Issue 49 Summer 2010 Speen and North Dean News Editors: Anne & David Worlock Diary Editor: John Holmes Science Editor: Barry Stickings Advertising: Peter Cooper Production: Jude Awdry Photographers for Issue 49: Loiz Bale, D Burnham, K Laughton, D Scott Committee: Gloria Holmes - Chair Megan Chinn Nick Wheeler-Robinson Julie White Printer: PK-Inprint Ltd Tel: 01494 452266 www.speenbucks.org.uk SNDN 49 1 Contents Index of Advertisers What’s On . .4 Alan Tucker . .12 Dear Reader . .5 Beechdean Farmhouse . .39 Canadian/Speen Winter quiz answer . .6 B. Forrest Saddlery & Rug Repairs . .11 Speen Supporters Group . .7 The Ridgeway Walk 1 . .8 C.G. Tree & Garden Services . .23 HS2 - Chiltern wide strategy . .9 Champagne House . .14 Speen Schools . .9 Coles & Blackwell . .4 Speen Pre-school . .9 David Marchant . .25 SpeenFest and FunDay photos . .10 Footcare . .11 Speen Photographers’ Workshop . .11 HS2 and you . .15 Foursquare Land Limited . .14 Speen Tennis Court . .17 Fraser Morgan School of Dancing . .16 Speen Heritage Group . .18 Full Steam Ahead . .27 Speen Heritage Walk Map . .20/21 Hughenden Builders . .16 Speen Heritage Walks . .22 Ian Gray . .16 Wildflower News . .24 Speen Church . .24 JML Training & Consultancy . .12 Down on the Farm . .26 JNP . .40 Speen Marquee . .26 Judith A Newenham . .14 Letters to the Editor . .28 Kate Brown . .36 Wildlife Watch . .29 M.R. Collins . .23 Oral History Project . .30 WI - 50 years in Speen . .31 MWH Interiors Limited . .6 Eyes Front! . .32 Nemo Villa . .22 Speen Horticultural Society . .32 Nick Higgins . .16 Speen Festival News . .33 Nicki Thomas Web Design . .12 Speen Playing Fields . .36 District and County News . .37 Paul Newman Limited . .35 Who’s Who . .38 Payne’s of Glass . .22 Philip Green . .2 SNDN DATES RS Doors . .23 Speen Stores . .10 Issue: 50 Springline Cars . .16 Copy Date: 08/10/10 Sue Fryer . .31 Theme: Oral History (cont.) The King William IV . .19 Approx Pub: 15 November 2010 The Old Plow . .14 Note that Ad copy should be available T.J. Day . .23 two weeks before editorial copy TopDogs . .10 www.speenbucks.org.uk SNDN 49 3 Event Where Contact August Sunday, 1 st Strike Marquee North Dean, 5.00pm Ashley Cooper 488454 Wednesday, 4 th Mens’ Philosophical Society Pink & Lily, 8.30pm Graham Peart 488327 Thursday, 5 th WI – Catching Smugglers Speen Village Hall, 7.45pm Barbara Collett 488348 Sunday, 8 th Porsche Club cars / BBQ KW4 David Hill 488329 Wednesday, 25 th Pub Lunch Club KW4, 12.00 noon Gloria Holmes 488420 September Wednesday, 1 st MPS visit to RAF Uxbridge Uxbridge, 7.00pm/Harrow, Hugh’n Graham Peart 488327 Thursday, 2 nd WI – The Czech Connection Speen Village Hall, 7.45pm Barbara Collett 488348 Thursday, 16 th Speen v North Dean golf Weston Turville John Rogers 562041 Thursday, 30 th WI Garden Club talk Speen Village Hall, 8.00pm Daphne Westray 488742 October Thursday, 7 th WI – New Genetics (Open Mtg) Speen Village Hall, 7.45pm Barbara Collett 488348 Wednesday, 6 th Mens’ Philosophical Society Black Horse, Lacey Green, 8.30pm Graham Peart 488327 Friday, 15 th “Eyes Front” mini theatre North Dean Village Hall, 7.30pm Julie White 562311 November Wednesday, 3 rd Mens’ Philosophical Society The Whip, Lacey Green, 8.30pm Graham Peart 488327 Saturday, 6 th Speen Bonfire Night Speen Playing Field,6.00pm Andy Thompson 488524 Fri/Sat, 12 th /13 th SSG Christmas Market KW4, from 10.00am Christine Symondson 488654 What’s on What’s in Speen and North Dean, 2010 December Wednesday, 1 st Mens’ Philosophical Society Old Plow, Speen, 8.30pm Graham Peart 488327 Thursday, 2 nd WI – The Four Seasons Speen Village Hall, 7.45pm Barbara Collett 488348 Saturday, 11 th Speen Christmas tree/carols Speen Playing Field, 6.00pm Andy Thompson 488524 4 SNDN 49 www.speenbucks.org.uk Dear Reader house prices, or an intrusive sites is particularly difficult. If building process, or an HS2 were an extension or a When we left unsightly air vent as a reason garage rebuild it would be Speen in May for shifting this issue onto limited in terms of footprint for the heat of another part of the country. and told it could only occur the great This is an overcrowded island, where existing buildings had Karakorum and people have to move once stood. HS2 might be a Desert an around for good economic good deal less intrusive if it election was imminent and, reasons. was forced to run on or having done our voting by post alongside existing mainline and proxy, we felt we would be So we need to remind planners tracks to Birmingham. returning to a different land. and government of the As is invariably the case, the economic values of small Not that we are at all obsessive expectations of travellers were villages. Economic resurgence on this particular subject! And to be confounded. Not only has starts in small businesses, and we do need to note that this Speen and North Dean proved small businesses are issue sees our first walk, in the to be hotter than the great increasingly found in small shape of a re-issue of the Speen Karakorum Desert, but the towns and villages. Broadband Heritage Trail, and an great HS2 debate, which might may be more important than indication from Peter Symonds have been submerged in an High Speed in this context. of the great tasks that remain in austerity package, appears as Speen and North Dean are this area. And as we move to live now as ever. We make no home to some 23 small the end of village Summer apology for inserting current businesses, if the membership Madness, and the euphoria of reports and opinions on that of our Small business group is Fetes and FunDays subsides, it debate in this issue, and asking anything to judge by. Then we is worth noting that the 2011 readers, if they have a view have our agricultural interest to Festival Committee has begun which has not been shared or consider, and the importance of meeting, and that they appeal raised, to contact us. We need the Chilterns in tourist and for anyone with ideas to to ensure that the diversity and leisure terms. Gill Kent's contact the secretary, Sue breadth of views held in the column sums up the stresses Taylor. No theme has yet been villages is fully represented and strains on our local farms. made final but it was here. Those who have to make rumoured that they are looking judgements have to see more at "Ghosts and Ghostliness". All This is clearly not a political than the value of retirement aboard the Ghost Train this issue in the confrontational homes: these villages are real winter then? [Ed. Note. sense. All three political parties communities with real Dreaming has become the appear committed to it, and at economic value and should not newer theme, but we can the time of writing no one be disparaged just because they always reflect on nightmares appears to take political are also "scenic". and lost sleep if the Ghost exception to the choice of Train sweeps through . .] routes put forward in the And of course, the villages are planning process. Those who also a hive of building Anne and David Worlock oppose it must therefore be activities. Recession does not [email protected] very clear on their grounds for seem to have dented the urge [email protected] objection. It is all too easy for to extend or re-arrange our those who want to protect a dwelling space. We should way of life to be accused of perhaps remember that "Nimby"-ism and dismissed planning laws are strict in an out of hand. Those who would Area of Outstanding Natural oppose cannot simply point to Beauty, and building on new www.speenbucks.org.uk SNDN 49 5 Barry Stickings offers more woodland views with a challenge The answer to our winter quiz (we bet you guessed The Willotts Farm Garden is clearly a place of quiet even if you didn't know . .) was that enjoyment. We'd be interested in readers' thoughts about the thought bubbles above the Muntjac, and this is Canada the ducks . and this is Speen 6 SNDN 49 www.speenbucks.org.uk Speen Supporters Speen Group Supporters Speen Appetiser for upcoming Dampen one long pastry edge cookbook with water, then bring the Supporters other side of the pastry up over Group benefits The Editor spent considerable the filling and secure the edges. effort to get this special recipe Roll over so the joint is from new from one of SSG's popular underneath. Ladies Lunches - next one Arrange in a ring on a baking sources of fund Spring 2011. The SSG are going sheet, overlapping the ends raising - Phase 2 to keep their other recipes to slightly, dampen to secure. themselves. A booklet of all Speen Supporters Group held their past efforts will available Depending on the event their First Arts & Crafts Fair in at the Spring Lunch, 2011. decorate the wreath with the Village Marquee on Sunday pastry shapes and brush the 11th July from 11:00 - 16:00. SALMON WREATH WITH whole with beaten egg. They presented a mix of talented LEMON BUTTER SAUCE local artists and craftsmen both SERVES 12 Bake in the centre of the oven demonstrating and selling for 30 minutes until brown. beautiful things. There was a 300g/10 1/2 oz full fat soft cheese small entry charge of just £1.00 75g/2 1/4 oz watercress Can be served warm or cold. for adults and all the profits Rind of 1 lemon + juice of from the day will be passed to half a lemon At our Ladies Lunch we made the five hospices we have been 2 crushed garlic cloves *smaller amounts into sausage supporting for many years.