The Web Site for Residents of Hughenden Valley, Bryant's Bottom, North Dean and Cryer's Hill villages in the beautiful Buckinghamshire Chiltern Hills.
News is reported below in reverse chronological order (latest first). For quick access to other parts of the site, use the navigation bar on the left.
Forthcoming Events
Friday 15th October at 7 for 7:30pm. Valley Wives are having a Ladies Evening with 2 course meal, entertainment by Fiona Harrison and songs from the 50's and 60's. BYO drinks and glasses. Tickets £20. Seats allocated. Phone Doreen to book on 564877
Latest News
31 August 2010
This Sunday there is to be a raking party on the bank above the playing field. We need as many people there as possible to rake and barrow the grass to decomposing points. We have obtained the services of Steve at the National Trust to cut the grass this Friday. This is an annual event and the more people who turn out, the less there is to do. Beer is available after the event to slake thirsts. If you can't come, can you persuade a neighbour or friends?
30 August 2010
The latest NAG Report is on the website. Click here to view.
There is to be a Have Your Say on Monday 20 Sept at Hughenden Valley Village Hall from 1300-1430. You can meet the local police to raise any issue you might have.
I am still desirous of coming across parishioners who favour Rural Affordable Housing, so that I can get a balanced view, but so far none have come forward. I am beginning to doubt that they exist, so if you are one, or know of one, please get in touch with me.
29 August 2010
I am indebted to Robert Ralphs for this link on HS2.
I am surprised by how few people know about this site. If you like it, then please tell your friends - if not, please tell me! I am also open to suggestions on how to improve its coverage of news and topics of interest.
26 August 2010
Rain all week! Let's hope the Bank Holiday is better.
HS2 rears its ugly head again. I am indebted to John H for sending me the email that quotes the following
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/stop-hs2.html
Whatever your view of HS2 please sign this petition, get all your friends and relations to do the same, and pass the information on. It is the only way to get a proper debate about the pros and cons of HS2 before a decision is whipped through Parliament using a Hybrid Bull.
21 August 2010
For those of you not on Mick's round, you missed what must have been the most popular event at The Harrow for decades. I never knew that the Harrow could hold so many people - but then they were probably all breathing in at the same time! The evening went well and we sent Mick off in style - which he richly deserved. He was presented with a card and a small book of residents' quotes to wing him on his way and a second class stamp to remind him of the service he gave us. The full speech is provided for those who might have missed it in the crush. Click here to retrieve it.
Thanks are due to Carole and her helpers for organising the event and to Fi and the staff of the Harrow for providing efficient service throughout the evening. It is good to have our local pub working so well. Residents should continue to support it.
It feels as though we are missing Mick already and it is nowhere near the afternoon yet! Best wishes from us all, Mick.
20 august 2010
For those of us living on Mick's post round, this evening will be a highlight, as Mick retires. Other residents will have attended the retirement of "Pickwick" some weeks earlier.
An interesting article exists on the BBC website especially the piece from an ex Oxfordshire parish councillor, whose views are worth reading.
I was hearing today about another form of afordable housing, which is Community Land Trust housing. This seems to give the community the control over housing that is not available with rural affordable housing. I plan to look into it further as an option to providing what most villagers seem to think of when affordable housing is referred to. Many villagers think that the destruction of green belt/AONB is too high a price to pay for an indistinct form of housing with unclear benefits clouded by commercial and ideological interests. It sounds harsh, but too many questions are still unanswered, or answered with many different answers, most of which must be wrong. This jury is still out until absolute clarity is achieved on what it is that is being offered and who exactly will benefit. The Conservative Party claims to be guardians of the green belt, but I have seen no evidence of action on this when the time has come to apply pressure to decision making. Words are cheap, after all.
17 August 2010
The latest NAG report is now available. Click Here to view. It has much to say about speeding, litter and parking.
15 August 2010
I have just received details of the Valley Wives' activities. Please see Local Societies-Valley Wives for details from Joan.
Do what you will outside today as the long term forecast is dire. Better get the runners sharpened on those sledges! This means we will probably have an Indian Summer to last through the winter!
Still no indication from any of the "silent majority" that there is support for a rural affordable housing scheme. Do supporters exist?
13 August 2010
I was handed some bumpf from our Village Hall Treasurer, Bob, today. It was from Bucks CC to invite us to join in the Bucks Debate. This is a "fact finding" mission to see what we feel about the services provided by Bucks CC with a view to deciding how 25% of the costs could be saved.
Now you would think that a debate about saving costs would have some, er, costs itemised. No. Not one cost anywhere. So how can we have a meaningful debate? it would be far better to itemise all the outgoings of Bucks CC and to invite us to tot up where the costs could be saved.
It would be even better if every department had to justify its existence in some real achievements that had been made over the last five years and the costs incurred to make those achievements. But no. Like all government agencies the assumption is that we can have a debate without the facts. Just as we can expect people to determine the affordability or otherwise of rural affordable housing without telling prospective tenants what it will cost.
Do they all go to the same school of mismanagement to get like this?
And while on the subject of rural affordable housing, the Bucks Free Press has a couple of articles on this issue in today's copy. One reports the views of the Residents' Association and one reports on last week's Extraordinary Parish Council meeting. I am trying to find out the basis of the Chairman's statement that the Survey Process is "cast in stone by WDC and many parish councils", but have so far received no indication that this statement is powered by anything other than by wishful thinking.
In one article, the Clerk of the Parish Council says that she cannot understand why anybody should be against a new survey. Perhaps if the Chairman had allowed some free speech, the Clerk would be in posession of some reasons as to why the currently proposed survey process is not so brilliant.
On the issue of cost saving, i have argued for a year or more that Bucks Community Action, or Community Impact Bucks as it now is, would be a first port of call to save money. There must be other similar QUANGOs that could also reveal some useful savings.
It appears that the Clerk has now made it clear that there will be an Open Day after the Survey results are available. This will be like the one held on March 10th apparently. I like to be made aware of Parish Council decisions via emails from parishioners as it gives parishioners a sense of belonging to the decision-making process. I clearly had it wrong when the Parish Council passed the motion (with a couple of votes against) that the PC would go ahead with the survey and then to proceed with a rural affordable housing scheme if a need is established. Clearly this does not mean that the Council will proceed with a rural affordable housing scheme if a need is established, but will run an Open Day instead. Readers should note that this news comes after an exchange of emails between a resident and English Rural Housing Association during the last couple of days.
I have still not had any indication that there are people in the village who want a rural affordable housing scheme.
10 August 2010
I have not heard of one person in Hughenden Valley who wants Rural Affordable Housing. Maybe it is the circles I move in, or maybe there are no such people. So I am asking all readers to ask everyone they know to let me know if they support Rural Affordabe Housing being built on AONB in this area and if so, how they think the process to allocate homes will be made. Any other information on why they support rural affordable housing would also be most welcome. Please note that I don't want to hear at this time from those opposing RAH as I don't want these opinions drowning out those who support it. I am concerned that I might not be getting a balanced view, so this is an opportunity for supporters to come forward. All replies will be treated in confidence.
5 Aug 2010
CENSORED!!!
Tonight's Parish Council Extraordinary Meeting was a classic exercise in keeping the public in the dark. At the last Council meeting in July there was, not surprisingly, not enough time to fully consider the design of the Housing Needs Survey Form, so a Working Party of the full council was set for the following week. This was without the members of the public being allowed in to see how business was conducted. Tonight's meeting was to approve what was agreed at that meeting, with no indication to the public allowed on what the process or the form would look like. I had wanted to clarify a number of things for the members of the public gathered there, but was forbidden by the chairman, Peggy Ewart.
Several residents have asked me to justify my actions in opposing the council majority, so I am reproducing the statement I wanted to make.
Now many of you might wonder why to bother reading it. The answer is that you should see how your local affairs are being run. I did not hear any resident support the chairman's actions tonight, but I did hear many say that the conduct was disgraceful. It is YOUR council and it has a direct effect on what you get for the money you spend in Council Tax. Then, when the time comes to vote for a coucnillor to act on your behalf for the next four years from May 5th, you might consider who you vote for.
As it stands, this council is about to fix it so that Green Belt AONB is appropriated for housing. If not careful, in spite of assertions to the contrary, it will create a precedent for more building on Green Belt.
I set out my statement on a separate page, with an indication of how far I got in making it before being stopped, ostensibly on the grounds that I was attacking someone who could not defend herself, whereas the reality was that I was attacking something she had said that was recorded in an official document and I was using information available in other official documents to show that she was wrong. However it is increasingly apparent that arguments against the Chairman's views are to be suppressed.
One resident asked if residents could make comments to me. The answer is yes. Please use the Contact Us facility. This will send emails to a separate account I have set up (I don't want spam on my own account, which is what you get if you publish an email address on a web page). I will then respond, giving you my personal email address for future times you want to contact me.) i welcome comments from residents and I will be as honest as I can in responding. Unlike other councillors, i will accept correspondence from residents in other wards as well as Hughenden Valley.
I really do believe in the Nolan qualities of Accountability and Openness and will do my best to uphold them.
Now - read what I wanted to say.....
Oh! You might want to know how the voting went. All bar two voted to proceed with the recommentdation detailed in blue below. And the two who voted against? Lin Smith and Tony Konieczny.
30 July 2010
While finishing the closing of the shop yesterday evening, I encountered Bev coming out of the Village Hall. it was a good opportunity to find out how the kitchen was going. Not much in the kitchen, but we now have a new pressurised hot water supply and some beautifully executed plumbing. I am sure that the tradesmen that Bev has lined up will each do their tasks to the same high standard. I can't wait to see the final product! All of this is helped by the fact that we have so many experts in the village about how the kitchen should work and we have harnessed this knowledge in the design phase. Good design and well executed workmanship - what a combination!
The agenda for the Parish Council meeting at 7:30pm on Aug 5th has been published. I copy in full the main agenda item:
Consideration of the report from the working party meeting held on 20th July 2010 regarding the survey/questionnaire to be issued to parishioners during September 2010 in connection with rural affordable housing within this Parish.
RECOMMENDATION:- to issue the housing needs survey questionnaire to the Parish in September 2010 and to proceed with a rural affordable housing scheme within this Parish, if a need is established.
I note that it is not consideration of the questionnaire. I note also that the recommendation is for RAH to go ahead if the need is established, but no mention is made of opposition to the scheme. The meeting is open to the public.
29 July 2010
One thing I did not mention yesterday was the fun that is had being at the centre of things while in the Village Shop.
The other is that the turnover is steadily rising, showing that it is an asset. Last week I had many people in from outlying villages and even High Wycombe. Without exception, they were all amazed at how good it is. It would therefore be a crime to let it go because we cannot get thirty or forty vounteers to put in a short stint each week to keep it going. It is the best thing to hit this village since the vilage hall was built.
28 July 2010
Chiara is doing a magnificent job down at the village shop, but she will be getting a job after the summer, so we will be without her as the manager. We are also short ov volunteers. Now when we mention volunteers, there is a stampede towards the hills, but it need not be. There are many small, regular jobs that need doing, such as bringing in the newspapers in the morning, laying them on the shelves and allocating the ordered newspapers. It does not take long and would be an ideal job for an early morning paper purchaser. Flowers have to be watered, A boards put out on the verges, tables and chairs put out in the summer and so on. All these tasks fall to the person volunteering to manage the shop. it is getting too much. Volunteers are going to dry up if the work becomes too onerous. If it becomes onerous, volunteers will dry up and we will lose our shop.
Someone said to me recently that the people in this community are interested in themselves and nothing else. They will only take community action if it directly affects them.
I'd like to think that this is wrong, but if the shop goes, then I will have to agree with the cynics.
If there is any remote chance that you can spare a couple of hours in the weekto get involved in this great community project, then go in and see Chiara. You don't have to definitely volunteer - just say that if a dozen others volunteer, then you will as well. That way you know that you will not get put upon.
Please don't think that it is rocket science in the shop. We mainly need people to serve, but there are plenty of other small jobs that will help the vounteers who do serve to keep going.
Don't just think about it - give a small commitment.
Meanwhile, you need to know that there is to be an extraordinary Parish Council Meeting at 7:30pm on Thursday 5th August at the council offices, Great Kingshill. The meeting is being called to approve the survey questionnaire and process to be adopted in September for Rural Affordable Housing. If you have any interest in what has been agreed by the working party and how the future of your rural landscape might be affected, then you should attend.
23 July 2010
News on the BBC reveals that the government is considering a change to the law regarding Rural Affordable Housing, making it possible for local communities to hold a referendum to allow the use of green belt for RAH purposes up to a maximum of 10% expansion of the envelope over a ten year period. Whilst this can be of benefit for villages blighted by second home purchases, it probably does not benefit villages in this area. Grant Shaps, the Housing Minister, described this controversial plan. The referendum must be overwhelming, but the village can then take control of planning as well. It seems that the village would set up a Right To Buy Trust and take control of the building. Presumably this would be handed out to architects and builders, but with design control in the hands of the village.
Council for the Preservation of Rural England believes that the process should go through the planning process, which the government is planning to reform to give more power to local residents. CPRE seems to be in favour of improving the local planning system and then using that.
As the forthcoming housing survey from the parish council is to be taken this autumn, it is possible that the results of this survey would be taken as the referendum result. Otherwise Grant Shaps is proposing the referendum to be taken at the same time as local elections, which in this village's case is next May 5th to elect their parish councillors.
Like all proposals, the devil is in the detail and, while the headline proposal sounds interesting, it is in the detailed wording of how it will be put into effect that will demand close scrutiny. It will also require close scrutiny of the wording of the referendum proposal itself.
At the moment, it is for the parish council to decide if there is a need and then to set the appropriate wheels in motion. It is not clear how much regard is taken of residents' opinions as it seems that a need is taken as sufficient reason to go ahead.
The Parish Council is holding a short extraordinary meeting at 7:30pm on Thur August 5th at which it is expected that the decision to go ahead with the survey, in the form agreed by a majority of councillors at a working party on 20 July, will be carried by a majority of councillors. There will be no public speaking at this meeting.
There is a report in the Bucks Free Press website regarding the last council meeting. Click here to view.
22 July 2010
I don't know how many of you read the flyer pushed through letter boxes by the Conservative Party recently, but I found it very vague. They mentioned the village shop and I think they did make a financial contribution from District and Councy funds, although the real hard work was, and is being, done by the committee. It was their statement that they are committed to protect the green belt that interested me. Why say this now? The elections are many years away. Could it be that they sniff the mood of the residents on Rural Affordable Housing? No need to wait for an answer. Wycombe District Councillor John Gibbs was at the parish council working party discussing RAH last Tuesday evening. He said little, but not one word was said about protecting the green belt. So I think we have an idea of how valuable this letter was. No doubt you have already binned it. Sorry Conservative Party, but if you are pledged to do something, then residents will expect you to commit to that pledge at points where it can have an influence.
18 July 2010
If you have children between 0 and 6 years old, then you mght like to take them to some events in the village hall. Click here for details.
16 July 2010
Village Day must have been the most unphotographed event ever - nobody has admitted to taking a photo that could be used on the website. If you have one that you would like published on this page, please send it to me!
I am reminded by Penny that it was Linda Green of Trees Road who is going for the champagne meal at the Ritz, courtesy of winning the raffle. I hope she drops a line to this site to tell us what it was like so that we can all live the event vicariously!
15 July 2010
The local police are having a "Have Your Say" evening at the Hazelmere police station on 11 August from 1800 to 2030. Lin and I went along last year and picked up some good tips as well as having fun trying to use a speed check radar gun. There promises to be several outside organisations showing off things to make life safer. Lin acquired a couple of bells on springs that attach to her purse so that they make a terrible noise if the purse is moved. So far, nobody has tried to mess with it. We found it worthwhile. It is at least a viable alternative to TV. About which I should mention "The Silence" on BBC (now on iPlayer). It was a cracking four part mini-series, worth watching if you have four hours to spare.
Today was Hilary's last day in the shop. It is a sad day when we have to bid her farewell. The reasons are understandable, but we have grown to love her as much as she has grown to love us nin this village. She willl be a sad loss.
Today was the funeral of Ken Graves. It was a lovely service, recalling many of Ken's memorable characteristics and his memorable moments. The chapel was packed to the rafters with standing four deep at the back. Obviously he owed a lot of people money! It was lovely to see so many people there from the village and from his canal club. His interests were wide and his friends many. Our thoughts are with Jill and family. For the rest of us, if we got a send off like that, then I think it would show that life had been worthwhile. It's funny how funerals show what is important about life. Perhaps they should be combined with Christenings to put the message up front.
For those not blessed with an allotment or large garden, a reminder that the shop is providing a veg box service. One lady paid for hers yesterday in the shop and said it was fantastic, so it could be a good thing.
14 July 2010
HAGA are having an outing on Saturday 21st August to Snows Hill Manor and Gardens in Gloucestershire, stopping at the lovely Bibury village for coffee. You might wish to join them as there are a few seats available. Cost is £10.5 for National Trust members and £17.50 for non-NT members. Departure is from Warrendene Road ourside the Harrow or Coombe Lane at 9am, returning at 6:30 pm. Snows Hill Manor has some 20,000 objects collected from all over the world, so there should be at least one object to interest you! I presume that the gardens are even more interesting!
Please call if interested to Doreen Bryant on 563720
There was an interesting Parish Council Meeting last night with many members of the public present.
13 July 2010
The government has responded to the petition against destroying the Chilterns with an HS2 link as follows
The new Government has a clear commitment to establish a national high speed rail network to help fulfil our ambitions for economic growth and a low carbon economy. The vision is for a truly national high speed rail network which will include links to Heathrow and potentially other airports to provide an alternative to short-haul aviation. We will also actively study the options for a link between the new high speed line and the existing High Speed One line - which links London to the Channel Tunnel.
The previous Government set up HS2 Ltd in January 2009 to look at the feasibility of, and business case for, a high speed rail line between London and the West Midlands. HS2 Ltd’s report, published in March 2010, makes recommendations on routes and station options for high speed rail, and includes an assessment of costs, benefits and sustainability impacts.
HS2 Ltd’s recommended route follows the A413/Chiltern Line transport corridor through part of the Chilterns and makes considerable use of tunnels, cuttings and existing transport corridors to minimise the environmental impacts in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Reducing and mitigating the local environmental impact of high speed rail will always be a very high priority for the new Government in taking this project forward. And no final decision regarding the route of the line will be taken until a detailed and inclusive public consultation has taken place.
12 July 2010
A sad story, but maybe you could help......On the way back home along Valley Road from a perfect Village Day, a little girl lost the bracelet she had carefully bought with her pocket money. Nothing valuable - just a tiny bracelet with red stars on it - the sort of thing a young girl would buy. Anyway, she is devastated. Her parents have not tried a substitue from Tiffany's because nothing there would be good enough. So, good people of Hughenden, It is a long shot, but someone has probably found it and wondered who to give it to. Now you know how valuable it is to one little girl. If you know of anybody who found this, you would make two parents and one child very happy if you could let me know that you have it. Either call me (562533) or send me an email.
11 July 2010
That was Village Day! Brilliant as ever. I've penned a report of my perspective on the day that you might find interesting, especially if yo ucould not get there. Click Here to go there.
If anybody has a photo that encapsulates Village Day, I'd be grateful to have it displayed above. I think the Polish Palace has reached its sell-by date!
10 July 2010
Village Day! The weather looks good so do come to enjoy the festivities. If you have a talent, there is a "Hughenden's Got Talent" event this afternoon. If you have a dog, bring it along for a fun dog contest. If you have neither, like me, then just come and enjoy the day. I hear that there are only a few tickets available inn the shop for the Barn Dance this evening. Last time, some young teens were overheard saying "That was Awsome" as they completed the first dance. So it will be good.
Sad news - Hilary of vilage shop fame is leaving us on Friday. She has done a magnificent job for the village and will be sorely missed. However, she regards it as her baby and has found a suitable adoptive parent to take over. As one who has often been cajoled into doing a stint in the shop, I know how good she has been. How we kept her this long is amazing, because she is very talented and that talent has now been head hunted. for our next manager there will be a new adornment - two six inch nails through the feet to ensure that she cannot move away! (I jest by the way in case anybody thinks this is for real!) So all I can say, along with all her regulars and occasional shoppers "Thank you very much for the devotion you have given to our shop project and thank you for making it into the success it has become and is stilll becoming." We can only hope that she continues her success in her career and to wish her well for the future.
So enjoy today for there is not to be another Village Day until 2012, when ther might just be an Olympic theme!
6 July 2010
I have just got round to reading my emails and came across the following.
YOUR VILLAGE HALL NEEDS YOU!
The Village Day raffle gives us a fantastic opportunity to raise funds to maintain and develop the Village Hall. This year there are many fantastic prizes including a Champagne Dinner for Two at the Ritz. I am looking for any volunteers who can assist me selling tickets either via a local organisation, social group or door to door. Please contact Penny Edwards 0778 757 1496 edwards@accamail.com
Mars Chocolate Drinks and Treats is supporting a fantastic event happening on 11th July at Hughenden Manor. The event is a 10k run in aid of the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society.
Mars Chocolate Drinks and Treats are supplying a bottle of MARS Refuel Drink to everyone taking part.
Wycombe District Council and Thames Valley Police have organised a 'Wellbeing' event to ensure older residents in the Wycombe area have access to Health, Policing and Safety Services.
Everything Wycombe's senior residents' need, will be under one roof at the Senior Wellbeing event at Wycombe Town Hall, in Queen Victoria Road, High Wycombe on Friday 9th July between 10am and 3pm. Parking is available in Easton Street or in the Swan car park or the nearest bus stops are in the High Street.
Free health checks, smoke detectors, refreshments and a raffle are among the items on offer at the biggest wellbeing event ever to be held.
Visitors will also get a chance to watch performances from the "Fairgame Theatre" production company on Distraction Burglary and get advice and support from more than 20 statutory and voluntary services available to older people a cross the Wycombe District.
In addition, there will be plenty of information on reducing the risk of being a victim of crime; with community safety goodie bags for all attendees.
Although the event is aimed at the elderly, all are welcome to attend.
From Graeme Card on the capital to Coast Cycle Ride...
The TVP NAG newsletter is now available. See Local Societies/NAG.
At the Village Hall meeting last night the Village Day proceedings came to the fore. This is the big event of the year and the weather is apparently set to be kind to us, so be prepared to come and have a lovely day out with the family. The procession starts at 12:45 from spring Valley Drive. Residents in the area should make their exits and entrances by car well before the start, or leave it until after the procession arrives at the Village Hall around 1:30. The procession is a great event as the whole village walks down Valley Road.
Tickets for the Barn Dance in the evening are available from the village shop. While collecting my paper yesterday, I helped Chiara sell ten adult tickets and three children's, so they are going well and that indicates a good event.
It is with sadness that we won't have Ken Graves with us this year. I am sure that the jungle drums have spread the sad news as both Ken and Jill have many friends in the village. Our thoughts are with Jill.
5 July 2010
Well, you might have been wondering where I've been - holiday. So now back all tanned and rested.
There is a Young at Heart event on Wedensday afternoon, 2pm-4:30pm at the Kings Centre, Desborough Road (other side of the car park near the computer shop). Lots of stands with lots of information for older people.
Saturday is the Big Day - Village Day. It is the great day of the village, so do go and enjoy yourselves. There is a barn dance in the evening, which has always proved popular, so you can have a great afternoon and evening. We still want more helpers on Friday evening from 6pm and on Sunday morning from 10am.
19 June 2010
Apparently the Bucks CC Transport site I referred toa couple of days ago is being launched on 23rd June and therefore the address takes you to the current (old) site. Let's hope that the new one is better than the old one!
18 June 2010
Roger Hawes deserves our masive thanks for what he is doing to make Village Day a success. Please show your thanks by enjoying the festivities on the Saturday and the marquee erection and dismantling on the Friday evening and Sunday morning.
I say these thanks with feeling, because I have been testing what our Village Hall insurance policy covers for the event and the conditions we have to obey before cover is granted, otherwise poor Roger becomes liable. Some of the conditions are sensible, like closing the Valley Road for the procession, but then WDC insists that we employ people who have the so-called expertise in closing roads, which costs money. Why? We normally have marshalls who can do this, but no longer. I seem to remember that last time we spent money on two men from an approved contractor and all they did was stick a Road Closed sign at the roundabout.
We also need a formal Risk Assessment (which goes with everything these days). Nobody seems to know exactly how many risks have to be assessed, but we have to tick the box.
But we cannot get insurance for motorised floats, as it is assumed that the lorry owners will have the insurance. For carrying kids? That will be extra. So probably no motorised floats.
Some time ago I asked the useless Bucks Action QUANGO if they could simplify the insurance for village fetes by getting a block insurance for Bucks, to which individual villages would pay if they wanted to run a fete, but this was too difficult for them to do, even though it would have been of more value than any other project they waste money on.
So I can see village fetes getting fewer in number and another part of English Heritage disappearing from our rural life.
This is aided and abetted by Wycombe District Council who have arbitrarily decided to up the public liability to10 million pounds, whereas the normal policy covers 5 million. Another form. Another premium to pay. More work for the organiser. One fewer person to do it next time round. One less village fete. Do these local government employees ever use their brains? In the light of yesterday's experience, it seems not.
Come along on July 10th and enjoy the day. It might be the last.
Oh, and THANK YOU ROGER and all those who have been helping you thus far.
DON'T FORGET that the Village Day has some great competitions - one for dogs (cute ones rather than Cruft ones) and talent (for humans except Simon Cowell). See one of the many posters dotted around the village for details. And don't forget the rustic costumes!
