THE HIGH WYCOMBE SOCIETY newsletter

NUMBER 149 AUTUMN 2008 40 Years On

THIS ISSUE of our Newsletter includes a fair and comprehensive summary of our June evening of celebration when 86 members joined together to enjoy each other’s company and to reflect on what this Society has achieved during the past 40 years. In the Autumn 1998 edition (No.109) of the Newsletter, our then (excellent) Hon. Secretary, John Gore, recorded his thoughts: “We like to think that over the past 30 years, this Society has helped in the achievement of higher local environmental standards and better local facilities.” I believe that we have made our mark as a Society even more effectively in the last 10 years, when the challenges, especially in the Transport and Planning briefs, have heightened considerably. Officers, Committee Members and subscribing Members have indeed “grasped the baton handed to them” by those who went before us, and have “run with it”, showing great resolve, determined not to be deflected by any skirmishes on environmental issues that we have, unfortunately, not won. Perseverance is one of our Society’s great strengths. Long may it be so. Roger Lawson

The celebratory flower bed in Queen Victoria Road. With many thanks to Andy Sherwood and his team at Wycombe District Council.

…caring about our town: past, present and future Registered Charity No. 257897

Honorary Secretary: Frances Presland, 61 Hicks Farm Rise, High Wycombe, Bucks. HP13 7SX. Tel: (01494) 523263 THE HIGH WYCOMBE SOCIETY 2 NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2008

Planning This Quarter

GENERALLY DURING the summer months there is a slowing down of activities in the planning field: not so this year, with a number of Government consultation papers to review as well as Local Development Briefs. The team has lost one temporary member, Mrs Morwenna Breen-Hayes, a Bucks New University student who has been with us during the last year: she has now moved over to the Aylesbury Society. I am pleased to report that she gained a 2.1 degree in Spatial Studies and Design, along with her colleague Mrs Joanne Marchant-Mills who also gained a 2.1 degree. Over the next twelve months we will have the pleasure of two more students, David Kingham-Cooper and Katie Pereira. Bucks New University Developments are Planning Forum This event was held in the WDC progressing on all fronts and the Group look Council Chamber and was attended by members forward to seeing some of the finishing touches of the Executive and the Planning Group. The put in place. event covered a report on the recent Quality Counts Tour (see also pp.6-7), highlighting the High Wycombe Railway Station The Group significant differences in planning applications understand that discussion continues on the recently approved and built in Wycombe. The development of this site between Chiltern Rail, most severe criticism was reserved for the Bucks County Council and Wycombe District development at 102-110 Cressex Road behind Council. The Group have urged all parties to the shops as being over-developed, lacking in continue to seek a resolution as soon as character, crowded and totally inappropriate for possible. the area, as opposed to Millgate Homes on West De La Rue Site The Group have looked at this Wycombe Road and the Copperfields Stage Two application in detail with some concern. The development. total design is poor, especially as it is sited The second part of the evening concentrated on overlooking Hughenden Park and Hughenden the Peer Review report on WDC’s Planning and Manor. There appears to be a lack of greenery Sustainability Department and the response that within the complex and in fact most of the area WDC are putting into place to improve is gravel or paved throughout. We have made performance. The areas targeted for improve- strong representation to WDC as Planning ment include: setting clear priorities/targets for Authority. the Service Plan, tightening up on the training of Old High Wycombe Library I am delighted to Councillors, developing the role of the report that Joanne Marchant-Mills has been Development Control Committee in policy invited by the Leader of WDC to present her final development and in relation to the corporate project to the full Council in October. She has structure, and generally to be more strategic. named the project “The Art House”, demons- The Planning Department have now set them- trating how effectively this building could be selves targets which we hope they will achieve. used with the minimum of alteration for all Killian/Pretty review In this review, activities connected with the arts, including the Government is seeking views from around the theatre. I understand that outside parties are regions to improve on the planning processes also becoming interested in her project. I will within County and District Councils. Tony Fooks keep members posted on this feature. attended the South-East regional event. In South East Plan The Group have now received a discussion it became clear that Wycombe full copy of the response by Government to the District Council are very advanced in their South East Plan Proposals. An assessment of planning systems compared with other units in this is now ongoing and will be reported in the the region. The issues raised included: public- next Newsletter. ation of planning applications (the advantages and disadvantages), charging for pre-application Regeneration of High Wycombe High Street advice, feedback to developers and amenity With the aid of Tony Fooks in his new (and groups, retention of senior/experienced planning additional!–Ed.) role as Chairman of the Civic officers, and making the planning system more Trust South East Region, a presentation was acceptable and easier to process. made by the Civic Trust to Wycombe District Council key personnel with a view to the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment regeneration of the High Street, White Hart Members of the group attended a preliminary Street, Queen Square, Frogmoor and Church workshop and the Group is now represented on Street. The team also reviewed Princes the working party by Trevor Carter (see p.3). Risborough High Street. We now await Planning Policy Statement No.6 is the new Wycombe District Council’s deliberations on this Government policy statement on town centres, matter. and includes changes to the “need test” and www.highwycombesociety.org.uk 3 NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2008

“impact test” for new shopping facilities. Tony WDC’s Planning and Sustainability Department Fooks will review this in the light of Wycombe for getting their Core Strategy, the first key part District Council’s potential investigation into the of the Wycombe Development Framework, regeneration of High Wycombe’s High Street. approved by the Planning Inspectors, who judged it was “sound”. It has since been Planning Applications Smaller applications adopted. Many other Planning Authorities failed continue to be presented but have not been to achieve this! significant enough for the Society to be involved. Tony Fooks Core Strategy Finally, our congratulations go to

Strategic Housing Land Letter – High Wycombe’s Eden Centre Availability Study* Dear Newsletter Editor A long title for what used to be called “Urban I wish to take issue with your use of the word Capacity Study”. “proved” on the front page of the Society’s Summer 2008 Newsletter; as in “Some of our Now that the Core Strategy, the master members still hanker after the more modest document of the local planning system, is in MAB scheme which came before Phoenix… but place, various subsidiary documents are being that proved uneconomic and could not be prepared. One of the most important is the Site implemented.” Allocations Document which aims to identify and allocate sufficient land for the 390 or so I contend that you can neither prove nor dwellings which the Government requires the disprove the economic viability of any scheme unless it is implemented. For schemes like District to build each year for the next 15 years. MAB’s all you can do is make an estimate Previous studies have looked at vacant sites and based on your economic knowledge, beliefs and large gardens on maps or on aerial views and prejudices. And you could be wrong. guessed that a certain percentage of these will The Eden scheme, however, has been come forward for development. The Government implemented; in due course we will see how now requires a more rigorous approach which economic it is. For the town’s sake we must has to consider ‘Availability and Achievability’ in hope that it fulfils expectations, at a time when each 5-year interval. some business ventures are conspicuously Over the past few months, Wycombe District failing to do so. Council has prepared and consulted on I have it on good authority that Wycombe procedures for site selection to which members District Council, during the period it was of our Planning Group contributed. The pursuing the MAB scheme, was advised that procedure decided on will be in two stages: the there would be a severe economic downturn first involves Planning Department staff assess- about now. That advice would have been a ing possible sites according to 52 criteria, factor in favour of MAB; since the scheme was covering location, accessibility, environmental modest, and would have been completed a few impacts, availability of services etc. They must years ago, giving it time to bed down before the also contact the owner of each possible site to downturn. determine if and when it will become available I remain attached to two unprovable for development. Finally, they have to assess convictions. whether it is likely to be economically viable. First, that the people who persuaded the As a market leader in consultation, WDC has set council that MAB was uneconomic had the up a ‘Steering Group’ to monitor the process. same mindset as those who helped precipitate This includes a housing association represent- the present downturn by promoting the notion tative, a land agent, a house builder and a that economic prosperity can go on increasing community representative. Our Planning Group for ever. is providing the community representative. Second, that the MAB scheme, had it been The second phase (probably in February next implemented, would have proved more viable, year) will involve publication of a provisional list both economically and aesthetically, than Eden of sites followed by public consultations. We will will prove to be. If you call that hankering, I’m keep you informed. a hankerer. – Yours sincerely, Trevor Carter Eric Alexander (*Or SHLAA for short. How nice to have an abbreviation that can be easily pronounced – even when one is Concise Oxford Dictionary: “hanker: crave or intoxicated! There are many documents relating to policy long for.” Eric is a member, but we take letters on the SHLAA and how it is to be conducted on the WDC from all quarters – not just members…–Ed. website. Go to “Planning” and then “Technical Studies to More letters on p.10. Inform the Local Development Framework”.–Ed.)

THE HIGH WYCOMBE SOCIETY 4 NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2008

Forty Years on and Still Going Strong

THE SOCIETY’S Celebration of the first 40 years of operation was held in the function suite of the High Wycombe Cricket Club on the 27th June, with a buffet dinner and also very fine entertainment, all arranged by our Programme and Membership Group to whom many thanks have been expressed. A further fascinating aspect of the evening was the Time Line compiled by Ann Simone, with the expert graphics assistance of Graham Paterson. This wall chart (on two walls!) listed the pertinent events between 1968 and 2008 in three categories: High Wycombe Society “happenings”, Local Milestones, and national recorded dates of importance. History brought to life, indeed! The Master of Ceremonies for available for consumption. the evening was our Upon completion of the meal, Chairman, Roger Lawson our Chairman then reminded (MC), who commenced with a members and guests that the general welcome to all who Society had evolved from the were present, with a special Rye Protection Society whose welcome to invited guests: triumph in 1965 had been Councillor Roger Wilson, the rejection of the Local Chairman of Wycombe Authority’s intention to District Council; construct the A40 diversion Councillor Paul Lambourne, across the Rye Open Space Mayor of High Wycombe, and in the north-western corner, Perfection in a cake – by Pam Abbott. his Mayoress (sister-in-law) near the Water Works and Margaret Lambourne; Pann Mill sites. Jack Scruton had spoken on this Cllr Mrs Lesley Clarke, unwelcome proposal before Leader of the Council, and a Joint Committee of the her husband, Mr Martin House of Lords and House Clarke; of Commons, who accepted Councillor Mrs Pam his argument and rejected Priestley, Chairman of the the proposal. WDC Development Control There then followed a brief Committee, and her sketch by the Chairman of husband, Barrie; the important personalities Dr Ruth Farwell, Vice- who had led the Society Chancellor of Buckingham- Chatting before the food gets served: Diana during its trials, tribulations shire New University, and Lawson, John and Joan Gore and Eric Alexander. and successes, in the her husband, Dr Martin defence of the environment, Daniels; and “caring about our town and heritage, past, Holly Robinson, Deputy Editor of the Bucks Free present and future” (in Appendix, see a future Press (representing Steve Cohen, whose absence Newsletter–Ed.). was due to his having to ink up the printing The summary of Society personalities of mechanisms for further copies of the journal – distinction was succeeded by the Chairman’s we think!). listing of important events that had determined Roger Lawson summarised the ongoing the work, completed over the 40 years, to constructive relationship between the Society, oppose these ill-conceived projects:- with its Groups, and the Defence of the local authority and Chequers Inn building, university guests, which opposite the Guildhall: a is contributing to the regrettable outcome essential wellbeing of despite the civil the residents of the engineering and structu- town and its adjacent ral expertise of Chris areas. Wallis. This 17th The MC then invited all century building was those present to declared unsafe by the proceed to the buffet Coal Board Pension where a varied selection Fund managers, who Hon. Sec. Frances Presland and Mayor, Cllr. Paul neglected it, and it was of excellent fare was Lambourne, ponder Ann Simone’s fascinating time-line. demolished, to be www.highwycombesociety.org.uk 5 NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2008

replaced by a “replica”! Heritage, Pann Mill Restoration A404 Diversion Road, from (including the “demon” Hazlemere to Hughenden gardener, Margaret Simmons), Road, with considerable Planning, Friends of the Rye, housing development at Transport and Roads, and Hazlemere linked to it: Programme and Membership. thankfully, this was shelved by The Mayor’s final words of Bucks County Council. thanks for past Society The Inner Relief Road, from endeavours were, “Long may it Priory Avenue to Easton Street, continue!” above the railway line. (It was The Chairman then proposed out of the opposition campaign the Toast, “The Future – Caring under Jack Scruton, that the for our Town,” and after this Society’s Transport Group was Eventually the cake is cheerily cut by Vice- prospect was declared, he formed.) President John Gore and Vice-Chairman asked Pam Abbott to accept Evelyn Roe. The Private Health Club and the gratitude of all present, for Fitness Centre, proposed for the site of Holywell the absolutely splendid cake she had baked and Mead swimming pool. Olive Scruton led the decorated to mark the occasion. opposition, in conjunction with many other Founder Member Evelyn Roe and Vice-President campaigning bodies. John Gore then jointly cut the cake, with The Chairman then looked forward to the ceremony. There followed a superb musical challenges assuredly facing the Society and its entertainment by the Royal Grammar School groups, with the words, “We must not let events Barber Shop Octet (plus one!) singing many well- get us down when we don’t win. known songs unaccompanied. We have to dust ourselves down Our President, Stuart King, then and start all over again,” – and sublimely entertained members move on to the next project of and guests with “Reminiscences work for an environmental of a Local Lad” and two of his society. own poems about the River Wye The Chairman then proclaimed and (hot off the word processor) the need to keep up our the Eden Centre (aka “The membership numbers, to Western Desert Song” see p.10). replace those who have gone All this was presented with great before. The particular challenge good humour and aplomb by President Stuart King delivers an one who was described as here was to attract the younger irreverent poem with gusto. generations who are reluctant to “Historian, Raconteur, Crafts- become involved in community organisations: man, and now Poet”, by the Chairman, who then our Society is not alone in this dilemma. thanked all who had attended the momentous occasion, with an appeal to move forward The Chairman concluded with an exhortation to together, so that the Society may continue members to “look forward to a future when we effectively and beneficially to influence the town, continue to play a useful part in the life of our its folk and their way of life. town.” On this high note, the celebration ended. Mayor Paul Lambourne responded on behalf of guests with a comprehensive review of the Reg Rowlason Society’s status, and the work of the Groups With thanks to Dave Abbott for the photograph of the which operate in their chosen spheres of cake, and to Ron Walters for all the others.–Ed.

The Royal Grammar School Barbershop Octet performed delightfully with precision and jollity and afterwards their leader/tutor was thanked by Master of Ceremonies and Chairman, Roger Lawson.

THE HIGH WYCOMBE SOCIETY 6 NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2008

Quality Counts! 2008

AFTER LAST year’s foray to central Oxford (see the Autumn 2007 Newsletter), this year’s tour was a stay-at-home day. The theme was “housing intensification developments” (once referred to as “infill”). The coach party comprised 48 people including 17 officers from WDC and 2 from BCC, 9 WDC Councillors, and an assorted collection of architects, agents and representatives of community associations such as ourselves and the Marlow Society. We compared 11 sites in Wycombe and Marlow and tried to judge what were the factors that made for a successful intensification development. What follows is largely your editor’s verdict. Those of you with a computer can find the WDC’s collation of people’s opinions as expressed in their response booklets and in discussion at the Planning Forum on 22 July on the WDC website (search for “Planning Forum”). Our first stop was Bellway Homes’ “plus”, also ensured overlooking of Ercol site alongside the railway line properties outside the develop- off Hazelbury Road. This single ment). brownfield site is providing the From there we went to two rather equivalent of one year’s supply of successful developments in the Wycombe District’s housing. The West Wycombe Road area. Council refused the planning application on grounds of First was the recent extension to insufficient “amenity space” – 50 of Copperfields, carved out of the the 189 flats would have had too back gardens of houses in West small a balcony or none at all – but Wycombe Road. This site had the case was allowed by the actually been allocated in the Local Inspector on appeal. The overall Plan (rather than merely been the impression was attractive, subject of an ad hoc application), particularly now that communal Ercol site: attractive overall and the Council had insisted on a but ponderous balconies. green spaces are mainly complete, comprehensive development, and and the mix of materials – brick and render – is most agreed that the outcome was pleasant. Some people may feel it is too unexpectedly pleasant and varied, with plenty prominent on its hillside site but the negative of green. That however could not stop the factors, for me, were the ponderous, heavy- residents of the (only slightly) older part of looking balconies and the large areas of hard parking/driving space with not enough greenery nearby to soften them. Next came the former Bucks Free Press site in Gomm Road, a run-of-the-mill development, lacking charm and architectural character, though redeemed, partly, by pleasant amounts of turf. Why do these local developers (their

Copperfields extension. Benefited from being specified as a comprehensive development. Copperfields, and their elected representatives, complaining about through traffic – which could have been avoided if the development had instead been accessed from Chapel Lane, but that would incurred other difficulties, including a tricky access on to the A4010.

Star Blocks replacement. Attractive and has done much to lift a challenging area. names will be known to many readers!) not retain some imaginative architects? From there we took a look at the development that has replaced the Starblocks in St Hugh’s Avenue – a challenging neighbourhood, but the attractive new development, and the pro-active Housing Association, have done much to lift the area (even though the planned overlooking Millgate Homes in West Wycombe Rd. Benefited greatly of communal areas, a deliberate security from failing at appeal, leading to an excellent redesign. www.highwycombesociety.org.uk 7 NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2008

Second was Millgate Homes’ development above West Wycombe Road, next to the railway. Millgate’s first two planning applica- tions were refused mainly on grounds of layout (the fronts of one block facing the backs of the other, contravening WDC’s intensification planning guidance), these decisions being upheld on appeal. So it was back to the drawing board, and the result, all agreed (including the developers themselves!), was a Beechlands, good quality, but institutional feel, not enough successful result in a challenging location. soft landscaping. former care home on the site. In its sheer size There then followed an expedition to Marlow (or and bulk, it has a rather institutional feel, but rather, the countryside nearby) to see “The the quality is good, if perhaps spoilt by too Quoitings”, refused by WDC’s Development much hard paving and not enough soft land- Control Committee (DCC) but allowed on scaping. Three new sites on the south side of appeal. This had the atmosphere of a down- Cressex Road (formerly Nos. 155-161, 193-195 town development, yet it was plonked and 199-201) were of variable attractiveness: incongruously in the countryside. The design the latter two made good use of materials or was pointlessly eclectic and soft landscaping coloured bricks, but the open spaces included was totally absent. A big mistake, but the much hard paving and such soft landscaping Council did their best. as there was lacked charm. Two of the schemes were amended proposals, usually indicating that changes had been made by developers on being warned by officers that they might be refused otherwise.

The Quoitings, in the countryside out of Marlow. “Pointlessly eclectic.” Allowed on appeal: big mistake! After lunch, the afternoon was spent looking at 193-195 Cressex Road: good use of materials, too much developments around Cressex Road. First on paving? the list was land behind Nos. 202-210, a dreadfully misplaced development allowed by a So what were the lessons of the day? First, wayward Inspector on appeal, which we railed that we can’t rely on an Inspector to throw out against in our leading article in our Summer a proposal that the DCC refuses, and therefore 2006 issue. Had they been in the right place, there is often a tricky decision to be made the buildings might have had architectural between guiding the developer towards a better merit, but they are not. – or less bad – proposal, and refusing outright and hoping an Inspector will back the Thereafter we visited a series of four, mainly Council’s good judgement. Second, that conventional developments. Beechlands con- intensification proposals can sometimes work tains 26 1- and 2-bed flats, plus common room very successfully, and that the Council needs and warden accommodation, and replaces a to be bold in seeking a “comprehensive” approach where possible. Finally, there needs to be some hard thinking about the role of private amenity space, and what kinds of vegetation work. It was noticeable that, on last year’s trip to Oxford, we saw how retention of mature vegetation and planting of new had been very beneficial to some constrained city centre sites, and yet in Cressex, where good, effectively virgin sites had been created by demolitions, nobody had really been able to work out how to build character and individuality into these opportunities – and Land behind 202-210 Cressex Road. “Dreadfully mis- that was not down to any lack of awareness or placed”, allowed by wayward Inspector. thought by Council Officers about the issues.

THE HIGH WYCOMBE SOCIETY 8 NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2008

Viscount Wendover, 1895-1915, of Daws Hill Lodge ‘All the trumpets sounded for him on the other side’

BETWEEN 1880 and 1892, the third Lord and Lady Carrington had five daughters but clearly needed a male heir to inherit the title and the vast Carrington estates. Their last child, a son, Albert Edward Charles Robert Wynn-Carington, was born on 24 April 1895 at 50 Grosvenor St, London and christened by the Dean of Lichfield in All Saints, High Wycombe on 5 June. The baptismal registry records the father’s trade as ‘Peer of the Realm’. The Prince of Wales (the future King Edward VII) was one of his godfathers. Three months later Lord Carrington was created Earl Carrington and Viscount Wendover of Chepping Wycombe. In 1912 he became Marquess of Lincolnshire. His son, who took the courtesy title of Viscount Wendover, laid the foundation stone to the left of the main door of the remodelled Daws Hill Lodge. It is inscribed ‘This stone was laid by Wendover, aged 4 years, Sept 27th 1899’. Lord Carrington had sold Wycombe Abbey to the Girls’ Education Company in July 1896 to become a school. Soon afterwards he began the conversion of Daws Hill farmhouse into a sumptuous residence. In 1901 the family moved to Daws daughter, born in 1892. Hill. There is a touching “On May 7th Wendover and his photograph of the Carringtons in men left at 4.30pm, rode 11 August 1902 in the drawing miles, carried wire and posts 2 room, dressed in their coronation miles, worked all night with robes, with their son, aged 7, shells screaming over, and the looking up adoringly at his church of Ypres behind them on parents. Wendover, known as fire, and got back to billets after Bob, grew up at Daws Hill, played 13 hours on two bits of bread and cricket with the Wycombe Cricket a couple of eggs. On 13th May he Club, of which he was Vice went into battle for the first and President, and often arranged last time. Wendover, leading his matches at Daws Hill. One local men armed as they were with rifle newspaper obituary recorded, and bayonet, was struck down by ‘Viscount Wendover won a shrapnel, his thigh shattered and reputation as a brilliant cricketer his arm smashed. The whole and was included in a team with The Carringtons with their son, brigade was praised by the Prince Edward (now Prince of Viscount Wendover, in coronation French General Joffre and by Wales) and Prince Albert which robes, 1902. their own general for the played against an eleven RHW36032, Wycombe Library. gallantry which had saved the captained by the Rev. E. D. Shaw, division and possibly Ypres itself. Of Vicar of High Wycombe [who lost three sons in Wendover, his Colonel said, ‘His bravery was the Great War, commemorated in a window in superb, his example in leading his troops in All Saints’ Church]. He was a promising the charge filled my heart with pride.’ bowler and an expert fisherman.’ Wendover was carried by a trooper to the Bob Wendover was educated at Eton and from dressing station in a ruined farmhouse behind there went straight to Sandhurst. In August the lines which was miraculously untouched. 1914 he was gazetted to his father’s regiment, There, after his wounds were dressed, he lay the Royal Horse Guards. He had not long to until morning. The doctor in charge wrote wait to see action, and on 8 March 1915 his afterwards, ‘In all those hundreds of wounded father waved goodbye to him from his house in there was no-one who had shown such Princes Gate, noting in his diary, “Bob left for fortitude as that boy – though he looked frail the Front at 5pm. He was in great spirits. He he had the heart of a lion.’ With other looked as handsome and cheery and well as he wounded he was transferred back to the base drove away from the front door.” He hospital at Boulogne where again those who telegraphed his parents on 10 March to tell tended him were impressed by his stoical them he had arrived safely in France. Shortly cheerfulness and courage. His parents were after, his regiment was moved to near Ypres. permitted to see him but arrived only a few In late April the second battle of Ypres, in hours before he died on 19th May. Heart- which the Germans used gas for the first time, broken they brought his body back to began. The following is an extract from a short England.” history (From One Generation to Another: A Lord Lincolnshire had of course been informed Panorama of Wycombe Abbey) by Miss K A that his son was injured. First reports Walpole, Headmistress, 1948-61, who drew suggested that the injuries were not so serious from conversations she had had with Lady and he would recover, but his condition Victoria Forester, the Carrington’s youngest www.highwycombesociety.org.uk 9 NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2008

worsened. In an attempt to save his life his in Flanders on May 13th 1915, aged 20 years. shattered arm was amputated, for fear of All the trumpets sounded for him on the other gangrene. The Mayor, Cllr John Gomm, sent a side.’ On the wall above the plaque is the telegram to Lord Lincolnshire at Boulogne: family crest and Wendover’s sword and spurs. “Town of High Wycombe deeply grieved to A small regimental flag, given to his father in receive news of death of your noble son. We 1874, which covered his coffin on the day of offer to the Marchioness and yourself our the funeral, hangs above, surmounted by a heartfelt sympathy and trust that you will be trumpet. sustained in your trial by the thought that he A striking coincidence is that Capt. Julian has sacrificed his life for King and country.” Grenfell (1885-1915), the war poet and son of The Lincolnshires accompanied their son’s Lord and Lady Desborough of Taplow Court, body to Folkestone, by train to London and was wounded in the same battle on the same thence to Princes Gate where it remained until day and died on 26 May and was buried in next morning. It was taken by motor to Euston Boulogne. Another casualty on the battlefield and then by special train to Wooburn Sands on 13 May was Maj. Clement Mitford (1877- Station for the journey to St Mary’s, Moulsoe. 1915). He was buried at Ypres. His younger The Vicar of High Wycombe was present at the brother, David, was on sick leave from the funeral and said the committal prayers. The trenches at Old Mill Cottage (adjoining Marsh Times of Monday 24 May 1915 Green Mill), which was rented by reported, “The funeral of Lt his wife from the Marquess, when Viscount Wendover, only son of he received the news of his the Marquess of Lincolnshire, brother’s death, thus making him who died from wounds received the heir to the Redesdale barony. in action, took place at Moulsoe, Wendover (20), Grenfell (30) and Bucks. on Saturday, with full Mitford (38) were at Eton and military honours. The plain oak probably knew each other. Their coffin, covered in the Union Jack, parents exchanged heartfelt had been brought to England letters of condolence. Indeed, the from Boulogne on Thursday.” He Lincolnshires received a vast was buried in the family vault in number of letters including from the churchyard of St Mary’s Queen Alexandra and other parish church. Subsequently his members of the Royal Family. parents were buried alongside. After the war, Lord Lincolnshire (The earlier family vault in All wanted to commemorate his son Saints was almost full and the in High Wycombe. In 1923 he 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Lords Portrait of Wendover at Daws Hill gave a new site for a War by Laszlo, 1911. Carrington were buried at Memorial Hospital off Marlow Hill Moulsoe.) There is a memorial in St Mary’s to in memory of the 500 local men who lost their the memory of Wendover “who died 19 May lives in the Great War. There is a Wendover 1915 of wounds received in the charge of the Street, and Wendover Way runs round the Blues”. Below is a plaque inscribed with the Dyke and cascade. In August 1923 the names of 37 Officers, NCOs and Troopers of Marquess presented the deeds to three and a the Royal Horse Guards who fell at Ypres on 13 half acres of Rye Mead and the Dyke, at a May, 1915. In the north aisle is a large oak lunch given in the Mayor’s Parlour. The party chest made for the Marquess (as Lord then moved to the ‘War Office Gates’ entrance Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire) by disabled to Daws Hill Park where speeches were made ex-servicemen at the Technical Institute and the Mayor named the new access path Training Centre in High Wycombe in 1921. On along the Dyke, Wendover Way. Sadly the it are carved regimental and naval badges with historic wooden plaque near the café end of the the names of nine members of his family who Dyke was vandalised three years ago, and died in the Great War. taken down but not replaced. Wendover was also commemorated on the The Marquess died on 13 June 1928 but Humberston war memorial in Lincolnshire, because there was no direct male heir the titles under the rubric ‘Parishoners of Humbertston of Marquess, Earl and Viscount became who gave their lives in the Great World War’. extinct. His brother, Rupert, and in turn his In All Saints, High Wycombe, a brass plaque to nephew and great-nephew (the current Lord the left of the north door is dedicated with Carrington) inherited only the Carrington similar words to those on his grave in Moulsoe: baronies. To meet death duties, Rupert sold Daws Hill Lodge and its contents to Wycombe ‘To the memory of Albert Edward Charles Abbey in 1929. He died on 11 November 1929, Robert, Viscount Wendover, Lieutenant, Royal succeeded by his son Rupert. Horse Guards Blue, aged twenty years, who fell David Snoxell mortally wounded in the charge of the Blues, I am indebted to Rupert Carington for help with 10th Hussars and Essex Yeomanry near Ypres this article.–DS.

THE HIGH WYCOMBE SOCIETY 10 NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2008

Letters Eden in Wycombe Pauline Cauvain “The Western Desert Song” Dear Editor, How swiftly 30-odd years have passed, May I take the opportunity through the Along with ancient townsfolk memories sealed Newsletter to thank all members of The High beneath the Bridge… Wycombe Society for their kind words and The Bridge Street car park concrete! thoughts following the Pauline’s passing. No stray blade of grass could conquer the I would particularly like to thank the Society rubber-shod wheels of our motor cars for the flowers, the donation to Pauline’s As each we parked, paid our dues, chosen charities and the presence of its And vied to make the shortest route to our members at the service. My special thanks go favoured shops and bakery queues, to Annie Woodward for the thoughtful and And hand over 25 pence for the latest news. moving Obituary which she provided for the Newsletter. We would say “Good Day!” to coppers in the Though in later years Pauline was not as active street, in the Society as she would have liked, its aims Find time to listen to the Sally Army standing and ideals were always dear to her heart and on their feet she never stopped caring about High Wycombe While blowing strong on Frogmoor to save our and its environs. souls, And rattling collection tins for our spare Stan Cauvain pennies, to purchase winter coals For the old and needy. Blue Light from Space Dear Editor Well, in the blink of an eye, above our River Wye and reaching for the heavens In the news recently, churches have been Is a monument, to modern Man’s endeavour urged to stop illuminating their buildings to To pander to our needs: help save the planet. An Oasis has appeared upon the Western I do hope local churches do not heed this Desert. advice but continue to allow us to enjoy the Phoenix-like it stands! many architectural features which are more Some see it as a mirage after all this time, visible when lit up at night. Of course, the Others hail this long-awaited miracle spiritual inspiration is another benefit. As a missing link in their ever-busy lives. Which is more than can be said for the hideous cold blue light on the top edge of the Eden EDEN, this is Eden, that Other Eden, a Centre, which inspires feelings of dread every demi-Paradise, evening when I see it as I draw my bedroom Where dreams come true – at a price! curtains. I thought that aliens had landed Like the Druid stones of Wessex, this modern when I first saw it, assuming the light was from monolith stands tall, a recently-arrived spacecraft. And allows the wicked winds of the West to embrace us, one and all, Surely the authorities do not think this cool As, trance-like, we genuflect to Mammon along blue image enhances the town! the busy mall. Am I becoming neurotic? What do other readers think? This new Millennium edifice should serve the township well, Give me an illuminated tower, spire or dome It even boasts a water-fountain feature any evening. mounted in the middle, Annie Woodward But alas, it’s just a piddle, Another spirited letter about Eden appears on A dribble with a sigh, p.3.–Ed. As six feet below the concourse, still flows our beloved RIVER WYE. Sorry, could squeeze no more! Stuart King This jam-packed issue has meant we’ve had to hold over several first-class articles to next Our President’s often hilarious but ultimately time – reports on our two very successful moving rendering of this poem was a highlight of shared-car trips to the Royal Mail Centre at the 40th Birthday Party. I am advised that some of Hemel Hempstead and the De Havilland the words are nicked from Shakespeare’s “Richard Museum at London Colney, and a fascinating II”. It is a sequel to his earlier opus, “The River piece by Mike Dewey about No. 90 Easton Wye?” published in our Winter 2003/4 issue, which Street. Roll on the Winter issue! he also read.–Ed. www.highwycombesociety.org.uk 11 NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2008

Quarterly Meeting Bringing History Alive

This quarterly meeting had been hurriedly rearranged since the Thames Water representative who was going to give a talk entitled 'From Source to Tap' was unable to come. Whether all the audience knew in advance that they were not going to hear about our water supply is not known, but they had no cause for complaint as the talk they did hear was lively, informative and entertaining. Mike Dewey, a Society member and Chairman of the Friends of High Wycombe Libraries, stepped magnificently into the breach with a selection of photographs of Wycombe taken over the last 140 years or so. These photos have been collected over the in an attempt to guess what year a photo was years by the High Wycombe Society, the town taken, or to argue about the original purpose of Library, the Museum, the Bucks Free Press a particular building, now long gone. and other newspapers, and by many The final batch featured a vanished world of individuals. It is now possible for all these hard, unmechanised labour – bodgers at work pictures to be scanned electronically, put on to in a dusty sawpit; six horses hauling a huge compact discs and made available on line, and tree trunk; a pony wearing slippers, believe it this is what has been done in a project known or not, pulling a Heath Robinson-type lawn- as 'SWOP – Sharing mower; haymaking Wycombe's Old in the 1950s with Photographs'. pitchforks and open- SWOP covers all of sided tractor. south Buckingham- Finally, the audience shire and is the were given a sheet of brainchild of Chris paper and the Featherstone of High chance to prove Wycombe Library. their knowledge of Photos are catalo- the town in a photo- gued by about 20 quiz. Our chairman, volunteers, scanned Roger Lawson, at high resolution, Crendon Lane (as it then was) prior to widening, 1934. The curved emerged as the stored on CDs and building, which now forms the corner with High Street, was winner! completed before the original corner building to its right was made available for demolished. SWOP photo MHW 01682, Wycombe Museum. Concluding the all to see on the meeting, Vice- website www.buckscc.gov.uk/swop. You can President Kathleen Peatey thanked the speaker download them free at low resolution (but still for giving such an interesting and enjoyable printable and of reasonable quality); there is a presentation at such short notice. small charge for high-resolution copies. Ian Guy Having explained the system, Mike Dewey went on to show about 40 shots of High Wycombe, A Milestone to Bourne End mostly of the central area, ranging in time from the 1870s to the present day. We were thus As we go to press, there is remarkable progress able to get a sense of the huge changes that to report on the Society’s long campaign to have have taken place from one generation to the the railway line to Bourne End reopened as ultra- next. One of the most interesting sequences light rail, recreating the rail link to Maidenhead, was of the Frogmoor triangle, showing first a the Great Western Main Line and, soon, Cross- tree-lined oasis, then a mini-desert as the trees rail. Bucks County Council, for so long sceptics were cut down to ease traffic flow and the about the project, have at last joined WDC and ornate fountain was demolished for its scrap said they are in favour of it, subject to getting metal, then once again tree-ey, then bare – Government cash and an operator to run it. Tony Fooks assured us that a final (?) decision Although there is still a long way to go to assess on Frogmoor would be made soon and would the financial viability of the link and put in place reinstate the area as a pleasant spot to linger arrangements to build and run it, our Chairman in rather than hurry through. Another source and Executive Committee have asked the of amazement was the narrowness of Crendon Newsletter to record their congratulations to Street compared to its present-day width (see Dr Elsa Woodward who has worked so hard for photo). this scheme over so many years, building on the The speaker asked for audience participation visionary work of the late Christopher Wallis who and he got it. Several times the sequence was first wrote to the Bucks Free Press about it in put on hold as people drew on their memories 1993.

THE HIGH WYCOMBE SOCIETY 12 NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2008

Notices New Members information leaflet. This is as much about the history and heritage of the Rye and its We warmly welcome the following new members: surroundings as about the natural environment. Mr A Iqbal of Totteridge Road HW. The Environment Centre on Holywell Mead has Mrs M Mason of Flackwell Heath. now brought out its own trail with a leaflet called Mr D Scott of Ellsworth Road HW. “Rivers Round the Rye”, with the emphasis being Mr D Smith of Hawksmoor Close HW. on local wildlife. They also do a history trail – Ms K Pereira of Hillary Road HW. “Change over Time”, to accompany a pack for Mr D Kingham-Cooper of Sydenham, Oxon. schools. We hear that next year they plan to produce a “Tree Trail”. Our members may find Katie Pereira and David Kingham-Cooper are these trails interesting too. Drop into the Design Students from Bucks New University. Environment Centre near the far corner of the

Rye for more information. We’re getting younger!

Many congratulations to Sasa Lakovic and Jean Forum for Affiliated Groups and Sutherland, family members of the Society, on the recent birth of their daughter, Verity, who All Members becomes the Society’s youngest member – for We have been running meetings for our affiliated the time being! groups and residents’ associations thrice-yearly for some time now but from last March we

opened them on an experimental basis to all our Bucks Local History Network members. This was very successful, so if you The Bucks Local History Network’s annual want to join in the discussion and feedback with conference and fair takes place this year at group leaders, particularly on local planning, Milton Keynes on 4th October, and is jam- transport matters and the Rye, do come along to packed with interesting lectures. Details from the Friends’ Meeting House on 14 November. www.bucksas.org.uk or at High Wycombe You can phone the Hon. Sec on 01494 523263 Library. Tickets need to be purchased in to suggest or give notice of issues. advance (and ideally, before this Newsletter is issued!). Send £10.00 per person (includes tea/coffee) with name, address, phone and Thank you… email (if any) to the BLHN at the County ... to all those creative and hard-working Museum, Church Street, Aylesbury HP20 2QP members who have contributed copy for this a.s.a.p. and enclose an A5-size SAE. issue – and the next (see p.10)! Material for the Winter 2008/2009 issue should reach me at 29 Water Trails Maybrook Gardens High Wycombe HP13 6PJ Most of you will be aware that on Pann Mill Open (01494 528106) by 20 November, please. Days, the Society runs a guided “Water Trail” Chris Woodman (Hon Editor) around the Rye, with an accompanying

Put these dates in DATES FOR YOUR DIARY your diary now!!! 2008 Wednesday, 29th October Quarterly Meeting: Wycombe's Contribution to the Aviation 7.30pm, Guildhall Industry. Speakers: David Scott and Ian Simmons, based on their recent book. Friday, 14th November Forum for Affiliated Groups and All Members (see above). 7.30pm, Friends’ Meeting House, 25 London Road 2009 Friday, 9th January Quarterly Meeting: The Ridgeway - The History And Wildlife Of 7.30pm, Guildhall Europe's Oldest Road. Speaker: John Tyler, zoologist and conservationist. Friday, 27th February, Quiz Night for Members and their friends. Details later. 7.30pm, Environment Centre on Holywell Mead

And thanks to all of you who gave up your time for three very successful Pann Mill Open Days in 2008. The Environmental Health Officer on 14 September reported: “Good standards observed, knowledge and awareness of hazards with suitable controls in place!” Congratulations, all of you!