Category Archives: Events

Half term fun for families in Bucks

Families looking for low-cost ideas to entertain their children during the upcoming February half-term need look no further than the local area for inspiration. Buckinghamshire’s libraries, leisure centres and museums have a wide range of events and activities taking place across the week.

A number of Bucks libraries are hosting events. Why not join the brass players of Alina Orchestra for a special kid’s version of Band in a Van? Children can take part in some fun interactive games and afterwards the band will invite attendees to shake some percussion, conduct the group or sing along to some popular songs.

The event is free and there is no need to book in advance:

  • Hazlemere Library: Thursday 16 February – 2pm to 3pm
  • Chesham Library: Thursday 16 February – 3:30pm to 4:30pm
  • Aylesbury Library: Friday 17 February – 10:30am to 11:30am
  • Princes Risborough Library: Friday 17 February – 1pm to 2pm

What about joining the Curious Investigators, Scribble and Clipboard on an exciting adventure as they sort through the recycling and discover a strange egg? This highly visual show is aimed at children aged between three and seven and is taking place at:

  • Bourne End Community Library: Thursday 16 February 11am and 2pm 
  • Burnham Community Library: Friday 17 February 11am and 2pm 
  • Aylesbury Library: Saturday 18 February 11am and 2pm
  • High Wycombe Library: Sunday 19 February 1pm 

Suggested donations are £5 per ticket. Tickets must be booked in advance and children need to be accompanied by an adult who must also have a ticket.  

Other libraries around the county will be hosting regular and extra activities during the week including Bounce and Rhyme, Explore Learning Workshops, Duplo and Lego play sessions, arts and crafts and book clubs. Most are free but sometimes booking is necessary. Visit the website for more details on what’s happening in your local library.

If you are looking for something more physical, leisure centres across Buckinghamshire have a wide variety of activities taking place this half term including:

  • Swimming crash courses at Swan Pool in Buckingham. Crash courses are designed to enable children to quickly develop their confidence and ability in the water and are available for a range of swimming abilities, catering for complete beginners, up to children who can swim up to 25 metres.
  • Family swimming sessions will be available throughout the half term holiday at Aqua Vale in Aylesbury and in Wycombe, Chalfont and Chiltern leisure centres.
  • Adventure climbing at Wycombe leisure centre.
  • Soft play at Chesham leisure centre.
  • Climbing and soft play at the Chilterns Lifestyle Centre in Amersham.
  • Fit for Sport holiday camps offering multi sports to messy arts and crafts at the Chilterns Lifestyle Centre.

More information can be found on the council’s website.

And don’t forget, Buckinghamshire’s museums have a wide selection of interesting and varied exhibitions and activities taking place ranging from craft workshops to an autism reality experience in Aylesbury.

Clive Harriss, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure said: “Our libraries, leisure centres and museums offer a wide range of fun activities and events aimed at children and families throughout the year. During school holidays there is even more to choose from with the majority of activities at affordable prices and some are free, which is great news for everyone. And if you just want some fresh air and exercise, then I’d recommend visiting Waddesdon Greenway, or one of our country parks and green flag parks.”

There are also lots of other activities and events taking place around the county during half term. Visit Buckinghamshire Family Information Service website to find out what’s on. You can search for events based on location, age group, and type of activity.

“Beacons of the Past’ a talk by Dr Wendy Morrison – Friday 28th May 7.30pm

The HVRA is an affiliated organisation to the High Wycombe Society; their next event sounds very interesting indeed. You and your neighbours are welcome to join, via zoom, a talk on Friday May 28th. at 7.30pm by Dr Wendy Morrison of Chilterns AONB “Beacons of the Past”.

The link to the talk is given below and is open from 7.15pm.

Archaeologist Dr Wendy Morrison’s research areas are Prehistoric European Archaeology and Landscape Archaeology. Closer to home, Wendy leads the Chilterns ‘Beacons of the Past’ project. Her work seeks to engage and inspire communities to discover, conserve, and enjoy what is around us and the unique Iron Age hillforts and their prehistoric chalk landscapes. The Chilterns has one of the largest collections of hillforts in the UK, yet many are poorly preserved, and little is known about them. Luckily, several of these hillforts are accessible from the Ridgeway. A key part of Wendy’s project is the largest LiDAR survey ever flown for archaeology in this country, and one of the largest in the world! Images are captured with a laser scanner mounted on a small plane that captures information about the ground below; revealing intriguing ‘lumps and bumps’, such as hillforts, that are hidden by tree cover and other vegetation. Wendy is also a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries.

Would you please pass this message on to as many residents as possible in your road in case they wish to zoom in.

The link to this meeting is:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7211505280

If the link does not work, open or download the Zoom application (it’s free) and enter Meeting ID: 721 150 5280 (no passcode required)

For those with limited technical facilities it will be possible to hear the proceedings by phone: 0203 051 2874 – enter the meeting ID on your keypad followed by # as instructed.

The session opens at 7.15pm to allow time for people to join and resolve any little niggling technical issues, and people can stick around for a chat after the talk and questions if they so wish. Sorry, but everyone will have to provide their own tea/coffee and biscuits!

Your village store and coffee shop has been nominated for the 2020 Countryside Alliance Award in the Village Shop/Post Office category.

countryside_alliance
From: “Louise Jones” <louisej@operamail.com>
Subject: Help us win the Rural Oscars 2020!
Date: 24 November 2019 at 18:21:22 GMT
To: “Shop Manager” <shopmanager@valleyshop.org>, “Louise Jones” <louisej@operamail.com>

Dear all Members and supporters,

We are delighted to advise that your village store and coffee shop has been nominated for the 2020 Countryside Alliance Award in the Village Shop/Post Office category.  The process now needs supporters and customers to add to the nomination process by going on-line to nominate and describe the benefits of the village shop.

It would be fantastic if we could get through to the next round and hope that you are able to support our nomination.  You can find out all about the awards and nominate by clicking on https://www.countryside-alliance.org/nominate?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIiN6j5tr45QIVgrTtCh0XgQfQEAAYASAAEgJ7HPD_BwEThe deadline for nominations is 8th December 2019.

As well as the section on your reason for nomination, there is also some factual information that you will need to complete which is as below: 

Name of business to be nominated: ‘Hughenden Village Store and Coffee Shop (Hughenden Valley Community Shop)’

Address:  Hughenden Village Store and Coffee Shop, Village Hall Car Park, Coombe Lane, Hughenden Valley, Bucks, HP14 4NX
(In case you need any reminders about how your community shop helps the community – It:

  • Is a hub of the community providing a 7 day service and meeting place for customers,
  • Sells many local products helping 16 local small businesses,
  • Provides free home deliveries to the elderly and housebound,
  • Provides donations such as Hampers and Cream Tea for Two vouchers to other local groups and schools for their fundraising events,
  • Often reunites owners with lost property and lost dogs (!),
  • Hosts and provides a venue for small parties such as baby showers, anniversaries and birthday celebrations,
  • Hosts evening charitable support groups,
  • Offers valuable work experience for approximately 25 Duke of Edinburgh students every year,
  • Provides a welcoming, safe and cosy place to meet for local residents and the surrounding community and for children to wait for parents after school ,
  • Serves an all-day hot food menu in the coffee shop,
  • Provides free wifi for business working
  • Provides employment for 7 staff and a great working environment and friendship group for a team of volunteers, promoting confidence, experience and companionship,
  • Has a shop choir made up of staff and volunteers,
  • Aims to be environmentally aware and use paper straws and eco-friendly takeaway cups and lids wherever we can.

We thank you very much for your support and will keep you posted on our progress.

Best regards,

Louise Jones, Hughenden Village Store and Coffee Shop

HVRA Senior Citizens’ Treat, 22nd June

Please make sure that all our older residents know about this event.

It will take place in the Village hall, doors open at 5.00 p.m. and runs until 8.30 p.m.

There will be food and drinks and entertainment.

Forms for registering will be circulated, but it does no harm to let your Road Representative know that you’d like to come along.

POTTER CUP QUIZ 2019 Saturday 16th March 2019 ‘NOW IT’S SPRING’

Dear Potential Quizzers and Supporters of the Hughenden Valley Potter Cup Quiz,

As most of you are aware the Potter Quiz was, for a number of reasons moved from the Autumn to the Spring.

So this year’s quiz is on SATURDAY 16th MARCH.

We are again following the approach of continuing to make it less complex to allow more time for socialising.

Also the price has once again been maintained at only £10 per person and this includes the good quality buffet. Please remember that the proceeds from the Potter Quiz are ‘ring fenced’ for the Senior Citizens function which will be held in the Summer.

More details of the Potter Quiz event are:

  • DATE: Saturday 16th March 2019
  • TIME: 7.00 for 7.30 prompt start
  • THEME: ‘NOW IT’S SPRING’
  • COST:  £10 per head, which will include a good quality buffet
  • TEAM SIZE: Optimum size 8 please, but a little bit of leeway is allowed
  • TEAM NAME: Your choice
  • FANCY DRESS (Linked to the Theme): Optional
  • DRINKS: Bring your own drinks & glasses

Would you please advise me if you would like to put in a team, together with the likely numbers so that we can organise food, etc.

If you do have any related queries please don’t hesitate to contact me.

 

ALSO PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD TO YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Thanks for your support

Kind Regards
Al

Albert Bowyer
albert.bowyer@btinternet.com
Phone: 01494 562862
Mobile: 07807 776461