Adstock and Padbury Garden Club
Timothy Walker, the current director of the University of Oxford Botanic Garden, will be the speaker at our meeting to be held in Padbury Village Hall at 8pm on Tuesday, March 10.
The title of his talk, On Top but Never in Control – Tales From a Small Garden, reveals that this will be an exploration of the Walker family garden rather than the heights of academic botany!
Visitors will be very welcome to join us on what will undoubtedly be a very entertaining evening.

Buckingham and District Beekeeping Association
HAVE you thought about becoming a beekeeper?
It is a wonderful hobby which will help you to make many friends.
After the initial purchase of a hive your expenses will be covered with the honey produced by your bees.
At a Buckingham & District BKA recent meeting, nine new members joined; the annual fee is only £4.
To help you become a beekeeper you can attend meetings, visit beehives with members (veils provided) to see if you wish to keep bees, without becoming a member. Contact Alex on 01280 814279 for details.
When you become a member a bee friend will be available to help you with all your queries. We will help you buy bees and give advice on equipment and hives.
At the EGM, committee members were appointed, finances were reviewed, and new members were accepted.
A summer programme was outlined of apiary visits, talks on bees through the year, swarm control and bee inspector visits.
The committee was asked to discuss and report to the AGM the pros and cons of insurance and membership of the association. Purchase of veils for use by prospective members was accepted.
A list of members prepared to collect bee swarms in Buckingham is to be made available to Buckingham Police.
Members volunteered to become friends to new beekeepers.

Charndon Commmunity Association
CHARNDON Community Association is holding a quiz night on Friday, April 17 at 7.30pm at Charndon Community Centre.
The quizmaster will be John Braybrook. The cost is £5 per team, maximum four people. To book please call Ann on 01296 738311 or Martin on 01296 730050. Give your team a quirky name!

Cancer Research UK
AT the recent Big Breakfast, organised by the Buckingham and Winslow Action Group for Cancer Research UK, more than 70 breakfasts were served making a profit of £442.43.
Our thanks to Waitrose for their sponsorship, to John Bercow for attending and for all the local people who came and enjoyed fruit salad/yoghurt, croissants/jam, bacon rolls and tea, coffee and fruit juice.
Balloons and advertising flyers were given out all morning while members of the committee worked hard in the kitchen preparing the breakfasts.
Well done everyone, one of our best Big Breakfasts yet.

Rotary Club of Bicester
BICESTER Rotary Club members and their guests were entertained by two very lively and entertaining ambassadorial scholars on Tuesday, February 24.
Amanda Stone, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Fortwalton Beach in the Florida Panhandle, and Luigi Russi from northern Italy are both studying for post-graduate degrees at Oxford University.
Amanda gave the club a very lively account of her life on the sun-kissed emerald coast and her African studies at St Anthony's in Oxford. She has achieved a great deal in her short life, including some fascinating work in Uganda.
She is off to Uganda again during the Easter holidays to work with education projects near the Rwandan border, before returning to Oxford to complete her studies.
Luigi gave us an account of life in his home town of Cuneo, close to the French border.
Slipping effortlessly between Italian and French accents he revealed his ambition to spend some time in Essex following his law studies at Oxford.
It was a splendid evening that left over 40 guests full of admiration for these two enterprising young people.

Great Horwood Silver Band
THE Great Horwood Silver Band's annual concert will take place in Buckingham Community Centre tomorrow, Saturday, at 7.45pm.
Admission is £6 and £4 concessions, available at the door.
The band will be conducted by musicaldirector Roy Lack, with bandmaster Simon Martin taking one item.
The first prize in the raffle will be a magnificent luxury hamper made and donated by Linda Goodwin, the wife of the band's president Len Goodwin. There are also many other prizes.
The concert will be the first outing of the band's new music stand banners.
If anyone is interested in joining the band, please contact the secretary Beryl Lack on 01908 510809 or email beryl.lack@tiscali.co.uk for further information.

Buckingham Railway Walk Conservation Grp
THE orchard alongside Berties' Walk will once again be the focus of attention for the Railway Walk conservation volunteers.
In December we were able to clear more scrub from around the base of the fruit trees and tomorrow, Saturday, we will begin some restorative pruning of the apple trees.
Andy Howard, from the Mid-Shires Orchard Group based at Stowe Landscape Gardens, gave an excellent talk on pruning at the Buckingham Garden Centre last month, and we hope to put his advice to good use on the apple trees, taking out diseased and dead wood and some leader growth to promote healthy fruit crops in the future.
Aylesbury Vale District Council arranged for the grass to be cut regularly in and around the orchard last summer, which helped to improve access to the trees.
It was National Nest Box Week during February and following on from the initiative to provide more nesting sites, we will be putting up some boxes suitable for spotted flycatchers which have been seen in the orchard in the past.
The icy weather last month defeated us, and for the first time we had to cancel our task, but with signs of spring around us we look forward to the variety of activities we have planned for the rest of the year.
As usual, and with the kind permission of the University of Buckingham, we will be meeting in the university car park at the top of Station Road at 10am. Tools, safety gear and light refreshments will be provided.
Volunteers are advised to wear old outdoor clothing and stout shoes or boots. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
The Railway Walk Conservation Group is part of the Buckingham Community Wildlife Project and is affiliated to the BTCV.
For further information please contact Jenny Manning on 01280 815223 or email railwaywalk@tiscali.co.uk.

The Film Place
THE Film Place is showing Body Of Lies (15) today, Friday, at 8pm.
Tomorrow, Saturday, you can see The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas (12A) at 7.30pm.
Both films can be seen at the Ian Fairbairn Lecture Hall, Chandos Road Building, University of Buckingham.

Buckingham Canal Society
THE Buckingham Canal Society is calling on everyone to lend a hand to improve his or her local environment.
We want to prise people free of their armchairs and get them involved in their local community by helping on a green project.
The society will be teaching hedge-laying at the BBOWT Nature Reserve on Sunday, March 8, which is on part of the disused Buckingham Canal and on part of the North Ouse Valley walk. This is to promote interest in the restoration of the canal.
Meet at 10am at BBOWT Nature Reserve by the farm gate opposite the brown sign for Winslow Auctions on the A422 or call 01908 661217 for directions.
If you are unable to make the above date we also run three work parties a month on alternate Thursdays and the second Sunday of each month.
You don't have to be amazingly fit, just enjoy working outside with a friendly group of people.
The activity is part of a five-month campaign called Action Earth, supported by the Morrisons Supermarkets.
The campaign is organised by the national charity Community Service Volunteers (CSV) and involves over 900 voluntary organisations, business and community groups that will be involved in projects that are of immediate and lasting benefit to the environment.
Athina Beckett, who is co-ordinating the project, wants to see as many people as possible come along to help on the day.
If you fancy learning new skills, improving your local environment and having fun at the same time call Athina on 01908 661217.
If you would like to register your own project or think you can come up with a good project idea then please take part in the campaign.
Call the CSV Action Earth hotline on 01213 287455.

Bugbrooke Rugby Union Football Club
BUGBROOKE Rugby Union Club are holding The Badgers Beer and Bubbles festival tomorrow, Saturday, from noon until 11pm and Sunday, March 8, from 11am to 6pm.
This event is to raise much-needed money for the Mini's Rugby section (kids rugby) and we are hosting four games of rugby on the Saturday and three on Sunday.
There will be four live bands over the weekend, a funfair, barbecue food, 10 ales, ciders, lager, various wines and a soft drinks bar. All this for a credit-crunching £2.50!
Entertainment for all the family throughout the event.

Buckingham Choral Society
TICKETS are now on sale for Buckingham Choral Society's Spring concert on Saturday, April 4 at 8pm at Buckingham Parish Church.
During 2009, the society is celebrating 150 years of choral music in Buckingham.
The Buckingham Advertiser reported in its December 24, 1859 edition that…. "the members of the Philharmonic Society gave their first concert for the season on Tuesday evening last at the town hall and we are glad to add that thesame was attended with the most complete success.
"There has not been an entertainment of this kind in the town for many years where the whole of the performers were living in the place, and it is very evident that the Philharmonic Society possesses all the elements for rendering it a thorough good Society"…… and here we are, 150 years on, still continuing with the choral singing tradition for our audiences to come and enjoy.
This will also be the first concert under the musical direction of the Society's new Musical Director, Julian Mann, and will feature two well-known choral works - Mozart's Mass in C Minor, also known as the Grand Mass – and in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of Joseph Haydn's death – his magnificent Nelson Mass.
The society will be joined by members of the Orchestra of Stowe Opera and young talented soloists from the Royal Academy of Music.
Tickets for this popular concert are expected to sell quickly so don't miss out!
Tickets available from The Duke's Music, Market Hill, Buckingham, and Tourist Information Centre, The Old Gaol, Buckingham, prices: £13, £12 concessions (advance sales only), £5 under 16s.
For further information about the Society, please go to our website: www.buckinghamchoral.org.uk.

Buckingham Acoustic Club
THE New Inn saw a packed house at the recent Buckingham Acoustic Club meeting with no fewer than five new performers.
The evening started with a short set of guitar tunes from Udo, who handed over to our first new performer, Mark playing songs both self-penned and by David Gray.
Rock Symphony, aka George, James and Nick gave us a very popular set including two original songs and Light Up from Snow Patrol.
These boys are gaining in confidence and skill with each performance, so expect great things in the future!
Another new pairing saw sisters Anita and Jennifer playing Me & Bobby McGee and The Last Thing On My Mind, under the name of Wild Clover.
New Inn regulars Craig and Alex followed with a much-appreciated set beginning with a great harmonica solo from Craig and continued with a trio including Alex on vocals and guitar and Susanne playing accordion.
Our next new performers, Blue Coyote, featuring Jill on vocals and guitar and Tony on base, gave us a very polished set including San Francisco Bay Blues, and How Sweet It Is to be Loved by You.
If we didn't know John Howarth is also a very fine pianist, then we can be in no doubt after this week's performance.
Now it was the turn of Liam, also new to the club, to play some great classical guitar that included a tremolo study by Barrios and a solo guitar arrangement of Bohemian Rhapsody. Liam was then joined by Tim on acoustic base and vocals. We really hope to hear more from these boys.
Craig returned to the stage, this time backing Hooley with a rousing Rolling Stones number.
Last of the night's new players were Pete and Sarah, from Milton Keynes.
The final performer was Mike Moyse playing the requested Anji after last week, and following with The Cape.
If you weren't there you missed a great night of live music, but we'll do it all again next week. See the website www.buckinghamacousticlub.co.uk

Two's Company
THIS is a singles social club for those aged 35 to 60+.
On Saturday, March 21, we are going to a '70/'80s Party Night Boogie Wonderland at Wilton Hall, cost is £25, to include a three-course meal.
Two tables have been reserved for 20 people.
Let Norman know if you are interested; there may still be tickets available.
Other events we will be attending are a Quiz Night at Rivets Sports & Social Club, Stoke Mandeville Road, Aylesbury, on Friday, March 27, at 7.30pm for an 8pm start. Tickets are £8 which includes supper. Ian is the contact for this.
Ali is organising a pub lunch at the Crew Arms, Hinton in the Hedges, near Brackley, on Sunday, March 29.
There is a ceilidh at Haddenham Village Hall Social Centre on Saturday, April 4 at 8pm.
Tickets cost £10 each – this allows you entry to the ceilidh and also to an acoustic concert at 9pm in the Walter Rose Room at the same venue featuring John Kirkpatrick, squeeze box player.
See Julia if you wish to go to this.
If you are interested in finding out what Two's Company can offer you, please don't hesitate to drop in to one of our club nights which are fortnightly at 8pm on Wednesdays in the Lounge, Villiers Hotel, Buckingham.
Forthcoming meetings are on March 18, April 1 and 15.

Buckingham and District Horticultural Society
THE next show is the Open Bulb Show to be held on Saturday, March 14, open to the public from 10.15am, free entry.
The Daffodil Show is on Saturday, April 11.
Both of these shows will be held in Maids Moreton Village Hall.