No 186 Autumn 2013 From the Editor Index Despite the cold spring I’m pretty sure that summer Horticultural Society 10 will be remembered for the record-breaking heatwave which lasted through July. 25 Years Ago 12 The bald grassy mounds in the playgrounds at the Tennis Club 15 rec. are testament to the fine weather which has enabled our children to enjoy playing outside. Scrabble Club 16

‘Star Quality’ In this edition you can catch up with the latest Royal British Legion 18 developments on the free school issue, which, HELLO! MAGAZINE contrary to the view of some pessimists, is not all Men’s Group 19 over. We also include photo reports of the village fete Sunshine Corner 20 and flower show – both events were fantastically well supported this year, which has given the Photographic Club 24 hardworking volunteers responsible for organising them a real lift. Women’s Institute 26

The Parish Council has been busy working on a Rainbow Pre-school 28 number of projects intended to improve the quality Societies Fair of life in our village. Some of them have taken a long 30 time – the speed limit review has been ongoing for Table Tennis Club 30 six years and it could be argued that making Rogers Lane safer for vulnerable road users should have Free Church 32 been sorted out when the school amalgamated onto the Rogers Lane site ten years ago. Dates for your Diary 34

After a year or so of threatening to go, Roger Wright Duke of Edinburgh Award 36 finally moved away from the village in mid-August. South Bucks Sports Development 38 Roger has done a superb job as proofreader for this magazine over the past three years and I am very Community Safety 40 relieved that he has offered to continue from his new home. Best wishes to Roger and Joan for their new Stoke Poges Players 41 life in South Wales. Vicar’s Letter 42 Ralph Bagge Bowls Club IS AWARDED 3 AA ROSETTES... Editor 42 Celebrated Chef Chris Wheeler invites you to indulge your The Stoke Poges Society 44 tastebuds at Humphry’s, Stoke Park’s 3 AA Rosette award The Stoke Poges School 48 winning restaurant. Birds in Stoke Poges Friends of Stoke Common 50 Open to all, Humphry’s fine dining restaurant allows you I have now left the area, so will no longer be able Recreation Report 52 to enjoy ‘an experience you want to relive again and again’ to report on birds in Stoke Poges. (At Home with Marco Pierre White). If you would like to take on this role, please let Stoke Common Rangers’ Report 53 Named ‘ Top 5 Out of Town Restaurants’ by Square Mile Ralph Bagge, the magazine editor, know. His email address is [email protected]. It is Good Neighbour Scheme 57 Restaurant Guide 2012, Humphry’s innovative take on Modern hardly an arduous task. British Cuisine and enviable wine list provide an unforgettable Social Club 58 treat, all set within the sumptuous, romantic surroundings of Thank you for all the sightings you have Stoke Park’s Georgian mansion. sent me – and the various aspects of feedback. Hedgerley Historical Society 60 Roger Wright Stoke Poges Singers 62 Open Tuesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner. 07811 509490 / [email protected] To make a reservation please call 01753 717171 Parish Council Chairman’s Letter 64 Stoke Park, Park Road, Stoke Poges, Bucks SL2 4PG www.humphrysrestaurant.co.uk Bridge Club 66 Cover photo: Autumn Leaves by Catherine Bagge

2 3 2013 Fete - The Best We’ve Ever Seen

New for 2013, a classic car display

The bar was popular with the queue stretching outside the marquee Wow! What a fantastic fete we had at this year’s 2013 event. Thank you to everyone who attended and of course to all the participants and the new organisers we had on board to make it such a special day.

The role of the fete is to bring the village together, to unite us, if only for one day of the year, but it The village campaign's keeps connections and bonds strong and keeps us archery competition all together and in touch with our friends, proved popular neighbours, groups and local businesses.

The day was well attended from start to finish and Also new this year, I believe that all the new attractions that were the dog show proved brought to this year’s event helped to keep a hit everyone busy and entertained for the entire event. Next year we will try to do even better. Compere, Vic Bunby kept up a non-stop narrative The Chiltern Cheetahs If you would like to get involved with next year’s throughout the cheerleaders impressed event as an organiser, stallholder or helper then fete with their tumbling please contact me at martin@stokepoges villagefete.co.uk or on our Facebook page or group (which can be found by searching for ‘Stoke Poges village fete’ on the Facebook site). All details for next year’s event can be found by liking the page or group.

If you are a member of a local group or organisation that could benefit from a donation from the funds raised at this year’s event, please email me or send a letter (Martin Wood, 5A Pennylets Green, Stoke Poges, SL2 4BU) detailing how a donation will benefit the local community and how your group has contributed to the Stoke Poges village fete.

Thanks once again to all the organisers, helpers, local groups and organisations and most of all to all This year's fete boasted the families and individuals who attended, because the largest collection of without your participation the fete wouldn’t be the Students from the Teikyo School play inflatables ever fantastic success that it has become. entertained with traditional dance seen in the village 3 4 Waste and Recycling – Changes Coming Soon

Watch out this autumn for important changes are designed to reduce the volume of communications from South Bucks District waste which goes to landfill. With a growing Council in changes to the way household population that is consuming more, the UK is fast waste and recyclables will be collected. running out of holes in the ground to bury its waste. By separating out glass bottles and jars, South Bucks is one of the worst-performing local paper and card, plastic bottles and containers and authorities for recycling and the forthcoming cans, these items can all be recycled which cuts landfill and also conserves natural resources. Plus,  ! !(' !#"! uncooked fruit and vegetables and peelings can be composted to produce natural soil nutrient. !("!% $% The council will be announcing a road show and sending out information leaflets in the coming months which will detail the changes which will "#%!!! $ ##"$# also include, for the first time, provision for recycling batteries, textiles and small electrical ($!"$" ! !#""""!" appliances and will extend the collection of green (garden) waste beyond the trial area. $!"!* Also watch out for the new collection calendar. Lots of black bags, but where's the recycling? Remember that in weeks where a public holiday (#!!%$#'#')!# $ Do you recycle and compost all you can? occurs, the collection day changes. &#) #"#"'! MP Speaks at Public Meeting %!#(!"! ! #' ( On Tuesday 9 July the Secretary of State for that no additions could be built and that it would not Education, Michael Gove MP, formally be possible to use the provision of Class C beyond #( # !($! #" notified the local planning authority (South the 12 months. Next year, the DfE will have to either %"#&! !$#" Bucks) of his intention to use Class C of use Class K (which requires an assessment by the the recent amendment to the General local planning authority of traffic and environmental Permitted Development Order to operate the impact) or apply for full planning permission. Either Khalsa Secondary Academy (KSA) at Pioneer scenario will provide an opportunity for the public to ❋ ""!%! !"! " House for 12 months (with effect from influence the decision. Mr Grieve stressed that the 5 September). DfE’s options are very limited as the building can not #( "!!( accommodate the desired 850-900 students without Dominic Grieve QC MP agreed at short notice to additional floorspace. ❋ '""#&%!"$ (" ! !#" speak at a public meeting held on Friday 19 July. Mr Grieve updated the meeting on what he had After Mr Grieve left, Cllr Saera Carter and Mr Lee ❋ $%!(#"!%% been told by Lord Nash, the Minister for Duncombe provided an update from their discussions Secondary Schools. with the Parish Council’s solicitor and barrister. The ❋ !)"#!# ! expert legal view is that the village should continue Mr Grieve made it very clear that the only decision to demand disclosure of the information used in ❋ %! ""#"#" which had been made was that KSA would be making the decision to locate a school at Pioneer temporarily based at Pioneer House for one year and House and should continue voicing its dissatisfaction that everything else was ‘all to play for’. Mr Grieve’s with the decision to open a school at Pioneer House. impression was that the village’s campaign against The legal team will scrutinise the funding agreement !""$ !" !""& the school has made an impact because the reasons (which has yet to be signed) and other documents given have been clear, consistent and legitimate. (requested but yet to be provided by DfE) for grounds ""&!&! !$#" Mr Grieve praised the village for its moderation in a to mount a legal challenge. situation which had the potential to become tense and inflamed. He encouraged the village to continue Cllr Carter also stated that campaign activities would $ ) $+%%*'(' (, #)'))%!%(  stating its case firmly to DfE and ministers. continue and that the village will continue to voice its &&!, #'!%(& )"$ objections, in a law-abiding, firm and respectful way, " ' ) *' , ' ) * Mr Grieve made it clear that under Class C, the to having an unwanted and unneeded secondary building could only be used for educational purposes, school imposed on it. +, ##%+'(# "!%#

6 7 Speed Limit Review

Rogers Lane Traffic Study The speed limits on a number of roads in Stoke Officers from Bucks County Council Poges were changed in 2007 with the introduction investigated Rogers Lane in February and of more 40 mph limits on what had been March and set up equipment to monitor the unrestricted (national speed limit roads). A post- volume and speed of traffic using the section implementation review identified that there was of Rogers Lane between Sefton Park and the strong support from residents for further speed Dog and Pot. reductions, particularly on the roads which are heavily used by commuters – Stoke Green, Park The study was requested by the Parish Road, Grays Park Road and Collum Green Road. Council, to identify ways of improving conditions for vulnerable pedestrians and Bucks County Council has been considering its cyclists, especially parents who use Rogers options and in a report published at the beginning of Lane with prams and push chairs, the partially the year it announced that it would be taking no sighted older residents of Bold’s Court (for further action and would leave the matter for parish whom pavement parking is a big problem) councils to determine the issue by either using their and users of mobility scooters. precepted funds or by seeking local priorities funding to implement changes. County’s report was issued in early May. It recommended moving the school crossing patrol closer to St Andrew’s Church and One of the major concerns that Parish Councillors constructing a refuge on Rogers Lane at the hear relates to traffic speeding through the village – junction with Bells Hill. The parish council will in particular Bells Hill, Park Road, Stoke Green and investigate the possibility of siting floral West End Lane. The Parish Council has been keeping planters on the refuge to mitigate the up the pressure on Bucks County Council for the urbanising nature of the refuge. limit reductions identified in 2008 to be implemented. It has identified that the cost of Moving the school crossing patrol will remove implementing the speed limit changes together the need for pedestrians to walk along the with other projects in the parish would save around narrow section of footway on the north side £5000 as the consultation and legal work can be of Rogers Lane, which is a cause of anxiety for combined as one task. The Parish Council has     people with young children. asked the Beeches Local Area Forum to fund the changes under its priority of improving the road %'((' The proposed refuge will provide a halfway environment to make it more hospitable to point for pedestrians crossing what is a very pedestrians and cyclists. wide junction, it will discourage cars turning right from cutting the corner and will also       give protection for cyclists waiting to turn right into Bells Hill. Speeding and MVAS $)##$(&("$!% 

The report also suggests parking restrictions The Parish Council was awarded funds by the to create ‘passing places’ between the church Beeches Local Area Forum to pay for a mobile vehicle and the school. The school would like its activated sign (MVAS), which flashes a reminder of zigzag lines extended to cover the entire the speed limit to drivers of vehicles travelling above length of its frontage. Parish councillors met the speed limit. The Parish Council has used its on Rogers Lane to assess the precepted funds to buy an identical second unit. Ten recommendations. They were joined by Ian locations have been identified and the MVAS units Jones, the crossing patrol person who will be deployed temporarily at those locations, commented on the current situation and the monitoring traffic in both directions. proposals. The councillors were in favour of the recommended changes and identified The MVAS units store data on driver behaviour and several locations where they will request this information will be analysed to identify patterns bollards to be installed, to protect the and will be shared with our neighbourhood police footway and verges. team, which will determine follow-up actions to reduce speeding. Subject to funding from the Beeches Local Area Forum, there will be a formal A team of volunteers was due to be trained in using consultation period in the autumn, with the the MVAS equipment. If you care about road safety work due to be completed by the end of in our parish and would like to help out by joining March next year. the volunteer team, please contact the Clerk to the Parish (see p.67 for contact details).

8 9 Stoke Poges, Wexham & Fulmer Horticultural Society Annual Flower Show – Saturday 27 July Despite a dire weather forecast, nearly presented in memory of Peter Spicer for the best car two thousand people participated in the on show, was won by a 1951 Citroen Traction Avant, Stoke Poges, Wexham & Fulmer Horticultural made in Slough. Society’s Annual Flower Show, held on Saturday 27 July in the grounds of The In closing the show, John Negus invited members of Stoke Poges School. The sun shone until late the committee who had worked so hard to put on afternoon, enabling the band and all the the show to come to the front with the children. He then praised the committee and encouraged the stallholders to dismantle in the dry, children to continue to enter for the show. He whilst the presentation of cups and trophies commented on the spread of ages and said, ‘More was moved into the huge marquee as volunteers and helpers would be welcome, and a precaution. needed, if this wonderful show is to continue for future years’. John Negus, a well-known horticulturist and The Stoke Poges School's rainbarrow display The cactuses broadcaster, presented the cups and trophies. He Lecture Evenings appeared to be commented, ‘This event and the exhibits are the best Our evening lectures resume this autumn on: unaffected by local show I have seen’. In introducing Mr Negus, Jon Wednesday 11 September – Brian Fisher will give an the heatwave! Homan, President Emeritus, of the society said, ‘All illustrated talk on ‘A practical guide to bulbs, corms, the exhibitors are to be congratulated on the quality tubers and rhizomes’. and quantity of the flowers and vegetables, with such a cold, late spring followed by the recent Wednesday 9 October – Mrs Lydia E. Cobb will talk WI members judging the baking competition heatwave’. He also praised the art, handicrafts and about ‘The Joy of Growing Orchids’. She will be homemade foods in the Stoke Poges Women’s giving her usual demonstration and members are Institute (WI) section and the photographic exhibition invited to bring their plants for advice on cultivation and competition run by the Stoke Poges and any other problems which may concern them. Photographic Society. In all there were 610 entries for This is also the autumn social evening, so there will the show, including 156 in the junior sections. be a table show and a buffet supper.

He thanked the sponsors of the show, Pinewood Both events will be held at The Stoke Poges School, Nurseries, who ran the tea tent, the Mobbs Memorial Rogers Lane at 8 pm. Trust, Stoke Poges Parish Council and Stoke Poges Nurseries. Non-members are welcome to our lectures but will be asked for a small donation: £3.50 for the autumn The show was a traditional English village show, with social evening. Better still why not become a the Reading Spring Gardens Band entertaining member for £7 (individual) or £10 for two members everyone and creating the festive atmosphere for the from the same household? Membership gives you sixteenth year. Among the many stallholders were free entry to the show and all other events. Contact Village Plants, Denham, Wexham Mowers, Miles and the Membership Secretary, Peter Montgomery on Miles Clematis and Farnham Common Nurseries, all 643384 or [email protected] with spectacular displays and goods on sale, some of Plenty of which they kindly donated to the raffle. Annual General Meeting opportunities to Our AGM will be held in Stoke Poges School, Rogers shop and chat Uxbridge and District Classic Cars Club had a Lane, at 8 pm on Wednesday 13 November. magnificent and very popular display of wonderfully restored vintage cars. The John Snagge Trophy, Ruth Rooley Visitor numbers were up on recent years – the marquee was packed all afternoon The Reading Spring Band added to the traditional atmosphere

9 10 25 Years Ago South Bucks Ward Boundaries Review The autumn 1988 edition of The Stoke Poges Parish Newsletter introduced a new, contemporary layout and a new editor, Kathie Webber. The front page At its meeting on 30 July, South Bucks District Council decided to invite the Local story of the 12-page newsletter covered the building Government Boundary Commission for England to carry out a review. of the ‘new’ vicarage on Park Road.

Inside, the fete, coordinated by the Stoke Poges This will determine whether the council can be reduced in size from 40 elected members to around 28. Guiding Supporters Group, confirmed profits at Stoke Poges would then be represented by two councillors. The current wards have large variations in more than £2600. The chairman, Anne Egleton, the numbers on the electoral roll and there is a need to adjust ward boundaries to ensure equality of announced donations of £250 to the County Middle representation (i.e. the ratio of electors per councillor is consistent across the district). School and £100 to the Community Association (village hall repair fund). Mrs Egleton was The option of single member wards has been suggested. If this is taken forward, the consequence would photographed presenting cheques. be that parishes, like Stoke Poges, would also have to be warded, so that in future elections, candidates for election to the Parish Council would have to stand for election in one of two wards. The centre page feature was ‘40 Years Ago – Sefton Park sold by auction’ and a news item on the back The Boundary Commission will be carrying out a consultation during the autumn – watch out for page reported the investiture of two Ranger Guides, Donna Chandler and Naomi Sawtell, at the deep publicity and submit your views on the proposals. The council’s intention is to make the changes in time end of a swimming pool. for its next elections in May 2015.

As ever, the weather featured, with a comment that the village had experienced the wettest July for more than 50 years.

Beeches Road, Farnham Common, Slough, Bucks, SL2 3PS T. 01753 644568 or 01753 646748         & %% "  ❖ % & !     #   ❖ .%7  ! # &! "!  ! ❖ 8. &! ! !"! ❖ .( & ! ! !! ❖ #'..(..(.=> & !   #  ❖ 68..( & ! ❖ ..0 # %  $  & &% $         & $ $!# %  #  !   &'" ! % # &!  $   666#

12 13 What a fantastic summer of sport – crowned by Andy Murray winning the Gentlemen’s Singles title at Wimbledon, attracting a BBC audience of 17.3 million (nail biting!) viewers. I’m sure that we all know, (as we’ve been reminded every year of our lives), that it was 1936 that a Brit. last won. What will the commentators talk about next year? To celebrate this fantastic achievement the tennis club is holding an ‘Andy Murray’ Open day on Sunday 15 September from 2 - 5 pm. Everyone will be welcome – novices, former Please do come along and recognise tennis for the members, former players, and those who just great game it is and not the elitist sport it’s so want to celebrate this achievement. often thought of. We particularly want to encourage children who have been inspired to School Campaign Delivers Petition to Downing Street For those wishing to play, you can hit some balls, play through Andy’s success. (rackets and balls will be provided), and we’ll be Campaigners prepare to march from Whitehall holding a number of organised events, including a Just turn up on the day, or if you are interested in to the Department for Education competition for the fastest serve. The only finding out more about us or this event, please On Wednesday 26 June, a party of stipulation is that those who want to play must phone our chairman Anne Milne on 529646, or campaigners delivered a petition with 5100 wear suitable sports shoes. see our website www.stokepogestennisclub.co.uk signatures opposed to the siting of a secondary school at Pioneer House. Dominic For others there will be a barbeque (and probably Triona Tierney Grieve QC MP met the group in Whitehall a glass of wine!). Publicity Manager and escorted them to 10 Downing Street where the petition and a covering letter to David Cameron were handed over. The group then walked to the Department for Education (DfE) offices where a copy of the petition was received by senior officials Dominic Grieve and members of the campaign from the free schools team on behalf of Lord team outside 10 Downing Street Nash, Minister for Secondary Schools.

Spire Thames Valley Hospital, Wexham Street

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14 15 Stoke Poges Sunshine Corner Parent and S C R A B B L E Toddler Group 1 3 1 1 3 3 1 1 Club This group meets every Thursday The Scrabble Club has continued to meet on Wednesday morning in the main hall of the afternoons (at 2.30 pm) throughout the summer. As some Village Centre. It runs from 9.30 am to 11.30 am (term time only). All of the residents at Bold’s Court are keen competitors, we children, parents and carers are have enjoyed their hospitality on most Wednesdays except welcome. It is very reasonably when they have a monthly meeting, when we return to priced at £1.50 per family which the coffee shop at St Andrew’s, or occasionally play at the includes coffee/tea, juice, biscuits tennis club if the coffee shop is closed. and fruit.

We now have two Super Scrabble sets, which you really Maybe you are finding it lonely at should try, as the bigger board includes quadruple scores home with a toddler or a baby, or and the 200 tiles give a better distribution of letters. We maybe you would like your child to meet other children. Whatever your have modified the rules for more relaxed play, even reason, you will always find a permitting the consultation of the dictionary before play welcome at our toddler group. It is and eight tiles to speed up the game. Nobody has run by staff and parents from managed to get all eight down in one turn but we have Sunshine Corner Pre-school which had some good double-double scores. Why not come and takes place next door in the Harding join us? Room of the Village Centre and many of the children from the group If any group of up to ten people would like an occasional go on to attend the pre-school with Super Scrabble evening, please contact Terry. The Super children they already know from the toddler group. game takes about two hours and if you haven’t played Scrabble, all you need is the ability to make words from the For more information, phone 644300 letters you pick and find a place on the board. or 07973 671558.

Terry Stock; 525304; [email protected] Kirsten Tarrier Nick Milne Garden Services www.nmgs.co.uk - 01753 643612 - 07832 144935 ❁ Stoke Poges-based small family business ❁ High quality maintenance gardening and small landscaping projects undertaken ❁ Approved by Slough Trading Standards and featured on Stoke Poges Trustworthy Tradespersons list ❁ References and portfolio available

16 17 Royal British Legion STOKE POGES MEN’S GROUP Our next two events are a breakfast on Saturday 14 forecasting company, Global Change Ltd, advising large Despite the poor weather, during which the plant shown it will September and a dinner on Friday 22 November. corporations in many different industries on trends, strategy, opportunities for innovation, etc. In 1988 he sale was almost called off, it was decided to go probably be in Having previously enjoyed excellent food at the Crown Inn in Crown Lane, Farnham Royal, we are returning launched the AIDS charity ACET (AIDS Care Education ahead. At least we had a rain-free morning, September. there for our next Men’s Breakfast We are delighted and Training), following publication of his first book The although chilly, and managed to fill four tables that our speaker will be Yann Dubreuil, whom many Truth about AIDS. ACET has grown rapidly over the (thanks to all who contributed) and we made On Sunday 21 July we held living in Stoke Poges will remember as a church youth years and he is now Chairman of the ACET International £213. So it was worth turning out for. our sponsored walk and we leader who came to the village in 2003. He spent three Alliance, operating in 17 countries. He has written 15 are awaiting the results at years in that role and then felt God calling him to full- books covering a wide range of topics including At our May meeting it was decided to increase our the time of writing. time ministry in the Church of England. Following multichannel marketing, healthcare, biotechnology and donation to the Poppy Appeal up to £3500, training and ordination, he is now a vicar caring for sustainability. He has been ranked as one of the 20 most bringing us a little nearer to £20,000 – maybe this With our union flag on Farnham’s green looking three parishes in Hampshire. Yann is a guy with a strong influential business thinkers alive today. faith and a great sense of fun, so it’s no surprise he has year? David and Cherry will soon be checking somewhat ‘tatty’ due to inclement weather, it The Bellhouse Hotel always provides us with an excellent chosen this unusual and intriguing title for his talk – stocks of poppies, wreaths, etc. and arranging for was decided to buy a replacement; a member of meal, so with the promise of good food and a ‘James Bond Rules, OOK?’. deliveries to the shops, offices and pubs which Farnham Royal Parish Council has kindly offered stimulating talk, why not plan to join us for our annual help us so much. The appeal starts on 26 October. to replace it at his expense. We have accepted his If you enjoy a great cooked breakfast, pleasant company Men’s Dinner. and a good speaker, please join us. We begin at 8.15 In fact, poppy trays have already been filled offer with pleasure and will be sending him an The bar in the Beaconsfield Suite opens at 7.15 pm and in readiness. invitation to attend the Remembrance service am with coffee or tea and sit down for breakfast at 8.30 our meal begins at 8 pm (it is buffet style, catering for a on the green when the new flag should be am. We finish no later than 10.15 am. wide range of tastes). For further information about our At an additional meeting, the committee decided in position. On 22 November, you could start your Christmas events, or to book a place, contact Tony Shortman or to hold a lunch at the Victoria. Letters will be sent celebrations early by joining us for our annual Men’s Nigel Lowe. to members shortly and if enough interest is John Cooper Dinner at the Bellhouse Hotel (near Beaconsfield, on the Tony Shortman; 01844 350014; A40). We have another outstanding speaker this year in [email protected] Dr Patrick Dixon, author and business consultant, often DAIR HOUSE SCHOOL described as a futurist. He is chairman of the trends Nigel Lowe; 07973 349721; [email protected] FARNHAM ROYAL

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18 19 Sunshine Corner Pre-school      We finished another busy sandcastles to put on the found pirate treasure and enjoyable term on 18 seaside display board. (chocolate coins). This July. During this time we During the Legoland week year we decided to try        experienced all sorts of we created our own something different at weather: sometimes it Sunshine Corner driving the village fete and was too wet to go out in school and the children moved on from the tea         the garden; sometimes we made their own driving tent after many years. went out and were very licences We ran a children’s         cold and by the end of when they had completed craft activity area term we were spending the course. where they could ice a most of our time outside biscuit, have a go at       in a heatwave. Water On 4 July we celebrated lucky dip, fill a bracelet activities were put out to American Independence with coloured sand help keep everyone cool – Day by making American and other activities. The Buckinghamshire now       some of the children flags and eating hot dogs. fete was very busy and offers early education (and staff) went home The term ended with this new stall was visited funding to some two year      very wet! sports day in the park – it by many people. Thanks olds from eligible families. was very hot (unlike last especially go to all families Eligibility is based on During the first half of the year) and the children who came to support us. receipt of various benefits       term we talked about behaved very well and income. Anyone who farms with the children considering the heat. They Sunshine Corner returns would like more and activities included all took part in several on Monday 9 September information is welcome to        making a caterpillar, races including running, where we will be talking contact the pre-school tasting potato products balancing beanbags on about colours. The and speak to either Jennie       and making 3D sheep. their heads and egg and autumn term is always a or Kirsten. The children put their spoon and the morning busy time with many new caterpillars into a cocoon ended with a very children to settle in. As On Saturday 23       and were very surprised to competitive mothers’ race many of these are only November we will be find that their caterpillars and fathers’ race. just two, we make sure holding our annual had become butterflies that we give them enough Christmas bazaar in the       when they opened the The last week of term was time to feel comfortable in main hall of the Village cocoons. The Community ‘Leavers’ Week’ – they leaving their parents and Centre from 10 am – 12 Champion from Tesco at had a dressing up day, carers. Some of the noon. This is always very Gerrards Cross brought bouncy castle day and children are already popular and will once dairy products for the pool party. The pool party known to us as they have again be visited by Santa children to taste – we was particularly popular, been regular attendees at in his grotto where enjoyed the expressions especially as there were our parent, baby and children can have their on their faces when they ice creams for all at the toddler group on photos taken with him. tried some of the more end! The week finished Thursdays. We feel that, There will be a raffle – the unusual tastes! The half with the leavers’ party where possible, it is main prizes last year were term finished with our where we said a sad beneficial for the children a Kindle Fire and a large annual visit to Odds Farm. goodbye to 30 of our to go to this group as they luxury hamper. Many Although the sun did not children. We wish them are then familiar with the thanks go to Alpha shine, the day was dry all the best in their surroundings and some of Windows who will be and everyone seemed to new schools. the staff when they start sponsoring the bazaar have a good time. at the pre-school. again. There will be stalls As usual we have been selling cakes, Christmas During the second half of fundraising during this The pre-school has been cards, crafts and the term the pre-school term. Fundraising is vital taking part in a personalised gift baskets. looked at outings and the as the government government initiative to This is our main Stoke Poges Societies Fair children pretended to funding we receive does improve the early years fundraising event of the travel on buses, boats and not cover the cost of experience for two year year and last year we trains to London, the zoo updating and replacing olds and has received a raised over £1000 for the and Legoland amongst the toys. Our committee grant for new equipment pre-school. If you would   "! other places. This sparked works hard to raise with this aim. Amongst like to take a table at the off much talk amongst enough to cover this. At our purchases are several bazaar or would like to the children about the the end of June the pre- new carpets (for indoors donate a raffle prize and  "#! $ "! different places their school and the baby and and outdoors), new carpet have your name in the families have visited. They toddler group went on a tiles, a large storage trolley programme, please created models of sponsored ‘pirates and for the children to select contact Kirsten or Janette  %  buildings in London such princesses’ walk around toys from and new toys on 644300 or as Buckingham Palace and Black Park. This finished aimed at younger 07973 671558. the Shard to go on the with a picnic in the play children. Along with the display board and made area and all the children rest of the country Kirsten Tarrier

20 21 Pinewood Cookery Club The club was set up back in September last year and now has over 40 members – all keen food enthusiasts. We have members from as far afield as Datchet and Chalfont St Peter – it’s free to join.

Aside from the set monthly meet-ups, the members organise or host different events through the month. We had a fabulous trip to ‘Mini India’ in Southall last month, where two members organised a tour of the market and then lunch at an authentic restaurant. We have also had members hosting pasta demonstrations which have been a huge success. Did you Multi-Use Games know that pasta for one person was simply one egg plus 100g of ‘00’ flour). We’ve had Area Progress wine tasting evenings and each event has The Parish Council has now received four quotations for constructing a multi-use games area (MUGA) been at minimal cost to cover ingredients. at Bells Hill rec. and has submitted an application for a grant of £39,000 from a landfill trust which supports investments in sport and leisure facilities in South Bucks. The trust is due to determine the We meet on the last Saturday of every application in October. month at 11 am at the Prop House Cafe, Pinewood Nurseries. For further details, The MUGA proposal resulted from a consultation with young people carried out in 2010 which showed or to join this free, thriving club in your a strong preference amongst secondary school age young people for having somewhere to play small- village, contact liz@pinewood sided, informal games of football and basketball. In addition, the MUGA will be marked out for netball nurseries.co.uk’. New members are and equipped with removable netball posts. always welcome! DO YOU HAVE AN ANNOYING DRIP IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD? Dr Tap Plumbing & Heating Services Fully qualified and insured Boilers installed, serviced plumber available to remove drips, & repaired, drops and other annoyances Landlord’s certificates issued around your house. Gas leaks fixed. NO JOB TOO SMALL

Call Paul Webster on 07814 747221 E-mail [email protected]

22 23 Stoke Poges Photographic Club Now that the latest season has finished, it is varied entries. The outing to a professional studio and time to reflect back on what was achieved the black and white training season run by a and look forward to the new season starting professional photographer were two more successes. in September. Thanks to the work of a few members, the club outing TemplewoodTemplewood SecuritySecurity In addition to the internal competitions, our programme to Oxford and the annual lunch were well supported. secretary excelled himself with an international competition, some interesting lectures and a well- For club members, there is also the online café which rounded programme of practical events. The provides a forum both for discussion and the international competition against a club from Westville, opportunity to look at and comment on works which South Africa and a club in Queensland, Australia was have not yet been seen in competitions. The café is Systems LTD available to all members and provides a useful addition Systems LTD especially interesting. Possibly to confuse the judge as to which club was submitting the image, at least one of to the club’s activities. Any club member who has not the overseas clubs slipped in a number of landscapes yet joined, but wishes to do so, should contact Kevin. from well-known European locations. The quality of the Members are also reminded that next season’s images was excellent and never before have so many competition subjects are available on the club’s website. maximum marks been awarded, which made it very Established in Farnham Common since 1990. difficult for both the members running the computer For non-members who are interested in the work of the software and the judge, Micki Aston, to make the final club and for those who may be considering joining, selection of the best three images. Once showings had competition results together with a range of work by A friendly LOCAL business with 20 years taken place in all three countries, the marks were members can be found on the club’s website. We are collated and a final winner declared. Even though our known as a friendly club and are more than willing to club did not win, an indication of how well it was encourage and help beginners or anyone who is of experience. received is the number of members who said they hope interested in photography. We have a wide range of the event could be repeated, possibly against clubs from members; some still at school doing their Duke of other parts of the world. Edinburgh award in photography, whilst others are coming back to photography after retiring. There is a • Intruder alarms specialist In the set subject and the open section, the internal wide range of interests, which produces a variety of competitions had a variety of entries and were often work, so no one needs to be concerned about joining. oversubscribed. Unfortunately, the ‘Manipulated It’s not compulsory to enter the competitions, or even Chinese Whisper’, which was run for the first time the have a camera. So possibly now is the time to come • For all your installation requirements previous year and resulted in the total transformation along to our welcome evening in the village hall at 8 pm of an image completely changed from the original, was on 3 September, or look us up on our website and local servicing not as successful this year due to some confusion about www.stokepogesphotoclub.co.uk the timetable. However, with some reorganisation and support from members, it is planned to run it again Finally, a word of thanks to the committee for all their next year. work over the year and to the members who help run • Insurance approved the club each week. Without their input there On a more positive note, members played their part in a would be no club, so thanks to all. lively and varied programme. The ‘Pay and Go’ and • Red Care monitored systems ‘Anything Goes’ events produced some interesting and Jim Williams

The Photographic Club marquee • 24 hour call outs at the flower show attracted lots of interest • Free estimates and advice NACOSS GOLD Call: 01753 648330 Web: www.templewood.co.uk E-mail: [email protected]

23 25 Stoke Poges and Wexham Women’s Institute

On Wednesday 25 September a group of us will be visiting Bucks New University at their High in 1948, WIs from across the country Wycombe campus to take part in an ‘Any Questions’ debate on the future of our food industry. raised funds to buy it and Denman College was born. As the worldwide population increases and demands on Museum will follow, after lunch, with a lecture on the food system become more intense, ensuring global ‘Restoration of Old Masters’. Several of our members are food security will become one of the world’s biggest keen amateur artists, so we were delighted to find that Every year 6000 students take one of challenges. A panel of experts, headed by Prof. Charles the workshop includes an audience competition ‘Fruits the 500 courses offered. Courses Ainger of Cambridge University will guide us through the of Autumn’, interpreted in any way the artist wishes. The range from antiques, music, cookery, maze of problems we face. Food producers and growers competition will be judged on the day by the guest history, travel to horticulture. Just and representatives of major supermarkets will all have speakers, so we are crossing our fingers that at least one about every craft medium is covered. their say in this WI nationwide campaign, to open up the of us will return home clutching a BFWI trophy. Watch Teaching takes place in rooms problems of food production in tomorrow’s world. this space. equipped with all modern teaching aids. Every year Stoke Poges WI awards a lucky dip bursary of £200 to A group of us will be visiting The Gateway, Aylesbury, on This year, in addition to our stall at the Stoke Poges members, to help towards the cost of Friday 27 September for a sparkling evening of supper Christmas Fayre, we have elected to take a stall at the a course. theatre. Roma’s Song by Caroline Graham, creator of grand Bucks Board of Trustees Christmas Fayre on Midsomer Murders, is a comedy drama set in an Italian Saturday 9 November. The fayre, in Hazlemere restaurant. And to complement the theme of our Community Centre, will have tables of gifts, cookery, Most courses are residential, members evening we will partake of a pre-performance Italian decorations, flower arrangements or items displaying staying in bedroom suites, either in the meal. After the performance, Caroline Graham has craft expertise. Stoke Poges WI has opted to make our main house or one of the many agreed to address us on the subject of her writing and table a showcase of all that is best in creative cottages dotted around the grounds. especially Midsomer Murders. This should be a special needlework. Since early in February we have held sewing Latterly the college has been faced evening – a performance by top West End actors, a workshops and now happily, our table is filling up. with heavy bills to renew the heating delicious supper and the privilege of meeting a favourite Entrance to the fayre, which runs from 11 am to 3.30 and plumbing for the main house. In TV dramatist. pm, is free and there is ample parking. Come along and true WI spirit £83,000 has been raised Jane Bullas, Chair of Denman College (left) accepts our cheque for £225 from Anne Bunce, Joint President (right). support Stoke Poges WI and find some bargains before in the first two months. A Denman collection was made at our recent We have often marvelled at the art of Salvador Dali and the Christmas rush begins. meeting and we were delighted to present the College We congregate in the Garden Room of the Village Hall wondered what it is all about. On Monday 7 October with a cheque for £225 when we made our summer visit. at 12 noon for our AGM. We elect a president and a Anthony Slinn of the Slade College of Art will enlighten Our WI further education college, Denman College, is set committee to lead us through the year ahead. At 1 pm us with his lecture ‘Post Impressionists and Salvador Dali in the picturesque village of Marcham, near Oxford. The we adjourn to the hall, where we reward ourselves with Explained’. Our art day will take place in Cheddington Georgian mansion stands in 17 acres of beautiful, The talk on ‘New Genetics – Dream or Nightmare’ by a delicious, waitress-served lunch. Village Hall. Clare Richardson of the Victoria and Albert sculptured grounds. When the mansion came up for sale our September speaker, Dr Brenda Harold, could not have been better timed. We have heard so much about genetic engineering recently that we welcome the If you would like to join us at any of these events, opportunity to have an expert explain the intricacies of pop into the Village Hall at 2.15 pm on the second the subject. In October we have a rare treat in store: Mr Wednesday of the month. You can be sure of a       T. Brown will thrill us with his Victorian magic lantern warm welcome. show, using his own original slides. And so we come to Craniosacral therapy Shiatsu Massage Acupuncture November and the most important meeting of the year. Gwyn Alcock, WI Secretary ❃ Blissfully relaxing ❃ Safe, effective, gentle ❃ Eases pain, stress, anxiety, stiffness, low vitality Poetry Competition to Commemorate Thomas Gray’s Tercentenary ❃ Many cases improve even from the first session , set in the churchyard of St Giles’ Church, is one of Thomas Gray’s Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard the most famous and enduring poems in the English language. WWW.GET-U-WELL.CO.UK The Stoke Poges Society is pleased to announce the first of three annual poetry competitions to mark the tercentenary of his birth in 1716. The theme will be ‘Inspired by the Elegy’ and the first competition will be judged by local poet David Anthony, with cash prizes for the winners amounting to £500 in total. There will Lip Ong MRCST MBAcC MRSS BSc PhD be two categories for entrants: Junior (aged under 15) and Senior (aged 15 and over). Full details will be announced in October and will be published on the Thomas Gray Anniversary Facebook The Lanes Medical Practice page and on the anniversary website, which is currently under development. Winners will be announced in April 2014. If you would like to be kept informed, please email David Anthony; Plough Lane, Stoke Poges, 01753 662244 [email protected]

26 27 importance of safety to us. The children enjoyed handling some ‘real’ tools and discussing what they are used for. Rainbow We started July investigating colour, shape and number by going on an exciting ‘shape hunt’ making the most of our rural location. We created some wonderful pictures using material collected on our travels, noticing Pre-School the different shapes found in our natural environment. The beautiful weather continued for the rest of the term and meant we were able to hold our sports day and annual picnic in glorious sunshine for a change! The This year, for the first time, we ran the refreshment children, accompanied by their parents, were tent at the village fete, so when we decided to encouraged to participate in each sporting activity, launch ‘Ye Olde Cake Shoppe’ it was all hands on marking their achievement card as they went round. deck baking delicious cakes and goodies to Everyone received a certificate to celebrate their hard complement a relaxing cuppa. The weather was work and perseverance. Friends and family enjoyed beautiful and the cream teas proved particularly relaxing and socialising at the picnic and it was a chance popular. It was a fantastic opportunity to meet lots to share some fond farewells before the end of term. of past and present parents and children, some of whom are now working and others are at The term ended with our infamous leavers’ disco, with university. This raised the pre-school funds to entertainment being provided by teenagers who had purchase new and up-to-date ICT equipment. attended Rainbow in the past. They brought along all the latest sounds on the music scene and showed us all The second half of the summer term began with the the current hip and trendy dance moves. Even the play topic of ‘all about me’. The children enjoyed observing leaders learnt a few things. They also prepared a buffet, and painting one another and created some beautiful which was thoroughly enjoyed by children and staff self-portraits. We plotted graphs to chart our eye, hair alike. This was an opportunity to celebrate the children’s and skin colour and used these to discuss the time with us and wish them all well in their new      differences. settings. The following week we went fishing looking for the We will be returning in September, refreshed and ‘rainbow fish’, whilst listening to the story we discussed rejuvenated, ready and waiting to meet all our children the importance of sharing with our friends. We blew and their families. Following our settling-in period, we through coloured straws to create wonderful bubble will be looking at our ‘homes and families’. We will then pictures to go on the wall with our beautifully decorated be moving on to ‘the farm’ and expecting a visit from   8@7D2'(A $ 47&$4 )@2(6'4F 8@7)(AA276$4 A(@D2&( E2B1   &1(&3(' fish. The fantastic weather enabled us to enjoy our the mobile ‘petting farm’ to learn about animals first beautiful surroundings and have many of our activities hand. '@2D(@A 78(@$B260  A($B A8(&2$42AB D(12&4(A '(A206(' B7 $&&7557'$B( outside. We spoke about how to keep safe in the sun during the theme of the ‘beach’ and ‘holidays’ and we This busy half term will be brought to a close with our made sand castles and boats to float in the water tray. ‘family Hallowe’en disco’, which gives everyone, both young and old, the chance to dress up and have a good  2@87@B "@$6A)(@A  !32 "@28A During the last week of June we looked at the people time. who help us. The children dressed up as doctors, nurses,  @C2A( "@$6A)(@A  #(''260A firefighters and dentists amongst other professions and Following the half-term break we will be gathering we were lucky enough to have a visit from a local around the camp fire to enjoy jacket potatoes and  7@87@$B( D(6BA  !8(&2$4 D(6BA electrician, who explained his job and talked about the sizzling sausages whilst watching the colourful fireworks. We will also be celebrating Eid-ul-Adha,  (A873( !(@D2&(A  74) "@28A Diwali, and Hanukah whilst preparing for our Christmas festivities and activities. We would like to thank local residents who give their !8(&2$4 !32 $&3$0( 26&4C'(A 744(&B276 !32 !(@D2&(            time so freely in helping to support our pre-school. Your help is invaluable and appreciated by us all. $6' "@$6A)(@ B7 $2@87@B         We offer government-funded places for three- and four-        year-old children and non-funded for two-year-old 7@ 57@( 26)7@5$B276 76 7C@ E2'( @$60( 7) A(@D2&(A 7%B$26 $ 9C7B(  7@ %773 76426( D2A2B children – please contact us via phone or email to arrange an informal visit.                     Rainbow Pre-School, The Lair, Duffield Lane, Stoke Poges, Bucks. SL2 4AL         Tel. No.: 647572 Email: [email protected] Website: www.stokepogesrainbow.co.uk "(4 ())* ,,---     The Rainbow playleaders (5$24 26)78@7/A1CBB4(0&70C3

28 28 Societies Fair Village Hall The Parish Council and the Village Hall will host the third Village Stoke Poges Village Hall is a Societies Fair on the morning of Saturday 7 September between 10 am registered charity whose and 12 noon. With many of our societies resuming in the autumn object is to provide and following the summer break, it’s an ideal opportunity for parishioners maintain the village centre for to find out more about the impressively wide choice of hobbies and the benefit of local residents. interests offered here in the village without making the commitment At its annual general meeting in July it reported increased of going along to a society meeting evening. hire income and a small surplus. One highlight was We have seen an upsurge in commitment to village activities this the performance of the solar year as we demonstrate that Stoke Poges has a unique identity and panels, installed on the roof residents don’t regard themselves as residents of Slough. Both the of the club room, which village fete and flower show enjoyed record support and generated an income of attendances – there’s never been a better time to show the same £3800 during the year, level of commitment by taking part in our local societies. approximately 20 per cent better than forecast.

Both gas central heating Table Tennis in Stoke Poges boilers have failed and were Stoke Poges Table Tennis Club is one of the longest- uneconomic to repair. The established clubs in the area and caters for everyone from committee of management beginners to serious competitive players. agreed to replace them over the summer and expects their New members of all ages and abilities are welcome and more efficient design will membership fees are modest. We provide coaching for result in energy savings. The new players and have teams playing in the Maidenhead hall has applied to South & District League. Bucks District Council for a We meet every Tuesday evening at 7.30 pm at St village hall grant to cover 50 Andrew’s Hall in Rogers Lane from early September per cent of the cost of until late June. There is a strong social element to the installing new insulation to club and newcomers are made very welcome. the roof of the main hall. Come along one Tuesday evening and see what we have to offer. VILLAGE ELECTRICAL ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR Domestic • Industrial • Commercial Installations House Rewires • Fuseboard Upgrades • Security Lighting Fire Alarms • Emergency Lighting • Test and Inspection reports Work carried out to the 17th Edition Wiring Regulations BS7671 Part P Registered for Building Control

Contact John Croly 2 Broom Hill, Stoke Poges, Bucks SL2 4PU Tel: 01753 662595 Mobile: 07788 742163 Email: [email protected]

30 31 Milne Family Charity Walk

You may remember reading about the Milne Charity life. He has come a long way since then and we hope Stoke Poges Free Church other children born with HI will have the same Thames Walk in the last Stoke Poges News. Just to I recently heard a true story about a man who was That, in a nutshell, is what 1stSunday@4 is all follow this up, we reached our target of £10,000 and support and facilities that Charlie had. Our objective offered a cup of tea as he walked past a church. about: an informal, welcoming, friendly would like to thank everyone who contributed in any for doing the walk was to raise both awareness of HI He declined on the basis that, as a Satanic priest, environment where everyone’s welcome to come way, whether by supporting the preliminary quiz and funds to help other HI children. I think we he wouldn’t be welcome! To his surprise, he was along, enjoy some cake and a cuppa, hear a short night, a general donation (and there were many), achieved this. You can read more about Charlie’s heartily assured that, Satanist or not, there would meaningful message, raise questions and generally encouragement on our walk by accompanying us (a story on the Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital always be a friendly cuppa waiting for him in feel at home. bigger encouragement than you might think), website: http://bit.ly/15aVJyq the church! general good wishes or the provision of brownies, So if you’ve never been along, and you like the cookies, oatcakes, etc. during our journey. This made A big thank you to everyone. Like that man, we’ve probably all felt excluded at idea of mulling some of life’s deeper questions in all the blisters, aches and sore feet very worthwhile one time or another (even if it’s just from that an informal, friendly way, please feel assured that and we are absolutely delighted with the result. Peter Milne ‘cliquey’ group at work). Life’s better when people – young or old, religious or secular, male or female from different ‘groups’ can relate together with (and whatever else you can think of) – you’re So what will this money raised now be used for? It love and respect and we’re grateful that the parish always more than welcome to come along. Even if has gone to Great Ormond Street Hospital specifically council do so much to bring a sense of cohesion into their Hyperinsulinism (HI) Fund to be used for you’re a Satanic priest. research into new treatments both medically and to the village (including this magazine!). surgically to reduce the amount of time spent in I hope you have a great autumn; as always, details hospital by both patients and families. There is also As a pastor, I’m very aware that churches have about 1stSunday@4 and SPFC’s services and funding for specialists in feeding and developmental sometimes had a reputation for being ‘exclusive’ activities can be found at www.stokepoges disorders as these often go hand in hand with HI. communities. Sadly, some churches have deserved freechurch.org. And you’re always welcome to get It will also support ongoing work in expanding this reputation! But there’s a real irony here – in touch if you’d appreciate a chat (07956 407091 the ways contact can be made with parents to because Jesus was infamous for wining and dining / 315692 / [email protected]). open up new ways for patients to seek support with everyone. And in that culture, sharing dinner from professionals and one another all over the with the village drunks or the dodgy tax-collectors Yours sincerely globe. This is important considering the disease is was a big deal – it was Jesus’ way of saying ‘God Lewis Fry (on behalf of Stoke Poges Free Church) so rare and no two children display exactly the has time for you and cares about you’. Churches same symptoms. should be the most welcoming places on earth! Charlie Milne benefited from this and it is now two With that in mind, I was encouraged the other and a half years since he left Great Ormond Street day when an atheist friend of mine at Hospital, his home for the first three months of his 1stSunday@4 felt comfortable sharing a poem he’d written (which was very critical of the Bible!) without any fear of being thrown out or heckled!

31 33 Dates for your Diary

Sat 28 ‘The Maharajah’s Well and Local Sun 3 1stSunday@4, Free Church, Club September Inhabitants’ – talk by Angela Room, Village Hall, 4 pm Spencer-Harper, Hedgerley Historical Sun 1 1stSunday@4, Free Church, Society, Memorial Hall, Hedgerley, Fri 8 ‘Victorian Windsor’ – talk by Lesley Club Room, Village Hall, 4 pm 2.30 pm Grout, Middle Thames Archeological and Historical Society, St Andrew’s Tue 3 Photographic Society Welcome Edward Coke Memorial Lecture – Chapel, 7.30 pm Evening, Village Hall, 8 pm ‘Justice and Sir Edward Coke’ by The Right Honourable Lord Justice Sun 10 Remembrance Sunday, Thur 5 Stoke Poges Singers first rehearsal, St Giles’ Church, 10.50 am St Andrew’s Hall, 7.45 pm Laws PC, St Giles’ Church, 7.30 pm Mon 11 Remembrance Day Sat 7 Heather seed collection and talk on October Commemoration, Flagpole, fungi, Friends of Stoke Common, Hollybush Hill, 10.50 am Stoke Common, 10 am Thur 3 Badminton Club season opening, Main Hall, Village Centre, 8 pm Wed 13 Women’s Institute AGM and lunch, Bowls Club Finals, Polish Club Village Centre, 12 noon Sat 5 Birch clearance, Friends of Stoke Mon 9 Autumn Social Evening with talk Common, Stoke Common, 10 am Horticultural Society AGM, The ‘The Joy of Growing Orchids’ by Stoke Poges School, 8 pm Lydia E. Cobb, Horticultural Society, Sun 6 1stSunday@4, Free Church, Club The Stoke Poges School, 8 pm Room, Village Hall, 4 pm Wed 20 ‘Shakespeare – the Plays in Art’ – talk by Alan O’Cain, Hedgerley Wed 11 ‘The New Genetics’ – talk by Dr Mon 7 Art Day, Women’s Institute, Historical Society, Memorial Hall, Brenda Harold, Women’s Institute, Cheddington Village Hall, 10.30 am Hedgerley, 8 pm Village Centre, 2.15 pm Wed 9 ‘A Touch of Glass’ – talk by Mr T Fri 22 Men’s Group Dinner with Dr Patrick Fri 13 ‘Pirates, Pressgangs and Smugglers’ – Brown, Women’s Institute, Village Dixon, Bellhouse Hotel, 7.15 pm talk by Colin Oakes, Middle Thames Centre, 2.15 pm Archeological and Historical Society, December St Andrew’s Chapel, 7.30 pm ‘A Practical Guide to Bulbs, Corms, Tubers and Rhizomes’, Horticultural Sun 1 1stSunday@4, Free Church, Club Sat 14 Men’s Group breakfast with Yann Society, The Stoke Poges School, Room, Village Centre, 4 pm Dubreuil, Crown Inn, 8.15 am 8 pm Sat 7 Carols on the Green and Christmas Market, Village Centre, 5 pm Sun 15 ‘Andy Murray Open Day’, Fri 11 ‘Victorian Dresses’ - talk by Anne Tennis Club, Bells Hill rec., 2 pm McWhirter, Middle Thames Archeological and Historical Society, Weekly Club and Society Meetings Wed 18 ‘Henley-on-Thames: Inland Port to St Andrew’s Chapel, 7.30 pm Inland Resort’ – talk by Dr Simon Bridge Club, St Andrew’s Hall, Mondays at 1.30 pm Townley, Hedgerley Historical Stoke Poges Players, Harding Room, VIllage Society, Memorial Hall, Hedgerley, Centre, Mondays at 8 pm 8 pm Wed 16 ‘Thames Bridges’ – talk by Guy Gorton, Hedgerley Historical Society, Table Tennis Club, St Andrew’s Hall, Tuesdays at Wed 25 Food Debate, Women’s Institute, Memorial Hall, Hedgerley, 8 pm 7.30 pm Bucks New University, High Photographic Club, Main Hall, Village Centre, Wycombe, 7 pm Sat 26 Hedgerley Historical Society annual Tuesdays at 8 pm lunch followed by ‘Grandma Flew Scrabble Club, venue varies, Wednesdays at 2.30 pm Thur 26 Duke of Edinburgh Group open Spitfires’ – talk by Richard Poad meeting, Hitachi Data Systems, (booking required) St Giles’ Bellringers, St Giles’ Church, Wednesdays Sefton Park, 7.30 pm at 7.30 pm November Badminton, Main Hall, Village Centre, Thursdays at Fri 27 Roma’s Song – Supper/theatre, 8 pm Women’s Institute, The Gateway Sat 2 Birch clearance, Friends of Stoke Stoke Poges Singers, St Andrew’s Hall, Thursdays Aylesbury, 7.30 pm Common, Stoke Common, 10 am at 7.45 pm

34 35 Stoke Poges Duke of Edinburgh Award SolicitorsSolicitors Bronze expedition 2013 BuchanansBuchanans At the onset of the July heatwave, on the final The second day saw them again following a 15km weekend of Wimbledon, 26 young people set off pre-planned route and ending in Wendover. All on their two-day assessment expedition. In four the groups did really well as the conditions were groups, they set off from just north of Great very tough. None of us was used to that sort of Missenden and walked with everything they heat and many of the paths were very overgrown needed for the weekend. The first day followed a with brambles and stinging nettles. This was after route that they had chosen to the campsite at the practice expedition took place at Easter in the Green Park, Aston Clinton. Once there, they coldest weather we have ever experienced for the pitched camp, cooked their supper and settled for practice. Such extremes and well done to all who ConveyancingConveyancing || CommercialCommercial || the night, eager to set off early the next day completed! We are hoping that some will join us before the day warmed up too much. I don’t for the silver expedition this autumn. EmploymentEmployment || WillsWills || ProbateProbate || think any of them realised quite how early the crows wake up – 4.30 am on my watch! As well as the expeditions, the Duke of Edinburgh LitigationLitigation || ElderlyElderly ClientClient Award Scheme includes elements of skill, physical recreation and community service. The award is open to all young people between the ages of 14 and 25. To find out more, or to join the group BuchanansBuchanans SolicitorsSolicitors cancan assistassist contact Mandy Harrod, 662414 or come along to our next group meeting withwith allall thethe aboveabove andand more.more. at 7.30 pm on Thursday 26 September at Hitachi Data Systems, Sefton BuchanansBuchanans SolicitorsSolicitors isis aa Park, when the current bronze participants will friendly,modernfriendly,modern lawlaw firmfirm whichwhich be talking about their experiences. offersoffers aa broadbroad rangerange ofof servicesservices

Anne Milne andand aimsaims toto deliverdeliver clearclear adviceadvice Stoke Poges Award promptlypromptly andand costcost effectively.effectively. Leader CallCall usus forfor aa nono obligationsobligations chatchat Stoke Poges Post Office and Shop onon 0162801628 810810 707707 Post Office hours: Shop hours: Mon to Fri, 7 am - 6 pm Mon to Fri, 9 am - 5.30 pm 4 Suffolk House, Wooburn Green, Sat, 9 am to 12.30 pm Sat, 7 am - 1 pm Buckinghamshire HP10 0EU Sun, 8 am - 1 pm 44 SuffolkSuffolk House,House, Wooburn Wooburn Green,Green, [email protected] HP10HP10 0EU0EU For most of your everyday needs www.buchanansonline.com ● Newspapers ● Milk ● Bread ● Tea ● Coffee [email protected]@buchanansonline.com Unit 1, Giles House, Bells Hill Green ☎ 01753 648328 www.buchanansonline.comRegulatedwww.buchanansonline.com by the Solicitors Regulation Authority

36 37 South Bucks Sports Development

Return to Netball Ladies 16+ - Evreham Sports If you would like more information, please contact: benefits for everyone from those with medical Centre and Beacon Sports Centre Evreham Sports Centre, Swallow Street, Iver, problems to the super fit. There are two major Bucks, SL0 0HS benefits: the poles help propel the walker along, Thinking of returning to netball or want to try it for Tel: 672610 meaning you will work harder but the support the first time? ‘Better’ is working in partnership with makes it feel easier and, secondly, the upper England Netball to provide new Return to Netball The Beacon Sports Centre and Theatre body muscles are used as well as the legs. sessions for the residents of South Bucks. Whether Holtspur Way, Holtspur, Beaconsfield, Bucks, HP9 1RJ you enjoyed playing netball at school or stopped Tel: 01494 677764 The activity burns up to 46 per cent more playing more recently and would love to start again, calories than walking because of the additional this is perfect for you. Return to Netball is a great Teen Netball 12-16 years – upper body muscle usage. It can also help to way of meeting new people or trying a new sport in Evreham Sports Centre relieve and improve neck, back and joint pain a really fun way. Dodge, pass and shoot! This is your opportunity to by improving posture and reducing pressure take part in new and exciting teen netball sessions at on joints. Return to Netball is a great gentle introduction to Evreham Sports Centre in Iver. ‘Better’ is working in the sport for female players aged sixteen and over of partnership with England Netball to provide netball all abilities. All sessions are led by a fully qualified sessions for the teens of South Bucks. Ten-week courses and taster sessions regularly coach and will cover basic skills, development and take place at both Evreham Sports Centre in Iver court play. Teen Netball is a great sport for girls aged between and the Beacon Sports Centre in Beaconsfield. 12-16 years. All sessions are led by a fully qualified Return to Netball costs £3 for ‘Better’ members and coach and will cover basic skills, development and There is no need to book, just turn up and have £3.50 for non-members per session. court play. fun – poles are provided. The courses are led by a friendly, fully qualified Nordic Walking UK Evreham Sports Centre, Mondays, 7 pm - 8 pm These sessions are aimed at all abilities and focus on instructor. You do not need any previous nordic Beacon Sports Centre, Fridays 9 am - 10 am fun challenges to build skills and help you get active walking experience; the course is designed for in a fun way with friends. all levels of fitness from the non-sporty upwards.

A rolling ten-week course starts on Saturday 14 If you would like more information, please September at 11 am - 12 noon. contact either Evreham or The Beacon sports centres. If you would like more information, please contact Evreham Sports Centre. No Strings Badminton South Bucks District Council is working together Junior Netball 8-11 years – with Badminton England and ‘Better;’ to get Evreham Sports Centre people excited about a new and fresh Better has launched the massively popular entry badminton initiative. game of high five netball. It’s a great way for children to get active, enjoy themselves and make new Whether you’re a complete beginner or would friends. It’s designed specifically for children, aged 8- like to return to the sport, No Strings Badminton 11; the coach uses a variety of fun activities to get is a highly sociable way of keeping fit and them into the game, polish skills and aid fitness. This meeting new people. All sessions are ‘pay and course is ideal for young girls who want to have fun play’ and at only £3.50 a session, very with their friends and learn new skills all from a fully convenient and cost-effective. qualified netball coach.

A rolling ten-week course starts on Saturday 14 There are a variety of sessions to suit everyone, September at 10 am - 11 am. from families, over 50s to complete beginners. ‘Pay & Play’ sessions to suit you: If you would like more information, please contact The Beacon Centre, Wednesdays, Evreham Sports Centre. 5 pm - 6 pm and 6 pm - 7 pm The Beacon Centre, Fridays, Nordic Walking – Evreham Sports Centre and 11 am - 12 noon and 12 noon - 1 pm Beacon Sports Centre Evreham Sports Centre, Mondays, Better is launching exciting ten-week courses and 8 pm - 9 pm and 9 pm - 10 pm taster sessions in nordic walking, one of the fastest Evreham Sports Centre, Wednesdays growing fitness activities in the world. 8 pm - 9 pm and 9 pm - 10 pm.

Nordic walking is essentially a technique of walking If you would like more information, please with ski poles and is unique because it provides contact Evreham or The Beacon sports centres.

38 39 COMMUNITY SAFETY Stoke Poges Players The warm weather over the summer provided As the days get shorter and we put the clocks back, opportunities for opportunist thieves. Open doors and homes left unlit from mid-afternoon stick out like a sore ‘One of the best yet’ was one of the comments Upon windows are very tempting to criminals looking to steal thumb, indicating that they are unoccupied. If your from audiences who attended the May arriving in small, high value items like smart phones and tablet home is unoccupied during the day, consider investing in production of Out of Sight... Out of Murder London, Dick computers. Similarly there has been a spate of thefts a burglar alarm system (criminals are less likely to break written by Fred Carmichael, performed by Stoke finds the from sheds – bikes and garden machinery which were into a home fitted with an alarm) and either install a time Poges Players. streets are not adequately secured. Hopefully we still have a few switch on a few lights or install a dusk till dawn sensor weeks of good weather before us – please keep your lamp holder that will turn lights on automatically when it not as home secure and don’t leave doors open in view from starts getting dark. Can they do better? Of course they can. Oh no glittering as the road. they ... but wait until November for the answer he thought Theft from cars continues to be a threat. Criminals are as November will see the group celebrating 50 but decides interested in portable computers (laptops and tablets) years of entertaining the villagers of Stoke to stay as he and satellite navigation equipment. Car parks are most Poges with a golden-themed pantomime, has fallen in Parish Email vulnerable – in our parish that includes pubs, hospitals Dick Whittington. love with a and sports facilities, but it’s best to develop the habit of pretty girl. All being careful even when parking at home. Newsletter The principal parts have been cast but the is going well for Dick and the cat but then he is The modus operandi appears to be that if a criminal drama group would welcome other local groups falsely accused of being a thief. and Facebook thinks there’s a fair chance of finding something in your or individuals who would like to help them car, he will smash a window and have a look. Marks on celebrate with a guest spot, a part in the chorus What happens next? Does he clear his name? the windscreen made by the suction cup of a phone or Does he win the hand of the pretty girl? Over the first six months of 2013 there has or a backstage role so we can make this year’s satellite cradle are a strong indication – the thief assumes pantomime a truly memorable show. Come What very rewarding role does the cat play in been a series of public meetings arranged to that you have stowed your electronics in the glove box along at 8 pm on a Monday to the Harding helping Dick? provided updates on developments in the or under a seat. Likewise a bag left in the car will tempt a break-in, even a jacket or coat left on a seat. Never Room at the Village Centre, Rogers Lane, Stoke free school issue. transfer valuables to your boot/hatchback when parking Poges or ring Linda on 677032 if you want to Come along to the Village Centre, Rogers Lane, as thieves often hang around car parks looking for join in the fun. Stoke Poges to find out. Performances are: The Parish Council has posted details on its opportunities. Always take your valuable electronic items noticeboards, website and Facebook page. with you. The pantomime sees Dick (Richard) Whittington at 7.30 pm on Thursday 28, Friday 29 and on his way to London where the streets are Saturday 30 November with a 2.30 pm matinee An enthusiastic team of volunteers has also Our neighbourhood police team undertook a series of delivered flyers to every house in the parish. speed checks on local roads over the summer. In a half- paved with gold. He stops to help a cat in on Saturday. To reserve your tickets call Linda, hour session on Bells Hill they stopped five vehicles and distress and they become best friends. 677032 or email: To keep up to date with the latest gave ‘words of advice’. The police report noted that [email protected] or visit our most of the people stopped were local residents who website: www.wix.com/stokepoges developments, sign up for the Parish were complacent about the speed they were travelling. players/home Council’s email newsletter on its website The police team has issued a warning that they will be (www.stokepogesparishcouncil.gov.uk) and carrying out regular spot checks and will be dealing like the Facebook page. Also check the Parish robustly with offenders. Council’s website regularly for important If you wish to receive the latest crime prevention news items – you will find links in the right alerts and local information direct from Thames Valley hand sidebar. Police, navigate to www.thamesvalleyalert.co.uk and click on the big green button marked ‘join’ at the top of the page.

DOMESTIC & COMMERCIAL ROOFING U.P.V.C FASCIA SOFFIT AND GUTTERING

96 ROGERS LANE STOKE POGES BUCKS SL2 4LL           

40 40 Vicar’s Letter ‘God is good all of the time. All of the time God is war, over 6,000,000 families contributed something to good.’ That is the testimony of countless Christians fill the cars. The 52,000 gifts included children’s living through what we would think were drawings, ashtrays made of broken mirrors, worn shoes, horrendous circumstances. In the first chapter of hand crocheted doilies, a jewelled Légion d’Honneur James’ letter (v. 16-17) we read: ‘Don’t be deceived, once presented to Napoleon, the bugle which signalled my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and the Armistice signing at Compiègne in 1918, 50 rare perfect gift is from above, coming down from the paintings, the first motorcycle ever built, and a Louis XV Father of the heavenly lights, who does not carriage. The President of France contributed forty-nine change like shifting shadows.’ delicate Sèvres vases and the city of Lyon provided dozens of silk wedding dresses. By 1948 the boxcars In other words, we can trust His goodness, receive the were filled to capacity. When the Magellan sailed from good as gifts from God – rather than blame Him for the Le Havre, nine thousand gifts had to be left on bad, know that He wants the best for us, and know that the docks. He can even work good out of bad things. We can do this because God has demonstrated His love and Why such gratitude? Well, apart from the massive commitment to us in sending Jesus to die as our Rescuer wartime help, in 1947 an American Friendship Train on the Cross. We can do this also because the Holy Spirit carried $40 million in relief supplies to France and Italy, pours God’s Love into our hearts. over 700 boxcar loads of food, fuel and clothing, donated by the citizens of the United States, brought Do you remember the story of the Gratitude Train? relief to war-torn Europe. Gratitude is a wonderful thing, it enables us to enjoy what we have and inspires us to be generous in our giving to others. The Gratitude Train arrived in New York Harbour aboard the Magellan, a French merchant ship, in February 1949. John Wesley said: ‘Do all the good you can, by all the The Gratitude Train, a gift from France, contained 49 means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places boxcars. Each car was filled with gifts to the people of you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you the United States from the people of France. Even can, as long as ever you can.’ though many French families had very little left after the Let me encourage you to join us at the Harvest Festival (6 October) to give thanks to God for our food and to ARNOLD generously give to those who have far less than we do. Let me also encourage you to join us on Remembrance FUNERAL SERVICE Sunday (10 November) as we remember with gratitude Independent family business those multitudes whose sacrifice preserved our freedom. Traditional and Alternative Funerals Home Visits by appointment Above all, even when life is hard, hold fast to the Pre-payment plans available goodness of God and live together in a way that demonstrates it.

273 Farnham Road, Revd Harry Latham Slough 01753 535556 Stoke Poges Bowls Club 38 Oak End Way We are enjoying our outdoor season. The men have Gerrards Cross played in the Bucks Cup and the ladies in the Vi Trundell Trophy, both county competitions. We also 01753 891892 have three teams in the Bucks league which goes on until September. also at Marlow High Wycombe Our club competitions are now underway, our finals 01628 898866 01494 472572 day being Saturday 7 September. We also are Beaconsfield enjoying playing in our friendly games, both 01494 685000 midweek and at weekends. Anyone interested in trying bowls, (coaching is www.arnold-funerals.co.uk available), please contact us on 642341. 24 HOUR SERVICE Judy Smelt, Hon. Secretary

42 42 The Stoke Poges Society Hydrangea 'Vanilla Fraise'

Annual Village Walk, Tuesday 12 May The business of the election of Society Officers was then They sketched, took photographs, compiled diaries of undertaken, though the Chairman indicated that he felt their activities and finally came together, all 60 of them, It was our bad luck to choose a particularly wet evening he could not continue in the position of Chair given the in the shadow of the monument to do a complete for the annual village walk, but a small and determined expansion of his other activities, and what he felt to be reciting off by heart of Gray’s Elegy Written in a Country group led by Diana le Clercq braved the elements, and the need for a fresh face and voice for such a public role. Churchyard. It was so appropriate for them to do this at took advantage of the absence of golfers on the Stoke However, in the absence of an immediate successor, he this time, as the Gray tomb had recently been restored Park driving range to walk over to the Coke Monument indicated his readiness to continue for the time being. with the support of a Heritage Lottery Grant, which will which is normally out of bounds. Noreen Strickland- No nomination for a successor was forthcoming. The also provide the means to renovate the Gray Cooper kindly allowed the walk to start at Stoke Park rest of the committee was duly re-elected. Monument. The children were able to see how the area Gray’s Farm and the participants heard about the Quiet around the monument had also been cleared of the Elegy ‘tolled the Garden. Many thanks to Jane Wall, as usual, for The guest speaker for the evening was Harvey Stephens, weeds and stifling undergrowth. knell of parting day’. It was a providing the much-needed refreshments back at the Head Gardener at the Savill Garden in Windsor Great lovely moment for the children when the bells Village Club. It is planned to repeat the walk and Park. He told us the ‘inside story’ of the garden, its Members of the Stoke Poges Society, helped by the from St Giles’ Church tower pealed out across hopefully in better weather when more can enjoy it. development, and particularly the development of the Friends of Stoke Common, spent a Saturday in April the meadow. (Thanks to Robert Lister and the bell- iconic Savill Building opened in 2006 and the new Rose hacking and slashing, removing the mass of brambles ringing team!) Society AGM, 11 June Garden opened by Her Majesty the Queen in 2010. and stinging nettles and clearing the ditch, the ha-ha as it’s called, and followed up their efforts with a day in In the days following, the pupils devoted their time to We were treated to a feast of horticultural images producing paintings, journals, tourist brochures, Some 60 members of the Society gathered in St May devoted to planting primroses, cowslips, foxgloves with some fascinating facts about propagation and photographs and, of course, their own poems. The high Andrew’s New Hall on Tuesday 11 June for the annual and snowdrop bulbs which we look forward to seeing in diseases, and shown some of the latest plans for the quality of work that resulted shows how much they had general meeting. Roger Askew, the present Chair, gave bloom during the coming months. The area has now garden’s onward development, for example, the new engaged with the project, how much of an impact this an account of the year’s events, reported on the been transformed. summer wood where 500 hydrangeas have recently aspect of our village’s history and heritage can have on liveliness and health of the society now four years old, been planted. our children, and how important it is to protect and and outlined the events for 2013-14, including a coach The children were also able to see the recently restored tomb which contains the remains of Gray’s aunt Mary, preserve for future generations the peace and tranquillity outing to Cambridge to see Thomas Gray’s two so eloquently expressed in Gray’s world-famous poem. colleges, Peterhouse and Pembroke, our members’ The talk prompted a lot of interest, and a visit to the his mother Dorothy and the poet himself who had evening with a World War theme in February 2014 and garden was immediately proposed. The present arranged for the burials and devised the inscription. the now firmly established annual dinner at Stoke Park. chairman, being a volunteer guide there, declared Adjacent to the Gray Tomb is another in similar style, Important note about the restored Given the healthy state of the finances he was happy to himself delighted to show a group round some time in also containing the remains of a mother, this time of Gray Tomb say that the cost of the coach hire for the Cambridge the future. Sarah Duckworth, the wife of Henry Duckworth, vicar of trip would be substantially subsidised out of funds to St Giles’ in the 1760s. Their son, John Duckworth, had The Thomas Gray Anniversary Fund Committee wishes keep the cost down. The society will also be purchasing The Thomas Gray Anniversary Fund risen in his naval career to the rank of admiral, and was to express its disappointment that the inscription on the a high quality portable sound system which will be used conspicuous in various important incidents at sea. Gray Tomb has not been made more legible during the indoors or outdoors for a variety of events. The Thomas On Tuesday 11 June, 60 pupils from Year 6 of The Stoke restoration process. The church authorities at both Gray Anniversary Fund was proceeding well – please see Poges School spent a day exploring the world of Thomas Time was also spent in the Penn-Gray Museum, which is diocesan and central levels were categorical that it could the separate report. A huge debt of gratitude is owed Gray at St Giles’ Church. After a walk across Hastings part of the Memorial Gardens, where they saw paintings not be re-cut. One of the most important features of to Diana le Clercq who had with undiminished Meadow, abundant with wild flowers, they spent time of Thomas Gray and memorabilia associated with the the Tomb is the inscription, written by Gray himself in enthusiasm and tenacity pursued the project to its in small groups in four places: at the newly restored Gray Penn family who owned Stoke Poges Manor. They elegant and affecting language. We shall be pursuing present successful state. A presentation to Diana was Tomb; inside St Giles’ Church; in the Penn-Gray Museum learned how John Penn had the monument erected in this further, with the hope that the authorities will

made on behalf of the Society. and finally by the huge Gray Monument. 1799 and they saw the actual bell that, in the words of reconsider their decision. t

Diana le Clercq, David Anthony of the Harvey Stephens, Head Gardener, TGAF and Stuart from the National Trust introducing his staff to Her Majesty, Children from The Stoke Poges School at by the Gray Monument 7 June 2010 the Gray monument The monument site cleared The restored tomb

44 45 The Stoke Poges Society continued

The Edward Coke Memorial Lecture – The lecture will be followed by a wine and nibbles of five traders known as ‘The Metric ‘Justice and Sir Edward Coke’ reception at Stoke Park. Martyrs’ who had been convicted in 2001 under the Weights and The Edward Coke Memorial Lecture will be held on Tickets are now on sale. Lecture only at £12.50 / lecture Measures Act of 1985 (Metrication) Saturday 28 September, at 7.30 pm in St Giles’ Church. and reception £25.00 (Reception open to lecture ticket- of selling produce, fruit, vegetables, It will be the second such lecture, the first being in 2008 holders). Please apply to Jane Wall, 143 Vine Road, fish, etc. using imperial measures, when Shami Chakrabarti, founder of Liberty delivered Stoke Poges, SL2 4DH, 645954. i.e. in pounds not kilogrammes. Sir her lecture on ‘Liberty and The Law’. The idea had been John Laws, in his judgment, stated the brainchild of Lionel Rigby, former Chairman of the The Right Honourable Lord Justice that there were constitutional rights Parish Council and a South Bucks District Councillor, in Laws PC more important than governmental whose memory the first lecture was given. This year’s legislation – and referred back to lecture will be given by the eminent lawyer and Appeal Sir John Laws is one of the country’s leading lawyers. Magna Carta in 1215, the Petition Court Judge, Sir John Laws. It will not have escaped Called to the Bar in 1970, he was appointed a ‘Bencher’ of Right of 1628 (see article below anyone’s notice that we are holding this lecture in a year (a senior member of an Inn of Court ) and a Recorder in on Sir Edward Coke), the Bill of when the village’s attention is turned towards legal 1985. He served in the Queen’s Bench Division of the Rights of 1689, i.e. that the matters and the rights of local communities and High Court from 1992, at which time he received his individual is protected from the individuals in relation to government legislation. This knighthood and in 1999 was appointed to the Court of overbearing power of the state, Sir John Laws will be a most aptly timed event. Sir John Laws’ lecture Appeal as a Lord Justice, and also appointed to the whether monarch or parliament. is entitled ‘Justice and Sir Edward Coke’. His particular Privy Council. interest is the relation between the state and the He has written extensively on legal matters, his most individual (please see separate articles on Sir John Laws His most notable decision as an Appeal Court Judge was notable contribution being ‘Law and Democracy’, which and Sir Edward Coke). in 2002, and extremely controversial it became, the case asserts that the constitution would be undemocratic if it gave all the power under it to the elected government. Sir Edward Coke Therefore it is the constitution, and not parliament, that should be sovereign in the British constitution. without one, Coke retired to Stoke Poges. Despite his advanced age, Coke was still in good health, until one Sir John has a local interest, in his capacity as Visitor to day his horse fell on him. He refused to consult any    Cumberland Lodge in Windsor Great Park. His doctors, saying he was suffering from ‘a disease which recreations include Greece, living in London and all the drugs of Asia, the gold of Africa, nor all the philosophy. We are privileged to be having him as guest doctors of Europe could cure – old age’.        speaker for this significant lecture. Future society events    Sir Edward Coke          Tuesday 10 December – Christmas Event, St Andrew’s Sir Edward Coke (pronounced ‘Cook’), 1552-1634, was New Hall, 8 pm one of this country’s most important lawyers, and lived in Stoke Poges at the Manor House from 1618 to 1634. Tuesday 12 February – Members’ Evening ‘Are We As Attorney General (a predecessor of our own MP, Downhearted, No!’ – memories of the World Wars – Dominic Grieve), he was the prosecutor in some famous Stoke Green Cricket Club, 8 pm  treason trials, most notably that of the Earl of Essex in    1601, Sir Walter Raleigh in 1603 – both were executed – Saturday 17 May – a Walk in Langley Park, time tba.   and in 1605 he prosecuted the eight main Gunpowder     Plotters, including Guy Fawkes. In 1628 Coke was the Society Membership main figure behind the Petition of Right which upheld the ‘rights and liberties’ of free Englishmen, including If you wish to join the society, please contact the freedom from taxation without parliamentary approval, Membership Secretary, Jane Wall, 143 Vine Road, Stoke the right of habeas corpus, a prohibition on soldiers Poges, SL2 4DH, 645954. Please visit our website: being billeted in houses without the owner’s will and a http://www.bucksvoice.net/stoke-poges-society/ where prohibition on imposing martial law on civilians. The you will find details of forthcoming events and an Petition was approved on 17 May 1618, which was met Edward Coke Memorial Lecture ticket booking form. with the ringing of church bells and the lighting of Any further enquiries regarding the Society may be  bonfires throughout the country. After Charles I made to the Chairman, Roger Askew, 644582 or dissolved Parliament in 1629, deciding to govern [email protected]

46 47 News from The Stoke Poges School A busy term has come to an end and we learnt about the famous poet, Thomas Gray, who lived celebrated another successful year. We said in Stoke Poges in the eighteenth century. Diana and farewell to two of our wonderful teachers, Miss Roger from The Stoke Poges Society kindly spent time Fletcher and Mrs Watkins, who are both moving sharing their knowledge with us and taking us to St on to teach and further their careers elsewhere. Giles’ Church. Whilst there, we visited his tomb, monument and the museum dedicated to him. We even Year 6 has had an action-packed end to their time at recited his Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard in primary school. Once the SATS were over, they enjoyed a front of his monument (all 32 verses!). week-long stay in France. There were trips on a narrow boat and a visit to Harry Potter World. The annual Police Pupils from Years 4 and 5 enjoyed an outdoor Week was pronounced the best ever, thanks to the experience on the Ross-on-Wye PGL trip and, for the enthusiasm of local PCSOs Kam and Bill. The musical first time, Year 3 pupils were offered a residential trip to production at the end of term, The Pirates of the Curry Shortenills Centre, Chalfont St Giles, Bucks. The children Bean, was full of laughter and dance with some of the had a great time and it looks like becoming another best singing ever heard in the hall! regular fixture on our already crowded calendar. For the second year running a group of staff and parents completed the 56-mile cycle ride from London to Art Week was hugely successful. This was an The school's prize-winning display at the flower show opportunity for the children to be as creative and Brighton, raising money for the British Heart Foundation. imaginative as they liked and the school was transformed into a fantastic exhibition of paintings, It has been a very busy but successful and productive sculptures and drawings. Each year group or class was term on the sporting front. proud of the team’s determination, skill and all-round the children’s produce grown in the garden in the adult inspired by a great artist, including Antoni Gaudi, Wassily spirit. The boys were delighted at reaching the final, classes at the show. It will be interesting to see if the Kandinsky and Roy Lichtenstein, to create their own In gymnastics, following our trio win in the British where they were narrowly beaten by Chesham Prep. children’s fruit and vegetables win any prizes against the original artwork. In conjunction with Art Week, Year 6 Schools Championship in March, our mixed team of grown-ups! Tom McFarlane, Amar Bhachu, Ella Jeffers, Kaliska This year’s sports day was rather drier than last year’s! Nowers, Becky Matthews and Rachael Parker competed There were smiles and cheers all round as the children As a lovely finale to the year we held a Decade Day to in the largest gymnastics competition in Europe, held in jumped, skipped, hopped and ran as fast as their legs celebrate the tenth anniversary of the school being on May in Stoke on Trent. The team performed brilliantly, would carry them on a glorious summer’s day. The one site. After a family picnic, parents were entertained DRIFTERS RFC especially as they were without first-choice gymnasts children were enthusiastic and full of energy to compete with music and speeches. A display of archive materials, Gemma Matthews due to illness and Connor Watson for their house. The four teams battled it out in many including photographs, old registers and discipline books due to injury, to finish in fifth place in the individual events; it was a close competition but the house scoring kept visitors busy and the afternoon was rounded off school competition. Their score was then combined with the most points overall was Red house. All the children with a cream tea. the rest of the South’s team, Maltman’s Green (girls) tried their hardest and were good sports. and Chalfont St Peter (boys) in the inter-regional final. If you would like to find out more about The Stoke   We’re delighted to report that the South finished as In July we were visited by the President of the Fulmer, Poges School, please visit our website British Champions. Wexham and Stoke Poges Horticultural Society and our http://www.thestokepogesschool.ik.org C&"863%9 school garden was awarded the Schools Cup for the The highlight of the season was our school representing third year in a row. This year we were awarded first prize Anne Frank 605A9"@F5&05"5&G South Buckinghamshire in five of the seven sports at in all four competitions held by the society to encourage the Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes School Games schools to be more involved in gardening and inspire a "85)"464465 held in High Wycombe earlier this month. We were new generation of growers. The competitions were for privileged to be asked to provide the flag bearer and tallest beanstalk, tallest sunflower, best recycled      Year 6 pupil, Zakiah Samuels, carried it with pride. There container garden (for our lovely Rainbarrow by the "4@65665 must have been at least 2000 people at the event and it school entrance) and best overall garden. The judges #! !  $#! ! # A5%"C68505(9'864 was an exhilarating day, enjoyed by competitors and were particularly impressed by the lovely Rainbow #! !  $#! ! # spectators alike. Challenge gardens planted up by each year group  &7@&4#&8 showing fruit vegetables and flowers featuring every    #  ! A(#C!6@905%6689 The cricket season started off with a great deal of rain colour of the rainbow. They were surprised and and as a result of cancellations and poor weather delighted by the Very Hungry Caterpillar theme in   "" conditions, we were faced with a possible four matches Year 3. The judges commented that very few highly "#! 516C#8&"2'"9@"@@)&80'@&89$"'D in three days! The first round match against Little experienced gardeners could have grown such a variety Chalfont was very close and the boys managed to win of fruit and vegetables to such an outstanding standard  #!  " by two runs! Next, we played Monks Risborough away because of the late spring and challenging growing "3$634--.-.-- and secured an impressive victory by some 60 runs. conditions this year. We are very proud to have achieved   !# BBB%80'@&898'$$64 Finally on Friday 14 June, finals day took place at the such high praise from the experts and decided to open idyllic setting of Stowe School. Stoke Poges played the school garden to the public at the Annual Show,  !" #$!"$ !  # & Great Missenden in the semi-final. We were extremely held in the school grounds. We are planning to enter

48 49 Friends of Stoke Common

We’ve run through the year’s seasons in Footpath repairs, an annual bashing of the three months, a blustery changeable bracken and some pine seedling removal by a spring, wintery early summer but in July strong force of over a dozen brings us up to date came the reward of a record-breaking at the height of this memorable summer. Our last scorcher of a summer. task of the season in August will be footpath way-marking, possibly using Stoke Common Gusty spring winds kept our kites aloft on our kite oak markers. flying event in May. A keen bunch of kite constructors struggled with the elements to make Two heavy downpours and the Common is revived their kites but they flew like birds! We had an after the dry hot days. In the dusk the two recently excellent turnout of innovative kiters, provoking cleared glades look as if they have been there for a debate ‘tail on or tail off’. Which is more years. effective? A trial flight of kite-borne aerial photography provided an interesting conclusion Our Autumn programme is as follows:- and by late afternoon, a posse of red kites (the birds) made it clear that we had invaded their Saturday 7 September, Heather seed collection space for long enough. followed by a talk on fungi by Penny Cullington.

You might be forgiven for thinking that we Also on Saturday 7, if you are not already with expend rather too much of our energy on frivolous us on the Common, you may like to check us kite flying but we do come down to earth and out at the Stoke Poges Societies Fair at the beaver away on the Common. Village Centre.

The covers, laid down some months before, were Saturday 5 October, birch clearing. removed by some of our volunteers and a Beeches expert. What did they find? Have a look at the Saturday 2 November, birch clearing and Burnham Beeches page for details. burning again and with a bit of luck baked potatoes for lunch. Meanwhile, the rest of us were constructing a hibernaculum, the large mound you may have Saturday 14 December, we usually have a fun noticed on the west side of the Common, to Christmas special and build our, by now, familiar provide a habitat for insects. The mound is Christmas tree. mulching down and a larger creature, having burrowed in, seems intent on sharing occupancy We meet at 10 am, at the Pickeridge gate to with the insects. the Common on Stoke Common Road. If you are late, consult the map posted on the gate,  showing the work site for the day. We work until 3.30 pm but you need work only as long as you want. Bring a packed lunch if you intend staying all day. Hot drinks and biscuits are provided. We hope you consider giving us a try. It’s not all hard work. We all enjoy our healthy days on the Common and you might too. Have a look at our website – www.friendsofstokecommon.org.uk or call Marian; 644203. !1$ Marian Payne

50 51 Recreation report... Recreation report... Recreation report... StokeCommon Rangers’ Update At the time of writing the country may well be in the middle of a heatwave but the Saera Carter chairs much activity in both the need for major village together by City of London staff at Stoke Common are already in the midst of planning the Recreation and recreation grounds works in the long term. fundraising for the work for the coming winter! Environment with families ‘Keep Our Village a Committee of the picnicking, playing, Dog fouling Village’ fighting fund. The programme will include clearance of smaller on the west side. They are the same animals as in Parish Council. Here’s socialising and We have many dog We hope everyone scrub by volunteers using hand tools as well as previous years and with each year they become her update on generally enjoying waste bins in the who has taken part has further mulching work and tree clearance to more familiar with the habitat and the people current projects. village life. We hope recreational areas as enjoyed making new restore heathland areas. The management work who use it and this has a calming influence on that you continue to well as on the friends and continues to show a positive impact; a recent their behaviour. They continue to do the essential Recreation grounds get many years of surrounding footpaths. acquaintances. We plant survey has found several small seedlings (to job of keeping the heathland areas open as well You may have noticed enjoyment from these The bins are used, have a quiz night on add to the existing older plants) of the unusual as managing the grass in the fire break behind that long-awaited new parish assets. sometimes to their full September 20 and an heathland plant Petty whin, Genista anglica Vine Road. toddler equipment has In Bells Hill recreation capacity, however, auction of promises will growing on West Common. Further surveys are been installed in both ground we have there are sadly a few be arranged for Plough Lane and Bells undertaken a thorough (we suspect) October/ November. being carried out to look for rare plants and to The Rangers again ran a publicity campaign to Hill recreation grounds. cut of all the boundary inconsiderate and We also have a raffle gather information on how the more common remind dog walkers to keep their dogs under This work has been hedgerows and trees. selfish dog owners for an iPad. If you heathland communities are developing. An close control during the bird nesting season and going on over the last This work took place who continue to allow would like to buy additional survey looking at the archaeology of whilst the cattle are on the common, and to ask three years in an over a few days and their dogs to foul on tickets, please contact the site has also been carried out and the City of them to ensure they always clear away after endeavour to improve we thank the the footpaths and the Clerk to the Parish London awaits the findings. their pets. what we have to offer surrounding residents grassed areas. (contact details on our youngest villagers, for their patience and page 67). If you have Earlier in the year the Rangers and volunteer The hot, dry spell brought the ever present as well as replace old, understanding. We Please ask yourself: is it any fundraising group, the Friends of Stoke Common (FOSC) concern of heathland fire into sharper focus and worn-out equipment. hope that you that difficult to clean suggestions or would carried out a reptile survey of the whole site. We so the City’s team were pleased to see the understand that regular up after your pets? We like to help please let are still waiting for the full results to be collated Buckinghamshire Fire Service carrying out their During the summer maintenance is cost believe that we have us know. but it is already confirmed that there are breeding annual drill in mid-July. The exercise was a useful months there has been effective in preventing provided enough bins populations of all four common species: grass opportunity for them to ensure their crews are to make it easy for Carols on the Green snake, slow worm, viviparous lizard and adder. familiar with the common, to test how quickly everyone to clean up. Plans are underway for The Rangers would like to thank volunteers for they can get their fire fighting equipment to the Stoke Poges Badminton Club We also employ this year’s Christmas their tremendous effort, putting in well over 100 heart of the common and, most importantly, to someone to clear the festivities which will The next season of Stoke Poges Badminton Club hours of volunteer time for the survey. check the pressure and flow of water from recs of litter and dog take place on Saturday hydrants and their own tanks. will start on Thursday 3 October at 8 pm (until mess. It’s fair to say 7 December. Carols on The cows returned to the Common again this 10 pm) in the main hall of the Village Centre. that the Parish Council the Green is an We are a friendly, medium standard, badminton summer with 16 on the main common and four Chris Morris club and are always pleased to see and welcome is doing what it can to opportunity for the new members. So if you are looking for a great make these areas clean village to come Thursday evening as the autumn sets in, do join and safe. Please ask together to enjoy the us for some friendly exercise. yourself if you are too. tradition of Christmas, To this end the Parish with friends and Phil Taylor; 01628 665616; Council will now neighbours. This free [email protected] investigate the use of event is open to the CCTV cameras in the whole village, recreational areas in an regardless of age or endeavour to catch the religion, so please join SPORTS AND offenders. You have us – we look forward HOLISTIC MASSAGE THERAPIST been warned! to welcoming you. Massages to promote relaxation and wellbeing Melinda Swallow ITEC Diploma/Embody/CThA Village Fighting Fund Further information will This year we have be provided in the Tel. 01753 642748 arranged many winter edition of this Mobile Manicures/Pedicures and OPI Gels Nails opportunities to magazine, published at socialise and bring our the end of November.

52 52 Royal Baby’s Parish Link Congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the birth of their son, Prince George of Cambridge!

George Alexander Louis, who was born on 22 July, is third in FAFAMAMILLYY FFUNERAL DIRECIRECTORSRS line to the throne through his paternal royal and aristocratic blood. However, through his mother’s side, George’s ancestry can be traced back to Stoke Poges! SerServing the In fact, Prince George’s great- great-great-grandparents, Amelia White and Theophilus local community Benjamin Chandler were married in St. Giles’ Church on 22 November, 1868. Whilst for 3 generations Theophilus, a plasterer, was originally from a village near Under the personal supersupervision of Eric, Petula,etula, RRobert and Tina     Our family caring for yyourour family The prrooffeessional and   personal service for whwhich   " ! we arere rerenowned is aavailable   day and night Malvern in Worcestershire, he lived in Stoke Poges for    a time in the 1860s, where he met Amelia. Amelia’s connections to South Bucks can be traced further • Priivvate Chapels of Rest !" ! back, as she was born in Iver in 1846. Her father, • Pre-Paidaid Funeral Plans Uriah White, was a baker and in the 1860s they were • Horse Drawnwn Funerals 㾎    living at 56 Bath Road, which at the time was in the parish of Stoke Poges. • Facilities fofor the ddisabled 㾎  Theophilus and Amelia moved around the country • If youy wish arrangementsrangements 㾎     after their marriage, living in Staffordshire and can be made in the Oxfordshire, before moving back to South Bucks and privacy of yourour home 㾎     settling in New Denham. They had eight children in        all, but it is Edith Eliza Chandler, who was born in 㾎 New Denham in 1889 who is George’s great-

great-grandmother. OF F    ION UN T E 㾎 A R I C A O L

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54 55 Cllr Ray Aldridge The South Buckinghamshire Clubhouse is going up As this edition of Stoke Poges News was closing, the very sad news came that Ray passed away on Saturday 27 July. Ray had been a parish The foundations have for the start of the peak course and the nine-hole councillor since 1995 and he has engaged and contributed diligently been laid and the walls of summer season. Whilst Academy course just a on parish matters, always showing a particular concern for the young the new clubhouse at the the structure is going up, mile away. Other benefits people of our parish. In his 18 years of service to the village, as a parish South Buckinghamshire an experienced interior include the right to an councillor, he has chaired the Recreation and Environment Committee Golf Course are on their design team is finalising official handicap, and the Finance and General Purposes Committee and was Vice way up. the new stylish décor, discounts in the bar Chairman of the Parish Council. which will add the finish and restaurant and the Located on the site of the touches to this stunning option to book a round However, Ray has served Stoke Poges for many years. Ray provided a old greenkeepers’ new building. of golf up to ten days in minibus service around the village, taking children to school. This gave We operate a volunteer-run village car Ray a unique connection with all generations of parishioners, for scheme to help parishioners who find it compound, the new advance. Various season whom he would always find time for a friendly chat. Ray’s enthusiasm difficult to get to medical appointments clubhouse will enjoy It is business as usual as ticket options are for young people was also evident in his commitment to youth work, independently. The car service is provided splendid panoramic views the new clubhouse is available to allow regular scouting and to fostering. mainly for residents without local family across the course and will built, so you can continue golfers to play unlimited members who would be able to assist. make a fantastic venue for to use on- and off-course golf all year. Ray was as pleased as anyone with the great strides the parish council all to use whether a golfer facilities as normal. has made over the last three years in upgrading the village’s play areas Anyone who has mobility challenges or not. Its function rooms For further details or to to a standard the parish deserves and he has played an enthusiastic (whether temporary or not) can register can hold private parties Memberships for the book online visit part in our annual ‘Carols on the Green’, training as a marshal so that as a scheme member. and social events. South Buckinghamshire www.thesouth our roads are closed and safe for the procession. Golf Club are available buckinghamshire.co.uk We ask our scheme members to help our The build is on schedule to which offer discounted or contact the pro shop volunteers by wherever possible taking open in early 2014 in time rates at the 18-hole golf on 643332. appointments at clinics as near to the village as possible and by providing our scheme coordinator with as much notice as possible – at least a week. We ask for advance notice because our volunteers have jobs and other commitments, including holidays.

If you would like to join our team of volunteers, we would like to hear from you. You will need a clean driving licence, have a fully insured, road-legal car and will be asked to submit a CRB check (which the scheme pays for).

For further information, please contact the scheme secretary, Saera Carter; Ray was a 647525. great sport – here in a happy moment in the Aunt Sally at the fete In his contribution as a parish councillor, Ray was ‘Mr LAPTOP & PC Dependable’ – he could be relied on to attend all our meetings and events, never shirking the work involved. REPAIRS Ray would be one of the first to arrive to set up and would be there at the end until everything was packed up and cleared away. In discussions, Ray’s extensive network and access to the village grapevine were of great value, and his common sense and desire to keep FIXED PRICE REPAIRS £39.99 + PARTS things uncomplicated contributed to decisions that were NO CALL OUT CHARGE supported by the majority of parishioners.

Ray was a trustee of the Stoke Poges United Charity and ON SITE OR COLLECT & RETURN the Stoke Poges Lands End Memorial Education Charity FLEXIBLE APPOINTMENTS CALL ANYTIME and a member of the Social Club committee. CONTACT MARK ON 01753 735706 The Parish Council sends its deepest sympathies to 07799 545550 Ray’s family.

56 57 Stoke Poges Social Club I am delighted to report that your village club continues to offer a warm welcome to members and visitors. Our cellar is both well stocked and managed, which enables us to offer a choice of beers and lagers in excellent condition, along with a wide range of other drinks including non-alcoholic and soft drinks, all at competitive prices. We have increased the range of our bar snacks Wednesday evening mini quiz which is very and coffee is now also available. Non-members popular would appeal. are always welcome, so why not pop in one evening and see what’s on offer. Perhaps the If after you have given us a try you would like to join, membership at only £10 a year is a real bargain! Special events are normally publicised by email and Facebook.

We are open from 7 pm to 11 pm every day and Sunday lunchtime. Being a club, parents with their children are also welcome.

Nigel Lowe – Chairman

The recent race night in aid of the village fighting fund, held in the Club Room

Harvest Festival Sunday 6th October A 10.30am Family  

 
  

Remembrance Sunday 10th November A 10.50am Service of Remembrance at  
  

58 59 Hedgerley Historical Society Marlow (Photo: Bobbie Latter) The first meeting after our summer break are based on her collection of 2000+ monochrome century to 1996 and carry roads, railways and the RAF supplied with aircraft of over 100 different will be on Wednesday 18 September, when photographs taken between 1850 and 1950. About footpaths over the river. Some are severely practical, types. Eleven of this special sisterhood even flew Dr Simon Townley will present ‘Henley-on- 50 photographs are shown during the talk, which although perhaps elegant, some are elaborate four-engined bombers such as the Lancaster and the Thames: Inland Port to Inland Resort’. includes anecdotes about the villagers and their way structures, some are decorative. There are bridges Halifax. Richard Poad is the leading authority on ATA, of life at that time. that are seen but unnoticed by many hundreds of and has known many of the veterans personally. So Henley is a classic medieval planned town, laid out people every day and there are others that are hard his lecture is filled with anecdotes which are not in probably in the 12th century, and in the middle ages Mrs Spencer-Harper’s interest in this subject arose to reach, unless you are in a boat of course. the public domain. After the talk members and closely involved in the Thames river trade, shipping from meeting a woman who grew up in her old visitors will be able to purchase books and DVDs grain and other foodstuffs into London. In the 18th cottage between 1900 and 1930. Mrs Spencer- This will be followed by our autumn lunch at 12 about ATA as well as other related items. century it became a coaching town and a social Harper says, ‘Her memories fascinated me and when noon on Saturday 26 October (a two-course hot centre for the surrounding area, before reinventing I published them in our village magazine in 1980, I meal including wine/water/juice and coffee, £15 – Richard Poad has lived in the Maidenhead area for itself as a fashionable inland resort from the 1830s, was introduced to many other local folk and, over booking required). After lunch, Richard Poad, over 40 years. A linguist by education and a pilot by partly on the back of the annual regatta. The talk will the coming years, recorded their stories too. They Chairman of the Maidenhead Heritage Centre, will vocation, Richard Poad flew for British Airways for 33 explore Henley’s development from the middle ages lent me their photographs, which I had reproduced present ‘Grandma Flew Spitfires!’. years. For relaxation he cultivated his garden and to modern times, looking at its buildings, its people, so I could keep the negatives, and now my collection escaped the stresses of life at 500mph for the and its changing relationship with the river. amounts to 2227 – just from the villages of Stoke ‘Grandma Flew Spitfires!’ tells the pleasures of the River Thames and the canals of Row and Highmoor! I also have six filing cabinet forgotten story of the Air Transport England, travelling instead at four miles a fortnight! Simon Townley is editor of the Victoria County drawers full of provenanced photos and all sorts of Auxiliary (ATA) – a story of the He has been Chairman of Maidenhead Heritage History of Oxfordshire (VCH), part of a national local- other documents relating to these villages, as well courage, skill and sacrifice of 1200 Centre since 1995 and in 2002 was made MBE for history research and publication project. For the VCH as four boxes of memorabilia, books, videos, tape civilian pilots who ferried services to the heritage of Maidenhead. he has researched and written histories of Henley, recordings, etc. All this has resulted in my publishing warplanes between factories and Witney, Bampton and numerous rural villages, and is two books and lecturing on both land and at sea front-line squadrons during World He gives around 40 talks a year on a variety of currently working on the Ewelme area. He is also the for thirty-five years. My website (oldplace.free-on- War II. ATA’s headquarters were subjects, including architecture, the inland waterways author of Henley-on-Thames: Town, Trade, and River, line.co.uk) brings me in touch with many people, at White Waltham, near and Air Transport Auxiliary, on which subject he is the published in 2009. quite often in person, who are usually seeking Maidenhead, and the local recognised authority. He has appeared in several TV information on their family. I find it a heritage centre contains the documentaries and was seen in the BBC TV series This will be followed by a special Saturday meeting at fascinating hobby!’ second largest collection of ATA How We Won The War and Great Railway Journeys 2.30 pm on Saturday 28 September when Angela memorabilia in the world. with Michael Portillo. Spencer-Harper will present her talk on ‘The Our October meeting on the 16 October will be a Many photographs from this Maharajah’s Well and Local Inhabitants’. talk by Guy Gorton on ‘Thames Bridges’. archive illustrate the talk, For our November meeting on 20 November, Alan which tells how 168 women O’Cain will present ‘Shakespeare – the Guy Gorton will present an illustrated talk on all the were able to break into a Plays in Art’.

Angela Spencer-Harper, local historian and lecturer as t well as author of two local history books, Dipping bridges that span the Thames from bank man’s world and be given into the Wells and The Old Place, is to give an to bank between Datchet and the responsibility of keeping illustrated lecture on the history of Stoke Row and Wallingford that exist and one that Highmoor in the Chiltern Hills. These does not exist. They cover a period from the eighteenth

                         

                       

   

59 60 Hedgerley Historical Society continued Artist Alan O’Cain celebrates four centuries of Bobbie Latter is a member of the Guild of Guide Shakespeare’s influence on visual art with this Lecturers and has been a tour guide for just under 30 entertaining talk about Shakespeare-inspired years. Co-writer of the recently republished Windsor, paintings. From Hogarth and William Blake to A History and Celebration, she has also performed Jackson Pollock and Alan’s own projects, this for six years running in the Windsor Festival in her illustrated talk explores the enduring fascination own comedy costumed historical walks. In her spare Shakespeare’s works have held for artists, both past time she is a perpetual student, especially with and present. languages, of which she is constantly trying to improve the seven she has acquired over the years, Alan has created artworks based on major Royal including British sign language. Shakespeare Company and Glyndebourne productions and worked on creative projects Monthly meetings of Hedgerley Historical Society internationally. He has delivered talks at many take place at Hedgerley Memorial Hall, Kiln Lane, important venues including the Shakespeare Institute Hedgerley SL2 3UZ at 8 pm and visitors are most at Stratford-upon-Avon and the 2012 British welcome. Shakespeare Association Conference. Throughout 2013 he is artist-in-residence at Ustinov College, Further details from John Lovelock; 647187; Durham University where he is creating site-specific [email protected] artwork and presenting lectures and performance arts events.

On 4 December Bobbie Latter will present ‘Marlow Town’. This light-hearted talk accompanied by photos will take the form of an imaginary walk Stoke Poges through Marlow, where the audience will hear about the history of the town and learn about the buildings Singers passed along the way, such as churches, the suspension bridge, cottages, mansion houses and Join the Stoke Poges Singers and enjoy pubs. Tales of the park and the river will also be singing for pleasure! woven into the mix, along with some concerning famous inhabitants. Why not come along to our next rehearsal on Thursday, 5 September, 7.45 pm - 9.45 pm in the St Andrew’s Centre, Rogers Lane, Stoke Poges? Grandma Flew Spitfires! (Photo: Maidenhead We are a friendly four-part choir and Heritage Centre) proud of the fact that all proceeds from our concerts are donated to charity, both local and national. In the last ten years we have donated nearly £30,000 to worthy causes. In our winter concert on 14 December we shall be singing John Rutter’s Magnificat, Gloria and some of his carols. We sang the Mikado for our summer concert. So we have a varied repertoire giving all members the opportunity to experience singing different styles of music. There is no audition for new members, so do give us a try on 5 September. For further information, please visit http://www.stoke-poges-singers.org.uk/

62 Parish Council Chairman’s Letter The Department for Education’s chain must be worn with formal Youth (DfE) decision to withdraw their dress, so whilst everyone else planning application for Pioneer watched the performance in t- House in May came as a complete shirts and shorts, I roasted slowly surprise. Not least because in the sun. However, it was worth Cafe Dominic Grieve had been given it – the children sang some well- informal assurances that DfE were chosen songs beautifully and help in committed to following through behaved impeccably throughout. organising next year’s The Beeches Local Area Forum as they needed the permission to show, to ensure the continuation (LAF) has set itself a goal of extend the building. I enjoyed hearing some of the of this wonderful tradition. If you improving provision for young staff reminisce about the can spare some time to help the people by targeting parishes that Whilst having to chair that debate challenges of moving from the old Horticultural Society organise and at the Planning Committee would School Lane site to Rogers Lane. I put on its splendid shows, please don’t have an established youth have been my local government was asked to say a few words and contact Jon, or send a message via club. The LAF funded an activity equivalent of walking a high wire commented that the our clerk. session for young people at the without a safety net, I had been amalgamation was rather Village Centre on 31 July. A team looking forward to the Planning controversial at the time but it has One of the characteristics of Stoke of youth leaders built a ‘games Committee reaching a decision, so undoubtedly been very good for Poges that faded in the cage’ in the village centre car that we could all move on. It’s also the school which has enjoyed a ‘noughties’ was the strong sense park and set up games consoles the tradition at South Bucks that wonderful decade during which it of identity and self-sufficiency. In and a sumo suit challenge in the the Chairman does not vote, has hit new levels of achievement the years after the library and main hall. unless there is a tie. in sports, music and drama as well shops at Bells Hill closed for as equipping our young people so redevelopment, it was inevitable Instead, we are set for another 12 well for success at secondary that the informal social There are plans to hold a youth months of uncertainty (at least) schools and beyond. The school’s connections weakened. The watersports event at Dorney and no doubt more spin from the reputation is on the up – it is current free school issue has Lake towards the end of the sponsors of the new school. One oversubscribed and a real asset to undoubtedly brought people summer and to run further youth of the less satisfactory aspects of the parish. The school makes a together and new friendships cafe sessions in Stoke Poges. free school policy is the way self- great contribution to village life by have been formed, which I think Please look out for posters. appointed groups can set supporting ‘Carols on the Green’ shows that we share our village themselves up and make so enthusiastically and by making with a lot of really good people. pronouncements about a parish their grounds available for the You find the same welcome at with which they have no village fete and flower show. each of the village clubs and connection, telling residents what societies – and the more of us they should think. It’s completely As you will read elsewhere, both who participate in the social life of out of order that when faced with the fete and the flower show the village, the better it is for us opposition to their proposals to were record-breaking successes all. Please call in to the Societies smear and insult the elected this year. Both were favoured by Fair at the Village Centre on representatives of that parish. As fine weather; moreover, I was Saturday 7 September. The people parish councillors we are prepared delighted that so many residents representing their societies will be to be criticised by our electors, but supported these two wonderful very pleased to see you and will getting it in the neck from people village institutions. The fete appreciate your interest and who don’t live here is a bit much! benefited from an influx of new support. Alternatively, look I would like to thank everyone for committee members, with new through the fantastic range of showing restraint in the face of ideas and fresh energy. activities on offer right here in such impudent provocation – it Stoke Poges, in the diary on pages further confirms what we all I was invited to lunch with the 34 and 35. know – that Stoke Poges is a great Horticultural Society committee place to live because of the and judges at the flower show Finally, I wish to express the sense wonderful people here. and it was a fascinating insight to of loss we all feel at Ray Aldridge’s see their enthusiasm and sad passing and to express regret I was pleased to be invited to The commitment at close quarters. Jon that he didn’t get to see the Stoke Poges School’s Decade Day Homan, President Emeritus of the pavilion that he had for so long in July in my capacity as Chairman Horticultural Society, made the wanted the Parish Council to of the Parish Council, which point that the committee aren’t build. required me to wear the chain of getting any younger and they office. The convention is that the would really welcome offers of Ralph Bagge

64 64 The       Stoke Poges Bridge Club Chairman: Ralph Bagge Susan Lynch Elected representatives Laughing Wavertree House, Duffield Park, SL2 4HY 12 Duffield Lane, SL2 4AB South Bucks District Councillors It has been a busy July for prepared by club member 290630; [email protected] 646582; [email protected] Ralph Bagge Stoke Poges Bridge Club. Audrey Reed. The main prize Group Twitter: @ralphbagge Wavertree House, Duffied Park, SL2 4HY 290630; was won by Pam Kiddell and Gary Matthews, Vice Chairman: Saera Carter [email protected] We had our annual ‘après the slam prize by Fiona Phillips The recent weather has been 40a Rogers Lane, SL2 4LF great for cycling and it is 24 Elizabeth Way, SL2 4LQ Chairman of Planning Committee bridge’ drinking and eating at and Barbara Steadman. 07976 371802; [email protected] the Jolly Woodman pub in Thanks to all who supported it, heartening to see so many 647525; [email protected] and member of Sustainable Development cyclists on the roads around Policy Advisory Group Burnham Beeches. We were especially Audrey and other Stoke Poges. Chairman of Planning Committee: Christine Taylor blessed with warm weather so club members who worked Cathy Thornton 32 Bunby Road, SL2 4BP Trevor Egleton, we could enjoy the garden. hard behind the scenes. The Sky Ride Local programme Vice Chairman of Planning Committee: 644386; Knoll Cottage, Duffield Lane, SL2 4AH has been running with rides Saera Carter [email protected] 646090; On Friday 26 July we organised The club meets every Monday from Slough, Windsor and [email protected] a Bridge Drive for the Village afternoon at St Andrew’s Maidenhead plus Bracknell. Chairman of Recreation and Cathy Thornton Twitter: @trevoregleton Fighting Fund. More than 50 Church Hall from 1.30 pm to 5 With such a great selection of Environment Committee: Member of Licensing Committee and people attended and we raised pm. Duplicate bridge is played 98 Rogers Lane, SL2 4LL guided rides available locally, Saera Carter Sustainable Development Policy Advisory we haven’t scheduled any of 645158; [email protected] over £400. All enjoyed a in a relaxed and friendly Vice Chairman of Recreation and Group splendid afternoon tea atmosphere. Why not give it a our own. Also, many of our Environment Committee: members who lead rides have Parish Council spokespersons try? For more Gary Matthews Duncan Smith, been busy with Sky Ride Constitutional Matters – Keith Finan information, see Elegy House, Park Road, SL2 4PE guided rides. Crime and Disorder – Gary Matthews our website Chairman of Finance and Resources 644976; www.stokepoges Committee: Alan Fox Environment – Vacancy Stoke Poges featured on a [email protected] bridgeclub.org.uk Vice Chairman of Finance and Resources Finance and Grants – Ralph Bagge Cabinet Member for Resources and recent Sky Ride – ‘Burnham Committee: Vacancy Beeches and the Cinder Track’. Footpaths – Gary Matthews member of Licensing Committee Roger Wright The ride set off from the Health and Safety – Cathy Thornton Mary Crocker Montem Leisure Centre, Memorial Gardens – Heather Huntley Buckinghamshire County Clifton Cottage passed through Salt Hill and Highways and Transport – Ralph Bagge Councillor Duffield Lane, SL2 4AD Mike Milne- Baylis parks to the Good Planning – Cathy Thornton Trevor Egleton Smith and Bruce Companions, then followed 646323; [email protected] Wright enjoy Recreation – Vacancy afternoon tea Stoke Poges Lane, Church Youth – Saera Carter Member of Parliament Lane, Farthing Green Lane, Keith Finan 31 Sefton Close, SL2 4LH Older People – Saera Carter Dominic Grieve, MP, House of Commons, Hockley Lane, Hollybush Hill, Westminster, 645454; [email protected] Bells Hill, Rogers Lane, Duffield London, SW1A 0AA Lane, Templewood Lane, Appointed representatives 020 7219 6220 Beeches Way to the cafe. Then Alan Fox Stoke Poges News Editor: [email protected] along Lord Mayors Drive to 48 Hazell Way, SL2 4DD Ralph Bagge Dominic Grieve holds regular surgeries Pumpkin Hill before turning 642197; alan@chilternassetfinance.co.uk Stoke Poges Village Centre: in Beaconsfield, at which electors can back towards Black Pond Lane Ralph Bagge, Saera Carter and across into Church Lane in Heather Huntley meet him, by prior appointment. Beeches Local Area Forum: Farnham Royal where it 26 Broom Hill, SL2 4PU followed the Cinder Track 663144; [email protected] Ralph Bagge, Susan Lynch Member of European Parliament back to Godolphin Park and Chiltern and South Bucks Strategic James Elles, MEP, Salt Hill Park. It’s a pleasant Philip Kidby Partnership: Ralph Bagge European Parliament, Rue Wiertz, ride you may want to try some 72 Rogers Lane, SL2 4JU Flagmaster: B-1047 Brussels, Belgium; time, starting from Bells Hill. 642935; [email protected] Jim Budd 00 32 2284 7951 Parish Office: Clerk to the Parish: Julie Simmonds, The Village Centre, Rogers Lane, SL2 4LP, 644803; The Sky Ride programme runs [email protected]; Stoke Poges Website: http://www.stokepogesparishcouncil.gov.uk locally until the end of Winter magazine No 187 – all material to the Editor please, no later than Friday 25 October. September, so there’s still time Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Editor or the Parish Council. Offers made by advertisers are to join in. You can find out solely their responsibility and should be checked to your satisfaction before entering into a contract. more from the website: For further information about advertising in this magazine please contact the Editor. www.goskyride.com Editor: Ralph Bagge; 290630; [email protected] Designed by When-D Ltd; 01243 267645. Thanks to Roger Wright for proofreading; 07811 509490.

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