Abthorpe
DR VINCE SANGER: DR Vince Sanger, who died recently, lived in Abthorpe for a substantial part of his life - firstly in School Lane and later in the Old Reading Room across the village green from our church, where he personally constructed a stone extension.
He was a good friend and doctor to many villagers who mourn his passing.
Besides being a conscientious and compassionate doctor he was a fine musician and played at a concert held in our parish church. Fishing was another of his passions.
He made his own flies to tempt trout in the waters where he fished.
Vince was elected to our parish council and served as chairman for a number of years.
During his term of office he represented the parish at an enquiry held to judge the rightful ownership of our village green.
As a result of his efforts it was awarded to Abthorpe.
In 1977 and 1978 he was the principal organiser of two successive country fairs that were held on the village green to raise money for local organisations.
In his youth, Vince was a fine sportsman and throughout his life he remained passionate about Welsh rugby.
Dr Sanger is remembered with great affection and is sadly missed by all those who knew him.

Akeley
AKELEY GARDENING CLUB: AKELEY Gardening Club is holding a Plant Bring 'n' Buy tomorrow, Saturday, from 2pm to 4pm at Akeley Village Hall.
Please bring as many of your spare seedlings or cuttings as you can spare and then perhaps go home with something a little unusual for your own garden.
There will be cakes, a cup of tea and plenty of people to chat to so please get searching and potting on any spare seedlings, especially vegetables which are always popular.
We will, as usual, run a raffle where the proceeds will go to Willen Hospice, our chosen charity for this year, and we would be grateful for any donated prizes.
Cakes would be very welcome from any enthusiastic bakers!
SPRING DANCE: THIS is being held tomorrow, Saturday, at the village hall.
Doors open at 7.30pm, live music from 8pm to 11pm.
It is being 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.
VILLAGE TEAS: COME and join us on Wednesday, May 20 from 2.30pm to 4pm at Akeley Village Hall for a cup of tea or coffee and a piece of homemade cake.
A chance to sit and chat with friends and neighbours. A large selection of previously read books will be available to buy with proceeds being donated to Macmillan Cancer Support
CHARITY CLAY SHOOT: A CHARITY Clay Shoot, for the benefit of the Air Ambulance and Crossroads for Carers, is being held at Akeley Shooting Ground on Sunday, June 28 from 1pm. Teams of four, £100 entry. Top gun wins day's shooting in North Wales.
For more details contact J Spademan on 07836 541731, J Taylor on 07523 405533 or T Cowley on 07736 667022.

Dadford
AGM: THE annual meeting of Stowe Parish Council will be held in the village hall at Dadford on Thursday, May 28 at 8pm. All parishioners are most welcome.

Deanshanger
10TH ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION: DEANSHANGER Past and Present Exhibition is tomorrow, Saturday, from 1pm to 5pm at Deanshanger Community Centre.
This exhibition features displays relating to a vast array of aspects of Deanshanger life past and present.
Why not come along and discover what makes this village 'tick'.
50+ ROADSHOW: NORTHANTS 50+ Network (formerly Active Ageing Network), invites Deanshanger residents who are over the age of 50 to a roadshow at Towcester Leisure Centre, Springfields, Towcester on Wednesday, May 20.
This is a free event and our guest speaker at 1pm is Bernie Keith from Radio Northampton, and from 1.30pm to 4.30pm there will be activities to try, such as Tai Chi, Line Dancing, gentle exercises, salsa and a gardening demonstration.
Complementary therapies will be on offer all afternoon and a mobile telephone and digital camera surgery is also available, plus more than 30 information and activity stallholders to speak to. If enough Deanshanger residents are interested it may be possible to arrange transport.
Please contact Pam Wilton on 01604 236805 if you are interested.

Granborough
ANNUAL PLANT SALE: THIS is your opportunity to buy good quality bedding, border and vegetable plants at reasonable prices and at a seasonal time of year in the comfortable surroundings of Granborough Village Hall.
This annual event is being held tomorrow, Saturday at 2.30pm, and is renowned for the quality and variety of plants.
You can also relax with a cup of tea and homemade cake. Plants may be ordered in advance or afterwards by telephoning Malcolm Newman on 07710 189575.
If you cannot see what you want on the day then orders will be taken at that time.

Great Horwood
MAD MARCH HARE FUN RUN: THE fun run committee would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in this year's fun run.
We raised a fantastic amount for the school which will be used to buy more outside equipment for the children to enjoy.
A number of the committee have resigned due to other commitments and unless we can replace them, it will be impossible to continue with the event.
This was the sixth year of this event and around £12,000 has been raised for the school over this period.
If you are interested in keeping this annual tradition alive please contact John or Lois O'Reilly on 01296 715109 as soon as possible.
PARISH COUNCIL: SIX members of the public attended the meeting.
Requests have been received from many residents for a pathway to be installed at the top of Nash Road, opposite Chapel House.
The parish council is delighted to announce that a pathway will be installed and it will be completed sometime during the financial year.
No objections have been received to the proposed change of use of the recreation ground so it was agreed to go ahead and get quotes to clear the site and make it ready for the new allotments.
No further progress has been made at this stage on the final proposal for a replacement tree on the green.
If you have any items that you wish to bring up, please contact either the parish clerk or any councillor.
WI NEWS: In April our fundraising event was a home-cooked meal.
May's meeting was about seasonal plants and there was a plant sale at the end of the evening.
We welcome visitors, so do come along, you will be made most welcome.
For details telephone Jeannie on 01296 713727.
WEDNESDAY GROUP: OUR meetings are open to all women in the village and are usually on the third Wednesday in the month when we meet either at the home of a member or in one of the pubs.
For our May meeting on Wednesday, May 20 we are visiting Liz's Art Gallery in Woodstock.
Meet on the Green, Great Horwood at 6.40pm.
BABY & TODDLER GROUP: THE Great Horwood Baby and Toddler Group meets every Wednesday afternoon, term-time only, between 1.15pm and 2.45pm in Great Horwood Village Hall.
The first visit is free and return visits cost £1.50 for the first child and 50p for each extra child.
GREAT HORWOOD PRE-SCHOOL: TOMORROW, Saturday, will be a fun day from 11am until 2pm with many activities on offer.
There are posters up around the village with all details of this event.
If you are interested in your child coming to Great Horwood Pre-School please telephone 01296 714998 or 07999 806961
Kim Knibbs
CRICKET CLUB: AFTER all the hard work in the closed season we are finally ready to play cricket.
Junior coaching sessions have started, with Under 15s on a Thursday from 6.30pm until 8pm; and Under 12s on Fridays at the same time.
Match days and training days can be very busy, so if you could help with umpiring, scoring or coaching or travel to away games then please come up to the club at the above times or contact me (details below).
We can offer pitchside advertising, matchball sponsorship or adverts on our website.
We will be holding more social events during the season, so look out for posters around the village and future details will be in Focus and this column.
Social membership is available for just £10.
For information on any of the above contact Gary Lee, Hon Secretary, on 01296 712772 or email garymlee1@hotmail.com or visit the website www.greathorwoodcc.com.
FOOTBALL CLUB: THE recently-held race night run jointly with Great Horwood's cricket club was a great night enjoyed by all.
Our thanks to everyone who supports us at this event.
The football club is looking to extend the land used by the club as the club continues to grow with the junior teams.
Also the club is looking to carry out more extensive work at the pitch over the next few months and will need help and assistance in many ways.
Activity on the agenda included improvements to the car parking area, more land to accommodate all the local players, pitch levelling and improvement to current facilities such as the toilets and storage.
If you can help in any way contact Eddie on 01296 712980 or email chairman@greathorwoodfc.co.uk.

Leckhampstead
VILLAGE HALL: OVER the next Bank Holiday weekend (May 23,24 & 25) the village of Leckhampstead will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of the building of the village hall.
A small army of some 60 scarecrows will be found all over the village and in the church.
Numerous stalls and displays will take you back in time as you walk through the village.
Lunches and teas will be served in the village hall and a licensed beer tent will be outside the old pub.
Everything will be open from noon until 5pm on each day of the event and everyone is welcome. Our MP John Bercow and the mayor elect of Buckingham, Hedley Cadd, with the trustees of the village hall, will be in the village at 3pm on the Saturday and will say a few words at that time.
On Saturday night join the village in their celebrations at the '60s Night. A light supper is included in the £10 ticket. A licensed bar will be available.
Tickets are available from The Dukes Music, Thelma Spragg 01280 860340 or Judy Sharpe 01280 860499.
A sponsored horse ride will take place from 9.30am to 11am on Sunday, May 24. Further details from Debbie Boyce on 01280 860343.
On Monday, at 2pm, there will be a teddy bears' picnic with the Buckingham jester to entertain the children. A large bouncy castle will be there each day.
The Leckhampstead Hand Bell Ringers will be playing on Sunday and Monday.
Displays include a WWII camp, vintage vehicles, sheep dog demonstration, dogs for the disabled, scarecrow wedding and village memorabilia.
All the stalls will be under cover.
A few stalls are still available for details phone Lynda Penn on 01280 860649 or visit www.leckhampsteadvillage.co.uk.

Lillingstone Lovell
OPEN GARDENS WEEKEND: THIS popular event is taking place on Saturday and Sunday, May 30 and 31 from noon to 6pm.
Discover more than 20 village gardens and visit our historic 13th century church with a colourful flower displays themed on traditional old English folk songs.
A milking demonstration will take place at Valley Farm and John Starsmore's Model Village working farm machinery will be on display throughout the day. A great value afternoon with admission of just £4, children under 16 free of charge.

Maids Moreton
CHURCH SERVICES: THERE is a service of Holy Communion at 8am followed by a rogation service at 10.30am which will be held (weather permitting) at the allotments which are next to the Equine Clinic.
There is some shelter there and also some chairs but you may wish to bring your own.
Searchlights should meet at Maids Moreton School.
The People With Faith group will meet at Maids Moreton School between 10.30am and 11.30am.
WHIST DRIVE: THE next Whist Drive will be held in the village hall on Friday, May 22, in the village hall at 7.30pm.
BEER FESTIVAL: THE Wheatsheaf public house in Maids Moreton will be holding a beer festival between Saturday, May 23 and Monday, May 25.
The festival will begin at noon each day and, weather permitting, a barbecue will be held in the garden.
PARISH COUNCIL ANNUAL MEETING: THE annual meeting of the parish council was held on Wednesday, May 6, and was attended by the full council.
Among various issues discussed, mention was made of the beautiful condition of the Rose Garden at the junction of Main Street and Foscote Road and thanks were extended to Geoff Viccars for the hard work and effort he has put in for so many years maintaining the garden.
The next meeting is on June 3 at 8pm.
Residents are always welcome to attend.
WHEATSHEAF QUIZ EVENING: THE next quiz evening will be on Monday, May 25 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.
PRE-SCHOOL: Maids Moreton Pre-school is still collecting any old unwanted mobile phones as they can be recycled in the Phones 4 Schools recycling scheme and raise much needed funds for the school.
If you can help with this worthy cause please call Alice McVeigh, lead practitioner on 824989 or drop off the phones during school times.
GRUMBLE GRANGE GROUP: THE next Grumble Grange meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 19 at 7.30pm.
SOUP LUNCH: THERE is a soup lunch today, Friday, in the village hall at 12.15pm for 12.30pm.
MERRYMAKERS: THE first outing of the summer for the Merrymakers was a trip to Lichfield.
Arriving at 10.45am, members took coffee before heading for the magnificent cathedral which is more than 1,300 years old. The Samuel Johnson Museum proved to be popular, while the many different small shops were also a delight
The trip was an excellent day out and the next one is planned for June 3 heading for Stratford- upon-Avon leaving the village hall at 9am.
Anyone interested in joining the Merrymakers on this trip should call Bob on 814295.
WELLMORE & MAIDS MORETON CONSERVATION GROUP: SEVERAL members of this group undertook a sponsored ascent of Mount Snowdon using the Watkins Path, last weekend.
The 3,600 ft climb was arduous and difficult.
Michael Bailey, the expedition leader, was confident the climb should raise useful funds for assisting local activities. Photographs of the expedition will be posted shortly on the Maids Moreton Village website and on Michael Bailey's Facebook page.

Padbury
THE ANNUAL LAMB LUNCH: WE did order sunshine for the lamb lunch last Sunday in Fred Morrison's garden and it was indeed a beautiful day.
It was a great village get-together and a thoroughly enjoyable day.
Many thanks to Fred for supplying the lamb and to his team of helpers for organising the meal and dealing with the various tents and gazebos lent for the occasion.
CARE FOR A CUPPA OPEN DAY FOR DIABETES UK: TODAY, Friday, is when Jackie Bailey of Bijoux Jewellery and Tracey Sargent of Pretty Bags are holding a joint open day for Diabetes UK which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.
The event will help raise funds for further research into this disease which is becoming more and more prevalent.
The venue is Bennetts Farm, Main Street, Padbury, from 9.30am to 9.30pm and there will be refreshments and a raffle.
SPRING SAFARI SUPPER: THE Spring Safari Supper is tomorrow evening, Saturday, starting at the New Inn at 7.30pm.
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 check if any last minute tickets are still available, please ring Sue or Nick Fane on 01280 823976.
COFFEE MORNING: THERE will be a coffee morning on Friday, May 22, at Carlina Cottage, Old End, Padbury, from 10.30am at which all are welcome.
PADBURY BENEFIT SOCIETY: THE Padbury Benefit Society is well on course with the organisation of its feast celebrations over next weekend, May 23 to 25.
The Spring Dance will take place in the village hall on Saturday, May 23, with music from local band, Hotline, a buffet meal and a grand raffle.
Tickets are available from Tony Picketts on 01280 816063 and prices are £6 for adults and £3 for under 16s.
The church parade will leave the war memorial at 5.45pm on Sunday, May 24, led by the Great Horwood Silver Band and, together with the society's banner, will proceed to the church for the traditional evensong service at 6pm.
Following the church service and subject to the weather, the Great Horwood Band will perform a concert outside the Blackbird Inn and the evening will conclude up at the New Inn with some traditional songs and music.
Monday, May 25, is the society's actual feast day and members and guests of the society will gather early in the morning at the village hall for the start of the feast day celebrations.
Unfortunately, the Great Horwood Band, which normally parades with society members around the village, is unable to be there on that day and the society's secretary and the committee are doing everything they can to find a band for the Monday morning.
Nothing has been confirmed as yet, so if anyone reading this article thinks they may be able to help, please contact Barry Picketts on 01280 824038 as soon as possible.
WINSLOW & DISTRICT ARTS SOCIETY: WADAS members' informal workshops will be held at the Studio, West Bourn, Main Street, Padbury, next Thursday and Friday, May 21/22 from 10am to 3pm on both days.
On Wednesday, June 10 (not
13th as stated in the recently issued Padbury magazine) the society will be visiting Buscot Park House and garden, a National Trust property, which contains fine paintings and furniture from the Faringdon Collection and an Italianate water garden designed by Harold Peto. Booking forms will be sent out shortly. Please contact the secretary, Alicia Vaux, on 01280 813733 if you have any questions.
PADBURY LOCAL AND FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY: FRANK Hartley is pleased to announce that the date of the next meeting is Thursday, May 28 starting at 7.30pm. It will be held at his home, South View, which is just opposite the school.
Newcomers will be most welcome, as will the regulars of course, and if you have any questions, please contact Frank on 07966 978882 or email frank.Hartley@sky.com.
TEDDY BEARS' PICNIC: ON Whit Sunday, May 31, there will be a service in St Mary's church at 11am to celebrate Baptism and this will be followed by a picnic in the Vicarage garden. Everyone who has been baptised in the last few years is especially welcome - as are all Teddy Bears a whatever age. Parents and brothers and sisters can come too and in fact everyone is invited! Bring your own picnic and drinks will be provided.
PADBURY SUMMER PLAYSCHEME: PADBURY Pre-School would like to run a playscheme throughout the summer holidays but they need to gather expressions of interest before they can confirm all the sessions.
Activities will include mask making, face painting, sports, arts and crafts, fun with fabric, movies, music and dance and parachute games.
Please contact padburypreschool@aol.co.uk by June 1 stating name, age and number of sessions (half day for three to four year olds) per week you would like your child or children to attend.
RAISING FUNDS FOR MAIN STREET PLAYGROUND: PLEASE collect all your old clothes, shoes, handbags, fabrics, towels and bedding (no duvets or pillows please) to help raise funds for new equipment for Main Street Playground.
Take your sacks (by Friday, June 5 please) to 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 on 821236, Julie Wrigley on 817368, Jennie Beebee on 814654, Elspeth Parkhouse on 813957, Debbie Gibbs on 815044 or Felicity Malkin on 820570.
BINGO & 100-1 CLUB: PLEASE note the next Bingo will be on Friday, June 5 and also that the charity raffle at the bingo last week was for the friendly society and not the Sick Benefit Society as stated by the Advertiser.
The new season for the 100-1 Club which raises funds for the upkeep of the village hall, also starts on June 5 with the draw for prizes taking place just before the start of the bingo session, so if you have not yet renewed your subscription or wish to join, please contact Shirley Lafford on 01280 812535, Carol Bloxham on 01280 812067 or Jean Stuchbury on 01280 822109.

Syresham
QUIZ NIGHT: THERE is a quiz in aid of CAFE (Creative Activities For the Elderly) in Syresham Village Hall, tonight, Friday, at 7.30pm.
Entry fee is £3 per person, or £10 per team of four.
Please bring your own refreshments, but tea and coffee is available.
GEORGE AND GERALD'S SALE AND COFFEE MORNING: THE next sale is tomorrow, Saturday, outside Syresham Chapel from 10.30am until 1.30pm. As always there will be bargains galore - toys, books, bric-a-brac, videos, furniture and plants with lots of new stock.
COFFEE MORNING: THERE will be a coffee morning in Brackley Town Hall on Friday, May 22, to raise money for Syresham Church Flower Festival which is being held as part of Syresham Scarecrow Festival Weekend on June 27/28. There will also be a garden stall, cakes and a raffle.
BARBECUE AND AUNT SALLY: SYRESHAM Sports and Social Club is having an Evening Barbecue and Aunt Sally at on Saturday, May 23.
The barbecue will start at 6pm and the Aunt Sally will start when cricket finishes.

Thornborough
THORNBOROUGH-10 AND FUN RUN: THE turnout was good despite the overcast weather.
As the 10-mile runners set off a light drizzle started which was ideal for the runners.
As 11am approached a buzz of excitement rose up then the horn sent the five-mile fun runners chasing after the 10 milers.
The event had a great atmosphere, the Two Brewers was lively and the barbecue, after a slow start, eventually sold out. The green was buzzing with spectators who cheered and clapped the 10-milers as they passed by on their second lap, shortly followed by the first fun runners coming in to the finish.
The race secretary (see website for contact details) would like Barry Simons and Alex Bowden to contact him to arrange getting their trophies and Louis Carter (10) to collect his water bottle.
A special mention for Adam Bonney, aged six, who finished in 01:35:29. Trophy winners were: Alan Roberts, Peter Wagland Cup; Zoe Thornburgh, Bernard Garbe Cup; Alex Bowden, Thornborough Contractors Cup; Tracy Galbraith, Vitalograph Cup; Barry Simons, Keith Murdoch Salver; Hilary Stotesbury, Keith Murdoch Salver; Derek Thomas, Hilary Mason Cup; Roger Ostime, Roger Ostime Cup; Jessica Lee, Stotesbury Cup; George Lee, Harry Crawt Memorial Cup.
For full listing of results and a link to the official photographs of all runners (free to view, no obligation to buy) please visit our website on www.bucksinfo.net/tssc
Finally the organisers would like to thank every one of the dozens of marshals, time keepers, water stations and other workers on the event.
Without your help and skill we could not hold this popular event with such safety.
THORNBOROUGH INFANT SCHOOL SPRING FAYRE: MAYPOLE dancing, tombola, teddy stall and a raffle - just some of the attractions at Thornborough Infant School's Spring Fayre which takes place tomorrow, Saturday, from 2pm to 4pm.
There will be afternoon teas, a plant stall and lots more. The event takes place in the school grounds on the High Street, Thornborough.
Come along for a great afternoon of family fun.
PLANT & CAKE STALL: THERE will be a plant and cake stall outside the village hall from 10am to noon tomorrow, Saturday. Bring along your plants, any veg, flowers, houseplants, labelled if possible.
The money raised goes to putting on the Garden Show in September.
BINGO: THERE will be Bingo in the village hall today, Saturday, at 7.30pm. All welcome.

Tingewick
RAINBOWS: RAINBOWS meet at 6.30pm on Friday in Roundwood School (Tingewick site).
Contact Janet Bowden for more information on 01280 817052.
SCOUTS: SCOUTS meet at 8pm on Tuesdays in the village hall. Contact Roger Williams on 01280 847824 for more information or to find out about becoming a Scout leader.
CHURCH SERVICES: HOLY Communion will be held at 9.30am in St Mary Magdalene's in Tingewick this Sunday, May 17. Contact the Reverend Liz Simpson on 01280 704964 for more information.
RAF FINMERE: ON Wednesday, May 27, there will be a talk hosted by the Tingewick and Water Stratford Historical Society on the topic of RAF Finmere - or Tingewick Aerodrome as it's also known.
More details next week, or contact Jackie Nash on 01280 848431 for more information.
PAMPER EVENING: EARLY notice of the fantastically popular Tingewick Pre-school Pamper Evening.
It'll be back: bigger and better than ever on June 19.
Tickets will be on sale from the pre-school and members of the committee very shortly. This event sold out last year, so get it in your diaries now! For more information, contact Jackie on 01280 847862.

Twyford
TEDDY BEARS WEEKEND: THIS event is being held at St Mary's Church, Twyford, on Saturday and Sunday, June 6 and 7 from 2pm to 5pm.
Come and join us for lots of Teddy Bear themed fun.
Fantastic teddy displays, raffle, teddybear hunt, refreshments, tombola, competitions, biscuit decorating and face painting. Adults £2, children 50p.
Special Sunday Service at 11am to be followed by a teddy bears picnic, bring your own picnic.Drinks provided
VILLAGE HALL: THERE will be a Bring and Buy Sale at the village hall on Saturday, May 23 from 2pm. Afternoon tea and cakes.
Please donate unwanted items from your house, loft, garden or garage. Collection available.
For more information contact Liz Boardman on 738117.
PLANT SALE & CREAM TEA AFTERNOON: THIS event will take place on Sunday, May 17 from 2pm onwards in the village hall.

Wappenham
GARDEN PLANT SALE: THERE will be a Garden Plant Sale on Saturday, May 23 from 9am to noon at Clarissa House, High Street, Wappenham.
Free admission and good-value plants.
The sale is in aid of the Friends of St Mary's Church, Wappenham, which will help them do such things as purchase the graveyard extension and provide plumbing and a servery in the church.

Wicken
WICKEN SPORTS CLUB: REFURBISHMENT of the club is nearly finished and many villagers will already have noticed how good the outside of the building is looking.
The inside promises to be as good, if not better.
The oldest part of the club has been rebuilt and new windows and exterior doors provided.
The bar has also been revamped.
The heating has been altered and insulation improved, so the whole building will be warmer and more comfortable in winter.
We are lucky to have such good quality sports facilities in the village so the grand re-opening of Wicken Sports Club will be an event to remember.
The ceremony will be performed by none other than Pete Winkleman, Chairman of MK Dons!
The date for your diary is Friday, June 19 from 6pm.
There will be various sporting activities, refreshments and, of course, the refurbished bar will be open for business.
Further details will be available nearer the time.