No 180 Spring 2012 - Stoke Poges Parish Council

News 

No 180 Spring 2012

From the Editor 

With the Dog & Pot currently up for sale it seemed 

appropriate to put an archive photo on the front 

cover of this issue. Almost everyone I have spoken 

with recently has asked about the pub’s future and 

expressed their concerns about it being demolished 

to make way for new housing. 

We feature another old photo from the Parish 

Council’s collection alongside Geoff Orange’s 

reminiscences of Stoke in the 50s and 60s, of Bells 

Hill before it was developed in the 60s. 

With signs of spring appearing every day, many of 

our clubs and societies which are more active 

outdoors in the summer are resuming their activities. 

Whether you are an active sportsperson or a leisurely 

gardener there is something for you – our village 

societies are an important part of the village’s identity 

and play an important role in strengthening social 

connections in the village. 

In this edition you will read some good news. There 

are strong indications that the Co-op is finally going 

to open in the next few months. 

Also in this edition, you will read of plans for the 

village’s Diamond Jubilee celebration. We all have 

happy memories of previous royal celebrations so the 

celebration on 2 June is an opportunity for everyone 

in Stoke Poges to take part in a memorable day – 

please mark the date in your diary and come along. 

Cathy Thornton, who chairs the Parish Council’s 

Planning Committee, has contributed an article 

about important aspects of home improvement, 

explaining why preserving the character of our 

residential roads is so important. 

Spring’s arrival brings many good things but also a 

different set of risks – open doors, windows and 

sheds can be tempting for criminals. The 

neighbourhood police article gives some excellent 

advice on how to reduce the risk of having your 

valuable possessions stolen – please read it and stay 

alert to the risks. 

Ralph Bagge 

Editor 

Index 

Diamond Jubilee Celebration 5 

Carols Success 6 

Tennis Club 8 

Recreation Report 9 

Parish Council Chairman's Letter 11 

Stoke Common 12 

Golf Pro Tips 13 

Motorcycle Club 14 

Free Church 16 

Birds in Stoke Poges 17 

Bells Hill rec. Consultation 19 

The Laughing Group 21 

Friends of Stoke Common 22 

Horticultural Society 23 

Stoke Poges Remembered 24 

The Stoke Poges Society 27 

Bowls Club 28 

Sunshine Corner Pre-School 29 

Dates for Your Diary 31 

South Bucks Sports Development 34 

Police and Safety 36 

Vicar's Letter 38 

British Legion 39 

Women's Institute 42 

Bridge Club 44 

Stoke Poges Players 47 

Hedgerley Historical Society 48 

Stoke Green Rovers FC 50 

Rainbow 51 

Photographic Club 52 

Duke of Edinburgh Group 54 

Scouts 55 

Social Club 58 

The Stoke Poges School 59 

Planning Perspectives 60 

Parish Council Decisions 62 

3

Spectacular 

Diamond 

Jubilee 

Celebration 

To mark the 60th anniversary of the 

Queen’s accession, the Parish Council 

has decided to hold a celebration in Bells 

Hill rec. on Saturday 2 June. 

A working party has been set the challenge of 

planning an event with something for everyone. 

The rec. was an obvious location for a family 

event – with the fantastic playground close by; 

there will be plenty to keep younger people 

entertained for a few hours. 

Everyone is invited to bring a picnic. Starting at 

2 pm, Jiveoholics, a band that play pop songs 

from the 50s, recalling the golden era of jive and 

rock and roll, will hopefully bring back many 

pleasant memories as they perform on the 

temporary festival stage. 

Following on will be a dance display from the 

Orchard Academy, with a nostalgic theme and a 

sequence of songs from the last night of the 

Proms. The children at The Stoke Poges School 

will be learning the songs so that they can join in 

and it’s hoped that all the young people 

at the event will receive a special Diamond 

Jubilee souvenir. 

The Scouts’ barbecue will be open from 5 pm and 

to make it easy for people to stay all day, the fete 

committee will be running a bar. Portable 

washrooms are being hired for the day. 

The Kickback, who have earned a reputation for 

being one of the best party bands around, will be 

the evening band rocking the rec. The celebration 

will close with a fireworks finale around 10 pm. 

Villa ger Me ets 

Princ ess Royal 

The Princess Royal flew into Stoke Poges by 

helicopter recently to visit the South Bucks 

group of the Disabled Riding Association, 

in Framewood Road. All of the young 

riders, with their families, volunteers and 

invited guests assembled in the group’s large 

indoor arena. 

Following a presentation of the group’s 

ponies and horses, the Princess Royal 

presented merit awards and was introduced 

to each of the classes, taking time to chat 

with everyone. 

The royal visit was well-deserved recognition 

for the great work done by the group with 

disabled young people locally. Special schools 

use riding to help with the behaviour of the 

children because it helps them learn to sit 

quietly, so that they don’t frighten the ponies, 

whilst waiting to ride. 

Parishioner Melissa Orchard proudly shows the 

rosette presented by the Princess Royal 

5

Carols 

Success 

‘Carols on the Green’, held on 10 

December, set new attendance 

records and the biggest procession 

yet (estimated at 300 plus) following 

Santa’s sleigh around the village, to 

sing carols outside Bold’s Court and 

the Six Bells. The children of The 

Stoke Poges School added to the 

spectacle with their brightly 

coloured, Olympic-themed lanterns, 

made in workshops provided by 

South Bucks District Council. 

On returning to the Village Centre, 

the people’s choir – a well-drilled 

group of parishioners, and 

accompanied by John Orchard on 

piano, gave a spirited performance 

of 18 carols and classic seasonal 

songs, to the delight of the crowd 

who joined in. 

Meanwhile, the Social Club bar 

and the Christmas craft market 

stalls did a roaring trade – some 

stalls even having to send out for 

extra supplies! 

This year’s Carols will be held on 

Saturday 8 December from 5 pm. 

Mark the date on your calendar to 

make sure you do not miss one of 

the highlights of village life. 

The event would not be possible 

without the efforts of a number of 

volunteers who planned and 

marshalled the procession, and 

approached local businesses for 

donations. The Parish Council 

expressed its gratitude to Terra Firma 

Sound, Complete Studio Graphics, 

Alpha Windows, Pinewood Nurseries 

and Wexham Mowers for their 

significant contributions. Thanks also 

go to Waitrose, Beaconsfield; Marks 

& Spencer, Gerrards Cross; Fishers, 

Gerrards Cross; Budgen, Chalfont St 

Peter; Booker, Slough and Asda, 

Slough for donating mince pies. 

The collection, in aid of South Bucks 

Disabled Riding Association, raised 

£205.12. 

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7

We are now looking forward to the 

spring and the better weather. 

The club has entered four teams in the adult winter 

leagues: Men’s, Ladies, Mixed 1 and Mixed 2. So far, 

some of the opposition has been quite good! 

Midweek morning play for adults goes from strength 

to strength – and evening play makes use of the 

floodlights up till 9 pm depending on demand. 

Coaching for juniors and adults continues at various 

times throughout the week. 

Dates for the next few months are as follows: 

Sunday 11 March Maintenance Day 

Friday 16 March Annual dinner 

Saturday 31 March Open/Joining day 

If you are at all interested in finding out more about 

us, please do come down to the Open Day on 31 

March between 1 pm and 4 pm. We are very keen to 

attract new members – all ages and all standards. 

Everyone will be made most welcome. 

For further information, please ring 642438 or see 

our website www.stokepogestennisclub.co.uk. 

Or just turn up at the courts adjoining Bells Hill 

recreation ground, off Rogers Lane. Follow the sign 

down the new footpath next to St Andrew’s church. 

Roger Wright 

Publicity Manager 

Beeches Road, 

Farnham Common, Slough, 

Bucks, SL2 3PS 

T. 01753 644568 

or 01753 646748 

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Saera Carter chairs the Parish Council’s 

Recreation and Environment Committee, 

which looks after the parish’s open spaces. 

First, a huge thank you to everyone who helped, 

contributed and turned up on the day to ‘Carols on 

the Green’. The turnout was very impressive. The 

weather thankfully was much kinder to us this year 

than last year. 

The children from The Stoke Poges School did a 

wonderful job with making their lanterns, which 

definitely added a lovely warm atmosphere to the 

procession. We estimate that up to 300 joined in 

the procession, many more than in previous years, 

which was a fantastic spectacle. Many thanks to 

Anne Frank for putting together the carols with the 

children and to Revd Harry Latham for leading the 

procession along with Santa. 

With a slightly different format this year 40 villagers 

formed a choir, led by John Orchard who sang 

carols and Christmas songs, which was a huge 

success. It was so lovely to see so many villagers join 

in with the singing, adding to the festive feel. 

I must also personally thank the working party for 

their time and efforts in helping to organise this 

event: Ralph Bagge; Martin Wood; Alan Fox; 

Heather Huntley; Joyce Pritchard and Liz Robinson. 

Additionally there were many other volunteers, so a 

huge thanks. Other main people who contributed 

hugely to the success of this event not only with 

their time but providing equipment and expertise 

were Graham and Kevin Donnet of Terra Firma 

Sounds; there were many positive comments about 

the sound quality and lighting. The entire event 

was a huge success. Finally, we must also thank 

Santa for joining us and making lots of children 

very happy! 

Recreation and Environment continues to be very 

busy. There was a strong turnout to the public 

consultation on the possible new Community 

Pavilion, held on 14 January. It’s always good to 

meet parishioners and find out their opinions. 

Works have been completed at the allotment site to 

improve drainage and make way for creating 

a few new plots, which will help alleviate the 

waiting list. We have also replaced a broken 

gate at the entrance and placed new signage at 

various points. 

I am also looking at ways to improve the rental 

potential for our grazing sites and generally 

improving facilities to make them more desirable. 

We lost a tree in Nettleship Wood during the high 

winds. Rather than dispose of it we have had it 

made into a bench – you may have spotted it whilst 

out walking. 

The challenge of dog fouling continues to be a 

problem for many users of the rec. As mentioned in 

this issue, please, please be considerate to other 

users. There is pressure from concerned users that 

dogs should be banned from using the rec. This is 

not something that I would like to see happen as 

the rec. is there for the pleasure of all. I hope it does 

not come to this. 

Plans for our Diamond Jubilee celebration are 

coming along well. We have a day of fun and 

celebrations in store for all ages to enjoy. You are 

invited to Bells Hill recreation ground on 2 June 

from 2 pm with your own picnic. We will be having 

two bands during the day, a mini Stoke Poges 

Proms, an evening barbecue, a bar and a finale 

of fireworks. 

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Parish C ouncil Chairman’s Letter 

There is a report on ‘Carols on the Green’ in the 

news section. The second year of the ‘new’ version 

was a great success. I was delighted when the 

Chairman of South Bucks District Council singled it 

out as a highlight of his month at the December 

meeting. He commented that he had never realised 

there were so many families with young children 

living here. 

I would like to acknowledge and thank the 

volunteers who put in many hours of work to ensure 

the evening was successful. I am grateful to all the 

parish councillors who pitched in on the day, putting 

in a ten-hour shift setting up marquees, moving 

furniture around beforehand, acting as marshals 

during the evening and then taking everything 

down, storing it away and clearing up litter when 

most people were back home watching the X Factor 

Final! It’s that level of teamwork, commitment and 

energy that helps to make Stoke Poges unique. 

I have to acknowledge Gaby and Graham Battrick, 

who played a central role towing Santa’s sleigh in the 

procession. Their expertise and helpfulness were 

invaluable and they were a pleasure to work with. 

In the eight years the village has been without a shop 

we have all made alternative arrangements. There 

are now strong indications that the Co-op will open 

at last, giving us an option to shop locally. Let’s hope 

the Co-op is competitive enough to persuade us to 

change our habits and support it. Let’s also 

remember and continue supporting our post office 

and pharmacy, whose proprietors have kept their 

businesses going despite facing many obstacles. 

The Parish Council decided unanimously that the 

Queen’s Diamond Jubilee is an important event that 

deserves a memorable celebration. We have 

committed to the biggest event budget in the 

Council’s history – with professional bands, pro 

lighting and sound and a covered festival stage for 

our event on Bells Hill rec. on 2 June. It should be a 

spectacular, enjoyable, once-in-a-lifetime occasion 

that will be long remembered. 

We are all quick to criticise councils for their many 

failings. Over the last few months, however, Bucks 

County Council has delivered on its promises by 

resurfacing Park Road, Stoke Green, Rogers Lane, 

Collum Green Road, the Stoke Common Road 

junction and Farthing Green Lane. In addition, the 

bollards and earth mounds have been installed in 

Stoke Green, which have made a difference. I think 

Transport for Bucks deserves credit for a pretty 

good year’s work in our parish and I have certainly 

found their officers to be very helpful, supportive 

and reliable. 

I’m pleased to report a small but important success. 

A new beacon was installed on Bells Hill at the 

beginning of February. The original beacon was 

removed when work started and it was put into 

storage and then lost. South Bucks District Council 

agreed to replace the beacon, but there were 

uncertainties about where it should be located. 

However, after a series of meetings with officers, they 

agreed to install it on the green at Bells Hill. I hope 

you join me in looking forward to seeing it lit in 

celebration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee at 10 

pm on Monday 4 June. 

The Annual Parish Meeting will be held in the main 

hall of the Village Centre on Thursday 26 April. I will 

be reporting on how the Council has performed 

against our plans for the year and setting out our 

priorities for the next 12 months. I look forward to 

seeing you there. 

Ralph Bagge 

HOME: 01753 644054 MOBILE: 07768 475467 

10 11

Have you 

Made Your Will? 

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Ye ar Four of The 

Plan For Stoke 

C ommon 

The City of London began the long task of 

restoring Stoke Common when they took 

over ownership and management of the Site 

of Special Scientific Interest in October 2007. 

In 2008 a ten-year management plan was 

produced and all the work that has been 

carried out in recent years has been guided 

by that plan. 

Although the fourth year of the plan only started in 

November last year, the City of London has already 

carried out many of the major restoration projects 

planned for the year: about three hectares of dense 

birch scrub have been cleared by a large cut and 

collect machine with the arisings being turned into 

an invaluable habitat pile near Frame Wood. The area 

was then mulched and rotovated to expose buried 

heathland seeds and to stimulate their germination. 

Volunteers have also been busy on the common with 

the Friends group and others giving thousands of 

hours to help clear invasive scrub from areas with 

sensitive, vulnerable heathland habitat. 

Whilst the large machines can clear large areas, care 

also has to be taken to avoid any small remaining 

pockets of old heathland, which are important for 

the heathland reptiles and plants; this is where the 

volunteers come in, working with hand tools so only 

the unwanted scrubby vegetation is removed. This 

will form the bulk of the habitat work for the rest of 

the winter/spring 2012 season. On the West 

Common the progress made to date with opening 

up narrow paths to improve visitor access and make 

it more attractive to wildlife will continue. In addition, 

stretches of fencing on both commons will be 

repaired in early 2012. 

The Friends of Stoke Common group will again be 

active throughout the year and their new task 

programme or ‘What’s on’ guide can be found on 

the City of London website 

www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/burnhambeeches under 

‘news and events’ or you can call the Burnham 

Beeches office on 647358. 

Chris Morris, Senior Ranger 

Pro Tips 

Stuart Rank, Head of Instruction at Stoke Park, 

continues his series of top tips for golfers – 

Setting the Right Tone. 

During my day of teaching I see so many amateur 

golfers starting their swing poorly. The effect that this 

has on their overall movement can prove 

detrimental. The two most common examples of a 

bad start are a disconnection of the arms and the 

dreaded early turn of the body. 

Disconnection is caused by an effort to swing the 

club up that leads to a lifty look, loss of power and a 

poor strike. An early turn is produced by the player 

trying to do too much, too quickly. The club gets 

rolled away behind them and then thrown over the 

top on the way down, resulting in a sliced shot. 

Therefore, if amateurs can start with a better 

sequence of events a lot of faults can be prevented 

before they occur. Follow this sequence below to get 

things on the right track: 

1. Allow your arms to hang naturally from your 

shoulders with no tension or pre-rotation. 

2. Feel the weight of the club in your fingers. 

3. Think of the long ‘Y’ created between your 

shoulders, arms, hands and club. 

4. As you start the backswing maintain the ‘Y’ and 

get everything moving ‘together’. 

5. Feel your middle, torso and arms connected in 

this gentle move. 

6. As your hands pass your right thigh (right-handed 

golfers) activate the club in your usual way. 

The next time you watch the leading golfers of the 

world look at how they start their swing, kick-starting 

the move in a relaxed, soft and ‘together’ tone. 

Stuart Rank, Stoke Park, srank@stokepark.com 

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FARNHAM ROYAL 

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14 

Another Fine Mess 

The topic of most concern in the village recently 

has been dog mess. A number of unhappy dog 

owners have contacted the Parish Council and 

individual councillors – they are concerned that 

a minority of irresponsible dog owners in the 

village are giving all dog owners a bad name, by 

not clearing up their dog’s mess, particularly on 

the paths and play areas in Bells Hill rec. 

When walking your dog, please carry a bag you 

can use to pick up and remove your dog’s 

waste – there are lots of red dog waste bins on 

all the popular dog walking routes in the village. 

If dog walking in the rec. in the hours of 

darkness, please keep your dog on a lead 

so that you can see when and where it 

leaves waste. 

If whilst walking you are distracted by your 

phone or meeting someone, before moving 

on check around that your dog has not left 

any mess. 

The Parish Council wants the village recs to be 

enjoyed by everyone and is concerned about 

the risks to children’s health and the upset, 

embarrassment and inconvenience caused to 

walkers who tread in dog mess – something 

that can so easily be avoided with some 

consideration on the part of dog owners. 

Hopefully, this request for neighbourly 

cooperation will see an end to this messy 

problem. However, the next step will be for the 

Parish Council to allocate public money to 

identify the people responsible and to gather 

evidence. Many councils have taken out ASBOs 

against dog owners who foul, banning them 

from public places. 

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Stoke Poges 

Motorcycle Club 

After our first meeting, work has been going 

ahead getting the club structured with bank 

accounts and regular meetings throughout 

the summer. Rides have been limited through 

the winter due to riding conditions; so a few 

members have been working hard to provide 

activities for when conditions start to 

improve. 

The club is now organising its main ride out event, 

a four-day trip into northern France and Belgium 

visiting various sites of interest such as the first 

World War Glory Hole, the prisoner of war camp 

at Mechelen on the Franco-Belgian border, the 

town of Dunkirk and on the way through we are 

planning to have a one-night stay over in the 

historical city of Amsterdam! 

Accommodation will be in a mixture of hotels and 

chateaux being arranged by one of the 

multilingual club members. We are a welleducated 

bunch of bikers, don’t you know… 

Other ride outs are planned throughout the 

summer including the Festival of Speed at 

Goodwood, regular Ace Café and coastal 

locations and the Brighton burn-up that has been 

running for many years. 

Our hand-embroidered Club badges are now 

completed and ready for circulation to members 

who have paid their subscriptions. 

We have had considerable interest from our own 

community in Stoke Poges and anyone wishing to 

become a fully affiliated member should drop me 

a line either by email (gary@gpmfreight.com) or 

by text (07976 371802) and I will get a 

membership application out in the post. Annual 

subscription is only £25 and this fee includes a 

hand-embroidered club badge, based on the 

original from 1948, a bike sticker, full 

membership, access to all members’ details and 

an email circular for quickrides. 

Looking forward to a spring of improving weather 

and new friendships. 

Gary Matthews 

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Stoke Poges Free Church 

As I am writing this, another body has been found 

inside the wreck of the Costa Concordia. 

Inevitably, should investigations indicate any 

recklessness on the captain’s part, there would be 

subsequent demands for justice. For most people, 

it is right that destructive recklessness should carry 

a penalty – because people matter. 

Hence, when lives are taken deliberately, justice 

frequently demands the entire life of the offender 

in return – which suggests that no amount 

of years can ever fully ‘pay the price’ for a 

person’s life. 

The writer of an ancient song preserved in the 

Bible understood this too. Reflecting on the 

inevitability of death, he imagines the strange 

possibility that someone could somehow ‘buy’ 

someone eternal life but concludes, ‘no man can 

redeem the life of another...the ransom for a life is 

costly, no payment is ever enough’ (Psalm 49:7-8). 

But there’s an unexpected twist in his song – no 

man could pay such a price but, he says, ‘God will 

Sunshine Corner Parent 

and Toddler Group 

This group meets every Thursday morning in the 

main hall of the Village Centre. It runs from 

9.15 am to 11.30 am (term time only). All 

children, parents and carers are welcome – it is 

very reasonably priced at £1.50 per family, which 

includes coffee/tea, juice, biscuits and fruit. 

Maybe you are finding it lonely at home with a 

toddler or a baby, or maybe you would like your 

child to meet other children. Whatever your 

reason, you will always find a welcome at our 

toddler group. It is run by staff and parents from 

Sunshine Corner Pre-school which takes place 

next door in the Harding Room of the Village 

Centre and many of the children from the group 

go on to attend the pre-school with children 

they already know. 

For more information phone 644300 or 07973 

671558. 

Kirsten Tarrier 

16 

redeem my life from the grave’ (Psalm 49:15). He 

believes God will pay some great price to ‘buy’ 

him eternal life! 

Centuries later, Jesus also announced that death 

need not be the end we deserve. Jesus believed 

he had been sent by God to ‘give his life as a 

ransom’ (Mark 10:45) for us – so he chose to pay 

the ultimate price by dying on a cross for us, so 

that we can live forever. His own disciples didn’t 

grasp this until, after his brutal death, they saw 

him – alive and well and gloriously real. 

For churches in Stoke Poges, the Easter message is 

exciting – because the life Jesus offers us is 

something we have come to both believe in and, 

in various ways, experience already. The really 

good news is that, according to Jesus, this offer of 

forgiveness and eternal life is for everyone – 

especially ordinary, fallible people, like you 

and me! 

If you’d like to find out more or explore whether 

this can possibly be true, you’re more than 

welcome to give me a ring (315692), drop me an 

email (post_skeptic@hotmail.com), visit our 

website (www.stokepogesfreechurch.org.uk) or 

come to one of our services. We will be joining 

together with St Giles’ and St Andrew’s on Good 

Friday and holding our own service at The Stoke 

Poges School on Easter Sunday. We would love 

you to come along. 

Sincerest wishes, 

Revd Lewis Fry 

Birds In Stoke Poges 

Thanks for your replies to my last article and various bird sightings. 

This time last year we had a very cold spell which really tested the birds’ 

endurance and certainly brought a greater variety of species to the 

garden feeders. But with the recent mild weather as I write, there 

doesn’t seem to be so much activity. 

The redwing are back for their winter sojourn, these are more 

likely to be seen if you have berries nearby. A redwing is 

mainly brown, similar to a female blackbird but with a 

russet patch down its flank and a distinctive cream line 

over its eye. Fieldfare often accompany them – these 

are larger more like a thrush with grey patches. 

Other interesting sightings to report are: 

-nuthatches and goldcrests in West End Court 

- buzzards (not to be confused with red kites) around the village 

- plenty of goldfinches and chaffinches plus a couple of greater spotted 

woodpeckers near Stoke Common close to the ‘Fox & Pheasant’ 

- a pair of Egyptian geese on Sefton golf course. 

The RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch took place at the end of January. This 

helps to identify which birds are increasing or decreasing in numbers. 

In a one-hour period, I spotted eleven different species – but 

nothing out of the ordinary. I hope some of you took part as well. 

Please let me know what you see at any time. If you struggle 

to recognise a bird, I will try to help. 

Roger Wright; 642438; roger.wright100@talk21.com 

A nuthatch ‘the upside down bird’ taken near Stoke Poges. 

Credit: Neil Neville

Bells Hill rec. Consultation 

An exhibition was held on 14 January to display 

options for improving Bells Hill rec. Two designs for 

a community pavilion were presented, to provide a 

much-needed durable meeting place suitable for 

youth activities and indoor sports. 

In addition a multi-use games area (for impromptu 

games of football and basketball) was proposed 

and some ideas for landscaping the rec., including 

a path around the perimeter and a nature area, 

were also shown. 

Around 120 people visited – a fairly high turnout 

for this type of consultation (the architects were 

expecting about 40) and at the time of writing, 

comment forms are still being returned. 

Many visitors commented that the Dog & Pot is 

ideally located to serve the rec. and that it could 

be converted to provide the amenities proposed 

for the community pavilion. It could also 

accommodate a community library. 

Bus number 53 

Your local bus service serving Wexham Park Hospital – Stoke Poges – 

Farnham Royal – Burnham Grammar School – Maidenhead – Bracknell. 

Operated by Thames Travel 

Please contact us if you need travel on bus line 53, your comments or 

suggestions are always warmly welcomed. 

www.thames-travel.co.uk 

or call 01491 – 837988 

Front 

elevation of 

one of the 

pavilion 

designs 

18 19

Several of the 

club’s officers 

have been trained 

by British Cycling 

to lead their 

Skyride Local 

rides, so we have 

been able to take 

part in British 

Cycling’s ‘Social 

Cycling Groups’ 

pilot programme. 

�� 

�� 

Our recent group 

rides have been 

listed on 

goskyride.com, the 

national calendar of 

group rides. It has 

proved very 

effective, with a 

family from Beaconsfield joining our New Year’s 

Day ride out to Langley Country Park and 15 

participants booked on our Beeches family ride 

on 12 February. 

The exciting news for cycling locally is that 

Slough Borough Council will be sponsoring a 

programme of Skyride Local rides this summer 

– more details will be available shortly from 

www.goskyride.com. 

Laughing Group rides will continue this 

spring/summer. Departing from the Village 

Centre car park at 2 pm, on the third Sunday of 

the month, our rides last a couple of hours, 

including a refreshment stop. 

18 March 17 June 

15 April 15 July 

20 May 19 August 

(cycling club) 

Photo: Amy Watters 

In addition, we are planning a group ride to 

Burnham Bike Day on Saturday 12 May – 

further details will be posted on our Facebook 

page and website when available. 

Riding in a group is a highly enjoyable and 

relaxing way to take exercise in the open air. 

The leaders take care of navigation and get the 

group through junctions safely. We plan our 

routes along quieter roads wherever possible 

and find that other road users are very 

respectful and considerate. 

Our family rides are suitable for all over the age 

of eight and our brisk rides are suitable for 

riders aged 13 and over. 

Find out more from our Facebook page: 

‘Laughinggroup S Bucks’; our website: 

www.bucksinfo.net/laughinggroup; or by 

emailing group.laughing@gmail.com 

20 21

Friends of Stoke C ommon 

Building a hibernaculum – winter refuge for the 

common's reptiles. Credit: Terry Cork 

As we leave winter behind we can look 

back on several productive and 

enjoyable working parties on Stoke 

Common. We were delighted to 

welcome a few new faces in January 

and hope the promise of a good start to 

a healthy 2012 was appreciated by all. 

You may have seen our second Stoke Common 

DIY Christmas tree, constructed in December, 

from birch trimmings. Unfortunately, we had to 

do without a seasonal embellishment of snow. 

In January an energetic group, fired by a new year, 

not to mention the aroma of baking potatoes, 

thinned out a large patch of birch. In February we 

worked on the main common again, this time 

cropping Scots pine plus the usual enjoyment of 

the fresh air, refreshments, friendly company and 

the satisfaction of a good workout. 

Future programme details are as follows: 

Meeting place Pickeridge Farm, Stoke Common 

Rd at 10 am. 

22 

Saturday 3 March: Path 

clearance on the west 

common. This is always a 

satisfying job. 

We will be concentrating 

on clearing birch, gorse and 

scrub to help improve 

access for walkers. 

Saturday 14 April: Hate 

litter? Then help with our 

spring clean. This is an ideal 

time to clear the rubbish 

before new spring plant 

growth hides it. We need 

some determined 

volunteers to help clear 

ditches and entrance areas 

to keep the common an 

attractive place to visit. 

Saturday 8 May: Kite 

building, main common. Kites provide endless 

entertainment on windy days for young and old 

alike. Come and learn how to make and fly a kite. 

Kites will be made from plastic sheeting, tape, 

string and wooden dowelling (or perhaps material 

collected from the common). 

A great, family event. All welcome. Let’s hope for 

gusty weather! 

Saturday 2 June: Bracken and pine sapling 

clearance, main common. 

The summer months are a good time to tackle 

bracken, which can prevent growth of more 

desirable heathland vegetation. 

What are the rewards for all your efforts? Plenty 

of tea and biscuits. If you plan to stay all day, 

please bring a packed lunch. We work from 10 

am until 3 pm but there is no obligation to stick it 

out till the end. 

Stoke Common is a Site of Special Scientific 

Interest (SSSI) and all volunteers work with the 

advice and under the direction of Burnham 

Beeches staff. 

For further information have a look at our 

website: www.friendsofstokecommon.org.uk or 

contact Marian on 644203. 

Stoke Poges, Wexham & Fulmer Horticultural Society 

Members Spring 

Social Evening, 

Wednesday 14 March 

at 7.45 pm at Stoke 

Poges School, Rogers 

Lane 

This event opens our 

new season. We wish to 

extend a warm welcome 

particularly to new 

gardeners and those 

who would like to grow 

more home produce, 

vegetables, herbs or 

flowers. There will be a 

buffet supper, an 

illustrated talk on 

‘Flowers of Crete’ given 

by Graham Pattison, and 

a table show. The table 

show allows members 

to exhibit whatever is 

seasonable and is of 

interest to all. 

The evening is free for 

members, and for nonmembers, 

if you join 

that evening. Annual 

Membership costs £6, or 

£8 for two people who 

live in the same 

household. In addition, 

Society 

members 

at last 

year’s 

plant sale 

this will give you free 

entry to our annual 

flower show in July and 

a copy of the show 

schedule. What a 

bargain! 

Contact: Peter 

Montgomery, 

membership secretary, 

montgomery@bellshill.freeserve.co.uk 

Annual Spring 

Market, a Plant Sale, 

to be held in the 

Village Centre on 

Saturday 21 April, 

10 am – 12 noon. 

This is a very popular 

event where you can 

buy good plants grown 

locally for a reasonable 

price. So come along 

and also meet your 

friends for a cup of 

coffee or tea and 

homemade cake. As you 

can see from the photo 

taken just before last 

year’s sale, there will be 

a wide selection of 

plants including summer 

bedding, tomato plants, 

herbs, hanging baskets 

and clematis. 

Gardeners Evening 

Workshop, 

Wednesday, 25 April, 

8 pm in the Hastings 

Room at St Andrew’s 

Centre, Rogers Lane 

Everyone is welcome; 

particularly all who may 

have bought plants at 

the sale and who would 

like further advice on 

nurturing their 

purchases. The focus will 

be on ‘Growing your 

Own Vegetables’ but 

experts will be on hand 

to answer questions on 

growing fruit and 

flowers. We would like 

to encourage gardeners 

who have never entered 

their produce in the 

show to look at what 

they are growing in their 

garden and learn how it 

could be presented 

towards the end of July. 

Evening Lecture 

Wednesday, 16 May 

at 8 pm at The Stoke 

Poges School, 

Rogers Lane 

The Society has a series 

of lectures to which all 

are welcome, although 

non-members may be 

asked to make a token 

contribution to cover the 

cost of refreshments. 

This lecture will be an 

illustrated talk on Sri 

Lanka given by Revd 

Ken Tombs. 

119th Annual Flower 

Show, Saturday 

28 July at The Stoke 

Poges School, 

Rogers Lane. 

Make a note in your 

diary to be sure not to 

miss this unique, annual 

event. 

For more information 

please visit our website: 

http://www.hortsoc.org/

Stoke Poges 1955 to 1968 Remembered ~ Part Two ~ 

Geoff ‘Jaffa’ Orange 

continues his series by 

recalling Bells Hill 

before the 1960s’ 

development. 

The central area of the 

village of Stoke was 

Bells Hill, where the 

hub really included the 

Village Hall, houses, 

shops, public houses 

and a garage. To get a feel for 

this central area I will try to describe some of the 

facilities that were there and I will cover the area 

from the bottom of Bells Hill to the top. 

The Village Hall, as previously mentioned, covered 

many activities sometimes including the Cubs, 

Brownies, Air Scouts and even a youth club at 

one time. 

There was an extra small building at the back, 

which offered a ‘Saturday Morning Barber’ shop. 

It would have been men only there in those days, 

long before unisex came along. The next building 

going up the hill was the tin-walled and roofed 

British Legion hall. 

Next was the garage selling cars and servicing and 

it even had fuel pumps (which remained into the 

90s). There were no cut-price places challenging 

them with cheap petrol back then! Also the 

garages back then also sold and mended bicycles. 

At this time the garage was owned by Bert 

Burgess, who offered a taxi service, complete with 

uniformed driver, for the better-off villagers who 

did not have a car. You could also hire a car from 

the garage. I remember my uncle hiring a very 

small Ford for regular trips to the seaside on 

Sundays. On one trip going up the hill by Windsor 

Bells Hill 

cottages, 

shops and the 

old Six Bells in 

the early 1960s 

Castle, the horn of the hired car got stuck and 

caused a lot of odd looks from people! 

Next up was a collection of some six cottages, 

with long back gardens. The first one would have 

reached to where the present new chemist shop 

is. In this first cottage lived the Thompson family. 

There was a small, detached garage at the side 

where the access road to the new shops is now. 

The small garage was used for many years by 

butcher Roy Neville in which to keep his car. 

The Newell family used one of these mid-terraced 

cottages as a grocery shop and I remember joints 

of ham and sides of bacon being held in cold 

store at the butchers 

by Miss Newell, as there was not 

space in her shop. Sometimes the butcher 

would help by ‘boning out’ a side of bacon 

for her. 

TEMPLEWOOD 

BUILDERS LTD 

All types of building works undertaken 

Telephone 01628 600570 

Next along Bells Hill was the public house, latterly 

called The Six Bells. The whole front of it was 

covered in shiny green wall tiles and looked very 

nice. There was a large garage at the rear and one 

of the vans owned by the butcher next door was 

kept there. 

In part three I will go into some detail about the 

shops further up Bells Hill – Neville and Bell and 

Tom’s Superstores. 

24 25

Olympics 2012 Local News 

To keep up to date with the latest local 

2012 Games developments visit the South 

Bucks District Council website. There is a 

host of information concerning the 

forthcoming games including grant funding 

opportunities, torch relay, transport, events 

and activities, business opportunities, 

tourism, volunteering and simply joining in. 

www.southbucks.gov.uk/leisure_culture/ 

olympic_2012/default.aspx 

Bucks Sport also has an excellent website 

with details about sporting opportunities 

and events inspired by the London 2012 

Games. 

www.buckssport.org/en/twentytwelve 

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has 

produced a free booklet to help local 

businesses around Dorney keep their 

businesses running smoothly during the 

Olympic and Paralympics. 

www.london2012.com/getinvolved/business-network/travel-advicefor-business/maps/map26-eton-dorney.pdf 

Spire Thames Valley Hospital, Wexham Street 

Vivien Wood Katie Relf Jillian Frew 

MCSP MCSP BSc(Hons) MCSP 

Registered with HPC & all major insurance companies 

Full range of physiotherapy treatments available 

01753 664114 

www.southbucksphysio.co.uk 

STOKE POGES 

Bowls Club 

We have been enjoying our close 

season. We had a very successful dinner 

dance and our Christmas get-together 

was enjoyed by all. We have had a few 

games against indoor clubs, just to keep 

our hand in. Our short mat competitions 

are now underway. 

Our joining night this year is 11 April at 

7.30 pm at the Polish Club, The Gryf, 

Church Lane SL2 4NZ. If you are 

interested in trying bowls, please come 

along and have a chat with us. You will 

be most welcome. If you would like any 

further information, please ring Judy 

Smelt on 642341. 

Sunshine Corner Pre-school 

We returned in early January refreshed and 

ready for the new term after the Christmas 

break. Several new children have joined us 

and they seem to be settling in well. 

The previous term finished with the annual 

nativity play and Christmas party. The nativity was 

once again a big success with all but the very 

youngest children taking part. Parents, carers and 

relatives thoroughly enjoyed the play and the 

children enjoyed performing for them. A few 

days later the children were entertained by 

Kiddleydivey at their Christmas party and Father 

Christmas found time to visit the children with 

presents for all. 

At the end of November, Sunshine Corner held its 

Christmas Bazaar, which was once again a big 

success and raised around £1100 for our funds. 

The raffle was very popular and we would like to 

thank the sponsors Alpha Windows for providing 

a Kindle as the main prize. Father Christmas was 

kept busy all morning chatting to children and all 

the stalls were well attended. Our thanks go to all 

who helped to organise and run the bazaar and 

particularly to all the people and local businesses 

that donated raffle prizes. 

Our theme for this half term is ‘Dinosaurs’ – 

always a popular subject with the children. 

The children have been 

enjoying making a 

dinosaur egg with a baby 

dinosaur hatching from 

it. They are enjoying a 

variety of other 

activities with 

dinosaurs such as 

finding hidden 

dinosaurs, making flying 

dinosaurs and dinosaur biscuits. 

The children have been able to spend more time 

in the garden thanks to the new artificial grass laid 

last summer. This term we are hoping to lay some 

new turf to replace the rest of the grass to make 

the garden accessible in all weathers. Outdoor 

play is very important for children’s development 

and we aim to give children plenty of outside time 

throughout the year. 

This term will finish at the end of March with an 

Easter Egg Hunt and Easter Bonnet parade. 

Hopefully the Easter Bunny will be able to make 

time to visit the pre-school with eggs for all 

the children. 

A friendly welcome is extended to all parents and 

carers. For information phone 644300 or 07973 

671558 and speak to a supervisor. 

VILLAGE ELECTRICAL 

ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR 

Domestic • Industrial • Commercial Installations 

House Rewires • Fuseboard Upgrades • Security Lighting 

Fire Alarms • Emergency Lighting • Test and Inspection reports 

Work carried out to the 17th Edition Wiring Regulations BS7671 

Part P Registered for Building Control 

Contact John Croly 

2 Broom Hill, Stoke Poges, Bucks SL2 4PU 

Tel: 01753 662595 Mobile: 07788 742163 

Email: johncrolyvillage.electrical@hotmail.com 

28 29

Templewood Security 

Systems LTD 

Established in Farnham Common since 1990. 

A friendly LOCAL business with 20 years 

of experience. 

• Intruder alarms specialist 

• For all your installation requirements 

and local servicing 

• Insurance approved 

• Red Care monitored systems 

• 24 hour call outs 

• Free estimates and advice 

NACOSS 

GOLD 

Call: 01753 648330 

Web: www.templewood.co.uk 

E-mail: security@templewood.co.uk 

Benefits include 

discount on green fees 

at both Farnham Park 

and The Lanes, the 

opportunity to play in 

friendly matches and 

competitions, and to 

obtain a handicap. 

Initially aimed at new 

players of all ages and 

abilities, it also 

welcomes players 

who enjoy a bit of competition but 

without the pressure of high-level 

matches. To find out more about 

membership, call 554840 or visit 

www.thesouthbuckinghamshire.co.uk. 

Golf Lessons: just £2.50 per session 

The Lanes nine holes pay and play course 

provides the ideal set-up for the whole family 

to play with new junior and family rates. PGA 

professional staff provide first class tuition for all 

ages. New courses start in March and at £2.50 

per session they will get booked up quickly, so 

get your name down now. 

Ten-week Reactivate course for those aged 

26 years and over: 

Every Monday starting 5 March at 6.30 pm 

– 7.30 pm, £25 per person for 10 weeks 

Six-week Sportivate Golf Course for those 

aged 18–25 years: 

Join the New 

Lanes Golf Club 

Every Thursday starting 1 March at 6.30 pm 

– 7.30 pm, £15 per person for 6 weeks 

Every Sunday starting 4 March at 12 pm – 

1 pm, £15 per person for 6 weeks 

Booking is required for all courses. Payment for 

courses must be made at the time of booking 

to secure your place. 

For further details or to book, call 01895 

837233 or email 

culturalandyouth@southbucks.gov.uk. 

Unrestricted Play at Farnham Park 

Farnham Park is a first class pay and play golf 

course offering great value for money green 

fees at all times, so if you have not tried golf 

yet, why not give it a go? Farnham Park is also 

offering season tickets, which allow you to play 

any time, all year round. 

For further information call 643332 or visit 

www.thesouthbuckinghamshire.co.uk. Why 

not sign up to receive our golf newsletter, just 

email farnhamparkgolf@southbucks.gov.uk 

and request to be added onto our emailing list? 

WATER 

SOFTENERS 

Supply & Installation 

Drinking Filters & Faucets 

Next day delivery service 

for Block, Granular 

and Tablet Salt 

01753 643554 

NSR Limited 

30 31

Dates for your Diary 

March 

Sat 3 

Tues 13 

Wed 14 

Sun 18 

Wed 21 

Sat 24 

Sun 25 

Wed 28 

Sat 31 

Path clearance on the west 

common, Friends of Stoke 

Common, Pickeridge Farm, 

Stoke Common Road, 10 am 

‘Life with the Judds’, The Stoke 

Poges Society, St Andrew’s, 8 pm 

‘In Accord’ by Elaine Watts and 

Karen Welch, Women’s Institute, 

Village Centre, 2.15 pm 

Members spring social evening, 

Horticultural Society, The Stoke 

Poges School, 7.45 pm 

Group cycle ride, The Laughing 

Group, Village Centre, 1.30 pm 

‘Cultural Icons or Beasts of Burden’ 

by Prof. Peter Edwards, Hedgerley 

Historical Society, Hedgerley 

Memorial Hall, 8 pm 

‘Somebody Famous’, Stoke Poges 

Players Youth, Village Centre, 2 pm 

and 7 pm Moved to 14 April 

Sport Relief mile run, Evreham 

Sports Centre, Iver 

Diamond Jubilee celebration lunch, 

Women’s Institute, Longueville Hall, 

1 pm 

Spring coffee morning, Women’s 

Institute, Village Centre, 

10 am – 12 pm 

Tennis Club open day, Bells Hill Rec., 

1 pm – 4 pm 

April 

Wed 11 ‘Making a garden for the BBC’ by 

Edwin Rye, Women’s Institute, 


Sat 14 

Sun 15 

Wed 18 

Sat 21 

Wed 25 

Bowls Club joining night, Bowls 

Club, Polish Club, Church Lane, 

7.30 pm 

Spring clean, Friends of Stoke 

Common, Pickeridge Farm, 

Stoke Common Road, 10 am 



‘The Great Western Railway 

comes to the Thames Valley’ by 

John Chapman, Hedgerley 



Spring market and plant sale, 

Horticultural Society, Village 

Centre, 10 am –12 pm 

Olympics Open Weekend, Evreham 

Sports Centre, Iver, 10 am – 4 pm 

Gardeners’ evening workshop, 

Horticultural Society, 

St Andrew’s, 8 pm 

Thurs 26 – Sat 28 

Late, Late Panto, The Stoke Poges 

School, 7 pm and 2 pm on Saturday. 

Sat 28 

May 

Sat 5 

Wed 9 

‘Everest needs you Mr Irvine’ by 

Julie Summers, Hedgerley 



Kite building on main common – 

family event, Friends of Stoke 

Common, Pickeridge Farm, 10 am 

Ploughman’s lunch, Women’s 

Institute, Village Centre, 1 pm 

32 33 

Sat 12 

Tues 15 

Wed 16 

Three-mile ramble with lunch, 

Women’s Institute, Naphill, 10 am 

Group ride to Burnham Bike Day, 

The Laughing Group, Village Centre, 

(check website for time) 

Village Walk, The Stoke Poges 

Society, 7 pm, meeting place tba 

Evening lecture, Horticultural 

Society, The Stoke Poges 

School, 8 pm 

‘Titanic Memorial Cruise’ by 

Philip Littlejohn, Hedgerley 



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Thurs 17 – Sat 19 

‘Prepare To Meet Thy Tomb’, 

Stoke Poges Players, 


Sun 20 

June 

Sat 2 

Sat 16 



Diamond Jubilee celebration with 

live music, dancing and fireworks, 

Bells Hill rec., 2 pm – 10.15 pm 

Annual village fete, 

The Stoke Poges School 

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South Bucks Sports Development 

Sport Relief Mile 2012 

There will be a Sport Relief Mile event taking place 

on Sunday 25 March at Evreham Sports Centre, Iver 

in association with Nexus Community and South 

Bucks District Council. You will have the opportunity 

to run one, three or six miles. Many runners jazz up 

the run by wearing fancy dress or completing the 

‘one miler’ in a three-legged fashion with a friend! 

If you are interested in taking part or would like more 

information, please visit www.Sportrelief.com and 

search for the ‘Evreham Sports Centre Mile’. 

Nexus Community London 2012 Open Weekend 

Nexus Community will be celebrating the one 

hundred days countdown to the London 2012 

Olympics at their Open Weekend events in South 

Bucks. The Open Weekend will take place on the 21 

April at Evreham Sports Centre, Iver and 22 April at 

the Beacon Sports Centre and Theatre in 

Beaconsfield from 10 am to 4 pm. 

This event is for all ages. 

Activities on offer to try 

include football, hockey, 

seated exercises for the over 

fifties, soft play for under 

fives, fun races such as fitness 

testing and spinning. All 

activities will cost very little, 

between 50p and £1. The 

days will finish with a prizegiving 

ceremony. 

Keeping with the spirit of 2012, residents will have 

the opportunity to meet with a range of local sports 

clubs from across South Bucks and gain more 

information on how to join the clubs. 

If you would like more information please visit the 

Nexus Community website 

www.nexuscommunity.org 

No Strings Badminton at Evreham 

! 

Would you like to meet new people and learn a new 

activity at the same time? 

South Bucks District Council is working together with 

Badminton England and Nexus Community to get 

people excited about a fresh, new badminton 

initiative. Whether you’re a complete beginner or 

would like to return to the sport, No Strings is for 

all ages and abilities. All sessions are £2.50 on a 

‘pay and play’ basis making it convenient and 

cost effective. 

Adult (16 plus) Wednesday 8 pm – 9 pm 

Adult (16 plus) Wednesday 9 pm – 10 pm 

Adult (50 plus) Thursday 10.30 am – 12 noon 

All ages (families) Saturday 4 pm – 6 pm 

For more information please contact the Nexus 

Community team at the Evreham Sports Centre on 

672610 or visit www.nexuscommunity.org 

Reactivate 

Golf Instruction 

Would you like to take up golf but have never had 

the time? There will be a ten-week beginners’ golf 

course for those aged 26 or over at The Lanes Golf 

Course and Driving Range in Stoke Poges, starting on 

Monday 5 March from 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm. The tenweek 

course costs only £25 per person, which works 

out at £2.50 a session; golf clubs will also be 

provided. A fully qualified, friendly professional coach 

will lead all sessions. Please contact the Sports 

Development team at South Bucks District Council if 

you are interested in booking your place at 

culturalandyouth@southbucks.gov.uk or call 01895 

837233. Booking is required and payment must be 

received to secure your place. 

Run England Beginners Course 

Nexus Community is working 

together with England Athletics to 

provide the opportunity for adults 

to take up running. Each session 

will be led by a fully qualified Run 

England instructor and will be 

tailored to suit those who have 

never run before or would like to 

return to running. The ten-week 

course will start on Tuesday 21 February from 9.30 

am to 10.30 am. Sessions will cost £3 per session or 

£20 for the full course. For more information please 

contact the Nexus Community team at the Beacon 

Sports Centre and Theatre on 01494 677764 or visit 

www.nexuscommunity.org 

Q 

MEND (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition, Do it!) 

South Bucks District Council are supporting this FREE 

programme for children aged 7 – 13 years who are 

over their ideal weight. Nexus Community who 

operates both leisure centres in South Bucks now 

runs the MEND courses in South Bucks. They provide 

trained staff with a background in nutrition and 

physical fitness to deliver the course. 

Children attend with a parent or guardian and the 

sessions are twice weekly. For further details about 

this innovative course contact Elayne Hughes on 

07970 214760 or email 

elayne.hughes@nexuscommunity.org 

Sportivate South Bucks 

Sportivate is a new lottery-funded 

7 

initiative to give young adults a 

chance to learn a new sport or 

improve existing skills, and if they 

keep taking part after the course 

is finished, they could find 

themselves on their way to watch 

the London 2012 Olympic or 

Paralympics Games. All 

participants who complete their course, missing no 

more than one session, and keep playing the sport 

for at least another three months, will be entered 

into a ballot for free London 2012 tickets. Fortunately 

for Stoke Poges residents the following courses are 

very close by: 

Golf 

Ages: 14-25 years 

Venue: The Lanes Golf Course, Stoke Road, 

Stoke Poges, SL2 4NL 

Date and time: Two six-week courses, 

Thursdays 6.30 pm - 7.30 pm, starting 1 March and 

Sundays 12 noon -1.00 pm, starting 4 March. 

Cost: £15 for six weeks 

Football (Ladies Only) 

Ages: 17-25 

Venue: Evreham Sports Centre, Swallow Street, 

Iver, SL0 0HS 

Date and time: One six-week course, 

Tuesdays 7.00 pm - 8.00 pm, starting 21 February 

Cost: £15 for six weeks 

If you are interested in taking part please book early 

through the Sports Development Team at South 

Bucks District Council, as numbers are limited. Please 

contact 01895 837233 or email 

culturalandyouth@southbucks.gov.uk for information 

and to book. 

London 2012 Olympics 

Please continue to look out for the Bucks Olympic 

Legacy booklets that have been distributed in the 

district, featuring open days, many of which will be 

free, in sports clubs across the county for each of the 

Olympic and Paralympic sports! 

Disability Sport 

The Sports Development Team at South Bucks District 

Council have recently been working on broadening 

the work they do for young people with disabilities 

and this has resulted in a pathway providing multisport 

for ages 7–17 years. The two clubs detailed 

below cater for young people with both learning 

and/or physical disabilities: 

Junior Multi-Sport Disability Club 


Day: Friday 5 pm – 6 pm (term time) 

Venue: The Beacon Centre, Holtspur Way, Holtspur, 

Beaconsfield, HP9 1RJ 

Price: £2 per week 

Burnham Multi-Sport Disability Club 


Day: Wednesday 4.30 pm – 6 pm (term time) 

Venue: Burnham Upper School, Hogfair Lane, 

Burnham, Bucks, SL1 7LZ 

Price: £2 per week 

Adult Club 

Ages: 18+ 

Day: Wednesdays, 11.15 am - 12.15 pm 

Venue: Evreham Sports Centre, Swallow Street, Iver 

Price: £2 per session 

Please call before attending the clubs to discuss the 

level of care required. 

For further information regarding any of the activities 

and events organised by the Sports Development 

Team at South Bucks District Council, please call Joe 

Sammon, Sports Development Officer: 01895 

837348 or Rakhi Shingadia, Community Activities 

Coordinator: 01895 837233; 

culturalandyouth@southbucks.gov.uk 

34 35

NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE TEAM 

Police and Safety 

At the beginning of December our 

neighbourhood police team carried out a 

speed check operation on Bells Hill. In a 75minute 

period they issued six speeding tickets. 

The worst offender was measured at 51 mph 

and will be going to court. 

There were six burglaries in Stoke Poges in 

December. In each case the house was in darkness 

and it was obvious that it was unoccupied – which 

makes it far too easy for burglars. Roads with very 

little passing traffic, the closes, are particularly at 

risk. Use timer switches to switch lights on at dusk. 

Our police team has been patrolling our residential 

roads and putting cards through the doors of 

houses that would look attractive to criminals. If you 

have received one of these warning cards please 

respond by taking measures to protect your home 

security and your property. Remember that fitting a 

burglar alarm reduces the risk of burglary by 66%. 

As the weather warms up and we spend more time 

outdoors, guard against opportunist theft – open 

garages, garden doors and windows are all very 

tempting to a passing offender. Thieves tend to go 

for items that can be sold on easily – laptop 

computers, smart phones, lawnmowers and 

power tools. 

Please keep garages and sheds secure and mark 

attractive portable items with a forensic marking kit 

like SelectaDNA, which can be bought at cost price 

(£30) from the Parish Council office. 

In some areas, higher levels of home security have 

led to criminals targeting garden sheds – the best 

protection is to chain valuable items like bikes and 

mowers to a ground anchor. 

As thoughts turn to holidays and going away, think 

about the security of your house whilst you are 

away. Make arrangements with a neighbour or 

family member to remove any signs that the house 

is unoccupied – post and free newspapers, etc. Use 

a timer switch to turn lights and a radio on and off 

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Timer switches 

are available 

free from our 

neighbourhood 

police team 

to give the impression that someone is at home. 

Timer switches are available free from your 

neighbourhood police team. 

Some good news – a male has been given a prison 

sentence for a burglary in School Lane, last August 

and for other offences. 

Remember that in the warmer months, noise travels 

further through open doors and windows. Please 

be considerate to neighbours by not playing loud 

music, particularly in the late evening. 

Last summer, the police were called to several 

incidents where garden parties and barbecues were 

causing anti-social disturbances to neighbouring 

homes. If you are planning a party, think about your 

neighbours and give them some notice in advance, 

so that they can be prepared or make arrangements 

to be elsewhere. Think about how you can avoid 

causing unnecessary disturbance and ill feeling. 

Stay safe by registering for Community 

Messaging – a free service that provides 

information to subscribers about crime and police 

activity in our area via phone or email. It also 

includes information on what the police and partner 

services are doing to bring offenders to justice or 

combat anti-social behaviour. You can sign up at: 

http://www.tvpcommunitymessaging.org/rmwebpo 

rtal/startup.aspx 

If you want any advice or would like to contact the 

neighbourhood team, telephone the Thames Valley 

Police non-emergency number 101 or 

email StokePoges&WexhamNHPT@ 

thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk 

Feeling the 

Pinch ? 

££££££ 

Money is available from local 

organisations for villagers who 

require financial help due to hardship 

and are unable to obtain statutory 

benefits or help from health and social 

services 

Subject to a clear need in each case 

grants can be given to families and 

individuals for such purposes as: 

� Providing equipment and facilities 

for disabled, handicapped or infirm 

people, including respite care 

� Providing essential household 

appliances, furniture and equipment 

� Limited assistance with gas and 

electricity bills may be available in 

some cases 

� Paying for essential house repairs 

� Providing essential supplies for 

school (including school uniform), 

further education, and apprenticeships 

� Providing financial relief in cases of 

sudden distress such as illness, 

including travelling expenses to and 

from hospital 

For help contact: 

Mike Dier 01753 642886 

Trevor Egleton 01753 643330 

Susan Lynch 01753 646582 

36 37

The Vicar’s Letter 

I love the word ‘reveal’ 

– its root is in the Latin 

and it means remove 

the veil or draw back 

the curtain. Christianity 

rejoices in the fact that 

God reveals Himself to 

us – he wants human 

beings (his creatures) to 

know him and relate to 

him, so he reveals 

himself. 

He reveals himself first 

by what is called 

‘General Revelation’, 

that is to say, by the 

created world, the 

things we love to 

watch on nature 

programmes: be it 

whales, polar bears and 

penguins, or lions and 

zebras and hippos, or 

golden eagles, puffins 

and humming birds; be 

it mountains or 

beaches, waterfalls or 

deserts, or trees or 

flowers of all kinds. 

It is a natural human 

response on seeing 

such things to 

experience awe and 

wonder and to see as it 

were God’s fingerprints 

all over this world. The 

same is true looking at 

human beings when 

we see love and 

tenderness, 

compassion and 

kindness, the desire for 

justice and heroic selfgiving 

and self-sacrifice. 

This ‘General 

Revelation’ may well 

lead someone to 

believe in a creator God 

and to dismiss the 

suggestion that our 

universe is somehow a 

random unplanned 

affair. But it takes 

‘Special Revelation’ to 

come to know the 

Creator personally and 

to experience 

becoming his child, his 

son or daughter. 

If you have ever 

climbed a mountain 

and had your breath 

taken away by the 

view, then you have 

experienced ‘General 

Revelation’. When I 

lived in Aberystwyth I 

frequently climbed up 

Cadair Idris and 

stopped at various 

points, not just to catch 

my breath, but also to 

take in the view in awe 

and wonder. 

But all the beauty in 

the world could not 

enable me to call God 

‘Abba’ Father, Daddy or 

Dad. Without Jesus 

that would be 

impossible. 

Jesus was born in the 

Bethlehem manger for 

me and for you. Jesus 

grew up in Nazareth 

for me and for you. 

Jesus lived a life that 

shows us what God is 

Nick Milne Garden Services 

www.nmgs.co.uk - 01753 643612 - 07832 144935 

❁ Stoke Poges-based small family business 

❁ High quality maintenance gardening and 

small landscaping projects undertaken 

❁ Approved by Slough Trading Standards 

and featured on Stoke Poges 

Trustworthy Tradespersons list 

❁ References and portfolio available 

like. His miracles and 

his teaching challenge 

our preconceptions and 

misconceptions. 

Above all his death on 

the cross for us (in our 

place) not only 

purchases our 

forgiveness but also 

opens the way for us to 

become God’s children. 

If you would like to talk 

to Charlie Styles 

Sykes 

(Curate) or me, we 

would be very glad to 

make time for you 

(please contact the 

office at St Andrew’s). 

If you would like to 

come and join us at St 

Andrew’s and St Giles’ 

for Holy Week, Easter 

or Pentecost, you will 

be warmly welcomed. 

Best wishes and 

blessings, 

Revd Harry Latham 

Royal British Legion 

Remembrance Day has come and gone. 

This day was well remembered with the two 

minutes silence held at the flagpole. The 

memorial service followed, with a full church 

and it was good to see Scouts and Guides 

turned out so smartly. 

I was shocked to hear of Jack Hearne’s 

passing on. I used to cycle to and from work, 

Hedgerley to William Street in Slough, so I 

had to pass his shops. It was easy to drop my 

cycle off at Stoke Road, walk to work, then 

collect it in the evening after being repaired. 

I knew he had gone ‘down west’ but did not 

know where. He was a great character in the 

bike world. 

I must correct something I mentioned last 

time. I wrote that our supper had gone well 

and the meal was well worth £16. It must 

have been my writing but the figure should 

have been £6 so I hope Mrs Tennant doesn’t 

increase her price now. 

Cherry and David Marriott have informed me 

that our Poppy appeal raised £16,111.87 and 

Stoke Poges contributed £5532.12. What a 

grand effort by 

all concerned and 

once the new 

shops are open 

I’m sure that 

figure will be beaten. 

The branch thanks all who 

made our collection so big, 

even though it was slightly 

less overall than 2010. It could 

not be achieved without the help of 

businesses, pubs, shops, street collectors, 

Wexham Park Hospital etc. Our total 

will be enhanced by the branch donation 

in May. 

Our first event this year will be the annual 

dinner on 25 February and will be closely 

followed on 22 March by our beetle drive. 

We were saddened to hear of Mrs Jill Dew 

passing away and then, only a short time 

after, Mr Dew also passed on, both members 

of our branch. Having lost a few members 

lately we would very much like a few 

more to join us. Contact Peter Price (642677) 

to join. 

38 39

South Bucks District Council 

Supporting the Local Community 

2012 Olympic Games 

South Bucks District Council is proud to be a host 

authority for the forthcoming London 2012 

Olympic and Paralympic Games. It recognises the 

importance that the games offer to residents and 

wants to make the most of this fantastic event. 

The Chairman’s Grant to Support 

Local Talented Young Sportsmen 

and Women 

This special grant has been launched to support 

local athletes in their pursuit to be the best. 

Whether it is support with purchasing specialist 

equipment, specialist training or help towards 

40 

Graham Williams 

Chauffeur Service 

Postbox Cottage 

Vine Road 

Stoke Poges 

Slough 

Bucks SL2 4DW 

Tel: 01753 663885 

Mobile: 07889 455994 

getting to that all important competition, this 

grant is there to support you. The grant is 

available to applicants who have, through 

recommendation, the potential to represent Great 

Britain or England in their chosen sport. All 

applicants must reside or train at a club within the 

district and be under 21 years of age. 

Grant Funding for 2012 Games 

Community Initiatives 

Community groups, clubs, town and parish 

councils can apply for funding for projects/events 

open to the wider public, which will be held 

within South Bucks and which relate to the 2012 

Games. Applications need to demonstrate a clear 

link to the Olympic and Paralympic Games with 

inspired opportunities and/or offer a lasting legacy 

for the residents of South Bucks. 

Details on both of these schemes can be found at 

http://www.southbucks.gov.uk/ or by calling 

01895 837306. 

Get the Olympic Look for your 

event for FREE 

2012 feather flags are available for FREE hire for 

use at local community events. The District 

Council is supporting local community events, 

which are aimed at bringing the community 

together to help celebrate the 2012 Games 

coming to the UK. South Bucks District Council 

has purchased a number of Olympic feather flags 

to be used by local community groups. Each pack 

contains a blue, green, yellow, orange and purple 

flag and there are five sets available to hire FREE 

of charge. Packs will be lent out for events held 

within South Bucks – the number of packs lent 

will depend on how large your event is and 

demand from other events on the same date. 

To enquire or to book please call 01895 837255 

or email culturalandyouth@southbucks.gov.uk 

with details of your event. 

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41

Your ideal party venue! 

The Village Centre in the heart 

of Stoke Poges is the ideal 

venue for your party, get-together or 

wedding reception. 

❋ Fully licensed bars 

❋ Air conditioning 

❋ Choice of rooms and layouts 

❋ Ample parking 

❋ Friendly welcome 

❋ Main hall with stage and 

kitchen 

❋ Competitive hire rates 

Call: Roger le Clercq 01753 642250 

www.stoke-poges-centre-org.uk 

We opened our new session with 

a very happy celebration. Sheila Bryant, 

June Gollifer and Jean Montgomery 

were each presented with 25-year-long 

service certificates. 

On Wednesday 30 May a group of us will 

visit the Royal Albert Hall for the National 

Federation of WI’s annual general meeting. 

This is the Resolutions Meeting when the WI 

decides which resolution to present to Her 

Majesty’s Government. 

This year’s short list includes: 

The WI opposes the closure of outdoor and 

field study centres for school children. 

The WI wants legislation against the sale 

and release of Chinese lanterns and balloons 

because of the damage to animals, crops 

and property. 

The WI wants the Government to address 

fuel poverty. 

The WI wants the Government to increase 

investment in the training of midwives. 

The WI wants British sign language to be 

given the same status as other minority 

languages. 

The WI wants the wearing of helmets when 

cycling to become a legal requirement. 

Stoke Poges WI has voted overwhelmingly 

to support resolution 4, the employment of 

more midwives. 

On Monday 27 February a group of us will 

join the Bucks Federation for a timed visit to 

the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, to 

view Cecil Beaton’s portraits of Queen 

Elizabeth II. The 100 portraits follow Her 

Majesty through the 60 years of her reign 

from the coronation to this year’s Diamond 

Jubilee celebrations. Many of the portraits 

have never been shown in public before. 

On Friday 16 March we have a rare 

treat with an organised visit to the 

Royal Academy to view the David 

Hockney exhibition. 

Stoke Poges and Wexham Women’s Institute 

The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate, 

East Yorkshire in 2011, courtesy of the artist. 

© David Hockney 

The landscape views are mostly of east Yorkshire, 

which Hockney knew since he was a teenager, 

cycling around for summer jobs on farms. Now in 

his seventies, he has returned from Los Angeles 

and lives in his mother’s house in his native 

Yorkshire. 

The Royal Academy show occupies ten rooms; 

one room takes the viewer through a year of 

spring, summer, autumn and winter. The vivid 

reds, golds, ice greens and pinks of the landscapes 

leave the viewer looking at a brighter, fresher 

world. 

On Wednesday 28 March we have been invited to 

a Bucks Federation Diamond Jubilee Celebration 

three-course lunch at Longueville Hall, Newton- 

Longville. The guest speaker, Hugo Vickers, DL, 

will give a talk entitled ‘The Queen’. Mr Vickers is 

an acknowledged expert on the royal family, 

having written many biographies including that of 

the Queen Mother, a history of St George’s 

Chapel and he was historical advisor to the film 

The King’s Speech. 

On Saturday 12 May we don our walking boots 

for a three-mile ramble. Our destination is the 

beautiful, little Chiltern village of Naphill, just 

beyond High Wycombe. At midday Naphill WI will 

reward our hiking endeavours with a delicious 

lunch in the village hall. 

We have chosen uplifting, happy topics for our 

speakers in the run-up to the summer. Our first 

speaker, Kate Miller, will tell us how a visit to 

sunny Nepal changed her life. In March, Elaine 

Watts and Karen Welch will entertain us with a 

musical miscellany for two voices and a piano. In 

April, Edwin Rye will tell us about his experiences 

working with the BBC Gardens of the Year team. 

If you would like to join us at any of these events, 

pop into the Village Centre at 2.15 pm on the 

second Wednesday of the month. You can be 

sure of a warm welcome. 

Gwyn Alcock, WI Secretary 

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42 43

Stoke Poges Bridge Club continues to thrive 

and we are now averaging six to seven 

tables each week. What better way to pass 

the time on a cold and/or wet afternoon! 

Duplicate bridge is played in a relaxed and friendly 

atmosphere and there are prizes for the winners. 

Computer-dealt hands are used which means 

paper copies of these are available immediately 

afterwards to work out what should have 

happened! The results of each session appear on 

our website later the same day. 

The annual pairs cup competition was held in 

November. The winners were Val Taylor and Joan 

Wright (see the photo) with a very creditable score 

of nearly 64%. Runners up were Bill Garnsey (last 

year’s winner) and Charles Colton followed by 

Bruce and Val Wright. 

The Christmas party was held on 19 December 

with some superb food provided by Audrey Reed. 

We have just had our fourth anniversary – a 

celebratory lunch was held at the Fox & Pheasant 

pub in mid-February. 

This year we have introduced a monthly raffle 

amongst members: the winner who has to be 

present at the time of the draw can nominate a 

charity to which we will contribute an agreed sum 

of money. 

44 

Stoke Poges Bridge Club 

Joan Wright (left) and Val Taylor being presented 

the pairs cup by Roger Wright, chairman 

The club meets at St Andrew’s Church Hall, 

Rogers Lane, each Monday from 1.30 pm to 5.00 

pm. With or without a partner, players are most 

welcome. 

For more information, please visit our website 

www.stokepogesbridgeclub.org.uk, ring 642438 

or email bw@bruval.demon.co.uk or just turn up. 

Roger Wright 

Parishioners Voice 

Concerns over Dog & Pot 

More than 50 parishioners attended the 

February Parish Council meeting to register 

their concerns over the future of the Dog 

& Pot on Rogers Lane, which is currently 

for sale. 

In an extended public session, several 

speakers expressed their fears about the harm 

that would be done to the village's character, 

should developers demolish the historic pub 

to replace it with a new housing 

development. 

Cllr Ralph Bagge responded by saying that 

the Dog & Pot, believed to have been built in 

1900, and the stable building are identified 

as adding positively to the character of the 

West End conservation area. The district 

council's Local Development Framework 

requires permission to be sought before 

demolition can take place and requires any 

development to protect, conserve and 

enhance heritage features. 

Cllr Saera Carter added that the estate agents 

had said that 26 offers have been submitted 

and some of the unconditional offers 

exceeded the guide price. 

The Parish Council agreed three resolutions: 

to request that the Dog & Pot be added to the 

district council's register of community assets; 

for parish councillors and villagers to form a 

campaign group to save the Dog & Pot and 

the Parish Council will investigate the 

possibility of acquiring the pub and associated 

land to create a community facility and hub in 

the centre of the village.

Stoke Poges Players 

Stoke Poges Players are busy preparing for their next 

production Prepare To Meet Thy Tomb written by 

Norman Robbins. This is the third and final comedy 

thriller about the Tomb family, a family that plays 

together and slays together. Don’t worry if you 

haven’t seen the previous two, as the third part is 

complete in itself. 

The play begins as night falls and fog descends on 

Monument House Hotel, an alternative health spa, 

when Hecuba Tomb and her niece Drusilla start to 

receive a series of unexpected visitors. Among them 

a novelist and her assistant seeking refuge from a 

mysterious follower, a television historian and 

honeymooners Robert and Miranda. 

The secret passages of the creepy old mansion prove 

too tempting for the nosy guests. Come along to 

see how the plot twists and turns, just like the 

passages of the old house, until it reaches its deadly 

conclusion. 

Performances will be on Thursday 17, Friday 18 and 

Saturday 19 May at 7.30 pm 

SPPY, the Youth Section of the Players, will also be 

taking to the stage for two performances of 

Somebody Famous written by D.M. Larson. 

The play is a comedy mystery set in an abandoned 

theatre that a 

group of 

prisoners are 

cleaning. They 

are joined by a 

famous actress 

who has been 

convicted of 

murder. Why 

are the 

convicts so 

interested in 

this 

theatre? To 

find the 

answer 

take your seat 

and watch the fun begin. 

Performances will be on Saturday 14 24 March April 

at 2 pm 

and 7 pm. 

Both plays are being performed at The Village 

Centre, Rogers Lane, Stoke Poges, SL2 4LP. 

Prices: adults £8, under 15 and 60+ £6, families 

(max. two adults) £18. For tickets for either 

production, call Linda on 677032 or email 

stokepogesplayers@hotmail.co.uk 

47

Our first meeting this spring will be our 

annual Harry Kirby Memorial Lecture (in 

memory of our founder) to be held on 

Wednesday 21 March, when Professor 

Peter Edwards will present ‘Cultural 

Icons or Beasts of Burden – Horses in 

Early Modern England’. 

Peter Edwards is Professor of Early Modern British 

Social History at Roehampton University and has 

written extensively on the multi-functional role of 

horses in pre-modern society. In specific articles 

and chapters he has focused on the marketing of 

horses, their training and treatment, their role in 

warfare, industry, agriculture and recreation and 

as icons. 

On Wednesday 18 April at 8 pm John Chapman 

presents a talk on ‘The Great Western Railway 

(GWR) comes to the Thames Valley’. 

Mr Chapman will tell the story of how the GWR 

came about and brought rail services to the 

Thames Valley and will review pre-railway 

Hedgerley Historical Society 

transport and the various proposals for the GWR. 

The talk will also include Brunel’s survey work, 

building the GWR, early services, Gooch and 

locomotive design, expansion, rolling stock and 

signalling and the end of the broad gauge. 

On Saturday 28 April at 8 pm Julie Summers 

presents ‘Everest needs you Mr Irvine’. 

Writer, broadcaster and historian Julie Summers, 

Irvine’s great niece and biographer, will be 

bringing to life one of the most exciting Mount 

Everest stories – from a time when the conquest 

of the mountain represented the last great 

challenge of exploration – in her ‘audience with...’ 

style lecture show. 

On 8 June 1924 Andrew ‘Sandy’ Irvine and 

George Mallory began climbing a prominent rock 

step high on Mount Everest. Wearing gabardine 

and hobnail boots, and tied together by a thin 

cotton rope, they were heading for the summit of 

the highest mountain on earth. As they set out on 

the final 800 metres to the summit, the clouds 

rolled in obscuring it from view. The two men 

were never seen alive again. What happened to 

the two men, last seen going strong for the top, 

has never been resolved. Were they negotiating 

their descent from the summit, having beaten 

Hillary to the top nearly 30 years before his 

expedition? Had they turned back, defeated? The 

discovery of Mallory’s body in 1999 answered 

none of these questions but excited speculation 

and enthralled a new generation. 

But who was Sandy Irvine? And why did George 

Mallory, the most famous Everest mountaineer of 

the 1920s, choose him over other more 

experienced climbers to accompany him to the 

top of the world? A compassionate, expressive 

and creative young man, talented in the field of 

engineering, Irvine was certainly a reliable and 

resilient companion for such an ambitious 

expedition. But at 21 years old, he had virtually no 

experience of mountaineering. His body remains 

on Everest, the camera he was carrying possibly 

holding the key to the most enthralling mystery of 

the Golden Age of Exploration. 

Tickets for this special event are £12 per person 

and will be available at society meetings or from 

John Lovelock, 647187. 

A Voyage to Remember 

On Wednesday 16 May we welcome back Philip 

Littlejohn who will present a talk on the ‘Titanic 

Memorial Cruise’. 

Philip Littlejohn, who has become an expert on 

the world’s greatest ocean liner after being 

fascinated with his grandfather’s story, is to play a 

major role in a cruise that will mark the 100th 

anniversary of the voyage in 2012 and will present 

an illustrated account of this voyage. 

Philip will be giving a series of lectures on board 

the MS Balmoral describing events leading up to 

the liner’s fateful collision, including eyewitness 

accounts and the rescue by the liner Carpathia. He 

will also talk about how he was the first relative of 

a Titanic survivor to visit the wreck of the ship, 

travelling two and a half miles down to the 

seabed in the Mir submersible used by James 

Cameron in his film Titanic. 

Monthly meetings of Hedgerley Historical Society 

take place at Hedgerley Memorial Hall, Kiln Lane, 

Hedgerley at 8 pm and visitors are most welcome. 

Further details from John Lovelock: 647187; 

jdlovelock@btinternet.com 

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Bells Hill Shops – 

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The Co-op, the long-rumoured tenant 

for part of the empty retail space at 

Bells Hill, responded to a query about 

its plans by saying that it was working 

towards opening a store by early May. 

In early January, estate agents Alder 

King sent out details to retailers who 

have previously shown an interest, 

stating that the Co-op would open in 

early summer. The floor plan sent in the 

information pack shows that the Co-op 

will have exclusive use of one goods lift 

and that some changes relating to 

storage were agreed last November. 

This is a significant development 

because previous enquiries have been 

answered with ‘discussions are taking 

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Gas leaks fixed. 

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48 49

Stoke Green Rovers Football Club 

Stoke Green Rovers FC are now well into 

their season. The two squads are both 

holding mid-table positions in their 

respective divisions, following some mixed 

results – losing to teams below them whilst 

beating teams above them. Both sides have 

suffered this year from injuries and player 

availability, goalkeepers being especially 

difficult to find once the season has started. 

Stoke Green Rovers FC play in an extremely 

competitive league with our first team 

playing in the Premier Division and our 

reserve team playing in Division Two (of six 

divisions). With some very good players to 

choose from this year, we are only a few key 

positions away from having an extremely 

good squad throughout the club. 

As an example, our performance on 29 

January provided a well-earned 1-1 draw for 

our first team against an impressive Eton 

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24 HOUR SERVICE 

Wick side, currently sitting in third place in 

the Premier Division with a game in hand. 

Our reserve side had a fantastic 4-1 win 

against Orchard Park Reserves, lifting them 

to fourth place in Division Two. 

Both teams are still settling into working 

with new personnel and new management 

and it is expected that results will probably 

be a little up and down until the managers 

find their strongest teams and player 

availability is more stable. Many players 

being available one week and unavailable 

the next is not helping with continuity; 

however, the strength of the squad means 

that both sides are competitive. I am 

confident that teething problems will iron 

themselves out as the season moves 

forward and next season we will start the 

year with balanced and competitive squads 

for both teams. 

With regular games every Saturday and High 

Wycombe Ladies playing every other Sunday, 

there are games to watch every week and 

we welcome supporters should they wish to 

come and watch. Anyone interested in 

supporting the club from the sideline, please 

feel free to e-mail us on: 

Gary@gpmfreight.com for fixtures. 

Recent results: 

First team: 

28.1.12 Stoke Green Rovers FC 

1 – 1 Eton Wick 


1 – 3 Alpha Arms Academicals 


3 – 4 Chalvey WMC 

Reserves: 

28.1.12 Orchard Park Reserves 

1 – 4 Stoke Green Rovers FC Res 

21.1.12 Windsor Great Park 


14.1.12 Upton Lea 


7.1.12 Stoke Road Legion 


Gary Matthews 

Chairman 

Stoke Poges Football Club 

Rainbow 

Pre-School 

Spring Term 2012 

Rainbow returned on a 

high from the success of 

our traditional nativity 

performance and a 

Winter Wanderland, 

which was supported by 

parents new and old and 

members of the local 

community. We would 

like to thank all of those 

who attended both 

events contributing a 

much-needed boost to 

our fundraising efforts. 

We began the term 

focusing on traditional 

nursery rhymes 

celebrating the Chinese 

New Year on the way. 

The children enjoyed 

exploring and tasting 

various oriental foods 

including rice and 

noodles. The children’s 

fine motor skills were 

put to the test when 

using the chopsticks! 

Our life size dragon 

reproduction kept us all 

dry whilst outside during 

our dragon parade. Each 

child took home a 

dragon mask and 

puppet to continue the 

celebrations at home. 

The theme of nursery 

rhymes continued into 

February with the queen 

of hearts leading up to 

Valentine’s Day. This 

gave the pre-school the 

ideal opportunity to 

focus on healthy hearts 

and emotions. 

Following the half term 

break our taste buds ran 

wild with the 

anticipation of hot sweet 

pancakes prepared by 

the children aided by our 

in-house domestic 

goddess. We managed 

to walk off our 

‘excesses’ the following 

week with our 

sponsored Welly Walk. 

Parents were able to 

cheer their children on 

while being provided 

with hot beverages 

and fairy cakes made 

and decorated by 

the children. 

The theme of mini 

beasts gave us the ideal 

opportunity for a nature 

walk through the 

surrounding woods 

looking for tiny creatures 

and signs of spring. The 

children enjoyed rolling 

logs and turning over 

leaves whilst equipped 

with magnifying glasses 

and exploration tanks. 

The snowdrops, crocuses 

and daffodils created a 

beautiful, multicoloured 

carpet in the woods 

for us to carefully 

walk through. 

St Patrick’s Day will be 

celebrated with the 

children helping to 

prepare a delicious leek 

and potato soup with 

vegetables grown 

in the pre-school 

vegetable patch. 

To celebrate Mother’s 

Day all of our yummy 

mummies will be invited 

to high tea. The children 

will also be creating a 

floral Mother’s Day card 

and special gift. 

Our spectacular Easter 

Eggstravaganza will take 

place on Thursday 29 

March between midday 

and 2 pm. All 

parents/carers and 

children in the 

community are welcome 

to attend. The elusive 

Easter bunny will be 

hopping in with a basket 

full of chocolate eggs to 

hand out to the children 

during the Easter egg 

hunt. We would like to 

say a big thank you to a 

local company who will 

be providing us with the 

Easter bunny for a 

second year. Hot turkey 

rolls and hot dogs will be 

available to purchase 

throughout the event. 

There will also be 

tombolas for children 

and adults, as well as a 

raffle and many other 

stalls and activities to 

enjoy. Our renowned 

Easter bonnet parade 

will be judged at 1.30 

pm – all parents and 

children are encouraged 

to enter. Please put the 

date into your diary and 

come along to enjoy the 

fun. 

As a registered charity 

we rely heavily on 

fundraising for 

equipment that makes 

the children’s time at 

Rainbow more exciting. 

Our next fundraising 

activity is ‘Bags 4 Sport’ 

and we would like to ask 

for your help by 

collecting unwanted 

clothes, shoes, boots, 

belts, bags, bedding and 

textiles placed in a black 

refuse bag, which is then 

recycled by the company 

and Rainbow receive a 

monetary donation per 

kilo. Members of 

Rainbow Pre-School will 

only be too pleased to 

collect any bags you may 

fill. Please contact the 

pre-school on 647572. 

Any funds raised will go 

towards purchasing a 

sensory reading tent, 

which has been chosen 

by the children. 

We offer government 

funded places for threeand 

four-year-old 

children and non-funded 

places for two-year-old 

children. Please contact 

us by phone or email to 

arrange an informal visit. 

Caron Rhodes, Manager 

SPORTS AND 

HOLISTIC MASSAGE THERAPIST 

Massages to promote relaxation and wellbeing 

Melinda Swallow ITEC Diploma/Embody/CThA 

Tel. 01753 642748 

Mobile Manicures/Pedicures and OPI Gels Nails 

50 51

We are now at the mid-season point and 

so far it has been a very successful season. 

All the competitions have been well 

supported, with the number of entries 

submitted always exceeding the number 

which could be shown, with the result that 

the competition organiser reluctantly had 

to cull the number of entries shown on 

any evening. The upside has been that 

because only entrants’ first and second 

choices have been shown, the quality of 

both the prints and projected images has 

been very high, which bodes well for 

when the selected few are shown at 

external competitions. 

One of the billed highlights of the season was 

the talk by Arthur Edwards, who for 35 years 

has been the Sun newspaper’s royal 

photographer. Arthur’s enthusiasm for his 

subject came over to the extent that he gave 

STOKE POGES 

PHOTOGRAPHIC CLUB 

no indication of wishing to give up his job or 

the lifestyle, which often involves early starts 

and late finishes. On the night the club 

collected £375 for his charity, Kids Company. 

However, Arthur did not have it all his own way 

when it comes to interesting speakers. He was 

preceded by Jackie Parker who specialised in 

flower photography, itself an interesting subject 

and the subject of a competition later this 

season. Her talk will have enlightened some 

members who no doubt will be submitting 

some very interesting flower prints when the 

time comes for the competition. 

In some ways, topping both Arthur’s and 

Jackie’s talks was a talk by Ady Kerry, a 

freelance photographer who specialises in sport 

photography. Ady’s work is regularly published 

in national newspapers and his local area of 

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Lip Ong MRCST MBAcC MRSS BSc PhD 

The Lanes Medical Practice 

Plough Lane, Stoke Poges, 01753 662244 

Kent. As he said it is not just ‘two men and a 

ball’ pictures which sell, but a wide range of 

sport-related pictures. To finish off the talk and 

show the diversity of projects, which a freelance 

photographer can undertake, he presented his 

recent projects entitled ‘Four days in the 

Falklands’ in which he documented the 

activities of the RAF at their base on the islands. 

Given that it takes almost 24 hours to get there 

and a further 24 hours to get back, the time he 

had available on base was very limited. Given 

the time constraints, the quality of the images 

was excellent and well up to the standard 

expected of someone who knows their trade. 

At the time of writing there are still some 

interesting talks to come, not least the one 

by Neil Neville, a club member whose 

wildlife pictures have been shown on BBC’s 

Autumn Watch. 

The season has a few weeks to run before the 

final competitions in March. Given the standard 

of entries to date the finals should produce 

some excellent entries. For anyone interested in 

viewing a selection of the work of members, 

these can be seen on the club website 

www.stokepogesphotoclub.co.uk. All of last 

year’s competition entries were published in the 

annual photography book and the club will 

again be publishing this year’s entries. Orders 

for copies of this year’s book will be taken at 

the Stoke Poges village fete and the flower 

show. The original competition entry prints, 

together with other work by members, will be 

available to purchase at the two events. 

Additional information about the club can be 

found on our website 

www.stokepogesphotoclub.co.uk or contact 

Sue Avey; savey@btinternet.com 

52 53

Guides and Brownies 

Currently Stoke Poges has a Brownie unit 

(girls aged seven to ten) and a Guide unit 

(girls aged 10 to 14). It has been suggested 

that we start a Rainbow unit (girls aged five 

to seven) but for us to do that we need to 

find out if there is a demand and whether 

any adults would be willing to help. 

Please email us on 

firststokepoges@hotmail.co.uk with your 

daughter’s age if she is interested in joining 

Rainbows now or in the near future. Also 

please email us if you would like to discuss 

helping out at Rainbows or any of the other 

Guiding units. 

If you daughter is too old for Rainbows but 

interested in Brownies or 

Guides, please email 

your daughter’s 

name, address, date 

of birth and contact 

telephone number 

to us and we will 

contact you to 

discuss further. 

Caroline Snoch 

�� 

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BOILER INSTALLATIONS 

UNDERFLOOR HEATING 

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We have been setting up the scheme to provide 

assistance to vulnerable residents and people who 

find it difficult to get around. Our volunteers are on 

hand to give lifts to medical appointments, to help 

with shopping or small household tasks. 

We now have 20 volunteers, all CRB checked, issued 

with photo ID cards and ready for action! We have a 

dedicated scheme phone number and a rota of duty 

officers ready to receive requests for help and to 

match available volunteers to the needs. 

We held a volunteers’ briefing and launch meeting at 

the end of January. All are very enthusiastic and 

looking forward to helping out wherever they can. 

Our registered clients have been given the scheme’s 

phone number. If you need help and have yet to 

register, our questionnaires are available from the 

pharmacy, Threeways Surgery and the Parish 

Council’s office (see page 63 for contact details). 

Registered 

Plumber 

56 57

Stoke Poges Social Club 

Dear Villagers, 

Things are going from strength to strength at 

the social club! 

We have had several events in the past few 

months, including the children’s Christmas 

party (which welcomed a special visit from 

Father Christmas!), a race night and a music 

evening with John Orchard which were all very 

enjoyable. Watch out for notices regarding 

upcoming events. 

58 

And the old 

favourites are still 

here too! Saturday 

night is bingo 

night. On 

Wednesday nights 

we have a ‘mini 

quiz’ and our crib 

team plays 

regularly on 

Monday nights 

throughout the 

year. We have a 

pool table and 

dartboard, which 

are available most 

evenings. Later in 

the year we are 

hoping to hold 

another extremely 

popular Saturday 

night ‘big quiz’. 

When the weather improves, the golf season will 

kick in. The Social Club has a very active group of 

golfers who head off to a different local golf 

course each time they meet, and then back to the 

club in the evening for prize-giving and a welldeserved 

pint. 

The club is open every evening from 7 pm until 11 

pm, plus Sunday lunchtimes from midday until 3 

pm. Why not come down to the Village Centre 

and pay us a visit? 

For the most up-to-date information and news of 

future events, why not become a member and 

join our mailing list? Membership is £10 a year. 

You can obtain a form from the bar or by emailing 

stokepogessocialclub@hotmail.co.uk. 

We believe in community and that’s what we 

encourage at the club. Our regulars are aged from 

9 to 90 (and above!) and we want everyone to 

enjoy the environment and be as involved as 

possible. I hope to see you there. 

Bob Crocker, Chairman 

News from The Stoke Poges School 

And the winner is......... 

Our school was 

nominated and made the 

shortlist of three, to 

receive the award for 

School of the Year for 

The Bucks Sport Award. 

Considering there are 

nearly 450 schools in 

Buckinghamshire and 

Milton Keynes (many 

being sports colleges), 

the expectations were 

not high. 

The awards are 

presented at a beautiful 

venue in Milton Keynes 

and The School of The 

Year Award was finally 

presented to us by none 

other than World and 

Olympic rowing 

champion, Zac Purchase. 

What an excellent 

achievement for our 

school! We are very 

proud of Mrs Spooner, 

her PE staff and the 

children for their 

participation in achieving 

this prestigious award. 

The plaque is on view in 

our display unit in the 

school hall. 

The Shape of Things to 

Come. 

In September 2011, 

high-achieving creative 

children of the school 

were invited to attend 

the Saatchi Gallery in 

London with a view to 

being part of a ‘Gifted 

and Talented’ long-term 

project. The gallery 

theme was ‘The Shape of 

Things to Come’, part of 

a national competition 

for primary and 

secondary schools. 

After the trip to the 

Saatchi Gallery, the 

children were 

encouraged to produce 

their own sculpture with 

this theme in mind. 

Children were invited to 

use a range of materials 

to express their ideas. 

The school was set for a 

gallery exhibition open to 

the whole school and 

local community. Each 

exhibit was 

photographed and sent 

to the Saatchi Gallery for 

expert judging. 

The exhibition took place 

on Tuesday 17 January. 

Brochures and 

commemorative 

postcards were produced 

by the children and sold 

on the day. The school 

hall was transformed into 

an art gallery, with 

lighting and wonderful 

drapes, giving the event 

extra sparkle. The press 

were there too and you 

may have seen us in the 

Bucks Advertiser. 

As part of our 

Young Enterprise 

Scheme, children 

took part in the 

Tycoon Tenner 

challenge. Here, in 

the words of Sophie 

Ivansky in Year 6, is 

what happened: 

‘This year Mr Lynn 

held a competition 

for the Christmas 

Fair. Lots of children 

from Key Stage Two 

took part. Mr Lynn set a 

task for each group to 

make a product or 

products using £10. 

The object of the 

initiative was to make 

over ten pounds! 

All the groups had 

fantastic ideas. Mr Lynn 

called us in nearly every 

week for a meeting and 

he would tell us things to 

bear in mind. Mr Lynn 

and Mrs Geany then 

took two people from 

each group shopping for 

the things that they 

needed to make these 

products. The teams then 

started to make their 

products and by the time 

the Christmas fair had 

come most people were 

ready. Mr Lynn urged 

each group to consider 

the 4 Ps of business 

(product, place, price and 

promotion), to ensure 

trading was a success! 

Everybody got off to a 

good start and were 

selling their items briskly. 

Some teams, however, 

had to go and sell things 

on foot to get money 

more quickly. The 

amounts of money all 

the teams made were 

very close but overall the 

winning team was 

Katrina, Christy, Olivia 

and Diya, who managed 

to generate over £70 

of profit!’ 

You can find more details 

of all our news on our 

website. There are 

photos and reports, as 

well as a diary listing 

what’s coming up. 

There’s a lot to look 

forward to over the 

coming months, not least 

the Late, Late Panto’s 

April production, already 

in rehearsal. Look out for 

posters round the village 

nearer the time – not to 

be missed! 

www.thestokepogesschool.ik.org

Cathy Thornton chairs the Parish Council’s 

Planning Committee and outlines some of 

the considerations that apply to planning 

applications here in Stoke Poges. 

For most of us, a car is an essential part of our 

semi-rural lifestyle here in Stoke Poges. 

Unfortunately, our dependence on the motor 

vehicle imposes continuing change on the historic 

landscape. 

The Planning Committee of Stoke Poges Parish 

Council, (SPPCPC) continues to negotiate 

(in many cases successfully) with new residents 

who want to replace trees and vegetation with 

brick walls and concrete paving to improve access 

and parking. 

Following the Council’s success in designating two 

conservation areas in Framewood Road and 

Rogers Lane, the Planning Committee is now 

focusing its attention on residents’ concerns about 

harm to the character of our village due to the 

removal of trees, hedges and soft landscaping in 

favour of brick walls and railings. 

It’s worth remembering that a very important part 

of our village’s appeal for homebuyers is the treelined, 

leafy character, which is typical of 

Buckinghamshire. Every piece of landscaping 

removed from the street scene reduces that 

character and appeal. 

Planning permission is required to erect fences and 

railings over one metre high on the front boundary 

of your property; sadly there is more leeway for 

paving over of entire front gardens and only 

limited protection for trees and hedges. So I 

appeal to everyone to consider the following 

when planning work to accommodate your car or 

provide extra security: 

☛ 

If you or your neighbours are proposing 

to remove a tree or hedges or convert 

your front garden into a hard standing, 

consider carefully the impact that it will 

have, not only on your property, but also 

COUNCILBusiness COUNCILBusiness 

Planning Perspe ctives 

☛ 

☛ 

☛ 

☛ 

☛ 

on your neighbours and the street scene 

and area in general. 

Think about how you might get what 

you want with minimal harm to trees 

and landscaping. 

Is it necessary to pave the whole front 

garden and build a wall around it? 

Is it necessary to erect two-metre high 

metal gates with ornate finials (urbanisng 

features not traditionally found in a 

rural village)? 

Is it possible to provide enough space 

for parking without removing all the soft 

landscaping, the entire hedge or all 

the trees? 

Ask yourself why people choose to live in 

Stoke Poges. Why is our village so much 

more attractive and rural in its 

appearance than neighbouring Slough or 

even Farnham Common? 

SPPC will be looking into problems arising from 

parking on the footways and grass verges. Many 

residents complain that some grass verges are 

being churned up and destroyed by inconsiderate 

motorists and that pedestrian access is being 

blocked. Examples of this are in Stoke Green and 

around the school in Rogers Lane. 

Following a consultation and an influential 

campaign, our own Councillors Saera Carter and 

Ralph Bagge have successfully gained county 

funding for a scheme which is currently being 

implemented in Stoke Green and Wexham Street. 

Building on this success, it is proposed to carry out 

a pilot survey of a number of problem areas to 

identify how to get the balance right by 

accommodating parking without destroying the 

village’s rural look. I will keep you updated. 

If you wish to discuss any of the matters raised, 

please contact me on 645158. 

Cathy Thornton – Chair, Planning Committee 

1-All hedges and soft landscaping 

removed and replaced with brick wall 

and railings 

2-Frontage stripped of hedges 

and all soft landscaping 

3-Trees and hedges removed – hard 

landscaping resulting in a loss of 

visual amenity 

1-Rural aspect of neighbouring property 

2-Neighbouring property – 

reflects rural setting 

3-Natural rural aspect 

60 61

COUNCILBusiness 

Re c ent Parish C ouncil De cisions 

The Parish Council agreed unanimously to 

freeze its precept (the sum of money it requests 

for collection with the council tax). The Parish 

Council is funded 100% by residents, unlike 

district and county councils, which receive 

grants from central government. 

_ 

The Parish Council’s 12 streetlights on Pennylets 

Green, Bells Hill Green and Rogers Lane are being 

replaced by the latest low-energy design. Cutting 

power consumption by two thirds and with very 

long-life bulbs, the savings will pay for the lights in 

a few years. An added bonus is that the light quality 

is better. 

The Parish Council has introduced a new agreement 

for allotment tenants in response to their request for 

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an agreement in plain English that set out clearly 

what was expected. 

The Council undertook extensive consultations and 

invited comments on a draft agreement last August 

and incorporated many of the suggestions. 

The Parish Council has a waiting list for plots – 

anyone interested in taking a plot should contact the 

clerk at the Parish Council office. 

A section of drainage has been refurbished at the 

allotment site in Duffield Lane to remove a trip 

hazard. The Council has asked Transport for Bucks to 

inspect and clear all the ditches and culverts on 

Duffield Lane to improve drainage. 

The Council agreed its priorities for the Beeches Local 

Area Forum 2012-13 funding round. The top priority 

is vehicle-activated signs (VAS) for four locations in 

the parish. Stoke Poges is one of the few parishes in 

the county yet to have these deterrents installed. 

The second priority is to improve traffic conditions on 

Rogers Lane, where many vulnerable pedestrians are 

at risk in the morning. The Council has asked for a 

study to make recommendations for reducing the 

flow of traffic heading past the school towards Bells 

Hill and to reduce the risk of collisions at the junction. 

The Parish Council publishes a monthly email 

newsletter. In addition, news items are regularly 

added to the Parish Council’s website, which also 

holds a directory of parish clubs, societies and 

charities. 

You can subscribe to the monthly email newsletter by 

following a link from the homepage: 

www.stokepogesparishcouncil.gov.uk 

All meetings of the Parish Council are open to the 

public and attendance is welcomed. The full Council 

meets on the second Monday of the month at 

7.30 pm, in the Lionel Rigby room of the Village 

Centre. The first fifteen minutes are allocated to 

public speaking – for asking questions and bringing 

matters to the attention of the Council. 

Chairman: Ralph Bagge 

Wavertree House, Duffield Park, 

SL2 4HY 

693600; ralph.bagge@virgin.net 

Twitter: @ralphbagge 

Vice Chairman: Saera Carter 

24 Elizabeth Way, SL2 4LQ 

647525; saera@tiscali.co.uk 

Chairman of Planning Committee: 

Cathy Thornton 

Vice Chairman of Planning 

Committee: Saera Carter 

Chairman of Recreation and 

Environment Committee: 

Saera Carter 

Vice Chairman of Recreation and 

Environment Committee: Gary 

Matthews 

Chairman of Finance and Resources 

Committee: Ray Aldridge 

Vice Chairman of Finance and 

Resources Committee: Alan Fox 

Ray Aldridge 

3 Old Post Office Cottages, 

Hollybush Hill, SL2 4PP 

663102; 

home@rayandbarb.go-plus.net 

John Field 

43 Larkings Lane, SL2 4JU 

663290 

Keith Finan 

31 Sefton Close, SL2 4LH 

645454, kgfinan@aol.com 

Alan Fox 

48 Hazell Way, SL2 4DD 

642197; 

alan@chilternassetfinance.co.uk 

Heather Huntley 

26 Broom Hill, SL2 4PU 

663144; heatheraitch@uwclub.net 

Stoke Poges Parish Council 

Susan Lynch 

12 Duffield Lane, SL2 4AB 

646582; sue@lynch50.plus.com 

Gary Matthews 

40a Rogers Lane, SL2 4LF 

07976 371802; 

gary@gpmfreight.com 

Christine Taylor 

32 Bunby Road, SL2 4BP 

644386; 

christine.taylor14@btconnect.com 

Cathy Thornton 

98 Rogers Lane, SL2 4LL 

645158; 

cathy.thornton@tiscali.co.uk 

Parish Council spokespersons 

Constitutional Matters – Keith Finan 

Crime and Disorder – Gary 

Matthews 

Environment – Ray Aldridge 

Finance and Grants – Ralph Bagge 

Footpaths – Gary Matthews 

Health and Safety – Cathy Thornton 

Memorial Gardens – Heather 

Huntley 

Highways and Transport – Ralph 

Bagge 

Planning – Cathy Thornton 

Recreation – Ray Aldridge 

Youth – Saera Carter 

Older People – Saera Carter 

Appointed representatives 

Stoke Poges News Editor 

Ralph Bagge 

Webmaster 

Daniel Lennox 

Stoke Poges Village Centre 

Ralph Bagge, Saera Carter 

Beeches Local Area Forum 

Ralph Bagge, Susan Lynch 

Flagmaster 

Ray Aldridge 

Elected representatives 

South Bucks District Councillors 

Ralph Bagge 

Wavertree House, Duffied Park, 

SL2 4HY 

693600; ralph.bagge@virgin.net 

Member of Planning Committee 

and Sustainable Development Policy 

Advisory Group 

Trevor Egleton, 

Knoll Cottage, Duffield Lane, 

SL2 4AH 

646090; tegleton@buckscc.gov.uk 

Member of Licensing Committee 

and Sustainable Development Policy 

Advisory Group 

Duncan Smith, 

Elegy House, Park Road, SL2 4PE 

644976; 

drs@duncansmith.co.uk 

Cabinet member for Resources and 

member of Licensing Committee 

Buckinghamshire County 

Councillor 

Trevor Egleton 

Member of Parliament 

Dominic Grieve, MP, House of 

Commons, Westminster, 

London, SW1A 0AA; 

020 7219 6220 

Dominic Grieve holds regular 

surgeries in Beaconsfield, at 

which electors can meet him, by 

prior appointment. 

Member of European Parliament 

James Elles, MEP, European 

Parliament, Rue Wiertz, 

B-1047 Brussels, Belgium; 00 32 

2284 7951 

Parish Office: Parish Clerk, Julie Simmonds, The Village Centre, Rogers Lane, SL2 4LP – 644803; 

theclerk@stokepogesparishcouncil.gov.uk 

Stoke Poges Website: http://www.stokepogesparishcouncil.gov.uk/ 

Designed by When-D Ltd; 01243 267645. Thanks to Roger Wright for proofreading; 642438. 

Printed by PK InPrint Limited; 01494 452266. 

Summer magazine No 181 – All material to the Editor please, no later than Friday 27 April. 

Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Editor or the Parish Council. 

For further information about advertising in this magazine please contact the Editor. 

Editor: Ralph Bagge; 693600; ralph.bagge@virgin.net 

62 63

No 180 Spring 2012 - Stoke Poges Parish Council

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