OCTOBER 2020

STEWKLEY RESIDENT RAISES £100,000 FOR MAcMILLAN cANcER cARE Fiona Phimester’s fundraising story started over 10 years ago but it really started to grow momentum in 2010 when the High Street North resident decided to hold a Bacon Butty Morning in her kitchen to support Macmillan Cancer Care. Macmillan cared for Fiona’s mum, who sadly lost her fight at the end of 2010, and inspired a true fundraising advocate with the amazing support they were able to offer. In the years that followed Fiona made the Bacon Butty Morning a little bit bigger and a little bit better each year. Supported by a ‘Green Army’ of friends and family, what started as a few sandwiches sold in her kitchen ended up as a four hour extravaganza in Cottesloe School canteen, with cake stalls, a raffle, the chance to win a bucket Fiona, centre, with her ‘Green Army’ of booze or a chocolate tree, face painting, craft stalls, all available after your bacon butty and cup of tea. 2020 arrived with Fiona being in touching distance of the fundraising milestone of £100,000, beyond her wildest dreams and expectations, and a fitting tribute on the tenth anniversary of her mum passing. Then Covid‐19 arrived and scuppered all her plans, or at least it tried to. However, the small matter of a global pandemic was not going to put Fiona off! The Macmillan Mighty Hike was cancelled, so the Green Army donned their shoes and did a sponsored walk of 22 miles around and Wing, in groups of six. With large gatherings banned the annual Curry Night (usually held in Wing Village Hall) was cancelled, so Fiona organised a Curry Take Away night with orders pre‐submitted and collection slots of five minutes allocated to individuals. As the summer drew to a close and it became apparent that there was not going to be the big bacon butty event, Fiona commenced her final push to break the magic £100,000. Two yoga events, at Ascot House, saw people enjoying some outside Yoga followed by a cream tea. Then on Saturday 5 September she organised a Pizza Take Away night, again with pre‐orders and social distancing being followed, not only was the feedback from those who ate the pizza positive but Fiona and her team pushed her fundraising to £101,261.55... an absolutely amazing figure. We are sure that this is not the end of Fiona’s fundraising adventure but think that she deserves a huge pat on the back for her grit, tenacity and amazing ability to take people on the journey with her... Nancy (her mum) would be proud.

Also in Grapevine: Fiona, left, ● p4 A Bletchley Park girl making another ● p7 Playground Finally Opens pizza in the ● p7 New Kit Sponsors for final push to Under 7’s and Under 9’s reach ● her target. p11-13 A Thankful Harvest

THE GRAPEVINE: NEXT ISSUE ON OR ABOUT 1 NOVEMBER 2020. DEADLINE FOR CONTRIBUTIONS & ADS: 15 OCTOBER 2020 Contact: [email protected] To advertise: email or call 242137. For editorial: email or call 240350. Page 2 Stewkley Grapevine October 2020 STEWKLEY WALKERS from Bridget Watson Since resuming group walks in August, we have enjoyed some great via Orchard Lane, Dunton Road and South Lane onto footpath 2 local walks and some further afield, mostly in glorious sunshine, so towards Littlecote. On this section of path, we shall left turn onto a thank you to all those who booked one or more walks. Six local walks permissive path which takes us to the Airport Spinney. We return to have been by organised for October, so we hope you find one you footpath 2 and continue to Littlecote, (possible coffee stop here), would like to go on. returning to Stewkley via North Farm on footpaths 33 and 1 to WALKS PROGRAMME FOR OCTOBER 2020 School Lane in High Street North and onto the Recreation Ground. Friday 2 October Woburn/Eversholt Circular – 5.5 miles Regret no dogs. NB No public toilets. Meet at Woburn Park Street free car park (MK17 9PX) at 10.00am. Leaders Peter and Neil. Phone Peter on 07710 795307 to book This is a gentle walk through the Woburn Estate to Eversholt and back. A little of this walk is on quiet roads. Regret no dogs as it’s deer STEWKLEY CHARITY LAND ANNUAL AWARDS rutting season. No stiles. NB No public toilets. Stewkley has two charities, the Poor Land Charity and the Town There are numerous places for refreshments in Woburn. Land Charity, which have been in existence for 200 years and more. Leaders: Thelma and George. Phone 07860 654325 to book The charities are administered by 13 trustees who rent out the land and use the income to make annual awards as set out in the Tuesday 6 October Aldbury/ Hill Circular ­ 5 miles Charities’ Governing Documents. Each December awards are made Meet at the Aldbury Recreation Ground car park, Stocks Road, to the church fabric fund, the school and to individual parishioners. Aldbury (HP23 5RU) at 10.00am. We will walk through the golf Last year the amount of the award to individuals was £12. course, into Aldbury Nowers then onto a stretch of the Ridgeway to Those eligible for awards are over 65s and widows, they must live in the parish and have been on the electoral role for at least 5 years. , circling back through fields and woodland to the car park. There are steady inclines and it gets a little steeper when we Should you think you qualify and haven’t received an award previously but would like to claim now, please contact the secretary get to Pitstone Hill. There are animals on some of the grassland so to the trustees, see below, before 1 November 2020. regret no dogs. The paths throughout are well defined and should If you have received an award in the past and you would now prefer not be too muddy. NB If walking/weather conditions are poor, this to forego it, likewise contact the secretary, thank you. walk can be shortened by about a mile. Secretary to the trustees: Leaders: Heather and Frank. Phone 01525 240335 or 07938 Mrs Jill Scott, 7 High Street North, Stewkley, LU7 0HJ 521252 to book Telephone: 240639. Email: [email protected] Tuesday 13 October /Wilstone Circular – 4.5 miles AND THE EARTH MOVED – AGAIN AND AGAIN! Park at Startops Car Park, Marsworth (HP23 4LJ) for 10.00 am. £1.50 As the Grapevine is preparing to go to press, on Tuesday 22 for three hours, have both cash and card, as machine can play up!! September, there have been four earthquakes! This circular walk is via fields to Wilstone, then reservoirs and a It started on the morning of Tuesday 8 September when the village disused arm of the canal and back to car park. Mostly flat. Facebook page lit up with posts of houses shaking scarily, windows No stiles. The walk takes about 2 hours. Regret no dogs. NB No rattling and loud noises. Confirmation came quickly that the area public toilets. had just experienced an earthquake. Initially, reports of both the epicentre and the strength varied, Leader: Maureen 01525 381369 answerphone. Please leave your including when Trish Higgins consulted the earthquake app, which phone number if I am out. at that time gave the epicentre as Pitstone with a magnitude of 3.9. Thursday 15 October Circular – 4.5 miles But according to the British Geological Survey (BGS), the tremor had a magnitude of 3.5 and was centred in . While Meet at the Recreation ground, Drayton Parslow (MK17 OJT) at on a global scale this is very small, it is significant for the UK. 10.00am. This is a circular walk on bridleways and footpaths, (with Then six days after the first, on Monday 14 September, there was a a little farm road). The route passes through arable and sheep fields second tremor, perhaps an aftershock. This second event was so regret no dogs. NB No public toilets. significantly smaller than the first, at magnitude 2.1, which was Leader: Anne. Phone 01296 720280 to book probably why it did not cause such consternation, though it could also have been because it happened at 20 minutes past midnight, Wednesday 21 October Whipsnade Circular – 4.5 miles when most people were sleeping. This is a repeat of the earlier August walk. Park at the Chilterns And, on Tuesday 22 September there have been a third and a fourth Gateway Centre on Dunstable Downs, Whipsnade Road, Dunstable, tremor, at 9.32am and 1.40pm. The BGS has these at 3.0 and 2.1 (LU6 2GY) where Alice and Bridget will meet you at 10.00 am. magnitude respectively. Car parking: Free for National Trust members/£3.50 for non‐ The coordinates for all the tremors are very close, starting just south of Golf Club and ending just below ; all members. The route will traverse fields and some wooded areas, have been at 10km deep. passing farms and via the Whipsnade Tree Cathedral, with wonderful As with the initial two quakes, the first event on the 22nd was views on the way back to Dunstable Downs. No stiles. Well‐behaved noticeable and posts on the Facebook page recorded feeling dogs on leads welcome. Toilet facilities. Cafe. shaking or hearing a loud bang, in Stewkley, Littlecote, Dunton and Leaders: Alice and Bridget. Phone Alice on 07905 759120 to book other villages in the area, whereas the smaller one in the afternoon went unnoticed. Tuesday 27 October Stewkley Circular – 4.5/5 miles At this time it is not known whether these are all aftershocks to the Meet at the Recreation Ground (LU7 0HW) at 10.00am. We shall walk initial 3.5 earthquake on the 8th. Nor are the causes clear. There is nothing in local geology to indicate that this will become an earthquake zone – one local resident suggested that it might be an email: [email protected] outcome of HS2 works! Stewkley Grapevine October 2020 Page 3

WHAT’S ON IN OCTOBER VILLAGE DIARY

BOOK CLUB OCTOBER Mon 5 Parish Council – via Zoom 7.30pm Monday 5 October Book Club – via Zoom, 8.30pm 8.30pm via Zoom Wed 7 Refuse: green tops, garden and food bins Please contact Greg on 240487 for information Wed 14 Refuse: blue tops and food bins Book to discuss: The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides Thu 15 Deadline for submissions to Grapevine (Book for September: Good Omens by Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett) Wed 21 Refuse: green tops, garden and food bins Wed 28 Refuse: blue tops and food bins STEWKLEY – A SAFE AND CARING COMMUNITY FOR ALL from Stewkley Parish Council ROYAL BRITISH LEGION AND REMEMBRANCE At the last meeting of Stewkley Parish Council, a parishioner talked SUNDAY IN STEWKLEY to the council about their thoughts on equality, and in particular from Steve Nicholl, Chairman Stewkley and District RBL the messaging of Black Lives Matter. This conversation caused the Council to pause and reflect on its own position and how that When I wrote in mid‐July for the August Grapevine, I was position is communicated. disappointed to announce that there would be no house‐to‐house All councillors are bound by their Code of Conduct, and a key collection for the Poppy Appeal this year. However, I was expecting passage in that Code states its members will promote equality by that we would be able to have at least one gathering of 30 people not discriminating unlawfully against any person, and by treating at the War Memorial for Remembrance Sunday. Under the people with respect, regardless of their race, religion, gender, restrictions that came in on the day that I write this (15 September sexual orientation or disability. This is our position and is based – Battle of Britain Day!) ‘social’ gatherings are limited to not more upon the Equality Act 20101 . than six people. The communication of that position is partially incorporated into It is not clear whether that limit will apply to Remembrance the vision statement created for Stewkley in its emerging Sunday. No doubt there will be debate at national level, to be Neighbourhood Plan. followed by ‘clarification’ in due course. However, an overriding issue may be whether Transport for is prepared We are a welcoming and forward­thinking community and this is a to issue a Temporary Traffic Management Order (Road Closures) central part of our vision for the future. There are many reasons this year. I hope that we will be able to have separate small parties people might wish to move to Stewkley from elsewhere, and these are to lay each of the wreaths that are normally laid on the War largely the same reasons that make villagers so determined to Memorial, without interaction between them. I will hope to put preserve and protect the character of the village. more detail in the November Grapevine! The vision statement goes on to recognises that Stewkley will grow In the meantime, we hope to have our Annual General Meeting on‐ in population and diversity and aspires to a belief that the village line on 21 October. If you would be interested in joining the will retain its key values including that of a caring and safe meeting, please email me at [email protected] and, in due community. course, I will send a Zoom link. A caring and safe community treats all people with respect. Finally, can I just reiterate that (we hope) Poppies will be available Stewkley Parish Council encourages all parishioners to work at supermarkets and perhaps some banks. Please donate together to fulfil this vision and to make Stewkley a safe and caring generously as the needs of ex‐service personnel have only been community for all. increased by the effect of Covid. Finally, in a last minute change – Any parishioner who feels they have been the target of a hate after the Grapevine deadline – we may after all be allowed to make incident or hate crime should report it immediately to 111. Hate Poppies available via donation boxes in pubs, the shop and perhaps incidents are incidents where the victim thinks it was motivated Golf Club. by hostility or prejudice based upon disability, race, religion, transgender identity or sexual orientation. A hate crime occurs LOOKING FOR A VOLUNTEER ROLE TO where the act was carried out because of hostility or prejudice COMPLETE YOUR DUKE OF EDINBURGH AWARD? based upon disability, race, religion, transgender identity or sexual If so, Stewkley Football Club requires your help on Saturday 2 orientation . mornings, 8.30‐9.30am, at the pavilion. 1 . https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/contents The role involves preparing the kitchen in readiness for the 2. https://www.cps.gov.uk/crime‐info/hate‐crime volunteers to serve refreshments. Covid guidelines will be followed with gloves, facemask and hand STEWKLEY WI from Sheila Fellowes gel provided. Serving will be done through the hatch so there will be a steady flow of air. We had hoped to restart meeting in October, but the latest guidelines have stopped that. The Village Hall is open and we have We can accommodate either three or six months, provided you are done a Risk Assessment, so are ready to go as soon as we can. We available to start as soon as possible. will make it as safe as possible and hope it will be soon. Please contact Millie Boyd 07765 220378 [email protected] Email your articles and pictures to the Grapevine email address: [email protected]. Find the latest issue online at www.stewkleygrapevine.co.uk Page 4 Stewkley Grapevine October 2020 A BLETCHLEY PARK GIRL 1941-45…NANCY PINCKARD (NEÉ SMITH) High Street North’s Mrs Nancy Pinckard has rarely talked about her work at Bletchley Park during the Second World War. Why should she have The mansion at Bletchley Park done? After all, she had been bound for so long by signing the Official Secrets’ Act. Bletchley Park was the wartime home of the British Government Code and Cypher School, in other words, it was the home of British codebreaking in World War II. Nancy had enjoyed watching the television coverage of VJ Day in August, and as she told the Grapevine: “I thought time was moving on”, and so felt moved to now share some of her memories with the Grapevine readership. During World War II, the Government Code and Cypher School (GC & CS), now known by its more familiar modern name of Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) in Cheltenham, was based at Bletchley Park. It grew from a small team of specialists to a vast intelligence factory of thousands of dedicated women and men. The extraordinary combination of brilliant and determined people and cutting‐edge technology contributed significantly to Allied victory in 1945. In poor accommodation and tough conditions in cold, wooden huts, they provided vital intelligence and developed pioneering technological innovation that had a direct and profound influence on the outcome of the war. Nancy went on to tell the Grapevine: “I was aged 18 when I started at Bletchley Park in 1941. I was terrified on my first day. Most of the other Hut 8 at Bletchley Park people reporting for duty were bank managers, Wrens, military officers and titled people, such as lady something or other. “I was in Hut 8, Admiralty section. (Editor: Hut 8 was originally where the German naval Enigma code was first broken and housed the office of brilliant Cambridge mathematician Alan Turing OBE FRS.) “Our shifts varied, sometimes 9am to 4pm, then home, and back again to work at 12 midnight. “Transports called ‘brakes’ picked you up at your door, and in the ‘brake’ you booked the shift you were on, and then they came to pick you up.” This was the means by which Nancy commuted from her Stewkley home to the secret world of codebreaking, just seven miles away at Bletchley Park. She continues: “Our hut was by the lake in front of the mansion and The codebreakers at Bletchley Park sometimes in the early morning, someone would take me rowing on the lake. At breaktime, we would go for a coffee in the mansion. I made lots of friends, going to stay at their homes during leave breaks, including to Oxford, and they came to visit me in Stewkley. There were people from all over the country at Bletchley Park, one girl was from Portsmouth, billeted on a local family, and she was very homesick…but there was a war on, so you got on with it. “The VJ Day programme brought home to me the names of places in Japan such as Nagasaki and Hiroshima. We were de‐coding from Japanese, the names of lots of places I remember. “My late cousin Betty Faulkner was in a different hut to me and we sometimes met up for lunch in the canteen if we were on the same shift.” Not until 2009 did the British Government get round to honouring the secret work of the people who worked at Bletchley Park and other outlying intelligence stations. A commemorative certificate of gratitude and a medal/brooch were awarded. Bletchley Park was not Nancy Pinckard’s only brush with the war. She went on to tell us: “My late husband Douglas was in the RAF flying in Lancaster bombers. He was awarded the DFM (Distinguished Flying Nancy Pinckard’s Medal) and I accompanied him to Bletchley Park Palace Certificate and A wartime RAF social event at Wing Aerodrome with Nancy for his investiture by Commemorative standing second from left and husband Douglas behind her. the King.” Brooch. Stewkley Grapevine October 2020 Page 5 JOSE CORNISH RETIRES FROM THE GRAPEVINE TEAM Dean Road’s Jose Cornish retired last month after 26 years on the Grapevine team. To mark the occasion, and by way of thanks from the Grapevine, a presentation of a beautiful hydrangea and pot was made to her at her Dean Farm home by Diana Sheldon, who alongside Jose, is one of the remaining Stewkley residents in the original 1994 Grapevine editorial team. On a beautiful early September morning in the peaceful solitude of Dean Farm, Jose talked to the Grapevine of her memories on the team. About her recruitment, she revealed how she got the job instead of husband John, “Norman (Editor: Stewkley Vicar, Rev Norman Cotton, together with Methodist Minister, Rev Jonathan Hustler, were leaders of the Grapevine launch) phoned John to ask him to represent the Village Hall at a meeting of the new, upcoming newsletter committee. However on the day of the first meeting, John got stuck in traffic on the motorway and so I went along to the meeting in the Chapel Schoolroom in his place…needless to say, getting the job intended for John.” From the outset Jose offered to deliver the newsletter which was eventually to become today’s Grapevine. Her early round was some 80 homes in Dean and Bletchley Roads and High Street North as far as Fountains. She explained that some outlying farms and homes complained that they weren’t getting a delivery. She swapped some of her round with the late Clarice Wheeler, and began her current round of delivering to some 35 outlying farms Diana Sheldon, left, presents the ‘thank you’ and homes around Stewkley, and even to a couple of people in from Grapevine to Jose Cornish. nearby villages with Stewkley associations. She also covered about 30 homes at the Dean Road end of the village. Jose has been helped in recent years by daughter Jilly and granddaughter Lucy, who would jump out of the car to deliver with Jose at the wheel. Jilly is to continue with some of Jose’s deliveries to outlying homes. Jose signed off by recalling, “It was always a pleasure to know of villagers who looked forward to my Grapevine delivery dropping on their doormat. I still deliver a copy to Maureen Cotton, the late Rev Norman Cotton’s widow, in Steeple .” Happy Retirement Jose, and thank you from the Grapevine team and all your customers! WESTERN POWER SPARKS INTO ACTION HAVE YOU SEEN MANGO? Following at least five electrical power outages over a few days Dove Street at the beginning of September, the Grapevine contacted Western resident Kelly Power to ask what was going on. The Western Power team agreed Wessels would be to report back after investigating and true to its word, unlike so really grateful to many other service providers, Western Power manager, Steve hear from anyone Borondy, called back within 48 hours with a service update. who has seen her He told the Grapevine that temporarily Stewkley’s 11,000 volt young son’s much electricity supply, which normally flows from the Bletchley loved and missed direction, had been reversed to come from Wing. Engineers had cat Mango. ‘flown the lines’ by helicopter and they had also been in the field. Mango is eight They had spotted an acrobatic squirrel which had ‘toasted’ itself months old; a on the conductors and a large ‘buzzard‐like’ bird which had met tortoiseshell with its end in similar fashion. Steve did not believe these were the long hair, white culprits but was more of the view that a transformer, which had underbelly and a suffered a lightning strike near the premises of Bletchley Turf, bushy tail. She is had been damaged but was still limping along. This would be microchipped and replaced, along with a blown insulator on a conductor in the spayed and, when village. He hoped one of these would prove to be the cause of the last seen in their short, but irritating, power cuts which caused clocks, routers, garden on microwaves, etc to have to be reset in village homes. Tuesday 28 July, Apologising for the disruption, Steve promised to let us know Mango was when all was finally resolved and asked for help from villagers wearing a grey on any future problems. Apparently one of the biggest headaches leather collar, which Western Power has in rural areas, is when local with her name as landowners allow their trees to grow into overhead conductors well as owner which, as Steve put it, ‘then tickle the wires together’ and cause Kelly’s phone power outages. number on. Consumers can report a power cut to Western Power on 0800 Please check your sheds, outbuildings, garages, greenhouses, etc and 6783 105 or on line at https://www.westernpower.co.uk/power‐ contact Kelly on 0793 400 4545 if you have any news. Kelly is offering cut‐information/report‐a‐power‐cut/ a reward for Mango’s safe return. Page 6 Stewkley Grapevine October 2020 DOWN MEMORY LANE Continuing our series looking at Stewkley past and present High Street North Towards the War Memorial That is certainly quite true in the case of the modern image, however as can be seen, the old photograph pre‐dates the erection of the War Memorial in 1922. Reaffirming Stewkley’s vernacular character, the 17th‐century Grade II Listed thatched property, on the immediate right, traded as Hedges’ grocery shop. Today it’s the Scott home at No 7 High Street North. Granny Hedges would not have been pleased that the early cameraman was distracting her potential customers. Gable‐end on to the High Street, Maytree Cottage, where Reuben Bodsworth carried out a saddlery business, can be seen peeking out from the right on both images. First on the left, an early site of a Post Office in Stewkley can be seen. The Post Office moved to the shop at No 10 High Street North sometime between 1864 and 1871 from temporary premises in the King’s Head pub across the High Street. First listed in Kelly’s Directory in 1864, the family names of Stonhill, Dickins and Wheeler dominate the Stewkley postmaster job over the years. The Post Office closed at No 10 in 1964, later becoming a haberdashery shop, and now a private home. Next door at No 8 stands the elegant double‐fronted town house known as The Vines, built in 1831. The bay‐windowed property at No 6, on the end of the left‐hand row, was The Bull and Butcher pub, known locally as The Bull, with its coach entrance through to the rear. Closed as a pub in 1963, it became the village FROM THE GRAPEVINE 10 YEARS library and doctors’ surgery until 2006. Today it is a private residence. AGO… From October 2010, local farmer John Heady reported higher cereal prices benefitting arable farmers… Eleanor Corkett qualified her pony Rignell Brora for the Horse of the Year Show at the NEC, Birmingham…Stewkley Players’ November production would be Black Coffee by Agatha Christie…the Parish Council reported that the former Stewkley Library building had been sold by Bucks CC to a private buyer…the PC again notified Bucks Highways of the urgent need to repair dangerous potholes in Dean Road (nothing new there then)…the village mourned the passing of Maurice Palmer and Jackie © Fussey…and Chris Collins and Kris Pratt were the men’s and women’s singles champions in the Tennis Club annual tournament.

FROM THE GRAPEVINE 20 YEARS AGO… From October 2000, AVDC carried out a consultation to extend the Stewkley Conservation Area to include the moated earthworks at Tythe House and a further area of High Street North…Rev Arthur Cowburn arrived as the new Methodist Minister…Coleen Burnett protested at the mindless vandalism to the topiary peacock in her High Street garden hedge…a 250 villager campaign was under way to save the ‘North End’ postie, Malcolm Paterson being transferred by the Royal Mail to another village…Jean Spier announced the new term of Scottish Country Dancing sessions in the © Methodist Hall…and 2nd Stewkley Brownies were seeking an assistant © Images used in Grapevine are produced with the permission of the persons supplying them, are Brown Owl. copyrighted to them and may not be reproduced. We are not able to supply copies. Stewkley Grapevine October 2020 Page 7 PLAYGROUND FINALLY OPENS UNDER 7’S FOOTBALL TEAM NEW KIT SPONSOR On 22 September after fitting the final pieces of the playground in Stewkley FC has a new U7s football team that will have its first place on The Rec and carrying out safety checks, the fences came league fixture on 26 September. The squad has been training down, the grass was mown and after months of waiting the together for 18 months and is very excited to be finally playing playground was opened in time for after school. matches against other clubs. The U7s have also teamed up with the new owners of The Swan who will be their shirt sponsors for the season. A massive thanks to Elaine and all the new management at The Swan for their support. The club is also looking to add a second team into the league at under‐seven level but need a few more players. If you know any six‐year‐olds (year 2) who are keen on football then we train at the Rec on Wednesdays at 6pm. Please contact Matt Day on 07525819763 for more details.

Main instigator Janette Eustace has first go on the new play equipment

FREE PRESS COUNTS COST OF ANARCHY Stewkley residents were without their morning papers for a few hours on the morning of Saturday 5 September when Extinction Rebellion (XR) activists blocked access to three printing presses owned by Rupert Murdoch, including at Broxbourne in Hertfordshire. Chris and Helen Smith, (pictured) who deliver papers locally, told the Grapevine that they were up at 4am as normal for a Saturday Back row l to r: Henry Smith, Jack Lee, Eddie Hill, Zed Day, Josh Bramford but then had Front row l to r: Edward Stacey, Percy Lovell, Rosie Taylor, to hang Tom Clark, Edward Towse around for four hours UNDER 9’S FOOTBALL TEAM NEW KIT SPONSOR until their Also showing off their new kit are the Stewkley Under 9’s (pictured papers got below) which is sponsored by Stewkley business, Charles Hill through and Garden Services Ltd. they could start sorting So far the team has played in five pre‐season friendlies, winning 2, and drawing 1 and losing 2. delivering to The team’s league matches were due to start on 19 September but their own as the first match was cancelled a friendly with U9’s was customers. played which, Stewkley won with goals from Alfie Smith, Finn Even then, Duthie, Harry Short and Kian Humphries. they were without the Telegraph, which was caught up in the delays even though it is not owned by Murdoch. The Smiths’ paper girl also had a disturbed morning and had to be sent home before returning eventually to do her rounds. But like the US Postal Service creed, “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds". XR has accused the newspapers of "failure to report on the climate and ecological emergency" and "polluting national debate" on dozens of social issues. XR was founded in 2018 and describes itself as an international "non‐violent civil disobedience activist movement". It wants governments to declare a "climate and ecological emergency", for the UK to legally commit to reducing carbon emissions to net zero by 2025, and for a citizens' assembly to "oversee the changes". XR’s blockade of the printing works was heavily criticised by politicians as an attack on democracy. Newsprinters condemned the impact on workers doing their jobs and on newsagents who Back row l to r: Dan Smith (manager), Phil Duthie (Manager) would have been financially penalised. XR and their supporters Seb Fitzboydon, Harry Short, Finley Duthie, Sid Lovell, Harry Johnson, have previously been criticised for hypocrisy by demanding action Alfie Smith, Kian Humphries to save the environment while making use of major airlines, Front row: John Taylor, Jamie Scott, Jet Day, Seth Munnelly, and sponsors drinking from plastic bottles and littering. Charles and Amy Hill. Page 8 Stewkley Grapevine October 2020 PARISH COUNCIL MATTERS The following is extracted from the draft minutes provided by thanked her for her work as a Cllr. The proposal to co‐opt two new Stewkley Parish Council after its September meeting, by zoom. councillors was approved unanimously. Planning and Development: Buckinghamshire Councillor Ben Bulbs: It was agreed in principle to support a bulb‐planting Everitt summarised the planning reforms in the White Paper that proposal from St Michael’s School, subject to further discussions is currently out to consultation. The reforms aim to reduce on locations. A sum of £100 was agreed. complexity, avoid discretion, speed up decisions, be more Verges: Areas of verges that contain wildflowers will be left transparent and move to modern technology. Land will be split into unmown to encourage flowering. three zones: protected, renewal and growth. Applications in growth Speeding Traffic: A new site for the speed indicating devices has zones are to have a “presumption of approval”. Cllr Everitt urged been established outside the farm shop in Littlecote. Purchase of a Stewkley Parish Council (SPC) to engage with the consultation to further device is under consideration as is the investigation to ensure that local consultation becomes a part of the planning reinstall warning lights for the school crossing near the Village Hall. process, particularly in green zones. He further pointed out that School children’s posters are being made to support the 20’s Plenty Bucks Council intends to have a greater emphasis on enforcement. trial. Bucks Cllr Raven offered support to SPC. Coronavirus volunteer scheme: The number of actions taken by Neighbourhood Plan: The NP Steering Group reported that the volunteers has dropped considerably, but volunteers were Stewkley’s Plan is first in the queue when Bucks Council moves on asked to carry on in case circumstances changed in the future. regulation 16 (invite representations during a public consultation on the submission version of a Neighbourhood Plan). Lighting: Streetlights in Fishweir and Walducks have been reported for repair, and a light in Dean Road was flashing Planning Applications: 1) Determination as to whether prior intermittently. Lighting renewal quotes have been sought but no approval is required for the conversion of agricultural barn into companies have offered to quote for the work. three dwelling houses at Upper Dean Farm, Dean Road (20/02099/COUAR). SPC decided to object for the following Wildlife Reserve: The notice board at the top end of Drovers Lane reasons. The barn and its curtilage sit outside of the framework of is in need of repair. the applicant’s existing residential curtilage. It is a detached farm Policing: Stewkley will, in future, be covered by the that is part of the rural environment and landscape. No explanation Neighbourhood team of based in Winslow has been provided for the necessity of this conversion. The land is and not Wing. Therefore, the PCSO and potentially police constable viable agricultural land and actively used. No alternative housing will have changed. No report was provided by the police for this for the agricultural equipment has been identified. The plans show meeting. no bathroom facilities and will be functionally inadequate for farm Miscellaneous: Regarding potholes in the Burial Ground carpark, workers. The hard‐standing area around the barn is inadequate for the Clerk will follow up repairs and obtain quotes for resurfacing. car parking and turning circles. Oak trees and grass cutting on private ground at Manor Drive was 2) Reserved matters application pursuant to outline planning raised as a concern. Ownership of the land is to be determined. permission 16/02551/AOP to provide 67 residential dwellings on Concerns were also raised about parking on Manor Drive. And it land off Soulbury Road and Dove Street (20/00823/ADP). Cllrs has been reported that Forge Farm Barn is being used for were disappointed that their objections raised in April did not mechanical work and car spraying. appear to have been addressed and their attempts to meet with the Date of next meeting: Monday 5 October, by zoom developers were unsuccessful. Cllrs therefore resolved to re‐state their previous objections, including intrusion on existing houses, 1ST STEWKLEY SCOUTS from Steve Wass five‐bedroom homes, and that the layout and location of houses does not fit within the character of such a large development in a It goes without saying, ‘what strange times’ we live in! Like village location. The Council will try again to contact the developer, everything else Scouts came to an abrupt halt as soon as the Dandara, to ask for a meeting to try and resolve the objections lockdown was announced, which was a great shame for everyone, above. especially as the leaders had planned a fun‐packed schedule for the year, which included various camps and other weekend activities. 3) Members of the public have reported recent excavation at Kiln Home Farm in an area not related to the planning application Ref. We have had to cancel all of our fundraising activities including the No: 19/01179/APP or 19/A01179/DIS. The Chairman will contact Elvis evening planned for December, which has already been the architect and landowner to clarify. booked for December next year. It is also looking unlikely that the Scouts annual firework display will take place. Finance: Submission of the Annual Governance and Accountability Return was noted, along with the dates for the Notice of Public We are hopeful that we will still be able to do the usual Christmas Rights (24 August to 5 October). tree collection, as long as the Government doesn’t cancel Christmas! The following payments were ratified: E.ON £321.70; Website H Audouard £99; Stewkley Enterprise Agency grass cutting £414.48; As far as Scout section meetings go, the leaders have been looking Stamps £16.92; Repayment for cable for toilet £81.98; Printer at the practicality of starting some meetings in the coming weeks. cartridge £26.99; HMRC £258; Staff costs £824.35. For the We not only have to comply with all of the Government legislation Recreation Ground: Churches Fire Safety £800.76. but also additional controls imposed by the National Scout Organisation. Each section leader will be in contact with parents Racism position: A member of the public spoke about the to let them know when things might resume. demography of the ethnicity in Stewkley and asked the PC to make its position on racism clear as a lead to the community, and plan We would like to thank everyone for the past support and we look what it will do to ensure a welcome to people of diverse ethnic forward to restarting as soon as practically possible. backgrounds who may be considering moving to Stewkley. Other ideas were discussed to start a conversation and raise awareness that would help identify institutionalised racism. Cllrs Grapevine deadline: 15th of month subsequently agreed to reiterate the section of the Code of Conduct email: [email protected] that all Cllrs accept on taking Public Office and will lead with statements from the Neighbourhood Plan on equality. Articles received after 15th cannot be included Two new Councillors: It was announced that Cllr Christine until the following month, unless previously agreed. Pragnell had stood down during August. The Chairman had Stewkley Grapevine October 2020 Page 9

Methodist Chapel St Michael’s Church Minister: Rev Donna Broadbent-Kelly Benefice Rector: Rev Howard Robson The Manse, Team Vicar: Vacant Church Wardens: High Street South Neil Dickens. Tel 240589 [email protected] Tel: 242253 Email: [email protected] Judy Walker Web: www.aylesburyvale.org.uk [email protected] Tel: 240444 SERVICE FOR OCTOBER and NOTICES SERVICE FOR OCTOBER and NOTICES 4 10.30am Rev Donna Broadbent Kelly 4 10am Holy Communion 18 10.30am Mr Paul Thomas 11 10am Family Friendly Service ► The Rev Donna Broadbent-Kelly is writing a weekly reflection. 18 10am Holy Communion ► On Sunday mornings at 10.30 am Rev Richard Atkinson, 25 10am Holy Communion Superintendent, is streaming a live service from Aylesbury. † Facebook Page – St Michaels Church, Stewkley is freely ► There is a daily thought for the day from one of the Circuit available Ministers. † Please contact Neil Dickens [email protected] to receive a ► All can be accessed on www.aylesburymethodists.org.uk copy of the Sunday pew sheet by email which has prayers ► If you would like to receive the weekly reflections or join the and readings from the Bible for the day. If you would like a ZOOM Bible Study please email Donna and she will arrange paper copy delivered please ring 01525 242253 for you to join in. † Annual Parochial Church Meeting – Wednesday 7 October at 7 pm in the Church (subject to Covid regulations) MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER MESSAGE FROM THE BENEFICE RECTOR Hello friends, I love Autumn! Hot chocolates, country walks and REV HOWARD ROBSON the crunching of leaves under foot. Autumn is also Hello Everyone, the time we celebrate the Harvest; a time to be We are drawing near to harvest time and each of thankful. the Team churches will be celebrating that. Harvest My husband is a little bit of a geek, and so loves is where we speak of all we have been given and gadgets. For my birthday he bought me an Alexa for the Christian that comes from God’s ordering of device for my office. If you don’t know what one of His Creation. those is they are small electrical devices that you In our modern 24/7 world, many feel we have lost talk to and they answer your questions, play requested music, keep your touch with the cycle of the seasons. Whilst that may shopping list and do a whole heap of other things. My family loves them well be true, my guess is that our forebears would but I’m not very keen. I find it strange talking to a machine! My husband see it as a small price to pay for no longer having to worry over whether and children find it very amusing that I say please and thank you to the the food stocks would last the winter. But that serves merely to ‘Alexa’! It’s just a machine they tell me. And of course, saying thank you emphasise how important it is to celebrate the harvest; celebrating is about showing appreciation to the person who has helped you and harvest is the corrective to remind us of our dependency on nature and Alexa has no feelings. But I think saying thank you is also about for the Christian, our dependency on God’s provision. God is not cultivating a spirit of thankfulness and gratitude in yourself too. somewhere above the clouds or confined to a theology of sterile It is so easy to take our lives for granted, the food on our table, the love control. Rather, God is in the world and we are partners with Him – a and support of family and friends, the roof over our heads, the clothes practical outworking of what it means for us to be made in God’s image. we wear. We live in a society that throws so many images at us about The fruit of the harvest calls us to reflect on the ‘fruit’ of our own life. In his letter to the Galatian Church, Paul calls this the fruit of the spirit. what we should have and what our lives should be, that tell us to want God works through his whole Creation which includes you and me and more rather than being thankful for what we have. So, I think it’s He throws out fruit. The big question is do we want to receive it? important to say thank you often and to nurture that spirit of There are many opportunities for the life of church and community to thankfulness. The thirteenth century German theologian and mystic mutually inform, uphold and yes, sometimes challenge one another Meister Eckhart said “if the only prayer you say in your entire life is and thus develop and grow. I hope that this harvest time we can reflect ‘thank you’ that would suffice”. that we are given so much and reflect also on the fruit of our own living. The Christian faith is about thankfulness: for the gift of our lives, for all that God has done and for God’s presence with us through the ups and With every blessing downs of life. Our worship is about thankfulness. But sometimes we Howard may feel like there is nothing to give thanks for because life can be very difficult. Perhaps we can give thanks for God’s faithfulness, for God’s promise that he is with us in our pain and hurt and anger as well as our The St Michael’s congregation enjoyed a socially happy times With thankfulness distanced Said Communion on Sunday 20 September Reverend Donna Page 10 Stewkley Grapevine October 2020 Nature Watch

Help for Hedgehogs Clean Feeders Essential for Bird Health Last month Nature Watch highlighted that hedgehogs are now Chris Bellamy has several bird feeders and baths outside her High classified as at risk of extinction. For this reason Trish Higgins was Street North home. These attract a variety of birds, including thrilled to find what she thought was hedgehog poo on her greenfinches. Recently Chris noticed that two of the greenfinches Haywood Park lawn. A post to the Facebook page confirmed this were showing symptoms of trichomonosis. was the case. Trichomonosis is a disease caused by a parasite. It has been Trish said, recorded in a number of garden bird species and is widely “There had acknowledged been trails in to have been a the morning cause in the dew so I was rapid decline of fairly sure that the British this was greenfinch hedgehog, population. unless it is The disease squirrel! I have affects the back always put of the throat, clean rain water and infected in a shallow dish but not owning cats any longer I had no cat food birds might handy. I thought the mealworms I have for our robin might suffice. have difficulty However a Facebook contact in the village urged me not to feed swallowing, or them these as they cause bone problems. laboured “So now I know, no milk, bread or mealworms, just meat cat food breathing; (not fish) and water for Mrs Tiggywinkle.” visible signs are lethargy, fluffed‐up feathers, and bits of food or Trish’s garden has hedges on all but one side, meaning that wet plumage around the beak (above). hedgehogs can move freely between gardens, which is vital for their Transmission of the disease is most likely through contaminated survival. Hugh Warwick, an ecologist and author of The Hedgehog food or water. For this reason it is essential that bird feeders and Book, has started an online petition calling for the Government to baths are cleaned regularly and fresh food and water provided. ensure that all new housing developments include ‘hedgehog Chris told Nature Watch, “There is no way of knowing whether the highways’, 13cm holes cut in garden fences. At the time of going to disease was contracted at my feeders or someone else’s. I have press the petition has just under 1,000,000 signatures. followed online advice to thoroughly clean and remove all feeders www.change.org/p/help‐save‐britain‐s‐hedgehogs‐with‐ and birdbaths for two weeks, and thought your column might be hedgehog‐highways an appropriate means of alerting other people.” Bats in the Belfry Sadly both the sick greenfinches were found dead in Chris’ garden. No, not in the belfry but in Blackberry Barn at Littlecote. Rachael www.gardenwildlifehealth.org gives clear guidance on how to Webb’s husband Doug noticed a large pile of droppings on the maintain bird feeders and baths. garage floor and was greeted with this sight when he looked up. Humming Bird Actually the humming bird hawk‐moth (macroglossum stellatarum), which migrates to the UK from Southern Europe each year and hovers like a humming bird over flowers, using its long proboscis (header and below) to feed on nectar. It is a day‐flying moth and flutters its wings so quickly that it makes an audible hum. This fabulous photo was captured by These are common pipistrelle bats (pipistrellus pipistrellus), the Rosemary smallest and most common of the UK’s bats. In fact it is so small it and Ian can fit in a matchbox, but is still capable of eating 3,000 insects a Carleton in night. The females form maternity colonies in the summer and have their Folding a single pup each. There is a large maternity colony in a Close neighbouring barn so maybe this small group was overspill. A few garden, days later they had gone, except for one in a plastic pot. Rachael whose decided that it was perhaps stuck in there so put the bucket on its afternoon’s work in the garden was rather unproductive as they side. Sure enough, 30 minutes later it had left. kept looking out for their visitor. Sources: Wildlife Trusts, British Trust for Ornithology Stewkley Grapevine October 2020 Page 11 Farm Watch By Richard Heady

It’s a relief to have finished harvest 2020, but it will go down as the Cover crops are quite a new farming practice for us, these are crops worst I have experienced, not just in grain quantity, but also in grain grown not to harvest, but quality. This is not just a local thing; due to nationwide weather to feed the soil life, protect events the the soil and improve its UK has had structure, hold onto its poorest residual nutrients left by harvest in 25 the previous crop, and years. An take in carbon from the example of atmosphere to store in the this is our soil. We plant them in the fields beside gap between harvest and the planting the following Hollingdon cereal crops (wheat, Road which barley and oats). I am are now really enjoying green with experimenting with these the growth of as the more diverse mix fallen oats, you grow the better, so in shed from some of our fields I am the oat planting a mix of six different seed types, and I am looking forward plants before to seeing them grow and how the wildlife thrives on them. we could harvest them. Wheat that would usually be destined for Farming is such a diverse career; this week alone I have been bread making, is now heading for animal feed due to two weeks of drilling (seed planting), topping (grass cutting/mulching), fixing a wet weather when we should have been harvesting it. The wet broken tractor, washing our solar panels, fixing the shed roof, encouraged a proportion of the grain to start growing whilst still checking our cattle and sheep, whilst others on the farm have been on the plant (header) and generally degrade the quality. Luckily muck‐spreading, cultivating, carting straw back from the fields, soil cattle, pigs and chickens are quite happy to eat this wheat, whereas sampling, etc. No two days are the same, and I love how the work no one wants stodgy bread that hasn’t risen. changes throughout the seasons. It has been a tough year and I do It is time to draw a line under this summer, I am now enjoying whinge and moan, but I love being a farmer. planting some cover crops and looking forward to this next farming To find out more, follow me on Facebook – headysfarm and year. @headysfarm on Twitter and Instagram. THANKFUL HARVEST The late summer sun shone on Stewkley for a ‘Thankful Harvest’ on the weekend of 19 and 20 September. The fun village event, which was the idea of Rev Donna Broadbent‐Kelly, drew entries from Dunton Road at one end of the village to the top end of High Street North as 12 individuals and 9 groups decorated their gardens and community spaces for villagers to walk around, guided by a map, and for anyone driving through the village to enjoy. The Methodist Chapel would usually have a themed display at this time of year, but were unable to do so due to the Covid‐19 restrictions.

Page 12 Stewkley Grapevine October 2020 Stewkley Grapevine October 2020 Page 13 Stewkley Grapevine October 2020 Page 14 WASH HANDS, COVER FACE, MAKE SPACE, DOWLOAD APP from The new NHS COVID‐19 app was released on 24 September and available to download at www.covid19.nhs.uk The app, which can be used anonymously, will help users identify whether they have been in close contact with other users who have tested positive for coronavirus. When a user visits a venue like a pub or restaurant, they ‘check in’ by scanning a QR code so their movements are tracked. The app also allows symptoms to be reported and a test to be booked. It is hoped that using this app will help reduce personal risk, and the overall risk to the public, by helping to track the virus more easily. When used anonymously not even the Government will know who, or where, a particular user is. It is designed to track the virus, not the user. AIRCRAFT CAN’T DO RIGHT FOR DOING WRONG CAT’S EYES & A QUIETER TIME UP NORTH END by John Flewin Several Stewkley residents reported a rude awakening just after 7am one August morning. It was a normal‐looking plane, heading Last month a road works team installed in a not‐unexpected direction at a perfectly reasonable altitude, but cat's eyes, the retro‐reflective safety it sounded a bit different from the usual lofty transients. devices used in the centre of busy roads, The Luton Airport website tracker as the final stage of the High Street North (https://travisltn.topsonic.aero/) revealed that the miscreant was resurfacing project. Not the kind of cat’s a Ryanair flight from Luton to Malaga, that should have been about eyes that we’ve been used to, those that 12 miles further south. The reason it sounded different was that it take on the appearance of a frog with was climbing, not descending as is usually the case with Luton‐ bulging eyes putting its head just above the road surface, rather a bound planes over Stewkley. smart new design looking more like an LED panel, hiding low. A member of the operations’ team at Luton ([email protected]) The whole project has been very welcome for those who live at the provided a partial explanation, but suggested that NATS (air traffic north end of High Street North and it was rather disappointing to control) be contacted for more information see so much negativity in the reporting of, and the correspondence ([email protected] ), who did indeed complete the on, the happenings in last month’s Grapevine. jigsaw. Complaints about the state of the road surface have been numerous for years – not because of bumpy rides, but because of the noise. Stewkley is a village surrounded by agricultural land, so farming traffic has to be expected. The pot‐holed road enhanced the noise of passing agricultural machinery, and that of other road users with rattling trailers and the such‐like, to such an extent that there was a continuous noisy invasion of life in homes and gardens, often at really unacceptable levels.

So what happened? The Ryanair pilot had rightly responded to NATS’ instructions to “vector” away from the usual “Compton” departure route (approximately west‐south‐west from Luton) when it was at 7,200ft, and had reached 14,500ft when over Stewkley. There were two reasons for these instructions: Hot work in High Street North 1. Government guidance to air traffic controllers prioritises carbon emissions instead of noise once a plane is above 7,000ft. A plane Six years ago there was word from the then Bucks County Council continuously climbing is more fuel and carbon‐efficient than that road re‐surfacing was “in the budget for next year.” Two years when flying level or gaining altitude in stepped increments. later, after High Street South was re‐surfaced, there was a similar 2. Controllers can vector planes away from proscribed routes for utterance. safety reasons, e.g. to avoid weather systems or other planes. In So the appearance in July of the giant machinery with associated this instance, a Heathrow arrival was some distance away but workforce, albeit without much warning, was welcome. might have come a bit close to the Ryanair departure had both planes maintained their original headings, so Ryanair was Real praise is due to that workforce, members of which worked instructed to change course. through some of the highest temperatures of the year and during the hottest parts of each day, all wearing their mandated helmets And what should have happened? and reflective cover‐all safety gear. The standard procedure for planes on the Compton route is to The last weeks in High Street North have proved much quieter, and remain low in order to avoid Heathrow arrivals by flying beneath that is what is so welcome. The smooth surface may mean that them. Had Ryanair kept low, safety would have been maintained. occasionally vehicles speed through a little more quickly but But NATS had, on this occasion, decided to prioritise reduced perhaps sometime there will be consideration of additional traffic‐ carbon emissions over standard procedure, so their hearts were in calming measures. the right place. For those who have yet to take the newly re‐surfaced ‘high road’ NATS concluded, “On review, we recognise that it would have been out of Stewkley towards , it will be equally welcome. The better in this instance to have levelled the [departure] off rather new surface stretches almost to Potash and smoothes out what was than seek to enable a continuous climb. We apologise for the one of the worst potholed stretches of open country road for miles disturbance this may have caused. We will be highlighting this to around. the team in the operation to avoid any similar situations.” Stewkley Grapevine October 2020 Page 15 SVCC from Bunt Scott THE ALTERNATIVE HARVEST Stewkley VCC did extremely well to get to the final of the Last Man August’s offering for the one mile stretch of Dunton Road from the Standing competition which has taken place weekly over the top of the hill to the Spinney yielded two black sacks, a car part and evenings of this summer. They lost to a very hard‐hitting Aylesbury a carefully collected plastic bag of household waste. Multiply that side but acquitted themselves well, with plenty of sixes. by the miles of verges in this country and the harvest of waste is indescribable. And in September, so it goes on, as two week’s worth on the same stretch yielded one sack plus a child’s mattress which was too difficult to garner for a walker who puts his life in peril as a pedestrian with many cars driving past too fast and too near. Do they slow down when disposing of their rubbish?

Back row: l to r Tom Hardings, Jack Reekes, Tom Carter, David Winsor (C), Tom Grace Front row: Jamie Hardings, Rory Scrivener, Kai Bailey

THE GRAPEVINE, STEWKLEY WEEKEND HELP WANTED The Stewkley Grapevine is published monthly, except for January. Copies FOR SENIOR COUPLE are distributed free of charge to all households (over 780) in Stewkley. Stewkley. 3 or 4 hours Saturday & Sunday mornings. Further copies are made available for visitors at various locations in the village. It is also available for download at www.stewkley.org Housework plus some help with getting ready for day.

Contact Bon on [email protected] Publication date: 1st of each month except January.

Deadline for advertisements: 15th of month prior to publication. HOME MAINTENANCE Advertising Copy: T.G.R ELECTRICAL By email to [email protected] or by hand to 111A High Street South. Stewkley based, Elecsa Approved Electrician. Sockets, lights etc.

Display Ad Format: Free quotes. Call: 240498 or Mobile: 07840 100501 Electronic advertisements should be supplied as .pdf, but we can also STEWKLEY DECORATING accept .doc or hi resolution .jpg files For best quality, images should be 300dpi. Quality work, Guaranteed, Fully Insured, Reliable, Trustworthy & All advertisements are printed in greyscale. Please check your ad is PDA Member. Instagram @stewkleydecs. [email protected] readable in monochrome. Pre-paid ads may be changed at no extra cost. www.StewkleyDecorating.com Call Stewart on 07981 226922 DAVE REID. FULLY QUALIFIED CARPENTER Classified Ad Guidelines: Generally one line header, plus up to 12 words of text, plus contact Kitchen & bathroom upgrades, staircase conversions, details. One line header plus 13- 24 words of text, plus contact details Replacement doors, general maintenance & small building work. for twice the price. 07939 146630 email: [email protected] (Soulbury) Advertising Rates: Stewkley Non-Stewkley JTS DECORATING SERVICE & PROPERTY MAINTENANCE For Sale (Max of 2 items) £5 £10 Classified £5 £10 Call John on 240372, mobile: 07809 113090, Classified highlighted £10 £20 Email: [email protected] Forthcoming events Free* Not available LEE’S GARDENING & LANDSCAPES (*Limited to Classified Allowance). All aspects of gardening, landscaping & general maintenance. Display, Eighth Page £15 £25 (w:93 x h:65mm landscape) Reliable & friendly service. Lee Southall - 07776 292824 Display, Quarter Page £25 £35 (w:93 x h:135mm portrait) Display, Half Page £35 £55 (w:192 x h:135mm landscape) SERVICES Ad Payment Terms: Payment in advance of first publication COUNTRY FRAME 3-5 issues 5% discount The complete picture framing service. From prints and posters to 6-10 issues 10% discount 11 issues (annual) 15% discount paintings and needlework. Tel: 240163 / 07771 508805 : Paul Monthly Standing Order on 12th of month. 10% Discount. Minimum period Body. Please call first. - 6 months. Cost of 11 Issues is spread over 12 months. HORSE RIDING LESSONS IN STEWKLEY Ad Payment Contact: From complete beginners to experienced riders. Adults and 01525 242137 or email: [email protected] children. Fully licensed/ insured. Call Sarah Gammon, Kilnholm Stables. 240529 or 07712 854034. Deadline for Ads for 1-2-1 TUITION IN MATHS, SCIENCE, ENGLISH November Grapevine: Maths, Science/Physics: KS1-4, English: KS2. Inc 11+ Qualified 6pm THURSDAY 15 OCTOBER 121 tutor with CRB. Call Roger Crews on 07946 568153 or Email: [email protected] Page 16 Stewkley Grapevine October 2020 STORAGE Smash your goals STEWKLEY STORAGE LTD For all your storage needs. Domestic & Commercial Rooms & Containers. Larkshill Farm, Stewkley Rd, Soulbury and get results www.stewkleystorage.co.uk Tel: 01525 240297 at Hunt Fitness

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From 21st September New Opening Times OpEN EVErYDAY FrOM MID-DAY

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lso enjoy Knit & Natter is back Tea & Coffee Monday evenings 7pm Food Avai lable Eat in or takeaway 12 till 2pm & 5pm till 8pm Sunday 12 till 4pm

1 Wing road, high Street South, Stewkley Stewkley Grapevine October 2020 Page 17 ANNETTE GESOFF “Dedicated to the provision of outstanding childcare” Advanced Clinical Massage Therapist

We provide a safe and fun environment with a wide range of toys and activities for the children to express themselves and develop. AN EFFECTIVE TREATMENT FOR MANY CONDITIONS Our large garden provides extensive opportunity for outdoor play. Visit my website for further information: Our team of highly qualified staff are committed to providing www.gesoffmassage.co.uk exceptional care and education that ensures our children’s progress towards the Early Learning Goals. Please phone: 01525 240135 or 07709 629283

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We offer places for 2 to 5 year olds:

• Morning sessions: Mon to Fri 9.00am - 12.00 noon

• 2 yr old sessions (PAFT): Mon to Fri 9.00am – 11.00am SUPERIOR INTERIORS

• Lunch Clubs available: Mon to Fri 12.00pm - 1.00pm DECORATING SERVICES

• Rising 4s afternoon session Thursdays 1.00pm - 3.30pm Provide a highly professional and comprehensive

decorating service with over 30 years experience For further details please call/text 07925 541118 or e mail [email protected] PLEASE VISIT MY WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION Stewkley Cygnets Pre-school, Chapel Square, Stewkley, LU70HB www.superiordecor.co.uk

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● BATHROOM DESIGN & INSTALLATION ● PLUMBING HEATING ● UNDERFLOOR HEATING ● TILING & REFURBISHMENT ● APPRENTICESHIP SERVED Indoor and outdoor ● OVER 35 YEARS EXPERIENCE lighting New fuse board CALL FOR A FREE QUOTE Additional sockets 07801 938632 New power supply Full rewires Fire alarms CHARLES HILL Smoke detectors GARDEN SERVICES LTD Perodic testing DESIGN BUILD MAINTAIN CCTV LANDSCAPE CONTRACTORS All work guaranteed. NCH Horticulture. City & Guilds Garden Design A professional company working with all your garden PART P approved requirements from design to complete landscape. No job too small 07773 723236 www.charleshillgardenservices.co.uk Call: Craig 07968 152 709 www.allyearoundbbq.co.uk Email: [email protected]

Automotive Engineers

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Aylesbury Vale Golf Club Contacts: Tel: 01525 240991 Julian Luxford 07885 455203 Mobile: 07980 600095 Forge Farm Wing James Luxford 07860 726741 Stewkley Grapevine October 2020 Page 19 BARN

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THETHE SWANSWAN STEWKLEYSTEWKLEY TEL:TEL: 0152501525 240285240285

We’d like to thank our customers for returning back to the Swan since we re‐opened the doors in August.

In early October we will be taking the next exciting step to put this pub right back at the centre of the community.

Our chef Nick & his team, will be reopening the newly refurbished kitchen with a brand new menu!

The food offering will range from much loved pub classics, to sharing platters to enjoy with friends & family over a drink or two!

The seasonal main dishes & traditional Sunday roasts will be reflecting the seasonal harvests. We’re passionate about using the best quality ingredients and using local suppliers where possible.

The children’s menu, like the adult menu will all be freshly prepared.

For those with a smaller appetite, we can also present reduced portions, also we’ll have special dishes to extend the core menu.

Finally, please look out for special events and some fixed price promotions for our 2 and 3 course lunch menus. We can accom‐ modate for most dietary requirements, including dairy free and vegan.

The team at the Swan look forward to welcoming you for an enjoyable meal with us, we do hope that we can count on your sup‐ port to frequent the pub in order that we can continue to trade and keep investing for a sustainable future for The Swan and that it truly becomes a thriving hub for the community and the village.

Please contact us on 01525 240285 or [email protected] to reserve a table. Page 20 Stewkley Grapevine October 2020 BLOCKED DRAIN?

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Services: Supporting local artists & makers

mation Computer support for PCs, Mac & Linux Wireless & wired networking )UHVKÁRZHUVDYDLODEOH Data recovery

@ Install & setup Open Fri & Sat 10am – 5.30pm Health checks For enquiries call Rosie 07876 394 086 Sales: Desktops, laptops, printers, peripherals & software Town Farm, Buckingham MK18 3LQ computer support & services For friendly advice call John on 07968 536068 or 01525 261381 ZZZZLOGURVHÁRZHUFRPSDQ\FRXN email: [email protected] - www.computamation.co.uk )ROORZXV#ZLOGURVHÁRZHUFRPSDQ\ comput Computamation Services Ltd - 9a Lower Way, , Bucks, MK17 9AG Established 1999 with over 25 years experience

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 Leighton Buzzard area. Unit 3-4, Manor Business Centre High Street South, Stewkley

01525 240696 Courtesy car available by prior arrangement. Stewkley Grapevine October 2020 Page 21

Covid ‐19 safety compliant Beechmoor Farm, Cublington Road, Whitchurch Home Produced Meat : Pies, Cheeses & Olives : Fruit & Veg Milk, Bread & Eggs : Pickles & Preserves : Frozen Produce

Open Tues, Wed, Thurs & Fri 8am -5pm Saturday 7.30am - 1pm (closed Sunday & Monday). Tel: 01296 641207 : Email: parrottbros@parrott­bros.co.uk Web: www.parrott­bros.co.uk

DAMIAN STEWART QUIET BEAUTY STUDIO IN STEWKLEY PLUMBING & HEATING PROFESSIONAL QUALIFIED PLUMBING & HEATING ENGINEER • Gel Nails • Manicures & Pedicures ● For all your Plumbing, Gas, Oil & Heating requirements • • Facials • Waxing ● Boiler & appliance installations, system upgrades, servicing, fault finding & repair PRE-BOOK NOW T: 07801 564213 ● Oil‐boiler and tank installations, service & repair ● Complete bathroom installations & design W: www.laurenarmor.co.uk ● No job too small / Fee no obligation quote / No call out charge Instagram: @laurenarmorbeauty Tel: 01296 688968 / 07527 900028 Facebook: @laurenarmorbeauty E mail: [email protected] www.damianstewartplumbing.co.uk 7 Chiltern Road, , Aylesbury, Bucks, HP22 2QQ

PHOENIXPHOENIX CARPETSCARPETS Your local carpet & flooring showroom

SHOWROOM OPENING TIMES: Mon-Thu: 10am to 4.30pm Fri: closed Sat 10am to 1pm 16 Bacon House Farm, MK17 0PS

We have been supplying and fitting carpets for 30 years and have a wide range of carpets, vinyl and lvt luxury vinyl tiles and accessories at our Little Horwood showroom. Free measuring and estimating T: 01908 501019 E: [email protected] Page 22 Stewkley Grapevine October 2020

Lowes Bookkeeping (Est 2013) KG HAYERS Small Business Accounts & Tax Returns Experienced, qualified, professional Bookkeeper Carpentry - Joinery - Maintenance www.kghcarpentry.co.uk Starting a new business? Like help setting up your accounts? Like your business to run more efficiently to save you time and money?

 City & Guilds Qualified Contact Diane Lowes  General Carpentry & Joinery 07930 923109 or 01525 270752  Doors [email protected] 13603 www.lowesbookkeeping.co.uk www.bookkeepers.org.uk  Storage Solutions  Locks Virtual bookkeeping, ‘socially distancing’ compliant!  Licenced with the world’s largest body of professional Bookkeepers Kitchen Installation & Upgrades Flexible service tailored to the needs of the business  Staircase Upgrades  General Property Repairs  Domestic & Commercial D.B'S GAS  Fully Insured PLUMBING AND HEATING SERVICES  Waste Carriers License Local village company with  Free Quotes over 25 years experience. Boiler breakdowns, repairs & servicing. Contact Karl: Full heating installations and extensions. T: 01525 240484 Gas safety checks and certification M: 07855 749610 NO JOB TOO SMALL E: [email protected] All workmanship fully insured O.A.P. 10% DISCOUNT ON HOURLY RATES NO CALL OUT CHARGE. COMPETITIVE RATES. Tel office: 240784

Tel Daron: 07799 122971

Chappell

HARLEQUIN Plumbing and Heating Ltd

PRESSLtd Fully qualified and insured Lithographic and Digital Printing gas safe engineer.

Booklets Leaflets All central heating and Brochures Letterheads hot water work undertaken.

Business Cards Magazines Boiler servicing, Compliment Slips Newsletters breakdowns and installations. Delivery Notes Note pads Landlord certificates. Directories Order of Service Stewkley based. Draw Tickets Personal Stationery Event Tickets Postcards Invitations Programmes 07725 480047

Invoice Books/Sets Timetables [email protected]

30 years in print Friendly Service, Free Advice

Tel: 01908 506722

12 Bacon House Farm • Little Horwood • Milton Keynes • MK17 0PS 568424 [email protected] • www.harlequin-press.co.uk www.chappellheating.co.uk Grapevine is printed by Harlequin Press Ltd. Stewkley Grapevine October 2020 Page 23 WOBURN BUILDING SERVICES

Specialised building work

New builds and extensions BIKE SERVICE/SALES HOME MAINTENANCE Kitchens supplied and fitting service DECORATING FLOORING

GARDENING STABLES & FENCING Bathroom design and fitting TV & CCTV WEB DESIGN

Handyman based in Drayton Parslow, Interior and exterior alterations covering Milton Keynes, Leighton Buzzard, Aylesbury and surrounding areas. Stewkley- based

07464 171032 STUART JAMES COLEMAN

01525 242111 : 07970 888236 [email protected] Email: [email protected] www.woburnbuildingservices.co.uk www.odd-jobs.co.uk EST 1986

Save up to 50% on your main dealer prices

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 Page 24 Stewkley Grapevine October 2020 STEWKLEY WALKERS Stewkley Walkers Two days later the made the most of the Walkers travelled early September further afield for a sunshine to enjoy walk around the three walks during the Hartwell and Stone first part of the month. areas with 11 All three of these members in two walks took place bubbles on this before the occasion. The walk introduction of the ‘rule of six’ which would mean smaller group started outside The sizes on the walks scheduled for the latter part of the month. Methodist Chapel in Road, Stone The first walk took place on 4 September around Stockgrove and then headed for the parkland of Eythrope, part of the Country Park and the Heath and Reach quarries with 15 members, Manor estate. in two bubbles, plus a dog. Starting from Stockgrove, and passing a lake populated by swans and cygnets they reached the entrance to Skirting the River Thame on part of the Thame Valley Walk the the working quarry, which has been used in films including The route then joined the North Bucks Way through the fields of Mummy Returns and The Da Vinci Code. Waddon Hill and Lower Hartwell Farms and into the grounds of Hartwell House, said to be one of ’s finest stately houses, Four days later the group was closer to home, as they walked the with the group able to enjoy various features from the outside, Stewkley Figure‐of‐Eight, with 14 members in two bubbles taking including the remains of Hartwell Church. part on another pleasantly warm day. This route was the first walk undertaken by the group in 1987, and featured the recently re‐ Stewkley Walkers are looking forward to another busy month of opened Cricketers Close footpath that passes the new housing walks in October and although restrictions are likely to mean group development. There was an additional feature on the walk which sizes continue to be limited, new members are always welcome. was enjoyed by all, a tour of the grounds of Tythe House, courtesy Places must be booked by contacting the leader in advance. of George and Judy Gater. BROWNIES BAKE from Sally Shefferd With regulations for indoor meetings still to be released, whilst outdoors meetings are limited in numbers and the nights starting to draw in, the leaders decided that in August that the unit would work towards a County Commissioner Challenge badge this half term. Clauses are being sent out weekly and the girls are also participating in a ‘type of treasure hunt’. The first badge clause involved making a mug cake. Feedback was very positive as can be seen from the photos below.

Annabel shows off her cake Emily is pleased with her cake Grace prepares her cake Matilda C’s mug cake TAIL PIECE TOMATO FUN

When Hayward Park residents Keith and Trish Higgins went to their greenhouse recently to pick some tomatoes for lunch, smiling up at them was this a 487g whopper (pictured left) (that’s 1lb 1oz in old money!). Trish told the Grapevine, “A friend gave us some seeds about 4 years ago and they didn’t know what type of tomato they were, but have always called them Dorrie’s after the lady that gave them the seeds, as does everyone we have given seeds to. We currently have three vines growing and they all produce rather large fruit.” They are rather fond of this one though so have called him Elephant Man. Amused by this specimen John Sheldon from Ivy Lane decided to share a picture of one from his wife, Diana’s Tumbling Tom crop which grew its own nose, with a little added artistry to complete its look to entertain the grandchildren.