Friday 28 November 2014

Christmas crime prevention and personal safety messages

Thames Valley Police is today launching its Christmas crime prevention and personal safety messages.

The campaign starts with information about online fraud.

Read advice on avoiding online fraud and other crime prevention advice on the Christmas crime prevention page on the Thames Valley Police website.

There will be four further strands in the lead up to and during the Christmas and the New Year festive period.

In full the five strands are
  • Online fraud
  • Personal safety
  • Theft from motor vehicles
  • Burglary dwelling
  • Domestic abuse
Throughout the festive period the Force will be publishing regular updates, tips, videos and advice on Facebook and on Twitter using #TVP_Christmas.

Join Thames Valley Police on Facebook and follow on Twitter

Click for the Thames Valley Police website


Thursday 27 November 2014

Village News

with Margaret Morbey

Confirmation Service

Eleven children from Chearsley were among nineteen from the Benefice who were confirmed at St Dunstan’s Church, Monks Risborough on Sunday November 23. The service was led by Bishop Henry Scriven. Congratulations to Jack, Alex, Oliver, Rory, Tory, Grace, Maddie, Amy Isabelle, Libby and William. More details of the day and photos can be found on the St Nicholas Church website.

3 New Bells - these have now been tuned and are at Whites, the bell hangers in Appleton, Oxford. They will shortly be brought over to St Nicholas church to be hung in time for Christmas. It is hoped that the bells will be on view in the church for a short time before they are hung.

Christmas at The Bell – Christmas Meals will be available from Monday December 1 until December 24 by booking only at The Bell until December 24. A two course meal is priced at £19.95 and 3 courses for £23.95. Please contact The Bell on 01844 208077 or email Sharon.
If you would like to join in the Christmas Turkey Lunch with the regular monthly pub lunchers on Wednesday December 10 at a price of £12, please contact me on 208913.

Sunday Quiz at The Bell - this will be held on Sunday December 7 at 8.30pm. Come in a team or on your own.

Haddenham Mummers - Friday December 12 - they will be performing their traditional Mummers Play in The Bell at 9.30pm as part of their “out of village tour”. All donations go towards local charities which has amounted to over £12,000 since the group was revived in 1976.

Agatha Christie Theatre Company

Click for Windsor bookings

Performances of Black Coffee by Agatha Christie in which Eric Carte has been appearing all over the UK for almost all of 2014 are now over. Eric has a short break after the last performance in Derby before he starts rehearsing again with the Agatha Christie Theatre company, now celebrating its 10th anniversary, in “And Then There were None” -“based on the best-selling thriller of all time with over 100million copies sold, Agatha Christie’s own stage adaptation of this dark and captivating tale will thrill and enthral, as murder unfolds”. It is scheduled for the play to open in Windsor in January 2015 before going on tour with a week in Milton Keynes from July 20.

House of Strangers by new Chearsley author, Tim Bradley.
If you missed the opportunity to buy Tim’s first new adventure book for children/teen/adults at Cuddington Fayre last week, the book is on sale at the Book House in Thame price £6.99. An idea for a Christmas present.

Chearsley Christmas Cards - Alicia Howard has been busy again designing and producing 2 different sets of delightful Christmas cards of Chearsley. They are available in packs of 4 costing £2.50 on sale in Chearsley Shop and The Bell. Proceeds will go towards the 3 New Bells

Family Quiz in January 2015 – this will be held on Saturday January 31 in the village hall. A quiz for all the family, starting at 5.00pm until 8.00pm Tickets cost £10 each to include a fish and chips supper and pudding. More information and details of how to buy tickets will be available soon.

Diary Dates :
  • Monday December 1 Mobile Library at The Green from 10.00 to 10.25am
  • Tuesday December 2 Christmas Bingo at 8.30pm
  • Friday December 5 The Bell is open every Friday for Tea, Coffee and homemade cake. 10.00am to 12.00pm
  • Friday December 5 Unlock The Box at 8.30pm at The Bell. You have to be there to take part in the pub’s new weekly game. Tickets available to purchase throughout the week.
  • Sunday December 7 Family Communion and Junior Church at 10.00am in St Nicholas Church
  • Sunday December 7 Meat Raffle at The Bell at 3.00pm
  • Sunday December 7 Monthly Quiz at The Bell at 8.30pm
  • Wednesday December 10 Christmas Lunch at 12.30pm - contact me on 208913 if you would like to come along.
  • Friday December 12 Haddenham Mummers Play at 9.30pm in The Bell
  • Sunday December 14 Christingle Service at 4.00pm in St Nicholas Church

Monday 24 November 2014

Friday 21 November 2014

Haddenham Medical Centre Newsletter

A copy of the latest Haddenham Health News, including a Staff Update and information on the Flu Campaign 2014, can be downloaded from here.

Thursday 20 November 2014

Garland Workshop


Village News

with Margaret Morbey

Housing Development at Stoney Furlong, Chilton Road
Planning has now been granted for the development of 10 houses including 2 affordable houses after going to appeal. The Appeal Inspector’s decision recognises the lack of impact on the landscape where the houses are sited. It also recognises the quality of the design which will attractively frame the cricket pitch with generously-spaced houses of an appropriate scale, appropriate materials and extensive landscaping which promotes the rural feel of the scheme. Laura and Rose of the Heybrook family will design this landscaping and are glad that it is a condition of the permission. The decision also took account of the provision of a footpath through to the cricket club, the benefits of affordable housing provision (something the Heybrooks wanted to feature, despite it not being an AVDC requirement for a development of this size) and the economic benefit to the village. The Planning Inspector also visited the site of the planning application by John Lloyd on the same day and in the report made it very clear that “each appeal has been considered on its own merits” which should set everyone’s mind at rest as regards precedent. The Inspector concluded that the contributions for the leisure and education sought by AVDC were not valid or properly justified by the Council. However, the Heybrook family and Simon and Sarah Vickers are seeking advice on how they can make donations that will help enhance village facilities for the benefit of the community. The lease on the cricket club ground and new parking will be extended from 3 to 50 years enabling all possible grants to be applied for.

Haddenham and District Film Festival - organised by Haddenham and District Rotary Club recently was considered a great success attracting an average audience of 40 for the 8 films. It is hoped that it will become an annual event.

Elevensies - this was a very successful morning on Saturday November 15, well supported by the village, enjoying coffee, cakes and Christmas gifts. £1000 was raised towards the 3 New Bells. It is hoped that work to install the 3 New Bells in the belfry will begin in the early part of December in time to be rung for Christmas.

Christmas Garland Workshops Friday November 28 at 7.30pm and Saturday November 29 at 10.00am - Joy Payne will be holding 2 workshops in the village hall when she will demonstrate how to make an attractive Christmas garland for the front door. All materials will be provided, just bring secateurs or sharp scissors, and the cost is £25. Please telephone Joy on 01844 208513 or email her at joychearsley@gmail.com if you would like to take part.

Mobile Library – this will next be in the village on Monday December 1 by the village green from 10..00am to 10.25am. The next visit will be after Christmas on December 29.

Christmas Bingo - a Special Christmas edition of Bingo at The Bell will be held on Tuesday December 2 with Eyes Down at 8.30pm. Cash prizes and raffle, fun and laughter with our jolly Christmas bingo callers, Paul and Andy. The raffle held during the November Bingo evening raised £56 which has been added to the funds for the new Oliver Bell which will shortly be hung in the church with the other 2 New Bells.

Christingle Service in St Nicholas Church – this will be held in Chearsley on December 14 at 4.00pm. This is a service for people of all ages, but particularly for children. During the service the children receive a Christingle composed of an orange, a lighted candle, a red ribbon, raisins and sweets, each part representing a symbol of the Christian faith. The collection will be donated to the Children’s Society.

Chearsley Christmas Cards - Alicia Howard has been busy again designing and producing 2 different sets of delightful Christmas cards of Chearsley. They are available in packs of 4 costing £2.50 on sale in Chearsley Shop and The Bell. Proceeds will go towards the 3 New Bells

Diary Dates:
  • Friday November 28 The Bell is open every Friday for Tea, Coffee and home-made cake. 10.00am to 12.00pm
  • Friday November 28 Christmas Garland Workshop with Joy Payne in the village hall at 7.30pm
  • Friday November 28 Unlock The Box at 8.30pm at The Bell. You have to be there to take part in the pub’s new weekly game. Tickets available to purchase throughout the week.
  • Saturday November 29 Christmas Garland Workshop with Joy Payne in the village hall at 10.00am
  • Saturday November 29 Chearsley Cricket Club Dinner and Dance at The Kings Hotel Stokenchurch
  • Sunday November 30 Meat Raffle at The Bell at 3.00pm
  • Monday December 1 Mobile Library from 10.00 until 10.25am.
  • Tuesday December 2 Christmas Bingo at The Bell at 8.30pm

Wednesday 12 November 2014

Neighbourhood Police Newsletter

The Neighbourhood Police Update for this month is now available here.

Click for the Thames Valley Police website

Monday 10 November 2014

Aylesbury police station open day – lost and stolen bicycles

This is a message sent via Thames Valley Alert and has been sent on behalf of Thames Valley Police. (Received 10-11-14)

Thames Valley Police are holding a lost and stolen bicycle open day at Aylesbury police station between 10am and 7pm today.

Any member of the public who has lost their bicycle or had a bicycle stolen is invited to attend the station.

Members of the public will be asked to give a description of their bicycle, with any serial numbers or identifying marks. Officers will be available to check the descriptions and see if they match any of the bicycles at the station. We will then be able to hand any matching bicycles back to their owners.

We have approximately 30 bikes that have been found in the Aylesbury area.
You can register your bike free of charge on the Immobilise website which will help you to retrieve your bike in the event it gets stolen. The Immobilise website links in with the National Mobile Property Register (NMPR) database which the police use to help identify stolen bikes.

The following advice will provide some simple tips to help residents keep their bicycles secure while at home and out and about.

Get a good bike lock. Hardened steel D-shape or check out www.soldsecure.com for certified locks.
  • Always lock your bike, even if you are leaving it for a couple of minutes.
  • Lock your bike to an immovable object – e.g. bike rack or lamp posts.
  • Secure removable wheels and take smaller parts with you (lights, quick-release saddles).
  • Check if your bike is covered by your home insurance.
  • Don’t park your bike in isolated or dimly-lit places.
  • Never leave your bike outside your home unlocked, even just for a minute.
  • Register your bike free of charge on www.immobilise.com

Click for the Thames Valley 

Police website

Thursday 6 November 2014

Village News

with Margaret Morbey

Haddenham Film Festival
The Haddenham and District Film festival when 8 classic films from 8 decades will be screened in venues around Haddenham will be opened on Friday November 14 by acclaimed producer Jeremy Thomas CBE, the leading British film producer who will introduce his Oscar winning “The Last Emperor” at the Bernard Hall, Cuddington at 7.30pm. The two festival films to be shown in Long Crendon are Brighton Rock on Saturday 15 at 7.30pm and The Rocket on Sunday 16 at 3.00pm. Both films will be shown in the Community Library, with its large screen, new projection/audio equipment and comfy seats. Refreshments will be available.
Details of all films and tickets can be obtained on the website www.haddenham-rotary.org.uk or telephone Roger Rickard on 01844 291614

Christmas at The Bell
The Christmas menu is now available at The Bell for meals from Monday December 1 until December 24. It offers a two course meal for £19.95 or 3 courses for £23.95 including a traditional roast turkey Christmas meal, roast lamb or vegetarian alternative. Please book with Sharon on 01844 208077 or email Sharon@thebellchearsley.co.uk

Parish Council Meeting 
The November meeting of the Parish Council will be held in the village hall on Monday November 17 at 7.30pm. Please see the notice board for details of the minutes of the meeting held in October and for the agenda for the November meeting. There is the opportunity at the beginning and end of the meeting to bring up any matters of concern or to comment on the meeting.

Elevensies - Saturday November 15 - Real Coffee, specialist teas and home made cakes by Chearsley Bakers will be on sale in Chearsley village hall on Saturday November 15 from 10.00am until 1.00pm where there will also be a Mini Food Fair with seasonal gifts and goodies for sale. Beryl’s crocheted blankets for £15 will also be on sale. All proceeds will go to the 3 New Bells fund. If anyone has any gifts or cakes they can donate, please bring them along, or contact Alicia Howard.

Chearsley W.I. hold their next meeting on Tuesday November 18 in the village hall at 2.00pm when Louise Reed dressed in character will be talking about Emmeline Pankhurst. Non W. I. Members are very welcome to come for the afternoon at a cost of £4.00.

Monthly Pub Lunch - please let me know if anyone is interested in joining this little group of regular diners at the next Pub Lunch on Wednesday November 19. There is a choice of menu Phone me on 208913. The Christmas Roast Turkey lunch will be on Wednesday December 10 costing £12 per person. Everyone is welcome to come.

Chearsley Cricket Club AGM - this will be held in the cricket pavilion on Monday November 24 at 7.30pm. If you would like to receive advance copies of the agenda, please contact Terry Gadsby . Larry Greenfield is standing down from his position of “Fun & Games”, so the club is looking for someone to take over this role.

Chearsley Cricket Club Dinner and Dance Saturday November 29
Angela Gray still has some tickets for this annual event which will be held at The Kings Hotel, Stokenchurch . Transport to and from Stokenchurch is available for £5. Tickets for the evening of dinner and dancing cost £35 each. Angela can be contacted on 01844 202105 or email angela@grayemail.co.uk.

Christmas Garland Workshops
Joy Payne will be holding 2 workshops in the village hall when she will demonstrate how to make an attractive Christmas garland for the front door. These will be held on Friday November 28 at 7.00pm and Saturday November 29 at 10.00am in the village hall. All materials will be provided, just bring secateurs or sharp scissors, and the cost is £25. Please telephone Joy on 01844 208513 or email her at joychearsley@gmail.com if you would like to take part.

Brown garden waste bins – the last collection date of the year will be on Monday November 24.

Diary Dates:
  • Sunday November 9 Morning Celebration at 10.00am at the Church, followed by service at the War Memorial. Refreshments available afterwards in the village hall.
  • Sunday November 9 Quiz at The Bell at 8.00pm - everyone welcome in teams or on your own.
  • Friday November 14 The Bell is open every Friday for Tea, Coffee and homemade cake. 10.00am to 12.00pm
  • Friday November 14 Unlock The Box at 8.30pm at The Bell. You have to be there to take part in the pub’s new weekly game. Tickets available to purchase throughout the week.
  • Saturday November 15 Elevensies for coffee, tea and homemade cakes in Chearsley Village Hall 10.00am-1.00pm in aid of the 3 New Bells
  • Sunday November 16 Said Communion at 9.00am
  • Sunday November 16 Meat Raffle at The Bell at 3.00pm
  • Monday November 17 Parish Council Meeting in the village hall at 7.30pm
  • Tuesday November 18 W. I. Meeting in the village hall at 2.00pm
  • Wednesday November 19 Pub Lunch at The Bell at 12.30
  • Sunday November 23 Toy Service at 10.00am

Wednesday 5 November 2014

Scam Warning Reminder

This is a message sent via Thames Valley Alert and has been sent on behalf of Thames Valley Police.

Thames Valley Police are reissuing a warning to residents to be on their guard from fraudulent phone calls purporting to be from banks or police officers and requesting bank and card details or asking people to withdraw large amounts of cash.

On Tuesday (28/10) the victim, an elderly man, was contacted by a man claiming to be a police officer from London.The victim was advised to withdraw £7000 from his bank as his bank was suspected of handling counterfeit money and being investigated by both the police and the FBI.

The victim was instructed not to discuss the reason for the withdrawal with the bank.The victim having completed the withdrawal returned home to await collection of the money by a courier.

The bank being suspicious of the withdrawal contacted Thames Valley Police, who were able to respond and intercept the package prior to it being handed over to a taxi in Oxford.

Instructions by the criminals to the taxi firm had initially been to collect a passenger, before it was changed to a package which was to be delivered to an Oxford address. The instruction again changed and the driver was offered £500 to take the package to London.

Det Ch Insp Andy Bird, leading investigations into courier fraud, said: “We continue to work hard to prevent and detect offences of courier fraud across the Thames Valley.

“Offenders are very plausible and target honest upstanding members of the community who are more likely to believe the lies they are told. I urge everyone to remain vigilant. Please read our advice so you are aware of the tactics being used by criminals, so you can prevent yourself and other people you know from becoming a victim of these types of scams.

“We have been working closely with banks and taxi firms to help them identify the factors involved in scams like this, which often target vulnerable members of our community. This crime was fortunately prevented thanks to the quick thinking of the bank staff, who contacted us as soon as they suspected something was amiss.”

The scam, which often targets the elderly and vulnerable, sees the victim receive a phone call from fraudsters who say they are from their bank or the police. They tell the victim that they are calling because there has been suspicious activity on their account and advise them to call the bank from the number on the back of their card to confirm details.

The victim disconnects the phone and dials their bank or police straight away, however the fraudster has kept the telephone line open so even though a number is dialled, it is not connected and the victim is still on the phone to the fraudster, who then gains their trust and asks them to either say or key in their PIN, before telling them their card will be collected and a replacement delivered.

Once the fraudster has all the information they need, a courier is sent to collect the card from the victim. The offender has obtained the person’s name, address, full bank details, the card itself and the PIN. The bank cards are then used fraudulently without the victim’s knowledge.

The fraudsters who carry out this type of crime are very skilled in portraying themselves as authentic bank employees or police detectives, and make the scam seem genuine by asking the victim to ring their bank. Our advice is that, if you receive such a call, end it immediately.

We would also like to ask residents to let any elderly or vulnerable family members, friends, or neighbours know about the scam. Remember, your bank will never attend your home; and neither the bank nor the police will ever collect your bank card or ask for your PIN. The more we can spread the word about this type of fraud, the less success the fraudsters will have.

There are a number of variations to the scam, including:
  • Fraudster asking the victims to withdraw large amounts of cash from their bank take it home and wait for a courier to arrive. The fraudster claims that the money is fake and they are helping the police with their investigation and would get the monies withdrawn back the next day. They are told not to tell the bank staff what the money is for and to make an excuse such as it is required to buy a new car.
  • Fraudsters call the customer pretending to be from the police or a bank and ask them to transfer funds via online banking. Again, they ask the customer to call their bank but keep the line open
  • Fraudsters pretending to be from the police cold- calling members of the public and telling them that their bank account has been compromised by criminals. The fraudster suggests that the person should transfer their bank balance into a ‘safe’ police bank account
If you receive this type of call, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040, or via their website. In an emergency, dial 999.


Click for the Thames Valley Police website