Monday 31 July 2017

Thames Valley Police Open Day : Saturday 5 August

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

There is less than a week to go until Thames Valley Police opens its doors once again, to host the eleventh force Open Day on Saturday 5 August. The event is being held at our Training Centre in Sulhamstead, near Reading (RG7 4DX) and will be open between 10am and 4pm.

With over 40 exhibitors attending, there is something for everyone. This year the Open Day promises to be even bigger and better than before. Here are just some of the highlights in the jammed packed programme:
  • Become a detective for the day and solve the crime
  • Arena displays showcasing the specialist dog, horse and public order teams
  • See the force helicopter up close and meet some of the pilots
  • Listen to expert talks about tactical armed policing, the dangers of sexting and how we are combatting organised crime
  • Children’s fancy dress – come dressed in police themed costumes
  • Name a police puppy competition
  • Sample some mouth-watering delights in the Fun Food Kitchen
  • Visit the on-site museum to learn about some of our most notorious cases.
For the first time, visitors will be able to become a detective for the day. Working with our Forensic Investigation Unit, you can solve various clues to reveal how Mr Money Bags met his unfortunate demise. Children are also encouraged to come dressed in police themed costume, with a parade at midday and a fabulous prize up for grabs.

The theme this year is Children and Young People and there will be a dedicated Kids Zone featuring our Cadets and Mini Police recruits. We are also supporting SAFE, a charity that helps people aged between 8 and eighteen who have been affected by crime within Thames Valley.

For a taster of what to expect, visit the TVP Open Day 2016 webpage.

Limited parking is available and will be offered on a first come, first served basis. Dogs are not permitted (except for assistance dogs) and must not be left in vehicles.

The Open Day will close at 4pm with the last entry at 3.30pm.

Click for the Thames Valley Police website

Friday 28 July 2017

Village News

with Margaret Morbey : 01844-208913


Many in the village will know Paul Persson, a tall, dignified man who opened up his lovely garden at Long Meadow, Dark Lane to host the Meadow Song concerts, and also welcomed many to Church weekends and occasions there.

Ann has contacted me with the sad news of Paul’s recent death.
“It is with sadness that I have to tell you that my dearest husband of 58 years, missed a step and fell while on holiday with our family in Corfu. He badly fractured his femur near a hip replacement and injured his head causing a little bleeding on the brain. He was taken to Corfu hospital and a week later we were air-ambulanced home and he was taken to Stoke Mandeville, where we were greeted by Claire Lazaruk who works in A & E.
He rested for a week and on Monday 24th he was operated on to reconstruct his hip, but his heart could not take the strain and he passed away during the operation. We will miss him so much as he was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. He is at peace with God, whom he loved and served.
His funeral will be at St Mary’s Church, Thame at 2.30pm on Thursday 24th August and all will be welcome to join us. Probably best to car share, because many people are expected to attend and parking is not easy in Thame”.


Thursday 20 July 2017

Village News

with Margaret Morbey : 01844-208913

Chearsley Cricket Club 1st XI
There is good news about the club’s 1st XI who are currently placed 3rd in Division 6 of the Cherwell League, having won 6 and drawn 2 of their 11 games to date. 2nd XI News from the 2nd XI is not so good, as a shortage of players has meant a number of their games in the Cherwell League have been forfeited. They are currently bottom of Division 10. The Club are appealing for more players to come and join them. If you would like to play or know someone who may do, please contact Pete Redfern on 07775 618 929 or Adam Lazaruk on 07865 093 154.

Kenny Baker, who has played for the club since 1993, captaining the 1st XI from 1999 to 2002, has played his last game when he took two wickets against Sandford St Martin in a fine Chearsley victory last Saturday. The Club presented him with an autographed shirt and wish him and his wife, Carol a very happy retirement in their new home in the Lake District.
The Juniors: There are 80 registered with the club this year and they have enjoyed another successful season which was celebrated at their Presentation on Tuesday July 18.
Chairman’s Match Sunday July 23: This is a friendly match between old and young players of the club and everyone is welcome to come and enjoy a gentle, relaxing afternoon when the bar will be open and a BBQ available following the game. Play starts at 2pm this Sunday at the ground.
Annual Dinner and Dance: This is advance notice of the annual evening which will again be held at Magnolia Park, this year on Saturday November 11. More details will be available shortly.

Classic and Vintage Fun Day Sunday September 10
More details of this annual event raising funds for the juniors of the Cricket Club are available on their website and face book page. The Hurricane flypast has been booked and vehicle registration is now underway. Volunteers are needed to help on the day and donations for the bottle tombola and raffle will be gratefully received.

Recent lorry incident
John Howard of the Parish Council has now received a response from Bibbys, who were responsible for the HGV involved in recent dangerous manoeuvres in the village. The lorry in question was making a delivery to Crendon Conservatories at their depot at Brackwell Farm, Winchendon Road. The driver was new to this particular delivery. Bibby have now revised their Drivers’ Brief and drivers are instructed not to use the route through Chearsley. They have suggested that signage on the approach roads to Chearsley indicating the roads are unsuitable for HGVs should be installed. The Parish Council will be issuing an up to date report to the village in due course emphasising that photographic evidence of any similar incidence is vital to get a positive response from offending parties.

Church Allotments
There are plots in Winchendon Road now available to rent at a cost of £10 per year. Please contact Maureen Gillis on 208742 or email her at maureen@untangledweb.co.uk if you are interested.

Athlingwold by John Cragg
If you are looking for a new book to read for your Summer holidays and are a kindle owner, villager, John Cragg of Shupps Lane has recently had his first novel published. The book is a tale of intrigue, a life changing affair and how ancient legends can assist in preventing the ruinous development of a beautiful Dorset valley. The book is currently only available electronically and a taster first chapter can be downloaded from Amazon or Kindle Unlimited for free, by going to mardibooks.com. The remainder of the book can then be purchased for £5.39. It is hoped that if the book is successful in its electronic version, it may go into print.
John, who has lived in Chearsley with his family for over 40 years, has had a number of short stories published in the past, some in “Peoples Friend” and other story papers. Since attending a creative writing course in Oxford and then taking an English Local History Diploma there, which gave him the idea for the historical legend theme in Athlingwold, he was encouraged to produce a full length novel. Valuable experience was gained by working with Mary Scholefield, another Chearsley resident, on her publication “Letters Home” which is based on letters from her late husband’s two uncles who served in the army in World War I. Congratulations to John in finding the time and energy and inspiration to have achieved “Athlingwold” and all best wishes for its success.

Gary The Postman
A reminder that his wedding is on Saturday 29, if you are thinking of giving him a card of congratulations.

Services at St Nicholas:
  • Sunday July 23 Family Service at 10am
Diary Dates:
  • Sunday July 23 Chairman’s Match at Chearsley cricket club 2pm. All welcome
  • Now until September 9 Eric Carte appearing in Agatha Christie’s Spider’s Web at The Mill at Sonning
  • Sunday September 10 Chearsley Classic & Vintage Fun Day from 12 noon at the Cricket Club

Saturday 15 July 2017

Thieves alert – make sure your cars and homes are securely locked

We recently received the following report from our local police about some burglary incidents in Cuddington.
Overnight on the 9th July into 10th July, there have been several incidents which have occurred in the village. There was a burglary at a property where vehicle keys were stolen and the vehicle taken. This has now been recovered and investigations continue. This report was put out on a Thames Valley Police Alert. We have subsequently had reports that over the same night several sheds on the allotments have been broken into. Nothing of value appears to have been taken. Also, several insecure vehicles were entered and items removed. Not all of these thefts have been reported to police at this time. If anyone has any information which may help our enquiries, please telephone the Thames Valley Police Non Emergency Number..101, or email the Neighbourhood Team on waddesdonnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk.

During patrols in the village over the past few days, vehicles have been found insecure and with windows open. Please ensure that you keep your vehicles locked and remove all items of value from inside.
We have also had more recent reports of suspicious parking of vehicles around The Green in Chearsley so please heed the advice from our colleagues in the local police – make sure your cars and homes are securely locked and, if you observe any suspicious behaviour, please telephone the Thames Valley Police Non-Emergency Number..101, or email the Neighbourhood Team on waddesdonnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk

Tuesday 11 July 2017

Village Hall Memorabilia

"Old" Village Hall News
If any villagers would like to have any bits, such as windows, heaters, curtains, kitchen accessories,etc. when the old hall is demolished, they should contact Antonia Stratford as soon as possible on 208469 or email her at antoniastratford40@gmail.com.

It is planned that the builders will be on site on Thursday July 20th ready for the hall to be demolished on Monday July 24.

Friday 7 July 2017

Village News

with Margaret Morbey : 01844-208913

Lorry and the Horse Chestnut Tree
John Howard of the Parish Council is hoping that The Bucks Herald will be printing a report which he has sent them concerning the recent HGV incident in Chearsley to highlight the dangers of large lorries using small village roads rather than keeping to main roads. John Howard is still in correspondence about the matter with Bibby’s Distribution on behalf of their customer Ultraframe, the owners of the lorry concerned. No apology has been received and Bibby’s Distribution say they have no intention of changing their routing instructions to their drivers. They seem more concerned about possible damage to their vehicles from overhanging branches than the threat to pedestrians and other vehicles. John’s report has also been passed to the local police and Transport for Bucks.

Parish Council Meeting will be held in the village hall (for the last time) on Monday July 17 at 7.30pm. Please note there will be no meeting during August.

Flower Festival
Joy and her flower ladies, Jann Grimshaw, Anne Lewis, Maria Allen and Julia Pountney have much to be proud of last weekend when the Church was full of amazing colour and imaginative floral displays depicting many aspects of Chearsley life. It took many hours of planning and days in the church constructing the arrangements. Congratulations to them all, and particularly to Joy for the great show they achieved.
Special mention must be made of the Village Shop window, which displayed a beautiful sari given by Sugi from our shop and a heavenly smelling jasmine garland, especially sent over from Sri Lanka for the occasion as well as fruits of their country. A good number of visitors from the village and beyond came to enjoy the wonderful sight and smell of the church and then to sit in the sunshine and enjoy refreshments with homemade cakes. A plant stall with donated plants helped to boost funds for the church. Thank you to the flower ladies and to everyone who contributed to the successful weekend.

Meadow Song takes place this Saturday July 8 in the grounds of the village hall when Paul Shinar and Laura Fealy will be performing another wonderful concert of well known and familiar songs. There will be a bar and barbeque. This will be an opportunity to say farewell to our old hall which has been the venue for many village occasions for over 60 years and a chance to write your memories or thoughts of the hall in a Memory Book which will be launched at Meadow Song.
Tickets are now available from the shop or from Joy on 208513 or Margaret on 208913. Tickets cost £10 each. No charge for children. All proceeds will go towards the cost of the new hall.

Sunshine Club Matinee Cinema
On Monday July 24 there will be showing of “Chicago” at The Bernard Hall Cuddington at 1.30 with doors open at 1pm. This 2003 musical stars Renee Zellweger, Richard Gere and Catherine Zeta-Jones and is described as “spectacular, rousing, energetic and humorous”. Sounds like it should not be missed! The hall provides a big screen, comfortable upholstered seats with tea and cake at the interval, which is included in the price of £5 or £4 concessions. Tickets available from Liz on 01844 299150 or on the door, subject to availability.

Services at St Nicholas:
  • Sunday July 9 Evensong at 6pm
Diary Dates:
  • Now until September 9 Eric Carte appearing in Agatha Christie’s Spider’s Web at The Mill at Sonning
  • Saturday July 8 Cuddington Fairy Tale Fete starts at 1.30pm
  • Saturday July 8 Meadow Song from 6.30pm at the village hall.
  • Wednesday July 12 Pub Lunch at The Bell at 12.30pm
  • Monday July 17 Parish Council Meeting at 7.30pm in the village hall
  • Sunday September 10 Chearsley Classic & Vintage Fun Day from 12 noon at the Cricket Club