From Joan Steel

Jill welcomed all members to our AGM and 48th Birthday and gave a particularly warm welcome to new members, Rose, Jennifer and Judy. We also welcomed the return of Elizabeth one of our previous leaders, as well as Pam our guest. We were delighted to have our treasurer Jo with us who is recovering well from her illness.

In her report, Jill recalled highlights of the years varied programme of high standard talks and enjoyable activities and outlined the interesting programme to look forward to in the coming year. Jill thanked the committee members for their work during the year and Margaret presented Jill with a gift and thanked her on our behalf for her friendship to us all and her dedicated work over many years to keep the group active and thriving. Doreen our temporary treasurer gave her report and Norma reported on our South Bucks Hospice Fund Raising. The proposal to keep the membership fee at £25 and visitors at £3 was accepted and also to continue supporting the S B.Hospice and Christmas donation to the MS Society. Jill and all the committee were re-elected and joined by Heather, a welcome new committee member.

Business having been completed we commenced supper, kindly made by Doreen and followed with Birthday cake and coffee and gifts were distributed. During the evening we had a quiz on naming the counties of England. Doreen gave us a map and list of county names and it was correctly completed by one group! We have a team entering the Potter Quiz on Oct 18th and our visit to the Law Courts is on 20th October.

The next meeting is on Friday 7th November and is a talk by Michael Hoey on “The Grand Canyon” There will be charity Christmas cards and wrapping paper etc for sale. Workaid have calenders for sale at £5. Please ask Barbara for details. Visitors are welcome to all our Meetings.

From Joan Steel
On July 4th we had Sue and Judith join us to speak about Hearing Dogs For Deaf People. Both Sue and Judith are volunteer fund raisers for the charity, a very important job as it gets no funding from the government. The charity has two training centres, one in Buckinghamshire at The Grange at Saunderton, and the other in Yorkshire. We learnt that nearly 10 million people in the UK experience some hearing loss which causes them to lose their sense of security, confidence and independence. Deafness is an invisible disability which can lead to isolation and loneliness as people withdraw, finding it increasingly hard to communicate. Lip-reading, sign language and hearing aids can help of course but for the profoundly deaf having a hearing dog can be truly life-changing. At the meeting we had Carol Ann with us, accompanied by her hearing dog, Marley, who she clearly adores.
She explained how he has given her confidence and independence, for example, she has an alarm in the bathroom so that when it goes off Marley can find her to tell her the bath is ready – and turn the taps off!

For every paid employee there are 10 volunteers and we met Peter who had brought along his current charge a delightful poodle called Brodie. Peter is a volunteer – a puppy socializer. He will have Brodie for 14-16 months, introducing him to different people and experiences, teaching him basic obedience and attending the fortnightly puppy classes with him.

Volunteers are needed to do regular dog walking duty, be tour guides at the centre, help out in the shop and fund raise and support events organized by the charity. The dogs are bred from the following ,Labrador, Golden Retriever, Cocker Spaniel and miniature Poodles and breeding dogs are looked after in the homes of volunteers . The puppies start their training from 8 weeks old . They are trained to be alert to sounds specific to the requirements of a deaf person, it may be the door bell, the phone, or the smoke alarm. This is very important but most of all the hearing dog becomes the best friend and trusted companion of the deaf person.

On August 1st it is our Pot Luck Supper and in September Mr Graham Laurie MVO, will be talking about The History of the Royal Flight.

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”.

Fron Norma Hill

Jill welcomed us all to the meeting but then had to give the worrying news that our treasurer, Josie Hutton, was very poorly in hospital. Josie works tirelessly for the group and our thoughts are with her and her family.

Our speaker for February was Pam Smith and her talk was entitled ‘Bits and Pieces’. Pam has lived all her life in Naphill and started researching her family history many years ago. She has unearthed so much information about past relatives that the many books and photo albums she brought along covered two trestle tables. So many familiar local surnames names appeared in Pam’s talk, perhaps one of the most famous was her great grandfather Walter William Newall, a well known marathon runner in the late 1800s. There is also a family connection with Eric Gill, well known for his sculptures, engravings and type fonts, who lived at Pigotts, Piggott’s Hill near Speen.

As well as being fascinated by Pam’s family history, we also learned much about Naphill, Walter’s Ash and the surrounding area. Naphill Village Hall was built in 1928 on land donated by Coningsby Disraeli. In 1841 300 people lived in Naphill. Naphill had two forges, a poorhouse and all the houses had wells until mains water was connected in the early 1930s. There was a large poorhouse in Saunderton, where The Clare Foundation is now sited.

The three main industries in Naphill and Walter’s Ash were brick making, stone cutting and chalk mining. There were many chalk pits in the area between Forge Road (formerly known as Short Road) and the Bradenham Road. Once the men finished extracting the chalk a tree trunk was lowered into the hole, unfortunately, over time these have rotted away allowing voids to occur. In the past week one such chalk pit in Main Road, Walters Ash opened up and swallowed a car, luckily no one was hurt.

Our next meeting is on 7th March when our speaker will be Philip Littlejohn whose talk is entitled ‘Titanic – A Survivor’s Story’. This is an open meeting so all are most welcome.

From Joan Steel
Jill welcomed us all to the meeting and gave a particularly warm welcome to former members Margery Jenkins and Anne Nesbit. “Wartime Christmas” was the title of Edna’s talk, illustrated with slides and artefacts from the era. In her introduction, Edna spoke of her passion for social history. She met her husband when playing the part of an ARP warden in a war re-enactment play and now has three children who play with old fashioned toys as the whole family have become involved in historical things. They also have a 1930s house with all pre-war furniture and fittings, including an Anderson shelter.

Their home has been used for film sets and the kitchen was used by Margaret Pattern for doing a wartime cookery programme. The Cabinet War rooms were furnished partly from Edna’s collection of utility furniture. They have also sourced artefacts for Hughenden Manor’s wartime exhibition. The couple have varied careers connected with history and now also hold workshops for schoolchildren.

During her talk Edna outlined how lives changed in 1939. The traditional family Christmas was not possible as most children were evacuated. Evacuee parties took place and were especially enjoyed if held at an American air base where there was no rationing, lots of sweets, presents and food! Food rationing became more and more severe as the war progressed and was all controlled by the Ministry of Food. People were encouraged to rear chickens and pigs that were fed on scraps and some farmers were allowed to rear geese. Fashions changed, women altered to wearing trousers as they worked in factories or on farms in the “Land Army”. Everyone was encouraged to grow food in the Dig for Victory campaign. Recipes were adapted to make Christmas cakes, puddings etc with unusual ingredients to replace those on ration. Advice was given on preservation of food by bottling, pickling and drying. Bell-ringing was banned as it was used as a warning of an invasion There was none of the usual glow about Christmas because of the Blackout, no light was to be shown from windows or outbuildings, no Chrstmas tree lights, fireworks , bonfires, torches etc, and car headlamps had to be hooded. Christmas trees were only allowed in public places eg hospitals, shelters, underground stations and were decorated to boost morale, which was as important at home as in the forces. Petrol was rationed so people took holidays at home, mostly working eg on harvesting. Clothes were rationed on coupons, possibly enough to provide one outfit per year. “Make Do and Mend” was the slogan. Most clothes were altered or the cloth reused, knitted jumpers were undone and reknitted into socks gloves hats etc. People gave practical gifts eg things for comfort in the air raid shelters, eg sleeping bags, torches, books, siren suits, games, gas mask bags or tins, home-made gifts were treasured and particularly food, also soap’ bath salts and tooth paste were really appreciated. War bonds and war savings were good gifts that could be cashed after the war. Paper was in short supply, recycled and poor quality, thus affecting the sale of Christmas cards. Edna showed us a wide range of interesting literature of the time, plus slides, photographs, games and toys which, for some, brought back memories of harsh, although happy days when everything was fun (except the long bitterly cold winters when the novelty of sledging had worn off!).

Edna was warmly thanked for a most interesting evening. Please join us for our next meeting on10th January in the Small Hall. Wishing You All a Happy New Year

From Joan Steel
This month we had our AGM followed by a supper and games to celebrate the 47th Birthday of the Valley Wives, originally named the Valley Young Wives, reflecting its then connection with the younger members of the Mother’s Union. Following the general notices, Jill gave the Leader’s Report, bringing back memories of the many interesting and enjoyable evening meetings and occasions we have shared this year, and asked us to encourage friends and neighbours to join us as she outlined our varied future programme, which includes a local history talk with memorabilia, a visit to the hearing dog centre. and a belly dancing evening. Jill thanked the committee members for their loyalty and hard work throughout the year. On behalf of all the members, Margaret presented Jill with flowers and chocolates to thank her for her tireless leadership, dedication and friendship to us all. Doreen read the treasurers report for Josie, saying that our fund raising efforts e.g. Dinner Theatre and monthly raffle, enabled us to keep the Membership subscription at £25 with visitors paying £3. Norma reported that our stall in aid of South Bucks Hospice raised £334.75 and we were also able to make our usual £60 Christmas donation to the Multiple Sclorosis Society. Jill and all the committee members were willing to serve again and were voted in for another year. Business being concluded we commenced supper followed by a lovely bithday cake made by Josie. Presents were distributed, and a prize given to the table who had the most quiz answers correct. Membership subscriptions are due at the next meeting on November 1st when Keith Baldwin is giving a tallk entitled “All the Queens Horses and all the Queens Men”. New members welcome.

From Joan Steel
Several members were away on holidays, so Margaret chaired the July meeting and Janet took notes on the very enjoyable evening, a practical session, organised by Heather Cawthorn on making “Bling Brooches”. After a short demonstration, Heather supplied little cushions for members to decorate with ribbons, buttons, pieces of pretty material, beads and coloured threads plus anything that members had brought themselves. Heather gave help and encouragement. The finished brooches were arranged on a small table and made an amazing display of different designs and ideas. Everyone enjoyed the evening so much that they would like Heather to come again!

Mr Thomas Campbell, our speaker at the September meeting gave a slide talk on “Work Aid”. This project was started by twelve people at an Amersham church, 27 years ago who decided that they had to do something practical to help victims in the Ethiopian famine. The aid given provides refubished tools to enable people living in poverty to work and so earn a living to support a family. Work Aid not only supplies the “Tools for Life” but also ensures that the recipients have facilities for training to make the best use of the equipment. There are now over 200 volunteers, from all walks of life, who collect and refurbish tools for woodwork, metalwork, sewing machines, knitting equipment, drills, lathes, horticultural impliments, electrical equipment etc. Instruction is given to new volunteers and work is done to a schedule of requirments. Sixty represenatives in different parts of the country collect the refurbished goods, clean, test, check to prove that things are fit for purpose and pack equipment to ship to approved vocational projects in many deprived areas all over the world. The interesting slides showed the tools being used by men and women in remote villages. It is possible to have a guided tour of our local work centre and small shop (open Thur. ri and Sat 10am-4pm) in Chesham at the Old Boot Factory, which has work space of 1,400sq ft on 3 floors. Goods that are not required for projects, or not suitable, are sold or recycled. Volunteers enjoy the comradeship, and a chance to use their skills to help others. Finally “Work Aid “needs you, your unwanted tools, also your financial help. Several questions were asked about this very valuable and well organised charity. Heather proposed the vote of thanks.

On 4th October we have our 47th AGM and supper. Please bring cutlery, plate and glass also a £4 wrapped gift.

From Joan Steel

In May we had a talk with short film by Dr Eatam about the charity Plan which plans to give the worlds most vunerable children the chance of a better life. We were told that the charity started after the Spanish civil war which left many children orphaned. John Langdon Davies decided to organise the children to live in colonies and have foster parents from all over the world to sponsor them. Plan now operates in 50 of the worlds poorest countries helping to raise children out of a life of poverty into a life of opportunity. The film which was narrated by a remote village child was called “Because I am a Girl”and highlighted the cruelty, violence, abuse and disadvantages suffered by girls because they are not valued or educated and mostly not wanted. The Plan programme helps to empower chidren to improve their lives and take control of their future, without help they may not have a future at all. Sponsors correspond with the child and are allowed a short visit and are sent photographs, thus they share in the joy of supporting a life full of opportunity. (Sponsor forms are available from Valley Wives members.) Doreen gave the vote of thanks, saying what good work is being done by Plan and how lucky we all feel to live in this country. £60 was donated from the meeting.

In June, Heather, a Trustee of South Bucks Counselling Service described her work and the aims of this non-profit making organisation which is a registered charity. It is a service which offers you help when you feel you can no longer cope. The counsellors are volunteers chosen for their social skills and are highly trained, at university on a 3 year course. They are able to provide longer term help than the NHS who are only able to provide a 6 to 8 week session. Patients are often then referred to a counsellor. It is also possible to self-refer. The sessions do not provide a quick or easy answer to a problem, but by talking to a counsellor you can begin to see your situation more clearly then are able to make decisions in order to achieve a more satisfying life. It helps you to know yourself better and forgive yourself more. Clients are asked to make a contribution towards the cost of their counselling, according to their means. Hilary, who accompanied Heather, raised £1,500 towards the charity by running in a marathon race. Heather Meyer gave the vote of thanks to Heather and Hilary for telling us about the valuable and really good service that the counsellors provide.

Our next meeting on July 6th is a practical session on Bling Broaches The interesting object begins with letter L. On August 2nd ww have a Pot Luck Supper in the Small Hall at 8pm, please bring food,drink cutlery, plate bowl and glass. Sept 6th is an Open Meeting on “Workaid”. All Welcome.