back to school · 2020-07-02 · back to school Last month, the Grapevine reported how St...

JULY 2020

THE GRAPEVINE: NEXT ISSUE ON OR ABOUT 1 AUGUST 2020. DEADLINE FOR CONTRIBUTIONS & ADS: 15 JULY 2020 Contact: [email protected] To advertise: email or call 242137. For editorial: email or call 240350.

Also in Grapevine: ● p3 June brings flowers bursting onto village street ● p5 Stewkley Ale in Song ● p6 Bunt Scott’s Thoughts On... ● p7 More No Mow May

● p8 A Jumper’s Journey pt2

● p13 Know your Grapevine ● p20 Capturing Rainbows ● p20 Lockdown Haircuts pt2

back to school

Last month, the Grapevine reported how St Michael’s School had managed the Covid19 lockdown, with input from school secretary Alison Cooper and parent Coby Dewar. This month we are delighted to feature, in their own words, how nine Year 6 pupils felt about returning to school after the prolonged time away.

Darcey: “I came back to school on the first day we could and I was

so glad that I did. It means I can see my friends before I have to

leave for secondary school. At home all I could do was FaceTime

but now I can see and chat to my friends. Learning is so much fun

at school and every day and every week I am really looking forward

to going. Sometimes at playtime we all sit in a circle ‐ two metres

away from each other ‐ and tell each other stories.”

Daria: “I love being back and able to see my friends and teachers

again. It is a bit difficult staying two metres apart and it is really

weird when we have to queue for the toilet and stand on spots in

the corridors. But everyone is trying their best to keep us safe.”

Sam: “I have really enjoyed being back at school even though it is

very different. We can still play football and see all of our friends.

We can’t touch the football with our hands or our heads and we still

have to socially distance but we have come up with some fun ways

to play!”

Filip: “We have taken on social distancing as a normality. It is a lot

better than home‐schooling because I can enjoy being with my

friends from two metres away. We have created a new version of

playing football which is just as much fun!”

Lucy: “Starting school since lockdown has been such fun and amazing! Everyone has worked really hard at social distancing, the desks are two metres apart from each other and we are in different smaller class bubbles.”

Sophie: “I have been back at school two weeks now. It has been quite different and quite strange. You have to wash your hands at least seven times a day! I do love being back at school.”

Annabel: “I came back to school because I was missing being in a proper working environment and seeing all my friends in person. Our Year 6 class was split into two bubbles, they are called Fleming and Anderson. We have our own desks that are two metres apart and we are not allowed to touch anything that isn't ours.”

Aimee: “When we came back to school it was all a bit different. Now in our third week in school it is still strange and unusual because we have to be two metres apart, but we have all our friends here.”

Evie: “I know that school has been made safe for us and it is fun to see our friends after ten weeks away. We wash our hands about seven times a day at school so we don’t spread any germs.”

Stewkley Grapevine July 2020

VILLAGE DIARY WHAT’S ON IN JULY

BOOK CLUB Monday 6 July

8.30pm via Zoom Please contact Greg on 240487 for information

Book to discuss: Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (Book for August: The Last Dance by Victoria Hislop)

JULY

Wed 1 Refuse: green tops, garden and food bins

Mon 6 Parish Council – via Zoom, 7.30pm

Book Club – via Zoom, 8.30pm

Wed 8 Refuse: blue tops and food bins

Sat 11 Deadline for Flower & Veg show front cover

Wed 15 Deadline for submissions to Grapevine

Refuse: green tops, garden and food bins

Tue 21 Deadline for Parish Cllr expressions of interest

Wed 22 Refuse: blue tops and food bins

Wed 29 Refuse: green tops, garden and food bins

READERS WRITEThis might be a temporary situation, and given the lower throughput of traffic through the village due to Covid-19 lockdown and (at the time of writing) a closed village school, the effect is currently minimal. But if vehicles continue to park outside of the new homes at Cricketers then I envisage plenty of angry confrontations once traffic begins to return to normal! Richard Ash

READERS WRITE

I would like to respond to the statement in June’s Nature Watch that: “Hares are still shot by farmers and landowners to protect crops, with no closed season, meaning that hares can be shot throughout the year, even during the breeding season, killing pregnant mums and often leaving orphaned leverets to starve.”

Hares are rarely shot by farmers as they have little or no effect on growing crops, unlike rabbits which can graze in large numbers. Back when hares were plentiful they were shot for meat, but as little-to-no hare meat is eaten these days there is no reason to shoot them, and even back then country folk (not just farmers) would stick to the rule ‘you don’t eat hares unless there is an ‘R’ in the month’. So they would not shoot them in May, June, July, or August, during the breeding season, or else there would be less hare meat for them the following year.

On the other hand we have found wheel marks through our fields from illegal hare coursers, and I have even found bin-bags full of decaying hares dumped in a layby near Newton Longville from illegal hare coursing.

We, like many farmers, are trying our best to increase hare numbers on the farm, and are pleased to say we are noticing more hares year-on-year.

Richard Heady

Ten‐year Stewkley resident Adam Whittaker, who survived a fire

at his High Street North home in January, has died of cancer aged

57. An obituary will appear in next month’s Grapevine.

DEATH OF ADAM WHITTAKER

BOOK CLUB REVIEW

THE PLACES IN BETWEEN by RORY STEWART

This is Rory Stewart’s journal of his journey on foot through Afghanistan in mid-winter 2002. His purpose was to follow the 16th-century trail of Babur, founder of the Mughal Empire.

With the route etched in his mind (a map could brand him ‘a spy’) Rory left Herat, with two government gunmen who were to escort him to the mid-point Chacharan. Despite Rory’s reticence for companions, the gunmen and other guides acquired en route gave him a deeper understanding of Afghanistan’s diversity: a country entrenched in centuries of tribal and feudal conflicts. After each day’s walk Rory, who spoke local languages, would request overnight shelter in a villager’s home and update his journal, sketching characters he had encountered. Rory’s observational skills give the reader a better understanding of the enormity of the Afghan landscape, its emptiness and amazing rock-strata colours and, as he neared Kabul, the proximity of landmines adjacent to his path.

For much of his journey Rory was fuelled by bread (as was the adopted ex-fighting Afghan mastiff, named Babur). I was enthralled to read of the developing connection between man and dog. At times Rory had to encourage Babur to walk by dragging the ten-stone dog; another time he had to shield the mastiff from packs of aggressive dogs. On another occasion, when Rory was ‘falling’ into a dark cold place, Babur motivated him to not give up.

Rory’s book reminds us how Afghanistan’s cultural heritage has been destroyed and precious artefacts carelessly removed and exported. And how life-enhancing sanitation projects have been destroyed by war.

What a journey! He encountered myriad obstacles but stayed true to his dream and achieved his goal. Politically he makes comment but I won’t here.

Yvonne Millward

Just a reminder that the July meeting has been cancelled. Where

possible the speakers have been rebooked for next year. Weather

and Boris permitting, if it were possible, we might be able to

organise something outside in August.

Hopefully, with the slight easing in restrictions, some of you have

managed to see family and friends even if only for a short time.

In the meantime ‘keep walking and stay safe'.

STEWKLEY WI from Sheila Fellowes

The now annual flower troughs arrived at the Jubilee Pump in High Street South. Prepared by the Women’s Institute, with plants paid for by the Parish Council, they normally get top marks from the Best Kept Village judges.

Without the ability to work as a WI team because of the present restrictions, Institute member Trish Higgins sourced and planted the plants single‐handed and, with the help of husband Keith, installed them alongside the pump. In the photo (above), she is with villager Rebecca Bunyan who has kept the WI’s pump troughs well‐watered for several years.

The Swan pub gets a special mention for helping the village to show off its Best Kept Village mode. Despite the troubles, its new hanging baskets give the centre of the village a real uplift. The Carpenters Arms has hanging baskets too, but the plants in them have some growing to do before they are photo‐ready.

My thanks to everyone who has played a part in the various initiatives.


Last month saw villagers ignoring the fact that there is no Best Kept

Village Competition this year by brightening up the streets with

summer flowers.

Every year Elaine Goss prepares the hanging baskets, two for each

of the four bus shelters, baskets that were put in place with the

help of husband Robert (photo above). The Grapevine funds the

flowers, and a team of volunteers keeps them well watered for the

summer months.

Villager Sally

Collins (photo left)

took one job into

her own hands last

year: tidying up the

area around the

post box opposite

the church. With

the help of

husband Paul, and

£23 from the

Parish Council, she

created a small

garden in place of

the broken

concrete. This year

it has come into its

own with ferns,

foxgloves, the blue‐flowering ajuga and a few bedding plants.

JUNE BRINGS FLOWERS BURSTING ONTO VILLAGE STREETS from John Flewin, Stewkley's Best Kept Village Organiser

A brief history lesson for anyone that does not know the story behind the Jubilee Pump. Until a mains‐piped water supply arrived in

Stewkley in 1940, villagers relied for water

on around 150 wells and pumps sunk on

private or parish land. Wells like the Jubilee

Pump were dug by hand and lined with

bricks to access the drinking water in

underground aquifers. It was erected in

1887 to mark Queen Victoria’s Golden

Jubilee, directly over the parish well that

served the south end of the village. The well

is 12 feet deep with a water depth of about

6 feet.

Joan Livermore (neé Keen) who lived at

Wing Road Farm (where Farm Close now

stands), recalled that although they had their

own well and pump in the dairy at the farm,

she was sent with a glass jug on Sundays to

fetch water from the Jubilee Pump to have

with the family’s Sunday lunch.

JUBILEE PUMP The St Michael’s School Lottery has been set up

specifically to raise money and make a difference for our

children. It is a fantastic way to bring parents, carers,

teachers and the wider community together, in

partnership with our school, and at the same time give

something back. We hope to raise funds that can

support and enrich the education of our children ‐ we

aim to provide extra resources, improve the school

environment, as well as run extracurricular activities

such as music, art and sport.

Unlike many other lotteries, our lottery tickets are

only £1 per week, that’s right, just £1, with a draw

every Saturday night. If it’s your lucky day and you

match all six numbers, you win the JACKPOT which

is £25,000! St Michael’s receives 40% of all ticket

sales from supporters that sign up so please visit Your

School Lottery online and search for St Michael’s School.

https://www.yourschoollottery.co.uk/lottery/school/st‐michaels‐school

Your support is greatly appreciated, and we wish you good luck.

Registered with: Aylesbury Vale District Council. Registration number: LC201812‐31119

ST MICHAEL’S SCHOOL LOTTERY from Laura Lee


Grapevine deadline: 15th of month. Entries received after 15th cannot be included unless previously agreed.

PC MATTERSThe following is a summary of discussions held during the internetmeeting of Stewkley Parish Council members on 1 June. Cllr Scott Raven (Lib Dem) of Buckinghamshire Council, who is representing Stewkley’s interests since Cllr Janet Blake stepped down before elections next May, offered to help with planning issues. He pointed out that the other Cllr assigned to Stewkley’s Ward of Great Brickhill, Cllr Ben Everitt (Con), was also an MP (Milton Keynes North) and could bring his experience to bear on wider issues.

Cllr Raven explained the new system for planning under the aegis of Buckinghamshire Council (the new Unitary Authority). See separate article below.. Planning Applications: The Parish Council supported planning application 20/01436/APP – erection of a storage barn at Littlecote Farm. Applications 20/00528/APP and 20/00529/ALB, for replacement of rotten front gates and gate posts to a double, oak, electronically operated gate with side pedestrian gate at Winsors Farmhouse, 43 High Street North, were opposed because the proposed gate was said to be out‐of‐keeping with the historic building.

An extension of time was sought for 20/01668/APP at 8 High Street North – conversion of a stable block into residential annexe accommodation – to request further details.

Cllrs discussed an email from Dandara, that is developing the Soulbury Road site, in which it delayed meeting with the PC until after the Buckinghamshire Council’s Officer’s report on the planning application. It was agreed that the company will be

contacted to request a follow‐up meeting regarding the PC’s objections.

Burial Ground: The Burial Ground Extension was discussed, and the Clerk was asked to contact Cllr Raven and Bucks and Milton Keynes Association of Local Councils for more information on the planning process and requirements. The Clerk was also asked to contact Alan Dickens as a former long‐time Parish Councillor with knowledge of the original planning for the Burial Ground extension.

Risk Assessment: The recently reviewed Risk Assessment was discussed, and its finalisation was agreed and delegated as before. As part of the assessment for valuable documents, the PC agreed to purchase fire‐resistant storage containers. This will be approved at the next full PC meeting.

Finance: It was agreed that the Clerk should investigate an online Business Savings Account from Nationwide. Payments for the previous month were noted as follows: E.ON £311.33; Website H Audouard £99; Staff costs £796.36. For Stewkley Recreation Ground: Red diesel £91.88; Oak Park Alarms £111.60.

Misc: A report of the actions of the Covid‐19 volunteers was given and the Clerk was asked to contact Zone Coordinators to find out about the continued availability of volunteers as lockdown is eased. The Clerk was asked to check with Sparkx why the light in Walducks Close had not been repaired.

Residents can have access to the next PC meeting, beginning at 7.30pm on Monday 6 July. The meeting is being held virtually on Zoom and the link and password can be obtained by emailing the Clerk on [email protected]

The Parish Council has raised concerns about changes to the planning application process, introduced by the new Buckinghamshire Council, with one of its two ward councillors, Scott Raven. Under the revised scheme, Parish and Town Councils will no longer have the power to ‘call in’ an application when they disagree with officers’ recommendations and present their arguments direct to elected Buckinghamshire Councillors for them to make the final decision. Parish and Town Councils will now have to lobby a sympathetic Buckinghamshire Councillor – if they can find one – to call applications in for them, and this within a relatively tight timetable.

Cllr Raven is sympathetic to the PC’s concerns and, while unable to improve anything in the short term, expressed his readiness to support Stewkley when requested. SPC will be making a similar point to Cllr Ben Everitt, the other Buckinghamshire Councillor for the Great Brickhill ward.

A PC spokesperson told the Grapevine that this is another example of the new Unitary Council ignoring an important principle in its original business‐case to communities and the Government, to support and encourage ‘localism’. The earlier example is the removal of a PCs’ role to vote on local budgets within the new Local Hubs, which replaced County Council Local Area Forums.

According to the Bucks Herald, the new portfolio holder for planning at Bucks, Cllr Warren Whyte (Buckingham), has explained that he inherited these revised procedures from the previous shadow authority and he will review them constantly.

PARISH COUNCIL COLD-SHOULDERED AGAIN BY BUCKS

Residents interested in becoming a Parish Councillor in Stewkley can submit an expression of interest up to 21 July. E‐mail the Parish Clerk, Rob Mann, at [email protected] describing how you feel you can contribute to the workings of the Council and to the Stewkley community.

More information on the general role and responsibilities of Parish Councillors, as well as eligibility, can be found on the home page of the Parish Council website at stewkley.org.uk or by contacting any sitting Councillor or the Clerk.

Although current Covid‐19 legislation prevents democratic elections before May 2021, the Council can still co‐opt suitable candidates to serve as councillors until that date.

PARISH COUNCIL HAS A SPACE JUST FOR YOU

Local GP surgeries have warned that inaccurate information is circulating regarding special ‘rescue packs’ for patients with pre‐existing respiratory conditions, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Patients with such pre‐existing conditions are requested NOT to contact their GP practice for a rescue pack, but to continue to manage their condition in the usual way, and if symptoms of Covid‐19 are suspected to go to https://111.nhs.uk/covid‐19 before doing anything else.

GPs WARN AGAINST RESCUE PACKS

To help social distancing for pedestrians in Stewkley, please do

your bit to keep our pathways clear by:

Retrieving waste bins as soon as possible after they have been

emptied;

Cutting back any bushes or hedges on your property growing over

public pathways ‐ please check for any active birds’ nests before

undertaking any such trimming;

Parking your vehicle considerately.

Thank you.

SOMETIMES TWO METRES IS TRICKY

THANK YOUStewkley Volunteer Group

A big THANK YOU to the Volunteer Group who have been getting prescriptions, etc. for people who have been unable to go out or who have been isolating. They have been so helpful during what has been a very stressful and uncertain time in all our lives. Christine Lawrence


When Parish Councillor and would‐be crooner Brian Bottomley was researching his Audio History Tour, he was fascinated to discover that in days gone by, when there was no running water supply, it was often safer to drink local beer. The cottage industry that sprang up, with a large number of local hostelries and very different tasting ales, meant each could cater to a very localised clientele. Brian was amazed by the phenomenon of ten village pubs along the two‐mile long High Street in the context of the modern pub world.

He began to wonder what it might have been like to go from one end to the other and have a pint in each. So he decided to write a song imagining a riotous pub crawl incorporating Stewkley’s many historic characters with some romantic notions of camaraderie, dominoes and pipes of ‘sneezer’ tobacco. The song celebrates ‘Old Stewkley’ ale and local worthies such as Thomas Hedges, George Boiling, William Capp and Ashy the Drover. The rousing chorus is the beating heart of the tribute calling “all hail to the ale” and reminds us how this particular brew became a “favoured liquid lover”.

STEWKLEY ALE IN SONGAs with any pub crawl, the tempo of the song is “at walking pace” using instruments of a bygone period.

Brian praises his musical and technical wizard friend, Richard Gleave, who mixed the vocals and instrumentals of their virtual production in his home studio. Richard also created the period video in sepia.

You can enjoy ‘Stewkley in Song’ by going to this YouTube link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdLBn1jZcI0

Brian wants to thank the late Robert Dickens for his Stewkley in Camera books and Stewkley Local History Group for images and resources for the song.

Some of the pubs featured in the song can be seen in the Parish Council’s Audio History Tour which can be downloaded to your smartphone at www.stewkley.org.uk/tour or by stumbling into the signs on the lamp posts as you navigate your imaginary pub crawl through the village.

Richard Gleave with his South American cuatro The old crooner, Brian Bottomley at his mike!

On Thursday 4 June, a short commemorative event took place at

the War Memorial to mark the 100th anniversary of the passing of

Willie Syrett, the final Stewkley soldier recognised as a victim of

the Great War.

Eight villagers attended the event and observed social distancing

throughout. The event was led by Steve Nicholl from Stewkley

Royal British Legion who planted a cross in the ground to recognise

the anniversary.

John Sheldon from the Stewkley Local History Group read a short

profile of Willie Syrett ahead of the planting.

Proceedings took place on a cool and cloudy morning, and despite

a lot of traffic passing the monument at the time, the event was an

opportunity to pause and reflect on the life of a ‘Stewkley Lad.’

HONOURING THE LAST OF THE ‘STEWKLEY LADS’The Government’s Covid‐19 Test & Trace system has prompted a range of scam texts and emails, according to Buckinghamshire Trading Standards (BTS).

BTS is warning people about clicking on links in these communications that then request personal or financial information.

A BTS spokesperson said, "… always be alert. If in doubt, do NOT click on any links that could send your details straight to the scammers."

He continued that although alerts from the genuine Test & Trace service could come by text, email or phone call, there was clear Government guidance as to how it works, and there was no need to give financial information to anyone as it’s a free service.

Classic examples so far include emails and texts claiming you are due a refund for your TV licence, council tax or income tax, using Covid‐19 as bait. There have also been texts purporting to be from the Government promising a ‘relief’ pay‐out and providing a fake link. Other scams have involved shopping orders: facemasks that never arrive, hand sanitiser that isn't, and even fake NHS lanyards for sale.

Residents should forward suspicious‐looking emails to the National Cyber Security Centre at [email protected]

DON’T GET TRICKED BY TEST & TRACE


BUNT SCOTT THOUGHTS ON ... MEAD’S SHOP As a boy living in Dunton Road in the late 1950s and early 60s I was a regular visitor to Mead’s shop that was the hub of the community at the south end of the village. The shop was run by Bob and Wilfred Mead who had inherited the shop from their father Matthew.

Matthew, one of the few who had a car in his day, operated a rudimentary taxi service alongside his shop and in those pre‐supermarket days was able to hand over a thriving business to his sons. I remember that the older villagers still referred to the shop as ‘Matthew’s’, pronounced ‘Matthie’s’. As a general grocer he catered for most needs and with Bill Page’s butcher’s shop next door, day‐to‐day shopping necessities were on the doorstep.

Bob and Wilfred were two distinct characters. Bob, always polite but rather humourless, was quite different from Wilfred who was chirpy, often mischievous and liked to play silly tricks on his neighbours. He would regularly incite us young boys with requests such as, ”Here’s a penny banger and a red match, go and set it off on Gotty’s doorstep—don’t tell Bob.”

This sort of antic we performed with great relish.

Wilfred was much more likely than Bob to open a packet of five Woodbine cigarettes and sell us one with a red match so that we could cough and splutter our way through a fag whilst perched on the pump railings nearby.

When I moved to the village and first went into the shop with some of the local boys (who’d better remain nameless) I was horror‐struck when, Bob being nowhere to be seen, they started filling their pockets with sweets. Unbeknown, Bob had been watching through a window and when he came in he simply told them to put the sweets back and that was that.

The shop didn’t really have regular opening hours. The door was unlocked in the morning at whatever time they got up and closed in the evening when they thought no one else was likely to come in. However a locked door didn’t stop them serving you at any time of night and day. If closed, you merely went to the back door, knocked and waited. Invariably Bob would answer the door, his thinning ‘brylcreamed’ hair sticking out in all directions and, with the ever pervading pong of boiled cabbage escaping through the open door, would gladly serve you.

In the evenings they operated a delivery service around the village, Bob in his car and Wilfred on his old grocer’s bike with basket on the front. Wilfred walked badly and clumped about in great round‐toed leather boots which added to his charm. He was courting Mabel who lived in Dunton and would visit her on his bike when the shop was closed on Sundays. To make his winter trips more comfortable he would strap a hot water bottle to his front and another to his back. When Wilf died in 1964 relatively young (48) Bob took over his ‘commitment’ and married Mabel later that year.

Bob and Mabel ran the business, which became a Spar shop, and were held in great affection by many villagers. They attained the status of ‘village institution’ and were an idiosyncratic and quirky couple, particularly Mabel with her cross eyes and ‘wobbly’ head. A visit to ‘Bob and Mabel’s’ was always interesting and rarely disappointing.

Bob was considered by many to be a bit of a skinflint who considered ‘sell by’ dates an irrelevance. Food hygiene was also of low consideration but never seemed to be a problem. For example anything to be weighed went onto the scales in the same pan, earthy potatoes

followed by hand‐cut cheese. Bob was once asked, “Do you sell paraffin?”

“Yes“ replied Bob.

“In that case would you mind washing your hands as I’d like some cheese.”

It was not unknown for Bob to take a swig out of a lemonade bottle replace the cap and sell it as unsullied.

A somewhat unsympathetic joke about them suggested that Mabel once asked Bob, “If we win the lottery, what will we do about the begging letters?”

To which Bob replied, “We’ll keep sending them.”

A few years ago I undertook a mission to photograph some of the village characters and of course Bob and Mabel were on my list. I went into the shop one morning with the intention of taking a few candid shots. I asked Bob if it was OK to hover around in the background. He said yes and immediately disappeared. A few minutes later he returned wearing a fresh shop coat, his hair neatly slicked down and with his dog in his arms, asking, “Where would you like me to stand?” Not what I had in mind but with Mabel joining him I took the posed shot of the three of them outside the shop.

Pat Jones, a teacher at the village school, once took her young class on a visit to the shop….

As a special treat Bob let the children go upstairs to see his stockroom. On returning to school Pat asked the class to write about any memorable aspect of the shop. Virtually to a child they wrote about the pile of dog poo in the middle of the stock room floor!

Normally the great attraction of the shop for children was the way that the vast array of sweets was laid out on the counter. With a box to stand on children were able to make their selection, much to their delight.

Bob and Mabel rarely, if ever, attended any village functions with the exception of events at the Primitive Methodist Chapel, and didn’t seem to have any real interest in community goings‐on. Bob died in 2005 and when Mabel died a few years later and the estate was wound up it became apparent that we had unfairly misjudged them. Bob left enormous bequests (in total £125,000) to the village hall, the recreation ground and the Methodist chapel. Bob, born and bred in the village proved to be, after all, a very generous Stewkley man.

“I made my money in the village so it should stay in the village.”


The Airport Monument Spinney is becoming increasingly popular with cyclists as they take a break from dodging traffic and potholes to sup energy drinks and wolf down protein bars in pleasant surroundings.

Two members of Aylesbury CTC visited in May, as reported in last month’s Grapevine and, in early June Peter Robinson, also from Aylesbury, posted the following on Facebook: “Not a long ride today as I spent a good bit of time nosing around hamlets to see what I could find tucked away; churches being the most picturesque. There is a lot of work going on in Aston Abbotts altering a lake with an island in it, well hidden behind layers of hedge … On to Cublington then Litttlecote, Dunton and Hoggeston via the Cublington Spinney memorial [sic] to the defeat of the plans for a third London Airport centred there.”

Perhaps the Parish Council could organise a coffee‐stop at the spinney one afternoon, or a puncture‐repair service, or … the possibilities are endless!

For more details of Peter’s ride, visit

https://www.strava.com/activities/3567688323/overview

SPINNING TOWARDS THE SPINNEY

Enormous thanks to Steve Morris, Keith and Trish Higgins and Allison Milligan for joining us Beers in taking part in the Plantlife May campaign. The number of wild flowers so carefully nurtured by Steve as evidenced in the June Grapevine was truly impressive, those from the Higgins and Beer lawns more modest, mine a distinct delta‐minus in school exam result terms. But that was what the campaign was about ‐ to make us aware of the plight of pollinators and show that if we allow wild flowers in our lawns, indeed our gardens, to flourish we and pollinators in particular will be better off. The next campaign is in July ‐ see the Plantlife web site for details. I still have 17 jars of honey to give away. Just email the Grapevine at [email protected] that you are entered and whilst stocks last a jar will soon wing its way to you! Cheers, Andrew and Elizabeth.

MORE NO MOW MAY from Andrew and Elizabeth Beer

Further to last month’s entry from Steve Morris, Keith and Trish Higgins from Hayward Park and Allison Milligan from Stockhall Crescent have also been letting a part of their lawns go wild.

Trish told the Grapevine, “There are two areas that we don’t mow. Apart from the cowslips, speedwell and the odd buttercups there wasn’t a great deal of flower variety. The yellow flowers are self‐sown poppies that colonise all over our garden. We have a large number of different bumblebees plus some honey bees, but fewer of those. The cowslip areas are always left unmown until after the seed is set for next year, so we have multiple patches springing up every year. We have transported lots to the Spinney too.”

Whilst Allison said, “I thought you might like to see some of the plants that have sprung up in the 10ft x 40ft section of my lawn in Stockhall Crescent that I’ve left unmowed since reading about No Mow May in the Grapevine.”

THE ANDREW BEER CHALLENGE - NO MOW MAY

The September Grapevine reported the proposed merger of three GP surgeries that serve Stewkley: Whitchurch Surgery, Wing Surgery (not Ashcroft Surgery, also in Wing) and Norden House in Winslow.

The original timeline was for the merger to go through in April but, not surprisingly, the pandemic has delayed progress.

At the time of going to press, the Grapevine has heard that the three clinical computer systems were to be merged towards the end of June, requiring the computer and telephone lines to be unavailable, although urgent medical cover was still possible via NHS 111.

As a result of the merger, it will be necessary to re‐set online access for all existing patients and to ensure everyone is connected to the new merged practice, known as 3W Health. Once the computer systems have been successfully merged, existing online users will be contacted with further instructions, expected to take several days.

The reasons for the merger were outlined in a document circulated last year, which stated, “… over the past few years there have been increased pressures placed upon general practice. The increasing elderly population, the growth in long term illnesses like diabetes and asthma and the need to move more work from hospitals into the community means that general practice needs to work in different ways to absorb this increased workload. Merging our practices will make us more resilient, give us a larger pool of staff to draw from.

"Our doctors, practice nurses and other staff will continue to be available to patients under the proposed new arrangements in the same way as they are at present … there are no plans to close buildings.”

Contact details for the three practices are: nordenhousesurgery.co.uk / 01296 713434; wingsurgery.co.uk / 01296 681814; whitchurchsurgery.co.uk / 01296 641203.

GP PRACTICES – THREE INTO ONE WILL GO


In Part 1 I explained the process of producing yarn from a fleece, including carding and spinning. The next steps are about producing a coloured yarn to use in my knitting project.

I wanted to knit a jumper where the dark Jacob (undyed) would create a pattern or lattice with the coloured yarn forming a background, inspired by the American artist Kaffe Fassett.

To dye the white skeins, I chose to use some natural dye pigments. These are bought in a powdered form, made from natural plant materials, but are easy to use and yield a fairly predictable colour. I also decided to try for a crimson using dried cochineal beetles (bought many years ago). Making a dye solution from the cochineal requires a bit more of a process. First the beetles are crushed into a fine powder, boiling water is poured over the powder and it is left to steep overnight. The next day the mixture was brought to the boil and simmered for 20 minutes before being sieved through a silk cloth. The resulting dark red liquid was then added to more water to make up a dye bath.

The other dyes used were lac, teal and logwood purple.

In order for the dye pigments to fix to the wool yarn, a mordant is used. So before yarn was ready to go in the dye, the yarn is put in a big pot of water containing alum and cream of tartar, brought to the boil and left to cool and steep overnight, before being well‐rinsed.

Even dyeing with natural dyes is not something that should be done inside, or indeed in pots or saucepans which you will want to cook in again, so I have collected a set of pans which are exclusively used for dyeing and it takes place in our garden over the firepit.

The wetted, mordanted yarn is carefully lowered into the dye pot and put over the heat. It is important to heat the dye liquid very slowly as otherwise you risk the yarn felting.

The yarn needs to simmer gently for about 20 minutes and then it is taken off the heat and allowed to cool slowly before being rinsed to get rid of the excess colour.

The colour of one dyestuff can be influenced and altered by various factors, for example by using citric acid to modify the pH. (i.e. acidity or basicity) Dye baths made in the iron pot also tend to

A JUMPER’S JOURNEY (PART 2) from Polly Kempsonproduce a sadder colour and for this reason the cochineal used did not produce a strong crimson, but rather a deep plum.

Both these skeins were dyed in the same lac dye bath to create pink yarn, however the orange skein was left in the dye solution with one tablespoon of citric acid added to the dye bath.

At the end of a few days I had an array of pretty colours.

Using a swift and a ball winder the skeins were then balled up ready to be knitted.

So now the project has got to the stage of swatching. This means knitting up the yarn to understand its drape and handle. Handspun yarns, at least mine, do not match commercial yarns, and so to knit a garment that will fit, you first need to work out which knitting needle size will produce a knitted fabric with the feel that will suit the chosen garment. I also want to test out a couple of different pattern ideas, to see what will work well with the yarn, before finalising the design. Then I will knit up the jumper ready for the nights to draw in.


Methodist Chapel Minister Rev Donna Broadbent-Kelly The Manse, High Street South Tel 240589 Email: [email protected] Web: www.aylesburyvale.org.uk

St Michael’s Church Church Wardens: Neil Dickens [email protected] Tel: 242253 Judy Walker [email protected] Tel: 240444

MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER

► The Rev Donna Broadbent-Kelly is writing a weekly reflection. ► On Sunday mornings at 10.30am Rev Richard Atkinson, Superintendent, is streaming a live service from Aylesbury. ► There is a daily thought for the day from one of the Circuit Ministers. ► All can be accessed on www.aylesburymethodists.org.uk ► If you would like to receive the weekly reflections or join the ZOOM Bible Study please email Donna and she will arrange for you to join in.

Hello friends, As I write this, the government has just announced that from 15 June places of Worship can open for private prayer and open further from 4 July. This of course has been met with joy but also some challenges on how we can do this safely. We are bound by Methodist discipline and so at the moment we are awaiting further advice on how we can achieve this. Things will probably have changed

again since writing! It has been really hard not meeting together weekly to worship and to have groups such as Daisy Club, Mutual and the Chapel lunches. However, some really positive things have still been happening. The training of paramedics and first responders has continued to take place at the chapel and we continue to explore ways in which we can engage with our community here. There is a sense though that ‘normal’ worship will not be taking place for many months. Even when we do open for worship there will likely be no singing, and as people who sing their faith worship that is going to feel very odd. Whilst writing, over forty two thousand people have died in this country due to Coronavirus. That’s countless numbers of people who are bereaved, and grieving the loss of someone they loved. I certainly don’t want any more to die or suffer due to this disease, and so we have to walk carefully as we look to reopening. But just because the chapel doors are closed that doesn’t mean that God isn’t present. I think it is more important than ever that the Gospel is still being lived out in our community; with our friends and neighbours. One of the highlights of the year is the Harvest festival. The chapel is decorated with food and flowers and we have harvest suppers and the children from St Michael’s join us for their Harvest celebrations. It is very unlikely that this is going to happen this year. So we are thinking of doing a community event in September based on the theme of a Thankful Harvest. At the moment we are just in the planning stage, but we would like to invite you to decorate your front garden with a harvest theme of thankfulness. You could have a traditional harvest display, with wheelbarrows and scarecrows with vegetables on display, or perhaps a display of thankfulness to all those who have seen us through this season of Covid-19. We could say a special thanks to the farmers too. Other ideas include a village ploughman’s picnic and a special service if we are able to. More details will come out soon. If you would like to be involved, especially in the planning, then please let me know. Thank you, and God bless Donna

JULY ACTIVITIES AND NEWS JULY ACTIVITIES AND NEWS † From Monday 15 June St. Michael’s Church will be open every day at the usual times for ‘Private Prayer’. On entering the church visitors are asked to use the hand sanitiser found on the table near the door; both on arrival and on leaving. Please wear a face mask and if others are in the church respect social distancing. No services will be held until permission for them is granted. † Facebook Page – St Michaels Church, Stewkley is freely available † A Service on Sundays is being streamed on Facebook (see above) by the Rev Andrew Krauss, temporary Vicar of Cheddington, one of the churches in the Cottesloe benefice which includes Stewkley † Please contact Neil Dickens [email protected] to receive a copy of the Sunday pew sheet by email which has prayers and readings from the Bible for the day. If you would like a paper copy delivered please ring 01525 242253

MESSAGE FROM THE LICENSED LAY MINISTER OF COTTESLOE TEAM

Hello, How have you been? We have all been challenged in the last few months. Some have experienced serious illness and bereavement. Our hearts go out to them. But most of us have just been very constrained. We have had to make decisions. Is it safe to go to the shop? Shall I go out and collect my prescription? Do I have to stay in and ask others to do my

shopping and pharmacy visits (how hard to lose control of our own lives). Should I wipe the door handles, wipe the shopping as it comes in? And as I write this on 12 June some people are having to make really difficult decisions about who they are going to choose as their household to be in a bubble with. So choosing between friends, choosing between children. I’m so glad I don’t live alone and don’t have to make this choice! The government is trying to work out how we will be coming out of all this. What to open and what to leave closed. Our village churches are wrestling with how to open safely for private prayer. The pubs and cafés are desperate to re-open and I for one am longing for the day when I can visit my favourite coffee shop for a cappuccino. Coming out of lockdown will be different for each of us. Some people will be straight out there, wanting to be back to normal, taking every opportunity. And others will still want to stay indoors as much as they can until the virus disappears or we get an effective vaccine. Through lockdown I have gone back to using the prayers from the Northumbrian Community. They use Celtic styles of worship which I really like. This is the blessing which they use at midday every day and I think it’s really appropriate for us at the moment - Let nothing disturb thee, nothing affright thee; All things are passing, God never changeth! Patient endurance attaineth to all things; Who God possesseth in nothing is wanting; alone God sufficeth. God bless, keep safe. Annie Cooper LLM 07860 140041

Grapevine deadline: 15th of month email: [email protected]

Articles received after 15th can not be included

until the following month, if still relevant.


Bugs and Bees

Elaine Stavert found several of these metallic purple and green‐ striped beetles on a lavender bush in her Littlecote garden. This is

the rosemary beetle (chrysolina americana) and both adults and larvae feed on the leaves and flowers of various aromatic plants, including rosemary and lavender. The beetle was first found in central London in the late 1990s and is now widespread across England and Wales. The RHS is asking

people to record sightings through its ‘rosemary beetle survey’ on its website https://www.rhs.org.uk/

This was the largest bee Tim and Julie Dawson had ever seen, at around 25cm. It spent an afternoon on their Wing Road gate.

Julie sent the photo to Caroline Luxford, a member of Bedfordshire Beekeepers Association, to get her views.

Caroline told Julie, “I think it’s a buff‐tailed bumble bee … As it’s so large I’m guessing it’s a queen. She will have hibernated over the winter in the ground … she spends about a month sipping nectar and regaining her strength, when she’s ready she will find a nest site … She builds a

thimble of wax and fills it with nectar, makes a pad of pollen and lays up to 8 eggs, she builds a wax tent over them then lays on them to keep them warm till they hatch … She has to keep foraging for nectar and pollen until she has produced enough daughters …”

Bird Watch

Dave Hughes captured this rare visitor as it stopped by at a High Street North garden pond. It is a male American wood duck, or Carolina duck, which is a native of North America. There are thought to be only five‐to‐ten breeding pairs in the wild in the UK.

Dave told the Grapevine, “Birds spotted like this have usually escaped from collections, but this male has no leg rings, raising the question how far this little fella had travelled? (Possibly 3900 miles.)”

Roadkill?

Bunt Scott saw this dead polecat at the side of the road by Fox Harbour Wood along the Wing Road. Bunt thought that it had probably been hit by a car but said it was not visibly damaged.

The polecat (mustela putorius) is a member of the mustelid family, as is its domesticated cousin, the ferret, plus stoats and badgers.

Polecats have a body length of 32‐45cm, and a tail from 12‐19cm long, and are slender enough to pursue rabbits, their main summer food, down their burrows.

Known for their ‘bandit‐like’ face mask, polecats have one litter of five‐to‐ten young a year, born blind and furless.

Once persecuted to the point of extinction, their numbers are now increasing in rural Wales and parts of England. They are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and are now a priority species under the UK Biodiversity Framework.

Road accidents continue to be a major threat as they tend to be attracted to other roadkill items for food.

Damsels – not in distress

Damselflies are similar to dragonflies but are smaller, slimmer and fold their wings along their bodies at rest, whereas dragonflies hold their wings flat and away from their bodies.

There are about 20 species of damselflies in Great Britain and Ireland. This particular beauty, as its name implies, is the beautiful demoiselle (calopteryx virgo). It is ‘locally abundant’, mainly found along streams and rivers, and two pairs were spotted in a Littlecote field, close to the stream.

All species of damselfly are in the sub‐order zygoptera (paired wings) – their fore and hind wings are the same shape. The beautiful demoiselle males have dark wings and females have pale brown wings, as can be seen in the header photo.

Stop Press: The Big Butterfly Count runs between 17 July and 9 August. The results will be particularly interesting this year because the ‘sunniest spring on record’ meant that butterflies were out early, 53 of 59 species recorded by the end of May. Sign up for the ‘Count’ at https://www.bigbutterflycount.org/

Nature Watch

Sources: The Mammal Society, Wildlife Trusts, Butterfly Conservation, Wikipedia, British Dragonfly Society.


By Richard Heady

What a strange spring! We have only managed to harvest half our

usual amount of grass for silage, as it just hasn’t grown due to the

dry weather. Most of the crops have hung on, finding barely enough

water and making use of the small amounts of rain we have had,

but our oats on the sandiest part of the farm are looking thin and

dying off. Harvest is now just around the corner and I still have no

idea what the crops will be like, it all depends on which field caught

which rain shower.

We have been experimenting, trying to reduce the amount of

chemicals we apply to our crops. We have dropped all blanket

herbicides (weed‐killing

chemicals) from a couple of

blocks of land, and the ox‐eye

daisies and vetches are loving

it, but unfortunately so are the

thistles. So it has been my job

to walk up and down each

tramline (track) in these seven

fields (roughly two miles a

field) with a 25kg back‐pack

sprayer, head to toe in

waterproof spray overalls, in

25oC heat, looking for and

spot‐spraying thistles. A tough

job, but rewarding seeing the

array of life within the crops,

from hares and deer, to bees,

grasshoppers and butterflies.

Farm Watch

Calving has been going well, with our usual array of multi‐coloured

calves. Five breeds of cow and two bulls lead to a great, box‐of‐

chocolate effect on the calves, which keeps things interesting.

All the lambs have

been growing on

despite the lack of

grass growth,

including ‘Wonky’

lamb (the bottle‐fed

lamb who needed a lot

of help to walk

initially). She and her

fellow bottle‐fed

lambs are now

weaned and living off

the land, but have

chosen to stay in their

own socially‐distanced

paddock rather than

join the rest of the

flock. Wonky still

comes up for a head‐

scratch and fearlessly

plays with the

children, even when

they are jumping off bales and landing next to her.

To find out more, follow me on Facebook – headysfarm and

@headysfarm on Twitter and Instagram.

STILL TIME TO ENTER A DESIGN FOR THE 2021 STEWKLEY VILLAGE HALL SHOW PROGRAMMEAs reported in last month’s Grapevine, there is no Village Hall Flower and

Vegetable Show this year due to coronavirus, but there is still a competition

to design, paint or draw, a new front cover for next year’s show in July 2021.

The competition is open to any age group ‐ young to vintage ‐ and must be

created freehand, that is to say, not using computer graphics.

The is still time to enter as the closing date is not until Saturday 11 July 2020,

which would have been the date of this year’s event.

The size should be A4 and have space to include the following printed text

information:

• ‘Stewkley Village Hall Flower & Vegetable Show and Fête’

• The word ‘Programme’

• The date ‘Saturday 10 July 2021’

• ‘Opening ceremony at 2.30pm’

• ‘Auction of produce at 4pm’

• ‘Please support your Village Hall’

• Include the various stalls and classes as indicated on the 2019

programme.

Pictured right is a copy of last year’s programme to give you an idea.

Deliver your entries to show organiser Eileen Humphreys at

37 Dunton Road, Stewkley, by phoning her on 07716 422348 to let her know

that you are on your way, and she will leave a receptacle by her front door.

Please attach your name and contact details on a separate piece of paper.

Diana Sheldon will be judgng the entries and the winning design will be used

for the 2021 show.

The results will be published in the August Grapevine. Good luck and have

fun!


Dovecote Farmhouse

Known locally as the ‘Dove‐’us’, No 26 High Street South is one of Stewkley’s oldest homes. It

is Grade II Listed and the north wing is probably part of a late 16th‐century Tudor house of

H‐shaped plan. The close studding of the timber frame and the herringbone brick infill of this

range have recently been skilfully conserved. The upper storey is jettied with a dragon beam

to the north‐east corner. Jettying was a technique used from medieval times in timber‐framed

buildings to increase building dimensions without impinging on the space below. It can be

seen from the 1890s image that the present canted oriel window in the upper storey was a

more recent design change. A room on the first floor is decorated with a late 16th‐century

floral wall painting.

The parallel southern range is Victorian.

Although its setting has been compromised, Dovecote Farmhouse remains the prime focus

of this part of the High Street. Its boundary walls with saddleback copings are vital to the

quality and character of this part of the village.

DOWN MEMORY LANEFROM THE GRAPEVINE 10 YEARS AGO… From July 2010, the

newly‐formed village

Youth Club took first

prize for the best float at

St Michael’s School fête,

which in itself raised

over £3,000 for school

funds…12 village homes opened up

their gardens to over 400 visitors for

Stewkley Open Gardens Weekend

organised by St Michael’s Church…

Stewkley FC were scheduling a Festival

of Football on the Rec, to be followed by

the World Cup Final on the Village Hall

Big Screen…the Parish Council was

seeking finance from Bucks CC and

manual labour from Thames Probation

Service for a scheme to provide a BMX

track on Diocesan land off Soulbury

Road…Nature Notebook dwelt on the

promiscuity of the eyed hawk‐moth

which apparently was not averse to

mating with the females of other hawk‐

moth species…Stewkley WI got out

their best hats for a garden party in St

Michael’s Close…and the Grapevine was

a mere 16 page edition that July.

FROM THE GRAPEVINE 20 YEARS AGO… From July 2000, the

Parish Council thanked

Anglian Water for the

free‐of‐charge

installation of a water

supply to the village

burial ground…

Methodist Minister the Rev Brian

Trudgian bade farewell to Stewkley as

he prepared to leave for ‘pastures

new’…Stewkley Scouts enjoyed a lovely

sunny weekend climbing in the Peak

District in contrast to their washout

Whitsun weekend at the RAF Halton

Millennium Camp…the PC was

strenuously opposing a new planning

application for a camping and touring

caravan site at Pond Field adjacent to

the Hollingdon turn on Bletchley

Road…Pete Stamp scored 112 not out

as SVCC 2nd XI drew their fixture with

Stoke Hammond…and a Stewkley

Players advertisement for their

production of Stewkley Scrolls in St

Michael’s Church, inadvertently

informed readers that it was to be a

light‐hearted look at the involvement of

Stewkley folk in over 100 years of

history. They actually meant 1,000

years, and as we saw, Saxon builders, Ye Tofields, of course built the Parish

Church for the Normans!

Continuing our series looking at Stewkley past and present


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THE GRAPEVINE, STEWKLEY

The Stewkley Grapevine is published monthly, except for January. Copies are distributed free of charge to all households (over 780) in Stewkley. Further copies are made available for visitors at various locations in the village. It is also available for download at www.stewkley.org Publication date: 1st of each month except January. Deadline for advertisements: 15th of month prior to publication. Advertising Copy: By email to [email protected] or by hand to 111A High Street South. Display Ad Format: Electronic advertisements should be supplied as .pdf, but we can also accept .doc or hi resolution .jpg files For best quality, images should be 300dpi. All advertisements are printed in greyscale. Please check your ad is readable in monochrome. Pre-paid ads may be changed at no extra cost. Classified Ad Guidelines: Generally one line header, plus up to 12 words of text, plus contact details. One line header plus 13- 24 words of text, plus contact details for twice the price. Advertising Rates: Stewkley Non-Stewkley For Sale (Max of 2 items) £5 £10 Classified £5 £10 Classified highlighted £10 £20 Forthcoming events Free* Not available (*Limited to Classified Allowance). Display, Eighth Page £15 £25 (w:93 x h:65mm landscape) Display, Quarter Page £25 £35 (w:93 x h:135mm portrait) Display, Half Page £35 £55 (w:192 x h:135mm landscape) Ad Payment Terms: Payment in advance of first publication 3-5 issues 5% discount 6-10 issues 10% discount 11 issues (annual) 15% discount Monthly Standing Order on 12th of month. 10% Discount. Minimum period - 6 months. Cost of 11 Issues is spread over 12 months. Ad Payment Contact: 01525 242137 or email: [email protected]

Next Deadline for Ads: STRICTLY 6pm WEDNESDAY 15 JULY

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[email protected]

The quieter skies are testament to the major impact the Covid‐19

pandemic is having on the aviation industry.

Up until March, Luton Airport was pressing ahead with plans to

almost double the number of passengers it carries, with the help

of a new second terminal and, in the shorter term, changes to

flightpaths that could have seen Stewkley intensely impacted

compared to the comparative sporadic overflights currently

experienced.

However, the airport’s owners London Luton Airport Limited,

wholly owned by Luton Borough Council said, “Following Statutory

Consultation on our expansion proposals during the autumn, we

have been considering very closely and seriously the feedback we

received. We have heard in particular a clear message that people

AIRPORT EXPANSION PLANS SKID OFF THE RUNWAYwant us to go even further to mitigate environmental issues, including noise, air quality and climate change ... We are actively considering how we can set out a path that would make London Luton one of the most sustainable as well as socially‐conscious airports in the UK. We therefore will not be submitting our Development Consent Order application (a planning application that is submitted direct to the Government) in June 2020, as originally outlined. We hope to have much more to say about this over the coming weeks and months."

In addition, the Civil Aviation Authority that oversees aviation safety, including flightpaths, has requested more information from Luton Airport before allowing it to proceed to a public consultation for a new approach or approaches to the runway in easterly winds.

The Stewkley Grapevine was started by interested volunteer

villagers in 1993, for the 'benefit of Stewkley residents'. It

continues to be run by unpaid volunteers comprising of the

production team of ten members and the delivery team of 25 ‐ all

of whom are involved in the monthly creation and delivery of the

Grapevine. It is independent with no control by, or allegiances to,

any other organisation.

The only cost is for printing and only income is from advertisers.

When possible, any annual surplus is donated to Stewkley 'not‐for‐

KNOW YOUR GRAPEVINEprofit' activities. Free copies are delivered on or by the 1st of every month, except January, to all 780 households in Stewkley and also deposited, when circumstances permit, in St Michael’s Church, shop, pubs and Blackthorn Nursery.

The current and previous month's editions are available on‐line at: www.stewkleygrapevine.co.uk

If you are interested in contributing to the content or production of the Grapevine, please use the contacts at the base of the front page.


Seasonal British FlowersDirect From the Farm

The Artisan Gift Shop is now open

Locally Grown Country Flowersfor weddings, funerals and events

Bouquets for local delivery

Creative workshops

‘growing wildly beautiful, naturally scented flowers’

Open Fri & Sat 10am – 5.30pm

Supporting local artists & makers

For enquiries call Rosie 07876 394 086Town Farm, Hoggeston Buckingham MK18 3LQ

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com

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mat

ion

co

mp

ute

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pp

ort

& s

erv

ice

s

Forge Farm, Wing Road, Stewkley

Andrew Gurnett

Mobile: 07980 600095Tel: 01525 240991

Automotive Engineers

Servicing Tyres

RepairsMOT’s

Exhausts& more

For a reliable service and all your motoring needs, give me a call

Stewkley

Aylesbury Vale Golf Club

Forge FarmWing

D.B'S GAS PLUMBING AND HEATING SERVICES

Local village company with over 25 years experience.

Boiler breakdowns, repairs & servicing. Full heating installations and extensions.

Gas safety checks and certification NO JOB TOO SMALL

All workmanship fully insured O.A.P. 10% DISCOUNT ON HOURLY RATES

NO CALL OUT CHARGE. COMPETITIVE RATES. Tel office: 240784

Tel Daron: 07799 122971

WOBURN BUILDING

SERVICES

Specialised building work

New builds and extensions

Kitchens supplied and fitting service

Bathroom design and fitting

Interior and exterior alterations

Stewkley- based

STUART JAMES COLEMAN

01525 242111 : 07970 888236


www.woburnbuildingservices.co.uk

EST 1986


12 Bacon House Farm • Little Horwood • Milton Keynes • MK17 0PS

[email protected] • www.harlequin-press.co.uk

HARLEQUIN P R E S S L t d

Lithographic and Digital Printing

Friendly Service, Free Advice

Tel: 01908 506722

Booklets Brochures

Business Cards Compliment Slips Delivery Notes

Directories Draw Tickets Event Tickets

Invitations Invoice Books/Sets

Leaflets Letterheads Magazines

Newsletters Note pads

Order of Service Personal Stationery

Postcards Programmes Timetables

30 years in print

Grapevine is printed by Harlequin Press Ltd.

WE HAVE GONE ONLINE...

It is now more important than ever to

STAY FIT AND HEALTHY both physically and mentally

so why not join us for one of our PILATES or YOGA classes via zoom.

Classes run by chartered physiotherapists to suit all level and abilities.

FREE 1:1 assessment session when you sign up.

We are also offering VIRTUAL PHYSIOTHERAPY

sessions.

FOR MORE INFORMATION email: [email protected]

J & J LUXFORD LTD

Stewkley based builders For all your building needs project

managed from design to completion For testimonials and information visit

www.luxfordbuilders.co.uk Contacts:

Julian Luxford 07885 455203 James Luxford 07860 726741


07464 171032

[email protected]

www.odd-jobs.co.uk

BIKE SERVICE/SALES HOME MAINTENANCE

DECORATING FLOORING

GARDENING STABLES & FENCING

TV & CCTV WEB DESIGN

Handyman based in Drayton Parslow, covering Milton Keynes, Leighton Buzzard,

Aylesbury and surrounding areas.

Indoor and outdoor lighting

New fuse board Additional sockets New power supply

Full rewires Fire alarms

Smoke detectors Perodic testing

CCTV All work guaranteed.

PART P approved

No job too small Call: Craig 07968 152 709


Local friendly village automotive garage offering: ● Servicing ● Repairs ● MOTS on site ● Diagnostic and tuning ● Tyres ● Exhausts ● Batteries We also offer the service to collect and deliver vehicles from the Leighton Buzzard area.

Courtesy car available by prior arrangement.

Contact details: Unit 3-4, Manor Business Centre High Street South, Stewkley 01525 240696

HUNTER’S GARAGE


TAILPIECE TALE

Grapevine deadline 15th of month

[email protected]

Following last month’s Tailpiece on Covid Cuts, Manor Drive resident Alison Edmondson has also had a go self-hairdressing. She told the Grapevine, “I had been seriously thinking of chopping my hair off for a week or two before I got the scissors out. I was getting quite fed up of my long mane. “Sitting in front of a mirror I put my hair into 11 small bunches, took a deep breath and then cut across the top of them. It took about half an hour from start to finish. “I admit I did it with some trepidation as I have zero hairdressing experience. However it seemed a fairly safe thing to do, if it all went horribly wrong we’re in lockdown and who’s going to see it anyway? “I got a great reaction from my boys when I came downstairs; lots of gasps, ‘Muuum’ and ‘Ooohs’. They liked it mostly, said that I looked younger (I didn’t mind that), also that I looked like a completely different person. “I was worried I might hate it or regret doing it, but no. I have never had short hair, I like it! I had been growing my hair for three years for The Little Princess Trust, a great charity that makes wigs for Cancer patients. “The haircut is a bit choppy but I don’t think I did too bad a job, that said, like everyone else, I can’t wait for hairdressers to reopen.”

CAPTURING RAINBOWS from Bea Latham (aged 11) of Grubbs CloseHello my name is Bea Latham and I have been taking photos of the rainbows in High Street North and Ivy Lane. I hope some of you have been doing the ‘rainbow scavenger hunt’ round Stewkley; everyone

has such nice rainbows, flags and bears! I have seen many rainbows and may have missed some; even if yours is not included I still may have seen it. The reason we put up rainbows in our windows is that they make us happy and are a signal of hope in the hard times. During the pandemic, the rainbow has become a symbol of support for people wanting to show solidarity with NHS workers on the front line. We must stick together (but still be two metres apart!) through these strange times and stay happy and positive!

I am happy to see so many of you staying active and going outside. I ride my bike round Stewkley and go to stop by at my friends’ houses to say hi. So if you see me riding my bike give me a wave. I hope you liked my rainbow pictures and remember, stay positive, active and happy!

Lockdown Haircuts pt 2

back to school · 2020-07-02 · back to school Last month, the Grapevine reported how St...

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