Hitcham and Taplow Society Newsletter 108: Autumn 2017 £3.50 to non­members www.taplowsociety.org.uk Hitcham and Taplow Society Formed in 1959 to protect Hitcham, Taplow and the surrounding countryside from being spoilt by bad development and neglect. President: Eva Lipman Vice Presidents: Tony Hickman, Fred Russell, Professor Bernard Trevallion OBE Chairman: Vacant Treasurer: Robert Hanbury Secretary: Roger Worthington Committee: Heather Fenn, Charlie Greeves, Robert Harrap, Zoe Hatch, Alastair Hill, Rupert Sellers, Nigel Smales, Louise Symons, Miv Wayland­Smith Newsletter Production: Andrew Findlay Contact Address: HTS, Littlemere, River Road, Taplow, SL6 0BB [email protected] 07787 556309 Cover picture: Skindles Reach, not quite finished. On the right, the new restaurant will be Roux at Skindles (see Page 10) (Nigel Smales) Editorial The Society was founded to question decision­ good' – to outcomes that best balance the needs and makers. For 58 years, its questioning has wants of our whole community, not just one significantly influenced the outcome of local 'hot dimension of it. We are all entitled to try to influence topics'. In addition, as reflected in the content of the decisions of our elected representatives; that's this and all Newsletters, the Society also democracy. And surely acting for the Society in celebrates our heritage and our community. concert with TPC and our District and County Some matters (see Pages 8 & 9) tick all three Councillors (see Pages 14 & 15) is not interference boxes for everyone. Naturally, others provoke but cooperation in a common cause? differences of opinion. I believe my questioning There seems to be a growing trend for some on current 'hot topics' reflects the majority view. with narrow perspectives to go online and Maybe not. Either way, did it justify an abusive anonymously abuse those who see things e­mail? My anonymous critic accused me of differently. Perhaps my unidentified correspondent being "utterly disinterested in the greater good" – or anyone else – will accept this invitation to and concluded: "Why not let the Council get on express their opinions in a future Newsletter. The with their jobs and stop trying to interfere?" Society's editorial policy is to be tolerant of and to How off target. Of course, consensus is elusive publish contrary views provided they are well­ but, whether independently or (as in this case) on articulated, accredited and not political, abusive or the Society's behalf, I always aspire to 'the greater libellous. Tell us what you think. We will listen. Acronyms This Newsletter uses acronyms for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Buckinghamshire County Council (BCC), Burnham Parish Council (BPC), Department for Transport (DfT), Ellington & District Residents Association (EDRA), Land Securities Group (LSG), Member of Parliament (MP), South Bucks District Council (SBDC), Transport for Buckinghamshire (TfB), Taplow Parish Council (TPC) and Thames Valley Police (TVP). Autumn 2017 Page 2 Hitcham and Taplow Society Karl Lawrence 1928­2017 Karl cared. His passions shaped his being and his image. He thought deeply and sought intellectual understanding. He was an atheist who respected religious ceremony, a republican who hoped to get a royal telegram at 100. He was a socialist, but admired politicians at every level and of every hue for their integrity, clarity and accountability. He was an aficionado of art, music, opera, theatre, crosswords, wine and whisky, devotions all shared with Rosaleen, and of books, although she wasn't so keen on living in a library. Most of all, Karl was an individual who cared that everything should be just so, and he was determined to do everything possible to make it so. Karl grew up in Ibstock, Leicestershire, surrounded by the power of words. His parish d l e clerk father Harry ran the family printing i F ­ business. His mother Louise's cousin Bernard r e k Newman wrote over 100 books. Authors DH r a Lawrence and Mary Anne Evans (George Eliot) B e l were distant relations. His ambition to be a e h c journalist was explored in school vacations on i M the local newspaper, The Coalville Times, and in editing magazines and taking an English degree of machine readable codes, foresaw e­books, was at Birmingham University only for illness to a trustee of HarperCollins pension fund and 'Mr thwart his becoming a graduate trainee with Fixit' for media moguls Sidney Bernstein and Lord Kemsley (of Dropmore), owner of The Rupert Murdoch. Sunday Times. Instead, he made his mark in the Rosaleen and Karl brought baby Roisin to book trade, initially at a wholesaler where he Taplow in 1970. Ronan arrived a year later. They recommended the acquisition of Casino Royale, immersed themselves in and were supported Ian Fleming's first James Bond novel; it sold through crises by the Cedar Chase community. An 18,000 hardback copies in a year. incurable lung condition didn't stop him running In 1953, Karl went to the Bahamas to run The the church fete bookstall for years, helping Alistair Island Bookshop. Perfect climate. Idyllic lifestyle. Forsyth create Taplow at the Millennium, joining the Then it got better. While directing See How They Society's committee in 2003 and being our Run, he fell in love with the leading lady: energetic chairman for five years from 2011. We Rosaleen Malone, a pioneer Bahamian Airways enjoyed our verbal jousts. Opinions? He had a few. stewardess who later "looked fabulous" in Three Disagreement? Yes, but never disrespect. Our Sisters. They married in 1964 and headed home game was less persuasion than performance of for him to aid André Deutsch doing paperback principles, knowledge and indulgent eloquence. publishing deals before managing systems, His was valuable counsel as I wrote and self­ computers and operations as Granada published a biography of my father and Taplow Publishing was acquired by Collins which Moments, my history of Taplow, and took over as merged to be HarperCollins. Decisions came Newsletter editor. However, of all Karl's easily; he "just knew what was right". If he achievements, perhaps most important are the couldn't get his way with charm and persistent fond memories of his family and lifelong friends logic, he would ruffle feathers – including those who knew "a lovely man". Rosaleen married him of Robert Maxwell on a Parliamentary committee because "He was the kindest man I'd ever met". considering worldwide academic copyright. He What better epitaphs could anyone have? drove the development of International Standard Book Numbers (ISBN), led UK implementation Nigel Smales Hitcham and Taplow Society Autumn 2017 Page 3 Midsummer Magic On 24th June, almost 400 people breaking even and people not had a jolly good time at the paying. The raffle raised £605 for Society's 32nd Village Green Taplow United and two seven­ Party. As usual, there was year­old girls – Sophia Savory quaffing and quipping, roasting and Emily Meats – took the and reeling, much mingling and initiative to make and sell loom munching of beef, burgers and bands to friends and family, bangers, but with two new raising £17 which they kindly twists. Thanks to excellent decided to donate to the Society. s t innovations by Zoe Hatch, 314 Grateful thanks are due to a e tickets were sold online in Zoe, to event captains Alastair M r e v advance and everyone happily Hill and Miv Wayland­Smith, and i l sported wristbands, thus to Cliff Alderson, Jacqueline & O eliminating worries about Roger Andrews, Chris Ashford, Sophia and Emily Jane Barnard, Frank Barnett, Marianne & Marc Boden, Jane Yannick le Touze, Victoria Curry, Andrew Findlay, Charlie & Wayland­Smith and Pauline Toby Greeves, Robert Harrap, & Roger Worthington who h Anna Hill, David Hindle, Joseph, combined consummately to t i m Tracy & Paul Holt, Tamsin & Toby make it all happen so smoothly. S ­ d Hornett, Billy Jawandha, Paul Sadly, the evening ended on a n a l Jeffries, Eva Lipman, Laird sour note. Late night revellers y a Mackay, Dave McNulty, Charles rekindled the fire and cast the W a i Mulraine, Mike Sanderson's carving board and two trestles r o t c Band, Rupert Sellers, Sally & Mike into the flames. It is a shame i V Sharp, Anne Slinn, Steve Squire, these few casual vandals have no Amelia, George, Amélie, Caroline & Nigel Smales, Adam respect for the many who make Ben and Jemma Smith, Taplow Parish Council, our community so special. September Celebration s e l a m S l e g i N Taplow Cricket Club Under­Elevens enjoyed celebrating their best season ever – seven wins and just one narrow defeat – at the Colts Presentation Evening on 15th September. Back: Charlie, Jake, Fin, James, Joel & Sam; Front: George, Ethan, Ben & Daniel Autumn 2017 Page 4 Hitcham and Taplow Society Pages from A Family Journal 1888/1915 t Ethel 'Ettie' Grenfell, Lady His love of greyhounds n e g Desborough, assembled a 650­ tells much about Julian: "I do r a page memoir for friends and think greyhounds are the S r family in 1916. In this second most beautiful things on e g n extract, Adam Smith reveals how earth; they have affection, and i S her family's social whirl spun courage unspeakable, and n h with privileged abandon … speed like nothing else, and o J The Journal is thick with sport sensitiveness and dash and and hunting, home and grace and gentleness, and abroad. In 1902, Ettie's eldest, enthusiasm". After Balliol, Julian (14), was riding one of Julian joined the army and his father's hunters ('Goliath was posted to India – "lots of of Gath', 17 hands 2") and a pig­sticking" – and then South year later was given 'Robin'. Africa. During home leave in He wrote from Eton: 1913, Imogen (8) "could not be "Tomorrow I am going over to detached from [him] for a Taplow for Short Leave; the single instant", perhaps in hounds meet at Wooburn Ethel Grenfell (1909) gratitude for the gift of a Green, 3 miles from us, so I (presumably Indian) "bear shall get a ripping day's hunting.