Akeley
Sherri Holland 01280 860486
AFFORDABLE RURAL HOUSING SURVEY: THE parish council has commissioned a survey to establish whether there is a need for a small affordable rural housing development within the village.
A survey form and prepaid reply envelope will be hand-delivered to every household in the parish.
Please look out for this and take the time to read the information and complete this survey.
We need your views!
CHURCH SERVICE: THERE will be a church service on Sunday, July 27 at 10.30am at the village hall.

Gawcott
Susanne Winterbottom 01280 821079
NEARLY NEW SALE: GAWCOTT Pre-School is holding its annual children's clothing, toys and accessories sale on Saturday, September 27 from 10.30am until noon.
For a seller's pack (pre-booking essential) please contact Katie on 01280 815840 or e-mail simkat@tesco.net.
GAWCOTT PRE-SCHOOL: NEEDS your help.
Do you have some spare time to help run the Gawcott Pre-school committee as the new chair?
This voluntary position needs to be filled at our AGM in October and we would like to open this opportunity up to a member of the village.
Your input and commitment will allow the pre-school to continue to provide high-quality nursery education for the children who attend, while also maintaining itself as a valuable asset to the community as a longstanding provider of income for the village hall.
We urgently need to hear from anyone who might be interested in this rewarding post.
We currently have two people jointly sharing the position.
You will need to liaise with the pre-school leader and staff, attend the committee meetings which are held twice a term, offer support to the treasurer and secretary and, most importantly, have a passion for the continued success of Gawcott Pre-School.
If you feel you can help in any way or would like some more information please contact Sue on 01280 816675 or Karen on 01280 813892.

Great Horwood
Patricia Rudkin 01296 712930
200 CLUB: GREAT Horwood Pre-School runs a 200 Club.
If anyone would like to join, please let Karen Hogston know on 01206 714501 or 07956 074785.
The cost is £12 a year and every half-term there is a draw and a chance to win cash prizes.
The pre-school keeps half the money and the other half goes back into the prize fund.
This is a good way to raise funds and the pre-school benefits from your support.
A big thank you to all those already in our 200 Club – your support is very much appreciated.
GREAT HORWOOD PRE-SCHOOL: URGENTLY requires an assistant with NVQ3 in childcare or equivalent to work 15 hours plus a week, to start at the beginning of the September term.
Please contact Vicki on 01296 714998 for more details.
GREAT HORWOOD FOOTBALL CLUB: TRAINING for the new season has begun at the football ground in Nash Road, any new players welcome.
The club also needs people willing to run the line.
Also required is someone to wash a football strip every week of the season (approx. 30 matches), the payment is £300 per season.
If you are interested in any of the above call 07952 018988 or email sylvia.w@greathorwoodfc.co.uk.
TIC TOC: A SING-ALONG for children up to the age of five, held every Friday (term time only) in the village hall from 2pm until 2.45pm.
First session free.
Please contact Tracey on 01296 715780.
GREAT HORWOOD SILVER BAND: GREAT Horwood Silver Band will be playing at Aston Abbotts Church Fete tomorrow, Saturday.
WINSLOW COMMUNITY BUS: AT last we have our new bus!
It has 16 seats and is altogether more spacious and comfortable than the old one and is available to hire for any non-profit-making group or organisation in the area at a very reasonable cost.
We also need volunteer drivers.
If you would like to find out more telephone Sue on 01296 715786 or e-mail wdcbenquiries@btconnect.com.
Visit www.winslowbus.com for more information.

Maids Moreton
Anita Matthews 01280 814358
CHURCH SERVICES: ON Sunday there is a service of Village Worship and Holy Communion starting at 10.30am.
Please note the Searchlights are now in recess for the summer holidays.
RACE FOR LIFE: A FUNDRAISING event on behalf of Race for Life is being held tomorrow, Saturday, and Sunday, July 27, and also on August 2 and 16.
The canal art cruise will be on the Grand Union Canal with a renowned artist and art teacher on board to advise on drawing, watercolouring, pastels, acrylics and oils.
Tickets are £25 each which includes lunch and drinks.
For further details please contact Diana Owen on 01280 813111.
GRUMBLE GRANGE GROUP SUMMER EXTRAVAGANZA: THIS event is scheduled for Saturday, August 9.
Watch this space for further details.
ST EDMUND'S ANNUAL CHURCH FETE: THIS event is scheduled to take place on Bank Holiday Monday, August 25, kicking off at 12.30pm with barbecue lunches.
Watch this space for further details.
FUTURE EVENTS: FUTURE events in the village hall include a pie & mash & auction on Saturday, September 20 and James Goff Big Band Concert on Sunday, October 26.
Watch this space for more details.
VILLAGE VOICE: FOLLOWERS of this column may be interested to know that an unexpurgated version of the Village Voice also appears on the Maids Moreton village website along with additional information relating to the parish council, conservation group and other activities taking place in the village.

Padbury
Sue Wrigley 01280 814199
HOLIDAY PLAYTIME: AVDC's Play Around the Parishes are bringing their team of play workers to Padbury on Wednesday, July 30, providing a wide range of activities for one- to 11-year-olds.
The activities will take place at the sports pavilion at Springfields Recreation Ground from 10am to 12.30pm and is the first in a series of dates throughout the holidays.
Please note, parents must accompany their children.
There is no need to book, just turn up.
VILLAGE HALL MEETING: THE Village Hall Committee meets next Tuesday, July 29, in the village hall starting at 8pm.
If you are the representative of a club or society which uses the hall on a regular basis, please make every effort to attend as, in the end, all the committee's work is for you.
Apologies please to Shirley Lafford on 01280 812535.
ALI'S DREAM FARM DAY: THE team from Ali's Dream would be delighted if you would join them at Padbury Hill Farm for the annual farm day on Sunday, August 10 starting at 2pm.
There are all sorts of events during the afternoon including the very popular doggy competitions between 3pm and 4pm.
Enter your doggies in the obstacle course, sausage race, the most waggly tailed and the most beautiful eyes competitions – plenty of scope there then!
Sam Cross, the magician, will entertain the children between 4.30pm and 5.15pm and, in between, there are pony rides, LandRover rides, have a go at clay pigeon shooting, the penny arcade, a coconut shy and much more.
All of this is accompanied by music from Linda Watkins and her friends from the Buckingham Acoustic Club.
It will be a great family afternoon out and tickets are £5 for adults with children accompanied by an adult getting in free.
If you would like to order your tickets in advance, please ring Sue Farrington Smith on 01296 730230 to be entered in the raffle.
PADBURY WI: PADBURY WI has been very busy over the past couple of months.
In June they baked cakes for the Open Gardens weekend, in July they had a very successful outing to Stowe School with their own personal tour guide and recently they held a garden party with everyone in posh frocks and hats with money raised going to Willen Hospice.
The next effort is to provide the catering for Buckingham WI who have planned a Padbury walk on July 31 and who would like to finish the evening with a light meal.
It's now time for the summer break during August and members reconvene on September 11 when Susannah Marshall will entertain with Poetry and Prose with Dolls.
Visitors are always welcome to come along to any of the meetings but if you are interested in joining the group and would like further information, please telephone president Debbie Forrest on 01280 813846 or the secretary, Pat Reilly, on 01280 823576.
BINGO: THERE is no bingo this week but donations of raffle prizes for future bingo evenings are always very welcome so please contact Shirley Lafford on 01280 812535 if you have anything suitable.

Syresham
Christina Munsey
SYRESHAM CRICKET CLUB: SYRESHAM Cricket Club will be playing England's Barmy Army on Sunday, August 10.
The event will start at 10am when Syresham under 18s will play the Barmy Army Colts in a Twenty 20 match.
Then at 1.30pm, the match between Syresham CC and the Barmy Army Team will commence.
The Barmy Army Road Show Day includes an appearance by ex-England player Dean Headley, a merchandise stall, music and PA, cricket stalls and many fun activities.
There will also be a raffle, an auction, and an all-day bar and barbecue.
This promises to be a great day for everyone, so don't miss it!
SYRESHAM SPORTS & SOCIAL CLUB: THERE will be a Pink Night in aid of Breast Cancer Awareness at Syresham Sports and Social Club tomorrow, Saturday, starting at 7pm.
The event will include a Pink Raffle and a barbecue.
Please come along and support this good cause if you can.

Tingewick
Joanna Brown 01280 847479
PLAY AROUND THE PARISHES: THE first of three events for children will be taking place from 2pm to 4pm on Thursday, July 31 at the recreation ground.
Teams of play workers, along with staff from the Sure Start Children's Centres, will be providing a range of play equipment and activities for one- to 11-year-olds.
Activities will include art and crafts, sports and games, as well as bouncy castles and inflatables.
The events are free of charge and there is no need to book, just turn up on the day.
In the event of bad weather, it may be necessary to cancel the session.
Please note that parents must stay with their children and bring their own refreshments.
The other two dates for Tingewick are Monday, August 11 from 10am to 12.30pm and Friday, August 22 from 2pm to 4pm.
TINGEWICK CHURCH: THERE will be a family service at 11.15am on Sunday, July 27, and Songs of Praise at 5pm on the same day.
KARAOKE: TOMORROW, Saturday, is karaoke night at the Royal Oak, starting at 9pm.
Telephone the pub on 01280 848373 for more information.
MUSIC GIG: JOHN Wesley Harding plus Chris Von Sneidern and David Lewis will be playing at the village hall on Friday, August 29, doors open at 8pm.
Tickets are £10 in advance from The Duke's Music in Buckingham or £12 on the door.
More information on www.empty-rooms.com or email enquiries@empty-rooms.com
PARTY IN THE PADDOCK: AFTER a two-year break, the Party in the Paddock is on September 19, starting at 8pm.
Featuring live music from ex-Whitesnake guitarist Bernie Marsden and an all-star line-up.
Tickets £60 to include a pig roast and drinks.
Advance tickets are already being booked so telephone 01280 848211 or visit www.partyinthepaddock.co.uk to get yours.
All proceeds go to Macmillan Cancer Support, the Florence Nightingale Hospice and the Oxford Kidney Unit.
KARATE: THE Karate Club meets on Thursdays at 6pm in the village hall.
Contact Kath Dearden for information on 01280 705035.
DANCING: COME along to the village hall on Monday nights at 7.30pm to enjoy a session of line dancing led by Anna Donaldson.
You can find out more by ringing Anna on 01280 847809.
On Thursday afternoons at 2pm the village Dance Club meets in the village hall.
Contact Hazel Thurlow on 01280 838446 for information about this.
RAINBOWS & SCOUTS: RAINBOWS meet in the pre-school every Friday from 6.30pm, contact Janet Mackay for information on 01280 817052.
Scouts meet every Tuesday at 8pm in the village hall, contact Roger Williams on 01280 847824.
TODDLER GROUP: ON Thursday afternoons from 1.15pm to 2.45pm, there is a drop-in parent and child group, the Tingewick Toddlers.
This costs £1 per family group and gives your child a chance to become familiar with the pre-school room, as well as for you to meet other parents.

Wappenham
Jane Harries 01327 860350
DEMOLITION SESSION: VOLUNTEERS are needed for the demolition session outside the village hall to tidy it up and take down the old school toilets.
We meet tomorrow, Saturday, from 10.30am onwards.
A ploughman's lunch will be provided.
Call Jenny on 01327 860073 for more details.
NEWSLETTER: THE newsletter will come out around the beginning of September.
If you have any articles, photos, events or ads to submit, please send them in by August 10.
Posters in the village have more details.
SPLAT: SPLAT, the children's play and sports sessions, are coming to Wappenham on Monday, July 28 from 10.30am to 12.30pm.
Activities are for five- to 10-year-olds.
Another session is happening on Monday, August 18, for the same age range and at the same time of day.
These sessions are in the recreation area.
Sessions provide, according to the South Northants Council, "two hours of fun and games delivered by qualified sports leaders, including ball games, rounders, fun relays, unihoc, team games, parachute games and more".
The cost is £4 per child, payable on the day, no need to book.
There will be an indoor venue in case of bad weather.

Westbury
Louise Evans 01280 706282
PUDDING AND PIMMS NIGHT: THE weather is finally improving so why not come along to a Pudding & Pimms Night at Westbury Pavilion tomorrow, Saturday, at 7pm.
Entrance fee is one family-sized pudding for each group.
Pimms will be on sale at the bar.
The puddings will be judged and the winner gets a bottle of something!
PLAY AROUND THE VILLAGES: THE AVDC-sponsored Play Around the Villages will take place in Westbury Pavilion on Thursday, July 31, between 10am and 12.30pm.
There will be all sorts of arts, crafts, sports and games plus a bouncy castle.
Parents must accompany children.
Entry is free and refreshments will be available to buy.
VILLAGE CAMPING NIGHT: THE recent Village Camping Night was again a great success and well attended.
FUTURE DIARY DATES: THE Breakfast and Walk takes place on September 28.
The Harvest Supper in October, with the quiz night being in November – both of these dates yet to be arranged.
Watch this space!