Wendover News May 25

HS2 Spring Chamber rejected by councillors

By Frances Tipper

Buckinghamshire Council’s Strategic Sites committee meeting, held on 16 April, turned down HS2/EFKB’s application to build a ‘spring chamber’ in one of the fields at the end of Dobbins Lane, Wendover.

The scale of the defeat for HS2/EFKB was surprising. Eight out of nine of the committee members refused permission, against their own planning officers’ recommendations. This is highly unusual and followed robust and incisive questioning from each of the committee members.

It was clear that the main concern was that HS2 and the contractor EKFB were proposing a disruptive and unpopular access route for HGVs and support vehicles through the heart of Wendover residential streets along South Street and Dobbins Lane.

The potential alternative access from Nash Lee End (avoiding residential areas and crossing fields next to the Kings Farm shop) was mentioned briefly in the planning application, but only to order to rule it out.

Despite this being the main concern, following legal advice given by the Council’s own planning lawyer Teresa Coppock, the application was refused on grounds of “visual and landscape harms.”

Clive Gallagher, chair of Wendover Parish Council, said “We are astounded that the

case officer’s report accepted that this option has been considered. Nothing is further from the truth. The applicant has been consistently misleading the public and Bucks Council on their assessment of the other access options, even saying that they cannot get access rights to the Nash Lee End option when in fact they had not even spoken to the farmer concerned. The farmer has stated to me personally that he would be happy to discuss how he can help the applicant.”

The Committee Meeting lasted almost three hours, starting with the Bucks Council Planning Officer, Tom Blackman, presenting the Council’s recommendation. He delivered a measured and detailed summary of EKFB’s

To

May Mystery Object at the Antiques Centre

planning application and confirmed that there was “no objection to the Construction Management details with regards to highway safety.” He did note, however, that “there is identified landscape and visual harm created by the proposal which conflicts with the development plan.” It was this aspect of the application that became critical to the refusal of the application.

There were six speakers representing the residents: three Wendover ward councillors, Peter Strachan, Richard Newcombe and Steve Bowles; WPC chair Clive Gallagher; Dobbins Lane resident David Cobb;

continued on p.28

Wendover | Stoke Mandeville | The Lee | Halton | Weston Turville | Aston Clinton | Dunsmore

David Cobb (l) and Clive Gallagher were among the public speakers presenting to the application meeting. Image: BCC

Contents – May 2025

Spring chamber application ............... Front

Meet the team: Jon Theobald 9

Local News 10

Wendover Library reopening 16

Word Bee Day 2025 18 A Wendover Show? 19

Buckmoorend Farm open day 20

Pyrolysis plant application 21

Review: Sing out for mental health 22

Other Performing Arts news 23

Wendover: Tate of the Chilterns? 24

Wendover Arts Festival ........................... 24

Call to action on climate ........................ 25

WHS2 news, incuding the green tunnel . 27 Club Corner ........................................... 29

Greetings and a farewell at RAF Halton .. 30

Where’s Alex 31 View from the Clock Tower 32

Published by Wendover Community News CIC: A community-owned Company.

Editorial Team: Jon Theobald, Jane Larkham, Richard Byford, Simon Eccles, Wynne Byford and Kelvin Campbell.

Coordination, ads, social media and online: Wynne Byford

Production: Richard Byford, Jon Theobald, Simon Eccles

Accounts: James Harrington

Distribution and deliveries: Jackie Brown and 63 other brilliant volunteers!

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WENDOVER MEMORIAL HALL

Great for Children’s Parties

Ideal for Weddings & Functions

Excellent kitchen facilities

ST ANNE’S HALL to hire

All enquiries to Angela German 07423 266713 stanneshallwendover@hotmail.co.uk

Events

Wendover Horticultural Society Thu 1, 2.30pm, St Anne’s Hall, Wendover, HP22 6JG Speaker: Jon Mason, a keen gardener for the benefit of wildlife, who will no doubt give tips about ways we can be wildlife- and environment-friendly in his talk entitled “How to create a wildlife garden”.

Summer outings: Wed 14 May, 2.00pm to 4.00pm: Car trip to Angling Spring Farm, Great Missenden, to see the extensive gardens, with tea provided. Cost £15.00

Tue 24 June: coach to RHS at Hyde Hall, near Chelmsford. Different times in the year are chosen to see the variety of the different seasons.

Visitors welcome on both trips. If interested in either trip, contact Diane, on 07966 155755.

Yoga and Mindful Art Classes

Guide Hut, Manor Crescent, Wendover HP22 6HH

Mons 09:15 - 10:15am KundaDance www.happywellyoga.com/classes/kundadance Mons 10:30 - 11:15am Chair Yoga www.happywellyoga.com/classes/chair-yoga Mons 11:30-12:30 Mindful HeART Class www.artyparty.fun/mindful-heart-mondays All classes are run by local Yoga Teacher and Mindful Art enthusiast.

Yoga with Alice D

Mons, Halton Village Hall, HP22 5NG

7-8.15pm, Pregnancy Yoga, 8.30-9.45pm, Women’s Yoga.

Weds, Wendover Memorial Hall, HP22 6HF 10.30-11.30am, Mum and Baby Yoga, 12-1pm, Nurture Baby Massage. www.yogawithaliced.com

Diamond Bridge Club

Tues 6.45 for 7pm, Ellesborough Village Hall, HP17 0XA A friendly club with an ethos of playing

BBOWT

Plant and Produce Market

Saturday 17 May

11.00am - 1.00pm

bridge in a relaxed environment. If you have any questions or would like to join, contact the Membership Secretary at DBCAylesbury@yahoo.com

Cracklewick Morris

Tues 8.15-10.15pm, Halton Village Hall, HP22 5NG

An all-inclusive mixed Morris side who meet most Tuesdays for dance practice. Everyone welcome – musicians and dancers. No experience needed to dance. Email cracklewickmorris@gmail.com

Wendover Bowls Club Open Evenings

Fri 6pm, Dobbins Lane Wendover, HP22 6BU

The club will be holding open evenings every Friday at 6 o’clock throughout May. Coaching and bowls will be provided. Wear flat shoes. See p29. www.wendoverbowlsclub.co.uk/

Poetry Please

Fri 2, 10.30am

Wendover Christian Centre HP22 6JG Laugh out loud or something more subtlethis month’s theme is ‘Comic Verse’. Bring a poem on the theme or come and see what others have chosen. A friendly welcome guaranteed!

Aylesbury Sailing Club Open Day and BBQ

Mon 5, Weston Turville Reservoir, HP22 5PS Barbecue from 12-3pm. If you are a keen sailor, or have never tried sailing before, see what they have to offer. Experienced club members will take you out on the lake in a double-handed dinghy. Bring spare clothes for sailing, and some cash for the BBQ, email aylesburysailingclubmembership@gmail. com

For more information visit www.aylesburysailingclub.org.uk/

Enquiries : 07804 671445 angelawmh@aol.co.uk Beehive Garden Design creates exteriors that reflect and shape the lifestyle of clients –

College Lake Reserve HP23 5QG

Admission Free

LEGACY FAIRS

Antiques & Collectors Market Wendover Memorial Hall Thursday 15 May 9am-2pm (Trade 8am) For updates Tel: 07543 524212 or email: p.hetheringtonwh@gmail.com Entrance by donation to Charity

and

to

and reflect Lisa Evans - 07764310589 thebeehivegd@gmail.com

www.facebook.com/TheBeehiveGardenDesign

80th Anniversary of Victory in Europe Celebrations

Celebrations will be taking place on various days in Wendover and Stoke Mandeville. See back page for events organised by Wendover Parish Council. Below are events in Stoke Mandeville.

Monday 5, 11am-3pm, Fremantle Care Home, Risborough Road

Garden Party with 1940’s music from the Vintage Gramophone DJ and a performance from 1940s musical duo the D-Day Dollies, afternoon tea. Public welcome to attend.

2pm-5pm: The Bull, Risborough Road. Garden Party, sing-along and various activities

Thursday 8

9am: Village Green, Lower Road. Raising of VE80 flag ceremony. 9am-noon: St Mary’s Church, Swallow Lane.

Exhibition of Stoke Mandeville at War, refreshments.

Noon-5pm: The Bull car park.

Vintage Mobile Cinema showing short film of Stoke Mandeville at War, free to residents 4pm: The Bull.

Celebrate National Fish and Chip Day with food from Well Nice Fish and Chips. 6pm-9pm: The Bull VE80 evening of entertainment featuring DJ Dan Blaze and 1940s swing trio The Polka Dots. 9pm: Village Green, Lower Road. Lamp Light of Peace ceremony, If you can help or would like to take part in the celebrations email: carol.jenkins@ stokemandeville-pc.gov.uk

Bank Holiday Cream Teas

St Mary’s Church Weston Turville, HP22 5SQ Mon 5, 3-5pm Cream Tea to celebrate VE Day BH Mon 26, 3-5pm. All welcome.

Simply Walks and Cycle Rides

Wendover – Tuesdays: Weekly walks from Wendover Clock Tower, leaving 10am.

Aston Clinton – Thursdays:

From Aston Clinton Park leave 10.30am. Meet beside “Your Café in the Park.” Registration is 15 mins beforehand at both locations.

Aylesbury Cycling UK – Sundays. Easy pace: Every first and third week of the month, about 30 miles. Newcomers: each second and fourth week and about 20 miles. www. cyclinguk.org/group/aylesbury-cycling-uk

Kimble & Ellesborough Horticultural Society

Tue 6, 8pm, Stewart Hall, Little Kimble, HP17 OXN New Naturalistic Planting. Amber Hine, who trained in garden design at Capel Manor

College, on the rising popularity of looking to nature to design natural spaces. Examples will be used from contemporary garden and landscape gardeners and looking at the wonders of perennials, meadows and woodland edges.

Sat 10, 10am -11:30am, Plant Sale –Ellesborough Village Hall, Butlers Cross

A great opportunity to buy locally grown perennials, vegetables and annuals. Come early - everything will be sold by about 11am on past form!

If you are not a member but would be interested in more information see website for contact information and updates. www. kehs.uk

Craft Group

Wed 7 & 21, 10am-12pm, Wendover Christian Centre, HP22 6JG Craft Group provides time, space and friendly company to work on any kind of craft project.

Please bring your own materials or just go along to see what others are doing. Coffee served at about 11am.

Compassionate Café Wigginton

Wed 7, 1.30-3pm, The Sports Ground community café, HP23 6HH

A space for local people affected by bereavement to meet others.

Chilterns Light Network

Weds, 7.30 for 8pm, Wendover Memorial Hall, HP22 6HF

7; The Bowler Hat Farmer on tourleading the way on the future for farming, 14; Two Victorias - access your spiritual guidance, crystal crafts, 21; Wellness Evening - try out products & therapies, 28; A former-midwife’s inside view of the NHSwhat is going on?

Tickets on sale for the Bowler Hat Farmer. £5 non-members. www.chilternslightnetwork.org or email henriettafirth@gmail.com

Board Game Café

Thu 8, 10, 2-4pm, Wendover Christian Centre, HP22 6JG

Enjoy a variety of games old and new or take your own to play with others. Open and free of charge for all.

Fitness and Fun for the Over-60’s

Thu 8 & 22, 2-3pm, Stoke Mandeville Community Centre, Eskdale Road

Now every other Thursday afternoon until December 2025 with refreshments afterwards.

Wendover Art Club

Thus, 7:30-9:30pm. St Anne’s Hall, HP22 6JG 8; Creative evening – “Don’t Look Now”Just bring a board, paper and pencils and have some fun. 22; DVD and Social before

• Loose covers

• Curtains

• Re-Upholstery

• Tracks & Poles

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Merryweather Mowers

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New & Used Mowers in Stock

54 Brook Street, Aston Clinton Aylesbury, Bucks. HP22 5ES

Tel: Ian Stiles (01296) 631918

Aylesbury Vale Tutors

Making learning enjoyable

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For all ages and abilities

DBS Checked

we all dash off on holidays. Please note there is a charge of £2 for Creative Evenings.

Pace Centre BIG Walk

Sat 10, various routes, see website:

Three distance options to choose from between Dunstable and Wendover, ranging from 18 miles to 6 miles. Superhero Mile at John Colet School.

This is a great opportunity to enjoy a day out and to support Pace in providing services to children and young people with neurodisabilities.www.thepacecentre.org/event/ the-big-walk-2025/ or email: fundraising@ thepacecentre.org.

Community race supporting the Chilterns Neuro Centre

Sun 11 May, 10:00am-1.00pm, Prestwood Gym & Fitness Centre HP16 9QY

Runners of all ages and abilities are invited to take part in Run Prestwood 2025. Featuring a 10k chip-timed race, a 5k fun run and a 2k children’s race, See p11.

Wills and Estate Planning Surgery

Wed 14, 12-2pm,

Chilterns Neuro Centre, Wendover HP22 5LX

To book a slot email: iain@wanstallconsulting.co.uk or phone 01296 415700.

Aston Hill Climb Centenary Celebration

14-17 May

Marking a century since the end of the historic motoring hill limbs up Aston Hill. Exhibition at the Red Kite Pavilion in Aston Clinton Park (14–17 May) followed by a re-enactment and classic car meeting at Hill Farm on Aston Hill, HP22 5NQ (17 May, 8:00 to 16:00. As covered in Wendover News April: www.bit.ly/4jaRtXo. Official website: www.astonhill100.com

Book Club

Sat 17, 10.30-11.30am, Wendover Christian Centre, HP22 6JG

What are you reading this Spring? Come and hear what others have been reading and, if you wish, talk about something you’ve read – whether you loved it or not. We begin with coffee and sometimes cake. All welcome.

Families and Dementia

Thu 15, 2-4pm,

The Christian Centre, Wendover HP22 6JG

A free event offering valuable insights and personal experiences on dementia. Run by Dementia Carers Respite and Wendover Dementia Support. Hear from Dr. Pippa Moreton in ‘Dementia – What Families Need to Know’ and Scott Mitchell as he shares his journey in ‘Caring for My Wife, Barbara

Windsor’. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn and connect. Book your place now by emailing info@wendoverds.org.uk

Aylesbury Centre of the National Trust

Thu 15, 7.30 for 8pm, Broughton Junior School HP20 1NQ

Nick Cook speaks on ‘Baked Alaska or Mexican Chilli: climate change explained’ Details from Hon Sec 07399 540626 or email aylesburycentrent@gmail.com or Facebook.

Drag Brunch at Bel & The Dragon Sat 17, 10am-12pm, 9 High Street, HP22 6DU

Bottomless drinks paired with delicious brunch. Fri 23; Quiz Night. www.belandthedragon.co.uk/Wendover

BBOWT Activities

Sat 17, 11am-1pm College Lake Nature Reserve, HP23 5QG

Plant and Produce Market. See p29 for details of summer programme and ad p

Aylesbury Vale Stitchers

Sat 17, 2-4:30pm, Wendover Memorial Hall, HP22 6HF Matthew Cayton – ‘My Journey in Embroidery and My Work with the RSN’ email aylesburyvalestitchers@gmail.com

PRIX FIXE

What’s On?

25th April & Quiz Night 17th May

join Us for our quarterly Comedy Evening. Our big Summer event promises a stellar line up, Headliner to be confirmed 23rd May www belandthedragon co uk/wendover Or call 01296 622266

Join us for our monthly Quiz night! Test your knowledge, share some laughs, and make memories with family & friends

Drag Brunch

Comedy Night 26th June

join Us for Bottomless drinks paired with delicious brunch food, as well as some Fabulous Drag entertainment! 10-12pm Scan for our events!

8th June 2025 Buckmoorend

DISCOVER

TASTE

Wendover Choral Society Concert

Sat 17, 7.30pm

St Mary’s Church, Wendover, HP22 6NL

French music including Cantique de Jean Racine and Requiem by Fauré, plus Poulenc Gloria. See ad on front page.

Musical Comedy with Victor & Albert

Sat 17, 7.30pm, Roblin Hall, Aylesbury Music Centre, HP21 7ST

Enjoy a night of laughter, music, magic and comic mayhem. Tickets £15. www.aylesburychoral.org.uk

Wendover Arts Festival

Sat 24– BH Mon 26, Church Lane, Wendover, HP22 6NL

Showcasing a diverse range of artistic talent, featuring works from over 70 artists www.wendover-arts-festival.co.uk

Contact: Deborah Hale. deborahhale58@ yahoo.com. See p24

Compassionate Café, Great Missenden

Wed 28, 11.30am, Great Missenden Library, HP16 0AL

Each session is facilitated by trained volunteers who ensure the café offers a welcoming space for people to come together for emotional support. www.bit.ly/3Zqn5RH

The Arts Society Ballinger Thu 29, 7.30 for 8pm, Ballinger Memorial Hall, HP16 9LQ

‘The Mayan Civilisation of Central America’. Author and archaeologist Duncan Pring introduces us to the Maya who lived in Central America between 1000BC and 1528. The peak of their civilisation was between 300 and 900AD. During that time they built enormous monuments, and produced jade and ceramic items of great beauty. ballinger@theartsociety.org

Weston Turville Historical Society Fri 30, 7.30 for 8pm, Weston Turville Village Hall, HP22 5RW “The Walls Have Tongues”. Speaker – Sue Flipping. This talk covers some of the most fascinating graffiti found in mediaeval churches, considers what our forebears may have wanted to achieve and tells you how to find these mysterious markings yourself. Entrance - £2 members, £3 visitors

Real Magic Weekend

Fri 30 May to Sun 1 June

Kings Head Parade, High St, Wendover, HP22 6DX

Check the website for details of line-up and tickets. www.realmagicbooks.com/ events/real-magic-weekend-iii/

Planning ahead?

Wendover News production dates. Don’t wait until the last minute to send details of your event!

All contributions for inclusion in Wendover News can be submitted as early as the first day of the month preceding the issue in which it needs to appear.

To ensure we have enough space, email newsdesk @wendovernews.org or advertising @wendovernews.org to let us know your intentions as early as possible.

SAVE THE DATE JUNE

Thu 5, 12 & 19 - Three-week singing workshop programme with Wendover Choral Society. See p11

Sat 7 - Gift Day, St Mary’s Church, Stoke Mandeville

Sat 7 & Sun 8, 2-5pm, Open Garden at Acer Corner, 10 Manor Road, HP22 6HQ

Sun 8, 11am – 4pm, Open Farm Sunday, Buckmoorend Farm – See ad p20 Thu 26 – Comedy Night at Bel & the Dragon

You’ve been putting it off, haven’t you…? It’s back …!

Stuart

Fantham &

Company

are pleased to announce the return of our popular Wendover

Wills Week

•Starts Saturday 17th May!

•Runs for 7 full days

•Saturday and Sunday appointments available

•Appointments all day from 7am to 7pm

•Free initial appointment – with no obligation

•Free Will storage – no annual fees

•10% off our normal Will-writing charges

Looking at Lasting Powers of Attorney…?

If you are thinking about an LPA for yourself or a family member, why not take advantage of our extended opening hours during our Wendover Wills Week event to come and have an informal chat to find out more – there’s no charge for the chat either!

Solicitors open on a weekend…? Yes, you did read this correctly! We will be open for a full seven days, from 7 until 7, to help you to review your current Will or write a new one and if you make a new Will with us during our Wendover WillsWeek, we will reduce our normal fees by 10%. What could be easier!

To book your appointment, Call, Click or Come in ...

12 High Street, Wendover HP22 6EA

Telephone: 01296 620300

Email: legal@stuartfantham.co.uk

We are a local, Buckinghamshire, Independent Window, Door and Glazing Company with over 30 years experience in the industry. We offer a relaxed, friendly and professional design and installation service with all quotes and surveys free of charge.

• UPVC, Aluminium or Timber Frames

• Composite Doors

• Bi-folding & Patio Doors

• Secondary Glazing

• Range of Heritage Products

• Double Glazed Units

• Single Glazing & Putty Work

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• Rooflights & Lanterns

01296 487586 or 01296 710044 enquiries@countyglassandglazing.co.uk

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PROVIDING OUTSTANDING HOME CARE

We are passionate about supporting people to stay in the comfort of their own home and are one of the few home care companies to offer both - around the clock live-in care as well as daily visiting care. Our carers are professionally trained to help in any situation be that emergency care following a hospital stay, respite care for the family or specialist support to those living with Dementia or other complex health conditions.

Meet the Team: Jon Theobald

When Stoke Mandeville Village Society Chair, Liz Tice, contacted Wendover News about getting the village involved (see March issue), little did we know that we were getting a ‘Two for One’! Her husband, Jon, had a number of useful skills and experiences that were also just what we were looking for – he joins us to explain further…

“Having had what you could call quite a ‘mobile’ professional and personal life over the last few decades, the concept of roots and belonging were somewhat alien to me personally – although my time in the social housing sector, both in Glasgow and London, with the largest social landlord(s) in the UK and England respectively, brought me face-to-face with communities and the essential element of social-cohesion that often makes or – where the lack of – breaks them.”

“Moving to Stoke Mandeville in 2010, I started to feel that being part of a quieter and smaller way of life was giving me a more personal sense of what it was all about.

Over the years I immersed myself more in local clubs and activities, often reciprocally giving support and assistance from my ‘career toolkit’ as I was taught new things to

learn and undertook new experiences with others around me.”

“For example, after a dozen years after I started beekeeping as a novice with them, I became a trustee of Mid-Bucks Beekeepers, helping guide the organisation through the challenges of losing its apiary home of 60+ years to a new housing development, and with the support of Weston Turville Parish Council creating a new, long-term home.

During the lockdown years I volunteered to help out as part of the vaccination support team at Stoke Mandeville hospital and as a prescription/patient collection driver.

Last year I also became a local councillor for Stoke Mandeville Parish Council in the Village ward where I live – being a part of an entity whose raison d’être is to be there to take care of the community it serves and make it a better place to live, is sometimes both challenging and rewarding in equal measures. I also try to encourage a more joined-up approach for organisations when working with the parish council.”

How does any of this help Wendover News? “Well I have spent a large part of my

corporate communications career, either directly producing or commissioning customer magazines, websites, annual reports, etc., so one area I am assisting the team is with the Wendover News re-design project, as well as rolling up my shirt-sleeves and getting stuck in to writing and pagelayout. I am also the distributor for the newlyintegrated Stoke Mandeville area and am actively encouraging residents to become local door-to-door distributors and help the next phase of growth and uptake of the magazine.”

Just prior to printing Jon was re-elected to Stoke Mandeville Parish Council.

LANDCARE GARDEN SERVICES

With over fifty years of gardening experience, our family has been transforming gardens. We are happy to come and talk and offer advice on what your garden might need from simple tidying repairs to fencing, replanting to a complete garden redesign. Call Ben on 07922 845371 or email: benjaminthegardener@gmail.com for a free no obligation quote Landscaping, Paving, Turfing, Hedging, Fencing, Tree pruning, Replanting, Garden Clearance etc.

Local News

Why was my Wendover News late?

You may have noticed that Wendover News arrived a little later this month. Please don’t get grumpy with the nice volunteer who delivers the magazine through your front door. If you collect it from one of the drop off points like Wendover Post Office, the post offices in Aston Clinton and Halton, The Bull at Stoke Mandeville, Shop at the Lee and Chiltern View Garden Centre, don’t blame the venue either. Easter down-time at our printers, meant that we had to move the print date back by nine days – or face a deadline that was unworkable for our team.

We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused and particularly to those people who rushed to send in ads and copy early, before we slipped the deadline.

The Wendover News Team

Car park changes at Health Centre

Wendover Health Centre will be introducing a new car park management system, in response to patient feedback about the challenges of finding parking when visiting the surgery. It says that that many patients have been facing delays or had to park off-site, so the new system aims to improve

access for people attending appointments.

Parking will remain free for drivers who have a reason to visit the surgery – just enter your vehicle registration number on the tablet provided upon arrival. Unauthorised parking will result in a parking fine of £100, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.

The car park will be managed by Parkingeye, an external company, and the surgery will not receive any profit from this arrangement.

To support the local community, the car park will be available to the public at weekends for a small fee. This can be paid by a smartphone parking app upon arrival.

Public access hours at the weekend are from 07:30am Saturday to 07:30am Monday. Vehicles still on-site after 07:30am Monday without a valid exemption will incur a fine.

East Bucks Community Board

As of 1 April, the Wendover and Villages Community Board, which Wendover was originally a part of, was renamed to East Bucks Community Board. This will form one of eight of the new geographical areas for the Community Board team across Buckinghamshire.

Learn a new skill or pick up a hobby with one-day workshops and short courses near Wendover, including:

As the elections take place in May, a new chair and vice-chair, who will be Buckinghamshire Councillors, will be assigned from one of the wards in the East Bucks Community Board area.

Once they are in their positions, the next stage will be setting out priorities for 2025/26. The board would like local people’s involvement in setting these for the area where they live, work and play. If you have any new initiatives or ideas for improvement, you can get in touch with eastbuckscb@ buckinghamshire.gov.uk for an informal conversation with the community board manager, Michelle Parker.

Sunshine encourages litter picking!

The first Saturday in April was chosen by members of Rotary in Wendover for their first litter pick of the year. How did they know that it would be so wonderfully sunny? It’s a good time of year anyway, before nettles and other plants have really grown tall. Members of Rotary in Wendover gathered at Halton Post Office and litter-picked the verges down to Wendover Clock Tower, collecting four full bin bags of rubbish using very efficient grabbers and plastic sacks provided by

Wendover Parish Council.

If you would like to join Rotary in Wendover please contact anabrown921@ gmail.com. If you, your organisation or your neighbours would like to organise your own litter pick, contact Wendover Parish Council to arrange for equipment to borrow, etc. Phone 01296 623056 or email estates@ wendover-pc.gov.uk

Sing Joyfully – a series of three workshops

Penny Cobb writes: Wendover Choral Society is hosting a three-week singing workshop programme with the renowned soprano Siân Dicker. These will take place in St

Mary’s Church Wendover, on 5, 12 and 19 June, from 8-10pm. The price is £30 for the series. Tickets are available online at www. ticketsource.co.uk, or phone 0333 666 3366. These will be great fun, are open to all and no previous vocal experience is needed, just the joy for singing. Also see front page for the Wendover Choral Concert on 17 May.

A community race supporting the Chilterns Neuro Centre

Runners of all ages and abilities are invited to lace up their trainers and take part in Run Prestwood 2025, a festival of running taking place on Sunday 11 May in the picturesque village of Prestwood. This exciting annual event features a 10k chip-timed race, a 5k fun run and a 2k children’s race, ensuring there’s a distance for everyone to enjoy.

All profits from Run Prestwood go to the Chilterns Neuro Centre, a Wendover-based charity that provides essential support to people affected by MS, Parkinson’s and strokes, helping to empower them to live life to the full.

The event welcomes competitive runners, casual joggers and families. Registration is now open and early sign-ups are encouraged to secure a place.

For more information, or to sign up, visit www.chilternsneurocentre.org/event/ run-prestwood.

BML fitness event funds Wendover Shed for a whole year

Local fitness studio BML Fitness and Personal Training, raised around £8,000 for two local charities in its 24-hour Fit-a-Thon event at the end of March. The money raised has been split between Wendover Shed and Aylesbury Women’s Aid.

The Fit-a-Thon saw seven fitness instructors and around 150 supporters take part in various fitness activities including weights, stretching, bootcamp and an 24-hour continuous indoor cycling marathon.

Dave Walls, who was recently named Spinning UK & Ireland Instructor of the Year, coaches at BML and is also a trustee and shed leader at Wendover Shed. He says that Wendover Shed’s share of the money raised will pay its running expenses for a whole year. This will let it support the 40-50

Wendover Rotary litter pickers

Photo: Linda Downey

Fit-A-Thon-ers having fun and raising funds

Shedder members who attend every week.

Aylesbury Women’s Aid will receive the other half of the money to help fund its women’s refuge. Its area of coverage includes Wendover, Stoke Mandeville, Weston Turville and Aston Clinton, as well as other areas in Bucks.

Emma Eustace, owner of BML, acknowledged the incredible support of not only her BML community but also that of around 30 local businesses sponsoring the event or providing raffle prizes.

BML Fitness can be found on Robert Mews, just off Wendover High Street. For details, please contact emma@bmlpersonaltraining.com. Wendover Shed can be found at www.wendovershed.org.uk, and Aylesbury Women’s Aid is at www.aylesburywomensaid.org.uk

King and Queen is joint runner-up as local CAMRA pub of the year Wendover’s King and Queen pub was joint runner-up for Aylesbury Vale and Wycombe branch of CAMRA’s 2025 Pub of the Year award. This was voted for by local branch members in an online poll, with a close finish between five shortlisted pubs, and the overall winner being the Rose and Crown in High Wycombe.

Mike Clarke, the branch chair for the CAMRA district, presented King and Queen licencees Pete Donne and Shelley Burns with their certificate. The King and Queen earned plaudits from CAMRA members for being “a proper pub with proper hospitality” and “very friendly and comfortable.” Another local drinker said, “It’s all about the beer”

with the pub having “guest beers that are always well kept” and “some great food trucks visiting a couple of times a week.”

Pete and Shelley took over the King and Queen licence in February 2016. Previous awards have included Aylesbury Vale’s Village Community Pub of the Year 2016/17 and in June 2017 they got through to the National finals of The Great British Pub Awards.

Can you coach Young Enterprise students at John Colet?

Peter Rayner writes: Do you have an hour a week to help sixth form students at John Colet gain employment skills? I have been volunteering with the Young Enterprise organisation for seven years, but am stepping down at the end of this year, so another volunteer is needed.

I go into John Colet school once a week to work with business studies students on the Company Programme. In an academic year I lead them through setting up a company and choosing, designing, making, marketing and selling products. In the summer term they compete with other schools in a showcase event. Finally they wind up the company with an AGM and distribute the profits.

It is hugely satisfying seeing the students develop over the year becoming more confident and gaining the sort of skills employers are looking for.

If you have some business experience and a passion for seeing young people develop their skills, please get in touch and I can explain more about the role.

Email petersrayner@yahoo.co.uk . If you want to learn more about Young Enterprise, see www.young-enterprise.org.uk

News from The John Hampden School Wendover

After 15 years in the role of headteacher of the John Hampden School, and 35 years in total at the school, Sue Barnes has decided to retire at the end of the 2024-2025 academic year. The governing board has announced her successor. Steph Parkinson, who is

ROZELLE SCHOOL OF DANCING

current deputy headteacher, will take over from September 2025.

Since opening in 1967, The John Hampden School Wendover has had several headteachers. Lesley Alexander was the well-respected and forward-thinking leader from 1991 to 2002, and under her leadership the school flourished and grew. In 1996, she was responsible for introducing nursery provision to JHSW when the change of age of transfer between schools in Bucks meant the loss of Year 3 children.

She led the school through three glowing Ofsted inspections, and she dealt well with the issue of continuous under-funding! A great believer in traditions, Lesley introduced a ‘May Day’ celebration, with Maypole dancing and Morris dancing and this event is still a regular part of the school calendar.

Sadly, Lesley Alexander died in December 2024. Her husband and daughter (seated in photograph below) have now provided a lasting memorial to Lesley in the form of a bench in the playground.

Lesley first joined John Hampden as deputy headteacher in 1990. This was the same year that the now outgoing headteacher Sue Barnes also joined as a “probationary” teacher. Sue taught across all year groups in the school for 20 years, only taking two short periods of maternity leave, and was appointed head in 2010.

Over the years, Sue continued to develop and improve the school and embedded

Pete Donne (King and Queen licencee)

Lesley (back left) and Sue (back right)

core values. She oversaw two large building projects and led the school through the Covid pandemic and continuing financial challenges!

Ofsted has continued to recognise the strengths of JHSW and the most recent ungraded inspection in February 2024 suggested that the school would have been judged as outstanding. Quotes from the report include:

“Pupils ‘love to learn’ at this school, fully reflecting the school’s motto. They are highly motivated and behave very well. High expectations permeate every aspect of school life, and pupils flourish, both academically and socially.”

“It is a welcoming, nurturing environment, fuelled by passionate staff and a strong community approach.”

Volunteers needed by local charity

You can help an Aylesbury charity in need! Calibre is looking for people with free time to help with sending audiobooks to its members in the post.

This involves: loading audiobooks; and/ or transferring them from a computer to a USB stick, ready to post; checking returned audiobooks (which involves “returning” the audiobooks from their USB drives, using the computer). Good attention to detail and basic computer skills are required.

The existing team say they are a friendly bunch who could use hands on deck when things get busy, and for people to help consume the biscuit supply! Sounds like you? Contact volunteering@calibre.org.uk, or phone 01296 432339 for more info.

When a dog disappears

When a dog disappears, it can be devastating for the humans who look after them.

The number of dog thefts has decreased substantially since the introduction of the Pet Abduction Act 2024 this time last year. But statistics for other categories for dog disappearances are still worrying.

Some dogs just run off and reappear after a few minutes or hours. A few stay out overnight or for a few days after losing their own scent-trail or that of their owners and get confused. Some ‘escape’ from their homes and disappear for weeks on end.

So it was for Hugo, who went missing from his home in Stoke Mandeville in June 2022. He was safely found living wild near Wendover Woods some three months later.

Let’s hope we have a similar outcome for Biscuit, a male Jack Russell dog who went missing in the first week of February, from an address in central Wendover. His owner is distraught at the loss of his best friend, who ran away when he was startled by a loud noise made by workmen in the vicinity.

Hugo was reunited with his owner after a similar length of time that Biscuit has been missing, so it is still worth the effort of searching for him.

There are several groups of people engaged in the search and you can connect with them on the Everything Wendover Facebook page. Why not join them?

Reservoir repairs affect canal levels

In recent months walkers along the canal have been reporting low water levels, often commenting on social media.

The Canal & River Trust, responsible for all canals in England, says that this is deliberate, because it is currently carrying out repairs to the Wilstone Reservoir, which is linked to the canal and affects the levels.

The reservoir was built in 1802 and now requires strengthening to its embankments, a project estimated to cost £6m and to last 15 months. The water level will be kept 0.5m lower than normal, meaning that the Wendover Canal levels will also be kept low.

Preparatory work began in January and installation of 2,000 11-metre-long steel sheet piles will begin in May. During this time the footpath and the car park at the reservoir will be closed.

Wilstone is the largest of the four Tring reservoirs, covering 48 hectares. It is up to 5.5m deep with a capacity of more than one million megalitres of water, equivalent to more than 300,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

There are two five-metre wide embankments, stretching for a total of 1,350 metres and ranging from two to eight metres high.

Bread and Brew opens in Back Street

For over 40 years there was a traditional bakery on Back Street in the heart of Wendover, until its recent closure, writes Jo Durden-Moore

“Residents and visitors were thrilled to see a new shop, Bread and Brew, launch over the Easter weekend. What a delight it was!”

Under new ownership the shop’s refit and rebrand brings not just breads, but quality coffee, tea, cakes and savoury bakes. It will soon be adding deli-style sandwiches, jacket potatoes and salad boxes. Indeed the original baker from 40 years ago even popped in to see what had been done to the space!

Wendy Teverson, the owner of Bread and Brew, said, “We seek to provide good quality, locally sourced fresh bread and great coffee to the town and surrounding villages and sincerely thank everyone that came along for the soft launch and gave such great feedback. We were absolutely delighted with the support, the welcome and the warmth shown by so many people across the opening weekend. We look forward to becoming involved in this lovely community.”

The bakery will initially open on Thursdays through Mondays, and then Wendy will review opening hours at the end of May.

Wendover Community Library celebrates reopening

Many residents will have already visited the newly refurbished Wendover Community Library since its doors were reopened to the public on 25 March. However, don’t miss the programme of special re-openings, celebrations and events planned for May. There is a selection of activities and events planned for upcoming weeks but dates weren’t fixed as Wendover News went to press in April, so keep an eye online or inside the library for more information.

You can ask at the desk for a tour of the refurbished building. Volunteers are there to help all visitors.

Although the footprint of the building has not changed, the internal space has been re-ordered to allow more and different uses. One that was developing rapidly before the closure for refurbishment was private study. This is particularly useful for secondary school, college and university students or writers who might not otherwise have access to a quiet space, but people of all ages might welcome this facility.

As before there are PC computer stations on the ground floor. In addition, little purple tablets called ‘Hublets’ on a station near the desk allow users to access library resources such as Libby, press reader and borrow box, and also access ancestry records.

They can be used in the same way as a

PC without printing and they’re available to anyone inside the library with a library card. The library plans to host digital support sessions on how to use them, alongside a newly-appointed digital support volunteer.

There are also computer stations available in the first floor workspace. Access to these is up the stairs past the desk, and has been made easier.

Much has been made of the new children’s library at the front of the building. This incorporates two new floor to ceiling windows with seating pods. The youngest visitors are already finding it a very welcoming space, with relaxing furniture and decorations.

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The former space for children at the far end of the library retains the mural painted specially for children, but now has desk space for practical purposes, including study. The Thames Valley Police volunteer is still available on Tuesdays, but now sits in this space for easy public access. It also has sound-proof doors which can be closed off for privacy. This space is now available for hire as Meeting Room 3.

The patio garden at the rear has been raised to the ground floor level so it’s now fully accessible through the computer area. Wendover WI is looking after the garden areas and keeping them as welcoming spaces.

Also available for hire is the new small Meeting Room 2, next to the computer workspace. The main space of the library is as light and airy as before, and is a very convenient area with seating, to look at books and other resources available for loan.

The original large library Meeting Room 1 has moveable desks and chairs and has always been used by local organisations for art exhibitions or small fund raising events as well as On Screen cinema or as a lecture theatre. There are no more spaces of different sizes for hire, so the Library will become even more of a hub for local activities in the daytime and evenings.

For more information about the library go to www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/ libraries/information-about-local-library/ wendover-community-library or type: www. bit.ly/4lsSknX

Opening hours are as follows: Monday – Closed Tuesday 9:00-6:00 Wednesday – Closed Thursday – 9:30-5:00 Friday – 9:30-5:00 Saturday – 9:30-4:00

Jane Larkham

World Bee Day 2025 – 20th May

By Liz Tice

The theme of this year’s World Bee Day is “Bee inspired by nature to nourish us all” and it aims to raise awareness of the essential role bees and other pollinators play in keeping people and the planet healthy, and highlighting the many challenges they face today.

We have more than 250 different species of bee in the UK, including 24 species of bumblebee, and of course, the honey bee. In the UK we only have one species of honey bee, Apis Mellifera, although there are a few others worldwide.

Many species of bee are in crisis, due to climate change, habitat loss, fewer flowers and pesticide use. The honey bee also has the problems of disease and other pests to contend with.

Honey bees live in large colonies of

up to 50,000 bees. Since the accidental introduction of pests such as the varroa mite from Asia in 1992, there are very few areas in Britain where honey bees are able to thrive in the wild, so most live in bee-keeper managed hives. The recent arrival of the Asian yellowlegged hornet (likely imported along with garden pottery from China) poses a further threat. Luckily sitings of these are very few at the moment.

The lifecycle of all bees is similar, in that they hatch from an egg, become larvae that need to feed on pollen and nectar, before pupating. The adult bees then emerge from either a cocoon or a cell, made from wax.

The honey bee worker is female and lives around six weeks in the summer months. She will spend time in the hive, cleaning, making wax and defending the colony before foraging for pollen and nectar for the final three weeks of her life. The males are known as drones and their purpose is to mate with the queen bee so that she can produce the eggs that keep the colony thriving.

Mid-Bucks Beekeepers Association was founded in 1966 to serve the needs of beekeepers in central Buckinghamshire. With more than 200 members, they have an active membership who provide support for their fellow beekeepers, as well as providing related educational services to the wider community and a well-subscribed annual training course for new or beginner beekeepers. They keep a training apiary for members which produces delicious honey, often for sale at local outlets or shows.

Spring is a very busy time for beekeepers, as the queen is able to lay up to 2,000 eggs a day and the hive can soon become overcrowded if not managed. If the bees don’t have enough space, then they may swarm.

Swarming is the process by which a new honey bee colony is formed. A swarm can contain thousands of bees and can look

intimidating, but the bees in a swarm are generally not aggressive as they have no hive or honey to protect. If you come across a swarm that needs collecting then you can use this link: www.bbka.org.uk/find-alocal-swarm-collector. If the bees are in an accessible location, a local beekeeper will be able to retrieve them and relocate them to a suitable hive.

If you think you may have seen an Asian yellow legged hornet then please report this. The easiest way to do this is by using the ‘Asian Hornet Watch’ app, available free on both Android and iPhone. This helps you identify the interlopers and report them so they can be professionally eradicated.

For more information on local beekeeping go to: www.mbbka.org.uk

Swarms like this are not usually dangerous.

Jon Theobald working with his hive.

Is it time for a Wendover Show?

By Leigh Porter

Seed sowing is now well underway and little plug plants are coming along nicely with all the recent sunshine. All this activity puts me in mind of other Wendover gardeners and wondering what they are up to and how their produce is coming along. If you are growing on an allotment then you have your fellow allotmenteers to compare and share with, and pick up all those compliments when your produce looks prize-winning.

All over the country are village shows and fêtes where communities come together to show off all their home-grown or homemade produce and crafts. I don’t know why Wendover doesn’t have such an event but perhaps it’s time we did? What do you think?

There is always a hardcore of people who love their hobby and welcome the opportunity to share their skills and if you spend any time at all on social media there are numerous examples of people showing you how to do just about anything. It’s a great reservoir of information, but there is something missing that isn’t fulfilled by posting a comment.

We all enjoy personal interaction and that’s what happens when we join a club or a group. Joining together with friends and neighbours is what makes a community function and there are never too many occasions to take advantage of doing just that.

If, like me, you are seeing your seeds beginning to sprout and looking forward to the whole experience of tending those plants and enjoying them, is there another stage? Should we encourage others to join in by ‘showing’ them? That would certainly focus my attention. Would it do the same for you?

Horticultural shows are a great way of bringing diverse groups together showing vegetables, fruit and flowers but a wider Wendover Show could extend the range of exhibitions to include a host of

‘domestic’ skills including jam and chutney making, all sorts of baking and brewing, flower arranging, painting, drawing and photography, and of course handicrafts such as knitting, crochet, wood and metalwork.

Needless to say, this gives children and adults alike a chance to join in, creating an opportunity for sharing and learning. Best of all, showcasing skills is a great way to inspire. We have some amazing clubs and groups in Wendover. Is this a way to attract new club members and make sure all these skills are passed on?

If you like the idea of a Wendover Show and are already involved with a club or group that might like to take part, would you be prepared to help with organising? Are you a keen hobbyist who would like to get involved, or would you just like to put your hand up to say you support the idea?

Please let me know your thoughts. Is this something that we’d like to see in Wendover or has my successful garlic growing just gone to my head?

Send a message to me, Leigh Porter, on 07963 407724 or send your thoughts through to Wendover News at newsdesk@ wendovernews.org

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Inspiration! Some of Leigh Porter’s delicious home-grown vegetables.

Visit farming’s annual open day at Buckmoorend

Sunday, 8 June 2025, 11am–4pm

On Open Farm Sunday, farms across Britain will be opening their gates to the public. The day offers visitors the chance to see farming with nature at first hand, to discover where their food comes from, how it is produced and to meet the people responsible – the farmers!

One of them will be the farm at Buckmoorend, across the fields from Chequers. Daniel and Steph Hares, and all the team at Buckmoorend will be meeting visitors on the day.

Daniel writes: “Open Farm Sunday is a great free family day out and offers a unique chance to learn more about all that farmers like us do and to show your support for British farming.

On the day I and our fabulous team will be on hand to tell you more about the farming industry, show you how your food is produced, and what is being done to care for the countryside. At the end of the day, we hope you will have had a great time and will

come away with a greater understanding of farming and the countryside.

Join us to learn more about why earthworms are so vital to our farm and your food, and what we do to encourage them. Why hedgerows are so important, what is SSSI and why we plant wildflowers to encourage pollinators like bees and ladybirds.

Caring for livestock

On the day you can also find out how we look after and care for our cows and sheep, as well as the wonderful wildlife that lives here.

Throughout the day there will be arable farming talks, a chance to meet our animals, watch a butchery demonstration from our new onsite butchers, Gary and Richie, get crafty in our kids crafting corner, take part in some fun activities, as well as meeting our wonderful local suppliers, wildlife charities, farm vets and the rural crime policing team!

Our farm team will be on hand to answer questions, which are a perfect way to discover all about British farming for yourself.

You will also be able to get up close to the machinery we use every day and enjoy a chance to sit in one of our tractors. Our farm shop and kitchen will be open all day to keep you well fed and quenched!

Fun and education all together!

For us Open Farm Sunday is one of our favourite times of the year and a time that we are incredibly passionate about. It’s as much about free family fun, as it is about educating people about sustainable farming, teaching them where food comes from, and the importance of supporting local.

We have a range of activities planned for all and hope that everyone will come away feeling inspired and having learned something new about our farming world. We’d love to see you there!”

Annabel Shackleton, Open Farm Sunday manager, said: “Open Farm Sunday is a wonderful opportunity for visitors of all ages to get closer to farming and the people that make it happen.

Each event is unique, each farm is different and every farmer too, but what they all share is a passion for farming, amazing expertise and a commitment to farming with nature and caring for the countryside.

“Some farms have been passed down through the generations, others are managed by those who have chosen farming as their career; each has its own special story to tell and Open Farm Sunday is the ideal chance to come and hear it.”

Application for pyrolysis plant behind Chiltern View

Enterprise Energy is hoping to install an innovative new thermal treatment plant to turn waste plastic into fuels and other useful products. It has applied to Buckinghamshire Council for an environmental permit to operate a small-scale pyrolysis plant on a site behind the Chiltern View Garden Centre, off the Wendover Road and adjacent to the London to Aylesbury railway line where it passes through Stoke Mandeville.

The site is already operated by Enterprise Waste Management Ltd as a waste sorting facility, with access gained from Wendover Road via the garden centre car park.

Enterprise Energy Ltd is working together with NRG-Fuels Ltd of Leamington Spa, which wants to develop at least four larger pyrolysis plants elsewhere in the UK and Ireland.

As the site is within Stoke Mandeville Parish Council boundary, the application will be considered by a full Stoke Mandeville Parish Council meeting at a meeting on 13 May, says Tony Skeggs, SMPC clerk. It will also be open to public comment through Bucks County Council until 30 May.

Olu Sokoya, Environmental Protection Officer (Strategic), at Buckinghamshire Council, says “We are hoping to be able to make an environmental permitting decision by 19 June, subject to approvals for the appropriate planning controls being in place. Should we be minded granting a permit, it shall be subject to conditions with audit inspections due annually to check compliance.”

The aim of the pyrolysis process is to derive useful products from plastics that cannot otherwise be recycled, which reduces the volume of material being sent to landfill. NRG-Fuels says that only around 17% of this waste is currently recycled, the remaining being incinerated or landfilled along with a small volume exported.

The Enterprise Energy unit plant will use a new pyrolysis incineration technology developed by Eco creation of South Korea, which uses a patented catalyst to increase efficiency.

Waste single-use plastics are fed into an oven and heated to high temperature in the absence of oxygen.

This produces plastic pyrolysis oil (PPO), which can be either blended as a ‘development fuel’ or re-polymerised into new plastic products; a ‘synthetic gas’ that can be used to fuel the oven’s own burners; plus a small amount of carbon ash, sometimes used as soil conditioner or in other industries depending on the quantity and quality.

‘Non-hazardous’ water may also be emitted, and stored in a tank.

Enterprise Energy Ltd has had environmental impact assessments carried out by Tetra Tech, an environmental consultancy, that modelled any risks to nature or humans from the proposed plant. Risks of emissions

to the air or water are said to be insignificant as long as the plant is well maintained and operated.

The company says it will run the plant as a proof-of-concept for several years, using the experience to develop its larger scale plants around the UK and Ireland.

The proposal documents can be viewed here: www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/ environment/environmental-permits/ public-register-of-permitted-activity (or www./bit.ly/4cNr3bU ). These include a useful Briefing Document in plain English.

Sokoya says “Members of the public may submit views on the environmental permit application. However, unlike with the planning regime and processes, there are no options to object to the proposals.”

“Comments should be structured to relate to the documents proposed and environmental and local impact; or otherwise.” Responses should be sent to: environmentalhealth@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

Image taken from NRG-Fuels’ briefing document labelled ‘Single Reactor Plant’.

Performing Arts and Culture

Review: ‘Sing out for… Mental Health’ – Wendover, Wing Singers and Wendover Singers Children’s choir

By Richard Byford

Wendover is home to quite a few successful musicians and singers, some of whom are household names. Since Saturday 12 April, that number has grown considerably. You may have passed one or two of them in the street and not realised. Some may be living in your street. Two hundred of your friends, neighbours and community members sang together on stage in ‘Sing out for… Mental Health’ at the Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury.

The show itself could potentially have been a disaster, with so many things that might have gone wrong, but didn’t. A cast of 200 people, including a majority that had never been on stage? Would there be enough changing rooms and facilities for that number?

done a good job warming up the audience getting them to stand up and start singing. Thankfully, it was not at gun point. He is famed for squirting a water pistol into the audience during his now traditional role in Aylesbury’s Christmas panto.

Sandie Buckle (soprano, Wing) contributed their voices to the rich harmony, while Ray England (bass, Wendover) and Neil Freeman (tenor, Wing) provided the foundation at the lower and middle register. Myabella Hanlon and Harley Gayle (both from Wendover Singers Children’s Choir) sang their hearts out for quite a few of the songs too. It would be nice to give a call-out to every person in the three choirs, but there’s not nearly enough space – and everybody was equally brilliant anyway. That includes the band members, who provided immaculate accompaniment to the singers.

Special praise is reserved for Jill Neenan, who provided leadership of most aspects of the production. It’s easy to see why she is held in such high esteem by large parts of the community in both Wendover and Wing.

Until that day, most of them would have only sung in small venues among people they knew – now they would be singing in a huge venue with an unfamiliar crowd. Unforeseen mini-disasters, like a key person losing their voice day before the event? That actually happened: musical director and soloist Jill Neenan was unable to speak just four days before the performance.

When the curtain went up, there was a sigh of relief from the families and friends in the audience, as well as the backstage crew. On stage, just gentle controlled breathing in readiness for the first song, as they had been taught. No panics, no frightened faces. TV and radio celebrity, Andy Collins, had already

The repertoire for the evening was carefully chosen. ‘The Rhythm of Life’ was the opening number and was delivered perfectly, with the audience joining in. It was followed by 20 other songs from a wide range. There was variety from classic and modern musicals to recent chart-toppers. In half of them, the choir provided perfect backing for soloists, such as Daisy Amphlett, Jim Aldcroft, David Rhys, Rebecca Izard and Dylan Pilcher. Pilcher was a favourite among many in the audience. At the age of only 11, he has already played the part of Charlie in ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Waterside Theatre. We expect to see his name a lot in future.

Sarah Copas (alto, Wendover) and

Jill has an unconventional conducting style. Most conductors control their performers using their hands and maybe a little white baton. They keep them in time, bring instruments in and out of the mix, and manage dynamics. Jill has developed her own method which seems to be unique. She uses facial expressions, arm waving, quivering hands, dance movements, wriggles, jumping up and down and anything else that gets the vibe across. Ordinary conductors communicate musical commands. Jill communicates emotion, passion and enthusiasm in addition. Sadly, only the choirs could see this most of the time since she was facing them. I think she should also be on a big screen facing forwards!

The show ended, almost inevitably, with a well-deserved standing ovation. It’s a bit of a cliché to say, “there was not a dry eye in the house.” I spotted a couple of dry eyes,

David Rhys performing with Jill Neenan.

Photo: Rosalind White Photography

The Wendover and Wing Singers

Photo: Rosalind White Photography

but not many. On stage there were grinning faces, a huge number of smiles and a few bewildered people apparently trying to grapple with the wonderful enormity of what had just happened.

It may seem odd, visiting a theatre venue to take in a music show, to ask “Why?”

The answer is that, as well as making great entertainment, ‘Sing out for… Mental Health’ had two very important aims that were close to the heart of all the people engaged in the show: The therapeutic value to the participants; and to raise money for mental health charities. Early indications are that the show raised £15,000 to be split between three charities: MIND, Lindengate and SPACE. The fact that so much was raised is thanks to the main sponsor, Chiltern View Garden Centre along with MDAT IT Solutions, Grundfos and Charlton Design & Build Ltd, which covered most of the costs and overheads. “Donations are still coming in”, says Jo Durden-Moore who was one of the organisers, as well as being one of the singers.

For some people, singing is just one of the things that makes you cheerful, sociable and laid-back. Others find that singing in the choir fends off glum and negative thoughts and helps them maintain their mental fitness. For a few, it’s a lifeline that gives them a purpose, allows to them to function as a normal human being – and cope with life. Every singer has a story, but when you pass them in the street you will just see an ordinary person and not even realise that they are capable of extraordinary things. If you missed the concert but would still like to donate to the charities, you can do so at justgiving/singoutfor or see www. singoutfor.org for further details.

Other news from the performing arts by Jo Durden-Moore

Aled Jones with the Sing Out Choir

Some of the singers from ‘Singing out for Mental Health’ will be back at the Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury on Friday 2 May, with Aled Jones.

It is one of several times local choirs will share the stage with Aled on this tour, which has returned to theatres since March 25. The choir will join the Welsh star for a duet of ‘How Great Art Thou’ in the second half of the show, in which Aled shares the stories and songs of his 40-year career.

The Sing Out Choir has also been given the opportunity to perform their own music in the venue foyer ahead of the start of show. Aled said: “I have enjoyed a long and successful career, and it is a real privilege for me to be joined on the stage with such a talented local choir. It will be a really special evening.”

Aled needs little introduction; he was the boy treble who first captivated the world with ‘Walking in the Air,’ from the animated film ‘The Snowman’. Since then he has sold more than seven million albums and has become an integral part of the nation's festivities.

Equally at home on the classical stage or starring in musical theatre productions in London West End, his credits include lead roles in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. He is an award-winning television broadcaster and radio presenter who’s interviewed hundreds of A-List stars over the years. He heads up BBC’s Songs of Praise and his own Saturday and Sunday morning shows on Classic FM.

For details of the show, go to www. awaywithmedia.com/tours/aled-jones

Local actors in award-winning, Broadway show, ‘The Drowsy Chaperone’ – that many haven’t heard of !

The Vale Musical Society has cast local actors to bring an award-winning Broadway and Olivier award-nominated musical comedy to life at Tring’s DEMBE Theatre this May. Winning five Tony Awards, The Drowsy Chaperone is one of musical theatre’s funniest best-kept, secrets.

Despite its rave reviews and accolades, it did not run for long before touring and then closing for good. Consequently it is an oft unheard of musical, yet hugely popular especially amongst performing arts colleges, universities, schools and theatre groups.

The Vale Musical Society has decided to put the show on to open it up to a whole new audience and is thrilled to be bringing such an unusual, hilarious and visually stunning show to life for everyone.Set in the mid-20th century, the character ‘man in chair’ puts on his favourite record to cheer himself up; the original cast recording of a fictional 1928 musical, The Drowsy Chaperone.

As the needle touches the record, we are catapulted from a humdrum kitchen into a Broadway show, dripping with 1920s glamour, complete with Vaudevillian comedy and Charleston-esque dances.

Local director Mike Thompson has relished the challenge of directing something so funny, and is reunited with Wendover resident Lesley Vincent as the musical director.

The pair collaborated on High Society in 2019 so clearly 1920’s music and comedy really is their thing.

Mike tells us “despite the show not being well-known, everyone who sees it always loves it. I was determined to put on a show that would bring delight, mayhem and humour to the local area, and can’t wait to see the audiences reaction to what we’ve put together.”

Jim Aldcroft from Aston Clinton, has been a passionate member of the local musical theatre community since 2019 and is now the Chairman of Vale Musical Society. He plays Aldolpho, the larger-than-life lothario – the world’s greatest, most handsome, and talented lover.

Danielle Gaglione from Halton, is a local radio presenter for Trend Radio and runs local children’s youth theatre productions, including her own drama school, Dramarama. This is her second show with Vale, but she already feels like one of the family, playing a pastry chef gangster.

Hilary Weston from Aston Clinton is a long-standing member of the troop. When she’s not running around – literally like a monkey – on stage, she can be found singing in the church choir, running a Brownie pack, or practising for next year’s Bake Off application.

Darina Barrons from Wendover takes to the stage for the fourth time with VMS, and is performing in the 12-strong chorus ensemble who sing, dance and support the narrative throughout.

Although it may seem at odds with a musical, Vale is offering a British Sign Language interpreter for the opening performance.

The Drowsy Chaperone is a visual treat, with sparkling costumes, high-octane dances and slapstick comedy, so the interpreter helps our deaf and hard-of-hearing community follow the story by translating the sections of spoken word from the narrator.

One of the show’s sponsors, Lulu’s Pet Pantry, has offered to match 10% of ticket sales using promo code BSL25 to the local charity, Hearing Dogs for the Deaf.

Tickets are available for The Drowsy Chaperone from www.dembetheatre.com and the show runs from 6-10 May 2025.

Aled Jones

Photo: AwayWithMedia

Wendover: The Tate of the Chilterns?

Wendover has an extraordinary number of its people involved in the creative industries. Whether this is in formal employment or casual pursuits, many people in our community are doing it very well. New things are happening all the time: an arts hub has opened above the Real Magic bookshop; there are now art sessions at the Gusto Cafe on Castle Park Road; we have a range of established venues and events. The Obsidian Gallery in Stoke Mandeville has a rolling programme of exhibitions by local artists and ‘a little bird told me gallery’ at The Barn Courtyard off the High Street has been a favourite art haunt for many of us.

The Chilterns Neuro Centre hosts the annual pop-up arts weekend. The Wendover Arts Club meets regularly at St Anne’s Hall and provides mutual support and encouragement to local artists. We also have curators and trustees of major art collections living in our town.

It’s no coincidence that a recent report by the Arts Council shows 40% of the creative sector in the Greater London area live in the West London corridor, extending out to the Chilterns. Although this is largely driven by the film studios and media companies, this corridor has a long history in many other sectors of the arts industry – in publishing,

Wendover Arts Festival 2025

Art lovers will want to experience the Wendover Arts Festival 2025, taking place at Church Lane, Wendover HP22 6NL, over the Bank Holiday weekend of 24 to 26 May. This annual event has previously been held as the Mentmore Arts Festival. After 15 successful years, it is relocating to Wendover, with the same organiser and many repeat artists. The festival will be showcasing a diverse range of artistic talent, featuring works from over 70 artists across multiple styles and forms, including paintings, textiles, sculptures, pottery, ceramics, cards, glass, and jewellery.

furniture, painting and textiles. The Arts and Crafts movement had one of its roots in this area.

It’s no surprise that for many years people have been drawn to this area, both because of its natural beauty and the potential synergy with other creatives. So, how does Wendover capitalise on these unique strengths and become a more successful hotbed for arts and cultural activities?

The Wendover Arts Festival at St Mary’s Church, from the 24th to the 26th of May, gives us this springboard. Relocating from Mentmore after 15 successful years, it gives us a unique opportunity to strengthen our position in the art world and pursue other ventures.

We have well-established institutions, clubs and events to build on. Bucks Art Week, in June this year, shows how many artists we have living in our historic town.

Could we think even bolder? St Mary’s Church provides valuable space for annual events – but could we have a more permanent and accessible location for the arts and other cultural events in our town? Could the land around the Clocktower be transformed into a creative hub with gallery space, managed workspace and meeting areas for the community? Could the derelict site on Heron Path become the venue for artist studios and provide a creative punctuation

It opens with an invitation-only preview evening on Friday 23 May. From Saturday onward, the exhibition will welcome the public during the following hours:

Saturday 24 May: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

Sunday 25 May: 12:00 noon – 5:00 pm

Monday 26 May: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

Admission is £2.00 per adult, which includes a festival catalogue, under-16s can attend for free. All artwork will be for sale with all credit cards accepted.

With free parking available, visitors will have the opportunity to immerse themselves amongst the inspiring work of local artists. The festival is situated on the Ridgeway,

to the route down to St Mary’s Church?

Could these three venues, in combination with one another, become the genesis for the Tate Gallery of the Chilterns? Could we have a sculpture trail along this route, perhaps extending to the Ridgeway? Could the festival extend to other temporary activities on the Witchell?

Other communities have thought this way, and delivered successful change to their towns. Let’s dream that Wendover could deliver its own version of success.

Kelvin Campbell

so walkers can also look in to enjoy some beautiful art. Additionally, there will be delicious food at the Waffle Café, which will be serving a variety of hot and cold food. Details: www.wendover-arts-festival.co.uk

Bucks environmental agencies call to action on climate

By Simon Eccles

In what they call “an urgent call to action for a sustainable future,” over 25 Buckinghamshire-based environmental organisations, sustainability-minded businesses, and faith and family groups issued a joint open letter to candidates just before the 1 May local elections, urging them to prioritise climate action in their future leadership.

Parties to the letter

The letter, developed by Bucks Climate Action Alliance, has been signed by environmental organisations from across the county, such as Wycombe Friends of the Earth, Climate Action Wendover and Sustainable Chesham. Businesses, including refill shop Orca and Bee in Amersham and farm shop Bucksum in Buckingham, have also supported the letter, alongside church and parent groups such as St Peter's Church Burnham and Parents for Future Herts and Bucks.

The letter highlights the pressing reality of the climate crisis as the most significant threat to our collective future. “While the most severe impacts of climate change are felt globally, Buckinghamshire is not immune to its effects,” it says. “Devastating localised flooding, extreme temperatures, water stress, and the visible decline of biodiversity, are just some of the growing environmental challenges that residents and local businesses face and are deeply concerned by.”

Call for collaboration?

“Now is the time to collaborate to build climate resilience,” it continues. “While we recognise the difficult budgetary environment, we see that our residents are missing out on the opportunities presented by the

Five urgent priorities are defined, for council candidates to support if elected:

1. Engage with and amplify local climate action: Advocate for stronger climate action and a leadership that is open to engagement with climate groups in Buckinghamshire.

2. Achieve net zero: strengthen Buckinghamshire Council’s Air Quality and Climate Change Strategy to push for net zero emissions in the council’s operations well before 2050 and ideally by 2030. This was debated in a Council meeting in March.

3. Role model positive change: divest the council’s pension fund from fossil fuel investments including coal, and move away from gas in council buildings.

4. Help to facilitate the clean energy transition: Prioritise and enable greater uptake of solar, heat pumps and other cost-saving green technologies, in homes and schools, to drive jobs and investment, while improving residents’ lives.

5. Enable increased clean and active travel: dramatically accelerate the roll-out of schemes outlined in the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, enforce developer obligations around active travel, and act to improve cycle and walking paths.

burgeoning green economy, from green jobs and cost efficiencies associated with more sustainable living, to access to national funding pots and initiatives.”

For example, Buckinghamshire Council only secured one grant worth around £345,000 from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, compared with grants of £5m for Oxfordshire, £7m for Surrey, £24m for Hertfordshire and £29m for Hampshire. Source: Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, GOV.UK

The signatories also reflect on Buckinghamshire Council’s climate response. “Since the last election, [the council] has focused mainly on tree planting, which is welcome, but has been underwhelming in terms of moving towards a net-zero economy, embracing electrification and renewable energy, enabling active travel and embedding a more sustainable culture.”

The letter concludes: “We represent many of the volunteer-led groups in Buckinghamshire working to secure a better future for our families, friends, neighbours, and future generations. There is a huge amount of sustainability-driven activity going on locally, which would be turbocharged by support from Buckinghamshire Council and its councillors.”

For more information contact Anna Taylor, email anna_taylor46@hotmail.co.uk

Photo: Simon Eccles

Wendover Green Tunnel

The first visible signs of Wendover’s green tunnel structure appeared during April, with the construction of the sections of the pre-cast concrete shell being assembled just north of Ellesborough Road.

The inside of the tunnel will be 22m wide, 9m high and it will eventually be 1.2km long. The double arch design is a significant improvement on the concrete box proposed in the HS2 Act, with greatly reduced concrete volume leading to lower carbon emissions during construction. The 2.5m long arch sections are formed using five pre-cast elements, each weighing up to 43 tonnes

They are being manufactured in Ilkeston and transported to site by road. HS2’s explanatory animation of how the tunnels segments are constructed is available at www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUAUiQY6Eug

Further south, excavation of the cutting through the old Ellesborough Road is now visible and dump trucks have restarted after the winter break. They are bringing material north from Small Dean, passing under a temporary bridge erected to carry utilities. Further excavation with depths reaching down 29m will be needed for the tunnel foundations south from there to Bacombe Lane, and will probably be completed this summer.

Excavation of the northern section of the tunnel and the ‘north cutting’ up to Nash Lee Lane is still on hold until the Environment Agency is happy about the impact on the groundwater from the Coombe Hill aquifer. For this they will need to view output from the spring chamber (see front page and p28)

Haul road issues

The green tunnel was the solution to getting the HS2 railway line through the Wendover Gap during the detailed decision-making in

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2019. The term ‘gap’ refers to the constricted area south of Wendover containing the A413, the Chiltern Railway line, the National Grid and a range of underground utilities. The 2017 High Speed Rail Act defined that this part of the line would be through a ‘cut and cover’ tunnel past Wendover, going under Ellesborough Road. It also specified that six houses would need to be demolished to enable the green tunnel to be constructed.

HS2’s strategy was to appoint a single major-works/civils contractor for the area to make detailed designs best suited to the construction practices available. In doing so, the contractor changed the shape of the green tunnel shell to a double arch – based on French TGV experience – using much less concrete than the basic box structure proposed in the Act.

Shortcomings were also identified, such as the gap between the remaining houses at Ellesborough Road being too narrow to accommodate a road needed for site traffic alongside the Green Tunnel worksite. This proved to be a problem when they factored in the need for a ‘haul road’ to handle massive dump trucks through the chicane of Ellesborough Road that had been created by

the requirements of the High Speed Rail Act.

A mass haul plan was developed to move spoil along the route. For example, an estimated 636,000 cubic metres from the South Heath Cutting at Great Missenden would need to be transported to Wendover and past it to Aylesbury. With the volume of truck movements anticipated, a conveyor system was installed to carry the material over the A413 at Small Dean to avoid A413 road congestion.

In addition to the haul road traffic, more dump truck movements will be needed to move rock aggregate needed to create robust foundations for the track. This is already being delivered in 30-tonne tipper truck loads, from the railhead near Heathrow, up the A413 to the compound beside the Wendover bypass, with a daily average of about 120 lorry loads over the last 18 months.

Stockpiles have been used to store the aggregate until required, with other dump trucks subsequently being used to move the material to the specific worksites along the internal haul road. Additional dump truck movements will also be needed to temporarily relocate material under the Ellesborough Road gap, initially from

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The first section of the twin arches of the Green Tunnel

Photo: Karl Vaughan from his YouTube video youtu.be/O77SjKwUuLk?si=6kq4dq_kKzooVF3W

excavation for the green tunnel, returning it later for backfill and land restoration. Separate stockpiles are being created for topsoil, sub-soil, chalk and clay.

This all contributes to a complex problem of project sequencing for EKFB. They will need to juggle the conflicting requirements of excavating the cutting, building the tunnel, and accommodating the mass haul of material in both directions through the limited space at Ellesborough Road. Wendover Mitigation Action Group expects that this ‘throttling’ will extend the project timescales, with the eventual tunnel serving as a dump truck haul route for the land restoration south of Ellesborough Road.

Dobbins Lane and the Spring Chamber

Just before we went to press the public consultation for the spring chamber planning application closed, and unexpectedly, Buckinghamshire Council rejected the application. (see front page and p28)

The main point of public unrest is the proposed use of South Street and Dobbins Lane for site access with HGV trucks and other vehicles. HS2 had been hoping that

the minimum groundwater levels achieved by use of the chamber can be measured this autumn. This now seems unlikely.

Small Dean Viaduct

The deck of the Small Dean Viaduct has now been lowered into its final position and the next stage is to complete the installation of precast reinforcement slabs and fix them into place with poured concrete.

To ensure public safety during the works, weekday night-time closures of the A413 are scheduled until the middle of May, and the Chiltern Line is running rail replacement buses every weekend until the 26th May Bank Holiday Monday.

Issues with HS2?

If you’re affected by the construction activity, please contact the HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434434 (which is available 24 hours a day) or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk to get your issues resolved.

It helps if you have photographic evidence and please get a complaint reference number so that we can follow up issues as needed.

Need our help?

If you need further help, want to join us, or have ideas and suggestions that would mitigate the community impact, then get in touch at enquiries@whs2.org.

The Wendover News team makes extensive use of drone videos provided by Karl Vaughan on YouTube. Recent videos include:

• A narrated fly-over of Wendover Green Tunnel and parts of Bacombe Lane area in April 2025 – www.bit.ly/4cGCl1r

• Stoke Mandeville to Wendover showing the works between the old St Mary’s church and Nash Lee Road, April 2025 –www.bit.ly/43ZBlTX

• SEALR South East Aylesbury Link Road from the air – www.bit.ly/42M0z5X

All these videos are free to watch (subject to YouTube’s advertising) and Karl typically ends each episode with a request to ‘buy him a coffee.’ He has pointed out that he has had enough coffee to fly – even without his drone – and might sometime just prefer a small monetary donation!

Green tunnel cutting under the temporary utilities bridge at Ellesborough Road.

Photo: Murray Cooke.

continued from front page

Andy Band from the WHS2 Mitigation Action Group, and Greg Smith, Mid Bucks MP.

Each presented direct arguments about a safer, shorter and simpler route, directing the HGVs and support vehicles via Nash Lee End to the site of the Spring Chamber. Each presenter confirmed that they had no objection to the Spring Chamber but challenged why the route via South Street and Dobbins Lane had even been considered by HS2/EKFB.

Dobbins Lane resident David Cobb said, “The highways assessment of the Dobbins Lane access route says it is not considered unacceptable in planning terms. This is a massive and dismissive understatement, which blindly places planning terms above civilian safety.”

As WPC chair Clive Gallagher stated, “The Nash Lee End access route is roughly half the distance of the Dobbins Lane gate to the spring chamber location and has none of the engineering challenges cited in this application. It will save the taxpayer money too.” Greg Smith MP added “It just beggars belief that that option wasn’t the natural option for HS2 to go with, rather than this heavily-populated pedestrian set of routes.”

HS2’s contractor, then had the opportunity to reinforce the fundamental requirements of their application, the necessity of the spring chamber and that this is a critical part of the wider HS2 project. In fact, the Chartered

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Town Planning Officer for EKFB, Rebecca Locke, stated that “if it cannot proceed, significant programme delays and costs in the tens of millions of pounds are expected.”

Ms Locke said that HS2 had responded to the community’s complaints and was “committed to restrictions on HGV movements, including speed limits, numbers and times.”

However, the EKFB ecologist, Robert Sinclair, admitted, under questioning from Councillor Sue Lewin, that he had not done a detailed assessment of alternative routes. There was laughter at this point from the public gallery. The planners also said there is no significant archaeology to consider.

The councillors were directed repeatedly by

their own planners to focus on the planning application itself and not the consideration of other routes.

They did so with striking precision, asking for details of the structure of the proposed access track and a concrete ramp near the Bridleways end, how EKFB would arrange access to the site and how the construction vehicles would turn in the very restricted area at the end of Dobbins Lane and Bridleways, where the traffic marshals would work, the amount of new road that would be built and the loads that each vehicle would carry.

In the open discussion between the council members, Cllr Patrick Fealey felt that “to me this seems a hugely overengineered proposal and highly inefficient.” Cllr Peter Cooper stated that he had no objection to the purpose but that, after 35 years in the construction business, it was “not a suitable access point for any size of construction.”

He went on to say that “this is by far the worst option and I don’t think it is either suitable or safe.” He felt that “HS2 needs to learn something from this.”

Cllr Ashley Bond suggested, as a farmer himself, he “would get the digger, drive down there, dig a hole and it would be done.” Cllr Frank Mahon felt that “HS2 had failed to consult or listen to the local residents” and “on cross examination, it was clear that HS2 did not look for an alternative even

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though it knew the strength of feeling in this community.”

At this point, the Councillors were given legal advice by the council’s own planning lawyer Teresa Coppock, and told that they could not reject the application on highways grounds as it would leave the Council vulnerable to the award of costs if HS2/EKFB went to appeal. However, they could reject the application for the impact on the landscape as “visual and landscape harms” had been noted in the Council Planning Officers’ report.

The motion to reject the application went to the vote and the application was refused by eight of the nine councillors.

Afterwards, Clive Gallagher, Wendover Parish Council chair, said that the result demonstrated “the power of working together” as a community. Dobbins Lane resident David Cobb, who had worked hard to gather the 816 signatures for the petition, was thrilled, stating that the committee meeting he had “witnessed a very rare event, seeing little Wendover bash the HS2 behemoth.” He also noted that “this is a battle won and the war is not over,” in reference to the immediate response from HS2/EKFB that they would go to appeal.

Wendover News asked HS2 to comment. A spokesperson said “We are disappointed by the committee’s decision given that the council’s own officers recommended approval. Dobbins Lane is already used by HGVs and bin lorries – and there is no reason to think that an average of one extra return journey per day would pose a significant risk to people living nearby. We are now considering our next steps.”

Andrew Band, WHS2 mitigation group member, responded: “We think one HGV movement a day is misleading as what is not mentioned is that there will be a whole fleet of additional support vehicles going along South Street and Dobbins Lane, moving workers and materials. It is the total volume of extra traffic and how it is organised that matters, not just HGVs.”

Bucks Council’s 160 minute recording of the hearing can be viewed here: www.bit. ly/4iwPQ53

Club Corner

Wendover Cricket Club

Jonathan Seabrook writes: Wendover Cricket Club will be starting outside this month, after the winter’s indoor training, with a full programme of junior and senior cricket. There are some 120 junior fixtures and senior ones at weekends from end April to September. Enquiries re seniors to Jonathan Seabrook 07767 148119 or jseabrook@ wendoveremail.co.uk .

There is some space still available for children in years 4 and 5 to join the teams and for girls years 5 to 8 – email Dave Smith wccjuniorscontact@gmail.com to enquire.

Ground re-grading works are continuing at the new Tring Road site to create the new levels and in the coming months, the cricket-playing areas will be formed. The contract for the new pavilion is likely to be signed this month with these works starting on site in July.

The club is also investing significantly at Witchell, with a new nets facility hopefully being constructed in May (and the old nets will be removed).

Wendover Evening WI

Sandra Borns writes: The sun shone on the Wendover Evening WI Spring Charity Stall on Saturday, 15 March. The stand, as usual, was bursting with homemade cakes and jams, plants and crafts.

The Easter Egg Tombola proved particularly popular! However, word soon spread and a flurry of activity saw stocks run out by early afternoon. Another successful morning’s work by our clever and industrious members!

Wendover Bowls Club

Don Knight writes: The indoor season came to an end with a final flourish when all the matches to decide who should win the Club silverware were played on ’Super Saturday’ in

April. Well done all the winners. Never mind to the losers… there is always next year!!

Now at last we can think about getting out on the green, which is looking most promising after all the ministrations lavished on it through the winter. If Mr Fox is reading this please go and dig up someone else’s grass this year.

So here we go with a full programme of matches against other clubs and in various leagues.

Outdoors bowls is a completely different game to indoors with much more physical effort required even though the object is still the same, namely to get your bowls close to the jack, though at times blocking tactics are wanted.

It is a great sport and we are blessed with a smashing club in Dobbins Lane here in Wendover.

If you fancy a go we will be holding open evenings every Friday at 18:00 throughout May. Coaching and bowls will be provided. All we ask is that you wear flat shoes that won’t damage the green. Stiletto heels are great for aerating the grass but frowned on for play. Best of all it is FREE. Fingers crossed for a sunny summer.

BBOWT Activities

Richard Birch writes: Our summer walks programme starts with a series of guided visits to Wildlife Trust reserves locally beginning with Sat 3 May, 2pm; ‘Introducing Dancersend’ with warden Mick Jones, Sun 25, 10am; ‘Introducing Aston Clinton Ragpits’ with warden Phil Townsend.

There is a number of activities for children and young people planned by College Lake staff, go to www.bbowt.org.uk/events to book onto any of these, or the adult Dawn Chorus Walk starting at 4.30 am and finishing with breakfast in the cafe on Sat 10 May.

Greetings and farewells for RAF Halton

By Simon Eccles

RAF Halton has a new guardian on its parade ground. At the end of March a retired Eurofighter Typhoon strike aircraft replaced the venerable Panavia Tornado, that had done its duty there for many years. The RAF uses Typhoons on current operations, while the Tornado was retired from service in 2019.

This particular Typhoon started service as an F2 version in 2005 and was later updated to FGR4 standard and served with 3(F) Sqn RAF until it was retired to storage in 2016.

It was previously made famous on TV in BBC’s Top Gear, when it was used in a speed challenge on 17 August 2008 versus a Bugatti Veyron driven by Richard Hammond. The Bugatti came second!

The base was also a point on the farewell flypast for the RAF’s Aerospatiale Puma HC1 and HC2 helicopters, which entered service in 1971. Three Pumas flew over the base on 27 March as part of a countrywide aerial tour.

Last Puma parade on 27 March.

Photo: Simon Eccles

Returning former RAF Halton apprentices of the 125th intake were among the first to see the new Typhoon in early April.

Photo: Garron Clarke-Darby

Alex Davis continues in his quest to run a triathlon in every city in the UK, raising money for charities as he does so. He is now over halfway through the list of 78 cities, having recently completed the ones in Wrexham and Newport.

Where’s Alex?

The triathlons over winter were particularly demanding – not just because of the cold weather, but also the early starts in the dark. Alex often attends early-morning networking meetings, talking about the three charities he is supporting: The National Paralympic Heritage Trust, Oxford Hospitals Charity, and Authorise.

This is what he did in Wrexham, before heading for Water World, where he was happy to have a lane to himself. That was before cycling uphill past Minera Moorland, then back down World’s End and Llandegla Forest and Offa’s Dyke Path. The triathlon was completed by a run around the city.

The Newport Triathlon began after travelling from a meeting in Evesham. He started in the late afternoon with the cycling leg along the river Usk, then anti-clockwise around the Abercarn to Pontywaun Canal,

passing the 14 locks and finishing at the castle, for a total of 53k, rather than the usual 40k. The run again took in the River Usk in the early evening, as the lights on the bridges started to come on.

More news from Alex in future issues,

when we hope to be able to interview him more about his favoured charities and what it is like trying to fit in the challenge as well as his busy job and his cherished time with his family.

Richard Byford

New Parish Council.

Wendover Parish CouncilView from the Clock Tower

Every four years the parish councillors are up for election. This year we did not have enough councillors stand for nomination to fill all our posts so all nominees were declared elected unopposed and will start their term of office on 6 May 2025.

The parish councillors are: Jennifer Ballantine, Clive Gallagher, Patrick O’Donnell CBE, Leigh Porter, Mark Standen, Heather Thornton, Frances Tipper, Tom Walsh, Diane Washington and Stephen Worth.

Tom Walsh joins us as a new councillor and is a former parish councillor and Chair so knows the ropes well. We sadly say farewell to Kelvin Campbell, Rob Goodall, Anne Wales and Sam Walker. We thank them for their work throughout the years and their commitment to making Wendover a great place to live, work and visit.

The new Council will meet on 6 May to decide roles and co-opting councillors onto the committee to fill the vacancies. If you are interested then please have a look at the information on our website: www.wendover-pc.gov.uk/vacancies-opportunities/ wendover-parish-councillor

VE 80

We are putting on a number of events to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of VE Day. We have teamed up with the library to put on a free cinema evening for adults on Friday 2 May, complete with appropriate

film. Kids don’t miss out as we have a free cinema morning on 3 May.

On 8 May we will commemorate with an event that involves a service in the Hampden Meadow (next to the pond). As a part of the service a beacon will be lit at 9:30pm joining a national network of beacons and we will sing “I vow to thee my country” in unison with people all around the country lighting their own beacons.

On Sunday 11 May we will celebrate with a community day on the Manor Waste. There will be food, stalls and entertainment as we enjoy the live singing of 1940s band The Polka Dots and music from the RAF brass band.

More details of our events and attractions will be on our website as they are announced, so check regularly! All Wendover Parish Council events are free to attend.

The events are a mix of remembrance and celebration of an important date for so many. We hope you can join us. If you are planning your own street party or event then Buckinghamshire Council has put together information for event organisers at www.bit. ly/42qXx8q

Coming soon…

We are approaching a busy period in our open spaces as we start to replace playground and amenity equipment and build the skatepark in time for the main summer holidays.

The parish council has many ambitions to improve Wendover that will start to emerge in the public meetings.

We hope you feel you can come to meetings and ask questions of the parish council, although it is always very useful to pop by the office at the Clocktower, or leave us an email.

Remember, a comment on social media does not always mean that we read it or can reply with the appropriate information.

Wendover Parish Council, The Clock Tower, High Street, Wendover HP22 6DU

Wendover Local Produce Market Saturday 17 May, 10am to 2pm Manor Waste

We're looking for new traders! Contact estates@wendover-pc.gov.uk

Sunday Church Services in Wendover

• St Anne’s: 9am Mass

• St Mary’s: 9am and 10.45am

• Wendover Free Church: 10.45am

01296 623056 clerk@wendover-pc-gov.uk

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St Anne’s Roman Catholic Church – 07753 633713 stanneswendover.uk

St Mary’s Church of England – 01296 696136 / 623123 stmaryswendover.org Wendover Free Church – 01296 622354 wendoverfreechurch.org.uk

Next Parish Council meeting: (AGM), 7 May, 7:30pm St Anne’s Hall, Aylesbury Road HP22 6JG Information about upcoming meetings: www.wendover-pc.gov.uk

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