CHANGING VILLAGE

Hazelwood, (Hoddesdon)) schoolchildren enjoyed a beautiful sunny day on 4 December 2001 being guided around the village recording the historic changes.

DANNY AND MAVIS HODGE CLOSE THE SHOP AND POST OFFICE

Wednesday 23 June 1999 heralded the biggest change in Aston for many years.
Danny and Mavis decided to retire from their village general store and sub post office. This was the last surviving shop in the village centre. No one was prepared to take over the business which was failing due to the arrival of a new Sainsburys Supermarket opening on the Stevenage/Aston Village boundary. A public presentation was made outside the premises by Leslie and Gwen Izzard on behalf of the customers to thank Danny and Mavis and wish them both a happy retirement. A good humoured large crowd gathered to hear the speeches. Danny jokingly said "He didn't know that he had so many customers!" The shop is greatly missed, it was a village meeting place to chat and stay in touch with each other as well as to purchase urgent household needs and pension payments.

I produced a VHS vide recording of this closure and included some history of the post office which may be of interest some day.

Pictures: Des Turner

NEW FOOTPATH- WEST OF ASTON BURY WOOD

This is a lovely additional public walkway. Starting from the village centre to Aston Bury drive and walk down the drive and enter the field on the left as indicated by the footpath sign. Cross to NW corner of Aston Bury wood and the former BAe playing field. cross Bragbury House Cross the stream by the footbridge, follow the path and exit at Three Horseshoes Pub.

Return through Aston Bury Wood past 16th Century Aston Bury Manor and its barn and home for a cup of tea. Beautiful!
Thank you to those gallant workers who created it.

But there is a downside. The former sports club area is owned by Wilmington who want to develop it. So the whole green belt area that you see will be ruined forever. Imagine the scene below covered with dwellings. The Aston Bury Wood nature reserve will be no more. It will be overwhelmed by the people who will be living next door to it.
Bragbury House and the old BAe cricket pavilion are to be seen in the distance. A security man would not allow me access to photograph the buildings.