Christmas Eve Crib Service

Come along to St Nicholas Church on Christmas Eve at 3pm and let our innkeeper (John Wynburne) and some of our children tell you the Nativity Story. Sing a few carols and then stay for mulled wine, mince pies and biscuits. Everyone welcome, children or not! For more information ring Sharon on 208740.

Chearsley Village Plan

The next stage in the development of our Village Plan has commenced with the publication of a Consultation Document and Questionnaire.  A copy of both documents should by now have been delivered to every house in the village and copies can be viewed via the links here.

The Consultation Document describes the work done so far on the Plan and the Questionnaire invites you to give your views on a range of questions that have emerged during the work so far.

Please take some time to look through both documents, fill in and return the completed questionnaire preferably in the next few days, but by the end of the year at the latest.

Neighbourhood Police Newsletter

The Neighbourhood Police Update for December is now available here.

Bogus callers claiming to be from Action Fraud

This is a message from Thames Valley Alert Information sent on behalf of Neighbourhood and Home Watch Network

Police have received reports from people who have been contacted by fraudsters claiming to be from Action Fraud [19 December 2012]

Conmen frequently impersonate officials in an attempt to convince people that their offer is genuine. We are aware of a recent scam where fraudsters impersonate an Action Fraud representative to trick people into sending money.

The caller states that they are from Action Fraud and that the person they are calling is entitled to compensation from a recent incident. The scammer then asks for money to be sent via a Ukash voucher in order to process the compensation claim. The amount asked for is usually in the range of £200 to £400.

Action Fraud is warning people not to pay these bogus telephone callers; there is no way to retrieve Ukash payments as they are in effect cash transactions. This is a scam. You will lose your money.
Action Fraud is in no way affiliated with these scammers and would never under any circumstances be involved in processing claims for compensation. The genuine Action Fraud is the UK’s national fraud reporting centre where consumers can report if they have been scammed or defrauded.
You can report fraud online using Action Fraud’s reporting service.

Tree Planting

Sunday 16th December

To mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, AVDC has purchased an English oak tree for each town and parish council in the district to plant in their local green space for future generations to enjoy.
More than 80 town and parish councils have reserved their free tree and volunteers from the AVDC barn owl project have helped to deliver them.
Councillor David Thompson, AVDC Cabinet Member for Leisure, said: “We wanted to create a tribute to Her Majesty that would last for many generations and hope that the planting of this ceremonial oak tree in Buckingham, and the subsequent planting of Jubilee oak trees across the Vale, will do just that."

Haddenham Medical Centre

For an update on the Clinical Computer System at Haddenham Medical Centre, please see this letter, or visit their website here.

Village News

with Margaret Morbey

Jubilee Photos
A photo of many villagers taken outside The Bell at our Jubilee celebration day is now available to purchase. Prints are available from The Bell for £5, of which £2.50 will be donated to charity. Call in and have a look at the framed photo hanging over the fireplace in the bar and then buy one as a memento of Jubilee in Chearsley.

Cricket Club Celebrations
Chearsley Cricket Club recently celebrated its 90th birthday along with 120 members and supporters at The 90 Not Out Ball held at Studley Wood Golf Club. During its long 90 years history, the club has been in 3 different locations. At Lower Green from the 1920, then on Snowy’s Field, Cuddington Road from the 1950s and at its present ground in Winchendon Road since 1990. 3 players from the 1970s, Errol Bateman, Tony Buggins and former Chairman, John Tribe were present.

During the evening, tributes for outstanding contributions to the development of the Club were given to Ann Veness who died this year, and recently retired Chairman, Clive Weston. Richard Veness presented the Veness trophy to fellow umpire, Rowly Willis. Adam Lazaruk was awarded the Chairman’s Cup by Peter Crook and Ian Houseman in recognition of his tireless endeavours on the Club’s behalf.

An Auction raised nearly £3000 which will go towards the development of cricket in Chearsley including the thriving Juniors’ Section.

Chearsley Shop Hours over Christmas
We are very lucky to have Jeyan and Suki to run our village shop and to keep open such long hours. They will be closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day only, otherwise it will be normal opening hours. I hope they enjoy a very well-earned time at home with their family.

Refuse collections over Christmas
There will be the normal collection of food bin together with the recycling bin on Friday December 21. The next collection will then be on Monday December 31 when the food bin and ordinary waste bin will be collected. The following Saturday January 5, the food bins and recycling bins will be collected.

The Big Heat Surviving Winter Appeal
This fund supports voluntary and community groups throughout Bucks to help the most vulnerable people keep warm this winter. By now, all older people will have received the Winter Fuel Allowance which is paid automatically regardless of income or need. The Charity, Bucks Community Foundation, which organizes the Big Heat Fund is the vital link between donors and local projects and they would very much appreciate a donation of all or some of this amount to help those who are less fortunate. Please contact the Bucks Community Foundation on 01296 330134 or visit their website www.bucksscf.org.uk where there is a link to enable you to donate.

Happy Christmas
I would like to thank everyone for their appreciation of my efforts with the Chearsley column, to encourage you to keep me informed of your news and events in 2013 and to wish everyone a Very Happy Christmas and New Year.