Wendover News, January 2023

A new era for Wendover News

The staff of Wendover News have been happily serving the public of Wendover and surrounding villages since September 1989 when it was an A3 sheet folded to A4, printed in black and white. During the 21st century it added a website and social media and developed into a popular glossy colour magazine. The staff have always been part time and are now Jackie, print editing and online presence; Wynne, graphics; Sabina, sales and marketing; packing everything in very effectively. Jane, who has been editor since the start, will be "evolving away" from that role this year. We are currently developing social media as much as print. Our recent social media post covering the switch on of the Christmas Tree Lights reached over 25K (and counting)! Could you help develop this aspect of our business?

To reduce travel costs, many businesses target a local population. Wendover News has always been a good place to advertise your business to local people who might need your services. You can also explain your offer to local people who might not realise your Unique Selling Point. At the same time you are supporting Wendover News to give editorial space to vital local organisations and causes such as

Wendover Celebrates and Wendover Warm Welcome: both featured on the front page of the December print edition. This reflects a charitable element to the magazine which inspires us to explore how we may benefit from this to maintain our advertising rates at their current fair levels and, potentially, expand our editorial space to broaden topics covered. If you have any expertise in this area or thoughts about this, please contact us.

Since Covid, we have all experienced a different landscape for living. For Wendover News the cost of paper — and now the cost of energy required for printing — has been a big issue. This has meant that editions of Wendover News often have fewer pages hence less room for local news.

We are continually recruiting new advertisers and featuring new aspects of life in Wendover. Is 2023 the year that you could become more involved with Wendover News? If you’re a local resident, organisation or business, please see our contact details on the right of this page to get involved and help us shape Wendover News for the future, to preserve its legacy and relevance to all aspects of our community.

Events

Events at Real Magic Books

Weekly and one-off events, including after-school drop-in every Tuesday from 2pm

Coffee Drop-In

Every Tuesday 10am-12noon, Wen Christian Ctre Coffee Drop-In is open! There is space to sit and enjoy a cuppa and a chat, and room for toddlers to play. Everyone is welcome. See also p17.

Cornelli Sugarcraft Classes

Dates vary, please visit www.cornellisugarcraft. co.uk/our-courses/ for details. See advert p9.

Discover Bucks Museum

Tue-Sat 10am-4pm, Church St, HP20 2QP

Discover how your brain works in the handson exhibition, Your Amazing Brain - it's mindboggling fun for all ages! For more information about our exhibitions and events visit www. discoverbucksmuseum.org

Simply Walk

Weekly walks on Tuesdays from Wendover Clock Tower, leaving 10am. If you are a first-time walker, please arrive at least 15 minutes early and register with the walk leader. After the walk,

there's an opportunity to socialise at the weekly all-ages drop-in at Wendover Christian Centre.

Open Gallery

Gateway Cottage, Hawridge Common

See paintings by former TV presenter Tony Francis. Contact 07730 012960 or just drop in.

Craft Group

Wed 4 & 18, 10am-12noon, Wen Christian Ctre

Craft Group provides space in friendly company to work on any kind of craft project. Please bring your own materials or just come to see what others are doing. All welcome. Coffee served at about 11am.

Aylesbury Dolls House Club

Wed 4, 7.30pm, Halton Village Hall

Working on unfinished projects. More on p13.

Aylesbury Consort of

Voices

Thu 5, 12.45pm, St Mary's, Aylesbury

“Concert for Epiphany” - tickets £7 on the door or online www.aylesburylunchtimemusic.co.uk.

Wendover Horticultural Society

Thu 5, 2.30pm, St Anne's Hall

AGM & talk about Arctic Flora. See page 12 for more details.

Wendover Canal Winter Photo Competition

closes 6 Jan

Please email just one jpeg picture to rppr@hotmail.co.uk with the location of the picture, your name, address and telephone number.

OnScreen

Fridays beginning 6 Jan, Wendover Community Library

Every Friday - 6 & 27 at 2 & 7pm; 13 & 20 at 7pm. Film details from the Library.

Local History Group

Fri 6, 7.30pm, St Leonards Hall HP23 6NW

Secret Passages and Hidden Tunnels with archaeologist James Wright. Please contact Chris Brown 01494 758890 for further information.

Country to Capital Ultra - 15th Anniversary Event

Sat 7 from 7am, start line The

Shoulder of Mutton

A 43 mile point to point race taking runners from Wendover through the stunning Buckinghamshire countryside to finish at the Little Venice canal basin in the heart of London. Cheer on the runners as they set off!

Events

GDPR

Workshop

Mon 9, 10am-12noon, Zoom

No matter how small your charity or community group is, if you hold any personal data for staff, volunteers or service users, you need to meet GDPR regulations.

Local charity Community Impact Bucks is running a free interactive workshop to help smaller charities and community groups in Buckinghamshire understand their data obligations and what steps to take to be GDPR compliant. To find out more about the workshop and to book, visit https://bit.ly/3BdfSro

Wills and Estate Planning Surgery

Thu 12, 12noon-2pm, Wendover Library

To find out more, or to arrange a consultation, please call 01296 415700 or send an email to iain@wanstallconsulting.co.uk

Wendover Art

Club

Thu 12 & 26, 7.30pm, St Anne's Hall

12th Creative evening - Winter landscape in ink. As we cannot rely on the weather at this time of year we’re going to use the ink and paper left over from the NPHF workshop to create a snow scene. 26th Naomi Rose Johnson – coloured pencils –

interactive. Naomi draws wild life with coloured pencils. She will demonstrate and we will be able to join in with creating our own pictures with the materials provided. If you do have your own coloured pencils then it's ok do bring them along as well. www.wendoverartclub.co.uk

Bucks Libraries Survey

closes Sun 15 Online at www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/librariesyour-views or in print from the Library.

RSPB Aylesbury Group

Mon 16, 7.30pm, Preb Hall Comm Ctre HP19 7QW "Wildlife of Spain" with Andy Tucker.

Aston Wine Club

Fri 20, 8pm, Buckland Village Hall

James Richards, Vin Neuf. More details on www. astonwineclub.co.uk.

Tring Choral Society Fauré Requiem Workshop

Mon 16, 8pm, Akeman St Baptist Church, Tring Come sing Fauré's Requiem at an Open Rehearsal. Contact membership@tringchoral.org.uk or ring Margaret on 07426 771226.

Events

BBOWT Talk

Tue 17, 7.45pm, Gt Missenden Memorial Hall

Jim Shepherd of Bucks Owl and Raptor Group talk on 'Owls', always a favourite subject. Admission £5, no need to book. See page 12 for more information and other events.

Bucks Historical Association

Wed 18, 8pm, online

Prof Duncan Garrow, Archaeology, University of Reading speaks about 'Alternative Icons?Rethinking symbols of power at the time of Stonehenge.' Register your interest at: secretarybucksha@gmail.com

Aylesbury Centre of the National Trust

Thu 19, 8pm Broughton Junior School HP20 1NQ Adam Smith talks on Olaudah Equiano and the Interesting Narrative. Details from aylesburycentrent@gmail.com. More about the group on page 13.

Book Club

Sat 21, 10.30-11.30am, Wen Christian Centre

If you enjoy reading, come along to Book Club. No set books, just the chance to hear what others have been reading and, if you choose, talk about

the books you’ve enjoyed. We start with coffee and often cake.

Weston Turville Historical Society

Fri 27, 8pm, Weston Turville Village Hall

"The Mystery & Magic of Egyptian Hieroglyphs" with speaker Nick da Costa. Entrance - £2 members, £3 visitors. www.wthsoc.org.uk

Coming Soon - Save the Date!

• Chilterns MS Centre Art Weekend - 4-5 March www.chilternsmscentre.org/events/tag/art/

• Pace BIG Walk - 22 April, details below

• Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity South Downs Hike - 8-11 June, details on fnhospice. org.uk/southdownshike

Pace BIG Walk

22 April 2023

This year’s Pace BIG Walk routes will take in the ancient Ridgeway Trail. There is a choice of 18m, 12m, 6m or The Superhero Mile routes.

There is something to suit all ages and abilities. This is a great opportunity to set yourself a challenge for 2023 and have some outdoor fun.

To sign up visit https://thepacecentre.org/ event/the-big-walk/

Wendover Shed will be similar to a garden shed – a place to pursue practical interests at leisure, to practice skills and enjoy making and mending. The difference is that garden sheds and their activities are often solitary in nature while Wendover Shed will be the opposite. It will be about social connections and friendship building, sharing skills and knowledge, and of course a lot of laughter.

For a long time, research has shown the negative impact of loneliness and isolation on a person’s health and wellbeing. Recently it is better understood that loneliness and isolation can be as hazardous to our health as obesity and excessive smoking. Surveys from mental health charities are finding that millions of people report feeling lonely on a daily basis.

Wendover Shed will be about meeting people and having someone to share your worries with. Shed meetings are about having fun, sharing skills and knowledge with

like-minded people and gaining a renewed sense of purpose and belonging. As a byproduct of all of that, they reduce isolation and feelings of loneliness, they allow people to deal with mental health challenges more easily and remain independent, they rebuild communities and in many cases, they save lives.

Watch this space where we will be giving details of future plans or progress on the Wendover Shed site itself as well as a shout out calling for volunteers

Contact details to me, Bob Duggan, as below.

Bob Duggan

Wendover Shed

91 Aylesbury Road Wendover HP22 6JN

meninshedswendover@gmail.com

Tel – 01296623869 / 07921824836

Once again our trusty Parish Council put on a Quiz to sustain us as the nights became darker in Autumn. Alan Myers, centre of top picture, spends months devising his idiosyncratic questions and year after year new teams join this popular event which takes place in Wendover Bowls Club. The regular timekeeper is Cllr Jennifer Ballantine and scorer is Cllr Stephen Worth.

This year's competition was hard fought as always and everyone was pleased to see some new faces. This is the first time either of the photographed teams has appeared in the final. Well done U3A and Quizzly Bears.

If you would like your team to take part next year, remember that each team of three plays another team of three (substitutes are allowed) in front of a supportive audience. The quiz runs from early October until late November, a feature of Autumn in Wendover since the 1990s. For more details contact estates@wendover-pc.gov.uk.

Small Dean Viaduct works

HS2 took advantage of the Christmas railway shutdown to excavate foundations for viaduct piers next to the A413. The scale of the works required widening of the road on both sides to accommodate massive dump trucks; and full closure of the highway on seven nights. Further disruption is expected in the New Year with the relocation of underground cables and other utilities. The overall plans for the Viaduct are still awaited, but these initial works can proceed

with approval of the Environment Agency as the results will not be visible.

Ellesborough Road diversion

Construction of the temporary bridge for the diversion of the Ellesborough Road has continued with the new road now planned to be opened in “early 2023” to allow the Green Tunnel cutting to be excavated. At time of writing this is still being held up by the Council and the EA seeking clarification about how the interference to the Coombe Hill aquifer from the cutting works will be handled. Despite us raising this in 2015, it seems that HS2 are only now starting to understand the seriousness of the groundwater issue. Bucks Council are concerned that the water will flow downhill, and will adversely impact their flood prevention measures in Stoke Mandeville and Aylesbury.

Cricket Ground site

In the current Green Tunnel plan there are landscaping proposals for about 25 acres near the old Cricket Ground, and we’re keen to understand how you think that area should be used in future. Should it become parkland, sports facilities, or a

nature reserve? Thanks to those who’ve already replied to our online survey, and we would welcome more responses at https://www.whs2. org/survey.htm

Got an HS2 problem?

Please make use of the HS2 Helpdesk (which is available 24 hours a day) on 08081 434 434 to register your complaints! Make sure that your issue is recorded as a “Complaint” and get a case reference number to ensure some action. “Enquiries” may just get counted by HS2…

Want to get involved?

If you would like to help us “Do what’s right for Wendover”, have a look at our website whs2. org where you’ll find details of what we’re doing. If you need further help, want to join us, or have ideas or suggestions that would mitigate the community impact, then get in touch at enquiries@whs2.org.

Doing what’s right for Wendover

2022 review

Wendover Youth Centre would like to thank all the young people who have attended the Centre this year. It has been a fantastic year of activities. We have worked with over 200 different young people aged 9-18 years old.

We successfully ran our summer programme Project Engage in which we organised two youth festivals and a range of different workshops to engage with the young people of Wendover.

Christmas lights switch on

Wendover Youth Centre provided four young people to be elves and help Santa in his grotto at the Wendover Christmas lights switch on. Thank you to Wendover Parish Council for organising such a great event. It was lovely to see Wendover getting festive and to see four of our members volunteering as Santa’s elves. Well done Emily, Charlotte, Emma and Betsy!

2023 WYC youth activities

We will be restarting our youth activities week commencing 9 January 2023. Please follow our social media platforms and visit our website for more information about what the Youth Centre is doing.

If your child/ren are interested in attending our youth activities or have any questions, please email admin@wendoveryouth.co.uk

Sugarcraft Specialist

Cake decorating supplies

Cake decorating courses 01296 696860

1 Town Court High St Wendover HP22 6EA

Looking into the new year, there will be temporary road closures on the Wendover Bypass to accommodate the installation of a power supply to our concrete batching plant. Providing this power supply will mean that the batching plant doesn’t need to be powered by generators, eliminating the emissions that would be produced.

The batching plant produces concrete for various works in the area and significantly reduces traffic impact with shorter and less frequent lorry movement from our sites.

In February we will need to fully excavate the road in order to lay the cable across the Wendover Bypass. In advance of that we need to undertake technical surveys of the carriageway and therefore we will need to close the road on the following dates:

• 12 – 13 January (Utility survey)

• February (dates to be communicated in due course)

We will also need to close Ellesborough Road on 11 January for 3-4 hours to complete a utility survey to enable us to continue preparing for our diversion works there. In early 2023 the road will

be temporarily diverted around the back of the existing houses and this survey will identify any utilities that will need to be diverted along with the road.

Lastly, we will be continuing works on the A413 London Road temporary diversion which is due to be operational around spring 2023. To allow us to realign the road we need to ensure all existing utility services are diverted so we have a planned weekend closure in place for the following:

• Friday 27 – Monday 30 January 2023

Further details will be provided on this in due course.

2023 will be a busy time for HS2 and you will see some changes to the roads and area around you as we progress our construction works.

Don’t forget to register for email updates on the HS2 website which gives you a choice of how you would like to receive information from us. To find out more, visit your community website at www. hs2.org.uk/in-your-area/. If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

We recently interviewed a local resident who was inspired to reduce his carbon footprint after looking at Climate Action Wendover’s website, www.climateactionwendover.org. This is part of our conversation.

CLAW: How did you find your own Carbon Footprint?

Resident: I used several publicly available carbon calculators to find out that ours was a concerning 10 tonnes per year!

CLAW: What did you do next?

Resident: I wanted to start without spending money, so I looked at our energy consumption and made some simple lifestyle changes like reducing heating a little, stopping draughts, being more careful with lighting, cookers and washing machines. We also moved to a green energy supplier.

CLAW: Did you change your diet at all?

Resident: Yes, we did but quite gradually and now we have 3 vegetarian main meals weekly and we source more food locally and seasonally.

CLAW: What about travel?

Resident: We were taking 3 European flights each year. We now take 2 of those by train which has proved less stressful and more satisfying.

CLAW: What else have you done?

Resident: The last big thing was to move all our banking and savings to an environmentally friendly bank. We’ve also worked with CLAW to plant trees. Overall, we’ve reduced our carbon footprint by 30% down to 7 tonnes per year so we are very pleased. We’ve also saved money on our energy bills.

CLAW: What are your plans going forward?

Resident: We are budgeting to invest in solar panels and to buy an electric car in the future, perhaps a second hand one. We also plan to reduce our car mileage, to gradually increase our vegetarian meals and keep planting trees.

CLAW: Thank you for demonstrating how you can reduce your Carbon Footprint at little cost. Maybe it’s inspired others into New Year resolutions.

Club Corner

BBOWT Chilterns Activities in January

Our reserves remain open and work parties will continue - if you'd like to come to one please contact volunteering@bbowt.org.uk. College Lake closes between Christmas and New Year's Eve but is a perfect place to have a brisk walk on New Year's Day.

Our January indoor session at Gt Missenden Memorial Centre is at 7pm on Tuesday 17 January when all are welcome to hear Jim Shepherd of Bucks Owl and Raptor Group talk on 'Owls', always a favourite subject. Admission is £5 inc. refreshments and there is no need to book.

Richard Birch, BBOWT Chilterns Group Publicity

Happiness is… Scottish Country Dancing!

Our two classes are now full for this term and there is a waiting list for the next New Dancers’ Class which starts on 13 January. We’ve paused classes to hold two informal dance evenings this term so that all our dancers could enjoy social dancing together. These were a great success, especially as our dancing was enhanced by the music of local musician, Ian Robertson.

In October, three of our members joined 160 Scottish dancers from all over the world, some of whom were holidaying in Italy, for a dance in Bologna organised

by the Youth Branch. It was a memorable experience and proved once again that you don’t have to be Scottish to do Scottish country dancing.

2023 promises to be even busier as the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society will be celebrating its centenary with many events taking place worldwide. We’ll be participating and our own events will highlight this great milestone. There could be no better time to raise awareness of the physical and mental benefits of Scottish Country Dancing.

If you’re thinking of taking up a new activity in the New Year and would like to join our class, please see our website or contact me for further information. lucyclarkscottish@gmail.com 01296 631695/07947 000368 www.lucyclarkscottish.org

Liz Mitchell, Lucy Clark SCD Club

Aylesbury Cheerleading Academy

ACA Apollo is a team from Aylesbury Cheerleading Academy which is preparing to compete at the World Summit Competition in Florida after winning a bid at Nationals in Bournemouth earlier this year! The Summit is the peak of the Cheerleading competition season with the best teams around the world attending to battle it out and become world champions. This is a huge achievement for

these athletes who are working incredibly hard in the gym to ensure they are as successful at this competition as possible.

They have also been putting huge effort into fundraising to help towards this trip so they can ensure everyone on the team is able to go out to America for this competition. Their goal is to raise £30,000 which will cover all 19 members' travel, accommodation and competition entry. They have raised a third of this so far with bake sales, bingo and a quiz night to name a few, but will continue to put on events in a hope to cover the remaining costs.

Wendover Horticultural Society

Our next meeting is Thursday 5 January 2023 at 2.30pm at St Anne’s Hall. It will start with our AGM but will quickly move on to a talk by Christine Barlow, one of our members, speaking on Arctic Flora. Having seen some pictures she has taken in the past, I expect some stunning photos will be on view. Price £2.00 for members, visitors welcome at £3.00. Neville Morton

Aylesbury Dolls House Club

Thinking of a new hobby for the New Year? Aylesbury Dolls House Club will be starting the New

Year off with an opportunity for members to bring along unfinished projects and perhaps complete them. If anyone is thinking of finding or exploring a new interest and would like to know more, please come along - we always keep a box of miscellaneous projects for new members and visitors to choose from at such times. You are very welcome to come to your first meeting as a guest, and if you decide you would like to join, membership fees are at a reduced rate for the remaining months of the year until our AGM in May.

We meet at Halton Village Hall at 7.30pm on the first Wednesday of each month, so our next meeting is on 4 January. We are a very friendly group and welcome new members. For further information, contact Diane on 07899090399 or arcadia96@btinternet.com.

Aylesbury Centre of the National Trust Founded in 1974, the Aylesbury Centre NT is one of 200 such Associations which aim to provide added value to NT membership through social activities. We provide a monthly programme of talks, visits to NT and other destinations, coffee mornings, and occasional annual holidays. For details about 2023 programme, please email the Hon Sec on aylesburycentrent@ gmail.com or phone 07399 540626.

Thank you to those who have registered with us and offered a variety of types of help – we hope to get back to you as the need arises. We have also contacted a number of organisations regarding financial support, and we would like to thank those which have already made grants – Wendover and Stoke Mandeville Parish Councils, Lionel Abel-Smith Trust and Rothschild Foundation.

We now welcome all applications for support from Ukrainian guests in Wendover and Villages. If you are looking for help from volunteers, please use the Noticeboard page on our website

(wavus.uk/noticeboard) as your message will be emailed automatically to all those offering help. You can also use the Noticeboard page if you have anything you would like to donate (services, bikes, transport etc.). For more direct help please use our Contact page (wavus.uk/ contactform.html). Please also make sure you have registered with us (wavus.uk/ joinus.html) as otherwise we won’t be able to keep you up to date with what we are doing. This page is also now available in Ukrainian.

We are also looking for specific help:

• To join our committee.

• With organising social events.

• With translation of the rest of our website into Ukrainian.

• With learning English.

If any of these may be something you could contribute to, please let us know at info@ wavus.uk

FRANK

CHI

Hydrotherapy

We have recently opened a new private hydrotherapy service at the Chilterns MS Centre, Wendover. Hydrotherapy (also known as aquatic physiotherapy) is physiotherapy undertaken in warm water to help relieve aches and pains, mobilise stiff joints and improve global muscle strength. Hydrotherapy is suitable for clients impacted by a wide variety of conditions, covering anything from osteoarthritis to previous stroke weakness.

The water in the pool is always kept above 30 degrees Celsius to allow your body to relax whilst easing the pain in and around joints. The buoyancy of the water decreases the impact of gravity on the body, reducing stress on joints, tendons and muscles and increasing range of movement.

Hydrotherapy benefits include:

• Enabling people to stand, who are unable to weight-bear out of the water– the buoyancy effect of water

• Improved walking technique

• Improved aerobic fitness levels

• Improved balance and coordination

• Reduced pain

• Increased strength of weak muscles

• Increased range of movement in joints

• Improved independence and function

• Improved circulation

• Faster recovery from surgery

• Re-education and encouragement of normal movement

• Mobilising and stretching of muscles

• Improved self-confidence

• Reduced fear of falling/anxiety of movement

• Relaxing and calming experience.

Our Hydrotherapy is carried out by specially trained Chartered Physiotherapists who will be in the water at all times for safety and instruction. We run our hydrotherapy sessions as group classes to allow for more interaction and fun.

To sign up for our wait list, please visit: www.phoenixphysio.co.uk/hydro

Alternatively, please call 01296 254877 to sign up or for more information. Please see advert p 16.

QIGONG

Contact Keith Fensom 07787 224823 email: keith.fensom@gmail.com www.yangshengtaichi.com

Aylesbury Vale Tutors Making learning enjoyable

Jim and Karen Lucas

BA (hons) Education, Science, Maths, SEND 01296 613582 07908 460 133 Email: aylesburyvaletutors@gmail.com All ages and abilities catered for

Planning Permission & Building Regulation Drawings for Domestic & Commercial Development

Produced by an experienced Chartered Building Surveyor

Call or e-mail for a free quotation

Louise Dove BSc (Hons), MRICS 07517 171480 louise@bucksplans.co.uk www.bucksplans.co.uk

Ukraine Fundraiser Follow-Up

The Wendover Youth For Ukraine music concert that took place at St Mary’s Church, Wendover on Sunday, 25 September was a huge success. £1,495 was raised for UNICEF for its work helping Ukrainian children.

The organisers, Emma Harrington and Jude Kayakiran, together with fellow musicians Lucy Howitt, Thomas Harrington, Iris Kayakiran and Jozef Hatton are very grateful to St Mary's for allowing them to use the church for the concert and to the people who came to support them. The church was packed and everyone was very generous, many thanks!

Following the concert the musicians have been asked to perform a similar concert as part of the Amersham Music Festival, on 23 April

Tapathon, Sunday 20 November

Thank you all 78 dancers from the Rozelle School of Dance who participated in the Children in Need Tapathon on Sunday 20 November 2022. All tappers and supporters had a great time with Pudsey Bear, raising a fantastic total of £1360 including pre-sales of official T-shirts and refreshments on the day.

Ivan Cammack Best Dressed Window

Congratulations to Ivan Cammack Opticians whose Christmas window was judged best. Proud father Ivan was able to give the cup to his daughter in this family run business. See advert left

Santa ecoSleigh

Rotary in Wendover and District would like to thank everyone in Wendover and Weston Turville for the warm welcome received by Santa and the ecoSleigh as they tramped the streets on some very chilly evenings. More details in February.

Wendover Cricket Club

The club starts its junior winter training programme in January for age groups under 8 to under 14; existing members have been contacted but any prospective recruits must contact the Juniors Manager Viral Patel on 07930 360495 or wccjuniorscontact@gmail.com as places are limited with some age groups already at maximum capacity. There are also 5 girls-only sessions starting 25 February for ages 9 to 13, contact Viral if interested.

Senior indoor nets start 25 February for ages 15 and above.

J Seabrook

Local News BRENDAN

PAINTER & DECORATOR

INTERIOR & EXTERIOR 01296 294175 07581 693653

brendanmcfall511@btinternet.com

Wendover Warm Welcome

As we go to press the weather is very cold. Wendover Warm Welcome is still available in the New Year. A hot drink and cheerful company on Tuesdays 10am-3pm (plus soup from 12.30 to 1.30); Thursday 2pm-5pm; from Fri 6 Jan 7.30pm9.30pm (including table tennis); from Sat 7 Jan 10am-12noon in Wendover Christian Centre, Aylesbury Road, HP22 6JG, opposite Wharf Road.

Wendover Consultation Event

Are you wondering how you might vote at the next election? Why not come to Wendover Labour’s consultation event at Wendover Library Room on 11 February, from 10am to 12 noon?

Come and meet local party members who can answer your questions and who want to understand your local and national concerns. No matter what your politics are…we will listen.

Please join the local conversation. Everyone is welcome. Stop by for as much time as you have and pick up some information, join the small group conversations and meet our local party members.

Labour came second in this seat in 2017 and 2019 and can win next time. Labour is ready for

government – and ready to serve locally and nationally. Labour can deliver a fairer, greener future. See advert page 5.

Wendover Bowls Club

Good heavens Christmas seems to have arrived with a rush. I have only just got used to writing 2022 on cheques and here we are in 2023!! There is always a bit of a squeeze to get the internal matches fitted in before the end of the year.

Mid December saw indoor hostilities between the Ladies and Gentlemen come to a head with an all day series of games. Last year the Gentlemen had an emphatic win so it was decided to give the Ladies a two shot start for each game. However, the scores at the end after more than 1400 shots were exactly equal. This caused a problem as we only have a presentation cup for the winners and nothing for the unlikely event of a draw. After the match we all sat down for a meal together which finished off a most enjoyable day!

Peter Bird Garden Design

RHS Medal Winning Designer

offering an individual and creative design, construction and planting service

call Peter on 01296 622790 www.peterbirddesign.co.uk

Don Knight

The year will conclude with a New Year's Eve party with games and more food. Those of us that are still awake will link hands and wish each other and, indeed everyone, a happy and healthy 2023.

Now that the turkey and mince pies are behind you, if your thoughts are turning to your 2023 Resolutions, here’s one that you have probably been pu�ng off for some time.

Making a Will or preparing a Lasting Power of Attorney isn’t the most exciting thing to plan for in January –everyone knows just how important they are and there’s no time like the present to put your house in order: you will be pleasantly surprised to learn that it needn’t be as stressful or as costly as you might have thought.

Worried about Wills…?

Pondering a Power of Attorney….?

Ask Anita…!

Anita Cook is our Chartered Legal Executive who specialises in the preparation of Wills and Powers of Attorney – so, all you need to do is to book a no-obligation free appointment to get started.

Call, Click or Come in ...

12 HIGH STREET, WENDOVER HP22 6EA

Telephone: 01296 620300 Email: legal@stuar�antham.co.uk

We are so lucky to have a children's author, targeting under-10s, living in our midst. Two books are already available:

•The Giant of Jiggery Pokery, and his Amazing Seven League boots •A Racehorse called Spirit of Springbok, Further adventures of the Four Sams Belvedere

Available from Agora and Real Magic Books in Wendover or Amazon.

SM Thornton plans for FIVE further children’s books to follow in 2023 and there is a WW2 adult non-fiction true story in the pipeline for as soon as possible. Her vision is to get young readers, writers, illustrators, and reviewers into print, and she is also a member of Chiltern Writers. " … I am keen to bring together small children’s groups especially whilst the library is closed for refurbishment." So watch out for the Green Ink Books adverts in the Events pages of Wendover News.

The actual cost to the writer of each children’s book is £6.50 and this includes a charity donation of £1 per book sold. It also begins to repay SM Thornton’s illustrator. SM Thornton supports 4 children's charities: End Polio Now (through Rotary); Riding for the Disabled Association; local community singing; Library Projects.

Get in touch at 07525 777888, books@greeninkbooks.com.

View from the Chair January 2023

Having returned from our holiday at the start of December, it was great to see Wendover dressed for Christmas, it looks lovely. My thanks to Jo Durden-Moore for ably stepping up to the many events which were scheduled for November. I was sorry not to be able to attend the opening of the park, Remembrance and Christmas events especially. Also grateful thanks to Andy (Clerk) and Phoebe (Estates and Events Manager), who have proved real assets at this busy time, taking up the challenge with enthusiasm. Jane Ellis has been very helpful in supporting the office with her extensive experience of organising the events and thanks again to her for stepping in since September. Wendover would not look so festive without Andy and Stefan (Groundsmen) who have worked hard to make sure that lights, tree etc were all sorted, so thanks again.

The Christmas event was highly successful, and probably the busiest ever! Entertainment from the Wendover Singers adult and children’s choirs and John Colet School Choir was brilliant by all accounts, and we look forward to hearing more from them in the future. Congratulations to the winners of the tree decoration competition, who switched on the lights with Jo Durden-Moore.

At time of writing the amount raised for Wendover Shed has yet to be finalised.

The Annual Quiz 2022 is now over for another year, thank you to all the teams who joined us, we hope to see you again next year. A massive thank you also goes to Alan - Quizmaster,

Stephen - Scorer and Jennifer - Timekeeper, they are volunteers, and the quiz could not happen without them! The two teams that reached the final on 24 November were Wendover U3A and The Quizzly bears, the winners of the Annual Quiz 2022 were Wendover U3A! Commiserations to The Quizzly Bears and a massive congratulations to Wendover U3A. See also page 7.

The Parish Council has recently awarded a minor grant to the joint Church initiative, Warm Welcome, which offers a space to socialise, hot drinks and keep warm together. This is free to all and please see page 17 for times etc. Do make use of this opportunity whatever your circumstances.

As the New Year gets underway, we are setting the budget and Precept for April, details next month. There will have to be an increase but we are trying to keep that at a fair level, whilst maintaining services. Projects still being progressed are repairs to the wall and trough at the Clock Tower, Hampden Pond maintenance, Skatepark and mending the clock which will definitely be correct at midnight on 31 December 2022 as the year turns!

Lastly on behalf of WPC, may I wish everyone, a Happy and Healthy New Year!

Sheila Bulpett

Parish Council Meeting Tuesday 3 January, 7.30pm St Anne's Hall Aylesbury Road HP22 6JG

Vacancy for a New Councillor

We are looking to co-opt a Parish Councillor, anyone wishing to put their name forward must contact:

Wendover Parish Council: Andy Smith, Clerk to the Council

The Clock Tower, High Street, Wendover, Aylesbury, HP22 6DU 01296 623056 clerk@wendover-pc.gov.uk

To apply, please fill in the form on the webpage www.wendover-pc.gov.uk/co-option and return to the office.

Wendover Produce Market

Saturday 21 January, 10am to 2pm Manor Waste

Update on Clock repairs

Wendover Parish Council have been working hard to get the clock in the clock tower fully working, but it will be some time before it can be fixed and that includes New Year's Eve.

The problem with the clock almost certainly started with the extreme heat. At first it was thought that a faulty sensor was the issue but that repair didn’t work and the clock started running slow. After a more detailed inspection it was discovered a highly specialised part was needed. With the current climate of supply chain issues, we are one of the many victims and it could be a further 6 weeks before the part arrives (from China) and the complete repair can be scheduled.