Hilltop News

December 2010 & January 2011 Included in this issue… Our Matt of all Les Gomm Lindsay Griffin pays tribute to a man who talents! lived his whole life in the village. he popular village chat in the Hilltops Our local bodger at present is about our very own Matt Richard Charles keeps alive a local tradition. Baker and his continuing brilliance T Going sailing in TV’s ‘Strictly Come Dancing’. By the time you read this, we hope he has not been Steve Davey goes boat racing. ousted by the unpredictable public vote. Hawridge windmill Just a few months ago Matt and his A new book tells the story – and more. family were with us all day at the St The Social Hut Leonards village fete helping, like other families in the village, by providing items What became of this village asset? for the stalls and ‘World Cup’ cakes. Matt is Joan Barnard welcomes a new hatch and always willing to take on judging, drawing George Ogden pleas for faster broadband. the raffle or anything else we throw at Plus our regular features… him. Who would have thought Matt would soon be back at St Leonards village hall for Chris Brown examines our relationship with a practice session with his dance partner those creatures which share our home. Aliona! Jim Hetherington looks at an increasingly Along with all this, Matt still has his frequent, but not altogether welcome, ‘day job’ as ‘Countryfile’ presenter and the visitor to our gardens. occasional appearance as ‘The One Show’ Our Curvaceous Cook serves up another host. This hectic work load inevitably makes festive delight. his time here in the Hilltops with Nicola and their two children very precious. …plus all the news from our churches, school, pubs, clubs, councils and societies. Good luck Matt – we are voting for you! Front Cover Photo Your Hilltop fans! Who can forget the severity of last Best wishes to winter? Despite the inevitable disruption, David Burgess the Hilltops put on s many of you will now know, a splendid show. Villagers were ever David is not well and has been willing to help those Aadvised to rest until further in difficulty…and notice. We hope very much that he didn’t the scenery will be with us for our Christmas look wonderful? Celebrations, but at this point we are To all - have not certain. a very merry We will do our best to make Christmas and alternative arrangements but some of the happiest of our services will be lay-led. Please do come and support us! New Years! We wish David a quick recovery.

Hilltop News 3 THE PARISH COUNCIL discuss these matters with Transportation for Bucks and will press for resurfacing Vacancy for Parish Clerk Christmas cards Councillor Chris Brown recently of Oak Lane next year. A review of old minutes indicates that this was promised he Parish Clerk will be retiring in Cholesbury PCC has reprinted the represented the Council at a Local Area for 2009, as was resurfacing of Taylors Lane. May 2011. The job takes about popular Christmas card that was sold Forum and posed a number of questions It was noted that gritting routes will be T9 hours per week, working last year in aid of church funds. The to the Bucks and Milton Keynes Fire unchanged from last year. There will also be from home and is a salaried position. cards are A5 size, printed on good additional salt bins at Gilberts Hill and Little quality card and depict the ‘church in Authority. Here is a summary of their Remuneration is in accordance with Twye. agreed local government scales and the snow’ on the front, with a small responses… Community responders are people who there is an allowance to cover the piece about St Laurence Church on mergency calls are dealt with by STD help save lives in the community. They are costs of working from home. The the back. The code or, for mobiles, by geographical members of the public who have attended Council meets monthly on Monday wording inside Elocation. Response is primarily from short training courses and are equipped evenings. The Clerk is responsible for the card says Chesham followed by Amersham, Tring and to provide fast response to emergencies. agendas, minutes, finance, allotment ‘With Best Great Missenden. County borders are not a Training covers life support, oxygen therapy, management and general administration Wishes for barrier. defibrillator, care of unconscious patients, and would be expected to study for a Christmas and Of ten incidents in this Parish since medical emergencies and minor trauma. basic qualification in local government the New Year’. September 2009, response times have varied The idea is that, as a member of the local administration. A qualification in If anyone still from 13 minutes to 21 minutes. Only one community, you may be able to react to an local government procedures would needs any exceeded the recommended maximum of 20 emergency quicker than the paramedics and be an advantage but is not essential. Christmas cards minutes. Crews are familiar with the area but gain valuable time for the patient. The Council is an equal opportunities please contact may have difficulty locating trees, barns and For further information contact www.scas. employer. John Farmer houses without identification. Data terminals nhs.uk or telephone 0800 587 0207. Anyone interested in the position 758715 or Liz Green 758035 with comprehensive mapping and satellite Dave Clarke, Clerk to the Council 758567 should contact the Chairman, John Allen [email protected] navigation are being added to appliances. on 758095. Hydrants are individually logged on appliances and at the control centre. They St Leonards Parish Hall are routinely inspected and maintained by a e are pleased to announce that team of BFRS technicians. Amersham has day the Hall now has a completely crews and retained service whilst Chesham Wresurfaced driveway. The work and Great Missenden are retained only. It is was carried out by local contractor Dean not clear how operations may be affected by Saunders and was completed on time, on government cuts. budget and to a high standard. Thanks The Chairman and members of Dean for your efforts. Thanks also to Little the Council met representatives of Bears Playgroup who managed to continue Transportation for Buckinghamshire (the operations during the work, to Sally Bright agency responsible for road maintenance) for making her garden path available in the Parish on 25 October. It was apparent and to St Leonards Church wardens who that there is no schedule of works and no allowed mums to use their car park. idea of what work will be done and when. We would like to acknowledge a White lines need repainting but, for some contribution of £2,000 from Bucks County reason known only to the contractors, some Council provided from their Local Priorities have been done at the top of Taylors Lane. budget. Gullies have not been cleared for In the last year we have resurfaced the some years and there is no indication of drive and provided new exterior lighting, a timetable for doing this work. County so winter access to the hall will be much Councillor Tricia Birchley has offered to improved.

4 Hilltop News Hilltop News 5 THE COUNTY COUNCIL increasing number of people with complex learning disabilities. The recently disbanded NATS flight plans shelved hristmas comes as we Audit Commission shows Bucks as the third approach the end of lowest spending county council on care for he controversial plans to alter the Cthe first decade of the elderly due to stringent management flight paths over our region – as the 21st century. In terms of of funds, whilst achieving very high Tdiscussed at length locally over preserving our wonderful outcomes. By contrast, our Children & Young the past couple of years - have been environment the Parish has People’s portfolio has one of the highest postponed because passenger numbers done well. Future plans spends, reflected in our high educational have failed to reach expected levels. Air do not reveal an increase achievements, and it is hard to predict traffic control organisation NATS said in house building except how this will be affected by the move to any new changes north of London will perhaps social housing, academies. The County takes the credit for be included in a wider review. and we have seen off an attempt by NATS maintaining grammar schools against fierce Traffic downturn since 2008 has to spoil further the tranquillity of our skies. opposition in the past: 55% of residents earn reduced the urgency for immediate However, the next decade demands greater above the average wage and the County is change. Current forecasts show air traffic vigilance as the Government develops acknowledged as the entrepreneurial heart levels are not expected to return to the plans for the High Speed train. Whilst it of Britain. peak levels of 2007 until at least 2013/14, won’t affect our villages directly it will be The colours this autumn have been at according to NATS. Routes across the disruptive during the construction phase and their most beautiful and many walkers have region are linked with major airports brings no economic benefit to the county. been out enjoying the environment. The including Heathrow, Stansted and Luton. In late October I spoke against the Chilterns Conservation Board now puts the Alex Bristol, NATS development project both at the Aylesbury Summit and number of visits to the Chilterns AONB at and investment director, said: “We are Houses of Parliament, principally echoing 52,000,000 a year and at the Chiltern Society already working on a wider project the Eddington report which states that AGM we heard of the excellent work carried involving the airspace over much of London, as our capital city, already has the out by volunteers to replace stiles with gates southern England. These include keeping fastest links to the next three largest cities and keep the footpaths and bridleways in aircraft higher for longer on more of any major country in Western Europe. good condition. direct routes, which saves fuel burn and So why waste vast sums of money building With the evenings drawing in and the CO2 and means less noise for people a new line, through some of Britain’s finest shortest day approaching, Christmas is a on the ground. Whilst the downturn landscapes, when the Chiltern Line and the welcome time of good cheer and celebration in air traffic means we can take longer West Coast Main Line could be upgraded to and it is the anticipation that I enjoy. May I to ensure we have the best solution, carry the predicted passengers? It really does wish you all a very happy Christmas holiday we have always been clear that doing beg a public enquiry to establish where the and an exciting and challenging New Year! nothing is not a long-term option.” passengers will come from to fill 18 trains an Tricia Birchley 01296 621138 hour in each direction in the age of modern communications technology and increasingly higher fares. This week I have again pressed Jim Stevens, Head of Transport at County Hall, to come out and see for himself the condition of several roads which suffered severe damage last winter. As you can imagine, decisions on next year’s budget are challenging and residents across the county put roads at the top of the agenda in the recent Bucks Debate. Care for the elderly is one of our largest spends together with the

6 Hilltop News Hilltop News 7 Fun and games for colts… The Hawridge & Cholesbury colts played competitive matches at Under 10 and 11 levels last season. The Club is indebted to the many coaches who have taken the time to undertake official training courses, ensuring an enjoyable season for the many enthusiastic youngsters. Prize-winning Colts (in order of best clubman, most improved and all-rounder) Under 10: Archie Holdsworth, Max Collins and Sam Hames. Under 11: George Stay, Chris Timmins and Josh Leigh.

Club Captain Suranga Daluwatta stands with colts from Under 10 and 11 age groups at the end-of- season Presentation Evening

with a rousing Barn Dance. LOOKING BACK ON In the Chilterns League, First and Second OUR 125TH YEAR team captains, Suranga Daluwatta and Steve Drane, aided by Cricket Manager uch fun was had by members and Steve White, did a sterling job putting out friends of Hawridge & Cholesbury two Saturday sides each week with limited Cricket Club during 2010. To M resources. Suranga joined the club in 2004 as supplement the cricket, Mick Channer and part of a Bucks Cricket Association initiative. his social committee organised a number of He has remained loyal to us ever since, events. Sporting new anniversary caps and coming over from Sri Lanka each summer shirts – part sponsored by HG Matthews – – latterly with his wife Nayomi. Suranga the team took to the field on a blisteringly finished the season in the League’s top ten hot day in June to play a Club Cricket batsmen: scoring 572 runs at an average of Conference team for the President’s Day just over 40. We hope to see him back again celebration. next season. Following a club tour to Devon, the The Sunday team enjoyed another clubhouse hosted an ‘Elvis’ night, when a season of, perhaps, less demanding friendly talented impersonator had everyone curled matches. The only set-back was a disabling up with laughter. On August Bank Holiday hand injury suffered by captain Andy Monday we welcomed the England hockey Holdsworth as he tried to take a catch in the team for a special match. They went on to game against the England Hockey side. the Commonwealth Games in October and Hopefully next season more local folk were decidedly unlucky to miss out on a will find the time to come and play for medal: losing both the semi-final (against our welcoming club in these beautiful the eventual winners India), and the bronze surroundings. medal play off against New Zealand, on penalties. The season’s celebrations ended Graham Lincoln 758449

8 Hilltop News Hilltop News 9 Councillor Tricia Birchley (left) opens the new serving hatch at Cholesbury Village Hall last September

At last, standing up to much more light into the kitchen. We can now stand upright and see who we are a larger hatch! serving without being vertically challenged he more senior, and observant, in any way. visitors may have noticed the gradual At the same time, we enlarged the Tenlargement of the serving hatch in door towards the toilets in preparation Cholesbury Village Hall over the past 40 for our next project, which will be the years. I always thought that having to bend refurbishment of the toilets with access for double like a paper clip to see people you the disabled. were serving, or to hold a conversation Joan Barnard with those serving you, was because people were shorter a generation ago - when it was last altered. Recently however, I have been reminded that, before our new kitchen was built in the 1980s, there was a step down into the kitchen, which was very handy for pitching a tray of cups onto the kitchen floor. Raising the floor may have prevented breakages of bones and bone china, but resulted in the hatch then being at a very low level. At last, with the help of a generous grant from Tricia Birchley’s Community Leader’s Fund, we have had the hatch enlarged and a new cover fitted, letting

10 Hilltop News Hilltop News 11 the children’s crèche at the Rajan Babu CHOLESBURY-CUM-ST Tuberculosis Hospital in Delhi, where the NEIGHBOURHOOD LEONARDS W.I. children are kept away from their mothers WATCH for up to four months at a time because of t the Annual Meeting in October recent Community the dangers of passing the disease on to Carol Henry was re-elected as our Message from their children. President, and Hilary Sheppard the Amersham A The membership year for the WI runs A and Sylvia Lee will continue to share the Watch Office gave notice from January to December, so now is a secretarial duties. of information they had good time to join - why not come along to Keith Jansz was inspirational when received from several energy St Leonards Parish Hall in January? If you he came to the September meeting: he supply companies, such as would rather come just for the evening, brought along some of his art work and he EON and British Gas, of a password security visitors are also always welcome. Carol has wonderful talent. system which these companies operate. This will give you more details of events and In November we shall learn about also applies to water companies. The system activities: ring her on 758435. ‘Food and Cures in Tudor Times’ and our is available to domestic customers, who can December meeting is for members and register a password against their account. invited guests. David Ball returns with more Anyone calling at your door, claiming to be of his ‘Magic and the Magic Circle’. We look from your energy company, reading meters forward to a fun party evening. etc, can then be asked for this password to The New Year starts on a different confirm they are genuine. If they are not note. David Lloyd will join us on Monday able to give you the password, do not allow 17 January to talk about Tuberculosis - a them access to your property. This system New Threat from an Old Disease. David is could be valuable for elderly or vulnerable a microbiologist who has been travelling relatives, or friends and neighbours who worldwide assessing clinical and laboratory are more likely to become victims of sites for future human clinical trials of distraction burglars. The Watch Office asks new anti-TB treatments. His fee goes to you to contact your individual companies to find out if they operate such a system - the numbers will be available from your utility bills. There was also a message that Chesham residents had been receiving calls, from anonymous numbers, stating that they had had a council tax band rate reduction and were due a refund. The callers were asking for bank details and requesting that residents ring them back on a premium number. The Watch Office say never give banking details over the phone, and report any suspicious phone calls to Thames Valley Police on the non-emergency number 0845 8 505 505. Remember, with Christmas fast approaching, do not leave presents, bottles or other valuables openly visible, either in vehicles or indoors. Shirley Blomfield 758314

12 Hilltop News Hilltop News 13 Cholesbury A ‘glitch’ in the system? Watercolour Workshop can assure readers that the ‘reversed’ section of text which spoilt the he Workshop would like to thank I‘Garden KnowHow’ advertisement all who supported our exhibition in the last issue of Hilltop News was Ton 4 September. Your generosity not something that slipped past our enabled us to send £220 to Iain Rennie hawk-eyed proof readers. At the final Hospice at Home. print stage something in the computer Comments on the standard of the system (would never have happened in work exhibited were very encouraging the good old days of letterpress!) went and we hope to hold another exhibition awry. However, we apologise to Garden next September. KnowHow. New members would be most welcome - of any or no ability! Contact either Ron Evens on 758446 or Rosemary Burch on 758246

14 Hilltop News Hilltop News 15 Look out for the yellow roadside notices LOCAL HISTORY and posters on notice boards to remind you GROUP a meeting is imminent!

ere are the Quiz Questions upcoming talks There were at one time up to 14 public organised by the H houses in the local area. Here are some Local History Group for questions to test your knowledge on some the next three months. of those that have long since called last Also, following on from the local history orders and are now either private dwellings quizzes in recent editions of Hilltop News or have been demolished… about notable people, archaeological finds and interesting buildings, this time there Which former pub..... are some questions about former public 1…in Cholesbury made its name from local houses in the Hilltop Villages. tradesmen? For our meeting on Friday 3 December 2…in Hawridge had a name that was half 8:15pm at St Leonards Parish Hall we fishy? have invited Sarah Gray, who is curator of Buckinghamshire County Museum, 3…in Buckland Common had a patriotic to paint a broad canvas for us about name, coined originally by the Romans? Buckinghamshire Artists. Whether you 4…also in Cholesbury had a name that was enjoy local history or fine art this is a rare the flipside of the answer to question 3? chance to hear and see how artists have Brief answers to be found on page 52. But been influenced by their time spent living why not join the Local History Group and or visiting Buckinghamshire. get to know more about the history of the The Festival of Britain is the topic for the Hilltop villages? first meeting of the New Year at 8.15pm on Chris Brown 758890 localhistorygroup@ Friday 7 January at St Leonards Parish Hall. cholesbury.com Almost 60 years ago the Skylon towered over London’s South Bank heralding the start of a national exhibition and, following the adversity wrought by World War II, the spark to launch a renewed sense of optimism for Britain and its people. Andy Gunn, who lectures in arts and crafts, is our Festival guide. Looking ahead, our February meeting is at St Leonards at 8.15pm on Friday 4th of that month when the talk will be on Cottage Crafts of Buckinghamshire. If you are new to the area or have just not got around to coming along before now, why not come along to a meeting, non-members are always made welcome, entry just £3 on the night. Membership for this year is still great value at just £8 for adults and there’s free membership for those 16 years and under.

16 Hilltop News Hilltop News 17 is driven into the end across the centre of The Bodger of Buckland Common the log and levered into pieces following the grain of the wood. This process is quick and saves laborious sawing. These pieces, or ‘billets’, are then turned into the components for the chair. The back sticks for the chairs require a different approach from the legs and stretchers, as these thin components are too flexible to be turned on the lathe. Instead they are turned using a rounding plane – a bit like a giant pencil sharpener. The next step is to select logs for the curved back hoops. They need to be about five foot lengths of clean (knot- Richard turning a chair leg on his pole lathe free) straight grained wood. Final shaping Common is one of a few dedicated is done on the shaving horse with a craftsmen who keep the fine, traditional drawknife until the cross section is about art of the bodger alive. Richard moved to one inch square. The pieces are then put the village in 1978. With no background in a boiler of hot steam for at least one of building or carpentry, he proceeded to hour until the wood becomes flexible. Each build a fine oak-framed barn which was to length of hot wood is placed in a bending Kiln Cottage (1910-20). Wooden shed on right, where chairs were made, eventually became a shop become the workshop for his new hobby. strap and pulled into shape. It is clamped Through reading and practice, Richard until it cools. A ‘bodger’ was the name given to a wood local bodgers at this time were David Penn, developed his skills with the traditional Elm is the traditional wood to make the worker in the Chilterns area who made the Harry Beagant and Jack Hart. tools for the trade. chair seats. These days the elm is sourced In a typical bodger’s woodland workshop from north of Yorkshire as the southern components of a Windsor chair – the sticks, It is not just beech trees which supply the the components were turned on a pole wood for the chairs: Richard says ash, yew crop has been decimated by Dutch elm legs and stretchers – to supply the chair lathe (a length of chord attached at one and cherry have better looking colour and disease. Elm is ideal as it has an interlocking industry in High Wycombe. ‘Windsor’ is the end of a treadle and the other to a springy grain. The key to turning is to use freshly grain that resists splitting. This is important generic term to describe a chair composed sapling) housed in a thatched shack. While cut ‘green’ timber, in which the moisture as holes have to be drilled close to the the components turn, a hand-held chisel edge to take the back sticks. The basic seat of a wooden seat into which legs are fitted is retained. This is softer, cuts more easily, removes ribbons of wood. An axe would is kinder to tools and creates no sawdust. shape is cut out – Richard has a number of below and shaped uprights are fitted above be used to cut the beech blanks into a When the wood dries out, the part where different templates – and every hole drilled to create the back. A wide variety of designs rough shape and the pieces were then the joint is made is turned again for an cont... shaped further with a drawknife while have developed from this basic style. exact fit. held in a shave horse – a rough bench on The best trees come from dense odgers often set up workshops in the which the bodger sits astride. The bodgers woodland, where most of the light comes woods and turned the pieces where were highly skilled and ‘turned out’ many from above and encourages the trees to Bthe trees were felled or they worked dozens of components every day using a grow straight up and not throw out many in a shed at home. This work reached a few simple hand-made tools in primitive side shoots. Cutting trees like these is not peak in the 19th century and continued surroundings. destructive – new shoots grow from the well into the next century before dying It is rather unfortunate that the term base to form a new generation of timber. out in the 1950s, with the post-war drive ‘bodger’ has completely changed in This is a traditional way of managing for mass produced furniture. There are meaning over the last few generations and woodland known as coppicing. memories of bodgers in the Hilltop Villages. is now a term applied to someone who has Logs are cleft using a beetle (heavy A workshop was still in use at Kiln Cottage made a mess of a job! mallet) and froe (long wedge). The froe in Parrotts Lane in the 1920s. Well-known Today, Richard Charles of Buckland

18 Hilltop News Hilltop News 19 to a different angle and direction of lean. Shaping the seat to sympathetic contours was traditionally done using an adze, with the seat on the floor and the large sharp tool swinging between the workman’s legs: lethal! Richard tends to use the safer option of a mallet and gouge to form the contours, finishing with curved planes. Elm is very pleasing on the eye when smoothed and polished. All the components are now ready to be assembled. Finally, the surfaces are sealed with natural oils and polished with wax – the wood really comes to life now. In 2004 Richard made a special Windsor chair to auction for the St Leonards Church Room Appeal. The chair was a unique design and made from yew and elm. John Horn was the highest bidder and the item became known as ‘the St Leonards chair’. Most of Richard’s chairs are made to commission, taken mainly at craft fairs and demonstrations. Locally, annual events take place at the Countryside Show at the National Trust estate at Ashridge and the Chilterns Show at Great Missenden. Demonstrations are also regularly held at the Berks, Bucks and Oxford Wildlife Trust nature reserve at College Lake near Bulbourne, Tring. Richard is the leader of the Chiltern branch of the Association of Pole Lathe Turners (APT), which was formed in 1990 by a group of enthusiasts determined to keep the tradition of the pole lathe alive. Pole lathe turning is one of a number of woodland crafts gaining in popularity and which offer a medium for uniting Winner in the armchair category at the APT a number of separate issues including Bodgers Ball woodland management, energy and nature conservation, public recreation and rural settlement. Richard also teaches the art of wood turning at regional meetings of the APT, which are held at local woodland venues where the atmosphere of a 19th century bodger camp can be recreated.

20 Hilltop News Hilltop News 21 of the Society. We amended the Aims in Working Parties for December 2010 - February 2011 9.30am – 12.30pm HAWRIDGE AND 2008 and proposed then that we should Everyone is welcome, adults and children alike. Bring thick gloves. Refreshments provided. CHOLESBURY look at the Rules. There will be a vote taken For further information contact Isobel Clark (758987) or email [email protected] COMMONS on these changes at the AGM, so look again at the Newsletter. If you have any Date Location Activity PRESERVATION comments, please contact me. 2010 We look forward to seeing as many of SOCIETY Dec 12 Glade opposite Benton Potts Continue re-opening path and restore you as possible on 7 December. (GR 937069) hazel coppice. Bonfire AGM Working Parties This year’s Annual General meeting will The working parties have started up again. 2011 be at Cholesbury Village Hall, on Tuesday As in previous years, some members of Jan 9 Downhill from Holly Cottage Clear fallen branches to re-open ride. Bonfire 7 December, starting at 8pm. Our speaker the Hemel Hempstead Volunteers came (Grid Ref 939070) will be John Morris, the manager of the to help us with clearing the pond of some Chilterns Woodland Project, which was of the vigorous plants that grow there. Jan 23 Opposite Pallett’s pond and Widen ride and regenerate gorse by started in 1989 by the Chiltern Society The main aim was to limit the spread of Cherry Orchard (Grid Ref 932071) cricket pitch. Bonfires and now has charitable status. Its aim is sweetgrass and bulrushes by removing Feb 6 Opposite Full Moon pub on Clear fallen trees and broken branches. to encourage sensitive and sustainable some of the growth. Not all the clearing bottom ride behind Mermaid Bonfire management of Chiltern woods in order that was planned was achieved. It was Cottage (Grid Ref 936071) to protect our wonderful landscape, while only later that we discovered that we had maintaining and enhancing the biodiversity a potentially more invasive weed growing introducing alien species into the wild. providing an exciting way to introduce of the Chiltern Hills. After the formal part in the pond: New Zealand pygmyweed. One of the working parties had to be young families to the wildlife on our of the evening, which will include time to Superficially, it resembles two native plants cancelled because of heavy rain, but others doorstep. Just in case you have mislaid your address any issues that you would like to that we would like to encourage: water have gone ahead with 6 – 8 volunteers copy of the October 2010 Newsletter, you discuss, there will be festive refreshments, purslane and starwort. We have both these working hard on Sunday mornings. Above will find the proposed new Rules on the followed by John’s talk. in Pallett’s Pond, but neither is vigorous, is a schedule for the next month or so. Even website. Follow the link to ‘Newsletters’. Go The AGM is your opportunity to find and would soon disappear altogether if we if you can only come for one morning, this to: www.cholesbury.com/hccps out about the Commons and how they are left everything to their own devices. We is a great help to the work of the Society. Linden Bevan-Pritchard 758750 managed. It is also your opportunity to have healthy colonies of both at the back Website [email protected] raise any concerns that you may have about of the pond, fortunately well away from During his time as Secretary, Graham the Commons. If you have a particular issue the pygmyweed. We have covered this with Kersting has been working hard on our that you would like to discuss, please let me black plastic in an attempt to eradicate website, which is now very easy to navigate. know before the AGM, so that we can give it from the pond. It is an alien plant that We are very grateful to him for offering proper attention to your query. is causing problems along freshwater to continue to help with updating it after Graham Kersting will be resigning from margins throughout the country, which he has left the Committee. It is well worth the Committee at the AGM. He has been a demonstrates the importance of not a visit if you would like to know more very efficient Secretary and we would like about the Commons. You will find current to thank him for all the good work that he working party programmes with dates and has done for the Society over many years. locations, past Newsletters, minutes from Graham’s resignation means that we have past AGMs, photographs, reports on the a vacancy on the Committee for 2011. varied activities that we arrange, as well as We do have a candidate who has been Commons Regulations and lots more. There nominated. However, we are asking for any is a series of stories for young children other nominations to be forwarded to me, written by Liz Pitman and illustrated by if possible, before the AGM, so that we can Jim Torrance. The stories are based on the allow time for a vote. adventures of some of the wildlife to be In our October Newsletter, you may have found on the Commons. Each one can be seen that we would like to amend the Rules downloaded and used as a colouring book,

22 Hilltop News Hilltop News 23 a dance - tickets costing 1/6d single, 2/6d THE SOCIAL HUT double. The hall was used by the scouts, Annie Adams (nee Penn) was born in Little guides, boys club, women’s guild, sewing classes, whist drives and jumble sales. Twye, Buckland Common in 1935 and During the war, the committee was lived there until 1997, before moving to always busy raising funds for the troops: Aylesbury. She has sent to Hilltop News particularly those serving from the villages (Annie has a list of 94 local men and some memories of the Social Hut which, for women who went to war: only two were many years, was a great asset and centre killed – Ralph Gomm and Reg Evans). of village life in Buckland Common… After the war, a large party was held at the hall and life got back to normal. Fund n 1895, Lord Rothchild gave the villages raising continued for the British Legion, of Buckland Common and St Leonards Red Cross and other worthy causes and the a piece of ground on the Bottom Road. I hall was well used until the 1970s. With an On this was built a brick and tile club room ageing committee and few able to take similar to the Cholesbury Village Hall. It was their place, the hall fell into disrepair and well used by all the organisations of the closed in the 1980s. It was pulled down and Hilltop villages until 1930, when it burnt to the land returned to agricultural use. the ground. So the scouts, guides and brownies made Unfortunately, photos of the former collections around the villages and raised Social Hut are elusive. If anyone has any £90: enough to purchase a large hut from tucked away, I would be very pleased to see Halton RAF camp. This was erected on the them – ed. same site on footings built from reclaimed bricks from the original hall. The new hall was named The Social Hut and was opened on 14 October 1932 with

24 Hilltop News Hilltop News 25 “In Our Place”

by the Reverend to us by Matthew and Luke, John’s Gospel David Burgess condenses Christmas into a single verse, almost bringing to us the events from Jesus’ I’ve used the own point of view… following story “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We have seen His glory, the glory before, but it of the One and Only, who came from the certainly bears Father, full of grace and truth.” retelling and The Christmas story, at its heart, is just that – of Jesus taking our place, getting thinking about under our skin, becoming flesh and anew… dwelling among us. The word ‘incarnation’ here was a man who lived half is an exact description of what Jesus did. a century ago in a town called Christians believe in and serve a God who TMansfield, in Texas. In itself it was wants to come alongside us, who wants to unremarkable; but those who passed identify with us and experience humanity through it would always take note of the to the full. This is how he brought it about. sign in the small café on the main street There’s more food for thought in which said ‘Whites Only’. Griffin’s story. His study was never intended The man was called John Howard to make a theological or religious point, Griffin. Similarly, he wasn’t particularly and clearly the inhabitants of Mansfield distinguished, but he had an idea which didn’t make the connection either. Griffin was so revolutionary that, when he put it in was forced to leave his hometown and practice, it alienated him forever from most live with his family in Mexico. An effigy of of the white folk in his town. him was later hanged in the town square. He wanted to get inside the skin of his Taking someone else’s place can be an black brothers and sisters. He wanted to unsafe business. It makes you vulnerable feel first-hand what it would be like to and puts you at risk: you will need to move try to enter a store or a restaurant and be on: you may be in danger of your life. What angrily sent packing. He wanted to know you do will encourage many, challenge what it would be like to live in a world some, and enrage others. where even the drinking-fountains and We can be thankful, therefore, that at toilets were for ‘whites only’. the first Christmas, this is exactly what Jesus And so, in 1959, he darkened his skin did. Because of this, “We have seen His with medications, sun lamps and stains glory, the glory of the One and Only, who and travelled throughout the South to came from the Father, full of grace and experience, literally in the flesh, what it truth.” was like to be humiliated and discriminated I wish you a peaceful and joyful against simply because of the colour of his Christmas. skin. He wrote a book about his experience titled ‘Black Like Me’. Amongst the wonderful detail brought

26 Hilltop News Hilltop News 27 CHURCH SERVICES - December 2010 to January 2011 St. John the Baptist St.Leonard's St. Laurence St. Mary's DATE DAY NOTES THE LEE ST. LEONARDS CHOLESBURY HAWRIDGE

5 Dec 2 Sunday 8.00 Holy Communion DB 11.00 Family Communion DB 9.30 Holy Communion DB 3.00pm Christingle PSe of Advent 10.00 Matins Lay Sunday School VO /DB Mid-week Holy Communion

12 Dec 3 Sunday 10.00 Parish Communion DB 6.00pm Parish Communion DB 10.45 Matins PSo 9.30 Holy Communion 10.00am at The Lee on First of Advent Sunday School JuH Wednesday of the month

19 Dec 4 Sunday 6.00pm Carol Service DB 4.00pm Carol Service DB 6.00pm Carol Service JH 10.45 Parish Communion DB Holy Communion, Matins & Evensong of Advent Book of Common Prayer

24 Dec Christmas 3.30pm Crib Service DB 3.30pm Nativity Service Lay 5.30pm Carol Service DB Parish / Family Communion and Eve 11.30pm Parish Communion DB Morning Service

25 Dec Christmas 10.00 Parish Communion JH 11.15 Family Christmas DB 10.00 Parish Communion DB Common Worship Day Celebration

26 Dec 1st Sunday 10.00 Parish Communion DB of Christmas (Said Service)

2 Jan Epiphany 8.00 Holy Communion DB 11.00 Family Communion DB 9.30 Holy Communion DB 3.00pm Evensong PSe Sunday 10.00 Matins Lay Sunday School VO

9 Jan Epiphany 1 10.00 Parish Communion DB 6.00pm Parish Communion DB 10.45 Matins PSo 9.30 Holy Communion Baptism Sunday School JuH of Christ DB= Rev. David Burgess

16 Jan Epiphany 2 10.00 Christingle Ches 9.30 Shared Service 9.30 Parish Communion DB 10.45 Parish Communion DB JH= Rev. John Hull at Cholesbury PSo= Rev. Pippa Soundy

23 Jan Epiphany 3 10.00 Parish Communion JH 9.00 Breakfast 9.00 Parish Communion DB 10.00 Family Service DB Ches= Chesham Team 9.30 Parish Worship with Lay (Said Service) Music for All Ages PSe= Mrs. Peggy Sear

30 Jan Epiphany 4 10.45 F o u r C h u r c h e s B a p t I s m C e l e b r a t I o n a t H a w r I d g e a n d C h o l e s b u r y S c h o o l JuH= Judy Hart VO= Virginia Oldham

Vicar Hon. Curate The Lee Hawridge The Revd. David Burgess 01494 837315 The Revd. John Hull Janet Whittow 01296 624568 Joan Walton 01494 758332 The Vicarage, The Lee, 01296 624487 [email protected] Elizabeth Tomlin 01494 758214 Gt. Missenden, BUCKS. HP23 9LZ Judy Hart 01494 837328 [email protected] [email protected]

Parish Secretary St. Leonards Cholesbury Jane Reynolds 01494 757048 Anne Butterworth 01494 758700 John Farmer 01494 758715 Church Room [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Ann Horn 01494 758250 [email protected]

28 Hilltop News Hilltop News 29 £94 for St Francis Hospice. Thank you New Year Evensong – Sunday 2 January to Joan and Margaret for their talk on at 3pm. This is a service to celebrate Oberammagau and the Resurrection music. the New Year and refreshments will be ST LEONARDS The church was beautifully prepared available after the service. Holy Baptism and decorated as Cholesbury welcomed Family Service – As the fourth Sunday in 19 September 2010 Ryan Trafford Matthews members of the other Hilltop Parishes. December is Boxing Day, there is no service 19 September 2010 Johnathan Christian Matthews 26 September 2010 Evie Ann Ruby Matthews Christmas is coming! Liz has printed in church. The next Family Service will be more Christmas cards showing Cholesbury on 23 January 2011. Holy Matrimony church in the snow following last year’s Hawridge Church Walking Group - 9th September 2010 Stacey Louise Phipp and Andrew Geoffrey Youngs success and they are already selling (50p The December walk will be on Tuesday each). We have one Christmas service 7th starting from the car park at Startop this year - the Candlelit Carols at 6pm on Reservoir, Marsworth at the later time of Sunday 19 December. There will be, as 10.30am. At present there is a parking usual, a choir to lead us in the traditional charge of approximately £1.50. The January carols and mulled wine will be served at the walk is on Tuesday 4th and will start at St CHOLESBURY end of the service. You are warmly invited. Leonards Church at 10am. Please contact e always We also hope to arrange carol singing on Joan and Margaret for information on enjoy Monday 20th – weather permitting - and 758332. WHarvest more details will be given later. Festival, starting ST LEONARDS with the rousing Hawridge songs at the Harvest n Sunday 19 service and the generous gifts of produce. he Christingle September The weather this year had been dry in the Service will OJohn Hull early summer but wet later enabling our Tbe held on 5 officiated when gardeners to grow wonderful soft fruits - December at 3pm. Trafford, Caroline even if the runner beans suffered! People Cholesbury Harvest Festival Candle money boxes and Lauren Matthews brought gave jams, fresh vegetables, eggs, flowers John’s house - and in the church before are available from Ryan: and Jim, Natalie and Tim Matthews and other produce as we dedicated them the service by busy people – and those Joan, 758332, if you brought Johnathan to be baptised. It was and gave thanks to God. A novelty this who came presented them at the altar would like one to hand in at the service. a wonderful family occasion and we could year was an armful of bulrushes that make as we remembered our own comparative The collection will be for The Children’s hardly fit everyone in! It was a simple and wonderful decorations and this meant for prosperity. The boxes are part of Rotary Society. We do hope you will join us in sincere service and the closeness of the the first time we celebrated the Harvest of International’s appeal for East European the light and joy of Christingle – drawing many godparents as well as the family was the Pond. families. together families and friends in our a wonderful start to be able to give the At the Harvest Supper in the evening, Thank you to the several energetic community and helping make childhood two little boys. We welcome them into our Sue and James auctioned the produce in helpers who came to the Churchyard Tidy better for all children. congregation. their usual sparkling style. The children and achieved an evident transformation. Carol Singing round the village will present were well occupied struggling The leaves were diligently swept but again be on Tuesday 21 December – weather through a full Village Hall to deliver we were too early and at the time of permitting. Please meet opposite the school auctioned items to the buyers. Brigid, Liz, writing another carpet of golden leaves at 7pm. We will gather after the service on Rosie and Tom cooked a delicious Chicken covers the drive. This year we also gently 19 December to agree the carols we will Bake from a new Waitrose recipe for the pruned the rhododendron that is such a sing and to have a short practice. Supper. Thank you to all who helped and feature of Cholesbury churchyard. The Christmas Eve Carol Service is at 5.30pm raised a total of £435, which we sent to weather was warm and bright and working with our usual carol service with readings Send a Cow. outside was a pleasure. and traditional carols. There was also great generosity for Cholesbury hosted the Four Parishes Christmas Day – Parish Communion at the Shoebox Appeal. Boxes were left at Communion on 31 October and collected 10am. Come and join us for our festive service followed by mulled wine and mince pies! Jim, Natalie and Johnathan Matthews

30 Hilltop News Hilltop News 31 Breakfast Service – So many of you came! It was wonderful to see families sharing breakfast at 9am in a café atmosphere, at tables covered with red and white checked cloths and bacon butties disappearing as fast as they were made! We hope that this form of lay-led service will continue and we would love to see as many of you next time. It is truly a service for everyone, from those who enjoyed coming to hear Richard playing in advance Trafford, Caroline and Lauren, with baby Ryan of the service, to those who enjoyed the To complete the trio, Philip, Hannah and singing of the children led by Jo Strevens, Breakfast service Jake Matthews brought Evie to Baptism the combined with the solemnity of more literally took off – not to mention toppings following week, Sunday 26 September. It traditional hymns. This is your church and on the quiches – between kitchen and barn! was a special occasion as it was Ivor’s last your service…do come again and bring On Wednesday 15 December we are service in the Hilltops and he was delighted your friends! holding our Christmas Tea Party at 3pm as to be able to baptise the little girl. With Autumn discussion group - David usual. Please do come directly into the equally as many Godparents as her cousins led a small, but much appreciated, talk church where, for a few minutes, we have and wonderful family support, we were Stacey and Andrew Youngs, by the guests’ on St Mark’s Gospel, prompting a most a little bit of Christmas music for you! If delighted to receive Evie into the church. vintage bus! interesting and in depth insight into St you can’t drive, do let us know and we Our congratulations and thanks to all Mark as an author and the immediacy can arrange to collect you and take you three Matthews families. with which the gospel was written. A large grandfather, David Clarke and Sandy, a group organised by The Lee went to the home. Anne Lake 01296 620169 or Anne proud grandmother, together with their Elgiva to see CS Lewis’ Screwtape Letters Butterworth 758700 can be contacted. We families and friends were delighted to performed brilliantly. This was followed meet again on Wednesday 26 January and, witness the happy day. David conducted the by a lively evening at the Vicarage when weather permitting, we look forward to simple but moving service. We wish Stacey we talked about the author’s faith and the seeing ‘old’ and ‘new’ faces to welcome in and Andrew much happiness as they start meaning behind his portrayal of a typical the New Year. their married life together. human life, with all its temptations and It was with much sadness we gave thanks failings, as seen from a devil’s viewpoint. for Julie Carlin’s wonderful life on Monday Church Walls – as so many of you now 11th October – in a church filled with know, the state of the external walls of From the Revd. Ivor Cornish… flowers, family and friends. It was a very the church is very serious. We will be Dear Everyone, Philip, Hannah and Evie Matthews special service for a very special person with able to report in the February/March It was good to see so many of you at We were delighted to share in the tributes and readings which described Julie edition of Hilltop News exactly what our my retirement service at The Lee on 7 happiness of Stacey Phipp and Andrew so well. Our love and prayers are very much ultimate costs will be. We are currently in September. Youngs on their wedding day, Saturday 9 with Dave, Ben and Simon at this time. negotiation with an appointed specialist October. Many of the guests arrived in a Little Bears – in great numbers – came firm with a view to obtaining a final figure. I am deeply grateful for your generous vintage green Double-Decker bus and filled to celebrate their Harvest and they listened Meanwhile, the fund-raising has begun and gift, your kind words and your warm the church to capacity! The bride, radiant in enthralled while Virginia told them the thanks to Sue Hetherington, more than friendship. I have thoroughly enjoyed a beautiful white gown, carried a bouquet story of the widow of Zarephath and Elijah £1,500 was raised on 11 November with a and been richly blessed by my 13 years of white roses and blue delphiniums – as she gently led the children to understand Bridge Drive at Old Bruns Farm Barn. We do as your Curate and wish you all every reflected in the wonderful depth of colour the meaning of generosity and giving. congratulate Sue and her ‘team’ for a huge blessing in the years to come. of her bridesmaids’ dresses and the flowers Their own generous box of produce was effort involving no less than 72 players, Thank you. which decorated the church throughout. to be added to that of The Lee school and coffee and home-made biscuits, lunch Ivor Stacey was given in marriage by her step- distributed among people who would and an extremely successful raffle. All this greatly appreciate support. in gale-force winds when the meringues

32 Hilltop News Hilltop News 33 High Speed – not for us! Leslie Gomm

No, it’s not anti-HS2 this time; but still What’s the problem then? In short, 1926 – 2010 once again the Hilltop Villages are to be a subject of great importance if you are Les, as he was always known, was born left behind. BT’s 5-year plan to deliver concerned about the future welfare and “superfast fibre optic” broadband does in Hawridge in 1926 and lived his whole viability of your community. not include the Cholesbury exchange. Yes, life in the village. He passed away on 14 s many of you will recall, it wasn’t that’s right, it will be a minimum of 5 years October and the following is taken from before BT even consider us worthy and so very long ago that we were still the eulogy written by Lindsay Griffin. Astruggling along with 56k dial up no doubt some time afterwards before it access to the Internet while BT rolled out a arrives – if ever! es was born in one of the cottages miserly 512k broadband service to the more Again BT has set a target to give at Hawridge Place, where his father densely populated areas of the UK. Even communities the opportunity to register Lwas the gardener for many years. His now there remain communities still waiting interest and be included in their roll out father had also been employed there as a plan. Their “Race to Infinity” competition night watchman when Hawridge Place was for that to arrive! Les’s motor bike. They also used to visit a gives the five communities with the being built. Les was the youngest of four At the time it looked like we too caravan used by the American forces, a little largest percentage of votes the chance to children and was the last one surviving. would be bypassed but, within 24 hours further along the common towards the bring superfast broadband to their area. However, when Les was laid to rest in the of BT setting a target of 130 telephone cricket ground. There they had Pineapple BT will also donate £5,000 of computer churchyard he was surrounded by most of lines registering interest in a broadband Preserve on toast – a rare treat at a time of equipment to a local community project. his family, many old friends and, almost service, that was easily achieved and the rationing! Other fond memories of Charlie’s Unfortunately, only exchanges with a certainly, lots of his ancestors; since there Cholesbury exchange was eventually are of them playing on the common until potential 1,000 votes will be eligible to have been Gomms in the area for many enabled a few months later. Since then all hours and later playing darts and win so they’ll need a minimum of 750 at generations. In his later life, Les did not things have certainly improved, with the dominoes at the Rose and Crown. least to qualify. With only 702 possible have many relatives and, unfortunately, local broadband service now reaching the When he left school, Les also worked votes for the Cholesbury exchange it would most of them lived a long way away. giddy heights of around 6Mb – but only if on the chalk pits for a time and did various seem impossible. However, there remains However, they kept in touch and enjoyed you are lucky enough to live fairly close to other jobs working for local farms, on a glimmer of light as BT have promised to seeing each other when they could. the exchange. building sites, and doing gardening work consult with communities registering 75% Les attended primary school in Hawridge We all know that without essential utility locally. He then went on to work as a or greater. and then went on to Germain Street, services like mains water, electricity and gas driver for Goya for many years. However, So how can you help? If you have access Chesham for his secondary schooling. (who said gas?) selling a house would be Les mostly enjoyed working outdoors and to the internet go to www.racetoinfinity. Around 1935, the family moved to Vale difficult and good broadband connectivity everyone comments on how in tune he bt.com and register your vote before Cottage when his father worked on the is also an important consideration today. was with the natural world around him. He midnight 31December 2010. If you don’t chalk pits. Most of the family continued to always loved gardening and the neighbours have access to the internet you can still live there for the rest of their lives. used to watch him to see when it was time help by contacting a neighbour who has Les’s old school friend and neighbour, to plant up their gardens or to cut their and ask them to register a vote on your Charlie Bayliss, remembers lots of activities lawns because Les seemed to have a second behalf. You’re making no commitment to which they shared as boys. In wartime sense about the weather and the right time subscribing when it arrives, you’re simply they used to visit the Home Guard Hut on for doing things - including just when to voting to support your community. Cholesbury Common, opposite Ray’s Hill. sit back in the sunshine and enjoy it all. Les If we achieve the 75% target, or higher Charlie had been appointed dispatch rider loved the mortar bees by his front door and please help make it higher, we can still to take messages from the commanding and the birds and animals that visited his get BT’s attention and hopefully we will all officer, Stanley Leaf of Champneys, to other garden. He was tolerant of them even if benefit from a faster broadband service – Home Guard establishments on his push they burrowed into his mortar or ate his sooner rather than later! bike and he was often accompanied by Les plants, saying that they “didn’t do much on his bike. Later they went together on George Ogden damage” or “didn’t eat much”.

34 Hilltop News Hilltop News 35 Les was also extremely devoted to his neighbour he was always kind, considerate cats and round his garden are a number of and courteous, and took a friendly interest well-tended graves for his various pets. His in us all, without being intrusive. He was latest cat Sam continues to live in Lindsay’s loved by everyone and no-one was ever studio and to roam around his usual heard to criticise him in any way. He was territory. Sam was very much a one man cat always there if someone needed help. but we all hope that he will become less Les liked to be independent and would wary of us over time. walk up to catch the bus, even when a Although he never married, Les was neighbour was going in the same direction engaged to Margaret Cyster for a time and and offered him a lift. However, he was they remained firm friends though they very grateful for the acts of kindness decided not to marry. Why they reached which he received from family, friends and this decision remains a mystery but each neighbours, especially when he was no had family obligations and perhaps it just longer able to cope with living alone. never seemed the right time. However, Generally, Les seems to have been Margaret did Les’s washing for many years blessed with good health throughout his as well as cooking and other chores and life until his last illness. It was very sad he was included in her family up to the to see him suffer so much in the last few time of her death 16 years ago. Since then, months. It was a pity that Les wasn’t able Margaret’s niece, Susan, has been like a Les, ‘Guest of Honour’ at the cricket club to enjoy living in the studio at Flint Cottage daughter to Les and she, Jim and their last summer for longer before he needed more care in family, together with Hazel and Stephen, hospital than he could receive at home. continued to include him in their family in June, where, as the oldest resident Les was a good man who, in so many activities born in the villages, he was given a special ways, lived a simple life, at peace with his Les had a wide circle of friends of all welcome. surroundings. We all had and still have a lot ages, many of whom he had known for Throughout his adult life Les maintained to learn from him. years and who enjoyed visiting him or his passion for motor bikes and he was the taking him out to all sorts of activities, proud owner of some classic bikes such as a such as socialising in the local pubs; taking Triumph Speed Twin, an old BSA Hand Gear part in the dominoes league; sharing a Change bike, a BMW and a BSA Gold Star. meal; or going to air shows, county and Sadly, he had an accident down the Vale local agricultural shows; cricket at Lords; when he was riding one of his bikes and motor shows and Silverstone. Les was lucky was hit by a car. His leg was trapped under enough to go to Silverstone for the first the bike and he was fortunate not to lose Grand Prix in 1948 when the cost was 10 his leg as a result. Following the accident, shillings a ticket (a great deal of money his damaged leg was one inch shorter than then!) and he continued to go each year for the other which meant that he always many years. walked with a limp. However, he continued Les was also a staunch supporter of local to ride and, though his leg always caused activities. He was often to be seen at the him pain, he never lost his enthusiasm for fete, at village teas and, when he was still bikes. able to get there, at the cricket. Although Les was a very private person and none he never played for Hawridge & Cholesbury of us seems to know for sure what his Cricket Club, as a young lad Les used to go religious beliefs were. However, though he to watch his elder brother Wally and he was not a churchgoer, he was supportive of always took a keen interest in how the club the church and he certainly led a life which was faring. He was particularly pleased to was based on Christian principles. As a be invited to the Club’s 125th anniversary

36 Hilltop News Hilltop News 37 HILLTOP NEWS NATURE NOTES There is a very helpful guide available on the Bat ‘Four legs bad and two legs good’ Conservancy Trust website at www.bats.org. (with apologies to George Orwell!) uk/ . eared bat A telephone call about a certain flying ancestors quarried for building materials, Exhibit 3 – Rats and mice (which has a the martins moved inland to exploit these are classed as vermin and would mammal and an interesting email I saw wingspan of newly created habitats. At the same time, readily overrun our houses or about pond weed a few weeks ago got me 12 inches) that had surreptitiously found the use of quarried stone and timber in outbuildings and contaminate our a temporary home in a spare room. Too thinking about our sometimes schizophrenic building construction encouraged the more food larders if we did not take steps early for it to hibernate, it may have come in opportunist martins to choose to make their to deter or remove them. To these two in relationship with the plants and animals on a chilly night to find a warm roost for the home close to human habitation. this locality we need to add the so-called that we live amongst. night and then could not find its way out. These birds are summer visitors and feed edible dormouse. However endearing glis It was carefully relocated into a sheltered roadside verge with a splash of on the wing, entirely off insects and with glis may look running along the branches of position outside, leaving the following daisies can be a welcome site in late the increasing domestication of animals, beech trees or on the infra red closed circuit night. Spring. Meanwhile a golf green the ample supply of insects on farms would cameras on Autumnwatch, their destructive A Bats pair up and mate in September and awash with bellis perennis, to give the have made the associated buildings a good nature and the risk of disease they harbour October and spend the rest of the month flower its official name, is a greenkeeper’s choice of location. It was much the same when they invade our homes, outweighs any building up their fat reserves. In November, nightmare. Similarly, New Zealand story with Barn Owls, which must have small level of sentimentality for them. as temperatures fall and the volume of pygmyweed and Japanese knotweed, also moved in on discovering the surfeit of So from these three exhibits it would insects on the wing diminishes, bats seek out despite the suggestion in their moniker, rodents around farmsteads. Like the Dutch seem appropriate to twist around a quote a suitable over-wintering site to hibernate may be part of the natural habitat in and residents of north Germany, who each from George Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’ and anywhere dry and cool, and may happen their country of origin: but here they are year welcome back the storks and even adopt the maxim ‘Four legs bad, two legs upon an opening under the eaves and into unwanted, invasive weeds found in Pallet’s provide wagon wheels on their roofs on good.’ the roof space. Most of the older houses in Pond in Cholesbury or in the scrub woodland which the birds build their precarious nests, Whether the pyracantha in our garden the area will at some time have provided a adjacent to the Hill Fort. Both are on Defra’s house owners in Blighty have traditionally still has any of this year’s bumper crop of home for bats. Apart from a few droppings invasive non-native species list and need to thought themselves blessed to have been scarlet fruits on it by the time this article they cause no damage (unlike the other be eradicated asap. The botanical maxim chosen by house martins to make their home appears is uncertain. As I write there are rodents we have to contend with: rats, mice that sums up this duplicity neatly goes along ‘chez-nous’. blackbirds currently enjoying hawthorn and our not so dear ol’ friend the glis glis.) the lines of: - ‘A weed is just a plant growing Exhibit 2 - Bats tend not to be one of berries but no doubt also eyeing up the Although some bats do hibernate in in the wrong place.’ those animals which readily make it onto ‘Fire Bush’ for the dessert course. Fieldfares groups, many will roost on their own to see A while back I wrote about the insects people’s Top Ten favourite cuddly creatures and redwings will flock in by December. the winter out. Hibernation implies they that share our houses. Though generally we list. Most of us only experience bats when Two years ago I wrote about the infrequent sleep through, which is a bit misleading as would prefer to rid our properties of most they appear flying just above our heads, visitors, waxwings, arriving from Scandinavia it’s more like a shallow torpor than a long of them, humanely or otherwise, from time which for some is disconcerting. Added and reports from the RSPB indicate that sleep and they do stir from time to time on to time we may tolerate the odd one and to this are gothic superstitions which still it could be another ‘waxwing winter’ the warmer winter nights and take to flying occasionally even proudly cherish them (I’m persist, subconsciously at least. Visiting a zoo this year. These are unmistakable birds to look for food or water or even to relocate thinking particularly of those gregarious recently and standing in the walk- through with, as I described last time: sleek beige to a new site. If you discover your roof space ladybirds, huddling in crevices over winter). bat enclosure, I was interested to observe a coats overlain with russet brown and with is a favourite summertime roost for bats, Can we apply a similar principle to plants general change to the public’s perception of black, yellow and white highlights. They there is no need to disturb them. If you need and weeds and the larger members of the bats. With an opportunity to view them up may also be seen in the large car parks of to do building work and think you may have animal kingdom that become uninvited close they come across as more endearing supermarket stores, known for their fruit- bats in residence, there are ways of working guests in our homes? creatures. laden bushes. round them without having to disturb Exhibit 1 - The birds we today know as There are 17 resident species of bat in them greatly. For this reason, bat roosts are That’s all this time. As always your house martins had for eons been building the UK. All feed on insects and spiders, protected by law and you are required to observations and questions are welcome. their nests on seaside cliffs. Some time later, consuming up to 3,000 in a single night. take and follow advice on how to proceed. [email protected] 758890. perhaps 5 -10,000 years ago, when our Back in September I was told about a long-

38 Hilltop News Hilltop News 39 dahlias would be at their peak in August. CHOLESBURY cum However, the NGS yellow book was about ST LEONARDS to be printed so the visit was sooner than HORTICULTURAL expected: which meant a lot of hard work in a short time! At the visit two people SOCIETY came to view their garden; the county organiser and a committee member. Di ith the clocks going back and the was pretty nervous as the inspectors didn’t nights drawing in, our gardens let on until the end of the visit that their are being put to bed for the W garden was up to standard for opening in year. Many of us enjoyed walking around 2010, sooner than she expected. John and Di Garner’s garden (Montana) in The NGS like to have gardens which the summer and we thought it would be can keep people interested for about 45 interesting to find out a bit more about the minutes, so having the wood at the back of National Gardens Scheme (NGS) and ask our Montana’s garden, the clay holes from part Chairman and Secretary how they got their of the old Duntons brickworks and remains garden included in the scheme. of the Pugging shed (where the clay was mixed with breeze to form brick shapes) The National Gardens Scheme donations were made from the proceeds all helped. Car parking was identified as a In 1859, a philanthropic Liverpool from opening gardens in 2009. The largest possible problem which led to the decision merchant, William Rathbone, employed a beneficiaries this year were Macmillan to open on Thursdays. nurse to care for his wife at home. After Cancer Support, Marie Cancer Care and Members from the NGS committee also his wife’s death, Rathbone retained the Help the Hospices, who all received visited on both the main open days in nurse and asked her to help poor people about £500,000. Other beneficiaries 2010. People came from near and far: this in the neighbourhood. Then, convinced of were Crossroads Care, the National year over 500 people visited Montana, and the need for wider availability of nursing Trust Gardening Careership, Queens raised over £2,700 on the garden visits, care, he raised funds for the recruitment, Nursing Institute, Perennial – helping plant sales and teas - a super achievement. training and employment of nurses to go horticulturalists in need, Royal Gardeners’ Di and John were extremely relieved when to the deprived areas of the city. This was Fund for Children, Chelsea Physic Garden a great friend, Sue Williams, offered to the beginning of district nursing and by Trainee, Arthritis Research Campaign and organise a brilliant team of helpers to do the end of the 19th Century the idea had the Soldiers Charity. been taken up across the country and, with the teas for them. the help of Florence Nightingale and the Opening your garden They spent most of the summer working approval of Queen Victoria, the movement Today nearly 4,000 gardens open every year in their garden and, in 2011, plan to open became a national voluntary organisation. in England and Wales to raise money for from March when their daffodils should A Council member came up with the charity. The NGS welcomes new gardens be in their splendour, to the end of August idea of combining a national obsession with and the size and design is not the priority. by appointment only, so please email gardening with raising money for charity Most gardens open individually but some [email protected] or ring 758347 a and so the National Gardens Scheme was gardens are open in pairs. few days beforehand. founded in 1927. Its aim was to raise money I talked to Di and John about how If you feel inspired to open your garden for the nurses of the Queen’s Nursing they came to become part of the National and want to find out more then look at the Institute by opening gardens of quality Gardens Scheme and what it involves. They NGS website on www.ngs.org.uk. and interest to the public. In the first year had long been keen to open their garden Thank you all for your continued support 609 gardens raised over £8,000. In 1980 the for charity but felt, until Di stopped work, for the Horticultural Society over the year National Gardens Scheme Charitable Trust they couldn’t commit to the level of time it and we wish you Happy Christmas and was established as an independent charity needed. In July 2009 Di contacted the NGS. good gardening in 2011. and it has continued to grow significantly The county organiser then came to do an Barbara Baddon since then. In 2010 over £2.5m of charitable inspection at the time of year they wanted to open. Di was keen to open when her

40 Hilltop News Hilltop News 41 Delivering the harvest ice rink set up in outside. Yes, we did say ice rink. 25-minute timed skating sessions cost HAWRIDGE & £5.00 and can be booked at hawridgepsa@ CHOLESBURY SCHOOL hotmail.com (booking advised to avoid disappointment).This, together with our Harvest time & Christmas fun… reindeer-bucking bronco, should ensure a fun day for all. Please do come and join us. nce again, the pupils celebrated That done, we’re off now to get out the harvest by taking time to prepare tinsel and fairy lights! Enjoy. Oand deliver food parcels to elderly residents in the community. Reverend Kay Bass 786016 Burgess lead the children, staff and parents in a short service of celebration with each class performing a poem, song or piece of music reflecting on the importance of the season. Beautiful ‘harvest’ loaves, generously supplied by Ms Tomlin as in previous years, were blessed and shared. So now we look forward to our Christmas Bazaar. All are welcome on Saturday 4 December from 11am to 2pm in the school grounds. In addition to the usual stalls, refreshments, children’s activities and Santa’s Grotto, this year we will also have an

42 Hilltop News Hilltop News 43 HILLTOP NEWS WILDLIFE for long. There is concern that it will soon be joined by the largest - the Asian Giant hornet that has spread to Europe. It exists in several parts of France having arrived, Hilltop Hornets it is thought, in cargo from the Far East in 2004. This species, which measures about Over the last eight years, these articles balls to developing larvae in the nest. two inches, is much more aggressive and have sought to describe our co-existence In return, the adult feeds off the larva’s has been known to attack humans without sugary saliva. In the autumn, as the number provocation. It is also a real threat to bee with a wide range of Hilltop creatures of larvae tail off, adult hornets turn for colonies. Whilst the European hornet will with whom we share our countryside, our sustenance to sugar-rich tree sap and take a small number of individual bees, gardens and even – in some cases - our ripening fruit. the Asian version attacks whole colonies to rob them of their honey and their larvae, homes, whether invited or not! As a social wasp, the hornet has a life cycle that is just as fascinating as that of the which they carry away. Although massively he European hornet (vespa crabris) honeybee, but markedly different. It begins outnumbered (by about 1000 to one in some is in the latter category! It is the in the spring with the emergence from an cases) a small number of Asian hornets have Tlargest British wasp - widely regarded, over-wintering shelter – a hole in a tree been known to devastate a honeybee hive in somewhat unjustly, as an aggressive or a loft say – of a solitary queen, the only just three hours, leaving piles of decapitated creature. It is certainly capable of delivering survivor of last year’s nest. She was fertilised In this way, the nest and its population occupants. With our honeybee colonies a fierce sting (and can do so repeatedly four months previously by one of her drone grow exponentially. The paper envelope already in decline, our beekeepers will be because the sting lacks a barb) but this brothers and is now ready to bring into eventually contains thousands of hexagonal hoping that this nasty big wasp will not hornet is basically placid. Like many being the next generation! cells and, at its peak, the colony numbers make a bee-line for our shores! about 700. Compare this with a colony of animals, it will become aggressive only if Her immediate and urgent task is to Jim Hetherington 758836 it feels that its home is threatened. The create an initial work-force to help her in the 50,000 honeybees! hornet’s size distinguishes it from the other construction of the nest and development of As autumn progresses, the cycle changes – six species of social wasps in Britain and the colony it will house. She starts by making it is the beginning of the end for the colony! also its colouring sets it aside. The head and a paper stalk - like an inverted umbrella – The exhausted and tiring queen begins to thorax are chestnut brown, wings reddish, from which a large nest will ultimately be lay a small number of eggs that will develop: and the ‘danger’ spelling bands on the suspended. She then fashions the first tier of on the one hand, into young queens and, abdomen are brown/orange rather than hexagonal cells into which she deposits her on the other hand, unfertilised eggs that black/yellow of the common wasp. The big first eggs. The nest’s main building material will produce male drones – idle, stingless hornet seems to fly ‘clumsily’ and the wings is rotting wood which, mixed with saliva creatures whose sole task is nevertheless make a loud hum that strikes fear in some. and chewed into a ball, makes a paste which crucial - to fertilise the emerging In Britain, hornets are rarely seen outside dries into tough, durable paper. The ‘stripes’ queens. The drones die in the process. As the southern counties or in continental in the paper result from the processing of temperatures fall further the remaining Europe north of the 60 degree parallel. different coloured woods. workers and drones perish, leaving only Numbers are said to be declining everywhere The eggs develop into larvae in just a the new queen to find and occupy winter because of ill-guided persecution by humans week and, in the absence of other domestic quarters. In 1903, Hudson wrote ‘ These on one hand and loss of habitat on the staff, this initial brood has to be fed and large sized October hornets are all females, other. It is a protected species in Germany tended by the solitary queen. After a further wanderers from ruined homes, in search where it was almost wiped out. two weeks the larvae have developed into of sheltered places where, foodless and The hornet does not store food like new hornets – asexual female workers who homeless, each may live through the four the honeybee. It is a major predator of will live for only about four weeks after dreary months to come.’ insects such as flies, bees, spiders, moths, they take over from the queen the many There are around twenty species of grasshoppers, aphids and caterpillars. chores of home building, foraging for food, hornet worldwide of varying size and Some of these it will sting, decapitate and defending the colony and child care. This colouring. For the time being, the European dismember with its powerful mandibles frees the queen to concentrate full time hornet is the only hornet we are likely to before eating or delivering as tasty meat upon serious egg laying (up to 40 a day). encounter in Britain; but this may not be

44 Hilltop News Hilltop News 45 new year, there will be a Burns Night With the central heating boiler out of with a Scots Guard piper on 25 January commission for October and into November, Winter news of and a Valentine’s dinner with music on 14 roaring log fires and a temporary electric oil February. heater have kept the warmth up. Since the The autumn was packed with special maintenance contract is with a company in events at The Rose and Crown including the financially distressed Connaught Group, Hilltop pubs a spectacular bonfire for which Kerry and central heating may or may not be working Marc Heywood extend a special thanks to when you read this. Phil Matthews, Marcus Reynolds and their Once again, the Office of Fair Trading has Bill Ingram team for providing materials and lifting Investments (Commercial) Ltd, to overturn repulsed efforts by the Campaign for Real machinery. the rejection by Chiltern District Council’s Ale to extinguish exclusive purchasing Coming up are evenings with a live Planning Committee of all their applications band on Saturday 4 December and Friday agreements that bind tenanted publicans for major expansion as a pub/restaurant/ 21 January. The December band will be a to purchasing their beers from the pub B&B or for change of use to a private 1960/70’s review. The Rose and Crown will dwelling. Does anyone in Hilltop land fancy company to which they are tied. Since be open on Christmas Day again with some owning a free house pub? the tied pricing is above competitive “nibbles” on offer. Their intention is to Michael Goodchild of The Black Horse provide food on New Year’s Eve – probably open market prices, these pubs have their has opined that since pub closures are as a buffet. The Comedy Lounge evenings a reality of the 21st Century, planning profit margins artificially squeezed due have become a quarterly event on the first authorities should be more sympathetic to to fact that they cannot price in the same Wednesday, so the next one will be on 5 change of use applications for pubs unlikely January. Keep up to date on their web site margins as a free house can. Thus, the to regain viable economic health. at www.roseandcrownhawridge.co.uk. tenanted publican often leads a relatively The menu at The Black Horse has been Since Vale Inns took over the lease recently refreshed, and a special Christmas impoverished life. of The White Lion, much of what I have Fayre menu will be available in December. written about it has not stood the test he antitrust body explained, “The OFT These can be viewed on their new web site of time due largely to frequent staff and has concluded that the pub sector at www.black-horse-inn.co.uk. For those even management changes. At the time of Tin the UK is competitive overall and that follow their quiz nights, they will writing, Amy Batchelor is presented as the it has not found evidence of competition return fortnightly in January. full time manager and public face of The problems that are having a significant Annie and Peter Alberto are over White Lion, but Richard Leach has divested adverse impact on consumers”. That is, The Full Moon following the birth in his stake in Vale Inns LLP. Sascha Dwight has it is not in their remit to be concerned early November of a grandson, William. been designated as a full time cellar and about the fairness of the tenants’ lot. This Congratulations to Danni and you. bar man. ongoing view of the OFT will not alleviate The fir, feather and fin game tasting The latest cook in The White Lion’s the fact that 50 pubs are closing each week dinners have been well received again kitchen is Matt Layzell who has had in the UK. this autumn. These evenings have raised previous restaurant and pub experience. Despite holding the whip hand over substantial donations to Help for Heroes. In mid-November, he was finalising a new their tenants, Punch Taverns and Enterprise The Christmas menu for this year is menu for normal dining and a special Inns are in dire financial states due to available from 1st December and can Christmas menu. This can be found on the insane financial leverage they incurred in be seen on their new web site at www. Vale Inns website, www.valeinns.com. building up their estate. Punch is looking to thefullmoonpub.com. You should note that Two successful fund raising social events dispose of a further 1,300 tenanted pubs, the ‘Boxing Day’ breakfast this year will took place during the autumn. A Halloween leaving them with 4,700 compared to 7,500 Monday 27 December and not the 26th. party raised £500 for the paediatric wing of at their peak. On 7 December, The Full Moon will provide Stoke Mandeville Hospital and the bonfire At the end of September, the Planning the annual Sausage Sizzle at the school. and fireworks raised more for the Iain Inspectorate finally ruled against the Look out for live music events coming Rennie Hospice. appeal by the owners of The Bull, Fortitude up on various Sunday evenings. In the

46 Hilltop News Hilltop News 47 Youth and then university sailing was great fun, and racing since then has never The wind in my sails… quite compared. Sailing recently has been at adult national level: I raced a Solo dinghy for about five years, competing in open and has proper wind and waves. The event was championship events and winning the class attended by some of the most competitive at the Dartmouth regatta in 2007. young sailors in the country, and as I set My current plans? Well, for the time out for the start line in a stiff force five being at least DIY calls, but I am looking with 120 other boats, I wondered what I forward to racing at club level and the was doing. A few dozen capsizes and a very annual Salcombe regatta in August. A paint minor head injury later, I was back on shore brush and my mountain bike will have to sharing stories with the rest of the team. substitute in the meantime, but then again, Very few of us had survived the day, but I if anyone reading this needs a crew… managed to complete almost all the races Steve Davey that week and was hooked! The following year, the team paired me up with another sailor and we raced a two-man 420 dinghy. We trained hard that winter (I am not sure how many miles my Hawridge and other local windmills parents’ car clocked up taking us and the boat to events up and down the country) In the words of an eminent writer on from Wigginton – for £700. He did not and we really benefited from coaching windmills in the 1930s: “A fine looking prosper and the mill was later auctioned we received with the national squad. The and, only 20 years after being built, though not well designed smock mill” next season we competed at youth events demolished and replaced by the tower mill Since moving to Buckland Common from all round the country, posting some good was erected on Hawridge Common by the we see today. results. During demolition, the smock mill’s Lee Common at the end of last year, I seem Norwich Wind and Steam Mill Company After finishing school all I wanted to in 1863 and came complete with steam machinery and other parts were salvaged to have spent most of my time covered in do was sail. I went to work for a chandlery and incorporated into the new tower paint, mud or both. So it was refreshing where I was involved in developing and engine to supplement the wind. mill. A fitting reminder of the old smock to be asked to write an article about my marketing a new range of racing dinghies. his is an extract from a delightful new mill lives on in the logo of Hawridge & Although physical and demanding at Cholesbury Cricket Club (founded in 1885, previous (and cleaner) existence racing book entitled, perceptively, ‘Gone times, work took me abroad and enabled with the wind: windmills just after the demolition). sailing dinghies. T me to compete in Italy and France. With and those around Tring’ by Ian The book goes on to reveal started sailing at school in Hertfordshire the amount of sailing I did that year, I Petticrew and Wendy Austin. some of the colourful literary in 1989, initially racing Toppers at Bury secured a top-ten finish in the European As well as featuring a full and artistic personalities who ILake Young Mariners in Rickmansworth. championship. description of the Hawridge came to live in Hawridge My interest developed and I was selected I had already decided that I could not windmill and others either windmill when it was converted to race for the Hertfordshire team, just go sailing for the rest of my life, existing or long-lost in the area, into a private dwelling – and representing the county at national and the time had come for me to go to the book includes chapters much more. competitions. university – Southampton of course – where describing the various types of Copies of this most I can still remember my first major event, I spent three years trying to balance a law windmill, how they operate, interesting 200-page, illustrated the national schools’ sailing championship degree with racing a Sigma 33 (eight-crew and the work of the miller and book are available for £12.50. held that year at Grafham Water, near yacht) and working rigging boats at the millwright. You can contact the authors Peterborough. Grafham is a huge 1,600 local chandlery to pay for it. I was also a Original documents show that the direct: Ian Petticrew (01442 acre lake (about 50 times bigger than ringer for the local NHS sailing team, but Hawridge mill was purchased in 1871 by 382463) or Wendy Austin (01442 825292). where I sailed in Rickmansworth) and it never did quite get to the bottom of what Humphrey Dwight – a pheasant breeder All proceeds from sales of the book go to it was I did at the hospital! charities in Tring.

48 Hilltop News Hilltop News 49 W.H.A Upholstery RE-UPHOLSTERY SPECIALIST IN ANTIQUE & MODERN FURNITURE ALSO LOOSE COVERS

Free Estimates No Obligation 01494 862821 (Day) 01628 521210 (Evenings) 21 Haleacre Workshop, Watchet Lane Little Kingshill, Great Missenden. HP16 0DR

50 Hilltop News Hilltop News 51 THE THURSDAY CLUB Answers to Local History Quiz on page 16 1. The Bricklayers Arms , (now The Bury) on he Thursday Club are indebted to Dr Cholesbury Common which closed in 1924. Tony Maisey, who gave us a talk on 2. The Mermaid in Hawridge, opposite the ‘The spare parts of the body’ - very T Full Moon, which closed before 1838. witty and sometimes poignant! It was very informative about the evolution of surgery 3. The Britannia Inn on Bottom Road in for additions to our bodies, i.e. pacemakers Buckland Common which closed in 1939. CURVACEOUS COOK and hip joints. We were disappointed 4. The Queen’s Head was next door to the however by the turn out of just 22 people. Bricklayers Arms closed circa 1887 and has Devon Apple Cake Our next evening event is the Christmas since been demolished. With Christmas baking in mind, but with my kitchen full of gorgeous apples given by a kind neighbour, I Party. This year it is on 9 December, starting thought that it might be useful to have a really delicious cake in the freezer that will do as a cake or a pud over at 7.30 pm. Music from David Clarke and the Christmas period. I think it is lifted from the norm by the addition of the lemon, and has been a big hit friends. Bring and share food. (BYOB). whenever I have made it. Raffle, donations welcome. Tickets £2.50 for members and £3.00 225g softened butter. for non-members: from Anne Lake (01296 450g cooking apples - ideally Bramleys, but any will do. Eating apples don’t mush down in the same way, but 620169) or Guy Williams (758735). would do if you cut them really small or grated them. Anne Lake 100 CLUB Finely grated zest and juice of 1 lemon.

September 2010 225g caster sugar. 1st Prize £15.00 3 large eggs. WI 225g self raising flour. 2nd Prize £15.00 2 tsp baking powder. Mr J Phimister, Chivery 25g ground almonds. 1 tbs Demerara sugar. October 2010 1st Prize £25.00 Preheat oven to 180 C/gas 4. Mrs C Henry, Buckland Common Butter a 23-24cm round tin or its square equivalent: ideally a spring form tin for ease of removal. 2nd Prize £15.00 In one bowl whisk up the lemon zest, butter, caster sugar till fluffy. Mr D Hawkes, Coppice Farm Park 2nd bowl whisk up the eggs and add slowly to the first. 3rd Prize £15.00 3rd bowl sift the flour and baking powder, adding a tbs with each slosh of egg. Mr T Reynolds, Bellingdon 4th bowl put the lemon juice, then cut the apple into 1cm (ish!) chunks and add. When the egg has all been beaten in, gently fold in the flour, baking powder and almonds. Add the apple November 2010 chunks and lemon juice. 1st Prize £15 Spoon into the tin, level the top and sprinkle with Demerara for crunch. Mrs C Henry, Buckland Common Bake for 1 hour till well risen and brown. Listen to it, if it is still hissing gently it needs a bit longer. When quiet 2nd Prize £10 it is done, and a skewer will come out clean. If you think it is browning too quickly, just lay a piece of baking Mr M Mariscotti, Arrewig Lane paper over the top of the tin. New Members always welcome, please Leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes, and then either serve warm with custard/cream/ice cream, or cool contact the Treasurer, Mick Mariscotti completely and have cold as a cake or put in the freezer for later. 837093 Lulu Stephen [email protected]

52 Hilltop News Hilltop News 53 Hilltop News We welcome all news, letters and articles which are of general interest and relevance to the Hilltop Villages. Material for inclusion in the February/March (limited) edition should be sent to Imogen Vallance (Societies), or Anne Butterworth (Church Matters) by 9 January latest. All other news, views and material should go directly to the editor, Graham Lincoln. Please note that photos sent online must be at least 2,500 x 1,750 pixels in size. Editor Graham Lincoln 758449 [email protected] Societies, Diaries Imogen Vallance 758552 [email protected] Co-ordinator/Church Matters Anne Butterworth 758700 [email protected] Advertising Ann Horn 758250 [email protected] Design & Production Michael Spark 758882 [email protected] Photography Oliver Parsons 758694 [email protected] Distribution Rosemary Pearce 758334 Printer Strongs, Berkhamsted 01442 878592 [email protected] Hilltop News is entirely non-profit making and is funded by advertising. Supported by Cholesbury-cum-St Leonards Parish Council.

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