No 177 Summer 2011 STOKESTOKENews POGESPOGES Stoke Poges Village Fete In 1911 the Titanic was launched, so let’s celebrate its centenary by turning up glamorous and leaving somewhat wrecked. Join the village at the school, Rogers Lane for the biggest and best, fun-filled, family day out on the Stoke Poges community calendar. Come and enjoy the rides and displays, mix and mingle with members of village clubs and societies or just chill out and enjoy the weather and friendly company. Meet up with friends and neighbours you haven’t seen since last year’s fete. Cold drinks will be flowing from the beer tent. Ice creams and kids’ cocktails, along with delicious, locally produced catering will be available from village groups and organisations. With food and drink available, the party can continue into the evening with live music from PFJ. This year the entertainment will rock Stoke Poges. Be there to help raise money for village-based groups and organisations. Enquiries to Martin Wood: [email protected], 07963 627805 Saturday 11 June from 1 pm From the Editor Index Royal Wedding Celebrations 4 Villagers in the news 6 What a glorious spring we have had so far! Few New playgrounds 7 people can remember an April as sunny as this year’s and it was officially the warmest since records began. Villager’s 100th birthday 8 Tennis stars 8 But it’s not just the weather that has lifted the mood Villager in Boat Race 10 here in Stoke Poges - the addition of the new play and Bells Hill Update 12 fitness equipment has given our young people and Bowls Club 14 their families exciting new options for spending their leisure time. And with motoring costs rising so fast, it’s Bridge Club 14 great to have the choice of walking to the rec. and Social Club 15 having an inexpensive day out at the playground. Chairman’s Letter 16 Stoke Poges Players 17 The Royal Wedding too has been a cheery topic of conversation and The Stoke Poges School’s procession Duke of Edinburgh Group 18 through the village was enjoyed as much by the Bold’s Cycling in Stoke Poges 20 Court residents as the children themselves. St Good Neighbour scheme 21 Andrew’s entered into the spirit of the occasion by Memorial Gardens 22 putting up bunting along their frontage on Rogers Birds in Stoke Poges 22 Lane. Tennis Club 24 There are further opportunities over the next few Golf Pro Tips 25 months for the whole village to come out, get Rainbow Pre-school 26 together and demonstrate what a friendly community Stoke Poges Singers 27 we are: the village fete on 11 June; the playground opening and community picnic on 18 June, the Festival Vicar’s Letter 28 of Flowers and Poetry at St Giles’ on 9 July and the Horticultural Society 30 Horticultural Show on 30 July. Royal British Legion 31 Dates for your Diary 32 This edition of our village magazine also brings news of several parishioners who are doing well in their Scouts 34 chosen fields. Only the coldest of hearts would fail to Friends of Stoke Common 36 be cheered by the many good news stories in this Photographic Club 38 issue. Men’s Group 39 The Stoke Poges School 40 As we closed to go to press, there were encouraging indications that the Coop and Persimmon are Hedgerley Historical Society 42 gradually inching towards agreement - their target Stoke Poges FC 44 date for agreement is in our publication week. Women’s Institute 46 Guides and Brownies 48 There is much still to improve in our village. Our policing and crime prevention feature carries Ten Years Ago 49 information intended to help keep your home out of District Council Sports 50 the crime statistics. And we have a problem with a Sunshine Pre-school 51 minority of dog owners inconsiderately leaving their Crime prevention tips 54 animals’ mess in public places - read why this is such a dangerous health hazard on page 52. Annual Parish Meeting 56 Stoke Poges Society 58 Ralph Bagge Councillors’ Updates 60 Editor 2 3 Village Celebrates the Royal Wedding The Royal Wedding certainly caught the imagination of the village at the end of April and brought a feel-good factor to many parishioners. The Stoke Poges Brownies held a wedding party and The Stoke Poges School brought its themed week celebrating the Royal Wedding to a colourful, spectacular conclusion on Thursday 28 April with a procession through the village. The whole school, some 400 children, dressed up in patriotic colours or as kings, queens and wedding guests. Beaconsfield’s town crier announced (loudly) the start of the procession and led the way, ringing his bell. A marching band of 20 children followed behind the town crier, leading the children in year order, with the youngest at the front. The procession marched along Rogers Lane to Bells Hill and headed for the rec. returning to the school via the back gate. Parents and residents were out in force waving flags and clapping as the children went past, getting ready to celebrate and enjoy William and Kate’s big day. In Home Farm Way, Rhiannon Spelman, a year 5 student at The Stoke Poges School, was the prime mover in getting her family and neighbours to organise a street party on the Wedding Day. Photographer Jim Williams had his camera ready to capture the spirit of the day. 4 5 The Quite Remarkable David Coleman That was the title of a BBC TV documentary about the legendary television sports New Playgrounds completed commentator, presenter and Stoke Poges resident, broadcast on Wednesday 2 May. Mr Coleman presented BBC’s Saturday afternoon sports magazine programme Grandstand for many years as well as the midweek Sportsnight programme and more in time for Easter holidays recently A Question of Sport. The urgency and chivvying by the Parish that were visiting. It’s great for our kids to see us join Mr Coleman was instrumental in modernising television sports coverage and setting Council’s working party paid off with the in and have fun too.’ new standards for live television coverage. He reported for the BBC at the Olympic contractors completing all the play and fitness games from 1960 until 2000 and was the face of sports broadcasting for 25 years. equipment installations in time for the school As one might expect with such a big project there have Easter holidays. (Farnham Royal’s similar been a few teething problems. The dry weather hasn’t Mr Coleman celebrated his 85th birthday on 26 April and on behalf of the parish, we playground was still some way off completion at helped the turf knit to the landscaped mounds, we would like to send him our best wishes. the time of writing.) need to install more bins (they have already been ordered) and there have been problems with dog mess The young people of Stoke Poges have voted with (see p52). Also, with families spending the day at the their feet by returning day after day to use the new playground, we have had requests for introducing facilities. Resident and mum, Tara Rose said: ‘It’s some shaded areas. ARMED FORCES DAY brilliant. When I asked my children where they want to go in the holidays they said “the playground” every The large mound with the slide needed longer for the time.’ Caroline Snoch commented: ‘As soon as my turf to ‘take’ and was fenced off for an extra month. children got up in the morning they were asking if they The contractor was due to return in early May to install could go to the playground. We took a picnic and steps in the bank, re-tension the wire on the runway spent the day there.’ and remove the last of the safety fencing. Youngsters patiently watched the installers apply The Parish Council has received thank you notes from finishing touches to the fitness equipment at Plough many children - we have selected two for publication. Lane and were so keen to use the new equipment that they wanted to help the workers remove the The chart topping band Blue will be the star safety fencing! attraction at Buckinghamshire’s Armed Forces Day celebrations on 28 June, to be held at Residents have also posted their appreciation on Aylesbury Rugby Club. Facebook. Marie Wood wrote: ‘Just dragged my two teenage sons away from the Xbox to the fantastic new Armed Forces Day, organised by Buckinghamshire outdoor gym on the rec. It was nearly dark when we County Council and the Buckinghamshire Lieutenancy, left. They had a great time trying to launch me off the [Tour poster] spinny flying dangling thing (the turnfly - Ed.). We all is a 12-hour celebration and fun day. It will be packed left, bonded with smiles and our knuckles dragging full of live music, including military bands, jazz bands, on the floor. So nice to be able to share the park again local bands, and will end with Blue as the headline act. Finally, the contractors who installed the equipment Brian Conley on tour at our age. Well done SPPC.’ commented on how enjoyable it had been working in Stoke Poges. The workers were impressed with Popular television entertainer and local This is the third Armed Forces Day in Buckinghamshire. Jennifer McEwan wrote: ‘Thank you for all that has the children who had been watching them - with how resident Brian Conley has been touring in The first, in 2009, attracted 4000 people and this been done at both parks.