Issuu

September 2026

FREE

Photo: Laurence Prestage

THIS IS WHAT NEEDS PROTECTING!

Rolling hills, farmers’ fields, crops and open countryside… often just a walk away for many. We all recognise the need for planned, pragmatic development and growth, however this appears to be changing, and the speed of change is worrying... continued p.14

September Mystery Object at the Antiques Centre

For 2026, we are delighted to bring you two concerts:

June’s was a Whirling Hygrometer for measuring relative humidity

£10 Gift voucher for the winner

Sunday 13th September 2026 Peter Holder (organist) Tickets £10 (Students in full time education £5)

Sunday 4th October 2026 Lumas Winds (wind quintet) Tickets £25 (Students in full time education £10)

Open 7 Days a week Free customer car park THE OLD POST OFFICE, WENDOVER, BUCKS 01296 625335 www.antiquesatwendover.co.uk

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WENDOVER MUSIC

2026

ANTIQUES AT . . WENDOVER

both concerts are at 4pm at St Mary’s Church, Wendover Detailed programme and tickets available online via www.wendover-music.org and from Just from early June. For further details please call 01296 623435

07340 993802

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Contents – September 2026 Bank Holiday round up............................ 6 Local News............................................... 9 Antiques at Wendover Smash and grab.... 9 Wendover Youth Centre 40th................. 10 1st Wendover Scouts Squirrels................ 10 Wendover nursery visits RAF Halton........ 11 Searching for the good samaritan........... 11 Return of the Kop Hill Climb................... 13 This is what needs protecting! (cont)...... 14 Planned development beside canal......... 15 Performing arts and culture.................... 16 Stoke Mandeville war memorial.............. 21 Ricky’s ‘Empty Chair’............................... 22 Fix my Street.......................................... 23 How to use your voice for good.............. 24 HS2/WHS2............................................. 26 Did allotments ever go out of fashion?.... 28 Club Corner............................................ 31 From the Clock Tower............................. 32

Published by Wendover Community News CIC: A community-owned company. Editorial Team: Richard Byford, Sean McCarthy, Jo Durden-Moore, Simon Eccles, Jane Larkham, Jon Theobald and Wynne Byford Coordination, ads, social media and online: Wynne Byford Production: Jon Theobald, Richard Byford, and Wynne Byford Accounts: James Harrington Distribution and deliveries: Eli Kling and around 70 other wonderful volunteers!

September Events Kimble & Ellesborough Horticultural Society Tue 1, 8pm, Stewart Hall, Little Kimble HP17 OXN Carolyn Ormesher of Missenden Seeds is passionate about flowers which are good for cutting and pollinators, including dahlias. She will talk about their history, different types, how to grow and propagate them and top tips for beautiful dahlias.

Wendover u3a Talk Open Day Wed 2, 10am, St Mary’s Church, HP22 6NL If you are retired or semi-retired, drop in for a coffee and a chat and discover more about u3a events. See p12.

Poetry Please Fri 4, 10.30am Wendover Christian Centre HP22 6JG ‘Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree (Emily Brontë). All welcome to share a love of poetry. This month’s theme is ‘Autumn’. Bring a poem on the theme if you wish.

Wendover Youth Centre Open Day Sat 5, 2-5pm, Wharf Road, HP22 6HF The Youth Centre celebrates its 40th anniversary this summer. The event is free to all but for an idea of numbers for the BBQ email admin@wendoveryouth.co.uk. See p10.

Autumn Show Kimble & Ellesborough Hort Society Sun 6, 2-4.30pm, Stewart Hall Beautiful displays including chrysanthemums, dahlias and vegetables and enjoy delicious home-made cakes. If you are not a member and are interested in exhibiting, visit the website. www.kehs.uk

St Anne’s Hall PLUS OTHER S ESSIONS A VAIL ABLE FOR ALL ENQUIRES PLEASE CONTACT ANGELA GERMAN

07423 266713 stanneshallwendover@hotmail.com 2

Wendover News September 2026

Weds 9 & 23, 10am-12 noon Wendover Christian Centre HP22 6JG Craft Group provides time, space and friendly company to work on any kind of craft project. Take your own materials or just see what others are doing. Coffee served 11am. Newcomers always welcome.

Board Game Café Thu 10 & 24, 2-4pm Wendover Christian Centre, HP22 6JG Enjoy a variety of games old and new or bring your own to play with others. Open and free for all ages.

The Arts Society Ballinger Thu 10, 7.30 for 8pm, Ballinger Village Hall, HP16 9LG The Dark Side of the Boom - The Mass Faking of the Soviet Avant Garde. This movement (incl. Chagall and Kandinsky) blazed a trail through art history which was stunted too soon with the advent of Socialist Realism. James Butterwick, one of the world’s leading dealers and expert in the field of Ukraine and Russian Art, will explain what occurred when a flood of newly-discovered works appeared after the fall of the Berlin Wall and 98% were found to be fake! For more details email artsocballinger@ gmail.com or visit www.theartssocietyballinger.org.uk

Wendover Shed Quiz Night

6 & 27, 2.30-4.30pm St Mary’s, Church Lane, Wendover Enjoy tea and cake. Perfectly situated on The Ridgeway for those going on a sunday walk.

Purssell Path volunteers

The Big Tring Music Thing

Tues 8 & 22, 10am, Purssell Path Sign Helping maintain this natural space and pathway. 2nd and 4th Tuesdays each month. Bring your own tools and gloves .

Sat 12, Tring School, HP23 5JD A diverse programme of performances from the Tring Community Orchestra, Tring Phoenix Brass Band, Tring Phoenix Big Band and the Tring School Swingband plus Alumni. www.tringtogether.org.uk/

N E E D A V E N U E ? Fat Quarters Patchwork Quilting R EGUL AR S ATURDAYS

Craft Group

Fri 11, 7-11pm, Wendover Memorial Hall, HP22 6HF Maximum of 8 per table. Tickets cost £12 each or £90 for a table. Please bring your own drinks and nibbles as there is no bar. To purchase tickets email requirements to: events@wendovershed.org.uk

Afternoon Teas, Wendover Community News CIC is a regulated media company funded entirely by advertising revenue. Please support our advertisers.

Meetings are held on the second Tuesday each month. For a full programme and details of becoming a member, email fatquartersmissenden@gmail.com

Tue 8, 7.30pm Great Missenden Memorial Hall HP16 9AE Guest speaker, textile artist Harriet Riddell, has travelled the world with her sewing machine, stitching portraits along the way of the people she meets. She will perform a live stitched portrait demonstration. Visitors welcome cost £6.

RAF Flypasts:

To celebrate the completion of training at RAF Halton, flypasts will take place, weather permitting, at 13:30 on Wednesdays 2 & 23 September

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Ride & Stride

Aylesbury Vale Stitchers

Sat 12, 10am-6pm Take part or sponsor a Cycle Ride or Walk in aid of Buckinghamshire Historic Churches Trust, (includes St Mary’s, Stoke Mandeville). Visit: ridestride.org.

Sat 19, 2-4.30pm Wendover Memorial Hall, HP22 6HF Mary Hart - ‘Vietnam and Cambodia Textile Tour’. Mary lives and works on the family farm but her passion is textiles. She will stitch anywhere - on buses, trains, planes. She will talk about her work, especially that inspired by her visits to Vietnam and Cambodia. email: aylesburyvalestitchers@gmail.com.

Saturday Sleuths Sat 12, 10-11.30am, Wendover Library Re-arranged from August due to illness, Carol Jenkins leads the discussions on ‘Murder at the Vicarage’ by Agatha Christie, the first book to feature sleuthing exploits of the iconic fictional detective Miss Marple. All propsective sleuthers are welcome. Email carol@the-investigator.co.uk.

BBOWT Tue 15, 7.30pm Great Missenden Memorial Centre Phil Townsend, volunteer warden of Aston Clinton Ragpits Reserve, will talk on the amazing floral treasure to be found on this small reserve, which hosts around 15,000 orchids and many other interesting chalk loving plants.Doors open at 7pm for tea or coffee. Admission £6, includes refreshments and a raffle ticket. Nearby parking is free. No need to book, pay on entry with card or cash. On Sunday 27 Sept at 10am Phil will lead a walk at the Ragpits looking for fungi (provided it has rained by then ) Booking required at bbowt.org.uk/events.

Aylesbury Centre of the National Trust Thu 17, 7.30pm for 8pm Broughton Junior School HP20 1NQ Merit Duncan speaks on ‘Honey Bees - all you need to know’. Details from Hon Sec, phone/ SMS 07399 540626, Facebook or email: aylesburycentrent@gmail.com.

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Weston Turville Historical Society Fri 25, 8pm Weston Turville Village Hall, HP221 5RW David Lane: The Nine Railway Stations of Aylesbury. An illustrated history of the complex development of the railways and stations of Aylesbury. Members £2, visitors £3. www.wthsoc.org.uk

Real Magic Weekend Thu 24-Sun 27 A special long weekend of talks, walks, music, drinking and dancing, and lots more magic. Limited weekend tickets on sale now, in the shop or realmagicbooks.com/. See p18.

Wendover Music Sun 13, 4pm St Mary’s Church, Wendover, HP22 6NL Featuring acclaimed organist Peter Holder, Tickets from www.wendover-music.org or See ad front page and p13.

or have questions, email caroljenkinsnews@ gmail.com.

Wendover Talks Thu 24, 2.30pm-4pm Wendover Library HP22 6DU Dancersend Nature Reserve: 100 years of Nature Conservation. Speaker: Mick Jones. Discover how a fairy-tale Victorian pumping station and the surrounding wildlife refuge inspired the nature reserve movement. More details on p12.

The Arts Society Ballinger Thu 24, 7.30 for 8pm, Ballinger Village Hall The Creation and History of the Bayeaux Tapestry. This tapestry has been much researched and written about, but history has left us very few surviving documents to form a chronology and remains an historical enigma. Lecturer Mike Stone draws on his 45 years working in archaeology, heritage tourism, museums and as a visiting University lecturer for adult education programmes. www.theartssocietyballinger.org.uk

Book Club Sat 26, 10.30-11.30am Wendover Christian Centre HP22 6JG No set books. just hear what others have been reading and, if you wish, share something you have read. Begins with coffee and sometimes cake. All welcome. Regulars, please note the date – not the usual week in the month.

Church & Churchyard Cleanup! Sat 26, 10am-12pm, St Mary’s, Stoke Mandeville, 6 Swallow Lane, HP22 5UW

An evening with The Dung Beatles Sat 26, 7.30pm Wendover Memorial Hall, HP22 6HF Organised by Wendover Rotary. Tickets £25 from ticketlab.co.uk. See ad p5 and p18.

Moonrakers in Concert Sat 26, 7.30pm, St Peter & St Paul Great Missenden, HP16 9QE Four professional musicians, give traditional folk music a fresh, modern twist. Vocal harmonies blended with a mix of Celtic harp, cello, accordion, whistles, and guitars. Tickets: £15, includes a glass of wine, from Samways, Great Missenden or on door. See p18.

Brew’s Company Café for over 60s Fri 25, 10am-12.30pm, The Bull pub, Stoke Mandeville A talk by retired ex-police officer George Duguid about his 28-year-old career in Thames Valley Police with an interactive session from the Aylesbury Drum Circle. If you would like to speak at a future event

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REGULAR EVENTS Yoga and KundaDance classes Guide Hut, Manor Cr, Wendover, HP22 6HH Weds, 9-9.45am & 10-10.45am Chair Yoga www.happywellyoga.com/all-classes/  chair-yoga

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Wendover News September 2026

Fris, 9-10am Slow Flow Yoga Fris, 10.15-11.15am, KundaDance www.happywellyoga.com/all-classes

Seated exercise classes Mons, 2-3pm Aston Clinton Baptist Church, HP22 5EX Tues, 2-3pm The Ark Stoke Mandeville HP22 5UT Weds,1.15-2.15pm Wendover Health Centre HP22 6LD Thurs, 2-3pm Weston Turville Village Hall HP22 5RW Details: www.activeinthecommunity.org.uk/ seated-exercise. All classes £3 per session, cash on arrival. Book in advance with amelia.evans@aitc.org. uk or 07399 748803.

Knit and Stitch at Gusto 2pm, 3rd Monday of the month Castle Park Road, Wendover, HP22 6AE Enjoy a relaxed afternoon of knitting and sewing. Share your skills and learn from others. www.gusto-world.com/

Yoga with Alice D Mons, Wendover Mem Hall, (term time) 10-11am, Mum and Baby Yoga 11.15am–12pm, Yoga with Movers 12.15–12.50pm, Yoga Tots Mons, Halton Village Hall, HP22 5NG

7–8.15pm, Pregnancy Yoga 8.30–9.45pm, Women’s Yoga Weds, Wendover Mem Hall, (term time) 10.30–11.30am, Nurture Baby Massage 12–1pm, Women’s Yoga Sat, Wendover Woods, (Spring to Autumn) 8.15–9.30am, Women’s Yoga in the Woods Website: www.yogawithaliced.com

Busylizzy classes: Mons, St Mary’s Church, Wendover 1pm, Baby Massage. 1.45pm, Postnatal Yoga (babies welcome). Tues,St Anne’s Hall, Wendover 10am, Postnatal Pilates (babies welcome). Thurs, Wendover Memorial Hall 10am, Postnatal Circuits (babies welcome). 1.15pm, Baby Music. Contact Emma to book on: 07418 609829. www.busylizzy.co.uk/wendover.

Simply Walks and Cycle Rides Wendover – Tues: Weekly walks from the Clock Tower, leave 10am. Socialise after at Wendover Christian Centre. Aston Clinton – Thurs: Leave Aston Clinton Park at 10.30am. Meet by ‘Your Café in the Park.’ Refreshments afterwards. Register 15 minutes beforehand at both locations. Aylesbury Cycling UK – Suns. Easy pace: every 1st and 3rd week of the month, about 30 miles. Newcomers: each 2nd and 4th week and about 20 miles. www.cyclinguk.org/group/ aylesbury-cycling-uk.

Knit and Natter Tue, 2-4pm,Wendover Library Meet 1st Tuesday each month.

Yoga with Sarah

Liz Brown Yoga

St Anne’s Hall, Wendover Mons, 7.15 - 8.15 pm Weds, 6.15 - 7.15 pm & 7.30 - 8.30 pm Thurs 9.30 - 10.30 am. Email: sarahyoga@sky.com

Tues, 7pm, Wendover Memorial Hall Fris, 10.30am, St Anne’s Hall 1:1 Yoga Therapy by appointment. Also online classes. www.lizbrownyoga.co.uk 07941 425187.

WPC Ivy Volunteers

Diamond Bridge Club

Tues 1 & 15, Meet 10am, Clock Tower Supporting Wendover Parish Council: protecting trees. 1st and 3rd Tuesday each

Tues 6.45 for 7pm, Ellesborough Village Hall, HP17 0XA A friendly club who play bridge in a relaxed

Ch r i s

At the Red Lion

UPCOMING Events

Quiz Night

Join us for our monthly Quiz Night. Test your knowledge, share some laughs, and make memories with family and friends.

Starring MC Lyle Barke, Paddy Lennox, Tadiwa Mahlunge, and headlined by TV's Eshaan Akbar!

Oktoberfest!

Join us for a festive celebration of Oktoberfest! Experience the rich culture of Bavaria with live music, food, and of course, plenty of beer. Scan to Book!

t ma s D a y £125pp

A glass of English sparkling wine to start

25TH SEPT 30TH OCT

Comedy Night

Oktoberfest Themed Quiz 25th

month. Equipment provided but feel free to bring your own favourite tools and gloves.

24TH SEPT

25TH & 26TH SEPT

Canapés Enjoy one ofeach canapé, two per guest Atlantic prawn cocktail vol-au-vent Black truffle Gloucester cheese croquette apple gel (v)

Starters Beetroot cured Scottish salmon cucumber &a horseradish buttermilk dressing Venison pâté en croûte black garlic, pickled cucumber & radicchio Somerset goat’s curd figs, hazelnuts & pickled grapes (v) Prawn & queen scallop ravioli English sparkling wine sauce & sea herbs Maple roasted pumpkin soup Wildfarmed sourdough, cavolo nero & pumpkin seed pesto (pb)

Mains Fillet of British beef braised beef pie, charredmushroom, cavolo nero, mushroom ketchup & beef jus Roasted Cornish monkfish smoked haddock veloute, sea vegetables, native clams & mussels Wild mushroom, spinach & celeriac pithivier truffle sauce, maple roasted piccolo parsnips, carrot purée & cavolo nero (pb) English turkey breast roast potatoes, maple roasted carrot & parsnip, Brussel sprouts, pigs in blankets, apricot stuffing, red wine gravy & wild cranberry sauce Winterdale cheddar dumplings caramelised cauliflower purée, shiitake & oyster mushrooms, rainbow chard, cherry pickled onions & hazelnuts (v) All served with roast potatoes for the table

Puddings Dark chocolate delice sour cherries, crème fraîche & coco nib tuille (v) Christmas pudding with your choice of brandy sauce or custard (v) Vanilla & coconut parfait mandarin & hazelnut (pb) Redcurrant trifle redcurrant & Madeira jelly, set custard & vanilla cream (v) Baked Alaska vanilla sponge & amaretti ice cream (v) British cheese plate Wookey Hole, Dorset Blue Vinney & Somerset brie, spiced plum chutney, apple, grapes & artisan crackers (v)

To Finish Hot drinks&selectionofpetit fours

Enquire 01296622266 wendover@belandthedragon.com www.belandthedragon.co.uk/wendover

Wendover News September 2026

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environment. Any questions or if you would like to join, email barbara.barnes@me.com.

Cracklewick Morris Tues, 8.15-10.15pm Halton Village Hall, HP22 5NG All-inclusive mixed Morris side who meet most Tuesdays for dance practice. All welcome – musicians and dancers. No dance experience needed. Email cracklewickmorris@gmail.com

French speaking/listening at Gusto 10.30, 1st & 3rd Thurs Castle Park Road, Wendover, HP22 6AE For info: www.gusto-world.com

Halton Art Group Thurs,1.30-3.30pm Halton Village Hall, HP22 5NG Join the fun with a small local Art group. £15 per session. A tutor attends every 5 weeks. Refreshments provided. Tel: 077538 41590.

Compassionate & memory cafés

Fitness and Fun for the Over-60’s

Wigginton: First Wed, 1.30-3pm, The Sports Ground Community Café, HP23 6HH Great Missenden: Last Wed, 11.30am, GM Library, HP16 0AL, www.bit.ly/3Zqn5RH. The Memory Café, Chiltern Neuro Centre: First Fri, 10am-12pm, run by Ashridge Home Care. For further information email Abbi at hello@ashridgehomecare.co.uk.

Thurs, 2-3pm, Stoke Mandeville Community Centre, Eskdale Road Every other Thursday afternoon. Refreshments afterwards. Contact clerk@ stokemandeville-pc.gov.uk

Chilterns Light Network Weds, 7.30 for 8pm Wendover Memorial Hall What’s going on in the world? Are we being told the truth? Explore new perspectives through talks and discussion. Check schedule on the website below. £5 non members. www.chilternslightnetwork. org or email ChilternsLight@proton.me

Digital Support - Learn my way!

Sat 19, 10am-12pm, The Bull, Stoke Mandeville Sat 26, 9.30am-12pm, Wendover Library Bring your beloved broken stuff and the local experts will do what they can to repair them. Anything from clothing, toys, ornaments, jewellery, gardening tools to electrical and mechanical items. You may want to check which repairers are available before travelling. Tea, coffee and cake while you wait. For further information contact: Weston Turville: davidbblackmore@gmail.com Aston Clinton: benefice3@gmail.com Stoke Mandeville: racheljblackmore@gmail. com Wendover: frances@spokenwordltd.com or jenny.summerfield@hotmail.com.

Planning ahead?

Fris, 10.30am- 11.30am Wendover Community Library Free, volunteer-led sessions enabling you to get online fast! Booking required, ask for ‘Learn my way’ sessions at the counter and a member of staff will check availability.

Local Repair Cafés Sat 5, 10am-12pm, Weston Turville Village Hall Sat 12, 9.00am-12pm, St. Michael’s Church, Aston Clinton

Here’s the next Wendover News production dates. To ensure we have enough space, email newsdesk@wendovernews.org or advertising@wendovernews.org. If you want to be included, let us know as early as possible. Ad and submission deadline (18:00) October 2026 7 September 26 November 2026 12 October 26 Winter 2026 9 November 26

CROW & CO

ARTISAN COFFEE

Coming Soon: Crow & Co Stoke Mandeville Station Opening rescheduled for Monday 7th September 2026 Fresh artisan coffee • Collagen coffees Wellness drinks • Fresh juices Premium teas • Pastries • Cakes Grab & Go options for commuters A fresh, welcoming local coffee hub for commuters, residents, businesses and visitors “Great Coffee, Local Community.”

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HOME REARED MEATS LOCAL PRODUCE HOME COOKED FOOD BESPOKE GIFT HAMPERS

from our farm to your fork Chequers Estate HP17 0UT

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01296 624425

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Opening Hours Tuesday - Sunday 10am - 4pm Late Thursdays 10am - 6pm

Wendover News September 2026

Bank holiday round up Four-day celebration of art, nature, music and wellbeing at Lindengate Jo Durden-Moore writes: The Art Exhibitionists are bringing a Festival of Art & Gardens to Wendover this bank holiday weekend – a unique four-day event taking place from 28–31 August 2026 at the beautiful Lindengate Charity gardens. Set within six acres of stunning therapeutic gardens, the festival will bring together art, nature, music, creativity and community spirit in one of Buckinghamshire’s most inspiring and tranquil settings. Taking place daily from 10am–4pm, the event will transform Lindengate’s gardens into an immersive outdoor gallery, showcasing a collection of original fine art, sculpture, ceramics and contemporary craft. Visitors will be invited to explore the exhibition throughout the site, where artistic excellence and natural beauty come together to create a truly memorable experience. The 2026 festival will also mark an exciting opportunity to experience the charity’s newly created Japanese Water Garden and brand-new café. Alongside the exhibition, guests can enjoy live music performances every afternoon, drama and choral performances, artist demonstrations, food and refreshments, and a variety of creative experiences designed to engage and inspire visitors of all ages.

A programme of masterclasses and workshops will also run throughout the weekend, giving attendees at all levels the opportunity to learn directly from talented artists and makers. Visitors can also expect exciting features and surprise experiences throughout the weekend, adding an extra touch of magic to the festival atmosphere. Importantly, every ticket purchased will directly support the work of Lindengate Charity. Admission is £8 in advance and £10 on the gate, and free for children under 16. The price includes full access to both the six-acre Lindengate gardens and the Festival of Art and talks. 50% of all admission revenue will be donated directly to Lindengate Charity, helping to fund its life-changing work supporting mental health. See www.theartexhibitionists.co.uk for details, tickets and masterclass bookings.

Smith MP drawing the lucky cards out of the hat. Adding to the holiday atmosphere, the Pub Trail starts before the weekend this time – on Friday 28 August, with the pubs including extra live music events. The Shoulder of Mutton is kicking off the weekend with live music on Friday evening, but the Red Lion is keeping it going over the whole weekend. Along the Pub Trail the shops and restaurants are getting involved too. Look out for special offers: for instance Haringtons Hairdressers is offering a 20% discount for appointments made in September, so it’s well worth popping in over the weekend and showing them your Pub Trail card. While doom and gloom overshadow many towns and villages and a reported eight pubs close each week in the UK, we in Wendover are not letting our pubs, or our High Street, die without a fight. If meeting up with friends and neighbours for a drink and a chat wins the battle, then count me in! If you want to sport team colours, look out for the new Wendover Pub Trail t-shirts which you can buy for £9.50 (cost price) from the Pack Horse. These are very exclusive and only available if you show your completed card to prove you have indeed had a drink in every pub in Wendover! There is a range of sizes but a limited number. Please pay cash only to avoid card charges, so we can sell the t-shirts at cost. Many thanks for your support and for helping to Make Wendover Smile!

Hit the Wendover pub trail once again! Leigh Porter writes: It looks like we’ll have Mediterranean weather and there will be the latest Wendover August Bank Holiday Pub Trail to explore. All seven of Wendover’s pubs and bars are participating: the King & Queen in South Street; then the Shoulder of Mutton on Pound Street; the White Swan, Craft Yard and Bel & the Dragon at the Red Lion on the High Street; the George & Dragon on Aylesbury Road near the clock tower, and the Pack Horse a little way up Tring Road. You can pick up a Pub Trail card in any of the pubs, plus a lot of the shops in Wendover. If you get a stamp in all of the seven pubs, you can hand it in at the last one, to be entered into a prize draw after the weekend. There will be three winners, with Greg

LEGACY FAIRS

WENDOVER MEMORIAL HALL

Thursday 17 September 9am-2pm (Trade 8am)

Great for Children’s Parties Ideal for Weddings & Functions Excellent kitchen facilities

Entrance by donation to Charity

Enquiries : 07804 671445 angelawmh@aol.co.uk

Antiques & Collectors Market Wendover Memorial Hall

For updates Tel: 07543 524212 or email: p.hetheringtonwh@gmail.com

Wendover News September 2026

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Wendover News September 2026

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Local News Antiques centre smash and grab Simon Eccles writes: As Wendover News went to press, there was still a temporary front door in place at Antiques At.. Wendover, which was burgled in the small hours of Sunday 26 July. External CCTV footage showed a black car drive onto the pavement at 02:15 am, after which the burglars could be heard smashing in the front door. Internal security cameras showed two masked and hooded men, one fat and one short, smashing two glass display cabinets and scooping the contents into bins. By 02:18 they had exited the shop and their car drove off at speed towards the clock tower, without lights and on the wrong side of the road. “It makes me so bloody angry, I would just like to get my hands on them!” said Nicky Gregory, who has owned the shop for nearly 40 years. She said what was taken was mostly jewellery and antique watches. These were owned by the independent traders who rent display space in the shop and take it in turns to serve the customers. Nicky lives nearby and was on the scene minutes after the thieves left, having triggered the alarm and camera. The Victorian front door had its lock smashed, so it has been taken away for repair, after which an iron gate will also be fitted. Nicky said that there have been attempted burglaries in the past, but by trying to get through rear doors. Because the building

Photo: Simon Eccles

was once a Post Office and sorting office, it is a lot more secure than appearances would suggest, so the attempts had limited success. However, a few weeks earlier, a car forcefully struck the front corner of the Browns Funeral Director office, on the other side of the antiques centre’s archway. The impact caused damage to the wall of the showroom above the arch. Nicky said that thankfully a structural survey showed that the ancient timber frames were not seriously affected for either building.

The woman behind Wendover’s fitness fundraising success Jo Durden-Moore writes: When it comes to putting heart, energy and determination into the local community, few people do it quite like Wendover businesswoman Emma Eustace. Owner of BML Fitness, Emma is busy running her independent fitness studio, teaching classes and helping people of all ages and abilities become fitter, stronger and healthier. But alongside all of that, she has become something of a fundraising powerhouse, organising her annual Fit-AThon, bringing local businesses and the wider community together to support good causes. This year’s event was the third consecutive Fit-A-Thon Emma has organised, raising thousands of pounds for Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity and Aylesbury Foodbank (photo top right). It was an impressive 24-hour challenge, with spinning taking place continuously for the full 24 hours, alongside weights sessions and outdoor fitness classes. Eight trainers, including Emma herself, gave their time to keep the programme running and participants motivated throughout the event. But the fitness challenge itself is only part of the story. Behind the scenes, Emma spends months organising the event, encouraging people to take part and approaching local businesses for raffle prizes. Year after year, she has built up an impressive network of local companies willing to donate goods, experiences and vouchers, helping to turn the Fit-A-Thon into a major fundraising event. The result this year was an incredible £7,000-plus raised for the two charities. Her fundraising efforts were also recognised this year when BML Fitness Studio received the Special Recognition Award at the Wendover

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Eight local charities and community groups were the recent recipients of £500 cheques courtesy of Stoke Mandeville Parish Council. At their July meeting, the councillors distributed the proceeds from May’s ‘Party In The Park’ to invited representatives from the organisations, all of whom attended and were photographed receiving a display cheque. The benefitting groups were: - Rotary Club of Aylesbury Hundreds - Dan’s Community Group - Mini Beasts Rescue - The Weston Turville Women’s Institute 

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Community Awards, celebrating the contribution it has made to the local community. BML Fitness, based just off Wendover High Street, offers personal training and a wide range of classes designed to suit different ages, abilities and fitness levels. But Emma’s work demonstrates that her contribution to Wendover extends well beyond the studio walls. Her Fit-A-Thons are a brilliant example of what can happen when a local business uses its energy, contacts and enthusiasm for the benefit of others. Through months of organisation, the generosity of local businesses, the commitment of eight trainers and the determination of Emma herself, exercise has become a way of supporting people facing difficult times. For Emma, one Fit-A-Thon is clearly never enough, and Wendover can already look forward to the next one as the 2027 Fit-AThon is already being planned, with a date in the diary of 16 and 17 April.

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- Aylesbury Vale National Autistic Society - Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS) Aylesbury - Hope After Harm - Hawkslade Farm Pre-School The council thanked everyone that came and supported the Party In The Park event, allowing them to give back to the local groups and charities that make a real difference to residents’ lives.

Wendover Youth Centre 40th birthday open day One thing the team at Wendover Youth Centre are good at is creating good memories for the young people they serve, and they have now been doing that for over 40 years. On Saturday 5th September from 2pm to 5pm, they will be celebrating by having a 40th birthday open day. The youth centre will be welcoming today’s young people (you don’t need to be a member), as well as people who have been young at some time since 1986. Activities include face painting, circus skills, 3D printing demonstrations, baking workshop, arts and crafts. There will also be a BBQ provided by Beef Olive, and a tombola (with prizes generously donated by local businesses). There will be plenty of time to meet up with members from past decades, to reminisce about good times from the beginning. You will also be able to look back

at 40 years of memories and celebrate the work of people such as Marion Clayton and the fondly remembered late Dr Colin Riley who were part of the group who turned the idea into reality all those years ago. You will also be able to talk to some of the current leaders who are making a difference to the lives of young people today.” This will be a ticketed event. Rather than setting a fixed ticket price, the Wendover Youth Centre charity is inviting guests to donate to support the work of the centre. Trustee treasurer, Paul Hammett said: “We want everyone to feel welcome. Whether you’re able to donate or simply come along to celebrate with us, we’d love to see you there.” To book a ticket, go to: https://bit. ly/4gE5wFW Please note that due to the Youth Centre’s insurance, dogs are not allowed in the building, except guide dogs.

Four-year-olds can now join Scouts in Wendover Thousands of people in the Wendover News area have fond memories of their time as a scout. It used to be that you joined as a cub scout then went through the system until the age of 25 as a venture scout or as a young leader. Soon, children as young as four will be able to join Scouts as the 1st Wendover Group opens a new section. The ’Squirrels’ section, the Scout

Photo: The Scout Association

Association’s newest branch, is designed specifically for 4 to 6-year-olds. Group Lead Volunteer, Andrew Inkley, told Wendover News: “Our goal is to open the doors right after the October half-term break. We already have a waiting list of eager young people ready to start their scouting journey, and we are thrilled to already have a couple of fantastic adult volunteers in place to lead the section. However, to make this launch a true success and ensure we can welcome as many children as possible, we need to expand our team. We have an eager waiting list of local young people and a foundational volunteer team ready to go, but we are looking to expand our adult team to ensure the launch is a huge success.” Scout groups are always looking for good people to help or become uniformed leaders. This could be as simple as dropping your children off and staying to help, rather than

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going home and returning later to collect them. A simple commitment to the ‘helpers’ rota can make a huge difference. Some people find such satisfaction in seeing young people thrive and grow that they choose to undergo training to become official leaders. The Scout Association offers an excellent programme of free leadership training. This not only equips you with skills to work with young people but can also have positive benefits beyond the scouting community. Andrew added: “Working with four to six-year-olds is active, rewarding, and full of energy! No prior scouting experience is necessary—we are simply looking to expand our current team with enthusiastic, friendly people who have a sense of fun and a desire to help children learn skills for life through games, crafts, and outdoor activities. Whether you can spare a couple of hours a month to support our core volunteers or want to get involved more regularly, there is a place for you in our growing team.” The 1st Wendover Team preparing for the launch of the Squirrels section is already on board and ready to go. Joining that team might turn out to be the best thing you ever did. If you would like to find out more about joining our Squirrels leadership team–or if you simply want an informal chat about what’s involved–we would love to hear from you. Contact Mandy Evans at squirrels@1stwendoverscouts.co.uk for more information about 1st Wendover Scout group, see www.1stwendoverscouts.co.uk/volunteering.

Wendover nursery children visit RAF Halton Children and team members from Partou Woodlands Halton Day Nursery and Pre-School in Wendover were given a rare opportunity get close to a military aircraft during a recent visit to nearby RAF Halton. They were met by Station Warrant Officer Jerry McGuire who showed them the 70-year-old Hawker Hunter gate guardian, which is a familiar local landmark just inside the base fences on the corner of Upper Icknield Way and Chestnut Avenue. It has recently been restored and re-painted.

Laura Clay, Partou regional childcare director, said: “Children attending Partou Woodlands Halton benefit from regular trips into the local community which provide real life experiences to build their understanding of the world around them. The visit to RAF Halton was particularly special and gave them a memory to think and talk about together, supporting their growing independence.”

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This rare opportunity allowed the children to get up close and understand its mechanics by spinning the wheels and touching the wings as WO McGuire explained to the children how the wings help the plane to stay in the air, with the wheels essential for take-offs and landings. Following the inspection, RAF Community Support Officer Tammy Stoker treated the children to a fun session in the station’s soft play facilities. Emily Brown, Partou Woodlands Halton nursery manager, said: “This was such a lovely opportunity for us to be a part of. The children were able to learn and understand about their community and people who keep them safe. It gave us an insight to some of our families’ lives, as a number of them work in the RAF. We are so grateful to Jerry and Tammy for inviting us to see beyond the gates.” WO McGuire said: “This was a fantastic opportunity for these children to get up close with the RAF Halton gate guardian aircraft in its 70th year. They were all very interested in the stories and getting their hands on and spinning the front wheel seemed to top this off for all. We at RAF Halton value the community and Partou Woodlands Day Nursery are an integral part of this with many of our service children attending.”

First aid can undoubtedly save lives. But other times, even the willingness to show care can make a difference. When Karen Cooper was hit by a car in the middle of Wendover at the end of June, her ankle and foot were badly damaged, and she was in great pain. Other people were injured and emergency services were called for within minutes. During the time it took for them to arrive, Karen was comforted by a stranger whom she would love to thank personally. Karen contacted Wendover News to ask that we thank all the individuals who were involved, including the people from Sweeneys, the estate agents, the pharmacy and other passers-by. She added: “above all else the emergency services and the forgotten heroes behind the scenes when you ring 999. Their calming composure when you first dial gets hundreds of people through a very difficult situation [and gives them] the vital information they need.” If you are the stranger who stayed with Karen until the emergency services and her daughter arrived, please get in touch with Wendover News via the contact details at the bottom of the page.

Cherry Tree home to close when replacement is complete Simon Eccles writes: Building work is approaching completion at the new care home at Worlds End, to be called Wendover Manor. The owner Salveo Care, expects to have a show suite open in September, with final completion and opening during November after approval is granted by the Care Quality Commission. 

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Wendover Talks Dancersend Nature Reserve: 100 years of Nature Conservation

After that, it says that residents of its current home, Cherry Tree House in Dobbins Lane, are expected to transfer with the care team to Wendover Manor. It intends to sell the Cherry Tree property after that. The independent living bungalows in Cherry Tree Walk behind the main house, which are owned by their residents, are understood not to be affected.

Wendover u3a open day in September Residents in Wendover and surrounding villages looking to enrich their retirement or semi-retirement are invited to an open day hosted by Wendover u3a on Wednesday, 2 September 2026. It will be open to all from 10am to 1pm at St Mary’s Church, Wendover, offering a showcase of the more than 60 interest groups that make up this thriving local community organisation. Bob Read writes: “The u3a (University of the Third Age) is a UK-wide movement focused on ‘learning for pleasure’. There are no qualifications to pass and no exams; instead, members share their skills and life experiences in a friendly, social environment. Our 3a currently supports over 500 members from Wendover and surrounding villages.” Visitors to the Open Day will be able to explore displays of the various special interest groups’ work, with representatives from groups including art, history, gardening, latin, and wine appreciation. They might discover new interests, such as perhaps active outdoor groups like the Walking Strollers or social initiatives like MOTO (members on their own). Current members will be there to talk about the benefits of joining, which include monthly speaker meetings, social outings, and national u3a benefits. Complimentary tea, coffee, and biscuits will be served from 10:30 am.

‘Learn my way’ Digital Support Sessions Do you want to learn how to use a computer, or brush up on your skills? Wendover Community Library runs free, volunteer-led sessions enabling you to get online fast! Their volunteer is there every Friday from 10.30am–11.30am. Booking required, just ask for the “Learn my Way” sessions at the counter and a member of staff will check availability.

Wendover News September 2026

Discover how a fairy-tale Victorian pumping station and the surrounding wildlife refuge inspired the nature reserve movement and continues to show the way forward for local nature recovery. Mick Jones, MBE, (below) has been volunteer warden at Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) Dancersend Nature Reserve in the Chilterns for the last 45 years, alongside a career in educational technology and design. On 24 September from 2.30pm, Mick will cover Dancersend origins as the now renowned “cradle of UK nature conservation” and how its extreme biodiversity and rare geographic features make it a jewel of the Chilterns. Dancersend holds over 1,700 recorded species in its unique microclimate. In his 45 years, Mick has developed a wide range of interests from birds and plants, through fungi and butterflies, to slime moulds, plant galls, moths and beetles. On his watch, Dancersend has trebled in size to 211 acres so his work, and that of his team of volunteers, literally never stops. Mick now tries to focus his time on habitat management and recording the wildlife at Dancersend. Whether you are an avid walker, a history buff or a wildlife enthusiast, go along to hear Mick’s vibrant and inspiring story (past, present and future) of Dancersend. Please ask one of the volunteers at the library counter to add your name to the attendee list for this talk or contact frances@ spokenwordltd.com. Places are limited.

This QR code will take you to a survey asking about your car usage and how interested you may be in joining a club that can provide access to a low-cost electric car. The parish councils’ EV Club model has no annual membership fee and works on a cost of £8 per hour capped at £80 per day, including delivery of an EV to your door and collection after use. First-time users would of course be given a full brief on how the car and the app work. Should you need further information or a live URL to the questionnaire please contact Rachel Blackmore CCA at racheljblackmore@ gmail.com

Stoke Mandeville joins the Repair Café roster The inaugural Repair Café has just been held in Stoke Mandeville. Hosted by The Bull in the outside marquee, local residents brought along a selection of items for repair including clothes, fans, vacuum cleaner, clock and even a battery-operated motorised robot that had forgotten how to dance. Repairers were drafted in from other cafés in the area and the organisers are looking to grow the local team. If Wendover News readers have any items that they want repaired or mended then there is now a local Repair Café on every weekend. Check the Events listing on page 5 for times and locations.

EV Club for Wendover and villages In the last issue of Wendover News we said to look out for a questionnaire asking if there is any demand for a joint-EV (electric vehicle) Club that the parish councils of Wendover, Stoke Mandeville, Weston Turville and Halton are considering supporting.

“One day I’ll write it all down” Have you ever said that? Perhaps you’ve spoken it aloud or simply thought it while reminiscing of a time when you had plenty of ideas and stories to write about. The truth is most people have stories to share – even if they’re about their last club meeting, a favourite pastime or ideas for helping the community. Wendover News is always looking for new writers to bring variety, diversity and quality content to the magazine. Writing for Wendover News doesn’t demand a regular commitment. You can simply contribute a single piece at your own pace or become a regular contributor by

joining our volunteer team. We welcome all suitable contributions and can help prepare your piece for publication. If you have a story but find it hard to put into words, we may be able to help. If you’re interested, please get in touch — a short phone call could be the start of something wonderful. We are also looking for experienced writers to join us to sub-edit, proofread – and perhaps act as mentors and coaches to new writers who have talent, but lack confidence. We’ll be running friendly introductory sessions for writers during October and November..

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Kop Hill Climb returns for 12 and 13 September

Bucks, offering grants of up to £2,000 to young people aged 18 to 30 studying or training in STEM subjects with a local By Simon Eccles and Jo Durden-Moore connection. Neil Clifford, chief Kop Hill Climb, the two-day festival of classic executive of shoe and cars and bikes on the hill above Princes accessories brand Kurt Risborough, returns on Saturday 12 and Geiger will be there. Sunday 13 September. “He’s our brand new Hundreds of entrants will run the historic patron and he’s got hillclimb course itself, while hundreds loads of cars!” says more will simply be on static display in the Andrew Basford, one of the small band of paddock and surrounding fields. There volunteers who run the event. He and his wife will be everything from pre-war racers to Shân run Basford Fine Jewellery on Wendover modern performance cars and motorcycles. High Street. Overhead, the Royal Air Force’s Battle of Another attraction will be Steve McQueen’s Britain Memorial Flight will provide a flypast own Husqvarna motorcycle, being displayed across the weekend, with its Spitfire and by auction house Bonhams. Hurricane on one day, and the Dakota on The Kop Hill Climb’s history stretches back the other – so far it’s not certain which way over a century. Motorcyclists first tackled round. the steep, winding road in 1910, with cars As ever, the whole event is run for charity: following within a year, and the climb last year’s festival raised £120,000 for local quickly became a fixture of the motor sport good causes, taking the total raised since calendar, drawing competitors of the calibre the event’s 2009 revival to £1,337,500. This of Malcolm Campbell, Raymond Mays and year sees the launch of a new £25,000 Kop Count Zborowski. Hill Bursary, funded from 2025’s proceeds Kop Hill Climb was revived in 2009 as together with matched funding from Heart of a non-competitive festival, and Andrew Basford has been involved since shortly after that revival, having been recruited by fellow parents at his Scout group in Longwick. “All of the dads who were my Scouts’ parents organised Kop Hill,” he says, “and obviously roped me in to do it with them.” Around ten of that original band of organisers are still involved today, alongside some of the Scouts they once led, now grown up and helping out in their turn. Away from the cars, there’s plenty to keep families occupied all weekend, including bungee trampolines, a mega slide, electric go-karts, face painting and a live music stage running on both days. The paddock also hosts a village of traders and sponsors selling vintage clothing, antiques, art, jewellery and motoring memorabilia, alongside food and Organisers Andrew and Shân Basford drink stalls. “There’s a funfair. There’s stuff for

Photo: Simon Eccles

the children to do, like trampolines,” Andrew says. “There are two bars this year. There’s grandstands, you can go and watch the cars up on the top.” One of the most popular attractions is the Soapbox Challenge, with the minimum driver age lowered this year to eight to encourage younger competitors, racing home-built carts down an all-grass course complete with chicane, ramps and curved banks. The main prize, the Beaumont Cup, goes to the cart travelling furthest, alongside awards for Best Soapbox and Spirit of the Event. None of it happens without a huge volunteer effort. Around 300 unpaid volunteers work across the weekend, on top of the core organising team, and for Andrew and his fellow organisers the job barely stops. “We’re meant to have about a month off — we never get it,” he says. “As the traders are leaving, we’re already asking them for next year, and we just roll straight into it, and it never ends.” It’s a level of commitment he takes in his stride. “Our lives are just wide open to everyone,” he says simply. The event is held on Kop Hill Road, Princes Risborough (HP27 0LA). Gates open at 9am and the event closes at 6pm on both days, with free car parking in adjacent fields. Advance spectator tickets are on sale online (https://kophillclimb.org.uk/tickets): £18 for an adult day ticket, £6 for under-18s, and family tickets from £22.50. Tickets will also be available on the gate, cash or card.

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This is what needs protecting! (cont.) Editor writes: ...this change is encapsulated in the recently published ‘Draft Local Plan for Buckinghamshire 2024-2045 (Regulation 19)’. Why is Wendover News always writing about the Local Plan? Every county in the UK should have a published, approved plan which sets out how it will change over the ensuing twenty years. The plan should include allowances for housing to cope with predicted population growth, along with all the infrastructure, economic development, employment and services provision to meet their needs. It should also account for the need to preserve heritage, natural diversity and landscape. At local government level, a local plan is seen as a way of protecting an area from haphazard and unsuitable development that will place unsupportable demands on infrastructure and services. Buckinghamshire Council has brought together the strategic local planning work previously completed by the four former district councils before they were merged in the single County Council. The total estimated requirement for new homes from that work was 61,000 over the next 20 years, of which around 22,000 were already planned. Two years ago, a massive increase in that number to 91,000 was imposed by the Government on Buckinghamshire. Teams at Buckinghamshire Council have been working hard to make the best of a very challenging situation, and to meet externally imposed targets, deadlines and sanctions. The effects locally Despite the challenges, the county council believe they have arrived at an overall plan which balances the requirement to find places to build an unprecedented number of houses, together with the infrastructure and services to support an expanded population. The consequences locally however, indicate that Stoke Mandeville could accomodate development almost right up to the Wendover parish boundary within that period. With infill housing along the South-East Aylesbury and Southern Link Roads, both Stoke Mandeville and Weston Turville will become contiguous with Aylesbury. Both villages could eventually coalesce with Wendover into a single urban sprawl.

All these plans are set against a heavily constrained budget and ‘green belt’ land categorisation challenges covering almost half of the county. Developers are able to take a simpler and more focussed view. Provided they can build houses that people will want to buy, they have few concerns beyond the boundary of the sites that they chose – assuming they can get planning permission. Where they are matching their new projects to the county’s Local Plan, provisions will already be in place to ensure those developments will be supported by integrated planning for the infrastructure and services the future residents will need. Developers will make payments to the county council which contribute to building new roads, schools, community centres and other facilities that the residents will need. In the case of speculative developments, these contributions will go into a central fund, but because the new homes are sited outside of areas designated for housing, it is difficult for the council to provide for the demands created by them. The impact, therefore, falls on the existing infrastructure which can often be stressful to the established community. The anticipated cost of the required infrastructure to support the proposed Local Plan is approximately £6 billion. Bucks Council are expecting the developers to contribute the majority of this sum and have pledged the Plan will prioritise an ‘infrastructure first’ approach to development. Given many residents’ experiences of the challenges of having their existing infrastructure built or finished, the jury remains out on whether this new approach will succeed. Latest update In the days before we went to press, Angela Rayner, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, spoke out on the publication of the government’s new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). In a government press release she says “A safe, secure home is the foundation of opportunity, but too many people are being priced out of the communities where they want to live and work. By unlocking thousands of homes around well-connected transport hubs, we’re helping people live closer to work, school and the services they rely on, while backing local businesses and driving growth in our communities.” Under the new NPPF, there will be a default ‘yes’ for homes within reasonable walking

distance of well-connected stations, alongside new minimum expectations for how much housing should be built in these areas. “It will also prevent excessive gold-plating” she says, “where there are clear national standards already in place.” This will probably result in a downgrading of the protection given to ‘green belt’ land to the new designation of ‘grey belt’ – potentially creating new challenges locally for both Stoke Mandeville and Wendover. The ability of Buckinghamshire Council to fulfil all its planning objectives has been placed under strain by demands made at a national level. This weakens, but does not remove, its ability to reject speculative developments that don’t fit in with local aspirations for a balanced plan. This has seemingly created a sudden influx of applications for speculative development that is clearly causing concern amongst residents across the county. Not all doom and gloom Whilst some of these worrying developments may get reluctant approval and go ahead, house builders will only build houses that they know will sell. A flood of new housing could cause a glut which might eventually slow the pace of change to a less worrying level. What can we do? You can still have a say in the way Buckinghamshire changes over the next 20 years, by commenting on the draft Local Plan for Buckinghamshire. The public consultation will close at midnight on Sunday 6 September. After all comments are considered and necessary amendments made, the plan will be passed to the Planning Inspector for approval. Once formally adopted it will be the prime source of guidance in planning decisions until 2040. From the date you read this, you may have little time to express your views about the future of Wendover, Halton, Stoke Mandeville, Weston Turville, Aston Clinton and the surrounding area. However if you don’t speak out, your concerns can’t be heard. To access the plan, go to https://bit. ly/4xJoroE or use the QR code. You will need to follow the steps and register in order to make your comments on the policies, sites and documents. If you are unable to do so, you can email: planningpolicyteam.bc@ buckinghamshire.gov.uk

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Speculative planning proposal to build alongside the canal By Simon Eccles Residents along Halton Lane and Moor Park received printed fliers at the end of July from a property developer that wants to build about 300 houses on farm fields, from Halton Lane along the canal as far as the Purssell Path leading out of Ashbook Park. Wendover Parish Council and local MP Greg Smith publicly opposed this, calling it “speculative,” intended to apply for planning permission in the uncertain period before the adoption of Bucks Council’s Local Plan (see page opposite). A number of residents immediately formed a WhatsApp group to discuss opposition to the proposal. Residents also attended the Wendover Parish Council meeting on 4 August to voice their opposition, which was supported by the parish councillors present, as well as Peter Strachan, one of the Wendover Ward councillors who also sits on Bucks Council’s planning committee. Wendover Parish Council put on its website: “Currently we believe that this is not an appropriate location for building and would strongly object to this development. A formal planning application has not yet been submitted. Any application will be considered by Bucks Council. Whilst Wendover Parish Council will respond we do not have any legal influence on the outcome.” The developer is Hawridge Land, based in Beaconsfield, which calls the development “Wendover Springs.” According to the map on its flier it would be bordered to the west by the small stream running near the top of Ashbrook Park, and to the east by the Wendover Arm Canal towpath. At the north it would reach Halton Lane and wrap around Moor Park. A proposed single entrance for the whole estate is in the short stretch of road between a 90-degree blind bend where the reservoir footpath starts, and the narrow humpback Perch Bridge over the

canal. Currently there is a farm gate there. WhatsApp comments have stressed how dangerous this would be. They also pointed out the impact of wildlife in the area. Apart from the 300 houses, the developer claims there would be “publicly accessible green spaces, a mobility hub and new local play areas.” Hawridge’s website says: “Whilst this site is currently designated as Green Belt, we believe it has strong potential to be considered Grey Belt land, given its location and accessibility to existing amenities and transport links along with other landscape characteristics.” Its flier invited public comment before Friday 4 September, at www.wendoversprings.com, where there is a ‘survey form’. WPC wrote “We do not advise that anyone fill out the online form. as the questions are there for a reason determined by the developer and not intended to be an independent review.” Instead, it says, “This proposal is at an early stage but we are asking residents to respond to the call for views by emailing their thoughts to the developer at wendoversprings@ meeting-place.uk.” The Land Registry for the site shows it was originally all owned by the MoD as part of the RAF Halton estate, so owned by the Rothschild family prior to 1914. It was sold into private hands in 1981, but in 2005 the southern-most

field was given to Cancer Research UK. The northern parts last changed hands in 2007 and are owned by a local family. There have already been proposals to build 1,000 homes on RAF Halton land when the base eventually closes. WPC also believes there will be a separate proposal to build along the northwest side of Tring Road between The Beeches and the new cricket club, potentially infilling as far as the canal on the other side from the Hawridge Land proposal. Earlier this year Rectory Homes applied for permission to build 85 houses on the corner between Aylesbury Road and Halton Lane. As Wendover News went to press, Derbyshire-based Bloor Homes published a proposal for 195 houses in Aston Clinton, between Lower Icknield Way and Buckland Road.

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Wendover News September 2026

Culture, Visual and Performing Arts Arts, Music and Creativity across Wendover Written and compiled by Jo Durden-Moore It’s been an incredible summer, not just because of the weather, but because of the fantastic variety of activities and opportunities to be entertained, socialise and get out and about. From music and theatre to festivals, art and community celebrations, there has been something for everyone. Here’s a look back at some of the highlights, as well as a preview of what’s coming up that you won’t want to miss. Real Magic Books welcomed The Sleeves for a special, intimate live show in the shop. Their infamous bar, complete with trademark margaritas, was in full effect, with lots of locals enjoying the atmosphere. The event also provided the formal launch of Real Magic’s new audiobooks and monthly audiobook subscriptions. This has been a long time in the works and is going strong so far. More than 500,000 titles are available to choose from, with book samples available at the shop’s new listening station. Owner Carl Gosling said: “It has always been fantastic to work with Bookshop. org, ever since we started Real Magic back in 2022, so we were honoured to be asked to help launch their audiobook campaign by commissioning a piece of artwork with them. Audiobooks felt like the missing piece to what is already an amazing set-up for indie bookshops. We’re excited to tell our customers they can now buy audiobooks through us. It should be a bit of a game changer. People don’t want to support these bigger platforms; they want to shop local and support shops that bring culture directly into their communities.” There is also a stunning new mural by Craig Oldham in the store, commissioned as part of the launch. His Listen Up installation is bold and playful and embodies the founders’ creative spirit at Real Magic and within the

Wendover News September 2026

wider independent bookshop community. Carl says: “The spaces we run and work in are crucial for spreading the power of literature and the importance of books for empowering and inspiring people through these dark times.” Wendover Singers hosted its special summer concert honouring Armed Forces Day at the end of June, raising more than £500 for its chosen charity of the year, Wendover Dementia Support. The concert reflected the strong community support enjoyed by this popular choir, with a sell-out audience. Despite it being the hottest day of the year at the time, audiences loved the quality of the singing, the toe-tapping favourites, the inclusion of the children’s section and the opportunity to spend time outside enjoying refreshments and homebaked cakes.

YardFest took over Hampden Meadow on another baking day, but everyone came out to play, erecting gazebos, tents and umbrellas to enjoy the festival atmosphere in our hometown. There was an even bigger programme of entertainment this year, all organised by the amazing Craftyard team. The festival hosted a wide variety of street food vendors, independent traders and activities for all ages. The music programme provided something for everyone and, with the World Cup adding extra excitement to the day, the organisers installed screens inside the bar tent for the big game later that evening. Tring Carnival hosted its traditional community celebration, with a colourful parade through the town, stalls, food vendors and family attractions. The carnival brought

together nearly 500 local participants, with decorated floats, vintage cars, Morris dancers and children, parents and teachers from local schools all taking part in the parade. Local organisations and community groups also played a major role, with Tring Music Partnership, Tring School Swing Band, Glee Club, Youth Theatre Project, Shotokan Karate Club and Tring Youth Town Council among those involved in the wider celebrations. The parade was followed by live music in the beer tent, creating a fantastic day of community celebration and fun. Aston Clinton Beer Festival was another huge success, with beer lovers enjoying a wide selection of local ales, craft beers and ciders at this sold-out event. Alongside the drinks, visitors enjoyed food stalls, live music and a lively community atmosphere, with local artists playing in the beer tent. Hugely popular band The Mighty Hoo Haas headlined on Friday night, while Saturday featured a packed programme of live music, including Rock Choir, Top Brass, Camino, The Meantime Band, Elastic Cats, The Tease and Superficial Damage. The organisers are still counting up the money raised, with profits being donated to local charities. The Big Green Picnic brought a lovely community atmosphere to Wendover Christian Centre on 22 July. Organised by Right at Home Aylesbury Vale & Chiltern as part of Dementia Adventure’s national Big Green Picnic campaign, the event brought people together to enjoy time outdoors, connect with others and raise awareness of the importance of nature and social connection for people living with dementia and their families. The national initiative encourages communities, businesses and groups to organise

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their own picnics as a way of celebrating connection, inclusion and the outdoors. It was another lovely example of how local organisations can create opportunities for people to come together and enjoy a relaxed, welcoming community event. Chilfest at Tring Rugby Club also delivered as one of the region’s most popular music festivals, with a packed programme of live music, tribute acts, food vendors and family entertainment. Friday evening’s tribute night was packed with music lovers enjoying songs from their childhoods and beyond. Saturday saw some impressive live performances from well-known acts including Tony Hadley, Kid Creole & The Coconuts, Eternal, Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Toploader and The Christians, before Level 42 brought the festival to a spectacular close. Again, despite the heat, revellers arrived with umbrellas and camping chairs and enjoyed the family-friendly atmosphere, with a huge selection of food trucks throughout the day and into the evening. The Old Joint Stock Theatre’s open-air touring production Sherlock Holmes and the Bitter of the Baskervilles came to Wendover’s Bel & Dragon on the night of the eclipse. Written by acclaimed writer and director Adam Meggido (Showstoppers), this brand-new comedy followed Holmes and Watson on another gloriously ridiculous adventure, combining fast-paced storytelling, inventive theatricality and plenty of laughs. The touring company’s annual open-air tour has become a cornerstone of its summer programme, taking original professional

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theatre out of traditional venues and into unique outdoor settings, making live theatre accessible to communities across the country. Transporting a professional theatre production to pub gardens across England presents a unique set of creative and logistical challenges, but the company’s mission to bring high-quality fringe theatre to audiences in unexpected places is certainly being achieved. Fame the Musical at the Waterside Theatre brought together a huge cast of talented local performers in support of Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity. Packed with memorable songs, energetic dance routines and a powerful story about ambition, friendship and following your dreams, the production was of an extremely high calibre and played to two packed shows. As well as showcasing the remarkable talent within the local performing arts community, the event raised valuable funds for one of the area’s most cherished charities. Wendover Picnic in the Park hosted by Wendover Parish Council at Hampden Meadow, this popular picnic, designed as a celebration of community spirit and togetherness. Again, the weather was exceptionally warm, but everyone joined in the fun, even though the dog competition was, quite rightly, cancelled due to the exceptional heat. Live music from local bands, stalls and local organisations were aplenty, showing just how much our community has to offer. If you missed some of this, don’t worry – we have loads more coming up in September and beyond… Wendover Choral Following on from the huge success of the summer workshops, this popular choir will resume rehearsals on Thursday 3 September in St Mary’s Church. They will commence rehearsals for their Christmas Concert on Saturday 5 December, which will include Camille SaintSaëns’ Christmas Oratorio and the Messe de Minuit by Marc-Antoine Charpentier. They will also be hosting a quiz in St Anne’s Hall on Friday 20 November. All are

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welcome to support this organisation. Details see www.wendoverchoral.co.uk. Wendover Art Club A thriving art club with a regular programme of demonstrators who come along on Thursday evenings to help members develop techniques and enlarge their knowledge of all things connected with art. The club alternates demonstrations with creative evenings where members can practise different techniques and experiment with different paints, pushing a little outside their usual comfort zones. It meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month, beginning in September.

The first meeting of the new session will be on 10 September, with the AGM and a general catch-up on what and where everyone has been painting over the summer. This will be followed on 24 September by a demonstration of Still Life in Oils by Catherine McVean. On 22 October, the club will host a demonstration by Justin Thorpe, and in November Pauline Hazlewood will demonstrate her technique for capturing a Steam Train in oils. The club’s exhibition in the Library Room will be on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 November. Visitors are always welcome, so why not come along and say hello. See www. wendoverartclub.co.uk. Food Future Festival – Lindengate - 5 September As part of Lindengate’s new Seeds of Change programme, this community event celebrates growing, cooking and healthy eating. Visitors can enjoy cooking demonstrations, food tastings, gardening advice, firepit cooking, seed-sowing activities and practical tips for growing vegetables at home. Designed to inspire healthier lifestyles and a greater connection with food production, the festival promises to be both educational and entertaining for visitors of all ages. Details can be found at www.lindengate.org.uk 

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Wendover News September 2026

Matisse’s Garden Art Workshop – Lindengate - 11 September Artist Jaany Ravenscroft-Hull (below) will lead a day of creativity inspired by the life and work of French artist Henri Matisse. Participants will explore art history, sketch in Lindengate’s beautiful gardens and create their own watercolour paintings or lino prints to take home.

Suitable for artists of all abilities, the workshop provides a rare opportunity to immerse yourself in art, nature and creativity in a peaceful and inspiring setting. Details can be found at www.lindengate.org.uk. Pete McCall – A Tribute to Rod Stewart – 12 September Hosted by Harpers Restaurant at Chiltern View Nursery, this wonderful tribute act promises an evening of fabulous tracks charting a 50-year career of this musical superstar, with a two-course meal included in the ticket price. For more information and tickets, see www.chilternviewgardencentre.com. Kop Hill Climb, Princes Risborough – 12–13 September One of Buckinghamshire’s most celebrated events, Kop Hill Climb attracts thousands of visitors each year. Historic, classic and modern vehicles tackle the famous hill while visitors enjoy displays, exhibitions, trade stands and family activities. The event also raises significant funds for local charities, combining motoring heritage with community fundraising. See article on p13. Wendover Music – 13 September Music lovers are in for a treat this autumn as Wendover Music presents a series of special concerts and events at St Mary’s Church.

Thanks to a generous legacy from the Lionel Abel Smith Trust, the organisation is launching a new programme of organ recitals in the beautiful 14th-century church. The first concert takes place on Sunday 13 September at 4pm and features acclaimed organist Peter Holder, Director of Music at Christ Church, Oxford. Peter previously served at Westminster Abbey, where he played for both the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. The season concludes on Sunday 4 October with Lumas Winds, an award-winning young wind ensemble that recently triumphed at the Lyon International Chamber Music Competition. For tickets and further information, visit www.wendover-music.org. Quip Shed Comedy Night – 24 September Back for a second time this year, this fabulous comedy troupe will appear at the Bel & Dragon in the heart of Wendover and promises a bellyful of laughs, with TV comedian Joey Page as headline act, supported by Hannah Byczkowski and Alexander Bennett and hosted by Lyle Barke. Tickets are available at www.belandthedragon.co.uk.

Real Magic Weekend Festival V – 24–27 September A special long weekend of talks, walks, music, drinking and dancing, and lots more magic is planned for September. It will also be Real Magic’s fourth birthday party. At the time of going to press, details about the acts were still in development, but all the latest information can be found in the shop, online or via their social media pages. Carl promises it will be epic! Tickets are on sale at www.realmagicbooks. com.

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The Dung Beatles – 26 September This hugely popular band (below) returns to Wendover for the second time this year, organised by Rotary in aid of VICTA, Marie Curie and other Rotary-supported charities. Wendover’s Memorial Hall will host the band again, with space for dancing as well as chairs and tables. Tickets are available via www.ticketlab. co.uk. See advert on p5.

Live Folk Music: Moonrakers in Concert – 26 September Get ready for a brilliant night of live music! The historic and beautiful Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul in Great Missenden is hosting the talented folk band Moonrakers – four professional musicians who give traditional folk music a fresh, modern twist. Expect vocal harmonies blended with a beautiful mix of Celtic harp, cello, accordion, whistles and guitars. They’ve released five hit albums, had their music featured on the BBC drama Beyond Paradise, and the BBC itself calls their music “exquisite”. More information and tickets are available at www. missendenchurch.org.uk. A Celebration in Song – 31 October & 1 November A brand-new concert with more than 100 singers, performers and musicians will celebrate the power of song this autumn. Berkhamsted’s Centenary Theatre will play host to an extraordinary and uplifting musical concert, led by West End performer and director David Rhys, with West End soprano and Musical Director Jill Neenan. The concert will mark 100 years of amazing performances by the local community, highlighting the transformative power of singing together and the positive impact performing can have on wellbeing. All fundraising will go towards supporting the crucial work being done by local mental health charity Mind Herts Network. Tickets are available at www.centenarytheatre.com.

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Stoke Mandeville’s village war memorial becomes a reality! After five years of determination, fundraising, legal setbacks and community spirit, Stoke Mandeville will finally have a public place to remember those affected by conflict. For a village whose history stretches back to the Domesday Book, it has undergone enormous change. New homes have transformed its boundaries, but at its heart remains the historic village, where the church, school, pubs, post office & shops are places where generations of residents gather. Now, a new feature will become part of that landscape: a non-denominational war memorial on the village green, beside the school and opposite St Mary’s Church.

However, these existing memorials are not readily accessible, being inside buildings which are generally Breaking Ground! (left to right: Ed Wills (contractor), Parish Cllrs Kirsty open only for services, Shanahan & Jon Theobald, and residents Jo Durden-Moore & Ian Sharp events or activities. The proposal therefore sought something The funds raised by residents and supporters different: a neutral, easily accessible, non-de- were transferred to the Council, along with nominational memorial where anyone could planning permission, so that the memorial honour those lost in any conflict at any time could finally progress, ensuring that a good of the year. idea did not disappear beneath a mountain of The vision for the memorial was shaped by red tape. looking at neighbouring Buckinghamshire “The important thing was that the villages and considering the different styles community had already done the hard work and settings used by communities across the of creating the idea, raising the money and Community at its heart county. The village green was the obvious getting people behind it,” says Jon Theobald, It all began with a simple but passionate choice: at the centre of the village, between vice-chair of the Parish Council. “Once we belief that Stoke Mandeville needed a public the school and church, it is a place people understood what was needed to get it over place where its community could come pass every day. The memorial would not be the line, we were determined to help make together to remember. hidden behind a door or accessible only at a sure it happened.” There followed yet more Initiated by the Stoke Mandeville Village particular time. paperwork, but this time the project had the Society as one of its early projects to help institutional support needed to reach the restore a sense of village identity and A tricky path finish line. community life, when there was growing The journey to achieving the vision, however, concern about the historic village becoming has been anything but straightforward. The A lasting legacy absorbed into the much wider parish and project was initially rejected by the Parish After years of persistence & setbacks, a expanding urban area. The response was not Council, but members of the Village Society project with community, generosity and simply to campaign against change, but to and other local residents continued to work collaboration at its heart, led by a passionate create a stronger sense of what made Stoke with the Community Board’s Michelle Parker small group of residents, has now finally Mandeville a village in its own right. and Ward Councillors Peter Strachan, Steve happened. The foundation work has begun “We felt very strongly that if we wanted Bowles and Richard Newcombe. on the village green, with the formal opening people to have a sense of belonging to the They wholeheartedly supported the project planned for Remembrance Sunday later this village, we needed to give them places and awarded a generous grant. Additional year. and reasons to come together,” says Jo funding was raised through philanthropic In November, everyone will be able to Durden-Moore, founder of the Society. donations from residents, some giving gather on the village green, not simply to “The memorial was about remembering our hundreds and others thousands of pounds. read a list of names, but to stand together as history, but also about creating something Planning permission was granted in 2023, a community and remember the human cost for the community we are today, somewhere with well over 100 signatures in strong vocal of conflict together. everyone could come, whatever their faith or support of the proposal. As Stoke Mandeville continues to grow, the background, to pause and remember.” However, just when the memorial was memorial will provide a permanent reminder finally ready to be built, another hurdle that the village has a history worth protecting A place to remember together emerged when historical issues related to the and a community worth nurturing. The village already has two remembrance classification of the plaques: one inside St Mary’s Church and land came to light. another at the community centre, recording It was at this point the names of those who fell in the two world that the Parish Council wars. stepped forward and It has also found a lasting way of commem- found a way through orating some of its fallen through the names the contractual given to streets in newer developments, an difficulties associated idea spearheaded by local resident Jenny Hunt with the legal status when she was chair of the Parish Council. of the village green.

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No one has to sit alone: Empty Chairs comes to Wendover By Ricky Jeffrey and Jo Durden-Moore A simple idea that started with one man, one empty chair and a desire to connect with others is now spreading across the UK. Wendover’s Block & Butcher owner Ricky Jeffrey (photo right) is helping to bring it to the local community. Imagine walking into your local pub and seeing a table with a few empty chairs. There’s no sign-up sheet, no membership and no expectation to join in. You simply know that if you want some company, you can pull up a chair and start a conversation. That is the idea behind ‘Empty Chairs’, a grassroots campaign created to tackle loneliness through something remarkably simple: giving people a place where they can sit together and talk. The campaign was started by Dean Perryman after he lost his best friend Rob to suicide in late 2025. Experiencing grief and the isolation that followed prompted Dean to start going to the pub, initially simply hoping to have conversations with other people. The idea quickly gathered momentum. An orange hoodie became the way to identify him. The concept evolved into Empty Chairs, where a host books a table, leaves some seats free and wears something bright orange so that anyone wanting company knows where they can sit. You can stay for five minutes, stay for an hour or leave whenever you want. There is no obligation to share anything personal. By June this year, Empty Chairs was taking place in around 70 locations each week across the UK and had spread to 15 countries. Now Wendover is part of it, thanks to Ricky, who has become involved as an Empty Chairs host. As he writes for Wendover News: “One thing I’ve noticed repeatedly is that underneath all the differences, most of us simply

Wendover News September 2026

want to be heard. Sometimes we want to have a moan. Sometimes we need to vent. Sometimes we’re excited about something and want to tell someone. Sometimes we just want someone to listen without trying to fix anything. And perhaps that’s all a conversation really is. “Empty Chairs exists to create simple, low-pressure opportunities for real human connection. No big speeches, no awkward icebreakers, no judgement, no expectation. Just a seat at a table, where people can talk about nothing and everything all at the same time because being alone and feeling alone are two very different things. “Simply knowing there is somewhere you can go and someone you can sit with can make a bigger difference than we realise. “I host Empty Chairs because, through my own experiences of grief, loss and a 25-year struggle to simply find comfort in my own skin, I’ve learned that you never really know what someone else is carrying beneath the surface. A simple conversation. A smile. Someone taking the time to listen. These things can matter. “I’ve been incredibly fortunate to find a community of people who have supported me through difficult times. And one of the things that has surprised me most is where that support has come from. Often, it has come from the most unexpected people, in the most unexpected places. “I think we can all fall into the trap of believing that we’re the only person going through whatever it is we’re going through. But the truth is, so many people have faced similar experiences. “Some may have been through even more. And many are willing to listen. Not necessarily to offer advice, not necessarily to tell us what to do. Sometimes, just to reassure us that we’re not the only one, that things

can get better that things can, and often do, work out okay. “Sometimes all we need is a short break from the pressures of everyday life. A place to sit with someone who expects nothing from us, and simply a chance to be heard. That’s what Empty Chairs is about. ”The idea has already inspired people and pubs across the country to get involved. In January, the campaign even received recognition in Parliament, with an Early Day Motion praising a local Empty Chairs group in West Berkshire for creating opportunities for people to sit together in pubs so that no one has to sit alone. As Ricky puts it: “One table. A few empty chairs. And a conversation that might mean more than you realise.” Ricky has hosted a couple of Empty Chair sessions already and hopes to do them monthly in different places. Look out for his posts on social media announcing future sessions, or look for Wendover on the official website’s map (https://emptychairs.org.uk/ map). If you don’t do social media it’s an excuse to pop into Block & Butcher and ask him.

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Don’t just moan, report it on FixMyStreet! By Sean McCarthy What do you do if you spot a pothole, a blocked drain, fly-tipping beside a quiet lane or a damaged footpath? You might mention it to a neighbour, complain about it on Facebook or simply walk past assuming somebody else will report it. But there is a much better option. Report it on the FixMyStreet web site and phone app. Many of us carry a smartphone with its camera, GPS and internet connection in our pockets. A quick photograph and a report through FixMyStreet can turn something that one person has noticed into information that the council team responsible for dealing with it can actually use.

lanes, footpaths and cycleways but this can create a challenge for identifying problems. A blocked drain on a busy city road may be noticed by hundreds of people every day. A damaged path or a pile of rubbish down a quiet lane might be seen only by a dog walker or jogger. These people may be the first to find a problem, often before it becomes more serious. The idea is not that residents should become unpaid council inspectors. Rather, by thoughtfully using FixMySteet we can provide an additional layer of information about what is happening in the places we live.

Our physical environment is under increasing pressure.

A Parish Council perspective

a replacement for those inspections. Bucks Council has also recently included reporting “Rights of Way” issues on the FixMyStreet system.

What should you report? Phoebe Sharp, Estates and Events Manager Now more than ever, extremes of drought at Wendover Parish Council, explains that and heavy rainfall are causing flooding and one of the parish council's roles is to signpost erosion, damaging trees, paths and roads. residents to the appropriate people that Antisocial problems such as abandoned cars handle different problems. and fly-tipping can appear in places that are “The parish councils are here to assist and thought to be remote and rarely visited. advise parishioners on how to effectively This means that local residents can provide report things to the responsible party. We something that no council inspection would encourage people to visit our website programme can provide on its own, hundreds page ‘Report A Problem’ which also links to of pairs of eyes observing the environment FixMyStreet, to find information about who between official inspections. to report to.” “Where possible we would encourage parishioners to report on the Bucks Council Fix My Street site themselves and not through the parish council, even if the reports ultimately get forwarded to the parish council from Bucks Council. This ensures there is a record and one clear communication Nowadays, local authorities have to channel, and with the capability to update manage their services with finite resources. residents on the status.” Bucks Council says it annually receives around 60,000 FixMyStreet reports from residents Is more reporting a problem? and has developed an internal system to If everyone becomes better at reporting probtriage them and pass information to the lems, could we simply overwhelm councils appropriate team, which includes the local with thousands more reports? Technology Parish Councils and other specialist services. makes it much easier to generate information. There are some justifiable complaints that But it also creates the possibility for councils feedback to the public may not currently to use that information more intelligently. be as good as it could be, but hopefully the Bucks Council already uses FixMyStreet service will continue to improve. to help triage reports and identify duplicate reports. They say its inspectors will also The rural conundrum continue to carry out their own proactive In Wendover and the surrounding villages, inspections; FixMyStreet reports are an we are fortunate in having plenty of quiet additional source of information rather than wendovernews.org

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FixMyStreet is particularly useful for things that are broken, damaged, obstructed or dumped on or near a road or path. Bucks Council Transport department manages the system and lists on their web site issues including potholes, flooding, fly-tipping, street cleaning, damaged signs, problems with bus shelters and car parks, traffic lights and unlit lampposts and many others. It isn't, however, an emergency service and is not suitable for reporting noise, violence or situations in which there is immediate danger. Reporting something does not guarantee that the problem can be addressed immediately. A photograph is often useful, and the location is particularly important. The current system can even use the GPS information embedded in a smartphone photograph to help locate a problem accurately. And there is no benefit in repeatedly reporting exactly the same problem: Bucks Council says its system identifies duplicate reports.

From complaining to participating There will always be things that councils cannot fix immediately. Budgets, priorities, safety assessments and the sheer scale of the infrastructure they maintain all matter. But there is a difference between simply saying “somebody ought to do something about that” and giving the people responsible useful information about what needs attention. A Facebook post might alert your neighbours. A FixMyStreet report puts the problem into a system designed to record, route and track it. Next time you are walking the dog, jogging along a country lane or simply walking through the village and notice something that needs attention, consider taking a photograph and reporting it on FixMyStreet.

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Wendover News September 2026

How to use your voice for good By Jo Durden-Moore

Wendover’s Ben Williams is using his passion for radio to make a difference in his local community – from broadcasting twice a week for Stoke Mandeville Hospital Radio (SMHR) to helping organise and then taking part in a 25-hour charity radio-athon with 3Bs Radio, which recently raised more than £4,100 for Mind UK. Ben (photo right), who lives locally and works at Tring Garden Centre, volunteers twice a week as a presenter with SMHR. As part of his role, he regularly visits the hospital wards to chat with patients, patiently taking their music requests and then helping to bring those choices to life through the station’s request programmes. His enthusiasm for radio doesn't stop there. Ben also works for 3Bs Radio on Saturdays, developing his broadcasting skills while being part of another community radio team. Recently, Ben helped organise Live for 25 2.0, a 25-hour charity radio-athon staged by 3Bs Radio in aid of mental health charity Mind UK. But he didn't just help organise the event – Ben was on air for the entire 25 hours, taking part from beginning to end. The marathon broadcast raised more than £4,100 for Mind UK. For Ben, the event brought together two things he clearly cares about: his love of radio and his desire to help others. His involvement with both Stoke Mandeville Hospital Radio and 3Bs shows how a passion for broadcasting can become a positive contribution to the wider community. A local radio tradition There may be some who believe radio is an outdated form of entertainment in the age of music streaming. However, the continuing strength of community and hospital radio around Wendover and across Buckinghamshire suggests otherwise. Stations such as Wycombe Sound, Red Kite

Wendover News September 2026

Radio and Marlow FM provide local news, entertainment and information, but perhaps most importantly, they create a sense of connection with the communities they serve. The local radio story in Buckinghamshire began with a station just down the road from Wendover. SMHR officially went on air in December 1978 and is still going strong today, broadcasting on 101.8FM and through its digital app. Its weekly request shows are particularly important to patients and staff, with volunteers becoming familiar faces around the hospital. Ben is part of this team, combining his presenting role with visiting the wards to find out what music patients would like to hear. For patients spending time in hospital, hearing a favourite song can provide a welcome connection with normal life outside. Further afield, 3Bs Radio, which serves Buckingham, Brackley and Bicester is supported by more than 40 volunteers. The station offers specialist programmes ranging from rock and folk music to indie music and iconic movie soundtracks, as well as providing commentary on Brackley Town FC matches. For Ben, working with 3Bs on Saturdays provides another opportunity to be part of the local broadcasting community. His involvement in Live for 25 2.0 shows how his interest in radio has developed into a way of giving his time and supporting others. More than just radio Community and hospital radio have provided a starting point for some of the UK's bestknown broadcasters, including Chris Moyles, Simon Mayo, Ken Bruce, Huw Stephens and Jeremy Vine. But the real strength of local radio isn't necessarily measured by how many famous broadcasters it has produced. It is measured by the connections it creates. But radio isn't the only way Ben uses his voice to support his community. He is also a member of Wendover Singers, the local community choir. Last year, Wendover Singers helped raise more than £20,000 for mental health charities, while this year the choir is supporting Wendover Dementia Care Support. For Ben, singing provides another

way to bring people together and support causes that matter locally. From hospital radio to community broadcasting and the choir, he is using his time, enthusiasm and, quite literally, his voice to help others. It is a reminder that community involvement doesn't always have to be grand or complicated. Sometimes it is simply about showing up, listening to people and giving your time. In an age of global streaming platforms and endless choice, there is still something special about hearing people who know your area and understand your community. For young people like Ben, local radio is certainly not old-fashioned. It is a way to connect, contribute and make a difference through a request, a conversation, a song and broadcast. Want to hear Ben on air? SMHR: Ben can be heard on Wednesday and Thursday evenings 8-10pm. Tune in locally on 101.8FM, or listen online through the SMHR website or free app. 3Bs Radio: Ben is on air on Saturdays 12-2:45pm. Listen live online through the 3Bs Radio website, with the station also offering Alexa listening and podcasts/listen-again.

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Wendover News September 2026

HS2 update

Rocky Lane Bridge completed During August Rocky Lane reopened following a two-week closure to allow the installation of the parapets on the Underbridge, which had been the last task to complete this structure (photo right). The height of the walls will be continued along the railway with 3-metre high noise barriers at each side to reduce the impact for London Road residents.

A413 realignment now enabled

Following our involvement, Bucks Council has now agreed planning permission for access to Boswell’s Estate at Small Dean, using the gateway on Hale Road (photo left). Removal of the need for access from the A413 means that HS2 can now progress the final alignment of the highway under the Small Dean Viaduct and the associated cycleway.

The HS2 Programme Reset will “continue into spring 2027, when a new ‘baseline’ [the roadmap setting out HS2’s delivery timetable] will be finalised.” We are concerned to ensure that quality (the third project management dimension) will not be compromised and hope to be able to share some details about what this means for Wendover before too long.

EKFB Contract renegotiated

Air Quality and dust

HS2 announced that it has now renegotiated the Civil Engineering contract with EKFB. By “rewarding efficient delivery and cost control through a revised payment structure with contractors… they are incentivised to deliver on budget and on time.”

We’ve had reports about excessive dust on cars and windows from the HS2 works north of Ellesborough Road, and have challenged EKFB about the performance of its Air Quality monitoring. All but one of the nine monitoring stations

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in the Wendover Parish area were shut down in the winter, as agreed with Bucks Council (photo right). Four were functioning in May, but this was after the removal of the huge clay stockpile. That’s now been replaced by a chalk heap, ready for covering up the Green Tunnel. EKFB has been using water tankers to dampen down the ‘haul routes’ used by its dump trucks during the recent hot weather. It is also limiting the height from which spoil gets dropped into the lorries, how full they are when loaded, and how fast they can travel. There’s not much else it can do. We are continuing to monitor this monthly as much as we can.

Wendover Link progress

Issues with HS2?

We’ve received copies of the Bacombe Lane and Ellesborough Road designs, which regrettably had not been updated with the ‘asks’ we submitted six months ago. We are due to attend an Active Travel workshop with EKFB and Bucks Council to look at the detail of the designs for footpaths and cycleways, which will be the precursor to final Bucks Council approval. We are also anticipating an opportunity to revise the Green Tunnel North Portal area design, to incorporate some alternative noise mitigation measures in the light of HS2’s rejection of our request for a trackside noise barrier.

If you’re affected by the construction activity, please contact the HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 (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 or check out our website www.whs2.org.

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Did allotments ever go out of fashion? By Dr Ruth Malleson & Sean McCarthy There is a great deal of discussion about food security and rising food costs, driven largely by climate change and international conflict. In a similar situation during World War II, the public was encouraged to “Dig for Victory” and grow food locally. To some extent this is still possible with local allotments, but many parish councils have long waiting lists for plots. However, in Wendover Parish, we are extremely lucky as the Parish Council currently has five plots available on their London Road allotments. There are six parish council-managed allotment sites in the area served by Wendover News. Wendover PC manages sites on Hogtrough Lane and London Road, near St Mary's Church. Stoke Mandeville PC manages the Lower Road allotments behind Stoke Mandeville Combined School, Weston Turville PC has the Church Lane allotments whilst Aston Clinton PC looks after the Aston Park allotments (which are also available to residents of Buckland), and Ellesborough Parish Council manages the Terrick allotments beside the recreation ground. In addition, there is Ashbrook, a privately operated allotment site on Aylesbury Road in Wendover. Halton Parish Council does not currently manage an allotment, but its Local Plan includes provision for public foodgrowing space. You can find out more about the availability of allotments in your parish by looking at your Parish Council website. Why is there a demand for allotments? A 2023 Greenpeace survey indicates that nationally there are nearly 200,000 allotment applications sitting on local authority waiting lists across Great Britain, with waiting times averaging three years and the longest wait recorded as 15 years. For some, allotments can be a lifeline. For

less than the cost of the annual TV licence, allotment owners are able to rent a parcel of land about the size of half a tennis court. They can use this to produce their own low cost, healthy, environmentally friendly food in a way that reduces their reliance on ecologically harmful, highly processed food and industrial agriculture, which uses large amounts of fossil fuel fertilisers and chemical pesticides. Some people grow their own crops as a way to keep fit. Whilst for others it improves their mental health and well-being, by creating a sense of purpose and spending time in nature. Having an allotment also gives you the opportunity to get to know fellow allotmenteers, swap or give away surplus produce as well as borrow and share tools, what’s more satisfying than that? Some may say ‘why bother?’ in the face of increasing challenges of growing food because of climate change with extreme weather of hotter, drier summers and warmer wetter winters? Well, alongside eating less meat and dairy, wasting less food, driving and flying less, and investing in the green economy, growing your own food can be one of the most powerful actions an individual can take to reduce your carbon footprint. You can even shrink your household waste by starting a compost heap. A bit of background Historically, the Allotments Act 1922 defined an allotment garden as "not exceeding 40 poles (about 1,000 square metres or a quarter of an acre), which is mainly cultivated by the occupier for growing fruit and vegetables for themselves and their family." Interestingly, the law intended allotments to be used for personal food production, rather than for

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growing produce for sale. There is no legal standard for the size of an individual plot, but a traditional full plot of 250 square metres was considered sufficient to produce much of the fruit and vegetables needed by a family of four. More than a century later, that definition still underpins the purpose of Britain's allotments. Compared with many parts of the UK, the amount of land allocated to allotments per head of population in our area is relatively low. However, it should be remembered that allotments were originally intended for people without gardens of their own, so urban areas naturally tend to have a higher level of provision. The future for local allotments Given the level of housing development across Aylesbury Vale, it is encouraging that the Buckinghamshire Draft Local Plan includes a policy on Community Food Growing. It proposes “The provision of a 150 square metre community garden, allotment or orchard for developments of 50 to 99 dwellings without private gardens, and 300 square metres for developments of 100 or more dwellings without private gardens”. However, that sounds rather less generous when you do the maths. If 99 households are expected to share 150 square metres, it amounts to about 1.5 square metres per household before allowing for paths, sheds and communal areas. None the less it would appear that growing your own is very much back in fashion.

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Wendover News September 2026

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Club Corner Wendover Bowls Club Don Knight writes: Our annual Gala Day was a huge success with 36 players all striving to win the substantial cash prize and earning the satisfaction of proving that they are the best on the day. As well as the competitors there were quite a few spectators all cheering their teams on. Our brilliant domestic team slaved away to make sure everyone was fed and watered all day. As in previous years we ran a Grand Raffle with wonderful, generous prizes donated by many of the businesses in the village, ranging from meals to shopping vouchers. Our grateful thanks to them all. All our visitors complimented us on the green, which is playing beautifully and surviving the drought well. Thanks go to our hard-working greenskeeper Jon and his trusty helpers. It is strange how the character of the green changes across its width. One rink is a joy while the rink alongside it is an absolute pig. I was playing in a team against one of our best bowlers who was getting very frustrated as his precision woods wandered offline while my usual random bowls homed in and counted. Our matches against other clubs have been affected by this extreme weather, with one or two games cancelled or curtailed. We have to be conscious of our club demographic, which

is on the older side, or in my case ancient, but so far all have made it. Internal matches of singles, pairs and triples and so on, continue with the finals to be played later when we learn who have the bragging rights and the trophies. I find it hard to imagine that in a few weeks we will be displacing hundreds of spiders from their summer homes as we unroll the indoor mats. Tempus, as they say, fugues.

Wendover Cricket Club Chris Watts writes: The new Tring Road Ground was opened to the public on 10 July. The club was delighted at the huge level of interest, with an estimated 300 visitors over the course of the afternoon and evening (photo top right). There was a lot of excitement about the new facilities, the excellent views and the archaeological finds, which were presented by the experts from Cotswold Archaeology (this will be covered in a future Wendover News feature). While play at Tring Road will not be possible until the spring of 2027, the club is opening the Pavilion bar to members on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings and we plan to keep this running through the autumn and winter. Information on becoming a member of the club is available at: https:// wendovercc.org/joining.

Team news

Photo: Andrew Milne

The Women’s Cricket Taster Session on 5th July at the Witchell was a huge success, with over 30 women of a range of ages and experience levels attending and having a good deal of fun. As a result, regular Sunday morning sessions took place on Sundays throughout August, with the women entering a cricket festival on the August Bank Holiday. All of this is with a view to training through the winter and having a women’s team playing matches from spring 2027.

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If you are interested, please contact: wccwomenscontact@gmail.com. The club’s senior teams continue to enjoy life in the Thames Valley League. At the time of writing, the Saturday first team sits 5th of 10 teams in Division 6C having won 7 and lost 6 of their 14 matches, while the second team is chasing promotion and sit on top of Division 9E, having won 11 and lost 1 of their 12 matches. Both teams have featured good numbers of junior players gaining great experience. With the run of good weather, most of the 15 junior teams’ matches were played by the start of the school holidays, but some training continued through August. Congratulations to all juniors for their achievements this season, and special congratulations to sides from the Under 11, U12, U14 and U15 squads who won their leagues this summer. Junior training begins again in January. If you are interested in playing junior cricket, please email David Smith at wccjuniorscontact@ gmail.com. If you are interested in participating in senior teams, in sponsorship or to generally assist, the club would like to hear from you. Please text Club Captain, Jonathan Seabrook on 07767 148119 or email jseabrook@ wendoveremail.co.uk. Printed in the UK by The Magazine Printing Company using only paper from FSC/PEFC suppliers www.magprint.co.uk

The views expressed by contributors are their own and not necessarily the views of the editor. If you have a complaint or concern about content in Wendover News, please visit www.wendovernews.org/complaints. Postal address only – no visitors: 11 Manor Road, Wendover, HP22 6HL When you have finished reading this edition of Wendover News, please pass it on to a friend or recycle it responsibly.

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Wendover Parish Council View from the Clock Tower Wendover Picnic in the Park 2026 Thank you to everyone who attended Wendover Picnic in the Park. It was a great community day, with families enjoying the sun, entertainment, food, and drink! Thank you to everyone who supported all the local businesses and charities on the day. Thank you to Spice and Sugar 90’s, Lily-Mae, Cracklewick Morris and Hartbeats for keeping us entertained; we loved seeing people get involved in the West African drumming! Thank you to our hosts Bucks Radio and to the Bucks Bear for joining us. This entertainment wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for the Radley Events Team who provided all the sound free of charge. Thank you to The Party Poppers, who had a queue all day for free face paint and balloon modelling courtesy of the Council, and to Scallywags Bounce for bringing a range of inflatables. We hope everyone who attended enjoyed this free community event. It wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our sponsors: Numbers Chartered Certified Accountants, BML Fitness Studio, Red Carpet Hairdressing and Christopher Pallet, thank you to Bucks Council for the free parking in the library car park on the day.

We wanted to take this time to thank those who helped with the funding for the skatepark: HS2 Community Fund, Lionel Abel-Smith Trust, Heart of Bucks, and our own community fundraising efforts. Also D&H Saunders for the installation of the path which has improved accessibility and user experience. D&H Saunders completed this work free of charge as part of the social value projects. This support makes such a huge difference, the Council want to show our appreciation.

Vandalism, graffiti & fires We’ve seen an increase in antisocial behaviour, vandalism, and graffiti in our open spaces. Incidents include an increase in litter, broken bins in Hampden Meadow, attempted break in at Hampden Meadow, fires around Hampden Pond, graffiti at Ashbrook Recreation Ground, including racial slurs which the police are aware of and ripping/ cutting bark off an established living tree. The Council and staff work hard to help make Wendover a great place to live, work and visit, these actions put a strain on the Council and staff workload and council budgets - Wendover residents are already feeling this on their council tax bills.

Bucks Best Kept Village 2026 Wendover achieved its highest score in our history of entering Buckinghamshire’s Best Kept Village competition this year. In the ‘Open spaces’ category we were awarded our highest score ever – full credit to the Estates and Grounds Team. The judges also appreciated our High Street which received great feedback. There was a comment about The George and Dragon floral displays which the judges noted as “particularly impressive”. The last time we won the Michaelis Cup for ‘Best Small Town’ was in 2023 but competition across the county was of a very high level this year and Beaconsfield took the cup and top place.

Wendover Skatepark We wanted to remind residents that it took a number or years and a lot of work to get the skatepark installed, it continues to be popular with all ages.

Wendover Parish Council l The Clock Tower, High Street, Wendover HP22 6DU l Tel 01296 623056 Wendover Local Produce Market Sat 19 September, 10am–2pm Manor Waste Contact estates@wendover-pc.gov.uk

clerk@wendover-pc-gov.uk www.facebook.com/wendoverparish Stay informed about local news, events, and parish matters – sign up to receive our monthly newsletter straight to your inbox! Subscribe here: www.welcometowendover.co.uk/#subscribe

Next Parish Council meeting: Tuesday 1 September, 7.40pm Main Meeting room, Wendover Library Information about upcoming meetings: www.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 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 32

Wendover News September 2026

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