Watton-at-Stone prep school pupils are hoping that this is their year after three attempts to reach the finals in a BBC singing contest.

The choir from Heath Mount School at Woodhall Park were elated when they heard that they were one of three other choirs to get through to the last stage of the Songs of Praise School Choir of the Year competition, which will be shown nationally on BBC1. The competition will be filmed at Sheffield City Hall.

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Students at North Hertfordshire College faced a Ready, Steady, Cook style challenge as they cooked a tasty meal for a group of soldiers.

Six college students were given two hours to create a delicious three course meal, using just the ration packs in a field kitchen, and then present their meals for judging. The Bassingbourn Barracks event also aimed to help with the students’ teambuilding, leadership and communication skills.

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Fans of music in Stevenage flocked to the area’s only record shop last weekend to celebrate Record Store Day. They were able to purchase limited edition vinyl and watch five live acts.

David’s Music, in Letchworth GC was the place to be if you wanted to see live music and buy specialist records. Record Store Day is in its third year, and is held on the third Saturday of April. It aims to promote local independent music shops.

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Fans of outdoor pursuits in Stevenage be proud! Many local residents took part and completed the London Marathon this weekend.

The runners all did their bit for good causes as they ran 26 miles in the 20 degree London heat on Sunday. They are all now nursing their tired and sore limbs, and reflecting on their achievements.

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Having gone to do the weekly supermarket shop over the weekend, I must admit that I’m partial to taking a stroll down the beers, wines and spirits aisle to see what their may be on offer! Don’t get me wrong, I am not a manic beer lover but do enjoy a good pint in pubs in Hitchin from time to time. I found some lovely real ales in the supermarket at the weekend and really enjoyed their unique taste and flavour. So much so that I am determined to find a nice pub in Hitchin which delivers on both food and real ales! Both of which are quite high up on my agenda! I have some friends coming to stay in a couple of months time and would love to be able to take them to a pub which sells the finest real ales.

I happened to come across a website called www.realalepubshitchin.co.uk which seemed to tick all the boxes in terms of the beers! I know my friend is an avid fan of trying and testing many different real ales so to him this will be a lovely surprise.

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People were dusting off their antique furniture in Hertford for the £100,000 Art Fund Prize judging at the Hertford Museum. The judges were Former Conservative minister Michael Portillo, experts in antiques in Hertford and around the world, Lars Tharp from the Antiques Roadshow and The Guardian’s chief art writer Charlotte Higgins.

They were all given a tour of the Bull Plain building, which was listed for the award for its development project.

Mr Portillo said: “We had a most interesting visit. It was obviously a big project and took a lot of commitment and vision and has produced a much better environment in which people can view these extraordinary series of collections.”

There will be a complete revamp of Grundy Park Leisure Centre, Cedars Park and Broxbourne Civic Hall. £2.5m has been committed to the refurbishment of the Grundy Park Leisure Centre over three years, as the building is going to be upgraded piece by piece.

There will be an improvement to existing facilities, as well as an extension to the main gym. The café will be moved in place of a dance studio that will also have a bar. The project has been prioritized after it was decided that the Hoddesdon Open Air Pool will be demolished.

A £377,000 investment will be given to Broxbourne Civic Hall as the computer system is being replaced. There will also be changes in the heating, cooling, ventilation systems and lighting in Broxbourne Civic Hall.

There will also be an investment in youth projects with money going into a kickabout court at Cranbourne School, and upgrades to security lighting in Broxbourne.

There will be a wave of recruitment in Waltham Cross as the Lee Valley White Water Centre is boosting the local economy. 50 full time and part time jobs have been create in a bit to boost business, employment, tourism, culture and sporting opportunities. The centre was given the royal seal of approval in December, when Princess Anne came to visit.

Recruitment in Waltham Cross for senior raft guides began in October, with 30% of those applying being Broxbourne residents.

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A halt in police recruitment in Stevenage is one of the results of the council tax demand freeze for the Hertfordshire Police Authority. Hertfordshire residents will pay the same as in 2010-11, despite a 20% cut in constabulary funding for the next four years.

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When we had a complete garden overhaul, I knew that I definitely wanted an area of block paving to be a feature in our garden. I have always wanted a place where we can have a table and chairs so we can eat outside when the weather is nice. My best friend has a gorgeous garden, with a great paving area, so I asked her which company she had used for the paving. She told me that she had received a fantastic service from www.blockpavingstevenage.co.uk. I called them up for a quote, and I was really impressed by the affordable price that they offered me. Everything in her garden is completely perfect, so I was cheeky and asked her who did her fence too! She told me that she only ever uses one company, www.gardenfenceshertford.co.uk.

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