Buck. & Dist. Archaeological & Historical Society
AT the next meeting on Wednesday, March 25, the talk is entitled The Language of the Fan.
Amanda Rayner will be talking about the history of the hand fan combined with the language of the fan.
Meetings are held at 7.30pm in Room MB1, University of Buckingham.
Members and visitors are welcome to arrive from 7pm for coffee and biscuits and a chance for informal discussion before the meeting.

Winslow District Ramblers
ON Valentine's Day, Derek led a walk from Stoke Bruerne Waterways Museum across field paths via Stoke Park Pavilions and Shutlanger.
A week later we once again enjoyed what has become known as Mary's Walk in the Woburn Sands area.
We followed woodland paths around Aspley Guise and Bow Brickhill looking at the Fuller's Earth site en route.
On the first day of March, Robert and Janet Gregory took 34 of us from Tingewick to Water Stratford.
This is a walk through rolling countryside of north Bucks and pleasant water meadows of the River Great Ouse.
The weather was mild again on March 7 when Sandra and Richard led 24 from Great Linford along the canal towpath and one-time rail track.
We passed through the grounds of the Georgian manor house to view the parish church of St Andrews.
The adjacent school and almshouses were erected by Sir William Pritchard (died 1704) and are now used as small workshops for artists and craftsmen in Milton Keynes.
Our April walks and contact details are: April 4, Hillesden, 01296 670277; April 11, Preston Bissett, 01296 730548; April 18, Stone, 01296 641777; and April 26, Woburn, 01908 606874.

Winslow WI
AT our March meeting we could focus on summertime as we listened to Julia Freeman, a Wimbledon umpire.
We heard about the strict training, administration and dress code.
Julia passed round examples of an umpire's wardrobe and explained the difference between a referee and an umpire.
Umpires must not consume alcohol 12 hours before a match and cannot leave until all play is finished.
About 28,000 kilos of strawberries are consumed in the fortnight.
The competition for a strawberry in any medium was won by Rhonie Monk.

Bicester Local History Society
BICESTER Local History Society has recently joined in partnership with Banbury Museum and the Bicester Resources Centre to set up oral history reminiscence groups within the town.
The groups offer the chance to join together to explore aspects of the area's past that have taken place within living memory and that do not necessarily appear in the current texts that have been published about Bicester and the surrounding area.
The reminiscences add a human dimension to accounts of people, places and events over the past decades and are important to record before they are lost with the passing of the years.
The project has been made possible through a grant from Bicester Town Council and the involvement of Banbury Museum who run a similar project in Banbury.
Bicester Local History Society reminiscence meetings take place on the first Monday of each month at The Pop-In Centre, adjacent to the Crown Walk car park, at 7.30pm.
Meetings at the Bicester Resources Centre, Launton Road, are held on the third Thursday of the month from 10.30am.
There is no charge for either session.
The inaugural oral history session in March at The Pop-In Centre proved very worthwhile.
The theme of the meeting centred on memories relating to the Causeway.
The next meeting of the group takes place on Monday, April 6 at 7.30pm and will concentrate on memories concerning markets, fairs, fetes and festivals in the area.
The sessions are recorded and an edited CD version of the proceedings will be produced by Banbury Museum as part of a series relating to the oral history of Bicester.
People attending the March meeting kindly brought along a number of previously unseen photographs concerning the subject which have contributed to the record of the heritage relating to the town.
Bicester Local History Society is extremely grateful to those who contribute to adding to the historic archive of the town and the surrounding area and value any information that is provided in this way.
Please contact the secretary (telephone 01869 600109) if you would like further details relating to the Bicester Reminiscences Partnership and details of future meetings regarding the project.

Buckingham & Winslow District Scouts
OVER the weekend three Scout Troops from the District went to Jardines in Aylesbury to take part in the annual Scout 10-pin bowling competition.
All sections of the movement had their own competition – the Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers. From the District, 1st Maids Moreton took one team of five Scouts and a leader, whereas 1st Tingewick and 1st Winslow each had two teams in the competition which was between some 20 teams from all over the county.
The District just crept on to the podium with 1st Tingewick gaining third place within the Scouts section competition.
If there are any young people in the Buckingham and Winslow area who want to join in with these competitions or adults who are up to these types of activities or leadership duties offered by the movement then you should contact the district commissioner on 08458 382847 who will point them towards a troop which has space to suit the age of the young person or a troop where the adult's skills can be best utilised.

The Hardy Plant Society Bucks & Oxon Group
AT our meeting on Saturday, March 21, Brian Ellis, a nurseryman (Avondale), will be talking to us about propagation.
He specialises in unusual herbaceous perennials and ornamental grasses.
The meeting starts at 2.15pm and will be held at the Winslow Centre, Park Road, Winslow.
Visitors are welcome but will be asked to pay £4.
Further details from Paul Radcliffe on 01280 813352.

YC2 North Bucks Youth Club for Young Carers
IT was a battle of Girls v Boys at the last young carers' youth club on Friday, February 20, when three car loads of eager members and group leaders travelled to MK for an exciting and energetic evening of Quasars and 10-pin bowling.
Despite a very cunning strategy, the guys outgunned the girls and, determined to get revenge, in the nicest possible way of course, the girls intended to demonstrate female superiority on the bowling alley.
And, although reaching some excellent scores, the female of the species were once again prevented from winning by a very, very small margin.
Of course, the male camp will see the results from a different perspective but until we find a male reporter from their ranks, we girls dictate what goes in the report!
Today, Friday, the club meets at the usual venue of Buckingham Youth Centre from 7pm to 9pm, when Easter egg decorating, basketball and programme feedback will be on offer.
The good news gets even better, as it has confirmed that our Centre Parcs weekend in July has now been booked so we can all look forward to an action-packed weekend.
Volunteers are reminded to bring along the required documentation for updating our CRB checking forms.
Car licence, passport, current utility bill etc are the type of documentation required.
YC2 offers a great opportunity for young people between 11 and 18 years who have caring responsibilities for someone – usually a family member – to have a tailor-made club that recognises the challenges and tensions that being a young carer brings.
Our club offers some valuable time out for themselves where they are the priority and where support, fun and friendship is guaranteed.
If you know of a young person who may fit this description, why not let them know about the club that's just for them.
We meet on the third Friday of the month and with a membership of 16 and rising we know that YC2 is well worth checking out.
For more information, in total confidence, please call Margo Parfitt on 01280 817420 (leave a message if I'm not available and I will get back to you).

North Bucks Carers
WEDNESDAY, March 11 was another very lively and busy social morning.
Thanks must go to Carol Toombs, who runs the lingerie boutique in Castle Street (Sweet Dreams), who had given a talk and demonstration two weeks previously on the history of underwear.
Thanks to Judy Carrick for organising such a fun talk.
This week Sharon our therapist brought her new spring collection of costume jewellery which was gorgeous.
With her usual generosity she is donating 10% from each sale to our funds.
June Oliff, who runs the U3A craft sessions, brought along a selection of beautifully sewn patchwork items including photo frames, bags, quilts, table mats, coasters and much more.
She demonstrated a very straightforward type of patchwork that can be used to create a host of varied pieces that will be heirlooms of the future.
This type of handicraft is very well suited to carers as it can be picked up at any odd moments and is remarkably therapeutic.
She kindly donated a handsome bag for the raffle and stayed until the end of the morning answering queries and advising on a one-to-one level.
We hope that she will make a return visit and help us uncover our creative side.
Those of us who had been on the Swindon retail park coach trip on Saturday, March 7, reported just what a fun and relaxing day it had been.
We made pick-ups at Buckingham and Tingewick and were dropped off right outside the John Lewis homeware department at the Great Western Outlet just an hour-and-a-half later.
Margo had contacted the centre's customer services and everyone was able to have a map of the centre, a book of additional discount vouchers at many shops and a discount card for coffee and meals.
The outlet is all under cover with an excellent steam train museum next door for a bit of variety to the day.
Carol is asking for suggestions for a summer coach trip as we have been fortunate to receive a grant from Buckingham Town Council for this purpose.
Several carers thought of another trip to Windsor, as that combines something for everyone – the castle, a delightful traditional shopping centre, parks and the river.
Last time we went on an afternoon boat trip including a cream tea and got back on the coach at Runnymede. Maybe a thought?
Now that the Winslow social mornings have ended we would like to make any carer aware that CarersBucks have funding to pay for taxis to and from the Buckingham meetings.
Several Winslow carers do regularly come along which is encouraging but there are some who we haven't seen for a while and we would ask that they call either Margo on 01280 817420 or Connie on 01296 392711 for details.
We want to make our popular social mornings, theatre trips and outings available to carers and former carers throughout north Bucks
We welcomed a new parent carer and provided her with lots of the information that she was searching for.
The next social morning will be on Wednesday, March 25 from 10am to 12.30pm when there will be a chat and catch-up morning, with Sharon at hand to sooth and revive those who are under stress.
Margo's telephone number is 01280 817420 – if she is not there please leave a message so that she can get back to you.
Carol's number is 01280 815512.
If you provide support for someone so they can live independently, or are a former carer, or have someone in a nursing home with whom you are still closely involved, then you are most welcome to come along to our friendly, informal and fun social get-togethers.
They are held at Buckingham Community Centre on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 10am to 12.30pm and are free of charge.
You can be sure of a place where you can have some time just for yourself with others who understand the real facts about caring.

Buckingham Probus Club
A GOOD turnout of 38 members attended the monthly meeting of the Buckingham Probus Club.
As usual, they met at the Old Thatched Inn at Adstock, where they enjoyed a good lunch.
John Murray introduced his guest, Mr John Russell, a Buckingham resident who is well-known in the town.
There are two birthdays during the month, those of Philip Cash and John Hill.
Club president Colin Richardson reported on the recent outing.
A dozen members had been to Milton Keynes Theatre to see David Essex, and they enjoyed a meal afterwards.
Vice-president Vic Pennington proposed the club has an outing to Rockingham Castle.
Members were in favour, and the date, Tuesday, June 23, was agreed.
The speaker for this meeting was club secretary Norman Shipley.
Norman was a boy living in Ilkley, Yorkshire, when the World War II broke out.
He remarked upon thechanges that came to the town when the army requisitioned properties and even one of the two schools.
Naturally, the schoolchildren of the time were more than happy to continue their education on a part-time basis.
Norman also described briefly his experiences as a national serviceman that culminated in his posting to the Far East.
Many of the club members are of the same era, and so they murmured with empathy when he spoke of shared experiences.
After Robert Keating had won the prize of a bottle of whisky, the meeting closed with the toast to Fellowship and Friendship.

Twyford & Charndon WI
OUR March meeting was held in Twyford Village Hall when members, including two new ones, were welcomed by our new president, Yve Robinson.
Discussions were held as to our charity this year and, after a vote was taken, it was decided that funds raised should help to supply equipment for the junior youth group which meets regularly in the hall.
We also discussed a possible venue for our annual summer outing – no firm decision made as yet.
We will be supporting the Calvert Green Craft Fair in April and ingenious ideas were offered to help fill our stall.
Mrs Robinson then presented the annual cups for winners of most points in the monthly competition.
Joint winners were Eileen Trimble and Anne Watts, second was Kath Williams.
Retiring president, Wendy Churchill, and secretary, Janet Organ, were presented with plants as a token of gratitude for all their hard work over their years in office.
Sadly, our speaker was unexpectedly unable to be with us.
However, Mrs Robinson devised a quiz which we all attempted with mixed results but with great enjoyment.
The competition, for a jam jar flower arrangement, was won by Anne Watts, second Wendy Churchill, third Beryl Smart.
Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, April 8 at 7.30pm in Twyford Village Hall when Paul Ewers will talk on Brill Oldies and the competition will be for a musical memory.
Visitors and new members always welcome.

Lenborough Singers
LENBOROUGH Singers will be joined by local madrigal group Cantores to swell their numbers for their Fauré concert.
Entitled An Evening of Music by Fauré, it will be held at Buckingham Parish Church at 7.30pm on Saturday, March 28, and includes the well-known Fauré Requiem.
Tickets from The Duke's Music or the Old Gaol in Buckingham, and from choir members, or Guy Hawking on 01296 711147.
We hope you will join us for what promises to be a very good concert in a classic setting.
Any male voices interested in taking part in the very varied agenda of future concerts will be most welcome to contact Guy Hawking on the above number.

Tingewick & Water Stratford Hort Society
THE Spring Bulb Show has been running for about five years compared to our summer show which is in its 84th year.
With the change in climatic conditions it is more challenging to get plants to be ready to show in mid-March.
And this year, with the cold weather, snow etc, it been even more of a challenge.
But this is what makes it fun.
People go to great lengths to get plants ready and looking at their best and to coax the flowers out; often it requires that the plants are brought into live with their owners where the warmth soon gives them a boost.
The Spring Bulb Show is being held tomorrow, Saturday, in Tingewick Village Hall and is open to the public from 11am to 1pm.
It is open to members and non-members and the set-up time is 8.30am to 9.30am.
Schedules are available from Tingewick Post Office, Will Litt or Pat Swinburne.

ABBA Bridge Club
ABBA enjoyed the first of its annual bridge competitive weekends on March 7 and 8.
Three competitions were played over the two days.
The opponents were representatives of the armed forces, the world of banking, Germany and South Africa.
The international team won the team event by the smallest of margins, a mere 490 points.
Two other competitions were held over the two days.
The pairs competition was won by Margaret Bullen and Peter Holman.
There was a tie for second place between Elaine and TJ Barnett and Joyce and Richard Williams.
The second prize was awarded to Joyce and Richard as they had achieved the greatest number of tops.
The individual competition winner was Sheila Tobin.
Russell Tobin, a bridge tutor, won the bidding contest with the most correct answers.
The event was held at Moore Place, Aspley Guise where an exhibition of the ABBA trophies were on display and open to the general public.

Buckingham U3A
THE chairman opened the meeting and announced that Daphne May had agreed to act as the catering co-ordinator for the July and December socials, although she was in need of some volunteers to assist her.
He also said that in order to keep the organisation running and support the groups it was necessary to continue to raise funds.
One of the best methods was to have as many members as possible sign up their subscriptions for Gift-Aid, thereby donating the relevant tax to the Buckingham U3A.
He assured the members that there would no unauthorised disclosure of personal data.
Suggestions for future speakers were requested and on which charity to support in 2010 were also required.
The speaker, Philip Warden, the custodian of Claydon House, was introduced and he explained he had served a lengthy apprenticeship in the heritage industry, as well as graduating from the University of Buckingham before assuming his present position.
He said that currently a lot is going on at Claydon; the National Trust is putting money into the site and he continued by telling us about the history of Claydon House.
Lots of structural strengthening hastaken place, while care has been taken to preserve the crispness of the original surfaces.
More recently, the current baronet and his lady, Sir Edmund and Lady Verney, have developed a Victorian garden.
An excellent talk which was well received.

The Film Place
WITH the help of Peter McCluskie, a renowned film historian who runs the independent Light House cinema in Wolverhampton, The Film Place is showcasing A Night at the Oscars today, Friday, from 6.45pm.
A glass of wine and an entertaining look at some iconic Oscar moments will be interspersed with some of the most famous scenes from the landmark films of previous decades.
From romantic comedy to epic period drama, and from wartime action to historical biopic, Peter will introduce this fascinating overview of the very best in cinema, highlighting what moved and entertained audiences in the 1930s and 1940s and what films, and what stars, have made recent headlines.
Doors will open at 6.45pm and you can enjoy a glass of Cava or wine before the start of the programme at 7.30pm.
Tomorrow, Saturday, the film showing is The Visitor (15) at 7.30pm.
The story involves a senior academic whose joy went out of his life when his wife died, and he has since become a morose recluse.
The fickle finger of fate takes a hand in his future when he is sent to New York to deliver a paper.
An unwelcome surprise greets him when he enters his scarcely used apartment.
Films can be seen at the Ian Fairbairn Lecture Hall, Chandos Road Building, University of Buckingham. changes that came to the town when the army requisitioned properties and even one of the two schools.
Naturally, the schoolchildren of the time were more than happy to continue their education on a part-time basis.
Norman also described briefly his experiences as a national serviceman that culminated in his posting to the Far East.
Many of the club members are of the same era, and so they murmured with empathy when he spoke of shared experiences.
After Robert Keating had won the prize of a bottle of whisky, the meeting closed with the toast to Fellowship and Friendship.

Twyford & Charndon WI
OUR March meeting was held in Twyford Village Hall when members, including two new ones, were welcomed by our new president, Yve Robinson.
Discussions were held as to our charity this year and, after a vote was taken, it was decided that funds raised should help to supply equipment for the junior youth group which meets regularly in the hall.
We also discussed a possible venue for our annual summer outing – no firm decision made as yet.
We will be supporting the Calvert Green Craft Fair in April and ingenious ideas were offered to help fill our stall.
Mrs Robinson then presented the annual cups for winners of most points in the monthly competition.
Joint winners were Eileen Trimble and Anne Watts, second was Kath Williams.
Retiring president, Wendy Churchill, and secretary, Janet Organ, were presented with plants as a token of gratitude for all their hard work over their years in office.
Sadly, our speaker was unexpectedly unable to be with us.
However, Mrs Robinson devised a quiz which we all attempted with mixed results but with great enjoyment.
The competition, for a jam jar flower arrangement, was won by Anne Watts, second Wendy Churchill, third Beryl Smart.
Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, April 8 at 7.30pm in Twyford Village Hall when Paul Ewers will talk on Brill Oldies and the competition will be for a musical memory.
Visitors and new members always welcome.

Lenborough Singers
LENBOROUGH Singers will be joined by local madrigal group Cantores to swell their numbers for their Fauré concert.
Entitled An Evening of Music by Fauré, it will be held at Buckingham Parish Church at 7.30pm on Saturday, March 28, and includes the well-known Fauré Requiem.
Tickets from The Duke's Music or the Old Gaol in Buckingham, and from choir members, or Guy Hawking on 01296 711147.
We hope you will join us for what promises to be a very good concert in a classic setting.
Any male voices interested in taking part in the very varied agenda of future concerts will be most welcome to contact Guy Hawking on the above number.

Tingewick & Water Stratford Hort Society
THE Spring Bulb Show has been running for about five years compared to our summer show which is in its 84th year.
With the change in climatic conditions it is more challenging to get plants to be ready to show in mid-March.
And this year, with the cold weather, snow etc, it been even more of a challenge.
But this is what makes it fun.
People go to great lengths to get plants ready and looking at their best and to coax the flowers out; often it requires that the plants are brought into live with their owners where the warmth soon gives them a boost.
The Spring Bulb Show is being held tomorrow, Saturday, in Tingewick Village Hall and is open to the public from 11am to 1pm.
It is open to members and non-members and the set-up time is 8.30am to 9.30am.
Schedules are available from Tingewick Post Office, Will Litt or Pat Swinburne.

ABBA Bridge Club
ABBA enjoyed the first of its annual bridge competitive weekends on March 7 and 8.
Three competitions were played over the two days.
The opponents were representatives of the armed forces, the world of banking, Germany and South Africa.
The international team won the team event by the smallest of margins, a mere 490 points.
Two other competitions were held over the two days.
The pairs competition was won by Margaret Bullen and Peter Holman.
There was a tie for second place between Elaine and TJ Barnett and Joyce and Richard Williams.
The second prize was awarded to Joyce and Richard as they had achieved the greatest number of tops.
The individual competition winner was Sheila Tobin.
Russell Tobin, a bridge tutor, won the bidding contest with the most correct answers.
The event was held at Moore Place, Aspley Guise where an exhibition of the ABBA trophies were on display and open to the general public.

Buckingham U3A
THE chairman opened the meeting and announced that Daphne May had agreed to act as the catering co-ordinator for the July and December socials, although she was in need of some volunteers to assist her.
He also said that in order to keep the organisation running and support the groups it was necessary to continue to raise funds.
One of the best methods was to have as many members as possible sign up their subscriptions for Gift-Aid, thereby donating the relevant tax to the Buckingham U3A.
He assured the members that there would no unauthorised disclosure of personal data.
Suggestions for future speakers were requested and on which charity to support in 2010 were also required.
The speaker, Philip Warden, the custodian of Claydon House, was introduced and he explained he had served a lengthy apprenticeship in the heritage industry, as well as graduating from the University of Buckingham before assuming his present position.
He said that currently a lot is going on at Claydon; the National Trust is putting money into the site and he continued by telling us about the history of Claydon House.
Lots of structural strengthening hastaken place, while care has been taken to preserve the crispness of the original surfaces.
More recently, the current baronet and his lady, Sir Edmund and Lady Verney, have developed a Victorian garden.
An excellent talk which was well received.

The Film Place
WITH the help of Peter McCluskie, a renowned film historian who runs the independent Light House cinema in Wolverhampton, The Film Place is showcasing A Night at the Oscars today, Friday, from 6.45pm.
A glass of wine and an entertaining look at some iconic Oscar moments will be interspersed with some of the most famous scenes from the landmark films of previous decades.
From romantic comedy to epic period drama, and from wartime action to historical biopic, Peter will introduce this fascinating overview of the very best in cinema, highlighting what moved and entertained audiences in the 1930s and 1940s and what films, and what stars, have made recent headlines.
Doors will open at 6.45pm and you can enjoy a glass of Cava or wine before the start of the programme at 7.30pm.
Tomorrow, Saturday, the film showing is The Visitor (15) at 7.30pm.
The story involves a senior academic whose joy went out of his life when his wife died, and he has since become a morose recluse.
The fickle finger of fate takes a hand in his future when he is sent to New York to deliver a paper.
An unwelcome surprise greets him when he enters his scarcely used apartment.
Films can be seen at the Ian Fairbairn Lecture Hall, Chandos Road Building, University of Buckingham.