Winslow and District Arts Society
THE society has come to the end of its 2007-2008 programme and we look back on a year of excellent and varied painting demonstrations, friendly and supportive monthly informal group painting sessions, plus inspirational tutored workshops.
We enjoyed seven great days out including the British Museum's China Terracotta Army exhibition, the wonderful Millais show at Tate Britain, Kew Gardens and Henry Moore Sculpture, and our annual visit to the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in July.
During the year we held two WADAS art shows – in Winslow last October and in Buckingham in June – displaying work by members in a variety of mediums and styles.
The visitors' book for both shows is full of compliments and praise for the art work and such kind comments and encouragement were much appreciated by the artists.
Once again, we participated in the Bucks Open Studios fortnight in June.
Seven WADAS members displayed paintings in a garden studio in Padbury which was seen by more than 450 visitors, including some who visited us last year and made a special journey to see us again from Marlow, Bedford, Oxford and Rutland.
Two WADAS members also successfully opened their own studios in Winslow and North Marston and welcomed many visitors.
The winners of our Bucks Open and Summer Art Show raffle of Marks & Spencer gift vouchers were Zafra Bendall, Richard Golden and Mr F.A.W. Smith.
We now have a summer break until we meet again on September 25 for our AGM and first monthly meeting of the 2008-2009 programme.
Our monthly meetings are held at the community centre in Winslow from 7.30pm on the last Thursday each month.
To learn more about WADAS contact the secretary Alicia Vaux on 01280 813733 or visit our website www.freewebs.com/bucksart

Bicester Speakers Club
BICESTER Speakers Club has elected Dionne Sherwood, the principal of Samwood and Co Accountants, as its new president.
Mrs Sherwood takes over from Malcolm Warden for the sixth year of the club's existence, and is its first lady president.
Her aim is to build on the hard work of the last year and increase membership while ensuring members continue to develop their speaking skills.
Alongside the president other officers for the year ahead have also been chosen and include Pieter Oosterhasen, Tim Mills, Lindsay Jopling, Tony Ingerson and Ben Jackson.
Dionne has set the club an achievable target of raising membership by 25% during her year as president while also allowing existing members to further improve their skills and confidence as speakers.
Bicester Speakers meets on the first and third Thursdays of each month in the Council Chambers at The Garth, Launton Road, Bicester.
Meetings start promptly at 7.30pm, there is no charge to attend, but regular participation does require membership and an associated small fee.
Refreshments are provided and the meeting concludes around 9.30pm.

Buckingham WI
PRESIDENT Janet Eason-Bassett welcomed members and two visitors to the June meeting.
Minutes were read and signed, and letters and other business discussed. The president read out the representative's report.
Our handbell ringing group is thriving and meets on a Thursday each month.
The croquet group meets every Thursday afternoon at the cricket club at 2.30pm, weather permitting of course. More ladies would be welcome though.
Several ladies went to a flower demonstration put on by Padbury WI which proved to be a good evening out, and on another evening some of us went on a guided walk around Marsh Gibbon.
Afterwards, Marsh Gibbon WI served a very tasty supper.
Unfortunately our speaker was unable to be with us at the last minute. Instead, Irene Noble organised a beetle drive.
The next meeting will be on Wednesday, July 23 at 7.30pm at the community centre when the speaker is due to be Sheila Ward on Watercolour Quickies.
The competition is for a small painting. Visitors are welcome.

Buckingham Rotary Club
THE annual President's Night was held at the Bell Hotel, Winslow, on Monday, June 30, with a three-course carvery meal.
The new district governor Rtn Les Lee was in attendance, being the guest speaker.
This was the fifth Monday of the month, hence replacing our usual lunchtime meeting.
The evening was highly entertaining with members, partners and guests being invited.
Following the meal a Paul Harris Award was given to Rtn Rob North for his exemplary service over many, many years.
Paul Harris, being the founder of Rotary, has his name posthumously put to this award which clubs are allowed to present members on rare occasions for recognition of special service.
Following the district governor's talk on motor racing marshalling, with amusing presentation, a new member, Bill Winget, was formally inducted by the DG, thus increasing numbers.
The president for 2007-2008 the Rev David Hemsley formally handed over the reins of office to the new president for 2008-2009, Rtn David Jenner (see picture at top of page).
The meeting closed with the usual final toast Rotary The World Over.

Bicester Young Farmers
BICESTER Young Farmers' Club is pleased to say its boys and girls have been doing them proud recently!
Three boys from the club came third in the national fence erecting final at the Royal Show on Friday, July 4.
Two days later, eight girls from the club came third in their league of the national tug-of-war final.
They are extremely proud to have done so well in their first time at reaching the national final and hope that their success can be continued in the future.
They would like to thank all of their supporters and also a special thanks to Ed Tompkins who has given a lot of time and effort as coach to the team in the last couple of months.

Buckingham and District U3A
WE had much to consider at our June meeting as we listened to Alex Paterson expound on his talk entitled Energy for Life.
With the aid of exceedingly clear diagrams on the overhead screen he explained how energy was involved in the formation of the sun and the earth and the materials from which they are made.
The contribution made by the sun in producing the fossil fuels that we use.
He then went on to illustrate how we use this energy in so many different ways in our daily life.
He then described the impact of this on climate change, a cause for concern.
Lastly, we must look at the possible solutions – energy suppliers should use carbon neutral fuel; the Government should implement an energy policy; the public should promote this energy policy. Then perhaps we can live happily ever after.
The next meeting is on Wednesday, July 23 at 2.30pm and is a members' social gathering in the community centre.
The monthly stall will be tombola, contributions for which will be gratefully received. Tea will be provided by the Local History Group.

Buckingham Probus Club
THE AGM of the Buckingham Probus Club took place at the Old Thatched Inn on July 8.
After the loyal toast, Frank Blake announced the birthdays for the month – Alan Carr, Ron Jones and Tom Howes.
Angus Davidson, the welfare officer, welcomed Don Horne to the meeting.
The AGM commenced when the outgoing president, Frank Blake, passed his badge of office over to vice-president Colin Richardson (see picture at top of page).
Frank paid tribute to Colin, one of whose duties during the past year had been to organise various social activities of the club. Colin's first piece of business was to announce that, henceforth, there would be no 'top table.' The club's main officers will now mingle at table with the other members.
David Mander won the raffle, following which the meeting closed with a toast to Fellowship and Friendship.

Buckingham and District Horticultural Society
THE next meeting will be on August 5 at Barrs Nurseries at 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start.
There will be a talk by Alison Barr on variegated plants and everyone is welcome.The summer show is being held tomorrow, Saturday, in Winslow Public Hall.
The autumn show will be held on September 13 at Buckingham Community Centre.
Details and schedules from Terry Bloomfield on 01280 815336 for both shows.

Twyford and Charndon WI
MEMBERS were greatly entertained at their July meeting by Betty Khiroya, who brought with her a wonderful selection of saris and other garments worn with them.
She talked about the various methods of wearing these depending on which part of India, and to which religion, the wearers belonged.
We admired the beautiful embroidery and gold edging on many of them as well as the wonderful, brilliant colours.
Heather Reed modelled one of them for us and we saw how six yards of material was made into a wearable garment without any fastenings.
Our secretary read out an excellent report of the WI AGM sent to us by our link representative, Hazel Bailey of Steeple Claydon WI.
The competition for a home-made picture frame was won by Eileen Trimble, second Kath Williams and third Anne Watts.
We are holding a fun evening in Lynn Eastman's garden on August 13 to raise money for our charity.
Members to wear a hat and bring a plate of food.
There will be games, a raffle and bring-and-buy stall.
Our next meeting will be back in Twyford Village Hall on Wednesday, September 10, at 7.30pm when Sheila Ward will help us with Water Colour Quickies. New members and visitors always welcome.

Bicester Local History Society
BICESTER Local History Society will be holding its next monthly meeting at St Edburg's Church Hall, Old Place Yard, adjacent to Bicester Library, on Monday, July 21 at 7.30pm.
The meeting will feature a talk given by Veronica Thorneloe entitled Blenheim and the Marlboroughs which reviews the history of the estate and the role the family played in its development.
Non-members are very welcome to attend the meeting at a cost of £2.
Further details can be obtained by contacting Pete Chivers on 01869 600109.

Maids Moreton WI
OUR speaker was Nigel Glover-Wright who gave a talk entitled On The Wild Side depicting numerous photographs of wild animals, exotic flowers and insects in three National Parks in S. Kenya – Tsavo West, Amboseli and Samburu.
Although professing to be a mere amateur, his photographs were spectacular and his knowledge of the wild life unending – a most visual and interesting talk.
After the speaker, various notices were given out regarding forthcoming events including the Church Fete which is to be held on August 25 for which cakes and volunteers are required.
Thanks were received from Willen Hospice, for the £105.10 donated from proceeds of the Goldwork grand opening, in the form of a certificate which is to be displayed in the village hall.
The winner of the Teddy Bear competition was Annette Neal.
Our next social get-together will take place on Friday, July 25, at 7pm at the home of Liz Selby in the form of a barbecue.
Numbers are restricted to the first 30 to have signed up; those members to bring their own plate, bowl and cutlery together with any salad or dessert they have offered to make.
The next meeting in the village hall will take place on September 10 and the speaker will be Mrs Watt with the topic Songs Old and New.
The competition will be Wear a Bonnet.

Buckingham Fairtrade Town Steering Group
THE group is gearing up for the first anniversary of Buckingham's Fairtrade Town status on September.
The celebration will be held on Saturday, September 20 around the Old Gaol, and once again we are hoping to hold a Fairtrade market.
We are updating the list of retailers and businesses and organisations in the town that sell or use Fairtrade products.
If you would like your business or organisation to be part of the list, which is in the public domain, please contact Tina Mitchell on 01280 814544.
In the meantime, look out for the Traidcraft stall at the Bull Ring, Buckingham, on July 20 from noon until 4pm, and keep on looking out for the Fairtrade Mark, which guarantees workers in developing countries fair wages and conditions.

Claydons WI
THE meeting, held on Tuesday, July 8, followed our annual garden party for which Kay was thanked for hosting.
Members extended a warm welcome to our new member, Trish from East Claydon.
The NFWI AGM report from Hazel Bailley of Steeple Claydon WI was read out.
The two chosen resolutions were discussed at the AGM.
Craft dates are July 28 at Kay's house and August 11 at Betty's house.
An evening walk round Buckingham with Olivia on Tuesday, June 10, was enjoyed by six members, followed by a meal at Halibut, the new fish restaurant in Buckingham.
Sylvia would like to change the date of her walk from Thursday, August 21 to Wednesday, August 20.
The next meeting of the Book Club is at Carole Reynolds' house on Monday, August 18 at 3pm.
Forty-one people were catered for at the Haddenham Darby and Joan lunch on June 4 and approximately £200 profit was made.
At the Church Fete approximately £100 was made by the cake stall, over £100 by the plant stall and over £100 by the jewellery stall – all profits to the church. The overall sum made was just under £2,000.
A request has been made that the fete be held at Claydon House on future occasions if at all possible.
Eighteen members would like to go on the outing to Sulgrave Manor on August 12.
She will let everyone know beforehand who is going in whose car.
Suggested speakers were requested for next year.
Lesley mentioned she would be happy to be emailed if extra help is needed at luncheons or any other catering event.
It was requested that members inform us of their email addresses to enable us to produce an up-to-date list so that in future we can email members asking if they are available to help.
As the meeting this month was the garden meeting there was no speaker to report on.
Instead it was a social evening held in Kaye's lovely house and garden.
Our thanks again to Kaye for her hospitality and hard work.
The next meeting is on Tuesday, September 2 at 7.30pm.

University of Buckingham
THE university was delighted to welcome new students to our campus on Thursday, July 10.
We would like to wish them every success for their time spent with us.
The university's academics have had a number of new publications which we would like to congratulate them on and share with you for information:
Mary Welstead & Susan Edwards, Family Law (2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008) ISBN: 978-0-19-923127-0.
Susan Edwards, Professor of Law at the University of Buckingham and Mary Welstead, Visiting Fellow at the Child Advocacy Program, Harvard University, have published the greatly expanded and updated second edition of Family Law (Oxford University Press), incorporating analysis of all matters in family law, and matters of particular policy and media interest.
In their fourth report on physics in schools, Supply and Retention of Teachers, published on June 30, 2008, by the Carmichael Press, Professor Alan Smithers and Dr Pamela Robinson of the Centre for Education and Employment Research, question whether the physics GCSE entitlement promised for September 2008 is achievable.
For more information, please contact the Publicity Office on 01280 820213, alternatively you can email publicity@buckingham.ac.uk