Two sisters being reunited after more than six decades apart and two Hollywood stars visiting a Letchworth GC cinema made the headlines in March.

• A Stevenage woman who only discovered she had a half sister a decade ago has met her for the first time after 66 years. Pauline Chestney was 11 when, unknown to her, her mother gave birth to her half sister who she was then forced to have adopted. The breakthrough came after Mrs Chestney’s friend Janice Bruton started pursuing family trees as a hobby. Mrs Chestney said: “It was absolutely wonderful to meet her. She’s so much like my mother in her interests and her mannerisms.”

• Tributes were paid to an Olympian who died in a collision on the A1(M). Rob Pope, 44, from Hitchin, was a London-based firefighter who represented Great Britain as part of the 1994 Olympic bobsleigh team. His wife Nicky Pope said: “Rob was a wonderful husband and father to our son. He doted on our little boy and we will never forget him.”

• Hundreds of fans turned out to see Hollywood stars Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright appear at a special Q&A at Broadway Cinema in Letchworth GC.

The actor and director duo appeared as a way of saying thanks to the town, after they filmed scenes for their blockbuster movie The World’s End there. Wright and Pegg returned again in November for another Q&A, following the release of the film on DVD.

• Hitchin residents had cause to celebrate after the town was voted one of the best places to live in the UK. The town was listed ninth in The Times’ Best Places to Live.

The guide read: “It tends to be overshadowed by St Albans but Hitchin has a lot going for it. It may not be as boutiquey but it does have a pretty town centre with an affluent feel.”

• A 15-year-old shaved his head to raise money for charity while also donating his hair to be made into wigs for children who have undergone chemotherapy. Nicholas Rollason, a student at Fearnhill School in Letchworth GC, shaved his hair for Cancer Research UK. He raised £400 for the charity, beating his original target of £250. He said: “My dad is quite pleased that I’m finally getting a haircut.”