Wednesday 2 July 2014

Village News

with Margaret Morbey

It has not really been a good time for Chearsley these last two weeks. Some sad news to hear of the death of Steve Vear in his early 50s after an illness of a few months. He was known to so many in the village in different ways, through the cricket club, the church, The Bell, the shop and Post Office, where he worked for a few years, his veg plot and Veg-Boxes, gardening for many, teaching maths, always a familiar sight in his old Landrover – just like something out of Midsomer Murders. It was good that he was able to have a few drinks at The Bell in recent weeks. Steve’s funeral will be at Chearsley Church on Wednesday July 9 at 2.00pm. His family welcome all friends to the church and afterwards at the Cricket Club.
Elsie Lambert who lived in Winchendon Road with her son Howard has also recently died. She was often to be seen at her allotment plot. There is also news of Jack Neil’s death. Jack lived for many years in a bungalow in Shupps Lane and died on Sunday June 23 in Castlebar Care Centre, Sydenham, London. Jack was a church warden at St. Nicholas for many years. Details of the arrangements for the funeral which will be held in Chearsley Church will be put on the notice board when know.
It is hoped that Tony Saunders of Shupps Lane is now making good progress after a recent fall from a roof and an operation in Stoke Mandeville. Someone let me have some good news please.

Peacocks
It would be interesting to know more about the peacock and peahen ( or is it 2 peahens?) that have been heard and seen in Chearsley in the past couple of weeks. There have been reports of them being seen on various roofs throughout the village and last Sunday I saw them on a roof in School Lane. I know there have been peacocks in Dadbrook, Cuddington, in the past. I haven’t seen them for many years so don’t know if these Chearsley ones are a Cuddington visitation. I am sure we would all be interested to hear from anyone who owns them or knows where they come from.

Send a Cow
There is a new collecting box on the bar in The Bell with thanks to Sharon, to support the Send a Cow charity. This initiative is a UK-based international development charity that works with poor African families to promote self-sufficiency through the development of small sustainable businesses based on growing and selling food. It provides training, livestock, seeds and support to families to equip them to make the best use of their land and resources. The current emphasis is in providing dairy cows which will help support poor rural families to feed themselves over a period of time and help them to establish sources of income and nutrition for their children. Throughout the current two months, British Government Overseas Aid funds will match every penny raised by charitable collections in this country. Members of St Nicholas Church Chearsley hope that villagers will agree to support the initiative in whatever way then can, including contributing via this collection box in The Bell.

Pet Sitting – in aid of Send a Cow. Libby is offering to sit your pets – chickens, cats, dogs, while you are away. She is asking for donations in support of Send a Cow and can be contacted on 01844 208740.

Shed and garage break-ins - Crime Prevention and Security Marking Event
A locked shed in the garden of a house in Bernard's Close has recently been broken into overnight. Nothing was taken, but a lot of damage done. On the same night, the garage of Pear Tree Lodge, Dark Lane was broken into and again, nothing was taken, but damage done in breaking in. Since then, there have been more shed break-ins in the village, locks broken and lawnmowers and other equipment stolen. If anyone has any information on any of the break-ins they are asked to contact PC Kingham on 101. As a result of these recent crimes, a Crime Prevention and Security marking event has been arranged to take place on The Green Chearsley on Saturday July 19 between 1.00 and 3.00pm. The local neighbourhood police will give crime prevention advice and security mark your power tools and lawnmowers.

Aylesbury Vale Community Safety Partnership has prepared a pocket sized card with tips to help keep residents from being victims of house burglaries, including a holiday check list to keep your house safe while you are away on holiday and advice to keep doors, windows and side gates locked even when you are out in the garden. The cards can be found at various outlets, such as libraries and doctors surgeries.

Slow Down Sign – there is now a Vehicle Activated Sign to warn motorists that they are travelling at more than the 30mph speed limit in Chilton Road. This is thanks to the work of the Parish Council and as often is the case has taken a while to achieve. The sign is moveable and will, when the Parish Council decides, be placed on one of the other busy main roads into the village.

Cuddington Wild West Fete on Saturday July 12 2.00pm at Lower Green – with all the usual stalls. Teas at Tyringham Hall; Grand draw with a top prize of £100 voucher for the Mole and Chicken; an Auction offering 15 lots, including an overnight stay at The Greyhound on the Test at Stockbridge, voted 2014 Michelin Pub of the year; a competition to design a sheriff badge open to all ages. Please go to Cuddington village website for more details. Cuddington Fete is considered to be one of the best in the County and great to have it on our doorstep. A nice walk over the fields to enjoy all the fun of the Fete, weather permitting.

Marie Curie Cancer Care in Bucks
This organisation provides free care for people with a terminal illness in their own home and gives vital emotional support to the family. Volunteers are needed to join a volunteer fundraising group in the Aylesbury area to raise funds and further awareness in the local communities of the nursing services of Marie Curie. Please contact Hazel Bendon, community fundraiser at her office in Northampton on 01604 258758 or email her at hazel.bendon@mariecurie.org.uk if you would like to help.

WWI Lights Out – Marking World War I centenary - Lights Out is an invitation to everyone in the UK to turn off their lights from 10 to 11pm on Monday August 4, leaving on a single light or candle for this shared moment of reflection marking the hour that Britain entered World War I one hundred years ago. A limited edition of Centenary candles will be on sale at M & S stores from 4 July, price £4.00 with all profits going to The Royal British Legion. It is hoped that a million candles will be lit throughout the UK to remember the million and more Commonwealth service personnel who lost their lives in World War I. A candlelit vigil will be held at Westminster Abbey at the same time. Lights Out is a headline project of the cultural programme 14-18 NOW which was initiated by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.

Diary Dates
  • Saturday July 12 Cuddington Fete 2.00pm
  • Sunday July 13 – Bring and Share Picnic in Ann and Paul Persson’s Garden after Morning Celebration
  • Monday July 14 - Mobile Library in The Bell car park from 10.00 until 10.24am
  • Saturday July 19 tool security marking on The Green from 1.00pm until 3.00pm also security advice