THE March 2020 LEE

For The Lee, Lee Common, Hunts Green, Kings Ash and Swan Bottom From the Editor Your letters By Liz Macann Tales of the unexpected pring has sprung! Or at least it is To the Editor springing. Ah the joy of seeing A lot of the work of the Parish Council S is routine – planning applications that the many signs that herald the change of season and the feelings of need commenting on, playground optimism that come with it. equipment that needs repairing, a memorial that needs sprucing -up, a All of the huge changes that have pothole that needs reporting. occurred in the country and decisions Just occasionally, the unexpected which have been made in the halls of catches you out. In February, for power will bring us challenges, threats example, we not only had a rough and opportunities. While some things sleeper camping out in the ‘cave’ will be beyond our control, others will beneath the new children’s fort… but happen to us according to our mind a week later, unbeknownst to the set. As Epictetus said, “People are not council, someone decided to put a disturbed by things but by the view chain and padlock on the gate to the they take of them.” To move us all playground / allotments. forward, here is the spring edition of not only village news and information, but also ideas about people and places nearby that contribute to us all in one way or another. Close to home the Shop will be expanding the annual Greek event to Sales & Lengs include VE Day celebrations on the revised May Day Bank Holiday. See 64 High Street Great Missenden page 8 for details of an event not to Buckinghamshire HP16 0AN be missed. Tel: 01494 890990 Next month Jonathan Batten will be in the Editor’s seat. Please email We believe the two events are email: [email protected] material for the April edition to him unconnected… unless anyone knows www.jeremyswan.co.uk at [email protected] by otherwise. 12 th March. Colin Sully Swan Bottom 2 3 the deadline for nominations for all collectively or individually. If they so Digging a hole? th wish, candidates can deliver their own To the Editor elections will be 4:00 pm on 8 April. nomination forms. Further to my letter in last month’s Following the deadline, a complete If you have any questions or newsletter I have now had a response statement of persons nominated will queries relating to Parish Council from Transport for Bucks. be published. Elections please contact either the By way of a reminder it was a Parish Council Elections Parish Clerk at [email protected] or vicious 15cm deep pothole which To stand for election to become a Chiltern District Council at destroyed two nearside tyres on my parish councillor you must be: [email protected]. daughter’s car. The pothole is as you  at least 18 years old on the day of uk or 01895 837236 or at King George turn left out of Oxford Street into your nomination and V House, King George V Road, Ballinger Road towards Chesham, just  a British citizen, an eligible Amersham, HP6 5AW. past the entrance to the garages (90m Commonwealth citizen or a citizen from the corner). of any other member state of the

“Thank you for your report. We European Union. have now inspected the defect and no You must also meet at least one of the

planned repair is necessary at this following four qualifications: stage. Please be assured that we will  You are, and will continue to be, continue to inspect in line with our registered as a local government Highway Safety Inspection Policy. elector for the parish in which you Thank you for reporting this matter wish to stand from the day of your

and this report is now closed.” nomination onwards We have put in an insurance claim  You have occupied as owner or

with the council for the tyre damage. tenant any land or other premises I note that the council have in the parish area during the recently changed the status of this whole of the 12 months before the

report to ‘Open’. day of your nomination and the

Will just have to keep looking into it. day of election  Phil Harrison Your main or only place of work

Lee Common during the 12 months prior to the day of your nomination and the day of election has been in the The Lee Parish parish area Transport for Bucks  You have lived in the parish area or We have recently been advised that within three miles of it during the the surface dressing programme, Council report whole of the 12 months before the which was carried out in By Hayley Farrelly, Clerk day of your nomination and the day Buckinghamshire in 2019, has th Council Elections: 7 May of election. experienced an unusually high

he elections for the new Unitary Nomination Forms premature failure rate. Buckinghamshire Council, The These will be available from the Initial investigations show that this T Lee Parish Council (and other Parish Clerk after the Notice of is largely due to the exceptionally wet Town and Parish Councils) as well as Election has been published. If they autumn and winter we have experienced following the application for the Local Police and Crime wish, candidates can liaise with the Commissioner will all be taking place Clerk rather than having to visit the of the surface dressing treatment. th on 7 May 2020. area office. At this stage Swan Lane, The Lee The Notice of Election will be Completed nomination forms must is currently showing signs in excess of st published on 31 March. The period be delivered to the local office and can 10% premature failure of treatment or for nominations will then be open and be delivered by parish clerks surfacing used. The surface dressing 4 5 crew is a specialist contractor that only traffic behaviour, fly -tipping, I love food, all aspects of it, and in visits the county once a year during parking and gritting. my quest for something unusual for this Larks Nursery the summer. Due to the nature of the  Planning (19% ) including menu, I turned to a recipe collection treatment, it can only be applied residents’ own plans and the impact inspired by The Bennet Family from e are a small setting located during the warmer, summer months. of their neighbours’ plans Pride and Prejudice and written by my in Lee Common C of E School, following a child Transport for Bucks (TfB) will  HS2 (16% ) including traffic friend, Margaret, who ran a fabulous W continue to be monitor the roads and disruption, trees, access issues, tea room in Lacock, Wiltshire. initiated approach to learning based on will be carrying out regular cyclic working hours and noise. Throughout Jane Austen’s novels the individual interests. We are an integral sweeping of the carriageway as Other topics raised by residents table was an important setting, the part of the school and all of the required, until our specialist contractor ranged from Broadband and climate focus of much of the social life of the Nursery children are in one room with returns to the site in the summer to change to preserving village pubs and period and Mrs Bennet is proud that free flow to the outdoor area. This half carry out any associated remedial creating a village archive. she keeps a “very good table”. term our Nursery Manager qualified in works at their cost. You can contact me on any matter I found Welsh rarebit and Celery Forest School! We have been very Your concerns relating to the Parish Council at and Curd Cheese tarts ‘for the lucky to wrap up warm and head out [email protected]. sideboard’ which we served alongside into the beautiful countryside more We held the latest of our informal sandwiches on Mark’s homemade and more! Drop -ins in January and the attendance bread. No afternoon tea is complete For further information contact: made it well worthwhile. Over the last – without scones and, according to the Alison Williams Personal Assistant four Drop -ins the major concerns Time for Tea Bennets, ‘Sunday Scones’ contain to the Headteacher raised with the Parish Council by Lee Common CE School and Larks currants (although I use sultanas as I residents have been: find them more juicy and palatable). Nursery  Roads (28% ) including the Alongside a chocolate Swiss Roll, Tel: 01494 837267 condition of the road surfaces, Email: [email protected] some homemade shortbread and marvellously old fashioned English Web: www.leecommon.org Madeleines, I made a Simpering Cake about which Margaret writes, “We J Brown Funeral Services have all met the likes of Mr Collins – 67 Woodside Road, Amersham, HP6 6AA gushing and pretentious without 01494 727474 (24 hours) KINGSHILL reason. This recipe is for a tasty everyday fruit cake that aspires to a CARS FOR ALL OCCASIONS A truly independent family funeral directors grandeur it doesn’t quite attain”. I think Mrs Bennet would have been proud of Bespoke and traditional services our good table and the guests of today Private chapels of rest CǘǙǜǤǕǢǞǣ certainly approved. Pre -paid funeral plans Off street client parking Home visits AǙǢǠǟǢǤǣ By Lorraine and Mark Stanton ark and I were honoured to LǟǞǔǟǞ be asked to host the first Tea for the Elderly in The Lee for Contact Jason Brown on: 01494 727474 M [email protected] 2020. Despite the freezing weather, nine guests arrived bringing lively 01494 868699 conversation, astute observation and Recommended by Email: [email protected] great enthusiasm to our home at Lee The Good Funeral Guide Gate Barn. 6 7 younger after a career as a BOAC in the area”, with a heavy heart. We Our garden doesn’t have the Patricia Mitchell stewardess and, as a volunteer in the said goodbye to it and have never rolling views or the giant Koi pond, it th kitchen at Waddesdon Manor, she returned. We loved the area having doesn’t have the vast lawn and flower 26 March 1944 – beds with mature trees but it has a th made scones in the summer and mince lived in the Chilterns for 40 years, 27 December 2019 pies at Christmas time. however when Pond Cottage in character all of its own, a sun trap Both children got married in The Oxford Street came our way I was which we have lovingly created Lee Church and Pat thoroughly uncertain… living on a road with no together and enjoy sharing. enjoyed those occasions. She loved view, a garden far too small and What tips would you give people seeing her four grandchildren and neighbours for the first time in 17 moving to the area? watching them play in her garden; years… in other words, civilisation It’s really simple, JOIN IN, then when Don became ill Pat nursed was a startling idea. But all my fears become part of the unique atmosphere him for many years. disappeared as Pond Cottage became this village offers. Charles said soon Throughout her own final illness home after much renovation and after we moved here “you can’t expect Pat characteristically remained understanding from those around us, to live in a community and reap the cheerful. She will be sorely missed whom I felt we had inconvenienced rewards without contributing.” and fondly remembered by all her throughout the changes. I, more so than my husband, found many friends. What do you like most about the area? moving a very emotional event [Editor’s Note: There will be a tea in th It’s the people! We didn’t move leaving a house we had created from a memory of Pat on 26 March – see here to make friends as we had plenty derelict building, and garden we had Dear Diary] already, but it’s hard to live here and created from nothing. A home that not get to know people who, in a very held so many happy memories; short space of time, can be called weddings, parties at Christmas and Personal-Lee close. It’s odd for us to be part of the anniversaries, but without doubt our community, but so very pleasant when happiness at living where we do now We have once again been persuading a Lee resident to answer our questions a stranger stops to talk whilst we’re has made every tear worthwhile. about their own personal experience of cutting the hedge or planting bulbs, Every cloud has a silver lining, we when all we experienced before was don’t have endless leaves to clear, we The Lee. We would love to hear your at, Don, Edward and Sally experiences. If you would like to tell the odd farm vehicle and muntjacs. don’t have half a mile of drive to moved to The Lee from Holmer What has the village given you and maintain and attempt to navigate in your story or nominate our next subject P Green in 1987. for Personal -Lee, get in touch with us what have you brought to it? the snow, Charles doesn’t miss the Pat became involved in many at [email protected] . In a few words…community and a hours of mowing or days spent in social events in the village. She helped sense of belonging. Charles has given waders cleaning the pond. So with teas at The Lee Flower Show and his month we meet local most out of the two of us as I have altogether this is a new stage of our at the Church Fête She also made resident Gill Owen -Conway. charity commitments which don’t life and one we are enjoying to the cakes for the afternoon teas at the T Who is in your household? allow me to get so involved, but he is full… Thank you Lee Common. Church. She joined the small team Me, my husband Charles and now Co Chair of the village shop and from the Shop who went to Peterley Digger the cat. Our son and daughter he mainly looks after your wine Manor Farm once a month to pick up flew the nest many years ago, Joanna supply! My contribution is the tea tent T LW+ – Y!'$ food items needed. Over the years Pat living in London with her husband at the annual Flower Show which I V S'""!$& T often won prizes for her needlepoint at and daughter and our son Jonathan love doing as the sense of community If you have difficulty getting to your the Lee Flower Show. lives and works in Jamaica. is strong and involves a great deal of doctor or the hospital, doing your Her home was warm and How long have you lived in the Lee laughter - and providing a calorific shopping or would like a home visit and a friendly chat, then please ring: welcoming and became a place for and what made you move here? pudding at the Roving Supper. 07845 029500 gatherings for her family and friends, We were one of the first houses How would you spend your perfect such as Sunday lunches and Christmas locally to be bought by HS2 and we day in The Lee and surrounding area? Mon - Fri: 10 am - 4 pm. Sat: 10 am - 12 Day meals. Pat had done a Cordon left Three Bears Cottage, which had noon. Please give us reasonable notice of It has to be in the garden at Pond your requirement to help us organise it. Bleu cookery course when she was been given the title of “the best view Cottage over lunch with friends. 8 9 Bridge too far? The Shop Litter Bugs Pilates By Kathryn Dickinson et al By Pat Chinnery n this recent hand, the bidding A Bank Holiday Event e live in such a beautiful By Symeon Economou @HOME progressed smoothly to 3NT area and yet, as you are no and, when dummy went down, hat do you get when you doubt aware, there are those O cross the Greek Food Event W ‘FLEXIBLE TO THE CORE’ the prospects of declarer making the who just cannot keep their rubbish in with VE Day? contract looked good. W their cars. Cans, bottles , crisp packets

are all just thrown outside onto the 1 to 1 Pilates… in the comfort and ♠ K Q J 6 3 verges. Please join us for our annual convenience of your own home ♥ A 3 nd litter morning on Sunday 22 March. ♦ 9 We would be grateful for any offers of

♣ J 7 5 3 2 help so please get in touch with either myself, Pat Chinnery 837564, or Ann Mat Pilates for all abilities ♠ 4 ♠ A 9 7 5 2 Improves posture, flexibility, Ash 837550 . ♥ Q J 10 9 5 ♥ 7 core strength, muscle tone

♦ Q 5 3 ♦ J 10 8 7 6 2 And another opportunity to help…. and sports performance ♣ K Q 10 8 ♣ 9

♠ 10 8 As you will know, the usual Early Ballinger Litter Pick Individuals [or small groups of up to 4] ♥ K 8 6 4 2 May Day Bank Holiday was moved, By Rod Neal ♦ th th A K 4 from Monday 4 to Friday 8 May to The annual collection of litter Qualified Mat Pilates instructor for ♣ A 6 4 commemorate the 75 th anniversary of from along our verges will take place Beginner, Intermediate and st Dealer: South VE Day. Consequently, we have on Saturday 21 March. Assemble at Advanced Levels Vulnerability: Neither decided to move the Shop at The Lee the Ballinger War Memorial Hall at Greek Food Event, originally 10:00 am. Grabbers and bags W N E S published in our calendar for Monday provided. Please bring own gloves. “In ten sessions you will feel the difference, 4th to the new Bank Holiday and VE in 20 you will see the difference and in 30 1 NT th Refreshments at 12:00 noon. Do come - ♣ - ♥ Day of Friday 8 . and support. Rod Neal 837264. you will have a whole new body” 2 2 … Joseph Pilates - 2NT - 3NT In order to do justice to the spirit - - - of commemoration we have decided to South opened 1 NT as they had a enhance our usual Food Event and Community If you are interested or require further poor heart suit for a re -bid. invite the village to a kebab style BBQ information please contact: and VE Day celebration. How do you play the hand after Karen on 07790 081670 ♥ The day will include the usual mini Safety Team West leads Q ? See page 19. market of fresh Greek and Turkish By Hayley Casey favourites plus a wider Mediterranean selection to take home and, he Community Safety Team produces a monthly newsletter MARTIN THE MILKMAN importantly, from 12:00 noon to 2:00 to keep residents and partners Refrigerated delivery of fresh pm, a BBQ of meat, chicken or T vegetarian skewers (from Kings Farm informed about what the Community milk, dairy produce, bread, Safety Partnership has been involved eggs, fruit juices and more. Shop), salad and pitta, followed by ice cream, baklava or good old English tea in across Chiltern and South Bucks. To place an order call The latest edition is now available to and cakes to be enjoyed in the grounds 01442 833944 of the Parish Hall in front of the shop. view via https://www.chiltern.gov.uk/ Email: This is still a work in progress but communitysafety. [email protected] PHONES MANNED 4 PM – 6 PM be sure to reserve the day and join in Telephone 01494 586535 or email www.karensabsolutepilates.co.uk ANSWERPHONE AT OTHER TIMES a typically eccentric commemoration Hayley.Casey@chilternandsouthbucks. of such a historic day. gov.uk 10 11 waste. But not only is all this fuel for So, is there anything we can do to The Power of free (well almost), it means it does not help the whole recycling process Pippa Hart have to find a home in landfill. In the along? Well as your Special Rubbish Rubbish first three and a half years over a Correspondent, I made sure to get the Photography million tonnes of waste have been low down on your behalf. The most By Peter Macann reduced to (re -usable) ash. All this polluting items are… have you with virtually no pollutants. guessed it? Used nappies. Searing Now a rubbish recycling site may memories of the output from my little not be your immediate go -to choice darlings at that stage made me humbly for a fun day out. But for me – ‘new grateful for that 850°C furnace (though tech’ stuff that makes my juices flow. I reckon my lot could have totally So I booked in to a visitor tour (yes – extinguished it on their own). As for there are such things) to witness this mattresses – well they are not popular extraordinary industry in action. since the small metal springs can jam Our guide, Jez Elkin (who carries the ash conveyor belt! But in response the enviable title of Waste Awareness to the eternal question “should we and Education Manager), was soon wash those jars and cans before we put Natural & Informal n an open site in the revealing some extraordinary them out?”, the answer is Yes! - Black &White countryside beyond Aylesbury, statistics: six tonnes of our non Cleaner containers means purer (and Portraits O an astonishing revolution is recyclable waste is loaded into the therefore more valuable) recyclable quietly taking place that could well furnace every 10 minutes fired to a waste. I expect you are glad you asked. blaze a technological trail across the minimum temperature of 850°C; it 01494 837340 entire country. It represents the biggest takes one to two hours to be turned www.pippahart.com investment ever made by into the re -useable ash; 120 cubic Buckinghamshire County Council… metres of water per hour is thus steam which is also turning out to be a -heated to drive the turbine to produce hugely brave decision that is now, an average of 25 megawatts of under the operation of FCC electricity. Phew! Environment, proving so successful But it is the green credentials of the that it is paying dividends already after place that are even more fascinating. Bespoke, hand -crafted joinery only three years. The whole spectrum of flue gases, with a personal touch It is a power station called Great particulates and heavy metals are Moor, supplying electricity to 40,000 constantly monitored and treated for Finest quality staircases, doors, PS. If you are interested in the two homes which, amazingly, is fuelled by pollutants so that the emissions from windows, one -off mouldings, built -in nothing more than our non -recyclable the whole facility produce no more hour tour of the facility, email Jez Elkin via www.greatmoor.co.uk. units, authentic period property noxious fumes than a diesel engine on repairs and more Mike Lake its MoT… and the material output is merely a re -useable ash! All individually designed, built and

Friendly & Local Great Moor is one of 40 -50 of installed to your unique specifications Painter & Decorator these power stations across the by skilled craftsmen using traditional For that professional touch country using this most up -to -date carpentry techniques (but crucially, proven) technology. Interior & Exterior For wood with wow call Alasdair Together they are making a huge dent Also Property Maintenance in the nearly 16 million tonnes of non - Cunningham on 01494 890145 or For a free quotation please call: recyclable waste that went into email: [email protected] 01494 866873 / 07723 017005 landfill in, say, 2016. [email protected] 12 13 St Mary’s, Ballinger We needed to have a Services for ‘Quinquennial’ survey carried out, and this has highlighted some areas March that we need to address. The dry summers of 2018 and 2019 have St John the Baptist probably caused some significant movement of parts of the structure; inevitable with such an old building, Great Missenden lacking modern foundations. The Supported Living work we will have to investigate carrying out is exactly what we are A warm, friendly, house for the

The Lee Old in place to do, and is our raison elderly, in the picturesque centre of d’être. We try to do as much of the Church Trust maintenance as we can ourselves, the village. but the delicacy of the medieval wall Come and take a look to see for By Jon Swain paintings requires specialists, as will yourself and have a chat with he Trust was set up to ensure the renovations to masonry, render Carol Lauder -Ross (Manager) that this precious ancient and plaster. Tel: 01494 865026 building could be maintained, T Fortunately, legacies bequeathed or email for a brochure as the Parish felt unable to look after by friends who loved the Old two churches at The Lee with all its [email protected] Church and the wonderful HC Holy Communion (said) other expenses. Since the 1980s the Find out more on our website PC Parish Communion (sung) fundraising events we put on during Trust has raised funds and carried www.abbeyfield.com AA All age service the year mean that we can hope to out the necessary ongoing tackle such potentially costly work. maintenance required. Contacts: We are grateful for the local support Parish Secretary: Joanne Evans for this beautiful, Grade 1 listed SHORT-TERM (07811 094416). Churchwardens : building which stands as a lasting Trevor Pearce (01494 837601) and monument to centuries of service to RENTALS Mike Sherratt (07597 158269). Verger: the local community, and which we From £295 per week (all inclusive) Bill Pearce (01494 785191). Treasurer: want to be sure will have a chance David Stephenson (01494 867617). of lasting another 800 years. Being a Self -catering holiday Friend of the Old Church is open to or temporary accommodaon all, at just £10 per annum. Lee Common Methodist at Lee Common We see our role to provide the fabric, but also some cultural th Moving house? content too. Our AGM is on 5 April Completion dates don’t coincide? and we will have the benefit of an House sale falls through? Since the death of John Glanfield, illustrated talk by Stephen Archer, a Builders outstaying their welcome? who had decades of experience as a Trustee of the ‘Cutty Sark’, on the church architect, we have been lucky £50 million reconstruction Expecng Visitors? enough to co -opt Phil Ogley on to programme after it was nearly Need extra accommodaon?

our committee. Phil has much destroyed by fire in 2007, followed - by wine and canapés at the end of Self contained Period Property: experience of the conservation of old sleeps four guests Our next Coffee Morning is on churches through his work, and his the evening. Friends are warmly th Saturday 7 March 10:30 am to 12:00 specialist knowledge has been an invited; please come, and you will Tel: 01494 837798

noon. All welcome. invaluable addition. be made very welcome. e-mail: [email protected]

14 15 ------ADVERTORIAL ------until 5:00 pm on Saturdays and from HS2 communications HS2: carry on The danger for parishes such as 8:30 am until 1:30 pm on Sundays. Radfield ours, along the line of route for Phase If residents are disturbed by noise regardless! 1, is that a ‘Notice to Proceed’ to outside of these hours, please contact the environmental health team at By Colin Sully, The Lee Parish Council contractors, as well as resulting in Home Care Chiltern District Council at bulldozers on the ground, may also Promoting an independent result in ‘bulldozer communications'. www.chiltern.gov.uk/noise. Finally, the fencing -off of HS2 lifestyle at home We have already seen HS2 Ltd - stepping back themselves from some ‘safe guarded’ areas in the parish has n a recent poll, 97% of people begun (on Leather Lane). We can surveyed said they don’t want to go direct communications. The Parish into a care home when they are Council will need to keep a close eye expect further traffic impacts on local I roads, footpath diversions and of older (OnePoll 2014), and 71% of on HS2 Ltd to ensure that we get the people would prefer to reach the end of mitigation agreed, including the yet to course landscape destruction as the their life in their own home. This is a be concluded relief from the plans at project now builds up. The ‘Notice to dramatic shift from previous Hunts Green Farm and the long - Proceed’ to construction is now generations, where moving into a care expected to be given to the main awaited, but still to be delivered, home in old age was viewed as a Hilltop Traffic Surveys. contractors in April. normal option for many. he recent news about HS2 has, Going forward, the Parish Council Indeed, there are many benefits to So far, HS2 staff and their I’m sure, disappointed most contractors have been poor in will focus its energies on getting remaining in one’s own home. people locally… and a great timely information and appropriate Numerous studies have shown that care T delivering on their promises; now they many further afield. mitigation of these impacts. at home has a greater positive impact are under even more cost pressure one on wellbeing, happiness and reduced Basically, the Government has fears this may get worse. hospital admissions. decided to press on with Phases 1 and 2a pretty much as designed, which will Local works Furthermore, home care is typically Recently the Parish Council has cheaper and if you are living in your get it as far as Crewe. Phase 2b – to own home, its value will not be Manchester and Leeds – will be complained to HS2 Ltd about night included in the means testing which reviewed to see if there are ways of time and weekend working behind decide if you qualify for public funding. reducing the cost of this section by Potter Row. HS2 Ltd reported back Some good news for the local integrating it into ‘High Speed North’. that there was no night time working community is that a leading care The argument seems to be that nearly by HS2 Ltd contractors, apart from at provider, Radfield Home Care, is now £10 billion has already spent on the bottom of Frith Hill and the bell

operating in the local area and covering Phases 1 and 2a and its full costs are mouth entrance to the haul road. more rural locations which had now better known than for Phase 2b. However, we then learnt that traditionally not been provided for. Or as Boris so eloquently put it… Buckinghamshire County Council had Radfield Home Care is a family “When you’ve dug yourself a hole as in fact granted permission for Balfour company which was established in Beatty, working on behalf of National 2008 by brother and sister Alex Green big as HS2, the only thing to do is keep digging”… or STOP!! Grid, to work alternate weekends in and Dr Hannah MacKechnie, a A Minister has been appointed the area, including the following dates: qualified GP. They themselves grew up nd rd in a residential home for elderly people with specific responsibility for 22 and 23 February 2020 th th so have had a lifetime of caring for delivering HS2 and charged with 7 and 8 March 2020 st nd others and understanding the unique finding new savings from the project’s 21 and 22 March 2020 th th needs of people as they grow older. spiralling cost. This may result in 4 and 5 April 2020 th th To discuss your needs or those of a fewer and slower trains running on 18 and 19 April 2020. friend or relative, contact the Phase 1 but is unlikely to significantly National Grid’s approved working Wycombe, Beaconsfield and South affect the design of the route. hours at the weekend are from 7:30 am Bucks office on 01494 614516. 16 17 here, aged just 18; Estas Tonne, Near-Lee (3) perhaps one of the most famous street artists in the world, became a regular By Liz Macann for a while, along with Hattie Briggs, Sometimes you live in a place for Jazz Morley, Tom Baxter, Little Fish/ years without knowing that there is a Candy Says, Stephanie O… there are little gem on your doorstep. In this many more I could name, all of whom series of occasional articles, we invite are carving their way through what is readers to nominate their hidden a tough industry, but each has gems. Do let us know yours. returned because of the respect they “It existed in my head from about have been shown and the warmth of The Drawingroom three weeks before 9/11 and opened the welcome and reception given by ne of our family’s favourite on 21 st September 2002, the first UN Drawingroom audiences. places in nearby Chesham is International day of Peace. Before all O The Drawingroom, situated in this, miserable in my work a pretty courtyard off the main street. (management consultancy -process re - Our kids love the cakes and the engineering), I knew I wanted to quirkiness and we just love create an art gallery, paintings and everything about it as a pre/post sculpture. I had always intended theatre watering hole or a coffee stop refreshments should be served as I in the middle of the day. But it is so wanted everyone to feel welcome, much more… its owner, Richard browsers and buyers alike, and this Elkington told me: paved the way for what we have evolved into, The Drawingroom, where food is served and a feast of We have no bouncers or doormen; original music performed. It’s intense this is my home, I want everyone to Mervyn’s and uniquely special. feel and be safe; you will be Carpet & Upholstery introduced to whomsoever you are sat Cleaning Services beside and everyone becomes family. It also means you will be Cromar Independent carpet cleaning surrounded by like -minded souls in specialist with over 30 years this extraordinary space built 460 Carpets Ltd experience. years ago for hospitality, where some of the most extraordinary emerging CARPETS. UPHOLSTERY. World Class musicians perform their RUGS. HARD FLOOR. original material… and we listen, in CǂǓǑdžǕǔ, VNJǏǚǍ ǂǏDž CARPET PROTECTION. silence… that’s the deal.” WǐǐDž FǍǐǐǓNJǏLj FULLY INSURED. This format attracted a higher SǖǑǑǍNJdžDž ǂǏDž FNJǕǕdžDž Friendly and reliable service. calibre of musician and, at the same Most work by recommendation. time, I used this place to give Environmentally friendly younger musicians the opportunity to cleaning materials. support those who were already For a no obligation quote ’phone breaking through, where they could 9-11 SǕǂǕNJǐǏ AǑǑǓǐǂDŽlj 01525 371724 or 07975 847027 learn their craft. GǓdžǂǕ MNJǔǔdžǏDždžǏ Email: [email protected] Brit Award winner Jack Garratt 01494 862125 started here, aged just 15; guitarist, and composer Will McNicol started 18 19 unable to attend either session but Shop at The Lee sells over 150 Forum 2020 would still like some hands -on help, Local artists calendars each year and artwork used – By The Lee Parish Council please email [email protected] to will have the artist’s signature this arrange a convenient appointment he new Forum 2020 went live needed by Shop could be the start or continuation of st during March. on 1 February, with nearly 400 having your work seen by the public! The old forum can also still be subscribers at different stages All original artwork will T accessed via any bookmarks you may at The Lee of registration. Just over 50% of them obviously be looked after and have set and through a link on the By Katie Michaelson-Yeates are ‘Resident’ (i.e. they live within the returned. We would need your Forum 2020 home page. It is now o all our local artists, amateur parish), a little over 40% are permission to use the artwork for the ‘frozen’ to any new contributions, but or professional, Shop at The ‘Local’ (Potter Row, Ballinger, South calendar and possible future use, for you can still view it and search Lee is sending out a request. Heath, etc.) and 6% are T example on our Facebook page through the history. ‘Remote’ (everywhere else). The The theme for next year’s calendar You can find Forum 2020 at ShopAtTheLee. process of completing registration has (2021) will be ‘local artists’. The Lee www.thelee.org.uk/the -lee -forum -2020 been time -consuming – on all sides – Parish, Ballinger and surrounding or can access it via other links on The caused by a combination of: area is blessed with the most beautiful Lee website. a) the need to manually check each scenery, flora and fauna, and our idea Bridge too far? Forum 2020 is provided by the applicants interest in The Lee (to Parish Council for the community, so is to show this using our local talent. t our table, South won the prevent commercial advertisers and please make good use of it… for Lost We would like local artists to enter opening trick in hand others from joining and their artworks for inclusion in the (keeping ♥A as a future and Found; Items Wanted and For A compromising its integrity) Sale; Recommendations; village calendar. We would include all entry to dummy). b) verifying the email address provided notices; etc. medium types – oil or water, abstract However the bad split in Spades (to prevent Spammers and Robots) If you have any questions on how or montage, all are welcome. (5 -1) meant we went one off. c) the setting up of secure and to use Forum 2020, check out the confidential passwords for each user online User Guide, FAQs and the d) councillors administering Forum support discussion forum. 2020 needing to learn more than If you are still having problems anticipated about the myriad of completing your registration, choosing devices, operating systems and email your preferred password or setting accounts that registrants are using! your subscriptions, then please email We held a couple of Drop -Ins in [email protected] clearly setting January which were well -received and out the problem. moved people forward. If you were Happy posting!

Contemporary and classic Italian food prepared in our kitchens by our Italian chef Gennaro Grella with daily specials, In the first instance could you including special allergen and dietary requirement menu selection. please send a photo of the artwork to me at [email protected]. Private dining for up to 50 people and Hopefully we will have many parties also catered for with a garden at the back. entrants so that we can have a broad spectrum of art. All we ask is it would To make a reservation call fit (we can reduce/enlarge in size) an 01494 863696, see our website:

A4 landscape format and that the originswinebar.co.uk or call in at 57 High Street, Great Missenden, HP16 artwork represents, in some form, The 0AL Lee and neighbouring areas. 20 21 and Landscapes (delivered by a and is kindly making his large archive Helena Chance 01494 522141 ext New heritage partnership between the Chilterns of records, photographs and tools 4105 or [email protected]. Conservation Board and Bucks New available to our researchers. University) is a new community The Woodlanders project is aiming project project whose volunteer researchers to uncover the fascinating everyday Woodlanders’ lives and are busy discovering and sharing what stories – happy and sad – of how the life was like for the people who people who made their living in these landscapes worked in these rural industries. woodland and home -based industries By Lesley Hoskins and Helena Local straw plaiting went about their ordinary daily lives at Chance, Bucks New University Intriguingly, Lee Common and home and at work. Volunteer re you interested in the stories Ballinger show up in the mid - researchers are already bringing and lives of those who made nineteenth -century censuses as centres together a mass of existing knowledge the Chilterns what they are with new investigations to tell their A nostalgic view of a plait school, published in A of straw plaiting. Straw plaiters made 1882, after the schools had mostly disappeared. tales, which are beginning to go up on today? The area is now regarded in the long strips for the straw hats that From Cassell’s Family Magazine. popular imagination as a beautiful were so fashionable at that time and the project’s blog page landscape of beech woods, chalk www.chilternsaonb.org/woodlanders - Woodlanders is one of the eighteen that were made in centres like Luton escarpments and picturesque villages. and Dunstable. Plaiting was low -paid lives/stories . If you’d be interested in projects in the Chalk, Cherries and But for more than two centuries it was piece -work that could be done at home taking part, we’d love to hear from Chairs scheme, funded by the also a busy industrial environment. and, unsurprisingly, the plaiters in the you. There are lots of ways to get National Heritage Lottery, which The woods and villages were alive involved: family history and archive encourages local people to get census were mostly women. Children, with furniture making, woodwares, sometimes as young as three or four, research; interviewing local people; involved with the history, straw plaiting, lace making and could also be put to this work, often writing local stories; or giving talks environment and wildlife of the tambour beading (the technique of for long days in ‘plait schools’, which and tours. You can find out more at Central Chilterns. You can find out applying beading and sequins for the www.chilternsaonb.org/woodlanders - more about the whole scheme at were more like workshops than fashion industry). Woodlanders’ Lives schools. We’re wondering whether lives or by getting in touch with www.chilternsaonb.org/projects/CCC. TIM SIMMONS IS there were there any plait schools in this area? In 1871 one young man THE VERMINATOR shows up in the industry – Joseph Batchelor of 2 Lee Common was a Pest control services plait merchant, probably acting as the intermediary between the home workers and the hat manufacturers. WASPS ALL Straw plaiting in the vicinity seems GLIS -GLIS INSECTS to have largely died out by the early SQUIRREL FOXES twentieth century but lace making RATS MICE RABBITS MOLES AND ANTS perhaps lasted a little longer, as did ‘bodging’ – making chair legs or stretchers for the local chair industry. The flourishing beech woods of the Chilterns provided the raw materials FAST FRIENDLY SERVICE for the turners to ply their trade, LOW PRICES - HIGH QUALITY usually working in huts in the woods, using what appears to us to be quite 07734 649305 primitive equipment. According to the censuses, there were some of these turners living at Lee Common. Stuart King, from Holmer Green, is a great WE WILL ALSO PROOF YOUR expert on chairmaking including chair HOUSE/PREMISES TO STOP THEM COMING BACK bodging. He is the historical consultant to the Woodlanders project Storm Dennis menaces The Lee (Photograph by Michael Addison) 22 23 Ballinger Evening WI Coming soon Contact: Frankie Little, 837659 The Newsletter nd [email protected] Thursday 2 April. The Lee Walking he Lee Newsletter is published 10 Lee Common C of E School Group. Meet on the Green, with or times a year and distributed free to School office, 837267 The fastest way to let everyone in the without dogs, at 9:30 am. all households in the parish… and Parish know about an event you are nd [email protected] T Thursday 2 April. Horticultural Society a little beyond. The views expressed in it arranging is to publish it right here in Lee Common Methodist Church Spring Show and talk on Bulbs. are not necessarily those of the Editor. the Newsletter. Contact the Editor by Marian Tomkins, 837479 th Ballinger Memorial Hall. 8:00 pm. We welcome letters and articles of the 12 of the previous month (see rd Lee Common Scouts Friday 3 April. Lee Common School interest and relevance to The Lee. contact details on page 1). Scout Leader Thomas Brockett: Association coffee morning at the Copy should be sent to the Editor of Methodist Chapel. 9:00 am. 837294 or [email protected] th th the month (see page 1) by the 12 of Sunday 5 April . Old Church Trust Shop at The Lee Symeon Economou, 837195 the month before publication. March AGM with illustrated talk by Letters should ideally run to no more th [email protected] Thursday 5 . The Lee Walking Stephen Archer, followed by wine than 200 words and articles to no more Group. Meet at the Shop, with or and canapés. 7:30 pm. See page 12. St John the Baptist Church th than 700 words; material may be edited without dogs, at 9:30 am. Tuesday 14 April . Ballinger Evening See centre pages. th and may appear on the village website Thursday 5 . Horticultural Society. WI at 8:00 pm. ‘History of the British St Mary’s Ballinger www.thelee.org.uk unless consent is ‘365 days of colour in your garden’ Pantomime’ with Catherine Campbell. Contact: Anne Ellis, 837247 th specifically withheld. Anonymous with Nick Bailey, BBC Gardeners’ Thursday 30 April. The Arts Society [email protected] World Presenter. Ballinger Memorial Tennis Court @ Parish Hall contributions are not accepted. Ballinger. ‘Shimmering splendour: To advertise or place an insert, Hall. 8:00 pm. Tickets £10. Contact Silk in South East Asia’ by Denise Bookings: Judy Morgan 837787 please contact Paul Apicella on 837377 [email protected] or phone Heywood at 8:00 pm. Guests £8. The Arts Society Ballinger th 773145. st by the 12 of the previous month. th Friday 1 May . Lee Common School Chair, Lesley Wickham, 865480 If you have photographs for Friday 6 . Lee Common School Association coffee morning at the [email protected] Association coffee morning at the publication please contact Jonathan Methodist Chapel. 9:00 am. The Lee Cricket Club Methodist Chapel. 9:00 am. th Batten on 837450 or email th Friday 8 May . Shop at The Lee www.theleecc.org.uk Saturday 7 . Coffee Morning at the Secretary, Mike Harris [email protected]. Methodist Church. 10:30 am to Greek Event meets VE Day . 9:00 am - 2:00 pm Parish Hall. See page 8. 07788 345555 For queries regarding distribution 12:00 noon. th th Tuesday 12 May . Ballinger Evening The Lee Flower Show contact Barnaby Usborne on 837382. Tuesday 10 . Ballinger Evening WI Other members of the Editorial ‘What do Nomads eat for Breakfast?’ WI at 8:00 pm. ‘Tales of the Chairman, Jonathan Batten Riverbank’ with Jo Laurie 837450 team: Peter Archer, Zoe Berkeley, with Jane Marsh. 8:00 pm. th Thursday 19 th . The Lee Parish Saturday 18 July. The Lee Flower The Lee Newsletter Ruth Fowler, Phil Harrison, Liz Council Meeting. The Lee Parish Show… put it in your diaries! [email protected] Macann, Jen Ogley, Adam Speller and Hall at 7:30 pm. The Lee Old Church Trust Colin Sully. Saturday 21 st . Ballinger Litter Pick . Secretary: Pam Garner 837501 Printed by Strongs: 01442 878592. Ballinger War Memorial Hall. 10:00 The Lee Parish Council am. See page 9. Directory of nd Clerk: Hayley Farrelly, 837068 Sunday 22 . The Lee Litter Pick . [email protected] To book the Parish Hall Call 837564 or 837550. See page 9. local contacts www.thelee.org.uk/pc th or Scout Hut Thursday 26 . Afternoon Tea in Ballinger Horticultural Society Allotments: Alison Weir, 837529 ’phone Anne Barnett on 837796 memory of Pat Mitchell. The Lee Chairperson: Katherine Hersee The Lee Parish Hall Committee Parish Hall. Time to be confirmed on Rates 9 am - 1 pm 6 pm - 07801 948650 Bookings: Anne Barnett, 837796 2 pm - 6 pm midnight The Lee Forum. All proceeds to Rennie Grove Hospice. See page 6. [email protected] Chairman: Tony Lea, 837237 Mon - Fri £30 or £10/hr £45 or £10/hr th Membership Secretary: The LeeWay Sat/Sun £12/hr £70 Thursday 26 . The Arts Society Ballinger. ‘A Carpet Ride to Khiva’ [email protected] Contact: 07845 029500 Bank Holiday £12/hr £70

with Chris Alexander at 8:00 pm. Ballinger War Memorial Hall Vocal Lees (village choir) Car park only £10 Guests £8. Bookings: Jane Ogden, 837379 Jeannette Batten, 837450 Crockery/cutlery £15 (hire outside the hall)