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.

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.

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”.