Hope in Latimer valley

Latimer sort-of qualifies as being in my Chesham patch so I can tell you about a local charity, spearheaded by two families and now expanding to include a small staff team. Gary and Catherine Grant started the Entertainer toy shops in 1981 and have long been involved with youth and family work. Together with friends Sue and Dave Trevor, they set up the charity Restore Hope Latimer, based at Latimer Park Farm, www.restorehopelatimer.com. Restore Hope Latimer provides a base for family and community work, as both hosts and in partnership with other organizations. Catherine comes from a nursing and health visiting background, and along with a team of volunteers set up a toy library at Restore Hope Latimer. The Toy Library runs regular sessions each week for a large number of families who join as members. It provides a wonderful play space for children with their mums, dads and grandparents to meet and borrow toys in much the same way as a traditional library does. It also offers other family orientated opportunities such as parenting courses, cookery schools and social evenings.
Restore Hope Latimer aims to assist families, children and young people to improve life skills and provide opportunities for personal growth and development. The facilities offer enjoyable experiences that are different from the everyday life of many families and young people, in a safe environment where they can learn and develop. I was able to see this in action when the Buckinghamshire Children’s Fund Programme held an exciting award ceremony and activity day to celebrate the achievements of the young people involved in these projects. Restore Hope Latimer hosted more than 175 young people and helpers, many from the inner areas of High Wycombe and other Buckinghamshire towns. It is a shame that government funding for the Buckinghamshire Children’s Fund Programme, working together with Youth Focus and Thames Valley Police, is being withdrawn after three successful years.

Noise overhead

A public meeting to Stop the Jets and save the peaceful Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty will be held on Thursday 27 March at 7.30pm at the Great Missenden Memorial Hall. The government is planning to allow the number of passengers at UK airports to increase by 40% in just seven years. The Chiltems are at risk from lowered flight paths yet the AONB is a designated area of tranquillity. NATS En Route plc (known as NATS) has been charged to produce proposals and to consult locally. NATS provides air traffic control services at 15 of the UK's biggest airports, and "en-route" air traffic services for aircraft flying through UK airspace. Visit the NATS website www.nats.co.uk, enter your postcode and see how you are affected in their consultation form. See the altitudes over Chesham at www.consultation.nats.co.uk/map/25/aircraft_routes.html?address=HP5+1DS. The consultation closes on Thursday 22 May. A concerned resident of Great Missenden said, “If the NATS proposals go ahead it will be the thin start of a very thick wedge. Protect the Chilterns and make sure your voice is heard." You can • Come to the meeting, • Lobby your M.P. eg. letters to David Lidington M.P., House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA, email davidlidingtonmpparliament.uk.

Theatre and music at The Bury

Preparations for this year's Open Air Festival at the Bury by Chesham Theatre Company, are gathering momentum. Steve Cherry said, “We are seeking participation from as many enthusiastic locals as possible. Whether skilled in theatre crafts or not, we need lots of helpers to make the festival work: on-stage, back-stage or front of house – we need you.”
Generous owners of The Bury, IBB Solicitors are again opening their magnificent grounds from Saturday 28 June to Saturday 5 July. A 250 seat theatre will be set up and rehearsals start on Saturday 21 June. Two plays will be performed - Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales and Roald Dahl’s The Witches. The Canterbury Tales will be on the two Saturday evenings and Monday 30 June, Wednesday 2 July and Thursday 3 July. The Witches will be matinees on the two Saturdays and Sunday 29 June as well as the evening of Friday 4 July. Performances will be picnic theatre with audiences dining al fresco on the lawns. Last year’s festival was successful - hard work but a lot of fun, and CTC is encouraged by many who attended and by Chesham Town Council, to build on this as a well supported community event for all the family.
Reading and auditioning is underway. Get in touch or go along to the Little Theatre by The Park, Church Street, on a Monday evening at 8pm. Visit www.cheshamtheatrecompany.org.uk Call Steve Cherry on 01494 774575 or email steve.cherry@btinternet.com, or Alan Bridges on 01494 783098 email alan101bridges@yahoo.co.uk .

Allow more time to get there

Gas works are said to begin on Monday 24 March and will take approximately 1 year to complete. Some 63 locations are involved. Bill Richards the town clerk commented wryly, “It’s not going to be fun driving through town over the next few months”,

NSPCC - National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children

I was moved, not to say distressed, at a meeting at the Judges' Lodgings in Aylesbury, to hear of some of the devious efforts made by paedophiles to access children – not only elsewhere in the world but here in the UK. It is child abuse. Dealing with it, catching the perpetrators and re-habilitating the victims is time consuming and expensive work, and distressing for the professionals. Funding is an ongoing concern and groups of volunteers from the Buckinghamshire Branch of NSPCC collect money and of course more donations are always needed. The NSPCC also took over Childline 0800 1111 when it was at risk of closure due to lack of funds, and this is an added cost.
Locally the Slough Project provides therapeutic support for children and young people who have suffered abuse. Methods include activities such as play, art, stories, role play, talking, worksheets and drama either individually or in groups. The project provides a safe place and opportunities to work through the pain and hurt of abuse within a professional relationship with a social worker who understands the process of recovery. To find out how you can get involved or donate, call 01908 328060, website and help for adults call 0808 800 5000.

Keep fit on your days off

The outdoor heated swimming pool and gym has launched a website so you can check up on opening times or any the other questions you suddenly think of outside office hours. Visit
www.cheshammoorfitness.org.uk.
In 1912 the first swimming pool was erected and in 1933 it had a facelift which included improvements to the pool and its surroundings such as changing cubicles. The first written reference to swimming on the moor was a complaint in 1898. In 1964 the whole building was reconstructed and the pool was deepened. It was re-opened by Councillor Bill Moulder who in 1912 was one of the first to swim in the original pool. Chiltern District Council managed the pool in 1974, agreeing to close it when Chesham Leisure Centre was completed. It was at risk of closure when, at a public meeting, Brian Wright offered to chair a voluntary organisation to manage it. The newly appointed Chess Valley Sports & Leisure Association refurbished it in 1989 and user numbers steadily increased until demand dictated new plans for the building's expansion. A Lottery Grant was obtained and building work started in 1996 and took a year to complete allowing a grand opening in 1997.

Business comes to Chesham

Pace Rehabilitation has established a clinic here. Scott Richardson said, “We have been active in the north from a clinic in Cheshire, but are delighted to establish some roots in the South of England". Pace provides artificial limbs (prosthesis), with a multi-disciplinary team approach to individuals and their rehabilitation, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, clinical psychology and medical input from a rehab consultant. Scott and his partner Jamie Gillespie are both amputees following motorcycle accidents giving them a unique understanding to benefit patients. www.pacerehab.com. PACE Rehabilitation Limited, Unit 1, Anglo Business Park, Asheridge Road, HP5 2QA call 0845 4507357.

Parent space

The next coffee morning of the SPACE Support Group will be on Wednesday 26 March at Chiltern Court, 188 Severalls Avenue at 10am – noon. SPACE is a parent-led group that meets monthly to chat, laugh, and listen over coffee, as they support each other in caring for one another, and for any child that has ADHD, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, or other challenging behavior. For more information call the helpline on 01494 772146, or visit www.spacepage.co.uk. Alison Nixon said, “New members are always welcome, and we usually have a speaker on a relevant topic each month”.

Learning at Tom Scott house

Residents of the Tom Scott accommodation house in Pearce Road will benefit from the refurbishment of an under-used laundry room for the delivery of learning, skills, parenting classes etc. Paradigm Housing Group and Chiltern District Council have worked together on the facility. Bucks Adult Learning has provided laptop computers, chairs and a wipe board. Teri Floyd, Community Involvement Officer at Paradigm said, “We are in the process of designing a menu of activities that the residents have requested and which can aid them in both personal and professional development”. Tom Scott house was named after an Urban District Councillor who was leader of the council in 1956 (they weren’t called mayors in the urban district council days).

Psychology - an introduction

Would you like to find out more about this fascinating subject? Bucks Adult Learning has an eight week course on Thursday evenings at Chesham Adult Learning Centre at Chesham Park Community College, Chartridge Lane, starting Thursday 24 April, course code Z4HU03A, fee £58. Call 0845 4040 or visit www.adultlearningbcc.ac.uk. The course doesn't show when you enter the code, but if you enter 'Psychology – Introduction', it comes up. The time of the classes is 7.30 - 9.30pm.

Go to Anything Goes

Chesham Musical Theatre Company’s next production is Anything Goes. With music and lyrics by Cole Porter including You’re the Top and I Get a Kick out of You, the story concerns the shenanigans below decks of an assortment of characters on a cruise liner bound for London from New York in the 1930s. Incorporating comedy, melody, dance, love, an array of wonderful costumes and a group of professional musicians, this is a show for all the family.
Anything Goes runs over two weeks at the Elgiva theatre from Thursday 17 April – Saturday 19 April and Wednesday 23 April – Saturday 26 April nightly at 7.45pm, with Saturday matinees at 2.30pm. Tickets range from £12 - £16, call the Elgiva box office on 01494 582900, or visit www.elgiva.com.

Plants beautify

Richard Eklington is looking for plants - bedding or otherwise. Never idle, and with building work now complete in Francis Yard, Richard says, “I'd like to make a head start in returning the yard to a place of beauty. I'm after any suitable flowering and exciting plants you may care to donate”. He even promises donors will be treated to one of the delicious Fairtrade chocolates, coffees or teas served at The Naked Café at The Drawingroom in Francis Yard HP5 1DG. Call 01494 791691 or email richard@the-drawingroom.co.uk.

Calorathon

Danny Essex, the manager of Chesham Moor Gym & Swim Centre invites Cheshamites to a gym challenge, sometime between now and the end of April. The idea is to get sponsorship from friends and colleagues for burning up calories – a sponsored calorathon. The equipment in the gym shows how many calories the user is burning. Raise funds for your own charity or support mine - Buckinghamshire Mind, the town council can accept donations to my chosen mayoral charity. Get a form from the pool and get your sponsors signed up. Call Danny on 01494 776975 or email CtcPool@chesham.gov.uk. The gym equipment shows calorie burn - you can choose which pieces to exercise on and then add it all up after 60 minutes.

Forty years on

Heritage House School is holding an open day on Wednesday 2 April from 10am - 2pm to celebrate its 40th birthday. Governors, past staff and students have been invited, many of whom haven't seen each other for many years. There will be guided tours of the school by senior management, displays of work and information. “It has been quite hard sending out invitations as there are so many people who have been involved over the years, and I am worried I have missed people out,” said Mel Harewood, Curriculum Enrichment Officer, “The more who read of it through your blog, the better.” Call the school in Cameron Road HP5 3BP on 01494 771445 to reply or visit www.heritagehouse.bucks.sch.uk.

Fairtrade exceeded

Fairtrade fortnight was well supported here. Vicky Mistry said, “We sold more than 300 tickets for the two day film festival and attracted a wider audience than previous FT Fortnights”. The question and answer panel were highly qualified and made convincing cases, it was a pity we didn't have time to hear more from them. The raffle was won by Mr and Mrs Povey – a splendid Waitrose FT hamper, Clem Short came second and Phil Folly came third, winning FT cook books.

Live Romano-British history

Chiltern Open Air Museum is opening on Friday 21 March for a theme of Hands on History. There are numerous activities to get involved with over the weekend as well as re-enactments. On Friday 21 and Saturday 22 March you can dress up for a Vermeer painting. On Sunday 23 and Monday 24 March the re-enactment group Vicus provides Romano-British activity and you can join the Roman Army. Vicus takes its name from an ancient Roman civilian settlement or suburb which sprang up close to a Roman army garrison/ encampment.
Chiltern Open Air Museum is at Newland Park, Gorelands Lane, Chalfont St Giles, Bucks HP8 4AB, and is open daily from 10am - 5pm (last admission 3.30 pm). Admission costs adults £7.50, concessions £6.50, children (5-16 years old) £5, and a family ticket for two adults and two children £22.
Press PR & Marketing Manager Phil Holbrook said, “We sell refreshments but not full sit down meals at the Blythe Road Ticket Office and Shop”. There is some seating and picnic tables just outside. Do visit the splendid Edwardian Public Conveniences nearby.

COAM benefits from donations and has been offered a small wartime Nissen Hut from Sewell, just outside Dunstable in Bedfordshire. Curators and volunteers need to dismantle it and rebuild it to replace one of the old storage buildings at Wood End. The outer skin and frame of the Nissen Hut is in good condition. We are indebted to the COAM for saving our heritage.

Free reflections

Like me David Kavanagh was let go from the Examiner, so in 1999 he set up a website called Country Reflections and all the news stories and articles featured on it until 2006 have been compiled into book form A Country Pillow Book, which is browsable free on Google Books .
Currently you can find David’s writing for Bucks Free Press.

Football mad in 1968?

Chesham United Supporters’ Trust is trying to track down any players, management and officials from the Chesham side that reached the Final of the FA Amateur Cup at Wembley in 1968. Sunday 20 April this year is the 40th Anniversary of that game and Dave Jeffrey would welcome anyone involved in the team from the whole cup run to the match against Chasetown to The Meadow on Saturday 19 April. One of the national non-league football papers carried a feature on the Wembley cup run if you are interested in more detail of what was an amazing achievement, click here. Email Dave at dave@chesslive.org.uk or call 07904 045228.

Welcome to new PCSO

Kimberley Goode C9393 is a new Police Community Support Officer in Chesham, and has been working here for around three months. “I am thoroughly enjoying it. I am trying to find my feet and get around to meeting everyone,” she said. “My main working area is the town centre which includes Lowndes Park and The Backs (along with PCSO Mike Shepherd) but I do venture out into other areas.” There are now eight PCSOs in total here: PCSO C9651 Clive Shilson and PCSO C9389 Jonathon Kong look after Waterside; PCSO C9508 Charlotte Brand is based at Pond Park and PCSO C9334 Darren Scott and PCSO C9418 Lesley Roche look after the rural area. Kimberley said, “We are all here to help. Call 08458 505505 number and ask if you can be put through to my mobile. Let us know of any meetings or events that you may like us to attend. I am holding a Crime Reduction Event in Café Nero The Broadway on Thursday 20 March at 11am”.

Recyle at Chiltern FreeCycle

FreeCycle is a website where you can give away stuff you no longer want. The arrangement is between you and the recipient – no money changes hands. Recycle that special something rather than throwing it away. From a couch to an old video tape - just try posting it. If you are after something yourself you can make a request. The only rule is that everything posted must be free. The group is part of The Freecycle Network, a non-profit movement for people interested in reducing landfill. Check out www.freecycle.org for other cities and info on the movement, but Chesham’s site can be found at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChilternFreecycle (notice no www). Email ChilternFreecycle-owner@yahoogroups.com for questions or improvement ideas.

Decibels decimate

Just as people relax after the deadline for opposing the expansion of Heathrow airport, the Chiltern Society alerts us to the threat to tranquil areas of the Chilterns and thousands of homes from much more noise nuisance from aircraft if proposals go ahead. Luton routes will fly along the beautiful and unique Chiltern escarpment, and from the Tring area down to Great Missenden and Stokenchurch. New Heathrow routeings are likely to affect the Beaconsfield and Chorleywood areas.
The Chiltern Society, a charity which looks after the interests of the area, will study the NATS’s proposals in detail and make robust objections to the consultation document. Call 01494 771250 or visit www.chilternsociety.org.uk.

Meades footbridge

Ian Freeman tells me the Environmental Group has been working on the pond in the Amersham Road Allotments to compliment the Meades metamorphosis. The footbridges at Meades Water Gardens will be painted up by the Rotary club and then given an anti-slip treatment by the parks and premises team, but only after the footpath upgrading has been done. See meades water gardens.
Quite separately, the Environment Agency is working in the Cannon's Mill area in Waterside on a footbridge installation and channel clean up.

What are Court Rolls

Who would you like to find out more about the history and archaeology of our area? You have an opportunity on Saturday 15 March. Chess Valley Archaeological and Historical Society is holding an open evening when there will be talks on the latest archaeological field work and their researches into Chesham's Manor Court Rolls. All this can be enjoyed over a glass of wine. It will be in St Mary's Church Rooms in Church Street at 8pm and all are welcome. The cost to visitors is £2 but why not join and become a member? Call Anne Marshall on 01494 725952.
The Chess Valley Archaeological and Historical Society was founded in 1964. The first president was Dr Kenneth Oakley, who uncovered the Piltdown Fraud. The practical work of the Society began with the excavation of the Romano-British villa at Latimer, the account of which is still a standard work of reference. The Field Group carries out topographic surveys of archaeological sites in the Chess valley Area. They use a resistivity meter and are working on a geophysical survey of a large Roman villa complex. Other projects include a Mesolithic and Bronze Age site near Latimer and more excavation of Tudor remains at Chesham Bois House. Regular field-walking has further helped to reveal the true level of prehistoric activity in the area. The Records Group is transcribing the volumes of the Chesham Parish Register, which give an insight into the lives and occupations of the past inhabitants and volumes have been published up to 1760.

Male choir from Staffordshire

Using St Mary's as the venue, on Saturday 5 April at 7pm, Chesham Rotary is holding a charity concert in aid of the Royal National Institute for the Deaf and the Amersham & Chesham Hard of Hearing Club. A friendship which dates back to junior schooldays between Rotary president Dr Alan Morris, and the chairman of the Cannock Chase Orpheus Male Choir helps to bring this award winning choir to Chesham.
With a history steeped in colliery villages where much of this country's community singing has its roots, the choir has performed internationally and in venues throughout the country and appears live on radio. We are fortunate that for this charity event the soprano soloist, Sharron Burns, will be joining with the choir to perform a selection from traditional choral pieces, opera, popular 60s hits and religious works. The choir will travel here by coach and return the same day. Tickets cost £10 from the box office on 01494 8625800 or Perfect Pitch, 72 The Broadway, call 01494 774826 (closed Thursdays). Detailed information is on the Rotary web site, see link on the right. Rotary Club of Chesham is a registered charity no. 1032366.

Dyslexia help

Children, adults and students with dyslexia can be helped to read and spell more effectively using specialist multi-sensory software. Last year Corinna Shepherd opened the Chilterns IDL Centre in Prestwood. IDL is an interactive, multi-sensory learning system, visit http://www.idlsystem.co.uk/. Corinna also trains users in the full Microsoft Office Suite, digital photography, scanners, file management, anti-virus software, Dreamweaver web page design and e-learning materials. Visit http://www.cstraining.info/, email enquiries@cstraining.info or call CS Training Services 07721 368978. Some of Corinna’s services overlap mine although I offer Mac tuition as well, see http://www.computercompanion.org.uk/.

Engineers entertained

You should have seen the ingenuity of the young people who designed and made a model bridge with an opening section to let a tall boat through. Rotary devised this year’s challenge and supplied simple materials like cardboard, drinking straws, cotton thread and glue-gun on demand. They also organized the venue, the registration and promotion, the judging – in effect put on the whole show, and have done this for years. Everything had to be created by the teams of four young people on-site in one morning. Well the teacher’s team wasn’t so young but their design was most eye-catching. By the time I arrived at lunchtime, the bridges were complete. The preliminary drawings were works of art in themselves and the constructions innovative, aesthetically pleasing and with a variety of solutions - making the judges’ task more difficult. The participants were treated to a short explanation of the principles involved by senior judge and bridge builder Ray Payne who is also head of the procurement committee for the London 2012 Olympics. All the Rotarians commented on the calibre of the young people who were polite, industrious, enthusiastic and an outstanding example of their generation. The team with the best solution in the Advanced class was given tickets for the Excitement of Science all-day event at the Royal Institution in June. Follow up more on engineer something.
A team of Rotarians led the Rev Derek Upcott devised the Tournament in 1989; fresh challenge are distributed nationally and internationally each year. At least 10,000 students in the UK take part.

Thankyou

Thankyou for your kind remarks on our first anniversary last week. Hazel Hopkinson said, “My husband’s uncle is now included on your email list and he lives near sunny Bournemouth!” We did get some new subscribers too.