Tuesday 24 October 2017

It's OK to Crochet!

It is now OK to Crochet!
Would you like to learn?

Following a successful initial course, I shall be holding further beginners courses this autumn.  There will be 2 courses available:

Tuesday morning 10-12 beginning 31st October and
Wednesday evening 7.30-9.30 beginning 1st November.

These will be introductory (or refresher) 3 session “Learn to crochet” courses held in Chearsley.

If there is sufficient demand, I may also run a fortnightly ‘club’ session, offering support, small projects if required (at a separate cost) and a chance for ‘crochet and catch-up’ or one off ‘project’ sessions, with a particular project as the focus, e.g. bag, soft toy.

The cost for the three session courses will be £45 for which you will be given instruction, a hook, darning needle, appropriate yarn each week and coffee/tea and cake! Club sessions would be £10 per session project sessions to be announced if there is interest.

I am a qualified adult education skills teacher and have been crocheting, on and off, for nearly 50 years.

For further details or to book your place contact:
Anne Pratt - 01844 201611, oktocrochet@gmail.com


Monday 23 October 2017

Village News

with Margaret Morbey : 01844-208913

Village Hall New Build Update

Antonia Stratford, Chairman of the Village Hall Trustees committee, writes “It was all excitement this week as the timber frame (manufactured by The Timber Frame Company) for the new Chearsley Village hall arrived from Ireland. Thankfully, Storm Ophelia didn’t delay the sailing. Each piece of our new hall is now being lowered into place overseen by the builders, Furlong & Higgs. Expect to see a whole new building in 2 weeks! Albeit without a roof."

Bell Ringing Competition
If you wondered why the bells were ringing all afternoon on Saturday October 14, it was when 9 bell ringing teams representing the Central Bucks Branch and the Chiltern Branch of the Oxford Diocesan Guild of Church Bell ringers were competing for the Orchard Cup. This is an annual, friendly bell ringing competition first started in 1975 in memory of Fred Orchard a bell ringer of Nether Winchendon and this year held at Chearsley church.
Teams taking part were Wendover, Long Crendon (who were the winners), Whitchurch, Great Missenden, two teams from Aylesbury, Stewkley, Wing and Chearsley. More details and photos can be viewed on The Bucks Herald website as one of their Picture Specials.

3 Peaks Challenge
The group from The Bell who recently spent a strenuous weekend climbing Ben Nevis, Snowden and Scafell Pike met up again at The Bell recently when Sharon proudly exhibited an oversize cheque of £3,091 made out to Sobell House Hospice Oxford. She congratulated all the team on doing so well and thanked everyone who so generously sponsored them and donated to the charity. £1,850 was raised via the internet Just Giving site and £1,241 from the charity bottle at The Bell and from The Chearsley Aunt Sally team. It is hoped that photos of the evening and a write up will be printed in The Bucks Herald.

Halloween at The Bell
An adults Halloween Fancy Dress disco on Saturday October 28 for everyone of all ages will be held at The Bell from 8pm onwards. Fancy dress is not compulsory but having a good time is. On Monday October 30 there will be a Pumpkin Carving competition when everyone has the opportunity to display their creative pumpkin carving skills. If you need inspiration and advice, Sharon suggests you find out information and view videos of ideas at The Pumpkin Lady www.pumpkinlady.com. Bring your masterpieces along at 6.45pm ready for judging at 7pm. Any design is fine, just include provision for a night-light.
Halloween for children will be on the night itself, Tuesday 31st from 4.30 to 6pm at The Bell (scary enough any evening with the six o’clock regulars), when there will be Wrap The Mummy, Pin the tail on the Vampire and other Ghostly Games, as well a choice of jacket potato with cheese and beans, or hot dog, or fish fingers with chips beans or peas. Cost is £5 per child. Please book with Sharon and let her know your choice of food.

Round the village Poppy Collections
A reminder that Sue Grimsdell and Joy Payne will be round selling poppies door to door starting Saturday October 28th until Saturday November 11. This will be the 20th year since Sue took over from Sylvia Hicks. Both Sue and Joy have sons in the Armed Forces so selling the poppies is very dear to them, last year raising over £565. If you miss their call, poppy collecting boxes will be found in the shop and The Bell.

St Nicholas Church now has a facebook page telling everyone what is happening in our 3 churches of Chearsley, Long Crendon and Nether Winchendon and can be found at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1740578716243651.

Church Services at St Nicholas:
  • Sunday October 29 United Benefice Service at Nether Winchendon at 10am
Diary Dates:
  • Saturday October 28 Halloween Fancy Dress Disco at The Bell 8pm onwards
  • Monday October 30 Pumpkin Carvings at The Bell 6.45pm with judging at 7pm
  • Tuesday October 31 Children’s Halloween Party at The Bell 4.30 to 6pm
  • Saturday November 11 Cricket Club Annual Dinner and Dance with Guest speaker Mike Gatting
  • Tuesday November 7 Bingo at The Bell. Eyes Down around 8.45pm
  • Monday November 20 Parish Council meeting 7.30pm at The Cricket Club pavilion

Tuesday 17 October 2017

Thefts from vehicles – Haddenham area


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

Overnight on Sunday night into Monday morning (15/10 – 16/10) three thefts have been reported from vehicles in the Haddenham area.

Two reports were from residents in the Yolsum Close area and one was from Cotts Field. Property stolen included a purse, a silver ornament, perfume bottles and small change.

A mobile phone and vehicle documents were also stolen from a vehicle in Stone on Sunday (15/10).

PCSO Sue Jones from the Waddesdon Neighbourhood Policing Team (NHPT) said “Please check your vehicle is locked and the alarm is set, when it is parked and unattended.

“Make sure all property is removed from it and don’t try to hide items away, as thieves know all the places to look.

“Any property left on display could tempt opportunist criminals to break into your vehicle – it only takes a few moments.

“If you see anyone acting suspiciously around parked vehicles please call us at the time it happening. Call on 101, or if a crime is actually happening at the time dial on 999”

For further crime prevention advice and information please visit the Thames Valley Police website.

If you have any information about these thefts please call PCSO Jones on the 24 hour non-emergency number 101.

If you don’t want to talk to the police or give your details you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or report it online

Click for the Thames Valley Police website

Monday 9 October 2017

Free Power Tool Security Marking

Waddesdon Neighbourhood Police will be holding a
Crime Prevention and Security Marking
event at 
Hartwell Nurseries
on Saturday 14th October between 1pm and 4pm.
Bring your own power tools for free marking and
crime prevention advice.
Click for the Thames Valley Police website

Friday 6 October 2017

Village News

with Margaret Morbey : 01844-208913

The Parish Council has been very active in tidying and smartening up our village in the past weeks. 3 rubbish bins, by the shop and the two bus stops have been installed – bigger and smarter than the old ones. The bus shelters are in the process of being maintained and improved, and the railings painted. The Parish Council have also made arrangements for the many verges, banks and footpaths to be strimmed and the overhanging trees and hedgerows to be trimmed. The village is now looking good and well cared for. An incentive for us all to keep it litter free and tidy.
The next meeting of the Parish Council will be on Monday October 16th at 7.30pm at the Cricket Club pavilion. The Minutes of their last meeting can be found online and on the notice board.

110 Bus service between Thame and Aylesbury
Perhaps the updated bus shelters will be an encouragement for villagers to use our bus service. We are lucky to have an alternative to using cars, even if the service which runs between Thame and Aylesbury is only every two hours. It is normally a very reliable service. However, it is feared that it might well be a case that “if you don’t use it, you lose it” as the buses are often half empty. If you are eligible for a free bus pass, and haven’t got one, it seems a waste not to get one and use it and it is a cheaper alternative to using a taxi.
The 110 from Chearsley now ties in with the 280 in Thame which runs between Oxford and Aylesbury every 20 minutes providing the possibility of a day out in Oxford or some shopping in Thame or Aylesbury with no drink–driving or parking worries.

Goodbye and Welcome
Having lived in Chearsley for nearly 40 years, I cannot remember a time when so many houses have changed hands. Families who have lived here for many years and some for only a short time have said goodbye and we wish them good luck in their new homes. I am thinking particularly of Sue and Peter Grimsdell who used to run The Bell for many years, Howard and Helen Bottomley, our neighbours for over 20 years, moving to Wales near to their daughter, and Bruce and Janet Baker who are also moving to be nearer their daughter. A warm welcome to all new residents in the hope that they will find Chearsley a friendly, thriving village and will settle in to their new homes and be very happy here. The shop, The Bell and the Church figure very highly in the making of new friends and finding out what is going on in the village.

Sue Grimsdell and Poppy Collections
Although Sue and Peter have now left Chearsley and are currently in rented accommodation while work is done on their bungalow in Haddenham , Sue still plans to continue her house to house collection in Chearsley selling poppies. This will be her 20th year. Sue and Joy Payne, who both have sons currently serving in the British Army are planning to start collecting between now and November 11. Richard Grimsdell is currently in the Caribbean as part of the British Task Force flown out when the hurricanes recently caused such devastation. Last year, Sue and Joy collected an amazing £565.67 from door to door collections and the total was further increased by The Bell, the shop and refreshments served in the village hall after the Memorial Remembrance Service which raised a further £214.63. A really generous response from the village.

The Bell – What’s happening this October
The monthly Bingo session was held on Tuesday October 3rd when it was good to welcome some new faces. Hopefully, they will return next month on November 7th. The monthly Bell quiz will be held on Sunday October 8 at 8pm with refreshments at half time. Come on your own or in a team. You will be made very welcome. Friday Mornings Coffee and home-made cake continue to be very popular every Friday when The Bell is open from 10am for anyone to call in, no booking needed, to meet up with old and new friends over coffee and cake.
Friday evenings continue to be busy with the attraction of a chance to take part in the Higher or Lower Game at 8.30pm. Come along to find out how it all works. The Bell is a great place for Sunday lunches, serving food until 2pm and when the weekly Meat Raffle is drawn at 3pm. Halloween will be celebrated with an Adults Fancy dress disco on Saturday October 28 and a children’s Halloween party on Tuesday 3st in The Bell from 4.30 to 6pm. Tickets are £5 to include food and drink and games. Please book with Sharon.

Cricket Club Annual Dinner and Dance
This will be held, as last year, at The Magnolia Park Golf Club on Saturday November 11. Always a good evening, this year should prove to be a memorable one as the amazing Cricket Club committee have managed to secure Mike Gatting, former England Captain and OBE, to be the Guest Speaker. Tickets cost £35 for a 3 course dinner, reception drink and disco. There will also be a raffle and auction. Please contact Angela Gray on 07944290264 for more details and to book your place.

Java Nightmare
An informal talk will be given in Brill Memorial Hall on Sunday October 8th at 5pm on a book written by Daphne Jackson entitled Java Nightmare. The talk will be given by Daphne’s daughter, Daphne Slater, about her mother and father who were both civilian prisoners of war in Java and to highlight the horrors and hardships they suffered. Copies of the book will be on sale with proceeds going to the Far-Eastern Prisoners of War Association. Tickets cost £8 are available beforehand from Brill Stores and on the door and includes light refreshments.

Church Services at St Nicholas:
  • Sunday October 8th at 10am Morning Celebration
  • Sunday October 8th at 6pm Evensong
  • Sunday October 15 at 9am Holy Communion
Diary Dates:
  • Sunday October 8: Quiz at The Bell re-starts 8pm.
  • Monday October 16: Parish Council at 7.30pm in the Cricket Pavilion
  • Saturday October 28 Halloween Fancy Dress Disco at The Bell
  • Tuesday October 31 Children’s Halloween Party at The Bell 4.30 to 6pm.
  • Saturday November 11: Cricket Club Annual Dinner and Dance with Guest speaker Mike Gatting