Thursday 29 April 2010

Nudist update

Thursday 19:20

We have just received a report that the nudist (reported in Margaret's column below) has been seen again on the Chilton Road. He may be associated with a black VW Golf, partial registration beginning N604...

If you have any information, or indeed see the culprit, please call Thames Valley Police on 08458 505 505, or dial 999 if you feel you or anyone else may be threatened.

Village News

with Margaret Morbey

Chearsley Cricket Club
Almost £1,000 has now been raised thanks to their recent Quiz night for funds for their clubhouse extension.  Profit from the bar run by The Bell amounted to another £280.

St George’s Meal at The Bell
 A good number of patriotic Chearsley inhabitants, plus a few from our neighbouring villages, celebrated  St George’s Day with a four course traditional roast beef meal . There was  much flag waving, “singing”  led by our Parish Council chairman, and friendly rivalry over the quiz, which was won, of course, by the best table, correctly naming most of the English heroes and answering questions on St. George and associations.  Thank you to Ollie and Sharon and staff for arranging the evening.

Quiz in aid of Florence Nightingale Hospice
Another quiz, this time held in Chearsley Village Hall on Saturday 24th April was a sell out, with 10 tables booked.  The raffle made £150, which together with the takings for the quiz amounted to about £500.

Car Pool
Keith Wright is appealing for more volunteer car drivers to join the car pool, which takes people to  hospital or to keep   doctor’s appointments.  Please get in touch with Keith on 208607 if you would like to help out. Obviously, the more on the list,  the better.

Speeding Signs
You will probably all have noticed the speeding signs which went up one weekend and were gone the next.  A good attempt by our Parish Council at getting something done about the persistent speeding problem throughout our village, but deemed illegal by Bucks County Council on account of their size, material used and positioning.   The one on The Green can remain as that land is not part of the highway, at the risk of the Parish Council.

Virgin London Marathon
David Taylor of Watts Green has again taken part  in the Virgin London Marathon on 25th April for the second time, when he completed the 26 miles in 3 hours 17 minutes, an improvement on his previous entry. Sounds like a lot of hard work and effort.    Congratulations  David!

Mobile Library
This will next be by The Green on Monday 10th May from 1.10 until 1.35pm.

Annual Parish Meeting
A lively and well- attended meeting took place under the chairmanship of Nic Brown on Wednesday 21st April in the village hall with reports from Michael Edmonds, our District and County Councillor, commenting on difficult financial times at all levels, on the harsh winter which caused salt problems and shortages, the potholes with the programme set up to mend these. He spoke about new speed limits in the area which will be in place by the Summer, about support for the elderly, the new theatre and development  at Waterside in Aylesbury, with the demolition of the old Civic Centre, carpark and old swimming pool.  He answered criticisms about Chearsley’s lack of salt at the beginning of the snowy period, caused by mistakes by the Parish Council and AVDC and which will not happen again, the ongoing poor state of the roads into the village and  gave assurances that the potholes  in Chearsley will be mended by the Summer.  Nic thanked Michael for all the help he gave to the Parish Council.

Sue Jones, our PCSO spoke that the  main roles  she dealt with were speeding, parking and criminal damage and vandalism. She did try to visit and walk round Chearsley frequently, and would try to increase her visits.  We are fortunate in having had little crime this past year in Chearsley – 1 house burglary and 2 vehicle thefts. Staff at Waddesdon Police Station had recently been increased, so there was every chance of a call there being answered personally.  Her mobile number is also available.  Referring to the newly erected speeding signs, she volunteered to monitor their affect. We were all intrigued to hear about a naked man who had been seen in Chilton road recently and in the surrounding area.  So, keep a watch out!

Nic Brown’s report emphasized the importance of the shop and the pub as the hubs of village life and how vital it is for Chearsley residents to support them actively. Jay and Sharon and Oli were thanked for their hard work in what they do. Thanks were also given to Jay for initiating and producing the monthly newsletter.  Illustrating many achievements and occurrences throughout the past year , Nic mentioned the arrival of our new Vicar, John Wynburne,  more allotments  now made available , our excellent and much admired website, village snow clearing efforts, the Christmas tree and celebrations, tug of war against Cuddington,and Stockwell, where some work has been started.  He is very concerned about reducing the speeding in the village, not only along the main roads but also by residents in the village,  and invited us to challenge known speeders, as he had recently done.  When plans have been put together about curbing speeding, a village meeting will be called.  In the meantime, the new speeding signs had been erected, which brought some criticism from the audience, about clutter, distraction and wrong positioning. Other  future plans also include erection of new salt bins,  new teak benches on The Green and improvements to  the footpath across The Green and more work to be done on Stockwell.

There were many comments from the audience about  the roads during the snowy period, the lack of salt,and  the ensuing potholes.  The phone number of Highways on Call – 0845 2302882 is for reporting pothole problems.

Dog fouling was also discussed at some length and it was agreed that although the Parish Council had previously dismissed installing dogwaste bins due to the expense,  they would look into this again.  Awareness of this problem  would be a subject for the Newsletter.

The H2 High Speed Rail was touched on and assurances given that these plans would be monitored by the Parish Council and the village would be kept up-to-date.

Reports were also given about the Village Hall and about the village car service.

EDL March on May Day - Update

For the latest information on the planned protest march by the English Defence League (EDL) in Aylesbury this Saturday, see this page on the AVDC website.

And just in - a direct link to a pdf of Road Closures from Thames Valley Police.

Saturday 24 April 2010

Chearsley Camp - 22/23rd May 2010

TICKETS - are now on sale at £2 per person.  Under 3's free.  Contact Sharon on 01844 208740 or sharon@cloverdale.biz to get yours.
 WANTED - is anyone buying a TV or fridge soon?  We need large cardboard boxes as we want to build a shanty town as one of the camping activities. Contact Sharon if you have any.

PACT








Have YOU ever thought about FOSTERING?

There is a recognised shortage of 10,000 Foster Carers in the UK. PACT (Parents And Children Together), founded in 1911, is also known as the Oxford Diocesan Council for Social Work inc. We are a registered charity working to improve life chances for children. The focus of our work is within Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire and aims to build and strengthen families.

We are an approved Adoption and Fostering Agency. We have a history of finding safe, loving families for children in care. Here are a few facts about Fostering:
1.    Did you know you don’t have to be married to become a Foster Carer?
2.    You don’t have to have children already although you do need to have experience of caring for children.
3.    Did you know you get paid a Fostering Allowance of £335.70 a week to be a Foster Carer which is tax free and won’t affect any other benefits?
4.    Most of the children who need fostering are known as ‘hard to place’ children, they will usually be 8+ years of age.

Fostering is a hard but very rewarding job. If you think you might have what it takes to become a Permanent Foster Carer or you want to find out more then contact PACT now on 0800 731 1845 e-mail fostering@pactcharity.org or visit www.pactcharity.org

Thursday 22 April 2010

Protest by the EDL: Aylesbury town centre on May 1st.

The English Defence League (EDL) are planning to hold a protest in Aylesbury town centre on Saturday May 1st. AVDC and Thames Valley Police are concerned enough about the event to have published two leaflets available in pdf format from this link.
These are: Frequently asked questions - residents' leaflet and Frequently Asked Questions - town centre businesses. Of the two, the second is more readable, and is possibly more applicable to non-residents of Aylesbury as it covers the advice given to shops and pubs and how it may affect their service to you.
It is worth noting the general advice given:
Please don’t come as spectators. In the morning, it is expected that some businesses will open as usual. During the time of the protest, the town is not a good place for children and they should be accompanied by an adult.
I'll print out and leave a handful of leaflets at the Tearooms and The Bell.
Leif

Village News

with Margaret Morbey

Chearsely Cricket Club
The Cricket Club held a very successful Quiz on Saturday 17th April in the Bernard Hall, Cuddington, when about 100 people booked a table and enjoyed curry and cake (and probably a bit of real ale from the bar). An estimate of over £800 was made which will go towards the cost of the Clubhouse extension.

Trip to Mrs Warren’s Profession at the Comedy Theatre
A coach party from Chearsley enjoyed a sunny day in London last Saturday 17th April to see their favourite Chearsley actor, Eric Carte, add a touch of humour in his own inimitable way as Rev. Samuel Gardner to this Bernard Shaw play which also stars Felicity Kendal. A photo of Eric in costume taken at the Theatre with his Chearsley supporters is on show in the Tearooms. Thank you Eric, for being the cause of our delightful day out. It was a shame that 3 of our intended party were unable to come, on account of the volcanic ash disruption of flights. One, planning to fly in especially for the trip from Madrid, and two others stuck in Marrakesh on holiday. For a number of us, the day was concluded with a curry meal in the Tearooms, thanks to Jay and her staff who hurried from the coach to get things ready and to look after us all. The play is running at the Comedy Theatre, Panton Street until June 19th. Leaflets are available in the Tearooms.

Long Service Certificate with Aylesbury Choral Society
Rosemary Wallis has recently been given a long service certificate as recognition for 48 years singing with the Aylesbury Choral Society. Congratulations to her. Throughout the many years Rosemary has lived in Chearsley, she has contributed to many societies and events, not least, the Church, as Church Warden, running Junior Church, chairing the Fete committee, member and President of Chearsley W.I. and not least her monthly Senior Citizens’ tea at her home. There are probably more. Well done, Rosemary and thank you.

Short Mat Bowls
This has now ceased meeting for the Summer period. Some of the members play at Thame Bowls Club which meets everyday at the club in Queen’s Road, Thame and where new members will be made most welcome. Indeed, a recruitment drive is being held at Thame Market, where you may recognize one of their members, Bill Giles, now retired BBC weather presenter.

Bill Giles at Chearsley W.I.
An interesting and entertaining talk by Bill Giles attracted a good number of visitors to Chearsley W.I. on Tuesday, 20th April.

Refuse and Recycling collection
Wednesday, May 5th is the next date when all recycling is collected – paper, plastics, cans, and the glass containers, in addition to the bins. Please note that cardboard is not collected. There are containers at Haddenham Railway station for this.

Thursday 15 April 2010

Village News

with Margaret Morbey

Parish Meeting – Wednesday, 21st April
There has been a change of date for the Annual Parish Meeting which now takes place in The Village Hall at 7.30pm on 21st April. Everyone is welcome, when all village matters, events and future projects are discussed.

Chearsley Show
We now have the date for our annual fruit and vegetable and handicraft show. It will be held on Saturday, September 4th in Chearsley Village Hall. More details and schedules will be available in due course. Now is the time for sowing with the Show in mind, and to keep this Saturday free.

Mobile Library
This next comes to Chearsley on Monday April 26th, when it stops by The Green at 1.10pm until 1.35pm. If you are a library user, please consider using this village facility in order to keep it calling here.

Celebrate St George’s Day at The Bell
There may be a few places available at The Bell for Friday, 23rd April, when there will be a patriotic and traditional celebration of the English Patron Saint. The Bell are offering a 4 course Roast Beef meal, accompanied by flag waving, hearty singing, fun and laughter and a quiz of famous faces.

Tea Rooms
Summer has arrived in the Tearooms, with a new menu. Come along, bring some sunshine, sit outside at the smart new tables, order a drink and something to eat and watch Chearsley life unfold in front of you! On the menu are quiches, salads, baguettes, cream teas, and a selection of Jay-made main meals. The shop, as always, offers fresh milk, bread and most general groceries. Now is the time to have winter clothing or bedding dry-cleaned, which is collected every Tuesday and Friday and returned on the following visit.

Tuesday 13 April 2010

Just moved in to Chearsley?

Advice just received from the Citizen's Advice Bureau:

"To vote in any election you must be on the electoral register. Registration forms are delivered to every household each autumn, and generally people can check if they are registered to vote by contacting their local council. But if you have recently moved, then you need to register by visiting your local electoral registration office and filling in a registration form. Alternatively you can apply online, print off the form and sign it, then send it off to your electoral registration office.
You can apply to be added to the register or to have your details amended on the register at any time throughout the year, but registration applications must be received between two to four weeks before polling day, depending on the election timetable, and registration can take up to eight weeks, so register as soon as you can to be sure you don’t lose your vote.
It’s important to be aware that there are two versions of the electoral register. The full version lists everyone in the constituency who is eligible to vote. This is available to political parties, some government agencies and credit reference agencies. It is also available for public inspection all year round at council offices and certain other places. There is also an edited version of the electoral register which is available for open sale. You have the right to opt out of this version of the register.
For more information about the process, and restrictions on who can register to vote, see the Citizens Advice website www.adviceguide.org.uk and the Electoral Commission’s website www.aboutmyvote.co.uk ."

Following in last year's Footsteps...

The Footsteps Craft & Drama Day held last year proved very popular, starting off in the village hall, making crafts - many used as props later - and then walking down through the village, ending up at the church. Last year we walked in the "footsteps" of Jesus learning about his life through stories, crafts, drama and singing. This year we will be walking in the footsteps of Moses, making baskets to float baby Moses, parting the waves, decorating a golden calf, seeing bread fall from the skies, water from rocks, burning bushes and lots more.
Please put Wed 25th August in your diaries now and let Sharon know if you are able to offer help on the day: Tel 208740 or email sharon@cloverdale.biz.

Chearsley PC Annual Meeting

The Chairman invites all members of the Parish to this meeting on Wednesday April 21st at 8.00pm in the Village Hall.
Take this opportunity to have your say about what goes on in the village and to hear about current projects.

Thursday 8 April 2010

Village News

with Margaret Morbey

Wedding Congratulations
Richard Grimsdell, middle son of Sue and Peter, former landlord of The Bell in Chearsley, married Dawn Andrews on Easter Saturday at Chearsley Church. All the best to them both for their future together.

Bingo at The Bell
A good number were at another successful Bingo night at The Bell on Tuesday, 6th with good fortune attracted to a couple of lucky tables. A raffle raised over £40 towards the cost of Chearsley’s Fayre. The Bingo lingo gives rise to a few questions of the origin of the calling names and I have tracked down the reason for the association of Number 9 and Doctor’s Orders. “Number 9” was the name of a laxative in World War II. Not much call for that in The Bell!

Chearsley W.I.
Their next meeting will be on Tuesday, 20th April at 2.oo pm in the Village Hall, when ex-BBC weather forecaster Bill Giles OBE will be giving a talk on “Presenting the BBC Weather Forecast”. Please do come along, as the meeting is open to everyone, members or not, to what will be a very interesting afternoon. Let’s hope the weather is favourable! There will be tea and cakes for refreshments afterwards.

Parish Meeting Wednesday 21st April
We are all invited to the Annual Parish Meeting in the Village Hall at 7.30pm, when we have an opportunity to hear about current and future plans for Chearsley from the Chairman of the Parish Council, Nic Brown, and we can air our views on village matters. Members of the Parish Council will be in the Hall from 7.00 to discuss any matters of concern.

Sunshine Club
The Spring Bazaar will be on Saturday, April 17th in The Bernard Hall, Cuddington starting at 2pm. There will be cakes, plants, books, bric-a-brac stalls, a raffle, tombola, and teas. The Sunshine Club is a social group which meets every other week in Cuddington. It welcomes anyone over 60 and several Chearsley residents enjoy going to the meetings for tea, bingo, cards and outings. If anyone would like to help out on the tea rota, please contact Sherry Scott on 291526 who would be delighted to hear from you.

Village Happenings
The fourth, April edition is now out and you should have received a copy. Extra copies are available at the Tearooms.

Wednesday 7 April 2010

Family Photo Shoot - Waddesdon Manor


Our local photographer Sharon Sampson is holding a photo shoot at Waddesdon Manor on Thursday 15th April.
The shoot is a bargain at £50 and includes a CD of all the prints. She still has a few slots left, so if you are interested, please contact her on sharon@cloverdale.biz or ring 208740.