Helen Burridge, Manager of St Albans BID, looks at the challenge for the City in meeting the needs of local people and the need to encourage more visitors.

In the first in a series of short stories by the BeauSandVer Writers, Nick Churton reads two of his pieces: Heading East and Postcard.

In the first of this new series, two Ver Poets (Anna Avebury and Sylvia Banham)  read some of their work.

In the second of two conversations, Terry Jones, Anna Avebury and Chris Delaney tell Rob Pearman about Ver Poets, who it is for, how it operates and about the annual competitions including the open event which welcomes non-members as well as members to submit entries.  Once again, all three read poems of their choice.  For more about Ver Poets, go to verpoets.co.uk.

In the first of two conversations, Ver Poets Terry Jones, Anna Avebury and Chris Delaney tell Rob Pearman how and why they became poets, what poetry means to them and why being a poet is open to anyone who is ready to commit to both inspiration and perspiration.  All three read poems of their choice. For more about Ver Poets, go to verpoets.co.uk.

Tom Hammond, Principal Conductor of St Albans Symphony Orchestra and Artistic Director of the Hertfordshire Festival of Music (June 13 - 23), chats with Jill Burridge about his career thus far, in the series 'Me & My Job'.    (Links:  tom-hammond.org.uk; @tomhammondmusic; hertsmusicfest.org.uk; saso.org.uk)

David Ireson chats with Jill Burridge about choral and orchestral performances in various venues around the City & District over the next few weeks.

Helen Gray, Director of the Hertfordshire Community Foundation, talks about her job and the many aspects of the Foundation (hertscf.org.uk) - including providing financial support for local charities, voluntary and other community groups as well as individuals in need, offering training courses for local organisations and volunteers, encouraging donations  from local people and businesses, and managing funds to maximise their impact on the community of Hertfordshire.

Peter Burley previews events and entertainment of all sorts coming up in venues across the District in May and June.