THE June 2019 LEE

For , Lee Common, Hunts Green, Kings Ash and Swan Bottom Editorial-Lee The Lee Fête Saturday 15 th June 2:00 pm speaking By Kathryn Clark By Jonathan Batten reparations are underway for ne of the jobs of the Editor is the annual church fête which to try and write an editorial to P will be held on the green. O fit precisely into the space Local author Jenny Senior will be remaining after the substance of the opening the proceedings and there edition has been set – here goes! will be a fine selection of stalls as

Apart from the 75th anniversary of usual, including the unmissable tea the D-Day Landings it’s a party tent serving cream teas and month: World Cup Cricket Party at the homemade produce. LCC, The Lee Church Fête, the Once again the children from Lee Usbornes’ open garden in aid of Common School will entertain us with Scannappeal, Noel Coward at the Old traditional maypole dancing; test your Church, LCSA summer party and then quick reaction skills with Splat-the-Rat; next month, the big one: The Lee try your luck on the tombola and don’t Flower Show and The Lee Flower forget to buy your raffle tickets! We will Show Dance. have our hugely successful bric-a-brac It’s all here in the newsletter – and book stalls. Take a ride in the steam what’s not to look forward to! car or on a pony or sit back and quench We might also remember another your thirst with a glass of Pimms. DD (no, not the beer or the cup size): For those who want to test their Que será, será strength, don’t miss the tug-of-war and Sales & Lettings Whatever will be, will be for kids, the bouncy castle is not to be The future's not ours to see missed. New this year we have the 64 High Street Que será, será barrow of booze raffle, Scouts are HP16 0AN What will be, will be providing a human fruit machine and, Tel: 01494 890990 Please send your contributions for as June promises to be a scorcher, kick next month’s edition to and splash is making a comeback! email: [email protected] [email protected] or Came along and enjoy a fun afternoon www.jeremyswan.co.uk hard copy to the editor, Peter Archer, with all the family. at Mulberry Cottage, Blackthorne Many thanks to all those who have Lane, Ballinger by 12 th June. already offered assistance. More offers 2 3 are always welcome. Enquiries for This is Dorothy’s story: specific stalls and donations should be D-Day 1944 – “It was 1944 and I was in my third directed as follows: year as a student nurse working in a Teas and home produce – Pippa hospital north of . We lived in Hart 837340 remembering a lovely, purpose built nurses’ home Bric-a-brac – Rod Neal 837264 close to the hospital each with our own Raffle/Barrow of Booze/Pimms – Dorothy’s story bedrooms. We worked long hours, six Judy Hart 837340 / Kathryn Clark By Anthea Hartley days a week and our wages were very 07887 746669 n 2016, whilst having tea with meagre after our board and lodging Plants – Trevor Pearce 837601 Dorothy Golding, I asked her to had been deducted – so little, in fact, Tombola – David Gurney 07795 describe to me what it was like to The patients were mostly English I that we were paid cash in hand. 542115 be a member of the nursing profession and required general nursing to treat In May of that year about eight of Toy Stall – Rachel Harris 837415 during the 1940s and throughout the their various injuries but they did not my colleagues and I were warned to be Books – Andrew Cowper 837922. Second World War. spend very long in the hospital. The prepared to leave the hospital at short doodle bugs were raining down along Dorothy was almost completely notice, although we had no idea why. the coast and the patients were moved blind. So, with her permission and We were to pack our bags with our as quickly as possible to the safety of under her supervision, I wrote the uniform and ‘mufti’ – after twelve Your letters hospitals further inland. story of her experiences in the war aprons, dresses, caps, collars and cuffs My nursing colleagues and I Hideous-Lee when she was a student nurse sent to there was precious little room for mufti! remained at the hospital until the last To the Editor care for the wounded soldiers as they One evening I was just starting a of the casualties had been transported The last two newsletters have included were rescued from the beaches of night shift when we were told that we Normandy during the D-Day Landings details of the litter picks in both th would be leaving that same morning at Ballinger and The Lee. on 6 June 1944. 8:00 am – I worked my night shift until Despite the best efforts of the 2:00 am and then prepared to leave the volunteers, there are those who persist hospital early that same morning. in dropping litter. The photograph A coach arrived to collect us and below was taken recently of the bench we started our journey through by the bus stop at Swan Bottom. London collecting a number of nurses Please can I remind everyone to from other hospitals en route. Our take their litter home or dispose of it journey took us to the South Coast responsibly... and also encourage others where we learned that we would be to do the same. nursing the survivors of The Ruth Fowler Normandy Landings which took place Swan Bottom on 6 th June 1944. The premises had previously been a mental hospital, so on our arrival we busied ourselves giving it a thorough clean, making and airing the beds and preparing to receive the casualties. It was two or three weeks before the first patients arrived in charabancs that had been converted into ambulances to cope with the aftermath of D-Day. 4 5 to safer locations and then we too and dressing wounds was our priority a tribute to her and all the thousands of returned to our various hospitals in the treatment of injuries. other medical personnel who where we continued our general Anaesthetics were administered by a contributed to the war effort and saved Low Vision nursing training. doctor dripping chloroform onto a so many lives. There can be only a piece of gauze, which was held over handful of war veterans left who can the patient’s nose and mouth. tell us, first hand, their experiences on Day I remember one time when the D-Day 1944. th surgeon had to shout at the doctor to We were so fortunate to have been Tuesday 18 June wake her up because she too was able to hear Dorothy’s story in 2016 inhaling the fumes of the chloroform because to-day she has little recall 12:30pm to 4:30pm

and was beginning to fall asleep! whatsoever of her nursing career. Often GPs would carry out the Thank you Dorothy. more simple operations but surgeons Commu- had to be brought out from the London nity Centre hospitals to carry out the more Stratton Road, HP27 9AX complex procedures. My nursing Here to help There were no antibiotics in those career spanned many, many years and days but we did have penicillin. We I always loved my job.” with sight loss See demonstrations of equip- made the dressings by hand and then Aftermath By Bucks Vision ment including magnifica- sterilised them in the operating Dorothy is now 95 years old and here are an estimated 23,000 theatre’s sterilization unit. Cleaning tion and digital technology. living in a care home in . She people living in is profoundly blind and has suffered T Buckinghamshire and Milton Speak to charities and local Ironing service almost total memory loss but, despite Keynes with sight loss. groups. her extreme frailty, she has retained However, sight loss doesn’t mean Open to professionals / mem- her sense of humour and has an you stop living or enjoying your life extraordinarily pragmatic approach as and we are here to support people to bers of the public who wish she accepts her situation with dignity. do this. We offer a range of services to find out more about Dorothy now needs 24 hour including advice and information on sight loss. nursing and, when I visited her a few living with sight loss; practical support days ago, she told me how wonderful on using new technology; advice and her friends and neighbours have been information on equipment; 01296 487 556 Reliable, flexible ironing service in helping her to retain her befriending, reading and shopping [email protected] is available. independence for so many years. The services; and social activities. In the Chiltern area, we have a www.bucksvision.co.uk On your premises or collect and staff at the home are very kind and when Dorothy thanks them for their Friendship Club based in Chesham deliver. Registered Charity no 1147814 help they tell her: “Dorothy, you have and another one in Princes

Competitive rates. spent your whole life looking after Risborough. These clubs are places for References on request. other people, now it’s your turn”. people to meet others with sight loss Some light housekeeping may I think it is appropriate that and enjoy entertainment and outings. also be considered. Dorothy’s story should be told again We also organise one off activity days If interested please phone: during June of this year, the 75th called Experience Days. Recent events anniversary of the D-Day Landings, as have included theatre trips to see audio 01494 - 816115. described performances, a visit to a 6 7 gin distillery and tours of local places county, plus those predicated along the Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has of interest. Oxford to Cambridge Expressway. announced £4 million in new funding We also send out a quarterly At the same time the press is for three projects that will nurture new Pilates newsletter which includes information highlighting the clash between more talent in Virtual Reality, and there is an about our services, other local groups development and climate change and the offer of a five week business Start-Up disconnect between science and course from Bucks Business First worth @HOME and information on new equipment and technology. We produce it in governance. Whilst the debate is loud in £700 (which is being run for free) to ‘FLEXIBLE TO THE CORE’ audio, large print and Braille formats the UK, the regions that need to do most anyone on low incomes or benefits. are in Africa and the Far East. Finally we wish all of you taking so, if you would just simply like to join our mailing list for the moment, Cllr Nick Rose and I are very clear exams this summer the best of luck and 1 to 1 Pilates… in the comfort and please don’t hesitate to get in touch. of the need to safeguard the Chilterns by every success for the future! convenience of your own home If you have sight loss yourself or writing to the press, speaking up at know of a friend or family member public meetings and resisting who would benefit from our support, development in the AONB. The Chiltern Mat Pilates for all abilities Society, Chiltern Conservation Board Canine chaos email [email protected]. Improves posture, flexibility, and the Heart of Bucks Community By Pippa Hart or give us a call on 01296 487556. core strength, muscle tone Foundation have each sought a new he bluebells in Lordling Wood Further information can also be found and sports performance Chief Executive this year and we will had just gone past their best; with on our website: www.bucksvision.co.uk work with them to protect and maintain T such a dry spring the window of the wellbeing of the Chilterns. perfection was very brief this year, but Individuals [or small groups of up to 4] In early May, the House of every year they spread a bit further and Commons gave its assent to the give us the most awesome backdrop for Qualified Mat Pilates instructor for County news Structural Changes Order for the Unitary our May village walk. Beginner, Intermediate and By Patricia Birchley Authority which will go live next April. With 23 walkers and 15 dogs, was Advanced Levels

his week I The Order now goes to the House of it a record turnout? The human head attended a public Lords and could become law before the count was ‘relatively’ easy to “In ten sessions you will feel the difference, T consultation at end of May. This means that a Shadow capture, but the canines were not in 20 you will see the difference and in 30 RAF Halton to garner Executive made up of Members from all quite as accommodating at posing for you will have a whole new body” five councils will coordinate and lead … Joseph Pilates public support for their the camera. plans to build 1,000 new homes the process to create the new council; it Liz Ford had produced her famous between 2022 and 2025 when the base must be business as usual on day one of bag of dog treats and became the main If you are interested or require further finally closes. This is in addition to the new authority. focus of their attention – with Labradors, information please contact: On 10 th May, several of us from housing developments throughout the of course, at the front of the queue! Karen on 07790 081670 Chesham and the hilltop villages attended a lunch locally with the Prime Minister who talked about excellent first quarter growth in the UK of 0.5%, the NHS getting the biggest cash boost in its

history and her hope of delivering Brexit. There was also the news that our MP Cheryl Gillan had been selected to

fight the next general election. Meantime, Bosch will launch an Email: [email protected] Innovation Hub in Denham on 4 th June, www.karensabsolutepilates.co.uk the Bucks Thames Valley Local 8 9 topics just to those who have signed Thames Valley up for the topic. Open garden So if you are posting a message on the Forum in an existing topic, please Police alert check that it is relevant. If it is, go ahead Scannappeal By Andrew Burnett – otherwise follow the links in the right By Barnaby Usborne ome topics on The Lee Forum hand column to start a new topic. he garden of Garden Cottage, receive a variety of postings, Cherry Tree Lane, Lee S but I think Thames Valley T Common will be open to the Police would be a bit surprised by the public in aid of Scannappeal between messages on this topic. Originally to Bridge too far? 2:00 pm and 4:30 pm on Saturday th draw attention to shed break-ins, it has By Liz Ford et al 15 June. so far had postings on: n this recent hand, competitive There will be a zip wire for the • Various services wanted – bidding by E-W interfered with children and an old gypsy caravan to clearing gutters, a plasterer, a I the opponents’ bids, but didn’t admire. Do come to inspect the garden chiropractor, a plumber, a prevent N-S arriving at a game and listen to the jazz quartet while decorator, a gardener. contract in 4 ♠. enjoying tea and cakes in support of a • Items for sale and to give away good cause. Tickets £6 at the gate. – bicycle, wooden cot, piano, ♠ A Q 10 6 2 The Lee Fête on The Lee Green conservatory furniture, chairs, ♥ A Q will be only a short walk away across the Park, so you can easily enjoy a futon, fire basket, alloy ♦ K 3 wheels, lamp, garden table, visit to both events. Parking will be ♣ Q 10 5 2 wallpaper stripper. ♠ ♠ available in the ‘bonfire field’ adjacent 8 4 3 K 9 7 to Garden Cottage. • Items wanted – children’s ♥ ♥ playpen, field for grazing, J 10 9 4 3 2 - ♦ ♦ metal detector, knitting needles, J 9 2 A Q 7 5 4 kitten food, child’s high chair. ♣ A ♣ 9 8 7 6 3 KINGSHILL ♠ J 5 Scannappeal – • Publicity for open gardens. CARS FOR ALL OCCASIONS • Cats and dogs, both missing ♥ K 8 7 6 5 and found (but probably not the ♦ 10 8 6 our local same ones). ♣ K J 4 CHILTERNS • Lost property found – two charity (separate) bags. Dealer: North Vulnerability: none By Bill Baxter CBE, Chairman • Babysitter wanted and available cannappeal was launched in (did they connect?). N E S W 1987 to buy a state of the art CT • Tickets available. AIRPORTS 1 ♠ 2 ♦ Dbl 2 ♥ S scanner and a subsequent MRI A snapshot of life in The Lee. But Scanner for Wycombe hospital. Since 3 ♣ - 3 ♠ - sadly for all those posting these then, the charity has raised over £14m 4 ♠ - - - messages, very few people will have and funded equipment in every major LONDON seen them. For although the Forum department in the hospitals we now has over 1,000 members, only 35 The final bid of 4 ♠ by N seemed support, including , Stoke have signed up to get email messages reasonable and was supported by the Mandeville, Wycombe and on this topic. Messages on new topics ‘Losing Tricks Count’. community hospitals, which together 01494 868699 go to a wide circulation, on existing See how it played on page 23. serve residents in Buckinghamshire Email: [email protected] 10 11 and neighbouring parts of Berkshire, more detailed and accurate screening delivering revolutionary medical Bedfordshire, , meaning quicker diagnosis and equipment for our local community Middlesex and Oxfordshire. ultimately, saving lives. now and for generations to come. Equipment funded by Scannappeal One of our recent appeals, The Eye If you want to get involved or help is used every 10 minutes and one in See Appeal, was to provide five in any way, please call the office on four of the local population has specialist machines – three for cataract 01494 734161 or see the website, benefited from the equipment. We surgery and two for more complex eye www.scannappeal.org or contact me take great pride in fundraising to surgery helping to improve and restore directly. Great Missenden provide equipment for our local vision. 4,500 patients each year will Supported Living hospitals which the National Health benefit from this equipment. Service alone would not be able to Looking forward we have just A warm, friendly, house for the fund. This equipment is often the first launched one of our most ambitious Cricket-Lee elderly, in the picturesque centre of of its type in the UK which gives us all appeals, the Bucks MRI Appeal, in By Jon Swain, Sunday XI captain the village. access to the best diagnostic partnership with the NHS to purchase ur season for the Sunday XI Come and take a look to see for equipment. The equipment allows two of the latest MRI scanners began with a game on Easter yourself and have a chat with specialist departments to be enhanced, available on the market. O Sunday; temperatures in the Carol Lauder-Ross (Manager) new services introduced and patients mid-20s, clear blue skies and no leaves Tel: 01494 865026 to be cared for closer to home. on the trees; an incongruous situation. or email for a brochure Community generosity The ground looked immaculate, [email protected] The funds we raise to purchase this reflecting the hard work done over the Find out more on our website Our target is to raise £1.5m in the winter and pre-season. We faced lifesaving equipment is obtained by a www.abbeyfield.com plethora of activities. We receive no next two years, and to have one of the Northchurch at The Lee, and scored government funding and rely on the scanners operational early next year. 308 for 2 from 40 overs, Jules Swain generosity of the local community to These scanners can be used across all 163*, Ben Harris and Rob Walsh get involved and support our work. departments and provide exceptional giving great support. Northchurch This may be by attending one of our images. 22,000 local patients have an accumulated 180 in reply, with lots of events from Open Gardens to golf MRI scan at Stoke Mandeville or bowlers all claiming victims. A days, organising your own event, Wycombe hospital every year. The wonderful start. taking on a personal challenge from new scanners are quieter, less Our second game resulted in an sky dives to marathons, supporting the claustrophobic and faster, enabling even more emphatic win: against West more patients to be screened each hospital book shops and public Wycombe at The Lee, we scored 245, year. These will be the first of their collections, leaving money in memory Alex Morgan 113, and bowled them type in the UK. of a loved one or remembering out for 26! Again the bowlers shared Scannappeal is run by a small Scannappeal in your Will. the wickets. We have completed over 30 major outstanding operational team based in Amersham Hospital, who are Three wins in a row was achieved appeals and 70 small projects, with another convincing win against touching the lives of an estimated supported by over 160 superb volunteers, without whom the work Jordans, who now play at Coleshill. three million people. In the last few Batting first again, we scored 230, years some of the major appeals have we do could not be achieved. Raising with Jon Swain top scoring with 67, transformed hospital departments, funds for this brilliant charity is never Ben Harris 61, and others chipping in. such as the breast unit in Wycombe ending. As technology develops at an Jordans had no answer to the The becoming one of the first hospitals to ever increasing rate we need to keep Lee’s varied attack, and were all out go totally digital in the UK. The unit up with what is available for the now supports over 30,000 patients benefit of our hospitals and local for 134. Ben Harris 3 for 5 having an each year, the results of which are patients. Scannappeal is committed to excellent all-round game. 12 13 The Saturday XIs began on 11 th We thought we might give a bit of As well as raising funds for the first Friday of the month. The next one May, but both of their first league context to these fundraising efforts by children of Lee Common, we also is 7 th June 9:00 am - 11:00 am. games were called off by the doing a Q&A on what it’s all in aid of: know how important these social events We’re also planning a summer opposition, a very disappointing are for the kids. Providing an party after the school sports day on th position, sadly reflecting dwindling opportunity for the older ones to help Friday 28 June 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm at numbers playing the game. on a stall at the Christmas Fair, or serve The Lee Parish Hall. Tickets will be Friday nights’ soft-ball sessions their carers afternoon tea on Mother’s available through the website shortly. have commenced, and we ask for Day, helps to give them more With a BBQ, bouncy castle, food and patience with the parking issues that responsibility and create a better drinks, cake stall and plenty of inevitably arise. We will do our best to understanding of how the school works. entertainment, please come and have ensure the minimum inconvenience to Some events we run, such as the end of some fun with us, everyone will be residents, but hope that everyone term discos, barely pay for themselves very welcome. appreciates what an important social but the children have an absolute blast For those of you who would like to facility it is. and they foster a greater sense of support the local children but We will be celebrating the Cricket community within the school. This appreciate a more adult environment World Cup with a party at the club on LCSA – I keep seeing the allows them to see their school as much (they can be annoying little beggars, Friday 7 th June, alongside our usual acronym, but what is it? more than just a place of learning. can’t they?), we suggest you hang Friday night kwik-cricket training, Alright then, who are you? back and look out for our next wine starting at 6:00 pm until dusk. We know it’s not very obvious! It tasting event or quiz night (hopefully All members of the club and stands for the Lee Common School After a few years in the doldrums and being kept going by the efforts of in the autumn and spring terms residents of the village are welcome to Association. It should just be the PTA respectively). We always post on the come along and enjoy a drink, but it’s not, being a bit more two truly heroic mums (they know barbecue, music, play some softball independent of the school and the ‘T’ who they are), we are now a large cricket and just enjoy the long summer component. Moving on… group of (mostly) willing volunteers. Pippa Hart evening! Ok, but what do you do? As with all of village life, many hands make light work and this swell in We serve the same purpose as a Photography numbers means we have a lot more PTA, and that is mainly fundraising. fun whilst organising and running the During the last 10 years we managed to events. With a load of new ideas and LCSA raise enough to buy interactive energy, we obviously hope to raise By Mary Godfrey and whiteboards for each of the classrooms, more money too. School budgets are at Clara Wilkinson which have proved to be great learning an all-time low and we are trying our he annual LCSA Quiz Night tools for the school. A new outside best to help out. took place in the Parish Hall on classroom which also serves as a sandpit T 30 th March. It was well- for the Early Years kids now has pride Where can I find you? attended and raised a fantastic £844. of place in the back playground. We’re currently trialling a tea and We owe a huge debt of thanks to This year, we have subsidised the biscuit morning (also featuring coffee all those in the village and school provision of hot school meals for all and cake), which is for locals too, no communities who supported the event, the infant school children. Currently school affiliation needed! We have Natural & Informal and in particular to the wonderful we are trying to raise enough to been kindly allowed use of the Peter Macann who did a fantastic job improve the playground and play Methodist Chapel for this as there’s no Black &White as Quiz Master, and to Enzo equipment that is available for the kids. space going spare in school. Portraits D’Alessandro who entertained us all Money, money, money. Think of Everybody (all ages) welcome: with as lively a music round as ever. the children! Methodist Chapel, Oxford Street, the 01494 837340 www.pippahart.com 14 15 forum if we have anything interesting years and has agreed to come onto the coming up. Services for PCC for one year. As you may know, This all sounds awesome, he has been a fantastic help in cutting June grass and keeping the churchyard tidy. how can I get involved? We would love to see more locals St John the Baptist nd Lee Common Methodist at our events and are very appreciative 2 8:00 am HC Revd Iain nd 2 10:00 am AA Joint worship at for those who already take part. We Ogilvie St John the Baptist are very grateful to be sending our Old Church th 9 3:00 pm 180th 10:00 AA kids to school in such a lovely village am Lay-led worship Anniversary

and value any input you have. Have an with Gerald Service Revd

idea for fundraising? Want to turn up Tomkins and Lee Helen Cameron,

and help? Great! Get in touch via our Common District Chair website https://www.leecsa.com/ or Methodist th 16 3:00 pm Gerald Tomkins rd send an email to us at: Church 23 Anniversary 9 th 10:00 [email protected] am PC Revd Martin Service at High Or please just turn up, have fun and Williams th Street, Old spend your money with us at our next 16 10:00 am Matins Lay-led rd Amersham with event! 23 10:00 am PC tbc th Revd. V Tong 30 10:00 PC th Thank you for your support. am Joint service at 30 Anniversary Service at Winchmore Hill HC Holy Communion (said) SHORT-TERM PC Parish Communion (sung) What tremendous support! Thank AA All age service you to everyone who came for our RENTALS Plant and Cake sale for Christian Aid From £295 per week (all inclusive) Contacts : Lay Minister: Mrs Peggy and Kwam. Sear (07804 697948). Churchwardens : Our next Coffee Morning is on Self-catering holiday Trevor Pearce (01494 837601) and Saturday 1 st June: 10:30 am to 12 noon. or temporary accommodation Mike Sherratt (07597 158269). at Lee Common Verger: Bill Pearce (01494 785191). St. Mary’s, Ballinger

Treasurer: David Stephenson (01494 2 nd 09:30 Moving house? am Morning Prayer 867617). Completion dates don’t coincide? st Art Exhibition on Saturday 1 House sale falls through? There have been some changes in June 10:00 am - 4:00 pm and Sunday Builders outstaying their welcome? personnel at the parish church since nd 2 June 12 noon - 4:00 pm. Tea, the Annual Meeting which was held Expecting Visitors? th coffee, cakes and cream teas. Do on 28 April. Need extra accommodation? come and visit our beautiful church Rod Neil’s term of office (six in a garden. Self-contained Period Property: years) as a Churchwarden has now Please contact Anne Ellis (01494 sleeps four guests come to an end and Mike Sherratt was 837247) or Maggi Cameron elected in his place. He has been a Tel: 01494 837798 ([email protected]) for great supporter of the church for many e-mail: [email protected] further information. 16 17 discussed and we’ve got some great The Lee The Lee raffle prizes as well this year too! Mervyn’s Just in case any of you are unsure Carpet & Upholstery Flower Show Flower Show of the logistics, you can book tables of Cleaning Services th up to 12 people. It is bring your own 20 July 2019 Dance food and refreshments, but there will Independent carpet cleaning By Jonathan Batten be an honesty bar there too. The specialist with over 30 years By Laura Doggett and Neeta Norton very man, woman and child evening starts at 7:30 pm and finishes experience. living in the Parish and the e’ve already had people around 12:30 am. outlying areas will have now reserving ticket allocations Inka, the band, will start playing CARPETS. UPHOLSTERY. E for the biggest party in The received their copy of the flower W from 9:00 pm so should give you RUGS. HARD FLOOR. Lee’s already very social calendar, show schedule delivered personally to enough time to mingle, eat and pour CARPET PROTECTION. which always gives us goose bumps! their door. yourselves a drink. FULLY INSURED. Tickets officially go on sale on So, please get this date in your If you haven’t seen it or prefer to th Friday 7 June. They can be diaries, book those tickets early and Friendly and reliable service. work from a screen then go to the purchased from the village shop, or we really cannot wait to see you all Most work by recommendation. village website: www.thelee.org.uk/ by emailing us at the Dance HQ: again at the one and only Lee Flower Environmentally friendly and follow the links to the flower [email protected] Show Dance. cleaning materials. show pages. It’s going to be yet another amazing For a no obligation quote ’phone Do please take the time to read it party – every year we think how lucky 01525 371724 or 07975 847027 through to see which classes you and we are to have this on our doorstop. It’s Email: [email protected] your family can enter. There are a a real honour for us to be involved in Batter chatter multitude of choices all designed for this wonderful village tradition. By Claire Wise your enjoyment and to test you a little. Without getting too sentimental, id you know that as a nation, J Brown Funeral Services If you need any help with your entries the success of the evening has always we eat an average of three call Annie on our dedicated help line been because of you wonderful people 67 Woodside Road, Amersham, HP6 6AA D slices of cake a week, and 01494 727474 (24 hours) on 837550. who each and every year always come that 3:00 pm is the most popular time Think about all those exhibits that along to support this event and of to indulge? you could, and should, be ready to course to eat, drink a little, laugh with Such are the findings of a poll A truly independent family funeral directors enter. Join in and feel how the flower friends and dance the night away. carried out by Country Living Bespoke and traditional services show effect can make a real difference And of course the army of people Magazine. They also discovered the Private chapels of rest to your lives… who always come to help us set up the nation’s top 10 favourite cakes: Pre-paid funeral plans The committee is now in the tables and chairs. We only get an hour to 1. Lemon drizzle Off street client parking process of organising the fun for the turn the day marquee into the evening 2. Chocolate fudge cake Home visits day: the music and laughter, the heat party marquee – so a quick name check 3. Carrot cake and the dust, the stalls and the side- to Giles Robertson, Robert May, 4. Chocolate brownie shows, the beer and the teas, the cups Michael Cottam, Paul Knowles, Rupert 5. Victoria sponge and the prizes, the field and the park- Doggett, Dominic Norton, Jack Izzard, 6. Chocolate muffin Mark Munich, Brian and Pippa Hart, ing, the dogs and the barking, the sun 7. Sticky toffee pudding Mary Stewart-Liberty, Chris Griffiths and no rain… 8. Coffee and walnut cake Contact Jason Brown on: 01494 727474 and Emma Hartley – we hope you’re all If any of you would like to experi- 9. Black Forest gateau [email protected] working out in preparation for this July! 10. Blueberry muffin ence that extra thrill of helping on the We ladies at dance HQ have been So, if you cannot decide what to Recommended by day, or leading up to it, do please call busy organising things for the party, The Good Funeral Guide me on 837450. the band is booked, the decorations bake for The Church Fête, The Flower 18 19 Show Tea Tent or Cricket Teas, just making a very tasty lemon drizzle Allotments and playground look at the list for inspiration. cake with lemon curd in the middle. It Please can I remind users of the However, the list of cake flavours is looked lovely, but as we cut into it, the allotments and playground to be endless, so do not be afraid to try lemon curd made the cake slippery, so respectful of others. We have had something new. by the time it was put on the plate, it reports of bricks being thrown in water Hints from our ‘Star Bakers’ looked a complete mess… you live troughs and dogs being allowed to At all events, presentation is and learn! roam without leads. We welcome all cakes at The everything, and it is amazing how a Village websites basic cake can be made to look even Flower Show Tent, but adding those extra bits does make a difference. So, Although they have become an more tempting and delicious just by essential part of The Lee and decorating it in a different way. start baking and see what happens! Facebook page (Find us on Facebook surrounding villages over the past For example, rather than making a decade, you may not be aware that the two-layer cake, why not make three? by searching The Lee Flower Show th Tea Tent). village web site was set up and is still Or ice the cake all the way round, supported and funded by Colin Sully. rather than just on the top? Adding a Saturday 20 To confirm your availability please contact Kelly Stone on: Similarly, the Forum was set up and few nuts or grated fresh fruit to the top is still supported and funded by of a cake adds colour and makes it July – are you [email protected] or speak to one of the Cream Tea Organisers: Andrew Burnett (see separate look more appealing. newsletter article). The other factor is that they need free? Kelly Stone, Claire Wise, Sara Harrison, Erica Cheatham and Sue Cromar. Huge thanks must go to Colin and to slice easily and not fall apart as they By Kelly Stone Andrew for all their work, but at the are served. I have made the mistake of f so, The Lee Flower Show Cream May meeting of the Parish Council, it Teas Team urgently need your help was agreed that it’s time for the next I with serving and/or baking or both! The Lee Parish step. Currently the Parish Council has The success of the Flower Show a small website, this will be Cream Teas is entirely down to amalgamated with the village website community spirit, dedication and Council and the Council will assume support of our wonderful volunteers. By Hayley Farrelly, Clerk responsibility for both. Firstly, we are looking for volunteers Fort re-development Over the next year or so the new for one hour time slots for a variety of fter a number of delays due to website will gradually be upgraded jobs: from setting up, serving and/or finalising the design of the both technically and visually to have a clearing from 10:00 am until 6:00 pm on new fort, I am pleased to say more contemporary look and feel, the day. In particular, we would like to A that re-development of the fort will whilst ultimately we hope to be able to invite those new to the area and/or kids now take place in late June. offer website facilities to other village back from school or university. In this We had hoped to have the fort organisations as well. More way, all ages can enjoy being part of the installed before this time so that it can information next month. Flower Show and we can ensure that be used to its full capacity over the volunteers can also visit the various Superfast Broadband summer months, but this has not been exhibits and stalls, and watch and take The new Cabinet 1, which has a possible due to a number of reasons. part in performances in the Showground. fibre link back to the exchange and We are working with the contractor Secondly, we are looking for cakes supplies houses along Chesham Lane, to see if we can have some parts of the and scones: if you could help us with including Swan Bottom, Lee Gate and fort open for summer and I will keep some baking please do. Remember Kings Ash, has been in operation for a you posted on this in due course. that we have plenty of ideas on our short period. There are concerns from 20 21 person who enjoys assisting the to add to our family while we have elderly. We are seeking volunteers to been here with the birth of our join our team one Thursday a month daughter, Cecillia. We were looking (ideally) or on occasional Thursdays, for somewhere to bring up our Cromar to transport our elderly members from children and enjoy for at least the their homes to the Lunch Club in next few decades and we feel so Carpets Ltd Great Missenden and back home again lucky to have found this village. in the afternoon. We are both mechanical several resident subscribers for the The volunteers are invited to stay engineers by training. Between us service who are not receiving the for lunch if they wish and to socialise our interests include classic cars and ARPETS INYL AND speeds they were expecting. with the club members. If you think motor sport, playing the piano and C , V The Parish Council have contacted you can help and would like further violin, skiing, cooking and enjoying WOOD F LOORING Connected Counties to ask what their details please contact: Geoff Hartley the outdoors (when work on the UPPLIED AND ITTED policy was for the provision of ‘fibre on: [email protected] or Julie house/garden and looking after the S F to the property’ (FTTP) in this area to Needle 01296 612843. children allows us the time!). ensure customers receive the promised speeds. Aloha-Lee 9-11 S TATION A PPROACH By Morwenna Hall The Chilterns GREAT M ISSENDEN Can you help e, Ben and Morwenna 01494 862125 Hall, moved into Linaver 3 Peaks the aged? W Farm just over a year ago By Geoff Hartley along with our son Bertie. Challenge TIM SIMMONS IS We previously lived in Kentish ur local Age UK Lunch Club Sunday 8 th September THE VERMINATOR Town, in central London, and we is desperately seeking mini From Rennie Grove Hospice Care were looking for a change. After Pest control services bus drivers and assistants – ig out your walking boots and O months of driving through villages in are you able to help? strap on your Fitbit – the the Chilterns in search of the perfect This is such an important ever-popular Rennie Grove home, it then took us over 12 months D community service and is greatly Chilterns 3 Peaks Challenge once WASPS ALL from our first viewing to moving in – GLIS-GLIS INSECTS appreciated by its members. again takes to the stunning Bucks which then coincided with the SQUIRREL FOXES No special licence is required for countryside in September. RATS RABBITS unusual snowfall in late March! drivers – just some patience and a Now in its second decade, the MICE AND All of that added to the MOLES ANTS annual event is a unique opportunity to excitement and anticipation of finally clock up your steps, soak up miles of MARTIN THE MILKMAN moving into The Lee. We knew rolling landscape in the company of about the shop, the pubs, the FAST FRIENDLY SERVICE Refrigerated delivery of fresh others and raise vital funds for Rennie playground, the walks and the milk, dairy produce, bread, Grove Hospice Care at the same time. LOW PRICES - HIGH QUALITY beautiful countryside but the eggs, fruit juices and more. The local charity provides nursing extremely friendly welcome and 07734649305 and support services for people in To place an order call sense of community has been a Herts and Bucks with cancer or other 01442 833944 delightful surprise. life-limiting conditions, and supports We’ve had a fantastic first 12 WE WILL ALSO PROOF YOUR PHONES M ANNED 4 PM – 6 PM their families too. Many hundreds of months and have been lucky enough HOUSE/PREMISES TO STOP THEM ANSWERPHONE AT OTHER TIMES participants have taken part over the COMING BACK 22 23 years in memory of loved ones, while finishing post at Ivinghoe Beacon along many others simply relish the the way. Hellenic-Lee opportunity to take to the hills in a Walkers of all abilities are welcome, Ekpliktikós shopping but krýo Mediterranean weather at the shop on 4 th May good cause. including dogs (on leads). You can take on a seven, 11 or 20-mile challenge, with Arriva once again generously providing buses and volunteer drivers for free transport between drop-off points throughout the day. You can sign up now for this year’s Chilterns 3 Peaks Challenge at renniegrove.org/events.

Last year, more than 600 walkers in distinctive Rennie Grove T-shirts LeeWay – call enjoyed a glorious sun-soaked day walking through woodland, along farm 07845 029500 tracks and over the Chilterns’ breezy By Ann Ash hilltops – stopping at the 3 Peaks of he Leeway has been working Whiteleaf Cross, Coombe Hill and the happily together now for nearly T 10 years supporting our village community. As with any such organisation the needs ebb and flow. It is now time to slightly alter the Bridge end Shop at The Lee

way we run the service. We are going to ollowing a club lead from use a mobile phone number which will East, the contract at our table get your request through to a volunteer F went three down. who will organise this for you. You will E-W were able to capitalise on be phoned back with the details of your their shortages in ♣s and ♥s driver, times of pick up etc. respectively by using their trumps to You will be charged for the good effect. journey and the fee will go to the driver for expenses or to Leeway for

the running of the phone. It is the THE L EE WAY – Y OUR choice of the driver. For all your daily needs Our new number from 1 st June is VILLAGE S UPPORT T EAM A community shop, financed and 07845 029500. If you have difficulty getting to your run by the village; the shop lies at If there are any problems do not doctor or the hospital, doing your hesitate to call me, Ann Ash, on 837550. shopping or would like a home visit and the heart of the parish. a friendly chat, then please ring: We do ask if you can please give Opening hours: 07845 029500 us at least 2-3 days’ notice; we feel we Mondays to Fridays: 7.00 a.m. until 5.30 p.m. cannot deal with emergencies but are Mon - Fri: 10 am - 4 pm. Sat: 10 am - Saturdays: 7.00 a.m. until 1.00 p.m. otherwise happy to help. 12 noon. Please give us reasonable notice Sundays: 7.00 a.m. until 12.00 noon of your requirement to help us organise it. 24 25 Revolution at The Lee green! ------ADVERTORIAL ------By our cycling correspondent Making wood work By Alasdair Cunningham are expertly crafted to each client’s hey say when one door closes unique specifications. another one opens and that is Timber Creations also specialises T certainly true for Alasdair in repairing period properties. In fact, Cunningham of Timber Creations in they’ve worked on many of the Great Missenden. historic buildings in the Chiltern Open When well-respected local Air Museum, helping to preserve them company TC Joinery shut down after more than 40 years, Alasdair, one of the craftsmen who had worked at TC for many years, decided to take on the old workshop in Wright’s Yard and turn his talents into a brand new business that would keep traditional joinery alive in the . Timber Creations specialise in bespoke, hand-crafted joinery projects, n 12 th May The Lee Green The Lee Green looked at its best and take great pride in providing became a ‘cheer spot’ for the and the Cock and Rabbit opened early clients with the kind of quality finish, O London Revolution charity to offer bacon rolls and refreshments personal attention and after-care they cycle event, sponsored by Dulux. to the supporters! The cyclists could never dream of getting with a The two-day event, covering a 185 however weren’t tempted to stop! factory-built product. mile route around London, started out The skilled team of craftsmen is on the second day from Windsor, equipped to deal with every aspect of for future generations. So they’re just travelled via Princes Risborough, a job, from design to installation. the people to talk to if you need to through Great Missenden, along Potter Each commission is custom-made have authentic repairs made on a home Row, through The Lee and on to using traditional carpentry in a conservation area or want to make Chesham, ending the day at Lea techniques, ensuring the very highest changes to a Listed Building. If you’d like to know more about Valley (East London). quality of work. what Timber Creations can do, don’t By 9:30 am, cyclists had started to Of course, one of the benefits of hesitate to call Alasdair Cunningham trickle through the green and by 11:00 working alongside a small creative or Jake Macdonald on 01494 890145. am it had turned into a flood (not sure team is that your choice is not Or if you’d like to view their work what the collective noun for cyclists restricted to stock items. Timber first-hand why not why not drop by might be – a ‘jostle’?). Creations’ custom made past projects include almost anything you can think their wonderfully old-fashioned Urged on at the green by a Dulux workshop at 106 High Street, Great support team, The Blend Choir and a of made in wood from staircases, doors, windows and roof lanterns to Missenden for a chat? And see how few locals, the cyclists continued to one-off mouldings and furniture – they can turn wood into something arrive through the morning, tailing-off even the odd garden fork handle. All wonderful for your home. by lunch-time. 26 27 Council Meeting. Parish Hall 7:30 pm. Lee Common C of E School [Note change of date.] School office, 837267 The Newsletter Thursday 4 th July. The Lee Walking [email protected] he Lee Newsletter is published 10 Group. Meet at 9:30 am. Lee Common Methodist Church th times a year and distributed free to The fastest way to let everyone in the Friday 5 July. LCSA Coffee Marian Tomkins, 837479 all households in the parish… and Parish know about an event you are Morning. At the Methodist Church. T Lee Common Scouts a little beyond. The views expressed in it arranging is to publish it right here in From 9:00 am. All welcome. th Scout Leader Thomas Brockett: are not necessarily those of the Editor. the Newsletter. Contact the editor by Saturday 6 July. Coffee Morning at th 837294 or [email protected] We welcome letters and articles of the 12 of the previous month (see the Methodist Church. th Shop at The Lee interest and relevance to The Lee. contact details on page 1). Tuesday 9 July. Ballinger Evening Symeon Economou, 837195 Copy should be sent to the Editor of WI. Bagels and Bacon: Jeff Rozelaar. th th [email protected] the month (see page 1) by the 12 of Saturday 20 July. The Lee Flower St John the Baptist Church the month before publication. June Show and Dance. See pages 16-19. st th See centre pages. Letters should ideally run to no more Saturday 1 . Coffee Morning. Thursday 25 July. The Arts Society St Mary’s Ballinger than 200 words and articles to no more Methodist Church 10:30 am to 12 noon. Ballinger. ‘Fakes and Fortunes (or Contact: Anne Ellis, 837247 than 700 words; material may be edited st nd have I discovered a Constable in my Saturday 1 to Sunday 2 . Art [email protected] and may appear on the village website attic?): Sarah Cove. Exhibition at St Mary’s, Ballinger nd Tennis Court @ Parish Hall www.thelee.org.uk unless consent is Friday 2 August . Open garden in featuring work by Jo Laurie’s painters. Bookings: Judy Morgan 837787 specifically withheld. Anonymous th aid of Air Ambulance at The Laurels, Thursday 6 . The Lee Walking Group . The Arts Society Ballinger contributions are not accepted. Marriotts Ave, South Heath. Entrance Meet at the Shop at 9:30 am. Chair, Lesley Wickham, 865480 To advertise or place an insert, th . £5 per person which includes coffee/ please contact Paul Apicella on 837377 Friday 7 LCSA Coffee Morning. At [email protected] th the Methodist Church. From 9:00 am. tea and cake. by the 12 of the previous month. Tuesday 10 th September. Ballinger The Lee Cricket Club All welcome. www.theleecc.org.uk If you have photographs for th Evening WI. ‘ The Disappearance of publication please contact Jonathan Friday 7 . World Cup Cricket Secretary, Mike Harris Major Glenn Miller’: Tony Eaton. Batten on 837450 or email Party. See pages 11/12. th 07788 345555 th Tuesday 8 October. Ballinger [email protected]. Tuesday 11 . Ballinger Evening WI. Evening WI. ‘ Rags to Riches to The Lee Flower Show For queries regarding distribution ‘Seated Flexibility Exercises’: Joan giving it all away: Andrew Carnegie’: Chairman, Jonathan Batten, contact Barnaby Usborne on 837382. Cooper. 8:00 pm. 837450 th Jeremy Holmes. Other members of the Editorial Saturday 15 . The Lee Church Fête. th Tuesday 5 November. Bonfire night! The Lee Newsletter team: Peter Archer, Zoe Berkeley, See page 1. [email protected] th Save the date! Ruth Fowler, Phil Harrison, Liz Saturday 15 . Open Garden in aid of The Lee Old Church Trust Macann, Jen Ogley, Adam Speller and Scannappeal at Garden Cottage, Lee Secretary: Pam Garner 837501 Colin Sully. Common from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. rd The Lee Parish Council Printed by Strongs: 01442 878592. Sunday 23 . Stefan Bednarczyk Directory of Clerk: Hayley Farrelly, 837068 Performs Noel Coward. The Lee Old [email protected] To book the Parish Hall Church. See May Newsletter. local contacts th www.thelee-pc.org.uk or Scout Hut Thursday 27 . The Arts Society Ballinger Horticultural Society Allotments: Alison Weir, 837529 Ballinger. ‘The Dead Sea Scrolls in ’phone Anne Barnett on 837796 Chairperson: Brenda Gover The Lee Parish Hall Committee context: an introduction to Palestine in [email protected] Bookings: Anne Barnett, 837796 Rates 9 am - 1 pm 6 pm - the time of Christ’: Neil Faulkner. Ballinger War Memorial Hall Chairman: Tony Lea, 837237 2 pm - 6 pm midnight Bookings: Jane Ogden, 837379 The Leeway Mon - Fri £30 or £10/hr £45 or £10/hr Sat/Sun £12/hr £70 Ballinger Evening W.I. Contact: 07845 029500 Bank Holiday £12/hr £70 Coming soon Contact: Frankie Little, 837659 Vocal Lees (ladies village choir) Tuesday 2 nd July. The Lee Parish Car park only £10 [email protected] Jeannette Batten, 837450 Crockery/cutlery £15 (hire outside the hall)