Amersham and Chalfonts Together January and February 2024

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NEWS AND VIEWS 

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

copies at Tesco Superstore, Amersham 

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For help or food donations 

office@hopebeaconsfield.co.uk 

Tel: 01494 675185 

Private GP with a difference 

0330 088 2020 

www.yourthyme.com 

WINTER EDITION 

January/February 2024 Issue 29

Gerrards Cross 

Fun Run 

2025 

Sunday 18th May 

2025 

SAVE THE DATE! 

A community 5km family fun run event in Gerrards Cross 

This event has been kindly sponsored by businesses 

in the area. In 2022 we raised over £40k for local charities. 

If you would like to be a sponsor please get in touch. 

gxfunrun@gerrardscrosstogether.co.uk

Hooray 


Together is 

now online! 


www.gerrardscrosstogether.co.uk 


NEWS AND VIEWS 

Visit www.gerrardscrosstogether.co.uk 

for a copy and more details. 

Welfare of older people 

01753 917241 

CHRISTMAS EDITION 

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Sunday 18th May 

For help or food donations 

office@onecantrust.org.uk 

Tel: 01494 512 277 

November/December 2023 Issue 1 

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COMMUNITY 



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To advertise please call 07786 735 711 or email marketing@amershamtogether.co.uk 3

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 

Hello & welcome! 

Happy New Year to you all ! I hope you had a fantastic 

Christmas and managed to put your feet up and have 

a rest in between entertaining. 

Life can get so busy and at this time of year it’s a good 

place to sit and reflect on what you’ve done in 2023 

and what you’d like to achieve in 2024. What are your 

successes, did you achieve your goals and have you 

helped your community in some way ? 

If you are finding life stressful then why not try 

Meditation on Twin Hearts held at CSP Community 

Centre every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month. 

There is a healing seminar on 31st January ( see p12 ) 

which you may find fascinating at the Curzon 

Centre in Beaconsfield. Our Young Journalists excel 

themselves this issue, read from Huda, Sanchi and 

Meghan from p16 - 18. 

We all make resolutions at the beginning of the year, 

but it’s about making them realistic and keeping to 

them.. what will you achieve in 2024? I wish you much 

success and good health and I hope you enjoy reading 

this little book of news. 

With love, 

Bucks Mind in Buckinghamshire 

Volunteers over 18 years needed 

t: 01494 463364 or 

w: www.bucksmind.org.uk 

Therese 

NEXT COPY DEADLINES! 

March/April 2024 

Editorials: 1st Feb 

Advertisers: 2nd Feb 

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 

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via Little Chalfont, Chalfont St Peter & Gerrards Cross 

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Offer valid until further notice. 


COMMUNITY NEWS 

Scouts find their 

way in the woods 

Hundreds of children, young people and adult 

volunteers tested their map reading skills at an 

orienteering event in Wendover Woods. 

The “Big O” attracted Beavers (boys and girls aged 

6 to 8), Cubs (boys and girls aged 8 to 10), Scouts 

(boys and girls aged 10 to 14) and Explorer Scouts 

(boys and girls aged 14 to 17) from all parts of 

Buckinghamshire. The Cubs’ trail was three 

kilometres, the Scouts’ trail was four kilometres and 

the Explorers’ trail was five kilometres. The starts had 

to be staggered to accommodate the hundreds of 

participants. 

Map reading skills, teamwork, and observation were 

three of the key skills the children and young people 

had to use. With some of the courses running closely 

together, the participants had to ensure they used the 

right clip for their score card. Time and accuracy were 

key elements for the event. 

Cub Scout Ginny, when asked about the event, said 

it was “Fun, amazing and adventurous.” Beaver 

Scout Matthew said the trail his Colony followed was 

Lionesses will 

miss coach 

Letton 

Michelle Letton, the dedicated coach and 

mentor who, despite her family’s relocation 

back to Australia, continued to steer the U12 

Kings Church Lionesses to success. 

“Amazing, tiring and exciting.” He added, “It was great 

being out in the woods with my friends.” 

Adult volunteer, Oana, who became involved in April 

this year, said, “Scouting has helped me learn more 

about teamwork and also improved my knowledge of 

working with young people.” 

A recent survey detailed that 83% of the people asked 

thought that Scouting provided children and young 

people with “skills for life.” The poll also detailed that 

Scouting helps with character building, helps people 

learn practical skills and helps Explorer Scouts and 

volunteers with employability skills. 

Please visit www.scouts.org.uk/join to find out more 

about Scouts. 

Months ago, Michelle faced the challenge of her 

family moving back to Australia, and while she 

was here organising everything her continued 

commitment to the beautiful game and her young 

players remained unyielding. 

Michelle has maintained a strong connection with 

her team, ensuring that her coaching philosophy 

and guidance persisted, and will do into the future. 

The U12 Lionesses, fueled by her inspiration, are 

flourishing on the field, demonstrating the resilience 

instilled by their devoted coach. 

Without Michelle’s unwavering dedication, there 

would not have been a U12 Lionesses team to 

speak of, and the girls would have missed out on a 

transformative experience. 

Kings Church Amersham Football Club would like to 

thank Michelle for everything she has done for the 

club, her team and she will be missed greatly. 

Katie, Head Coach of the Lionesses said “We are 

all going to miss Michelle. She has been fantastic in 

helping to grow the U12 Lionesses team at KCAFC. 

The girls have improved so much this year and 

we hope to build on the team spirit Michelle has 

instilled in the team”. 

6 Amersham & Chalfonts Together is part of Community Together

Do you need extra space 

in your home? 

Should you move or improve? 

Planning Permission 

Technical Design 

Extensions & Alterations 

New Build 

Refurbishments 

Remodelling 

SH2 Consulting are designers based in the 

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Give your home a new lease of life! 

Call to book your free 

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t: 0208 058 2228 e: info@SH2consulting.com 

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Chalfont St Peter 

Community Centre 

Thinking of joining 

a group or activity? 

We have lots to choose from! 

Drop in to reception to find out more 

or contact us: 

tel: 01753 885778 

email: info@cspcc.org.uk 

web: www.cspcc.org.uk 

Chalfont St Peter Community Centre 

@ChalfontCCentre 


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. 


HEALTH NEWS 

New year, same 

resolution but 

sticking to it this 

year? 

We all do it. January 1st rolls around and 

we throw away the coconut Quality Street 

leftovers, dust off the hand weights and 

resolve to have a six pack by the time we 

jet off for our Summer holidays. But how 

many years in a row has that actually been 

achieved? I can take a guess. 

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 actually 

engage in doing it. 

The saying ‘that true beauty lies within‘ 

holds strong in our societal beliefs. Another 

motto that strikes a chord with people is ’live 

your best life’. 

The reality is very different. People will invest 

in Botox and skin treatments to stay young 

and look good, take holidays and buy 

expensive possessions to boost their mood, 

however few invest in the beauty inside of 

them or try to understand how to live their 

best life for longer. Our body is our only life 

vehicle and yet it is the only asset that we 

often neglect to invest in. 

No amount of Botox or skin treatments will 

ever allow us to live well and enjoy our lives… 

or as I like to call it… extend our healthspan. 

We need to start to think about our body as 

a whole and consider looking after ourselves 

by having regular medical checks. This is what 

modern medicine looks like and if we want 

to live longer and be our best version of our 

healthy selves then we need to start looking 

after our body and all its physiological 

functions in a scientific and informed way. 

If you do one thing for yourself in 2024, start 

your resolution with a health check. Taking a 

close look at your health serves not only as 

a great starting point for any health kick but 

is more than likely to identify some areas to 

work on that you may not have even thought 

about. 

Poor health is often the result of the poor 

life choices we make on a daily basis 

e.g. drinking alcohol, smoking, eating a poor 

diet, and yet disease processes are often 

triggered by these factors along with stress 

and lack of exercise to name but a few. 

If beauty lies within, why don’t we optimise 

this internal beauty by checking our gut 

health with stool samples, having regular 

blood tests, and investing in preventative 

health checks? Many illnesses can develop 

long before symptoms occur. 

Dr Riccardo Di Cuffa, Founder & Chief 

Medical Officer, Thyme 

info@yourthyme.com 

0330 088 2020 


Meditation on Twin Hearts 

with 

Healing Clinic 

FOR BETTER PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLBEING 

Relax, sit comfortably and enjoy 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. 

7:30 - 9pm 

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 

UK & Ireland

LOCAL BUSINESS 

Give your new 

year detox the 

green light 

Meditation on Twin Hearts 

with Healing Clinic 

• Use naturally derived surface cleaning products 

With research indicating that indoor 7:30 air - 9pm and look out for non-toxic sprays and bleach 

pollution is over 3 times more polluted than alternatives 

1st, 3rd and 4th Wednesdays of the Month 

• Replace your washing up liquid, dishwasher tablets 

outdoor air pollution in the UK and 45% of 

and rinse aid in your kitchens with naturally derived 

homes are showing significantly increased alternatives 

levels of Volatile 3, Organic 17 & Compounds 24 Jan 2024 (found • Use plastic-free cloths, sponges and where 

in many home cleaning 7, 21 & and 28 personal Feb 2024 care possible replace plastic bottles/containers with glass, 

stainless steel, ceramic or wood 

products), we asked 6, 20 a local & 27 eco-friendly Mar 2024 • Use soaps and shampoo bars made only with 

business, Eco-Homemaker, their thoughts naturally derived ingredients 

on this. Relax, sit comfortably and enjoy • this Go for meditation natural materials to where reduce possible in the 

stress, increase happiness and leave you bedroom with – a wooden sense bed of inner frames, calm. a mattress or 

“With two young children ourselves, we know that for topper made of natural materials, natural fibres for 

parents there’s nothing more important than creating bed linen, sheets, duvets and pillows 

a safe environment Experience and taking a Taster care of Pranic health and Therapy Treatment, • Use toxin free one paints of and the stains fastest for walls and 

hygiene in their homes. But whilst many of us think a furniture 

clean house growing means a safe complementary house, we are often therapies not worldwide, effective for the 

made aware of the treatment harmful toxins of and any chemicals physical or psychological Eco-Homemaker, conditions. 

an online shopping platform, is on 

found in our high street cleaning and personal care a mission to make your life easier when it comes to 

products.” Victoria, co-founder explains. “Sadly, this eco-friendly shopping for your family. They stock 

is evident when you look at your cleaning 

The 

product 

Curzon Centre 

refillable non-toxic cleaning products such as a 

labels and find ‘hazardous’ Maxwell or ‘corrosive’ Road, warnings. Beaconsfield, bleach alternative, HP9 anti-bac 1RGsurface cleaners, oven 

With the new year detox period upon us, now is cleaner, glass cleaner and floor cleaner – and all have 

a great time to reflect on how £5 you donation can make small to been meticulously Reg: 1188773 tried and tested so you can be 

changes that could make a significant impact on assured of their effectiveness. 

you and your family’s health.” 

Krissie Waldock 07521125654 kristina.pranictherapist@gmail.com 

To buy online from this CSP local company go to: 

Eco-Homemaker’s top tips to detox www.ukpranichealing.co.uk 

your home: www.eco-homemaker.com 

FOR BETTER PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLBEING 

Join us for a 2 hour seminar 

to discover how techniques from Eastern and 

Western medicine, can help transform the 

way we think about ourselves, the impact on our 

physical and emotional health, 

as well as the world around us. 

What is Healing? 

Wednesday 31 Jan 2024 

7:30-9:30pm 

Cost: £20 payable at door 

Institute of Pranic Healing 

UK & Ireland



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ISSUE 18 

THE YOUNG 

Celebrating Culture 

in the Modern Day 

Globalization has sped up cultural 

interchange in contemporary times, 

but it has also sparked worries about 

the commercialization and superficial 

acceptance of traditional features. The 

development of the internet and mass 

media has made it easier for cultural 

practices to spread, often without the 

proper context or regard. This has 

negatively impacted people from a variety 

of different cultures, sometimes raising 

concerns regarding cultural appropriation. 

Cultural appropriation is the act of individuals of 

one culture adopting or absorbing aspects of 

another, frequently without acknowledging or 

respecting the value of such aspects. It often 

happens when a dominant culture that wields 

more social, economic, or political influence 

appropriates practices, symbols, or artifacts 

from a minority or marginalized culture.This 

perpetuates power disparities and runs the 

risk of undermining the cultural integrity of the 

appropriated practices, symbols, or artifacts. 

There are an immense number of ways to 

appreciate any and every type of culture; 

regardless of who you are, or where you are, 

there are ways to incorporate the appreciation 

of cultures of people from all walks of life, for 

example: the exploration of cuisine; trying and 

enjoying dishes from different cultures, 

appreciating the unique flavours, ingredients and 

cooking techniques they use. Another is through 

educating oneself about the cultural significance 

of clothing and customs. One example is bindis, 

which have spiritual and cultural significance as 

a traditional Hindu forehead ornament. This 

emphasizes how crucial it is to respect and 

comprehend the cultural context of practices 

and symbols to prevent damage from being 

perpetuated through appropriation. 

It is important to be able to connect with your 

community while also participating in/attending 

cultural festivals, showing interest in oppressed 

and marginalized people, and normalizing people 

outwardly expressing love for their own culture 

and the culture of others. As a welcoming, 

diverse community, should we not be aware of 

the differences of how to show appreciation for 

culture rather than trying to appropriate it? After 

all, all cultures are beautiful in their own ways. 

Huda Janjua 

Huda is a student at Amersham School 

Sixth Form. She is keen to use her writing to 

promote equality and tackle social injustices. 

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 Rise of 

Podcasting 

If you haven’t heard about podcasts you’re 

missing out! 

Since lockdowns, podcasts have been on 

the rise. Radio presenters started recording 

their radio shows from home, presenting 

and recording audio shows have become 

increasingly popular. Podcasts are an 

entertaining way to share information with 

listeners. I can promise you that there is a 

podcast for everyone! If you are a sports fan 

there are rugby, football, formula one, cricket, 

hockey podcasts and more. There is nature, 

music, history, politics, cooking, dance pods 

and if you just want to hear your favourite 

celebrities talking about their lives then go 

check out them out on a podcasting app or 

watch them on You-tube. 

Podcasting gives you the ability to learn on 

the go as you can listen to them on your way 

to work, whilst doing housework, exercising or 

whilst you’re chilling out on the sofa. Podcasts 

are not only entertaining, but they can be very 

educational. If you are studying for GCSE’s or 

A-Levels there are podcasts to help you study, 

when I was studying for my English GCSE, I 

found a Macbeth podcast that read out an 

act of the play and explained what was going 

on. This was a great way to implement what 

I learned in school and different way to revise 

instead of just making mind maps and making 

notes. As well as helping with exams podcasts 

can help change how you live your life there 

are many podcasts that are helping people 

change their lifestyles for the better. 

Teaching people how to have a positive 

and open mindset, how to cope with 

anxiety and mental health problems and 

self-improvement. 

Another benefit of podcasts is that most 

of them are free, they are a free form of 

entertainment, and the podcast app of iPhones 

is free. If you think you don’t have time to listen 

to one don’t worry, they all vary in length from 

10 minutes to over an hour, and if you need to 

stop it halfway through you can pick back up 

right from where you left off! 

Podcasts are enjoyable, inspirational and 

educational so why don’t you listen to one this 

week? 

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 





ISSUE 18 

THE YOUNG JOURNALIST 

A New Year 

in Nature 

Happy new year! As we start the New 

Year this can be an exciting opportunity to 

make inspiring resolutions to benefit not 

only ourselves and our loved ones, but also 

the wider community and environment. 

Instead of unattainable aims, we can begin to 

incorporate small habits into our routines which can 

immensely benefit our health and happiness during 

the dark and cold winter days. 

Carving out more time in our hectic lives for 

connecting to our natural surroundings and 

being outside (despite the cold!) can be one of 

the best methods of self-care and rejuvenation. 

Not only does connection with nature benefit our 

physical health and emotional wellbeing, it can 

also help us to become more in tune with nature’s 

rhythm - encouraging love for and preservation 

of the planet. 

During my GCSE exam period (with multiple 

exams a week) I found myself returning outside to 

take deep breaths in the fresh air, dissolving my 

worries into the earth. The sight of the open sky, 

the feeling of a cool breeze on your skin and 

the smell of the earth after rain are commonly 

known to be pleasant and stress-reducing but the 

wellness benefits extend to our physical health too. 

Increased life expectancy, improved sleep quality 

and reducing cancer risk are all health benefits 

associated with being outdoors in green spaces, 

which we are blessed to be surrounded by. 

Perhaps, waking up at 6amevery morning 

for the gym is not compatible with everyone’s 

lifestyle, but a few minutes taking deep breaths 

and observing nature can also have a replenishing 

effect on your health. 

In particular, the practice of forest bathingdelivers 

mental, physical and spiritual benefits and is 

used as preventative health care in Japan. 

Immunity-boosting and blood pressure 

reduction are some of the physical benefits 

whilst alleviation of the symptoms of depression 

and a general improvement in mental health are 

attributed to this practice. Being amongst trees 

can also boost happiness and increase creativity. 

A study by the University of Utah found that after 

immersing people in nature for 3 days without 

access to modern technology, their creative 

problem solving increased by 50%. Feeling stuck 

with work or other projects? A short walk amidst 

trees could be the perfect mood booster. 

To improve connection with nature, there 

are many other small rituals we can add to our 

daily routines for sustainable self-improvement in 

the new year. Taking care of plants, gardening, 

meditating in nature and doing exercise outside 

are some examples of the plethora of ways 

we can thrive in our natural habitat, the great 

outdoors. The Swedish concept of ‘friluftsliv’ can 

also inspire us to spend quality time in nature. This 

is described as “a philosophical lifestyle based 

on experiences of the freedom in nature and the 

spiritual connectedness with the landscape.” By 

increasing our awareness of, and gratitude for, the 

moments spent in nature, we can increase clarity, 

find balance with nature’s rhythms and step into 

our calmest and happiest shoes every day. 

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 




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

LAUNCHING 

SEPTEMBER 2024 

It's Your Future 

It's Our Guidance 

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 

Thursday 22nd February 2024, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. 

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


LEGAL ADVICE 

Compulsory alternative 

dispute resolution – the 

benefits in family law cases! 

There has been a very interesting development 

recently in civil courts in relation to parties’ 

litigation and alternative dispute resolution 

(“ADR”), following a specific case in Wales. 

There was an ongoing civil dispute between two parties. They 

had reached a point in proceedings and were asking the court 

to go further and have a full hearing and trial of the matter. 

It was at this point that the court took an interesting stand - 

deciding it could lawfully stall civil litigation proceedings, 

insisting that the parties proceed via private ADR. It 

determined that there were sufficient grounds for the 

parties to deal with their matter privately rather than at 

public expense through the court system. 

Our court system is deeply overburdened and chronically 

underfunded - it is not simply that the number of cases have 

increased; rather, there are not enough Judges or court staff to 

deal with the normal volume of applications, leading to court 

processes being significantly delayed and, in the family court, 

a potential lack of judicial availability, or indeed, expertise. 

This is not necessarily a bad thing. There are many benefits to 

ADR and “going private” in family law. 

The skills of a good family law mediator mean that most 

parties, without even entering a court room can resolve 

most, if not all, the matters between them. 

There is also the collaborative law process that suits individuals 

who can speak with each other but want the comfort of 

dealing with matters aided by a solicitor in a 4-way meeting. 

Finally, there is arbitration - the arbitrator (a private Judge) 

hears evidence much like a Final Hearing before the court and, 

like a Judge in court, produces a final determination which is 

binding on the parties. 

Whilst the private process does have a cost both parties are 

involved in the decision making process in a much more 

realistic way. And in arbitration your private Judge is an expert 

in that field of law – unlike in the courts where cases may land 

before Judges who simply do not have the expertise in that 

particular area. 

The greatest saving is time and stress. “Going private” means 

that you can fit the dates to your diary and you can have final 

determination as quickly as you need it. There is no waiting 

months for a court hearing - you simply ‘get on and do it’. 

Finally, the level of your involvement and ability to make 

selections means that you have much more engagement 

in the outcome of your own life. 

So whilst this is the first case that will pave the way for the courts 

shunting the cases before it into the private arena – I suspect it 

will not be the last. Please do not hesitate to contact Rayden 

Solicitors to discuss alternative dispute resolution further. 

Whilst this was a civil case, I think it is trend setting and not too 

far a leap to see BEACS_130x90_OUT_CMYK_3.pdf the overburdened matrimonial courts 1 taking 20/10/2023 Julian 10:12 Bremner, Partner and Financial Arbitrator, Rayden 

the same approach. 

Solicitors Beaconsfield 

C 

M 

Y 

CM 

MY 

CY 

CMY 

K 



Bekonscot new 

meeting room 

Bekonscot’s new meeting room is now 

available for hire by local community groups, 

businesses and charities. 

Why not make your next meeting a little bit special 

by holding it at Bekonscot Model Village. 

Named after the long-serving Chairman of 

Bekonscot Model Village, the Norman Heaton Room 

has the latest audio visual facilities, wifi, video, flip 

chart, conference capabilities and the room seats 8 - 

12 in boardroom style and up to 25 theatre style. 

Tea and coffee can be provided on request and also 

sandwich lunches or breakfast baps for an additional 

charge. 

The cost of hire is £40 per hour with discounts for 

Community Groups and Charities. This price includes 

complimentary tea and coffee. Minimum hire period 

of 3 hours. 

(Please note that the Norman Heaton Room is not 

available for children’s birthday parties.) 

The village will re-open to the public on 

10th February 2024. 

For further details and to make a booking, 

please contact info@bekonscot.co.uk or call 

01494 672919. 

DESIGN AND MARKETING FOR 

MAXIMUM IMPACT 

LOGOS, ILLUSTRATIONS, ADVERTISEMENT, 

BUSINESS STATIONERY, SOCIAL MEDIA 

ADVERTS, WEBSITES, LEAFLETS, car livery, 

clothing designs 

DOMESTIC & COMMERCIAL ELECTRICIANS 

Family run business 

Full and partial rewires 

Safety electrical testing 

Landlords reports (PRS) 

Fuse board upgrades 

Garden lighting 

All electrical work undertaken 

Adam: 077251 72878 Craig: 077305 75633 

w: www.alconelectrical.co.uk 

e: info@alconelectrical.co.uk 

Find us on instagram: @alcon_electrical 


* 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. 

* Excludes All inclusive range and other offers. Conditions apply 

EYE NEWS 

Winter Eye Care 

With the cold, windy weather and dark 

nights you’re probably finding that your 

eyes are not at their clearest. Lower 

temperatures outside and heating inside 

can result in your eyes feeling dry and 

gritty. 

The wind can make your eyes run, often caused by 

dryness, whereby the tears evaporate and don’t 

moisten the surface of the eye. The ‘tear film’ isn’t as 

good at sticking to the surface of your eye. 

Research shows that a diet rich in Vitamin A, Lutein 

and omega oils ( green veg, eggs, peppers etc) help 

but it wont give you instant relief. Ask your optician 

for advice on dry eye drops. Proven to alleviate the 

symptoms of dry eye they can be used as frequently 

as required. Remember they are not a cure so dont 

stop using them unless the optician advises. It’s like 

cleaning your teeth, a maintenance programme to 

keep things at their best. 

You may find driving at night more tiring. Brighter 

headlights and higher vehicles are distracting. it is 

not advisible to wear the driving glasses advertised 

on line. The yellow tint is often too dark and the 

wavelength of the tint colour can affect your braking 

distance. Invest in the latest prescription driving 

lenses. 

Enroute have a contrast enhancing filter that is 

also helpful in mist and fog. Available as a lens for 

distance vision and also as a varifocal. The Enroute 

varifocal lens is designed to give you a wider area for 

distance and the dashboard maximizing the distance 

you need for driving. Remember that your optician is 

there to help you with anything eye related, so if you 

have any concerns 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 

Half price 

2nd Pair 

 

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 





Jumble Sale 

extravaganza at 

GXCA! 

In September of this year - Gerrards 

Cross Community Association (GXCA) 

held its biggest event of the year - the 

annual Jumble Sale! This event has been 

held for around 40 years. The event is on 

a scale that is so much larger than your 

traditional village hall event and has even 

been dubbed as, “The Glastonbury of 

Jumble Sales!” 

The event took £37,000 income this year and 

deducting expenses made an astonishing £29,000 

profit! This money will be used for much needed 

funds to keep the GXCA charity running. 

A member and volunteer of GXCA of over 18 

years shares her account of what happens to make 

this event such a success. “Throughout the year, 

residents bring no longer needed items to the 

Centre which are stored in one of six sheds. 

Volunteers, spend months sorting and boxing and 

labelling these items. The week before the jumble, 

marquees go up and tables are delivered. On the 

week of the jumble, approximately 60-80 volunteers 

turn up on the Monday morning, help to put up 

tables, and start emptying the sheds. These fantastic 

people range from 18 years to 80 years, some 

pop in for a morning, and some are there all week. 

The shed emptying takes three days hard physical 

labour, trolleying boxes to various ‘stations’ within 

the Centre for further sorting. 

The local auctioneer, pops in on Thursday to check 

stock for donated old masters and jewels. Not for 

us, a priceless treasure turning up on the Antiques 

Road Show, bought for a £1! Much needed teas 

and coffee are on tap for thirsty volunteer stall 

helpers. During the jumble a BBQ serving sizzling, 

locally sourced, veggie and meat burgers and 

sausages are served to hungry shoppers and 

volunteers. 

On Friday morning the jumblers arrive as early as 

6am and start to queue snaking around the carpark, 

chattering and laughing as the queue gets longer 

and longer. At 10am the gates open, and hundreds 

of people come tumbling in. Jumblers come from as 

far afield as London, Brighton, Bath and Manchester, 

plus the surrounding counties for this event. 

The staff of GXCA spend weeks advertising, 

organising the hire of marquees and allocating 

and directing the rabble of volunteer helpers! 

They are tremendous! When the bell tolls at 1pm 

on Saturday, it isn’t finished, well not for the staff 

and volunteers - everything left over needs to be 

bagged, sorted and taken down. 

This is my story, and I truly believe shows how a 

local community can laugh, love and build without 

discrimination of age, sex or gender, without anger 

but with huge generosity, compassion and spirit. 

“Long may it last.” 


Client Spotlight: Helping a Retired 

Couple Stay in Their Cherished Home 

A real life example of how later life lending has helped our clients. 

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

In this case study, we 

delve into the journey of 

a couple in their late 70s 

who faced an unexpected 

financial challenge while 

endeavouring to stay in their 

cherished home. 

The Challenge. 

Their lender was insisting on redeeming the mortgage 

on their property, presenting them with unattractive 

and unaffordable terms. Forced with an ultimatum, they 

were left with a difficult choice – sell their home or find a 

financial solution that would allow them to stay. 

Our Solution. 

We recognised that a lifetime mortgage was not the ideal 

fit for their unique circumstances. 

Discovering the couple had a holiday property, we were 

able to arrange a 12 month bridging loan on this asset to 

release enough funds for the couple to settle their current 

mortgage with their existing lender. 

Being able to access vital funds from their holiday property 

while it was on the market allowed this couple to continue 

their retirement living in their cherished family home. 

For peace of mind, this 12 month loan required no monthly 

payments, as it would be repaid once the holiday property 

sold. This gave the couple time to then address their 

financial future without feeling rushed. 

Is Your Current 

Mortgage Situation 

Complicated? 

If you or someone you know 

is facing a similar financial 

challenge in their later years, 

please don’t hesitate to contact 

us. Our team are here to help 

with tailored mortgage solutions 

and personalised guidance to 

ensure your financial security 

and the preservation of your 

most treasured assets. Get 

in touch with us today for a 

confidential consultation. 

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 

by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN No: 485955).


Stoke Park in the 

Community 

The Stoke Park Community Outreach programme 

focusses primarily to support and collaborate with 

local charitable organisations. The programme 

helps to enrich the lives of young people through 

education, sport, culture and the arts. 

Stoke Park also provides local support for local 

charity projects, clubs & societies, community 

groups, or regional branches of national charities 

whose projects targets residents or areas 

within Buckinghamshire and Berkshire. Projects 

delivering a positive and lasting benefit to the 

community and can demonstrate clear objectives, 

measurable outcomes and impacts will be 

considered for support. 

Community Outreach Programmes 

Some examples of the work Stoke Park’s 

Community Outreach programme has 

delivered so far: 

• In 2022 Stoke Park delivered 1,250 Christmas 

Gifts to children in need and sick children through 

Buckinghamshire and Berkshire, working with 

various charities and hospitals to distribute them. 

• Platinum sponsor of the Gerrards Cross Fun Run 

in 2022 which supported Hearing Dogs for the 

Deaf, Liberty’s Legacy and William’s Fund. 

• Sponsored the CAWC (Chiltern American 

Woman’s Club) Christmas bazaar (2022/2023) who 

in 2022 supported the MND Association and in 

2023 Carers Bucks. 

• Provided funding for a cabinet at St Andrew’s 

Church, Stoke Poges to house a defibrillator from 

Thames Valley Heartbeat. 

• Stoke Park sponsored Gerrard’s Cross Picnic on 

the Park – a huge community event celebrating 

the coronation of King Charles III. 

Supporting Education 

• Stoke Park made a donation towards 

equipping the new STEAM cabin (Science, 

Tech, Engineering, Arts and Maths) at the 

Stoke Poges School. 

• Provided funding for a new app which allows 

schools to self-deliver Action4Youth’s brilliant 

Inspiration Programme, and therefore deliver the 

programme to many more schools throughout 

Bucks. Also funded two Bucks schools which 

hadn’t the resources to self-fund this programme 

into the curriculum. 

• Grant funding towards ‘The Junction’ which 

catches disadvantaged young people at a critical 

point, offering crisis and wellbeing support, plus a 

community where they feel safe and supported. 

Community Funds 

Launched Stoke Park in the Community Funds 

via Heart of Bucks and Berkshire Community 

Foundation – charities and community groups are 

able to apply for grants of £5000 to the fund. 



Reliance Foundation ESA Cup & Stoke Park 

Grants - The Boodles tennis 

One of the Reliance Foundation’s (Stoke Park 

parent company) key initiatives is the Education 

and Sports for All (ESA) programme. Through 

Stoke Park’s community outreach initiatives, the 

ESA programme is committed to supporting 

causes which have a positive impact within the 

local community. 

Stoke Park also awarded a Queens Platinum 

Award (via Berkshire Community Donation) to the 

charity Together as One (Aik Saath). This £10,000 

grant funded their Global Grub campaign, which 

was also supported by HRH The Prince of Wales. 

It taught children how to cook and provided a 

meal each day during holidays when free school 

meals were not available. 

Stoke Park Directors PJ Singh and Saji Varghese at the Stoke 

Poges Horticultural Society Annual Summer Show 

Stoke Park team delivering Christmas gifts to Wexham Park 

Childrens Ward 

Sports for development 

Stoke Park is helping 20 local athletes at 

grassroots level through SportsAid, supporting 

future Olympians and Paralympians, whilst also 

working on inclusivity and activation programmes 

to help inspire local children and families into 

sport. 

Alongside SportsAid and LEAP, they are a 

partner of The School Games - an inclusive sports 

programme which will reach 20,000 children 

throughout Buckinghamshire, encouraging 

children of all abilities not just to compete, but 

also to participate. 

The award of the Reliance Foundation ESA 

Cup was presented on each of the 5 days of 

The Boodles tennis event to the winner of the 

first match, and a charity grant from Stoke Park 

donated to a different local charity on each day. 

The charities supported during this year’s event 

were: Action4Youth, South Bucks Riding for the 

Disabled Association, Together as One, Slough 

Foodbank and Sport in Mind. 

Overseeing their outreach programme is 

Stoke Park’s Director of Communications, Nick 

Downie, who commented: ‘Stoke Park are very 

proud to be a part of the local community and 

we have set about on an extensive community 

outreach programme much bigger than we 

have done before. I have worked at Stoke Park 

for nearly 14 years and am really excited to be 

having this opportunity to help support. This 

outreach programme is there to bring lasting 

benefit to the local community and we 

are always looking for opportunities to be 

considered, so please do get in touch with us.’ 

You can contact the Stoke Park Community 

Outreach Programme by emailing: 

social@stokepark.com 


AMERSHAM & CHALFONT 

Together BRAIN MATTER 

T O L E C O O R A G N A K E C 

N A R W H A L E R R I U Q S H 

R H E D G E H O G H B I P I I 

E P P A N G O L I N Y E M O C 

E K O B G N I R P S B P Z P K 

D N L R E T A E T N A M P R E 

N U E A C L E O P L B A K O N 

I M T X R U E N A E H R R P M 

E P N O I M P P E L S M A L O 

R I A T M V A I H G U O V A N 

A H T O O C I D N A B S D T G 

S C O R P I O N I E N E R Y O 

M S B U T T E R F L Y T A P O 

E U S C H I N C H I L L A U S 

O L A F F U B D O R M O U S E 

CREATURE FEATURE 

Can you find all of these creatures hidden in the 

grid? The words may run backwards as well as 

forwards, in either a horizontal, vertical or 

diagonal direction, but always in a straight, 

uninterrupted line. When finished, the remaining 

letters spell out another creature, the answer to 

the competition. 

AARDVARK 

ANTEATER 

ANTELOPE 

ARMADILLO 

BANDICOOT 

BUFFALO 

BUSHBABY 

BUTTERFLY 

CHICKEN 

CHINCHILLA 

CHIPMUNK 

DORMOUSE 

EAGLE 

ELEPHANT 

GENET 

HEDGEHOG 

IMPALA 

KANGAROO 

MARMOSET 

MONGOOSE 

MOOSE 

NARWHAL 

OCELOT 

PANGOLIN 

PLATYPUS 

PORCUPINE 

PORPOISE 

REINDEER 

SCORPION 

SPRINGBOK 

SQUIRREL 

VIXEN 

WHALE 

ZEBRA 

M 

E B A 

R H R E U 

W R R A A A E 

N R D A B M O R M 

R H Y E U U G B A A A 

E N R D O Y H U Y A R H Y 

E U W G M R W H E N R 

O N A G E R O R H 

Y H E W G B E 

D A E N R 

D O B 

M 

UNIQUE SPECIMENS 

The names of these three plants each 

appear once only in the grid below. 

Can you locate them? 

MAYWEED 

OREGANO 

RHUBARB 

28 Amersham & Chalfonts Together is part of Community Together 

(answers on p30)

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 


GARDENING 

Protect plants for 

winter - top tips 

Time to protect plants for winter before 

it gets much colder, wetter and windier. 

Moving under cover 

There are many plants that can be moved to 

a place of protection, such as a cold frame, 

greenhouse or conservatory. Keep an eye on 

watering needs, especially pot plants, as they 

may still need watering. 

Use horticultural fleece 

A valuable fabric to always have on hand.. 

Even in the greenhouse, if you have tender 

plants and the temperature is very low, 

horticultural fleece can be used on plants, 

even undercover. Remember to remove it 

when you have to! 

Mulch, mulch and mulch 

Well-rotted organic matter can work wonders 

for protecting your plants. Particularly good for 

perennials that die back over winter and brush 

into growth during spring. Also, for plants 

such as Dahlias, if you leave the tubers in the 

ground, applying a thick mulch will help to 

ensure they are protected from frosts. 

Grouping containers together 

If you have container plants, moving them and 

group together then you can put the fleece on 

top for ease. This can be helpful if you have a 

sheltered corner of the garden or up against 

a wall. 

CREATURE 

FEATURE 

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS 

T O L E C O O R A G N A K E C 

N A R W H A L E R R I U Q S H 

R H E D G E H O G H B I P I I 

E P P A N G O L I N Y E M O C 

E K O B G N I R P S B P Z P K 

D N L R E T A E T N A M P R E 

N U E A C L E O P L B A K O N 

I M T X R U E N A E H R R P M 

E P N O I M P P E L S M A L O 

R I A T M V A I H G U O V A N 

A H T O O C I D N A B S D T G 

S C O R P I O N I E N E R Y O 

M S B U T T E R F L Y T A P O 

E U S C H I N C H I L L A U S 

O L A F F U B D O R M O U S E 

UNIQUE 

SPECIMENS 

Raise pots using pot feet 

Raising your pots and containers onto pot feet 

or bricks will help with drainage, especially in 

very wet weather. If your pots stand flush on 

concrete and the soil becomes impacted, this 

can stop good drainage and cause root rot. 

Thank you to Stewarts Garden centre for 

its invaluable information. 

www.stewarts.co.uk 

M 

E B A 

R H R E U 

W R R A A A E 

N R D A B M O R M 

R H Y E U U G B A A A 

E N R D O Y H U Y A R H Y 

E U W G M R W H E N R 

O N A G E R O R H 

Y H E W G B E 

D A E N R 

D O B 

M 


Poggenpohl Marlow 

75 High St | Marlow 

SL7 1AB 

phone 01628 326 061 

marlow@poggenpohl.com 

www.marlow.poggenpohl.com 


Book online 

today 

See a GP in 

person or via 

videocall from 

just £59 

yourthyme.com 0330 088 2020

Amersham and Chalfonts Together January and February 2024

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