It’s fair to say the renovation of Hitchin Town Hall and the creation of North Herts Museum has never been far from the news this year, and in August the saga continued when a consortium of businessmen bought part of the site which acts as an entrance to the museum – despite North Herts District Council publicly questioning their motives.

The Comet: Mary Driver, Shirley Brown, Jack Wells and children from William RansomMary Driver, Shirley Brown, Jack Wells and children from William Ransom (Image: Archant)

The town hall opened its doors to the public back in April, but we still await news on a resolution to the museum saga.

On a lighter note, a Letchworth grandmother of four marked turning 70 with a 13,000ft skydive in order to raise money for a good cause close to many people’s hearts in our area, Garden House Hospice Care.

Jane Fletcher did a tandem dive to fundraise for the Letchworth-based hospice after they cared for her late husband Paul. Brave Jane told us: “It was scary at first but after that I loved it!” Good for her.

And well done to a Hitchin school which buried a time capsule to mark new building works.

Pupils from William Ransom Primary School in Stuart Drive buried the capsule to highlight the first big building scheme at the school since it was built in the early 70s.

Head Mary Driver said: “We felt it was appropriate to bury the time capsule to mark the building project. It’s not to be opened for at least 50 years.”

Included in the capsule for future historians to get a glimpse of what life was like in 2016 were a recipe for the school’s favourite lunch, chicken pie, and a copy of the Comet. Here’s to the next 50 years for both institutions!