Abthorpe
John Riches 01327 857703
DINAH HOLLEY: DINAH Holley, who lived at Forge Cottage overlooking the village green from 1980 to 2005, died recently at the age of 89.
She had moved to a residential home in Shropshire to be near her eldest son Patrick.
Dinah was of that stalwart generation that faced the new inventions and upheavals of the 20th Century head on.
She was born in Shipston-on-Stour, attended Kingsley School from 1931-1936 and then studied at a secretarial college in London before briefly returning to the family estate agency of Bosley and Harper.
However, the quiet Shipston bore no excitement for the young Dinah and after being accepted into the Foreign Office in 1939, she seized the opportunity to travel to wartime Ceylon to work as a private confidential secretary on the staff of Lord Louis Mountbatten who was leading the fight against the Japanese as the Supreme Commander of South East Asia Command.
Her work took her to Singapore in 1945 and then on to British North Borneo (now Sabah) where she met Stephen Holley who was serving in the Military Administration.
They married in 1947 and had three sons, Patrick, Neville and Michael.
On a very proud day for Dinah in July 1963, her husband Stephen signed the Malaysia Agreement on behalf of North Borneo in the company of British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan.
After returning to the United Kingdom, Dinah and her husband lived in County Durham where he was appointed general manager of Washington Development Corporation with a brief to turn a straggle of mining villages into a thriving and vibrant new town.
Dinah was proud that for his work there, Stephen was awarded a CBE.
They retired to Abthorpe which is where they spent the longest settled period of their married life. The village sends condolences and best wishes to their sons Patrick, Neville and Michael, plus their many relatives and friends.

Akeley
Sherri Holland 01280 860486
TEAS: COME and join us on Wednesday, March 18, at Akeley Village Hall from 2.30pm to 4pm for a cup of tea or coffee and a piece of homemade cake.
A large selection of previously read books will be available to buy.
Proceeds from the books will be donated to Macmillan Cancer Support.
STEP BY STEP DANCE SCHOOL: LESSONS are now weekly at 8pm on Thursdays at the village hall.
MOTHERING SUNDAY: THERE will be a Mothering Sunday church service in the village hall on March 22 at 10.30am.
BINGO: THERE will be Bingo in the village hall on Monday, March 23 at 7.30pm in the village hall.

Great Horwood
Patricia Rudkin 01296 712930
GREAT HORWOOD SILVER BAND: THE band's AGM will be held on Wednesday, March 18 at 7.30pm in Great Horwood Village Hall. Everyone welcome.
WINSLOW COMMUNITY BUS: THERE are various shopping and theatre trips on offer so do contact Sue Marchant about these or any other questions you may have about Winslow Bus Service.
Write to WDCB Co-ordinator Sue Marchant, c/o Winslow Youth Centre, Avenue Road, Winslow, Bucks, telephone 01296 715786, fax 01296 715824 or e-mail wdcbenquiries@btconnect.com.
GREAT HORWOOD SCHOOL: THE Tesco Computers for Schools event has started again and the school welcomes any you may have collected.
Each voucher saved allows the school to buy much-needed computer equipment and software.
Any collection of the above vouchers, small or large, will be gratefully received by the school.
LENT LUNCHES: DO come and enjoy a Lent lunch with us every Wednesday during Lent, from noon until 2pm at Great Horwood Village Hall.
All we ask of you is that you enjoy the fellowship and make a small donation for the lunch. All are welcome.
Monica Gilbey, Church Warden, St James Church.
YOGA: THESE lessons are no longer held at the village hall but you can contact Sarah on 01525 372136 for more information.
MAD MARCH HARE RUN: GREAT Horwood PTA's next event will be the Mad March Hare Fun Run on Sunday, March 15, commencing at noon.
It is hoped that teachers, parents, children and supporters and friends of the PTA (and dogs on leads) will take part this year.
Entry Fees on the day are £6.50 for adults, £3.50 age 16, and under fours free.
Registration is at Great Horwood School from 10.30am on the day.
Refreshments will be available.
In the interests of safety, Pilch Lane and the Singleborough turn will be closed for the duration of the fun run from 11.50am until 1.15pm.
The main B4033 road through the village will be accessible as a single lane and will be regulated by traffic control.
The police have requested that all spectators demonstrate their support at the start and finish line and NOT at the top of Pilch Lane, as this may cause a dangerous obstruction for drivers.
We would like to thank you in advance for your co-operation and look forward to seeing many of you on the day.
CRICKET AT THE NETS: THESE sessions are on Friday nights from 7pm until 8.30pm at Stowe School.
The sessions are open to Senior men, Under 15s and Ladies.
The Under 12s and below will be having practice sessions from today, Friday, from 7pm to 8.30pm at Kingsbrook School Deanshanger until April 3.
Sessions will be led by our ECB-qualified coaches.
If you are interested in attending these sessions contact Gary Lee, Hon Secretary, Great Horwood Cricket Club telephone 01296 712772, or email garymlee1@hotmail.com. The website for the club is www.greathorwoodcc.com.
EASTER LILIES: IF you would like to purchase a lily in memory of a loved one please add their name to the list at the back of the church.
The lilies will decorate the church at Easter and all names on the list will be displayed at the front of the church.
The cost is £2 per lily or £5 for 3.
Please pay Sue Brazier, 17 The Close, Great Horwood, or June Margerrison, 5 Wigwell Gardens, Great Horwood.
Closing date April 1, so lilies can be ordered in good time for Easter.
WINSLOW GREEN: IT is not too late to have your say on these development proposals.
The closing date has passed, but all letters written before the final meeting date of April 1 will count, so get your letter written now.
Your letter should be sent to Mr Anthony Barker (Ref 08/02944/AOP), Development Control Division, AVDC, 66 High Street, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP20 1SD.
VILLAGE HALL: THE management committee is looking for a new chairperson.
Jeannie Marshall who has occupied this position for a number of years hopes to retire, so contact Jeannie for more information on 01296 713727.

Little Horwood
Chrissie Beckett 01296 712436
OVER 55s DINNER: WHAT a superb evening!.
Thank you so much to the entertainments committee who work endlessly to provide functions which meet the needs of all age groups in our village. We would like you to know how very much everyone looks forward to coming and enjoys meeting up with friends, old and new.
The hall looked fantastic and the food was excellent – a brilliant night!
JUMBLE SALE: TOMORROW, Saturday, in the memorial hall at 2pm.
Thank you to all those who have volunteered to help and for the wonderful amount of jumble collected. Please come prepared with lots of small change to grab your bargains! There will be a raffle and tea and coffee will be on sale. Entrance is 50p.
This is a real community event and we are so pleased to hear the children are keen to come along as helpers too.
COMMUNITY BUS: DETAILS of trips, regular services and times are in Open Gates. People with bus passes travel free but everyone is eligible to use the bus. New volunteer drivers are also needed.
CHURCH SERVICES: ON Sunday, March 15 at 11am there will be a Family Service in Little Horwood Church and at 6pm there will be an informal service in Mursley Church. All are welcome.
LITTER BLITZ: THIS year's Litter Blitz will be on Saturday, March 21.
Many hands make light work and it's great fun too! Those with young children can still come along to help and will be directed to areas away from the roads. Meet at the bus shelter at 10.30am.
EASTER COFFEE MORNING: A BRING and Buy sale will be held at the Post Office coffee morning on Tuesday, April 7, from 10am to noon. Proceeds will be in aid of the church.
Please come along to support the village community with your families and friends.
The Post Office provides our elderly with the means of getting their pensions without leaving the village. It is vital that we show our support if this service is to remain.
Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available and goods from the post office are for sale. If you have specific requirements ring them through to Swanbourne Post Office and Paula will bring your order with her.
Please come and join us for a morning filled with fun and friendship.

Maids Moreton
Anita Matthews 01280 814358
CHURCH SERVICES: ON Sunday there is a service of Holy Communion at 8am followed by a family service at 10.30am.
Searchlights should meet at Maids Moreton School at 10.30am and invite parents and carers to hear them sing at 11.30am and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee.
PEOPLE OF FAITH: THIS adult group meets at 10.30am at Maids Moreton School on Sunday.
WHIST DRIVE: THERE is a Whist Drive today, Friday, in the village hall at 7.30pm.
MAIDS MORETON PRE-SCHOOL UPDATE: THIS is a regular update on the activities of Maids Moreton Pre-school.
Last week celebrated World Book Day and to make it a special occasion for the children they were asked to come dressed up as their favourite character from a book.
There was a great turn out of costumes ranging from The Incredible Hulk to Pirates and Princesses.
Red Nose Day is today, Friday, and to help raise money, the children will be dressing up in their pyjamas.
If anyone has any spare time and is gifted at website design, the school would love to hear from you as they need help in getting their website up and running.
Please contact Sophie Foster on maidsmoretonpreschool@hotmail.co.uk.
BAGS2SCHOOL DAY: MAIDS Moreton Pre-School is having a Bags2School day on Wednesday, March 18.
Bags2School is an entity that specialises in good quality secondhand clothing and will make a payment to the school based on the total weight of clothes etc that they collect.
The kind of things they will accept are adults and children's clothing, bedding, curtains, soft toys, shoes, belts and handbags (no bric-a-brac).
If you can put all your unwanted goods in a black sack and drop them off at the Pre-school gate by 2.15pm on the March 18 (or the day before) marked Bags2School, the school would be most grateful.
GRUMBLE GRANGE GROUP: THE next meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 17 at 7.30pm.
ANNUAL PARISH MEETING: THE Maids Moreton Annual Parish meeting will be held on April 1 in the village hall at 8pm.
All members of the public are invited and there will be various speakers reporting on the many activities that have been happening in Maids Moreton over recent months.
SOUP LUNCH: THE next Soup Lunch will be held on Friday, March 20, in the village hall from 12.15pm for 12.30pm.
RACE NIGHT: MAIDS Moreton C of E School PTA are holding a Race Night tonight, Friday, at 8pm at the school hall.
Tickets are £2.50 each.
Bring your own hamper (corkage charged) and there will be a bar and a raffle.
Dress for the Races is optional and a prize will be given to the best dressed table.
If you want to have a great fun night with your friends and family then call Annie Cooke on 01280 701820.

Padbury
Sue Wrigley 01280 814199
TRAIDCRAFT COFFEE MORNING: TINA would like to thank all those who supported the Traidcraft coffee morning in Padbury last Friday.
Sales of Traidcraft produce amounted to £81.06 and your generous donations of £33.15 will be forwarded to Traidcraft Exchange.
Thank you too, to all those in Padbury, Buckingham and the Lenborough Singers who munched their way through 132 bananas as part of the Fairtrade Fortnight Go Bananas event.
Nearly 378,000 people participated nationwide.
PADBURY SCHOOL COFFEE MORNING: PADBURY School is open for coffee next Friday, March 20, from 9.30am to 11am for anyone in Padbury or the surrounding villages who is interested in looking round the school and pre-school.
Entrance is £1 per adult (children free) and this will include a drink and cakes.
There will also be a raffle, a Guess the Weight of the Cake competition and a cake sale.
All proceeds will go to the Quicken Trust, a charity that brings new life to a Ugandan orphan community.
The school has tremendous facilities and has been roundly praised by the relevant authorities (see the village magazine, The Parish Pump, which came out this week) so if you haven't visited before, you are most welcome to come along to the school and see where it's all happening.
SCHOOL RACE NIGHT: PADBURY School and Pre-school is holding a joint race night on Saturday, March 21, in aid of school funds. The first race will start at 8pm sharp and, as usual in Padbury, the famous wooden horses will be used. Tickets are £5 a head obtainable now from Sara Birch either by ringing her at home on 01280 821236, or her mobile on 07880 547494, or by emailing her on sara.birch@talk2l.com. Each ticket will go into a cash draw to be drawn at the end of the evening.
PADBURY TENNIS CLUB: THE Tennis Club's AGM is being held this coming Monday, March 16 at 8pm in The New Inn. The meeting is open to all current members and snacks will be provided. The club's traditional spring fundraiser is going to be a bit different this year as, after considerable debate, they have decided to hold Padbury's first ever Strictly Come Dancing-style event.
This event will be on Saturday, April 25, in the village hall and will involve a lesson by a real dance teacher and a 'dance off' for those brave enough to take part.
You don't need to be a member of the tennis club, or even a good dancer come to that. All that's needed is a bit of enthusiasm and a lack of inhibition!
Tickets will be on sale shortly, so watch this space for more details. They have to limit the number of tickets so do make sure that you apply early to Sarah Morris, club secretary, on 01280 816262.
YOUTH CLUB: THE current youth club session started with a curry night postponed due to the snow.
This sort of event is always subsidised hence the request a couple of weeks ago for any fundraising ideas. A fish and chip supper night is also planned plus a flower arranging evening in time for Mother's Day on March 22.
Debbie, who runs the youth club, would also like to thank the Bridgeman family very much indeed for giving them a fantastic table tennis table which is guaranteed to get a lot of use.
If you would like to join or have any suggestions for the club, please call Debbie on 01280 815044 or email oaktreemadhouse@aol.com.
PADBURY LOCAL & FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY: FOLLOWING the successful launch of the society in January, Frank Hartley tells me that a second meeting will be held on Thursday, March 26 starting at 7.30pm at his home, South View (opposite the school).
Everyone is very welcome to come along and if you have any questions, please call Frank on 01280 816463 or e-mail frankhartley@sky.com.
LENT LUNCHES: THE Lent lunches are taking place in the church every Thursday up to Easter from noon.
There is a choice of homemade soups plus fresh bread, with a cup of tea or coffee to finish, all for a donation which goes to charity so do come along.
AGAPE SUPPER: THE popular Benefice Agape Supper will take place once again in St Mary's, Padbury, on Maundy Thursday, April 9.
Those who have been before will know that this is a simple meal in the upper room, in commemoration of the Last Supper. Good food and good company but places are strictly limited, so please give your names to Jenny Shields (01280 814474) as soon as possible.
100 PLUS CLUB CHEESE & WINE PARTY: TO see if any tickets remain for the 100 Plus Club's Cheese and Wine party in the village hall tomorrow night, Saturday, give Shirley Lafford a ring on 01280 812535. Tickets are £5 a head (children £2.50).
BINGO: THERE is bingo in the village hall tonight, Friday, starting at 8pm when the charity raffle will be for the Teenage Cancer Trust. As always, donations of raffle prizes would be most welcome and Shirley Lafford can be contacted on 01280 812535.

Syresham
Christina Munsey
VILLAGE LITTERPICK: VOLUNTEERS are needed to take part in the village litterpick on Saturday, March 21.
If you are able to help, please meet at the village hall at 9.30am. If you would like further information please call 850596.
This is part of a national litterpick supported by Bill Bryson, so please help if you can.
IRISH NIGHT: THERE will be an Irish Night at the sports and social club on Saturday, March 14, when home-cooked Irish food will be served from 7pm.

Thornborough
Chrissie Vernon 01280 813073
BINGO: THE next bingo in the village hall is being held tomorrow, Saturday, at 7.30pm. All welcome.

Tingewick
Joanna Brown 01280 847479
EMPTY ROOMS: TONIGHT, Friday, Brigitte DeMeyers Allstar Band will bring their Southern groove to Tingewick Village Hall.
Doors open at 8pm and tickets are £12 in advance available from The Duke's Music in Buckingham or see www.empty-rooms.com for more information.
CHURCH SERVICES: HOLY Communion will be celebrated at Tingewick Church this Sunday starting at 9.30am. Looking ahead to Sunday, March 22, there will be a special Mothering Sunday service at 10.30am.
Contact the Rev Liz Simpson on 01280 704964 for more information.
MOBILE LIBRARY: THE mobile library will be in Stowe View from 3.20pm on Thursday, March 19.
SPRING BULB SHOW: TINGEWICK and Water Stratford Horticultural Society is holding its annual Spring Bulb show next Saturday, March 21, from 11am. It's not too late to submit an entry, as the closing date is Thursday, March 19.
Schedules are available from Tingewick Post Office, or from Pat Swinburne on 01280 847764.
RACE NIGHT: ROUNDWOOD School will be holding a race night on Saturday, March 28, in the village hall.
Doors open at 7.30pm for an 8pm start and tickets are £7 to include food and are available from Alison on 01280 847774 for Tingewick or Beverly on 01280 815745 for Gawcott.
EASTER CRAFT FAYRE: FOLLOWING on from last year's popular event, Tingewick Pre-school will be holding another Easter Craft Fayre this year.
It will be on Saturday, March 28, in the village hall from 2pm to 4pm. Entry is free and there will be a small charge for each activity such as painting egg cups or making baskets, masks, and Easter cards.
There will also be homemade refreshments and an Easter Egg Raffle.

Twyford
Julia Cook 01296 738810
RED NOSE DAY CHALLENGE & FAIR TRADE FIESTA: A RED Nose Day Challenge & Fair Trade Fiesta is being held tomorrow, Saturday, from 10.30am to noon at Twyford Chapel.
Competitions for all the family, plus raffle, cakes, etc. and an opportunity to sample and purchase Fair Trade products. Come and Support Red Nose Day 2009 and enjoy a cuppa and cake! Free admission.