Tuesday 23 January 2018

Village News

with Margaret Morbey : 01844-208913

Diamond Wedding
Michael and Yvonne Edmonds of Lower Green Farm celebrated their Diamond Wedding on Boxing Day last year with a gathering of family and friends.



They were very proud to receive a celebratory message from the Queen. I don’t suppose Christmas jumpers like the one Michael is wearing in the photos were around 60 years ago. Congratulations and all the very best to them both for many more years together.

Pothole Problems
The Parish Council would like to draw your attention to a press release recently issued by Bucks County Council about the winter pothole menace. Parish Council members will report potholes as they see them but it is also important that all of us report any potholes by using the potholes hotline report line as requested by Bucks C.C who usually will respond quickly to the reports if any safety issue is involved.
“This winter’s weather has been tough on Buckinghamshire’s roads – while the heavy snowfall in December was the most remarkable weather event, the worst conditions for roads are actually when the ground temperature fluctuates constantly between just above and just below zero. Pothole formation is accelerated by this “freeze-thaw” effect, whereby moisture gets into small cracks in the road surface and expands when it freezes, then thaws out when the temperature rises. This process repeats until the road surface begins to break up and potholes are formed. “Transport for Buckinghamshire” will investigate every pothole reported to them and react on a risk based prioritisation process – put, simply that means the worst ones will be attended to first as a matter of urgency. But we’re not mind readers and the road network is far too vast for us to possibly know where all the potholes are, so we need members of the public to report them to us either using the online form which only takes a few minutes, or by calling if it’s dangerous or an emergency. I would ask that everyone be patient while we deal with the fallout of a bad winter .”
Potholes should be reported, as well as any other road issue, using the Report forms on the County Council website at www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/transport-and-roads/report-a-problem/report-a-pothole, or to phone 01296 382416 or 486630 (out of hours).
Every cloud has a silver lining, however, when 3 separate vehicle incidents with the same pothole in Winchendon Road on a recent Saturday afternoon, evening, resulted in the occupants having to wait for help from the AA. They were very lucky to be able to seek and find refuge, warmth and food and drink from The Bell while they waited and The Bell was glad of their custom. Unfortunate for these drivers who had spent an enjoyable afternoon at Waddesdon Manor for their day to end so unhappily. The pothole has now been repaired.

Village Hall
The new village hall is really taking shape now. A reminder that there is a village meeting to seek agreement for the Village Hall Management Committee to sell off a small strip of land to the owners of 2 Chestnut View, Chilton Road. Please come to Willow Corner at 8pm on Monday January 29 for more information and to agree the resolution. If you are still considering giving a donation towards the cost of the village hall, please go to the Village Hall website and look for the link for making donations. If possible tick the gift aid box so that this can be claimed to augment funds.

The Bell
January is traditionally a very quiet month for The Bell, while people try to recover from the excesses and cost of Christmas, and there is now a tradition of Dry January which keeps people away from the pub. . To tempt you in to our delightful pub during January and February, there are vouchers available offering £5 off your bill when 2 people dine together and each enjoy a 2 course meal. The offer excludes Sundays, Bingo evenings and Valentines Day. Wednesdays are now curry nights for £10 including a pint and Friday is Fish Night.

Burns’ Night Supper on Saturday January 27
This is the first celebration event of the year at The Bell when a 2 or 3 course feast is on offer. On the menu is Cullen Skink soup, Scotch egg with tomato salsa dip for starters, Haggis, neeps and tatties, or Scottish Stovies (Beef stew) or a vegetarian Haggis with neeps and tatties. For dessert there is Cranachan or Whisky truffle cake. 2 courses cost £17.95 and just £2 more for 3 courses. Booking is essential, so please let Sharon or her staff know you would like to book a table as soon as possible. Expect some Scottish music and Robbie Burns poetry and plenty of fun.

Sunshine Club Matinee Cinema is presenting "Mrs Brown" (with subtitles) starring Judi Dench, Billy Connolly and Geoffrey Palmer, on Monday 29th January at The Bernard Hall, Cuddington. Doors open at 1pm for 1.30pm start. "Mrs Brown" is an entertaining if not entirely factual account of the relationship between Queen Victoria and her Scottish groom, John Brown. Tickets are £5 (£4 concessions) and includes tea and cake during the interval and can be pre-booked on 01844 291526. Some tickets might well be available on the door.

Village of the Year
Have you been watching the Village of the Year programmes introduced by Penelope Keith on Channel 4? This coming Wednesday, January 24th, the programme will feature Haddenham, hoping to be announced as the winner in the semi finals to go through to the finals. Tune into Channel 4 at 3pm.

A Thames Valley Police Constable Recruitment Information Event will be held on Wednesday January 31 at Aylesbury Multicultural Community Centre, Friarscroft Way, HP20 2TE from 6.45 to 8.15pm. Come along and speak to serving officers about the role. More information is available at www.thamesvalley.police.uk/join-us.

Thank you from Podge
Andrew is his real name, but known to most as 'Podge' - and myself - would like to thank everyone who bought his Christmas tags from the pub and to everyone who has been giving old Christmas cards to Phil, when they know where to find him, and leaving packages of cards on my doorstep. Your kindness and support is much appreciated. Thank you also to Sharon for making room for the basket of tags on the bar.

St Nicholas Church services :

  • Sunday January 28 Family Service at 10am