Needlework tells story of district as it marks golden anniversary

Stitches in Time is a hand-crafted series of 50 flags which together make up around 25 metres long stretch of bunting, with each depicting an episode, person or place.

Six former chairs of Three Rivers District Council joined the current Chair, Cllr Raj Khiroya, to mark the district’s golden anniversary at a civic reception on Thursday (3 October), at which the artwork was exhibited. The event was attended by current councillors and representatives from other councils and organisations.

The reception took place at the headquarters of the council, Three Rivers House, in Rickmansworth at which Cllr Khiroya was joined by the Council Leader Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst and party group leaders.

Cllr Khiroya said: “I am delighted that the district of Three Rivers has reached the milestone of 50 years. Over that time this beautiful district has seen some huge and dramatic changes – but has always been home to a great sense of community spirit, diversity of businesses and peoples as well as urban and rural attractions - as it remains today.

“The story of the district is marvellously and innovatively told in the extraordinary piece of artwork created by local volunteers, lovingly crafted stitch by stitch. What could be a finer way of marking this important anniversary – thank you to everyone involved.”

Cllr Giles-Medhurst said: “It was great to thank all those councillors and officers past and present who make this district what it is, a district which punches above its weight. And particular thanks must go to Three Rivers Museum and their team of volunteers for the extraordinary embroidered bunting, which brings history to life.”

Fabian Hiscock, Chairman of Three Rivers Museum, who coordinated the Stitches in Time project, said: “This project has been led by my fellow trustees Pat Hamilton and Sal Williams, whose concept it has been and whose work has included recruiting the remarkable team of needleworkers. I offer my huge thanks to them – I know that this will stand the test of time. And in another 50 years it will still be marvelled at.” The work has included contributions from the Abbots Langley Local History Society, Sarratt Historical Society, the Croxley Green History Project, Rickmansworth Historical Society and Three Rivers District Council.

Formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, Three Rivers was created by encompassing the whole of Chorleywood and Rickmansworth Urban Districts including Sarratt, South Oxhey and Carpenders Park, and Abbots Langley. It took its name from the three rivers, the Chess, Gade and Colne which flow through it.

Councils across the country have been marking their 50thanniversaries throughout 2024.

Three Rivers embraces six civil parishes – Watford Rural (South Oxhey and Carpenders Park), which despite its name is largely urbanised as a suburb of Watford; Batchworth Community Council, in effect the Town Council for Rickmansworth and includes Eastbury Park and Moor Park; Chorleywood; Croxley Green; Abbots Langley; and Sarratt.

• The Stitches in Time - A History of Three Rivers in 50 Stories needlework bunting can be viewed at Three Rivers Museum. Find out more about the music here: trmt.org.uk/

Photo 1: The Council Leader, Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst, pictured with Fabian Hiscock of Three Rivers Museum, the Chair of the Council, Cllr Raj Khiroya and the High Sheriff of Hertfordshire Annie Brewster.

Photo 2: Chair of the Council, Cllr Raj Khiroya (centre) with (from left) former chairs Cllr David Major, Les Mead, Cllr Andrew Scarth, Cllr Keith Martin, Paula Hiscocks and Cllr Chris Whately-Smith.

Photo 3: Council Chair, Cllr Raj Khiroya.