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VillageLifeThe community magazinefor Aston Clinton, Bucklandand Drayton BeauchampNo.33 Dec-Jan 2016/17

119 Green End Street | Aston Clinton | Aylesbury | Bucks HP22 5EU

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�

VILLAGE LIFE DECEMBER/JANUARY 2016/17

The Editor is always pleased toreceive local news of people,

clubs and events.

THE YEAR 2016 has been an eventful one.e decision to leave the EU was one of the biggest

and yet none of us knows what its impact will be on ourlives. e unexpected American election result raises yetmore uncertainties, this time on a global scale.Despite all the fears and uncertainties, the river of life

in our villages flows on regardless.e cover illustrationtells us that the confident creativity of our children bodeswell for the belief that positivity and hope will continueto dominate fear and inhibition.e winter festival of Christmas diverts us from the

gloom of midwinter and the Christian community againreminds our secular world of its real meaning. e powerof goodness is surely demonstrated by the communityresponse to the plight of young Ollie Gardiner. Read thestory to date told by his father on pages 16 and 17. As Iwrite, his father tells me that his treatment, made possibleby the generous support of hundreds of good people, hasnow begun.Another reason for hope and optimism is that plans

are afoot to replace the ugly and decaying old ‘Hub’building in our beautiful park with an architect-designedcommunity centre, fit for its site and for the needs of agrowing population (see pages 6 and 7). Some of thefunding for the project will come from the obligatorypayments required from developers of new homes.is, and other good things, are only possible because

there are socially-minded people in our villages who givetheir time and expertise to serve, without payment, onour Parish Council. Gill Merry, our Parish Council Clerk,describes on p11 what we all receive for the PC’s modestportion of our council tax.Now, forget the troubles of the world and have an

enjoyable Christmas and a Good New Year !

Editor

Village LifeThe bi-monthly community news magazine forAston Clinton, Buckland and Drayton Beauchamp

� VILLAGE LIFE DECEMBER/JANUARY 2016 /17

ASTON CLINTON NEWS

A message from the Baptist PastorS I look out of my window on this lateOctober day, it truly is a beautiful sight.e unseasonably warm sunny weather

and the gradually changing leaves, against thebackdrop of blue, is quite something.ere isalso that autumnal smell in the air and, by theevening, the occasional scent of burning woodfrom someone’s fireplace.e central fact of autumn is

that without the dying of theleaves, there can be no newlife following in spring. It isthe ebb and flow and rhythmof things. For me, nature canconvey spiritual truths, as wellas giving us pause to considerour Creator. If we are honest,we all know that life is not always easy– thereare many things we face, even death itself.In Christianity death and new life are centralfeatures also, in the person of Jesus.

is reassures me tremendously because itshows that God understands. Indeed, it issometimes by going through what we do, andupon coming out the other side of it, that wegrow and develop as people.So maybe there is something you are going

through today? Maybe it is tough for you tosee how you are going tomake it through to the otherside? But I believe that, evenso, there is hope, because Godhas already walked the path ofsuffering and he fully knowsyour circumstances.Moreover,he has beaten death itself too.And herein lies our hope,because right now, and when

he returns one day, God remains and is everpresent.

ank you.

Rev.Simon Downing, Baptist Pastor

A

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VILLAGE LIFE DECEMBER/JANUARY 2016 /17 5

ASTON CLINTON NEWS

Date Time Event Location

Sat 3 Dec 11am-3pm Christmas Fayre Anthony Hall

Sun 11 Dec 6pm Candlelit Nine Lessons and Carols St Michael’s Church

Sun 18 Dec 10.�5am Joint Christmas Service with Baptists AC Baptist Church

Christmas Eve 5.30pm Crib Service St Michael’s Church

Christmas Eve 7.30pm Carols by Candlelight St Michael’s Church

Christmas Eve 11.30pm Midnight Mass St Michael’s Church

Sun 1 Jan 11am Carols and Communion for New Year All Saints’ Church

Every Monday 2-�.30pm Rhubarb Café at St Michael’s Church. More details about these events on the church website: www.s-michaels.org.uk

St Michael and All AngelsRegular Services:9.15am and 6pm each Sunday

Forthcoming events

Open at St Michael’s Church,Aston Clinton every Mondayafternoon from 2 to 4.30pmServing tea and coffee with deliciousfreshly baked cakes, come rain or shine

TheAston Clinton Ladies GroupForthcoming meetingsWed 21 December at 8pmCarol Service at St Michael’s followed bycoffee and mince pies at Janet Watson’s home.

Wed 18 JanuaryLunch at Bradmoor Farm Shop, StanbridgeRoad, Haddenham HP17 8JX. Time to beconfirmed. Contact Sue Sanders on 01296630740 or Janet Watson on 01296 631014.

New members are always very welcome.

Rhubarb

In the directory of advertisers on p.30you will find a wide range of local

services. Please support ouradvertisers and mention Village Life

when you contact them.

A thought for 2017 (courtesy of Simon Icke)ere is so much good in the worst of us,And so much bad in the best of us,at it hardly becomes any of usTo talk about the rest of us.

Edward Wallis Hoch (18�9-19�5)

I AM PLEASED to be able to update ourvillage on progress in more detail than has beenpossible in recent Parish meetings. e old anddilapidated building formerly known as ‘eHub’ has been in need of replacement forseveral years and since the appointment of thenew Parish Council in May 2015, that needhas become one of our priorities.

We want to provide a building that meetsthe needs of as many local village groups aspossible, so 13 groups were surveyed and theirneeds recorded. Architects were invited toparticipate in a public competition to design abuilding that addresses those needs. Weappointed Hayward Smart Architects for theirtrack record in delivering similar projects forparish councils, and in particular the villagehall in Westbury, Bucks – see photo below.As can be seen from the architect’s draft

layout plan (opposite), our building will includepermanent changing facilities for home andaway football teams as well as a large café withoutside terrace and WC facilities for parkvisitors and hall users. ere will be a large hallwith the capacity to seat over 200 people for

meetings, theatre productions and functionhire, with full kitchen facilities for use by hirers,or catering provided by a permanent on-sitecafé. We will use the latest technology availableto enable shows to be staged and when a large,clear space is required, the seats will retract intoa store built into the wall. Provision has beenmade for at least four other rooms of varyingsizes to be used for private classes and functions,with adjoining bar facilities. Our award-winningarchitect will ensure that our building has thebest green credentials, generating electricityfrom photo-voltaic roof panels and harvestingrainwater for use within the building. eParish Room and Youth Club buildings will beunaffected. e Council had identified that a sizeable

grant could be available from the AVDC NewHomes Bonus Programme, so last year we pre-pared a detailed application and supportingbusiness plan with drawings and cost estimates,requesting £500,000 towards a total budgetcost in the order of £2.5 million. e year 2016started well for us with confirmation that wehad been awarded the full £500,000 which,when added to possible funds due to the ParishCouncil from housebuilders in the village,

meant we could account for almost£1.3m of the cost. It is ironic thatthese Section 106 monies that comefrom new houses in our village canbe put to good use for the benefit ofthe entire village. So it is importantto deliver a long-lasting legacy withwide appeal.We still have a huge amount to

raise (and a planning consent toachieve). But with a dedicated committee using their wide-rangingskills, your Parish Council are confident that in early 2017 we will

Continued opposite

6 VILLAGE LIFE DECEMBER/JANUARY 2016 /17

ASTON CLINTON NEWS

Community Centre project: update no.1

The Village Hall at Westbury, near Brackley, Bucks wasdesigned by Hayward Smart Architects (see above)


Community Centre, contd have identified the means of plugging thefunding gap and be in a position to submit theplanning application. We should know by Aprilif planning consent has been granted. Assumingwe have reached our funding target, the aim isto start construction in May with a buildperiod of 8-10 months. We plan to providetemporary accommodation for the changingand WC facilities, and possibly the café, duringconstruction.We want your views so – with the kind

permission of Nick and Jon at Café in e Park–we will hold a public exhibition for two weeks

from Saturday 3rd December. Members of theCommunity Centre Committee will be on handfrom 10am to midday on that day to answerany questions and hear your views. All villagerswill have the opportunity to leave commentsand observations via a comments book. iswill be a building for us all to be proud of, soplease come and take a look and make sugges-tions – our priority is for the new building toreflect the wants and needs of as many villagegroups as possible.

Cllr Toby ComerfordChairman, Community Centre Committee,

Aston Clinton Parish Council

EXISTING YOUTH CLUB

FOOTPRINT OF EXISTINGBUILDING IN GREY

EXISTING PARISHOFFICE

OFFICE

BAR

STORE

STORE

MAIN HALL(with retractable seating

and audio-visual facilities)

MEETING ROOM

MEETING ROOM

CAFE SERVERY

CAFE SEATING

CAFE SEATING(potential forprivate party)

TERRACE

KITCHEN

TOILETSTOILETS

TOILETS

CHANGING

CHANGING

OFFICIALCHANGE

PLANT

TOILETS

DISABLEDTOILET TOILET

sliding doors

ASTON CLINTON NEWS

Draft plan of the proposed new Community Hall (designed to replace the building formerly known as ʻThe Hubʼ)

Design © Hayward Smart Architects


ASTON CLINTON NEWS

DO YOU EVER find yourself being just atiny bit judgmental? I am ashamed to admitthat I have been very ‘judgy’ particularly whenit comes to other people’s parenting choices.Who didn’t watch that documentary about

mums breastfeeding their 7-year-olds andthink that’s a bit much? Who hasn’t seen atoddler wearing no coat on a freezing day andwondered how her mother could possiblyallow her out like that? Or looked question-ingly at the one who calmly steps away fromthe bawling child in the supermarket, appearingnot to care? Let’s face it, we have ALL beenthat mother at some point, dangling from thethe very end of our tether. Haven’t we?I’ve sneered inwardly at parents

giving their children mobile phonesbefore the age of 10. Or co-sleepingwith their 12-year-old when Daddy’saway, or ‘hiding’ liquidised vegetablesin their tomato sauce like a derangedAnabel Karmel.I’ve been appalled by how much

pocket money other parents give. Byfamilies sat in a restaurant in silenceas each member is glued to a screen.Or that time I saw a baby in a pushchairdrinking from a bottle of Coke (although thatreally is bad parenting, right?)And all the while I’ve smugly rated myself a

better mother for having all my children in bedby 7pm–until of course they stopped needinga full 11 hours’ kip. Or making my ownchicken nuggets – but never when we have otherpeople’s kids over because of course they’ll telltheir mums they had ‘nuggets for tea’ and thenI’ll be judged for feeding them junk. I’ve seen11-year-olds in heels and makeup and thoughtI would NEVER let my child go out like that,only to end up with a daughter who towersabove me and looked 15 before her 12thbirthday.And on a slightly more serious note, I now

find myself following a path with one of my

children that I know will be judged by others.I have read countless articles criticising thechoices I am making for my child, deemingothers in a similar situation to be ‘unfit’ parentsand questioning their motives. And it makesme want to yell at the top of my voice YOUHAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS GOING ON.Which is the crux of the issue. We have noidea what is going on behind other people’sclosed doors.e ‘out of control’ 5-year-old you’ve noticed?

He could be autistic. e ‘spoilt’ sisters withevery designer label and electronic gadgetunder the sun? ey might just have a

desperate working mum, guilt-ridden for not being there in person.e aggressive class bully? He mightsuffer hideously at the hands ofsomeone even bigger. e possibilitiesgo on. Sometimes we can be so veryquick to cast judgement over otherpeople without knowing anything oftheir circumstances.

Parenting is without a doubt themost challenging and difficult ‘job’I’ve ever done and as clichéd as it

sounds, there really is no manual. ere is noreal right or wrong way to do it. And ulti-mately does puréeing cauliflower for my babiesmake me any better than the mum who buys itready-made? I don’t think so (she sensiblyavoided making her house smell of farts). It seems to me that most of us are just stum-

bling through this minefield that is raisingother humans, on a wing and prayer that theywill turn out OK. Don’t we all want our kidsto turn out as kind, decent, respectful andaccepting of each other despite theirdifferences? I know I do. So, for 2017, I am resolving to judge a little

less, and support a little more. We’re all in this together, aren’t we?

Kelly Cornish

MMuumm’’sstthhee wwoorrdd


ASTON CLINTON NEWS

Together we achieve moreOur school is made up of many parts, compris-ing 386 pupils–all with their own individualinterests and needs–and belonging to over 200families along with 70 members of staff, whosecollective contributions make our school whatit is. We are aware that our school community

does not just come from the local area. Buildinga feeling of being part of our school is some-thing we believe is very important. To this end,Aston Clinton School Association (ACSA)hold specific annual events, not only to raisemoney, but also to bring our communitytogether. However, this term our school com-munity came together with their own events tosupport a family who live in Aston Clintonand have been part of our school for manyyears.Ollie Gardiner joined our school when he

was four years old. His brother, eo, joinedtwo years later. His parents, Jane and Peter,have always been active supporters of ACSAand of the school. It was a shock to everyonewhen Ollie was diagnosed with a brain tumourin Year 6. e family had a big fight on theirhands. Ollie endured two years of treatmentand in June he was told that the cancer was nolonger active. Sadly, in September, the familyreceived the devastating news that the cancer

was back. For there to be any chance for Ollieto beat the cancer, he needed to have a very expensive treatment. Watching the way every-one has taken part in fundraising for Ollie’scancer treatment has been quite overwhelming.We hear on radio and TV a constant stream ofnews about how awful the world often is.However, here in Aston Clinton we have beenshowing that having a common goal can bevery powerful and positive.

So many people have raised money for thiswonderful cause. From volunteers, who havetaken collection tins around businesses andhomes, to individuals and local firms who haveheld fundraising events – all have joined in thecollective effort. Many of these people are partof our village and I am delighted to be a mem-ber of such a generous community. We talkabout role models in school: those people em-body our school values. is term, we have nothad to look any further than our parental body. ere is a quote (which I have slightly mis-

quoted) that sums up why working together isso important :“Small acts when multiplied by millions of

people can transform a child’s life chances.”ank you for showing your children what

we can all achieve when we work together andhow we can support others in their hour ofneed. Helen Shepherd

Aston Clinton SchoolHead: Mrs Helen Shepherd

Please support our advertisers and mention Village Lifewhen you contact them.


ASTON CLINTON NEWS

The Children’s SocietyTHE Children’s Society is a national charitythat runs local projects, helping children andyoung people when they are at their mostvulnerable and have nowhere left to turn. Onemillion disadvantaged children will see theirlives improved this year by changes influencedby the Society. ough now independent of thechurch, the Children’s Society was born out ofthe concern of a London Sunday School teacher.In the late nineteenth century, Edward

Rudolf, a young Sunday School teacher andcivil servant in south London, found himselfconfronted by the brutal effects of poverty onthe lives of children.When two young boys failed to turn up for

his Sunday school, he went to look for themand was shocked to find them begging for foodon the streets. eir father had died, leavingtheir mother struggling to bring up seven child-ren under 11 years old. eirs was not an iso-lated experience and Rudolf was moved to act.He approached archbishop Tait to express

his concern for children living on the marginsof society and suggesting that the Church ofEngland should be at the forefront of social

action for such children. e archbishop agreedenthusiastically and, soon after, in 1881, theChurch of England Central Home for Waifsand Strays was established. It has been workingfor disadvantaged children ever since.e three churches in this benefice all sup-

port the Children’s Society by raising moniesthrough ‘house boxes’ and other events, themost regular being the children’s Christingleservices held in St Michael’s and All Saintsaround Christmas time.Recently a Mr Grahame Senior, from the

Children’s Society came to our churches andtold us about the current work of the Society.A collection after the service raised £131.On behalf of the Society I thank you for yourgenerous gifts. e work of the Society is verywide-ranging and more detail can be seen ontheir website, but among the projects is stop-ping child sexual exploitation, and concernabout young people’s mental health.At Christmas time both St Michael’s and

All Saints’ hold Christingle services for child-ren. Christingles are made from oranges whichrepresent the world. ey are decorated withred ribbon to symbolise the love and blood ofChrist. Sweets and dried fruit are added torepresent God’s creations with a candle on topto represent Jesus’s light in the world, bringinghope to people living in darkness. Come andsee the giant Christingle made. e collectionsat these services will be in aid of the Children’sSociety. e service at All Saints’ is on Sunday4th December at 4pm and is followed by teaand the one at St Michael’s is on 29th Januaryat 4pm and is also followed by tea. Everyone iswelcome.If you would like to make a donation to the

Children’s Society or to hold a savings boxplease contact me on 01296 630456, or any ofthe clergy. ank you.

Ralph Weston

Cubs Theo Gardiner (left) and William Orris at lastyear’s Christingle Service at St Michael’s Church

Phot

o: R

alph

Wes

ton

THE Group 20 Badminton Club is a longestablished social badminton club which hasbeen running for over 25 years. Over this periodwe have seen many players come and go.We play in the Green Park Sports Centre,

Stablebridge Road, Aston Clinton, with threecourts available. We don’t play any leaguematches but at times the games can be verycompetitive.We are always looking for new members of a

good intermediate standard to join us. If youthink this is for you, then please come along to


ASTON CLINTON NEWS

Parish Council newsTHIS is the time of year the Parish Council(PC) sets its budget for 2017-18 which formsthe basis of the ‘precept’, i.e. the PC portion ofyour council tax bill. We don’t yet know ifthere will be an increase. However, we do knowof many threats to our funding, includingdevolution of local services whereby in threeyears’ time, there will be no more money fromBucks County Council to pay for grass-cutting.PCs will have to raise this money themselves.e possibility of unitary authority status inthe coming years seems very likely to involvemore duties falling to the parishes, again with-out any further public money to pay for them.We also have a long-identified commitment tobuild a new community centre for our growingvillage, equipped to meet the needs of the 21stcentury. With a cost of over £2 million, eventhrough fundraising, grants, sponsorship andborrowing, there will need to be some parishcontribution towards this amazing project. e PC tries its utmost to give value for

money and its portion of the council tax billamounts to just 5% of the total.

For that 5% of the council tax you get: � Street lighting paid for and maintained� A superb park – maintained and upgraded� New leisure facilities: paths, café, a multi-user games area (MUGA), picnic site, skateramps, play equipment

� A planned new Community Centre� Allotments� A formal Neighbourhood Plan with legalrecognition (yet to be ratified)

� A pro-active planning committee whoreview every local planning application (andin the case of large ones, formulate anyobjections to present to the local planningauthority-AVDC)

� Grounds maintenance: cutting; mowing;pruning; felling; and repairs to the park,churchyard and rights of way.

� Park litter bin emptying with additional bins this year

� Dog bin emptying and sanitation� Administration of burials� Two part-time members of staff and elevenvery pro-active councillors (unpaid)

Gill Merry Clerk to Aston Clinton Parish Council

Come and join our friendly badminton club

See the back pages for a great range of local trades and services

Green Park on Monday evenings 7.30-9.30pm.For further information contact Allen on

01296 631159 or email: [email protected] Fairbrother


ASTON CLINTON NEWS

Aston Clinton, Buckland & Drayton BeauchampHorticultural Society

Phot

o: J

ohn

Ridl

er

WINTER is here but from a gardener’s pointof view we can’t hibernate until spring. Recentwinters have been mild and at the moment –the last week of October– this year looks similar.At the time of writing we still have not had afrost to cut down the late autumn flowers andmy dahlias are still in full flower.It means that we could still be mowing in

December, but remember not to cut the grasstoo short or the frost will kill it. Now is thetime to complete the clearing of flower beds.Check on deciduous perennials. Cover theroots of delphiniums and similar plants withsharp sand. is will discourage the slugs andsnails from eating the emerging shoots that

continue to growduring a mild winter.Without frosts, theslugs will continueto survive.A liquid slug killersuch as ‘Slug Clear’is suitable to wateronto ornamentalgarden plants, butdo not use on areasintended for ediblecrops. Other jobsinclude preparingthe ground for planting in the spring.e Society held its AGM in October. e

turnout was disappointing with only 19 mem-bers attending. Tulip bulbs were sold and aglass of wine and snacks were provided. We arestill looking for a Spring Show Secretary tomanage the show at Easter time. e SpringShow and Plant Sale is on Saturday 8th Aprilat Aston Clinton School. ere are plenty ofclasses for everyone, especially for children tohave a go and non-daffodil classes for all tojoin in.Recently, Frances Farley organised a guided

walk in Burnham Beeches. Ten members wentalong and saw the beauty of the ancient, gnarledbeech trees, some of which had begun to turnyellow and gold. e members were shown alot of fungi that grow in Burnham Beeches atthis time of year. e pictures show the some ofthe fungi including the spectacular red fungus‘fly agaric’.e next meeting will be our Christmas

meeting on 14th December when Chris Wardwill give an illustrated talk entitled ‘101 ingsYou Never Knew About Garden Birds’. eevening includes a Christmas buffet plus acompetition to design and make a Christmascard using any medium. All are welcome espe-cially any non-members who may like to get toknow what we do. Continued opposite

The red fungus ‘Fly agaric’,seen at Burnham Beeches(see below).

An early autumn walk in Burnham Beeches, led byFrances Farley (left) – see next column


ASTON CLINTON NEWS

This year Santa will be visiting Aston Clinton on Sunday 18th December between 2pm and8.30pm. His route is slightly changed this year, in order to visit more houses, ending up at aChristmas event in ‘Your Café in the Park’ to which everyone is invited. There will be stoppingpoints along the route to allow children to catch up who may have missed the sleigh or whoseroads are too tricky for Santa to drive down. The route and approximate timings are shown above. Collecting elves will be provided

again this year by the Parish Council, the Scouts and the Guides. The proceeds from thecollection will be split between local good causes.

Horticultural Society, contdOn Wednesday 11th January we have

Robert Breakwell with a talk about the ChilternsMS Centre. On Wednesday 8th February wehave John Morris with a talk entitled ‘Our BoxWoodland Heritage’.We are open to new members. e Society

holds ten meetings per year on the secondWednesday in the month and two shows, inthe spring and summer, an annual supper inFebruary and a summer garden visit. Meetingsare held in the Anthony Hall, Aston Clintonand start at 8pm. ey are all free to members,but £2 to non-members. ere is a raffle andplant&produce stall to defray costs. Coffeeand tea are served in the interval.Annual membership is £5, or £6 if your

newsletters etc. are delivered via Royal Mail. Ifyou would like to join us please contact KenHalls on 01296 631636 or you can email himat [email protected]

Ralph Weston

10

11

6.30pm

BUCKLAND�

�

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Way

START2pm from 91bAylesbury Rd

7pm The Oak

5pmDeanWay

.5.30pm

Cut-through to Shop

Wenwell Close 4.30pm

A41

6pmBeechwoodWay

Green EndStreet

BeaconsfieldRoad

RoseberyRd

2.30pmShell

Garage

StablebridgeRoad/The

Chilterns3-4pm

NewRoad

Twitchell Ln8pm

7.30pmBrook St

6.30pm Long Plough

Lower

Icknie

ld

9

4

56

8 7

3

1

2

Weston

Road

London Road

12 FINISHCafé in the Park

via Green End St8.30pm

�Santaʼs routeThe numbers and arrows show the route.Times are approximate.

An invitationere are a few vacancies in the VillageLife team of volunteer distributors. Ifyou would welcome some gentle butregular exercise, please contact GeoffPlowman, our Distribution Organiser,for more details. Geoff can be contactedon 07864 769776 or you can reach himby email at [email protected]

Santa’s coming on Sunday 18th December!

HE 1st Aston Clinton Rangers are partof the Girl Guiding Senior Section. Wemeet weekly at the Guide Hall in term

time. We arrange our own termly programmeof activities like crafts, games, campfires,murder mysteries, quizzes, walks, communityand charity events.In 2016, the Senior Section celebrated its

100th anniversary. We had the opportunity toenter competitions and visit special events.Back in April, we decided to enter a compe-

tition called the Rikki Award andchose to bake 100 cakes. In addition wedecided to turn this into a charity eventand raise money for the Brain TumourCharity, inspired by Ollie Gardinerwho lives in Aston Clinton and hasbeen suffering with this condition (seep16 for more on Ollie). e Rangers advertised the Bake

Sale, chose a wide range of ingredients,baked the cakes and invited the 2ndAC Brownie Pack to decorate them.

e cakes were then sold to the parents ofBrownies, Cubs, Explorer Scouts and theLadies Group at different times and locations,all on the same evening. anks to all their generous donations we

managed to raised £133.96.We are a small group of 1�-18 year olds and

would welcome any girls to grow our RangerUnit.Please contact me on 07860 257666 for

more information. Sara Williams

1� VILLAGE LIFE DECEMBER/JANUARY 2016 /17

ASTON CLINTON NEWS

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Above: Pumpkins carved by the 1st Aston Clinton Rangers, lit and ready for HalloweenBelow: The entire team of Rangers and Brownies proudly pose around the results of their combined efforts.The decorated cakes were sold to raise almost £134 in aid of the Brain Tumour Charity

Other things than texting ...

Village Life annual grantsVillage Life community magazine is a non-profit magazine published for the benefit ofour local community. It is made possible by thesupport of our advertisers and by the fact thatwhat would otherwise be editorial, productionand distribution costs are donated, save onlyfor the cost of paper and printing.is makes it possible to offer our advertisers

very competitive advertising rates, whilst at thesame time providing every home in AstonClinton, Buckland and Drayton Beauchampwith local news and other useful information.Now well into its sixth year, Village Life has

attracted increasing volumes of advertising,resulting in a modest financial surplus. Eachyear, most of that surplus is distributed to local

churches and other charitable groups. is year,the following grants have been made:

£1000 to St Michael’s Church, Aston Clinton*£350 to All Saints’ Church, Buckland£350 to St Mary the Virgin, Drayton Beauchamp£350 to the Baptist Church Youth Café£350 to the Scouts£350 to the Guides£250 to Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity£250 to Rennie Grove Hospice Care

e rest of the surplus is being retained as a reserveagainst future increases in paper and printing costs.

* The grant to St Michael ’s Church includes a£500 contribution to the Roof Fund.

Alec Just Hon. Editor

OUR NHP is moving ahead after the latestpresentation in the Anthony Hall where thetopics have been written up in accordance withthe wishes of those residents who responded tothe questionnaire and online survey. ere wasa good response to the AnthonyHall Open Day with about 200people attending and leavingtheir comments. ese have been incorporated into thedraft version as to how we seethe plan being written. iswill be done in the comingmonth and a presentation willthen be made at the ParishCouncil office on 3rd Decemberfor any final comments. I know thisseems to be a tortuous process but it is whatneeds to be done to follow government rules.Unless we do so, we risk the plan gettingthrown out by the Planning Inspector and allour efforts could be wasted. In order to make

sure that Aston Clinton has the best chance ofbeing the village you want to live in over theyears to come, I urge you all to pop into theParish office in Aston Park during Saturday3rd December to give your approval or other-

wise to the Plan we propose to write. Before our NHP has beenapproved in a local referendum,we are vulnerable tospeculative proposals.One of the larger ones,‘Gingers Farm’, has justemerged. is proposal isfor 250 houses leading off

the already enlarged ChapelDrive area behind Green End

Street. e website for this proposal is:www.gingersfarm-astonclinton.comPlease access this website and comment on theproposed development. Colin Read

Chairman, NHP Steering Groupemail: [email protected]


ASTON CLINTON NEWS

Aston Clinton Neighbourhood Plan (NHP)


ASTON CLINTON NEWS

AY 19TH, 2015 is a date that will for-ever be burnt into our memories. Until that day we were an ordinary

family, but one that had been getting increas-ingly concerned for our 10-year-old son, Ollie.A few weeks before, he had what we thoughtwas a tummy bug. He was sick and sufferingfrom headaches. We followed the school’sadvice and kept him off for a couple of days torecover and also kept away from the GP sur-gery so we wouldn't give it to others. After acouple of days he was as right as rain, but thena week later the ‘bug’ returned. Our GP didblood tests and various causeswere suspected and rejected.After two more GP visits wehad begun researching Ollie'ssymptoms on the internet andwe insisted on an MRI scan torule out the diagnosis we mostfeared. e scan took place on May

18th, having been delayed overthe weekend to allow Ollie toattend his scout camp which hewouldn't miss for the world.e following day Jane re-

ceived the phone call that totally changed ourlives. A mass the size of a golf ball had beenfound in the back of Ollie’s brain and it had tocome out– fast. We went straight to StokeMandeville A&E and were immediately put inan ambulance and rushed to the John RadcliffeHospital in Oxford where a neurosurgery teammet us. Jane and I were taken to a small roomwhere, while carefully observed by a nurse, thebrain surgeon told us the facts. Ollie had abrain tumour. It had already spread and so wasalmost certainly malignant. I didn't know what‘malignant’ meant and was shocked by theanswer that this was cancer. And then, over our sobs, he said: ‘If we don't

get it out, it'll kill him.’ Ollie’s tumour was inthe rear of his brain and growing into his brainstem. Depending on how careful the surgeonwas, and how far in after the tumour he went,Ollie could emerge from surgery a paraplegic,a quadriplegic, or if the nerve to the heart wascut, immediate death. is was spelt outexplicitly on a consent form for us to sign. Ollie went into surgery at precisely 1:10pm

on May 20th and then followed the longest tenhours of our lives. At 11pm we went down tointensive care to see our little boy. He was un-conscious of course, but had already twitched

his feet, legs, hands and arms.He wouldn't be a paraplegic.e relief was enormous, butthe knowledge that they hadonly been able to remove halfthe tumour and that he hadlost half his blood, hit us hard.is became despair when

only a couple of days later‘Posterior fossa syndrome’ hitand Ollie lost the power tospeak, stand, swallow or usehis right arm or leg. Weprepared to say good-bye to

our beloved son.Ollie held on, and days turned into weeks.

More emergency brain operations were per-formed and still Ollie held on. We found outwhat we were dealing with, a cancer called‘medulloblastoma’. Slowly, a plan was madeto fight back, involving chemotherapy, radio-therapy and intense physiotherapy, speechtherapy and occupational therapy to get backhis physical abilities. Ollie took all the poisons,rays, prodding and poking with incrediblebravery and good humour. We were so proud ofhim and the nurses and doctors loved that henever forgot his ‘please and thank-yous’, evenin the dead of night.

Ollie: a story of courage, determination and hopeM

Photo: Peter Gardiner

Following three cycles of chemotherapy,lasting four weeks each, Ollie was able to walkagain. en began 3� sessions of radiotherapylasting seven weeks. Ollie started his newschool, John Colet, and began a further sevencycles of chemo, running through till April. Wehad our ‘end-of-treatment’ MRI and all criedthe day Ollie walked out of Kamrans paediatriccancer ward for the last time, ringing his‘chemo bell’ as loudly as he could.We started to believe we had beaten this

disease. We booked three holidays and got toenjoy two of them. en the day after we cameback from Menorca, Ollie had his routine MRIscan. Jane received the call the followingursday. ere was ‘some evidence of tumourre-growth’.

Jane and I rushed to Oxford to be told theworst. Ollie’s cancer was back and now it hadspread all over his brain and onto his spine. en I heard the words I will never forget:

‘I don't think we can cure this one.’ If we didnothing, Ollie would have only a few monthsthat could be extended up to as much as sevenmonths with oral chemotherapy. We took thatoption and once we had recovered from theshock, we looked into what we could do now.I first found a trial treatment in Washingtonand, after contacting them, Ollie was accepted.ere was a problem though. ey needed$169,000 from us before they would even lookat him. To raise that, I would have to sell every-thing and financially destroy our family. I wasprepared to do it, but the US doctor empha-sised how unlikely it was that their trial wouldhelp Ollie, but had I heard of MEMMAT?

I then spent every spare moment on the in-ternet, speaking to doctors and families all overthe world. I learnt more about MEMMAT andits trial headquarters in Austria. We discussedthe treatment with our oncologist here and he

dropped the bombshell that the NHS wouldnot pay for any more treatment for our now12- year-old boy. We were on our own.I attempted to start fund raising. I hadn’t

realised that several of our friends and neigh-bours had been waiting for this moment andhelp was very quickly forthcoming. A few ofthe team who had helped Alex (a brain tumoursufferer from Aylesbury) also joined in and Ifound we were being helped by people I hadnever met or heard of. Our initial target was£100,000 which was our oncologist’s estimateof the costs. We prepared to travel to Austriaand live there for up to two years. en, after aconversation with a doctor in Boston, USA,I found a specialist in Harley Street who couldtreat Ollie, but at a cost. e estimate was£��0,000 for the complete two years’ treat-ment. We were shocked, but the fund raisingteam were all confident we could achieve it.Within a week we had raised £39,000. One

week later we’d hit £100,000 and now, afteronly four weeks, nearly £200,000. We can nowbegin treatment next week and are going toHarley Street for the first session on Monday.We can never repay the love and support we

have been shown by our wonderful community.ings have been done and events have takenplace that I know nothing about, but will beforever grateful for. I live in fear of meetingsomebody who may have spent hours of theirfree time helping to keep my son alive and justwalking past without knowing to express thegratitude I so want to. We still have a long wayto go with the fund raising, but I am confidentthat with the continued love and help of ourwonderful team, we will make it and one daycancer can be a dim, distant memory for ourfamily.

ank you.Peter Gardiner


ASTON CLINTON NEWS

If you would like to donate to the cause of saving Ollie, please go to:www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/peteandjane-gardiner/

BUCKLAND, Drayton Beachamp and AstonClinton WI meet on the first Wednesday ofevery month at Anthony Hall at 7.�5 p.m.In September our walking group completed

the 5� miles of the Aylesbury Outer Ring. Wehave been walking the Outer Ring in segmentssince 201� and at our November meeting wecongratulated every member, including partners,who had walked at least some of the footpathwith the presentation of a special certificateand a fish-and-chip supper. Our lunch group continues to thrive with

at least 1� members attending every month.Our Christmas lunch will be at e Chequers,

Weston Turville on 15th December. We welcome new members at any of our

meetings. Come along and try us – you’ll receivea warm welcome! Claire Castle


ASTON CLINTON NEWS

WINTER and Christmas are fast approaching.As ever we advise everyone to enjoy theirfestivities and celebrations sensibly and bear inmind the advised levels of alcohol and the legallimits for driving. Perhaps the best idea is to have a designated

driver. Don’t forget that it takes longer thanyou may think for alcohol to leave your system,even after a good night’s sleep and a large fryup! If you have had a particularly ‘big’ nightout you may still be over the legal limit untilthe next afternoon, so if you are in any doubtget a taxi home to be safe. At this time of year please also remember

any elderly or unwell relatives and neighboursyou may have and look after each other. Doessomeone need help to collect their medica-tions, have a hot meal or just a quick chat?Christmas can be a very lonely, miserable time

GP Corner

The WI doesn’t close for winter

Our next meetings are:7 December Supper to celebrate our 86th birthday4 January Beetle Drive and raffle1 February The Birth of DNA and Early Success.

Members are invited to bring a photo of themselves as a baby

1 March ‘Where there’s a Will there’s a …’There will also be an exhibition of family heirlooms.

for people so please be a good friend to some-one who will value your care far more highlythan an expensive gift or night out. As a GoodSamaritan, you will have behaved in the truespirit of Christmas. Our advice is to wrap upwarm, inside and out, make sure you have goodboots and let’s hope for bright, crisp days. e staff and GPs at Aston Clinton Surgery

would like to wish a happy and healthyChristmas and New Year to all our patients.

Tina MoranPractice Manager

Over 15 years experience!

Hairdressing for all the fam

ily!

News of local clubs and other organisations is always welcome, especially newsof sports clubs. Every home in Aston Clinton, Buckland and Drayton Beauchamp

receives a copy of Village Life.


ASTON CLINTON NEWS

Royal British LegionTHIS is the time of year for Remembrance ofall those people who have given their lives insupport of our nation. Remembrance startedafter WW1 when so many millions died.Today we remember not only the two WorldWars but those who have given their lives insubsequent conflicts up to the present day. The Royal British Legion offers a range of

services to personnel who are in the forcesand those who have retired. Modern medicalpractice means that more of them survive butdo need our support. The Legion, inspired bythose we support, aims to offer the breadth,depth and quality of service our veteransdeserve. We cannot do this on our own butthere is huge public support for our armedforces.

In response, the Legion’s purpose is to be atthe heart of a national network supporting ourarmed forces through thick and thin – ensuringtheir unique contribution is never forgotten.If you want to play a more active part in

supporting the armed forces, please come andjoin our local branch. We meet monthly at7:30pm on the second Tuesday of the monthin the parish meeting room.Here in Aston Clinton it is clear by the large

numbers who attend the Act of Remembranceat our War Memorial each year that we havethat support. We thank you for your generouscontributions to the annual poppy appeal; thisyear’s results will be published in the next issueof Village Life.

Ralph Weston

The contingent from RAF Halton marching from the War Memorial to St Michael and All Angels Church followingthe Act of Remembrance on Sunday 13th November. They were joined by the local clergy and villagers of all agesincluding members of the Royal British Legion, all the other uniformed organisations and our parish councillors.

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FOLLOWING our successful exhibition inAugust we have been pleased to welcome anumber of new members into our fold. Ourmonthly general meetings are held on the thirdTuesday of each month at 2.30pm at theAnthony Hall. At our recent meetings we haveheard interesting talks about Maritime Londonand e Gunpowder Plot. On Tuesday 20thDecember we will be entertained by a malevoice choir and on Tuesday 17th January therewill be a talk entitled ‘Amazing Frauds &Swindles’.In addition to our monthly meetings there

have been trips to London, which included aames River Cruise, and a three-day trip tothe New Forest area, the highlight of whichwas a visit to the Mary Rose exhibition. InDecember we will be paying a visit to KewGardens to enjoy their Christmas Festivities.Our individual interest groups also have

weekly/monthly activities which are many and

varied and in recent weeks have included visitsto a paper mill in Apsley, a brickworks inBellingdon, St.Bartholomew’s Church inWiggington and talks about the Roman Villaat Yewden (near Hambleden) and the Agin-court Campaign. e film group have enjoyedshowings of ‘e Pianist’ and ‘To Kill a Mock-ing Bird’.Aston Clinton U3A has a vibrant member-

ship of men and women, and is part of thenational and international organisationUniversity of the ird Age, usually referredto as U3A. e organisation was created toprovide access to a variety of activities botheducational and therapeutic for retired andsemi-retired people and, probably moreimportantly, it enables members to meet andmake new friends. It is open to single peopleand couples.For more information visit our website:

www.acu3a.weebly.com Jeff Meek

Aston Clinton U3A news

Members of Aston Clinton U3A enjoying a Thames River Cruise outing in the summer of 2016

ASTON CLINTON NEWS

I

WAS BORN in Aston Clinton duringthe First World War. It was still verymuch a Rothschild village. Old Lady

Rothschild had died but her daughters kept onthe estate, visiting their old home for thePassover and the Jewish New Year. ey visitedthe girls and infants schools that had beenfounded when they were teenagers. New babieswere inspected, and I was carried out to theRothschild limousine for this purpose.“e Aston Clinton estate was placed at the

government’s disposal. e 21st Division fromLancashire was encamped at Catsbrains. Whatis now our village football area became theirparade ground. Villagers, including me in mypram, were admitted into the park when KingGeorgeV came to inspect them prior to theirdeparture for France, where they sustainedheavy losses at the battle of Loos.“Soon after my first birthday my father

departed on Mr Howe’s horse bus to join up atOxford. He fought in the Salonika campaign,was gassed, contracted malaria, and never onceslept in a bed until he returned in time for myfourth birthday. During his absence my motherhelped at the YMCA canteen in the AnthonyHall. A pound of tea had to produce 2�0 cupsof tea at a penny a cup. ere was no fresh milkand I enjoyed scraping out the Nestle milk tins. “ere were concerts for the troops, at one of

which a large soprano sang ‘Let the Great BigWorld Keep Turning’. I demanded to sing tooand mounted the stage. e khaki-clad audienceshouted down my mother’s attempt to removeme. ‘Let her sing’, they cried, ‘her daddy’s out

there fighting the Germans’. I was told that myrendering of Burlington Bertie was receivedwith applause.“Mr Pullen, a young bachelor, owned the

brewery, now part of the Bell complex. Hedeparted to join up leaving his elderly house-keeper in charge. Miss Carter could managethe brewery and the brewers, but the bookswere beyond her. My mother, who was a goodmathematician, came to the rescue and wewere often there. e old off-licence is now theBell wine shop, and shopping there remindsme of times long ago.“Under the Rothschilds there was street

lighting, with oil lamps. e Zeppelin raids –I experienced one in London from my greataunt’s cellar –called for a blackout. e curtainswere flimsy compared with the Second WorldWar, since we only had oil lamps and candles.“We had an excellent supply of pure water

from the Rothschild Water Works at DancersEnd. Electricity, gas and main drainage materi-alised between the wars. Street lighting was notrestored until 19�9. Very few homes hadwater-borne sanitation. Earth closets outsidethe back door were the rule.“e most hated woman in the village was a

German woman employed by the Rothschildson a variety of tasks, including further educa-tion. She taught German, music and homeeconomics before they were generally availablein country villages. Unwisely, she insisted thatchildren should curtsey to her as they did mostwillingly to the Rothschilds who were the

Continued on page 22


ASTON CLINTON NEWS

Growing up in Aston Clinton 100 years ago

I“

Margaret Lowe (1915-2005) was one of the best-known and respected Aston Clintoniansof the 20th century. A teacher herself, she was a parish councillor for over 30 years and wasthe daughter of a former head teacher of Aston Clinton School. Her name is perpetuatedin the naming of Margaret Lowe Place in Aston Clinton. She contributed her earliestmemories to the book ‘Buckinghamshire Within Living Memory’, published in 1993by the Buckinghamshire Federation of Women’s Institutes who have kindly givenpermission for this extract to be reproduced in Village Life.

Growing up in Aston Clinton, contd from p21fount of most of the good things they enjoyed. With the war obviously approaching, little

girls would hide behind hedges rather thancurtsey to her, and once the war started all feltshe was lucky to avoid internment. She wasforbidden to leave the village and had to reportregularly to the policeman who lived next door. Once a year she was allowed to visit Scotlandfor a holiday with her friend. Armistice Day came and my mother and I

went down to the front gate just as the rectorcycled by to gather the bell ringers. ‘e war isover; Mr Lowe will be home’, he cried. Sad the lot of those children whose fathers

did not return and whose mothers struggled tobring them up on a pittance. Saddest of allperhaps, the lot of Olive whose Canadianfather, returning briefly en route for demobili-sation in Canada, said he would send for themas soon as he reached home, kissed them good-bye and was never seen or heard of again.”


ASTON CLINTON NEWS

Book up early for the Village Market!IT MAY BE a few months away, but bookingswill very soon be open for the next fabulousAston Clinton Village Market. is much-lovedcommunity extravaganza is heading into itsninth year, and odds on 2017 will be as stellar asuccess as previous market events have proved.Last year broke all previous records, with 68

pitches, more than 2,000 visitors and a whop-ping £6,200 raised for Aston Clinton School.e next market will take place on Sunday,

7th May 2017, running from 11am to �pm atthe school, and the mix of fabulous and widelyvaried stalls, food, drink and great entertain-

ment that visitors have come to expect is firmlyback on the menu.Last year the range of things on offer

included hand-made jewellery and soft furnish-ings to beer, barbecue and jazzercise, so whynot book a pitch? is great local event is afantastic way both to support the localcommunity and reach new customers.Bookings will be open from 1st January and

cost just £25 for a pitch and £60 for a cateringpitch. For further details or to reserve a spotplease email: [email protected]

Sarah Marsh

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ASTON CLINTON NEWS

West Lodge HotelA 19th century Rothschild Lodge House

Enchanting Gardens and Conservatory in Aston ClintonIdeal venue for small weddings, family celebrations

and funeral wakes.Contact Julie on 01296 630362 or email [email protected]

Visit our website westlodge.co.uk

Whitechapel Mission–a great big ‘thank you’ALL the food and clothing that was donated totheWhitechapel Mission has now been collected.e photo shows our Rev Sally Bottomer loadinga bag of clothes into the trailer with the Rector,Rev. Elizabeth Moxley, looking on. Our thanksgo to all who contributed food or clothing.I hope you read the article in the last issue of

Village Life. It describes how 300 breakfasts areprepared and served to the homeless each morn-ing. e Whitechapel Mission issues a ‘BreakfastChallenge’ whereby groups of five or six volun-teers cook the breakfasts. If you would like totake part, it involves getting a group together, andgetting up very early to get to Whitechapel.If you are interested, please contact either RalphWeston on 01296 630456 or Rev Sally Bottomeron 01296 631929. Ralph Weston

Photo: Ralph Weston

2� VILLAGE LIFE DECEMBER/JANUARY 2016 /17

OWARDS the end of his life, LordRobert Baden-Powell, the founder of theScout Movement, prepared a farewell

message to his Scouts, for publication after hisdeath. e final paragraph reads :

“But the real way to get happiness is bygiving out happiness to other people. Try andleave this world a little better than you foundit and when your turn comes to die, you candie happy in feeling that at any rate you havenot wasted your time but have done your best.‘Be Prepared’ in this way, to live happy andto die happy – stick to your Scout Promisealways – even after you have ceased to be aboy – and [may] God help you to do it.”

Today, in Scouting, we continue to encourageyoung people to make a positive impact ontheir community. e 1st Aston Clinton ScoutGroup, have done this in small ways: litterpicking at the park; clearing the paths anddrainage channels at St Michael and AllAngel’s Church and also clearing weeds in thechurchyard. e Scouts, together with theGuides, also take part each year in the Santafloat charity collection.

e past eighteen months have brought theneed to ‘live happy’ into sharp focus with thediagnosis, treatment and subsequent return ofcancer in one of our own Scouts. Ollie joined

Beavers in 2010 and participated so fully andwith so much enthusiasm that we used to jokethat if we cut him in half he would have thewords ‘Be Prepared’ running through him like astick of rock. He was diagnosed in the days following his

first Scout camp. ough suffering fromexcruciating headaches he insisted on partici-pating and four months after surgery was backjoining in the County Scout orienteering com-petition. His joy for life completely embodieswhat Baden-Powell wanted Scouting to achieve.is January, the Scout Group are offering a

Christmas Tree Recycling service toresidents in the parish. We willcollect your tree from outsideyour home (real trees onlywith decorations removed)and thanks to the generosityof Greg O’Callaghan and hischipper, we will convert the treesinto chippings that can be used as a mulch orweed suppressant.For a £5 donation you can avoid a trip to

queue at the tip, avoid the need to vacuum pineneedles out of the boot of your car, do some-thing good for the environment and supporttwo of our local fundraising causes. One-halfof donations will go to Ollie’s Fund and one-half will go to St Michael’s Church Roof Fund.To book a tree collection on Saturday 7th

January please contact Claire or Neil on 01296708158 or email [email protected]

Claire Walker

The essence of ScoutingT

Across 7. Generator 9. Raven 10. Raise 11. Tactfully 12. Enthral 14. Notable 16. Reconsidering20. Retouch 22. Abdomen 23. Backtrack 25. Besom 26. Raged 27. PiecemealDown 1. Indictment 2. Erne 3. Arachnid 4. Profit 5. Evil 6. Enzyme 7. Garden 8. Total 13. Rio15. Bandmaster 17. Schnapps 18. Rid 19. Animal 20. Reborn 21. Untidy 22. Ankle 24. Cage25. Beer

Solution to Crossword No.18

Ollie’s joy for life completelyembodies what Baden-Powellwanted Scouting to achieve.

ASTON CLINTON NEWS



Sat 3 Dec 10am Produce Stall and Coffee All Saints’ Church

Sun � Dec �pm Messy Christingle All Saints’ Church

Sun 11 Dec 11am Nativity and Communion All Saints’ Church

Fri 16 Dec 7.30pm Film Night All Saints’ Church

Sat 17 Dec �pm Junior Flicks All Saints’ Church

Christmas Eve �pm Carols around the Crib All Saints’ Church

Christmas Day 8am Christmas Communion All Saints’ Church


More details about these events on the church website: www.allsaintsbuckland.org.uk

All Saints’ Church, BucklandRegular Services:8am Holy Communion each Sunday 11am MorningWorship - First and Third Sundays6pm Choral Evensong - Fourth Sunday each month10am Midweek Communion eachWednesday

Forthcoming events

Decorating All Saints for ChristmasAS I am having a hip replacement operation atthe end of November, I’m afraid I will be oflittle help this year, so am calling on all myflower-arranging friends for assistance.e date I suggest is Friday 23rd at 2pm

and the colour theme is white flowers withgreenery and silver.We have a collection of baubles/decorations

etc in the store and I will order flowers fromKeith at Tring market. Donations of any ofthese things gratefully received.

Please contact me if you have any queries.I would like to thank you all in anticipation ofyour support this Christmas and for all the pastwonderful decorations for our Church Festivals.My grateful thanks go also to all the ladies onmy rota for keeping the altar vases filledthroughout the year. Finally, I wish you all a very Happy Christmas

followed by a Healthy 2017.With love,

Frances Farley 01296 630072

In the classified directory of advertisers on page 30 youwill find a wide range of local services. Please support our

advertisers and mention Village Life when you contact them.

BUCKLAND NEWS


OR MANY YEARS I had consideredmyself an atheist. is all changeddramatically one night. I’d pulled my car

over to the verge and embarked on a ‘no holdsbarred’ outburst at God. My anger with theGod I didn’t believe in hadn’t been about ques-tioning his existence, but about my own griefas an Iain Rennie nurse who’d witnessed onetoo many heart-breaking scenarios. Despite myyelling, I knew myself to be in the process offailing bigtime as an atheist. Burn-out led me to retrain as a family

therapist with rigorous boundaries and greaterunderstanding of how tolisten to others without dis-integrating. I worked formany years in a psychiatrichospital that specialised intreating adolescents whowere detained under theMental Health Act. Exploring how a family

understands themselves inthe world is fragile and sen-sitive work, with any slightcrisis having the potentialto trigger setbacks. I becamefixated on what could sustainand support positive changefor families who bore pro-found deep generationaltrauma. During this time my faith had becomemore important, culminating in my being bap-tised and confirmed at St Michael’s Church,Aston Clinton, and leading me to explore andstudy Christian healing.Whilst I was enthusiastic about sharing how

positive Christian healing can be, I was silentlykeeping to myself a strong sense that I shouldbe ordained. I felt it to be ridiculous on manylevels, including my age and possible inappro-priateness of character. But my refusal to

respond to the call meant the sense of mycalling got intrusively louder and I knew I hadno alternative but to speak to the Rector.Elizabeth’s response was of joy and unmiti-

gated support. She arranged for a local priestacting in the role of vocational advisor to comeand visit. is particular priest and I still laughthat at our first meeting he suggested I couldhave a calling from God or I could be psychoticor, equally, both could be true. I have always been clear about my ministry

being local, so I was interviewed by the threeChurch Councils together because, without

their support, my trainingwould not have beenpossible. ere were otherobstacles to overcomebefore my training couldcommence. I had to havemany meetings with therigorous Director ofOrdinands, and only aftershe was satisfied with mycharacter and faith was Isent to meet the Bishop.It is necessary for both theDirector of Ordinands andthe Bishop to give theirapproval to attend the resi-dential three-day interviewknown as the Bishop’s

Advisory Panel. e three challenging days ofbeing interviewed and scrutinised at all timesleft me exhausted, yet delighted when I heardthat I’d been accepted for ordination training.roughout my three years’ academic training,

I have been very privileged to have received somuch local support. So many people havehelped me by giving up their time and attendingtraining courses with me; though of courseassignments were left solely for me to complete!

Continued opposite

BUCKLAND NEWS

Alison’s journeyF

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Alison’s journey, contd.Humour has always played an essential role inmy life, and I was concerned that trainingwould change me. I needn’t have worriedbecause by the time I had been through themulti layered interview process and completedthe three years of hard academic slog, I knewthat the church knew me inside out. ey werehappy to acknowledge they would be gettingan eccentric older flawed human being as apriest. Basically they were happy with me asI am and that’s something I feel is especiallyglorious each and every day. My ordination at Christ Church Cathedral,

Oxford, in July as a Deacon was the highlightand culmination of so much emotion and hardwork. All Saint’s Church, Buckland was packed

with people at a welcoming service, the follow-ing day. Standing with my ministry colleaguesElizabeth Moxley and Sally Bottomer eitherside of me was an incredible moment that wasswiftly followed by a ‘best not to count thecalories’ picnic with lashings of Prosecco, on anespecially sun-kissed day. Next June I will be priested, which means

I will be able to officiate at communion and atweddings. It is a huge privilege to serve myministry locally. I would like to take thisopportunity to say a huge thank you again to allthose members of my community and familywho have given me support and encourage-ment, and to add a warning. If faith can happento a person like me, it can happen to anyone!

Rev. Alison Roberts

BUCKLAND NEWS

Phot

o: A

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Alan Newland, a member of the U3A Digital Photography Group, photographed these attractive clusters of fungi atAshridge at the end of October. Alan was unsure what kind of fungus they were so we consulted Pat Cavanagh atwww.hertfordshirefungusgroup.org who tentatively identified them as Pholiata aurivella or Golden Scalycap.She said that this fungus grows on dead wood, especially beech. Needless to say, never eat a fungus unless youare absolutely certain that it is safe to eat. Many are highly poisonous!


CLUES ACROSS

CLUES DOWN

7. Dynamo (9) 9. Large blackbird (5)

10. Elevate (5) 11. Sensitively (9) 12. To hold spellbound (7) 14. Memorable (7) 16. Rethinking (13) 20. Improve photo/painting etc (7)22. The stomach (7) 23. Return by the same route (9) 25. Broom made with twigs (5) 26. Spoken or acted furiously (5)27. A bit at a time (9)

1. Charge with a crime (10) 2. Sea eagle (4) 3. Spider (8)4. Benefit (6) 5. Sinful (4) 6. Protein produced by living

cells (6)7. Ground round a house (6) 8. Whole amount (5)

13. Chief port of Brazil (3) 15. Conductor of musicians (10) 17. Dutch gin (8) 18. Purge (3) 19. Creature (6) 20. Spiritually revived (6) 21. Disorderly (6) .22. Joint between foot and leg (5)24. Imprison (4)25. Ale (4)

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Village Life crossword no.18Crossword compiled by Helen LonsdaleSolution to this crossword on page 2�

AN APPEAL FOR HELPe small but enthusiastic AC U3A DigitalPhotography Group is seeking support froma fellow retiree, who would like to share theirexperience of the wonders of Photoshop withan occasional tutorial. We meet on the secondTuesday of the month at AC Baptist Church,2.30 - 4.30pm, and would appreciate help inlearning how to enhance our images using themany techniques available in Photoshop.

If you think it might be of interest or youwould like to find out a bit more aboutus, please phone David Lonsdale on 01296631791 or email [email protected]

Village Life magazineI have enjoyed editing and producing yourmagazine since my arrival in Aston Clinton in2011. I look forward to continuing for a whileyet.However, sooner or later, Village Life will

need to form a new team to edit and producethe magazine. Are you either already retiredor coming up to retirement and have someexperience in writing, editing, journalism orgraphic design ?If so, look forward to an interesting way of

keeping mentally fit and register your interestby contacting Alec Just on 01296 634955 oremail him at : alec.just@btinternet



Sun 18 Dec �pm Carol Service St Mary’s Church

followed by Mulled Wine and Mince Pies

Christmas Day 10.�5am Christmas Communion St Mary’s Church


More details about the church on the church website: www.s-marys.org.uk

Pony Express 2016e Pony Express will run again this year. I will aim to do a first delivery in Drayton Beauchampon Tuesday 20th December and a final delivery on Friday 23rd. I am willing to go toBuckland if several people ask me to.Please drop cards in at e Dray House by 9am on

Friday 23rd December at the very latest.If you wish to give me something for charity I will divide the

money between one of the local hospices and an equine charity.Erica Godman, 01296 630066

The book of Drayton BeauchampYou don’t have to live in Drayton Beauchamp to buy a copy of the definitive book of “e Village at Time Passed By”, as the sub-title so aptly describes it. Margaret Ross and David Lonsdale have between them

created a comprehensive account of the story of the village andits inhabitants, past and present. e book is the result ofpainstaking research and is profusely illustrated. A few copiesremain from the second impression and are available fromMargaret Ross, still at only £10. A true collector’s item!

You can reach her on 01296 630098. Alec Just

Please mention Village Life when responding to our advertisers

DRAYTON BEAUCHAMP NEWS

St Mary the Virgin, Drayton BeauchampRegular Services:10.45am each Sunday

Forthcoming events


Local Trades and Services Auction housesTring Market Auctions 37BathroomsYeardye Bathrooms 44BedroomsBailey’s Bedrooms 37BuildersC D Lane Contractors 63GP Renovate 46N R Green 49R & G King 58Telnik Roofing 60 Business servicesCre8tive Copywriting 48Duke Design 54Virtual PA services 45Cars and Car hireBlue Ribbon Chauffeurs 35Butlers Cars 41Executive Voyager 52Masons Minibus Hire 45Triple White Weddings 56ChiropodistWendy Hilliard 43ChildcareBarnowls Nursery etc 49Marsworth Preschool 35Cleaning servicesBonnie Bubbles Rug Wash 47 Brighter Home carpets 36Brighter Home ovens 56Renew carpet cleaning 61Warren ovens & carpets 45ComputingActopia IT support 52Aston Computer Care 53Practical Computing 34DentistryAC Dental Clinic 51Electrical engineersCircuitfix 61E Sharp (Electrical) Ltd 54MJ Electrical 49Farm shopsP E Mead Farm Shop 35Darren & Heidi Smith 50

Fencing/GatesR D Leonard 53Town & Country 48Fish and chipsSully’s Fish & Chips 60Foot care Footworks 53Helen Boswell 58Wendy Hilliard 43FuelsF R Jeffery coal 59GardeningBuckland Landscapes 42G O’Callaghan tree care 47Merryweather Mowers 47MJB Smart 41Passiflora 61RB Treecare 57Town & Country 48HaircareLa Vita Hairdressing 59Tracy (mobile hairdresser) 18Health & FitnessHelen Mulhall 53Jazzercise 43Neuro Physiotherapy 42Tai Chi 50Heating engineersAC Plumbing & Heating 46Aylesbury Heating 47L V Holman 40HomecareElizabeth Anne Blinds 40Johnson Sewing Machines 47 Stitch & Mend 47Hostelries/HotelsThe Oak village pub 2West Lodge Hotel 23Leisure, Art & Crafts Chiltern Archery 38Complete Outdoors 56Marquee hireAmelia Marquees 53Motor engineersRoy Chapman 62Wendover Autobodies 64Nursing homes & careLeonard Pulham 37Your Own Home Care 48

Painters /Decorators[See Property Maintenance]PetsEvolution Dog Daycare 34Kitty Cat Care 47 PhotographyMarion Mason Images 57PlumbersAC Plumbing & Heating 46Aylesbury Heating 47Dom Walker 57L V Holman 40Property maintenanceDom Walker 57Hands-on-Handyman 55MD Marriott decorators 47Mike & Kym decorators 47MJB Smart Handyman 54N R Green 49P Greville 59RestaurantsHaldi Restaurant 39RoofingTelnik Roofing 60Sewing and repairingJohnson sewing machines 47Stitch & Mend 47Signage/GraphicsImpact Signs 42Sports clubsAston Park Tennis Club 60Travel /HolidaysAdams Travel 50Athena Holidays 40Go Cruise 43, 47 Travel Impressions 38Veteran supportSSAFA 36WindowsSmashing Windows 55Woodwork/JoineryK-Lin Woodwork 41P Greville 59


www.give.as/charity/lindengate


Name Contact Telephone no. Email address 1st Aston Clinton Rainbows See below* -1st & 2nd Aston Clinton Brownies See below* -All Saints’ Friends email dist. list Peter Elwin 01296 630454 [email protected] Hospital – 01494 434411Anthony Hall (Bookings Sec) Janet Brassington 01296 630229 [email protected] (‘goggle’ is correct)Aston Clinton Badminton Club Maureen Davison 07958 479690Aston Clinton Baptist Church Simon Downing 01296 631824Aston Clinton Friendship Club Selly Clarke 01296 630207Aston Clinton Parish Council Gillian Merry 01296 631269Aston Clinton School Helen Shepherd 01296 630276 Aston Clinton U3A John Bullard 01296 436403Aston Clinton Youth Club Teresa Smith 01296 631685Aston Park Tennis Club Sue Hoey 01296 630826Aston Wine Club Pat Rozental 01296 630124Ballet, Tap and Jazz Classes JoAnn Latus 07800 518654 Ballroom Dancing Yvonne Domican 01296 630467Baptist Church Hall Valerie Owen 01296 630303 Bosom Buddies Tracey Norris 079102 58259 [email protected] Club Rosemary Stratfull 01296 631339Buckland Book Group Barbara Fletcher 01296 631111 [email protected] Bridge Club Viv Barton 01296 630776 Buckland Villge Hall (Bkings Sec) Paula Graves 01296 630310Buckland Parish Council Fiona Lippmann 01296 626073 [email protected] Society Kelly Cornish 01296 632119Childline – 0800 1111Citizens Advice Bureau – 0870 126 4056Cricket Club Mike Parsonage 01296 631788Crimestoppers – 0800 555 111Dentists’ Surgery – 01296 323090Dial-a-Ride – 01296 330088Doctors’ Surgery – 01296 630241Drayton B’champ Parish Meeting Meryl Nodes 01296 630396Electricity emergency 0800 7838 838Environmental Health Out of hours 01296 585093Environmental Health Helpline 01296 585605Fly tipping Hotline 0845 330 1856Football: Aston Clinton FC Mark Foster 07831 765738Football: AC Colts Ray Lucas 01296 630076Gas emergency 0800 111 999Green Park Life Saving Assocn Liz Youens 01296 622895Guides, Brownies & Rainbows See below* –

Useful telephone numbers

thecommunitymagazine forastonclinton,buckland … · 2018. 9. 3. · come in; grab a coffee or stop...

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