U3A meeting Wednesday 8 October at Chesham town hall at 2pm

The overwhelming response to the idea of forming a second University of the Third Age (U3A) for the Chiltern area is heartening. More than 200 people attended the launch meeting at Amersham in September, with a further 70 keen, and the meeting displayed overwhelming support for the new organisation to be based in Chesham and called Chess Valley U3A. It will be led by Tony Biddle who has been involved in the Chiltern U3A’s working group. Nine people volunteered to join the steering group, namely: John Atkinson, Leonard Hadler, Stuart Mann, Heather Mintern, Jim Rodda, Christine Standring, Janet Steel, Mary Spicer and Peter Westby. As well as other matters, the new U3A should be formally constituted on that day. If you intend to be a involved, you should try to go. In the meantime, enquiries should be addressed to Heather Mintern on 01494 722140, email u3anew@chiltern-u3a.org.uk. For our earlier piece and description of U3A visit

http://www.chilternvoice.co.uk/2008/08/another-u3a-for-chilterns.html or www.chiltern-u3a.org.uk.

Beer festival at British Legion

RBL (Chesham Royal British Legion) is holding its sixth Annual Cask Ale Festival this weekend from Friday 3 October to Sunday 5 October. Twelve real ales will be featured, and two ciders sourced from small independent breweries. Home cooked food is available on Saturday and Sunday. Entry £1 (includes tasting notes) and hours are Friday 7pm – late, Saturday noon – late and Sunday noon – late. Go along to the Legion at 111 Broad Street HP5 3EF or call 01494 784803. 

Cider and perry month - October 2008

CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) is also fighting the cause of real cider and real perry (pear cider). Real cider and perry are long-established traditional drinks which are produced naturally from apples or pears and neither carbonated nor pasteurized. In Chesham you will find real cider at The Queens Head and The Misty Moon; up on the ridges try the Blue Ball at Asheridge, the Crown at Ley Hill, or the Rose & Crown, Hawridge. There will be a choice of real ciders at the Chesham Royal British Legion Beer Festival, open to all on Friday 3 October, Saturday 4 October and Sunday 5 October. A special event is the Crown Cider & Perry Festival in Ley Hill on Saturday 11 October and Sunday 12 October, where several real ciders and perry will be available plus the cheeses and sausages that complement cider’s distinctive taste. For more on Cider & Perry Month, visit http://www.camra.org.uk/page.aspx?o=cidermonth.

Forget the credit crunch - while away a couple of hours

Chesham Musical Theatre Company presents Magical Musical Movies on from Wednesday 22 – Saturday 25 October at the Elgiva Theatre, Chesham. Magical Musical Movies is a song and dance extravaganza featuring numbers from smash hits, including West Side Story, Phantom, Grease, Chicago, Mary Poppins, 42nd Street, Mamma Mia, Guys and Dolls and more. With the best bits from the best musical movies there really is something for everyone. It starts in the evenings at 7.45pm and there is a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm. Call the ticket hotline on 01494 784780 or book online at www.elgiva.com; or in person at the box office between 10am-3pm Monday – Saturday.

Seeking them here or there

The New Seekers are coming to the Elgiva. Apparently they thrill audiences around the world with their unique harmonies and catchy, sing-along songs. Shortly after their formation in 1969, The New Seekers made the charts with such hits as 'I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing', Look What They've Done To My Song Ma', 'Never Ending Song of Love', 'Beg, Steal or Borrow' and 'You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me'. 2007 saw the group tour the UK, release a new album, appear on TV and radio, attend Royal performances and return to The Royal Albert Hall. The group is celebrating 38 years of concerts and The New Seekers In Perfect Harmony, promises that you will re-live the magic of the seventies in addition to hearing new songs. You can see them on Friday 3 October at 8pm. Tickets cost £15 and £14 concession You can book online (where a service charge of £2.50 per transaction applies), in person at the box office between 10am-3pm Monday – Saturday, by phone 01494 582900 (have your credit card details ready), by email to boxoffice@elgiva.com or even by post. Visit http://www2.blogger.com/www.elgiva.ts.com/tickets/all.php5?L=en.

In Australia I was at college with Judith Durham who sang with Athol Guy, Bruce Woodley and Keith Potger in a group then called The Seekers but I cannot work out how they fit in with this group.

First question – find the venue

Whelpley Hill village hall quiz night will be on Saturday 4 October at 7.30pm for 7.45pm start. Make up a team of six. The ticket price is £10 each to include a fish and chip supper but bring your own drink. There will be a raffle with great prizes. Pauline Stacey said, “This is to be a fun evening so bring your family and friends - questions are designed to suit all levels and all subjects. All proceeds will be going towards our much needed Coronation Hall renovation fund.” For tickets or more information call 01442 833286. Whelpley Hill is just off the B4505 close to Bovingdon airfield.

Party

A chance for all those who enjoyed the entertainment from Rainbow Bigbottom over the past twenty years to remember what fun it was and still is. Really the party is for children aged three to eight years but why should they have all the fun? There are some places left for the anniversary show The Magical Bamboo on Saturday 27 September at 1pm or 4pm or you can try turning up at the Elgiva on the day and take a chance on getting in. The Maggie Monk School of Dancing will be joining Rainbow Bigbottom and Mr Panda and all the children in the audience will be able to meet the cast in the foyer. http://www.chilternvoice.co.uk/2008/08/twenty-years-of-trading-in-chesham.html You can book online (when a service charge of £2.50 per transaction applies), in person at the box office between 10am-3pm Monday – Saturday, by phone 01494 582900 (have your credit card details ready), by email to boxoffice@elgiva.com or even by post. See website www.elgiva.com/.

Museum enterprise

There will be a quiz on Saturday 27 September at 7.30pm at the Little Theatre by the Park, in aid of the museum. Chris Spruytenburg said, “It's in a good cause so I do hope you can fit this into your diary and help establish a town centre site for the museum which Chesham desperately needs”. Tickets cost £10 and include a fish and chip supper, bring your own drinks. You can make up a table of eight or go on your own and team up. Bring along some friends and buy your tickets from Starbucks or via the website www.cheshammuseum.org.uk/ Chesham Museum and follow the instructions. (Hint, looks like there might be questions on old pictures of Chesham.)

Be entertained

David Bailey, singer and songwriter is raising funds for Brain Tumour UK, and he will be giving a concert on Sunday 26 October at St Michael’s Church, Amersham on the Hill HP6 5DR. David survived a brain tumour and is visiting the UK as part of international Brain Tumour Awareness Week. Given six months to live 12 years ago he has inspired audiences with his music, beliefs passion and humour. Call the box office on 01494 723561 or email kiki.connor@braintumouruk.org.uk. Tickets cost £10 or £7 for concessions. Brain Tumour UK (now based in Chesham) is a charity working to defeat brain tumours through a significant programme of support, research and education, and is dependent on voluntary contributions.

FA Cup supporters' coach to Weston-super-Mare

Chesham United Football (CUFC) supporters have organised a coach to the away match at Weston-super-Mare on Saturday 27 September. It will leave the Meadow at 9am to allow some sightseeing before the match. Cost per head is £10, and Mike Elliott said, “Fantastic value given the price of petrol these days”. If you're interested, please email Martin Gould gould47@hotmail.com or call the Secretary on 01494 783964. The deadline to register your interest is next Tuesday 23 September. Mike said, “This is a great opportunity to show the team some support, make some noise, and have a good day out too. “I was in Beaconsfield last Saturday and bumped into Dave Fotheringham. He wanted to point out what a difference it makes to the players when they hear singing from the fans”. Mike continued, “I suspect it will be a tough game - Weston-super-Mare are in the Blue Square South after all - but we could make a difference”.

Cinema for the discerning

The Chiltern Film Society continues the season next Wednesday 24 September at 8pm at the Elgiva theatre with In Bruges. Two Irish hoods are sent to hide out after a botched killing, pending final orders. But life proves to be far less boring than they expected. Copies of the programme and joining application form can be obtained from the Elgiva, the White Hill Centre and libraries or from Derek Goddard call 01494 785844 or email derekwgoddard@talktalk.net. You do not have to be a member to attend but if you join up you save money.

Not Now Darling – wait till October

New Penny Theatre Company is building on the positive feed back from the audiences of Out of Order and Noises Off by offering what they think is the best in comedy - a Ray Cooney classic farce, Not Now Darling. It will be on from Tuesday 7 October to Saturday 11 October at 7.45pm plus a Saturday matinee at 2pm at the Elgiva Theatre, Chesham. In the elegant London salon of Bodley, Bodley & Crouch, philanderer Gilbert Bodley sets his sights on beautiful stripper Janie. He aims to seduce her with the help of a designer coat but Janie is married and things become convoluted. New Penny celebrates it’s fifth anniversary with this classic farce of mistaken identities, suspicious wives, scantily clad girls and hilarious permutations. Not Now Darling is by Ray Cooney & John Chapman and the cast includes Tony Sendall, Jeff Eales, Ella Louise Kay, Mark Bolkonsky, Debbie Taylor, Paul Woodstock, Michelle McMinn and Ginge Anderson, while Nicky Chryssaphes and Jane Foufas join New Penny for the first time. Jeff Eales said, “We are sold out on the Saturday evening, but book for other times online at www.elgiva.com, phone the box office on 01494 582900 or text NEWPENNY to 60300 and the Elgiva will call you. Or call in person at the Elgiva Theatre, St Mary's Way, Chesham, Bucks, HP5 1HR. For more information on New Penny Theatre Company visit www.newpenny.co.uk".

New films for the Film Society

The Chiltern Film Society begins its new season on Wednesday 10 September at 8pm at the Elgiva theatre. The first film will be The Singer with Gerard Depardieu as an aging crooner doing the rounds in Vichy - the centre of the French retirement homes. The Film Society was founded at the White Hill Centre in 1969 to provide a showcase for the best of world cinema. The season’s programme totals 15 international films. Copies of the programme and joining application form can be obtained from the Elgiva, the White Hill Centre and libraries or from Derek Goddard call 01494 785844 or by email derekwgoddard@talktalk.net. You do not have to be a member to attend but if you join up you save money.

Living in the Chilterns is special

BBC Radio 4's Open Country programme visited Buckinghamshire on Friday 22 August to discover what makes living in the Chilterns special. The presenter Elinor Goodman, a journalist specialising in rural and political issues, was particularly interested in the part played by volunteers from the Chiltern Society to safeguard the Chilterns’ countryside and way of life. Recordings were made at the River Misbourne talking to representatives of the Chiltern Society Rivers & Wetlands Group, then at Bottom Wood to find out about woodland conservation where several red kites appeared on cue. The programme considered the housing market and affordability with John Taylor, Chiltern Society Chairman, and a local estate agent. The crew then took a walk on the Chiltern Way learning about the work done by the Chiltern Society monitoring and helping maintain the 2,300 miles of Chiltern’s footpaths, and about the successful Donate a Gate project which replaces stiles for ease of access to the countryside. The programme finished with a look at the future for farming in the Chilterns.Listen to the Radio 4 Open Country programme early on Saturday 13 September from 6.10 - 6.40am, or again on Thursday 18 September from 1.30 - 2pm or alternatively via the BBC website.

Focus on football

The ITV cameras were at The Meadow for Chesham United’s cup game with Brading Town last weekend and they have put the coverage on their website. That makes it four wins out of five games for Chesham this season and League leading scorer Danny Burnell has scored in each game and has 13 already for the season. Dave Jeffrey said, "On Saturday there is a big match at The Meadow as Nuneaton Town visit after having financial problems and being demoted two divisions – around 200 visiting fans are expected". Keep Chesham United in your browser Bookmarks or Favorites (yes I know Internet Explorer uses American spelling, I recommend using Google's Chrome).

Insider tells all about the United Nations in Africa

Hear the story from Malcolm Harper who has spent much of his life and career at the heart of Africa, having first hand experience of many of its issues. Malcolm worked for Oxfam for 18 years, is a governor of International Students’ House in London, a board member of the International Broadcasting Trust, and a member of the Stakeholder Forum. He was involved in the struggle to eliminate apartheid and works for a world free from hunger, abject poverty, ill health, repression and environmental degradation. In 2004 Malcolm helped set up a Friends of Northern Uganda movement towards a negotiated end to the violence being perpetrated there. You can hear Malcolm’s reflections and anecdotes at a thought provoking and entertaining talk on Wednesday 1 October, in Lee Common Parish Hall at 8pm. Tickets cost £10 including a glass of wine afterwards, and must be purchased in advance from Keith Taylor call 01494 837880. Proceeds will benefit of the Friends of Northern Uganda charity. (Malcolm is also keen cricketer with strong views on the demise of spin bowling in English cricket).

Learn to Play Bridge!

Bridge is one of the most popular and enthralling games in the world and a great way to meet new friends. Gerrards Cross Memorial Centre will be having day and evening Beginners Bridge and Continuing Bridge classes starting in the autumn. The Memorial Centre is at 8 East Common, Gerrards Cross SL9 7AD. To find out more about the bridge classes and other sessions call Tess Templeton on 01753 885004 or email mailto:tesstempleton@aol.com

Town Talk on-line, even if you’ve lost the paper magazine

Anne Noakes has let me know that the Chesham Town Talk website is now up and running. It has been designed by local 17 year old student Ricky Vann who is taking work experience at Hawkes Design. As it happens I trained him on computers when he was about 10 and he was a natural even at that age. The website www.cheshamtowntalk.org.uk contains, among other things, a PDF of the latest issue – the one with the verdant garden of delphiniums and hollyhocks on the front, we mentioned on Wednesday 30 April 2008. Plus an archive of the old editions, full of interesting articles. There is now a permanent link to Town Talk on the right of this blog.

Directors declare yourselves before September

Chesham Theatre Company (CTC) is planning another Chesham Open-Air Festival for 2009 by kind permission of Messrs. IBB Solicitors. Following the successful events of 2007 and 2008, CTC and Friends will again be providing a programme of plays. They offer an opportunity for other community entertainment in the magnificent grounds of The Bury in Church Street, during the latter part of June/early July (precise dates are to be confirmed). The format again will be picnic theatre, with the audience invited to dine alfresco on the lawns prior to taking their seats in the 250 seat open-air theatre.
Alan Bridges, Hon Secretary of CTC said, “We invite all directors to put forward a play which they will direct for the festival in one of the two categories. (1) A play for family audiences including children and which may include children in the cast, for afternoon and evening performances. (2) A play primarily for adult audiences, for evening performance. “There are no restrictions on genre but we try to avoid Shakespeare in order not to clash with nearby open-air Shakespeare festivals.”
Please forward a statement of your interest to direct by Monday 15 September. Give the title and edition of your chosen play and a copy of the work if it is an original, or confirm that it is available for performance. Send to Clare Bunce, Chairman CTC, 37 Upland Avenue, Chesham, HP5 2EB or email clare.bunce1@ntlworld.com. You will be asked to attend a meeting on Tuesday 30 September, to informally present more detail of your production to the festival committee. They will be interested in the envisaged set, costume, style of production, timing and preliminary budget. Plays for performance will be chosen during the first week of October. For all enquiries or further information contact Clare on 01494 774746, Steve Cherry on 01494-774575, Helen Salisbury 01494 793877, or Trevor Pilling on 01494 786902.

New open mic jam sessions on Sunday evenings

Music lovers are invited to the new KMD Open Mic Jam Session at The Chess Suite, Chesham United Football Club, Amy Lane on Sunday evenings. All musicians are welcome to come along with their instruments to join in. A full public address and sound engineer are provided. The bar is open and you can set up from 7pm. Entry is £2 at the door. Call Garry on 07903 731123, email garry@kmdstudio.co.uk or visit ChessLive website at www.chesslive.org.uk. For musicians it's a great rehearsal space, you can put your acts together and use the sessions to perfect your sets. And if you're a music lover but not a player, you are equally important to the sessions because all musicians welcome feedback from the public.

New football season kicks off

Chesham United is hoping to build on last season’s near miss with a determined push for promotion this time around. Having beaten Wycombe Wanderers 3-0 to lift the Berks & Bucks Cup in May they go into the new season with a stable squad and expectations are high. Pre-season results have included a 5-0 victory over Wycombe. Chesham United’s first home game of the new season is next Tuesday 19 August with a 7.45pm kick off at The Meadow against Arlesey Town, Bedfordshire SG15 6SN. The first Saturday home game will be against Woodford United on Saturday 23 August.
Once again this season under 18s who sign up for the junior section of the Supporters’ Trust at United will be provided with a free season ticket for league matches at The Meadow – application forms available from The Chess Suite or the club shop on matchdays. Full details of Chesham United’s fixtures are available at www.cheshamunited.co.uk.

Good life open day

There is still time to book your stall at an open day to be held at Hazeldene Organic Farm, Asheridge Road, Chesham HP5 2XD on Sunday 31 August from 11am – 5pm. There will be more than 30 stalls including: cards, jewellery, Wildlife Trust, holistic, bric a brac, books, 11+ tutor, equestrian, fancy dress, plants, photography, face painting, community police and motorbikes. Stallholders are not being charged for their pitch but need to provide their own table or gazebo, and will be asked to make a donation to the air ambulance if they have a good day. Call Liz Bateman on 01494 783501 or email liz@hazeldenefarm.com. There will be a barbeque, tea and cake marquee, ice cream van, classic cars, a mega slide, tractor and trailer rides, animals in pens and of course the popular farm shop. Entry costs adults £2.50, children under 16 go free, and half of the gate will be donated to the Berks Oxon & Bucks Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance Trust.

Twenty years of trading in Chesham

Rainbow Bigbottom & Co Ltd has been based in Chesham since 1988 and will be celebrating their 20th Year in September at the Elgiva Theatre. A special show The Magical Bamboo features the cuddly Mr Panda Bear who will be singing and dancing with a host of colourful characters. (Mr Panda is the bear that pushed me fully clothed into Chesham open air pool last May). Guests can meet the Genie of the Flame, the dancing Clownettes, Zooling, Penny Panda, and more. The show will be hosted by children's personality Rainbow Bigbottom, and the Maggie Monk School of dancing will provide a range of dances in this one off celebration show.
Manager, Kate Weber said, “We are delighted to be able to celebrate our success in Chesham, where we have provided quality children's entertainment, delighting thousands of children at their birthday parties and special events. Many children remember being entertained and people often comment on the bright yellow bus that was seen around town".
The company has owned two retail outlets, one in Beaconsfield and the other – Rainbows – was based in Chesham High Street. The company moved to Higham Road and continues to provide entertainment for families, companies and celebrities. Rainbow Bigbottom has met the Queen and has entertained Princess Eugenie and thousands of children across the UK.
The company now launches its new UK tour which features Mr Panda and his family. The Panda's have different adventures with each show having a mix of educational and environmental messages as well as traditional music, magic and fun. The show is written by Lorraine Mays and the cast comes from all parts of the UK including local actresses Carla Chases from Television’s Hollyoaks, Dina Lees from The Tweenies, Fireman Sam and Thomas the Tank shows.
The Magical Bamboo is being held on Saturday 27 September at Elgiva Theatre. Visit www.elgiva.com where tickets are now on sale. Each child attending the show will meet the cast in the foyer, receive birthday cake and get to have their photo taken with Mr Panda.

Chesham Museum Fundraising

The temperature is certainly rising at Number 15 Market Square, potentially the future home of Chesham Museum, following an increase in the money raised by donations and Friends subscriptions to more than £7,000. The jumble sale on Saturday 26 July raised more than £700 and the plant sale in June also reached over £700, including donations after the events.Volunteers led by chairman Lesley Perry want to push the mercury even higher with the forthcoming book sale for two days only. It will be at the old Chapter One Bookshop, 15 Market Square, Chesham from 10am onwards on Wednesday 13 and Saturday 16 August 2008. There will also be a Quiz Night, an historic Chesham Silver Band re-enactment evening and an Art Sale. Donations are always welcomed by the Museum itself or to Orbit Press or the other collecting boxes around town or online via the website at www.cheshammuseum.org.uk. Or leave a message for Ian Freeman at the museum at Gamekeepers Lodge 01494 793491.

Elgiva with ease

It was exciting, when I visited the Elgiva website to see On Line Booking Now Available visit www.elgiva.com . It is so much easier to book whenever you think of it – even in the middle of the night, and the charge is very reasonable compared to comparable venues. You can still book by phone, call the box office on 01494 582900 between 10am-3pm Monday – Saturday, or email boxoffice@elgiva.com to book. I recommend booking on line.
You could follow last year's sell-out successful festival and go to Fusion’08 to see the best in local talent on Saturday 2 August at 4pm. Tickets cost £5 if booked in advance or £7 at the door.
On Monday 4 August there are three films. Nim's Island, cert U, at 11am is set in a magical place ruled by a young girl's imagination and costs £5 or £4 concession. Also there are two performances of Son of Rambow, the home movie made by two little boys with a big video camera and even bigger ambitions, and set on a long English summer in the early 80's. It is on at 2pm and 8pm and costs £5 or £4 concession. Wheelchair patrons please contact the Box Office on 01494 582900 to book your tickets.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 .

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.

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.

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.

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.

40 playing strings

Chiltern Youth Chamber Orchestra celebrated its tenth anniversary year with a dynamic programme at the Elgiva, featuring something for everyone. They played works by Elgar, Tchaikovsky, Bach and Handel as well as a new commission for guitar, voice and strings. The large audience, including aspiring young musicians, were amazed by the 40 young string players - many at national or county level - led by Thomas Aldren of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and conducted by Peter Hanson, leader of the Eroica Quartet. It was their final concert of the season and about five are going on to university so there was a sad undertone at the excited end of term party afterwards. The standard was excellent so don't miss them next year.

Three football successes to Chesham

Chesham United won the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup on Monday, defeating Wycombe Wanderers. Chesham United Youth Team won their cup final against Bracknell on Sunday morning, and Chesham United Ladies Football Club Chesham 1st XI ,won the Berks & Bucks cup final after defeating Woodley. See it all on their website www.cheshamunited.co.uk, well done.

More of a plunge than a swim

What a day it was. The B-loony balloons looked fabulous and the Art Deco sun and other bits by Waterside school were splendid. I was thrilled so many people came along and joined in – the weather was perfect. I didn’t even have to dive in after all – naughty Mr Panda saw to that. At least there won’t be any pools at his magic show at the Elgiva on Saturday 27 September at 1pm and 4pm. The pool was so full there was no room for the inflatable. You will have to go another day, check times at Chesham Moor Gym and Swim.
Thanks to so many people for working to make this a special day to celebrate the summer season at our lovely outdoor heated pool, I had a super time (well except for the plunge!) and I’m sure everyone else did too. Bucks TV were quick off the mark!