Brackley Morris Men
This Sunday, January 17, we will be wassailing the apple trees at Somerton Manor House at 4pm; as part of this old, traditional activity, we will dance some of our Brackley Morris dances and sing and celebrate.
Each Thursday, during term-time, we practice at the Church of England Junior School, Manor Road, Brackley at 8pm.
Dancers, experienced or not, are equally welcome. Musicians, likewise, are always welcome.

Great Horwood Silver Band
After a very busy Christmas season members of the Great Horwood Silver Band celebrated the New Year with a Band party for members, their families and friends.
The party was held in the Village Hall, Great Horwood on Saturday, January 2.
Following an excellent fish and chip supper the party goers took part in a team quiz with musical director Roy Lack as quizmaster.
Ten teams took part and the winners by a close margin were the aptly named Cornet Quartet plus Mum, which turned out to be Graham and Pat Saunders and daughters Jo, Clare and Emma.
Graham and daughters Jo, Clare and Emma all play cornet in the band.
Emma's daughter Poppy who plays tenor horn also took part with one of the junior teams.
The band will now be busy rehearsing for the annual concert in the Buckingham Community Centre next March.
We wish all our friends and supporters a very Happy New Year.

Buckingham Amnesty Group
Snow might prevent us from meeting, but work goes on.
This year's Amnesty lecture, sponsored by the university and ourselves, will be given by Maajid Nawaz, co-Director of the Quilliam Foundation, on Thursday, February 18.
His subject is Pluralism: A Weapon Against Intolerance.
Maajid was one of the Egypt Three for whose release we campaigned. The lecture will be at 6.30pm in the Chandos Road building and is free, though seats must be booked in advance.
Details will be given by the university.
The Three were all tortured in Cairo before their trial, which was far below internationally recognized standards.
Since his release, Maajid has become an activist for peace, human rights and understanding.
He has written: "Before someone can change his ideas, he has to open his heart. I was filled with hate and anger. But during my trial something decisive happened: AI adopted me as a Prisoner of Conscience, and it was an unbelievable feeling to know that there is someone fighting for you on the outside.
"Amnesty's 'soft' approach made me seriously consider alternatives to revenge."
Our help in the campaign for Patrick Malluzzo, of Dartford, continues.
Patrick is held in Kota Central Prison in India, where he was severely tortured.
This campaign has been assisted by BBC London, The Mail on Sunday and various local newspapers.
John Bercow MP has responded to requests from John Cornwall to persuade the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to be more active.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband wrote back at the end of December. His letter ends: "I have asked my High Commissioner in Delhi to keep a close eye on the case, and to advise me if involvement by me or my Ministerial colleagues would be helpful."
Amnesty International has joined with many organisations, including Christian leaders, in trying to persuade the Ugandan Parliament to drop a Bill which would increase the persecution of lesbian and gay people there and probably in other African countries.
The persecution of protestors in Iran has been highlighted across the world.
The Times named Neda Soltan, whose dying moments were witnessed on television, as 2009 Person of the Year.
Buckingham University Amnesty Society chairman, Farnaz Mirshahi has taken part in a vigil in memory of people killed in the streets of Tehran.
World leaders await indications from Israel and Hamas that they are willing and able to conduct full investigations into the war last year. The deadline is February 2.
Amnesty International wants to see anyone guilty of war crimes brought to justice.

Buckingham WI
We held a social evening on December 9, 2009 when all members brought along a plate of food, we also had mulled wine , were entertained by our handbell ringers and sang carols.
Our handbell ringers also played outside the Old Gaol on Thursday , December 10 during the evening to entertain the late shoppers.
As usual we attended Maids Moreton WI Christmas Carols but owing to severe weather only 10 members out of the 27 wanting to attend were brave enough to go along, afterwards retiring to Irene Noble's home for mulled wine and refreshments.
The old Buckingham WI banner , which is large and rather heavy, has been replaced by a smaller version stitched by some of the craft group, however, the old banner has been accepted by The Old Goal to display in their hall.
We have organised two teams to compete in the County Quiz night on March 25 in Buckingham Community Centre.
Rosemary Palastanga had been to Denman College on a course. She won the WI bursary in 2009 and attended a Mediterranean Cookery course.
Her report was mouthwatering and she brought along a sample for us to try.
Dorothy Shaw wrote and read to us her story of WI memories. She was quite young when she first attended a meeting and gave us a very interesting description of how things were run in those days.
Next meeting on January 20 will be a visit to Waitrose behind the scenes at 7.30pm - not too early please as it will be cold waiting outside the store.
Also bring your subscriptions - £29.50 cheque if possible made out to Buckingham WI in an envelope with your name etc. Margaret will collect them during the evening.

Just Friends
The singles social club for those aged 35–60+, formerly known as Two's Company.
Still going strong since its inception in 2004.
The aim of the group is to provide a social network for single people to enjoy theatre trips, walks, days out, concerts, Sunday lunches, bowling, canal boating, parties, barbecues, car treasure hunts, weekends away and lots more!
If you are interested in finding out what Just Friends can offer you, please don't hesitate to drop in to one of our club nights which are fortnightly at 8.00pm on Wednesdays in the Lounge, Villiers Hotel, Buckingham.
If you wish to talk to a club member to find out more please phone 07907 472441 after 6pm.
Unfortunately, the first club night of 2010 on January 6, had to be cancelled due to the bad weather - that's a first for us! Some of the things we will be arranging this year are:
February 1-6 – A trip to see Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake at Milton Keynes Theatre.
March 15-27– A trip to see Calendar Girls which is also on at the same theatre.
June 19-20 - We want to try and get a team together for the Relay for Life at Bourton Meadow School.
July 10 – A trip to Devon to the 70th Anniversary of the Royal Yeovilton Air Show.
Further club nights over the coming months are: January 20, February 3 and 17 - hope to see you there.

Winslow WI
We are now meeting in Furze Down School, Verney Road, and on February 4 at 7.30pm we look forward to hearing Liz Hodgson speak on Singing For All.
The title of the competition is Here in My Heart which reminds us that St Valentine's Day and spring are approaching.
There will be a trading table. The London outing planned for mid-February to the Royal Academy (Van Gogh) and the Geffrye Museum has received excellent support.
Winslow Ramblers
On September 6, Robert and Jane Gregory were in a relaxed mood along ways very familiar to them.
Starting at Maids Moreton Parish Church we walked towards Leckhampstead past Foscote Manor.
On returning we had good views of the reservoir.
A week later the route of Peter's walk had to be altered because of waterlogged ground.
Therefore, starting from Mentmore we went towards Cheddington and Horton villages.
On one of the shortest days, Don met members in Wolverton to show them The Secret Garden and the way to Bradwell Windmill and the canal path.
The annual trip to Wakefield Country Courtyard was made on December 20.
After a walk to Yardley Gobion and back, Jill, Geoff and friends had a hot drink and a look at the festive goodies on offer.
Led by Diana, those who were in Winslow for Christmas enjoyed a saunter in and around the town and on New Year's Day, Alex led about 30 folk in and around Buckingham where the Riverside Sculptures were admired.

The Film Place
The animated film UP (a U classification) will be screened today, Friday at 8pm and tomorrow Saturday at 5.30pm.
Everyone has been clamouring for this, the fantastic latest hit from Pixar, so make sure you reserve your tickets early!
If you have seen it, you will surely want to experience the magic again and, if you haven't, rest assured, you are in for a treat.
There are few films that genuinely have universal appeal and there are even fewer that get the 10 out of 10 star ratings that critics have awarded to UP.
The story is packed with emotion, adventure, discovery and laughter. It begins with a superb montage of flashbacks to the 1930s when our hero, Carl, was a boy in love with the idea of following in the footsteps of explorer Charles Muntz to Paradise Falls in South America.
His childhood sweetheart, Ellie, shares his dream and throughout their married life, they plan for the day when it can happen.
But fate intervenes. Ellie falls ill and dies.
Further bad news is to come but before Carl can be forcibly removed from their house, he has the brilliant idea of attaching thousands of balloons to his home and he is 'up, up and away.'
What's more, he has a surprise stowaway – a young lad named Russell.
This very odd couple embark on a series of escapades, which astonish with their animated dexterity but delight with their old-fashioned stock of improbable story-book characters.
UP certainly takes you on a journey through the whole gamut of emotions but it leaves you uplifted, restored in spirit, and in love with childhood dreams.

Buckingham Tea Dance
The tea dance will recommence on January 25 at the Buckingham Community Centre.
We meet every Monday afternoon starting at 2pm until 3.30pm, cost £2 per person.
We look forward to seeing all our regular members and welcome newcomers to join us to enjoy an afternoon of dancing and good company.
Buckingham Choral Society
After a well-earned rest over the Christmas and new year holiday following a very busy December,
as well as celebrating our 150th anniversary during 2009, members have now returned to start rehearsals for our spring concert on Saturday, March 27 in Buckingham Parish Church.
We will be performing the delightful and joyful Petite Messe Solennelle by the well-known Italian composer Rossini and which is a mass with a difference – the mass was scored by Rossini for two pianos and a harmonium, rather than an orchestra or organ, and wasn't intended for a church, but for a salon in a Paris townhouse! The society always extends a warm welcome to new members, so if you enjoy singing and would like to join a friendly and enthusiastic group of singers of all abilities, then contact Ivan Rowe (chairman) on 01908 501885 or Helen Gemmell (secretary) on 01296 714640 for further information.
Tenors and basses are particularly welcome. No auditions – very reasonable annual membership fee – and a great way to relax, meet new friends and enjoy singing a diverse range of music from classics to jazz.
Weekly rehearsals are held on Tuesday evenings in the Radcliffe Centre, Church Street, Buckingham, 7.30pm to 9.30pm
For further information about the Society, please go to our website:
www.buckinghamchoral.org.uk.

Marsh Gibbon Horticultural Society
Our next meeting will be held on Friday, January 15 at 7.30pm in the village hall when John Branham, of Wingrave, will present a lecture entitled Maximising Production from your Vegetable Plot.
Come to learn how to grow vegetables for all year use, how to reduce predator and disease loss organically and how to improve quality and fertility of your ground.
The lecture will be supported by slides.
Further information may be obtained from Peter Ferens on 01869 277398.