Amersham & Chalfont's Together November December 2023

NEWS AND VIEWS 

Silver Sunday Success 

Get your Car Fit for Winter 

Do Something Amazing and Volunteer 

Read From our Young Journalists 

9,100 complimentary copies hand delivered by Royal Mail to homes 

in Amersham, Chalfont St Giles, Chalfont St Peter and Little Chalfont 

copies at Tesco Superstore, Amersham 

DOOR-TO-DOOR 

DELIVERY 

DONATE 

Turkey Syria Earthquake Fund 

www.dec.org.uk 

For help or food donations 

office@hopebeaconsfield.co.uk 

Tel: 01494 675185 

Private GP with a difference 

0330 088 2020 

www.yourthyme.com 

CHRISTMAS EDITION 

November/December 2023 Issue 28

Let us help you find your perfect kitchen, bedroom or home office.

Useful Numbers 

Mental Help Helpline 24/7 

t: 0800 783 0119 / 01865 904 997 

National Domestic Abuse Helpline 24/7 

t: 0808 2000 247 

Chilterns Dial-a-ride for those with 

mobility problems t: 01494 766 123 

Alcoholics Anonymous 

Call confidentially on: t: 0800 917 7650 

Be Amazing and Volunteer 

Age UK’s Befriending service matches older 

people with volunteers who have similar interests. 

t: 01296 431911 

e: age@ageukbucks.org.uk 

Skiing in the Alps 

Hello & welcome! 

Christmas is a time of reflection. Some people love Christmas, 

others find it ‘difficult’. It is however, a time for giving... 

Whether it be a lavish present or a meagre one what we can 

always freely give is love and kindness and empathy for others’ 

situation. We must find gratitude daily for what we have, value 

the environment we live in, look for small things that give 

us joy. A child’s laugh, a butterfly fluttering or just gratitude 

for a roof over our heads and food on our plates. It’s easy to 

become consumed with our own small suffering when others 

around have far less. 

Credit to everyone who help contribute to making Amersham 

and all the Chalfont Villages such amazing places to live in. 

Well done to all the volunteers, charities, councillors, groups, 

businesses that pull together as a community. 

There is a shortage of volunteers in the area, and if you have 

a few hours to spare or want to volunteer, then find a group 

near to you. Silver Sunday in Amersham (see p24) was a 

perfect example how a group of people came together for 

one event to change people’s lives and give a little joy and 

sparkle for the day. Or in the Chalfonts so many kind people 

give up time and energy to help community events (see p6) 

and it’s through this kindness and service you will truly evolve. 

A wise person gave me this simple advice: “Be good, do 

good.” Simple but effective. Wishing you all a peaceful 

reflective Christmas. Reach out if you need help. 

With love, 

Bucks Mind in Buckinghamshire 

Volunteers over 18 years needed 

t: 01494 463364 or 

w: www.bucksmind.org.uk 

Therese 

NEXT COPY DEADLINES! 

Jan/Feb 2024 

Editorials: 28th Nov 

Advertisers: 29th Nov 

Meet the Team 

Publisher, Editor & Sales 

Therese Cooklin - 07786 735 711 

Magazine Designer 

Mathew Peet, Digital Bear Design - 01949 839 206 

Content is accurate to the best of our knowledge, however Amersham & 

Chalfonts Together part of Abstract Niche Ltd cannot be held liable for 

loss or damage, caused by errors or omissions. Inclusion of advertisers 

does not indicate our endorsement of their products or services. 

The opinions and findings expressed in articles submitted to this 

publication are solely those of the authors and should not be assumed 

to be those of Amersham Together or its affiliates. 

t: 07786 735 711 

e: therese@amershamtogether.co.uk 

w: www.amershamtogether.co.uk 

Get your business noticed 

for as little as £36 

Royal Mail door-to-door delivery and 

drop-off sites to over 17,000 homes in 

Beaconsfield, Amersham & Chalfonts 

e: sales@communitytogether.co.uk

COMMUNITY NEWS 

Squirrels to Explorers 

Scouts provide adventure, experiences, fun, 

friendship, and skills for children and young 

people (boys and girls) aged 4 to 17. 

These experiences may range from toasting a 

marshmallow on a tea light for Squirrels (children 

aged 4 to 5) to planning, preparing and cooking 

a three-course meal for some local dignitaries for 

Explorers (aged 14 to 17). The adventures might 

extend from a Beaver Scout (children aged 6 to 8) 

sleepover at Gulliver’s Land to attending a World 

Scout Jamboree with Scouts from nearly every 

country in the world. 

As a Squirrel, a child can gain badges such as Be 

Active, Brilliant Builder, Exciting Experiments and 

Super Chef. As a Beaver Scout, a child can earn 

badges such as Animal Friend, Cook, Explore, 

Hobbies, Space and Sports. As a Cub Scout (Boys 

and girls aged 8 to 10) they can earn their badges 

such as Astronomer, Chef, Collector, Home Help 

and Scientist. As a Scout (Boys and girls aged 10 

to 14), the badges they can earn range from Air 

Activities, Camper, Community Impact, DIY, 

Geocaching, Global Issues, Model Maker and 

Street Sports. Badges Explorer Scouts can earn 

Fitness tips 

from FitCrowd 

include Caving, Hill Walker, Leadership, Media 

Relations and Marketing, Science and Technology. 

At a recent camp, Finlay Palmer aged 8 said, “This 

is the first time I’ve been camping and it is great. 

We played a game where you had to find string 

in the dark. I’ve done some cooking on an open 

fire and I had cheese and ham in the pitta bread 

I made.” When asked to describe Cubs in three 

words he said, “Games, variety and exciting.” 

For further information about Scouts go to 

www.scouts.org.uk For details of your nearest 

Scout Group or Explorer Unit please visit 

www.Scouts.org.uk/join 

Christmas is a time for meeting with family 

and friends, having big parties, enjoying 

good food and drinks (especially pudding!) So 

how does your fitness journey, and Christmas 

work together? 

Whilst we all want to be making amazing results 

with our fitness journeys all the time, we have to 

be realistic when it comes to celebrations such as 

Christmas, Diwali, and Birthdays! Understanding 

that we will have these periods where we have 

to ‘maintain’ fitness will ensure we do not get 

discouraged when we stop seeing the results 

that we are used to. 

We are not saying you should let go of all of the 

progress you have made so far and stuff yourself 

full - far from it! Try your best to keep your good 

habits you have developed so far, whilst allowing 

some room for an odd treat here or there. Afterall, 

Christmas is a time for celebrating and having fun! 

A couple of great ways to keep your exercise going 

during the Christmas period are, going on long 

walks, playing with the children and their new toys, 

and helping out around the house. There are many 

ways to get the body moving without even realising 

you are exercising! 

So, enjoy yourself this Christmas, spend time with 

friends and family, eat the treats provided, but 

make sure you make some time to continue your 

exercise, get your steps in, and get back to your 

real big push come the New Year! 

4 Amersham & Chalfonts Together is part of Community Together

DESIGN AND MARKETING FOR 

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Family run business 

Full and partial rewires 

Safety electrical testing 

Landlords reports (PRS) 

Fuse board upgrades 

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All electrical work undertaken 

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w: www.alconelectrical.co.uk 

e: info@alconelectrical.co.uk 

Find us on instagram: @alcon_electrical 

To advertise please call 07786 735 711 or email marketing@amershamtogether.co.uk 5


Volunteering is 

good for the soul 

The end of the year is fast approaching, and 

New Year Resolutions are being prepared, 

Chalfont St Peter Councillor Karen Dickson 

makes a plea for more residents to engage in 

their communities. 

With national government and local councils 

cutting services to save money, more and more 

community responsibilities are falling on the 

shoulders of the residents themselves, who 

need help, especially if they still want regular 

events in their diaries. 

Age Concern GX Plus volunteers 

enjoy, and find a way to contribute to its 

success? Be it a two-hour time slot, once a 

year, an annual £20 donation to the Christmas 

Light Fund, organising a small Spring litter pick 

with your street or your friendship group, every 

tiny offer of help goes towards sharing the load 

and keeping our communities alive. 

The huge annual September Gerrards Cross 

Jumble Sale runs like a finely tuned machine, 

but with a large number of their volunteers 

well over 80, having helped run the sale for 

more than 40 years, in some cases. Younger 

volunteers are desperately needed to keep this 

institution alive. 

Friends volunteering at Feast of St Peter 

Besides, it is very rewarding to invest in and 

help build the community you wish to live in. If 

you doubt that, just ask anybody who already 

already volunteers! 

Get in contact with Karen and she can point 

in the right volunteering position. kzdickson@ 

thechalfonts.co.uk 

Jumble Sale volunteers 

Across our communities, community libraries, 

the guides, the scouts, youth centres, the 

British Legion flag hangers, litter pickers etc… 

all depend on the goodwill of volunteers, and 

without new volunteers stepping forward, they 

will fold. Remembrance Day parades, annual 

Feast Days and Christmas Fairs - all run by local 

volunteers. Even the Christmas street lights 

are probably paid for, and hung, by volunteer 

members of your community. 

As a new year approaches, perhaps consider 

something in your village or town that you 

Volunteers marshalling the road at CSP’s Remembrance Day 

Parade 


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If beauty lies within, 

why don’t we 

optimise this 

internal beauty? 

As a GP I have always found it interesting 

that most people want to lead a healthy 

life, but very few know how to do it, or 

how to engage in it properly. 

The saying that ‘true beauty lies within‘ holds 

firm in our societal beliefs. Another well-used 

motto that strikes a chord with people is ’live 

your best life’. The reality is very different. 

People willingly invest in aesthetic skin 

treatments to stay young and look good on 

the outside, take frequent holidays, and buy 

expensive possessions to boost their mood. 

However, few invest in the beauty inside, or 

try to understand how to live their best life 

and follow it through. Our body is our only 

life vehicle and yet it is the only asset that we 

seldom invest in. 

with stool samples, blood testing and 

investing in regular health checks? Many 

illnesses can develop long before symptoms 

occur. No amount of Botox or skin treatments 

will ever allow us to live well and enjoy 

our lives, or as I like to say, extend our 

healthspan. 

We need to start thinking about our body 

as a whole, and consider looking after 

ourselves by having regular medical checks, 

DNA testing, microbiome analysis and 

nutritional input, so we can be targeted 

about the lifestyle improvements we make. 

This is what modern medicine looks like and 

if we want to live longer and be the best, 

healthiest version of ourselves then we need 

to take responsibility for looking after our 

body and all its physiological functions in a 

scientific and informed way. It’s never too late 

to make positive changes. 

0330 088 2020 | Yourthyme.com 

info@yourthyme.com 

Poor health is often the result of the poor life 

choices we make on a daily basis e.g. drinking 

alcohol, smoking, lack of exercise, and yet 

disease processes are often triggered by these 

factors, along with poor nutrition and stress to 

name a few. 

If beauty lies within, why don’t we optimise 

this internal beauty by checking our gut health 

Dr Riccardo Di Cuffa – Founder and 

Chief Medical Officer, Thyme 


Meditation on Twin Hearts 

with 

Healing Clinic 

FOR BETTER PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLBEING 

Relax, sit comfortably and enjoy the this meditation to reduce 

stress, increase happiness and leave you with a sense of inner calm. 

Experience a Taster Pranic Therapy Treatment, one of the fastest 

growing complementary therapies worldwide, effective for the 

treatment of any physical or psychological conditions. 

7-8:30pm 

2nd and 4th Tuesday of the Month 

Chalfont St Peter Community Centre, Gravel Hill, 

Gerrards Cross, SL9 9QX 

£5 donation to 

Reg: 1188773 

Contact: Inger Lise Howarth 07770 815715 

www.ukpranichealing.co.uk 

Institute of Pranic Healing 

To advertise please call 07786 735 711 or email UK marketing@amershamtogether.co.uk & Ireland 

9

Chalfont St Giles Christmas Lighting 2023 

Christmas Lighting Event will take place this year on the 

village green on 

Saturday 2nd December 2023 

Between 2.30pm and 6.30pm. 

There will be live music from the Hemel Hempstead Band, Santa’s 

Grotto, BBQ and lots of stalls selling food and Christmas gifts. 

School children will sing carols on the village green, there will be a 

short service at 5.15 and the lights will be turned on at 5.30pm. 

Free parking at Blizzards Yard Car Park. 

Come along and enjoy the fun. 

Providing Outstanding 

Home Care 

Call for a friendly chat on 01494 917344 

or visit ashridgehomecare.co.uk 

Ashridge Home Care specialises in providing highly 

personalised one to one care that enables people to remain 

in the comfort of their own home. We are one of the few 

care companies to offer both around the clock live-in care, 

as well as daily visiting care. Whatever your situation, we 

believe everyone should be able to stay in their own home 

with just the right amount of help and companionship to 

remain safe and independent. 

You may only need help for a couple of hours a week 

with light housework and to keep on top of chores or 

you may require more specialist 24 hour support from a 

professionally trained live-in carer. Ashridge Home Care 

can arrange for qualified carers to help in any situation. 


Hearing Dogs 

Christmas Market 

The Grange, Saunderton, HP27 9NS 

25 & 26 November 

11am-4pm 

Santa’s Grotto 

Mulled Wine & Beer 

Live Music 

Mince Pies 

Gift, Craft & Food Stalls 

& Much More... 

hearingdogs.org.uk/market 

Family Ticket £15.00 / Adult £5.00 

Concession £3.00 / Child £3.00 

Under 5s free 

Registered charity in England and Wales no. 293358 and in Scotland no. SC040486 



A J Dunlop Car Servicing Ltd 

A J Dunlop Car Servicing Ltd strongly 

recommend a winter check on your car. 

A J Dunlop suggest changing before then 

as you need good tread for the wet roads 

ahead. 

Windscreen Washer Check 

Check your anti-freeze , if you have had a 

slight coolant leak and had to top up your 

engine coolant it is probably not protected 

against freezing. 

Battery Check 

As the cold weather encroaches it is more 

important then ever to get your battery 

checked. The electrical demand on vehicles 

now days is huge. 

Headlights and Wiper Blades Check 

As the nights draw in check all your lights 

and wiper blades. 

Horn Check 

Remember to check the horn on your car, 

this item is very rarely used so needs to be 

checked. 

Have a honking good Winter. If you have 

any questions get in touch with the team at 

A J Dunlop who will be at your service. 

Tyres Check 

Tyres are very important and are the only thing 

between you and the road. 

1.6mm is the legal minimum. Check the wear 

bars on your tyres see picture below, when 

your tyre tread gets to the same level as the 

wear bar your tyre needs changing. 

For clients there is pick up delivery service for 

a small charge, available week days. 

w: www.ajdunlop.co.uk 

t: 01494 670 510 

e: services@ajdunlop.com 



FUNERAL SERVICES 

A difficult time 

made easy by 

Morse 

Morse Funeral Services opened their new 

Beaconsfield branch in September with Debbie 

McGee doing the honours, they were also joined 

by the legendary Anita Harris, both of whom 

spoke from personal experience in the care they 

received from Paul during their bereavements. 

An Independent Family company run by Paul 

Morse and sister Nicola have seen their reputation 

for outstanding levels of care and service blossom. 

In August they were nominated Funeral Director 

of the Year by the Association of Green Funeral 

Directors and ranked as a 5 Star Funeral Director 

by Funeral Guide as testament to their levels of 

care. 

Paul says “We firmly believe in ‘Your funeral, your 

way’, that knowledge of who cares for and where 

a loved one is cared for is important, allowing 

families to make informed choices in their funeral 

care. We look forward to continuing our service 

to the people of Beaconsfield, of all faiths and 

cultures”. 

“Paul has looked after my family three times. 

Finding the right funeral director is not easy, Paul 

was fantastic & took over everything at such a 

traumatic time, he guided us with empathy all the 

way and after the funeral too”. – Debbie McGee. 

“To know somebody like Paul, you just want to 

spread the message to everybody.” – Anita Harris 

Morse Funeral Services 

Independent Funeral Directors 

Here when your family needs ours 

Together we will arrange a fitting, affordable funeral without compromising 

on respect and dignity for your loved ones. 

* Experienced, personal service * Cremation * Burial * 

* Fully equipped facility for the care of loved ones * 

* Direct Cremation available * Green Funerals * 

* Prepaid Plans * Chapel of Rest * Full wash facilities* 

e: info@morsefunerals.co.uk 

t: 01494 301 232 ( 24 hour ) 

w: www.morsefunerals.co.uk 

38 London End, Beaconsfield, HP9 2JH 


Chalfont St Peter 

Community Centre 

Available for hire for: 

Wedding receptions 

Meetings 

Sports venue 

Children’s parties 

Please call into the office Monday–Friday 9am-12pm or contact us: 

Gravel Hill, Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire SL9 9QX 

tel: 01753 885778 e-mail: info@cspcc.org.uk web: www.cspcc.org.uk 

CSPCC_landscape advert final.indd 1 7/12/12 12:37:30 

Little Chalfont Evening WI 

Little Chalfont, Village Hall, Cokes Lane HP8 4LJ 

The second Tuesday of each month 

7:30pm for a 7:45pm start 

Experienced, Friendly 

& Professional Internal 

& External Decorators. 

We have been 

working in & around 

Beaconsfield, 

Gerrards Cross, 

Amersham & 

surrounding areas 

since 1993. 

Please call to discuss 

your requirements. 

Call Nigel: 

01494 681 794 or 07771 521 263 

www.ngilliedecoratingservices.co.uk 

We have tea, coffee and home-made cake. 

Do come and visit us, as your first visit is free! 

RED KITE CRAFT MARKET 

Little Chalfont Village Hall 

~ Every 2nd Saturday ~ 

(except January & August) 

9am to 1pm 

Tea, coffee and home-made cakes 

from Little Chalfont Evening WI 

FREE ENTRY 

/redkitecraft 

e: redkitemarket@gmail.com 


ISSUE 17 

Time for an ethical 

winter revamp of 

your wardrobe 

Winter has arrived and it’s time to get 

your hoodies and jumpers out. It’s time 

for scarves and woolly hats; time for 

knitted sweaters that you’d be cozy in. 

But this winter, instead of buying the 

same knitwear that everyone is buying, 

you can get more unique clothing for a 

cheaper price that is still fashionable 

and up to date with the latest Instagram 

fashion trends! 

Second-hand shopping 

This winter, why not try out one of the online 

second hand selling/ buying apps? Both apps 

are easy and free to use! Whether you want to 

find cheaper alternatives of clothes you want 

to buy or want to sell the clothes you no 

longer wear/ keep just in case you want to 

wear them one day. 

Since lockdown, online second-hand 

selling has become increasingly popular for 

teenagers and fashion lovers. Second-hand 

shopping apps have gained popularity as 

an alternative to buying full price clothing 

from clothing stores. But why have these 

apps taken off in such a big way? One of 

the reasons is because it is a cheaper, more 

sustainable way of purchasing expensive and 

designer brands. The main benefit being that 

the price is at least half of what you would pay 

on the brands website! For teenagers, this is 

a huge advantage as we all want to pay the 

least amount possible. 

Reselling and second-hand buying is also 

a much more sustainable way of shopping 

as you’re not spending the money on more 

clothes that have possibly been made in a 

sweatshop where the employers are 

underpaying the workers. 

THE YOUNG 

Avoid fast fashion 

Some popular clothing stores use the business 

model of fast fashion. Fast fashion is the cheap 

and fast production of low-quality clothing, 

which gets sent quickly to the stores to meet 

the latest and newest trends. It involves rapid 

production, distribution and marketing which 

allows retailers to produce for the masses that 

want the latest clothing trend. However, the 

downfall to this system is that it relies on fast 

and cheap production which often results in 

poor pay for the workers making the clothes, 

as well as workers further down the supply 

chain. 

For me personally I have saved a lot of money 

buying second hand. I recently purchased a 

dress that would’ve been £71 at retail price, 

but online I paid £20 including shipping, 

which in my opinion is a complete bargain! My 

dress came within 3 days, and I had a great 

experience with the buyer when I asked more 

about the dress. So why not give it a go and 

shop second hand this Winter? 

Meghan O’Neil 

Meghan O’Neil is a student at Amersham School 

keen to pursue a future career in journalism. She is 

passionate about dance and reading, and enjoys 

writing about sports and fashion. 

Disclaimer 

Please note: the opinions and findings expressed in this article are 

solely those of the author and should not be assumed to be those of 

Amersham and Chalfont Together or its affiliates. 

16 Amersham & Chalfonts Giving Together our is future part of the Community freedom of Together speech

JOURNALIST 

The ‘Discover Bucks’ 

Museum Aylesbury 

As Christmas approaches it may feel 

like a long slog until the Festive Season. 

The local ‘Discover Bucks’ Museum in 

Aylesbury, has just the sort of collections, 

galleries, events and exhibitions to 

brighten your run to Christmas! It is 

famous for its Roald Dahl section that 

hosts regular events for children (and 

others) throughout the year. 

The ‘Discover Bucks’ Museum has many art 

collections including around 1200 pieces 

in its ‘Watercolour and Drawings’ collection 

with sketches of Britain throughout history. 

You feel you can really capture the landscape 

and what life looked like. The Aylesbury 

museum includes a private album by Harriot 

and William Callow (who painted the Chiltens 

as a hobby), works of Whiteleaf (painted by 

John Nash and Philip Mclagan) as well as 

John Piper’s (whose wartime works are in the 

Tate Gallery) Group of 20th century mixed 

media that became the foundation for the 

lithographs in his book: ‘Visions of Stowe’. 

My favourite in the Watercolour and Drawings 

Collection is ‘Dinton Hall’. Chosen by 

‘Discover Bucks Museum’ as a “highlight” 

of the Collection, this prominently grey 

watercolour piece (John Buckler, 1837) has a 

‘haunted’ feel about it. Even more intriguing 

when you realise the unusual myth behind 

Dinton Hall. Dinton Hall is a “9 - bedroom, 

Grade II listed” building in Aylesbury that 

went through a £10m restoration in 2021. 

When John Biggs (known as “The Dinton 

Hermit”) became a notable resident in the 

seventeenth century - when the watercolour 

was created. the story is said to include “a 

royal executioner, a ghost”, and Biggs himself 

with “his leather shoes”. One shoe of Biggs 

is displayed in the Ashmolean Museum in 

Oxford and the other remains in Dinton Hall. 

Aside from ‘Discover Bucks’ permanent art 

collections, there are many other events 

taking place at Aylesbury Museum including, 

“I Grew Up 80’s” (October - March 2024). 

Created by Matt Fox and featuring his 

personal memorabilia, mannequins with the 

neon clothes, the much-loved chocolate bars 

like “Marathon” and “Opal Fruits” - even 

some “Back to The Future” merchandise! For 

children under five and their parents/carers, 

there is a themed - session of “story, song, 

games, play, craft activity and a museum 

trail”. The session is on the last Thursday 

of every month. You can buy tickets on 

the “Discover Bucks Museum” website. 

Having been there myself (on Bank Holidays), 

I recommend ‘Discover Bucks’ Museum as it 

is filled with history, art and more, plus there 

is always something going on! 

Visit: www.discoverbucksmuseum.org 

Sophie Hazzard 

Disclaimer 





ISSUE 17 

THE YOUNG 

Developing my 

values growing up 

I never appreciated the importance of 

values, frequently drilled into me, but 

not always fully considered. Now I 

have reached adolescence I have reflected 

on my upbringing and the core values 

adopted along the way. 

I am nothing like my parents - often loud, brash 

and over-confident - whereas they are quieter, 

more placid and never like to be the ‘centre of 

attention’. I have often wondered whether 

the social aspects of my life have caused the 

differences between me and other members of 

the family. 

I was never afraid to embarrass myself; I 

thrived on it! I always needed attention, trying 

to impress whenever I could; as long as I felt 

the eyes of everyone on me, I was on ‘top of 

the world’. ‘What did I actually get from my 

parents?’. I found the answer to that as a young 

man. I don’t like to think I was a stereotypical 

teenager, but my values growing up I have 

found deeper insight into the answer… 

My dad is a man with a very set moral 

compass, he believes every person has the 

choice in whether they take the right or wrong 

path. To him there is a clear line in the sand 

and every person choses and should be held 

accountable for that. 

My mother understands the external factors 

that may contribute to someone taking the 

wrong path and looks for the root cause as to 

why the decision was made and educates the 

correct behaviours. This humanitarian approach 

is something I’ve always admired in her. When 

life beats her down and when the world seems 

against her, she manages to see the positives in 

life. That is something I have always admired 

in her. 

Both are the answer to where my values lie. 

Both parents educated me in the best way 

they possibly could. They may not have always 

been right (first time) but they always had 

complete dedication to what they believe is 

right. 

I believe any ‘decent’ part of me is due to their 

upbringing, and the values I hold reflect their 

guidance. I have no desire to trade places 

with people with flashier cars, fine clothes and 

the latest technology. No amount of money 

could compensate for the loss of the family 

I have, nor is there enough money to thank 

them for the way in which they have brought 

me up. 

Zachary William Mainstone 

Disclaimer 




18 Amersham & Chalfonts Giving Together our is future part of the Community freedom of Together speech

JOURNALIST 

Top 20 Tips for an 

eco-friendly festive 

season! 

As we leap into the festive season, we 

come together to appreciate our lives, 

relationships and community. However, 

this winter, let’s keep our precious planet in 

mind too. 

There are so many ways to decorate and 

celebrate whilst keeping waste production, energy 

consumption and our overall carbon footprints in 

control. Here are easy and effective ways to have 

a climate-friendly Christmas season: 

Energy consumption and carbon footprint 

1. Use LED lights for decorations which are more 

efficient and durable… and you won’t burn your 

fingers when decorating the tree! 

2. Use Ecosia (or another environmentally focused 

search engine) when searching for food, decoration 

and gift ideas. Why not plant trees whilst you’re at 

it! 

3. Use public transport to keep the winter air clean 

and avoid Boxing Day traffic jams! 

Waste 

4. Make handmade crackers and decorations for a 

fun family activity and reduce plastic packaging! 

5. Treasure the quality of gifts over the quantity! 

6. Shop locally and sustainably by supporting 

independent businesses! 

7. Visit the local farmer’s market for quality, local 

items! 

8. Buy second hand items for kitchenware, clothing 

and gifts which can come at great quality for a 

fraction of the usual price! 

9. Use recycled and biodegradable wrapping 

paper, or none at all! 

10. Send e-cards or plantable festive cards! 

11. Re-wear festive outfits and jumpers or swap 

with friends and family! 

12. Gift someone an animal adoption for an 

impactful, long-lasting memory! 

13. Use a real tree grown with care instead of a 

plastic one! 

14. Use a second-hand plastic tree or re-use your 

old plastic tree if a real one isn’t feasible! 

15. You could rent a tree or even use your 

houseplant as one! 

Food 

16. Go meat free or reduce the meat/dairy in your 

festive meals to greatly decrease your Christmas 

carbon emissions! 

17. Buy organic produce with less plastic 

packaging, which can be loose vegetables from 

the farmer’s market for a delicious nut roast! 

18. Eat seasonally and locally which includes 

broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, kale, leeks, 

and parsnips! 

19. Sign yourself or someone else up to receive an 

organic veggie box! 

And lastly: 

20. Talk about it! 

The precarious situation of our planet can be 

difficult to process and cope with alone. But we 

are not alone. Let’s come together this Christmas 

to support each other emotionally with the stress 

that can arise from thinking about the climate crisis 

and create change and positivity however we can. 

Warmest wishes and a happy new year, 

Sanchi 

Sanchi is a student in Little Chalfont. 

The three things she loves most are 

nature, people and writing. Uniting 

these, she aims to create a brighter, 

greener world! 

Sanchi 

Disclaimer 





LEGAL ADVICE 

Child contact 

arrangements over 

Christmas holidays 

Christmas holidays are just round the corner 

and that means for separated families it’s time 

to think about arrangements for child contact, 

particularly for those who do not have a 

pre-arranged agreement in place. 

It can be stressful for separated parents so it is best, 

where possible, to agree arrangements with each 

other in advance. 

Here are some helpful tips: 

Find a convenient time at a neutral place to discuss 

your proposals – reaching an agreement with your 

ex-partner will help promote an amiable working 

relationship. 

Consider attending mediation together to discuss 

arrangements for the children. The Mediator will 

assist you in trying to reach an agreement, and can 

typically see parties for an appointment quickly, so 

this is a good solution if difficulties arise. Mediation 

can take place face to face, in different rooms or 

virtually which may be helpful if you don’t want to 

be in the same room. 

Agreements reached in mediation are not legally 

binding, nor are they a Court Order. Some parents 

opt to have their agreement recorded into a 

Parenting Plan, which again is not a Court Order 

but is a record of the agreement and useful for 

future reference. 

If communication does break down you may need 

to seek legal advice from a Family Lawyer and 

consider instructing them to write to your ex-partner 

with your proposed contact, and negotiate the 

arrangements on your behalf. 

As a final resort you may wish to make an application 

to the Court to define the contact arrangements for 

your children which can include all special occasions, 

including holidays. The welfare of the children is 

always the Court’s paramount consideration as well 

as the need for an Order balanced against no Order, 

known as “the no order principle”. Applications 

should only be made when all else fails. Generally, 

the courts would want the children to share their 

time during holidays with both parents, where 

possible. 

Rayden Solicitors Beaconsfield 

BEACS_AMERSHAM_TOGETHER_HALFPAGE_FESTIVE.pdf 1 04/10/2023 09:18:52 

C 

M 

Y 

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MY 

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CMY 

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LAUNCHING 

SEPTEMBER 2024 

It's your choice 

It's our expertise 

Thorpe House School is opening a brand new co-educational Sixth 

Form in the heart of Gerrards Cross, offering young men and women 

first class teaching with an emphasis on academic achievement, the 

development of key life skills, leadership and exploration, extended 

pastoral care, and bespoke university and careers guidance. 

Discover more at our Open Evening 

Tuesday 21st November 2023, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. 

Scan the QR code to find out more and book your place. 


* When you buy a frame for £18 or more. Excludes other offers. Assumes Free NHS eye test and NHS voucher subject to NHS guidelines. Ask for details. 

EYE NEWS 

Aye, eye captain! 

With the clocks changing and the nights 

drawing in have you prepared your eyes 

and eye care ready for the season? If you 

are overdue your eye test or feel anything 

has changed it’s best to book one now. 

With less natural light your eyes can easily 

feel tired, dry and sore. 

When it gets cooler outside your eyes can become 

irritated with the wind and change in temperature. 

Ask your opticians for advice on irritated or dry eyes. 

The latest preservative free eyedrops can really 

help. Have you noticed that the sun is lower in the 

sky? Or find driving into the sun in the morning and 

again in the evenings challenging? Polarised lenses 

help to reduce the glare, especially if the road is 

wet. This happens because sunlight bounces off 

the surface of the road creating reflections and 

glare. It’s easy to believe sunglasses are only for 

the summer months, but they really are invaluable 

all year round. 

The latest generation of photochromic colourchanging 

lenses are helpful too, especially as 

there are designs that change colour behind the 

windscreen whilst driving on bright days. For the 

darker nights and the bright dazzling headlights 

ask about Enroute driving lenses. With a contrastenhancing 

tint they are also helpful in foggy 

conditions. 

When you are inside reading and/or looking at a 

screen it can be challenging as the natural lighting 

drops. For hobbies and screen use, occupational or 

computer lenses can help, as they provide you with 

a longer range of sight. Ask your Optician to show 

you an example of how these work. Lots of tasks in 

today’s world require a range of focus that reading 

glasses can’t quite provide. Whatever your eye 

concerns your Optician can help you. Just ask. 

Helen Gilbert FBDO 

Dispensing Optician 

HARROLD HARROLDS OPTICIANS 

opticians & audiologists Your vision...Our care 

2 for 1 

Kids & Teens 

glasses 

Let us show you the difference... 

... Ask about office lenses 

Eye tests are free for kids 

Offer your eyes the best ... 

Polarised prescription 

sunglasses 

£179 

Complete with single vision lenses. Ask for details. 

With glare reducing lenses designed specifically for night driving , UV protection, blue control lenses, 

photochromic lenses that darken when you drive and polarised lenses, our qualified opticians can advise 

you on the best eyewear for your lifestyle. 

For any advice please phone your local branch. We will be very happy to help. 

Our eye test has retinal photography as standard and the option of OCT. Book your eye test online today. 

3 Station Road Gerrards Cross 85-87 Sycamore Road Amersham 

01753 886306 01494 721795 




Amersham celebrate 

another successful 

Silver Sunday! 

Silver Sunday - a national event, 

takes place on the first Sunday in 

October. This year in Amersham Mimi 

Harker, Neil Walker, and Robin Harker 

organised the annual event which was 

attended by over 70 older residents. 

They were welcomed by renowned 

dance teacher, Yvonne Taylor Hill. 

A team of volunteers helped to set up the hall, 

make sandwiches, look after the guests and 

clear up. As always, Silver Sunday Amersham 

was lucky to have some amazing cake bakers, 

sandwich creators, and biscuit makers, who all 

provided the delicious food that made up a 

wonderful high tea, served in vintage China, 

overseen by Alison Lewin. 

The event was supported by the 

Buckinghamshire Band Of The Royal British 

Legion, and Westend star and singer, Rebecca 

Vere, to the delight of everyone there. The 

event closed with a singalong, with the room 

coming to their feet to sing Land of Hope and 

Glory, and the national anthem in a rousing 

finale with flags! 

A huge thank you to all the sponsors, the 

Mayor of Chesham, Cllr Wilford Augustus who 

opened the event, the incredible and talented 

entertainers, our guests, but most of all, thanks 

must go to all the volunteers and cadet 

volunteers - without them, there would be 

no event. 

Organisations are finding it harder and harder 

to find volunteers. and Mimi would urge people 

to volunteer. Volunteering is officially really 

good for your health and mental well-being! 

Give it a go and maybe come and support 

Silver Sunday next year! 

Mimi ends by saying, “Bless you all and thank 

you from the bottom of my heart!” 

Thanks go to: 

Corporate sponsor: Reed Harris 

Also thanks go to: Tesco, Amersham Rotary, 

Old Amersham Revitalisation Group, Cat at 

Amersham Common Village Hall, Alison Lewin 

for leading catering, ADRA for managing 

accounts, Yvonne Taylor Hill - front of house 

welcome and Neil Walker and Robin Harker. 

Mimi Harker OBE 

Mimi Harker said: “We are so proud that all 

our hard work paid off and that everyone had [Editor: please get in contact with us if you are 

a fabulous time! It was an honour to have John interested in volunteering] 

Pearce, our 97 year old WW2 veteran present 

with his family, to enjoy the party.“ 


© Photography Linda Gould 



Premier Care for 

your loved ones 

Premier Care Support is a CQC regulated 

home care service based in Bucks. 

The service specialises in supporting people who 

require care in the comfort of their own homes. The 

service supports individuals with conditions such as 

dementia, learning disabilities, autism, physical 

disabilities, and those who discharged from hospital 

but require ongoing care and reablement at home. 

The services offered include providing personal care, 

cleaning, washing, toileting, preparation of meals 

and feeding, shopping, medications, social and 

recreational activities, and companionship. 

Why choose care at home? One of the advantages of 

home care is its flexible nature. Those being cared for 

can enjoy the comfort of their own home and continue 

to live as they wish, as care can be personalised around 

them. Home care ranges from 24 hour round-the-clock 

to short visits, which promotes independence and 

recovery. This makes home care a better option than a 

care home or hospital which is 20 - 30% more expensive 

and offers lesser flexibility and independence. 

Why choose Premier Care Support? Caring for 

someone requires passion and expertise. This is 

where Premier Care Support stands out as it is run 

by ex NHS clinicians who bring in a wealth of 

experience. The service is driven by the agenda of 

providing high quality care at the most affordable 

price in the comfort of client’s home. 

To implement this, the service carries out a rigorous 

recruitment process, which includes interviews, DBS 

checks, intensive induction, and training. The service 

believes in happy employees which equates to 

happy clients, and hence strives to support its carers 

by offering higher than the standard pay rates, 

regular supervisions, and employee wellbeing 

programme. The service is regulated by the Care 

Quality Commission offering a peace of mind to the 

clients and their families. 

Our Services 

Live-in care 

Domicillary care 

Learning disabilities 

Acquires brain injury 

Neuro-diversity 

Mental health 

Respite care 

End of life care 

Complex care 

t: 01494 412 957 

e: info@premiercaresupport.com 

w: www.premiercaresupport.com 

Premier Care Support, 

73 Woodside Rd, 

Amersham, HP6 6AA 


Client Spotlight: The Positive Impact 

of Equity Release on Retirement 

A real life example of how Equity Release has helped our clients. 

Contact us for a complimentary consultation | info@hayesfinance.co.uk | 020 3126 4898 

In the world of retirement 

planning, one couple faced a 

daunting dilemma. The end 

date of their interest-only 

loan was fast approaching, 

and their lender presented 

them with limited options. 

The Problem. 

End date of interest only 

loan was approaching. 

Their lender would only 

allow a short extension or 

conversion to repayment 

which was unaffordable. 

Clients wanted to stay in 

the property for as long as 

possible but also wanted 

to retire in the next 2-3 

years and be able to move 

in older age. 

Clients had initial 

concerns over equity 

release option. 

These were based on 

their ability to repay loan 

and loss of inheritance 

for children with costs of 

compounding interest and 

early redemption charges. 

Our Solution. 

The value of property was 

£700K with a mortgage of 

£190K interest only. 

Working with the client, 

we looked at their 

current estate planning 

and flexible products 

which allowed interest 

payments, overpayments, 

and offered the ability 

to move to any property 

without any Early 

Redemption Charges. 

A Lifetime Product was 

secured at 3.23%. This 

was affordable monthly, 

even into retirement. This 

could also be stopped at 

any time and allowed to 

roll up if the cost ever 

became prohibitive. 

Could Equity Release 

Help You? 

If you’re at a financial 

crossroads in your retirement 

planning, let us be your guide. 

We specialise in tailoring 

equity release solutions to suit 

your needs. Whether you want 

to supplement your retirement 

income, address looming 

mortgage deadlines, or protect 

your legacy, we’re here to help. 

Speak to us and explore how 

equity release can unlock a 

more comfortable and secure 

retirement for your future. 

Kieran Hayes 

Director at Hayes Finance 

info@hayesfinance.co.uk 

020 3126 4898 

Registered in England and Wales number: 05008367. Not registered for VAT. Hayes Finance Ltd is Authorised and Regulated 

To advertise by the Financial please Conduct call 07786 Authority 735 (FRN 711 or No: email 485955). marketing@amershamtogether.co.uk 27

Amersham and Chalfonts Together 

Brain Matter 

S Z X Q Y T I L V E T C H 

D U P B E S S U C O R C B 

T H N L B R I F T A A I U 

A K L F Q E Y A F F S L T 

Q I S I L X T E D T P R T 

M A U G O O N O L P B A E 

A S C Z P N W R N S E G R 

I O S T E Z A E E Y R F C 

N M I L D D K Q R C R A U 

N I B A I N O G E B Y U P 

I M I S A I L H A D O B C 

Z Y H C A B B A G E Z H F 

P E L T S I H T E K C O R 

CHRISTMAS CROSSWORD 

ANAGRAM WORDSEARCH 

Correctly solve the anagrams to find the names of 

the plants – then search for them in the plot! 

AABBCEG 

AADHIL 

ABEGINO 

ABEPRRRSY 

ACGILR 

ADHIRS 

ADISY 

AELPRSY 

AIINNZ 

AIMMOS 

AOOPTT 

BENOTY 

BCEPRTTUU 

BCHIISSU 

CCORSU 

CEHTV 

CEKORT 

EEFLNN 

EFLNORSUW 

EHILSTT 

EILLMT 

Across 

8 Paste used to make marzipan (6) 

9 Santa’s helpers, for whom food may 

be put out (8) 

10 Snack of fruit baked in pastry (5,3) 

12 Milk-free variety of chocolate (5) 

13 Drinks such as rum or brandy (7) 

14 Piece of fruit that’s bobbed for (5) 

16 Seasonal beverage, usually served 

hot (6) 

18 Result of having over-indulged in 13 

Across! (8) 

22 Common yellow mustard variety (7) 

24 Flexible tubes placed in cocktails (6) 

26 See 3 Down (8) 

28 Pheasant or venison, for example (4) 

29 Wines of a pale pinkish colour (4) 

30 Body region subject to expansion at 

this time of year! (5) 

31 Synonym for sodium chloride (4) 

32 Entries on restaurant menus (5) 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 

8 9 

10 11 12 

13 14 15 

16 17 18 19 20 

21 

22 23 24 25 

26 27 28 

Down 

1 Popular variety of pudding (4) 

2 Gift traditionally baked into 1 Down (4) 

3 and 26 Across Daily source of sweets! 

(6,8) 

4 Brown sugar in crystal form (8) 

5 Crisp and brittle type of biscuit (4) 

6 Oil commonly used in cookery (6) 

7 Sauce served with turkey (9) 

11 Cake coating of hardened sugar (5) 

13 Vegetable also known as rutabaga (5) 

15 Animal yielding ham and bacon (3) 

17 Bulb sometimes used in stuffing (5) 

30 31 

19 Seeds in hard shells (4) 

29 Fish eggs, used for caviar for example (3) 

28 Amersham & Chalfonts Together is part of Community (answers Together on p30) 

32 

20 Citric Christingle components (7) 

21 Dry red wine from Tuscany (7) 

23 Of 13 Across, served without mixers (4) 

25 Taste to evaluate flavour (6) 

27 Dutch cheese with a red skin (4) 

29

Safe & gentle ear wax 

removal at a clinic 

near you 

Microsuctioning 

At Hearwego Clinic we provide instant and effective ear wax removal treatment. Microsuction is the gold 

standard method of ear wax removal. 

Unlike traditional ear syringing or irrigation, which uses water, microsuction uses gentle suction to remove 

ear wax. This is a safe, gentle and effective method of ear wax removal and, in the majority of cases, provides 

instant relief and immediately restores full hearing. Our Audiologists are trained in all methods 

of ear wax removal, microsuction, ear irrigation (commonly known as ear syringing) and 

instrumentation. 

What to expect at your appointment 

At Hearwego our practitioners will use a microscope to see a detailed view of your 

ear canal and examine the potential build-up of ear wax. Ear wax and debris are 

removed using a gentle device. Our appointments include an examination of your 

ears and removal of ear wax using microsuction, which typically lasts between 10-30 

minutes. Depending on the consistency of the wax, we may need to revert to ear 

irrigation (commonly known as ear syringing) or instrumentation. In rare cases, a 

follow-up visit may be required to remove particularly stubborn ear wax. 

5 YEARS FREE 

HOMECARE WITH 

EVERY PAIR 

OF AIDS 

PURCHASED 

Are you experiencing any of the following? 

• Pressure in the ears 

• Blocked feeling in the ears 

• Need to pop your ears but can’t 

• Sudden loss of hearing or muffles sound 

• Hearing aids whistling 

• Underperforming hearing aids 

Call for more information on 

Call: 07903 013 123 / 07535 603 744 or 

01494 590 860 

Email: hearwego.beaconsfield@gmail.com 

New website: www.hearwegoaudiology.co.uk 

The Studio, 37 Station Road, Beaconsfield HP9 1QG 



Chalfont St Giles 

village pond 

refurbishment 

The village pond in Chalfont St Giles is a 

landmark in the village centre and is 

much loved by the residents. There are 

generations of children who have visited 

the pond to feed the ducks. 

Over recent years the Parish Council found that 

the village pond was leaking water. The last works 

to the pond were conducted in the 1980’s and 

investigations were undertaken to assess whether 

there was a breach in the pond liner. 

As a result of the investigations, water and silt 

assessments, the Council decided to refurbish the 

pond and replace the liner. These works began in 

late September and should take approximately 

four weeks – though the works are weather 

dependent. 

When the pond is restored there 

will be some planting around 

the pond to improve the ecology 

of the area. There will also be 

some improvements to the 

wooden walkways to the 

adjacent Riverside Walk. 

Starting a new business in 2024? 

Get your business noticed 

Advertise here for as little as 

Book for the whole year & get 10% discount 

£40 +vat for 1/8 page 

£140 +vat for 1/2 page or 

£240 +vat for a full page 

CHRISTMAS 

CROSSWORD 

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS 

P C A D S S C 

A L M O N D R E I N D E E R 

U I V M A S A 

M I N C E P I E P L A I N 

C N R M B 

S P I R I T S A P P L E E 

W N R I R 

E G G N O G H A N G O V E R 

D N C U R Y 

E N G L I S H S T R A W S 

E O I S N A 

C A L E N D A R G A M E 

T D N R O S E P 

W A I S T O S A L T 

ANAGRAM 

WORDSEARCH 

S Z X Q Y T I L V E T C H 

D U P B E S S U C O R C B 

T H N L B R I F T A A I U 

A K L F Q E Y A F F S L T 

Q I S I L X T E D T P R T 

M A U G O O N O L P B A E 

A S C Z P N W R N S E G R 

I O S T E Z A E E Y R F C 

N M I L D D K Q R C R A U 

N I B A I N O G E B Y U P 

I M I S A I L H A D O B C 

Z Y H C A B B A G E Z H F 

M I T E M S E 

P E L T S I H T E K C O R 


Named as one of Britain's best value set lunches by the Good Food Guide, our lunch menus are 

perfect for a get-together with friends, an afternoon treat with the family, or a business lunch. 

Our seasonal dishes including pan-fried sea bream, a 

Buckinghamshire pork chop, and if you’re after a sweet treat, a 

scrumptious Norfolk treacle tart with clotted cream ice-cream. 

What’s more, our lunch menu is only £30 for 2 courses or £35 

for 3 courses. 

We look forward to welcoming you. 

Book online or via the QR code. 

www.greyhoundbeaconsfield.co.uk | @greyhoundbeaconsfield 

To advertise please call 07786 73533 711 Windsor email marketing@amershamtogether.co.uk End, Beaconsfield HP9 2JN 

31

Book online 

today 

See a GP in 

person or via 

videocall from 

just £59 

yourthyme.com 0330 088 2020

Amersham & Chalfont's Together November December 2023

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