Haversham & Little Linford Magazine - Dec 23 / Jan 24 - Issue 174

Haversham & Little Linford Magazine

St Mary’s celebrates Christmas Can you sing?

First Choir Practice for 'Night of Miracles'

St Mary's Church, Haversham, Monday 27th November 7pm

Christingle in Haversham Celebrating light into the world at Advent Come and make your own, to take home St Mary's Church, Sunday 3rd December 3.30pm

Carols round the Green Meet in The Crescent, Haversham All Welcome Friday 8th December 6.30-7.30pm

Christmas Tree Festival

St Mary's Church, Saturday 16th December 2-4pm Children's craft activities, teas and cakes and Sunday 17th December 2-4pm Orphean Singers, teas and cakes Bring a picture or memento of someone special for our memory tree.

Carols by Candlelight St Mary's Church, Christmas Eve, 6pm

December 23/January 24

Issue 174

Page 2

Editorial Another year draws to a close, with the nights inexorably drawing in and the curtains closed soon a er 4:30pm. There’s even the threat of really cold weather in the coming days! But, thankfully, the Fes ve Season is upon us and we can look forward to lighted advent windows, fairy lights in trees and hedges, inflated Father Christmases and Snowmen, and who know what else, to gladden our hearts.

I have brought the magazine out a li le earlier than usual in order to tempt you to par cipate in the various local Christmas ac vi es lined up locally.

Sadly some planned events have had to be cancelled recently

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.

through lack of interest – maybe the inevitable ghtening of belts in these uncertain mes accounts for it. I do hope that you will support those which are s ll on the calendar. We are a small community and, without your support, our exis ng facili es become threatened – and once they are gone, they are gone. Those who volunteer in the community get much pleasure from it, not least ge ng to know local people and gaining that true sense of belonging. It does take some me and effort to put on events and happenings, but perhaps not as much as you would imagine. And many hands make for light work, and more ideas.

thought about ge ng involved, but for the past 30+ years we have par cipated in many different aspects of our community and can truly say the result has been a very posive experience. Don’t leave it all to others; they will run out of steam!

So decorate your windows for Advent, your houses for Christmas, come to the Christmas Bingo, visit the Christmas Tree Fes val, pop in and see your local parish councillors—for a moan or a ‘well-done!’. Be part of what is going on, it will reap rewards.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and health and happiness in 2024.

Lesley Gilbert

When we moved here 39 years ago, we li le

PARISH COUNCIL DROP-IN SESSION SUNDAY 10th DECEMBER 9-11 am at the Social Centre SEE PAGE 7 FOR DETAILS

Page 3

Local News HON RICHARD GODBER MBE Today I heard the sad news that Richard Godber had died. He had been very unwell for some me and had been lovingly cared for at Park House, Tyringham.

Richard and Candy were our very good neighbours at Hall Farm, Li le Linford for more than 40 years, and all that me they were outstanding in their support for the church at Li le Linford and in mobilising the support of residents.

Every year the Spring Lunch was held in the barn in their lovely garden, which would be filled to capacity by the people of Li le Linford and Haversham. The lunch would be a delicious casserole cooked by Candy and puddings brought along by neighbours. The proceeds would be for the church. Every summer their garden would be open under the Na onal Garden Scheme for Macmillan Nurses. Teas would Page 4

be served in the barn. I manned the teapot and many Haversham and Li le Linford people would help with the serving of cakes, etc.

support to local ac vi es, not least of course Li le Linford Church. They regularly hosted Jubilee Club a ernoons at their home and invited them to a day out at the family-owned Willington Garden Centre; they generously donated prizes to many of the Social Centre raffles, and they par cipated very successfully in our Village Show, Richard o en winning with his fruit.

Again, to raise money for the church, they would delight us with ‘Flix in the S cks’ – old films made by the Newport Pioneers, usually whodunits, and the barn would be filled to capacity with Candy serving ice cream in the interval.

When Richard was High All this me, in addi on Sheriff of Buckinghamto his many roles in the shire, he visited the county and wider vicinity school in all his regalia to (he was appointed Depu- the delight of the chilty Lieutenant of Bucking- dren, par cularly as he hamshire in 1993 and carried a sword. Sadly, I served as High Sheriff in cannot find the photo2003/04), Richard was graph of this occasion in suppor ng Candy and my files, but this is his taking care of the church, official photograph from a ending just about eve- the me. ry service. He will be greatly missed.

Gill Paton 19th November 2023 A note from the Editor When they lived in Li le Linford (un l 2016), Richard and Candy were stalwarts of our community, always on hand to lend

I’m very sad to hear that he has died and send our deep condolences to Candy and all of his family.

FESTIVAL OF TREES AT ST MARY’S St Mary’s are invi ng all local clubs, organisa ons and businesses around Haversham and Li le Linford to decorate a Christmas Tree and display it in the church.

If you'd like to decorate a tree, please contact Joanna Low for details, no later than 1st December.

Tel. 07989821436; email: joanna.low57@gmail.com.

There will also be a Memory Tree on which you can display a picture or memento of someone special. For more informa on, contact Fi Jones.

Tel. 07946 615218; email: fipwmum@gmail.com.

OPEN HOUSE LUNCH Julia and Ian Cheetham, on behalf of St Mary’s Church, are con nuing to provide 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

Our 20th year here in Olney, and this season will be special as ever!

Great deals to be had on furniture, as we are downsizing our stocks, so don’t miss out on some fantastic bargains.

Come along for a browse in our period setting rooms to enjoy all our festive offerings. There are sure to be some bargains to tempt you, and stocking fillers too! With prices from £5 there is something to suit all tastes and budgets.

In December we are open every day until Christmas, and we look forward to giving you a warm welcome into the shop.

Also remember it’s Olney’s famous Dickens of a Christmas on 3rd December a super event for all the family.

Please come and spend the day in our lovely town, with lots of cafes, free parking, and independent shops, just like ours. Your visit will be much appreciated by all the traders.

OPEN TUESDAY to SUNDAY 11AM to 4PM 19 MARKET PLACE, OLNEY. Tel 01234 240003 Page 5

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 Lunches in December and January will be on Monday 18th December 2023 and Monday 15th January 2024 from 10.30am. There is no charge for lunch and you will be warmly welcomed.

For further informa on please call 01908 914318.

JUBILEE CLUB In October, we were delighted to welcome Maggie Weston to talk about the work of our chosen charity this year, the Macular Society, and their Milton Keynes support group.

She was very engaging and pragma c about the issues surrounding diminishing eyesight though macular degenera on.

We were very pleased to Page 6

present her with a cheque for £75 towards their research work.

In November, Fi Jones and her daughter Amy brought along the lovely Perkins, a labradoodle in training with Fi to be a guide dog for the blind. Fi explained the lengthy processes to be gone through to get the puppy ready for its future role.

She has a lot of experience as they have had many puppies in the past.

Amy had also brought along Libby, one of their pet therapy dogs, a German shepherd who visits schools, care homes, etc, offering the comfort of just being there. She is absolutely lovely.

where they can enjoy one another’s company over a cup of tea and homemade cakes, but where we also have presenta ons from a wide range of speakers, the occasional ou ng or lunch out and some mes a bit of entertainment.

We always welcome new members, so if you fancy coming along and giving us a go, you will be made to feel very welcome.

We usually meet on the second Wednesday of the month in the Social Centre. Subs are £2 per person, and we also have a raffle to which members contribute the prizes.

Lesley Gilbert

HANSLOPE & DISTRICT Both dogs were a great CARERS GROUP hit, needless to say. I’m surprised they weren’t each kidnapped!

Wednesday, 14th December—Christmas Lunch at the Emporium, Woburn Sands.

Wednesday, 10th January—TBA. The Jubilee Club provides an a ernoon mee ng place for older residents

Our group was set up over 10 years ago to provide support for unpaid carers in the local community of Hanslope, Haversham and Castlethorpe. We meet on the third Wednesday of every month at 10.30am in St James Church, Hanslope.

The group offers a couple of hours of respite and the opportunity to meet

Page 7

others in a similar situaon. The help can be a friendly shoulder or advice on facili es and services available locally.

Over me it has actually become a local self-help group with everyone contribu ng in some way. We some mes also have speakers and experts at the mee ngs.

We regularly have 10 /12 people at the monthly mee ngs—talking, listening, and enjoying refreshments. If you would like to come, please give me a call.

Harvey Gilbert 01908 310113 / 07810 185889

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH WHEN TO CALL 999 AND 101 Calling 999 means your call gets priority and allows the most appropriate ac on to be taken immediately. Always call 999 if: · Someone is injured, being threatened or is in danger. · There is a risk of injury to someone or a risk of Page 8

serious damage to property. · 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.

How to make a SILENT 999 call If you're in danger, call 999 and try to speak to the operator if you can, even by whispering. You may also be asked to cough or tap the keys on your phone to answer ques ons. · Call 999 from a mobile -If you do not speak or answer ques ons, press 55 when prompted and your call will be transferred to the police.

-Pressing 55 only works on mobiles and doesn't allow the police to track your loca on.

-If you don't press 55 your call will be ended. · Call 999 from a landline -If you do not speak or answer ques ons

and the operator can only hear background noise, they will transfer your call to the police.

-If you replace the handset, the landline may remain connected for 45 seconds in case you pick it up again.

-Calling 999 from a landline automa cally gives the police informa on about your loca on.

Typical examples of when people should call 101 include: · 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.

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.

COLIN KING GENERAL BUILDER A local, trustworthy builder with over 40 years’ experience, taking pride in delivering high quality craftsmanship and ensuring your project exceeds expectations.

Services include: extensions, garage and loft conversions, roof repairs, kitchen fitting, decorating, general maintenance and landscape gardening. No job is too small!

Call Colin on 07838 663702/07746 568056 for a quotation.

Page 9

Parish Council News—The View from the Chair

speeding, so they will be reported to Thames Valley Police and the owners will receive warning le ers.

Parish Vision As I sit down to write this ar cle, looking out of my window at the vibrant autumn colours, I am reminded how lucky we all are to live in this lovely Parish with its beau ful rural surroundings. A lot has been happening since I wrote my previous ar cle and we have a number of things planned for the coming weeks – all discussed below.

Road Safety I know that this is a very important issue to residents, so I am pleased that MKCC have agreed to implement 20mph limits along the Wolverton Road in the new village and the High Street in the old village. Both schemes are subject to a statutory consulta on and, if this step is successful, we hope the Wolverton Road scheme will be in place by the end of February 2024 and the High Street by the middle of 2024.

Page 10

Addi onally, MKCC is funding a number of School Crossing Patrollers across the City and Haversham School will shortly be able to apply for funds for one. If successful, this will help improve the ability to cross the very busy Wolverton Road at school me.

You may have no ced we are now publishing the traffic analysis from the Speed Indicator Devices (SIDS) in the old village on our website. We plan to do this quarterly and we will also post a link to the report on our Facebook Page.

We also con nue to run regular community Speedwatch sessions in both the old and the new village although we were only able to run 2 sessions across September and October due to the availability of volunteers.

Just under 400 cars were logged and 4% were

Now our Neighbourhood Plan, which is a planning document, is adopted, we recently agreed to start work on a “Vision for HcLL Parish” that will set out what we want the Parish to look and feel like by 2035. The idea of the Vision is to iden fy poten al projects that will improve the Parish in the coming years and offer services and facilies that the community want. We will develop this with local groups such as the Social and Community Centre, Church and School, as well as residents and other interested par es from the Parish. If you would like to get involved with shaping the future of our Parish or just have some ideas for us to consider, then please get in touch.

Parish Council Drop-in Session We have now arranged that our first Parish Coun-

cil Drop-in session will be between 9am and 11am on Sunday 10th December at Haversham Social and Community Centre. This is an opportunity for all residents to come along and meet your Parish Councillors, talk to us about Parish issues, provide ideas for the planned Parish Vision and understand more about what we do.

We will be joined by our Ward Councillors as well and we hope to see many of you there.

Parish Magazine – AT RISK! As men oned previously, Lesley Gilbert is re ring from her role as editor of our Parish Magazine in October 2024. Harvey Gilbert will also be re ring from his role as the adversing manager. At this me, we have had no expressions of interest in helping to produce the magazine and without an editor it is highly unlikely we will be able to con nue this well-loved community asset. We understand it takes Lesley 10 to 12 hours every two months, so please contact us if you

would consider taking on this vital role.

Playground Rejuvenaon We con nue to progress the work to raise the circa £100,000 of funds needed for the Playground rejuvena on project. A number of grant applica ons will be submi ed in the next few weeks that we hope will cover the bulk of the costs, but we s ll need to raise around £10,000 of that total to stand any chance of ge ng the overall funding we need.

Please consider making a dona on to help us build something great for the younger members of our community. More details as well as a link to our dona on page are on the website at www.havershamltlinford. org/playground-project

The s from Vans As some of you will be only too painfully aware, there has a spate of the s from vans in Haversham on the last few weeks. This is happening in many villages and towns around North

MK and we have spoken to the Police who are inves ga ng and increasing patrols. We have posted their preven on advice on Facebook but if you have any informa on, such as CCTV, that may help the Police, please do contact them.

Parish Council Logo We have a new iden ty!

We are really pleased to be able to launch the new Parish Council logo that we will start using across our paper and digital output moving forward.

A massive thanks to Thom Boddington, owner of Fern Media, for volunteering his me to design this logo for us. We all love it and especially how it brings various aspects of the different parts of our Parish together.

Page 11

Other Local News The Parish Council was saddened to hear about the recent passing of Richard Godber. Richard served as a Parish Councillor for many years, as well as suppor ng both the Parish and the wider community in a variety of ways. We send our condolences to his wife, Candy, his family and friends.

The Parish Council wishes to express its thanks to former PCSO David Huckle who le TVP at the end of October for pastures new. I am sure PCSO Huckle is known to many of you and he has been a great support to the Parish on many issues. We thank him for his dedica on to the rural north and wish him well in his next venture.

The most recent of our regular Parish li er picks was on 11th November.

Whilst we only had five volunteers on this occasion, the team was able to collect 10 bags of rubbish – all helping to keep our Parish dy. The next pick is scheduled for 7th January 2024 which Page 12

might be a good opportunity to walk off some of extra Christmas pounds! We would love to have more volunteers and it is only 2 hours every two months!

Also, a final reminder that the public inquiry for the planning appeal regarding the proposed development of 584 dwellings at Linford Lakes will start on 5th December.

Volunteering Several of the Parish Council ini a ves rely on volunteers to operate.

The Social & Community Centre is also totally reliant on volunteers either as part of their Opera ng Commi ee or to organise and run their various events. Both of us need support and if you want our Parish community to be as vibrant and lively as possible, please consider sparing a few hours from me to me to help the Parish Council or the Social Centre team with their ac vi es.

Future Updates & Contac ng us

Alongside this regular ar cle, we con nue to use our Facebook page www.facebook.com/ HcLLParishCouncil and our website www.havershamltlinford. org to share news and useful informa on - so please follow us on Facebook and visit the website regularly.

If you have any issues, sugges ons or ques ons for us, or are interested in helping out with our ac vi es, then please either message us via Facebook or email the Parish Clerk at haversham.ltlinfordclerk@gma il.com. We will do our best to respond promptly.

I will close by wishing everyone an enjoyable fes ve season as well as a prosperous and successful 2024!

Richard Pryor Chair

YOUR PARISH COUNCILLORS Chair—Richard Pryor 3 Mill Road Tel. 07824 483337 Vice Chair - Jemma English Tel. 07952 431390 Barry Clift 21 Wolverton Rd Tel. 01908 312365 Carol Langham 108 Wolverton Rd Tel. 01908 316450 Ceri Parkes-Brincat Tel. 07834 489258

Philip Turnbull 3 Granary Close Tel. 07710 423032

PARISH CLERK Maria Manthorpe Email: haversham.lt linfordclerk@gmail.com

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

The mee ngs are open to the public.

The next mee ngs are: Monday, 16th October Monday, 20th 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 havershamltlinford.org/

CAN YOU SING? Would you like to join a choir starting now, practising for Epiphany (6/7 Jan)?

We are hoping to sing a 35-minute cantata called 'Night of Miracles' and be joined by choirs from across the Newport Pagnell deanery.

Interested? Come along to our first practice at St Mary’s Church in Haversham, 7:00pm Monday 27th November.

Page 13

Page 14

Social & Community Centre News We tried to put on events in October but, unfortunately, we had to cancel them due to lack of interest. We are also not doing anything for the children & families in December, again, due to lack of interest. However, I am pleased that the Firework Display did go ahead as per usual, and judging from the feedback we have been given, everyone enjoyed it and thought the display was excellent. Our grateful thanks go to Ben Hazell & Jim Wortley for their exper se and to their helpers. The fireworks are expensive to purchase and we worry each year if we can afford to put on the display. This year, I am pleased to say, we made a very small profit, thank goodness. We rely on people coming to pay to see the display to help cover the considerable cost.

As usual, with our events we have a lot of people to thank – taking the entry

have to revert to just being hirers of the Hall, which is what used to happen. When we put on events they are well supported by everyone and it would be a great pity if we did have to severely limit what we do. We are grateful to all those who come along but we need help too.

fees at the gates were Fiona Viney, Harvey Gilbert, Shula Holt, Barry Cli , Ken Brown & Pete Bromley. Refreshments were provided inside the Social Centre courtesy of Jonathan Duff and Gabriel with help from Natalie Jackie Brown Jarman & Louise Reid and Chair this was very popular.

Gaynor Bromley was our First aider. Thank you to all of you.

Our next event will be our popular Wreath-making workshop on Thursday 29th November followed by the annual Christmas Family Bingo on 2nd December; hopefully this will be well supported.

We are in the process of planning what to do next year. We are limited because there are not many of us on the commi ee and there is only so much that can be done. The AGM will be on Monday 11th March 2024 and we need more commi ee members to help spread the load and give us fresh ideas. Failing this we shall

Page 15

Get gardening!

Seasonal tips from Jemma The unseasonable warmth of October and November has now passed, and the shorter and cooler Autumn/Winter days are finally here. The temperatures have finally begun to fall, allowing all our plants to put on their autumn colours readying themselves for their much needed rest. We have had a few temp ng hints of the cold, misty, and soon to be frosty mornings coming ever near. The Winter months for many encourage the feeling of wan ng to stay indoors in the warmth. As temp ng as the warmth of the indoors can be, our gardens are s ll crying out for our a en on. So come on, wrap up warm, don your gardening gloves, and let’s all get our gardens put to bed for their res ul Winter months ahead.

Flowers are fading fast and our gardens risk becoming less colourful throughout the Winter months. This certainly doesn't have to be the Page 16

way. A simple trip to one of our plen ful garden centres and you will see the benches filled with new seasonal plants. Add colour by plan ng shrubs like Leucothoe and Nandina. The Winter months do not have to mean no flowers… plant plants like Mahonia, Skimmia and Hellebores for yearly flowering colour. Awaken your senses by adding in fragrant plants like Sarcococca, Daphne Odora and Viburnum. With the soils s ll warm, and certainly the we er weather, now is the me to plant bareroot hedging, roses and trees as the condi ons are perfect to allow them to set root rather than

pu ng energy elsewhere in the plant.

We have experienced our first frosts of the season, which will have been evident on your more tender plants. It prompts the me to li any Dahlia tubers that you may have, clean them off and store in a cool, dry, frost-proof place un l next year, checking all stored bulbs and corms regularly for any signs of rot.

As our garden beds start to become red and naturally die back, start to cut down and clear perennials and annual climbers. If you have any overgrown shrubs, hedges or roses, hard prune them once dormant and the temperatures stay low.

Borderline hardy plants such as Agapanthus now

need some a en on. Apply a thick mulch of straw or garden compost over and around their roots to add addi onal protec on from the falling temperatures. Containers of alpine plants should be moved undercover to shelter them from the upcoming winter rains. Take the opportunity to give them some end of year maintenance and replenish gravel around plants, to keep the foliage clear of damp soil. Any other plants you may have in pots will benefit from being moved to a sheltered spot to help aid keeping their roots warm as condi ons turn very cold. Their roots are much more exposed to the elements and damage can be easily caused if le out in the open.

Though our gardens are slowing up for the Winter, the jobs don’t ever really go away. As our lawns slow in their growth into dormancy, it's me to give them a final cut. Make sure that you raise the height of the blades to minimise unnecessary damage to the grass blades. Don't worry if

your grass seems on the yellow side a er cu ng, this will soon correct itself with some Autumn/ Winter sun. It's very normal to change colour as the growth stops.

As the wet weathers connue and the guarantee of more to come, make sure to protect any garden furniture being le out over Winter, by covering it securely. Protect any garden taps or water pipes by insula ng them with foam, pool noodles are perfect for this. Don't allow your watering equipment to become damaged during the Winter months by bringing them into somewhere frost free. Before any more Winter storms arrive, make sure to check tree es and stakes are firm, to protect the plants they are suppor ng. Check any bonfires you may have carefully before ligh ng, to make sure no hedgehogs or other wildlife are sheltering inside.

There certainly is an abundance of berries on this year's trees & shrubs, but don’t let this stop you

from looking a er any wildlife which visits your garden. Remember that as Winter approaches, nature's food diminishes.

Provide addi onal food and shelter throughout your gardens, leaving some faded perennial growths, especially ones holding old flower heads as they are fantas c natural habitats. Make sure to clean bird feeders regularly to maintain hygiene and put out fresh water for birds every day during frosty weather. Hanging any of your bird feeders near roses is a great way to a ract hungry birds to your plants, as they will pick off any overwintering pests.

Collect fallen leaves off lawns to reduce the chances of dead patches, from your gravel or hard landscaped areas to stop them from ro ng down making a compost mulch which in turn will encourage weeds next season.

Reduce the risks of slips and falls by removing them on pathways or decked areas. Place any collected leaves in black bags to make leaf mould Page 17

for next year. Gather up and bin fallen leaves affected by black-spot from roses, to aid breaking the cycle of the disease in the soil for next year.

As the temperatures connue to fall, it's also the me that any allotment gardener gets a head start for the next growing season. Spread over or dig in well-ro ed manure, last season's leaf mould or mushroom compost to your bare garden soil or beds for vegetables, to add nutrients ready for next season. Make note of which crops you grew where, what crops grew well and make a plan ng plan ready for next year.

Get ahead of the game and order your seeds ready for next season so you're ready to go as soon as the temperatures begin to rise next year.

Protect Winter peas, beans and salads by using cloches. Make sure to leave the ends open as good ven la on is vital.

Avoid encouraging fungal diseases on your brassicas by removing any yellowing or fading leaves. Place Page 18

ne ng over them to protect from pigeons. Support brussels sprouts as they become top-heavy with canes and pile earth up around the stems.

Place straw around the base of parsnips and any remaining carrots to prevent the soil freezing, as this will make harves ng become more difficult.

With these Autumn rains, now's the best me to plant bare-root fruit trees, bushes and canes.

Just make sure that the ground isn't too wet, as you can cause great damage to a soil's structure if walked on when sodden.

They certainly are wet currently. To reduce the risk of soil damage when wet, place walk boards when plan ng so that your weight can be spread evenly over a larger area. If you really want to grow your own fruit but feel you have limited space, don't worry, there are always op ons available for all gardens and spaces. Look into cordons, fans or espalier fruit trees as these can be trained to fit into most spaces when chosen

wisely and maintained correctly. If space allows in your vegetable beds, plant garlic, shallots and onions and cover with fleece. Make sure to pick a free draining spot.

As your fruit bushes become dormant, it's me to give them a prune. Remove old fruited stems from your currants, cut Autumn-frui ng raspberries to the ground and check that you haven't missed any fruited canes on your Summer raspberries. Take hardwood cu ngs from healthy currants, blueberries and gooseberries.

Winter prune large fruit trees to control their shape, size and to increase their produc vity for the next season. Prune grapevines, cu ng back sidebranches to one or two buds from the main stem.

Tidy up strawberry beds by clearing old crops and debris, making sure to only compost healthy material. Check any stored crops for signs of rot or deteriora on at regular intervals.

Our greenhouses

need

our a en on now to aid in protec ng your plan ng next season.

Clear out faded tomato and cucumber plants and compost as long as there is no sign of disease on the growth. Scrub down greenhouse staging, glazing, framework, empty pots and trays and wash with a disinfectant like Jeyes Fluid. Use them for their Winter- me benefits by insula ng the walls and roof with bubble wrap.

Bring po ed herbs, such as parsley and chives in, to con nue cropping into winter. Pick faded leaves and dead flowers regular-

ly from any plants you have brought in. If you have sown any Autumn sweet peas, make sure to pinch out the ps to encourage bushier growth.

Check any protected plants frequently, water when required, avoiding splashing foliage as they are at risk of fungal diseases. Check for pests regularly and treat if necessary. If you're using heaters in your greenhouse, monitor its temperature with a max-min thermometer to ensure that they are working efficiently.

Oh, that seems like a lot to do, doesn’t it! I need a res ul sit down a er wri ng it, let alone reading and doing it all. So I best get on and sign off with a Christmas wish, and a seasonal gardening quote. “Anyone who thinks gardening begins in the Spring and ends in the fall is missing the best part of the whole year; for gardening begins in January with a dream.” - Josephine Nuese Jemma English

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 19

Page 20

Page 21

An rrhinums or small tree but now, in Nature Notes inflowerbud,strongly, and an autumn, the Spindle takes The mad, mad world, our planet, with all its wonders and all that is horrible, keeps turning on its axis. Each day, each twenty four hours, is different.

Life goes on; the world turns and we barely noce. The natural world and the season is changing becoming darker and unse led, not unlike the madness in the world at large. Autumn seems to be keeping winter at bay for now, and the weather has been reasonable, except for, of course, storm Ciaran which seemed intent on trying to drown everything with deluges of rain, and then, if that didn’t work, to blow everything away with winds of great magnitude! For the me of year it’s been quite mild and on sunny days the sun has posi ve warmth to it. Bizarrely, in a sheltered spot in my garden, in mid-November, I s ll have Cosmos flowering, enough to pick a few every couple of days to put in a small pot to remind me of summery days. There are s ll Roses Page 22

Anemone, with lusciously purple, silky petals has bloomed when really it shouldn’t! There are any number of things in my garden which are s ll going strong despite it being November. Out and about, the trees are looking spectacular. The colours never cease to amaze and should they be lit by a bit of sunshine, the tones and hues of the leaves posi vely glow.

However humble the leaf, be it Oak or Bramble, the display of autumn colour is astonishing. Recently, while away in Cheshire, we walked in a nature reserve reclaimed from old salt workings. Large areas and banks had been planted up with Spindle, Euonymus euoropaeus.

For most of the year it is an inconspicuous shrub

on a beauty all of its own.

Leaves once dull become dark red and flare like fire.

The fruits are seed capsules made up of four lobes of a deep pink colour. Held in a ny cup of each lobe are four bright orange seeds which make the fruits very a rac ve and worthy of close inspec on!

We were amazed to see such a blanket of Spindle colour and it certainly brightened a very dismal day. The wood of the Spindle is white, dense and very hard. In days long gone the wood was used for making spindles, for wool spinning. This was commonly done by unmarried girls and women from where the term ‘spinster’ derives.

The Spindle wood, because of its quali es, was much used in the making of arrows.

Bows and long-bows were fearsome weapons at one me and much used for hun ng and in ba le. Arrows were much prized and would be collected from any individual, dead or dying, who happened to have one embedded in their person! A maker and seller of arrows was known as a ‘fletcher’ and there are many people who s ll have this as their surname. To ‘fletch’ an arrow was to a ach feathers, usually three to five inches long, to ensure that the arrow was stable and true as it travelled, silent and lethal, through the air.

Over the past month or so we have been hearing a Tawny owl calling nearby.

As is usual with this type of owl, it calls almost as soon as dusk falls, and at mes it has been very close by, si ng, we think in a nearby large old apple tree. There are certainly two owls as one u ers an eerie ‘hoo,hoo, hoo-oo-oo while the other answers with a sharp ‘kee-wick’.

Oddly both male and female hoot and both keewick but the calls are nev-

er from the same bird although it is thought that it is most likely to be a female that uses the kee-wick call. The Tawny owl has a liking for copses, parkland with plenty of old trees and also large gardens with big trees.

Tawny owls don’t build a nest but make use of a hole in a tree while occasionally using an old Squirrel drey or an old Sparrowhawk nest. The Tawny owl’s diet is easily determined as it regurgitates large pellets of undigested fur, beetle wings and bits of bone. Mice, voles, shrews, young rats are always on the menu as are beetles and somemes worms. The owl roosts by day, si ng close in to the trunk of a tree, where its mo led brown colouring makes the bird hard to locate.

Not easily disturbed from

its roost, even by humans, it will, if discovered, turn its head almost full circle to face any poten al intruder. Smaller birds, especially Blackbirds and Jays will o en find a Tawny owl roos ng and mob it, crea ng a rumpus. The owl is not troubled at all and will just sit ght un l the undoubtedly annoying birds get bored and move away, whence it can resume its day me slumbers! As well as the Tawny owl we occasionally see a Barn owl over the fields and paddocks around here. Ghostly and silent, it floats low over the ground in the hunt for a meal.

Barn owls have excep onal hearing and pinpoint their prey by sound more than sight. Their diet is similar to the Tawny owl and the regurgitated pellets, disassembled, give a good idea of what the Page 23

Barn owl has eaten. Despite being ghostly and silent while hun ng, its call is anything but; a lengthy strangled shriek guaranteed to make you shudder!

A creature rarely seen nowadays is the Hedgehog, except as roadkill.

Just last week I was very much saddened indeed to see at the top of Wolverton Road, a squashed Hedgehog. Surely a sign of climate change that Hedgehogs should s ll be on the move in the middle of November. It just hasn’t been cold enough to encourage them to hibernate plus there is s ll plenty of food about simply because it is so mild. There are precious few Hedgehogs about now, and on the UK’s red list of ‘at risk’ mammals they are classed as ‘vulnerable’. Urban popula ons of Hedgehogs are reasonably stable but in rural areas the decline is significant. In some areas, par cularly the East Midlands and East of England, numbers have declined by as much as seventy five per cent in the past twenPage 24

ty years. Roads are certainly the number one killer of the poor Hedgehog; that’s usually the only me you see one; well, the remains anyway. Despite surveys, it’s not clear as to why rural Hedgehogs are in such decline but one can only surmise that it’s the usual tale of loss of habitat, modern farming prac ces and intensive land management. Conversely in more urban areas, the approach to more relaxed gardening, more amenity land and parks have helped the Hedgehog find ‘corridors’ for moving to different areas. Can we imagine the UK without the much loved Hedgehog? No more Mrs Tiggywinkle? I hope it never comes to that as I am ever hopeful that a Hedgehog will come snuffling around in my garden.

Yet another rarely seen creature is the Kingfisher, so what a treat I had recently when I went for my early morning dog walk around the sailing lake, for there on top of the je y sat a Kingfisher! Very unusually it just sat as we walked past, some twenty metres away. So instead of seeing just a turquoise arrow and hearing the tell -tale peeping call and the ‘there it was; gone;’ scenario, I was able to see the bright orange of its breast and the numerous shades of brilliant turquoise that make up the bird’s wing and back plumage. It was very temp ng to stop and look

but I knew that if I did it would be off so I kept moving, albeit very slowly and le the bird to its thoughts. It might be worth no ng that if you come across an animal or bird at close quarters, it will o en freeze hoping not to be seen. If you

keep walking you can some mes get some very special views. We have experienced this a number of mes par cularly with Foxes, Deer and the very occasional Badger.

Just such a thing happened when we went to watch the Starling murmura on over the lake.

The birds roost in the big reed bed and as dusk falls the birds gather together crea ng a huge hypno c, swirling, twis ng cloud before dropping into the reeds as if poured from a jug. What signal is there to tell such a host of birds that it’s me to descend into the reeds? Some avian signal known only to Starlings that’s for sure.

Safe in the reed bed they keep up a low twi ering cha er as they jostle for

space to get comfortable for the night. We sat on a bench across the lake and opposite the reed bed to watch the Starlings. It was so peaceful, just the sound of birds se ling in for the dark hours and the gentle movement of the water. From the right came a movement and we kept very s ll. A Chinese Water Deer appeared out of the gathering dusk, clearly alarmed by something. It stopped suddenly on high alert literally four or five metres from us. We hardly dared breathe. In those few seconds we could see that it was in good condi on and had a close -up view of its ‘teddy bear’ face of large, rounded ears and black nose. We could see that

it was a male as it had ‘tusks’, or oversized canines, which it will use to good effect when figh ng during the rut and which can inflict terrible damage, especially if the deer is cornered by an out-ofcontrol dog. A er sensing the danger wasn’t imminent, the deer tro ed off along the track before turning sharply into the hedge bo om and vanishing. It had no idea at all that we were there. As we le the seat, we heard a shout in the distance and saw a figure with a dog which was running about near the water so we assumed that that was what had disturbed the deer and made it flee.

We have wri en a few mes about the sight and sound of Ravens nearby.

Well, a few days ago Ian put some bits of food out for the birds on the lawn. I was upstairs when I heard the irrita ng gra ng cha er of several Magpies and the cawing of Crows.

Something was about that they didn’t like. From the window I saw, to my u er amazement, a swirl of black wings as a Raven Page 25

came down and snatched the food off the grass! It didn’t linger. Indeed such was the speed of it that I don’t think it actually landed, just swooped down, grabbed the food to twist back up and away. I could hardly believe my eyes! I watched as it flew off pursued by a posse of angry Magpies and Crows shou ng abuse at the bird and its sheer cheek! The same gang of Magpies gave the game away just last week. Safe on the fence rails of the paddocks at the back of here, the birds were watching something of great threat…. hopping in agita on from one spot to another as whatever it was moved across the fields. It came into view and there it was - a Fox; very scary. This poor Fox was not much of a threat to anything. It had probably been hit by a car at some point as one of its back legs was very deformed causing it to move badly. It would struggle to hunt, being no match for a Rabbit, quick-wi ed Voles or Mice. Scavenging would be its only op on so the chances of it survivPage 26

ing for long were slim and going into the winter the outlook for it is bleak indeed. The winter can be a tough me for any creature especially if it struggles to feed. The harshness of winter will find them out.

Bleak winter weather; that’s something to look forward to…. We’ve been so fortunate up ll now and though there’s been much rain at mes and the ground is very wet it hasn’t been par cularly cold. Today has been gloomy with rain this morning but now the sky has cleared, the sun is shining and everything is transformed and highlighted by the change in the light. It won’t last; it’s almost three forty and shadows will soon lengthen as the sun drops lower and lower un l the light fades and evening sets in once more. We think of winter as a me of dormancy and closing down, which of course for some mammals and insects it is. Many things just rest awhile, biding their me.

Already there are ght furled catkins formed,

leaf buds, ght as drums, sit out the winter cold.

Underground, roots sleep, strewn conkers and acorns wait to germinate and the bulbs and corms of spring stretch and yawn almost as if they know that their summer sleep will soon be over.

The first to show will be the brave Snowdrop, its toughened dagger point of grey-green pushing through the cold earth.

Slowly it will push up towards the light un l at last the flower unfolds, pure white, to shine out from the dark earth. How I look forward to that for it spells out the beginning of the end of winter. For many of us, winter is a difficult me. Endless days of gloom and drabness; can’t garden, the allotments are soggy, a walk can be a plod in the mud and even the dogs look out the back door and sigh; another wet walk.

We have to watch out for li le things to raise our spirits; an hour of sunshine like today; a huge grey cloud forma on back -lit by the sun; berries le by the birds that just are a spot of colour. On our

bird feeder we have many small birds, and we take much pleasure from the an cs and acroba cs of the Blue ts. We regularly have winter par es of Long Tailed ts in our garden. These beau ful li le birds call constantly to each other while they hunt for insects, and in very cold weather will venture onto the nut feeder when the long black and white tail and the lovely pink, white and black plumage is easily seen. Look out for these li le things of interest,

anything to brighten the days.

These are the last ‘notes’ for this year and I queson where the year has gone? Time seems to slip away at an alarming pace. Everyone seems to be so very busy. With the approach of the fes ve season, life for many will become even more hecc. The natural world has much to offer to calm the nerves; a short walk; a mooch around the garden with a mug of tea in hand, remembering summer days! Marvel at the

frost pa erns or look at the many stars in the cold night sky. Even in the depths of winter, there will always be something in nature to li our spirits.

As the fes ve season draws nearer and however you celebrate the season, or if you don’t, we send you seasonal wishes.

Gill & Ian Burgess

NEXT ISSUE OF MAGAZINE Our next issue is for February / March 24.

Copy date will be Friday, 26th January and the magazine should be ready for distribu on on or around 25th November.

All contribu ons welcome.

Please pass them to: Lesley Gilbert, Woodpecker Co age, Haversham.

Tel: 01908 310113 e-mail: lesley@harveygilbert.co.uk Page 27

Page 28

Page 29

Discover the exciting taste of Antep Kitchen, offering the aromatic & traditional flavours of Turkey in our intimate & relaxing restaurant. With an open kitchen & over 75 years of experience between them, our top class Chefs will transport your taste buds to the heart of Turkey. All our dishes and authentic breads and desserts are expertly hand crafted for you.

A very warm welcome awaits you at Antep Kitchen. Our customers are our guests: just as they would be in our home. Nothing is too much trouble and everything we do is done with warmth and generosity.

Call 01908 315555 to book a table or to order your take-way meal. See our full menu at www.antepkitchen.co.uk

OPEN Mon-Sat 12:00—11:00pm Sunday 12:00—10:00pm Our team and family look forwards to welcoming you to Antep Kitchen.

1 Stratford Road, Wolverton MK12 5LJ Page 30

Page 31

Haversham Village School We are on the final approach to the fes ve season and the children are all star ng to get very excited about the upcoming Christmas produc ons and the other joys the fes ve season brings.

I am pleased to say that we will be submi ng an entry into the Christmas Tree compe on at St Mary’s Church again this year, so please pop in to see the children’s wonderful crea ons. The children really enjoyed this event last year and it looks like it may now become an annual tradi on which is fantas c.

Our year three pupils had a fantas c school trip to Flag Fen in Peterborough to bolster their knowledge of the Stone Age. The year three children had a wonPage 32

derful day making wa le and daub walls and stone age art. They also had the opportunity to learn about hun ng with spears. The children finished off their day with a fire in a tradi onal round house which really gave them a feel of how people lived in Stone Age mes.

Our KS2 pupils had a visit from a business analyst as part of Global Business Analyst Day 2023. The children were amazed by the role and the different career possibili es available within the field. The

children, as always, had some fantas c ques ons and were able to use their cri cal thinking skills to help solve a posed problem.

Our youngest pupils visited Salcey Forest this half term as part of their learning. The children completed several forest school ac vi es and were extremely pleased to be spending the day outside.

As you can imagine they returned to school very red and a li le bit muddy but all had a fabulous day.

The school has con nued to collect food dona ons for the MK food bank this year. Our student councillors were extremely helpful and assisted with the loading of the donaons.

The school also raised £212.60 for Children In Need this year. The school held a nonuniform day to mark the occasion and parents were very suppor ve

with their generous dona ons.

As a school we are very much looking forward to the next few weeks. The run up to the Christmas break is always a very busy but highly enjoyable me. There will be lots of different ac vi es and events taking place. If you would like to keep up to date, we will post some of the fantas c things that happen in school on our Twi er page.

I am aware, at the me of wri ng this, it is s ll November but I wish everyone a res ul fes ve break and an early Merry Christmas.

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

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 33

The Parishes of Haversham with Little Linford and Tyringham with Filgrave 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 34

Lamp Group Church Services 3rd December

9:30 am 11:00 am 3:30 pm 4:30 pm

Holy Communion Morning Worship Chris ngle Tea followed by Toy Service and Chris ngle

10th December

11:00 am Morning Worship 11:00 am Holy Communion 6:00 pm Carol Service

17th December

11:00 am Christmas Tree Fes val Holy Com- Haversham munion 3:30 pm Carol Service Emberton 6:00 pm Carol Service Tyringham

24th December Christmas Eve

9:30 am 11:00 am 6:00 pm 11:30 pm

25th December Christmas Day

9:30 am Holy Communion 9:30 am Holy Communion 11:00 am Family Communion

31st December

No Services

Holy Communion Morning Worship Carol Service Midnight Communion

Holy Communion Morning Service ‘Night of Miracle’ Cantata Something Else on Sunday

Tyringham Haversham Haversham Emberton Haversham Emberton Li le Linford

Li le Linford Haversham Haversham Emberton Tyringham Emberton Haversham

7th January 2024

9:30 am 11:00 am 4:00 pm 6:00 pm

Tyringham Haversham TBA Emberton

14th January

9:30 am Morning Prayer 11:00 am Morning Worship 11:00 am Holy Communion

Li le Linford Haversham Emberton

21st January

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

Tyringham Haversham Emberton

28th January

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

Li le Linford Haversham Emberton Page 35

A Message from Kimonie Nicholls There is a sense of rhythm that is engrained into the pa erns of the natural world and into our lives.

Year by year, as autumn turns to winter, colourful lights and decora ons shine amidst the dwindling daylight; Christmas music can be heard across the land, from shopping centres to schools. I know that for some it can become repe ve and tedious, but it serves as a reminder that the ‘Fes ve Season’ is, and always will be, part of the rhythm of life. It incorporates both Christmas and the celebra ons associated with moving on from one year to the next.

Nevertheless, for some this season can bring its own anxie es and challenges for a myriad of reasons. It need not be like this if we only but remind ourselves as to what lies at the centre of this season. We are remembering and celebra ng the day when Jesus Christ, God’s Son, was born into an ordinary family under an extra-ordinary backPage 36

ground. He was born to live among us in human form and to grow up and experience all the difficules of life, just like each of us. Quo ng from a familiar Christmas carol, “Day by day like us he grew, He was li le weak and helpless, Tears and smiles like us he knew.”

That ‘li le weak and helpless’ baby boy was God incarnate: God came in human flesh in the body of Jesus Christ. He came to live among us.

He came to a troubled world to bring peace and joy, love and hope. A world which is s ll very much troubled today with wars, natural disasters, injus ce, and inequality.

God is all too aware of these troubles. He is a loving and compassionate God who will one day bring about the peace and harmony he so desires. I hope that you will find a space amidst the busyness of the season to pause and reflect on what is at the heart of

Christmas, and to remember the many who will find it difficult to enjoy the celebra ons.

May God’s peace, joy, love, and hope be with you this Christmas and always.

Revd. Kimonie Nicholls Assistant Curate in the Lamp Benefice www.thelampchurches.com

News from the Pews MEMOS FROM ST MARY’S My husband was a dedicated observer of the heavens from being a young child but was o en disappointed by the weather. At the me of Jesus birth the 'wise men' from the East were not disappointed for 'the heavens proclaimed Jesus glory' (Ps 96 v6) through a bright and moving star.

This may have been a conjunc on of Jupiter (in Hebrew meaning righteousness) and the King of the planets, Regulus the Li le King and Venus, symbol of love and birth. The 'star' may also have been a Comet which would explain the movement and the tail. Whatever it was it has been remembered and celebrated for over 2,000 years in song and on top of Christmas Trees as a significant light in dark mes.

On Sunday 12th November St Mary's celebrated their Remembrance Service for all those who had suffered and died as a

result of conflict. It was a moving service with a beau ful and imagina ve display of handmade poppies created by Church members.

On the morning of Saturday 11th November (Armis ce Day) a dedicated team cleared up the leaves in the Churchyard to once again add to the regenera on and enrichment of the soil around Milton Keynes. Thanks to Joe Geary and his trusty trailer.

Sunday December 3rd sees the start of the new Church Year and the first Sunday of Advent when the first Advent candle is lit and we think about God's plan fulfilled in the life of Jesus. Also on 3rd December there will be a further opportunity to shine like a star with our Chris ngle celebra ons.

All welcome at 3.30 pm for tea and Chris ngle making.

There will be Carols by Lamplight on the Crescent Green once again from 6.30 pm on Friday

15th December with refreshments, the usual camaraderie and a chance to chat with friends and neighbours.

The Christmas Tree Fes val returns on the weekend of 16/17th December. On the Saturday, there will be children's ac vi es, refreshments and a Talking Christmas Tree (in the form of Kimonie our Curate)! On Sunday 17th The Orphean Singers will entertain from 3–3.45pm. Be there or be square!

The next opportunity to gather for the Warm Hub and Open House lunch at the Old Forge will be on 18th December from 10.30am onwards for coffee with Julie and Ian. All welcome with no charge.

At 6pm on Christmas Eve we have our tradi onal Carol Service and our Christmas Day Communion on 25th December is at 11.00 am.

Our Chari es this year will be Willen Hospice/ Church for the Christmas Tree Fes val and Willen Page 37

Hospice for Carols on the Green.

The wise men had all looked for the star, didn't give up and weren't disappointed at the end of their quest. I pray that you will find what you are looking for this Christmas and beyond. I would also like to extend my personal thanks to Lesley for her dedica on to our magazine over the years.

Merry Christmas and a Peaceful and Healthy New Year.

Jan Bell

NEWS FROM ST PETER'S, TYRINGHAM It was St Peter’s turn to host the annual Memorial Service, a service when members of the Group come together along with family and friends to remember those dear ones who have passed away, to hear their name read out and to light a candle in their memory. We had some lovely feedback as many of the large congrega on had not been inside St Peter’s and were stunned by its beau ful Page 38

chancel. Refreshments a erwards brought everyone together.

Our next special service was on Sunday 12th November at 3:00pm, another one of remembrance, this me for those who gave their lives figh ng for our country. It was very poorly a ended and from what I read in the press we are not alone in diminishing congrega ons at this very special me.

The Tour de Tyringham Cycle Ride took place on 22nd October. There was a record number of cyclists taking part, cycling 65, 50 or 20 miles. The organisers for the past five years decided to hand it over to an events company specialising in cycle events countrywide. St Peter’s did not benefit financially from this change but the original organisers, Hannah and Lynda had a raffle and, with sponsors, raised £2,213 for church funds.

As the year draws to a close, we look back on 2023 with mixed emo-

ons. In May we had the wonderful solemn and moving service of the Corona on, so Bri sh and steeped in history.

How we all celebrated with street par es, family events, there was a great feeling of bonhomie and well-being. That joy gave way only six months later to marches and rio ng on the streets of our ci es and the horrors of another war. Let us pray that, as we wish our friends in the Group a Happy Christmas, 2024 will be a more peaceful one.

Marion Hansford

The Last Resort Local Organisa on

Contacts

Telephone

Magazine

Editor: Lesley Gilbert Adver sing: Harvey Gilbert

01908 310113 01908 310113

Parish Council

Chair: Richard Pryor 07824 483337 Clerk: Maria Manthorpe haversham.ltlinfordclerk@gmail.com

Social Centre

Chair: Jackie Brown Bookings Secretary: Kim Irving Alt: Fiona Viney

01908 313388 01908 989668 07971 654241

Lamp Group of Churches

Rev Adrian Low

07883 717642

Haversham Village School

Headteacher: David Ley

01908 312673

Haversham Jubilee Club

Lesley Gilbert

01908 310113

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 Harvey Gilbert on 01908 310113 / email: harvey@harveygilbert.co.uk Page 39

Human and veterinary care

Let us help you AND your pets!

We help all spines no matter whether they’re human or animal.

Ossio Human and Veterinary Chiropractic 86 The High St. Stony Stratford Milton Keynes MK11 1AH e: hello@ossioclinics.co.uk

T: 01908 265 222

Register of Animal Musculoskeletal Practitioners Page 40