Monday 30 April 2018

TV Providers Discount Fraud

This is a message sent via Action Fraud Alert

The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) have noticed an increase in Action Fraud reports where fraudsters are offering a discount on Television service provider subscriptions. Fraudsters are cold-calling victims, purporting to be from a Television (TV) provider offering a discount on their monthly subscription. Victims have been told the following: their subscription needs to be renewed; that part or all, of the TV equipment has expired and they are due an upgrade on the equipment/subscription. In order to falsely process the discount, the fraudster asks victims to confirm or provide their bank account details. The scammers may also request the victim’s identification documents, such as scanned copies of passports.

The fraudsters are using the following telephone numbers: “08447111444”, “02035190197” and “08001514141”. The fraudster's voices are reported to sound feminine and have an Asian accent.

Later victims make enquiries and then discover that their TV service provider did not call them and that the fraudster has made transactions using the victim’s bank account details. 

This type of fraud is nationwide. Since the beginning of this year (2018), there have been 300 Action Fraud Reports relating to this fraud. From the reports received, victims aged over 66 seem to be the most targeted.

What you need to do
  • Don’t assume a phone call or email is authentic: Just because someone knows your basic details (such as your name and address or even your mother’s maiden name), it doesn’t mean they are genuine. Criminals can exploit the names of well-known companies in order to make their scams appear genuine.
  • Don’t be rushed or pressured into making a decision: a genuine company won’t force you to make a financial decisions on the spot. Always be wary if you’re pressured to purchase a product or service quickly, and don’t hesitate to question uninvited approaches in case it’s a scam.
  • Stay in control: Have the confidence to refuse unusual requests for personal or financial information. Always contact the company yourself using a known email or phone number, such as the one written on a bank statement or bill.

Visit Take Five (takefive-stopfraud.org.uk/advice/) and Cyber Aware (cyberaware.gov.uk) for more information about how to protect yourself online.



Friday 27 April 2018

Village News

with Margaret Morbey : 01844-208913

Irene May Baker (Rene)
A Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of Rene took place on Tuesday April 24 at St Nicholas Chearsley, the church she loved and where she had regularly polished the brass candelabra in the village where she was born, went to school and where she lived all her life. A lovely, humorous, gentle lady, always thinking of others before herself. She was 95.

W.I. Cake Stall on The Green
Chearsley W.I. ladies will be setting up a stall for the sale of home-made cakes and savouries and other delicious home-made delights on The Green this Saturday April 28 from 11am until 1pm. Please come and support them, and best to come early as the baking skills of the W.I. ladies is widely known in the village and bargains are snapped up very quickly.

Grand Opening of the New Village Hall

All villagers are invited to come to this Grand Opening on Saturday May 12 at 6pm until 7.30pm. A chance to have a look at the spacious new hall and enjoy some light refreshments. There will be speeches by Councillor Sue Renshall and Antonia Stratford, chairman of the Village Hall Committee.

The Parish Council Annual Village Meeting will be held in the village hall on Monday May 14th at 7.30pm. There will be key updates on village matters by the Parish Council with contributions from many other village groups and an open discussion when villagers are welcome to raise any points. Reception with wine/soft drinks and nibbles is at 7pm and the meeting starts at 7.30pm. Everyone is very welcome to come.

Road Closure at Cuddington Bridge
At long last, the bridge is to be repaired. Starting Tuesday May 1 for approximately 21 days the bridge will be closed to through traffic from 9.30am until 3.00pm and presumably open at the weekends.

Turn End House and Gardens Open Weekend - this Saturday April 28 and Sunday 29. Tucked away in Townside, Haddenham, HP17 8BG, this award winning house and delightful garden is open from 2pm to 5pm. Also on view in the garden will be sculptures, the work of 10 local sculptors and the studios of Artist in Residence Heather Hunter and award-winning photographer, Paul Wilkinson will be open. Admission is £15, free to children. Tickets available on the gate or from www.turnend.org.uk. Tea and home-made cakes available.

Knock Knock, written and performed by Niv Petel, will be at The Bernard Hall Cuddington on Saturday May 12 at 7.30pm. Doors open at 7pm. Tickets are £12 for adults and £6 for under 16s and can be bought at Cuddington Shop, online at www.cuddingtonvillage.com/arts or on the door subject to availability. This mono-drama tells the story of an Israeli single mother who works as a liaison officer in the army, informing families that their sons or daughters have been killed in battle. Based on real events. This was seen and enjoyed by Elaine English and Cuddington Youth Drama who saw the show at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe and who were determined to bring Niv Petel to Cuddington.

Church Services in Chearsley
  • Sunday April 29 at 10am Benefice Service in Long Crendon
Diary Dates:
  • Saturday April 28 11am to 1pm W. I. Cake stall on The Green
  • Saturday April 28 2pm Sunshine Club Spring Bazaar at The Bernard Hall, Cuddington
  • Saturday May 12 Grand Opening Ceremony of the Hall 6 to 7.30pm
  • Saturday May 12 Performance of Knock Knock at The Bernard Hall, Cuddington at 7.30pm
  • Monday May 14 Annual Village Meeting in the village hall at 7.00 for 7.30pm
  • Saturday June 30 Church Fund raising event
  • Saturday September 1 Chearsley Show in the hall
  • Sunday September 9 Chearsley Classic and Vintage Fun Day at the Cricket Field

Saturday 21 April 2018

Village News

with Margaret Morbey : 01844-208913

The funeral of Renee Baker, who was born and lived in Chearsley, will be held on Tuesday 24th April at 3:30pm in the village church. Flowers and all who knew her welcome.


Church AGM



Cakes On The Green



Monday 16 April 2018

Black and White Cat

The body of a black and white cat was found on the grass verge on Chilton Road near to the Village Hall early on Sunday morning. It is mainly black on top and white underneath, with a white stripe down the nose. If you would like to claim it, please contact Sue Gray.

Friday 13 April 2018

Village News

with Margaret Morbey : 01844-208913

Chearsley Cricket Club Pre-Season Working Parties
Volunteers are needed by the Club to help get the pavilion and ground ready for the fast approaching start of the Season and would welcome as much help as possible on this coming Saturday April 14, Sunday April 15 and Saturday April 21 and Sunday April 22 from 10am until 1pm. Tasks include moving equipment, painting and redecoration work and completion of a new storage area in the pavilion. Re-assembling sight screens ,repainting boundary boards and carrying out other routine maintenance on the ground. Please contact Adam Lazaruk, Peter Redfern or Louisa Gadsby if you are able to help on one or more of the dates.

St George’s Night at The Bell
Sharon is offering a mouth -watering traditional English menu for everyone to enjoy on Saturday April 21 at 7.30pm. 2 courses for £17.95 and 3 courses for £20.95. There is a choice of starters of Prawn cocktail or Melon and Parma ham; the main course is roast beef with all the usual accompaniments or fish and chips or a full English breakfast; puddings are mixed fruit trifle, spotted dick and custard or cheeseboard. Difficult to make a choice, but hurry to contact Sharon to book your table with a £5 deposit per person and your choice of menu. As you would expect, the evening is bound to be a fun and memorable time with patriotic singing, and uproar.

Italian and Roman Feasts
Italian and Roman Feasts, written by Chearsley villager Gilly Travers, is now on sale. Gilly has been compiling and testing out the many various recipes contained in this, her first book, over the past years and is delighted and proud that her hours of hard work have now been realized in print. “This cookery book will take you on an odyssey from Classical Roman recipes into the culinary arena of modern day Italian Cookery. Plentiful starters and Piscean delicacies, meat, game and vegetables and sumptuous desserts. Cenabis Bene – you will enjoy!”
The book is beautifully illustrated throughout with photos and drawings with a particularly eye-catching, colourful photo of a pretty Italian hillside town on the front cover. Each recipe is heralded with an English, Italian and Latin title. Gilly is now looking forward to book launches and media interviews. Her book, available in soft and hard back and also as an e book is published by Austin Macauley and is available to buy from Amazon, Foyles, Blackwells, The Thame Book Shop, and the Summertown Book shop in Oxford and W.H. Smith.

Alva Martin
It is very good news that Alva has now been home a few weeks from hospital where she had been since November last year after a fall and stroke. It is still a very difficult time for her and Peter, but they are managing with daily visits from carers, and family and village help. I hope that Alva continues to improve and life can become a little easier for her and Peter.

Parish Council Meeting
Monday April 16 at 7.30pm in the New Village Hall
An opportunity to have a look at our new hall and to support our Parish Councillors at their monthly meeting. There will be a review of the financial plan for 2018/19 and other reports from Parish Councillors, as well as the usual 10 minutes for Parishioners questions and comments. The date of the Annual Village Meeting will be confirmed.

Freight E-Petition
Chearsley Parish Council are continuing to put pressure on Bucks County Council about the large amount of heavy freight traffic through the village. Their latest initiative is to join with Cuddington Parish Council in creating an E-Petition to Bucks County Council on this subject. Please take the time to put your name to this and support the Parish Council. There is a link on the Parish Council link at Chearsley blogspot. Simply click on the Freight e-petition link and enter your name and email address. The Petition closes on May 9. (Please note, that if there are 2 of you using the same email address, then include both your names together, as it rejected my application when I tried to use the same email address again).

Qi Gong at our New Village Hall
The hall is all set to be ready for occupation from Monday April 16 including classes of Qi Gong starting on Tuesday April 17 at 10.30am. If you would like to join or find out more about Qi Gong, please contact Ben at masternben@chearsleyqigong.co.uk or find more information at www.chearsleyqigong.co.uk.

Honey Bee Swarm Collections
The long cold winter has had extremely damaging effects on the colonies of honey bees looked after by members of the Bee Keepers Association – with losses in excess of 50% and some with 100% losses being reported. In order to boost the number of colonies, as many swarms as possible need to be collected. If you see a swarm of bees, please contact the MBBKA Swarm Hotline on 07770370132 so that a bee keeper can be sent to collect the swarm and provide it with a new home. Do not interfere with the swarm. Pest control companies will not kill a swarm unless absolutely necessary.

Take Part in The River Thames Clean Water Quest which is being held between May 1st and 31st when the River Thames Conservation Trust is asking for volunteers of families, villagers or groups to take part. Help is needed to test local ponds, streams and ditches for 2 widespread nutrient pollutants – nitrate and phosphate. This will help to build a map of water quality across the River Thame Catchment area and locate areas of clean unpolluted water where wildlife can thrive and to assist future conservation work. To launch this Clean Water Quest, 2 introductory talks will be held in the area on Saturday April 28 from 11am to 12.30pm at Stone Village Hall and on Monday April 30 from 7.30 to 9pm at Stadhampton Village Hall. There will be information on everything you need to know about getting involved, with a demonstration of the water testing kit, guidance on where to test and how to interpret the results. Please email Hannah at Hannah@riverthame.org to book your place and go to www.riverthame.org/volunteers for more information.

E Safety for older residents
Free workshops on e-safety are being offered to older people (over 50) in the Aylesbury Vale who use the internet. The programme is funded by the Police & Crime Commissioner for Thame Valley and supported by Bucks CC. Bucks and Surrey Trading Standards and Aylesbury Town Council. The aim is to match local young people from schools and colleges with their older peers to provide free one to one tuition, passing on their skills and knowledge on internet safety,with tips on how to spot scams, fraudulent emails and how to keep personal information safe on line, thus helping those who are less confident about using the computer safely. The workshops will be held at the University Technical College in Aylesbury on Monday April 16, Wednesday 18 and Friday 20. Please contact jatkins@buckscc.gov.uk or phone 01296 382 120 for more information.

Florence Nightingale Hospice Midnight Walk June 23
This is the largest fundraising event for Florence Nightingale, raising over £55,000 last year, and you are now invited to register with them to take part this June. The walk will this year be open to men and women over the age of 11 and there will be a 5 mile and a 10 mile route starting and ending at Aylesbury College. Registration costs £20. Walkers will be given a free souvenir Midnight Walk 2018 t shirt, a medal and complimentary breakfast at the end of the walk. Please visit www.fnhospice.org.uk/midnightwalk or phone 01296 429975 for more information and to take part.

Church Services in Chearsley
  • Sunday April 15 at 9am Holy Communion
Diary Dates :
  • Monday April 16 Parish Council meeting in the village hall at 7.30pm
  • Saturday April 21 St George’s Day celebration meal 7.30 in The Bell. Book now.
  • Saturday April 28 11am to 1pm W. I. Cake stall on The Green
  • Saturday April 28 2pm Sunshine Club Spring Bazaar at The Bernard Hall, Cuddington
  • Saturday May 12 Grand Opening Ceremony of the Hall 6 to 7.30pm
  • Saturday June 30 Church Fund raising event
  • Saturday September 1 Chearsley Show in the hall
  • Sunday September 9 Chearsley Classic and Vintage Fun Day at the Cricket Field

Saturday 7 April 2018

Village News

with Margaret Morbey : 01844-208913

Deadline of Monday April 9 Draft Freight Strategy
Everyone in Chearsley complains and worries about the large amount of heavy vehicles coming through our village every day. The Parish Council have been considering for a long time about the growing and worsening problem and have carried out surveys and held talks with Bucks County Council voicing their concerns. They now need village help and would like as many residents as possible to read, at least in part, a recent Draft Freight Strategy published by Bucks County Council and to fill in an on-line survey.
The deadline for this is Monday April 9, so not long.
The easiest way of accessing the Strategy is through the article here and clicking on the relevant links to read the Strategy and to complete the survey. There are 13 questions and it should only take a few minutes to complete. Question 6 offers the opportunity to emphasise the situation in the village. The Parish Council will continue to make representations on behalf of our community, but they need your help to support their initiatives by raising your concerns directly with Bucks County Council through the Survey.

Chearsley Cricket Club Pre-Season Working Parties
Volunteers are needed by the Club to help get the pavilion and ground ready for the fast approaching start of the Season and would welcome as much help as possible on Saturday April 14, Sunday April 15, Saturday April 21 and Sunday April 22 from 10am until 1pm. Tasks include moving equipment, painting and redecoration work and completion of a new storage area in the pavilion. Re-assembling sight screens, repainting boundary boards and carrying out other routine maintenance on the ground. Please contact Adam Lazaruk, Peter Redfern or Louisa Gadsby if you are able to help on one or more of the dates.

W.I. Cakes on The Green
After a very successful morning last year, Chearsley W.I. are again putting up a stall on The Green selling home-made cakes and savouries. This will be on Saturday April 28 from 11am to 1pm. Be sure to get there early to get the best choice as they sell out quickly.

Cuddington Sunshine Club Spring Bazaar
This will be held in The Bernard Hall, Cuddington on Saturday April 28 from 2pm when there will be the usual array of familiar stalls selling home-made cakes and produce, bric-a-brac, good second hand clothes, white elephants, and books. There will also be a raffle, tombola and refreshments. Entry is just 20p and free for children.

Church Services in Chearsley
  • Sunday April 8 Evensong at 6pm. No Morning Celebration