Flower Show at White Hill Centre

On Saturday 5 July the Chesham and District Community Association Gardeners Group Flower Show will be open from 12.30pm. There will be plants on sale, a digital photo exhibition and paintings by members of the art group. You can also enjoy teas with home made cakes. Visitors will be surprised at the wide variety of activities which go on at the White Hill centre. At 4pm flower show winners will be announced and prizes presented by Chesham Town Mayor Alison Pirouet. Call John Slatter 01494 785655

If you’ve had enough birthday presents

Ask your party-goers to sponsor a Hearing Dog for Deaf People. I learned more about this service from speaker at the White Hill AGM, Jenny Smith of St Leonards who has been awarded an MBE for her services to hearing dogs. Jenny wasn’t born deaf but suffers from increasing deafness, she has had three hearing dogs over the years and she takes her current dog when she speaks to groups from the Brownies, through schools to the WI.
There are guide dogs for blind people provided by the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association but Hearing Dogs are less well known. Hearing dogs alert their deaf owners to sounds we take for granted, giving independence, confidence and security. Most are selected from rescue centres and trained by Hearing Dogs for Deaf People. People need about three dogs over 18 years. It only costs £5,000 to support the training of a hearing dog throughout its working life which seems remarkably cheap when you think of the training needed. £2,500 covers part training, or you can donate £1,000 to fund a kennel for a year, supporting the accommodation and welfare of at least six dogs during training and assessment. Young people can be a puppy friend for about £3 per month and get a letter from him! You can donate recyclables - such things as old mobiles, some types of printer ink cartridges and passing on your used postage stamps preferably with about half an inch of the paper still around.

Take the tube

Reader Jon Smalldon alerts us to the consultation on Chesham Metropolitan Line services which he says could see “a massive increase in the number of direct services to and from central London”. The Transport for London (TFL) website says, “We're asking Amersham and Chesham users to let us know what they think about the proposed changes by either picking up a leaflet at Amersham or Chesham stations or emailing us at chesham.consultation@tube.tfl.gov.uk. The potential changes, which would not affect the current peak-time services, are as follows: * Two trains per hour running direct between Chesham and central London throughout the day. Customers would no longer need to change at Chalfont & Latimer * Two Metropolitan line trains per hour between Amersham and central London, instead of the present four. The two trains per hour service provided by Chiltern Trains (one train per hour on Sundays) would be unaffected, so the total number of trains from Amersham to central London would fall from six to four per hour (and from five trains to three per hour on Sundays). The service pattern change would take effect from May 2009 at the earliest.”
Let them know if you support the proposals, email chesham.consultation@tube.tfl.gov.uk.

Jive Talkin' - The Bee Gees Story

Book for the Elgiva on Friday 18 July at 8pm, to see the show that Bee Gees fans have been waiting for, Featuring the convincing vocals of Brothers Darren and Gary Simmons as Barry and Robin Gibb, as well as Jarrod Loughlin as Maurice Gibb. These three leading men collectively have career highs including starring in London’s West End, numerous world wide TV appearances and performing live with the Bee Gees themselves. The show also features an acoustic medley of some of Bee Gees earlier hits creating an emotional musical journey. Tickets cost £18 or £17 concession, call Call the Elgiva box office on 01494 582900, email boxoffice@elgiva.com or visit www.elgiva.com.

Summer Sounds 2008

This year’s concerts in Lowndes Park, Chesham, kick off on Sunday 6 July at 2.30pm (weather permitting) with Chinnor Silver Band. Admission is free. You can take your own picnic and deckchair. Visit or call Chesham Town Council on 01494 774842 between 10 am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday.

Young artists’ summer school

From Monday 28 July until Friday 1 August from 10am - 2pm either daily or for the whole week, artists between the ages of eight and 12 years can explore skills in painting, drawing and some sculpture. Led by established artist Deborah Sanderson, BA Hons Fine Art qualified art lecturer and teacher, the children will learn new creative skills in a spacious, well-equipped art studio. Bring an apron, a sketch book and lots of enthusiasm, equipment such as paints, pastels or sculpture materials is provided. Individual days cost £30, or a full week course £140, call 07913 424384.

Summer walking is fun

Chesham Children’s Centre (Waterside) is offering Simply Walk, buggy friendly organised group walks on Thursday mornings at 10 - 11.30am continuing through the summer holidays. Parents or carers of children under five are eligible, meet at the Chesham Waterside Children’s Centre, 470 Waterside HP5 1QF. For further details of this and any of their other services call Marcos on 07799 282724 or 01494 792852.

Folk club attraction

Tudor Folk Club Chesham meets on Mondays from 8.15 to 11pm at the White Hill Centre. On Monday 7 July enjoy Paul Downes’ array of styles, a brilliant guitarist he considers himself primarily a singer of songs. Entry costs members £6 and non-members £8. Paul’s sensitive and fun approach to his live performances puts him among the most respected artists on the British acoustic scene today Visit www.pauldownes.com or contact Publicity Officer, David Darvell email daveann@leyhill.wanadoo.co.uk or call 01494 786995.

Natural photos

The next indoor meeting of the Chesham & District Natural History Society (CDNHS) is on Monday 14 July. It will be a photographic journey, by local photographer Paul Keene, from 7.30 - 9.30pm at Thomas Harding School, Germain Street and costs £2. The society has been given notice by the School that the hall will be unavailable after the end of August. They are looking for premises and I’ve made some suggestions but if you can help do get in touch with Andrea Polden on 01494 783533 or Mike Lambden call 01494 782939.

Messing with art

Chesham Children’s Centre (Newtown) presents Messy Mussels – an opportunity for you to take your children under five years to create some masterpieces. Go along to the Scout Headquarters in East Street, HP5 1DG (next to the underground station). It costs £1 per child on Thursday 3 July, Thursday 10 July and Thursday 17 July. For future details please call Danie on 01494 792852 or 07799 282724.

IBB says “Playing in our back garden”

You will have seen the colourful leaflets and banners but have you booked yet for Chesham Theatre Company and friends Open-Air Festival 2008 of picnic theatre and music? It is on from Saturday 28 June to Saturday 5 July at The Bury, Church Street, Chesham.
Sponsored by Marcom Woodley, IBB solicitors and Chesham Town Council, the programme offers four different temptations: The Witches on Saturday 28 June, Sunday 29 June and Saturday 5 July at 3pm and Friday 4 July at 7.30pm; and The Canterbury Tales on Saturday 28 June, Monday 30 June, Tuesday 1 July, Thursday 3 July and Saturday 5 July at 8pm. Call the theatre box office on 01494 433456 or the Chesham Bookshop. See our earlier posting.
The Musical Extravaganza by the Chesham Musical Theatre Company will be on Wednesday 2 July at 7.30pm, call CMTC box office 01494 784780.

Street dancing

If you are aged between 11 – 18, there is still time to try Street Dance at Chesham Youth Centre from 7 – 8pm. The last two sessions are on Thursday 3 July and Thursday 10 July. No need to book just turn up at Bellingdon Road, Chesham, HP5 2HA or call Rachael Tomkins 07720 544157, email rtomkins@buckscc.gov.uk.

Post office viability

If you missed the public meeting about the proposed closure of yet more post offices, namely - Botley Road and Waterside, don't be afraid to make your own comments or protest.
Jane Lewis drew my attention to the planned closure of the Waterside Post office and you can sign a petition there. People can email their views to consultation@postoffice.co.uk

Regeneration of Meades Water Gardens

The Meades Water Gardens project has been selected as a winner in the Best Environment project category for the South East Market Towns Award competition. Congratulations to Chesham Town Clerk, Bill Richards for placing the entry, Projects Officer, Kathryn Graves for liaising, the Chilterns Conservation Board and the Environment Agency for carrying out the work. Chesham now has to compete with four other categories for the overall south-east project winner, and that winner is submitted for the national market towns award in October. The award recognises the importance of market towns as a focus for environmental regeneration. The project involved local residents, town and district councils and conservation bodies working towards the revitalisation and conservation of a town centre green space. The neglected area has been made more accessible and attractive by footpath improvements and tree work, and wildlife territory is enhanced by restoring the flow of the chalk stream which is an important wildlife habitat such as brown trout and water voles. The official re-opening for invited guests and councillors will be on the Friday 11 July when the interpretation board will be unveiled. See previous entry

Dance yourself fit

A ladies keep fit dance class is starting in Pond Park for everyone at all levels of fitness. It costs just £2 to take part every Monday night at 7.30pm at Hivings Church hall starting on Monday 30 June. Bring trainers, comfortable clothes (no jeans) and a drink. For more info contact Tom Davies on 07826 936811, 01494 586534, or email TDavies@chiltern.gov.uk.

Effective movie

Chesham Methodist Players have spent the last few months making a film called Miranda Dreams. This has involved location shoots in Chesham, Amersham, Rickmansworth and Somerset, and is their first foray into CSO (green acreen)* special effects. Miranda Dreams is written and directed by member Penny Longhurst who has recently graduated with a degree in Performing Arts from London University. It tells the story of twin princesses from the kingdom of Molonna. Separated as babies, the eldest, Miranda is brought through a magic portal to our world where she is raised as a normal girl until she starts having strange dreams. Are these messages from her unknown twin? Will evil uncle Rath find the girls and kill them? The film is being shown on Saturday 12 July at 7.45pm in Chesham Methodist Church Hall, Bellingdon Road. The evening includes red carpet walkdown, awards ceremony, bloopers reel and refreshments. Admission is free but there will be a collection taken for charity.
*Wikipedia.org explains (with US spelling): colour-separation overlay (CSO; primarily by the BBC) otherwise known as chroma key, greenscreen and bluescreen, or color keying, is a technique for mixing two images or frames together, in which a color (or a small color range) from one image is removed (or made transparent), revealing another image behind it. It is used for weather forecast broadcasts where the presenter appears to be standing in front of a map, but in the studio it is actually a blue (or green) background. Different weather maps are added on those parts in the image where the color is blue. If the meteorologist wears blue clothes, they clothes will be replaced with the background video. Blue and green are considered the colors least like skin tone.

Nominations due before the Chilterns Show

The 5th Annual Chilterns Show is on Saturday 19 July and Sunday 20 July at Town End Farm, Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire HP16 9AX. There will be all the usual attractions including clay pigeon shooting, pole lathe turners, chainsaw carving demonstrations as well as fly casting, novice casting and a rod clinic. I hope the owls are back on display again with their mesmerising eyes. Opening times are 9.30am to 6pm with the last admission at 5pm. Dogs are allowed if kept on a lead at all times. Admission prices on the day adults £8, seniors £7.50, children (5 - 15 years) £3.
If you know of a local hero, nominate them for the Outstanding Achievement Awards 2008. All nominations must be received by Friday 11 July, and the winners will be rewarded on the main stage of the show at 3pm on Sunday 20 July. You can nominate a volunteer (or group) who has carried out work for their community in the town or countryside, or someone who has demonstrated bravery or been a good neighbour or devoted himself or herself to caring for others. See the website or send your written nomination, with full name and contact details along with the contact details of your nominee to - Chiltern Outstanding Achievement Awards, The Chilterns Show, Park Lodge Farm, Harvil Road, Harefield, Uxbridge, Middx. 01295 820202, or 079 5224 33378 (updated from PO Box 1161, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP15 6WS). Tell them the main reason why the nominee deserves the award, giving as much detail as possible about their achievement and what makes them stand out against others. The service or acts need to have brought distinction and quality to Chilterns Life.

Value trees

The Bucks Tree Club is emerging this year and members have already celebrated the trees and shrubs which were in blossom on St George's Day, Wednesday 23 April. The Bucks Tree club is interested in the trees and woodlands in the county and also swaps information about growing different species. Anyone interested in joining should visit the website www.buckstreeclub.org.uk. Merelene Davis said, “Anyone interested in trees, should read the dendrologist for news, information events for all groups and individuals".

Didn’t the carnival go well?

The weather couldn’t have been better and the standard of the entries in the float competition was very high. The float winners were: 1st Shield – Chesham Bois C.E. Combined School representing the RNLI; 2nd Shield – Hawridge & Cholesbury Church of England School and 3rd Shield went to Little Spring School which I thought was excellent. The Bucks Examiner Cup was won by the Newtown Infant School & Nursery’s HMS Newtown ship and the Newtown Garage Shield went to Chartridge Combined School. The shield for the best walking float went to Brushwood Junior School. Lucinda Bryan told me no school can win more than one trophy.
It happened to be on the same day as the Trooping the Colour at The Mall in London for the official Queen's birthday. For the Trooping ceremony the Royal Air Force hold an annual flypast at 1pm and then returned over Lowndes Park at 1.10pm. The formation was precise and spectacular to watch, soaring over all the stalls and happy families enjoying the lovely afternoon. I think this should appear on the programme in other years! However I hear Chesham Bois fair organizers are claiming the credit as well.
Schools of Chesham Carnival marshals did an excellent job and the crossing of St Mary’s way wasn’t nearly such a hold-up to motorists this year. Jane Vann said all the barbeque food was sold out and, “The tombola was busy all afternoon which is the main way we make our funds”. You can see or buy photos at Orbit Press in Market Square. I have been taken to task for not mentioning the event sponsor Newtown Garage and I have apologised. The anonymous emailer said, “We spend thousands of pounds every year bringing national race teams and representatives to the carnival and respond to numerous sponsorship requests from local schools throughout the rest of the year. Next year will be our fifth consecutive sponsorship of the Carnival.” S/he said, “Does nobody remember that the carnival was facing closure before we stepped in?”

My photo is courtesy of Ian Freeman, thanks Ian.

Summer football

Pond Park Football League offers 13 – 19 year olds a chance to play football this summer. It will be at 6.30 - 8.30pm on Thursday nights at Marston Field starting Thursday 19 June. It is run by coaches from Wycombe Wanderers Football Club, and you can just turn up - no need to book. Play against other teams from Pond Park. For more info contact Stacey Ellingham on 07970 215077 or 01494 732177 or email SEllingham@chiltern.gov.uk.

Bone Marrow Donors Required

Rachel Peck tells me her fiance has been diagnosed with Myeloma, a leukaemia cancer. He needs a bone marrow transplant once his chemotherapy course is completed and will be relying on an anonymous donor who is registered with the Anthony Nolan Trust. The Anthony Nolan Trust is coming to St John’s Methodist Church, Woodside Road, Amersham on Thursday 3 July between 4.30pm and 7.30pm. If you are aged 18 - 40, generally in good health and happy to give a blood sample which can be tested for a match, you can help a patient waiting for a bone marrow transplant. Your donation could help save the life of someone like Rachel’s fiance. Visit the Anthony Nolan website www.anthonynolan.org.uk or phone 0207 284 1234.
For a bone marrow transplant to succeed the tissue type of a donor and patient must match very closely. The best source of matching tissue is from the donor’s family, the chance of a brother or sister having the same tissue-type is one in four, but 70 per cent of patients need to find an unrelated donor.
Donating bone marrow is not in the least like donating blood, it requires medical treatment and in my opinion should not be undertaken lightly. With the help of many people, Rachel will be posting 18,000 flyers about the bone marrow session to homes around Amersham.

Woottens enable hospital visits

Woottens coach operators have been based in Lycrome Road, Lye Green for 10 years, serving Bucks, Herts and Oxon. On Monday 28 July they are launching a new service. Tiger Line T1 will link Hemel Hempstead to Aylesbury via Chesham, Great Missenden, Wendover and Stoke Mandeville Hospital. For the full timetable visit www.woottens.co.uk/tiger_line.htm . It will remedy the present lack of a bus from Great Missenden to Hemel Hempstead and the lack of a link to Stoke Mandeville hospital. Michael Wootten said, “The service will offer great value fares, concessionary permits will be accepted and we will provide a range of tickets for the regular traveler. A timetable leaflet is in production and will be distributed from the beginning of July.”

About child care

Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries invite parents of under five year olds and parents-to-be to visit the nursery on Thursday 19 June from 9.30am – noon. If the times do not suit then call to arrange a convenient time for viewing. It is in Fullers Hill, Chesham HP5 1LR (next to Thomas Harding School.) Monkey Puzzle care for children from three months, through toddlers to pre-school and offer a secure and caring environment for your child, visit www.monkeypuzzledaynurseries.com, or call 01494 793873.

White Hill management meets

It will be the Chesham and District Community Association’s AGM on Tuesday 24 June at 8pm. Jackie Cummins said, “This year we have a talk by Jenny Smith who is involved with the Hearing Dogs for the Deaf Association, and after Jenny's talk we will retire to the bar for cheese and wine”.

The Drawingroom

Richard Elkington entered the swing of the carnival when he drove his tiny Citroen and his a doggy passenger proved a hit with the young people. Visit Drawingroom.

Watery music

The Damon Singers summer concert will be at 7.30pm on the evening of Saturday 12 July at the White Hill Centre. Messing about on the water directed by Will Dawes presents a selection of songs with aquatic or nonsense themes including five English folk songs (arr. R. Vaughan Williams), three nonsense songs (words Edward Lear, music Matyas Seiber) and Moon River (Henry Mancini, arr. Alex Flood). The Damons will be in good voice, Patrick Lunt said, “We have a concert in Liverpool between now and then”. There will be refreshments at the interval and tickets costing only £9 are available from Perfect Pitch, 72 The Broadway (closed Thursdays) call 01494 774826, or at the door.

Put your name down for quiz and BYO

Chesham Youth Centre is hosting a quiz night with a fish & chip supper on Saturday 21 June at Chesham Youth Club, Bellingdon Road. Doors open 7.30pm for a prompt start at 8pm. Entry costs £10 per person, bring your own drinks (BYO). There will be a prize for the winning team and a grand raffle. To book your table call 01494 774545 / 772291.

Heritage calendars

A great idea, you can personalize a 2009 calendar of photos of Victorian Chesham and villages to send to contacts and friends at the end of the year. Order from Orbitpress, 11 Market Square HP5 1HG. Call 01494 778053, email info@orbitpress.co.uk or phone Hawkes Design & Publishing on 01494 793000 for more details. The cost will be £8 each, personalised for home or business. The 2009 calendar will feature some of the earliest portraits of the town and surrounding villages, of the highest quality and many unique in print.

Welcome to the Cansdales

After a long wait St Mary's has its rector. The Rev Simon Cansdale has moved into the rectory as Rector to the Parish of Great Chesham. Simon and his family who are all keen runners, or perhaps all round sport, have moved in and there will be a formal service of Institution and Induction tomorrow for invited guests.

Bucks open studios

Organised by the Visual Images Group, Bucks Open Studios allows some 500 artists who live and work in Buckinghamshire to exhibit and sell their art. Categories include - painting, photography, digital art, glass and ceramics, sculpture and metal work, and it runs from Saturday 14 June - Sunday 29 June, look out for the yellow signs because the website has not been updated. Entry is free. Call Visual Images Group Co-ordinator, Trisha Woodcock on 01296 614283 or email vi-group@btconnect.com.

Chesham open air theatre festival

Have you booked yet for theatre in the grounds of The Bury, Church Street, Chesham? Performances are of The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, adapted for the stage by Mike Poulton and directed by Mike Consden or/and The Witches by Roald Dahl, adapted by David Wood and directed by Trevor Pilling. Picnic on the lawns before the plays. Or book for one of the two musical evenings: Midsummer Serenade presented by Berkhamsted & Chorleywood Choral Societies or A Musical Extravaganza presented by Chesham Musical Theatre Company. For the musicals you picnic in the interval. The festival is from Saturday 28 June to Saturday 5 July.
Tickets for The Witches and Canterbury Tales cost adults £10, senior or full-time students £8 and for Witches only a child under 14 is £6. Tickets obtainable from The Chesham Book Shop, 71 The Broadway, High Street, Chesham, Buckinghamshire HP5 1BX, call 01494 791313. Musical Extravaganza tickets available from Chesham Bookshop, by ringing 01494 784780, or by postal application from the website www.cheshamtheatrecompany.org.uk .

Early exercise

Chesham Moor – Gym & Swim has ongoing swimming all summer, see timetable at www.cheshammoorfitness.org.uk. The pool is heated to 85 degrees and seasons tickets are available, call 01494 776975.

NAG calls for Pond Park people to get involved

Chesham Neighbourhood Action Group is anxious to obtain information from the general public (ie. you and me) regarding any anti-social behaviour or public order issues in Pond Park or the surrounding areas. If you have something to report or any concerns, contact PC Gary Blackburn, the officer who covers the Pond Park area at Chesham Police Station preferably by emailing gary.blackburn@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk. Your messages will be treated in confidence. Chesham Police Station operates from 8am – 11pm although the public office is not open after 2pm. The number for non-emergency calls is 0845 8 505505 while for emergencies or crimes in progress you still dial 999.

Front Gardens competition

Two competitions have been launched to discover how green-fingered you are, and there will be prizes for the Front Garden and Blooming Business winners. The Blooming Business competition looks for the best display put on by a local business and the winner will receive a magnum of Pommery Champagne, donated by the George & Dragon Public House. The Front Garden competition is for a residents garden or floral display in public view and there are three categories: Best Large Front Garden, Best Small Front Garden and Best Window Box or Hanging Basket. Prizes for residents are: shrubs to the value of £50, donated by Farnham Common Nursery; £50 worth of garden vouchers donated by Paradigm Housing or a bottle of Champagne donated by Waitrose. Go for Chesham in Bloom. Call Kathryn Graves, Policy and Projects Officer at the town hall on 01494 583798. These competitions will prove what a gardening town Chesham is, so that the town does even better in this year’s Thames & Chilterns in Bloom judging in July.

Shed and chickenshed

Irene Perrin and Sally Alford of Shed@ThePark the all inclusive children’s theatre company, are promoting new sponsorship packages, developed to enable companies and individuals to support the Shed at The Park at various levels of value. Rotary has started the ball rolling with a generous donation of £600, setting the pace for other clubs, charities, business and families to follow. Irene said, “The money raised will help support the ongoing work of Shed and enable us to continue to offer weekly workshops for 100 local children aged between seven and 16 years of age. It will also allow us to purchase equipment such as a voice effects unit, a mixer facility or even a British Sign Language Course”. Shed’s recent performance, Ordinary Man, was a great success. Future events include performances at The Pepper Concert in Berkhamsted on Sunday 13 July and at Waddesdon Manor near Aylesbury on Sunday 29 June. Shed’s ethos is that any young person who wants to perform has the ability and the right to do so. Visit www.shedatthepark.co.uk, call 01494 782066 or email info@shedatthepark.co.uk.

Twinning weekend

Friedrichsdorf is not so far from Frankfurt and 17 members of the twinning group flew there from Heathrow for the International Weekend in May. Some misgivings were voiced when it was revealed that departure needed to be from Terminal 5, but the only slight delay came on registration when the technology could not cope with a party booking. Twinners stayed with various host families and were entertained by a guided tram trip around Frankfurt on the "Appelwoi-Express" and a guided tour of the Palais Rothschild housing the Jewish Museum, Sunday began with an official reception and champagne for the visitors from England, France and Austria, followed by a walk in the Taunus hills or tennis or golf or shooting. The weekend culminated in a magnificent gala dinner dance. The forum was beautifully decorated in burgundy and white with fresh flowers on the tables. The buffet catered for every taste and wine and water on the tables were regularly replenished. Dancing and entertainment was provided by the MSS Big Band comprising more than 25 players and singers: not to mention hip op and break dancing demonstrations. The weather was glorious for the spring weekend and everyone had a wonderful time - see the English contingent in summer clothes. It will be hard for our Chesham Town Twinning group to find similar enjoyable activities for such a large crowd, when it comes to our turn to host the International Weekend next year.

Eating for a good cause

There will be a lunch party on Saturday 21 June to raise funds for the Royal Air Force Association - RAFA 2008 Wings Appeal. It will be at 23 Codmore Crescent from 12.30 to 3.30pm, but there is a limited number of tickets £7 each so call Jean Mayne on 01494 782068. The menu will be lasagne and fresh bread followed by homemade apple pie, tea or coffee. People are welcome to bring their own wine or beer or whatever they prefer to drink. Jean said, “Many older people (of which I am one) do not like to go out at night so we decided a lunchtime do might be better for people to get together”. So book your places and prove her right. The garden at Codmore Crescent is pleasant and quiet except for the birds singing.

Carnival on Saturday 14 June

The Schools of Chesham Carnival is on Saturday 14 June and the procession can be seen from 11.30am-ish to about 1 or 1.30pm. Jane Vann tells us how progress is underway. Brushwood, Chartridge, Chesham Bois, Elmtree, Hawridge & Cholesbury, Little Spring, Newtown, Thomas Harding and Waterside schools are finishing their floats for the procession through the town. The route is from Asheridge Road, along Bellingdon Road and the High Street. Afterwards people can enjoy an afternoon of fun in Lowndes Park. There will be inflatables, an obstacle course and if you still feel bouncy you can have a go on the trampolines. There will be tombolas and bric-a-brac stalls. Phoenix Trading will sell cards and wrapping paper, Endeavour Nursery selling plants and hanging baskets: Chesham & District Amateur Radio Society, and a Chesham In Bloom working group scarecrow competition. Chesham Community Responders will offer a somewhat incongruous combination of tile painting and bandage wrapping, Chesham Youth Council will organize activities and interactive games and 3rd Chesham Scouts will run a crockery smash.
Schools of Chesham Carnival run a barbecue of burgers and sausages, a tea and coffee tent, and sandwiches and cakes for sale. An adult tombola offers lots of nice bottles to be won and a children's tombola will have lots of new toys. All money raised at the carnival will go to the nine schools taking part.
If you would like a stall call Louise on 01494 782782 or to join in the procession call Lucinda on 01494 794696.

Bletchley Park finance

Remember I told you what a good day out you can have at Bletchley Park, home to the code breakers of World War Two? Well apparently it receives no on-going public funding and some of its buildings, where the most important work of the twentieth century took place, are in urgent need of repair. The Victorian Mansion requires in the region of £1,000,000. Bletchley Park Trust is a charity, conscious of the debt owed to the brilliant, unsung intellectual warriors including Turing and Welchman. The Trust aims to build a world class Heritage Site and Educational Centre but it must rely on revenue from conferences, weddings and heritage visitors. It also earns from its Science & Innovation Centre, where Bletchley Park has returned to world-leading research after 60 years. The Trust has also restored Block B as its main museum area, and Hut 8, former workplace of Alan Turing. People are urged to visit the park and support the Bletchley Park Trust. I think you get a great day out.
To make a donation or offer other help contact Kelsey Griffin, Events and Publicity Manager, Bletchley Park Trust, 01908 640404, kgriffin@bletchleypark.org.uk.

Verdant avenues

The Chesham Society would like to replace some of the missing trees in our virtually treeless avenues. If members live in a former avenue now bereft of trees, and would like them restored let Bernard Meldrum know and the society will see if the highway authority will allow a replant. This won’t be possible everywhere because of pavement widths, visibility splays and underground services. Any location will also require the support of residents, trees will not survive a war with parking. To this end the Chesham Society is taking up a collection on Saturday 7 June between the hours of 8am and 5pm in both the High Street and at Waitrose. If you can spare an hour or two to help please call Bernard on 01494 78207 or June Hutchinson on 01494 77409.

Making of the Chilterns Landscape

The Chilterns Conservation Board presents a conference on the historic environment on Saturday 21 June 10am – 3.30pm. It will be held at Buckinghamshire New University, Chalfont St Giles, costing £25 including lunch. The program includes National Perspective on Conserving the Historic Landscape, Climate Change and the Historic Environment and Historic Landscape Characterisation - what has been discovered? There is lots more on the agenda and time for discussion. To book a place contact Donna Hunter on 01844 355504, email dhunter@chilternsaonb.org.

Busy Living Out of School Club

A new Ofsted registered, out of school club will be running from Elangeni Middle School in Amersham during the summer holidays and after school from September. It is for Chesham families too. Busy Living After School Team (BLAST), with full support from Elangeni, will provide much-needed flexible support at a reasonable cost to working parents. Police-checked, experienced carers, will provide a range of age-related activities and a variety of special events to inspire and entertain children from four years upwards. For a booking form or more information email info@busy-living.co.uk or phone 01494 722318 anytime, or visit Busy Living Ltd.

Family bowling

Chessvale Bowls Club will be holding a series of fun evenings for anyone who is interested in the game of bowls. Bring along the family, you need a flat pair of shoes and an hour to spare and there will be coaches available to help you. It is something that any age group can try. These evenings will be Fridays at 6pm on Friday 30 May, Friday 6 June, Friday 13 June and Friday 20 June. This is a promotion in association with Bowls England. Hot dogs and burgers will be available.

Science and religion - friends or foes?

Many people believe that science is opposed to religion and that one has to choose between the two. But Russell Stannard is both a physics professor and a licensed lay minister in the Church of England. In this talk he challenges the idea that such a conflict exists and explains how both are necessary for understanding the world and ourselves. It will be held at 8pm on Wednesday 25 June at Broadway Baptist Church organised by St George’s, Tylers Hill. Call Hilary Wilson on 01494 775564.

Six walks around Chesham

One of the results of the Chesham Community Vision exercise is a series of leaflets on walks in and around Chesham. There are six walks altogether of varying lengths and all start and finish in Chesham. The Heritage Walk within Chesham, which shows you various places of historic interest in the town based mainly on the heritage plaques has been updated and extended. The five other routes are new. One closely follows the edge of the town, while the other four go out and back, north, south, east and west. Ken Austin said, “They take one through some of the lovely countryside that surrounds Chesham, giving the opportunity to visit historic sites and nature reserves. The routes pass convenient pubs where the walker can pause for food and drink.” The leaflets encourage both residents and visitors to get out and about and see what is on Chesham’s doorstep and also tempt visitors to see something of the town itself and to use the shops and cafes. The leaflets will be launched at an exhibition at the library from Wednesday 4 June. Following that the leaflets will become available from the town hall and other local outlets, then downloadable from the Chilterns AONB website.

Rainbows

This September will be local children's entertainment business Rainbow’s 20th year of trading. The Company has entertained all over the UK with music, magic, puppets, singing, face-painting, disco and story telling. The Rainbows started with local talented ladies who had skills and the energy to keep a wide range of children amused, and have gone into full time employment in the theatre, television and education. The company was founded by Rainbow Bigbottom in 1988. Rainbow Bigbottom continues to perform to children all over the UK in theatre. The show now stars Mr Panda and his family, and follows their adventures with their magical bamboo.
Company Manager Kate Weber, announced a special theatre day to celebrate the company’s successful 20 years, at the Elgiva. Two shows will be on Saturday 27 September at 1 and 4pm. Called The Magical Bamboo it will feature Giant Pandas Mr Panda and his wife Penny. The Maggie Monk School of dancing will be joining the cast for a range of dance numbers. Rainbow Bigbottom and a host of novelty characters will add laughter, magic and pace. The Magical Bamboo is an ideal family show for children three years of age upwards. Kate said, “We will be having a large birthday cake in the foyer which all the children at the show will be given to take home with a lucky bag to mark this celebration". "We are now finding parents who were birthday children themselves, and have great memories and photos of Rainbow Bigbottom and the Rainbow Clownettes at their parties. "Our company has grown gradually over the years and theatre has now become our main activity. “Our shows are welcomed around the UK, and it is now a question of time until Mr Panda has his own children's television show." Tickets are on sale at the Elgiva call 01494 582900.

Tapping children

The next Space event is on Tuesday 3 June at Chesham Town Hall at 7.30pm where Christine Moran is going to tell all about Tapping. Charges are £2 in advance or £3 on the door. To book phone Margaret Sheppard on 01494 793047. Space is an organisation which supports the parents of children with behavioural problems in a caring environment. Margaret Sheppard said, "We have coffee mornings once a month and we hold children’s activity days as well as passing information on about other organisations".

Mayor takes over

We have a new mayor. It has long been the convention in the Chesham Town Council that the deputy mayor goes on to be the mayor and I couldn’t be more pleased that the very capable and local lady Alison Pirouet (née Fletcher) was elected unanimously on Monday 19 May at the Annual Town Council meeting. Alison, a local woman from generations back, knows the workings of this town and will serve us all very well – she’s already proved that as deputy. She will be ably assisted by her equally public spirited family, husband Rick and children Thomas, David and Rebecca. In particular the Pirouet children give Alison a link into the young people of Chesham and I expect they will be delighted to have another voice speaking for them.

Chesham Museum's new scheme

Join the Chesham Museum SuperFriends scheme for 12 months and enjoy free admission, free newsletter and a discount on their talks and guided walks. The programme will be available later this year. Becoming a SuperFriend of Chesham Museum costs only £60 which will help to raise money to move the museum from the Stables into part of the former Chapter One bookshop at 15 Market Square. Chair of the Trustees, Sue Gordon said, “This promises to be an exciting new chapter in Chesham Museum's history. Number 15 is an historic building, with space for a variety of community based activities as well as more display and storage room than we have at present in Bellingdon Road - in short it is eminently suitable for our purposes.” In order to move into the former bookshop, the Trustees need to raise £20,000. Please help by making a donation online at www.MyCharityPage.com - type Chesham Museum in the search box. Or call at one of the following Chesham businesses, Orbit Press, 11 Market Square; Barclays Bank, 79 High Street or send a cheque to the Treasurer, Chesham Museum – The Stables, Bellingdon Road, Chesham HP5 2NN. Registered Charity No. 1107115. For more information call the Chairman, Lesley Perry on 01494 773513.

Cheshamites recognised

Excitement ran high at the Annual Town Meeting when the Mayoral Awards were announced. It certainly proved a crowd puller for friends and families of the nominees and a happy atmosphere prevailed in the council chamber while some of the well-known workers for Chesham were rewarded, as well as some of the less well known. The People’s Award was won by Christine Stanners for her work promoting the health and welfare of older people and her involvement with Chesham Over 50s Positive Action Group (COPAG). The Rafe Chiles Young Persons Award was won by Paige Lacey-Akers for her ongoing commitment to young people’s projects. The Business Award is for community, environmental or educational activities and was won by The Drawingroom cafe and art gallery. Its spirit of community and improvements to Francis Yard were praised.
The winners are a joint decision by the committee. Although they are called the Mayoral Awards, the mayor is only one of the panel of judges. In fact if the person you nominated this year did not succeed, (and I can tell you having been a judge but not being one next time due to no longer being mayor) you can nominate them again next year. Sometimes a very worthy person doesn’t rate so well because the application hasn’t been detailed enough.

Self-defence for bar staff

Chesham Pegasus Kickboxing & Martial Arts Academy will hold self-defence classes for pub, bar and club staff. The course teaches basic personal safety techniques to equip students with the means to defend themselves in the face of aggressive or rowdy customers. Pegasus instructor Beky Hughes said, “Anyone could become a victim of a violent crime and bar staff are more exposed to threatening situations than most.” Chesham Pegasus classes are popular with male and female students of all ages and fitness levels. Not only can regular kickboxing and martial arts practice improve physical fitness and power, it can also boost self-confidence, improve memory retention and encourage social interaction. Classes are held on Monday and Wednesday evenings at Brushwood Junior School, but others can be arranged and can be tailored to an individual employer or group of employees. Instructors (Bill Cann, Beky Hughes and Karen Gledhill) are fully qualified 1st Dan Black Belts and are Appointed Person trained in Health and Safety First Aid. Contact Beky Hughes, Chesham Pegasus Kickboxing & Martial Arts Academy 07960 218 331 email beky_h@yahoo.com

Doughnuts - Creative Worships

On Sunday 8 June at 6pm go along to Chesham Methodist Church, Bellingdon Road, Chesham HP5 2HA. These creative and contemporary workshops are for people who are searching for lively Bible and Christ centred preaching and praise. For young people and for all ages. Email david.jebb1@ntlworld.com.

Sip, sup after swimming

There is a cafe at the outdoor heated swimming pool again this year. Sam and Abby are already opening after school hours until 6pm and during school holidays it will be open for the same hours as the pool is open. They serve tea and coffee and home made cake and light lunches.