Quiz gave good result

Nearly 80 people packed into the Little Theatre by the Park for the first Chesham Museum quiz evening led by curator Sue Gordon. More than £550 was raised towards enabling the museum to move from its present home to the more prominent premises previously occupied by Chapter One Booksellers in Market Square. Sue Gordon said, "We were delighted with the turnout. Thanks to Starbucks, the Gamekeepers Lodge, Four Seasons fish and chip shop and to all our volunteers who helped on the night”.

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.)

Lady Elgiva started it

To mark Chesham's Heritage weekend, The Friends of St Mary's Church have arranged for an exhibition prepared by historian Shirley Foxell on The Life and Times of the Lady Elgiva to be on show at the Church, on Sunday 14 September between 12.30 and 5pm. The display will outline how it came about that Chesham first emerged into recorded history over 1,000 years ago in the will of the Lady Elgiva. An illustrated booklet on the subject will be on sale, together with other local history books, the proceeds of which will go to The Friends of St Mary's. For more information contact David Way 01494 783529.

Happy Pakistan Independence Day

Pakistan’s Independence Day ((Urdu یومِ آذادی) also known as Yaum-e-Azadi was celebrated in style last Sunday 10 August by a packed programme of Cultural Awareness Events for invited guests at the Elgiva theatre. It was the first event held by the Chesham Asian Welfare Society, chaired by Masud Ahmed, the new group formed to let the ordinary people in ethnic communities know about activities in Chesham. It celebrated the History of Asians in Chesham with a presentation by Parveiz Aslam, and was so crowded by happy adults and children from many ethnic backgrounds, all enjoying themselves, that I feel sure it will be the start of many similar events. Thankyou to all who worked to make the day a success.

Walking maps

Chesham Community Vision was brought together to enhance the town and make it more attractive to residents and visitors. One of the results has been the production of a set of walking leaflets designed to encourage everyone to enjoy the town and to explore the surrounding countryside. There are six clearly laid-out and attractive leaflets which describe walks of varying lengths and difficulty. Each leaflet has an easy to follow map, a full description of the route and description of the important historical landmarks. There is further information about special views, wildlife and background events connected with the route, illustrated with photographs and historical pictures.
Walk 1 is the Heritage Trail which takes one around the town on a route based on the black heritage plates affixed to buildings. This is an update of the previous leaflet with an extension of the route to the Museum and the Mosque.
Walk 2, the Outer Ring, skirts the perimeter of Chesham following closely the boundary between town and countryside. Although it is one of the longer walks at 7 and a half miles, it can be curtailed by shortened to the town centre from a number of points.
The other four walks basically explore east, south, west and north, starting and finishing in Chesham.
Walk 4 is the shortest, going towards Chesham Bois and into the beech woods. It is stile free and makes a suitable starter for those who have not yet explored the local area.
Other walks take you to Ley Hill and the Woodland Trust reserve at Cowcroft and back along the Chess; to Pednor, Chartridge and Asheridge with an opportunity to visit a medieval earthworks. You can be reminded of ancient history - an iron age fort, and the modern history of Bovingdon Aerodrome where Clark Gable, James Stuart and Glen Miller served in the Second World War.
The leaflets are available at the Chesham Library, Chesham Town Hall, Amersham Library and various other outlets.
Or download them in pdf format from the Town Council website www.chesham.gov.uk.

Heritage opens doors to us all

Chesham’s history will come to life on Sunday 14 September 2008 as part of the national Heritage Open Day. The focus of the day will be on The Bury, Church Street, where the house and grounds will be open from 10am - 5 pm, courtesy IBB Solicitors. The Bury is a fine example of a Buckinghamshire town house, and was the residence of the Lowndes family, who donated Lowndes Park to the town. There will be guided tours of the house and displays in the grounds of traditional Chesham crafts, such as wood turning and brush making. There will also be a display of Medieval dress and armour and the Friends of Chesham Cemetery will be present to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the town’s cemetery. Even if the weather is bad the Society will still open the Bury House, however the displays will be moved to the Town Hall.
Other places of interest in the town will also be open to visitors, including St Mary’s Church, Broadway Baptist Church, the Friends Meeting House, the Mosque, Chesham Bois Manor on Amersham Hill (tours at 10am and 2pm), the Cemetery Chapel and the White Hill centre. You can also explore Mathews Brickyard in Bellingdon, a modern-day industrial site that represents an important part of Chesham’s history; timed tours will be held during the day. Chesham Museum will be open in the afternoon. A lovely little attraction which will appeal to children, is Croft Meadows a small holding up the Amersham Road.
Walking tours of the town start from Chesham Metropolitan underground station at 10am, 11.30am, 2pm and 3.30pm. If you are willing to help on the day please contact David Carter on 01494 772383
For more information, see http://www.chesham.gov.uk/ or contact the Town Hall on 01494 774842.

Leave your mark on the lead

St Mary’s Church is having the bell tower worked on. It was discovered that the wooden frame which supports the bells was loose and moving within the stonework of the tower and there was concern that the several tons of bells could end up in a heap on the chancel floor or worse. It was also found that the gap between the inner and outer stonework of the tower had only been filled with rubble. Detailed measurements were made over a period to define the amount of movement and the tower is now being strengthened and the bell frame secured. The work is proceeding on plan and no more nasties have come to light. However the scaffolding would make it easy for metal robbers to climb up and remove the lead roofing. Lead is worth a lot of money at the moment. To deter thieves the lead has been painted with a coating with a secret DNA tracer which gives police forensic evidence and links the suspect to the crime scene. Don Sanderson of St Mary’s Church, went to a lot of trouble to put up a notice warning thieves of this – I think that was over and above the call of duty. However he tells me the notice has been stolen!

Historical help

Neil Rees seeks someone who knows anything about the history of Pond Park Congregational Church which used to be in Lyndhurst Road but is no longer there, and also Hivings Free Church, Upper Belmont Road, Great Hivings, Pond Park. Please email Neil on nwreesATgooglemailDOTcom or call 01494 776457 or 793921.

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

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.

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.

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.

Future of our museum

Have a say at the Museum Trustees Open Meeting about its future on Thursday 1 May at the town hall, reception 7.30 pm and a presentation at 8pm. Followed by a question and answer session.

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.

What archive?

The Chesham Society were perplexed when the obituary of Norman Waddleton in last weeks Examiner said he had unearthed the Lowndes family archive and donated it to the Chesham Society – they haven’t received it. It would be of great value to Jennifer Moss, former chairman, who has extensively researched the Lowndes family in Chesham and Winslow, especially William Way’s and Means Lowndes. Jennifer is in demand for her popular talk on the family and is at present doing further research from the archives in London.

Minding Chiltern’s buildings

The next meeting of the Chess Valley Archaeological and Historical Society is on Friday 15 February at 8pm at the White Hill Centre. Barbara Wallis will give a talk on the work of the Chiltern Society's Historic Works & Buildings Group. The HWBG responds to planning applications for alterations or repairs to listed buildings and other constructions, and keeps a watching brief on any that are neglected and under threat. Conversions or alterations to traditional farm buildings are particularly scrutinized to preserve the components that are important to the character and appearance of the Chilterns region. All are welcome and the cost of the talk to visitors is £2.

Fire Brigade 1868-1972

For the next display in spring 2008, the museum curators are looking for memories, stories, photos and objects relating to any incidents involving Chesham’s fire brigade up to 1972. Call Chesham Museum – The Stables, curator Sue Gordon on 01494 772096 or visit www.cheshammuseum.org.uk. I understand the fire appliance from 1885 (see picture) has been refurbished and transferred to High Wycombe fire station last September.

It’s visual

To see pictures which make you proud of the Chilterns visit www.chilternphoto.org.uk. The site, hosted by the Chiltern Society, has thousands of photographs of more than 40 locations taken over many years, and receives visitors from all over the UK and elsewhere in the world. However there doesn’t seem to be a section for Chesham. There is a camera club here www.cheshamcameraclub.org.ukhttp://apps.buckscc.gov.uk/eforms/photolibrary/webform1.aspx (and we’ve been linked to it for ages) perhaps some are also members of the Chiltern Society. For old, historic photos try the Bucks County Council website Buckinghamshire Photographs and select Chesham - I like the one of the “High Street, arrival of Northumberland Fusiliers. May 4th, 1915, 6.30pm” or “George Tutill's, painters working on banners, 1935”. Another way to find pictures of Chesham is to visit www.flickr.com and search for Chesham.

Picture it then

Waterside resident David Steel has made a DVD about Chesham. “Chesham Remember When” has dozens of old pictures juxtaposed with photos of the same locations taken this year ie. 2007. He has put a lot of work into it and it is fascinating to flip between the views. I am impressed at how tidy things were, with minimal street signage and yellow lines. The DVD costs £9.50 with free delivery in or around Chesham, however further afield requires the addition of the appropriate postal charges. He has had orders from overseas too. David also produced a sepia toned calendar for 2008 of selected photos, my favourite is October - Outside the Lamb Public House in the Broadway. The calendar costs £5.95. Call David in 01494 771673 or email dlswaterside2@btinternet.com. David said, “Ask your readers to mention Chiltern Voice and I shall donate £2 for every sale to any concern that you nominate”. A nice Christmas gesture and these certainly would make lovely seasonal gifts.

Nelson, not half

Chiltern Staff and Sea Cadets attended the District Trafalgar Day Parade at Dalton Barracks (formally RAF Abingdon) on Sunday 14 October. Trafalgar Day Parade is important to the Royal Navy and Sea Cadets as it marks the death of Admiral Horatio Nelson at the battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The guest of honour was a Royal Navy Commodore, the day was dry and sunny and High Wycombe Sea Cadet Band provided the music. Keith Jones sent me this picture of the staff and cadets. Visit http://units.ms-sc.org/chiltern/Default .

Black History Month

Chesham Library is celebrating Black History Month. Freddy Macha, a Tanzanian born writer and musician, will be giving a talk entitled My Life and Journeys and performing some of his work on Tuesday 16 October at 8pm in the library. Tickets are £2 and more information about Freddy is available on his website www.freddymacha.com.

Chesham USA

Neil Rees Chesham author of The Czech Connection, is excited. He told me, “If you buy a copy of the Berkshire & Chilterns Life magazine, October 2007 issue pages 89-91, you will find an article I wrote about Chesham in the USA! It is a 3 page spread and it is lain out beautifully with my photos.” Visit www.berkshire-life.co.uk/

Olden school days

Ian Freeman is rightly proud of the exhibition of schooldays memorabilia at the Museum. He and Keith Fletcher and Sue Gordon have had a great time putting together everyone’s contributions. It will interest past pupils just as much as young people in the completely different environment of today’s classroom. Plenty to enjoy including lots of clear photos of students. Here is Ian’s photo of me with Sue Gordon and the mayor’s consort (quality reduced for the web). See www.chilternvoice.co.uk/2007/09/school-days-exhibition.html.

School days exhibition

Remember your Chesham school days? A display of items to bring back memories will be on at the Museum behind the Gamekeepers Lodge in Bellingdon Road. It will remain open until Spring 2008, admission free. September opening hours are 2-5pm on Sundays, Wednesday and Fridays. From October until March the hours are 2 - 4pm. Visit http://www.cheshammuseum.org.uk/index.html

750 charter celebrated

The medieval fair held in Lowndes Parkon Sunday 2 September was a huge success.
The Lion Rampant put on a colourful presentation of knights, lords and fair maidens, with combat demonstrations by the School of Traditional Medieval Fencing. Historical Promotions' craftspeople and entertainers demonstrated trades, professions and leisure pursuits of medieval Chesham. Some spellbinding, some gruesome (eg the ratcatcher) all fascinating.
The museum tells us what Chesham was like in those days 750 years ago. Visit http://www.cheshammuseum.org.uk/.

Flock to the fair in September

The Medieval Fair will be held in Sunday 2 September, in Lowndes Park from 10.30am – 5pm. It will be the 750th anniversary of Chesham’s Charter Fair and Market. Town Clerk Bill Richards, has secured lottery funding for Lion Rampant to present Medieval Mayhem with knights, lords and fair maidens throughout the day. Experience medieval rat-catching, medicine, money making, crafts and much more. Take a picnic and relive Chesham’s history, or if necessary take an umbrella.

Thanks to the Chesham Museum we can picture those early days. In 1257 the new market was on the banks of the Chess close to where Church Street meets the stream that flows from Higham Mead (in a culvert today). St Mary's Church was probably the only stone building and the Catholic calendar marked the seasons, saints' and holy days. The charter for the three-day fair was timed to coincide with the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, one of the most important annual events here. For an interesting description of visit http://www.cheshammuseum.org.uk/med_chesham.html. Call the Town Hall 01494 774842.

The Lion Rampant is local to Chesham

The Lion Rampant was at Chiltern Open Air Museum the other day. One of the characters from this medieval display society is Sir William Marshall 5th earl of Pembroke. Born in about 1145 he lived until 1219. He was the landless younger son of John Marshal, 5th earl of Pembroke (1189-1219) and regent of England (1215-19). On his ward's death in 1183 William went on crusade to Palestine. While safeguarding Henry II's last flight from Le Mans to Chinon in 1189, he unhorsed Henry II in a skirmish but saved his life. William gained his earldom in 1189 through marrying the heiress Isabel. He helped thwart the revolt of Richard I's brother John against the king in 1193, but backed John in 1199 and was his chief advisor by 1213. On John's death in 1216 William was made Henry III's regent, and led the English forces against the French at Lincoln, despite his advanced years. William's deeds are told in the History of William Marshall (c.1225). That’s what it says on the website http://www.lionrampant.org.uk/public/ so it must be true but Trevor Pilling has his picture there and he looks suspiciously alive. Chiltern Open Air Museum is at Newland Park, Gorelands Lane, Chalfont St. Giles, Bucks HP8 4AB, phone 01494 871117, visit www.coam.org.uk. Open daily 10am - 5pm, last admission 3.30pm.

Second Century for Scouting worldwide

A celebration of the Centenary of Scouting for Chiltern North District was held at the Ley Hill Beacon on Wednesday 1 August. Young people from all 13 groups gathered on the common for the lighting of the beacon. The town crier and a Scots piper led the procession and Paul Rawlings, District Commissioner led Scouts of every age in a renewal of promise. Former members of the movement attended.
On Wednesday 1 August 1907, Scouting’s Founder Robert Baden-Powell blew his kudu horn on Brownsea Island at 08:00 to open the world’s first Scout camp. Soon thereafter, Scouting began to quickly spread around the world and now exists in 216 countries and territories. Paul Rawlings, District Commissioner, said, “This event provides an excellent opportunity to celebrate and demonstrate the relevance of 21st Century Scouting for 21st Century young people”.
A large number of Scouts and Beavers attended, especially considering some were at the jamboree in Essex and other overseas mountain climbing. Scouting is an enjoyable activity for young people and all credit must go to the organizers and helpers who facilitate such an action packed movement. For more see http://eng.thejamboree.org/ or http://eng.brownsea2007.org/.

No Enigma at Bletchley Park

Code-breaking was vital to troop movements in the first and second world wars.
While it’s not actually Chesham, and it does involve using the car, Bletchley Park is a close attraction for a great day out. It takes less than an hour to get there, admission is £10 for adults, £8 senior, £6 for 12 – 16 year olds and under 12s go free. Plus you get a passport for a whole year.
Kept secret for years after World War II (1939 – 45) Bletchley Park was the site of British code-breaking activities and the birthplace of the modern computer.
The grounds are delightful and you can take a picnic or eat in the canteen which serves good food and with its lino floor, wooden chairs and wartime posters such as “careless talk costs lives”, really evokes the era. I like the slightly scruffy condition of the huts, presumably just as they’d have looked years ago. Indeed the laid-back approach of the Trust and Friends of the Bletchley Park National Codes Centre, makes this visit a treat compared to the slick, safety-conscious, almost theatre-set venues we encounter today. The original mansion is not scruffy and can be hired for weddings etc.
Alan Turing was the inspirational mathematician at the heart of Bletchley Park’s code-breaking successes, and his lifelike statue sculptured by Stephen Kettle from nearly half a million pieces of Welsh slate is the hardest thing to keep one’s fingers off.
Turing and Welchman built the Bombe which speeded up the process of breaking into the daily Enigma keys but this was dismantled after the war for secrecy. A team of enthusiasts have rebuilt a replica Bombe machine and for the first time in 60 years the public can see what it was like to work on the noisy code-cracking machines at Bletchley Park, thanks to 12 years of dedicated work.

There is so much to see* and the enthusiasm of the guides brings it all to light. We were lucky that Tony Sale himself, the leading light behind the recreation team, spoke to us. His brain must be as good as Turing’s. Tony Sale and colleagues have now built a replica of the Colossus computer used to break the codes of messages sent by Lorenz teleprinters later in the second World War. Bletchley Park is at Sherwood Drive, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, Bucks MK3 6EB, Visit http://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/ and http://www.codesandciphers.org.uk/.
(*There is climbing apparatus for young children but perhaps not a lot to interest them on the tours).

Object before Friday 14 September

The orders to define three of our bridleways - Trapps, Bottom and Bunns Lanes, as byways open to all traffic (BOATS) have been published. Details of how to respond will be given. See http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/bcc/content/index.jsp?contentid=348688503
The Action for the Bridleways of Chesham group has found no evidence of vehicular use and claim some of the DEFRA inspector’s appeal evidence was flawed. It will object to Bucks County Council. To receive a template letter and guidance on responding, email cheshamboats@btinternet.com and ask to be added to the mailing list.
Bucks County Council will be objecting to the orders as well. Despite initially finding no evidence to support the upgrade, BCC felt it should take a neutral stand but this change of heart shows they have listened to objectors. See earlier article http://www.chilternvoice.co.uk/2007/04/boats-byways-open-to-all-traffic-not.html

Trees now or in 15 years?

It’s decision time for the Friends of Lowndes Park – well for us all. Chairman Michael Rowan needs to find out whether most residents want the bid for lottery funding to include a re-planted avenue. It wouldn’t exactly replicate the avenue felled in the 1950s because one tree was feared to have Dutch Elm disease which would have passed to the remaining trees When it was cut down the trees were found to be healthy and the first disagreement arose as to whether or not it should be replaced. Many people appreciated the vista its removal had opened up towards the top of the Park and this difference of opinion has continued ever since.
The Avenue or paved road traversing the park is a bridle path, and now known as Rue de Houilles to recognise one of Chesham’s twinned towns.

Personally I hate to see trees cut down and about six of the existing trees would need to be cleared. We would lose shade and also need to wait years for the replacement trees to grow to look like trees. Of course elms cannot be used so the nearest proposed replacement is the small leafed lime (tilia cordata). And what about vandalism – I doubt if there won’t be one or more of the proposed avenue snapped off within the growing period, necessitating re-planting and the difference in size and age of the new tree. The trees already established look terrific and a number do flank the pathway. Also - what would happen to other uses for the Rue de Houilles? Where would the stalls go on Carnival Day – there wouldn’t be room along the existing path.
Although Lowndes Park failed to achieve the Green Flag status this year, judges commented, “the ‘Avenue’ would add nothing to the landscape if existing trees needed to be felled …. A mixed age, mixed species plantation is far better.”
Michael Rowan said, “The steering group will make the decision at its next meeting and as chair I will not vote unless there is a tie.” However Michael, as chair of the Friends, will represent the majority view of members of the Friends but report the views of others to the steering group. Anyone can make representation to any of the other members of the steering group.

The steering group will make the final proposal to the town council vis a vis the entire Heritage Lottery Fund submission.
I urge you all to make your preference known immediately, email michael.rowan@ntlworld.com or call 01494 785146.

From USA

Eileen King Perry from California found this blog via Town Talk which her sister Julia Whittaker of Chartridge Lane sends her. Another sister Jean Miller, who is now in Bexleyheath, used to live with her family at Mount Nugent. Eileen King Perry does not appear to be related to Eileen King of COPAG mentioned in 'Summer Break' http://www.chilternvoice.co.uk/2007/07/summer-break.html. Eileen King Perry was born in London but brought up in Chesham, living in Bois Moor Rd with her sisters, mother Eileen King Lee and step father Fred Lee. She went to school at Waterside Infants and Townsend Road, and finished at Whitehill in 1952. In 1954 she left Chesham to work and live in London. She does come back for trips and plans another in 2008.

Amersham Martyrs' Trail

This guided walk, led by members of the cast of the Amersham Martyrs Community Play in Tudor costume, tells the story of the Lollard persecutions by the Church in the 16th century, and of those local people burned at the stake for heresy: six men and one woman in Amersham and one man, Thomas Harding, in Chesham. As a background to these tragic events, the players portray everyday life in Amersham in the early 1500s - housing, work, clothing, food, language, and health.
The walk takes one and a half to two hours and involves a steepish uphill climb through a field to the Martyrs' Memorial. It begins at the Amersham Museum, 49 High Street, at 2:30 on the last Saturday of each month from May to September, and costs £1 per adult, under 16s free.
Visit http://www.amersham.org.uk/museum/walks.htm. For further details, call Peter & Marian Borrows on 01494 728422.

More than a rank and serial number

Lesley Perry has started researching the men commemorated on the Chesham War Memorial. “I think it is really important to tell their stories and ensure they are not forgotten. It is my own research, no connection with the Museum, though I plan to publish it eventually and the Museum will benefit to a degree”
I am looking for any information anyone can give me on the men - occupation before enlisting, what school attended, any interesting story about them and their interests or exploits; who their parents were and their father's occupation. Of course any photo for Lesley to borrow for scanning would really enliven her record. There is already basic info available via the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website and the Buckinghamshire Remembers project to record all the Bucks war memorials. See Lesley’s posters in the museum, library and White Hill centre, or call her on 01494 773513
Lesley said, “I should like to find out more, so these men are more than just a rank and serial number”.

Boer war hero to be honoured

Brian Shrieve of the Royal British Legion (RBL) has had a visit from Mr Brian Davies, the Secretary of Aldbury RBL. Brian Davies is looking for help to restore a grave at Wigginton, just outside Chesham. It is of a Private James Osbourne, VC. Private Osborne of the Northamptonshire Regiment, received the Victoria Cross for gallant conduct at Wakkerstroom in February 1881 for riding under heavy fire towards a party of 42 Boers and rescued a wounded comrade. He lived on until 1 February 1928 when he died aged 70.
Mr Davies has to raise £2,500 and Chesham RBL will do a fund raising darts evening soon. Anyone who would like to donate can post a cheque to Chesham RBL Branch 111 Broad Street, Chesham HP5 3EF, or take it in. Make the cheque payable to Chesham RBL. Call Brian on 01494784803.

Talk of the town

The latest edition of Town Talk is available from the town hall and library, schools, colleges, at Waitrose, Sainsbury's, newsagents, estate agents, Chapter One and Pearces. Find out what the cover picture is all about – not England UK. Town Talk is not only a good read for us but is popular from much further afield. If you’ve moved away subscribe, you can email cheshamtt@aol.com .
The fastidious historian Shirley Foxell has researched how Chesham’s market started 750 years ago and it makes interesting reading. By the way, do keep the date of Sunday 2 September free for the medieval entertainments to celebrate.
The move to recycled paper is very environmentally laudable and it’s still quite shiny. Anne Noakes said, “We want you to be both entertained and informed. “It is gratifying when, along with comments made in person, we hear from readers who don’t even live in Chesham”.

Trapps, Bottom and Bunns lanes

The fight for our footpaths has started. Many people are concerned about Trapps Lane, Bottom Lane and Bunn's Lane being designated as BOATs (Byways Open to All Traffic). DEFRA overturned Bucks County Council’s decision not to open them to motorized vehicles, and objections can only be made on the evidence considered by the inspector ie. old documents.

If you are on the Action for the Bridleways of Chesham (ABC) emailing list you will be sent a draft letter of objection with a list of permissible issues which you can modify. There is a narrow window for these letters so don’t miss it and don’t write on matters outside the remit of the inspector, or your letter will be inadmissible. If you’ve changed your email since registering last December let them know at cheshamboats@btinternet.com.