THE November 2020 LEE For , Lee Common, Hunts Green, Kings Ash and Swan Bottom If you do have your own fireworks From the Editor in your garden spare a thought for your By Jonathan Batten neighbours and the local cats and dogs. t was 415 years ago this month that ‘Plogging’ The Lee a failed assassination attempt against Last month I was a foot soldier in a I King James I by a group of cohort of intrepid litter pickers provincial English Catholics, led by attempting to clear up our roads and Robert Catesby, eventually led to the verges for the second time this year. It yearly tradition of bonfire night on the is, as always, a joy to pick up other 5th November. peoples’ rubbish including a discarded The plan was to blow up the face mask – what sort of people do that? House of Lords during the State In Sweden picking up rubbish Opening of Parliament on 5th whilst jogging is a recognised activity November 1605 as the prelude to a called ‘plogga’. A combination of the popular revolt in the Midlands, where words ‘plocka upp’, meaning pick up, a lockdown was threatened. with the language's word for ‘jog’, The conspirators, who included: ‘jogga’. It has mutated here to the John and Christopher Wright, Robert word ‘plogging’ which now appears in and Thomas Wintour, Thomas Percy, English language dictionaries. The Guy Fawkes, Robert Keyes, Thomas objective of plogging is to exercise Bates, John Grant, Ambrose while making the area in which you Rookwood, Sir Everard Digby and are doing so litter free. Francis Tresham, limited their plotting Now that sounds like something all meetings to six people at a time but local joggers could take up: if were grassed up to the authorities in an everyone picked up even one item of anonymous letter. litter each time they went out for a run The rest is history but, as we won’t think how much more pleasant our be having a village bonfire or organised village could be. fireworks this year, you may smell more With all the madness in the world than a whiff of cordite about this edition around us at the moment here is a song of the newsletter and find a few choice to cherish for this month: fireworks in its contents. We have also sourced a special gunpowder infused Smile though your heart is aching paper for the printing so that, when you Smile even though it’s breaking have read it and extracted the Covid When there are clouds in the sky helpline flyer, you can roll the magazine you’ll get by into a tube, attach a stick, light the touch If you smile through your fear and paper (see page 23) and watch it go. sorrow 2 Smile and maybe tomorrow Row have volunteered to help you – You’ll see the sun come shining running shopping errands, collecting through prescriptions etc. so you can stay safe For you and we don’t spread the virus. Of course, we hope this ‘second Light up your face with gladness wave’ is barely a ripple in The Lee. Hide every trace of sadness But if it affects your family – please Although a tear maybe ever so near reach out for help – and stay safe. That’s the time you must keep on The Lee Covid-19 Volunteers trying 07836 205105 Smile, what’s the use of crying You’ll find that life is still worth Glow sticks while To the Editor If you just smile Oh that’s the time you must keep on The Shop at The Lee has again been trying highly commended in the ‘Local Community Impact’ section of this year’s Proud of Bucks Awards. Smile, what’s the use of crying You’ll find that life is still worth This section of the awards while recognises the work of local groups in response to lockdown and the help that If you just smile they provide to those in need at the

Of course we will not see you local level. Bucks Council report that smile, as you will be wearing a mask, they received hundreds of nominations for these awards and the calibre of but it’s about having the mindset. entries was very strong. Please send your contributions for next month’s edition to the editor, Phil Well done (again!) to all Harrison, by 12th December, at concerned. The Lee can rightly be proud of its community shop. [email protected] Colin Sully Swan Bottom Your Letters The Lee Covid-19 Helpline A year in the and Volunteers To the Editor life of The Lee Please turn to the leaflet included with By Tony Rigby (expat. of The Lee) this Newsletter and retain it for future uring the ‘lockdown’ I had reference. The telephone number you time to clear out old files and need is 07836 205105, if suddenly you D review media. During this are self-isolating or need to be process I watched some footage from shielded. the old ‘The Lee Millennium Video’ Don’t be embarrassed or feel you which, some will recall, was issued on are putting others out! If you need help VHS tape and the result of me being please pick up the phone. A good tasked by the village Millennium number of your neighbours in The Lee, Committee to record the life and Lee Common, Ballinger and Potter activities in The Lee Parish at the start 3 Revisit the start of this millennium with a DVD I have therefore taken the opportunity to edit the content down to a more concise 59 minutes (losing 30 minutes of ‘flab’), while still covering all events and ‘happenings’ and retaining Geoffrey Palmer’s narration in full. The result is now available on DVD – ‘A Year In The Life Of The Lee’ – and will be available to buy, exclusively, at the Lee Shop and its Christmas Market, for the benefit of Shop funds. Please bear in mind that the picture resolution is not comparable to today’s digital standard and was further reduced as a consequence of various data transfer processes. Just sit back, relax and enjoy!

of this millennium, from July 1999 to SHORT-TERM June 2000. RENTALS Pyrotechnics From £295 per week (all inclusive) It occurred to me that the video was probably a unique comprehensive Self-catering holiday historical record of normal life in the The Lee, as it included the Flower or temporary accommodation Show, the Fête, Midsomer Murders, at Lee Common pantomime, shows, cricket, Old Church, New Church, suppers, dances, Moving house? people, animals, seasonal views, Completion dates don’t coincide? parties etc. House sale falls through? Seeing it again is also a chance to Builders outstaying their welcome? remember us as we were and others Expecting Visitors? who are sadly no longer with us. For Need extra accommodation? example, you may have been in the school play, but 20 years on…? Self-contained Period Property: The problem though, should you sleeps four guests wish to watch the video again, is that you most probably do not have a Tel: 01494 837798 working VHS player. e-mail: [email protected] 4 Impressions of a protest: Jones Hill Wood By Claudia D’Alessandro our years ago I was amongst a group of local people who went F to the House of Lords to petition against HS2. The process of delivering Jones Hill Wood from Bowood Lane a petition and arguing in front of the Select Committee was one I will not want to stop HS2 from destroying forget. The QC for HS2 seemed to have ancient woodlands. Tree houses were been chosen for his close resemblance constructed at the very top of the tallest to a bird of prey, and his words beech trees. Protesters took on names matched the sharpness of his features. such as ‘Squirrel’ or ‘Pigeon’ in honour How could we fight such a beast? of the creatures whose homes they were Four years on, I have had another trying to preserve. taste of the sinister workings of this We went to visit the camp on their dubious organisation into which public Roald Dahl open day, held on the money is being poured. At first, HS2 famous author’s birthday. He would seemed a distant threat. We knew it have been 105. I remember meeting was coming, had seen their vans which him when I was in primary school; a regularly dash up and down our stern and rather grumpy figure, who narrow lane, the same lane they reminded me of many of the characters assured us they would not be using, in his books. regardless of people of animals. But HS2 had not really touched our lives at Willow effect this point. A few vans parked in the The wood sparkled in the soft field, land left fallow and empty, autumn light. A wood fire burned and a which would normally be planted or pot of stew bubbled appetisingly. The given over to livestock. We were still children immediately felt at home and hoping it would just go away, that the rushed off to play while we adults government would realise that with the spoke to protesters about their move to home working, it is even experiences and aims. One earnest more of a vanity project, an empty young man told us that he planned to idea, a train to nowhere. write his thesis in a tree (he was studying ecology), while another told us Pigeon of the peace to be found in the wood, Protesters have camped out for away from the cares of the busy world. some time now in Jones Hill Wood. We were shown ancient fossils of They are an eclectic group, marine creatures discovered in the encompassing many age ranges and wood, examples of fungi, evidence of people of different backgrounds with animals and birds whose home is here. one thing in common. They love nature, A week later, what a difference! I want to preserve the environment and had a message that HS2 had started to 5 fence off the wood and that protesters These are the NET (National Eviction were asking for support. The weather Team). The silence was spooky. None had turned. Autumn winds and rain of them spoke but stood staring across began to pick up, and with the winds, into the wood and at the protesters who change blew through the wood. I came close to the barriers. If anyone hurried down after finishing work to approached or touched the fences, they witness what was happening. would close in on them like spiders, Fences slash through the centre of creeping up to their prey. Protesters the wood, men in orange jackets were valiantly pierced the silence with positioned in the field, and as I started rousing songs of “Rise Up!” and “There to cross, a policemen came leaping over is no planet B”. to ask me (politely) to go around the The next time I visited, there was edge, as this was now HS2 land. On more action. Cherry pickers had been entering the wood, a very different brought in, and men were going up into atmosphere reigned. With the soft the treetops to where protesters were in sunlight gone, to be replaced by heavy the treehouses. The barriers around the grey skies and drizzle, the tension in the shelters were being systematically air was palpable. After dropping off removed, protesters deprived of some supplies to the main camp, I belongings, and ropes and harnesses walked down to where the fences cut were being cut. through the trees. As the NET was drawn ever closer into the stronghold, the protesters seemed more and more vulnerable.

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Current opening hours Screech rocket (subject to change): All along the barrier were Mondays to Fridays: 8.00 a.m. until 4.00 p.m. Weekends: 8.00 a.m. until 12:00 noon. aggressive looking figures, dressed from head to toe in black, complete Tel: 01494 837195 with helmets, masks and sturdy boots. [email protected] 6 Shop news November By Symeon Economou hile it is certainly true that Christmas won’t be the W same this year, Shop at The Lee is determined to maintain the traditions that have been established join the NET these last few years. The parallels to the story of Fantastic To this end the Shop at The Lee Mr. Fox are truly unbelievable. Christmas Food and Gift Fair is Tunnels, with protesters holed up, tree going ahead, albeit in a slightly shelters dismantled, machines used to different format – please see more destroy and dig out the protesters who details on page 7 of this Newsletter. have managed to hold out for a week. By the time this edition is It seems that winter is arriving fast published, the 2021 Lee Shop and with it, the long icy fingers of Calendar will be available. This year HS2 beginning to tighten their grip we are featuring the work of local over our beautiful land. artists in a useful and attractive [See page 8 for this months format. They make a great gift for general update on HS2. Ed.] family and friends. As in previous years the Shop will be offering customers the Quality Building & opportunity to let us do the hard slog Renovation Projects of the Christmas food and drink shopping. As usual we will have a Based locally, PVE Construction are full list of produce, almost all from well known for providing high local suppliers, including meat and poultry from Kings Farm Shop in quality work throughout the Wendover, bread and pastries from Chilterns and surrounding areas. Darvells in , everything

We specialise in both residential and dairy from Martin the Milkman and fresh fruit and veg from . commercial projects offering a wide range of services from individual Chinese crackers home improvements to complete This year customers will be able to order online, or using hard-copy new build management. packs available in the Shop. We Call us on 07771 863880 or visit us will, as usual, assemble it all and have it ready for collection on at www.pveconstruction.co.uk Christmas Eve. For vulnerable customers, we will be happy to deliver everything to your door. Before all of this the Shop is

Professional Reliable Trusted getting a facelift and some new 7 display units. This includes a new air conditioning system, new lighting, a lick of paint and a new food chiller and freezer. As well as looking smart this will make us significantly more energy efficient. We would all like to thank our customers for observing the proper procedures, aimed at keeping our volunteers as safe as possible. For our part we have arranged the shop to enable one customer to be waiting inside while another is being served. Beautiful playing cards Together with the outside canopy we The Lee. We will be sanitizing hope that this will make queueing shopping baskets, doors, surfaces and less uncomfortable. handles. Also masks must be worn and a two metre safety distancing. The doors are open from 9:00 am until 3:00 pm. If you would like a timed Christmas slot, when the market is not open to the public, then please ring me, Katie, on shopping at 01494 837940, to book a time. The Lee By Katie Michaelson-Yeates nly a few days now until we Mervyn’s open the Parish Hall doors to Carpet & Upholstery O Shop at The Lee’s Christmas Cleaning Services Food and Gift Market 2020. From Thursday 5th until Saturday Independent carpet cleaning 7th November the seasonal market will specialist with over 30 years be selling delicious food and drink, experience. goodies to tempt you, chocolates, biscuits, cakes, Stollen, Panettone, CARPETS. UPHOLSTERY. relishes and much, much more. RUGS. HARD FLOOR. CARPET PROTECTION. Sparkler FULLY INSURED. Chris Field will have the tables heaving with the prettiest decorations. Friendly and reliable service. We will also have everything essential Most work by recommendation. for present wrapping, charity Environmentally friendly greetings cards, advent calendars and cleaning materials. Christmas crackers, plus ‘pop and For a no obligation quote ’phone slot’ festive scenes, playing cards and 01525 371724 or 07975 847027 beautiful stationery. Email: [email protected] Come along and buy locally, enjoying easy and safe shopping at 8 The day after the collection I saw Litter Linda Pearce on her daily walk By Pat Chinnery holding yet more litter. Thanks Linda for all you do to keep our lanes clear would like to say thank you to all of litter. who helped clear litter away from

I our local roads, etc. HS2 update By Colin Sully, The Lee Parish Council n 1st October, the HS2 project announced the next tranche of O local work, which includes further fencing, archaeological investigations and ecological trans- locations in the section of the line between Leather Lane and Rocky Lane. The full notification is at www.hs2inbucksandox.co.uk in the ‘Works in your area’ section. Our collection was part of the This programme, which will be Keep Britain Tidy campaign this year. carried out from a temporary Sadly, there was the usual rubbish just compound accessed off Kings Lane, is thrown from cars and much of the planned to run from October 2020 rubbish down Rocky Lane consisted through to January 2021, at which of drink containers, cans, bottles and point the compound will be removed. this year so much more take-away Road chaos rubbish, I guess due to Covid. The project has access to the HS2 route, for these so-called ‘enabling’ works, via a number of locations along Potter Row, Kings Lane, Bowood Lane and elsewhere. Because of the narrowness of Kings Lane, they sought and obtained permission for its temporary closure in order to get their large HGVs in and out, to set up a compound for these latest works. Even with this access secured, an attempt was still made to put low-loaders carrying heavy plant down a different access point. This failed because of its Flying saucer total unsuitability, resulting in a Several items of clothing were further blockage and tailback on Kings found. I know we have had hot Lane. In early October, with the weather but among the clothing was a evictions also taking place at Jones swimsuit and a dress, as well as Hill Wood at the same time, the local scarves and jumpers! area became awash with HS2-related lorries, vans and cars. 9 Z-firing fan cake The Parish Council has again raised the issue of the use of these Pilates lanes with HS2 contractors and with @HOME Council, but there appears to be nothing that can be done to prevent this ‘enabling’ traffic ’FLEXIBLE TO THE CORE’ using these lanes, provided it stays below the threshold levels set by the 1 to 1 Pilates… in the comfort and Act and by highways regulations. convenience of your own home … and nearby Meanwhile, the roadworks at have been extended Mat Pilates for all abilities into November’ and a further tranche Improves posture, flexibility, of ‘enabling work’ has been core strength, muscle tone announced at Great Missenden. and sports performance Jones Hill Wood update On 1st October, HS2 contractors Individuals [or small groups of up to 4] moved in to take possession of their safeguarded section of Jones Hill Qualified Mat Pilates instructor for Wood (see September Newsletter) Beginner, Intermediate and and begin the process of removing the Advanced Levels protesters, many of whom had secured themselves on platforms high up in the trees. “In ten sessions you will feel the difference, As reported elsewhere, (see page in 20 you will see the difference and in 30 4), for over a week, the wood became you will have a whole new body” … Joseph Pilates a sea of HS2 security personnel, the National Eviction Team (NET) and Thames Valley Police officers, as If you are interested or require further fencing was installed to delineate and information please contact: then clear the HS2 safeguarded area. Karen on 07790 081670 After eight days, which included ‘Storm Alex’ and the return of ‘Swampy’, climbing officers from Thames Valley Police scaled to the last tree camp, where they arrested the remaining trespassing protesters and charged them with aggravated trespass. A total of 24 arrests are understood to have been made.

At the time of writing, there are Email: no protesters on HS2 safeguarded [email protected] land. HS2 are conducting further www.karensabsolutepilates.co.uk ecological surveys and will then seek 10 to obtain the necessary licenses before starting tree felling in the wood. Bridge circuit? By Kathryn Dickinson et al ith the points evenly spread between the hands on this W deal, and with uneven distri- bution, it was unclear who would win the contract.

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Council’s Chesham and Villages S W N E Community Board at the end of 1♥ p 3♥ 3♠ September. It is available online at www.thelee.org.uk/HS2latest and 4♥ 4♠ p p covers the then understanding of: Dbl p p p

• the local programme of works … but did they make it? See page 19. • mitigation measures • community engagement. The Lee and the Missendens Parish Councils, along with (BC), also met with HS2 Ltd The Lee and their contractors in September and were disappointed to receive no significant updates on the local Cricket Club programme of works and likely traffic By Patrick Walsh flows, nor any update on the hilltop road or much of the lockdown it was traffic monitoring. A further meeting is looking like we would play no scheduled for 20th October, when we F cricket at The Lee this season. will, again, press for more detail. We were all forced to sit in our 11 gardens during those endless days of Mini-rocket clear blue skies in May and June As always we like to get younger pondering on what could have been. players in our adult teams, and the 2nd Boris’s comment on cricket balls XI often had three Under 13s playing being a ‘vector for the disease’ in the team, and often making match seemed to confirm our worst fears. winning contributions with bat, ball Then, all of a sudden at the start of and in the field. July, there was a U-turn by the Our colts’ season normally runs government and the ECB, and we from May to mid-July, so the were given the go-ahead to play, scheduled fixtures were wiped out by under strictly controlled conditions. lockdown, but the coaches hastily Fortunately our pitch had been arranged a set of friendlies with other lovingly maintained during lockdown local clubs, and we played these right by our team of volunteer through until early September – groundsmen, Ed, Ben and Rob, and meaning that most of the kids ended we were ready to play at a moment’s up playing more cricket than they notice. We had no problem getting would have done in a normal year. players either, and were delighted We all hope that next season we that many who had not played for a can get back to some form of few years came back to the club keen normality – but if we keep seeing the to don their whites again. quality of cricket that we have seen in Jumping jacks this abridged 2020 season then it will We have managed to complete be something special to behold. half of a normal season, with the Saturday 1st and 2nd XIs each playing the other teams in their division once rather than twice. What we lacked for in quantity we certainly made up for in quality, with our players managing to score two centuries, fourteen half- centuries, six 5-wicket hauls and two hat-tricks! Special mention must go to Harry Rice for notching up four of those 5-wicket hauls. A shorter 40-overs per side win- lose format was introduced to the league games to allow extra time for sanitising hands and the ball every six overs, and this actually led to some thrilling finishes. There was no promotion or relegation this year, but both of our league teams ended up in respectable mid-table positions. 12 St Mary’s, Ballinger Services in Format tbc

November Please contact Anne Ellis (837247) everal local churches provide if you would like to attend as numbers online services; for example, St are limited due to social distancing. S Mary’s Wendover has a service St Mary's is now holding a service on the first Sunday of each month and each Sunday at 11:00 am on Zoom. th Details can be found at https:// it was full on October 4 , when stmaryswendover.org/ St Peter and St harvest was celebrated with a socially Paul, Great Missenden stream a distanced congregation. The church service on Facebook each Sunday at was decorated with fruits from the 8:00 am, 10:00 am and 6:00 pm. hedgerows, flowers and vegetables Details can be found at https:// from allotments and gardens; all of www.missendenchurch.org.uk/ which gave us a glimpse of what life used to be like before lockdown. St John the Baptist, The Lee We are always available via [email protected] with messages Remembrance for any of the churches being passed on to the appropriate person. Sunday 2020: Contacts: Parish Administrator: th Joanne Evans (07811 094416). 8 November Churchwardens: Trevor Pearce (01494 837601) and Mike Sherratt (07597 By the Newsletter team 158269). Verger: Bill Pearce (01494 s we go to press, we 785191). Treasurer: David understand that there will be Stephenson (01494 867617). no service at St John the A th Baptist on 8 November, nor at the Old Church. The Lee Old Church The national and local guidance for Remembrance Sunday is that, wherever Lee Common Methodist possible, people should “commemorate st at home” on that day, although some 1 10:00am Gerald Tomkins th limited-scale events are being held, 8 3:00pm Dr Jo Prior th where Covid-19 risk assessments have 15 3:00pm Gerald Tomkins nd been carried out and the numbers 22 3:00pm Rev Adam Wells th attending can be controlled. 29 3:00pm Rev Nigel Wright As it is unlikely that there will be As numbers are limited due to the any organised event in The Lee on that Covid regulations, please telephone day, any residents who chose to go to Gerald or Marian Tomkins on 01494 the The Lee Green are asked to respect 837479 if you would like to attend. the then applicable social-distancing Masks will have to be worn and two rules, traffic regulations and the private metres social distancing maintained. ownership of green. Sadly we will not be allowed to sing Any further information will be but we hope to listen to some hymns. posted on The Lee website and Forum as it becomes available. 13 John Barber RIP By Sheelagh Reeve t is with great sadness that we heard of the recent passing of John I Barber at his home in South Heath. He was well known in the Lee as the man with the steam car that provided so many happy rides around The Lee Green during The Lee Fêtes over the years. John was also a regular member of The Lee Thursday walking group and will be greatly missed by many in the local area. We knew John as he was our adjacent neighbour for about 20 years in South Heath when he moved into John with his famous steam car the area from Ley Hill, Chesham after marrying his late wife Hazel. John passed away after a short Salute illness at his home in South Heath. John was a lovely social person who would happily stop to chat about a variety of subjects especially when we saw him out walking with his dog, Lucy. His interests ranged from being a keen a horse rider in his younger days to a model aircraft enthusiast who flew his model planes at model airfield and everything in between. John will be sadly missed by those of us who got to know him and the lovely stories of his adventurous life that he shared with us.

MARTIN THE MILKMAN Refrigerated delivery of fresh milk, dairy produce, bread, eggs, fruit juices and more. To place an order call 01442 833944 PHONES MANNED 4 PM – 6 PM ANSWERPHONE AT OTHER TIMES 14

postponed as the virus had struck Filming virus down a key actor. By Jonathan Batten Tourbillion ast month, after a tip off that I’ve noticed some more recent some filming was taking place activity, but no facts have reached my L at the Cock and Rabbit, I desk so this may be fake news but ventured there to secure a scoop for here are some snaps. the newsletter. Equipment and crew were in place but I then learnt that filming had been The Lee Parish The LeeWay – Your Council news Village Support Team By Hayley Farrelly, Clerk If you have difficulty getting to your Traffic through The Lee doctor or the hospital, doing your e seem to be getting a lot shopping or would like a home visit and a friendly chat, then please ring: more traffic through The Lee at the moment – more cars, 07845 029500 W vans and lorries – and more speeding. Mon - Fri: 10 am - 4 pm. Sat: 10 am - 12 This seems to be due to: noon. Please give us reasonable notice of your requirement to help us organise it. • the closure of the B485 at Chesham, meaning that more 15 of the Wendover – Chesham traffic is using Rocky Lane / J Brown Funeral Services Chesham Lane 67 Woodside Road, , HP6 6AA 01494 727474 (24 hours) • increased HS2 activity between South Heath and Wendover • HS2 protesters at Jones Hill A truly independent family funeral directors Wood • roadworks and delays on the Bespoke and traditional services A413 causing ‘rat-running’ on Private chapels of rest the hill-top lanes Pre-paid funeral plans Off street client parking • increased building work on Home visits Lane. Sadly, the long-awaited HS2 monitoring of hill-top traffic has still not started. The Lee Parish and County Cllrs continue to press HS2 for this to be prioritised. Damp squib Contact Jason Brown on: 01494 727474 Bucks Highways have investigated [email protected] the possibility of a sign saying “Road unsuitable for HGVs” on the road from Recommended by Chartridge / Chesham but have been The Good Funeral Guide unable to find a location that fits within the regulations (there is already such a sign at the bottom of Rocky Lane). Hummer Local powers to set speed limits also seem unlikely to be changed any Cromar time soon. A review of limits now would require a full highways Carpets Ltd assessment, public consultation, Buckinghamshire Council (BC) internal committee and full Council discussion / approval process, and then Carpets, Vinyl and legal amendments to statutory Traffic Regulation Orders. BC are not Wood Flooring inclined to go down this route on the Supplied and Fitted evidence available. Bucks Highways will also not themselves initiate speed signs or cameras on this road. There may, however, be two possible ways 9-11 Station Approach forward for the parish council: Great Missenden a) make a bid to the Chesham and 01494 862125 Villages Community Board for funding for such signs 16 b) make a bid to the HS2 Road November at 7:30 pm. It will be held Safety Fund. online using ‘GoToMeeting’. Anyone The Parish Council has indicated wishing to attend is welcome to do so, in principle that it would be willing to but should first contact the Parish take-up these options: (a) first then (b), Clerk at [email protected] or if (a) fails. We now need to prepare telephone 07769 698652. and submit the paperwork! … and finally Coronavirus – local updates A word of thanks, this month, to BC continues to provide regular all our Parish Councillors who give so updates on Coronavirus in the county freely of their time on parish issues, and its effects on local services at: whether it be roads, footpaths, https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/ allotments, the playground, planning coronavirus/ issues, HS2 or the website/forum. The site includes a weekly report Unlike county councillors, parish from the Council Leader (scroll down councillors are all unpaid and are to the bottom of the page). elected with no political party In the parish, we are also pleased affiliation. They are in effect simply to see that the Covid-19 volunteer another group of parish volunteers. group is still active (see page 2) and encourage anyone that needs local support to contact them. Blockbuster Basketball net By Jonathan Batten As you may already be aware, the esidents of Swan Bottom were Parish Council has removed the relieved and thankful when basketball net from outside the Parish R Thames Water sent their Hall and has now disposed of it. This tankers to periodically empty the was due to the old stand being quite sewer at the bottom of Red Lion Hill, badly rusted and concern that it could when the pumps had to be turned off cause injury. The PC is in discussion last month, because of a blockage with the Parish Hall Committee about further up the line. Backing up of the replacement with a similar stand and pipes was alleviated by a regular basketball net. supply of tankers, preventing the Playground / allotments system from being overwhelmed. The canopy at the children’s fort has been taken done due to wind damage and we are in discussion with the suppliers about repair / replacement. In October, volunteers from Lee Common School and the Parish Council cleared areas of accumulated waste in the allotments and on Lee Clump Road. Parish Council meeting The next Parish Council meeting will be held on Tuesday 10th 17 Thunder flash either) will remember dial-up modems Things were really beginning to and the joy of attempting your dial-up look difficult when there was a connection to either share a file or sighting of a temporary convenience retrieve something from the internet. being set up for use in the hedge along In short, computer networks have Lee Clump Road. always been complicated and still are and to be fair they have become even more so as security and speeds have all increased along with the huge array of devices we want to connect to the internet. Air bomb It was back in the early noughties, 28th April 2005 to be exact, and I was a member of the senior management team at BT, when we announced 21CN. This was to be BT’s 21st Century Network (hence the abbreviation – something we seems to do in IT and networks expecting everyone to fully understand the acronyms!!) and would revolutionise communications and especially data Broadband – TIM SIMMONS IS why does it THE VERMINATOR have to be so Pest control services difficult? WASPS ALL GLIS-GLIS INSECTS By Paul Farrelly SQUIRREL FOXES RATS MICE RABBITS hese are the words I hear more MOLES AND ANTS and more as my residential and T smart home consultancy services grow and is in no way disconnected from these incredible FAST FRIENDLY SERVICE times we are all living in. Thank goodness for the wonders LOW PRICES - HIGH QUALITY of Broadband but what happens if it’s just not working? As our homes 07734 649305 become our offices, businesses and central family entertainment centres what would we do if we were all still WE WILL ALSO PROOF YOUR on dial-up. Those of us of a certain HOUSE/PREMISES TO STOP THEM age (and I don’t mean that long ago COMING BACK 18 communication to this mysterious technology called IP. Whoops – another one of those dreaded acronyms – that stands for Internet Protocol. This is basically the language one must speak on the internet if you want anyone else or really anything else to understand you. It was a huge decision at the time and was around £10 Billion UK pounds of equipment and engineering to enable what we hoped would be the next big thing for BT. To be fair it was originally aimed down to BT’s technology research at the UK business market both small centre called Adastral Park. Adastral and large as the internet/email and Park is a science campus based on part mobile communications started to of the old Royal Air Force Station at boom. Remember this was still the Martlesham Heath near Ipswich in domain of the geeks and techies and Suffolk. There was a great team whose the first iPhone was still in early job was to try and make things simple, development and was not even well at least to the average home user released until 29th June 2007. That who wouldn’t be a techy. We could said, we knew it was coming and it not afford to have a BT engineer (now was going to be a huge job installing Openreach) spending two to three all this equipment across the UK. hours at every home. Barrage The plan was for five million homes I must admit I did not appreciate at to go online in the first few years, the time the important technology which would be about 5,000 years of hidden inside 21CN. Deep inside the BT engineering time, therefore the network diagrams on my PC at BT boffins had designed the whole system headquarters in London was this thing to be self-installed. BT would send the called Broadband. At first all my hub to the customer through the Royal technical people were up in arms as Mail and they would plug it in and this Broadband was aimed at the mass bingo it would all work. market and consumers but it was going I have to admit even I didn’t see the to be faster than the main business huge uptake in the use of Broadband technologies of the day and about a for the services we now take for tenth of the price!! This was indeed granted like iPlayer / Netflix / true, at the time it cost a large bank YouTube / Facebook / Instagram and like Lloyds or NatWest around £20k a Amazon but wow, hasn’t it year for each BT link to their branches revolutionised our lives. The trouble is, and remember back then there was it is just not that simple under the over 15,000 branches. The key was bonnet of the Broadband. I shall not that, like all great technology even try to explain what’s going on developments, it was coming anyway inside the smart hub, how the Wi-Fi and so you either embraced it or you works or how you can even watch HD became a dinosaur. TV on the internet in one room and be At this time I had spent the majority gaming online in the other, but needless of the previous four months up and to say, if it is not installed correctly you 19 will be shouting from the rooftops – biodiversity in the countryside. The Why does it have to be so difficult? woodland trust have become involved Crackling comet and will be planting eight acres of I think those Broadband engineers our land with native broadleaf species back in the early noughties did their of trees. jobs a little too well. We think about Chiltern Conservation are also Broadband as a utility, yet it really is looking for volunteers to monitor the not the same as water or electricity. populations of birds and butterflies That said, very few of us would start on the land. This would require about messing around with our electrical two days a year and they provide junction box with a screwdriver or start online training. re-plumbing the house or adding a So if you think you can help please radiator with the water mains switched get in touch on 837328 or on and that is why I am receiving more [email protected] and more requests for help for all things ‘smart’ for residential homes and home-based services. Bridge breaker So more than ever, think of your Home Broadband as a key residential Catherine wheel service and asset. It will need some Following the 9♦ lead, the contract maintenance from time to time, it will went two down. However, being non- need upgrading or a facelift as you use vulnerable, it was a good sacrifice, it more and as it is constantly evolving with N-S able to make 4♥. as we connect more things. It is also worth understanding a little more about how it works to ensure you are getting the best from it as well, so that when you want to use it, it’s just there when you need it.

Volunteers Great Missenden wanted Supported Living By Judy Hart n 5th December from 10:00 A warm, friendly, house for the am until 1:00 pm in the fields elderly, in the picturesque centre of O at Swan Bottom volunteers the village. are needed to help plant 100 metres Come and take a look to see for of hedge. yourself and have a chat with Chiltern Rangers will bring all the necessary equipment but please bring Carol Lauder-Ross (Manager) your own gloves. All Covid Tel: 01494 865026 precautions will be in place. or email for a brochure Flower pot [email protected] This is part of a project run by Find out more on our website Chiltern Conservation to increase the www.abbeyfield.com 20 Under cover Art4Lee By Ruth Fowler of the night ast month, you may recall, I By the Newsletter Team floated the idea of Art4Lee – an L artistic social event to be held over the first May bank holiday. The artistic part would be an opportunity for people to showcase their talents by putting on an exhibition in their house or garden, whilst the social aspect would be the chance for everyone to stroll around the village viewing the various exhibitions. Selection box To make this work we’d probably great many Newsletter readers need approaching 10 exhibitors (more are members of Book Clubs in would obviously be better) but so far the local area and beyond. only half that number have definitely A committed. I’d suggested anything With the winter upon us, we thought it might be interesting to see what they from an open garden to a display of are currently reading: paintings, photographs, pottery, ‘The enchanted April’ by Elizabeth sculpture, carvings, tapestry or (for the Von Arnim. Genres: Romance younger at heart) Lego models. novel, Domestic Fiction ‘American Dirt’ by Jeanine Cummins. Genres: Fiction, Suspense, Thriller ‘The White Tiger’ by Aravind Adiga. Genres: Picaresque novel, Dragons Eggs Epistolary novel, Mystery Art takes many forms and the ‘The Story of Lucy Gault’ by performing arts wouldn’t be excluded, William Trevor. Genres: so anyone wishing to give a musical Historical Literature; Irish recital, puppet show, poetry reading Fiction etc. could also participate. ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ by Delia Refreshments are always welcome, Owens. Genres: Novel, so anyone wishing to display (or sell) Bildungsroman, Mystery, homemade cakes, jams, chutneys, Coming-of-age story drinks etc. would also be able to set up ‘Real Tigers’ by Mick Herron. a stall in their house or garden. Genres: Mystery, Suspense, My neighbours think even more Thriller, Spy fiction widely, and the offers to date include exhibitions of glass garden sculpture If you are in a Book Club, why not and village history. let the Editor know when your group If you’d like to join this illustrious chooses a new book – see page 1 for group, please email me at contact details. [email protected] or give me a 21 call on 837438. I’m reluctant to concede that this might be an idea whose time hasn’t come, so please step forward!

Liberty: the Bucks man By Colin Sully n Friday 4th December, the -cum-St-Leonards O Local History Group will be hosting, online, a presentation by Will Phillips, the Keeper of Social History can attend all eight meetings – at Bucks County Museum. His topic whether held online or face-to-face – will be ‘Liberty: The Bucks man, the from October 2020 to May 2021, London shop, the global style’. receive the annual Newsletter and be invited to outings. Attendance for a Titanium salute single meeting is £4.00. Will says: “Liberty, the iconic Please contact Richard Leat for London shop, needs very little more information on 01494 758784 or introduction, yet the story of his world at [email protected]. -famous department store is full of surprises, from his historical connection to Buckinghamshire to the effects of wartime on the company’s creative vision.” The Lee Newsletter readers may KINGSHILL find this particularly interesting given CARS FOR ALL OCCASIONS the huge influence the Liberty family has had on the history and development of our parish. Membership of the Local History Chilterns Group is just £10.00, for which you

Mike Lake Airports Friendly & Local Painter & Decorator For that professional touch London Interior & Exterior Also Property Maintenance For a free quotation please call: 01494 866873 / 07723 017005 01494 868699 [email protected] Email: [email protected] 22 Kasperova: Musical Adventures in Russia. Lecturer: Graham Griffiths. Online. Sunday 8th. Remembrance Sunday. See page 12. The fastest way to let everyone in the Tuesday 10th. The Lee Parish Council Parish know about an event you are Meeting. 7:30 pm. Online. See page 16. arranging is to publish it right here in Saturday 14th. Ballinger Christmas the Newsletter. Contact the Editor by th Fair. CANCELLED the 12 of the previous month (see Thursday 19th. The Arts Society contact details on page 1). Ballinger. Unfolding the Art of Georgia O’Keefe. Lecturer: Deborah Jenner. Online. November Thursday 5th. Village Bonfire and Fireworks. CANCELLED Cancelled Thursday 5th to Saturday 7th. Shop at Ballinger Horticultural Society will The Lee Christmas Market from not be holding any meetings until next 9:00 am to 3:00 pm each day in the year. Please check website for all up to Parish Hall. See page 7. date details ballingerhort.co.uk Thursday 5th. The Arts Society Ballinger. In Search of Lookadiya Coming Soon Thursday 3rd December, The Arts Society Ballinger. The Field of The Pippa Hart Cloth of Gold Lecturer: Jo Mabutt. Photography Friday 4th December. Liberty: the Bucks man. Online: see page 21. Friday 11th December. ‘Not-The-Lee- Newsletter-Dinner’. More next month. Thursday 17th December. The Arts Society Ballinger. The Queen of Instruments: The Lute within Old Masters Paintings. Lecturer: Adam Busiakiewicz. Online. Directory of

Natural & Informal local contacts Black &White Ballinger Horticultural Society Chairperson: Katherine Hersee Portraits 07801 948650, [email protected] 01494 837340 Membership Secretary: www.pippahart.com [email protected] 23 Ballinger War Memorial Hall Bookings: Jane Ogden, 837379 The Newsletter Ballinger Evening WI he Lee Newsletter is published 10 Contact: Frankie Little, 837659 times a year and distributed free to [email protected] all households in the parish… and Lee Common C of E School T a little beyond. The views expressed in it School office, 837267 are not necessarily those of the Editor. [email protected] We welcome letters and articles of Lee Common Methodist Church interest and relevance to The Lee. Marian Tomkins, 837479 Copy should be sent to the Editor of Lee Common Scouts the month (see page 1) by the 12th of Group Scout Leader: Chris Nevill the month before publication. 864881, [email protected] Letters should ideally run to no more Shop at The Lee than 200 words and articles to no more Symeon Economou, 837195 than 700 words; material may be edited [email protected] and may appear on the village website St John the Baptist Church www.thelee.org.uk unless consent is See centre pages. specifically withheld. Anonymous St Mary’s Ballinger contributions are not accepted. Contact: Anne Ellis, 837247 To advertise or place an insert, [email protected] please contact Paul Apicella on 837377 Tennis Court @ Parish Hall by the 12th of the previous month. Bookings: Judy Morgan 837787 If you have photographs for The Arts Society Ballinger publication please contact Jonathan Chair: Lesley Wickham, 865480 Batten on 837450 or email [email protected] The Lee Cricket Club [email protected]. For queries regarding distribution www.theleecc.org.uk contact Barnaby Usborne on 837382. Secretary: Mike Harris Other members of the Editorial 07788 345555 The Lee Flower Show team: Peter Archer, Zoe Berkeley, Chairman: Jonathan Batten, 837450 Ruth Fowler, Phil Harrison, Liz The Lee Newsletter Macann, Jen Ogley, Adam Speller and [email protected] Colin Sully. The Lee Old Church Trust Printed by Orbit Press: 778053. Secretary: Pam Garner 837501 The Lee Parish Council Clerk: Hayley Farrelly, 07704 909324 To book the Parish Hall [email protected] or Scout Hut

www.thelee.org.uk/pc ’phone Anne Barnett on 837796

Allotments: Alison Weir, 837529 Rates 9 am - 1 pm 6 pm - The Lee Parish Hall Committee 2 pm - 6 pm midnight Bookings: Anne Barnett, 837796 Mon - Fri £30 or £10/hr £45 or £10/hr Chairman: Tony Lea, 837237 Sat/Sun £12/hr £70 The LeeWay Bank Holiday £12/hr £70 Contact: 07845 029500 Car park only £10 Crockery/cutlery £15 (hire outside the hall)

Light the touch paper and retire immediately Sales & Lettings 64 High Street Great Missenden Buckinghamshire HP16 0AN Tel: 01494 890990 email: [email protected] www.jeremyswan.co.uk