Wheathampstead Magazine
For the Love of Cheese
As well as various cheeses from around the world, there are more than 700 named British cheeses produced in the UK, so there’s bound to be something there to suit every taste.Whilst cheese of one sort or another can be included in various recipes, in salads, in lunchboxes, in sandwiches and even on top of burgers, the absolute best use of cheese must surely be in an outstanding cheese and wine pairing.
Over the years the group have raised thousands of pounds to help various groups in the village, not just older people, and have extended their fundraising to all corners of the community. Through their efforts, ALF have been able to donate equipment to St Helen's and Beech Hyde schools; a specialist wheelchair, Christmas tree lights for the village tree, equipment for the youth cricket team and Home Start. ALF has also donated benches in East Lane and at the top of Folly Fields.
ALF holds monthly bingo evenings on the last Tuesday of the month and with tea and biscuits and friendly banter on offer, it’s a great place to meet and mix with other people and of course you could win one of the cash prizes too! It’s worth noting that if you need a lift to get to Bingo, just let ALF know and they will try to arrange for you to be collected.
ALF also ruins a summer outing, which is usually a coach trip to see an open garden or imbibe in a delicious a cream tea or maybe both! Open to local seniors, about 30 – 40 people come along for the day and go home after a fun day having made some new friends. The Christmas party is always very well attended too (80 people attended in 2018), but with singing, dancing, party games as well as good food and Christmas lights, it’s not surprising that it’s such a popular date for the diary.
The next big ALF event is Amwell Day - an old fashioned style Summer Fair with Tombola, Coconut Shy, Bric-A-Brac, Hook a Duck, Stocks, smash a croc and much, much more. It all happens in the grounds and gardens of popular Amwell pub, The Elephant and Castle who put on a Bar-B-Que for the occasion.
Of course, none of this would happen without the dedicated band of ALF volunteers as well as their families and friends who work tirelessly together to raise funds and bring fun and laughter to those in need and to the whole community.
Amwell day is 15th June 1 – 4pm