MAY 2020

‘I LOVE MY HOME IN ’

As Stewkley adjusts to a new normal, people around the village are coming up with different ways to entertain themselves and others. One resident currently living back in the village is a Civil Aviation Authority registered drone pilot for professional film‐making and offered to take some free aerial shots of Stewkley scenery for the Grapevine. The above was taken at a height of 100 metres, to ensure no invasion of privacy, and shows High Street South from the War Memorial, capturing the lovely countryside that surrounds us. Over the coming months we will share more of the high altitude shots that were taken in early April, showing different views of the village. Rainbows and messages are appearing across the village, reinforcing what a friendly and diverse place we live in. More on page 13. And while some keep the village amused with a daily joke, others have captured the arrival of spring.

From the moment of leaving the digital printing machine, your Grapevine is handled only by the printer operator and the Grapevine deliverers, all wearing protective disposable gloves provided by the printers and the Grapevine Team.

THE GRAPEVINE: NEXT ISSUE ON OR ABOUT 1 JUNE 2020. DEADLINE FOR CONTRIBUTIONS & ADS: 15 MAY 2020 Contact: [email protected] To advertise: email or call 242137. For editorial: email or call 240350. Page 2 Stewkley Grapevine May 2020

MESSAGE FROM THE PARISH COUNCIL CHAIR VILLAGE DIARY "You will read elsewhere in this Grapevine how the PC and other village groups have come together to organise a neighbourhood MAY support scheme for the uncertainties of the coming weeks. Mon 4 Book Club - via Zoom At the moment of the lockdown, we were some of the fortunate Wed 6 Refuse: Green Top and Food Waste ones enjoying a holiday of a lifetime on the other side of the world Wed 13 Refuse: Blue Top and Food Waste (at least until the final week and the challenge to get home ‐ see Wed 20 Refuse: Green Top and Food Waste Tailpiece Tale on P24), and I have followed with increasing Wed 28 Refuse: Blue Top and Food Waste admiration the immense effort and creativity of our councillors, our Parish Clerk and the volunteers to get the scheme up and running in an incredibly short time. WHAT’S ON IN MAY As I write this, we are just finishing our 14 days of self‐isolation after our return, before moving into the next category of BOOK CLUB ‘vulnerable’ by virtue of age, and we have already benefitted for Monday 4 May essential shopping from our local volunteer, as well as from a 8.30pm via Zoom willing teenage neighbour and other friends. Please contact Greg on 240487 for information I would like to add my thanks for all those who are involved and once again we think how lucky we were, two decades ago, to Book to discuss: Roots by Alex Hayley choose Stewkley as our future home. (Book for June: The Places In Between by Rory Stewart) GRAPEVINE DELIVERERS - TERRIFIC RESPONSE! STEWKLEY WI from Sheila Fellowes Following our call for delive rers in last month’s Grapevine, eight villagers volunteered to take the place of those who have had to Just a reminder that the May meeting has been cancelled. I hope withdraw. you are all keeping well. I have spoken to some of you, either on the phone or have met you while taking my permitted exercise. We We are now back to full strength of 20 delive rers, who make sure are very lucky to have such a large area of well‐kept green space to that every household continues to receive their monthly copy. walk in. I don’t know about you but my original enthusiasm fo r For everyone’s safety, deliverers are advised not to enter any cleaning out cupboards and washing curtains has waned enclosed entrances. They will either use a letter box or leave a copy considerably as the weeks have passed. I will admit to the odd glass at the front. If it is raining please leave a suitable container for the of wine, but have so far managed to resist the chocolate temptation! deliverer to put your copy in. A decision about the June meeting has not been made yet. We are COFFEE STOP—A VILLAGE SUCCESS STORY holding out as long as we can, but I will keep you informed. The Village Coffee Stop began life on 4 February 2010 as a joint

Please do not hesitate to ring me if you need anything or just feel venture between St Michael’s Church and the Methodists as a form like a chat 240596. of outreach in the village. The idea was to invite as many people as A ROYAL BRITISH LEGION UPDATE possible to come along for a quick cuppa, or to stay and chat with from Steve Nicholl friends. Anne Wade, Prue Luget, Joy de Weerd and Clare Chandler from St Last autumn the Stewkley Branch of the Royal British Legion (RBL) Michael’s met up with Christine Jones and Julia Faulkner from the used the good offices of the Grapevine in what was felt to be a last‐ Chapel, and the launch event was held in the Methodist ditch attempt to keep an independent branch viable by getting Schoolroom. more people to join. Whilst those pleas produced very few new recruits, the branch has been doing some strategic rethinking. Of In due course the venue was moved to the Rec Pavilion so as to be course, new members would still be very, very welcome (Contact non‐denominational. Steve Nicholl at [email protected] or on 240133). A bring‐and‐buy sale soon became part of the agenda together with Nevertheless, we believe we now have a way forward that, even a raffle from which the proceeds went to a nominated local or with our very small membership, will enable us to retain our national charity. branch identity, keep Stewkley running its own Remembrance and The much anticipated monthly event has been put on hold during continue to make a significant contribution to the RBL’s charity the current lockdown, but since 2010 £20,585 has been raised for wo rk in support of those who have served in uniform but are now charity. facing difficulties. Over the past ten years over 80 charities have benefited including: We need to discuss our strategy in more detail locally and with the wider British Legion. Howeve r, Covid‐19 has put all that on hold Water Aid, Royal British Legion, Calibre, Parkinsons UK, Christian for the present. There will be more to follow, when we can. But one Aid, Little Hearts Matter, Bees Abroad, Cancer Research UK, MK thing is already clear: assuming that we are no longer locked down Food Bank, Prostate Cancer UK, Diabetes UK, and Medical Detection by autumn, the Poppy Appeal in Stewkley needs more collectors in Dogs. the village. The Poppy Appeal runs from 24 October until This a wonderful outcome in addition to the successful social Remembrance Sunday, 8 November. The task is simply ‘selling’ outreach it has provided. poppies door to door, generally at a couple of dozen homes in one street, preferably over a couple of days early in the Poppy Appeal VILLAGE HALL SHOW CANCELLED fortnight. Please contact our Poppy Appeal Organiser, Denise As the Grapevine was in final proofing we learned that the Village Draper on 240524. Hall Show has been cancelled. Stewkley Grapevine May 2020 Page 3 SMALLS SAVE THE DAY VILLAGE GENEROSITY FEEDING SCHOOL KIDS from St Michael’s School While supermarke t shelves quickly We continue to have a food emptied time and donation box outside the time again during the school main entrance and are regrettable Covid‐19 immensely grateful to the panic‐buying episode people of Stewkley for their in March, smaller generous donations. Please outlets stepped up to continue to leave non‐ fill the voids. perishable food stuffs and household items such as toilet Stewkley Food and roll and cleaning products in Wine on High Street the box provided. The school North reduced their gates are open during the day. opening hours to 8am‐8pm daily, but The food is sorted and maintained a healthy apportioned before being variety of goods on delivered by Susie Brister, one the shelves. Littlecote of our governors, to the Farm Shop provided homes of St Michael's School frequent and helpful families who are entitled to a updates on Facebook free school meal. Some about their extended families who receive opening hours, and Universal Credit are not which products would be available when, including hen and duck necessarily entitled to free school meals, but as 1.5 million people eggs, meat, packaged goods and fresh vegetables. Blackthorn have applied for Universal Credit in the past month, we are also Nursery on Wing Road continued to sell hen, duck and goose eggs. supporting some of these families. Manor Farm in introduced a meat home‐delivery The Government has launched a supermarket‐voucher system fo r service for self‐isolating customers, and the only thing Parrott children entitled to a free school meal, but this is not functioning Brothers in Whitchurch seemed to be short of for a while was as intended and some families are not receiving the vouchers they chicken. are entitled to, but the Government is working hard to resolve this. The pubs are also helping out. The Swan in Chapel Square has had MID-MAY: THE STEWKLEY SWEEP WEEKEND fruit, vegetables, meat and eggs, plus take‐away beer and wine for from John Flewin, Stewkley's Best Kept Village Organiser sale every Wednesday 11am‐2pm and 5‐8pm, while the Carpenters Arms on Wing Road, in addition to a ’corner shop’, is providing a Even without a Best Kept Village Competition this year, there is daily food and drink take‐away service 4‐8pm. This is in addition scope for everyone to help to keep our village looking neat and tidy, to the long‐standing Howe’s fish‐and‐chip van that stops at various especially as permission has been given for the title from last year places in Stewkley on Thursdays from around 5pm, subject to to apply to this year too, the sign to remain hanging on the War available staff. There is also an artisan pizza van at the Village Hall Memorial island. opposite The Swan on Wednesday evenings. Despite the Coronavirus lockdown, the local council says it will Unfortunately, the shop and Post Office at is closed honour a pledge given earlier in the year to help keep the main until further notice. Alternative Post Office facilities close to streets clear of dirt and weeds. Stewkley are at , Wing, , Winslow On Thursday 14 May, the council road‐sweeper will travel the and Whitchurch. length of the High Streets, and the in‐village part of Road. STEWKLEY WALKERS ‐ CORONAVIRUS It will return to sweep the streets again Monday 18 May. The four day gap between visits is to enable villagers to clean up Fo llowing Government advice on social distancing, all walks are any stubborn debris left in the gutters outside their homes. cancelled until further notice. Two years ago a dozen volunteers cleared the gutters ahead of a 365 DAYS OF CREATIVE PLAY visit by the road sweeper. It seems inappropriate in these difficult times to conduct the same kind of operation exactly, but hopefully, When she was a first time mum, by her own admission many years wo rking along the pave ments near to their own property will be ago, Yvonne Millward of High Street North received a book from considered ‘exercise’ for locals, as well as contributing to social close family living and working in the USA. She said she still dips wellbeing. into it now for the grandchildren and has shared it with the Grapevine to help other carers of young kids survive the Advice to villagers for activities near their home: coronavirus lockdown. ● Ahead of Thursday 14 May, sweep the pavement, leaving dust and stones in the gutter. ● During the period Friday 15 to Sunday 17, use a spade or hoe to clear anything left after Thursday’s sweep. ● On both the Thursday and the Monday, car owners should try to park cars away from the roads being swept. Use side streets, or the car parks at the Village Hall or the Rec (special permission for both locations for these days only). Elsewhere, in Elaine Goss’ greenhouse in High Street North, the flower baskets, sponsored by the Grapevine, for the bus shelters at the end of the month are taking shape, even showing some early flowers. Page 4 Stewkley Grapevine May 2020 SVCC 2020 SE ASON UPDATE BOOK CLUB RECOMMENDS from Alan Hardings This month Book Club’s Greg Bellamy recommends another Given the challenging circumstances we are all experiencing at the really good read for this time of isolation, one of Rose present time, and a bit of a nudge from the Grapevine production Tremain's many novels. team, the ‘start’ of the 2020 cricket season seems an appropriate point to share an update from the cricket club. Merivel: A Man of his Time Most interested parties will know already that the and by Rose Tremain Wales Cricket Board has announced that the professional season is on hold until 1 July at the earliest. Obviously as a consequence It is set in seventeenth-century England and centres of the current restrictions there will also be no recreational cricket around Merivel, a physician and courtier to King for the near future. We’re all hoping that Covid‐19 departs as Charles ll, who sets off for the French court to make a quickly as it arrived, however that seems a long shot at the present fresh start in his life. The gaudy years of the English time. As a result, there will be no Saturday League or Sunday Restoration are long gone but the royal life at the friendly cricket, no evening LMS matches and unfortunately it looks Palace of Versailles, all glitter in front and squalor as though the junior cricket season will be cancelled as it usually behind, leaves him in despair, until a chance encounter runs until mid‐July. with the seductive Madame de Flamanville allows him Alongside the start of the playing season, we were intending to to dream of a different future. But will that future ever follow up the successes of the February Quiz Night and Evening be his? Summoned home urgently to attend to the with Sir Alastair, with an Easter Sunday Lunch, our Vice Presidents’ ailing king, Merivel finds his loyalty and skill tested to lunch on 10 May and a couple of player socials. Sadly, but their limits. inevitably, we have had to cancel these events or maybe just postpone for now. You’ll be pleased to hear that activity continues This book was called wonderfully entertaining by the amidst the chaos! Guardian and was shortlisted for the Walter Scott Prize Tony is still tending the square, although slightly less busy than he’d for historical literature. As you would expect from Rose maybe wished he would be, the mowers have been serviced, the Tremain the settings are described beautifully and roller has been started again….eventually (thanks to Mr Wright) many fascinating details about seventeenth-century and we will be shortly looking to tidy up the area around the nets medicine are revealed. with a small working party from the same household (sorry Tom, I found the main character very likeable and I really Jamie!). We are also incurring expenditure, for example, the club cared and wanted to know what was going to happen had ordered some new sightscreens for delivery before the season started. I hope we will see them once restrictions are lifted. So our to him, which to me is the essence of a good story. treasurer, David Wheeler is also quite busy alongside his day job! On that note, I’d like to thank all those who have contributed to the If you have enjoyed a good book let us know what it was club financially in the last couple of weeks, whether players paying and why you enjoyed it. their subscriptions early for a season which may never happen or BOOK GROUP BY ZOOM our vice presidents making donations to the club in a season where from Greg Bellamy we may not be able to arrange their annual get‐together or even Like so many groups and activities I reluctantly sent out an email put on some cricket to watch. It really is much appreciated in every to cancel our future book group meetings because of coronavirus. season, but is even more welcome this year! Some group members suggested we continue our meetings using Finally then, even though this is out of our hands, I can only extend WhatsApp but this soon changed to using Zoom as its capacity apologies to all at the club, especially the juniors (and their allows a group forum. I am sure most of us had not even heard of parents!) who must be champing at the bit to finish their football Zoom until recently but within a few days the name started to seasons firstly, then follow their cricketing heroes from last season appear all over the media and we became aware of its use by many over this summer. Also to our more ‘experienced’ members, groups in our area. We held a trial meeting, organised and hosted particularly our vice presidents who I know look forward to the by Sally Wallis, one of our more technically astute members, which longer days, sunshine and social opportunities that village cricket seemed to work after a few initial technical and familiarisation brings. To them in particular, but all club members, keep safe and problems. please use the club network if you find yourselves in difficulty at Our meeting took place at the normal meeting time, 8.30pm on the these challenging times. first Monday of the month. The free time allowed by Zoom is 40 Please continue to support your local clubs and societies, we’ll see minutes but currently users can overrun (hopefully because the you on the other side! company sees the social need). Alan Hardings ‐ 242227 Nine of us discussed Michelle Obama's autobiography Becoming. We found it a good read especially the first half which describes CALF REARING PROPOSALS WITHDRAWN AGAIN her determined actions to overcome her racial and class The planning application for the creation of a new calf rearing unit background (she is from a poorer area of South Chicago) in order on land off Dean Road, comprising the erection of three agricultural to make something of herself. The book continues with her buildings and temporary siting of a rural wo rker's dwelling, wa s outstanding efforts to campaign with Barack Obama to reach the withdrawn by the applicant at the end of March. The reason for the White House, in order to effect an improvement in the lives and withdrawal is not known. health of the underprivileged of all races in America. At the end of our discussion we chose our book for June (which we do by genre A previous planning application was withdrawn in January 2019. and this time it was a travelogue). Withdrawing a planning application does not prevent the applicant from submitting a further application or applications at a future Zoom is a reasonable substitute for a group meeting. There is a date(s) for consideration. slight time delay which affects interaction so a code of member discipline is required. However we all look forward to the social The applications had attracted multiple strong objections from buzz of being together again! Stewkley residents and the Parish Council. Grapevine deadline: 15th of month. Entries received after 15th cannot be included unless previously agreed. Stewkley Grapevine May 2020 Page 5 ST MICHAEL’S SCHOOL KEEP IN TOUCH Staff at St Michael’s School came together to produce an inspiring and Mrs Croucher (Foundation teacher) loved it and came on board video last month that perfectly captured one of the key words in straight away. I then asked all the staff and those who wanted to the school’s mantra – together. take part did so without needing any further encouragement. Twenty‐seven members of school staff featured as part of the “I then thought if it was a message for the school community then three‐minute video which was e‐mailed to all pupils and parents David should be part of it so I told him about it. midway through the scheduled Easter school holidays. “I then e‐mailed all the staff with their words, everyone sent me The video, which ended with the on‐screen message “thank you for their clips and I edited it together using iMovie. listening, we miss you all and can’t wait to see you very soon” was “I am overwhelmed by the positivity this short video has given to the brainchild of Year Five teacher Andrea Clarke, who said the the community. whole thing was very much a team effort. “The staff had no idea of the full content until I had edited the final Andrea told the Grapevine, “It started with me wanting to do version and they were amazed in what they produced.” something to surprise Mr Morley (headteacher) because of all the Andrea has since received lots of lovely feedback about the video videos he has done for the school. including one message from a parent who described it as “I asked my teaching colleagues first and told them about my idea “a beautiful and heart‐warming message, which actually made me cry.” STEWKLEY – HERE TO HELP from the Parish Council HISTORY GROUP RE-LAUNCHES WEBSITE At time of writing, three weeks have passed since the Parish from John Sheldon, Stewkley Local History Group Council first posted on the FaceBook pages asking for help. Anyone willing to sign up to a volunteer support group for those parishioners self‐isolating, and in need of some assistance, were asked to contact the parish clerk. The April edition of the Grapevine carried the same request. One hundred and three (103) people responded, of whom 75 are actively involved in one of the support groups, 16 are on a reserve list and 12 have not yet completed the enrolment process. This response was so much more than the council had anticipated, and it is a measure of the strength and generosity of our community. The parish has been divided into ten zones, each with a dedicated Stewkley Local History Group re‐launched its website in April co‐ordinator and group of volunteers. Volunteers have a coloured following a redesign by Steve Hart of PA Design of Leighton ID badge so they can be easily identified when out and about Buzzard. helping one of our neighbours. The original website has been the portal for family history and One week after that initial Facebook posting, the support other enquiries of an historic nature from around the world and programme was formally launched with a door‐to‐door leaflet drop also the route to buying the group’s publications. advising the householders of the name and telephone number of A small sub‐committee of members has worked with Steve to their coordinator. In just over two weeks, our volunteers have achieve a result which is much easier to navigate, and looks responded to 52 requests, including prescription pickups, appealing to use. Much of the original historical content has been shopping, or being a friendly voice on the phone. retained, but new village images have been added, together with Soon after delivering the Here to Help leaflet, the volunteers were some new features which hopefully will be of interest to local and out delivering again, this time a request for donations to the school distant visitors. foodbank. With the closure of the school, some of our families were Why not take a glance into Stewkley’s history at put in a vulnerable position which has been helped by food bags. www.stewkleyhistory.org.uk? The response of the parish to this request was noted by the headmaster of the school in a recent message, “The community has We are always on the look‐out for stories and documents from been amazing at dropping off food at school. Please can you thank Stewkley’s past. the Stewkley community for coming together to help. Our A LOT CAN STILL HAPPEN AT ALLOTMENTS supported families are enormously grateful for the kindness that has been shown towards them”. While Stewkley allotments are still ‘open’, they are subject to

The Parish Council intended this support programme to be a safety emergency guidelines along with the rest of life. net for the parish. The future is unpredictable at the moment, and and Milton Keynes Association of Local Councils has confirmed that those who are currently able to help their own family, friends and despite the ‘lockdown’, it is still permitted to visit allotments, neighbours may find themselves in a situation where they can no providing the now familiar social‐distancing and hygiene protocols longer do so. The zones have a number of volunteers assigned to are rigidly observed. ensure that if any of them have to withdraw, the zones can still Any plot‐holder who is self‐isolating because they or a household function and the reserve list can be called upon. In addition, many member is ill with coronavirus should not be visiting the site. of our volunteers signed up before the schools were closed, and Hands should not be washed or detergents used in any water tanks now find themselves juggling home‐schooling with everything else, or troughs. It is essential that no unauthorised people are allowe d so a pool of volunteers spreads the workload but importantly onto the plots. If children are taken to an allotment, they must stay means the person in need of assistance can be helped in a timely within its confines and not run around on communal paths and way. spaces. Do not share tools. At the beginning of this endeavour, the parish council reached out Extra care should be taken by plot‐holders over 70 years of age and to the church and chapel to discuss ways that they could help to those with underlying health issues. provide support, and will continue to do so as the weeks, and Gill Morgan of Stewkley Allotments told the Grapevine that as there maybe months, progress. are no plots available, they are not looking for new members. Those In closing, the Parish Council would like to thank those people who allotment holders who hadn't had the time or opportunity to make are working with us to support our community and to assure as much use of their plots as they would have liked in recent times everyone in the parish that we are all here to help. we re now returning to turn the soil. Page 6 Stewkley Grapevine May 2020 BUNT SCOTT THOUGHTS ON ... BOYHOOD Pt 2 I may have hinted before but Tich Tomes was a wantonly didn't get far as we were mischievous and devilishly naughty boy. On more than one accosted by an irascible farmer occasion at Stewkley School he decided that he'd had enough ("My with no sense of adventure brain’s full, I'm off.") and he just marched out of class and was gone. who sent us packing. The Mr Ginn the headmaster came to me, as I was supposedly a calming next few days were spent influence on Tich, and asked to me to go and find him and bring trying to scrape off the axle him back. I don't remember ever succeeding in this task. grease. Tich's mum, Edna, was a very petite, quiet and demure lady who On another occasion we rarely got angry, heaven knows how with the devil incarnate as a stood at the top of the same son. She was an amazing lady, a self‐taught pianist who played by hill petting Michael Dickens’ ear. She regularly played the piano in the Carpenters Arms and any horse Rufus who was kept in tune once heard was at her fingertips. She also played the piano a field there. Not sure whose accordion, which was a sight to behold as, being so slight, the idea it was (I'm claiming it was Tich and Bunt accordion looked as if it had legs, nothing else of her being visible. Tich's) but we decided to try riding Tich had an elder sister called Norma. Norma was a lovely girl and Rufus. We climbed on to the five bar very protective of Tich. She was motherly to us both and we adored gate and then both of us on to Rufus. No saddle or any tack. Rufus her. Once in more recent times when Tich's marriage broke up, he seemed unperturbed and wandered round in a few gentle circles. summed it all up by saying sagely, "With a sister like Norma, who "This is boring," said Tich and started whacking Rufus with both needs a wife." feet. Rufus, not so pleased, decided to take off at great speed and Tich and I were very keen on making exploding devices. Key bombs galloped down the field with us hanging on for dear life. Terrified, were made with the heads of red matches, a hollow old key, a bit of we bailed out, rolled over a few times and nervously laughed our string and a nail to detonate, they created a very satisfying loud heads off. I'm hoping Michael Dickens doesn't get to read this bit. bang. An alternative was the sugar bomb. Can't quite remember We did a lot of cycling in those days, on our ramshackle old push how they were made but I was with Tich when he threw one on the bikes. We dubbed our excursions as the Tours de.... There was the open fire in his sitting room. The resultant explosion was Tour de Winslow, the Tour de and Wing, the Tour de enormous, blackening the ceiling and singeing the hair on both of Soulbury and Stoke Hammond and the Tour de (why?). us. Needless to say Tich senior was 'slightly' annoyed. The tours took all day as we were never in a rush and there were Tich and I fancied ourselves as Indian braves and would head off always distractions. The Wing airfield was a major diversion where over the fields wearing just a loin cloth and armed with homemade we'd explore the old control tower, the bomb shelters and the bomb bows, arrows and spears to go and hunt 'bears'. In the Fox Harbour dumps. Also on our tours we'd often stop at a house en route and spinney (along the Wing Road) ‘bears’ were old tree stumps that ask for a drink of water. I can't remember ever being refused. we peppered with our weapons. We made many a camp in the Fox It was a difficult time when we moved to Plough Cottage in High Harbour which was so dense that often we were unable to find our Street North as it meant Tich and I were seemingly miles apart. In camp the next day, so we just started again. those days the division between north and south Stewkley was We also saw ourselves as intrepid explorers and once decided to palpable. We also drifted apart because we went to different navigate the stream at the bottom of ‘Gallas’ (Gallows) Hill along secondary schools. I don't see Tich very often these days but we’re to Kingsbridge. Again we stripped down to our pants (theme here?) still friends. smothered ourselves in axle grease and set off in the water. We Tich Tomes, fondly remembered, is my boyhood. OBITUARY: STEVE CLARKE For three generations the Clarkes we re As a young man, Steve was a keen builders in Stewkley. Steve Clarke, wh o footballer and had been the only surviving has died aged 92, was a lifelong villager, member of the Stewkley FC team that won the grandson of the founder of the the Charity Cup in 1948 company, William Clarke and Sons. under the captaincy of the late Bert By the time Stephen Thomas Clarke wa s Brewer. born in 1927 his father Frank had been In June 1950 he married a Drayton involved in the building of St Michael’s Parslow girl, Dora Dodds. They began Church Vestry in 1910 and the Village Hall married life in a small cottage in Orchard that had been opened in 1925. Lane then, when new council houses were The whole family was very much part of built in Dove St, they moved there. In 1963 the village community, both his mother and grandmother coming he built a bungalow for himself and Dora, from established village families – his mother a Mayne, his one of three bungalows constructed on grandmother a Capp. what was the family’s old builder’s yard on A cup winner with the southern corner of where Ivy Lane Steve often talked of his childhood and his time at the village Stewkley FC in 1948 meets High Street North. school, his favourite teacher being the somewhat legendary Miss Bessie Bailey, later Mrs Heley. He went straight from school into Steve’s main skill was bricklaying and after the yard closed he the family business, wo rking much of the time with his Uncle To m worked with various local builders. He supported the campaign and brother Jack. against the building of the Third London Airport, keeping what turned out to be a huge pile of press cuttings from the period. In those days, builders were not just builders. They made things from wheelbarrows to troughs, from ga rden ga tes to ladders. On retirement it was his garden that took much of his time, and on passing admiring villagers have been heard to say “he must cut the They were also funeral directors, and Steve was proud to have been edge of that lawn with a pair of nail scissors”. It was always so neat. involved in the funerals of two titled people in the village, Lord and Lady Orkney, who lived in Tythe House. Steve was 19 when he wa s Steve is survived by his wife Dora, and daughter and son‐in‐law Jill a pall‐bearer at the funeral of Lady Orkney, a well‐connected and Ian Skudder. Because of the present restrictions, a small former actress, and five years later organised the funeral of Lord cremation service was held. His ashes are to be interred with a Orkney. service in Stewkley when conditions allow. Stewkley Grapevine May 2020 Page 7 PC MATTERS Planning Applications: To facilitate this process, the PC will publicise any planning applications with expiry dates to ensure that The following is a summary of discussions held during the internet‐ residents have time to post their comments on the meeting of Stewkley Parish Council members on 6 April, the reason planning portal, as well as feed their for which is explained in the article below. views to the PC if they wish. Stewkley Parish Council resolved unanimously: i) to support Other matters: Residents are encouraged to contact the Parish the motion from the virtual meeting of 2 April to delegate powers Clerk ([email protected] or 07771635696) with all for financial decisions to The Chair, Vice Chair and Responsible the normal issues as now and they will be followed up by him with Financial Officer (the Clerk); ii) to support the motion for the Chair, support from the Delegated Powers group where required. Vice Chair and RFO to make decisions on behalf of the council The various sub‐committees of the Council will continue to operate during the period of the coronavirus pandemic. where appropriate, in particular the traffic sub‐committee, the Discussion by councillors on items originally part of the Stewkley Enterprise Agency, the Neighbourhood Plan steering agenda of 6 April: Cllr Paul Smith announced that he would be group, and the more recently convened coronavirus response stepping down from the Council after 13 years as a councillor, of group. which four as Chair. The PC thanked him for his contribution over It is our intention to keep residents as fully informed about the years and regretted that the pandemic prevented a more important PC matters as possible during this exceptional period, appropriate farewell. and we will use the Grapevine, the PC website (stewkley.org.uk) Planning Applications: The following were recommended to be and our Facebook page, as well as the noticeboards, as much as we taken forward as delegated decisions. Land Off Soulbury Road can. and Dove Street (20/00823/ADP) – Object, owing to visitor car Not all parish councils have chosen this particular solution for their parking location, 5‐bed house types, masterplan layout, intrusion meetings, though some other Bucks PCs have, but Stewkley on existing houses, and house‐type character. Maytree Cottage 2 councillors believe this is the appropriate one for our School Lane (20/00781/APP) – support. Kehoe Contractors Ltd circumstances, to maintain the essential functions of the PC as Unit 1 Harmansfield Wing Road (20/00714/APP) – No effectively as possible. Comment. Old Wood Hall 8 Dean Road (20/00900/ALB) – Support. Dwelling and a replacement farmshop, Littlecote LAWN CEMETERY REOPENED Farm (20/00926/APP) – Support, subject to agricultural tenancy. There was consternation in Stewkley when the Parish Council Side/rear extension Grange House, 122 High Street North closed the lawn cemetery, except for burials and cremation (20/01102/APP) – Support. internments, just before the Easter weekend. (The PC only has Future Meetings: The Annual Parish Meeting and Annual Parish authority over the lawn cemetery, not the burial ground Council meetings were cancelled. Councillors, incl Chair & Vice surrounding St Michael’s Church.) The Church of England and Chair, will remain in their current roles until next PC elections in Methodist Council have suspended all funeral services in their May 2021. church buildings, including at St Michael’s and the Chapel in Dog waste bags: These have been disappearing at an above‐ Stewkley. normal rate from dispensers in the Rec. Follow up action is being Other authorities also enacted tight restrictions at crematoria, considered. including Watermead, and Crownhill (Milton Keynes), such Ivy Lane resurfacing: the long‐programmed scheme has been as a maximum number of mourners attending a service. The postponed to the new financial year. Council was acting on advice from the Local Government Fix My Street: Road defects should still be reported directly via Association following the emergency COVID‐19 legislation. this Transport for Bucks portal to ensure appropriate follow‐up However, different guidance was then circulated from the new unitary authority, Buckinghamshire Council that prompted the STEWKLEY PARISH COUNCIL DURING THE Parish Council to reopen the cemetery gates for the Easter weekend CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC for families who wished to visit their loved ones’ graves. They Fo llowing the UK gove rnment decisions on closure of public places warned that visiting a cemetery was not listed as an “essential for meetings and social distancing to combat the spreading of the activity” and asked that visits be limited to two people and social coronas virus, SPC, like other councils at all levels of local distancing observed. government, has been faced with the challenge of how to carry out Then on Easter Tuesday, the PC contacted Buckinghamshire its essential responsibilities. Council before announcing that the gates would remain open until Guidance from central government was understandably confusing further notice. The Council reiterated that social‐distancing at first and didn’t arrive with sufficient notice before the scheduled (keeping at least two metres from non‐household members) monthly meeting on 6 April. should be respected and gloves should be worn when using the water tap, watering cans or doggie water dish. So even though a meeting agenda was published in advance, the meeting did not take place as planned. In a two‐step process, the The PC will continue to monitor the situation and update residents Parish Council held a virtual meeting on 2 April at which accordingly. councillors resolve d unanimously to move its decision‐making both Additional guidance from Public Health England refers to the care for financial and other matters to Delegated Powers for the of the deceased with suspected or confirmed coronavirus. The duration of the pandemic regulations, or at least until it can revert guidance includes important information on how to treat the to its normal meeting schedule. Then, on 6 April, the councillors deceased respectfully to maintain dignity while protecting others met again virtually to go through the published meeting agenda from the threat of transmission by using Personal Protective and to lay down plans for managing issues that might arise over Equipment appropriate to the activity in a variety of settings. It also the next few weeks or months of the pandemic. includes advice on maintaining social distancing at funeral services What does this mean? and shielding vulnerable individuals from contact with bodies of those who had confirmed or suspected COVID‐19. It outlines that Under Delegated Powers, decisions will be taken by the Chair, Vice mourners are strongly advised not to take part in any rituals or Chair and the Parish Clerk as the Responsible Financial Officer of practices that bring them into close contact with the body of a the PC and there will not be the usual monthly PC meeting open to person who has died from or with symptoms of COVID‐19. The the public. In practice, this group will seek, wherever possible, the Local Government Association has confirmed that faith leaders views of other councillors and comments from residents in arriving have been consulted and worked with PHE on the guidance. at their decisions. Page 8 Stewkley Grapevine May 2020 MAINTAINING STRENGTH AS WE AGE from Bethan Warren, Physiotherapist Studies show that we lose 3‐5% of muscle every year from the age of 30 if we do not take steps to maintain it. Losing strength puts us at a greater risk of falls and other ill‐health, so it is vitally important to make countering the decline a priority in your life. The official guidelines call for everyone to do activities that strengthen their muscles and bones twice a week. This may be the perfect time to start working on your strength at home as many of us may find ourselves doing less than we normally would to maintain our muscle and bone strength and we have a bit of extra time on our hands. There are many everyday opportunities to improve our strength. For example: 1. Going for a walk daily ‐ set yourself a goal and gradually increase the distance or pace that you walk at. 2. Digging in the garden. 3. Cleaning the car 4. Dancing around the kitchen 5. Carry out some simple strength and balance exercises Here are a few exercises to get you going, working on leg strength and balance. The best way of getting into a habit of doing exercises is to add them in to your daily routine, for example when you're waiting for the kettle to boil in the morning or cooking dinner in the evening. I hope you find some of this useful. In the next article we will be looking at simple resistance exercises to help with your upper body strength. 1. Sit to Stand 2. Heel Raises 3. Toes Raises Sitting on a Stand tall holding onto Stand holding onto the chair with feet the kitchen counter kitchen counter then underneath you, then lift your heels off raise your toes taking try and get up the floor, hold for three the weight on your without using seconds then lower. heels. Don’t stick your your hands and Repeat x 10. bottom out. Hold for 3 then sit back seconds then lower. down. Keep feet Repeat x 10. facing forwards and avoid knees from falling in. Repeat x 10

4. One Leg stand 5. Heel­toe­stand 6. Heel­toes­walking Stand close to a support Stand tall with one Stand tall with one and hold on with one hand on your support. hand on kitchen hand. Balance on one Put one foot directly in counter, look ahead leg keeping posture front of the other to and walk 10 steps upright. Hold for 10 make a straight line, forwards, placing one seconds and then repeat look ahead, take hand foot directly in front of on the other leg. As this off support and the other so that the gets easier see if you can balance for 10 feet form a straight let go of your support. seconds. Repeat on the line. Repeat 10 steps in other side. the other direction. BRAIN EXERCISES COVID-19 ALSO AFFECTS MENTAL HEALTH Stewkley’s Mark Simmonds has combined his understanding of mental Sat around with nothing to do and can’t get out to ill health with his experience as an independent professional, home‐ exercise? Give your brain a workout instead with the based for the last 26 years, plus the social media and digital expertise Grapevine cryptic quiz. All answers are Stewkley-related. of his younger son, Jack, to launch a YouTube channel 1. Messy welks yet in this village (8) youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc8PNq4V2fuifwtXBiGLasm3WjyZWhJ‐‐ 2. Scores enough during this traffic campaign (13) The first set of videos is called The Self­Isolation Spa. The series will 3. Former shop has initially many excellent attributes include a number of short films that provide some tips and tricks for deserving support (5) surviving, and maybe even thriving, when working in the home 4. These Stewkley fallen are in a glad state (4) environment. In particular, these are targeting people who are used to commuting to the office and who are now forced to work at home, full‐ 5. Book mentions village arena, 24 hours (8) time, for the very first time. 6. Road turned track, always a faculty head (4) Mental Health has also featured in the Buckinghamshire Council daily 7. Hamlet is a small creature of the earth (10) vlogs at https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/coronavirus/video‐ 8. Bowled over in a decorated tractor but no Letter updates/ from America without end (8, 4) In addition, a new 24/7 Mental Health Helpline has been launched by 9. Extremely good man at church and school (2, 7) Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust (which runs mental health 10. Backpage feature wags bit of a story (9, 4) services in Buckinghamshire), which will take the pressure off the NHS 111 phone‐line. People can call when they need support from mental health professionals. For adults the number is 01865 904997. For The questions were set by Grapevine’s Rachael Webb and children and young people, the number is 01865 904998. have certainly got the rest of us scratching our heads. How did you get on? If you think you’ve got them all then When someone is seriously ill or injured, or in an acute confused state, please email [email protected] ... as she call 999. won’t tell us the answers!! [email protected] Stewkley Grapevine May 2020 Page 9

Methodist Chapel St Michael’s Church Minister Rev Donna Broadbent-Kelly Church Wardens: The Manse, Neil Dickens High Street South [email protected] Tel: 242253 Tel 240589 Judy Walker Email: [email protected] [email protected] Tel: 240444 Web: www.aylesburyvale.org.uk MAY ACTIVITIES AND NEWS MAY ACTIVITIES AND NEWS ● ► The Rev Donna Broadbent-Kelly is writing a weekly reflection. Facebook Page – St Michaels Church, Stewkley ► On Sunday mornings at 10.30am Rev Richard Atkinson, is freely available ● Superintendent, is streaming a live service from . A Service on Sundays is being streamed on Facebook (see ►There is a daily thought for the day from one of the Circuit above) by the Rev Andrew Krauss, temporary Vicar of Ministers. , one of the churches in the Cottesloe benefice ►All can be accessed on www.aylesburymethodists.org.uk which includes Stewkley ● ► If you would like to receive the weekly reflections or join the Please contact Neil Dickens ([email protected]) to receive ZOOM Bible Study please email Donna and she will arrange for a copy of the Sunday pew sheet by email which has prayers and you to join in. readings from the Bible for the day. If you would like a paper copy delivered please ring 242253 MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER † To sponsor the lighting for a week in celebration of a special Hello friends, event eg birthdays, wedding anniversaries etc for £10 per What will our normal now look like I wonder? Will week, with publicity in the Grapevine too, please contact Geoff life return to how it was? I guess as a whole it will Ball on 240765. Sponsorship can be Gift Aided too. do, but I wonder if people will be more appreciative of the everyday things. Perhaps we won’t take for MESSAGE FROM THE LICENSED LAY MINISTER granted the freedom of travelling wherever we OF COTTESLOE TEAM want, when we want, and the beautiful world we live Hello, in. Perhaps we will appreciate our family and friends I’m writing this on Easter Monday. By the time you more, and continue to build up the community read it much will have changed, again. So many friendships that have developed over this time of lockdown. For many people have now been directly affected by the though, this lockdown has been hard. Many have lost their jobs and pandemic. There has been reason to fear, but also their businesses. Many have lost loved ones. Many have struggled with reason to hope. I have seen many acts of kindness. their mental wellbeing, relationships have been strained and the effects The school teachers using one of those clever of this time will continue to be apparent for a long time to come. There printers to make face shields for our brave local is a sense though of a new beginning. A new opportunity, a new chance NHS staff. The WI making laundry bags to give to to start again when this is all over. NHS staff to keep their dirty work clothes in when they take them home On Easter Monday I popped out for our daily ‘Boris Walk’ as we have to wash. The people doing shopping for neighbours. fondly started to call it and the door to the chapel was wide open. I have seen people laughing. Jokes on the internet. Comedies on the Nothing was taken, everything was fine. We think the wind from the telly and being streamed. Laughter is such a good medicine. I have storm had blown it open. made people laugh telling them about my husband’s battles with the I have been thinking a lot about Noah and his ark and what it must have jackdaws who want to build their nest under our solar panels. They are been like to be in an ark with lots of animals. I think when the doors as determined as he is! were finally opened, the animals must have burst out. On Easter day I have seen people walking in the sunshine, appreciating the beauty of we remember Jesus bursting from the tomb into the world bringing our countryside in spring. And I have seen our wild animals regaining hope. And here the chapel door was wide open as the wind had burst their territory as we spend so much time indoors. Air quality is it open. For me, a wonderful image came to my mind, of love and hope improving as our cars sit in our drives. going beyond the four walls and into the community and world around And I have seen the church in action. The doors may be closed but our it…God is not confined to a building! As I looked through the glass of hearts are not. There have been lots of services we can watch on our the door a rainbow shone through it onto the path. It was a rainbow computers. Locally we have had Cottesloe Streaming on YouTube, put that God sent to Noah to show how much he was loved and to offer together by Revd Andrew Krauss and Anna, but including contributions hope and it’s a rainbow that we are using in this time of restriction as a from much further afield than just Cheddington. And our wonderful sign of promise and hope. Area Dean Val Plumb has offered her own messages and worship on I will finish by sharing these words from my friend Rev Ken Kingston, Facebook. Yesterday the parish church in had a tea party from Hayes Methodist Church, Middlesex. using Zoom. Easter has been different, but it has still been Easter. He "Jesus isn't here. Just like he told you. He's out there, with you, your is risen! family, your neighbours. This difficult time will not end quickly. My prayers are for the people who become very ill, those who care for them and those who love them. He's out there in the middle of this pandemic, with the fear and the I thank God for all the love being shown by so many people in so many worry. ways and I pray that we can learn from this and take the kindness with He's out there with the sick, with those struggling to take their last us into the future. breath, with the medics caring for the ill. God bless He's out there; his tears mixing with the tears of the grieving. Annie Cooper LLM And he's out there too with all parents who are home schooling. He's out there looking after people in care homes and looking after the 07860 140041 [email protected] vulnerable and the isolated where ever they are. And he's out there making masks and ventilators, building field CHLOE’S SCRUBS BAG MARATHON hospitals, working on a vaccine. Chloe Croft from High Street South is making scrubs bags for the He's out there stacking the shelves in supermarkets, delivering NHS and at the time of writing had already made a staggering 170 packages, listening to people at the end of the phone and at the end of her 250 target. Look out for Chloe on the Stewkley and of their tether. surrounding villages facebook page where she will be posting if she He's not here. He's out there. needs any materials. Just as he told you." May God continue to bless you all, with love Donna Grapevine deadline: 15th of month Page 10 Stewkley Grapevine May 2020 Nature Watch

Spring has Sprung Daring Rescue April saw a major shift in the weather, and the banks, fields and Given the barn owl featured in last month’s Nature Watch, the team hedgerows sprang into life. A true sign of spring is always the was immediately focused on an alert from Yvonne Millward of High arrival of the bluebells, and Trish Higgins captured these (header) Street North that a in Wood Lane off Dean Road. dramatic rescue had Another of the best known spring flowers is the cowslip (primula taken place in the field veris). It is a cousin of the primrose and is closely associated with behind her home. English folklore, including The rescuers were the adorning garlands for Smiths, and Sarah Smith May Day and being told Nature Watch, “We’d strewn on church paths been watching the Barn for weddings. Tea made Owl fly in the field behind from the flowers is said to our house for a couple of be good for insomnia, weeks. It was so beautiful headaches and nervous to watch and exciting to tension – perhaps very see. useful during lockdown. “On the morning of 24 The name cowslip March we were looking apparently means ‘cow out of our bedroom pat’ as it was noted that it window into the field, as tended to flower where a we quite often do, and we cow had ‘slupped’. saw the Barn Owl hopping along the ground. We thought it unusual This photo is another to see it during the day, it was usually at dawn and dusk we saw it from Trish Higgins, this fly. We watched it for a while longer before realising it was injured. time taken in her own We decided to go into the field to investigate further. I followed it garden at Haywood Park. in the field whilst my husband grabbed a blanket and the cat Trish said, “They weren’t basket! in our garden the first few years we were here but suddenly a small “We managed to find it in some brambles where it seemed to patch appeared and they have been gradually spreading… We are surrender to our help. I managed with the blanket to get hold of it transplanting them to the [Airport Monument] Spinney. This year’s out of the hedge and check it over. I’m a veterinary nurse but have crop is rather shorter in stature than previous years, probably lack zero experience with owls! However it looked as though it had a of rain at the right time.” broken wing. We got it into the cat basket and covered it over as it First swallows – three were spotted by Bunt Scott over his house was understandably very frightened and I was concerned it would in High Street North on 10 April, as he was breakfasting ‘al fresco’. die of shock. Time to Get Buzzing “My husband then took it to Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital in Haddenham to be seen to. It was strange circumstances as they Have you ever spotted a small, bee popping in and out of a hole in couldn’t talk very much to him about the owl due to the coronavirus a wall, wooden window or door frame? restrictions. Nevertheless they took the owl in and told us to make The mason bee contact in a week. We managed to get hold of them via email, they (osmia) is a solitary informed us the owl was still alive, phew! And that it had a broken bee and gets its name ulna (bone in its wing) and gunky eye, which they were treating from its habit of both. They have stated the owl appears to be recovering well and nesting in existing in a few weeks will be released back to the field behind us, where holes or cavities, it belongs.” especially those in And we can’t go without another moon sunny south‐facing locations. They are Especially as Flip Jackson got up at 2.54 am on 8 April to take this usually seen from shot when the ‘pink’ supermoon was at its peak. April to July. Females collect mud to seal their nest cells, allowing their young to develop safely. And they are the most efficient of pollinators because they feed their young on pollen rather than nectar. The females collect pollen in hairs under their abdomen, known as a pollen brush. When the pollen brush is full, the underneath of the bee can look very brightly coloured, depending on the type of pollen collected. This mason bee was using a hole in a brick up in Littlecote, on a south‐facing wall. Sources: Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Plantlife, Wildlife Trusts Stewkley Grapevine May 2020 Page 11 Farm Watch By Richard Heady

What a difference a month makes. In April I was discussing the Some farms have been far more affected by lockdown than ours. possibility of empty fields, redundant grain sheds and putting my Fruit and veg farms rely on eastern European labour to harvest feet up over the summer due to the constant rain, but what a their produce, and with the current travel restrictions in place it is turnaround we have had! Never have I been so pleased to know I a real possibility that produce will be left to rot in the fields. The will again spend my summer in a hot combine harvester with soggy trading restrictions have halted the catering industry, and one sandwiches and warm squash. We got the weather window, got the particularly large dairy organisation (Freshways) was geared solely seed drill (planter) out and planted seed to our hearts’ content, did to cater for this trade. With no customers, Freshways can no longer you hear the collective sigh of relief from Stewkley’s farmers? take the milk of its suppling farms, and, as the cows cannot simply So how have current events affected life on the farm? I generally be switched off, the farms are pouring the milk away, with nothing feel a little guilty to show for their work. The main effect on our farm has been when asked this, fluctuating prices, high prices one week due to import problems, as little has then low the following as retailers shut down (notably McDonalds changed day to for our beef). day. I get up, I The UK is only 60% food self‐sufficient, but there is no need to farm all day and worry, we are coming into the the most productive time of the year then I go to bed. with British fruit and veg ripening in the fields, and (finally) fields On the farm we of crops planted to produce wheat to make bread, cakes and are used to biscuits, oats to make cereals and barley for beer. At the beginning spending the days of last month, with empty bread shelves at the supermarkets, I on our own, working alone, and away from busy places. It’s quite hatched a cunning plan. We had a few hundred tonnes of bread humbling to be counted as key workers with British food making wheat in our shed, so I bought a small flour mill to start production valued, and more interest in our industry, but we do baking our own, the irony is that since then I have not managed to not need thanks for this. We are privileged to continue farming, get my hands on a single pot of yeast! which we love, whilst much of the country adjusts to huge changes, Finally if you are at home with bored children looking for and many are putting their lives at risk in front line jobs. You may something fun and educational to do, check out Lockdown not hear me, but every Thursday I vigorously join in the applause Learning. www.eatfarmnow.com is packed with fantastic food from my tractor cab to show my appreciation for the dangerous related videos and resources from Jimmy’s Farm, James Wong, and and hard work of others other great producers, you might even find some by me. CORONAVIRUS: KIT BAGS FOR NURSES NO MOW MAY Some of the ladies of Stewkley from Andrew Beer were busy with their sewing Stuck in your home in the pandemic? What machines last month, making better time could there be to get out on your laundry bags for NHS nurses. lawn, help endangered pollinators, have fun Because of Coronavirus and perhaps earn yourself a treat? No issues, nurses were banned lockdown here! Read on! from wearing their scrubs and The charity, Plantlife, is running a campaign uniforms while traveling to during May. Details can be found at and from wo rk. www.plantlife.org.uk/about‐us/news/plantlife‐launches‐no‐mow‐ The Bucks Federation of may. Its objects are to give billions of plants a chance to flower and Women’s Institutes answe re d to find out which plants take pole positions on our lawns and how an appeal from the Bucks much nectar they are producing for pollinators. You can join the Healthcare Trust asking its members for help in providing more campaign/party if you like by taking three easy steps: get yourself than 1,000 laundry bags to allow the nurses to take their wo rk registered now ‐ their website shows you how; stop mowing all, or clothes home to put them in a washing machine, then carry them part of your lawn as suits you best, during May and enjoy those back to work. flowers which emerge. The part to be left uncut can be as little as one square metre but as big as you can, please; and during the late Stewkley WI provided 55 of the pillow‐case size bags in various May bank holiday take part in Plantlife's 'Every Flower Counts' colours, the wo rk of eight village ladies, not all members of the WI. activity. How to do this? Again, it is all on their website, follow the Others, not nimble with their sewing fingers, provided material for instruction and you are done. the ‘workers’. Based on 62 years as a beekeeper, I am passionate about increasing The Federation exceeded its target of 1,000 bags within a week. the available forage for our pollinators, many of whom are WOULD YOU LIKE A PIECE OF endangered or in disastrous decline through lack of suitable and STEWKLEY HISTORY? timely forage for their needs. And why is that important? Unless our pollinators thrive, many of the foods we take for granted are TWO STEWKLEY MILLENNIUM dependent on pollination and will simply disappear, and our PLATES NEED NEW HOMES countryside will be all the poorer. If anyone in the village would like one I do hope I have encouraged you to join the campaign. As a sticky of these plates (no cost) please contact inducement, I shall be donating a jar of honey produced by local Jill Scott 240639. bees to each of the first twenty Stewkley villagers taking part and First come, first served. reporting that to the Grapevine ([email protected]). Page 12 Stewkley Grapevine May 2020 STEWKLEY ENLOYS A GOOD WORKOUT Exercise classes with Joe Wicks have become a popular pastime in recent weeks and a number of Stewkley residents are joining.

Sam, Mark, Carys and Robyn Burke from Dove Street (above and right)

Fiona, Lucia & Ben Pollard from High Street South (below)

Hayley Arthur of Dove Street is joined via FaceTime by her daughter Carrie and and grand-daughter Ella from Aylesbury

Grace and Tom Clarke working out along with their dad in Tythe Close

PE the panther way! Wilfred Handsley from High Street South participating in PE with Joe Josh and George Graham on Fancy Dress Friday. from Lovetts End Stewkley Grapevine May 2020 Page 13 SURVIVING LOCKDOWN THE STEWKLEY WAY Sophie and Jacob Ford The Shefferds in Tythe Gardens found an old badminton set that designed and painted had been stored under a bed for several years, and taking pebbles to dot around advantage of the good weather, aim to become proficient enough the village for people to join the badminton club when normal life returns. Digging to find and cheer them around to see what else could be found, Neil recovered his up whilst out walking. grandmother’s bagatelle board (inset) which has since provided The first one was much entertainment. found by Ailsa Knightley in the Nature Reserve. Sophie and Jacob were thrilled that the pebble had been located.

On 7 April Henry Edmondson and mum Alison from Manor Drive were in their front garden singing for anyone walking past...

...and rainbows appeared throughout the village.

...to ‘pot and pan’ has become a new ve rb.

... did somebody say there’s a bear hunt? Page 14 Stewkley Grapevine May 2020 DID THE ROMANS MARCH ALONG IVY LANE? An article about Ivy Lane, written by local historian, the late Robert line of the old road is perhaps indicated by the differing levels Dickens, recently emerged when trawling through the Grapevine between the old and new parts of the churchyard. Beyond the archives. Many villagers will be aware that Ivy Lane (or ‘Backway’) church itself, the line of the road became in turn the south drive to formed part of the route of an ancient drovers’ way, but would it the 1863 Victorian vicarage and more recently the line of St surprise them that it may also have once been part of a Roman Michael’s Close, for which the old vicarage was demolished. road? Robert had been consulted about comments of a possible oversight Old Vicarage Stewkley 1863 in ’s Conservation Area plan for Stewkley. He had been in discussion with the Rowe family who had referred to ‘the moated house in Backway’…and he decided to consult some old maps of the village. The account continues in Robert’s article: Rose and Crown Knowing that seve ral generations of one branch of the Rowe family had kept the old Rose and Crown pub, now No 2 Ivy Lane at the south end of the lane, it was not difficult to pin‐point what had been referred to as ’the moated house in Backway.’ There, on the 1883 OS map, the present pond near the entrance to the tennis courts and burial ground is shown as having moat‐like arms ex tending behind the old pub, and southwards behind dwellings in High Street North, as far as Church Farm.

Straight Line It will be seen that from the Soulbury Road entrance to St Michael’s Close, there is a virtually straight line to this conjectured course as far as the end of Ivy Lane beyond the village hall and northwards. According to The Viatores, Roman Roads in the South­East Midlands (1964), the route of a Roman road linking St Albans with Leckhampstead and designated Roman Road 169A, is traced through Cheddington, , Wing, and Stewkley. The Viatores go on to claim: ‘ The Roman line is reflected fairly clearly in the village layout, for Stewkley lies along a narrow spine of high ground which the road followed’ and continue ‘ it is clear that the 169A has turned north approximately with the main street but almost certainly to the east of the Norman parish church onto the back lane.’ Looking further back to the 1811 map, drawn up for the Superimposed commissioners charged with preparing Stewkley’s enclosure The projected line superimposed onto the 1883 OS map indicates award, Ivy Lane is shown as a main route in the village which a route between the church and the former Victorian vicarage. This continued beyond its present southern end and extended right ties in nicely with the roadway shown on the 1811, and on Jeffrey’s through to Soulbury Road. The probable line of this ancient road 1770 map. It is probable, therefore, that Backway (Ivy Lane) can still be traced. Older Stewkley folk will remember the field‐gate follows a route pre‐dating any of these old maps, and dating back and stile in front of the Rose and Crown (editor’s note: originally to Roman times. opened in 1753 and closed in the 1920s), leading to a right‐of‐way across the home close of Church Farm. On the opposite side of the field was a solid wooden stile built into the brick wall which separates Church Farm from the church footpath. This stile was replaced by the gate when the new parish burial ground was developed. Old Map The footpath from the burial ground car park through to the gate in the wall marks the approximate line of the old road. Beyond this, the old map shows the roadway as passing just east of the church, probably skirting the ‘old churchyard’ boundary before its 1910 extension So there we have it. It is quite probable that Ivy Lane was a minor into the ‘new churchyard’, Roman road. It is likely to have intersected in the vicinity of the today bounded by hedge present Village War Memorial with the more important Roman and trees from the road 173D which connected Dorchester‐on‐Thames with Recreation Ground. The Alconbury. Stewkley Grapevine May 2020 Page 15 DOWN MEMORY LANE Continuing our series looking at Stewkley past and present Ivy Lane and the Drovers’ Way The ancient drovers’ route crosses High Street North from a point immediately north of Pond House to Ivy Lane. Sadly its line westwards has been blocked off by an extension to Pond House. It was part of an ancient track from Wales, via Banbury Market to Smithfield Market in London. Until the 19th century, livestock, mainly sheep and cattle but also geese, were driven to market along this track. It continued along Ivy Lane (or Backway, as locals know it) and up the wide expanse of Garners Lane towards the capital city. There were several ponds for the watering of animals along its route. The triangular area forward of Nos 28‐34 Ivy Lane was once a pond, and these cottages are still © referred to locally as Pond Cottages. Another pond still exists today at the north end of Ivy Lane adjacent to the old Rose and Crown pub. Pond Cottages lead the eye into Ivy Lane which is given interest by the presence of Bonham Farm with its green space and mature trees. The lane is set in a cutting and has an intimate character with small clusters of dwellings thinning out to reveal views of the nearby countryside. Its rural character is enhanced by grass verges, low picket fencing, iron railings and a village pump. The attractive thatched cottages on the left in the 1920s image have been demolished. The dormer‐windowed cottages in the middle distance are Grade II Listed. No 14, Little Dormers, was the country hideout of Emmeline and Sylvia Pankhurst from time to time between 1912 and 1914. Badly damaged by fire on 19 January 1953, the © thatched roofs were later replaced with clay tiles. If you enjoyed this, why not visit the Parish Council’s Audio History Trail by going to www.stewkley.org or looking out for the trail signs on the telegraph poles? © Images used in Grapevine are produced with the permission of the persons supplying them, are copyrighted to them and may not be reproduced. We are not able to supply copies.

FROM THE GRAPEVINE 10 YEARS AGO…

May 20 10

From May 2010, Google street‐view at last caught up with Stewkley…Nature Notebook returned after a few months’

absence…Mike Draycott had designed and launched a new website for Stewkley Wildlife Reserve…the village was !"#$$%&'!()*! !"#$%&' "%' ()%)*+,' -,).#$"%' /+01' 2+0' 31' 4$,,' 5)' $%' #6)' !$,,+&)' 7+,,1' 46$.6' 4$,,' 5)' "8)%' 9*":' ;+:' <%#$,' =>8:?' @"*:+,' A6<*BC+0')D)%#B'$%'# oogle has caught up with Stewkley, and with a few of

' !"+#,"-./!#0!+-./#+!%&,/-)(!#0!1%.)+!6)'7+,,'+*)'.+%.),,)C? Gour village folk. The worldwide Internet search engine ' company deployed its sometimes-controversial street-view E%C)*' 8,+%B' 5)$%&' ."%B$C)*)C' 50' F6<*.6' "9' -%&,+%C' camera technology here, and last month the results went +<#6"*$#$)B1'G#)4H,)0'$B',$H),0'#"'5)'8+*#'"9' on-line. Using the Google interface, it is now possible to 50'+'I).#"*'8*"5+5,0

' roam our streets at will usi !2--"%&'!/3-!+-.!.$-)&!'5+B)C'$%'G#)4H,)0?' +'#)+:':$%$B#*0',)C' '/)#+$,B1'8+&)';?' mouse. ng just a computer screen and preparing for the 2010 General Election…Stewkley parish was soon to become part of a new eight church team G#)4H,)0' J+*$B6' F"<%.$,' $B' ."%B$ It appears, in the most part, to have been a sunny day in

!'+)"-1%&-!.3)&'-, ' of the vehicle. The spring su M$#6'+'%)4',""H'+%C'9)),1'#6)'(*+8)D$%)'%"4'9)+#<*)B'+'! the car travelled along High Streetn was North, in the pickingwestern up sky camera when ()'B).#$"%'"%'8+&)B'N'+%C'O?'M+# shots of spring flowers and magnolia trees in full blo Surprisingly there were few vehicles, .6'"<#'9"*'"#6)*'.6+%&)B'#""?!"#$%&' NATURE NOTEBOOK IS BACK villagers about …. but there were some. ' Details, and more pictures p and even fewerom.

age 9 ministry led by a Rector to be based in the village…divisional champions, Stewkley Reserves reached the Division As a labour o f love, a villager has created a website especially for the Stewkley Wildlife Reserve. It gives a comprehensive guide to what to look out for, and when to find it.

Two Cup Final succumbing 4‐2 to Southcott Reserves at Buckingham Town’s ground…big screen events were to

Stewkley nature reserve n labour of love b ewly has its own website, a

Details p age 8

This sparrow hawk was photographed in a High Street Next issue deadline:

be launched in the village hall by Stewkley Films…the PC was threatening to prosecute those identified as guilty North garden last month by Mike Draycott. After a few months without Nature Notebook, the Grapevine is pleased To a 6pm Tuesday dvertise, call 240069 May 18 to announce its return. See p Editorial content to Harveys or Foun age 6. or email [email protected] At home, or away, download the Grapevine at

www.stewkley.org of allowing dog fouling in the Rec…and the new What’s On diary was looking forward to lots of outdoor activities in the summer ahead.

FROM THE GRAPEVINE 20 YEARS AGO… From May 2000, Nicola Skinner, Stewkley’s postmistress, then based in the old Stewkley School building, attended a London protest rally against post office closures…the Short Mat Bowls Club retained the John Robinson Cup in the final against Haddenham…the village was organising its own lottery to raise money towards the £30,000 cost of the refurbishment of St Michael’s church bells… and Robert Dickens had penned a poem for the front page bemoaning the seemingly never‐ending disruption being visited on the village by the roadworks for the new water main. Page 16 Stewkley Grapevine May 2020 BUSINESS ALMOST AS USUAL FOR POLICE from HOME MAINTENANCE Michael Loebenberg, Commander For Aylesbury Vale Police Area, T.G.R ELECTRICAL and Chief Superintendent Christian Bunt, Gold Commander Stewkley based, Elecsa Approved Electrician. Sockets, lights etc. ’s response to the coronavirus pandemic Free quotes. Call: 240498 or Mobile: 07840 100501 Local police continue to focus on traditional issues as well as STEWKLEY DECORATING dealing with the coronavirus crisis. Quality work, Guaranteed, Fully Insured, Reliable, Trustworthy & PDA Member. Instagram @stewkleydecs. [email protected] In one week in March throughout the Vale, the police executed two www.StewkleyDecorating.com Call Stewart on 07981 226922 drugs’ warrants, arrested seven people for drugs supply, two of DAVE REID. FULLY QUALIFIED CARPENTER which were quickly charged and remanded in custody, and made Kitchen & bathroom upgrades, staircase conversions, significant seizures of property and money under the Proceeds of Replacement doors, general maintenance & small building work. Crime Act. They also arrested an offender who was recalled to 07939 146630 email: [email protected] (Soulbury) prison for breaching his licence, and arrested another individual JTS DECORATING SERVICE & PROPERTY MAINTENANCE as part of their continued focus on domestic violence. Call John on 240372, mobile: 07809 113090, The message to the public is that the police are still policing, Email: [email protected] responding to emergencies, and taking forward criminal investigations to protect the public from harm. In addition, they are SERVICES supporting the Government’s social and travel restrictions. Group COUNTRY FRAME gatherings pose the greatest health risks to the wider The complete picture framing service. From prints and posters to community. Incidents should be reported by calling 101. Minor paintings and needlework. Tel: 240163 / 07771 508805 : Paul breaches should be reported online. The police approach is to Body. Please call first. engage with the public, explain what is required, encourage HORSE RIDING LESSONS IN STEWKLEY compliance and only if necessary will they then enforce using the From complete beginners to experienced riders. Adults and powers available to them. children. Fully licensed/ insured. Call Sarah Gammon, Kilnholm Residents are encouraged to report all other activity or issues that Stables. 240529 or 07712 854034. are not emergencies through the Thames Valley Police website, 1-2-1 TUITION IN MATHS, SCIENCE, ENGLISH because phone 101 is much busier than usual. In an emergency Maths, Science/Physics: KS1-4, English: KS2. Inc 11+ Qualified always call 999. 121 tutor with CRB. Call Roger Crews on 07946 568153 or Email: [email protected] Commander Loebenberg’s full message is available at thamesvalleyalert.co.uk; Chief Supt Bunt’s message can be viewed STORAGE at youtube.com/watch?v=gfyqB‐cYH1I STEWKLEY STORAGE LTD THE GRAPEVINE, STEWKLEY For all your storage needs. Domestic & Commercial Rooms & Containers. Larkshill Farm, Stewkley Rd, Soulbury The Stewkley Grapevine is published monthly, except for January. Copies www.stewkleystorage.co.uk Tel: 01525 240297 are distributed free of charge to all households (over 780) in Stewkley. Further copies are made available for visitors at various locations in the village. It is also available for download at www.stewkley.org MOUNT PLEASANT FARM STORAGE Publication date: 1st of each month except January. 20 foot shipping containers available for general storage Short or long term lets at competitive rates Deadline for advertisements: 15th of month prior to publication. Mount Pleasant Farm, Dunton Road, Stewkley Advertising Copy: Tel: 07866 609047 or Email: [email protected] By email to [email protected] or by hand to 111A High Street South.

Display Ad Format: Electronic advertisements should be supplied as .pdf, but we can also accept .doc or hi resolution .jpg files For best quality, images should be 300dpi. All advertisements are printed in greyscale. Please check your ad is readable in monochrome. Pre-paid ads may be changed at no extra cost.

Classified Ad Guidelines: Generally one line header, plus up to 12 words of text, plus contact details. One line header plus 13- 24 words of text, plus contact details for twice the price.

Advertising Rates: Stewkley Non-Stewkley For Sale (Max of 2 items) £5 £10 Classified £5 £10 Classified highlighted £10 £20 Forthcoming events Free* Not available (*Limited to Classified Allowance). Display, Eighth Page £15 £25 (w:93 x h:65mm landscape) Display, Quarter Page £25 £35 (w:93 x h:135mm portrait) FOR SALE Display, Half Page £35 £55 (w:192 x h:135mm landscape) FIRE GUARD & FIRE COMPANION SET

Both cast iron. Guard 90cm H, 1 metre W £40, Ad Payment Terms: Payment in advance of first publication 3-5 issues 5% discount 3 Tools 52cm H, 33cm W £15. Call 240674 6-10 issues 10% discount 11 issues (annual) 15% discount Monthly Standing Order on 12th of month. 10% Discount. Minimum period - 6 months. Cost of 11 Issues is spread over 12 months. Next Deadline for Ads:

Ad Payment Contact: STRICTLY 6pm FRIDAY 15 MAY 01525 242137 or email: [email protected] Stewkley Grapevine May 2020 Page 17 WE HAVE

Home produced pork, beef, lamb & GONE ONLINE... sausages

Open as usual: It is now more important than ever to Friday afternoons & Saturday mornings STAY FIT AND HEALTHY both physically and mentally Outside shop

so why not join us for one of our PILATES or YOGA classes via zoom. Contactless card payments Manor Farm, Hoggeston, MK18 3LH 01296 714239 Classes run by chartered physiotherapists to suit all level and abilities. [email protected] www.morrisofhoggeston.co.uk FREE 1:1 assessment session when you sign up.

We are also offering BLOCKED DRAIN? VIRTUAL PHYSIOTHERAPY sessions.

COUNTY DRAINAGE & PLUMBING SOLUTIONS FOR MORE INFORMATION YOUR LOCAL DRAINAGE EXPERT email: [email protected] WITH OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE

01525 222439 or 07944297538 High Pressure Water Jetting ‐ CCTV Survey’s Specialist in Drain Repair ‐ Replacement and Relining All work fully Guaranteed Email: [email protected]

The CarPenTers arms sTewkLey TeL: 01525 240029

Takeaway food & drInk avaILaBLe daily 4pm -8pm Burgers, Chilli and Veg Balti call for more information Please call if you are unable to leave your home, delivery in Stewkley may be available. Please bring your own drinks containers Bitter £3 a pint Lager £3.50 a pint Guiness £3.50 a pint

Call 01525 240029 To place food orders so you do not have to hang around cash payment preferred please

1 wing road, high st reet south, stewkley Page 18 Stewkley Grapevine May 2020

SUPERIOR INTERIORS DECORATING SERVICES

Provide a highly professional and comprehensive decorating service with over 30 years experience Automotive Engineers PLEASE VISIT MY WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION Forge Farm, Wing Road, Stewkley www.superiordecor.co.uk

Andrew Gurnett Contact Jim Munro For a reliable service and all your Mob: 07788 921865 Tel: 01525 240741 motoring needs, give me a call Email: [email protected]

Servicing Tyres

DAMIAN STEWART MOT’s Repairs PLUMBING & HEATING PROFESSIONAL QUALIFIED PLUMBING & HEATING ENGINEER Exhausts ● For all your Plumbing, Gas, Oil & Heating requirements ● Boiler & appliance installations, system upgrades, servicing, fault finding & repair & more Stewkley ● Oil‐boiler and tank installations, service & repair Aylesbury Vale ● Complete bathroom installations & design Golf Club Tel: 01525 240991 ● No job too small / Fee no obligation quote / No call out charge Mobile: 07980 600095 Tel: 01296 688968 / 07527 900028 Forge Farm E mail: [email protected] www.damianstewartplumbing.co.uk Wing 7 Chiltern Road, Wingrave, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP22 2QQ

TO ADVERTISE IN GRAPEVINE PLEASE CALL 242137 or email ‘growing wildly beautiful, naturally scented flowers’ Seasonal British Flowers [email protected] Direct From the Farm Locally Grown Country Flowers for weddings, funerals and events IF YOU NEED TO Bouquets for local delivery CHANGE YOUR ADVERT Creative workshops PLEASE LET US KNOW The Artisan Gift Shop is now open BY 15th OF MONTH Supporting local artists & makers )UHVKÁRZHUVDYDLODEOH PRIOR TO PUBLICATION Open Fri & Sat 10am – 5.30pm For enquiries call Rosie 07876 394 086 Town Farm, Hoggeston Buckingham MK18 3LQ ZZZZLOGURVHÁRZHUFRPSDQ\FRXN )ROORZXV#ZLOGURVHÁRZHUFRPSDQ\ Stewkley Grapevine May 2020 Page 19

SPECIALISING IN

Fat Loss Functional Training Sustainable Lifestyle Changes Corporate Wellness Health & Fitness Transformations Accountability & Support PLEASE CALL TO CONFIRM CURRENTOPEN 6 ARRANGEMENTS DAYS PER WEEK

EXPERT TRAINERS CHARLESGARDEN SERVICES HILL LTD DESIGN BUILD MAINTAIN www.huntfitness.co.uk [email protected] 07907322653 @huntfitnessuk LANDSCAPE CONTRACTORS NCH Horticulture. City & Guilds Garden Design A professional company working with all your garden requirements from design to complete landscape. 07773 723236 www.charleshillgardenservices.co.uk www.allyearoundbbq.co.uk Page 20 Stewkley Grapevine May 2020

Chappell

Plumbing and Heating Ltd

Fully qualified and insured Beechmoor Farm, Cublington Road, Whitchurch Home Produced Meat : Pies, Cheeses & Olives : Fruit & Veg gas safe engineer. Milk, Bread & Eggs : Pickles & Preserves : Frozen Produce

All central heating and Open Tues, Wed, Thurs & Fri 8am -5pm Saturday 7.30am - 1pm (closed Sunday & Monday). hot water work undertaken. Tel: 01296 641207 : Email: parrottbros@parrott­bros.co.uk Boiler servicing, Web: www.parrott­bros.co.uk breakdowns and installations. Computer Support for Home & Business Users Landlord certificates. Problem Solving: Virus, spyware detection & removal Stewkley based. Internet & email assistance Fault diagnostics, repairs & upgrades Slow running PCs

07725 480047 Services: mation Computer support for PCs, Mac & Linux Wireless & wired networking [email protected] Data recovery @ Install & setup Health checks

Sales: Desktops, laptops, printers, peripherals & software

computer support & services For friendly advice call John on 07968 536068 or 01525 261381 568424 email: [email protected] - www.computamation.co.uk comput Computamation Services Ltd - 9a Lower Way, , Bucks, MK17 9AG www.chappellheating.co.uk Established 1999 with over 25 years experience

Beauty Studio in Stewkley

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Brands include Bio Sculpture, Gelish, Opi, For all your building needs project Katherine Daniels managed from design to completion

For testimonials and information visit T: 07801 564213 www.luxfordbuilders.co.uk W: www.laurenarmor.co.uk Contacts: Instagram: @laurenarmorbeauty Julian Luxford 07885 455203 Facebook: @laurenarmorbeauty James Luxford 07860 726741 Stewkley Grapevine May 2020 Page 21

Indoor and outdoor lighting New fuse board Additional sockets New power supply Full rewires Fire alarms Smoke detectors Perodic testing CCTV All work guaranteed. PART P approved No job too small

Call: Craig 07968 152 709 Email: [email protected]

HUNTER’S GARAGE

Local friendly village automotive garage offering:

● Servicing ● Repairs ● MOTS on site ● Diagnostic and tuning ● Tyres ● Exhausts ● Batteries

We also offer the service to collect and deliver vehicles from Contact details: the area. Unit 3-4, Manor Business Centre High Street South, Stewkley

01525 240696 Courtesy car available by prior arrangement. Page 22 Stewkley Grapevine May 2020 “Why leave the comfort of your own home WOBURN BUILDING to have a great haircut?” I am one of Britain’s top stylists with SERVICES over 10 years experience as Manager and Art Director for Toni and Guy. Specialised building work Book me to come to your home at a time of your choosing 50% OFF INTRODUCTORY OFFER FOR ALL NEW CLIENTS New builds and extensions Tel: 07738 658234 Email: [email protected] Kitchens supplied and fitting service www.superhairday.co.uk Visit Superhairday on Facebook for 50 of 5 star reviews from my clients and pictures! Bathroom design and fitting A.B.EATON

Interior and exterior alterations ● BATHROOM DESIGN & INSTALLATION Stewkley- based ● PLUMBING HEATING ● UNDERFLOOR HEATING STUART JAMES COLEMAN ● TILING & REFURBISHMENT ● APPRENTICESHIP SERVED 01525 242111 : 07970 888236 ● OVER 35 YEARS EXPERIENCE Email: [email protected] www.woburnbuildingservices.co.uk CALL FOR A FREE QUOTE 07801 938632 EST 1986

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Audi qualified & licensed technicians with over 54 years combined experience

Diagnostic repairs with the latest equipment All servicing and mechanical repairs carried out to the highest standards including brakes, clutches, cambelts etc

Complimentary courtesy car subject to availability

MOTs, Tyres and puncture repairs

www.vass-tech.co.uk T: 01296 641429 E: [email protected] 5A High Street, Whitchurch, Buckinghamshire HP22 4JU Stewkley Grapevine May 2020 Page 23 D.B'S GAS PLUMBING AND HEATING SERVICES KG HAYERS Local village company with Fully Qualified Carpenter & Joiner over 25 years experience. Boiler breakdowns, repairs & servicing. Full heating installations and extensions. All Aspects of Carpentry & Maintenance Work Gas safety checks and certification NO JOB TOO SMALL All workmanship fully insured ● Doors O.A.P. 10% DISCOUNT ON HOURLY RATES ● Windows NO CALL OUT CHARGE. COMPETITIVE RATES. ● Locks Tel office: 240784 ● Double Glazing Repairs Tel Daron: 07799 122971 ● Kitchen Units & Worktops ● Painting & Decorating ● Refurbishment ● General Property Repairs ● Domestic, Commercial ● Bespoke services ● CSCS Gold Card ● Fully Insured

Free Quotes

Contact Karl T: 01525 240484 M: 07855 749610 E: [email protected]

HARLEQUIN PRESSLtd

Lithographic and Digital Printing

Booklets Leaflets BIKE SERVICE/SALES HOME MAINTENANCE Brochures Letterheads DECORATING FLOORING Business Cards Magazines Compliment Slips Newsletters GARDENING STABLES & FENCING Delivery Notes Note pads TV & CCTV WEB DESIGN Directories Order of Service

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Grapevine is printed by Harlequin Press Ltd. Page 24 Stewkley Grapevine May 2020 NEW EQUIPMENT FOR REC PLAY AREA from the Recreation Ground Committee Having reached our fundraising targets for new play equipment and outside toilets at the Recreation Ground orders have now been placed for all the items to complete this exciting project. Six new pieces of play equipment will be installed to enhance the play area, including two climbing frames, one for older children and one for two to five‐year‐ olds, a cantilever swing, an inclusive roundabout, a new hill slide and a gazebo. A further installation will see a single cubicle, stand alone semi‐automatic toilet to replace the existing outdated one. REC AND PAVILION from Julie Dawson Manufacturing has been delayed due to Covid‐19 but we The Rec has probably been used by many more people and more frequently are hoping that both installations will be able to go ahead than ever before during this lockdown, and you may have wondered what is in early summer. going on. In line with Government advice the play and gym equipment has Funding Sources: been taped up to discourage use as the virus is reported to live for up to three FCC Community Trust (landfill tax) £35,650 days on hard surfaces. There are also notices reminding people about social AVDC New Homes Bonus £70,000 distance. Social distancing applies throughout the rec, including the MUGA Stewkley Parish Council £5,000 [basketball] court, which is more difficult to tape off and restrict access to. Recreation Ground: Whilst the Pavilion is, like the entire nation, in lockdown, there is still Recfest £5,000 maintenance that needs to be done so we can re‐open as smoothly as Xmas market £1,000 possible when restrictions are lifted. As the restrictions did not stop all workers, we have taken this opportunity to redecorate inside and out of the Anonymous Donor £900 Pavilion. It now looks as good as new again and is ready for when we are Crowd funding: allowed to re‐open our doors. AVDC ‐ Community funding £2,500 The benches have been temporarily removed to allow the painting of the Children's sponsored obstacle race £2,500 veranda and we hope to give the benches themselves a little tlc but cannot Local Crowd funding £750 at present find any clear varnish or oil to do so. If anyone can donate a can Total raised £123,300 please phone Julie Dawson on 240330. TAILPIECE TALE BY THE SKIN OF THEIR STEWKLEY TEETH

When Trish and Keith Higgins of Haywood Park embarked on their “Qantas gave us a room in an airport holiday-of-a-lifetime in February, (on the day of Storm Dennis, remember hotel with food vouchers & cautiously that?) they were prepared for long, uncomfortable flights and the usual booked us on a flight tomorrow night, mayhem at airports. Being seasoned travellers in their seventies, and due refuelling in Darwin & then non-stop to to fly home at the end of March, they knew what to expect and that they London. It sounds as if they have could handle it, or so they thought. oversold it but we’ll go early & queue As the Ads Manager, Trish is a valued member of the Grapevine Team again. and emailed some lovely photos of sunshine, exotic animals and “We have been able to register with the gorgeous views, but the commentary became increasingly angst-ridden British Consulate, so if Qantas fails, about the potential health of loved ones – both in Australia and Blighty perhaps UK will charter planes like – and the journey home. They could not get an earlier flight and had Ireland. Fingers crossed please increasing concerns about the flight they had booked. everyone. Lots of love & see you soon Then one morning in late March, the Grapevine Team woke up to the (@ a distance!) Trish & Keith xxx” following email from Trish: “Hi, just to let you know we are currently in And there was relief all round in Stewkley when Trish emailed again the an airport hotel in Sydney. We were booked on Cathay tomorrow with next day with photographs of their boarding passes: “The most precious transit in Hong Kong. We hadn’t heard from Cathay so decided to go to pieces of paper ever!! Boarding 9.15 tonight. Refuel at Darwin without airport with bags packed to try to get answers, where we were handed disembarkation, then arrive Heathrow tomorrow morning. Wave at you a piece of paper saying we can’t transit in HK! So then we started all soon😂😂😂😂😂🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞” searching for options. Sure enough, the Higgins landed at Heathrow after 23 hours on the plane “British Airways queue was enormous & going nowhere so then we tried and were driven straight home by their daughter (with essential supplies) a very helpful Qantas guy who suggested trying their help desk (rather where they self-isolated for two weeks, being lucky enough to secure an hidden away) & were told we were in luck as they had just been told there on-line supermarket slot and topping up their needs with the Parish was an Irish government chartered plane which had just released their Council’s volunteer network. spare seats & they booked us in. We were to take a domestic flight to It took them a few days to recover from jet lag, but they soldiered on in & then on from there, non-stop to Heathrow. Hotfoot to the the meantime, Trish catching up with a very different Grapevine for May, domestic terminal. Checked in our cases, watched them disappear & and Keith, being Parish Council Chairman, embarking on a series of long then AAGGGGHHH! They were unable to take us after all as we have and demanding conference calls on PC business. British passports, not Irish.