Abthorpe
MAY DAY: MAY Day, Friday, May 1, was celebrated in traditional style when the Brackley Morris Men danced at noon on our village green watched and assisted by children from Abthorpe Nursery School.

The all-male side, founded in 1623, had already welcomed the dawn of May Day with their Cotswold tradition dancing in Brackley Market Square at 5.30am. By the time the dancers reached Abthorpe they must have been very tired, but Rob Smith our landlord said they had little time for a drink as they rushed off to yet another village to perform.
What a wonderful tradition and long may it continue!

VILLAGE FUN GROUP: THE Village Fun Group elected a new committee at its last meeting. Mike Partridge is chairman, with June Willsher as his deputy. Tim Pope remains as treasurer and will be assisted by Lynn Neasham. Jan Miles is returning to the post of secretary and will be helped by Fi Noble and Lynn Neasham.

The new committee's first event is to be a barn dance at Highfield Farm on Saturday, June 13 that will include a pig roast, barbecue and bar.
Tickets, priced at £10 for adults and £5 for children, will be sold door-to-door throughout the parish.

Akeley
NEIGHBOURHOOD ACTION GROUP: THE group is holding a meeting on Wednesday, May 13, at 7.30pm in the village hall.

You are invited to meet Paul O'Connell, TVP Schools Officer, currently assigned to Buckingham School.

Paul will explain his role in the school and there will be an opportunity to ask any questions you may have.

Work is now beginning on looking at how to evolve the NAG to look at other ways to direct how the police resources we are provided with can best be encouraged to meet our rural needs.

The key part to this is getting more involvement from each of the villages to ensure a diverse spread of age, lifestyles and backgrounds.

If you would be interested in joining the group please come along to this meeting.

RHS GARDENS, WISLEY: AKELEY Gardening Club is holding a trip to RHS Gardens, Wisley, on Sunday, June 14.

Treat yourself to a day out with us to this wonderful RHS garden, only £10 including coach and entry to the gardens.

Contact Sherri on 01280 860486 or Jackie on 01280 860295.

SPRING DANCE: THIS is being held on Saturday, May 16 at the village hall.

Doors open 7.30pm, live music from 8pm to 11pm.

Hosted by Akeley Social Group.

Nibbles will be provided but it will be up to individuals to bring your own drinks.

Dress code is smart/casual.

Tickets priced at £5 per person are available from Jo on 01280 860116.
AEROCISE: AT the village hall on Wednesdays from 9.30am to 10.30am, £5 per session.

Contact Joanne on 07851 032316 for further details.

WEBSITE: YOU can keep up to date with what's been happening in the village and find out what is planned for the next few weeks by visiting the parish council's
website which can be found at www.akeleyparishcouncil
.gov.uk.

Deanshanger
10TH ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION: DEANSHANGER Past and Present is the title of an exhibition being held by Deanshanger Village Heritage Society to mark its 10th anniversary.

The exhibition will be held at Deanshanger Community Centre on Saturday, May 16 from 1pm to 5pm.

It will show scenes of village life in the past right up to the present and will feature the occupations, leisure activities and institutions of the village.

Included in these will be a demonstration of lacemaking, displays relating to brickmaking, bobbin making, shoemaking, beekeeping, farming, the canal (Buckingham Canal Society), wartime Britain (Harry and Edna) and wartime Deanshanger, E & H Roberts, ironfounders and the Oxide Works.

There will be special displays relating to the two schools, both having just celebrated special 50th and 150th anniversaries, Deanshanger Scouts (50 years old this year), Guides, Brownies, Cubs etc. and lots of the sporting achievements and activities carried on in the village both now and in the past.

Admission is free and refreshments will be available throughout the afternoon.

For more information contact Jennie Dott (secretary) on 01908 564725.

LIBRARY COMPUTER SESSIONS: THE Library Service is running some short taster sessions on beginning your family history.

These will be on Wednesday, May 13 from 3pm until 5.30pm.

Each session lasts 20 minutes and, as space is limited, it is advisable to book. Ring Deanshanger Library (open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 1–6pm and Saturday 10am–2pm) on 01908 562889.

Leckhampstead
SCARECROWS: SCARECROWS are gradually filling the barns of Leckhampstead.

To date, 56 are complete with many more planned.

They are being created for the Walk Back in Time three-day event in the village over the next Bank Holiday weekend, May 23, 24 and 25, from noon to 5pm.

The scarecrows will be everywhere. Come to the village during that weekend and you will see a scarecrow wedding, an airman going off to war, scarecrow school children, a poacher, a lace maker, blacksmith, postman and much more.

Many of these enchanting scarecrows will be for sale at the end of the weekend.

On May 25 there will be a teddy bears' picnic with the Buckingham jester there to entertain.

The morning of May 24 sees the sponsored horse ride in aid of riding for the disabled and the village hall. Details from Debbie Boyce on 01280 860343 or from the web site, details below.

A 60s dance with the live band of Panama Jack will be held on May 23.
Over the three-day event there will be a Second World War camp with many vehicles and exhibits, including an anti-aircraft gun.

The various displays in the village will include vintage cars, post office, school, pub, forge, dogs for the disabled and more.

Stalls will be selling cakes and other produce, crafts, plants, old-fashioned sweets, local artists' work, books and much more.

A manned bouncy castle will be there for the children, a beer tent outside the old pub will also sell soft drinks, lunch and tea will be available in the village hall.

There are still a few stalls left.

If you would like one or any other information get in touch with Lynda Penn on 01280 860649 or visit the website at
www.leckhampsteadvillage.co.uk

Maids Moreton
CHURCH SERVICES: On Sunday there is a service of Holy Communion at 10.30am followed by a Prayer and Praise Service at 6pm.
Searchlights should meet at Maids Moreton School.

WHIST DRIVE: There is a whist drive today, Friday, in the village hall at 7.30pm.

WHEATSHEAF QUIZ EVENING: There will be a quiz evening at The Wheatsheaf on Monday, May 11, commencing at 8.30pm.

Teams should be a maximum of four people.

There will be a nominal charge which includes a snack buffet, the proceeds of which will be donated to a local charity.

If you require any further information please call Gary on 01280 815433.

THE GRUMBLE GRANGE GROUP: The next Grumble Grange meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 19 at 7.30pm.

SOUP LUNCH: The next soup lunch will be held on Friday, May 15 in the village hall at 12.15pm for 12.30pm.

Padbury
ANNUAL LAMB LUNCH: The very popular Annual Lamb Lunch is being held on Sunday, May 10, at Betts Farm House, Winslow Road (courtesy of Fred Morris), starting at 12.30pm, and we are hoping for a really sunny day.

This is always a popular event and the tickets have been going well, so to find out if any are left contact either Fred Morris on 01280 816059 or John Wrigley on 01280 814199 (£8 for an adult and £4 for children).

Please bring your own drinks plus rugs/chairs/sunshades/wellies.

NEW INN QUIZ NIGHT: The New Inn is hosting the next quiz night on Sunday, May 10, starting at 8pm.

All the food you will have eaten at the lamb roast earlier in the day will surely have nourished those little grey cells sufficiently to do really well answering Bob Pizzala's questions.

If you have any room, there are free nibbles.

RAISING FUNDS FOR MAIN STREET PLAYGROUND: Did you know that old clothes, shoes, handbags, fabrics, towels, bedding (no duvets and pillows, please) can be converted into cash for the new playground equipment?

Just place all your items into a dustbin sack and drop the sacks off at 1 Bennetts Close or Gore Lodge, opposite the New Inn car park, or you can ask one of the following volunteers to call and collect your filled sacks: Sara Birch (01280 821236), Julie Wrigley (01280 817368), Jennie Beebee (01280 814654) Elspeth Parkhouse on (01280 813957), Debbie Gibbs (01280 815044) or Felicity Mallam (01280 820570).

All bags will need to be dropped off or collected by Friday, June 5, so have fun clearing out your cupboards!

ADSTOCK & PADBURY GARDEN CLUB: Garden Club members have the first in their summer season of outdoor visits next Wednesday, May 13 (please note, not the usual Tuesday) when they are going to Gypsy House and The Plant Specialist Nursery in Whitefield Lane and One Church Street, all in Great Missenden.

This is a self-drive trip as the club has chosen to take advantage of the National Gardens Scheme opening on that day, with combined entry to both gardens and the nursery costing £5 a head instead of considerably more as a private visit.
The nursery opens at 10am and the gardens from 2pm to 5pm, so you can choose when to go, but there has been a suggestion that members get together at Gypsy House around 2.15pm just to make sure everyone is there.
If you have any queries, please contact Sue Crook on 01280 816505.
CARE FOR A CUPPA OPEN DAY FOR DIABETES UK: Diabetes UK has its 75th anniversary this year and to help raise funds for further research into this disease Jackie Bailey, who runs Bijoux Jewellery, and Tracey Sargent, who runs Pretty Bags, are getting together for an open day on Friday, May 15.
The event will take place at Bennetts Farm, Main Street, from 9.30am to 9.30pm, and there will be refreshments and a raffle, so tell all your friends about it and come along to see the very pretty things available to buy.
SPRING SAFARI SUPPER: The village's Spring Safari Supper takes place on Saturday, May 16 starting at the New Inn at 7.30pm.
If you haven't been to one before, they are good fun as you have different courses at different houses and end up at a mystery venue for puds and coffee. Do come and join in.
Tickets are £15 a head and if you host any of the courses your food costs are refunded, and there is a special offer of half-price tickets for anyone attending a Padbury Safari Supper for the first time.
To book or for more information, please ring Sue or Nick Fane on 01280 823976.
PADBURY BENEFIT SOCIETY: The Padbury Benefit Society is once again preparing to celebrate its Feast Weekend over the Bank Holiday May 23 to 25.
Plans are well under way for the Spring Dance on Saturday, May 23, in the village hall with music from local band Hotline, a buffet meal and a grand raffle.
Tickets are available now from Tony Picketts on 01280 816063 and prices are £6 for adults and £3 for under 16s.
On Sunday, May 24 members of the committee will gather at the village hall in the morning to make preparations for the club dinner taking place the following day.
The traditional 'spud bashing' (peeling potatoes for 100 people), the arrangement of tables and seating and so on all have to be completed before the Sunday night evensong at St Mary's Church.
The church parade will leave the war memorial at 5.45pm, led by the Great Horwood Silver Band, and, together with the society's banner, will proceed to the church for the service at 6pm.
Following the church service, everyone will parade back down the village where the band will perform a concert at the Blackbird Inn – weather permitting – and the evening will conclude at the New Inn with some traditional songs and music.
Monday, May 25 is the society's Feast Day and members and guests will gather at the village hall for the start of the celebrations.
At the time of writing, the club is looking for a marching band to parade with them around the village as, after 52 years of consecutive club days, the Great Horwood Band is unable to be there.
The society's secretary and the committee are doing everything they can to find a band for the Monday morning but nothing has been confirmed as yet, so if anyone reading this thinks they may be able to help, please contact Barry Picketts on 01280 824038 as soon as possible.
A breakfast of bread, cheese and fine ale will be served to club members in the village hall at 10.45am and the final parade of the weekend – with or without a band – will leave the Blackbird Inn at 1.30pm for the club dinner.
Following the usual excellent meal, speeches, songs and music will complete the afternoon and, all being well, complement what is a fantastic tradition and deserves its place in the heart of our community.
LITTER PICK: Debbie tells me that the litter pick last Saturday was very successful with every one of the 20 or so people who had volunteered turning up on the day.
The village was cleared to all its boundaries in preparation for the forthcoming Best Kept Village competition, and at one particular place a stash of more than 150 bottles and cans was found – someone obviously had a good time that evening!
Many thanks to everyone who took part – it was a job well done.
BINGO: There is bingo tonight, Friday, in the village hall, starting at 8pm, and if you would like to donate any raffle prizes please ring Shirley Lafford on 01280 812535.
The charity raffle this week is for the Padbury Benefit Society.
100-1 CLUB: We are in the run-up time now for the start of the new season in the 100-1 Club and I understand there are eight spaces left.
Just so you know how it works, there are two draws per month over a 10-month period for an annual subscription of £20.
The prizes are £100/£50 and £50/£25, but to continue at this rate will largely depend on how many people renew their membership or sign up as new ones.
To do either, please contact Shirley Lafford on 01280 812535, Carol Bloxham on 01280 812067 or Jean Stuchbury on 01280 822109.
They are hoping the first draw of the season will take place in June or early July, so you still have a few weeks either to renew your membership or become a new member.

Thornborough
nChrissie Vernon 01280 813073

BREAST CANCER – CHARITY MARATHON MOON WALK: Sandie and Claire Davis are doing the Moon Walk on the evening of Saturday, May 16, starting at midnight from Hyde Park in London.
They have all but finished their training now and completed the longest walk which was 20 miles!
The people from the village have been so generous with donations and at the moment they have collected around £960.
They would love to make it to £1,000 for this very worthwhile charity so if you would like to make a donation please either call Sandie on 01280 812454 or check www.Justgiving.com/claireandsandiewalk

Tingewick
nJoanna Brown 01280 847479

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY: Tonight, Friday, from 7.30pm, there will be a talk in the village hall on the topic of growing plants in difficult places.
The £2 entrance includes refreshments.
Contact Pat Swinburne on 01280 847764 for more information.
ACORNS: Tomorrow, Saturday, Acorns will be held at 2pm in Tingewick Church.
This will be followed by a Family Service at 4pm.
Contact Eleanor on 01280 847145 for more information.
CHURCH SERVICES: There will be a Family Service at 4pm following Acorns tomorrow, Saturday, and Evening Prayer at 6pm on Sunday, May 10.
MOBILE LIBRARY: The mobile library will be in Stowe View at 3.20pm on Thursday, May 14.
LINE DANCING: Line dancing is held in the village hall every Monday at 7.30pm.
Contact Anna Donaldson on 01280 847809 for more details.
TINGEWICK PATCHERS: Tingewick Patchers meet once a month in the village hall. Call Betty Deighton on 01280 848510 for more information.

Wappenham
ANNUAL ASSEMBLY: The Annual Assembly will take place on Wednesday, May 13 at 7.30pm in the village hall.

This is a chance to find out what the parish council has done over the past year, what's planned for next year and meet county and district councillors as well.

You will also be able to find out about the plans to develop the village hall and get short reports from other organisations in the village.

Wine and refreshments will be provided.

'LADIES' SMOCK': Now that spring is really with us you can again see 'Ladies' Smock' or cuckoo flower all over the village.

It is a pretty pale pinky-purple flower, Latin name Cardamine pratensis.

It attracts orange-tip butterflies this time of the year, along with other members of the mustard family like honesty and garlic mustard, also known as 'Jack-by-the-hedge'.

You can see it along the edge of the graveyard extension. There is also a lovely display in front of High Street House, on the verge.