with Margaret Morbey
Steam Train through Chearsley
I know there are a few villagers who are always keen to have information about a steam train coming through Chearsley. On Sunday October 6th, The Cathedrals Express Luncheon train with the locomotive Bittern (not the correct engine for this line my reliable informant regrets to tell me! But who else would know? ) leaves Paddington at 11.00am arriving at Stratford On Avon at 2.15pm. It is due to return from Stratford at 5.30pm to be in Paddington at 8.45pm. It is estimated that the train should pass through Chearsley just after 12 noon returning through Chearsley at approximately 7.45pm. But be prepared for a wait! As ever, there is the decision to be made about the best place to view the train – close up at Haddenham station for a second or two, or for a slightly longer glimpse from afar in a field. Let’s hope everything goes to plan and we aren’t all waiting in vain.
October in The Bell – the nights might now be drawing in and the evenings cooler, but The Bell has plenty of logs in store for the cosy woodburner. Sharon has some special events planned for October and is also happy to hear of any events that could be held in the pub. Tuesday October 1 – Bingo at 8.30pm. Players eat for £7.50; Sunday October 6 – Quiz Night at 8pm; Tuesday October 8 – Dessert Night (booking necessary); Tuesday October 22 Steak Night with choice of fillet, sirloin and rump steak (booking necessary): Tuesday October 29 - Best dressed Pumpkin competition – judging at 7.30pm. Thursday October 31 Children’s Halloween Party from 4.30 until 6pm - tickets available from the bar. Throughout the month from Tuesdays to Thursdays, The Bell offers 2 meals for £10 from a selected menu. Friday nights continue to be Fish Nights with 2 fish and chips and a bottle of wine at £25.
Quiz on Saturday October 5
A reminder that this is being held in the village hall starting at 7.30pm when Eric Carte will be the quizmaster, with proceeds in aid of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. There are still some tickets available at a cost of £5 each with a maximum of 8 players per team. Tea and coffee will be provided. Please bring your own nibbles. Contact Tony Hall on 01844 208474 or email tazv.hall@tesco.net.
Vacancy for Parish Councillor - the deadline for 10 electors to request an election for this post has now been corrected and amended to October 1. If no election is to be held, the Parish Council will co-opt a new councillor at their next meeting on Monday October 14 in the village hall.
Recycling and waste collection dates – the very useful laminated sheet giving details and dates of collections has now finished and will not be replaced. Details of collection dates can be found via a link under the Village Diary header. Friday September 27 - the recycling bins and food bins will be collected. The following week, October 4 - the ordinary waste bins and food bins will be collected.
Cuddington Village Picture House
Cuddington is delighted to announce that after a lot of planning and hard work to equip the new cinema facilities, including a commercial sized 4.5m screen, high fidelity multi-channel surround sound system, the Village Picture House is now up and running. The first of a regular programme of big-screen viewings is on October 3 in the Bernard Hall when Iron Man 3 will be shown. Tickets priced at £4 for adults and £3 for under 18s, students and Over 60s for this have nearly all sold. In addition, Cuddington is one of 250 venues (and the only village hall) licensed to show live and pre-recorded filming of National Theatre productions. Tickets for these will be £10 each. The first screening is Othello, tomorrow September 26 which is now sold out. Tickets for the films can be bought at Cuddington Stores or online via Cuddington website where there is a calendar of films for October and November. The advice is to book early as seats are limited to 50 – newly upholstered with arm rests. There is a licensed bar selling wine, beer and soft drinks, coffee and tea, ice cream and snacks, catering by John and Elaine of Cuddington Stores.
The Silver Line – this is a new service spearheaded by Esther Rantzen, to support older people by linking them into varied services around the country, and offering a 24 hour, year round telephone befriending service, in the hope that those suffering from neglect, loneliness and abuse can be helped. This will operate in much the same way as Childline has helped abused children just by a phone call. There has been a very successful pilot stage in the North, Jersey and Isle of Man, funded by a BIG lottery grant of £5million with the aim of launching it nationally on November 25th this year. Donations from Comic Relief and support from BT still do not cover the costs of the running the helpline, of making sure every older person knows the Silver Line telephone number. £1 and half million still needs to be found from other trusts, foundations, corporate supports and public donations. Volunteers for the befriending service are needed. If you would like to donate or volunteer, please email amy@thesilverline.org.uk. Leaflets about this new service will soon be circulated with the number 0800 328 8888 that can be used at any time.
Charity Concert in aid of The Hospice of St Francis - following last year’s successful concert in Tring when nearly £2000 was raised, The Oxford Fiddle Group Concert will be held at Victoria Hall, Tring on Sunday September 29 at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £10 in advance and £12 at the door. Please contact David Lonsdale on 01296 631791 or email lonsdales@hotmail.co.uk
