation that companies apply to go on the priority list as funds will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. It will be done via project proposals, but a project can cover lighting, lighting controls, radiant heating, electric vehicle charging points and building fabric improvements. If you want more information, please contact Colin at colin.lillicrap@btinternet.com
Please send any information or news about the town to Pete Elsworth. I am informed that a number of the empty properties on the High Street will have tenants in the near future, and that Porters will soon be Pizza Express.
Best Regards,
Pete Elsworth – Chair