The Society £1 when sold

Volume 164 Autumn 2020 Established 1957

A pool for all seasons: Water in Chesham’s open-air pool is kept at an average 28°all the year round. Opened in 1912, the pool has undergone several face-lifts since then. When Chesham Leisure Centre was built, a voluntary organisation was formed to save this much-loved facility from closure. The pool is currently open to competent swimmers, for lane swimming only. Photo © Chesham Moor Gym and Swim

Page 7-9 The man who built Page 15 New to Blucher Street Chesham Chesham in bloom Impasse in St Mary’s Way Chesham Society Quarterly Quiz Page 16 Hard at work come rain Page 10 Some good news for the or shine In this issue Sewage summit at Page 2 Coming our way Page 17 Something for everyone: Chess Valley U3A Every one a Page 3 Chairman’s report Page 10 Shop locally for winner Editor’s letter Christmas Don’t forget the tree Page 18 The Elgiva opens again Page 4 Planning for the future Page 12 A season of celebration In the foyer now, in the Chilterns Page 5 All to play for: Chesham Page 19 Join the Chesham Page 13 Beautiful but brazen Masterplan back in the mix Society Page 14 Mixed blessing for Page 6 Behind the scenes: happy Church Street A load of old Page 20 A breath of fresh air memories of ‘HODS’ rubbish Contacts and credits

Putting Cheshamwww.cheshamsociety.org.uk first www.facebook.com/cheshamsociety @cheshamsociety The Chesham Society Coming our way

If work on HS2 runs to schedule (and sadly, as this point, it might) ‘early 2021’ will see the launch of Florence and Cecelia, the two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) which will be eating their way beneath the Chilterns. The names were chosen in a competition, but our suggestions (Plague and Pestilence), although topical, were overlooked. HS2 Ltd has also announced that structural work has been completed for the pre-cast factory site on the same site. The temporary factory will produce the concrete segments used to line the tunnel. Above: The two 2000 tonne machines, Local developments measuring over 170 metres in length, will be The destruction of Bottom House Farm Lane is nearing launched at the south portal site beside the completion, and National Grid have finished their work M25 to start work on the 10-mile stretch of above Great Missenden – although HS2 are attempting the Chiltern tunnel – the longest and deepest to extend the footpath closures while they round up of all 32 miles of tunnels on Phase One of HS2. newts. Consultation on the design of the Operating a ‘continuous boring’ technique, they vent shaft (next to the hospital) closed recently; the are expected to take around 3 years to excavate HS2 design council saw this as a suitable place for a the 9.1m metre diameter tunnels, moving at triumphalist feature to mark their subjugation of the a speed of 15.6 metres a day. The TBMs will AONB; the local response may be unfavourable, but will convert the spoil into slurry which will be anybody notice? pumped back to the South Portal near Denham Jim Conboy where it will be dried before being used for landscaping on-site.

Top: Design for the Amersham Vent Shaft Left: Beyond the tunnel, the line crosses the Colne Valley lakes and the Grand Union canal on a viaduct, giving passengers a brief glimpse of countryside after leaving the next tunnel at Northolt. All Photos © HS2 Ltd

2 Putting Chesham first Focus Autumn 2020 AUTUMN 2020Chairman’s report Our ‘Back to Normal’ report unfortunately remains on hold, and a report on the ‘New Normal’ was deemed by the editor to be too depressing – so we now present

Reasons to be Cheerful Local developments include • No new National Lockdown ! 32 new flats off Preston Hill, and the redevelopment of 34 • No new Local Lockdown ! Germain Street – both of which • The ‘second wave’ appears far less threatening than will increase congestion on our the first. roads. Any mitigation for this seems unlikely. On the • Most pubs are open, despite the restrictions to brighter side, the River Chess Association’s campaigns opening hours are at last having some success – Affinity Water have • Only a few shops have closed, even though the announced they will cease abstraction from two opening hours of many are not what they used to be local boreholes, and Thames will attempt to control • Far less queuing than a few months back. groundwater inflow into their sewers, the main cause of overflows at the Chesham works. How about more That’s enough excitement for one paragraph. Meanwhile: schools, doctors and dentists next ?

Planning HS2 The government has launched two consultations – one On the down side (again), HS2 continues to disrupt to reform housing allocation under the present system, the Chilterns, as described elsewhere. One effect of and another to sweep the system away and start again granting them absolute powers within the act limits ( see ‘Planning for the Future’ in this edition). The new is that once they gain control of an area, it’s gone for housing allocation algorithm appears to have been good – see for example Bottom House Farm Lane, designed before the epidemic, takes no account of Whielden Lane (still closed), the footpaths between Gt resulting movement out of , and increases the Missenden and Potter Row, and more recently Jones house allocation in Chiltern & South Bucks by a factor Hill Wood. The main contractors start work next year, of 3, to make housing more affordable. You can read our so things can only get worse. response on the Campaigns page of our website. Jim Conboy

Editor’s letter On behalf of our many contributors, I would like to thank Chesham Society members for their kind reception of our summer Focus, put together during lockdown. It was, as always, a team effort. As you will see in this edition, our society events may remain on-hold but we are still able to report on plenty of other activity in and around the town. There is some good news for Chesham Renaissance and the River Chess; The Elgiva is up and running, there are some fresh faces in Blucher Street and – in one respect at least – the High Street is still blooming. This autumn Focus would normally carry a report on Heritage Open Days. Whilst Chesham’s contribution to the event fell victim to the virus, we have kept the spotlight on our local surroundings with a special pictorial piece on Jesse Meade, The Man Who Built Chesham. We also introduce a new quarterly quiz compiled by the mysterious ‘Mathilda’, who included this photograph when sending in the piece. Let’s hope she can stay awake long enough to send us the answers! Jean Slater

www.cheshamsociety.org.uk www.facebook.com/cheshamsociety @cheshamsociety 3 The Chesham Society Planning for the future

On 6th August the government launched a The White Paper also proposes that land will be consultation on Planning for the Future, its categorised as follows: White Paper on planning reform, with a closing • Protected areas – development on Green Belt land along date of 29th October. with Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and those judged to have “rich heritage” will continue to be In his foreword the Prime Minister urges the need for restricted as now with policy remaining a decision for “radical reform unlike anything we have seen since the local authorities as they prepare their plans. Second World War …. a whole new planning system for .” • Growth areas – land suitable for growth will be approved for development while plans are prepared, meaning new homes, schools, shops and business space can be built quickly and efficiently, as long as local design standards are met. • Renewal areas – land appropriate for renewal will enable much quicker development where it is well designed in a way which reflects community preferences.

A ‘critical starting point’ In tandem with the White Paper, the government launched a separate consultation on proposed changes to the standard method for assessing local housing need, used to set housing targets for local authorities. The London Green Belt Council has already flagged up ‘serious concerns that the proposed new formula … would inevitably result in massive release of Green Belt land.’ Council acknowledges that the new method will be a ‘critical starting point’ The white paper promises a ‘significantly simpler, faster and in the preparation of the new Local Plan for the county, for more predictable system’ under which it states: which development work is now underway. Chesham Town Council has estimated that future targets could add some Local communities will be consulted from the very beginning 10-15% to our population, prompting their decision to of the planning process… undertake a Neighbourhood Plan for Chesham in order to • Green spaces will be protected for future generations by ‘set parameters on the question of housing, infrastructure and allowing for more building on brownfield land… the environment’. • Much-needed homes will be built quicker by ensuring local After the debacle of the Chiltern and South Bucks Local Plan, housing plans are developed and agreed in 30 months… and the demise of our district councils, keeping track of all this • Every area to have a local plan in place… planning can be quite a challenge. However, one thing is clear. In the words of Chesham Renaissance, taken from their website: • The planning process to be overhauled and replaced with ‘ will have to develop a new plan for a clearer, rules-based system… the economic and social needs of the new authority. Within • A new simpler national levy to replace the current system this bigger area Chesham will need to present very clearly the of developer contributions… case for a fair share of the resources available and at the same time provide solutions that are not only attractive to the new • The creation of a fast-track system for beautiful buildings unitary authority, but also compelling answers to the issues it and establishing local design guidance for developers to will face. This will be more important than ever in the post- build and preserve beautiful communities… Covid 19 era.’ We can all agree on that. • All new homes to be ‘zero carbon ready’… Jean Slater

4 Putting Chesham first Focus Autumn 2020

If you are a regular reader of yourChesham you may well have read an encouraging report in the August edition about the progress of the Chesham Masterplan. It concerned the favourable reception of a proposed plan, to convert a site formerly reserved for employment to one combining living space and workspace in keeping with Chesham heritage. This was a site identifi ed by the Masterplan and this encouraging response from Buckinghamshire Council led to the developer allocating considerable resource to preparing a detailed planning application. All to play for: the Chesham Masterplan In response Cllr Warren Whyte, the member responsible for is back in the mix planning said: “The council has regular engagement with the Chesham Renaissance Community Interest Company and the At the same time the directors of Chesham Renaissance CIC, masterplan for Chesham. A piece of work is underway to work the authors of the Masterplan, met with a Buckinghamshire with local stakeholders and establish a regeneration strategy and Council cabinet member and two senior planning officers in approach with an intention to formalise this later this year. Given what proved to be a very positive meeting. With the demise the high level of public support and comprehensiveness of the of Chiltern District Council and the almost certain withdrawal masterplan, this document will be an important part of framing of the Chiltern and South Bucks Local Plan, Buckinghamshire the next steps for Chesham in terms of future policy.” Council is now in the driving seat of a new local plan. Council leader, Martin Tett said that he had met with the At the Council’s Cabinet key players in the Chesham Meeting on 8th September Cllr Masterplan and he was very Peter Jones reminded members impressed with the work they that at its last meeting they had done. had received a report on the Commenting after the meeting, preparation of a Local Plan for Tony Molesworth, who adoption in 2024. On 16th June chairs Chesham Renaissance the Council agreed the approval CIC, said this was the of an Garden Town clearest indication yet that high-level vision document and Buckinghamshire Council would a 2050 Vision for Aylesbury; use the Masterplan as a leading a Wycombe Regeneration document for the regeneration Strategy had also received of Chesham. “We are delighted,” approval. he said, “as it recognises the quality of the work put into the Cllr Jones said that a Masterplan had also been prepared for Masterplan and the need to rethink the way we use our town Chesham, the third largest town in Buckinghamshire, by the centre.” Chesham Renaissance Community Interest Company. The All is now to play for in the regeneration of our town and credit Masterplan was detailed and had been the subject of a public has to go to Chesham Renaissance and, indeed, to the Chesham consultation, to which 70% of respondents had been positive. Society, which started the process that led to the Chesham He asked that officers be requested to bring forward a policy for Masterplan. the urgent regeneration of Chesham based on the community Andrew Ketteringham, Chesham Renaissance Community Interest Company prepared Masterplan. This work he said could begin immediately. Images © Chesham Renaissance CIC

www.cheshamsociety.org.uk www.facebook.com/cheshamsociety @cheshamsociety 5 The Chesham Society Behind the scenes: happy memories of how ‘HODS’ began

Heritage Open Days 2020 took place from 11th – 20th September, offering mainly online events together with a range of activities that fell within the government guidelines.

With the ongoing uncertainty created by Covid-19, the Chesham Society decided not to take part this year. Instead, we have taken this opportunity to reminisce on how it all began in pre-Internet, less sophisticated days. When the (then) Department of National Heritage (DNH) decided that England should join in European Heritage Days, they turned to the Civic Trust which was then the umbrella body Image © Heritage Open Days for all UK civic societies. In 1992 Gosport and Faversham civic societies pioneered the event with reassuring results: complete list were printed and delivered to libraries and no-one toppled off church towers or returned to burgle tourist information centres throughout England, strictly ‘For householders who had thrown open their doors. Thus Reference Only’. Regional phone numbers were set up with in 1994 the DNH gave the go-ahead for a national event, pre-recorded details of a selection of things taking place in together with modest funding for one year after which a the various parts of the country. sponsor had to be found. After a somewhat anxious weekend, when feedback To get the project underway, a lone co-ordinator was was scarce, the verdict finally arrived: 200,000 visitors allocated the shared used of a desk and telephone in the and volunteers had thoroughly enjoyed the often- Civic Trust’s London office in Carlton House Terrace. This novel experience of exploring or showing off their own was readily adjusted by the simply expedient of changing surroundings. the sign on the door of a cosy meeting room, installing a At the DNH the final report was greeted with a sharp personal Amstrad (brought on the train from Chesham in a intake of breath. No sponsor had been found, so it was sturdy Waitrose carrier) and running a telephone extension thumbs down for the future of HODS. A meeting with ‘The lead under the door. Add a set of labels for all 500 civic Minister’ was clearly called for. By a stroke of good fortune, societies and a list of local authorities supplied by a well- the minister in question happened to be Lord Astor, who thumbed copy of The Municipal Year Book and HODs was combined an exquisite taste in tailoring with a readiness to in business. listen. HODS was saved. Word got out by post and phone; forms came back from Since then, first English Heritage and now the National Trust organisers and details were entered onto a slightly primitive have harnessed all the wonderful enthusiasm of organisers database by two cheerfully efficient temps. National and participants to ensure that Heritage Open Days newspapers pounced on the idea of a free glimpse behind continues to bolster this invaluable sense of civic pride. usually-closed doors and the primitive database churned Which is really where HODs, and civic societies, began. out press releases to mail to local papers in every county. Embolden by a Heritage Open Days combined insurance Happy days! policy, 380 organisers came up with over 1,000 visits and Jean Slater (Civic Trust co-ordinator, activities over one weekend. One thousand copies of the Heritage Open Days 1994 & 1995)

6 Putting Chesham first Focus Autumn 2020 The man who built Chesham the story of Jesse Mead in pictures

The name Jesse Mead was once complete refurbishment ubiquitous in Chesham. The homes and extension of the Royal Lodge at Windsor Castle that his family business built had in 1931 for the Duke and his name on manhole and stopcock Duchess of York; and repairs covers, bricks, and lavatory cisterns, to National Trust properties and its skills and expertise were West Wycombe Park and Hughenden Manor. to encompass everything from parquetry fl oors to ornamental The family group (below) shows Jesse Mead standing plasterwork. However it was not to the right just homes that Jesse Mead built with his hand - it was responsible for pubs, factories, shops, o n his wife’s chair. and many other projects. He was born in 1867 and on leaving school went into the building trade with his brother Abel. When he s u b s e q u e n t l y branched out on his own Jesse’s wife, a headmistress by profession, proved to be indispensable in helping to build a successful business which earned a reputation that extended well beyond the town.

Continued on page 8

176 Berkhamstead Road

The Mead home at 176 Berkhamstead Road was also the premises from which the business operated. In 1909 Taylor’s Farm in Newtown was put up for sale and Jesse purchased the farmhouse, yard, and some of the land on which he built a terrace of houses, including No.176. His builders’ yard was alongside and the office was at the rear of the building. Image: Jesse Mead advertisement 1910 The business did not just construct new buildings but it also specialised in the repair and restoration of old ones. The “Experienced workmen sent to all parts of the Country” worked on, among other projects, urgent repairs and restoration of the lofty spire of Salisbury Cathedral; the Jesse Mead and family

www.cheshamsociety.org.uk www.facebook.com/cheshamsociety @cheshamsociety 7 The Chesham Society

The man who built Chesham Continued from page 7

Hazelwood as last sold in 2011 Hazelwood c1910 Much of what Jesse Mead built in Early career the early years of his business is still From Jesse’s early career in the late around today. Here 111 (Beechmount), nineteenth century, his partnership with 107 (Hazelwood) and 105 Hivings Edwin East to form Jesse Mead Ltd in Hill were among eight semi-detached 1914, through to the sale of the company villas built between 1908 and 1912 on by his grandsons, John and Philip, in 1988, a private terrace above Hivings Hill. Jesse’s builders were responsible for much Much of the excavation work had of what we see today in Chesham. The already been done as the site was Co-Op’s premises in Broadway, opposite previously a chalk pit. The houses still Broadway Baptist Church, completed in exist pretty much as built, externally 1899, is an early example. In the early 1920s, at least, as seen from Potter & Ford’s the company built fourteen very attractive flyer for the sale of Hazelwood in houses in 37 weeks on a site at the bottom of 2011. Bois Hill - an average of one being completed every eighteen-and-a-half days. The new Red Jesse’s buildings Lion pub was completed in 1937. Unsurprisingly Jesse’s buildings were invariably constructed from bricks made in his own kilns in the locality, Jesse Mead advertisement 1914 the one in Bellingdon now being that of H G Matthews brickworks. Jesse’s telephone number is of note - Chesham 37. We can see here preparations for the town’s celebrations in 1919 following the end of the First World War (right). The yard in which the photograph was taken is the rear of the premises at 176 Berkhamstead Road, with the office to the right. The large-scale model of Horatio Nelson’s flagship Victory (which seems to be mounted onto a tricycle), together with the union flag, emphasises the collective patriotic nature of the festivities in the town centre that commemorated the victory, and those that took part in it. Peace celebrations 1919

8 Putting Chesham first Focus Autumn 2020

Rebuilding The Red Lion pub Jesse Mead

Jesse was a popular and much admired figure in the and it remained a family business until their retirement community and much missed when, following a long period and, because there were no suitable heirs, it was sold to of poor health, he died in 1920. His son Cyril replaced him, Gostling’s Builders Ltd in 1988. working closely with Edwin East. In the early 1960s the The Editor would like to thank Keith Fletcher for company gradually passed to Cyril’s sons, John and Philip, much valuable information and for supplying the majority of the photographs. Every one a winner! Although Covid put paid to Chesham in Bloom this year, our magnifi cent tubs and hanging baskets have been brightening the High Street and cheering us up well into the Autumn. They deserve a special Gold Award. Photo © John Graves Chesham Society Quarterly Quiz If ‘Mathilda’ can manage it, we aim to provide • Father of the NHS who lived at Asheridge Farm a Chesham quiz in each future edition of • Printer of Focus newsletter Focus. This one takes the form of an acrostic. • Resides in the Clock Tower in Market Place The fi rst letter of each answer to the clues • Water feature in Lowndes Park below will form a name connected to one • The town’s twin in Murcia of the articles in this issue. The answers will appear on our website in November. • Second oldest of the town’s breweries • Longest-established business, at Lacey’s Yard in the • The last remaining brush maker in town High Street • Opened by Danny La Rue • Picture palace, located in Germain Street until • Late Victorian housing development to the north 1983 of the town

www.cheshamsociety.org.uk www.facebook.com/cheshamsociety @cheshamsociety 9 The Chesham Society Shop locally for Christmas This Christmas, more than ever, Chesham’s retailers need our support. A bookshop is always a good place to make a start on the present list. Here are three books whose local links make them contenders for the Christmas stocking. All of them are available from Waterstones. Let it Go – My Extraordinary Story by the pubs at Ley Hill, where she and her husband lived for Dame Stephanie Shirley and Richard eight years. It was a company of women and for women, Askwith offering part-time employment to professional women with dependants, giving them the unheard-of freedom to work Published by Penguin Books Ltd. £9.99 paperback. from home, managing their hours and workload to fit round This is the memoir of Dame Stephanie ‘Steve’ family life. Shirley, who made a fortune in a man’s world and The business prospered then gave it all away … and it all started here in and before long the Chesham. Chesham team found itself Now in her eighties, Dame Stephanie Shirley working on such prestigious is a workplace revolutionary, super-successful projects as the development IT entrepreneur and ardent philanthropist. She of Concorde’s black box. served as the UK’s Ambassador for Philanthropy When a central Chesham and was made a Companion of Honour in 2019. office was required, the company took space above To quote the Waterstone’s website, ‘Let it the opticians at 16 Station Go explores her trail-blazing career as an Road, followed by another entrepreneur and charts her personal story - her room at 9 Station Road. dramatic arrival in England as an unaccompanied From here the offices moved Kindertransport refugee during World War Two to three rooms at The Bury in and the tragic loss of her only child who suffered Church Street, where it grew severely from Autism’. to take over another floor The rest is history. and then another building Freelance Programmers become Xansa which in the complex. Property in turn became part of SopraSteria, earning a purchases followed in and fortune for Dame Stephanie Shirley and making around Chesham, including a 70 of her loyal employees millionaires. Dame modernised church hall which Stephanie remained a familiar figure in Chesham; she moved Shirley recollects as being from Moss Cottage to The Old Schoolhouse in Bois Lane, ‘adjacent to St Peter’s Church’. When all these premises where she lived for 25 years. were outgrown, the company moved to modern offices in Hemel Hempstead where the transition into a more [Information for The Chesham connection is taken from conventional company began. an interview with Dame Stephanie Shirley for National Life Stories in Partnership with The British Library.] The Country of Larks – a Chiltern First published in 2012 Let it Go is soon to be made Journey into a ‘biopic’ directed by Saudi Arabia’s first female filmmaker, the award-winning Haifaa Al-Mansour. In the footsteps of Robert Louis Stevenson and the footprint HS2 by Gail Simmons Published by Bradt The Chesham connection in April 2019. £11.99 hardback. In 1962, frustrated by the glass ceiling that limited women In the autumn of 1874, author Robert Louis Stevenson set in the workplace, the 29-year old Stephanie Shirley started out on a three-day journey from to Tring her own software company at a time when the concept through bucolic landscapes which he dubbed The Country of software barely existed. Freelance Programmers was set of Larks. In this well-presented little book, travel writer up and run from her home at Moss Cottage, adjacent to and historian Gail Simmons revisits the countryside of her

10 Putting Chesham first Focus Autumn 2020 Shop locally for Christmas

childhood to follow in his footsteps Gumdrop in Chesham The inspiration for the Gumdrop books and “record for ever a world came from Val Biro’s passion for his 1926 destined for change by HS2.” Austin 12-4, his ‘pride and joy’. The Biro In the publisher’s words, A Country of family moved into Germains House in Larks ‘peels back the layers of history Fullers Hill in 1954 and the little blue car … on a lyrical walk through place became a familiar sight around Chesham, and time’. Day one takes the traveller in which many of the stories are based. from High Wycombe to Missenden; Finding Chesham people ‘so welcoming day two follows the footprint of HS2 and friendly’ Val Biro settled in quickly and from Missenden to and in 1957 he became a founder member day three tackles the final stretch into and secretary of the Chesham Society, Tring. The Chiltern Society and other which was formed in an attempt to save vigorous anti-HS2 campaigners make the old town hall in Market Square. He their voices heard along the way. later moved to West Sussex but said his The book finishes with Stevenson’s own heart remained in Chesham. essay In the Beechwoods. His brush Val Biro wrote and illustrated many with a ‘roguish and wanton’ donkey and collections of children’s stories but still with the infant daughter of the Red Lion managed to produce at least one new in Wendover (who looked at Gumdrop book a year, always moving him ‘with gravity and a sort with the times to keep the stories up to date. of disquiet, as though she Gumdrop All at Sea can currently be ordered from really feared I must be out Waterstones and other Gumdrop titles may pop of my wits’) leaves us on an up at Chapter Two or on the shelves of our other upbeat note. charity shops.

Gumdrop All at Sea Don’t forget the tree by Val Biro Now is the time when people go to Little Friars Arboretum in Bottom to choose a Published by Award Christmas tree. No tree Publications Ltd. £5.99 is more than £30 and all paperback. profits go to maintaining The hero of 37 books, the arboretum. Anyone Gumdrop is the creation seriously interested in trees of Balint ‘Val’ Biro (1921 from around the world may – 2014) who came to also be attracted to the London from Budapest in 1939 to study art. He idea of a private arboretum quickly became a successful freelance illustrator, working club, now being considered for on book jackets and designs for advertising agencies and Little Friars by the Bucks Tree illustrating the works of many well-known authors, usually Club. Contact Merelene Davis in black and white. By 1960 he was designing the covers at [email protected] for for more hard-back books than any other artist in England, details. adding shelf appeal to such disparate names as Captain Hornblower and Fanny Cradock, Sherlock Holmes and Shakespeare. For 21 years he was a regular contributor to Give a gift that lasts a year the Radio Times, then noted for showcasing high-quality Membership of The Chesham Society! work by some of the foremost black-and-white illustrators Page 19 has the details. of the day.

www.cheshamsociety.org.uk www.facebook.com/cheshamsociety @cheshamsociety 11 The Chesham Society Some good news for the River Chess! On Sunday 27th September, World Rivers Day, Affi nity Water announced that they would no longer be abstracting water from their two pumping stations above Chesham. The River Chess Association issued this comment on the good news: ‘We warmly congratulate Affinity Water for taking the truly momentous decision to cease abstraction from their boreholes at the Chesham and Chartridge pumping stations with immediate effect. These two bore holes descend deep into the chalk aquifer which holds the vital spring water on which the river Chess relies for its flow. Ranunculus and water voles at home on the River Chess Brave decision pollution of the river from untreated This is a brave decision and we believe sewage releases to cease. Through diligent it marks a turning point and the review by the RCA of Environment acceptance that taking water from the Agency reports on abstraction in the from chalk aquifers at the expense of Chess Catchment we found substantial our precious environment leading to and serious errors. Having drawn these to reduced flow in chalk streams like the their attention a review was undertaken Chess is unsustainable. The news that and the outcome paved the way for these similar plans to turn off the pumps reductions. Today’s announcement is a currently affecting the Ver and Mimram welcome step forward but there is much and hopefully others in the near future, more yet to be achieved.’ is most welcome. For several months, BBC Radio 4’s World at One We hope that this will encourage other water companies has been running a series on rivers. On Friday 25th to take similar action and to develop alternative supplies September, reporter Andrew Bomford joined Paul of water for their customers. In particular we hope that Jennings, Chair of The River Chess Association, for a walk Thames Water will bring forward the closing down of their along the River Chess starting in Pednor Vale. Available pumping station at Hawridge which takes water from the on i-player until 20th October, the programme makes same aquifer just above Chesham. We also hope that the interesting listening. Despite pollution caused by urban Environment Agency will not allow increases in abstraction run-off from the ‘poorly maintained drainage system’ elsewhere in the Chilterns to compensate. and the 67 instances of raw sewage pollution recorded Hopefully these actions will lead to a gradual restoration of (so far) this year, the Chess emerges with ‘flashes of the aquifer which will mean a rise in groundwater levels and brilliance’ thanks largely to its wildlife such as brown more water for the river and its globally rare habitat. However trout, ranunculus, wild watercress and water voles. it will also mean that immediate action must be taken to repair or renew the sewerage network in Chesham and to increase Sewage Summit at Sarratt its capacity since, unbelievably, raw sewage is still discharged At a meeting in Sarratt Village Hall on 25th September, into the river without Environment Agency consent when members of Town Council and Three groundwater levels are high or during heavy rainfall. Rivers District Council met with Richard Aylard, the sustainability director for Thames Water, to discuss the Crosshead horrible problem of sewage in the Chess. It is reported The River Chess Association was formed just over 10 that Mr Aylard agreed to councilllors’ direct request for years ago to draw attention to the significance of the information boards to be placed along the river, warning Chess and, amongst key objectives, to lobby for the everyone that the water could be contaminated by reduction of abstraction to restore flows and for the sewage. A sorry sight to greet any visitors to the town.

12 Putting Chesham first Focus Autumn 2020

A ‘season of celebration’ in the Chilterns AONB The Chilterns Conservation Board Champions’ conference on has launched a programme of 24th October with keynote speaker Chris Packham, for nature-based events, walks and which booking is essential. Find activities designed to inspire families, the full schedule of events and young people and adults of all ages details of how to book your to discover and enjoy our very own place at www.chilternsaonb.org/ Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. ccc-fest. Now in its seventh year, the The Chilterns ‘Season of Celebration’, which Chilterns Walking Festival (17th runs until 1st November, incorporates the October to 1st November) brand-new Chilterns Celebration and the ever-popular offers over 50 guided walks, activities and events designed to Chilterns Walking Festival. The programme provides appeal to different age groups, interests and levels of fitness. everyone with the opportunity to connect with nature, The walks provide opportunities to meet countryside improve health and wellbeing, meet new people, find out rangers, farmers, archaeologists, historians, food producers more about the local landscape and learn new skills while and storytellers of the Chilterns. Each walk is guided by an supporting communities and businesses in the process. All experienced walk leader who will bring their story to life. activities follow government Covid-19 guidelines. All walks must be pre-booked. For full details, visit www. The Chilterns Celebration includes a mix of activities and visitchilterns.co.uk/walkingfest. online resources / events, including the first online ‘Chilterns Image © Chilterns Conservation Board Beautiful but possible that putting out food could brazen ultimately lead to The reintroduction to the Chilterns of red an unsustainably kites from Spain has been described as one of high population of the greatest conservation success stories of red kites, reliant on human hand-outs. the 20th century. With a lifespan of up to 25 years, no natural predators and a high level of The National Trust, the BTO, the RSPB legal protection for the birds and their eggs, and the Chilterns red kites have multiplied and made themselves Conservation Board very much at home. Possibly a little too much are all therefore urging so. There have been several reports of birds us not to feed red kites. swooping on walkers and picnickers to snatch They should “be left to feed naturally, thus the food from their hands - something of a shock enabling them to establish a naturally sustainable population when the thief has sharp claws and a wingspan level, and to maintain a nutritionally balanced natural diet”. of up to six feet. In medieval times, red kites provided welcome help It seems that the fault lies with people who have been in cleaning the streets. The penalty for killing a kite putting out food to tempt them into gardens. The British was death. Shakespeare called London “The city of Trust for Ornithology (BTO) says this can change the kites’ kites and crows” where red kites were known to behaviour, leading to some individual birds losing their natural steal washing to line their nests. The Winter’s Tale wariness of humans so they become a nuisance to people. sounded a warning note: “When the kite builds, Providing additional food can also prevent the growing look to lesser linen”. population from spreading naturally as the birds learn to cluster in large numbers where food is offered. In fact, it is Photo © Chilterns Conservation Board.

www.cheshamsociety.org.uk www.facebook.com/cheshamsociety @cheshamsociety 13 The Chesham Society

Mixed blessing for Church Street As motorists will have noticed, the junction between Church Street and Wey Lane was closed to traffi c on 24th August to allow work to be carried out on the culvert which runs under the road. A bigger culvert is being built as part of a £3.3 million project to protect properties in Pednormead End from future When the project was launched last year by lead-partner Bucks County Council, we contacted them five times fl ooding. The culvert work is scheduled to last asking for a map of the project area, in order to flag up the for seven weeks. During the closure residents opportunity to landlords or new-comers who had missed in the immediate vicinity are bearing the the initial publicity. With no response. Following a plea to brunt of the disruption, whilst others enjoy Councillor Mark Shaw, renewed attempts have elicited an email from a young lady on the project team at AECOM in their respite from the traffi c. London ‘the world’s premier infrastructure consulting firm’ Money down the drain? who has been asked to ‘reach out to me on behalf of Bucks In addition to work on the culvert, the Pednormead End Project County Council regarding my questions’. She promises to offers property flood resilience packages to ‘100 homes in the do her best to track down this elusive document. area’. A free home survey is carried out to identity preventative In the meantime, if you think you could be eligible for the measures which, in some circumstances, may be eligible for scheme, try getting in touch with the given contact for funding from the multi-million pot. Surveys are under way but the project on 01296 674846 or at pednormeadend@ there is still time for homeowners to sign up. Buckinghamshire.gov.uk. Good luck.

St Mary’s Way underpass at an impasse Those that regularly use the St Mary’s Way pedestrian subway will know all too well that it was closed for several months at the start of this year due to fl ooding. At the beginning of March the My Street has it logged no less story was reported in The than three times on 7 March, 2 Bucks Free Press [BFP] online April, and 3 July. The pump was which, on asking Transport apparently eventually replaced for Buckinghamshire why the but the subway remained problem persisted, was told accessible for an all-too-brief “Transport for Buckinghamshire period before flooding once (TfB) is aware of the ongoing more. BFP again reported flooding problems within the the problem in May with an St Mary’s subway in Chesham. assurance from TfB that it was TfB has investigated the issues being addressed, but at the time here and has discovered that of writing (21 September) the the drains beneath the road are underpass is still closed-off. blocked. This is preventing the Perhaps someone from either water from being pumped out Chesham Town Council or, of the subway. We are making indeed, Buckinghamshire Council can enlighten members arrangements for the drains to be cleared and for the as to why this important thoroughfare remains shut. subway to be reopened as soon as possible”. Bucks Council Words and photos from the Editorial team is certainly aware of the issue: its online reporting app Fix

14 Putting Chesham first Focus Autumn 2020

New to Blucher Street When the town centre came back to life after lockdown, Chesham welcomed two interesting new additions to our range of individually-owned shops. The Cupboard and The Refill Project share premises in The Gatehouse in Blucher Street, just beyond the Oxfam shop. Both businesses were set up by Chesham women who are deeply committed to their cause. The Cupboard is all about hemp – not marijuana, but other offshoots of this versatile plant. The shop is owned and run by Deborah Wilbee, who formally had a stall on Chesham Market. Deborah is a passionate advocate of the benefits of hemp in all of personal toiletries its 50,000 end uses which range from food, clothing and together with other paper to batteries, biofuel and hempcrete – the bio-based items which promote a greener, better life. Products are building material from which the shop counter is made. The sourced from ethical, vegan and sustainable suppliers and Cupboard sells a range of tried and tested hemp-derived are all free from unnecessary packaging. Customers usually goods including wellness products, clothing and accessories, bring their own containers but bottles and paper bags are stationery, hemp tea, CBD coffee and wine and IPA from available if required. Cannabrew. It also provides space in which customers can Photo © John Graves read about hemp and the products on the display. Above: The Refi ll Project’s business card is designed Former nurse Kate Wright is the woman behind The Refill by Chesham artist and landscape designer Mark Project. Her mission is to promote an eco-friendly lifestyle Cowie. Mark’s postcards and humorous maps of by offering a way of shopping that reduces plastic waste. The Chesham are available at JPS Stationers, along shop stocks refills of dry goods, household products and with other Chesham souvenir gifts. Rubbish! On 28th August, Buckinghamshire Council announced that Veolia would begin a new ten-year contract to deliver household waste collections and street cleansing services from 7th September. (See https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/news/ new-recycling-and-waste-contract-announced/.) Introduced on a phased basis, this contract is to bring us signifi cant benefi ts including new operational and technological initiatives such as collection vehicles equipped with ‘state of the art in-cab technology that connects with the Still waiting: another missed collection in Chesham. Council’s systems to allow residents to report Oh dear. Since then collection dates have been routinely problems and receive updates in real time’. missed or (in the case of food bins) ignored altogether. The council website acknowledges the extent of the problem Veolia’s Executive Vice-President enthused: “This decision and asks us not to bother reporting any more missed reflects our ability to manage complex public realm collections. contracts and we look forward to working with local residents to deliver a first-class service that will contribute Come back CDC: you had your faults but at least the bin to a more sustainable future for everyone”. collections ran on time!

www.cheshamsociety.org.uk www.facebook.com/cheshamsociety @cheshamsociety 15 The Chesham Society Hard at work, come rain or shine There is a lot in the news about the and I must thank Chesham Town Council who have environment these days; people are waking supported all of our initiatives, and contributed the key up to just how important it is to preserve element of cutting and collecting the meadow grasses and flowers after they have set seed, on an annual basis.” our natural world both for ourselves and for the generations to come. Certainly during Suitable location lockdown we realised just how important This year the BFCM was selected as a suitable location green spaces and wildlife are for our mental for the transfer of slow worms from a development site and physical health. in Ashridge Road in Chesham. We have placed over 20 felt mats both on and around the meadow and these are In Chesham one group has been caring for our environment now being used as refugia on a regular basis as the slow for many years now, Chesham Environmental Group. The worms explore their new habitat. We also have two large group started meeting in 1993 as a sub-committee of hibernaculum structures along the northern boundary. Chesham Town Council, but it wasn’t until 2004 that they These have been created for the slow worms to take refuge became an independent group and started their volunteer during the winter months when it is too cold for them to working parties. They have been going strong since then, be active. meeting on the 3rd Sunday of the month and the first Superb site Wednesday of the month at Although this is a superb 10am, come rain or shine! site, we all need to do much more for our Priority native flora and fauna. It Working in and around the is easy to provide rough River Chess has been a areas for wildflowers in priority (although the group your own garden, or you had to suspend meeting could offer support for during the lockdown period), the CTC’s environmental working along the river management of some making sure that there is a of the grass verges and narrow course through the open spaces in Chesham. vegetation for water to flow, If we don’t challenge cutting back overhanging the traditional tidy vegetation when it becomes management we will all too dense, looking out for At work in Meades Water Gardens be the losers in the long and removing any invasive © Andrew Clark term. species and carrying out any improvements needed. Welcoming people The group also carries out work in Berkhampstead Field Chesham Environmental Group is a community group Community Meadow, a local nature reserve, under the welcoming people of all ages and abilities. Deborah Wilbee, guidance of naturalist and member of the group Trevor enthusiastic volunteer and proprietor of The Cupboard Brawn. The grass here has been cut and collected just once a in Chesham says “It’s good to feel that you are doing year at the end of the summer season for over ten years now, something positive for the environment, not just talking providing ideal conditions for orchids and other wildflowers about it. It’s enjoyable for all ages and abilities because you to thrive. The hedges have also been cut and shaped in such can be as physical as you want to be, you can just do a bit a way as to provide ideal habitat for butterflies and other of gentle litter picking or get into some waders and really pollinating insects. We have also planted trees and shrubs get stuck in!” along the northern boundary hedge to fill in the gaps, which To find out more about our group or if you would improves the habitat for bats particularly. like to join us please take a look at our website www. Trevor says “It has been a perfect example of what can be cheshamenvironmentalgroup.org.uk achieved when different groups work in close collaboration Colette Littley, Chesham Environment Group

16 Putting Chesham first Focus Autumn 2020 Something for everyone: Chess Valley U3A Established in 1981, the UK U3A (University of the Third Age) proved instantly popular. By the early 1990s, a U3A was opening somewhere in the UK every fortnight. Today the movement includes over 400,000 U3A members in more than 1,000 U3As and it is still growing. We invited James Cadle, Chair of Chess Valley U3A, to tell us more. Chess Valley U3A started in 2008, as a spin-off from Chiltern speakers and so forth. Some Groups broaden U3A (based in Amersham), which was then full and not this to have little sub-committees to plan their accepting new members. They helped us get going, in the annual programme of events, thus sharing the same way that we helped the Chalfonts U3A a few burden of organisation. years later. Normally, Groups meet either in members’ Like all UK U3As, we are a self-governing homes or, if they are larger, in local halls, or registered charity, but we receive help outside. During the COVID-19 pandemic, and support from the Third Age Trust, many of our Groups have had to go into which I call ‘the Mothership’. hibernation but about half have kept going using various forms of social media, Membership reached 740 last including our two Zoom accounts. year but, not surprisingly, many Included in these are our two members have not renewed for Wine Appreciation Groups, and 2020 because of the restriction in the Ukulele and Play Reading our activities caused by COVID-19 and Groups, which is a tribute to the active members currently number 634. I am ingenuity and imagination of their confident that most of the others will re-join Convenors. Sadly, we haven’t found a way when normality returns. to do things like Dinghy Sailing via Zoom. Within our U3A, the basic operating unit is the Group, formed by a number of people with shared interests. The emphasis is Advice and guidance on education, helping people no longer The Groups are supported by our Committee, and in full-time employment – note, not specifically by two Groups Coordinators, who necessarily fully retired – to pursue provide advice and guidance. subjects ranging from Art to Writing. (I sometimes think it is a shame we In addition to the Group meetings, there don’t have a Xylophone, Yodelling are monthly General Meetings, held in the or Zoology Group to complete our Broadway Baptist Church in Chesham, where alphabet.) We interpret ‘education’ all members are welcome and where we present broadly which allows us to include a range of interesting and knowledgeable speakers activities that promote the well-being of on a huge variety of topics. members through, for example, our seven A monthly e-bulletin and a quarterly walking Groups and those focused on newsletter keep members informed keeping fit and Tai Chi. about what’s going on in their U3A. To learn more about us, visit our Convenors website – www.cvu3a.uk – which contains information Each Group has one or more Convenors about all of our activities and where a membership but they do not have to be subject matter application form can be downloaded. experts. If they are, well and good, but their James Cadle, Chair, Chess Valley U3A main role is to organise the meetings, arrange

www.cheshamsociety.org.uk www.facebook.com/cheshamsociety @cheshamsociety 17 The Chesham Society

Membership Application Form The Elgiva opens again with an Membership Application Form Membership Type (please tick) exciting programme of events Membership Type (please tick) Individual 15 Family / Couple 20 After weeks of careful preparation and required to use the hand Individual 65 or over 1215 Family / Couple 65 or over 1620 planning, The Elgiva reopened on the evening sanitiser when entering the building and to wear Individual Lifetime65 or over 24012 IndividualFamily / Couple 65 or over65 or Lifetime over 12016 of 27 July with the Oscar-winning fi lm Parasite. a face covering, unless CorporateIndividual Lifetime 24030 NotIndividual for Profit 65 or over Lifetime 12015 Wearing masks made by the Theatre’s using the bar or café. The Corporate 30 Not for Profit 15 volunteers, staff and ushers greeted the fi rst Film Society’s evening Your Name(s) patrons through the door with a round of membership sold out Your Name(s) Title First Name Last Name applause. more-or-less straightaway but there are still some Member Name Title First Name Last Name Customers quickly adapted to the new one-way system spaces for the matinée membership. There are some terrific AdditionalMember Name person and were more than willing to make use of the hand- films coming up too - visit chilternfilmsociety.org.uk for Additional person sanitising points while observing the social distancing more information. Your Address: guidance. Operating at reduced capacity to ensure plenty Your Address: The Elgiva’s facilities are also open for business including the Your Name on the envelope of space, The Elgiva’s team guided customers to seats in the bar in the evenings, café during the daytime, and cloakrooms Your Name on the envelope auditorium to watch the long-awaited film by acclaimed Address and toilets. Changing exhibitions in the theatre foyer are Korean director Bong Joon Ho that, earlier in the year, won Address also part of the entertainment. For more information on Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director and Best The Elgiva’s programme this autumn, visit www.elgiva.com. Town or City if not Chesham Adapted Screenplay. Town or City if not Chesham Above: The Elgiva Manager David Cooper and his County if not Bucks. The Chiltern Film Society’s 2020-21 programme of fifteen County if not Bucks. team welcoming event-goers once again Post Code films from around the world also kicked-off at The Elgiva, © Eleanor Garth. Post Code at the start of September. This year, for the first time, there Telephone numbers: Telephone numbers: are two types of membership - Matinée and Evening - each Land line Mobiles one restricted to eighty members, which is the maximum Land line Mobiles available number usable seats in the auditorium to ensure Contact numbers Contact numbers safe distancing. As with other events, members are Email addresses: Email addresses: Email Greeting Email Address In the foyer now: The River Member Email Email Greeting Email Address AdditionalMember Email Email Meadow at the Pile of Stones Additional Email This photographic exhibition by award-winning Payment: We accept Cash, Cheque, Online payments or Standing Orders Above: The exhibition programme opened Payment: We accept Cash, Cheque, Online payments or Standing Orders photojournalist and Chesham resident Matt by showcasing a series of works entitled Standing Orders Online payments Writtle opened in the foyer of the Elgiva on StandingThe online Orders membership portal can be used to print a OnlineUse the payments membership portal to obtain your membership Reverberations by local artist Margaret Mee. Thestanding online order membership form. OR portal you can can request be used one to fromprint athe Usenumber the andmembership use that asportal the topayment obtain yourreference. membership 3rd October, to run to the end of the month. Photo © Isabel Mee (aged 5). standingmembership order secretary form. OR you can request one from the numberYou can andalso use select that annual as the payment payment reference. Matt’s images, documenting news, social and humanitarian [email protected] secretary You can also select annual payment the pile of stones”. Matt is passionate about this project, [email protected] issues, have featured frequently in the national media both especially now when the unique and fragile eco-systems of Membership portal: https://chesham-society.org.uk here and abroad. His stunning images from the Chess and Misbourne are under threat OurMembership main web portal: site: https://chesham-society.org.ukhttp://cheshamsociety.org.uk The Elgiva exhibition appeared in The from HS2. Our bankmain webdetails: site: Sort http://cheshamsociety.org.uk code 20-02-06 account 30250953, Barclays Bank, High Street, Chesham Guardian on 6th October. John Graves Our bank details: Sort code 20-02-06 account 30250953, Barclays Bank, High Street, Chesham Matt has spent the last two years Please send this completed form to: Gift Aid documenting Chesham and the areas Please send this completed form to: Gift Aid Left: The River Meadow at the Pile of Stones If you pay UK tax, please sign & date this form surrounding the Chess. The resulting accompanies Matt Writtle’s new book of Richard Gamester If you pay UK tax, please sign & date this form photographs explore the impact that the same title. The hardback photobook is RichardChesham Gamester Society Membership humanity has had on the town and available from The Elgiva box office, price Chesham32 Lye Green Society Road, Membership its environment since the time when £14.99. Another strong contender for the 32Chesham, Lye Green Road, Chesham,Bucks. HP5 3LR the earliest settlers came here to Christmas list! Cæstæleshamm – “The river meadow at Bucks. HP5 3LR

18 Putting Chesham first The Chesham Society

Membership Application Form Membership Application Form Membership Type (please tick) Membership Type (please tick) Individual 15 Family / Couple 20 Individual 65 or over 1215 Family / Couple 65 or over 1620 Individual Lifetime65 or over 24012 IndividualFamily / Couple 65 or over65 or Lifetime over 12016 CorporateIndividual Lifetime 24030 NotIndividual for Profit 65 or over Lifetime 12015 Corporate 30 Not for Profit 15 Your Name(s) Your Name(s) Title First Name Last Name Member Name Title First Name Last Name AdditionalMember Name person Additional person Your Address: Your Address: Your Name on the envelope AddressYour Name on the envelope Address

Town or City if not Chesham CountyTown or if City not ifBucks. not Chesham PostCounty Code if not Bucks. Post Code Telephone numbers: Telephone numbers: Land line Mobiles Contact numbers Land line Mobiles Contact numbers Email addresses: Email addresses: Email Greeting Email Address Member Email Email Greeting Email Address AdditionalMember Email Email Additional Email Payment: We accept Cash, Cheque, Online payments or Standing Orders Payment: We accept Cash, Cheque, Online payments or Standing Orders Standing Orders Online payments StandingThe online Orders membership portal can be used to print a OnlineUse the payments membership portal to obtain your membership Thestanding online order membership form. OR portal you can can request be used one to fromprint athe Usenumber the andmembership use that asportal the topayment obtain yourreference. membership standingmembership order secretary form. OR you can request one from the numberYou can andalso use select that annual as the payment payment reference. [email protected] secretary You can also select annual payment [email protected] Membership portal: https://chesham-society.org.uk MembershipOur main web portal: site: https://chesham-society.org.ukhttp://cheshamsociety.org.uk Our mainbank webdetails: site: Sorthttp://cheshamsociety.org.uk code 20-02-06 account 30250953, Barclays Bank, High Street, Chesham Our bank details: Sort code 20-02-06 account 30250953, Barclays Bank, High Street, Chesham Please send this completed form to: Gift Aid Please send this completed form to: Gift Aid If you pay UK tax, please sign & date this form Richard Gamester If you pay UK tax, please sign & date this form RichardChesham Gamester Society Membership Chesham32 Lye Green Society Road, Membership 32Chesham, Lye Green Road, Chesham,Bucks. HP5 3LR Bucks. HP5 3LR

19 19 Putting Cheshamwww.cheshamsociety.org.uk first www.facebook.com/cheshamsociety @cheshamsociety The Chesham Society

A breath of fresh air. The Chesham Spot the Treasure Trail difference … The Chesham Heritage Here’s a fresh idea for Trail is still with us and is a weekend family walk. easily accessible online. We haven’t tried it The trail was first out, so any feedback is published by The appreciated. Chesham Society in 1980 in cooperation Treasure Trails (and others with Hawkes Design & in the series) are self- Publishing Ltd, revised in guided, themed treasure 1991 and adapted again hunts designed primarily for in 2003 by The Chesham families with children from aged six upwards. Each trail Society & Chesham has around 20 - 25 clues and takes about two hours to Environmental Group. complete. The answers may be found on anything from an The online version information board to a memorial or a manhole cover. was published 2008 Treasure Trails started in 2005 in Cornwall, when its founder © The Chesham wrote a trail for a local charity event. Now produced Society / Chesham through a franchise system, some 1,200 trails are currently E n v i r o n m e n t a l available for locations throughout the UK. Group / Chesham Community Vision The Chesham Treasure Trail costs £9.99, download from the and revised again in Treasure Trails website: https://www.treasuretrails.co.uk/ 2009. things-to-do/buckinghamshire/chesham. There have been Track the Plaque quiz changes made along the route since then, but the two-mile The October issue of yourChesham flags up the latest trail still provides an interesting overview of 1000 years out-and-about quiz from Chesham Museum, based on of our town’s history. The leaflet can be downloaded and information boards around the town. Download the quiz printed out from https://www.chilternsaonb.org/uploads/ sheet from https://cheshammuseum.org.uk/wp-content/ files/Walks_and_Rides/Chesham_Heritage_Trail.pdf. uploads/2020/08/quiz-leaflet.pdf. Photos © Chesham Town Council

The Chesham Society £1 when sold Putting Chesham first President: Helen Salisbury 07940 803463 E: [email protected] Chairman: Jim Conboy 07730 230405 E: [email protected] Vice Chairman: Jean Slater E: [email protected] Honorary Secretary: John Graves E: [email protected] Treasurer: Gerry Griffi n E: [email protected] Design & layout: Andy Roker Membership secretary: Richard Gamester E: [email protected] T: 01494 775489 E: [email protected] Committee Member Mora Walker Photography: Contributors Not serving on the committee: Printed by: Ink Link, Planning: Nicolas Moss E: [email protected] Unit 4, Waterside Business Park Archivist Dr Angela Bishop Waterside, Chesham, Focus Editors: Jean Slater E: [email protected] Buckinghamshire HP5 1PE Peter Hawkes 07548 735719 Publicity: Vacant T: 01494 791320 E: [email protected] W: www.inklinkprinters.co.uk Website: www.cheshamsociety.org.uk

20 20 Putting Cheshamwww.cheshamsociety.org.uk first www.facebook.com/cheshamsociety @cheshamsociety