September 2008
The sacrifice of 37 young men of Chipperfield in the Great War of 1914-18 is to be commemorated in a dramatic production by members of the Chipperfield Theatre Group in two performances only, on Friday 7 and Saturday 8 November, in the Village Hall. The production has been specially written for the 90th anniversary of the armistice in November 1918, following extensive research into the men of the village who volunteered or were conscripted into the war. Over 160 joined the forces. Only the fittest were sent into the firing line and a large proportion of these were killed or wounded, and some taken prisoner.
Men from the village volunteered from the day war was declared, 4 August 1914, and this continued until conscription was introduced, to make up for the huge losses being suffered by the men in the front line. The first of the men lost was Jesse Biggerstaff, a regular soldier in the Grenadier Guards, who was killed in the first battle of Ypres on 7 November 1914. His body was never found and Jesse is commemorated on the Menin Gate at Ypres with 50,000 others killed in the Ypres sector and who have no known grave. He had been married for 2 years and left behind a child born three days before he left for the front. Among those who volunteered when war was declared were the Blackwell brothers, Charles and Don, both of whom left behind professional careers in the city and in Don’s case a wife and child. Both served as private soldiers before being commissioned into the Royal Fusiliers. Charles was wounded in the second battle of Ypres and died in France on 20 July 1915. Don survived another year and was killed by shell-fire before an attack at Flers on 5 October 1916, at the end of the battle of the Somme. His body was never found and Don is commemorated on the Thiepval memorial to 73,000 soldiers killed in the Somme sector who have no known grave. The Blackwells’ parents, who lived in the Manor House, dedicated a memorial Hall, now Blackwell’s Club, to the memory of their sons and the other men of the Village who perished in the War.
This was the fate of just three of the 37 men lost in the conflict. The November production, with dramatic scenes from the events of the time, will trace all the men who lost their lives, and some who returned, against the unfolding story of the Great War to End All Wars. Think of those men when you next pass the war memorial on The Common or read the commemorative tablet in St Paul’s Church; and book early for the event for which tickets will be very limited. For information about tickets call Mark Jarrad 01923 268910 or Liz Holliday 01923 267483.
John Uff
FUTURE PLANNING ISSUES IN THE COUNTRYSIDE
Dacorum Borough Council is in process of updating the Borough Local Plan, which covers the years 1991-2011 with a new Local Development Framework which will guide development in the area until 2031. One of the elements in this Framework is the future of the countryside in Dacorum and what policies should govern its well-being. With this in mind, it is holding a Workshop at the Civic Centre from 9am to 1pm on Thursday 25 September 2008 to bring out any new issues, to ensure local needs have been understood and to consider the sort of place it should be like in 20 years.
Chipperfield Parish Council will be represented at the workshop, but it has also been asked to advise Dacorum BC of any other local groups who might wish to participate.
If any village organisation feels that it could contribute to the workshop and would like to be involved, please advise the Parish Clerk, Joanne Deacon, by phone 01923 263310 or email parishclerk@chipperfield.org.uk by September 11 so that she can arrange for an invitation to be sent.
PARKING BAYS
The Parish Council would like to remind all residents that the parking bays outside Stanley's Store and Ricketts Butchers in Chapel Croft have 20 minute parking restrictions in force Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6pm. We are aware that some people have received parking tickets for parking longer than 20 minutes. The Parish Council has requested that Hertfordshire Highways install a further "waiting restriction" sign directly outside the shops.
Jo Deacon, Clerk to the Council
1st CHIPPERFIELD BROWNIES
We have welcomed 3 new Brownies since April. The girls have enjoyed a fun-packed term with lots of activities. We had a Brownie Traditions evening when we learned about Brownies in the past, including acting out a play called 'The Story of the Brownies' at an enrolment. The younger girls gained their Agility badge and the older girls gained the Out and About badge. Thanks to John Hopkins (Dad) for helping us with this. We had a mini Olympics evening where the girls did some of the events from the games. There are some budding athletes in the Pack!
Six of the eldest Brownies joined Kings Langley Guides for a week-end camping at Lees Wood, Chandlers Cross. The girls enjoyed many activities, including climbing, abseiling and archery and I was extremely proud of all of them. We joined the rest of Kings Langley District for a Beach Party held at Bedmond Primary School. Lots of fun activities, games and crafts. A great time was had by all! We ended our term with Bovingdon Guides joining us for our annual teddy bears picnic and games. Our Super Brownie 2008 results were announced: 1st Leia Dowding, 2nd Bethany Gill, 3rd Rachael Deacy. Well done girls, very well deserved.
I would like to say thank you to my team - Hannah, Emma, Pat and Rhiannon. A lot of work goes into running a Brownie Pack and I really couldn't do it without them.
My Pack is full at the moment, but if you would like to put your daughter's name on the waiting list (the starting age is 7) it's never too early! Please contact Sian Roberts on 01923 263967 or 07982 610775.
We return to Brownies on September 9; enjoy your summer break and I'll see you then!
Sian Roberts, Brown Owl
THE CHIPPERFIELD QUARTET
Those who spent Friday evening 27 June in the Two Brewers, without troubling to walk the few extra steps round to the Village Hall, missed a real treat. Perhaps they were put off by the mention of a string quartet. They should not have been. This was a full-blooded presentation of music, mostly arranged for quartet, which ranged from the thrilling scale passages of Vivaldi to a pretty fair rendition of Paul McCartney’s "When I’m Sixty Four". And much more in between. If this was not enough, the show was given by four gorgeous girls, all professional string players who had offered their services in aid of the St Paul’s Organ Fund. In the words of the song, "who could ask for more?"
The show got off to a cracking start with Vivaldi’s familiar concerto for two violins, played by Natalia Bonner (who led the quartet) and Caroline Bishop, ably and energetically accompanied by orchestra and continuo consisting of the sisters Naomi (viola) and Laura (cello) Fairhurst. The pace lessened for the next group of arrangements, which included an original setting of the English folksongs Greensleeves and Scarborough Fair. After Makin’ Whoopee, Anything Goes and the meditation from Thais, the first half concluded with Summer from the Four Seasons. The second half opened with another familiar favourite, Mozart’s early Divertimento in D, in which the andante in particular allowed the musicians to show a different and intimate side to quartet playing. This was followed again by a selection of "popular" pieces including Pachelbel’s Canon, apparently much favoured by brides making their way up the aisle. According to Grove, he wrote many other pieces as well, a fact that might with advantage be pointed out to those contemplating nuptials. But for this reviewer, the highlight was a hitherto unknown Tango by C Gardel, reminiscent of Astle Piazzola, and played with all the same gusto. We would like to know more of C Gardel.
In the course of the evening the quartet showed that it could syncopate, swing and rock with the best of them, as well as interpreting the classics with stylish and thoughtful playing. This was a brilliant evening and seemingly a first for the Village, which has perhaps suffered unfair comparison with the musical elite of Sarratt. It should certainly be repeated, regularly, if the quartet can be persuaded to take time off their obviously busy playing and recording schedules. We wonder if, in future, it will be thought necessary to amplify the quartet. This may be a reflection of modern commercial practice. But it would be regarded as wholly unnecessary in the Wigmore Hall and it may be the same goes for the Chipperfield Village Hall.
John Uff
CHIPPERFIELD CARE
Twenty of our clients enjoyed a wonderful tea party at the home of Brenda and Peter Berners-Price at the beginning of July. A big thank you to both of them for their generosity in inviting us to see round their superb garden just before it was opened to the public in aid of Charity.
Our volunteers willingly give their time and help on occasions such as this and also throughout the year, however, with the cost of petrol and diesel hitting new highs, we have had to revise our rates for transport. These new charges will be a more realistic contribution to the cost incurred by our drivers.
New transport rates as from 1 August:
Bovingdon and Kings Langley Surgery visits - £2 return journey
Return journeys to Hospitals:
Hemel Hempstead and Watford £7 Amersham, Bushey, Harefield and
St. Albans - £10
Harpenden Hospital - £14
Luton & Dunstable - £20
HERTS OPEN STUDIOS
Dick Onians: Sculpture in wood, stone, metal and resin, mostly abstract for house and garden. Studio open on 13-14 September and 25-28 September; Sat/Sun 11am-5pm; Thur/Fri 12 noon-5pm, or by appointment.
Woodside, Commonwood WD4 9BA. (Down lane next to Cart & Horses pub car park). 01923 265996 or dick.onians@talk21.com
W.I. NEWS
Michael Richards visited the Evening WI in June to introduce Tai Chi to the members. Originating in China some 5,000 years ago, Tai Chi assists the body to relax and achieve inner harmony and improve posture.
In July, at the invitation of Mrs Judy Olney, the meeting took the form of a garden tour at Callipers Hall. Gardener Paul Elborn was our guide, from the herbaceous borders with many unusual shrubs, the vegetable garden, sweet peas to die for and the woodland pond area with giant coi carp, to the riot of colour and perfume in the magnificent walled garden. A truly memorable garden and evening.
WI MEETINGS THIS MONTH
Afternoon WI - Tuesday 16
at 2.15pm in the Village Hall.
Lost in France by Dorinda Diggins
Evening WI - Wednesday 17
at 7.30pm in the Village Hall.
The Bayeux Tapestry by John Neal
CURD FAMILY
GET TOGETHER
The Curd family get together held in Sarratt on 19 July was a great success with 15 family groups (about 50 individuals in all) attending, most of whom were descended from John and Susannah Curd who were married at Holy Cross Church in 1769.
There was a small display which outlined the history of the family in the area, telling how John’s sons were all originally papermakers at Sarratt Mill, the female members of the family’s involvement in the local straw plaiting industry; and a particular emphasis on the story of James Curd who in 1881 was killed falling from one of the enormous ladders that were used to gather in the local cherry crop leaving a young pregnant widow with 5 children whose descendents still live in the Chipperfield and Sarratt area today. At the time of his death James Curd was living in The Street with a cousin, George Curd, a boot maker a few doors away and George’s son Amos next door running a grocer’s shop.
The modern generation was represented by local lad Louis Curd, (together with mum Kim and granddad Mick) who at 8 years old was the youngest and the furthest removed from John and Susannah being the 10th generation of the family to live in the area.
People travelled from as far away as Newcastle and the Isle of Wight as well as Los Angeles and Billings Montana in the USA to attend the event and spent an interesting day getting to know cousins they never knew they had and exchanging family history information. John Hopkins (Grandson of Minnie Curd)
Thank you to John Hopkins and the Sarratt Local History Society for hosting such a wonderful CURD family gathering in the hall of Sarratt JMI School, bringing Curds from far and wide to log into this amazing family tree. Thank you.
Peggy Harpley
Good Moaning ....
Chipperfield Theatre Group proudly presents "Oops There Goes My Knockwurst" a comedy murder mystery.
Set in war time France the action takes place in the Café René.
With the café constantly in use by German officers, The French resistance, and The Gestapo, as well as René's several mistresses, there are plenty of motives for murder! With prizes up for grabs, it will be up to you the audience to guess WHO DUNNIT!
Table Seating (up to 8 per table). All Tickets are priced at £12.50 which includes 2 course supper. Performance Dates are Friday 26 and Saturday 27 September. Doors will open at 7pm with a discounted bar until 7.30pm so come early!
ALL PROFITS WILL BE DONATED TO CHARITY - St Francis Hospice and the National Children's Homes!!!
For further information and to book tickets please call Jill on the box office on 01442 832770 or email BoxOffice@ChipperfieldTheatreGroup.com
A MURDER IS ANNOUNCED - CHIPPERFIELD THEATRE GROUP
Thanks to an inspired (or perhaps unduly perilous) piece of scheduling, Chipperfield Theatre Group’s latest offering, A Murder Is Announced, was performed, somewhat eerily, on the day it was set - Friday 13th. Maybe this double dose of bad luck was why, at the outset at least, the play seemed unremarkable - bland characters, forced dialogue and with only the merest hint of the intrigue that was to follow. Certainly, the intervention of Wendy Marchant was timely. On hand to bolster proceedings with her bolshy east European housekeeper complete with comedy accent and cold war paranoia. Her cameos were welcome relief from the rather staid opening.
One of the principal flaws of the play was the set piece murder which concluded the first Act. An effort was made to build up some suspense as the characters speculated on a newspaper advert which proclaimed that a murder was to take place on the aforementioned date. And everything was going to plan - the lights went out - a shot rang out and we waited to see which of those gathered had bitten the dust. But when the lights went on we discovered it was none of them. Instead it was Neil Stanton making his debut as a hitherto unseen intruder. I guess the poor guy has to start somewhere but as murders go it was a terrible anti climax.
As always however, whatever the limitations of the play itself, there were some impressive performances with all eyes on Jennifer Heusen as keen eyed Saga sleuth Miss Marple. It was a role that she performed with customary aplomb, lending the busy biddy an endearing quality that might have been lost had the actress not done well to curb her natural comic flair. It was obviously a challenge to portray older characters with a cast who aren’t ordinarily queuing up for free bus passes but Ann Pinkus held things together magnificently. Lyn Hug had possibly the toughest role but I warmed to her portrayal of Bunny realising, belatedly, that my irritation at her nervous mannerisms and innocent blether was very much in context. But evidently someone else must have found her character similarly annoying because she was bumped off midway through the second half.
This murder doubled the body count and was the one that really sparked the audience’s interest. The whodunit was then played out in traditional fashion - clues aplenty, everybody implicated, false leads and finally Miss Marple’s pièce de rèsistance - apprehending the one person who we were lead to believe was the target for the killing that had gone before. After my initial reservations, the finale was redemption of sorts for the play and reward for the efforts of this talented troupe who had put in the hard yards. Maybe it’s a sign of the times that one murder just isn’t enough these days!
Jason Cox
BAPTIST CHURCH
The holiday season is beginning to wind down. The white t-shirts may still be around to show off our tans. The holiday snaps are doing the rounds. The one of little Johnny's first dip in the sea, covered head to toe in sand and ice cream. The one the kids took of dad, caught asleep in the deck chair, looking a bit worse for all the sun and sangria, still wearing those embarrassing shorts that he insisted were cool. Some of us may not admit to it, but we will be looking forward to the kids going back to school. I think I can just about hear the cheer from here.
Someone once said "if our school days are the best years of our lives it doesn't say much for the rest of it". Now I like that comment. That may sound a bit "bah humbug" but you didn't have the school days I had. It may for some have to do with spending the first flush of youth footloose and fancy free and then the next 40 years or so with our noses to the grind stone and all the responsibilities that come with it. Of course I can identify with that, who wouldn't?, but there has to be more than those few fleeting years to look forward to in life.
I became a christian at the age of 20, so had had those, so called, golden years already. But I have never found myself looking back wishing I could have them all again. Jesus has given my life purpose. Not a grand earth shattering, high octane, white knuckle ride purpose but one that, with Him, makes a difference. On that momentous day I chose God above everything else, my everyday and ordinary existence began to make sense. There have been times when I would rather not have gone to work or felt fed up and thought what is the point? I would be lying if I said otherwise. In the end I could do it with out Him, many people do, but I would rather not.
God wants to be intimately involved with everything about us. Not because He is interfering, meddling and bossy but because He loves us. He knows that with purpose we find fulfilment, joy, hope and a peace that passes all our understanding. Besides if we tell little Johnny that after school there is nothing to look forward to what has he got to look forward to? Love Jason The Man in the Manse
Church News
The visit to us of the Chiltern West Gallery Quire, as part of a local "Church Crawl" in June, was greatly enjoyed by those who came. The Quire sang for just 30 minutes. We were the third church on the crawl, and they were going to Berkhamsted afterwards for their final venue. Our church Quiz Night was interesting if not testing! With a wonderful supper provided for us. We hope to have another in the New Year. We were blessed with sunshine for the Morris service on The Common in July, it was good to meet with St Paul’s to share in this annual occasion.
There are two special dates to note: our Harvest Thanksgiving weekend on 20/21 September, when the Hemel Methodist Choir will be giving a concert, with supper afterwards, and the service on the Sunday. And the annual Macmillan Coffee Morning to be held in the Baptist Hall on September 26 from 10.30am to 12 noon. We warmly invite you to these events. Why not come along and bring a friend? You are also welcome to join us for the monthly lunch which is usually on the second Saturday. Contact Brenda on 01923 269574.
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
Although we feel slightly in limbo as we wait for Fr. Terry to return from Tanzania we are being looked after very well by Fr. Peter and Fr. Bernard who come from Harrow to say our two Sunday Masses. One of our difficulties as a wide-spread parish has always been that, apart from social functions, we don't get many chances to meet each other but the contraction in the number of Masses enforced by Fr. Des's health problems has helped in this regard as we now all attend one of the two Sunday Masses. A new sound system is helping us follow, and better participate in, the services.
The Parish barbecue and golf day, delayed as a mark of respect for Fr. Des, have now been held with their usual success and our on-going charitable fund raising continues as does the Veneration of the Blessed Sacrament on the first Friday of every month from 2pm to 5pm.
ST PAUL’S CHURCH
It is good to celebrate! In early August, I conducted three weddings in two days: each couple looking back with thanksgiving for the ways they had come together, and forward to things to come. Exciting times …!
Sunday 28th of this month is “Back to church” Sunday. Whilst this is a nationwide event, it has special significance in both churches of our benefice – as our two buildings, following the disruptions of recent months – organ restoration in St.Paul’s – and a thorough redecoration in Holy Cross, become fully functional once more.
All are most welcome to come and celebrate with us, as, thankful for the provision that has made both renovations possible, we look forward to days ahead with anticipation.The reopening of our buildings, gives us a special opportunity too for a re-opening of our lives to the wonders of God’s love.
We are planning our celebrations over two weekends. On 28th the main focus is in Sarratt (all our services are advertised elsewhere, as usual) culminating with a Songs of Praise in the evening; a rededication of our building and ourselves to the one who went to the Cross for us. The following weekend (round Sun.5th Oct.) is Harvest thanksgiving and Flower festival in St.Paul’s, when we give special thanks for God’s amazing provision ….
We run a great variety of services-from “traditional”* to “all age” to “café style” with our Benefice communion services at the heart of things.
“Back to church” Sunday gives us the opportunity to “put our toes in the water” afresh! - there is something for all tastes – and for those who would really like to know more, we shall be running an “Alpha” course, looking at the key things of Christian faith on Tuesdays beginning on 14th October.
Our buildings have had a renovation…perhaps our spiritual lives need the same ….
Jim Stevens
*On 28th Sept. we begin a series of Addresses looking at King David from the Old Testament.
1662 AND ALL THAT
May I add a little to Jim Stevens' brief comment on BCP made in June's edition of Chipperfield News. As he said, this stands for The Book of Common Prayer. The version of BCP that we use now was produced in 1662. It had been worked on and revised during the previous hundred years to make it a clear and comprehensive statement of Christian teaching which would be readily understandable and be suitable for public and personal use. Every day since then parts of it have been read, said or sung all over the world, not just on Sundays and not just in cathedrals. It was designed to express in dignified language an approach to worshipping and serving God as He has revealed Himself in Jesus Christ. It has great depth and breadth of meaning; you will not exhaust it at one reading. It offers a life time of thought, stimulation and encouragement. Many have learnt parts of it by heart and return to them to enhance their understanding of the Christian faith. Wonderful, wonderful words that will stretch the mind and heart.
BCP is alive and well. Keeping it fresh is an investment in the future of the church. Christian worship and service would be poorer if it were to be lost, like removing a foundation stone of a building. BCP has been a vital element in the development of the English language. It has been the inspiration for wonderful music, much being written today by contemporary composers.
At St Paul's, as well as all the other services available, we use BCP for Morning Prayer on the fourth Sunday of every month and sing Evensong three or four times a year. And BCP is used during some of the mid-week Communion services. Our services are designed so that the congregation can take a full part. 'Thees' and 'Thous' do not cause problems for most people. Psalms are sung not as chants, which can be beyond the scope of the keenest; we sing them as hymn versions. 'The Lord's my shepherd' would be an example based on the 23rd Psalm. Again there are lots of psalms written as hymns by living authors.
We hope that these services will be appreciated by many, whether they are already familiar with BCP or not. Do feel welcome to come.
John King
ANN VERONICA WILLIAMS (née Bicknell)
Veronica died in the Intensive Therapy Unit at Hemel Hempstead Hospital on Tuesday 22 July after a five-week stay there. In spite of two operations, she never really recovered despite the very best efforts of the ITU staff.
Veronica lived in Chipperfield from a very young age, having moved there with her family during the war to escape the dangers of London. She lived with her parents, Norman and Miriam Bicknell, at The Firs, leaving home at 18 to join the WRNS. She subsequently lived in Somerset and Hampshire, but returned to Hertfordshire in about 1971. She lived in Church Lane, Kings Langley, where she remained until the end of her life.
She leaves a son and a daughter, two grandsons, two sisters and a wide family, who will all miss her very much. A service was held for Veronica at St Paul's, Chipperfield, led by the Revd. Jim Stevens on Thursday 7 August.
STEVE PARRY
Steve Parry, Reuters Sports Editor for nearly two decades, died in August at the age of 64. Parry, who was Sports Editor from 1982-2000 and a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) press commission during that time, had suffered from a respiratory illness. He died in hospital in Hemel Hempstead having attended the previous 10 Summer Olympic Games. Parry joined Reuters Sports Desk in London in 1966, subsequently being appointed Sports News Editor in 1977 and Sports Editor in 1982.
Outside work, he was an accomplished amateur actor and made the occasional fleeting television appearance after gaining his card as a member of the actors' union Equity.
After retiring from Reuters in 2000, Parry became a consultant for the IOC. He later became a media adviser for London's successful bid for the 2012 Olympics and then a press operations consultant for the London Games organisers. Parry was advising both the IOC and London until his untimely death. Parry is survived by his wife, Di, and their daughter, and two sons from an earlier marriage.
Abridged from an obituary written by Derek Parr
ORGAN MUSIC IN ST PAUL’S
The current restoration work on the organ at St Paul’s prompted me to research into the history of organ music at our church.
1838: The church was dedicated, but there was no mention of an organ.
1845: About this time, Joseph Bunyan, who was a master tailor set up business in the corner shop adjoining the Two Brewers. Mary Moore told us in 1998 that Joseph, who was her great grandfather, played the fiddle and organised string ensembles for services at St Paul’s. This links in well with the story in Miss Liddle’s book ‘Notes on Old Chipperfield’ that Miss Jordan of Bucks Hill was borrowing the bass viol, used in the church before there was an organ.
1870s: There was evidently an organ by this date, because George Bunyan, son of Joseph, relinquished the position of organist in 1903 to his daughter Margaretta (who married E.J. Waterhouse the builder). Mary Moore recalled that the two men, father and son, had been organists at St Paul’s for about 25 years.
1889: The church was closed for renovation work. This included the building of a vestry and an organ chamber. The area referred to is the current choir vestry. This could have provided loft space for the 1870s organ. Following completion of the building work, there was a consecration service in October led by the Bishop of Colchester, during which the local headmaster conducted the singing and George Bunyan played the organ.
1894: On October 21st the Watford Observer reported in detail that a two manual pedal organ had been given to St Paul’s by Mary Blackwell in memory of her husband Robert Blackwell of Chipperfield Manor House. It was erected by Messrs Samuel & Twyford of Dalston, had 540 pipes and a pitch pine case which was tastefully decorated in gold and colour. It was on the opposite side from the pulpit, because the chamber which contained the old organ was not spacious enough to take the new one.
1949: An electric motor was installed to pump the organ.
1960s: Largely due to the initiative of Thomas Dean, the blind organist, the search began for a replacement organ. Sadly, due to his untimely death, he never played the great Lewis organ which was installed in 1964 by W. Starmer Shaw and Son of Northants. It had become surplus to requirement at Belhaven Presbyterian Church in Glasgow, when it was taken over by the Greek Orthodox Church.
2008: Now we can look forward to enjoying this fine instrument being played to its full potential.
Mary Nobbs
SUMMER DELIGHTS AND DISAPPOINTMENTS
It has not been much of a summer so far, but the wild flowers that were sown last autumn on an ugly heap of clay have loved it. What was once an ugly scare is now covered in wild carrots, yarrow, ox eye daisies and knapweeds. The butterflies, bees and hoverflies love it, and so do I!
Not everything in the garden is as good though; the squirrels have been even more trouble than usual. Not only have they raided my strawberries and pinched all of the Worcester apples long before they are ripe, this year they have damaged our beech tree more than ever and have probably killed a 15 year old Scarlet Oak by ring barking it. At some time in June the rising sap is so sweet just beneath the bark that the squirrels pick it off and suck it before discarding it to the ground. Our lovely beech has lost branches because of this in the past and is no longer the shape it once was.The Scarlet Oak has lost all of its bark from the top 7 feet and if it does survive it will be terribly disfigured. I can put up with the rabbits, they are part of the food chain and without them there would be no buzzards, but squirrels have no predators and do no good at all. They have gone too far - this is WAR! Wendy Bathurst
SEPTEMBER IN YOUR GARDEN
Summer has not yet gone and already in the garden we are preparing for next spring. Bulbs such as daffodils, tulips, hyacinths and crocus are on sale in the garden centre together with a huge selection of species suitable for rock gardens, sinks and containers. Most bulbs are spring flowering and can be planted out at any time during the next 3 months. Hyacinths for indoor culture in bowls should be planted as soon as possible, using prepared bulbs for early flowering. It will soon be time to plant out wallflowers, forget-me-nots (myosotis) and Canterbury bells. Winter pansies, polyanthus, primroses and small semi-hardy cyclamen are ready for planting now. It is time to start sowing sweet peas under glass so that good plants are ready for planting out in the early spring. Harvesting of vegetable crops should now be in full swing. Runner beans should still be producing good crops so will need to be kept well watered, and tomatoes should still be regularly watered. Make sure that marrows and courgettes are cut if an early frost is forecast. Cabbage white butterflies are often active during September, so remove any of their caterpillars from the brassicas. It will soon be time to start planting the special early onion sets. Keep up with the regular mowing of lawns and apply an autumn turf dressing before the end of October. September is a good time to sow grass seed or to lay new turf areas so that they are well established before winter sets in. This is a good time to plant container-grown shrubs, conifers, climbing plants and herbaceous perennials. Cuttings of many shrubs can be taken now. Keep up with regular spraying of roses until the weather cools down. Michaelmas daisies (asters), penstemmons and chrysanthemums are amongst the herbaceous plants in flower this month. After they have flowered, most of these perennials should be cut down and the 'clippings' can go on the compost heap. Ornamental grasses and perennials with architectural shapes look good in the winter when covered with frost so these should not be trimmed until springtime and penstemmons should not be cut down until after the winter. Chipperfield has its autumn flower show on September 20 and the final show of the season is the Malvern Autumn Show which is on September 27 & 28. My talk about the 100-year history of Chipperfield's nursery is on September 24 and tickets are on sale now for Tom Stuart-Smith's talk which is to take place on October 30.
Terry Simmonds
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
We have two wonderful speakers this Autumn: 24 September - Terry Simmonds will be giving a talk about his family and the Simmonds Nursery. A rare chance to learn about some of the history of our village and its people.
Tickets £3; CHS members £2.
30 October - Tom Stuart-Smith, the renowned garden designer, seven times Gold Medal winner at Chelsea and Best in Show again this year. He will talk about his life in Horticulture.
Tickets £5; CHS members £4.
Both these talks will start at 7.30pm and are being held in the Parish Room. Tickets available at Stanleys Stores.
SALE OF CHARITY CHRISTMAS CARDS
Will anyone help me organise a sale of charity Christmas cards in October and/or November? My idea is to arrange for cards from as many different charities as possible to be on sale in the village so that residents can come to make their selection. This means that unlike ordering from a catalogue, you can see the cards before you buy them and do not have to pay postage for delivery.
I hope to include cards from both local and national charities. If you work for a charity, have already arranged to sell cards this year or would like to help in any way, please phone me by 15 September.
Liz Holliday 01923 267483
THE HOSPICE OF ST FRANCIS COFFEE MORNING
Many thanks to all who attended at Bucks Hill Farm in July. I was able to send a cheque for £270.
Annette Jackson
NEW BUS SERVICE
A new local bus service called Tiger Line has recently been introduced by Woottens. Tiger Line will serve Aylesbury, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Wendover, Great Missenden, Chesham, Bovingdon and Hemel Hempstead.
For further details and timetables call Woottens on 01494 774411 or www.woottens.co.uk