Amersham Town Carol Service St John's Methodist Church

The Newsletter of Amersham Town Council
Issue number 24 Winter 2010
Amersham Town Carol Service
St John’s Methodist Church
Amersham Town Carol Service will be held on Wednesday 8
December 2010 at 7.30pm at St John's Methodist Church, Woodside Road,
Amersham by kind invitation of Rev'd David Jebb and the clergy. St John's is
celebrating their 50th anniversary this year. Carols will be sung by Beacon
Voices Choir, accompanied by the Amersham Music Centre. Everyone is
invited to this popular Christmas event. Tea, coffee and mince pies will be
served in the Church Hall afterwards. The collection will be in aid of Iain
Rennie Hospice at Home which is the Mayor’s chosen charity for this service.
A Traditional Christmas in Amersham Old Town
On Friday 3rd December 2010 why not bring the family to experience
Christmas shopping as it ought to be. Make a note in your diary to join
Father Christmas, his helpers and a host of traditional characters as the shops
stay open late and we switch on the Christmas lights in Amersham old town
to mark the beginning of the Christmas season. The festivities will begin at
6.00pm and will include a candle lit procession, carols and other festive music
as well as characters, competitions and entertainments for children of all ages.
In addition to the wide range of quality shops,
there will be a number of charity and
Amersham Old Town traders offering festive
fare as well as seasonal snacks and
refreshments. There will be free parking. This
event is organised by the Amersham Society
and the Old Amersham Business Association
supported by Amersham Town Council and
Chiltern District Council.
Christmas Cracker in Amersham-on-the-Hill
The evening will be held on Friday 10th December 2010 between 5pm and
8pm and will include Christmas Tree Lights Switch-on at 5.30pm by Cheryl
Gillan, MP for Chesham and Amersham who will be assisted by Robin Hood
and Maid Marion from the Elgiva pantomime. Christmas carols by local school
choirs. Community stalls, fun for the children and fairground rides. Some
shops will be open late – do your Christmas shopping locally. ‘Christmas
Cracker’ is organised by Amersham Action Group, supported by Amersham
Town Council and Chiltern District Council. There will be free parking
Ideas to Improve Our
Roundabouts
Amersham Town Council is
calling for ideas from Amersham
residents to improve the two
major roundabouts on the A355
at Gore Hill and Tesco’s. We
need creative low maintenance
designs that we can use to
approach Bucks County Council.
Currently the County Council
receives sponsorship monies
but spends very little on these
two roundabouts. If you have a
creative idea, Mrs Janet
Wheeler, Amersham Town
Clerk, would love to hear from
you, please telephone 01494
586892.
Improve our roundabouts
Covering Amersham Old Town, Amersham on the Hill , Amersham Common, and Weedon Hill

Britain in Bloom 2010 Regional Awards
Amersham Silver Gilt Award (Town Category)
Winner of Best Portfolio
Chestnut Lane Infant School Highly Commended
The RHS regional awards were held at St Mary's Church on 30
September 2010, hosted by Amersham Town Council. There were over
130 visiting dignitaries from the Thames Valley and Chilterns Region at
the Awards Presentation. Amersham Town was awarded a Silver Gilt
in the best town category, being runner up to Henley-on-Thames by the
narrowest of margins. Amersham also won the award for the best
portfolio and Chestnut Lane Infant School highly commended as runner up in the Mark Mattock Schools
Challenge Cup. Cllr Ros Aitken, Chair of Amersham in Bloom Working Party, was 'absolutely delighted with the
Silver Gilt Award and for the complimentary comments made about the town by the RHS judges..... all the hard
work by the Town Council staff and the volunteer helpers and sponsors have made all our efforts worthwhile. This
year we have seen steady progress with more community involvement and hopefully we can maintain our momentum
for 2011 and continue to improve our town..... Amersham Matters'
An extract taken from the RHS Britain in Bloom Regional Judges Report said;
‘A true sense of spirit & pride comes across in Amersham. It is clear that
'Amersham In Bloom' has become part of the life of the town, with all sectors
now successfully working together to make improvements to this already
attractive area. The progress and successes to date, coupled with the
enthusiasm and perseverance of those involved, Amersham will undoubtedly
improve still further in future years. Amersham is a good entry displaying many
excellent features, the contrast in character between old Amersham and top
Amersham presents a challenge to the organisers, as does the involvement of
District and County Councils with the maintenance of certain areas.'
As part of our ongoing development programme, we are looking for volunteers Chestnut Lane Infant School
to join the Amersham in Bloom working party. We need enthusiastic people
who are prepared to help with organising local groups within the community, helping to coordinate our campaign for
2011 and just generally getting involved. Our efforts are for the community and by the community, it does make a
difference because .. Amersham Matters … if you can spare some time, we would like to hear from you. For more
information info@amersham-tc.gov.uk
AMERSHAM BAND RANKS IN TOP 20 NATIONALLY
The Amersham Band competed in the National Brass Band
Finals Contest in Harrogate recently and were placed 20th in the
4th Section. It is 10 years since the Band last qualified for the
Finals in 2000. The trip to the Brass Band Finals was a great
weekend away and a huge event for Amersham Band, who were
competing among the highest calibre bands from Yorkshire and
the Northwest, the heartland of banding.
Under the enthusiastic leadership of the Musical Director, Paul
Fisher, the Band had rehearsed thoroughly and felt well prepared.
Unfortunately on the day some nerves crept in and a few minor
problems were encountered. In the end the Band was placed
twentieth out of twenty one bands which was a disappointment.
The Band is celebrating getting to the finals and have learned
much from the experience.
A date for your diary: The Amersham Band and Amersham
A Cappella will be playing at the Amersham Free Church on
Saturday 11 December 2010 starting at 7.30pm. For tickets
please contact either Rod Stevens on 01494 775344 or Fred
Harrison on 01494 862908
EVENTS IN MARKET HALL,
OLD AMERSHAM
There are two Cancer Research fund -
raising Fayres being held in the Market
Hall, Old Amersham on Saturday 4
December and again on Saturday 11
December noon —4.00pm. There will
be lots of interesting stalls including
fingerprint jewellery and handcasts,
homemade jams, book signing by a local
author and photographic displays by a
local photographer. Admission is free
and everyone is welcome to come along
and support this worthwhile local event.
Covering Amersham Old Town, Amersham on the Hill , Amersham Common, and Weedon Hill

TOWN TWINNING VISIT TO BENSHEIM, GERMANY
Amersham Town Council and the Amersham Band were
invited by the Burgermeister Herr Thorsten Hermann to
celebrate the annual Winzerfest over four days of civic
activities in the beginning of September. The event was
also an opportunity for Bensheim to celebrate fifty years of
twinning with Beaune in France. The twinning link with
Bensheim was established in 1977 and is very
active in both communities. Other Twinning Clubs from
France, Italy, Hungary and Poland were also attending and
Councillor’s from the different countries met one another.
Bensheim is a beautiful old town situated on the Bergstrasse
in a wine producing area not far from
Bensheim parade September 2010
Frankfurt. Half-timbered buildings, lush vegetation and an
average of 1,600 hours of sunshine make Bensheim a
wonderful place to visit. For more details of the Twinning Club with Bensheim contact Mrs
Mora Walker on 01494 783090 or Mr Tony Weedon on 01494 726631
Amersham Festival of Art
The 31st Amersham Festival of Art closed on Sunday 15 August and
during the preceding ten days, 39 paintings were sold. A record number
of works of art were submitted this year, 344 in total. Through the
generosity of the artists donating 20% of the sale price to the Town
Council’s Jubilee Account together with donations from members of the
public, the event raised £1280 for distribution to local charities in the
autumn. Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time and effort
towards this year's highly successful Arts Festival.
Update on High Speed Rail 2
HS2 potentially represents the single biggest commitment of public
funds for a generation for transport and is threatening to be a great
white elephant and yet the Government has not demonstrated it
represents value for money, is ecologically sound or has the much
vaunted wider economic benefits. For an in depth analysis dispelling
the myths around HS2, please visit www.hs2actionalliance.org
WE NEED YOUR HELP
To continue to fight this campaign, we need your support. The
Government’s proposed High Speed Rail 2 will run underground
through the heart of the Old Town and the surrounding Chiltern
countryside and could cause extensive damage to properties. Join
the campaign to challenge the proposals and donate funds to support
the campaign against at www.hs2actionalliance.org
HS2 Action Alliance is a not for profit organisation working with
over 50 local community groups, which is challenging the case for
HS2 and working to get Government to take the right decisions.
Covering Amersham Old Town, Amersham on the Hill , Amersham Common, and Weedon Hill

BBOWT WINTER TALKS IN SOUTH BUCKS
Date: Monday 10th January 2011
Tracks and trails—an introduction to British mammals and their
tracks and signs, given by Phill Horwood.
Venue: Trinity Church, London Road, High Wycombe HP11 1BJ
Time: 7.45pm
Date: Friday 11th February 2011
Birds of the Colne Valley, given by Stephen Carter
Venue: St Thomas’ Church Hall
Mayflower Way, Holtspur, HP9 1UF
Time: 8.00pm
Date: Monday 14th March 2011
Ancient Woods in the Chilterns—wildlife,
history &
management, given by John Morris
Venue: Trinity Church , London Road, High Wycombe, HP11 1BJ
Time: 7.45pm
WINTER EVENTS AT WOODROW HIGH HOUSE
―A Celebration by “Harmony” & other guests, Sunday 12th
December 2010
6.30—7.00pm start
Tickets are £15 and include a buffet supper.
A talk will be given by Jill Carey on „Tropical Rainforests’ on
Sunday 6th February 2011
6.30 –7.00pm start
Tickets are £12.50 and include a 2 course supper.
A talk will be given by Duncan Dyason on Street Kids of
Guatemala on Sunday 20th March 2011
6.30 –7.00pm start
Tickets are £12.50 and include a 2 course supper
The above are fund raising events for Woodrow
High House and tickets can be obtained from Jean
on 01494 712261 jean@gkingshill.fsnet
AMERSHAM BIRD WATCHING GROUP
The Amersham Bird Watching Group meet on the third Friday of
the month from September to May at 8.00pm at the Barn Hall,
Amersham Community Centre, Amersham HP6 5AE
Date: Friday 17th December. Quiz Night
For further details please ring the chairperson Mrs Mary McKay on
07980 503879
Dates for your Diary
3 December Christmas Festival & Late Night Shopping
Amersham Old Town, 6—9pm
8 December Town Carol Service at St John’s Methodist
Church, Woodside Road — ALL WELCOME
10 December Amersham-on-the-Hill ‘Christmas Cracker’
Late Night Shopping and Christmas Lights
switched on by Cheryl Gillan, MP for Chesham
& Amersham
25 –28 December Town Council offices closed for Christmas.
Reopen Wednesday 29 December 2010
8 January Christmas Tree shredding at Hervines Park
Depot
27 March 2011 Clean Up Day at Market Hall, Amersham
Common Village Hall & St Michael & All Angels
Church
COUNCILLORS AT AMERSHAM
TOWN COUNCIL
There are fifteen councillors who give up their time voluntarily
to serve the local community. They strive to give a voice in
planning, leisure and amenities to ensure that the Amersham
area is an enjoyable place to live and work. They can be
contacted on the following telephone numbers:
Cllr Ros Aitken Amersham Common 01494 724406
Cllr Mrs D I Allen Amersham Town 01494 721085
Cllr M Andrews-Reading Amersham on the Hill 01494 434095
(Deputy Town Mayor)
Cllr Mrs S J Axelby Amersham Town 01494 723452
Cllr E C J Flynn Amersham Town 01494 721958
Cllr Mrs V G Head Amersham on the Hill 01494 727254
Cllr M King Amersham Town 01494 722758
Cllr Mrs A Lamont Weedon Hill 01494 432056
Cllr M D Lacey Amersham on the Hill 01494 722934
Cllr H Maitland-Jones Amersham on the Hill 01494 722175
Cllr H G Newton Amersham on the Hill 07768 973770
Cllr M Phillips Weedon Hill 01494 433634
(Town Mayor)
Cllr A J Weedon Amersham Common 01494 726631
Cllr Miss M J White Amersham Town 01494 764256
Cllr R N Williams Amersham Common 01494 729229
Details of council meetings can be found at www.amershamtc.gov.uk
or by contacting the office by email or telephone.
CHRISTMAS TREE SHREDDING
Amersham Town Council Parks Staff will be at their
Hervines Park Depot, Hervines Road,
Amersham from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm on Saturday 8
January 2011 where they will be shredding
discarded real fir Christmas trees, free of charge.
This is not a community waste site but solely for the
chipping of Christmas trees as a recycle green
initiative.
For more information please telephone
Amersham Town Council on 01494 586892.
The office is open 10.00 am to 5.00 pm except weekends and
Bank Holidays
For more information or submission of articles for the
next issue, copy date is 18 February 2011 please contact:
Amersham Town Council
The Court House
King George V Road
Amersham
Bucks HP6 5ST
Telephone 01494 586892
Fax 01494 586890
E-mail townclerk@amersham-tc.gov.uk
www.amersham-tc.gov.uk