Issue 179

Haversham & Little Linford Magazine

The Burbridge family take top honours for the second year running at the 25th Annual Village Show.

Well done to Jenny and David, Daniel and Lucy!

October/November 24

Issue 179

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Editorial It is a me for change— not the poli cal mantra, just the reality of things moving on.

This is my last issue of the magazine as its editor but I’m really pleased that every effort is being made by the Parish Council to keep its produc on going.

My thanks to Carol Langham for stepping into the breach for the me being.

But there are other changes in our lives too as Harvey and I will be leaving Haversham a er 40 years—only for Stony Stra ord, mind, but into a loca on where facili es are on the doorstep for our older age. We haven’t yet exchanged contracts but are confident that it will go to plan— some me! Maybe for Christmas….

This means relinquishing the various ac vi es we have been involved with over the years and passing on the baton to fresher faces and minds than ours!

We have both enjoyed being part of the local

community and have reaped much more than we contributed. Although we are on the doorstep of Milton Keynes, we are lucky to be in a rural community where we can all par cipate in events and get to know our local neighbours who will hopefully become friends.

The 25th Annual Village Show this year has been commented on elsewhere in the magazine, but I must add my own voice. It was wonderful to see such a crowd of young, middling and old folk enjoying a truly special a ernoon, capped off by the very generous presenta on to myself and Ian Burgess at the end. My thanks to the Parish Council for my special award—it made up for the failing computer programme which delayed the calcula on of the Show results and had my nerves jangling!! I do hope volunteers will come forward to ensure that the Show remains on the calendar for the next 25 years.

Amazingly, despite threats otherwise, li le has changed in Haversham and Li le Linford over the years we have been here, or at least nothing which has taken away its overall ambience as a North Bucks village. But nothing stands completely s ll and, in the next 40 years, for sure there will be some changes. But let’s hope it is small and gradual and doesn't alter things too much!

The next big community event will be the Annual Fireworks Display on 2nd November. Aren’t we lucky to have this happen on our doorstep? Make a note of it in your diaries now!

Lesley Gilbert

Opinions expressed by authors, and services offered by adver sers, are not specifically endorsed by the Editor or by Haversham and Li le Linford Parish Council.

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Local News OPEN HOUSE LUNCH Julia and Ian Cheetham, on behalf of St Mary’s Church, are providing an Open House Lunch at the Old Forge, on the third Monday of each month.

The lunches are for any member of St. Mary’s and Li le Linford Churches and residents of Haversham and Li le Linford.

The Old Forge is located on the High Street next to the Greyhound Pub. Coffee will be available from 10.30am, lunch will be available at approximately 12.30pm and tea and cake on offer in the a ernoon un l 3.30pm.

Maureen White on 07889 654906 has kindly agreed to provide transport for those who need help ge ng to The Old Forge.

The Open House Lunch in October will be on Monday 21st October from 10.30am. The date for November is Monday 18th November. There is no charge for lunch and you will be warmly welcomed. For further inforPage 4

ma on please call 01908 Rowlson on their trip to New York.

914318.

Wednesday, 11th December—Christmas lunch for our final In August we met for the members, mee ng. last me at Woodpecker Co age for a ernoon Lesley Gilbert tea. The weather was a li le cool so we assem- WHAT3WORDS bled indoors and enjoyed a lovely a ernoon of con- Did you know vivial cha er. It was also that every 3 the day when I let mem- metre square of bers know that the Club the world has will be closing in Decem- been given a unique comber. Sadly I feel I cannot bina on of three words? con nue and, as a natural All you have to do is successor has not been download the app onto forthcoming, it seemed your phone. best to go out on a high Then, if you need to tell and enjoy a final Christ- someone your precise mas lunch together for loca on, for instance if your car has broken down our December mee ng.

September saw our usual or maybe you’ve had a fundraising Chinese Auc- fall, the app will tell you on, this year for Macmil- the three correct words lan Cancer Support as for that loca on and you chosen by members. Eve- can pass this on to whoevryone was very generous er needs to know. It’s reand we will be sending ally useful in an emergency but can also be used to £50 to the charity. direct a delivery company, Our next mee ngs: say, to your home adWednesday, 9th Octo- dress. All of the emergenber—Memories of earlier cy services, breakdown services and many delivmes in Haversham. ery companies use this Wednesday, 13th Novery useful tool. vember—Ray & Jenny

JUBILEE CLUB

It’s free to download and even works when you don’t have a signal or data.

me to verify their creden als. If in doubt, close the door and do not let them in.

Thanks to Ann Marshall for sugges ng I put this in the magazine—it would have helped a friend of hers hugely when she broke down in an out-ofthe-way loca on!

Do not share personal Informa on: Never provide personal, financial, or sensi ve informa on to anyone who contacts you unexpectedly, either in person or by phone.

STAYING SAFE COLD CALLERS Thames Valley Police have received reports of an increase in cold callers in Milton Keynes and the surrounding villages. Cold callers may knock on your door or contact you by phone, o en trying to sell goods or services, collect personal informa on, or gain access to your home.

Please be cau ous and follow these safeguarding ps: Do not open the door: If you are not expec ng anyone, do not feel obligated to open the door. Use a peephole or window to see who is there.

Ask for iden fica on: Genuine callers will always have iden fica on.

Ask to see it and take your

Use a door chain or intercom: If you need to speak with someone at your door, use a door chain or intercom system to keep a barrier between you and the caller.

Report suspicious behaviour: If you no ce suspicious callers or feel threatened, contact your local authori es immediately.

Trust your ins ncts: If something feels off, trust your ins ncts. It’s okay to say no and end the conversa on. If at any point, you feel threatened or in midated, please call 999.

STUDENT FRAUDS Going back to school, college, or University? Do you know about the top

frauds targe ng young people?

New data reveals almost 69,000 reports were received from people aged between 11yrs and 29yrs.

Ac on Fraud, the na onal fraud and cybercrime repor ng service, has launched a Student Safety Campaign, revealing the top frauds to look out for and how to prevent yourself from becoming a target.

In 2024 the top five frauds reported are: Investment fraud: with a total loss of £29,509,631: Criminals will target Students looking to make quick wins with available cash through cryptocurrency, or schemes with a promise of high return investment. They usually use social media and other online pla orms where many genuine investment schemes operate.

Fake job fraud: with a total loss of £149,719: Students looking for job opportuni es can be targeted by fraudulent adver sements aimed at stealing personal informa on or money. StuPage 5

dents might be asked for an upfront payment for a fake consulta on or extra help finding a job, but the fraudster does not deliver.

Rental fraud: with a total loss of £4,270,255: Rental fraudsters o en target students looking for university accommoda on.

The fraudsters ask students to pay fees in advance, without seeing the property first, and as a result they lose money as well as somewhere to live.

Online shopping fraud: with a total loss of £9,199,951: O en fraudsters will create fake websites or replicate legi mate online stores to trick customers into providing their personal and financial informa on for a purchase that isn’t real. This can lead to those details being used for criminal ac vity.

Ticket fraud: with a total loss of £1,053,493: Fraudsters will use opportuni es, like highly indemand events, to target students by selling fake ckets. Students looking Page 6

for cheap deals for freshers’ events can also be targets.

Fraudsters will also use these fraud types as cover stories to try and gain access to your bank account. This is known as becoming a ‘money mule’ and is not a fast way to make extra cash. Allowing your bank account to be used (unknowingly or knowingly) to pass criminal funds through can result in your bank account being closed, you being unable to get a mobile phone contract or other credit facili es and a criminal record.

Further informa on can be found at Money Mules h ps:// www.moneymules.co.uk/ REMEMBER TO CALL 101 If you want to give police informa on about a crime that is not currently in progress.

To contact a local police officer, such as someone from your Safer Neighbourhood team.

If your property has been stolen or damaged but it

is not a crime in progress.

If you suspect drug dealing or use in your area.

ONLY CALL 999 IF: A crime is in progress or you suspect a crime is in progress.

There is a serious incident, which needs immediate police a endance.

Someone suspected of a crime is nearby.

Someone is injured, being threatened or is in danger.

There is a risk of injury to someone or a risk of serious damage to property.

If you have been a vic m of fraud or cybercrime, report it at www.ac onfraud.police. uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.

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Parish Council News—The View

MK CITY PLAN 2050

from the Chair The last two months have flown by, and now we are seeing the last ves ges of summer and the onset of autumn, but hopefully a few warms days s ll to come. As always, the Parish Council have been working on a number of things around the Parish in the last couple of months and I will try and cover them all in this update.

PARISH MAGAZINE I have to start by thanking Lesley Gilbert, who has edited this parish magazine since its incep on thirty years ago. This issue marks her last, and I am sure that she has witnessed many changes across the Parish as she has read the various contribu ons of so many and wri en her own editorial each me. I would also like to thank Harvey Gilbert, who over the last several years has been the adver sing manager and Page 8

who is also ending his As reported last issue, role at this me.

MKCC are undertaking the We have been seeking first stage of consulta on volunteers to take over (called Regula on 18) for the editor and adver sing the MK City Plan 2050, manager roles for some the Local Plan, that will, months but sadly no-one once adopted, set out has come forward for how MK will develop up either role. However, in un l 2050, across housorder to keep this much- ing, employment areas loved magazine going, and many other aspects whilst we con nue to of the city’s growth. look for a long-term soluon, Cllr Carol Langham At our recent Parish Counhas agreed to take on the cil mee ng we had an exeditor role, supported by tended public forum to myself and the Clerk who allow residents to ask will manage the adver s- ques ons and make comments, and then dising side. cussed and agreed our With Lesley’s blessing, we representa on that we are intending to do a bit will submit in advance of of a refresh, both in the deadline of 9 October. terms of look, but also, we would love to have All residents and other some new contributors. interested par es have We are not necessarily the opportunity to comlooking for someone to ment on the dra plan contribute every issue, so and those comments will if you fancy wri ng some- be taken into account as thing occasionally, then the plan is updated and please get in touch with progressed through the various other steps of the your ideas. process.

All the documenta on, including an interac ve map, evidence materials and various topic papers can be found at h ps:// www.miltonkeynes.gov.uk/city-plan.

The site also has a portal for submi ng your comments.

NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN – ALLOCATED SITE I know many of you are keen to stay up to date with the progress on this site in the old village.

There is however li le to report at this me as the developer con nues to work through the preapplica on phase and prepare the full planning applica on. We understand that the date at which the formal applicaon will be submi ed is going to be later than previously reported as working through the various aspects of design is taking a li le longer than expected. As and when we hear more, we will share it via h ps:// www.havershamli lelinfo rdpc.gov.uk/npsitenews.

HIGHWAYS AND ROAD Road and we would hope this will be done in NoSAFETY The main Highways news is, of course, the implementa on of the 20mph zone on Wolverton Road and its side streets, plus the associated 50 mph limits. We are chasing for the white lining to be completed and have also fed back to MKCC some other concerns, including re-itera ng the ask for 40mph south of the village. We await further feedback, but we have no ced a reduc on in speeds – although not by everyone.

vember.

We con nue to chase on the various items of highways maintenance and for a resolu on of the flooding issues. Don’t forget to use the Report It page on the MKCC website, h ps://www.miltonkeynes.gov.uk/pay-report -and-apply/report-it if you see a maintenance issue.

OTHER NEWS

Work progresses on the 20mph scheme for the High Street, which is s ll awai ng the statutory consulta on. The consulta on regarding the closure of the gated road across Stanton Low to reduce An -SocialBehaviour, has been completed and since no objec ons were raised, we understand this will now go ahead.

Village Show: I know Jackie will be sharing a detailed update elsewhere in the magazine, but I wanted to say how great it was to see so many of you at the show, on what was a lovely Saturday a ernoon, as well as seeing the numerous wonderful and crea ve entries across the various classes – congratula ons to all the winners! I also enjoyed my role judging the best novice award – there were many excellent novice entries, so it was not an easy choice!

We have ordered the two Speed Indicator Devices (SIDS) devices that will be installed along Wolverton

Normally it is also my role as Parish Council Chair to award the Rose-S mpson Cup for the ‘Resident of Page 9

the Year’ chosen by the Parish Council. However, this year we could not iden fy a suitable candidate for the cup who had not received it previously, so next year we will be seeking nomina ons from residents for this award. As a result, we decided to be a bit different and present a permanent and personal trophy to two of our residents, recognising their huge contribu ons over many years to the community of Haversham-cum-Li le Linford.

Firstly, to Ian Burgess, who a er being a Parish Councillor for almost 25 years, stepped away in May 2023. Ian was also a school governor, an ardent exhibitor at the Village Show, as well as helping out with many things too numerous to men on.

And secondly, to Lesley Gilbert, who was for many years our Parish Council Clerk, edited 180 issues of our Parish Magazine, ran the Jubilee Club, supported the Social Centre Charity and Page 10

been a key member of the team that organises the Village Show and many other HSCC events.

It was lovely to be able to present these awards at the show they have both supported so much, as well as doing so in front of so many of the parish residents.

Running events such as the Village Show takes a lot of effort and the HSCC Charity is always on the lookout for more people to help. If you would like to get involved, even if for just one event, then please drop an email to volunteer@havershamsocialce ntre.org.uk Li er Picking and Community Speedwatch: we ran our latest parishwide li er pick on Saturday 14 September, col-

lec ng sixteen bags of rubbish and repor ng two incidents of flypping. Thanks to the volunteers who support this ac vity.

Cllr Langham con nues to run regular Speedwatch sessions in both the old and new villages along with the volunteer team of trained operaves. Both of these ac vi es would not happen without the people that give a small number of hours of their me to the community each month or so.

Please contact the Clerk (email details below) if you want to get involved and help out with these worthwhile ac vi es. We would really welcome your support.

MK Connect: you may have been aware that

MKCC was running a rural pilot for the Demand Responsive Transport or DRT service called MK Connect. This pilot split the city into zones, requiring a change of vehicle for certain journeys.

The pilot has ended and MKCC are returning to the original non-zoned service.

Councillor Vacancy: whilst our numbers are now six, given the coop on of two councillors in the last few months, we s ll have a vacancy for one more councillor.

If you might consider joining the Parish Council team and are interested to find out more, then please contact the Clerk.

PLAYGROUND JECT UPDATE

PRO-

And now to finish with some great news! A few days ago, we heard that we were successful in our recent applica on to the FCC Communi es Founda on, a not-for-profit business that awards grants for communi es through the Landfill Communi es Fund, for a substan al grant to rejuve-

nate the playground. We now have the £100,000 we need to undertake this project and can progress the work on the detailed design and plan to start the implementaon in the spring – all depending on the weather. As plans and designs progress, we will share updates via our website at h ps:// www.havershamli lelinf ordpc.gov.uk/playground -project. We are excited to be able to finally get the project underway – although there is now a lot to do!

We have also now submi ed the separate funding request to the MKCC Community Infrastructure Fund (CIF) for 2025/26 for the allowed 50% of the costs of the replacement path – we

will hear about this in the new year. Thanks to those that completed the survey we shared in the last issue as this helped us with the evidence we needed to submit.

CONTACTING US HELPING OUT

&

As well as this regular ar cle, we use our Facebook page www.facebook.com/ HcLLParishCouncil and website www.havershamli lelinfo rdpc.gov.uk to share news and useful informa on - so please do follow us on Facebook and visit the website regularly. We are currently exploring using email as another route to share news with residents – more on that in due course.

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If you have any issues, sugges ons or ques ons for us, or would like to volunteer to help with one of our ini a ves, then please either message us via Facebook or email the Parish Clerk at clerk@havershamli lelinf ordpc.gov.uk. We do our best to respond promptly.

scarily when I next write this ar cle in a couple of months, we will be in the run-up to Christmas!

Richard Pryor Chair

I wish you all the very best for the autumn and rather

YOUR PARISH COUNCILLORS Chair—Richard Pryor 3 Mill Road Tel. 07824 483337 Vice Chair—Barry Clift 21 Wolverton Rd Tel. 01908 312365 Jess Cunniffe 07841 521367 Carol Langham 108 Wolverton Rd Tel. 01908 316450 Philip Turnbull 3 Granary Close Tel. 07710 423032 Page 12

Rick Whyte The Crescent Tel. 07599 218001

PARISH CLERK Maria Manthorpe Email: clerk@ havershamli lelinfordpc.gov.uk

NEXT PARISH COUNCIL MEETINGS Parish Council mee ngs usually take place at 7.30pm on the third Monday of each month at the Social Centre. The

mee ngs are open to the public.

The next mee ngs are: Monday, 21st October Monday, 18th November Parish Council mee ng agendas are published online and on the parish no ce boards the week before each mee ng.

Addi onal news & informa on can also be found on the Parish website at havershamli lelinfordpc.gov.uk

Saturday 2nd November Haversham Social & Community Centre

Gates open 6pm ~ Display at 7pm ENTRY CASH ONLY £6.00 for all over 18 years £2.50 for 5 to 18 years old FREE for children under 5

FAMILY TICKET £15 for 2 adults + 2 children

Refreshments available from 6:15pm in the Social Centre.

Glowsticks for sale

Please do not bring any personal fireworks or sparklers onto the grounds An event by Haversham Social & Community Centre. Registered charity in England 300276 Page 13

The Parish Magazine—A wistful nostalgia for the first thirty years The three decades years of reless dedica on by Lesley Gilbert to the Haversham and Li le Linford Magazine has provided our small community with a cohesion and communica on much welcomed by our few hundred inhabitants. This includes the happy survival of our Greyhound Pub, and the consideraon of the many - and some mes large – planning applica ons including the proposal to plant rus c pastures with imposing wind turbines. In such cases the publicaon has provided a useful conduit for opinions o en resul ng in effecve ac on to preserve our green and pleasant land and a quintessen al rural ambience.

I moved from London into Li le Linford in August 1994 just as the inial issue was being prepared. In my first week of exploring the local countryside I met Lesley by chance walking on what Page 14

is s ll called “The Prairie”

by Li le Linford Wood.

We talked at length during which she suggested I might like to write an ar cle for her nascent crea on. The result was an ar cle en tled “From East Sheen to East Lodge” which extolled the virtues of rural spacious blues skies compared to an oppressive London haze and living under an increasingly congested Heathrow flight path. Li le then did I expect to remain here for three decades and become thirty years older! I s ll enjoy living in this rural jewel although I wonder if I can accept the ever faster ageing years.

I hope the spirt of the Parish and its magical countryside can survive the advance of Milton Keynes and the evergrowing needs for new houses including the o ignored concomitant infrastructure like schools and medical centres. The

first should not be incompa ble with the la er and with care and considera on we can have both although anyone currently trying to see their GP might have their doubts.

Here is to the Parish magazine’s next thirty years although it is just possible I may not be here in 2054 to update this ar cle.

Patrick Upton

NEXT ISSUE OF MAGAZINE The next issue is for December/January.

Copy date will be 17th November and the magazine should be ready for distribu on on or around 30th November.

All contribu ons welcome.

Please pass them to: Carol Langham, 108 Wolverton Road, Haversham.

Tel: 01908 316450 Mob: 07961 047142 e-mail: carol.langham@ havershamli lelinford pc.gov.uk

1 Rose Court, Olney MK46 4BY Tel: 01234 240003 October this year will see Leo Antiques turning 21 years old!

And, although we had to downsize earlier this year into Rose Court, we still have our regular visitors which is always a pleasure, together with newcomers.

So we may be smaller but we still have lots to offer. If you are looking for something a little different from the run of the mill, then Leo’s is where you’ll find it.

A reminder of our stocks: paintings, prints, mirrors, silverware, glassware and small occasional furniture and, of course, our beautiful collection of pre-loved jewellery, all authenticated for your peace of mind.

Do come along for a visit, you will always be made most welcome.

Open Tuesday to Sunday 11 to 4pm Page 15

won by Verity Crosby; the Junior award by Erin Clarke; the Children’s Middle was won by Lucy BurThe major prizes were bridge and the Inter mediate by Darcey Watkins. awarded as follows: The Photography award The Special awards were was won by Jenny Bur- as follows:

Social & Community Centre News The Village Show was held on the first Saturday in September and was very successful. There were 70 entrants; there haven’t been as many since 2004 so we celebrated our 25th anniversary in style. As always, I am impressed by the quality and diversity of the entries and thank you to all those that entered.

There is a full report of the day in the centre of the magazine with lots of photos.

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bridge. There were some brilliant photos on display, very impressive.

Jenny also won the Hor culture Cup. We had a lot of entries in this class which was surprising a er the very wet Spring.

Pam Furniss won the Shield for the Fruit secon and Graham Paley won the Floral Cup. The Domes c Cup was won by me (that was a surprise). Arts & Cra s Cup was won by Phoebe Jes ce and the Wood & Metal went to Ian Burgess, both were worthy winners.

The Bill Bedford Trophy for the best photograph entered by a child, as judged by Russell, our photography judge, went to Lucy Burbridge and she also won the Pat Brightman award for her cupcakes. This was judged on behalf of the Brightman family by Shula Jackson and is for the entry that is judged best in all the children’s classes. The Parish Council’s Novic e Award went to Noah Ridley for his finger pain ng and was judged by Richard Pryor and Pamela Wiliams. The HAGS award this In the Children’s sec on year was awarded in the the Toddler award was Floral sec on and was judged by Irene Paton, our Floral Judge. She awarded it to Jenny Burbridge for her lovely display of garden flowers in a jug. The Best Exhibit in the Show as judged by the trustees of the Social Centre was Margaret Fanning for her

very imagina ve floral arrangement on the theme of an arrangement in an unusual container.

This was a beau ful arrangement on a walking s ck.

The final award is given to the person with the most overall points in the Show. In 3rd place with 23 points was Lucy Burbridge, in second place with 27 points was Gill Paton and finally in first place was Jenny Burbridge with 38 points. Congratula ons to all the winners in the different classes and to those who won the major awards.

The Parish Council did not award the Rose-S mpson Cup this year, which is given to the person who has done most for the village during the year, but instead gave a Special Parish Award to Ian Burgess and Lesley Gilbert for all they have done for the

village through many years. This was presented to them by Richard Pryor, the Chair of the Parish Council. In the past both Ian & Lesley have won the Rose-S mpson Cup so the Parish Council felt their service should be recognized in a different & permanent way.

As usual there are so many people to thank for their help on the day.

Firstly, thank you to our judges, Irene Paton (Floral); Sarah Webb (Arts & Cra s); Kathleen Dodds (Woodwork & Metalwork plus Domes c); Photography (Russell Green) and finally Vegetables & Fruit

(Frank Wykes) plus their stewards who were Julia Cheetham, Louise Reid, Holly Sains plus Annabelle, Chris ne Sythes, and Natalie Jarman. However, the person who did the most work was Lesley Gilbert who produces all the paperwork and does the calcula ons from the scores given by the judges - not an easy task especially when, as happened this year, the computer program doesn’t perform as it should. We will miss Lesley so much when she and Harvey move to their new home. I have relied for many years on her sound common sense, judgement and her experse with the computer.

Thank you, Lesley, for all that you have done for us.

The a ernoon display also saw a record a endance and special thanks go to Shula and St Mary’s

Page 17

2024 VILLAGE SHOW

TOP AW

Overall Top Points Best Family Parish Council Award- Best N HSCC Award - Best Exhibit HAGS Award -18 Best Floral Pat Brightman Trophy Bill Bedford Award

MAIN C Photography Hor culture Fruit Flowers Domes c Arts & Cra s Wood & Metalwork

CHILDREN’ Toddler under 3 Junior 3-6 yrs Middle 7-9 yrs Intermediate 10-13 yrs

Many thanks to Laura White for t

Congratula ons t Page 18

W AWARD WINNERS

WARDS

ovice

Jenny Burbridge Burbridge family Noah Ridley Margaret Fanning Jenny Burbridge Lucy Burbridge Lucy Burbridge

CLASSES Jenny Burbridge Jenny Burbridge Pam Furniss Graham Paley Jackie Brown Phoebe Jes ce Ian Burgess

’S CLASSES Verity Crosby Erin Clarke Lucy Burbridge Darcey Watkins

taking the photographs this year.

o all the winners!

Page 19

Swansway Self Storage Containers

¨ 20ft containers available to hire in Haversham ¨ High security locks, well-lit area with CCTV For information, contact Rachel 07710 603417 Page 20

Church who organised and served refreshments for us, which was a tremendous help, and also cleared up a erwards which was even be er.

Thank you also to those who donated cakes for the refreshments was much appreciated and helped to contribute to the overall profit made by us.

Finally thank you to all of you who came and supported us and made this the most profitable Village Show ever.

bookings can be made via me, or Richard Pryor; contact details can be found at the end of the magazine. We will be appoin ng a new Bookings Secretary once the new system is up and running.

We will adver se the post on our Facebook page and the Parish website in due course. We would like to thank Kim for her many years of service and support to the Social Centre.

We will also be adver sing for a new Treasurer, as Natalie Jarman has resigned from that role.

Again, we would like to thank her for all the years that she has given to the Social Centre, not only as Treasurer but as an ac ve and competent commi ee member who always gave 100% support to all our ac vi es.

On November 2nd we will hold our Annual Fireworks display and, fingers crossed, the weather will be kind and there will be no rain! If the display is as good as the previous two, we will be in for a magical evening courtesy of Ben Hazell, Jim Wortley and their team. We will also be hos ng our Christmas Bingo and Wreath Making Workshop; details will appear in due course on our Facebook page and the Parish website.

Jackie Brown Chair

As men oned before, we have big changes afoot in our organisa on and our new Bookings system will soon be going online, hopefully by the end of September. Kim Irving has resigned as Bookings Secretary and, in the interim, Page 21

up great clouds of and straw merchants who Nature Notes ing dust, creeping their way take huge loads to sell on Just how has it got to September? It’s completely perplexing as to where the days go. As the days roll by so the seasons turn and already there is touch of autumn in the air. Summer is slipping away and what a strange one it’s been. We seem to have had the whole gamut of weather to contend with but on the whole it’s not been too awful. For sure it’s been very dry; the small amount of rain we have had not enough to percolate into the ground.

I know that my garden is very dry and many plants have not done well. If you have an allotment I expect the summer has been very tes ng for you; watering and more watering… Farmers we hope have done a bit be er with the dry weather; there must have been some lovely hay made this year as good weather came at just the right me. Over the past few weeks all the arable crops have been harvested with the combines, huge growling monsters chuckPage 22

across the fields gathering up the corn. The big field at the end of the village here was planted up with oats. From ny sprouts of green in spring to the pale gold ears of ripeness. The oats, stalks sighing and rustling, formed waves of gold in the wind as it blew across the field. All that loveliness is gone now; the oats away to the mill or storage. The straw le from combining was soon gobbled up by the baler clanking its way across the fields packing the straw into huge compact bales before spi ng them out behind. You may have seen the immense stacks of bales from the roadside as you’ve been out and about. The bales await collec on from the hay

to farmers in areas where presumably straw for winter bedding is in short supply. In the depths of winter it must be like opening a bale of trapped summer sunshine!

Summer sunshine is just what Swallows revel in and we’ve had many, many of these lovely birds around here this summer.

We think it must have been a good year for them, probably with second broods too, as there have been so many. The twi ering call the Swallows make is especially lovely though we’ve picked up on a change in the call when a predator is nearby. The call becomes higher pitched and very rapid and is an instant alert. Looking up we invariably saw a Sparrow hawk on a fly-by, or twice

a Hobby, this quite rare bird being a consummate aerial hunter of Swallows and House Mar ns.

Twi ering fran cally, almost hysterically, the Swallows gather ‘en masse’ to give chase to the intruder and see it off.

For some reason known only to themselves the Swallows took to gathering on our roof, television aerial, gu ers or any other bit of house they could cling on to and always at the back. They took to swooping in low over our outhouse, in between the house and the wall, and then up onto the roof or

wherever they could land. All the me there was a great twi ering commo on and jostling of places un l they would all suddenly take off. A few minutes later they would be back twi ering almost as if it was just a jolly good game!

One very warm a ernoon we were in and out to the garden and had the garden room doors wide open. I was much surprised when coming indoors to find a Wren perched on the back of a chair! I stood very s ll and the Wren didn’t move. It didn’t move at all. Watching the ny bird closely it appeared to be gasping so I assumed it had been flying around, probably in a panic, for some me and was exhausted. Ian came and managed to catch it; it didn’t protest. We put it

in a small box with a lid and put it in the garage where it was cool and quiet, and le it for a couple of hours. Later we sat in the garden and carefully opened the lid whereupon the Wren flew out, perched flee ngly on the lid and flew to the gu er on the garage. It sat there for a minute or two, gathering its thoughts, then flew off and into the pear tree, seemingly none the worse for its mishap! We see, and hear, Wrens regularly in and around our garden and they are such a joy to watch, so busy and inquisi ve.

Having returned from an early morning dog walk I let the dog off the lead in the garden. I looked over our fence into the paddock and to my surprise saw a hen Pheasant si ng on the top rail of our neighbour’s fence. It had been quite a rainy night and she was looking very wet and bedraggled so had taken the top rail in Page 23

the sunshine to dry out.

To my amazement she didn’t fly away but just eyed me cau ously, l ng her head from side to side, looking at me and then down into the field.

A er a few moments she made a low cheeping noise to which there seemed to be an echo.

There was a slight movement in some grass stalks and a chick appeared!

About the size of a Robin, the chick moved confidently through the grass pecking at insects and seeds. Then another appeared, and another un l there were five chicks creeping about in the paddock with the hen bird calling to them and they in turn calling back. It was quite late in the year for Pheasant chicks of this size to be about so I wondered whether it might be a second brood or that she had lost a first nest to the very wet spring or Page 24

perhaps her nest had been predated. Five chicks is a small brood for a pheasant, eight would be a more usual clutch size. The nest, normally hidden in thick vegetaon, consists of a scrape in the ground lined with a bit of dry grass into which the olive brown eggs are laid. The chicks are nidifugous, that is they leave the nest as soon as they are hatched. They are covered with a fine down which is mo led buff and brown to provide camouflage and the chicks feed themselves straight away. The hen Pheasant had done well to get her chicks hatched and raised as ground nes ng birds are so vulnerable and at risk not just from bad weather but the whole gamut of predators from foxes, rats, crows, magpies and any other watchful meal seeker.

In our last ‘notes’ we wrote about the large Grass snake lurking in a hole at the side of our pond. Well we think the following might be related. John Tarbox, our neighbour, saw something on his garden path which he took to be a bit of wire or plas c. However when he picked it up it proved to be a very dead, very dried up, very young Grass snake. He was most surprised! Oddly, a few days later he found another one in his garden in the same condi on. John wondered if something had killed them as being so small, they are easy prey. We wondered if perhaps the small snakes, thinner than a pencil, succumbed to the dry weather and lack of easy food.

Could it be that the large lurking rep le in the hole by our pond was the mother of these babies?

The young grass snakes wouldn’t have travelled far so it’s possible that the Grass snake had found a suitable nest site, ro ng damp vegeta on or compost heaps are favoured, somewhere not far away.

The ro ng process of the

vegeta on creates warmth which incubates the eggs and did you know that Grass snakes are Britain’s only egg laying snake? The large lurker was seen for only a couple of days before disappearing. Ian was most disappointed… I pretended to be!

Talking of small things, we had a lodger for over a week; a very young Hedgehog. My daughter

and I were driving home along the road through the top village when she suddenly told me to stop!

We were almost opposite the bus stop at the top.

She dived out of the car and ran back down the roadside, picked something up and got back in the car. I was completely discombobulated! What on earth… she had seen a small Hedgehog by the side of the road and had

to rescue it and it was now si ng on her lap in my car! My daughter, Rebecca, is, and always has been, beso ed with Hedgehogs. Over the years we’ve had various Hedgehogs to care for in various states of health and disrepair; some came from Margaret at the Wildlife hospital in Bradwell to release and some just lived in our garden, one in par cular had three legs and not many prickles having been rescued from a bonfire. This most recent foundling seemed fairly healthy but very small so a box became its temporary home. Boy, did it eat! Tiny bits of chicken, mince, soaked dog biscuits, raw egg, pear; it wolfed it down! It must have been starving so all it did was eat, sleep, repeat. It became much more alert, so much so that we found it trundling round the kitchen having escaped the box! Rebecca eventually tracked down a lady at Deanshanger who runs Milton Keynes Hedgehog Rescue who said that she would take the Hedgehog

with a view to releasing it into the wild when it was big enough. Off we went to Deanshanger where the lovely lady had other small rescued Hedgehogs.

We were sad to see it go but knew that it would have the best chance of survival with the rescue lady.

It is perhaps fi ng that we should men on our daughter Rebecca for it was she who began wri ng the ‘nature notes’ for the village magazine.

When exams took over, Ian and I said we would con nue as so many people seemed to enjoy the ‘notes’. Some twenty years later we’re s ll at it!

However, as we believe this may be the last magazine, Ian and I have decided that this would be a mely end to our ‘notes’.

We have wri en of many things over the years from our observa ons and happenings which cost us nothing and con nue to put a smile on our faces no ma er how many mes we have seen them before. Some of you have sent us li le ar cles of things that you have seen Page 25

too. We like to think that our ‘notes’ have given pleasure to many of you and perhaps a view on a world that is not so accessible to all. Perhaps if the magazine is resurrected at some point, somebody out there would like to take up the reins once more. There’s much to see out there; today I found a beau ful Red Kite tail feather with the most wonderful coloura on and Ian, when moving

some paving slabs, found a medium-sized Toad who seemed very put out about being ousted from his hidey hole. A new damp home in a safe place was found for Mr Toad. At the same me, a Great Crested newt was discovered so that too was carefully re-homed under some old logs near the pond. So you see, wildlife and nature can be found close by. It doesn’t require long

walks and heavy binoculars, just a few minutes here and there to look at what is around you. You will be pleasantly surprised!

Gill & Ian Burgess

C. P. Locks

54 Church Street , Wolverton, MK12 5JW

Tel: 01908 225954 Your local key cutting and DIY store stocks a wide range of home decorating materials as well as a good range of gardening products, including potting compost and garden pots.

Our opening hours as follows: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9:00am-4:00pm; Saturday 10.00am to 4.00 pm. Closed Wednesday & Sunday

Page 26

Haversham Village School

coming weeks, offering the children an inspiring place to explore books.

I’ll keep you updated on its progress in my next newsle er!

I hope this newsle er finds you well and in good spirits, especially a er one of the chilliest summers I can recall. It's hard to believe we’re already well into the third week of the academic year. Time truly flies!

We've had an energe c start to the year, and the staff have thoroughly enjoyed welcoming the children back. A er the calm and quiet of the summer break, it’s wonderful to see the school buzzing once again with energy and excitement.

Mrs. Perschky, our dedicated caretaker, has been hard at work throughout the summer holidays to ensure everything was in perfect shape for the children’s return. Hallways have been freshly painted, classrooms deepcleaned, paths pressure washed and even some roof repairs completed.

Those of you with a keen eye may have spo ed the arrival of a magnificent new structure on the school grounds—a Victorian train carriage! This beau ful addi on is set to become our new, dedicated library space. I’m hopeful that the carriage will be fully ready in the

Over the past couple of weeks, our class teachers have hosted "New to Year" group mee ngs, giving parents the opportunity to visit the school, meet their child’s teacher, and explore the classrooms. It’s always a pleasure to share the exci ng learning journeys and experiences that await the children throughout the year.

The Autumn term is o en a season of transforma on and growth. As always, we’ve had the joy of welcoming our new Founda on children into school. The Founda on Stage team has done an

excep onal job ensuring that our youngest pupils feel safe, happy, and ready to embark on their learning adventure. It’s heartwarming to see how quickly they’ve been embraced by the wider Haversham Village School family, se ling in seamlessly.

As I write, prepara ons are already in full swing for a variety of trips and enriching educa onal experiences. Our teachers are working hard to create hands-on, immersive opportuni es that will complement and enhance the children’s learning.

We’re excited for what’s to come!

There are plenty of exci ng plans for this academic year, and I can’t wait to share them with you as they unfold.

Best Wishes Mr David Ley & all the staff of Haversham Village School

Page 27

Page 28

The Parishes of Haversham with Little Linford and Tyringham with Filgrave Area Dean Priest for the LAMP group of churches Revd. Adrian Low

07883 717642

rev.adrian.low@gmail.com

Churchwardens for St Mary’s Haversham & St Leonard’s Li le Linford Joe Geary Fi Jones

01908 510289 07946 615218

joegeary100@gmail.com fipwmum@gmail.com

Churchwarden for Tyringham with Filgrave Marion Hansford

01234 711566

mariford@b nternet.com

BAPTISMS, MARRIAGES, FUNERALS and PASTORAL NEEDS For informa on about Christenings, weddings, funerals or if you would like a visit for any reason, please contact: Rev. Adrian Low, The Rectory, High Street, Haversham, Milton Keynes, MK19 7DT. Telephone 07883 717642 or email: rev.adrian.low@gmail.com.

ST MARY’S CHURCH BEREAVEMENT GROUP Please contact Fi Jones on 07946 615218 or by email at fipwmum@gmail.com.

FOR UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ON CHURCH SERVICES AND EVENTS Check out the LAMP group website at h p://thelampchurches.com or our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/stmaryhaversham where you can lots of other details about our worship.

HAVERSHAM MORNING WORSHIP A er each 11 o'clock service, members of the congrega on are invited to stay for refreshments.

Page 29

Lamp Group Church Services 29th September

11:00 am HARVEST FESTIVAL AT HILL FARM Hill Farm, ALL WELCOME Haversham

6th October

9:30 am Holy Communion 11:00 am Morning Worship 6:00 pm Something Else on Sunday

13th October

9:30 am Morning Prayer Li le Linford 11:00 am Morning Worship Haversham 11:00 am Holy Communion/Children’s Church Emberton

20th October

9:30 am Memorial Service 11:00 am Holy Communion 6:00 pm Evensong

Tyringham Haversham Emberton

27th October

9:30 am Holy Communion 11:00 am Morning Worship 11:00 am Café Church

Li le Linford Haversham Emberton

3rd November

9:30 am Holy Communion 11:00 am Parish Praise 6:00 pm Something Else on Sunday

Tyringham Haversham Emberton

10th November

9:30 am Morning Prayer Li le Linford 11:00 am Morning Worship Haversham 11:00 am Holy Communion/Children’s Church Emberton

17th November

9:30 am Morning Prayer 11:00 am Holy Communion 6:00 pm Evensong

Tyringham Haversham Emberton

24th November

9:30 am Holy Communion 11:00 am Morning Worship 11:00 am Café Church

Li le Linford Haversham Emberton

Page 30

Tyringham Haversham Emberton

A Message from Adrian Low We went to the Na onal Trust park at Stowe yesterday. Excellent. Grandchildren loved it too.

There, doing its thing in one part of the grounds, was a small robo c lawnmower. Anyone who knows Stowe will surely think that one such mower is not going to hack it for 250 acres of mainly grassland. However clever they seem, they are just following a program, with a touch of randomness as they waddle around mulching the ps off the lawn.

I don't have the stamina, focus or s ckability to mow 24/7, but I do have free will, which the robot does not have. Unlike the robot, I can make conscious judgments about where to mow, learn what to avoid (molehills) and when to take a break, etc.

Free will is something us mammals have - the further up the evolu onary tree we are, the greater the free will. I can't say definitely, but I doubt a

single-cell amoeba has much in the way of free will.

We are wonderfully, and awfully made and God seems to have passed control, at least in some things, completely over to us. It's like when we loosen the strings of parenthood and pass free will on to our children.

But there are some people that I really wish had no free will at all. Be er, instead, that they were robots under the direct control of God. Put God in charge of leaders in Russia and the Ukraine war would be over, same with Israel and Pales ne, Syria, Somalia, Myanmar, Mexico and so on. Every day, and every Sunday par cularly, we Chris ans pray for peace. If only God would take back the free will, but no - instead it seems to me God guarantees it to us as a gi given, in love.

One thing I do know is that love requires free will, otherwise love is not love at all, it is forced

affec on and that is abuse and pain. You really can't force love. When I conduct a marriage, it must have the free will of both to consent. That free will to love is a gi each gives the other.

I know that God constantly influences, encourages and reaches into our consciences, but God refuses to be in direct control of every single thing all the me. God, instead, hands that remote control to us as a gi to see what we can do with it in our lives.

By using it to love, rather than to grab for ourselves, we become a bit more God-like - part of the loving in the world. That is something incredibly precious and I so want Vladimir Pu n and other selfserving leaders to discover that.

Meanwhile, the rain has held off and the motor mower is outside looking idle, so I'd be er stop waffling and get going. Actually, if I look very busy wri ng parish le ers, JoPage 31

anna might mow the lawn instead of me...

Best wishes.

Adrian Low Area Dean and Priest for Haversham, Li le Linford , Tyringham & Fil-

St Mary’s Haversham undergoing a faceli !

REMINDER Le Tour de Tyringham th 5 October 2024

For informa on, go to bigcowsports.com/ le-tour-de-tyringham/ Page 32

News from the Pews MEMOS FROM ST MARY’S Change is never easy to cope with; most of us have found it a struggle at some point, whether it is something we desire, or things out of our control.

Our weather has changed recently, going from the very hot to the rather chilly. The nights ge ng darker as we move officially into the Autumn period and everyone is reaching into the back of the wardrobe to find that elusive coat.

One change which had been planned for some me is the redecora ng, replastering and deep cleaning of St Mary's Church. This has been a big job to organise for our Worship Team, PCC and Church Wardens as everything which could be moved has been moved out of the main body of the Church for the work to begin. A huge thanks are due to all involved.

St. Mary’s Church Haversham is a Grade 1 listed building in which people

have worshipped for in excess of 860 years. Being an ancient building, maintenance of the structure becomes inevitable.

It is due to the generosity of the congrega on, people of the parish and available grants, that major works have recently been able to be undertaken.

The leaking roof was a priority, a sec on of the South Aisle having been reroofed to an excellent standard. The use of lead was at the insistence of the Oxford diocese. Flaking plaster and crumbling interior masonry have necessitated the building to be filled with scaffolding thus enabling access to the upper reaches. The whole of the interior has been repainted to a high standard, under the direc on of the church architect. Curtains cleaned and floor polished will add to the “Icing on the cake”.

To allow work to progress worship has been taking place in various loca ons,

but on 6th October 11:00am Morning Worship will be back in St Mary's. Please do come and view the refurbished interior.

Many thanks are due our Church Team who dispensed refreshments and cakes to all those who enjoyed another successful Haversham and Li le Linford Village Show on Saturday 7th September.

Well done to all and a big thank you to Shula Jackson for her organisa on.

Thank you also to the 'mopper-uppers' on Sunday 8th September at Li le Linford Church. Following a cloudburst, torrents of water cascaded down the path and church steps as Mr Richard Jones mopped valiantly. His skills have been noted!

Our next Open House provided by Ian and Julia for any member of St Mary's and Li le Linford churches and residents of Haversham and Li le Linford will be on Monday 21st October from 10.30am. There is no charge for lunch and you Page 33

will be comed.

warmly

wel-

Eco-Tip from Kimonie – Blessed is he who considers the poor (Psalm 41:12). We are currently in the middle of Fairtrade Fortnight. Please look for Fairtrade labels when buying food and consider purchasing Fairtrade products in preference to something else if you are able.

The bible reminds us that we all go through a transi on and only God is unchanging. Perhaps this prayer will help: “O God, grant to us the serenity to accept that which cannot be changed; courage to change that which can be changed, and wisdom to know the difference.

Amen.”

Jan Bell

NEWS FROM ST PETER'S, TYRINGHAM We celebrate our harvest service as the magazine goes to press. A full sung evensong is planned with the favourite hymns we have sung at St Peter’s for many years. Our flowPage 34

er arranging ladies are poised to fill the church with the colours of autumn from the fruits of their gardens and hedgerows. Our many thanks to Joe Geary who has supplied us with two sheaves of corn for longer than either he or I can recall.

Our service on 20th October will take the form of a Memorial service at the usual me of 9.30a.m. In the past this has been a Group service but it has been decided by the LAMP Group PCC’s that this year each church will hold their own. If you have lost a loved one (it doesn’t have to be recently), and you would like them remembered in the service by having their name read out, or you would like to light a candle in their memory, please let Ingrid know on 01234 711566 or ingrid_hans@b nternet.co m by 13th October.

The Le Tour de Tyringham Cycle Ride is almost upon us, Saturday 5th October. The entrants set off at various mes from 8.30am and return

around noon. Do come and support them and give them a cheer. Raffle ckets for the toilet fund are on sale; there are some excellent prizes.

I am sure everyone who contributes to this publica on are sad that Lesley’s services end with this edi on. Members at St Peter’s have felt very privileged to be part of the publica on. I am personally very sorry that Lesley’s tenure in the post is coming to an end, I have been sending in the reports for as long as Lesley has been the Editor, prior to that I wrote in a publica on Mrs Lowndes produced. Lesley has been so kind correc ng me when I foolishly sent in the previous bimonthly copy instead of the correct one, reminding me when the copy date was due and going out of her way to make sure the magazine arrived at Tyringham when on the few occasions we couldn’t collect it. Thank you, Lesley; I wish you well.

Marion Hansford

The Last Resort Local Organisa on

Contacts

Telephone

Magazine

Editor: Carol Langham Adver sing: Parish Clerk

01908 316450

Parish Council

Chair: Richard Pryor Clerk: Maria Manthorpe

07824 483337

Chair: Jackie Brown Bookings:

01908 313388

clerk@havershamli lelinfordpc.gov.uk

Social Centre

bookings@havershamsocialcentre.org.uk

Lamp Group of Churches Rev Adrian Low

07883 717642

Haversham Village School Headteacher: David Ley

01908 312673

Haversham Sailing Club

commodore@havershamsc.org

Local Services

Water

Emergency/Enquiries

03457 145 145

Gas

Emergency

0800 111 999

Electricity

Emergency

0800 6783 105

Police

Emergency For non-urgent messages

999 101

Milton Keynes Council

Main Number

01908 691691

Na onal Rail

Train enquiries

03457 48 49 50

Traveline

All public transport advice

0871 200 22 33

Ci zens Advice Bureau

CMK

0808 278 7991

RSPCA

Emergency/Enquiries

0300 1234 999

Environment Agency

Emergency

03078 506 506

ADVERTISING RATES PER ISSUE Full page £25.00

1/2 page £15.00

1/4 page £12.00 1/8 page £9.00

For regular adver sers, 6 issues for the price of 5.

Please contact the Parish Clerk email: clerk@havershamli lelinfordpc.gov.uk Page 35

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