Hughenden Valley Residents Association

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  • Valley Wives Report June 2014

    From Joan Steel

    This month’s talk was was from Marie Cates, an early retired ex-Primary School Head Teacher from Shropshire, who applied to do Voluntary Service Overseas. Her first work was at Nabongo in Uganda where she worked with Nabongo Primary School teachers to set up learning centres. Twenty teachers were trained and sent out on very long journeys to remote schools. Marie went to a township/village of very small shacks where people lived in extreme poverty. Here she committed herself to two years teaching and was housed in a very small hut. She was welcomed by a very large family with 28 children, some of whom had lost their parents to Aids. The head of the family was the village Elder, through whom she learned a great deal and met many good people who were very hospitable but lived very tough lives in extreme poverty. There was no water except that carried from muddy streams, which caused diseases. Also there was no electricity. Subsistence farming meant backbreaking work had to be done in the fields. Oxen were used for ploughing and cattle were reared and sometimes sold for school fees, burials etc., also to buy lamp oil, salt and sugar. The children worked very hard doing washing, cleaning, preparing vegetables and carrying water. There would be 100 to 200 children in a class. They would sit on the dusty floor and the teacher would have only one piece of chalk. All learning was done in English even though it was not spoken at home. Few went on to secondary school because they could not afford fees for tuition or uniform and equipment.

    To visit all the schools, Marie needed transport and had to buy and learn to ride a motorbike, which was very difficult to ride over dusty roads covered in loose stones. Now with Gift Aid, self-sustaining community projects are being set up to improve the quality of life eg agricultural projects such as bee keeping, tomato growing, and rearing goats and poultry. There is also computer training, antenatal classes and new mothers are supplied with Mama Bags. A.V.S. promotes self help and people are encouraged to work in groups. Training is given to young people to use donated renovated tools, sewing machines etc. to enable them to find jobs, which is a good way to improve their quality of life. Marie travels out to Uganda three times a year with A.V.S.to oversee the many ongoing projects and to give advice and support as well as reporting back to the fundraising committees here. Marie found it very valuable work to do in her retirement.

    We thanked Marie warmly for her interesting talk, and she answered many questions at coffee time. On July 4th we have a talk on “Hearing Dogs for the Deaf” and on 19th July we are serving tea and cakes at Village Day. Members are being asked to bring cakes to the main hall kitchen at 10 am. On August 1st we have our Pot Luck Supper in the small hall. Please bring food drink, cutlery, plate, bowl and glass and enjoy a pleasent evening with the ” Valley Friends”.

    The next main meeting of the Valley Friends is an open meeting on 5th Sept in theVillage hall at 8pm. “The History of the Royal Flight” by Mr G. Laurie M.V.O.

  • Village Day Update

    Latest news about Village Day 2014 here. More on the Village Day 2014 page including details of the Barn Dance, the Photographic Competition, and the Bunting Extravaganza, plus the order form for Village Day T-shirts and mugs.

  • History of Uplands

    Marion Miller has kindly sent a copy of her fascinating History of Uplands. Here’s a short extract from the Introduction:

    For nearly 100 years Uplands was a gentleman’s country residence owned successively by three different families. After 1956 it began a new existence as a training centre; new buildings were added but the old house remained substantially unaltered. In the early 1980s Uplands was given a new lease of life. The service end of the original house was demolished and the front range became the centre of a radical new development, blending the best of the old with innovative modern design by one of the country’s leading architectural practices. The philosophy extended to the grounds with new landscaping complimenting historic garden features and planting. The recent expansion of the use of the complex to a hotel and conference centre has made Uplands more accessible to a wider audience, enhancing its value as a community asset.

    This report covers the history of Uplands during four periods, 1858-1900, 1900-1935, 1935-1956 and 1956 onwards. It then discusses the contribution made by the architects of the buildings and concludes with recommendations for further research, acknowledgements and finally the sources used by the writer.

    The full document is here.

  • Valley Wives May Report

    From Joan Steel

    “Changes in Cilterns Wildlife over One Million Years” was a very interesting talk with slides given by John Tyler. He explained how each chapter in the story does not wipe out the earlier ones. The original tropical seas still influence wildlife today because as they dried up clay was formed which is where bluebells thrive today, and as ponds formed toads flourished as now. Gradually trees re-established themselves eg silver birches which have light seeds that are produced in millions became blown about in the wind. A certain fungi that only grows on birch has been used as an antisceptic since stone-age times.

    Oaks took a long time to establish as they are dependent on jays to spread acorns. Much later, forests of a variety of trees became places where nomads lived and started to make flint tools. Open areas were formed in the forests and nomads became settlers who grew food and kept animals. John’s talk included many other developments in the formation of the Chilterns we see today and how the history is recorded in the geology of the area, even showing that bison once lived here. Fossils show how chalk and flint is formed of dead sea creatures that became compressed into stones, and layers of chalk where Chiltern grassland now flourishes, containing more plant species than in the whole of the rest of Britain. The Chiltern gentian is confined to the area also many rare wild orchids and heliborines grow here. Wild plants attract rich wildlife of all kinds eg butterflies slow worms, squirrels, birds deer and now kites.

    John showed us many interesting examples of fossils and also his lovely photographs on cards, of wildlife and scenes in the Chilterns. John was warmly thanked for his fascinating talk. We are sure now to have many interesting “Chiltern” things to look out for on 14th May our evening ramble.

    Jill gave us the dates of coming events, particularly 19th July Village Day when members are invited to join the parade as V.W ‘s 60’s Hippies. Doreen is taking names on the reserve list for the visit to the Law Courts in Aylesbury. Jill thanked everyone who had contributed to our successful Afternoon Tea on 6th May. Please join us at our next meeting on 5th June. There will be a plant stall as well as our new handmade jewellery stall. On the weekend of 22nd June Barbara’s Exhibition of Art can be seen at Marlow Place, Station Rd. Marlow, everyone invited.

  • HAGA 30th May: The Geology of the Chilterns

    From Joanna Hughes

    This month’s talk on Friday 30th May is on The Geology of the Chilterns by Jill Eyers in Hughenden Village Hall starting at 8pm. All welcome.

  • Letter re HS2 from David Liddington MP

    Following the vote in favour of the HS2 Hybrid Bill in Parliament last week, David Liddington has written the following letter to those constituents and groups who have previously contacted him about HS2. I’m sure he doesn’t mind us publishing it here for the benefit of those who have not seen it. His key message is that he believes that he can better serve our interests by remaining in Government and lobbying for improvements to the HS2 scheme – specifically for greater tunnelling beneath the Chilterns – but that he will resign if he is not able to achieve this. The text of his letter is:

    Dear xxx,

    As you will know, on Monday the House of Commons voted overwhelmingly in favour of the High Speed Rail Bill by 452 votes to 41 votes, a majority of 11 to 1. This was not a surprise. The leaders of all the main political parties, down to and including the Scottish Nationalists, support the project. The scale of that cross-party majority means that overwhelming support in Parliament for HS2 will remain throughout this Parliament and the next. The only way that would change is if one or both of the two big parties were to change its policy.

    Like you, I have enormous concerns about the project. I have profound doubts not only about its environmental impact, but also about the business case behind it. I fought as hard as I possibly could within the Government to present the case against HS2 and I also made sure that every argument put by my constituents was presented forcefully to Transport Ministers and others.
    Since you first elected me, over two decades ago, I have always tried to act in your best interests. I believe I am doing so now. The reality is I cannot stop HS2. There are too few of us opposed, and too many others in favour. I know it would be popular for me to have voted against HS2. But doing so would not have stopped it going ahead or dented the 11 to 1 majority in favour – and would have damaged my ability to do what is best for the local area. HS2 will have an impact not only on people living in our area, but also on future generations. My duty is to do my utmost to protect our local communities and landscapes along the route.

    Some of the most critical issues concerning HS2 are still to be decided. For example, decisions on where there will be additional tunnelling, noise reduction, landscaping and screening in particular locations still need to be taken. Important questions remain unresolved on compensation as well, especially on the scope of the Need to Sell scheme which needs to be a lot more wide-ranging than the Hardship Scheme. The rules currently proposed for compensation to business and to small landlords also need improvement. Add to that the issue of how we can get some benefits for our area, like a good share of HS2 apprenticeships and contracting opportunities, as well as improvements to our local road and rail infrastructure. People in Buckinghamshire are being expected to shoulder a very heavy cost for a project that will bring no direct benefit to our area. It’s only right and fair that we should seek both to limit the costs and secure benefits to individuals and communities as compensation.

    I thought long and hard about what I should do at Second Reading. I came to the conclusion that while resigning and voting with the small minority who opposed the Bill would win me some short-term applause, it would make no difference to HS2 being approved at Second Reading, but would harm my chance of getting the Government to accept the changes that local campaigners are seeking. Previous issues that I have championed to Ministers include the extension of the Wendover Green Tunnel and the Stoke Mandeville bypass, which are excellent ideas put forward by local people and are now included within the Scheme. I therefore kept to a very longstanding official visit on behalf of the Government, which had the effect of me abstaining on the Second Reading vote. As you may be aware, Cheryl Gillan, the MP for Chesham and Amersham, said in her speech during the debate that it is important to have MPs fighting the corner for local communities both within the Government and on the backbenches.
    Decisions about HS2 are taken in Government, by Ministers I work with every day. Last week, I saw the Chancellor of the Exchequer one-to-one and talked several times to the Transport Secretary about changes that you, my constituents, want to see. I am in a better position to do that, as a fellow member of the Government, than I would be as a backbencher, especially one who had deliberately walked out.

    Patrick McLoughlin’s speech on 28 April did include some of what I wanted. He committed himself to look at further noise mitigation and screening for Western Aylesbury (i.e. from Hawkslade to Fairford Leys) and to making it possible for St Mary’s Wendover to continue as a concert venue and place of worship. I was also pleased by his commitment to continue to work with the National Trust on their idea for land bridges across the line and the reference to Aylesbury UTC getting a share of the training college for HS2.

    On compensation, the Secretary of State has now said at the Despatch Box that the Need to Sell scheme is not just a relabelled Hardship Scheme but is intended to be more generous.
    I was also pleased by Mr McLoughlin’s comments that he has made it clear to both his department and HS2 Ltd that there is no place for talk about luddites and NIMBYS and that those affected by HS2 must be respected. I had explained both to him and the Prime Minister how wounding and offensive local people have found that kind of language when it has been used in the past. I hope and expect that we do see the change in attitude that Mr McLoughlin has demanded.
    These concessions are welcome, but this is not enough. As we go forward to the Select Committee and later Commons stages of the Bill, I shall not rest in pressing for more.

    I have already discussed in detail with local campaign groups and parish councils the improvements to mitigation and compensation that they want to see and I will continue to lobby my utmost to secure them.
    One big issue in particular stands out. It is clear to me that a further tunnel is the only way to provide real mitigation for the Chilterns landscape, and more importantly for the people in Dunsmore, Wendover Dean and Wendover.
    The Bill will now be scrutinised by a Parliamentary Committee, which will recommend improvements. I will argue strongly that a tunnel is essential.

    Unless a tunnel, and other satisfactory mitigation measures, and compensation arrangements are agreed, I will not be able to remain a member of the Government and will vote against the Bill before it leaves the House of Commons.

    Yours sincerely,
    David Lidington
    Member of Parliament for Aylesbury

  • HAGA 25th April: The Wonder of Trees

    From Joanna Hughes
    This month’s HAGA talk is “The Wonder of Trees” by John Cornwall on Friday 25th April in Hughenden Village Hall starting at 8pm. All welcome.

  • Senior Citizens Event – Saturday 21st June

    From Rosemary Hewitt

    PLEASE MAKE A NOTE IN YOUR DIARY to come along to the Village Hall at 5.00pm on Saturday, 21st June when you will enjoy a wonderful buffet and entertainment – and it’s all free!

    I am delighted that the Lamp House Singers, a Bucks-based close harmony ensemble of 13 young ladies who have a passion for singing, will be coming along to entertain you in their own inimitable style. The group is led by vocal coach Julie Gossage who trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and has performed with both the Welsh and English National Operas. I have already passed on a list of some of your favourite songs so that they can be included in their concert.

    Please respond to the Senior Citizen Party Invitation when it drops through your letter box in the coming weeks and let your Road Rep or me know if you wish to attend by completing the Invitation giving your name, address, phone number and whether or not you require transport.

    I look forward to seeing you on the 21st June.

    Rosemary Hewitt
    Event Co-ordinator (Tel No: 562752)

  • Valley Wives March Report

    From Susan Sharp

    Our March meeting began with Jill telling us of future dates to make a note of. The first being, 6th May, in the Small village hall when Valley Wives will be inviting Residents for tea and cake from 2.30pm – 4.30pm. Wednesday, 14th May is our evening ramble. Meeting at 7.0pm in the Village Hall car park. There was a reminder of Village Day on 19th July, when we will be taking part. A visit to Wycombe Magistrates’ Court has been arranged for 20th October, from 09.30 – 12.30pm. Please let Doreen know if you are interested, as numbers are limited.

    Jill then switched on the music for our Speaker and Tina-Louise made her entrance giving us her “Belly Dancing Demo” in a beautiful peach and green Mermaid costume and veil and playing finger cymbals to her dance.

    Tina-Louise told us a little of the history of belly dancing, it being around for thousands of years. It was used by women and children as a celebration of the female body in their own homes.

    It was at College that Tina-Louise began belly dancing for a hobby and she found herself covering for the teacher when she was away. She had always loved Hawaiian Hula music that her father listened to. Tina-Louise studied Theatre Costume at College, making dresses for the Opera. After College she made wedding dresses, but found she needed to meet more people and decided to become an Avon lady. In talking to her customers she found there was an interest in starting a belly dancing group and so she
    started a class of her own, showing the members how to make their own costumes.

    We were shown pictures of her Troup in action and the stunning costumes they wear when performing for bookings for Cabarets etc. She also brought along her own costumes for us to see, In wonderful colours and textures with beading work.

    Tina-Louise has been dancing for 19 years and runs classes in High Wycombe, Beaconsfield and Chesham. Information on http://www.tinalouisebellydance.co.uk for classes and booking of her Troupe The Bellyrinas.

    Finally we were asked to participate, and rather reluctantly we got up and tried to move our shoulders, first one, then the other, until we got a rhythm and then brought our hips into action at the same time. Having tried it, we found it was much harder than it looks. We were told it is very good for helping women in childbirth and after, and for maintaining flexibility it is recommended for older people. Tina-Louise was thanked for a very interesting and entertaining evening.

    Our next meeting is on May 2nd when John Tyler will be telling us about “The Changing Wildlife of the Chilterns”.

  • HVRA AGM Tuesday 20th May

    The Annual General meeting of the Hughenden Valley Residents Association will be held in the Small Village Hall on Tuesday 20th May starting at 7.30pm. Business will include the Chairman and Treasurer’s reports, and the election of the officers for the coming year. All members are encouraged to attend – it’s your residents association. By way of a small inducement, there will be cheese and wine afterwards! Details of how to nominate candidates for the positions of Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer and secretary will be in the next edition of Hughenden News, which will be delivered soon.