THE June 2020 LEE For The Lee, Lee Common, Hunts Green, Kings Ash and Swan Bottom We’re afraid of everyone From the Editor Afraid of the sun By Jonathan Batten Isolation e are not back on top in The sun will never disappear June, as I had hoped when I But the world may not have many years was last at the editor’s desk Isolation W in April, but I think we can all be I’m also reminded of the late, great positive and feel that we are making some progress. Little Richard and his immortal words: Is it just me or has anyone else “Wop bop a loo bop a lop bam boom!” noticed that, whilst there may be a We all know what that means so little less traffic about, those motorists let’s shout it out, when we get up who are driving are doing so a lot every morning, to remind ourselves faster than they should be? that we’re still alive and getting Speed limits are here for a reason through this. and they are supposed to be observed Please send contributions for next by everyone; why do some people month’s edition to the editor, Liz seem to think that they should not Macann, at [email protected] apply to them? by 12th June. John Lennon wrote a song about isolation 50 years ago:
People say we got it made Don’t they know we’re so afraid Your letters Isolation To the Editor We’re afraid to be alone, Once again our local DJ Geoff Everybody’s got to have a home Hartley excelled himself for the VE Isolation Day celebrations.
Just a boy and a little girl At 11:00 am several of us gathered Trying to change the whole wide world at a socially acceptable distance for Isolation the National Anthem and two minutes The world is just a little town silence and broadcasts at the time of Everybody trying to put us down 8th May 1945. We then met again at Isolation 2:45 pm to listen to Winston Churchill’s speech on the same day. I don’t expect you to understand After you’ve caused so much pain Geoff played a series of Vera Lynn But then again, you’re not to blame songs and we had an afternoon tea of You’re just a human, a victim of the insane cake, scones and champagne. 2 As we sat at the corner of Oxford The Lee Flower Show 1909 Street many cars and cyclists passed To the Editor on both occasions looking a little I am very sorry to hear that The Lee mystified, but several smiled and Flower Show will not be taking place waved. We stayed there for about a this year but it is understandable couple of hours listening to requests under the circumstances. from the other neighbours.
In Oxford Street
It is at a time like this in the middle of the pandemic that you realise how lucky we are to have such wonderful friends and neighbours to help jolly things along.
I was browsing some old newspapers a while ago and was surprised to see that this is not the first time that the show has been cancelled due to illness. There was a measles outbreak in the summer of 1909 and a decision was made to abandon the preparations. The Bucks Herald dated 31st July 1909 reports the cancellation with much Close by in Princes Lane disappointment for all concerned. Carol Addison As a point of interest I was two Lee Common years old on VE Day and living in [Editor’s note: To read the newspaper Lytham Lancashire, so my memories extract more clearly, access the online are zero. version of the newsletter on the village Anthony Lea website at www.thelee.org.uk/the-lee- Lee Common newsletter and select June’s edition.] 3 Death is not the end in our lives and how it can be used to good effect. To the Editor Thank you to everyone who I awoke the other morning to find a offered help and advice. dead Muntjac deer on our back lawn. It Alice Harrison had obviously been savaged, but Lee Common whether this was before or after its death I couldn’t be sure. But what to do with the corpse? A welcome milestone The council’s guidance on waste To the Editor disposal was not much help. The In what is probably a milestone for kitchen waste caddy was too small for Swan Bottom communications, one the Muntjac, garden waste did not seem member of our household was recently a true description and, in any case, I did on a video call, another was teaching not have a green bin. remotely whilst a third was I did recall seeing a sign near interviewing someone via Zoom... and Kimble pointing towards a natural the broadband coped! burial ground, which I thought might be This could never have happened a appropriate. I know the Humanist year ago with download speeds of Society conducts burials for non- between 6 and 7 Mbps, so we’re very believers. But I’m sure they would need fortunate to have got fibre broadband the agreement of the next of kin. Tricky. ahead of Covid-19. I felt particularly So, I took the matter into my own smug when a friend in London hands, literally, and put the body into a commented that she could not chat to black bag. At dusk, when I hoped no one would see me, I carried the bag to the nearby woods and tipped the contents under a holly bush away from the footpath for natural recycling. I hope I did the right thing. Barnaby Usborne Lee Common The Forum To the Editor Recently I asked the community, via the forum, for some help with Microsoft Teams as I had an online interview coming up and had never used this system. The response that I received was amazing. The message had literally gone live and within minutes our phone was ringing off the hook with offers of help and advice. A wonderful response from the community, but also an example of the role the forum plays 4 me on Zoom as her husband had a He said “Flipping heck, now woman, business meeting and only one of them You have failed to use the spacer could make a video call at a time. You have scythed my hair in trenches I appreciate that not everyone Like a motor mower racer” locally has yet been upgraded, but I think that by and large – and excluding I said: “Don’t be such a baby the Easter week landline debacle – There’s no need to make a scene” And I carried on regardless The Lee telephone exchange has ’Till his face turned rather green coped well with the huge increase in video streaming over the past couple I noticed that his ear tops of months. Had a hairstyle of their own Ruth Fowler They’d look better if I clipped them Swan Bottom They were quickly, nicely mown
He shouted “Get the calamine, My head’s a bleeding mess” Warning! (I forgave him that bad language By Diana Taylor As he seemed in such distress)
What I noticed from this lockdown But soon, I saw that ‘bleeding’ Is our hair just grows and grows Was what his head was doing Unattractively, my own man’s hair As my gallant try at hairdressing Was sprouting from his nose Was descending into ruin
So, from Amazon, we ordered Never mind his minor injuries All kinds of ‘coiffure’ kit And his hair and temper – short And we had a ‘barber’ moment What about my own poor feelings When I tried to conquer it Which were getting rather hurt
I started with some tweezers I terminated clipping His eyebrow hairs to pull And applied a quite large plaster ’Cos he looked just like a Schnauzer – Midst more bleeding and more nasty Hairy browed and forehead full! words He accused me of disaster That already caused some wincing Though results were really fine Said: “You’re not fit to be a barber So I then attacked his nostrils And you’re lucky I’m not dead” As he speed-dialled 999 But he’s lucky that I’ve done First Aid And could bandage up his head His screams were pretty piercing To finish off with something kind Although it might be said I slapped on a Turkish towel These were nothing like the noises He screamed that this was boiling hot Once the clippers hit his head Letting out a further howl
I never knew such language come In the end, I thought I’d write this From such a well-bred boy To warn you not to clip As he shouted in expletives As it’s tricky when the tweezers pull That these shears were not a toy And shears and scissors slip 5 There must be something easier the school kitchen ceiling ready for Than chopping up your chap any arts and crafts and performances. When attempts at ‘lockdown’ barbering She had no time for Health and Lead to mowing and mishap Safety, letting children sit on window sills and radiators to get a better view Why not buy an ‘online’ hairband of the blackboard. At home time she Just tie back his ‘lockdown’ tresses would race them across the For pretending to be hairdressers playground to the bus wearing the Can cause all kinds of stresses! same brown, flouncy skirt which she had bought in the 1970s. If a dad was a builder he was often asked to pop in at lunch time to mend Jeanette a radiator or put up a shelf. The parents formed a painting team to give the Coldham school a facelift during the holidays. Headmistress Lee Common Jeanette established many traditions which happened yearly. School 1973-1994 May Day was a very important By Annie Ash event using a very old iron maypole eanette became headmistress of she found in the school cellar. It was LCS in 1973 after being head of dressed with new ribbons and a fresh J Hardwick village school in North garland of plastic flowers every year. Bucks. She was a one-person team Not every child could manage the there teaching children from 5-11 years. Apparently when she was given the job at Lee Common she climbed the ropes in the hall and touched the ceiling. That’s when it all began! Cromar Carpets Ltd
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9-11 Station Approach Jeanette managed LCS on a shoe Great Missenden string. She was the very first recycler. 01494 862125 She kept cardboard boxes, paper, plastic and old clothes piled high to 6 complicated traditional dances so they moment or two of awe and wonder were given the job of sitting on the every day. base of the maypole to stop it from She treated each child as an toppling over. individual. She was kind and Sports Day was held on the cricket interested in every child, helping those pitch and fondly remembered by the who needed it and stretching those whole school who had to cross the who excelled. park carrying all the equipment and LCS was lucky to have a very looking like a colourful snake. The good headmistress and she was a inquisitive cows always stood round credit to her profession. the fence watching. Covid-19, Boris and me By Ruth Fowler ack in the heady days of early March, I was frankly a bit blasé B about Covid-19. Boris Johnson and the government didn’t seem especially worried, and I was fairly confident that, whilst it might be in the Harvest Festival was celebrated at cities, it wasn’t going to impact The the church and the walk home always Lee any time soon. involved conker races down the hill By the middle of the month I was just by the shop. Cars were few and far starting to get a little more concerned, between then! and suggested to my son Tommo and Christmas plays were very his partner Holly, who spend their important with staff having had to weekdays in a shared flat in London, write them during the autumn half- that they might prefer to be with us. term. There was trouble if you had not More space and, more importantly, managed it. more bedrooms and bathrooms should If not for you anyone succumb to the virus and need Assemblies were key to giving to self-isolate. children confidence even if they were Rather to my surprise they only five years old. Each class was accepted with alacrity, and were with us in the time it takes to discard expected to take part once a week with perishable food, pack a bag and jump the parents eagerly attending. on the Metropolitan Line. The parents were slightly scared of Two hours later the plan started to Miss Coldham because she could be unravel when I became feverish. prickly and impatient. She did not I promptly shut myself away, and tolerate silliness, which taught the for the first couple of days things children self-reliance and perseverance. weren’t too bad. A table appeared Jeanette knew how to keep the outside my bedroom door which was magic alive in educating children and regularly replenished with food and her staff were expected to provide a drink, and also housed a small gong in 7 case I needed to request anything. sleeping, and Tommo and Holly Furnished with an adequate supply of mostly stayed in bed feeling very sorry paracetamol and my laptop, plus being for themselves. waited on for my every need, I A couple of days later the decided this wasn’t too challenging. consensus in the house was that I had Everything changed too quickly been ill for too long, and medical for a traditional Mother’s Day card to advice was needed. NHS 111 was be organised, so I received this called, I explained my symptoms (in homemade alternative. bed for several days, breathless on the least exertion, cough if I moved, catarrh and upset stomach, plus I was still running a temperature). They decided that I most probably had the virus and, rather unnecessarily, advised me not to go out and see anyone. They also arranged for a doctor to call me, who carried out several remote diagnostic tests: checking my pulse rate, how high I could count without coughing and also how long I could hold my breath without coughing. He decided I most probably had Covid-19, but also prescribed antibiotics just in case I had another infection as well. Thunder on the mountain Graham recovered after a day or Happy Mum Day two, Holly after a week and Tommo By the fourth day things started to after about 10 days, but I hadn’t deteriorate. I lost interest in answering noticeably improved in this time so the the phone and emails, plus Tommo doctor was called again. I was advised and Holly became sick as well. On the to start eating only plain carbohydrates plus side this meant they could come with possibly a little chicken broth in and see me, but the level of room (fortunately I’d made a couple of litres service wasn’t as good. At this point the week before I’d become ill, frozen the paracetamol stocks were running low, and I put out an appeal on the forum in case anyone had a few spare pills they could let us have. The The LeeWay – Your village came to the rescue, with a Village Support Team small traffic jam outside our house at If you have difficulty getting to your one point as people rallied round to doctor or the hospital, doing your shopping or would like a home visit and help. Many thanks to all of you. a friendly chat, then please ring: Desolation row 07845 029500 The next day my husband, Mon - Fri: 10 am - 4 pm. Sat: 10 am - 12 Graham, became sick as well, I lost noon. Please give us reasonable notice of my appetite and stopped eating in your requirement to help us organise it. favour of spending all my time 8 in convenient serving sized pots) and a very different place to the one I’d to stop having lemonade with my known previously. Dioralyte and revert to water. So… did I have Covid-19? All the It took another week before my indications are that I did but, as I temperature came down and I was avoided hospitalisation, I wasn’t well enough to eat properly and spend tested. I’d be interested to know if I a whole day out of bed, with several have antibodies, a degree of immunity hundred messages and emails waiting and an inability to pass the virus on to for me by the time I finally switched anyone else, but there is no way of my phone back on. Lots of lovely knowing and I don’t want to find out people dropped in cards and kept in the hard way. touch with Graham throughout, I’ve been asked how I caught it making sure I was okay and that we but, although I have suspicions, I don’t had everything we needed, for which I know. To anyone to whom I may have can’t thank you all enough. passed it on, my apologies, and to Unlike many other people I didn’t everyone else stay safe and stick to the lose my sense of taste and smell, find social distancing – this isn’t a trivial myself with a lingering cough, nor illness like a cold. exhausted and constantly needing a nap after the symptoms and fever subsided – but maybe the last of these was Lockdown because I’d spent three weeks in bed doing little other than sleeping and watching daytime television. I had lingo extremely limited brain power the first Are you fully conversant with the new few days I was up – Graham stopped Lee vernacular? his usual complaining about the Coronacoaster excessive amount of time I spend in The ups and downs of your mood front of a screen, and instead started during the pandemic. You’re loving encouraging me to turn on the computer lockdown one minute but suddenly – but things gradually returned to weepy with anxiety the next. It truly is normal. It was also a few days before I ‘an emotional coronacoaster’. could speak on the phone as I didn’t Quarantinis have the breath for a sustained Experimental cocktails mixed from conversation, but I am now fully whatever random ingredients you have restored to my normal verbose self. left in the house. The boozy equivalent A new world of a store cupboard supper. Southern When I first ventured out, I found Comfort and Ribena quarantini with a the world had completely changed in glacé cherry garnish, anyone? These the preceding four weeks. I’d heard are sipped at ‘locktail hour’, i.e. wine rumours of queuing outside shops, but o’clock during lockdown, which hadn’t been prepared for the two metre seems to be creeping earlier with each marks on the ground everywhere and passing week. restricted access into shops and banks. Le Creuset wrist Somehow the introduction of It’s the new ‘avocado hand’ – an lockdown had passed me by while I aching arm after taking one’s best was asleep, and the world had become saucepan outside to bang during the 9 weekly ‘Clap for Carers’. It might be Antisocial distancing heavy but you’re keen to impress with Using health precautions as an your high-quality kitchenware. excuse for snubbing neighbours and Coronials ignoring people you find irritating. As opposed to millennials, this Coughin’ dodger refers to the future generation of babies Someone so alarmed by an conceived or born during coronavirus innocuous splutter or throat-clear that quarantine. They might also become they back away in terror. known as ‘Generation C’ or, more Mask-ara spookily, ‘Children of the Quarn’. Extra make-up applied to ‘make Furlough Merlot one’s eyes pop’ before venturing out Wine consumed in an attempt to in public wearing a face mask. relieve the frustration of not working. Covid-10 Also known as ‘bored-eaux’ or The 10lbs in weight that we’re all ‘cabernet tedium’. gaining from comfort-eating and Coronadose comfort-drinking. Also known as An overdose of bad news from too ‘fattening the curve’. much media during a time of crisis. Can Quarantoned result in a ‘panicdemic’. While most of us seem to be The elephant in the Zoom overeating and drinking, there are a The glaring issue during a video wide variety of fitness challenges and conference call that nobody feels able home workouts that try to help you to mention; e.g. one participant has become ‘quarantoned’. dramatically put on weight, suddenly sprouted terrible facial hair or has a worryingly messy house visible in the background. Quentin Quarantino An attention-seeker using their time in lockdown to make amateur films KINGSHILL which they’re convinced are funnier CARS FOR ALL OCCASIONS and cleverer than they actually are. Gonna change my way of Chilterns thinking Covidiot or Wuhan-ker One who ignores public health advice or behaves with reckless Airports disregard for the safety of others can be said to display ‘Covidiocy’ or be ‘Covidiotic’. Also called a ‘lockclown’ or even a ‘Wuhan-ker’. Goutbreak London The sudden fear that you’ve consumed so much wine, cheese, home-made cake and Easter chocolate 01494 868699 in lockdown that your ankles are Email: [email protected] swelling up like a medieval king’s. 10
• Construct a drainage shaft to the HS2 update balancing pond located near the By Colin Sully, The Lee Parish haul road at Great Missenden Council • Fusion to complete archaeology works and outstanding roadworks t the beginning of May, (including Link Road, A413 Councillors from The Lee and junction, Kings Lane/Chesham Road A Great Missenden parishes met B485 junction and Frith Hill, the last (online) with EKFB, the HS2 of which, although seemingly contractor constructing the line north ‘complete’, in fact needs further of South Heath, to review their plans work over the summer, including in light of the ‘Notice to some closures) Proceed’ (NtP) granted by the th • Start local traffic surveys (which Government on 15 April. have been approved but further The issuing of NtP marks the point delayed by Covid-19) in the civil works contracts where the work transitions from ‘scheme design HS2 Construction and preparatory work’ to ‘full detailed design and construction’. Local plans and priorities At the meeting, EKFB provided updates on several issues: • The ‘baton’ to communicate with local communities has been passed to EKFB who will also now be keeping a watching eye on all Undertakings and Assurances in Major earthworks in the area are their area (updates next month) unlikely to start before spring 2021. • The broad scheme design for our Sites for the bentonite plants are not area is complete. It is not yet finalised. Further discussions are anticipated that there will be any needed on the Hunts Green Farm major changes to the plans shown temporary spoil heap. to communities in 2019 • Local Traffic Management Plans Work notifications have now been issued for review Several local works notifications by Buckinghamshire Council are currently in place: (BC). A meeting has been arranged • Great Missenden: Road works and by the Council with local parish closures notification – through to councils to discuss the impact on spring 2020 the A413 and surrounding roads • Little Missenden: archaeology and pump tests notification – through Slow train to summer 2020 EKFB also explained their • Kings Lane, Great Missenden: construction priorities for 2020: works notification – through to • Set up compounds, including that June 2020 at Smalldean • Whielden Lane, Amersham to be • Construct concrete batching plant closed for through traffic until 4th to the north of the Wendover tunnel July 2020 11 Full details can be found at: https:// tinyurl.com/ya74dgkq Cryptic Covid Future community meetings he winner of the Cryptic Covid EKFB floated the idea of having a competition in the May series of area-wide updates for T Newsletter is Mark Braley of multiple parishes on a regular, Lee Common, who produced all the possibly monthly, basis. In addition, correct answers within just a few there would be meetings with hours of the Newsletter going online – individual parishes on specific topics. obviously a quiet night on the TV! He The Government’s position wins a £5.00 voucher to spend (wisely) at the Shop at The Lee. Jokerman The correct A to Z answers were: Asymptomatic; Bridge Base; China; Distancing; Exercises; Furloughed; Go to meeting; Home; Isolated; Johnson; Key workers; Lockdown; Mask; National Health Service; Offices; Pandemic; Queuing; Recovering; Shielding; The Lee Covid-19 Volunteers; Update; Volunteer; World Health Organisation; X-rays; Speaking to the Transport Select YouTube; Zoom. Committee, HS2 minister, Andrew Stephenson, said he remains J Brown Funeral Services convinced of the strategic case for the 67 Woodside Road, Amersham, HP6 6AA project, despite the impacts of Covid- 01494 727474 (24 hours) 19 and the expectation of a new ‘normal’ in how people will live and A truly independent family funeral directors work after the lockdown. However, he did admit that the impact of the Bespoke and traditional services pandemic on UK travel habits would Private chapels of rest be something the Government “will Pre-paid funeral plans look into”. Off street client parking Meanwhile the Public Accounts Home visits Committee produced yet another damning report, stating “we are not yet convinced that the DfT and HS2 Ltd have the skills and capability they need now or in the future” and that “the lack of transparency has undermined public Contact Jason Brown on: 01494 727474 confidence in the programme”. [email protected] They omitted however to comment on the various ministers’ skills, Recommended by capability and transparency! The Good Funeral Guide 12 The shopping Meet and greet By Symeon Economou By Anna Davis t is heart-warming and very n early February after a long day, rewarding to see how many have the removals van finally left at I used the Shop with such patient I 7:00 pm and we were officially goodwill in these challenging times. residents of Oxford St, Lee Common. Despite reducing the hours by 40% We were told early on that we sales are up by 40%, and this puts would find that it was a friendly village quite a strain on volunteers dealing and it has gone beyond our with such concentrated footfall. expectations. On the first day we had Without a doubt we would have struggled to keep the shop open at all neighbours popping in with warm cake, without the amazing, selfless support which was heavenly, and offers of tea. of the volunteers, old and new. I hate Over the next few days people to mention individual names because came by to welcome us, which we every single person has been key but, thought was delightful, and the wine in the context of ensuring we have and biscuits were very much produce to sell I do feel I have to appreciated. The village shop has been break this principle for just a few. fantastic, a real life-line as I was self- Gotta serve somebody isolating prior to the lockdown Sarah Dubus and Ros Morris still starting… and the ability to get supplies endlessly queueing weekly outside was super helpful with special thanks Peterley Farm Shop, buying a whole to Erica for delivering items to us. range of produce and then having to In the summertime price it and set it out in the Shop.
Sarah Wrench twice a week ordering and collecting masses of fruit and veg, separating it into retail quantities, bagging, pricing and merchandising it all. Charles, valiantly keeping up with a massive surge in demand for our excellent value wines. (I actually think We have met a number of the he enjoys it). villagers from walking our beloved Katie sourcing plain and self- cockapoo, Atlas, and are greatly raising flour in bulk and bagging and appreciating the sheer number of pricing it at home. walking options on our doorstep, It’s a real privilege to be part of it something we didn’t have in all – and I have to say it’s kept me and Berkhamsted. So, if you see a Sue relatively sane. chocolate-brown cockapoo with a 13 couple and a three-wheeler buggy, soon to be a double version (due July), please feel free to say hello. Since the lockdown began, sadly, it has meant that plans to attend the Ballinger baby group with our 13 month old son Reuben are on hold as are a number of others. Local mums have already been in touch and made me feel very welcome. I look forward to a time when I can meet more of you in person. I met a few briefly before the lockdown commenced: how different the world seems now. My husband Quintin, Reuben, Atlas, the bump and I feel blessed to have moved to such a lovely place. Bridge challenge? By Rita Sully et al his hand came up recently in a ’Bridge Base’ online competition. T It set us a real challenge.
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Dealer: East Vulnerability: None
At our table, South opened 1♠… but how would you bid on from there? See page 22. 14 Come now and change our world Churches in in all its need so it may enjoy hope, healing and harmony. May we all June discover the secret of true All services are still suspended. contentment and the peace that passes all understanding which only St John the Baptist, The Lee you can give. Contacts: Holy Spirit, as you came at Parish Administrator: Joanne Evans Pentecost, come again to-day. (07811 094416). Churchwardens: Hear this and all our prayers Trevor Pearce (01494 837601) and through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Mike Sherratt (07597 158269). Verger: Bill Pearce (01494 785191). Treasurer: David Stephenson (01494 St. Mary’s, Ballinger 867617). Please contact Anne Ellis (01494 837247) or Maggi Cameron ([email protected]) for Lee Common Methodist further information. Contact: Marian Tomkins (01494 837479) As it is still unclear to what extent, if The Nursing at all, we shall be able to open the Church, we offer the following prayer: Chronicles
Holy Spirit, coming as wind and The Corona Edition Part 2 fire, free and irrepressible, we pray By Zoe Berkeley for all who fear for the future. ix months into my career as a We think of those who are nurse and the coronavirus drops. concerned about their employment S Most of us thought it was just a or their businesses, those who are bad strain of flu and it was a lot of fuss still suffering from the effects of the being made over nothing in the coronavirus or have lost loved ones beginning, right? as a result of it and those who are Then the numbers of those infected housebound or elderly – those and increased and the number of available so many others who yearn for a new toilet rolls decreased. Suddenly we are beginning and an opportunity to in a pandemic and our lifestyles changed as we save lives in our start afresh. loungewear in our own respective ways. We pray for those who are Nurses have seen their loungewear fearful that the future will bring less, and fought with their potentially changes, a sweeping away of infected uniforms and scrubs more, everything that is tried and trusted, with no choice but to get out there and the imposition of unknown fight this thing around various challenges and uncertainty. May obstacles. An already understaffed they all rest secure in the knowledge workforces have become further that whatever else may change, you depleted by staff sickness and higher will remain constant. demands from all other directions. 15 Impacts in all areas personal level. Throw in a mask that I work in the community, so I’m covers a reassuring smile, a gloved lucky not to be currently spending 12 hand that holds a dying patients hand hour shifts in the hospital and seeing and sometimes a visor that turns you daily destruction that this virus is from the ‘kind nurse’ into something causing, but nevertheless I’m seeing it that may have landed on your doorstep in other ways as fewer people want to, from outer space, and somehow the or are able to, go into hospital. This way you are perceived and the crisis impacts all areas of healthcare; reassurance that you are able to offer whilst our focus has had to be on is altered. fighting to save lives from this virus, Where teardrops fall there are those who fight illness, At my last visit, I apologised to an disease and chronic conditions every elderly patient I visit weekly that I had day of their lives regardless. For many to come into her home dressed in a of these people treatment plans have mask, gloves and a plastic blue apron, changed, drugs are less available, the and I might add that she had the heater services they rely on for support are on full blast too as I attempted to just not accessible and sadly some feel disguise my sweating underneath! I like they are the forgotten ones during smiled at her on the other side of my this time. mask and asked her if she remembered Whilst the hospital is a hot zone me. She told me: “Yes I recognise for infection, if could be argued that those eyes” and I was glad that I was they are better prepared for the fight still able to be me under my armour. there than those of us in the community. Being in someone’s home is no safer, mostly in a confined space TIM SIMMONS IS with not always the best hand washing THE VERMINATOR facilities, and not being able to dispose of your scrubs at the end of the visit Pest control services and let the hospital launder them at 60 degrees for you to return for your next contact to pick up a fresh pair. WASPS ALL GLIS-GLIS INSECTS Change and adapt SQUIRREL FOXES How we work in the community RATS MICE RABBITS has had to change and adapt MOLES AND ANTS constantly, especially with ever changing policies and rules every day, as we all navigate our way through the uncertainty and lack of knowledge FAST FRIENDLY SERVICE surrounding this virus. Not only does this impact how we do things but also LOW PRICES - HIGH QUALITY how we are seen. 07734 649305 I am lucky to be able to pride myself in my job that I can add a personal touch to my care – I see people in the intimacy of their own WE WILL ALSO PROOF YOUR homes and get to meet their families HOUSE/PREMISES TO STOP THEM and get to know them on a more COMING BACK 16 there is a depression today but if not told otherwise I would have assumed it Ballinger was an old chalk pit. bombing By John Gover he Bucks Free Press recently published an article on WWII T bombing sites in Bucks and this was highlighted on The Lee Forum website. But I know the information is not complete and there was more bombing closer than you think. Plus there was a subsequent visit to the area A second bomb was closer to by a very important person. Ballinger. Unsubstantiated rumour has Some of you may remember the it that it was behind the present late Nigel Dwight who was born and Blackthorne Lane houses or the row of lived in Ballinger all his life. He told flint cottages near St Marys Chapel. me a number of tales about the village Again no damage. Were there other in past years when suddenly out of the bombs? Maybe, but if so, I suspect blue came one about the war. Did I they were jettisoned further away. know that Ballinger was bombed in Tell me that it isn’t true 1944? There followed a story you The villagers had no idea why could not make up. Ballinger was targeted, but their Nigel was 14 in 1944 and an questions were partially answered the official fire warden, not that he ever next day. Suddenly, unannounced, expected to be called to duty. But then some vehicles arrived and out of one Ballinger was not exactly of strategic came Churchill who started talking to importance. Sometime in the first half people. Apparently he first stopped at of the year he heard aircraft and saw the South Heath village shop and then some German planes flying in the onto Ballinger. He was staying at area. They circled around for a while Chequers, was informed about the then came over the village and bombing and had come to talk to suddenly started dropping incendiary everyone and reassure them. bombs. I cannot quite remember the With Churchill gone, after a brief details but one caught a roof alight – it stay, the people were told not to talk may have been where ‘Rought It’ the about the bombing or of the Prime prefab bungalow used to stand – and a Minister’s visit. This was to remain an second burnt out a green house. Nigel official secret. help put out this fire. So why bomb Ballinger and South There then followed a bomber Heath and why keep it secret? which dropped at least two bombs. According to Nigel this happened in One landed in a field just north of the run up to D Day when Eisenhower South Heath. No damage to housing was visiting Churchill at Chequers. but apparently one cow was killed and Somehow the Germans had rumours of others injured by shrapnel. Nigel said a meeting and tried to make a surprise that the bomb created a crater which bombing raid. They could not find was still there. I did check later and Chequers and attacked Ballinger 17 instead! The secrecy came because the Things have changed Government did not want the Germans Video meetings have become the to know how close they had come. So norm, reducing the need for travel and we can assume nothing was put into our life styles will change with less the official bombing records and any commuting and more home working. information is still hidden away in the This should be a healthier dusty archives of the War Office. alternative judging by the amount of runners and riders, walkers and gardeners that have been exercising and enjoying the environment during lockdown. HS2 seems even more ludicrous, far from being ‘more important than ever’ it should be cancelled now! Whilst we remain positive and count our blessings, and it’s sad to see so many summer events cancelled, our community spirit is the glue that keeps us together. Please contact me if I can VE Day 2020 over Hyde Heath raise your concerns with officers at County Hall. Please note my new email address: Patricia.Birchley@buckinghamshire. New broom gov.uk and my mobile: 07714 704017. By Patricia Birchley he start of the new council coinciding with coronavirus has SHORT-TERM T been challenging for staff, many of whom have volunteered at the RENTALS temporary hospital in the Olympic From £295 per week (all inclusive) Lodge freeing beds at Stoke Mandeville, producing PPE, finding Self-catering holiday homes for rough sleepers and distributing funding to companies or temporary accommodation furloughing their workforce. at Lee Common Thanks go to The Lee Parish Covid-19 volunteers, and other local Moving house? groups, who have met the needs of Completion dates don’t coincide? locked down residents and enabled House sale falls through? them to receive their prescriptions, Builders outstaying their welcome? shopping and maintained telephone contact. The Chesham Coronavirus Expecting Visitors? Fund has supported the Citizens’ Need extra accommodation?
Advice Bureau, Chesham Mind, food Self-contained Period Property: banks and Chiltern Music Therapy. sleeps four guests When the applications were considered I hoped they would benefit Tel: 01494 837798 people in every community. e-mail: [email protected] 18 sore throat, while Tommo completely Plague at the lost his sense of taste and smell (and was furious to discover, as those Fowlers senses slowly came back, that he By Holly Williams could no longer abide the taste of his beloved coffee). What we also all e came to Swan Bottom to had in common was that it took a be safe. Big mistake. Mere much longer time to get your energy hours after Tommo and I W back than after a normal bout of flu walked in the door – carefully waving or similar. at Ruth and Graham across the kitchen in case we’d brought the virus Beyond the horizon with us from London – she came Luckily, Swan Bottom is a lovely down with a fever. The rest of us place to recuperate. I began to followed within days; we were soon carefully time daily walks, to slowly sending friends and family updates get my strength backup: just ten from ‘the plague house’. minutes, then twenty, then thirty… Looking back, now fully banks of daffodils and glimpses of recovered, we can recognise that we violets and primroses seemed to cheer were all extremely lucky really – but me on, while the sun shone obligingly. there were moments when it didn’t feel that way. One of the things Covid- 19 seems to do is fug up the brain (not a medical term), and it took a while for it dawn on Tommo and I, as we were crawling back towards normality after our own fevers, for just how long Ruth hadn’t been able to eat. I think it was on the twelfth day of her illness that I started to panic about it, but – speaking to medical professionals – it seemed as if as long as you were still able to breathe, you weren’t a cause for concern. Which was both reassuring and very unsettling – a sign of what different times we were living through. The most striking thing about all four of us having coronavirus (probably) at the same time was how differently it affected us – not only in the duration of the illness or the By the time I was up to full-blown severity, but in the variety of cross-country rambles, the Chiltern symptoms. If they did Covid bingo countryside was fluffing out into cards, we’d have a full house. We all glorious spring green. The household had fevers, but I alone had a ragingly got near-daily updates on encounters 19 with lambs, or the progress of the bluebell woods – and a week or so later it was wonderful to see Ruth recovered enough to slowly walk to them just as they reached their fullest flush. As someone who hardly knows the area, I was continually delighted by how well maintained all the footpaths were – it was so easy to strike out without a route in mind, to just follow Contemporary and classic Italian food prepared in our kitchens by our Italian signs and see where they took you. I chef Gennaro Grella with daily specials, grew up on a hillside in mid-Wales, including special allergen and dietary rather more wild and remote (what I requirement menu selection. would’ve given for a tube line to Private dining for up to 50 people and London!). But while the landscape parties also catered for with a garden here is different – gentler, flatter, at the back. prettier – it was such a tonic to once To make a reservation call again be able to walk straight out into 01494 863696, see our website: the countryside from my front door, originswinebar.co.uk or call in at especially after being ill and cooped 57 High Street, Great Missenden, up indoors. So thank you to everyone HP16 0AL who gives their time to keep those footpaths clear and available – it is noticed and appreciated! Getting out for walks was helpful Mervyn’s on a mental level, as well as a physical Carpet & Upholstery one. Even once Tommo and I were back to full health, there were still Cleaning Services worries to deal with over evaporating Independent carpet cleaning work, vanishing funding, and what specialist with over 30 years government support might be experience. available for freelancers. Blowin’ in the wind CARPETS. UPHOLSTERY. Future plans and dreams seemed to RUGS. HARD FLOOR. be flying apart like dandelion clocks in CARPET PROTECTION. FULLY INSURED. a gust of wind. But being somewhere where you could escape the rolling Friendly and reliable service. news and anxiety of social media for Most work by recommendation. rolling landscapes and lungs of fresh Environmentally friendly air really did help enormously. cleaning materials. It was a reminder that, whatever For a no obligation quote ’phone this pandemic throws at us the world 01525 371724 or 07975 847027 keeps turning and the seasons keep Email: [email protected] changing. And this is a beautiful place from which to watch that change. 20 replacement or scrapping. Before The Lee Parish deciding on the best course of action, the Parish Council would be grateful to Council news receive any feedback from residents on its use/value. We know it is By Hayley Farrelly, Clerk occasionally used, but just how Co-opted Parish Councillor important is it to the community? e are pleased to announce Please email [email protected] the appointment of Marcus with any comments. W Dobbs of Oxford Street, Lee The basketball net remains Common, as a co-opted Parish available for use during lockdown by Councillor. Marcus will now serve on members of the same household or by the Parish Council alongside the other no more than two people from six councillors until the local elections different households, provided they in May 2021. observe social distancing rules. The children’s playground Telecoms update Whilst open spaces are available to Most residents served by the Lee the public to take exercise during Common telephone exchange have had lockdown, the Government has the option of ‘Superfast Broadband’ highlighted the continued risk of virus for more than a year, using telephone spread through children playing in lines connected via one of the local close proximity and touching shared Telecoms Cabinets – ‘Fibre to the surfaces. Therefore, the Oxford Street Cabinet’ (FTTC). Typically, speeds of children’s playground, at the time of between 25 and 80 Mbps download are writing, remains ‘closed’. being achieved with FTTC, depending As it has not been possible for the on the distance from the premises to Parish Council to seal-off the play the cabinet. equipment, residents are asked to respect this decision and to supervise their children’s play. Cyclists – take note! There have been an unusual number of reports during lockdown of cyclists on footpaths, who, when confronted by residents, have been belligerent and, in some cases, abusive. It is not clear whether some or any of these cyclists are likely to be reading this Newsletter, but everyone is reminded that cycling on footpaths However, as the figure above is not permitted in any circumstances. shows, this system works much less Basketball net well for premises located some The basketball net situated distance from a cabinet (e.g. more than adjacent to the tennis courts near the a kilometre away at Lee Gate, Kings Parish Hall is reaching the point where Ash, Arrewig Lane). For these areas it needs significant maintenance, ‘Fibre to the Premises’ (FTTP), 21 capable of delivering up to 330 Mbps, about FTTP but may be asked to is being introduced (or considered). contribute towards the cost of Subject to the restrictions placed installation, which can be significant. on telecoms workers during the Community Fibre Coronavirus crisis, the latest situation (mid-May) appears to be as follows: FTTP enabled (but implementations paused due to Coronavirus) • Kings Ash (most of HP16 9NP) • Lee Gate (HP16 9NR/9NW) • Swan Bottom, near the cross-roads (HP16 9NH and 9NN only) • Kings Lane (HP22 6PT) • Swan Lane (most of HP16 9NU); If a number of residents and (HP23 6NS) businesses in the community want • Kiln Hill (HP16 9NX) faster broadband, BT have an initiative Exploring Solutions for FTTP for communities to access and pool • Arrewig Lane (HP5 2UA) funding together and use this to You can check the latest situation approach a supplier directly to request for your property at a bespoke solution. www.openreach.com/fibre-broadband More information can be found at or www.connectedcounties.org. www.communityfibre.bt.com/ and there Maybe someday If you wish to take advantage of FTTP, you will need to approach one of the internet service providers (BT, Pippa Hart Sky, Zen, etc.) who will then contract with Openreach to carry out Photography installation work at your premises (delayed at the moment because of Coronavirus). Other premises Residents served by the Lee Common exchange and living outside of the areas listed above may enquire
Mike Lake Friendly & Local Painter & Decorator For that professional touch Natural & Informal Interior & Exterior Black &White Also Property Maintenance Portraits For a free quotation please call: 01494 866873 / 07723 017005 01494 837340 [email protected] www.pippahart.com 22 are other network providers who also might be able to help, listed at: Lee Common www.connectedcounties.org/#providers. Another road closure… School We have received notice from By Alison Whittal, Buckinghamshire Council that Oxford Interim Headteacher Street will be closed to through traffic, his last term has been crazy in due to roadworks in connection with anyone’s world but for schools Openreach, from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm it has been particularly unusual. on 8th to 12th June. Emergency T With many schools like ghost towns or vehicles will have access through the only open for children of key workers, closure; buses will not. If we receive and parents turning their living rooms any further information nearer the date into schools, it has certainly been of closure, we will post notices to The massive change for all concerned. Lee Forum. Here at Lee Common School we And finally… have been so proud of how everyone – A reminder that the RSPB staff, pupils and parents – have recommends not cutting domestic stepped up to the challenge. hedges and trees between March and August, as this is the main breeding season for nesting birds. When the deal goes down here are different ways to bid this hand. At our table, N-S T ended up in 4 NT (don’t ask) and made it plus one. A better bidding sequence would be a ‘splinter bid’ of 4♦ by N, to show the void, followed by 5♦ (Roman Key Card), to show the K♠.
E S W N p 1♠ p 4♦ p 4NT p 5♦ p 6♠ p p I believe in you p Teachers have worked so hard at home to prepare exciting lessons for South makes a small slam, losing just the children, and have also undertaken the one ♣ trick. a huge amount of self-study, whilst the parents and pupils have really 23 impressed us with their exciting and often innovative home schooling. Summer days Pilates It’s been a difficult time for all but this sunny weather has certainly @HOME helped and a lot of wonderful outdoor learning has been going on. ’FLEXIBLE TO THE CORE’ As we begin to plan for a return to school we would like to remind our 1 to 1 Pilates… in the comfort and wonderful village newsletter readers that, as a community school, we convenience of your own home welcome the involvement of local residents and always like to hear your views and thoughts. Mat Pilates for all abilities Right now we would welcome that Improves posture, flexibility, you speak to others about our little core strength, muscle tone gem of a school as we still have some and sports performance remaining places for our Larks Nursery and Reception 2020-21 class. Individuals [or small groups of up to 4] Please do spread the word and ask people to contact the school if they would like more information: Qualified Mat Pilates instructor for [email protected]. Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Levels
Unitary-Lee 1: “In ten sessions you will feel the difference, in 20 you will see the difference and in 30 Planning you will have a whole new body” … Joseph Pilates By The Lee Parish Cllr Colin Sully ince 1st April 2020, the county of Buckinghamshire (excluding If you are interested or require further Milton Keynes) has been information please contact: S governed by a new Unitary Authority Karen on 07790 081670 – Buckinghamshire Council (BC).
This council now performs all of the roles and functions previously carried out by the Buckinghamshire County Council (BCC) and the four District Councils – in our case Chiltern District Council (CDC).
The times they are a-changin’ Some of the changes are quite subtle. Indeed, for most services Email: delivered to most people residents will [email protected] have seen little change. www.karensabsolutepilates.co.uk In this first of a new series of articles, we examine how the 24 reorganisation manifests itself in the which sets out its policies to meet services provided to residents in The housing and development needs in the Lee. We start by looking at ‘Planning’. area through to 2036. By March 2020, Development Control this Plan had reached the stage of Planning Committees continue to being reviewed by the independent be responsible for Development Planning Inspector appointed by the Control and Planning matters. Their Secretary of State. role is to determine planning The Inspector has now written to applications and regulate the BC saying that he is considering development or use of land. recommending rejection of the Plan, Buckinghamshire Council has five on the basis that the council has failed Area Planning Committees, together to comply with the ‘Duty To with a Strategic Sites Committee. The Cooperate’, specifically in respect of latter deals with wider strategic the unmet housing needs in Slough. development, sites which have a He will not reach a conclusion on this significant impact beyond the specific matter until BC has had the local area and sites fundamental to the opportunity to consider his findings, implementation of an adopted or however he says “there is a strong emerging Local Plan. likelihood that the only option will be for the Council to withdraw the Plan”. We now live in ‘East Bucks’ Whatever the decision, there is The five local Area Planning also the job of integrating this Local Committees – in our case ‘East Plan with that of the other three Buckinghamshire Area Planning planning areas in Buckinghamshire. Committee’ – determine smaller scale This story will run and run! applications within their respective In the next in this series, we look at areas. As before, each application is ‘Community Boards’ and ‘Council determined on its merits, taking account Access Points’. of current legislation and planning policies. Many planning applications are delegated to be determined by planning officers – a smaller number come to the Forum Freda Planning Committees. orum Freda’s postbag is still The East Buckinghamshire quite full. All the items from the Planning Committee will continue to F postbag are now online at meet at Amersham (or online); the www.thelee.org.uk/common-problems, next meetings are scheduled for 2nd and can be found by searching in and 30th June starting at 6:30 pm. Google for “The Lee Common Full details of the agendas are Problems”. Here’s a recent selection. available before the meetings at https:// Dear Forum Freda, I can’t find the buckinghamshire.moderngov.co.uk/ forum, what’s the best way to access it? ieListMeetings.aspx?CommitteeId=362 Dear User, There are a few ways to The ‘Local Plan’ access the forum: • From the village website at You may recall that South Bucks www.thelee.org.uk, the forum is and Chiltern DCs (now South and East the last menu entry Buckinghamshire) spent some time • Google is your friend: search for preparing a draft new Local Plan “The Lee forum 2020” (please note 25 that other search engines may not properly, and need to be pasted into return identical results) your browser. • Type the forum’s URL of https:// Numbers www.thelee.org.uk/the-lee-forum- • Over 520 people have now 2020 into your browser’s address bar registered with the forum, of whom Once you’ve found the forum’s page, 270+ (52%) are resident in the it may be helpful to bookmark it or parish (which has approximately add it to your Favourites ready for 280 households) your next visit. • 61% have set subscriptions, which Trouble means we send over 300 emails for Dear Forum Freda, I’ve tried new topics and approximately 200 requesting a password reset, but for each reply – all within seconds. always get an error when I click the If you are still struggling with link in the reset email I receive. Help! completing your registration or Dear User, There could be a number subscriptions then please email of reasons for this:
MARTIN THE MILKMAN Refrigerated delivery of fresh milk, dairy produce, bread, eggs, fruit juices and more. To place an order call 01442 833944 PHONES MANNED 4 PM – 6 PM ANSWERPHONE AT OTHER TIMES 26 Play tennis One hour sessions can be booked at a cost of £6 by contacting Pippa Hart by phone or (ideally) WhatsApp on The fastest way to let everyone in the 07785 323232 for bookings, payment Parish know about an event you are and the padlock combination. Please: arranging is to publish it right here in • restrict play to a maximum of four the Newsletter. Contact the Editor by th people from one household or two the 12 of the previous month (see people from different households contact details on page 1). • take kitchen roll with you to wipe down the padlock, gate handles and net handles using the provided spray June • place all rubbish in the on-court bin Stay alert • do not use or put belongings on Keep up your daily exercise the bench • use your own (marked) balls if playing singles with someone Control the virus outside your household Mow the grass, but not too short • maintain social distancing rules at all times – particularly when Save lives entering and leaving the court Don’t cut your hedges, the birds are nesting My back pages Read again the online ‘Covid Special’ edition of the May Newsletter at www.thelee.org.uk/May2020 Coming soon • Tests for antibodies Great Missenden • Track and trace • Packs of Covid-19 detection sniffer Supported Living dogs roaming the country A warm, friendly, house for the • An aeroplane in the sky elderly, in the picturesque centre of the village. Come and take a look to see for Directory of yourself and have a chat with Carol Lauder-Ross (Manager) local contacts Tel: 01494 865026 Ballinger Horticultural Society or email for a brochure Chairperson: Katherine Hersee [email protected] 07801 948650 Find out more on our website [email protected] Membership Secretary: www.abbeyfield.com [email protected] 27 Ballinger War Memorial Hall Bookings: Jane Ogden, 837379 The Newsletter Ballinger Evening WI he Lee Newsletter is published 10 Contact: Frankie Little, 837659 [email protected] times a year and distributed free to Lee Common C of E School T all households in the parish… and School office, 837267 a little beyond. The views expressed in it [email protected] are not necessarily those of the Editor. Lee Common Methodist Church We welcome letters and articles of Marian Tomkins, 837479 interest and relevance to The Lee. Lee Common Scouts Copy should be sent to the Editor of Scout Leader Thomas Brockett: the month (see page 1) by the 12th of 837294 or [email protected] the month before publication. Shop at The Lee Letters should ideally run to no more Symeon Economou, 837195 than 200 words and articles to no more [email protected] than 700 words; material may be edited St John the Baptist Church and may appear on the village website See centre pages. www.thelee.org.uk unless consent is St Mary’s Ballinger specifically withheld. Anonymous Contact: Anne Ellis, 837247 contributions are not accepted. [email protected] To advertise or place an insert, Tennis Court @ Parish Hall please contact Paul Apicella on 837377 Bookings: Judy Morgan 837787 by the 12th of the previous month. The Arts Society Ballinger If you have photographs for Chair, Lesley Wickham, 865480 publication please contact Jonathan [email protected] The Lee Cricket Club Batten on 837450 or email www.theleecc.org.uk [email protected]. Secretary, Mike Harris For queries regarding distribution 07788 345555 contact Barnaby Usborne on 837382. The Lee Flower Show Other members of the Editorial Chairman, Jonathan Batten, 837450 team: Peter Archer, Zoe Berkeley, The Lee Newsletter Ruth Fowler, Phil Harrison, Liz [email protected] Macann, Jen Ogley, Adam Speller and The Lee Old Church Trust Colin Sully. Secretary: Pam Garner 837501 Printed by Orbit Press: 778053. The Lee Parish Council Clerk: Hayley Farrelly, 837068 [email protected] To book the Parish Hall www.thelee.org.uk/pc or Scout Hut Allotments: Alison Weir, 837529 ’phone Anne Barnett on 837796 The Lee Parish Hall Committee Bookings: Anne Barnett, 837796 Rates 9 am - 1 pm 6 pm - Chairman: Tony Lea, 837237 2 pm - 6 pm midnight The LeeWay Mon - Fri £30 or £10/hr £45 or £10/hr Contact: 07845 029500 Sat/Sun £12/hr £70 Vocal Lees (village choir) Bank Holiday £12/hr £70 Car park only £10 Jeannette Batten, 837450 Crockery/cutlery £15 (hire outside the hall) Sales & Lettings 64 High Street Great Missenden Buckinghamshire HP16 0AN Tel: 01494 890990 email: [email protected] www.jeremyswan.co.uk