f(;/{ If Dorney Parish News \ ft Burnham Lodge part of the Hartford Care family Providing high quality nursing, residential and day care to older people and those who live with dementia Burnham Lodge, Parliament Lane, Burnham, Slough, SLl 8NU Please give us a call on 01628 667345 or email info@hartfordcare.co.uk for more information www.hartfo rdcare.co. uk hartfordcare care co-nfort compan1onsh1p 4 JANE MORGAN DRESSES ------- c:::, ------- EVENING DRESS HIRE & SALES • Ball gowns, prom dresses & cocktail wear • Handbags,jewellery & wraps • Sizes 0- 20, competitively priced • The dresses can be altered to ensure a perfect fit By appointment 6 days a week 01628 600509 jane@janemorgan.co.uk Mob: 07887 994222 www.janemorgandresshire.co.uk n follow us on Facebook Village Road, Dorney, nr Windsor & Eton E Sargeant & Son FUNERAL DIRECTORS Serving families in Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead since 1712 01753 520081 40 Church Street, Slough SL 1 1 PJ 01753 865982 61 St Leonards Road, Windsor SL4 3BX 01628 783738 118 High Street, Maidenhead SL6 1 PT Call us for immediate support, advice or a home visit. We are here to help 24 hours a day Funeral Partners esargeant. co. uk • SERVICES IN THE LOCAL CHURCHES ST. JAMES, DORNEY Full details of our Services and Children's Activities are included in this magazine VICAR OF DORNEY Revd. La Stacey The Vicarage. 69a Eton Wick Road. Eton Wick. Windsor. Berks. SL4 6NE Tel: O 1753 852268 email: revlastacey@.•gmail.com METHODIST CHAPEL, Eton Wick Sunday 10.JOam 6.30pm Morning: Servke and Sunday School Evening Service ST. GILBERT'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, Eton Wick Sunday Mass (on first Sunday of the month only) 9.()()am OUR LADY OF PEACE CATHOLIC CHURCH. Burnham Saturday Sunday 6pm 9.45am 6pm Vigil Mass Mass Material for puhlication should reach one or the Editors tiy the 16th of the preceding month NOT PIJBLISHED IN JANUARY AND AUGUST Editors: Mr. C. C Cody. Fask-r Folly, 7. Dorney Reach Road. Dorney Reach. Maidenhead. Slf) ODX Tel: 01628624121 Mrs. J M. Spencer. Dorincourt, 45, Harcourt Road, Dorne􀃽· Reach. Maidenhead. SL(i ODT Tel: 01628624213 Editorial Board: The Editors. Mrs. M.C Cody Distributors: Mr Cobb. Mrs Cox.Mrs Leishman, Mrs McCabe, Mr McGuinness, Mrs Oxlade, Mr Penfold, Mrs Richmond, Mr Schwartz Miss Snook, Mrs Tuddenham, Mrs Tyler, Mrs Wood-Dow RATE OF SUBSCRIPTION: £5 per annum for 10 issues (Payable in Advance) It is requested that Treasurers of Local Organisations pay their subscriptions in January. Distrihutors who collect suh􀃾criptions from those taking the magazine should hand them to Mn,. Crn.ly. The Editors are not responsible for the opinions of correspondent.,;; expressed in letters or articles published in this magazine. ISSUE NO. 1/18 EDITORIAL FEBRUARY 2018 With this issue I complete fifty years as editor of the Dorney Parish News. Newly married, we came to live in Dorney Reach in April 1956 and in January 1968, when a young man of forty, I became editor. Now that I am ninety, I think it prudent to seek a successor. I would like it to be someone who is in harmony with the whole parish and not someone with a personal agenda. charlescody@talktalk.net This month your distributor will be asking for the annual subscription of £5 for your 2018 copies of the Dorney Parish News. South Bucks Virtual Community Forum Chiltern and South Bucks District Council's Joint Community Safety Tea m, Bucks County Council and Thames Valley Police are hosting a virtual Commu nity Forum. This is an opportun ity where the public can log on, ask questions and share their views on local policing priorities. Visit: http://thamesvp.coverpage.cove ritlive.com Wednesday 7th February 7-9pm Try Something New We meet in Dorney Village Hall at 10.30am on the third Tuesday of the month. The next Tuesday meeting will be on the 20th February at 10.30am. We will be hearing about the wild flora in and arou nd the Parish. Please bring a photo or two of any wild flowers etc in and around your gardens. At all meetings we have a table where your hobbies and crafts can be displayed for others to enjoy. Perhaps you have some talent, hobby or somewhere you have visited and would talk to us about it, please come along to a meeting to see what happens ...... . All welcome. Joy Richmond Dorney Website The Dorney website address is dorney.org .uk and the twitter account @DorneyPC Find minutes. planning, tweets, links to SBDC articles etc. -1- Revd La Stacey writes: What gets you out of bed in the morning? Do you have any sense of purpose or sense of worth to get you going? This is the season of Epiphany. In the church we don't get the year going with a list 􀄰 of good intentions or a course of self-improvement in 1 0 easy steps and 3 easy payments which will make us more worthy human beings. No, we start with Epiphany: moments of awe, of heaven touching earth. The season culminates at Candlemas, with Simeon in the temple recognising the baby Jesus as the one who brings heaven to earth so that we earthlings in tum can touch heaven. We stand in awe as we realise that the power is ours to make the place in which we stand one that reflects goodness. Who would want to lie in bed when they have the power to make a positive difference, even it is only the power to smile or say a kind word? Candlemas is 2nd Feb. It is the mid-point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. As the light begins to return to the world the custom was to bring your candles to church for blessing. It was an acknowledgement that light is a gift and a reminder, as the candles would be lit each evening, that the love of God continues to bring warmth and light. May that light be yours in this New Year. For information about our churches, activities and church history please see our parishes' web site: www.stjohnstjamesed.org.uk Church Services in February 2018 Sunday 4th February 9.30 am Holy Communion (said BCP) 9.30 am Family Praise (half hour with coffee) 1 1 .00 am All Age Family Service Wednesday 7th February 1 0.00 am Holy Communion (said BCP) Sunday 11th February 9.30 am Holy Communion 9.30 am Family Praise (half hour with coffee) 1 1 .00 am Holy Communion (children's group) Wednesday 14th February (Ash Wednesday) 7.00 pm Holy Communion Sunday 18th February 9.30 am Holy Communion 9.30 am Family Praise (half hour with coffee) 1 1 .00 am Holy Communion (children's group) Wednesday 21st February 10.00 am Holy Communion (said BCP) Sunday 25th February 9.30 am Morning Worship 9.30 am Family Praise (half hour with coffee) 1 1 .00 am Holy Communion (children's group) 6.30 pm Worship Workshop St James the Less, Dorney St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Evangelist, Eton St James the Less, Dorney St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St James the Less, Dorney St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Evangelist, Eton St James the Less, Dorney St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Evangelist, Eton Dorney Parish Council: Financial mismanagement of Village Hall funding? The Committee on Standards in Public Life First Report in 1 995 established The Seven Principles of Public Life, also known as the "Nolan Principles". These apply to all public servants, including parish councillors. The fourth of these Principles is Accountability. It states "Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this. n This article is written based on this Principle. Recently a resident asked some interesting questions in an email to the Parish Clerk about Dorney Parish Council's (DPC's) involvement in the funding of the Village Hall refurbishment in 2013/14. Even more interesting were the replies from the Parish Clerk in a letter dated 26"' October 201?131 From these replies, and some further research into the facts, there are some additional questions that I, and a number of other residents, believe require answers. Especially when nearly £92,000 of residents' council tax is involved - and probably should not have been! As background, some of you may recall that in April 2012 Dorney Parish Council conducted a residents' survey on the future of Dorney Village Hall which asked 607 villagers whether they supported an annual increase in the parish precept of around 25% to help fund the plans. 243 questionnaires were returned (40%). Votes in favour totalled 125(51%), while 1 1 8 (49%) were against. A narrow, but democratic, resuI1[1J. However, this was hardly a ringing endorsement (even less than Brexit with a much lower tum out!). An indication, therefore, to proceed with care. At the Parish Council meeting on 8"' October 2013 Ms Foxley [Dorney Village Hall Management Committee (DVHMC) trustee and Parish Councillor] reported that "the final cost of refurbishment [of the Village Hall] will be £128,722 (including VAT and 15% contingency)". In that same meeting DPC resolved to "Donate to DVHMC £80.000 (inc. vat)". The final cost of the contingency was reported as£15,124 (inc. VATjl'1 which indicates that the total final cost, excluding VAT, was around £103,750 and the VAT total was around £20,750. The following questions arise regarding the involvement of the DPC in this funding: 1 . Why did the DPC make a non-repayable grant of £80,000 to the Dorney Village Hall Management Committee(DVHMC) Instead of a loan? a. The DPC could easily have constructed the grant as a loan which, if the Village Hall flourished, as it has, DVHMC would repay either some or the entire grant over a period of time. This would have ensured that residents would not end up paying for the grant while the Village Hall, a registered charity, made substantial surpluses in their accounts - which they are doing. Naturally any loan agreement would have taken into account that, if the Village Hall could not pay the loan, the DPC would be responsible for the debt based on the residents' vote. b. Dorney Village Hall Accounts for 2014/15, the first full year without refurbishment costs, show a surplus of £ 1 1 , 1 39. Their 2015/16 Accounts show a surplus of £9,900151.These represent a very significant average profit margin of around 40% for these two years. More than enough to contribute to a full or part repayment of the grant from Dorney Parish Council. c. In fact, this loan structure was clearly suggested, in the minutes of the Parish Council Meeting on 8th January 2013, by Mr Easton - a trustee of DVHMC and a Parish Councillor - who reported that ·a grant will be available from Dorney PC and DVHMC [Dorney Village Hall Management Committee] should be in a position !Q...efil back this qranf [my underliningj'I. d. This suggestion of a loan, by the pote ntial prospective borrower, appears, unfortunately for res idents, not to have been taken up by DPC in the negotiations with DVHMC for reasons that are far from clear. e. The DPC decision not to proceed down this path will cost Dorney residents nearly £92,000 on their Council Tax between 2013/14 to 2033/34. A very costly - and probably unnecessary - decision. 2. Why did the DPC commit to a loan for £80,000 when only £60,000 appears to have been required? a. On 3rd December 2013 Dorney Parish Council borrowed £80,000 from the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB} over 20 years al 3.94% interest131 and increased the 2013114 (and future years} parish precept on Council Tax bills by 26% in order to give a grant of that amount to Dorney Village Ha11121. It appears that it actually drew down the money around February 2014.111The terms of this loan have never been disclosed to residents by the DPC. b. In July 2014, five months after drawdown, the Finance Committee Chairman reco mmended repaying £20,000 of the long term £80k loan111. c. It appears that this early repayment came about because Dorney Parish Council failed to establish that village halls, like Dorney's, are zero-rated for VAT and, therefore, the £20,000 that appears to have been allocated to VAT was not re quired as a long term loan[61. See below. d. Therefore the amount of around £20,000 required for VAT could have been funded through the temporary use of some of the DPC reserves, then standing at around £28,000141 , rather than taking out an expensive 20 year loan. e. As the PWLB ls not in business to provide short term loans it imposed a swingeing early repayment penalty of £4,478 for this early repayment of £20,000 - which came directly out of Parish Council funds (our money}13I . f. To compou nd the problem, the early repayment could not be paid back to the PWLB until twelve months after the loan drawdown so residents endured an additional interest charge of around £635 from October 2014 to March 2015 making the total cost of the excess loan around £5, 113l1l_ g. That represented 26% of the 2014115 annual parish precept of £1 9,42i41 . 3. Did Dorney Parish Council seek VAT reclaim advice from either HMRC or professional advisors regarding VAT on village hall refu rbishment or even do a simple online search prior to the PWLB loan application? If so, what was that advice, who provided it and when? If not, why not? a. It appears lhat the Parish Council were under the impression that 20% VAT was payable - and not refundable - on the refurbishment costs of around £103,750, an amount of around £20,750. This was an error. An online search or a call to HMRC at that time would have easily led to the applicable HMRC Notice 708 (2007), which in Para. 14.7.3 161 it clearly states that refu rbishment of village halls, like Domey's, are zero-rated for VAT and, therefore, all of the VAT paid may be reclaimed -which eve ntually it was. In the revised current Notice 708 (2016) the same details are shown in Para. 14.7.4. b. An amount of around £20,750 was req uired, shorl term, to pay VAT but that was, correctly, reclaimed and repaid within months and could have easily been funded from Parish Council Reserves which then stood at around £28,000, as stated above[4l 4. Why did DPC not advise residents about the PWLB early repayment penalty charge of £4,478 In the Minutes of their October 2014 meeting? a. The July 2014 DPC Minutes, only five months after drawing down the £80,000 PWLB loan, stated "Mr Ormond, Chairman of the Fin ance Committee, reported that it _,_ • would be beneficial to repay back some of the loan." Mention was made, as an example, of an amount of £20,000 111 . b. The October 2014 DPC Minutes stated that the Parish Council "Resolved to pay back £25, 000 of the loan from the PWLB ,(11. In fact these Minutes are not accurate. The Parish Council actually resolved to make an early repayment of £20,284 of the loan principal and not £25,000. The balance of the £25,000 was made up of the early repayment penalty charge of £4,478 and an accrued interest payment of £238131. c. Neither this significant early repayment penalty charge nor the amount of the additional interest charge of around £635 from October 2014 to March 2015, stated above, wasever disclosed to residents. d. DPC appears to have been extremely remiss in not disclosingto re sidents the early re payment penalty payment together with the amount of the additional interest charge or the reasons for them. The apparent (completely avoidable) cost of all of the above to the residents of Dorney in their Council Tax is: • The cost of the revised loan over 20 years • The interest payments on the revised loan @ 3.94% • The cost of the PWLB early repayment penalty charge • The approx.cost of the additional interest charge (Oct/Mar) • Total avoidable cost to Dorney residents, around Reparation £60,000 £26,807 £ 4,478 £ 635 £91,920 In order to make some reparation for this, it is reco mmended that the DPC firstly provides answers to the above questions and secondly, given the significant, very welcome, surpluses being achieved by the Village Hall, negotiates a repayment of the balance of the DPC grant by converting it to a loan from DPC to DVHMC from April 2018 onwards at the annual repayment cost of the £60,000 PWLB loan of £4,292. I am sure that the trustees of Dorney Village Hall would be willing to renegotiate the terms given it was their idea initially lo have a loan from DPC and they are making a substantial profit margin. This would mean that the users of the Village Hall would, rightly, be paying for the refu rbishment rather than those re sidents who don't use it. Given the closeness of the original funding vote by residents this would appear to be financially, morally and ethically reasonable to all parties (especially to Dorney residents). The DPC would then be able to red uce the parish precept by around 20% in 201 9/20, unless other projects require the funds. Bill Dax bill@daxfamily.com • Sources: 1. Dorney Parish Council Meeting Minutes 2. Dorney Parish Council Finance Committee Minutes 3. Information provided by the Parish Clerk. 4. Dorney Parish Council Accounts 5. Dorney Village Hall Accounts 6. HMRC Notice 708 (2007) Para. 14.7.3 -5- New Year on Dorney Common Christmas seems to arrive earlier with every passing year, celebrations heightened by fabulous illuminations, and excitement elevated with the arrival of this year's tree along with the ceremony of the grand decoration. Recently we now enjoy a new annual anticipation, the first glimpse of the latest release by the superstore companies of their very clever and endearing festive marketing advert. Shortly followed by the in-depth debate on whose was best? As festivities recede along with 2017, the New Year brings a fresh chill gusting in, along with an unexpected antipodean virus of great magnitude. My husband Dave, swept down with this Aussie flu on New Year's Eve, laid up silently sleeping whilst I sat contemplating this sudden stillness, in between fetching soups and medication for my feverish patient. I spent some time cooking up hearty chicken broths, using up the leftovers of fresh vegetables and adding in some pearl barley. His desire for food was poor but this well simmered tasty dish proved to whet his appetite, along with its nutritional benefits and digestibility. A festive roll has materialised around my midriff. As I glance down, see that it necessitates the motivation to deflate just one tyre or two before things skid completely off track. The fridge remains, now absent of items that entered the soup cauldron, laden with post-Christmas calories, with only one person with any ability to consume it. Should I steadily chomp though it, give the hens a treat, or simply invite friends to help devour some? A few days later, most supplies ingested, the crisis has diminished but perhaps only shifted from one area to another. As Dave still snoozes each day away, guilt urges me to pull on my wellies and pace my usual paths. It's a fine day with fresh air, blue skies and a radiant sun that my face welcomes. The first thing I notice is that there is a queue of business vans right along the village, parked up, with men in high-vis actively contemplating and tackling what looks like intermittent trenches into the roadside. On enquiring I hear that this is the first stage for our super-fast internet arriva l ! How wonderful, soon we can download films without an overnight wait! Can this be true? As the walk continues I see other changes in our landscape. An oak picnic table lies within two of the arable fields near the rickety wooden bridge that spans the common to the farm land. It's rather sad as the inscription is of a loss, and the heavily carved words speak of a man's gruelling torment. Further on curving round back across the common I then see another carved inscription. This time another engraving completed by mankind, but probably more of a scar than a message. Many chunky ruts cut through the land and chase through the dense mud in the d ried up stream indicating a 'good time' event on vehicles. f • • The time in between New Year and Easter seems to lie in a half time icy space, the holly and the mistletoe now move over to make way for a frozen few months where the harsher weather prevails and we hibernate to await our spring forward moment. As we enter Aquarius my husband is now fit and well, his svelte figure trimmed down by his recent prolonged bout of illness. Good news too, my slightly rounder shape is gradually deflating like a slow puncture as it recovers from indulgencies. No worries! February is the shortest month, only 28 days this year, no leap at the end, no unexpected proposals, just four short weeks as we wait for the first snowdrop head and yellow daffodil face that tells us Easter is shortly to visit. It's a good thing I'm not a chocoholic, but unfortunately I am rather fond of spiced hot cross buns! Happy New Year! Kristina Perkins Dells Cottage IRONING by FLORI Your Ironing, my Mission! On Facebook: Cleaning & ironing by Flori florentinateisanu@yahoo.co.uk Mob: 07879626434 I collect and deliver for free. Prices start at £2.20 per lb. Minimum price £11. I can collect from home or work, day or night. I provide a friendly, professional and reliable service with experience over 10 years G & J Decora ting Local decorators with 20 years ' experience. All aspects of decorating undertaken to the highest standard. Free estimates and references available. Gav 07795 08 1141 James 07813 289468 or 01 628 655658 St Mary Magdalene, Boveney - An Interesting Year I think the residents of Dorney feel a special affection for the Church of St Mary Magdalene, which has stood by the Thrunes at Boveney for over 800 years. Many ofus were also intrigued by a beautiful building that remained closed and not easily accessible over the final decades of the last century. After restoration supervised by the Friends of Friendless Churches, the next stage has been to open up the Church to all visitors each and every day. So this fine medieval building has gone from peaceful isolation to receiving an estimated 1 1 ,000 visitors over the last year and a half. The small group oflocal Friends of St Mary Magdalene think it's time to update our neighbours on what has been going on over 2017. The Church has, in fact, been open to any passing visitor since July 2016. It's worth paying tribute here to Bill Dax, the Chairman of the local Friends and Peter Smith, who have opened and closed the doors at the beginning and end of each day. Opening up in this fashion is intended to be, if possible, permanent. Our estimate of visitor numbers is based on the pattern of donations and the wonderfully supportive comments in the visitors' book. These are a real inspiration and we've reproduced them on the Friends' website www.st-marv-magdalene-boveney-org.uk Do have a look and you'll find a more detailed version of these notes there. You'll be in good company - 4,000 have visited our site in 201 7 alone. In recent years, the building had been subject to persistent vandalism. It was felt by the Friends of Friendless Churches that the best way to enhance security was not to close the doors but to throw them open and increase the flow of visitors to the Church. This was a wise decision - there were no acts of vandalism in 201 7 at all, unless we include the rabbits who seem to enjoy burrowing under the walls. How has the process of preservation continued in 2017? Many of you supported a planning application made last year. Part of an old wharf exists on the Thrunes in front of the Church. The runbition was to construct a jetty here which could have enabled a residential boat owner to moor there and keep an eye on the Church on a 24/7 basis. Unfortunately, we couldn't proceed because of Environmental Agency flooding regulations. Other measures to ensure long term security are being exrunined. We'd like to thank Eton College and Dorney Lake for clearing at our request the undergrowth which had blocked the view of the Church from the river. We exrunined renovation to our piano, but visitors seem to like it as it is in spite of drunpness and sticking keys. Do please visit and play it - all kinds of sheet music have been donated (more, please!) and we're told by visiting choirs that the acoustics are sensational. The old building is now enjoying a regular Spring and pre-Winter clean. What has been going on within the Church itself? There is a regular pattern of three services a year, which will be repeated in 2018. There is an Easter Sunday Sunrise service and a Christmas Advent Service by candlelight. In medieval times, St Mary Magdalene was a popular saint and her saints' day is celebrated on July 22nd with a regular Patronal Festival Service. Weddings in the Church would only be permissible -8- • • • ; in very special circumstances with the approval of the Archbishop of Canterbury, but a Wedding Blessing in planned next summer with more in the pipeline. You will recall that Robin married Marion with Boveney as a location in Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves. Filming is still taking place. Last autumn a number of scenes were filmed at the Church for the second series of Channel 4's Flowers due to air in 201 8starring Olivia Colman. We hope more opportunities will arise of this sort. St Mary Magdalene inspires visitors by its atmospheric tranquillity, but there is also much of historical interest. There is a plaque in the Church commemorating local man, Frank Church who lost his life on the Somme in 1916. A considerable amount of research has been conducted into Frank's life which is available both in the Church and on our website. It is our intention to research the lives of Percy Evins and William Poole, who are commemorated by a second plaque being choristers in the Church and who gave their lives in the World War II, providing such information as might be available during the year. The Montague family lived at Boveney Court from the 1 5th century to the early 1 8th century being substantial landowners and tenants in Boveney and Dorney. Lawrence Montague was the Vicar of Dorney from 1 572. His son, Richard Montague, born in Dorney Vicarage round about the year 1 578 became Bishop of Norwich. Peter Montague was born at Boveney in 1603 and was the first Montague immigrant to settle in the New World, arriving in Jamestown Colony in 1621 .Via his six children, he is responsible for at least ten thousand descendants as of this date. We are in touch with members of the Montague family around the world and regularly welcome descendants researching the family genealogy to the Church. Hopefully you are inspired to visit or re-visit the Church or study the website. We'd be happy to hear from any local resident who feels able to help the local Friends. Peter Bowman Secretary, Friends of St Mary Magdalene Electrical Services Burnham Napit Part "P" Approved Additional Sockets - Lights New Fuse Boards - Updates Security - Attic Lighting Home - Landlords Certificates Portable Appliance Testing All other Electrical Work free advice and estimates All wortr. guaranteed No job too small Phone Rob on 01628 60 30 63 Mobile 07801 832 792 -9- • NAPIT Dorney Social Diary Thursday I 5th February Tuesday 20th February Friday 23rd February Wednesday 28th February DORNEY PARISH COUNCIL DORNEY VILLAGE HALL MANAGEMENT COMMJTIEE DORNEY BADMINTON CLUB DORNEY SHORT MAT BOWLS CLUB DORNEY YOUTH CLUB (for children of the parish) VILLAGE HALL BOOKINGS Lent Lunch 31, Harcourt Road, Dorney Reach. Noon - 2 p.m. Try Something New Village Hall 10.30 a.m. - 12 noon. DDHS Hot Supper & Grand Quiz Village Hall 7.30 p.m. Eton Wick History Group Meeting Eton Wick Village Hall 7.30 p.m. Second Tuesday of each month (except August) Village Hall 8 p.m. Second Monday of a.lternate months i.e. March. May. Village Hall 8 p.m. Every Tuesday Village Hall 8-10 p.m. Every Sunday Village Hall 7 - 10 p.m. Every Thursday evening during term time 6.00 - 7.30 p.m. Village Hall Dorney 5-16 year olds in two groups contact Leanne Kittel 07919 484855 Graham Easton 01628 628819 & 07503 745760 Email: enquiries@dorneyvillagehall.com The Charteris Club Eton Wick Viliage Hall Tuesday & Wednesday 12.00 - 14.00 If you are 60+, live in Eton, Eton Wick & Dorney and are interested in joining The Charteris Club for an enjoyable lunch and friendly company, for more details on how to register please call Julie & Jackie on : 07598 565091 I have just recently taken over as Manager of The Charteris Club and am now running the lunch club from the Eton Wick Village Hall. We are keen to add to our membership and in particular from the Dorney Parish. The Revd. La Stacey is also a Trustee. The Annual Membership is £1 0.00 and the hot lunches are brought down from Bekynton each Tuesday and Wednesday for a small price of £4.00 per person. In cases where the member has mobility concerns, I can arrange for a car to collect and return home. Julie Chappell - 1 0- t ,f 11A/2! g Dorney Parish News , .r,', _, - • ;.-- -- -- - - - .--· -· - -- 􀀥 =:.---:..-- 􀀦 ::.􀀧----: 􀀍;""--􀀎-􀁶􀁷􀁸 - === 􀀐=::;::=-:::􀀑;;.;;; 􀀒;i: 􀀓 •i 􀀔􀀕 __:.:;.;;;.......- -- -􀀖 -..,. .􀀔; w􀀅 --􀀆􀀇 .;- •,1 ""' I ,.. '- '-I_ , ft B!!I􀀉!:􀀊Trd 􀀋􀀌􀀍ie Providing high quality nursing, residential and day care to older people and those who live with dementia Burnham Lodge, Parliament Lane, Burnham, Slough, SLl 8NU Please give us a call on 01628 667345 or email info@hartfordcare.co.uk for more information www.hart fordc are.co. uk hartfordcare care comfort cor'lpan1onsti p JANE MORGAN DRESSES -------c:::, EVENING DRESS HIRE & SALES • Ball gowns, prom dresses & cocktail wear • Handbags,jewellery & wraps • Sizes 0- 20, competitively priced • The dresses can be altered to ensure a perfect fit By appointment 6 days a week 01628 600509 jane@janemorgan.co. uk Mob: 07887 994222 www.janemorgandresshire.co.uk ID follow us on Facebook Village Road, Dorney, nr Windsor & Eton E Sargeant & Son FUNERAL DIRECTORS Serving families in Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead since 1712 01753 520081 40 Church Street, Slough SL 1 1 PJ 01753 865982 61 St Leonards Road, Windsor SL4 3BX 01628 783738 118 High Street, Maidenhead SL6 1PT Call us for immediate support, advice or a home visit. We are here to help 24 hours a day Funeral Partners esargeant. co. uk • SERVICES IN THE LOCAL CHURCHES ST. JAMES, DORNEY Full details of our Services and Children's Activities are included in this magazine VICAR OF DORNEY Revd. La Stacey The Vicarage. 69a Eton Wick Road, Eton Wick. Windsor. Berks. SL4 6NE Tel: 01753 852268 email: revlastacey@'gmail.com METHODIST CHAPEL, Eton Wick Sunday 10.30am 6.,0pm Morning Service and Sunday School Evening Service ST. GILBERT'S CATHOLIC CHURCH. Eton Wick Sunday Mass (on first Sunday of the month only) 9.(K)am OUR LADY OF PEACE CATHOLIC CHURCH. Burnham Saturday Sunday 6pm 9.45am 6pm Vigil Mass Mass Malerial f(1r publicaNtiOonT s PlllImIBldL rIeSaHchE ormwurt. 45. Harcourt Road. Dorney Reach. Maidenhead Slh ODT Tel: 01628 62421 J Editorial Board: The Editors. Mrs. M.C Cody Distributors: Mr Cobb. Mrs Cox. Mrs Leishman. Mrs McCabe. Mr McGuinness, Mrs Ox lade, Mr Penfold, Mrs Richmond. Mr Schwartz Miss Snook, Mrs Tuddenham, Mrs Tyler. Mrs Wood-Dow RATE OF SUBSCRIPTION: £5 per annum for 10 issues (Payable in Advance) It is requeMed that Trcaorney Parish Council AGM Dorney residents have done their fair share of complaining in the past. We didn't like the plans for Dorney Lake and were wary of Olympic disruption. But there's usually a perception that someone is going to benefit from these schemes and, you never know, we all might in the end. Dorney Parish Council's AGM was dominated by the 'Smart Motorway Report' and I thought to myself that, this time, there were precious few silver linings for our village in this scenario. This is where I make my usual proviso that these notes ore not minutes or claim to be a precise record of the meeting's details. This is my impression of a pretty well organised and well choired session that had the added bonus of a somewhat larger and maybe, even more involved, audience than in recent years. Nick Atkinson, the project's Stakeholder Manager, was cheerfully striving to make us as keen on his project as he undoubtedly was. I think I heard him say that we might not feel enthusiastic, but we would be if we saw it from the perspective of a Swindon businessman. This idea strikes me as 'very 1990s' - surely any self-respecting professional now arranges meetings by video conferencing or uses an improved rail service. Whoever he is, Dorney is making some pretty big sacrifices to shave some minutes off this chap's trip (and, presumably, there are other 'Dorneys' dotted through the M4 corridor) - I was unnerved somewhat even at the suggestion that our local school could shut because disruption would lead to falling enrolment and vulnerable residents would have the services of carers thrown into disarray. As someone who has seen the devastation visited on the M6 north of Birmingham in recent years by extended 'smart' installation, it was daunting when Mr. Atkinson said that the Hayes-Reading project was the biggest yet. The extra carriageway calls for replacement of the existing motorway bridges. The Lake End Road Bridge can be built alongside the existing structure, but that's impossible for that carrying Marsh Lane. Work will start in about a year, in spring 2019. Marsh Lane will be shut for over a year. There won't be 24/7 working, but there will be weekends when the motorway shuts. With the wider bridge being installed over the river, even Father Thames will be shut on occasions. I hope that businessman in Swindon understands the lengths we're all going to. An exhibition for residents is planned, but it's been delayed due to issues with the 'Development Consent Order' (one prays that someone is having second thoughts about this nonsense). The project is keen on communication - there will be a dedicated website and probably regular newsletters, so Dorney Parish News can provide regular updates. ,, 􀀒11:-'\. \ts \ ::-- . ,. . ) '-• \ v r c.::'.:,\O Dorney Parish News Jv.J 's . .. #. h􀀃 u...,,iu􀀋 􀀌,...;.r-l􀀍􀀎: .:.1 : _; "" -- .􀀓{. -.. '--􀀎'ii ., ·: ...., ,.. ..... .•..􀀻. .•.,.. 􀀤 I .'1 . ·-''- . 1 >.. 􀀋 ... - . .,._ - . 􀀺 􀀻:r 􀀊 -- -..􀀹. --=-----= - -􀀃􀀄􀀅---􀀚􀀛-􀀜 -􀀝---:=-:., - 􀀼􀀞􀀟=--·􀀽􀀠 i-w..5􀃥,:.;;;t':􀃦􀃧:::::=::;:;.--;􀃨􀃪-􀃩􀃫i:-􀃬.. 􀃭 􀃮􀃯 􀀅:..=- -:;.􀀍 =-.-. :; - -.. _-::1•_ • - ft Burnham Lodge part of the Hartford Care family Providing high quality nursing, residential and day care to older people and those who live with dementia Burnham Lodge, Parliament Lane, Burnham, Slough, SLl 8NU Please give us a call on 01628 667345 or email info@hartfordcare.co. uk for more information www.hartfordcare.co. uk hartfordcare care comfort compan1onsh1p f •• • JANE MORGAN DRESSES - - - ---- c:::, - ---- -- EVENING DRESS HIRE & SALES • Ball gowns, prom dresses & cocktail wear • Handbags,jewellery & wraps • Sizes 0- 20, competitively priced • The dresses can be altered to ensure a perfect fit By appointment 6 days a week 01628 600509 jane@janemorgan.co.uk Mob: 07887 994222 www.janemorgandresshire.co.uk 0 follow us on Facebook Village Road, Dorney, nr Windsor & Eton E Sargeant & Son FUNERAL DIRECTORS Serving families in Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead since 1712 01753 520081 40 Church Street, Slough SL 1 1 PJ 01753 865982 61 St Leonards Road, Windsor SL4 3BX 01628 783738 118 High Street, Maidenhead SL61PT Call us for immediate support, advice or a home visit. We are here to help 24 hours a day Funeral Partners esargeant. co. uk • SERVICES IN THE LOCAL CHURCHES ST. JAMES, DORNEY Full details of our Services and Children's Activities are included in this magazine VICAR OF DORNEY Revd. La Stacey The Vicarage. 69a Eton Wick Road, Eton Wick. Windsor. Berks. SL4 6NE Tel: 01753 852268 email: revlastacey@•gmail.com METHODIST CHAPEL, Eton Wick Sunday 10.30am 6 ..l 0pm Morning Service and Sunday School Evening Service ST. GILBERT'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, Eton Wick Sunday Mass (on first Sunday of the month only) 9.00am OUR LADY OF PEACE CATHOLIC CHURCH, Burnham Saturday Sunday fipm 9.45am 6pm Vigil Mass Mass Material for publication should reach one of the Editors by the 16th of the preceding month. NOT PUBLISHED IN JANUARY AND AUGUST Editors: Mr. P. J. Bowman, Tumbleweeds, 12, Harcourt Road, Dorney Reach, Maidenhead. SL6 0DU Tel: 01628 623228 Mrs. J.M. Spencer, Dorincourt, 45, Harcourt Road, Dorney Reach, Maidenhead. SL6 0DT Tel: 01628 624213 Editorial Board: The Editors, Mrs. J. R. Bowman Distributors: Mr Cobb. Mrs Cox.Mrs Leishman. Mrs McCabe, Mr McGuinness, Mrs Oxlade, Mr Penfold. Mrs Richmond, Mr Schwartz Miss Snook, Mrs Tuddenham. Mrs Tyler, Mrs Wood-Dow RATE OF SUBSCRIPTION: £5 per annum for 10 issues (Payable in Advance) It is requested that Trea">urers of Local Organisa1ions pay their subscriptions in January. Distributors who collect subscriptions from those taking the magazine should hand them to Mrs. Crn.ly. The Editors are not responsible for the opinions of correspondents expressed in letters or articles published in this magazine. J 0 ISSUE NO. 5/18 JUNE2018 EDITORIAL Welcome to my first editorial for Dorney Parish News. In his last editorial, my predecessor Charles Cody thanked many people who had contributed to half a century of success for the magazine. Now it's our turn to thank Charles. His achievements must be unique. Everybody in the village - and DPN does reach out to most people here - owe him a debt of gratitude. I'd like to see some appropriate honour bestowed on a great gentleman - if there was such a thing as 'Freedom of the Parish' it should here be awarded. The time has come to pen a few words looking forward. We could start by asking what a 'parish magazine' is for. In keeping with the first two paragraphs, it can celebrate initiatives that could benefit all residents. Those initiators can set out their proposals and modestly take credit. As only a minority will be able to attend every meeting, read every brochure and consult all websites, DPN can set out the means by which we can move forward as a community. That's why, for me, the most significant Dorney event in my first month was the demonstration of CPR ('cardiopulmonary resuscitation') in an upstairs room at the local pub and Councillor Foxley's article on the village defibrillators is particularly welcome in this issue. DPN will be positive, but there is also a place for righteous anger. Readers will have their own pet issues, but I can readily think of three which get me going. There is the increasing chaos at the A4 end of Marsh Lane apparently caused by improper traffic light phasing and thoughtless parking, the despoliation of an Olympic site (not to mention the perils of parking in Court Lane) as Dorney Lake is increasingly treated as a public park and the seizure of local government powers by a remote county council based far away in Aylesbury. I hope we can make the 'powers that be' sit up and listen. Please prove me wrong, dear readers, but I feel that our village is no longer the closely knit community it was when the last editor took over. Often residents point to the geographical divide between Dorney and Dorney Reach. Several have called for the return of an element of 'births, marriages and deaths' in these pages. It's sad for me to report the passing of Frank Bond at the age of 95. Frank will be remembered both as the founding chairman of the Eton Wick History Group and the greengrocer who delivered produce to both parts of this village. The 'community' is made up of you, the readers. What is wanted is more articles from more writers with more response to those articles. You can reach the magazine, for the moment, on peter.bowman@talktalk.net -1- Revd La Stacey writes: Well, how do you follow that? I'm talking about The Sermon at The Wedding, of course. I loved watching the bemused faces of the Royal Family and others, not quite knowing what to make of it. The commentator didn't quite know what to make of it either: 'almost a sermon' said Huw Edwards. Did he mean in terms of length? Longer than most of mine! Or was he making a comment on the theological content? It seemed spot on to me in capturing both the love of God and the power of God: the embodiment of love in the person of Jesus and the fire of God's Spirit when we know his love in our inmost being. The Most Reve rend Michael Curry didn't underplay the sacrificial element of self-giving love either: "There's power in love. Don't underestimate it. Don't even over-sentimentalize it. There's power - power in love ... [Jesus] gave up his life, he sacrificed his life, for the good of others, for the good of the other, for the well being of the world ... for us. That's what love is. Love is not selfish and self-centred. Love can be sacrificial, and in so doing, becomes redempt ive. And that way of unselfish, sacrificial, redempt ive love changes lives, and it can change this world". Let's all follow that in the power of God's Spirit if we can! For information about our churches, activities and church history please see our parishes' web site: www.stjohnstjamesed.org.uk Church Services in June 2018 Sunday 3rd June 9.30 am Holy Communion (BCP) 9.30 am Family Praise (half hour with coffee) 11.00 am All Age Service Wed nesday 6th June 10.00 am Holy Communion (said BCP) Sunday 10th June 9.30 am Holy Communion 9.30 am Family Praise (half hour with coffee) 11.00 am Holy Communion (children's group) Sunday 17th June 9.30 am Holy Communion 9.30 am Family Praise (half hour with coffee) 11.00 am Holy Communion ( children's group) Wed nesday 20th June 10.00 am Holy Communion (said BCP) Sunday 24th June 9.30 am Holy Communion 9.30 am Family Praise (half hour with coffee) 11.00 am Holy Communion (children's group) 6.15 pm Worship Workshop St James the Less, Dorney St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Evangelist, Eton St James the Less, Dorney St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St James the Less, Dorney St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Baptist Eton Wick St John the Evangelist, Eton St James the Less, Dorney St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Evangelist, Eton Tidy Parish Day - 16th. June Instead of the 'Best Kept Village' this year we are aiming to get the Parish looking beautiful throughout by having a thorough tidy and litter pick the weekend of the 16th/17th June. Meet at the Village Hall for bacon buns (with alternatives) at 10.30 on the 16th. June to split into working groups - lifts will be available. We hope to have enough people for teams in Boveney, Dorney and Dorney Reach. All equipment will be supplied and we thank South Bucks District Council for the loan of the litter picking kit. Please contact Sue Moffat our Clerk or myself with: • Suggestions of jobs, or areas to attend to, would be welcome anytime between now and the 16th. • Requests for lifts to the Village Hall to claim your bun, Come along to meet your neighbours and help us to get the village looking spick and span! Sue's details are:- Email clerk@dorney.org.uk Phone 07443 588361 Thank you Alice Foxley mail@alicefoxley.co.uk 07814 931111 The tennis season is nearly here. Get out those rusty racquets! Graham Dare Adult and Junior Coach Are you interested in some tennis coaching at the Dorney tennis court ? Graham is a licensed LTA Level 2 coach experienced in coaching beginners and intermediate players. In addition to coaching at Dorney Tennis Club, Graham works for the American School in London, supporting the After School Tennis Programme and Summer Holiday Camps. Graham is licensed and insured with the BTCA and has DBS, First Aid and Safeguarding and Protection Certificates. Available for private individual and group coaching for both adults and children. Please caU him for further information . ContacL 07966 511998 E-mail. graham.dare1@gmall.com -3- Dorney Social Diary Saturday 16th June Tuesday 19th June Wednesday 18th July Saturday 1'1 September DORNEY PARISH COUNCIL DORNEY VILLAGE HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE DORNEY BADMINTON CLUB DORNEY SHORT MAT BOWLS CLUB DORNEY YOUTH CLUB (for children of the parish) VILLAGE HALL BOOKINGS SOMETHING NEW Tidy Parish Day Something New Village Hall 10.30 a.m. -12 noon. Eton Wick History Group Meeting Eton Wick Village Hall 7.30 p.m. DDHS Annual Show Second Tuesday of each month (except August) Village Hall 8 p.m. Second Monday of alternate months i.e. July, Sept. Village Hall 8 p.m. Every Tuesday Village Hall 8-to p.m. Every Sunday Village Hall 7 - 10 p.m. Every Thunday evening during term time 6.00 - 7.30 p.m. Village Hall Dorney 5-16 year olds in two groups contact Leanne Kittel 079 t 9 484855 Graham Easton 01628 628819 & 07503 745760 Email: enquiries(ii)dorneyvillagehall.com The 16th of May was a bright sunny morning when the group met at the Village Hall for coffee and biscuits. John Barker updated the group on the Wildflower project at the Memorial Garden and hopefully this will progress during the coming year. It would be lovely if villagers could plant small patches of wild flowers in their gardens. He has a stock of seed varieties for free distribution to anyone who is willing to raise them After looking at some old postcards of Windsor there was a general discussion about how Dorney has changed as members reminisced about the Blue Bus service, the school, shops and regular delivery services including those made by horse and cart. There was concern about the difficulties currently experienced in accessing some medical services and knowing where to go for help. If you drink morning tea/coffee and enjoy the occasional biscuit, come to the next meeting on Tuesday 19th June at 10.30am when there will be a speaker from the new Eton Dorney Specialist Residential School. ,, • • • Defibrillator Update Who knew that The Archers' theme tune could save a life? The training course that was part of the purchase of the Defibrillator was given by two Paramedics and was indeed very instructive, demonstrating our defibrillator as well as others in case we were ever in a situation where we needed to use a different machine. We were taught how and when to use the defibrillator and also the importance of CPR - which is basically what you keep doing whilst sending someone to fetch the defibrillator. Who the 'someone' was had us thinking - you are on the line to the ambulance service who want you to keep the line open, but you need to keep performing CPR and somehow get someone else to fetch the machine. Although not a great social media mogul myself, I could see that becoming a proper purpose for a WhatsApp group. And this was where The Archers' theme tune came in - it's exactly the right speed to perform CPR at. Other tunes are available for you to hum whilst pounding away at your patient's chest- appropriately Staying Alive by the Bee Gees also works. This leads to questions about the defibrillator for Dorney Reach that we are now working on. We have found a couple of possible sources of extra funding, as we did for the first one. The main question, though, is where to place it. The Village Hall Committee has kindly agreed that we can put it on the side of the Hall and they will fund the electricity needed to keep the cabinet warm. We could also try to put it in/on the phone box in Harcourt Road, which would be more central. This would work if there was power - which there probably is - but it's very difficult to check as we can't easily get to the fuse box which is covered in books. We could put it inside, but that would restrict the number of books, or try to mount it on the back. The machine itself will require some people to monitor it and it is anticipated that the school will help with this too. Time for a straw poll - contact me with your choice of location. a) In the phone box b) Back of the phone box c) Village Hall If it's a) or b) could you also let me know if you would be willing to help with a tidy up so that we can get an electrician in to properly investigate the power. Thanks Alice Foxley mail@alicefoxley.co.uk Dorney Website The Dorney website address is dorney.org.uk and the twitter account @DorneyPC Find minutes, planning, tweets, links to SBDC articles etc. -5- 07814 931111 Coffee Mourning on Dorney Common The sky above us at this time of the year, always reminds me of blue gingham tablecloths. A chequered criss-cross of aeroplane white contrails weave against the blue azure backdrop with the promise of tea in the warmth of the late afternoon sunshine. Silver pencils of jet slowly make their way to foreign destinations, laden with travellers on a short haul long drag vacation, dragging bulging baggage stuffed with six months' worth of kitchen sink accoutrements. Having the misfortune of my work taking me on several trips each year, I observe the mutating airport habits with fascination. Temptations of the shopping mall mingle with exotic culinary menus, alongside an explosion of busy coffee shop offerings, that sell eleventy-eight types of hot drinks laden with a prolific number of calories. Most interestingly though, is the latest fashion of strolling along wearing a mobile phone in one hand and a tall paper cup clutched in the other. Biding time waiting for a gate call, these drinks are sipped and slurped like a dummy administrating a sugary feed, whilst the other hand busily thumbs the latest text reply. I have given up trying to decipher what a Macchiato means, they are all just hot milkshakes to me. Now here's a thing, try ordering my favourite brew, a black coffee, the response is normally 'would you like milk with that?'. Extraordina ry, if I wanted a Flat White, a Latte with a squirty cream top or a Double ExpressoFrothasprinkles I would have said so. Recently, through a friend in the theatre guild, I was asked to undertake a short onehour slot as a guest speaker at the Berkshire Agricultural College in Burchetts Green. Just a potted history of my creative textile journey to a group of second-year art students. Never having done this sort of undertaking before, my husband Dave, warned me three or four times, do not talk about one subject too long, do not use a slide projector or a slide rule, and do not speak in monotones. I had all the marching orders so felt quite well prepared with my kaleidoscope of upbeat memories. Packing my little suitcase of samples, armed with printed matter and various recent theatre props that had had their stage debut, felt the applause and now retired, I felt confident to be entertaining enough for this short talk. Arriving at the college the new Art Technology building stood both impressive and well equipped, but as I approached in the shadow of its grandeur my confidence shrank a fair margin. Worse still, on entering the classroom to 25 distinctly young nonchalant students, it further sank an inch or two. After carefully setting out my stall of my most colourful interesting items created through the decades, I could see 25 faces void of expression and 50 eyes studying the classroom floor. You could hear a pin drop, and my heart pounding in the silence. • Buoyantly I set off on my masterful plan of hip-hopping over the stepping stone moments of my life from the stitching days at Hampton Court to my latest phase of theatrical enterprises. With very little vocal feedback, and hoping they were laughing inside at my pepper of nearly funny retorts, I made the quick decision to call them all up to the front and gather round. Shuffling reluctantly to form a circle around me, I opened my secret weapon, a Tupperware box containing a dead Thrush bird. There were a few gasps mainly from the girls, who then saw on closer inspection as I lifted the carcass out, that in fact it was merely a very realistic handmade creation. Life size, weighted to flop and woven with real feathers, it was a convincing object that finally secured some attention. Okay, there was not a single hand clap, but my bird shook palms with everyone that morning. Later, speaking to the tutor, I told her I felt that I wasn't interesting enough and apologised to which she replied, 'oh no, to the contrary, you were a huge success! We have never had a guest speaker where the majority of students didn't take their mobile phones out, and today there was not a single one'. The Union Jack bunting and flags are fluttering along all the major thoroughfares of Windsor and Maidenhead, signalling red white and blue for the impending Royal Wedding. By the time this goes to print two rings will have been placed on their entwined fingers, with the Harry and Meghan knot well and truly tied tight. The world and his oyster will have celebrated this joyous time twice and then thrice, with reruns of the kiss and repeats of special moments transmitted from Windsor to Wisconsin. But right now, before the visitors choke Sheet Street, I see the relevant roads have been resurfaced and every pavement had a wash behind the ears. To go or not to go that is the question, merely a two-mile walk from our cottage but, it is probable that we watch it from the comfort of our sofa, far from the madding crowd, a cup of coffee in one hand and the remote in the other. Don't forget, as these revelries fade, do come to see the Maidenhead Drama Guild's latest production, The Great Gatsby, currently in full rehearsal to be ready to open on Wednesday 4th July in the Courtyard Theatre at Norden Farm. It promises vibrant entertainment with scenes from the early 20s and a love triangle amid glamorous champagne parties and the privileged youth. Refreshments of all sorts available in the interval, including of course, all varieties of coffee from Cappuccino to Frappuccino, but please leave the other hand vacant, no mobile phones allowed during the live transmission! Kristina Perkins Dells Cottage -,- Telma Dufton lived in Dorney during World War Two. She was in Dorney to escape the war, as they were living close to the railway line from London and the North Kent coast which the German bombers followed and which they also wished to destroy, so they were bombed. Her father was in the services, so her mother decided they should move right away from there and Dorney became home. Telma is in her late 80s and is a retired photo Journalist. She lives near Sydney, Australia with her children and their families, has great affection for Dorney and wrote this series of articles for the Dorney History Group and those interested in the history of Dorney. ______ _ A child's view of Dorney Vi/loge during World War Two By Telma Dufton (A rticle One of Four} The fi rst thing that came to mind when I turned my thoughts back seventy odd years, to Dorney as I knew it, was cows. Cows in the morning, ambling out to the common, ond cows in the evening ambling back to the fa rm. Since the house where we were living faced onto the village raad, even though it was screened by a tall hedge, the passing of the cows back and fo rth was regular as the rising and setting of the sun. The small dairy farm [Lodge Farm] that was their home was in the heart of the village, right where a number of new houses now stand, almost opposite The Palmer Arms. So the village had its milk supply an one side of the road and equally ancient but stronger liquid on the other. A youngish woman called Nancy, or Nance, was in charge of the cows. I had a great respect for Nancy's authority over those bovines; until you have tried ta make a few cows go where they don't wish to go, you will not appreciate that. Nancy had been adopted by the dairy fa rmer and his wife, who were childless, to grow up to do the work that the missing son would have done; a not uncommon practice in those days, but more about Nancy later. We were living at Hither [Old} Dimmings and so had a fr ont row view of the cows, if we cared to look. As they passed, on occasional cow would nip the hedge or give it o poke with her horn, so that the outside of the hedge had a rather ragged trim level with the cows' heads. Hither Dimmings was actually not a very comfortable house to live in, it had more of history to offe r than real comfort. The added plumbing was eccentric and made strange naises when upset, hot water was only available in quantity by stoking up a boiler, which was located below ground in a sort of stoke hole at the rear of the house. This arrangement was potentially dangerous, because the stoke hole used to fill with fumes from the coke, we did once actually have a small exp losion down there. J didn't like to be alone in the house in the evenings, particularly in the winter. For as the house cooled, the massive, long beams which supported the upper flo or creaked, beginning at one or other end of the house, creak, pause, creak, pause, creak, pause, exactly as if someone was up there, walking the length of the house. It was outside the house where the real enchantment lay. Set in o sizeable piece of land and backed onto by extensive fields, it offe red many hideaways and numerous scopes for adventure. In the grounds at the reor, there were what we had been told, were the wash houses belonging to the two old cottages that had been 'restored' and joined together to make Hither Dimmings, by ingenious and gifted old Mr. Quarterman, the village builder. They contained all sorts of things like nets, to cover the fruit trees ,, -., Dorney Parish News Jw .. ;i 􀀈.'/ -- 􀀫 􀀬􀀭1- -· d􀀃- -􀀮 .. -....􀀯􀀰 ---=-- -􀃢 􀃣-:-- - --- 􀃤􀃥􀃦 - • --:.:.􀁜--􀁝 􀁞-􀁟􀁠 􀀗􀀘- _c.=3_.:;...-.,--_--==: -- 􀀱 ----=- - - - - 􀈟􀈠􀈡.;=-.:...._-· ---􀁡-. ----- .􀀘􀀙it1 'tif.􀀚1 •fl lw'-==􀀃 ""' ..--........,, ... _.-. 􀃡 --·! '· ft Burnham Lodge part of the Hartford Care family Providing high quality nursing, residential and day care to older people and those who live with dementia Burnham Lodge, Parliament Lane, Burnham, Slough, SLl 8NU Please give us a call on 01628 667345 or email info@hartfordcare.co. uk for more information www .hartfordcare.co. uk hartfordcare care comfort companionship JANE MORGAN DRESSES ------ c:::> EVENING DRESS HIRE & SALES • Ball gowns, prom dresses & cocktail wear • Handbags, jewellery & wraps • Sizes O - 20, competitively priced • The dresses can be altered to ensure a perfect fit By appointment 6 days a week 01628 600509 jane@jane morgan. co. uk Mob: 07887 994222 www.janemorgandresshire.co. uk IJ follow 11s 011 Facebook Village Road, Dorney, nr Windsor & Eton E Sargeant & Son FUNERAL DIRECTORS Serving families in Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead since 1712 01753 520081 40 Church Street, Slough SL 1 1 PJ 01753 865982 61 St Leonards Road, Windsor SL4 3BX 01628 783738 118 High Street, Maidenhead SL6 1 PT Call us for immediate support, advice or a home visit. We are here to help 24 hours a day Funeral Partners esargeant. co. uk SERVICES IN THE LOCAL CHURCHES ST. JAMES, DORNEY Full details of our Services and Children's Activities are included in this magazine VICAR OF DORNEY Revd. La Stacey The Vicarage. 69a Eton Wick Road. Eton Wick, Windsor, Berks. SL4 6NE Tel: 01753 852268 email: revlastacey@gmail.com METHODIST CHAPEL, Eton Wick Sunday 10.30am 6.30pm Morning Service and Sunday School Evening Service ST. GILBERT'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, Eton Wick Sunday Mass (on first Sunday of the month only) 9.00am O UR LADY OF PEACE CATHOLIC CHURCH, Burnham Saturday Sunday 6pm 9.45am 6pm Vigil Mass Mass Material for publication should reach one of the Editors by the 16th of the preceding month. NOT PUBLISHED IN JANUARY AND AUGUST Editors: Mr. P. J. Bowman, Tumbleweeds, 12, Harcourt Road, Dorney Reach, Maidenhead. SL6 0DU Tel: 01628 623228 Mrs. J.M. Spencer, Dorincourt, 45, Harcourt Road, Dorney Reach, Maidenhead. SL6 0DT Tel: 01628 624213 Editorial Board: The Editors, Mrs. J. R. Bowman Distributors: Mr Cobb, Mrs Cox, Mrs Leishman, Mrs McCabe, Mr McGuinness, Mrs Oxlade, Mr Penfold, Mrs Richmond, Mr Schwartz Miss Snook, Mrs Tuddenham, Mrs Tyler, Mrs Wood-Dow RATE OF SUBSCRIPTION: £5 per annum for 10 issues (Payable in Advance) It is requested that Treasurers of LocaJ Organisations pay their subscriptions in January. Distributors who collect subscriptions from those taking the magazine should hand them to Mrs. Cody. The Editors are not responsible for the opinions of correspondents expressed in letters or articles published in this magazine. • ISSUE NO. 6/18 JULY 2018 EDITORIAL Stop press - Upgrade to smart motorway, 'Drop by to meet the Team', Dorney Village Hall, Thursday 1 2/7/18, 14.00 - 19.00 One evening in June, a neighbour, very understandably agitated, knocked on our door. She wondered whether our PCSO could be contacted directly. Drivers were being turned away from the Rowing Lake by security, cars were reversing into Court Lane, as usual other drivers were parked hazardously around the bend, carnage loomed. I'm sure PCSO O'Connell can't be rung up (Angela, feel free to clarify!), but residents are frustrated that there's never anyone in authority to witness what we see regularly. Dev Dhillon, our county councillor has secured funding for bollards near to the Lake entrance. It would be great to hear from Dev how this might play out - might traffic, for instance, shift up to parking spaces nearer to Dorney Reach? I wonder where the Lake management stand on this. Are they indifferent to what happens outside their gates, or should we feel sympathy that a wonderful faci lity is turning into a public park - does their role as an Olympic venue oblige them to accept unlimited public access? Residents received a glossy brochure this month from Highways England. It announced that, with work starting at the end of the summer, Dorney Village Hall will be the venue on July 12th for an exhibition covering this project which is about to engulf us. Big projects like Heathrow expansion and HS2 have been argued out in public, often in terms of saving the environment or saving the economy and MPs have argued for their constituents' best interests as they see them. Highways England have been left to sabotage the transport infrastructure by stealth. In our experience Merseyside has been virtually cut off from the Midlands by M6 upgrades. The RAC chief engineer has said the "flat refusal" of the government to listen to genuine voices of concern was worrying. When the motoring organisations don't welcome road improvements, there must be a problem. I hope lots of us attend. We can ask about a 2 year closure of Marsh Lane before project completion and safety concerns after completion. This is the last DPN before the Dorney Annual Show in the Village Hall. Look out for a flyer elsewhere in this issue. In 2018, the Horticultural Society have switched to a week later, avoiding the Bank Holiday weekend. In recent years the Show has grown back to being a major village event, with expanding entries in the various domestic & (especially) children's classes. Please enter, or at least, come along in the afternoon. I hope Dorney School's Summer F ayre has been a success - our publishing cycle prevented a fitting preannouncement DPN misses a month & publishes again in September (copy date August 16th ). Here's wishing everyone around Dorney & Dorney Reach a great summer! peter.bowman@talktalk.net Rev La Stacey writes :: Did you know that Jesus had no intention to start a new religion? Jesus "placed higher value on human relationships than on religion. He never told his followers to love their religion-just their neighbors, their enemi es, and God." (Betty Brown Taylor, American Epis copal priest and professor) Following Jesus is not about promoting a scheme that will get you into heaven; nor is it just about creating social order. It is a vocation in which we are called to love what God loves and to carry it with Him. This will include bearing the cost of reconciliation and restoration. Our vocation is a willingness to hold-and transform-the dark side of things instead of reacting against them, denying them, or projecting our anxiety elsewhere. Can you see the pattern of Jesus' death and resurrection that this reflects? The summer is a period in the church when we celebrate God's good creation: you will notice that the church altar-covering is in lush green, We live in such a beautiful area that it is easy to give thanks and I am heartened to see that people are becoming more aware of treating the environment with respect and care. lt costs though, doesn't it? We have to remember to bring our shopping bags, we have to look for things with less packaging, fewer air-miles or re-usable containers. We have to bother to sign the petitions or write letters to our MPs. Taking care of the created world for others is an example of the response Jesus was calling for. Jesus' brother, James, gave the early followers of Jesus a good talking-to: "Be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves ... Those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere ... wilt be blessed in their doing''. Have a blessed summer! For information about our churches, activities and church history please see our parishes' web site: stjohnstjamesed .org.uk Church Services in July and August 2018 Sunday 1st July 9.30 am Holy Communion (said BCP) 9.30 am Family Praise (half hour with coffee) 11 .00 am All Age Family Service Wednesday 4th July 10.00am Holy Communion (said BCP) Sunday 8th July 9.30am Holy Communion 9.30 am Family Praise (half hour with coffee) 11 .00am Holy Communion (children's group) Sunday 15th July 9.30am Holy Communion 9.30 am Family Praise (half hour with coffee) 11.00am Morning Worship (children's group) Wednesday 18th July 10.00am Holy Communion (said BCP) Sunday 22nd July 9.30am Morning Prayer 9.30 am Family Praise (half hour with coffee) 11 .00am Holy Communion St James the Less, Dorney St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Baptist. Eton Wick St John the Evangelist. Eton St James the Less, Dorney St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St James the Less, Dorney St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Evangelist, Eton St James the Less, Dorney St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Baptist, Eton Wick - .. • 4.00pm Patronal Festival Communion Sunday 29th July 9.30am Holy Communion 9.30 am Family Praise (half hour wtth coffee) 11 .00am Holy Communion Wednesday 1st August 10.00am Holy Communion (said BCP) Sunday 5th August 9.30 am Holy Communion (said BCP) 9.30 am Family Praise (half hour wtth coffee) 11.00 am All Age Family Service Sunday 12th August 9.30am Holy Communion 9.30 am Family Praise (ha􀅇 hour with coffee) 1 1 .00am Holy Communion Wednesday 15th August 1 0.00am Holy Communion (said BCP) Sunday 19th August 9.30am Holy Communion 9.30 am Family Praise (half hour with coffee) 11 .00am Morning Worship Sunday 26th August 9.30am Morning Prayer 9.30 am Family Praise (half hour with coffee) 11 .00am Holy Communion St Mary Magdalene, Boveney St James the Less, Dorney St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Evangelist, Eton St James the Less, Dorney St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St James the Less, Dorney St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Evangelist, Eton St James the Less, Dorney St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St James the Less, Dorney St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Baptist, Eton Wick i Electrical Services Burnham Napit Part "P" Approved • Additional Sockets - Lights • New Fuse Boards - Updates • Security - Attic Lighting • Home - Landlords Certificates • Portable Appliance Testing • All Other Electrical Work Free advice and estimates All work guaranteed No job too small Phone Rob on 01628 60 30 63 Mobile 07801 832 792 • NAPIT A BROADER PICTURE Among the wealth of historical data now being published online is Cambridge University's "Atlas of Victorian and Edwardian Population", which can be seen at www.population spast.org. This takes all sorts of fascinating facts, such as age at marriage or infant mortality, and plots them on a map of England and Wales, allowing you to view trends between 1851 and 1911. It's broken down by area, so that you can also compare your locality with other places. Dorney is not shown separately, but as part of the Burnham sub-district of Eton RD. This also included Eton Wick, Taplow, the Farnhams, Wexham and Stoke Poges, and by 1911 had been extended to include Hedgerley, Fulmer and Gerrard's Cross. But it still provides some interesting insights into what life was like for earlier reside nts of Dorney. Between 1851 and 1901, this area was classified as agricultural, but in 1911 it was defined as professional, following the trend of the surrounding districts. Population density had gone up from 0.35 persons per acre in 1851 to 0.52 in 1911. The proportion of the male workforce who were farm labourers had declined from 43% to 12%, while non-manual male workers had risen from 10% to 22%. This must reflect one of the most profound changes for Dorney and neighbouring villages, when, after centuries during which farming was the predominant activity, people living here worked in a much broader range of jobs, ofte n outside the village, resulting in the semi-rural environment we live in today. Examples from Dorney itself in the 1911 census include the two sons of the farmer at Pigeon House farm working as clerks, for a ship broker and on the railways; a self- employed general and agricultural machinist; another farmer's son who was an agricultural engineer and implement agent; an upholsterer working for a house furnisheri a cabinet maker; a stone mason's superintendent; and two traction engine drivers. By contrast, working life for women in our area had not changed much over this period. Roughly half the female workforce was still employed in domestic service, although by 1911 18% of households had live-in servants, compared with 8% in 1851. However, big changes had occurred for women's families. The birth rate had dropped significantly for both legitimate and illegitimate babies, and infant mortality had also fallen markedly. In 1861, 10% of babies died before their first birthday; this was less than 7% by 1911. For children aged 1 to 5, the death rate had fallen from over 8% to under 3%. Older children locally had benefitted from greater emphasis on the importance of schooling. Less than 2% of boys aged 10 to 13 were not at school in 1911, compared with 17% in 1851. Girls in the same age group were always more likely than the boys to be still at school, and by 1911 less than 0.5% were in work. • • • We tend to assume that our Victorian forebears lived shorter and less healthy lives than we do today. However, a recent study of the period from 1850 to 1880 has shown that life expectancy in the UK (having reached the age of 5) was as good or better than it is now. This was mainly due to a healthy diet and plenty of exercise. Fresh meat and vegetables were more widely and cheaply available than previously, and it's estimated that the mid-Victorians consumed about 10 portions of fruit and vegetables daily. The quality of the diet actually fell later in the 19th century when food became more refined and convenient - tinned meat and fruit, white bread, and cheap confectionery . The mid-Victorians also led active lifestyles, typically burning twice as many calories as today's recommended daily allowance. Most jobs, for men and women, were physically demanding, and in addition domestic chores and walking to work added to the effort expended. Alcohol consumption was relatively low, and few people at this time smoked tobacco. As a result, they tended not to suffer from the chronic degenerative diseases that are the most important causes of ill health and death today - coronary artery disease, cancers and strokes. So, the agricultural way of life in Dorney which was to come to an end in the early years of the 20th century did have the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, once the risks of infancy were past, and perhaps we have something to learn from that lifestyle which would help us today. Virginia Silvester Dorney Horticultural Society Annual Show Saturday 1st September 2018 Dorney Village Hall Registration of Entries 10.00 - 11.30 Show opens 2.00 pm Everyone is welcome. Please come along Sections Include: Vegetables, Flowers, Domestic, Handicrafts and Special Children's Section Programmes available in July or find us on racebook AN APPEAL RAISING AWARENESS At this present time of job-cutting and tight budgets it is being brought to our attention that in the near future our local churches will no longer be able to fund a Vicar unless we look to this issue NOW. Rural and small parishes are sadly struggling, of which we are one. - The work of our vicar, La Stacey {and those before her), ofte n goes unnoticed but 1 can assure you her presence is very much appreciated by many whether elderly, sick, families going through difficulties, in our local schools, churches and a familiar face around the co mmunity. Weddings, funerals and christenings -there is some point in our lives that we look to our local Vicar. Our aim is not to lose this position for Dorney, Eton Wick and Eton. We are appealing to everyone through various outreach sources, this being one, to ask for your support. There is a scheme called the Parish Giving Scheme whereby it is easy to organise through direct debit as little as £5 a month {or more) to make the Diocese of Oxford realise we may be a small parish but we want to keep our Vicar amongst us. Please take a moment to read and fill in a form which can be found on this website: www.parishgivingscheme.org.uk or pick up a form and further information from the church, Jane or Angie {telephone numbers below). Thank you for helping and keeping us a caring community. The bricks and mortar of our churches will be there for years to come but the pastoral care must also be there for our villages and villagers. Angie Wood-Dow (01628 660507) and Jane Reed (01753 424547) i- 􀀄􀀅 -􀀆 ! IRON ING by FLORI Your Ironing , my Mission! On Facebook: Cleaning & ironing by Flori florentinateisanu@yahoo.co.uk Mob: 07879626434 I collect and deliver for free. Prices start at £2.20 per lb. Minimum price £11. I can collect from home or work, day or night. I provide a friendly, professional and reliable service with experience over 1 0 years l • • .. • St. Mary Magdalene A ostle to the A ostles There will be a special service 4pm on Sunday 22nd July At the riverside church of St Mary Magdalene, Boveney Telma Dutton lived in Dorney during World War Two. She was in Dorney to escape the war, as they were living close to the railway line from London and the North Kent coast which the German bombers followed and which they also wished to destroy, so they were bombed. Her father was in the services, so her mother decided they should move right away from there and Dorney became home. Telma is in her late 80s and is a retired photojournalist. She lives near Sydney, Australia with her children and their families, has great affection for Dorney and wrote this series of four articles for the Dorney History Group and those interested in the history of Dorney. A child's view of Dorney Village during World War Two By Telma Dufton (Article Two of Four} Between Hither Dimmings and the {Old] Past Office, where there is now a new house [New Oimmings], there was an extensive, somewhat neglected vegetable garden belonging to Hither [Old] Oimmings, in which was o vigorous, large old Yew, now sadly gone. This was another hide out. The tree was so large, that with the aid of a chain /odder, myself and two brothers could climb up and comp in its crown. Someone in the village told my mother, that in post times o fair or market hod been held on the ground that was now covered by aur vegetable garden. I think this area would hove very likely also included the grounds of Further Oimmings at the rear of the {Old] Post Office House grounds next to it; the Yew tree would then have appropriately given shade for any market goers to sit, smoke o pipe and yarn in. I think it quite likely that fairs or markets would hove been held there, because while we lived there, on one occasion when the ground was being dug for planting, o George I copper coin was found and o little later, o well-used cloy pipe head, beautifully carved (not cast) into the head of o gypsy wearing a head scarf; I only very recently passed this souvenir on to o nephew. In the cottage the other side of the Post Office to us [Shepherds Close], lived The Baroness and her companion. She was o fairly small, slightly dumpy, lady with o fascinating accent, Germon as I learned later. I don't know why I visited her, but I did occasionally and was always kindly welcome; even on one occasion receiving three sweets! Sweets! Well of course that was something; there was o war on and by that time, food rationing was really beginning to bite; at one time, a week's cheese ration would not hove mode o decent sandwich for o working man. No sweets, the sugar ration went into cups of tea, jam and desserts. There was o savage war going on and here were two Germon ladies living in the village. There was, I realised later, o level of polite ostracism toward these two women from the villagers, it was palpable, in no way nasty, but it was there. They were probably somewhat lonely and this was what made visits from on unprejudiced child welcome and so was reworded with sweets. Sugar was not the only thing in short supply, there were no antibiotics at all at that time. We ore so used to them we don't give their presence o second thought. To illustrate, the family that owned the house on the further side of The Palmer Arms Barn {Prior's Croft], acquired a house keeper, a rather crushed, quiet woman with o boy of about ten or twelve. She may hove been o war widow, since she wore a block hat and coot. In those days she may well hove been, but some villagers with o taste for gossip seemed to think that she'd never hod o husband. Anyway it seems that she hod on infected tooth, either because she hod no money to fix it, or she was too scared; dentistry in those days was o severe experience. The poor soul developed on abscess and subsequent blood poisoning, she was rushed to hospital and died within a week. The poor boy I remember being horrified that he'd be sent to on orphanage and hove his hair shoved off for hygiene's sake. We never knew what become of him. On The Palmer Arms side next to Hither Oimmings, was the village bakery. Now that was something special that we did have - I could put my head out of the bedroom window and smell fresh bread every morning. Bread with o divine crust; fetching the bread was on art, to snitch o bit off the fresh crust without mother noticing; I think she did, but she said nothing unless the missing crust was obvious. The bakery was at the bock of the little house/shop where the baker lived. The bread was made from creamy, unbleached flour and baked ,n open tins. These were slid into, what I thought were frighteningly .. JI/II Dorney Parish News ·•. -; . ----;-.- -.. - 􀃞: - -· 􀁂s :::- -- ·--=--􀃟---::::.- 􀁃-􀁄 􀀏􀀐9􀀑..,• 11-i 􀀒.a';􀀓􀀔 =·:;􀀄 7; 􀀣::::::::􀀤􀀥. - -.=-----,=:- -􀀆-1 ....,._ .. ft Burnham Lodge part of the Hartford Care family Providing high quality nursing, residential and day care to older people and those who live with dementia Burnham Lodge, Parliament Lane, Burnham, Slough, SLl 8NU Please give us a call on 01628 667345 or email info@hartfordcare.co.uk for more information www .hartfordcare.co. uk hartfordcare care comfort compan1onsh1p :,• JANE MORGAN DRESSES c::, EVENING DRESS HIRE & SALES • Ball gowns, prom dresses & cocktail wear • Handbags,jewellery & wraps • Sizes O - 20, competitively priced • The dresses can be altered to ensure a perfect fit By appointment 6 days a week 01628 600509 jane@janemorgan.co.uk Mob: 07887 994222 www.janemorgandresshire.co.uk fi follow us on Facebook Village Road, Dorney, nr Windsor & Eton E Sargeant & Son FUNERAL DIRECTORS Serving families in Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead since 1712 01753 520081 40 Church Street, Slough SL 1 1 PJ 01753 865982 61 St Leonards Road, Windsor SL4 3BX 01628 783738 118 High Street, Maidenhead SL6 1 PT Call us for immediate support, advice or a home visit We are here to help 24 hours a day Funeral Partners esargeant. co. uk • SERVICES IN THE LOCAL CHURCHES ST. JAMES, DORNEY Full details of our Services and Children's Activities are included in this magazine VICAR OF DORNEY Revd. La Stacey The Vicarage. 69a Eton Wick Road. Eton Wick. Windsor. Berks. SL4 6NE Tel: OJ 753 852268 email: revlastacey@gmail.com METHODIST CHAPEL, Eton Wick Sunday 10.30am 6.30pm Morning Service and Sunday School Evening Service ST. GILBERT'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, Eton Wick Sunday Mass (on first Sunday of the month only) 9.(>0am OUR LADY OF PEACE CATHOLIC CHURCH, Burnham Saturday Sunday 6pm 9.45am 6pm Vigil Mass Mass Material for publication should reach one of the Editors by the 16th of the preceding month. NOT PUBLISHED IN JANUARY AND AUGUST Editors: Mr. P. J. Bowman, Tumblcwccds, 12, Harcourt Road, Dorney Reach, Maidenhead. SL6 0DU Tel: 0 I 628 623228 Mrs. J. M. Spencer, Dorincourt, 45, Harcourt Road, Dorney Reach, Maidenhead. SL6 0DT Tel: 0 I 628 624213 Editorial Board: The Editors, Mrs. J. R. Bowman Distributors: Mr Cobb, Mrs Cox. Mrs Leishman, Mrs McCabe, Mr McGuinness, Mrs Oxlade. Mr Penfold, Mrs Richmond, Mr Schwartz Miss Snook, Mrs Tuddenham, Mrs Tyler, Mrs Wood-Dow RATE OF SUBSCRIPTION: £5 per annum for 10 issues (Payable in Advance) II is requested that Treasurers of Local Organisations pay their subscriptions in January. Distrihuturs who collect suhscriptions from those taking the magazine should hand them to Mr􀅶. Cody The Editors are not responsible for the opinions of correspondents expressed in letters or articles published in this magazine. f • I, ISSUE NO. 7/18 SEPTEMBER 2018 EDITORIAL Dorney experienced a long, hot summer in 2018. Of course, there were near record temperatures and (alas) an absence of cooling rain. While Kristina Perkins and Tony Dixon-Smith celebrate this elsewhere in our pages, many residents felt anger and uncertainty as several simmering issues, suitably in this hottest summer, came to the boil. Our county councillor's remarks on the County's complacency over dangerous parking at the A4 end of Marsh Lane (see PC minutes in this issue) chillingly reminded me of a petition held in these parts 30 years ago aiming for the provision of traffic lights on this junction and headlined must someone die before action is taken? The exhibition held in the Village Hall on the impending Smart M4, while appreciated and well attended, fed into existing uncertainty. Among many issues, two could be highlighted - a concern that we were being told different stories at different meetings about the vital extension of sound barriers east and west, and surprise at the apparent plans for Trumpers Field. About this, see the first of regular updates from the Project in this issue. In late August, so called 'travellers' invaded the district and took over Sainsbury's car park and ransacked local businesses with apparent impunity. This incursion was linked to the most contentious of all issues, the dangerous parking outside the gates to Dorney Lake and along the Richmond Path and Court Lane. There is no doubt the Lake authorities faced an unprecedented security problem with constant incursions from both those familiar travellers and a new variety of invader, outdoor swimmers. Encouraged by two recent trends, continuous hot weather and social media, literally hundreds arrived on the hottest Sundays with rubber rings and, in many cases, people carriers. We're hoping for a perspective on these events from the Lake in a future issue, but cooler weather and very belated action by Thames Valley Police has seen the crisis subside. A problem seems to be communication. A constant theme in conversation and on Next Door is Who is responsible for solving the mayhem at Court Lane? Who speaks up for Dorney to the might of Highways England? Clearly local bodies do, because action does get taken, but in the days of social media & 24 hour news channels, residents expect and deserve updates, especially in a world where residents contemplate selling up and moving. Councillors & others seem to participate in online forums for Burnham and Taplow, but, largely, not in our village. I will close by urging all who are able to visit and better still, post, on our local social site, Next Door, to do so. The more participation, the fuller a picture emerges of local feelings - and disquiet. Peter Bowman peter.bowman@talktalk.net Revd La Stacey writes: We had a break in at St John the Baptist Church, Eton Wick in early August. The thieves broke the door between the church room and the churchyard and took the microwave, a TV and a personal computer- as well as packets of biscuits, some yoghurts and, most distressing to the families that were coming to play on the Tuesday morning, the packets of Porn-Bears. Was it really worth the fuss of breaking in? What if they had just come to the front door and asked nicely for the microwave? Would we have said, as Jesus probably would, 'Yes of course. Have the microwave and what else can I get you while you're here?' The following Sunday we just happened to have the reading when Jesus says 'I am the gate' and 'anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber ... The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.' There are two ways of reacting to theft and loss. One is to try to make everything even more secure: to make sure that it will never happen again; to build the waits higher; to make the barriers immovable; to make the laws more draconian; to put up CCTV to keep watch while the good shepherd is asleep; to close ourselves in and close ourselves down. The other is to know that there is a living gateway, someone who is always keeping watch, whose security can never be breached because he's been to hell and back for us, so to speak. Even if the losses we may have suffered have been appalling, we can remain open, ready to meet the world. Somehow with Jesus in the picture we can still remain open to others, because we have a sanctuary of eternal security. For information about our churches, activities and church history please see our parishes' web site: stjohnstjamesed.org.uk Church Services in September 201 8 Sunday 2nd September 9.30 am Holy Communion (said BCP) 9.30 am Family Praise 1 1 .00 am All Age Service Wednesday 5th September 1 0.00am Holy Communion (said BCP) Sunday 9th September 9.30am Holy Communion 9.30 am Family Praise 1 1 .00am Holy Communion Sunday 16th September 9.30am Holy Communion 9.30 am Family Praise (with children"s group) 1 1 .00am Morning Worship (with children's group) Wednesday 19th September 1 0.00am Holy Communion (said BCP) Sunday 23rd September 9.30am Morning Worship 9.30 am Family Praise 1 1 .00am Holy Communion Sunday 30th September 9.30am Holy Communion 9.30 am Family Praise (with children's group) 1 1 .00am Family Worship (with children's group) St James the Less, Dorney St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Evangelist, Eton St James the Less, Dorney St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St James the Less, Dorney St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Evangelist, Eton St James the Less, Dorney St John the Baptist; Eton Wick St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St James the Less, Dorney St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Baptist, Eton Wick ., ' ' • The Dorney History Group (DHG) website www.dorney-history-group.org.uk '7o conserve and preserve the history of Dorney Parish and the arean The Dorney History Group website was launched five years ago in September 2013. Its purpose is to publish the research relating to the history of the Dorney area in a searchable format and share it with others around the world. Providing access to the facts, figures, people and places is what we do. Sharing this through the website is, we believe, the best way of bringing it all together. The annual number of visitors to the site is now over 6,000. It has increased by around 1,000 each year. We receive regular requests from people all over the world who either have an interest in Dorney, perhaps as past residents, or are searching for their family connections. We have also had enquiries from local schoolchildren researching local history projects. The most recent additions to our research are shown on the Home page. During 2018 we have added interesting historical articles by Virginia Silvester that appeared in Dorney Parish News, details of the establishment of the Memorial Garden, transcriptions of the eleven copies of Kelly's Directories (between 1864 and 1939) that include Dorney, a very significant 226 page record of the furnishings, artefacts and some of the fabric of the church of St James the Less and a substantive new section on the Natural History and Archaeology of Dorney. One of our 2019 projects is to digitise atl of the content of Dorney Parish News from 1959 (or before if we can find the editions) to the present day. This is more than 600 editions. We will be seeking to obtain grants to fund this major task. Another project is to transcribe the Dorney Court Manorial Rolls to shine more light on the activities of the villagers during the period of record - from around 1526 to 1948. Adding more local photographs (and film?) to our Gallery is also being pursued. Do you have any old photographs? Under consideration, with the Buckinghamshire Archaeological Society, is some innovative scientific research to address the often-asked but never-answered question "Where are the gravestones at St Mary Magdalene Church at Boveney?" We share the interest in Boveney with The Eton Wick History Group. Frank Bond, the much-respected Eton Wick local historian, wrote an excellent article on the subject for the Eton Wick Newsletter "Our Village" shortly before he sadly passed away in May this year. This prompted further discussion and encouraged us to conduct more research into the burials of Boveney residents. Some of this has been completed and we await the suggestions of the Buckinghamshire Archaeological Society. We believe that we might be getting closer to solving this conundrum. We would like to thank all those residents, and others, who have contributed towards the results to date. We are always very happy to receive any new content, comments, suggestions, corrections and constructive criticism on the content (or lack of it) of the website. We are strongly of the opinion that we have only just scratched the surface of this fascinating field of research and would welcome all assistance to dig even deeper. Bill Dax bill@daxfamily.com Dorney & District Horticultural Society Harvest Supper With Guest Speaker John Pearson Friday 21st September 2018 7.30pm Dorney Village Hall Bring your own drink and glasses Buffet provided. Ticket s £ 10 Please come along. All welcome. Reserve your place with any committee member Ron Alsworth Peter Bowman Janet Messitt Peter Tyler Wendy Shephard Kristina Perkins 01628 669988 01628 623228 0 1628 664307 01628 621560 0 1 628 639366 07971 816130 IRONING by FLORI Your I roning, my Mission! On Facebook: Cleaning & ironing by Flori florentinateisanu@yahoo.co.uk Mob: 07879626434 I collect and deliver for free. Prices start at £2.20 per lb. Minimum price £1 1 . I can collect from home or work, day or night. I provide a friendly, professional and reliable service with experience over 1 O years Some like it hot on Dorney Common As the land lies cracked, still sporting a pale crispy comb-over, I look back at our remarkable summer of prolonged intense heat which failed to subside at night. Joyous as it was to wake up each morning to blue skies and a Mediterranean warmth, it was slightly odd that day upon day remained blisteringly arid, giving me a feeling that it might signal something more sinister ahead. Thoughts drift in and out, will it ever be normal again? Large trees stayed green with their deep-seated roots, able to suck moisture from the bowels of the earth, while fragile young foliage shrank to turn brown. Walking on the common, I saw that the stream had gained an extra thick duvet of dark green algae and the ground bore deep scars as it dried in the drought. Now, finally, the cool has come, grass sprouting in patches as the soft rain falls. Staying at a hotel in Hertfordshire recently, just as the weather began to break, severa l guests stood outside laughing, 'rain, oh I feel rain on my face', not something that we normally hear - more often it's 'did you bring the umbrella?'! Bizarrely, I miss that heavy warmth that turned my mind sluggish as the thermometer needle slid pass 30C. Our cottage sat surrounded by brown dryness, but amazi ngly the carrots grew well despite the dearth of rainwater and thick vibrant green fronds danced in the breeze, thanks to our intermittent watering efforts. As we approached the Dorney annual Horticultural Society Show, five suitable specimens were chosen. However, despite wifely advice on deaf hubby ears, my husband Dave had not thinned out the rows, so we had a few excitingly odd shaped exhibits including the two legs on a half torso! I printed off three hundred and eleventy-eight programmes in preparation for the Horticultural Show, followed by a four-hour stint of persistent folding. It was quite therapeutic, with the radio on, mindlessly stapling, folding and slipping the entry sheet into the centre, until my arms ached, and my head yawned from excessive repetition. However, my basket now full, I was armed to distribute the entry schedules. Roping in my friend Wendy from Dorney Reach, who is also new to the DDHS committee, we emba rked on a meandering trek to deliver a leaflet to every household we could find in Boveney, the Common and the Village. We found houses with no portals for letters, others with letterboxes so tightly hinged that it was impossible to push anything through, but thankfully no canine finger nipping greeting. However, what I did notice, was how very beautiful many gardens were, fantastic creative shapes and designs, and some lovely herbaceous borders that managed to look good even after all those hot weeks. Mid-summer, the time that my other committee hat returns, as the Maidenhead Drama Guild starts the cogs moving for this year's Panto, Sleeping Beauty. Auditions came and went with many new faces cast, and a complex production plan that promises no beauty sleep in your chairs. I will again be involved in furniture and set dressing along with the vast array of impractical joke props, an endless colourful list. From a giant dragon in full flight to half a dozen Easter Island heads, all potentially to be made from Papier Mache. Not an art form that I have tried yet. Anyone have any experience on this? Alternatively, maybe Google or You Tube can provide an informative tutorial! Rehearsals start at the beginning of September, with thrice weekly vocal and dance classes, along with many hours of stitching, sticking, and stoking, to bring this annual Christmas extravaganza to the Desborough stage in Maidenhead. Come and have some fun, the run is from Wednesday 12th December for seven performances, closing on Sunday 16th December. The tickets are fantastic value at only £11 for adults and £9 for children. Where else can you get a proper festive belly laugh with professional level vocalists, a deep voiced Dame in high heels and a band as tight as a drum? You know the old jokes are the best ones, so come and laugh at them again! Wearing my two hats, one of flowers and the other of greasepaint, it is a great pleasure to be involved in both societies. Having had very little previous experience with either, perhaps just the offer of some creative creations and a bit of elbow grease, the reward is to mingle with the most delightful people, amid a strong community, both here and in Maidenhead. If you would like to sample the same experience, you don't have to have an incredible talent, green fingers or theatrical background, as the pleasure is in joining in and taking part. It may be a long time before we have another long blazing summer, but there is no drought of community spirit to soak up in our neighbourhood. Kristina Perkins Dells Cottage If you would like details of flowers or greasepaint activities email me an peonywigglar@gmail.com Dorney Website The Dorney website address is dorney.org.uk and the twitter account @DorneyPC Find minutes, planning, tweets, links to SBDC articles etc. ,.f r • t Telma Dufton lived in Dorney during World War Two. She was in Dorney to escape the war, as they were living close to the railway line from London and the North Kent coast which the German bombers followed and which they also wished to destroy, so they were bombed. Her father was in the services, so her mother decided they should move right away from there and Dorney became home. Telma is in her late 80s and is a retired photojournalist. She lives near Sydney, Australia with her children and their families, has great affection for Dorney and wrote this series of four articles for the Dorney History Group and those interested in the history of Dorney. A child's view of Dorney Village during World War Two By Telma Dufton {Article Three of Four} 'Old' Mr. Palmer, the father of the Mr. Palmer who I think was present while we were in Dorney, was referred to in hushed tones. He was considered by the villagers to be someone who it was better to stay out of the way of. He was known to be eccentric and hod strange ideas; it was soid that people at the big house had to get their water out of a well in the courtyard and that they had no electricity; the villagers of course were modern, they of course by that time, had top water and wonderful electricity. This in a way was, well, sort of true. The little woman I knew, who lived in the cottage in the corner of Dorney Court's walled garden, drew all her water fram a pump. Woe betide you if you didn 't keep a kettle full af water in reserve in the winter. You would need a full kettle of boiling water to prime the pump the following morning or be without water until it thawed. I also remember helping her clean the oil lamps that lit the cottage after dark. Nevertheless, despite the villagers' tut tutting, thanks to 'Old' Mr. Palmer's perceived eccentricities, that beautiful old house now stands restored in all its glory. Also now restored, polished, clean and tidy, is Dorney's church of St James the Less. I remember it os still, quiet and somewhat dusty, looking and feeling every bit as old as it really was. I have rung the bells in that church, even tolling the bell for a funeral a couple of times. Now that was something; the ropes for the bells hung in the vestry at the base of the tower - while the chimes were rung via o rack that was on one wall, the big bell rope hung free in the middle of the vestry. It had a loop at the bottom into which you placed your foot, to give you heave on the down stroke, but being only twelve to fourteen years old at the time, I didn't carry much weight and the bell did what it liked on the upswing and carried me with it; there used to be an old Music Hall song, with a refrain, "swing on the bell Nelly, swing on the bell" .... I come to be there and to ring the church bells, because my sister and I both had good voices. Since no loco/ boys would join the choir, as it was considered sissy, we were asked if we would, so we did. I loved that little church with all my heart. Here was a place where people had come for over a thousand years, for quiet and to ease their hearts, it was palpable if you were open to feel it. And there also in the church was Nancy, from the farm. Nancy was fairly tall, strong from all the farm work she did, with red hair and blue eyes. Somewhat uncommunicative, she might have seemed surly if you didn't know her and Nancy had a voice. A mezzo soprano with the force of a tenor, she sang in perfect pitch even though completely untrained. Sunday was her glory day and she sang. She sang in the choir stall opposite my sister and I felt that she almost confronted us when she sang. I felt that perhaps we were intruding into her one, special place. I felt so sad about that. Nancy, to whom life had not been very kind, who, if she had been born with her gift into different circumstances, may have become a professional singer and lived to be famous; I have always hoped that she inherited the farm, sold it and went off to make a life of her own. The village had some notable characters, just as Nancy was, so was the Vicar of Dorney's tiny church. He came and went, I have no idea where he lived, and he just appeared in time for service. He was young, married with two little girls. He and his wife were mildly eccentric for the times, but they would have fitted nicely into the 1960s flower children, 'love is all' epoch. I remember one summer, meeting up with his young wife and two little girls, drifting barefoot across a field, all three decorated with flowers. I felt very slightly shocked, not quite what I expected from the Vicar's wife when I was thirteen. Darney's inhabitants had flavour, they were completely themselves. I remember once being with my mother when she stopped to speak to o neighbour from across the road, Mrs - - who lived with her family in the cottage (The Old Cottage and Lilac Cottage], now painted lilac, obliquely across from Hither Dimmings {I had vague concerns about that cottage, it stood so close to the rood I feared that if one day the front door were open, one of the cows on the way back to the farm might wander in!) Mrs - in the broad dialect once common in the county, "Ower Kath's gettin married", my mother; slightly surprised, "Oh really Mrs - - ? How nice", "Yers, moit az well, 'e cumz rownd 'ere evry noit". I think my mother must have been slightly surprised because by that time, every available man had been called up and the would-be bride and groom must have been teenagers; though teenagers weren't known to be teenagers in Britain at that time. G & J Decorating Local decorators with 20 years' experience. All aspects of decorating undertaken to the highest standard. Free estimates and references available. Gav 07795 081 141 James 078 1 3 289468 or 0 1 628 655658 Electrical Services Burnham Napit Part "P" Approved • Additional Sockets - lights • New Fuse Boards - Updates • Security - Attic lighting • Home - Landlords Certificates • Portable Appliance Testing • All Other Electrical Work Free advice and estimates All work guaranteed No job too small Phone Rob on 0 1 628 60 30 63 Mobile 07801 832 792 -NAPIT . Dorney Parish News o er ff I, _, - 'h ,. 􀀃􀀄 ·•􀀎= •- 􀀏 :.,t! ':' --, - • -:::. -- _-.,-· 􀀉- -· ::--- - ,,. 􀀫 - ------- -;::::::=;:,- ---- 􀀃􀀄.-u􀀅􀀆􀀇􀀈􀀉=.......;.c..􀀊􀀇€ 􀀈􀀉--- 􀀊· -:_ -=-::--_-:--=- -=: ls{ 􀁊 ,,......... ,..,..,. 􀁋􀁌􀁍􀁎 - w.􀀇 􀀈􀀉·-· - 􀀅 - r ·, .".- .,.. ."',,,_.,_ - " ....􀀜 , -""' fl Burnham Lodge part of the Hartford Care family Providing high quality nursing, residential and day care to older people and those who live with dementia Burnham Lodge, Parliament Lane, Burnham, Slough, SLl 8NU Please give us a call on 01628 667345 or email info@hartfordcare.co.uk for more information www .hartfordcare.co. uk • - hartfordcare ( d r e (. J ·11 for t c. u 1·1 po:;· 􀁱i :· ,. '.1 - μ • - ,11 • • ,. • JANE MORGAN DRESSES ------ c:::, ------- EVENING DRESS HIRE & SALES • Ball gowns, prom dresses & cocktail wear • Handbags,jewellery & wraps • Sizes O - 20, competitively priced • The dresses can be altered to ensure a perfect fit By appointment 6 days a week 01628 600509 jane@janemorgan.co.uk Mob: 07887 994222 www.janemorgandresshire.co.uk ID follow us on Facebook Village Road, Dorney, nr Windsor & Eton E Sargeant & Son FUNERAL DIRECTORS Serving families in Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead since 1712 01753 520081 40 Church Street, Slough SL 1 1 PJ 01753 865982 61 St Leonards Road, Windsor SL4 3BX 01628 783738 118 High Street, Maidenhead SL6 1PT Call us for immediate support, advice or a home visit. We are here to help 24 hours a day Funeral Partners esargeant. co. uk SERVICES IN THE LOCAL CHURCHES ST. JAMES, DORNEY Full details of our Services and Children's Activities are included in this magazine VICAR OF DORNEY Revd. La Stacey The Vicarae"e · 6 9a Eton Wick Road, Eton Wick. Windsor. Berks. SIA 6NE Tel: 01753 852268 email: revlastacey(a'gmail.com METHODIST CHAPEL, Eton Wick Sunday IIUOam 6.,0pm Morning Service and Sunday Si:hool Evening Service ST. GILBERT"S CATHOLIC CHURCH, Eton Wick Sunday Mass (on first Sunday of the month only) 9.()()am OUR LADY OF PEACE CATHOLIC CHURCH. Burnham Saturday Sunday 6pm 9.45am 6pm Vigil Mass Mass Material for publicaNtiOonT s PhoUuBldL rIeSaHchE oDn IeN o fJ tAheN UEdAitRorYs bAyN tDhe A 1U6tGh UofS tTh e preceding month. Editors: Mr. P. J. Bowman, Tumblcweeds, 12, Harcourt Road, Dorney Reach, Maidenhead. SL6 0DU Tel: 01628 623228 Mrs. J. M. Spencer, Dorincourt, 45, Harcourt Road. Dorney Reach. Maidenhead. SL6 0DT Tel: 01628 624213 Editorial Board: The Editors, Mrs. J. R. Bowman Distributors: Mr Cobb, Mrs Cox. Mrs Leishman. Mrs McCabe. Mr McGuinness, Mrs Ox lade. Mr Penfold. Mrs Richmond. Mr Schwartz Miss Snook, Mrs Tuddenham, Mrs Tyler. Mrs Wood-Dow RATE OF SUBSCRIPTION: £5 per annum for I O issues (Payable in Advance I his requested tha! Trea<..urers nf Lo.:al Or!!anisatiom pay their suhscripticms in January. Distrihutors wh(l collect suhscriptinns from those taking the magazine should hand them 10 Mrs. Cody. The Editors are no1 responsible for lhe opinions of correspondents expressed in letters or articles published in this magazine. • • ll .. ISSUE NO. 8/18 OCTOBER 2018 EDITORIAL The leader of Bucks County Council has declared himself to be 'gobsmacked". It's sad Mr Martin Tell is in this undignified situation, but many in the deep south of South Bucks may well feel that whatever discomforts Mr Tell may well be to local residents' advantage. The headline in the 'Bucks Free Press" for a brief moment made me think the (newish) Secretary of State might have reversed his predecessor's inclination to accept Bucks CC's unitary council plans. Many think these effectively abolish our own SBDC and further concentrate power in the north of this elongated county and thus are to be regretted, including I believe Dorney, Taplow and Burnham parish councils. But no, the Leader is merely surprised at the time taken to make a decision. Martin, the government is a bit busy. I've heard James Brokenshire (what a curiously suitable name) hold forth on TV news about Brexit and the PM"s future but Laura Kuenssberg never seems to say 'our viewers need to know whether you've yet come to a conclusion over the Bucks unitary authority'. Maybe a delay is almost as good as a reversal, but a decision is officially coming 'in due course', so this article may be redundant when you receive ii. In this context, it would be easy to see Bucks CC's plans to shut down one or two of its household recycling centres or curtail their opening days, which could lead to the closure of the nearby Burnham site in Crowpiece Lane, as part of this neglect of the south. True, reading the proposals, it does seem that there is always a reason why sites in the north should remain open. But the county needs to save £ 1 .2 million from the costs of running these sites (about a third). all of which is part of savage government cuts which have seen central government funding to Bucks drop from £61 million 5 years ago to zero now. The Bledlow site seems certain to be closed. Burnham may be closed or more likely lose two of its opening days per week. I'm sure we all use the Burnham site to some extent and the nearest alternatives are in Beaconsfield or Langley. I hadn't realised the restrictions on crossing county lines to recycle. Bucks does not yet charge 'outsiders' for recycling (14% of all visits it seems), but Berks officially forbids South Bucks residents to use the site in Maidenhead, and Slough is similar. I rang up to check the Berks position and was told I could visit but would be charged. A faintly absurd picture emerged of using a weigh bridge with a couple of black bin liners of leaves. Crowpiece Lane seems a pretty big deal to me, and pretty efficient, but clearly is unloved by Bucks CC. In fact, it's a relatively small site with 1 1 6,000 visits per year. The County is adamant that reducing resources will not lead to a surge in fly-tipping. Consultation carries on until October 22"d _ Give your opinions at www.buckscc.gov.uk Peter Bowman peter.bowman@talktalk.net Revd. La Stacey writes: We tried an experiment in one of our churches a little while ago. A few brave volunteers were given some coins and there were a few more coins in a heap in front of them. They had a minute to gather as much money as they could. All movement stopped after a couple of seconds of wild grabbing. We then swapped the experiment round and the children were given a minute to give away as much money as they could. The activity went on and on and easily filled the minute. The whole principle is that generosity is life-giving. Hardly surprising since infinite outpouring and infinite receiving is the nature of God and the ancient stories tell us we are made in his image. So, in this spirit, at the Harvest Festival on 7th Oct at 9.30am we are collecting food for Windsor Foodshare as follows: Tinned meat · Tinned fish · Tinned vegetab/es· Soup · Rice · Herbs/Spices · Cooking sauces · Instant mash • Tea bags/Instant coffee • Sugar. We are collecting clothing for SHOC as follows: Socks • underwear · trainers • jogging bottoms • jeans • light coats And we are making a financial collection for the work of Tearfund. This will be followed by lunch at Eton Wick church from 12.15 when there will be a chance to have a presentation of all the work they do internationally. All are welcome. All experimental generosity welcome too! For information about our churches, activities and church history please see our parishes' web site: stjohnstjamesed.org.uk Church Services in October 2018 Wednesday 3rd October 10.00am Holy Communion (said BCP) Sunday 7th October 9.30 am Holy Communion (Harvest Festival) 9.30 am Family Praise (half hour with coffee) 1 1 .00 am All Age Harvest Service Sunday 14th October St John the Evangelist, Eton St James the Less, Dorney St John the Baptist. Eton Wick St John the Baptist. Eton Wick 9.30am Holy Communion St James the Less, Dorney 9.30am Family Praise (ha􀇏 hour with coffee) St John the Baptist. Eton Wick 1 1 .00am Holy Communion (with children's group)St John the Baptist, Eton Wick Wednesday 17th October 10.00am Holy Communion (said BCP) St John the Evangelist, Eton Sunday 21 st October 9.30am Holy Communion St James the Less, Dorney 9.30am Family Praise (half hour with coffee) St John the Baptist, Eton Wick 1 1 .00am Morning Worship (with children's group) St John the Baptist, Eton Wick Sunday 28th October 9.30am Morning Worship St James the Less, Dorney 9.30am Family Praise (half hour with coffee) St John the Baptist, Eton Wick 1 1 .00am Holy Communion (with children's group)St John the Baptist, Eton Wick • • TEARFUND Would you like to support a charity? WASH and CCT projects We are very lucky to welcome Chris Turner, who is a volunteer for the charity Tearfund, to come and give us some background information about the work being done to relieve extreme poverty in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central Africa. This is what he says - "This country is continuing to suffer from international strife meaning that large numbers of people have had to flee their homes, living on 1 dollar or less a day! The charity is working with a local organisation to help in many ways. Conditions are so bad that simple programmes such as emphasis on Handwashing (something we take for granted as we have plenty of running water) can help to minimise the possibilities of cholera. Self-help and education programmes through their local communities and churches provide care and stability to the people of the Congo." Chris will be with us on October 7th Everyone welcome to the Harvest Festival at our parish church, St James the Less, 9.30 am Or come to a free lunch 12.15 at Eton Wick church room to hear more. Your gifts of foods for Windsor Foodshare and SHOC (Slough Homeless Our Concern) will also be much appreciated, so bring them along. JJer,efice of Etoa with Etoa Wick & Downey & Donley St Jame s the Less, Dorney 7th Oct 9 .30 a.m. Supporting Windsor Foodshare and Tearfund FOODS HARE tea rfu nd .. Gnats Showbiz on Dorney Common With a much cooler feel to the air, the heat of the summer now receded, there is a slow creep of darker evenings and a night chill. Looking back on the past few hot months, it seems a distant memory that we struggled to keep the garden hydrated, resorting only to drench newly planted shrubs and borders. Here at Dells Cottage we gladly embraced the cooler approaching autumn, as the sweat of moving earth and sieving soil in our garden continues, and our project to create a more manageable outdoor space slowly marches on. Recently, we came upon an idea of making a winding little footpath to a hidden seating area, planning to place a bench amid fronds of foliage, tumbling scented honeysuckle and shuttlecock ferns. A place to sit and reflect in romantic solitude or hide from the washing up after supper. Deciding that it would be a good idea to recycle some old stock bricks left over from our extension, I suggested a herringbone path. This little lightbulb moment was met with a wall of silence, being very similar to other good but enormously tedious or treacherous ideas that I had conjured up in the past. After the thought had been planted, and the germination process concluded, we wheelbarrowed all the old bricks to our path area to set upon weaving them into the sharp sand that lay upon ballast, to finally resemble a giant tapestry. By now you must be thinking that I am knowledgeable in the construction business, which is absolutely not the case. My husband Dave does all the business end of this, whilst I pick and choose the bricks that are pretty, happily knocking them into geometric shapes into the holding sand with a wooden mallet. In the end, that path held both our weights, as we proudly trudged back and forth admiring the handiwork. However, we will wait and see how it survives the winter and hope that we do not have any trip hazards by spring! As Dorney Horticultural Show approached, Dave became enthused by the size of his two rows of carrots, their dense green foliage hiding the fat orange tops clustered beneath. However, whilst helping him weed and water his prize produce, I commented that there were a surprisingly incredible number of gnats that flew out, and exclaimed that this must be where they all hide during the day before they come out at night to kamikaze our skin! Undaunted, he checked their progress daily, and the night before the big day, pulled out eleventy-eight specimens, comparing each to a summer's day before selecting the final five suitable entrants. As part of the working committee, we helped set up Dorney Village Hall, early on Saturday morning, laying out the tables with many spaces for a variety of veg, fruit, cookery delights, crafts, flowers and a special area for children. It was very exciting as our doors opened at 10:00am to a steady stream of local people, clutching their exhibits to be carefully labelled and displayed. Dave arrived along with his platter of five carrots, setting them down proudly alongside the other candidates. Sadly, although his were not far off length, girth and straightness, or whatever criteria of requirements the RHS dictates, it was not to be his day. 'I've got carrot fly' he lamented, to which, after a penny dropped from a great height, I replied that this must have been the 'gnats' that swarmed some months previously. The OOHS show was in fact a wonderful occasion, down on entrants due to the unrelenting harsh hot weather but attended by many onlookers to admire those that had battled the drought and won the battle. All categories had worthy entries despite exceptional weather, with some of the most enormous onions that I have ever witnessed! Well, the carrots came to nothing, they still tasted good, despite the gnats that bit the roots, but now Dave has better carrot production knowledge from all the seasoned growers on Show day, who passed on their gilt-edged tips. A family friend staying with us just after told him also about the legendary Dorset Carrot Stamp. Not a country folk dance and sing-song, but a method of reducing this fly issue. Apparently, it is an aide (the 'e' indicating older by centuries) cure where the seed is stamped into the ground wearing wellies, and stamped again at one inch tall, impacting the ground so the flies cannot get into the earth so easily to lay their larvae in the carrot roots. Now, wearing my Panto hat, my attentions are full throttle on preparing and crafting the Maidenhead Drama Guild properties for our Sleeping Beauty. This year, once again, a demand of more than 70 props, which leaves little spare time in my afterwork moments and requires thrifty re-cycling schemes. Suddenly, out of the blue, came a phone call from a delightful lady from Dorney Reach, offering books, buttons, zips and an assortment of paraphernalia left behind from her drama days. What a wonderful gift for an upcycling girl like me! I keep a very large ancient armoire, stuffed to the fish gills with little boxes and baskets bursting with such oddments, all stored neatly, to be used at one time or another, to fashion or fix, to give credence to our plays and Pantos. However, before the Panto head roars, the OOHS have their Pre-Christmas Supper, a popular event held in our Village Hall which always promises a jolly time and a convivial evening, this year on Friday 16th November at 7:30pm. Put the date in your diary, we have a very special spot of entertainment too, our MDG Panto Musical Director is giving a short turn of uplifting songs to make you smile and tap your foot. No stamping required as the carrot soup is not on the tasting menu! Kristina Perkins Dells Cottage ,, .. A ROYAL VISIT Throughout her long reign, Queen Elizabeth I made many visits to other parts of her kingdom, called a royal progress. For many years, until the late 1580s, she would travel round every spring and summer, stopping at selected grand houses and towns in southern England. She wanted both to see and be seen, by as great a number of her subjects as possible. The queen took her court with her on these journeys, and the business of state - in which she was actively involved - continued wherever she happened to be. During a stay, there was a constant toing and froing of important people giving her information and seeking guidance, as well as writing to her, while local people would come to seek favours. Although a visit was an honour for the host, it could be ruinously expensive. The host was expected to provide lavish accommodation for the queen - often requiring building work and refurbishment - and lay on suitable entertainment, and to put up her court servants, officials and administrators, perhaps in temporary structures. The royal household did contribute towards the costs of provisions and accommodation, but having the queen come to stay could still be a burden. In her later years, Elizabeth did not travel so far, and tended to make sorties from her royal palaces, including Windsor. I have found no evidence of a stay in Dorney, but she did visit nearby Hitcham in August 1602, the year before she died. She stayed in a fine mansion, of which no trace remains, as the guest of Sir William Clarke. A letter records the queen's meeting with Sir William Browne, deputy governor of Flushing, in the garden at Hitcham, doubtless to update her on current events. Little is known about Sir William, who inherited the manor of Hitcham from his mother in 1598, but he must have done some service to the queen, as he had been knighted, and in 1599 he had been picked as sheriff of Buckinghamshire. As a fairly obscure gentleman, he was perhaps delighted to receive his monarch, but he did not make a very good impression on his visitors, one of whom commented that he "so behaved himself, that he pleased nobody, but gave occasion to have his misery and vanity spread far and wide". Misery in this context means miserliness, so maybe he didn't splash the cash as expected! Sir William's daughter Dorothy married Thomas Garrard, son of Sir William Garrard of Dorney Court and one of the 15 children depicted on the fine Garrard monument in Dorney Church. It was Thomas's sister Martha who married Sir James Palmer and began the Palmer family at Dorney. Thomas married against his father's wishes, and seems to have fallen out with his parents, his father-in-law and his wife. When his marriage to Dorothy broke down, Sir William Clarke refused him entry to the house in Hitcham, calling him a rogue and a rascal. Dorothy went even further, sending him a message that "if he lay in the streets and starved, he should not have a groat for his reliefe of her." Sir William Clarke had more problems when his eldest son, in his mid-forties, married in 1619 the young widow of Sir Francis Verney; for no good reason that outsiders could see, he objected strongly to this, and refused to allow them into his home. The old man finally died in 1624, and his effigy lies in Hitcham church. Virginia Silvester G & J Decorating Local decorators with 20 years' experience. All aspects of decorating undertaken to the highest standard. Free estimates and references available. Gav 07795 081 141 James 07813 289468 or 01 628 655658 Electrical Services Burnham Napit Part "P" Approved • Additional Sockets - Lights • New Fuse Boards - Updates • Security - Attic Lighting • Home - Landlords Certificates • Portable Appliance Testing • All Other Electrical Work Free advice and estimates All work guaranteed No job too small Phone Rob on 01628 60 30 63 Mobile 07801 832 792 • NAPIT Dorney Parish News .. 􀄡- 􀄢. 􀄣􀄤:ii,,,a-,- : -􀀎 􀂏􀂐􀂑􀂒􀂓 ,,.. T •􀀉/ -- --= • 􀀅 I'\·... . 􀀍. . ' .,, ...,1_ '· 􀀎" fl Burnham Lodge part of the Hartford Care family Providing high quality nursing, residential and day care to older people and those who live with dementia Burnham Lodge, Parliament Lane, Burnham, Slough, SLl 8NU Please give us a call on 01628 667345 or email info@hartfordcare.co.uk for more information www.hartfordcare.co. uk hartfordcare care comfort compan101 ship JANE MORGAN DRESSES ------- c::> ------- EVENING DRESS HIRE & SALES • Ball gowns, prom dresses & cocktail wear • Handbags, jewellery & wraps • Sizes 0- 20, competitively priced • The dresses can be altered to ensure a perfect fit By appointment 6 days a week 01628 600509 jane@janemorgan.co. uk Mob: 07887 994222 www.janemorgandresshire.co. uk fi follow us on Facebook Village Road, Dorney, nr Windsor & Eton E Sargeant & Son FUNERAL DIRECTORS Serving families in Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead since 1712 01753 520081 40 Church Street, Slough SL 1 1 PJ 01753 865982 61 St Leonards Road, Windsor SL4 3BX 01628 783738 118 High Street, Maidenhead SL6 1 PT Call us for immediate support, advice or a home visit. We are here to help 24 hours a day Funeral Partners esargeant. co. uk SERVICES IN THE LOCAL CHURCHES ST. JAMES, DORNEY Full details of our Services and Children's Activities are included in this magazine VICAR OF DORNEY Revd. La Stacey The Vicarage. 69a Eton Wick Road. Eton Wick. Windsor. Berks. SL4 6NE Tel: 01753 852268 email: revlastacey@gmail.com METHODIST CHAPEL, Eton Wick Sunday I0. .1 0am 6.30pm Mnrning Servil'e and Sunday School E Ycning Servi<.:c ST. GILBERT'S CATHOLIC CHllRCH. Eton Wick Sunday Mass (on first Sunday of the month only) 9.00am OUR LADY OF PEACE CATHOLIC CHl!RCH. Burnham Saturday Sunday 6pm 9.45am 6pm Vigil Mas<; Mass Material for publicaNtiOonT sPhUouBldL rIeSaHchE oDn eIN o fJ tAheN EUdAitRorYs bAyN tDhe A 1U6tGh UofS tThe preceding month. Editors: Mr. P. J. Bowman, Tumblcwccds, 12, Harcourt Road, Dorney Reach, Maidenhead. SL6 ODU Tel: 01628 623228 Mrs. J.M. Spencer, Dorincourt, 45, Harcourt Road, Dorney Reach, Maidenhead. SL6 ODT Tel: 01628 624213 Editorial Board: The Editors, Mrs. J. R. Bowman Distributors: Mr Cobb. Mrs Cox.Mrs Leishman. Mrs McCabe. Mr McGuinness, Mrs Oxlade. Mr Penfold, Mrs Richmond, Mr Schwartz Miss Snook. Mrs Tuddenham. Mrs Tyler. Mrs Wood-Dow RATE OF Sl!BSCRIPTION: £5 per annum for 10 issues (Payable in Advance) It is requested that Trca<..urers of Local Organisations pa􀅳· their subscriptions in January. Distrihutors who collect suhscriptions from those taking the magazine should hand them to Mrs. CnUy The Editors are not responsible for the opinions of correspondents expressed in letters or articles published in this magazine. I , Issue No. 9/18 EDITORIAL November 2018 One hundred years ago this November, the Great War finally came to an end. That armistice set in train patterns of remembrance that have endured for a century. In 2014, 'DPN' marked the centenary of war breaking out with an article detailing the names of Dorney's fallen to be found on a litany desk in St James the Less. Recalling the time since the writing of those words brings home just how long and gruelling four and a half years must have been. I commend to you Virginia Silvester's splendid piece in this issue, which expands on these five lives and the Dorney of 1914. Four years ago, I wrote 'one just feels sadness for each of these lost lives'. I didn't expect that sadness to be multiplied by the sight in recent times of a united Europe that had largely kept the peace since the second great conflict fracturing and falling apart in front of our eyes. Judged by the Parish Council minutes in this issue, various parties have been working hard to find a solution to the parking problems in the approaches to Dorney Lake. It sounds as though James Palmer has suggested a public spirited solution for church congregations' parking. Official double yellow lines in Marsh Lane and Court Lane funded by Bucks CC and Eton College would be welcomed. But residents in Dorney Reach might be fearing that the parking problem will merely shift northwards to their (just about) peaceful roads. The welcome that Eton extends to all visitors may be admirable, but it is this plus their parking charges which causes the problem. Might they not waive or lower their charges or expand their parking areas? An invitation has been issued to them to put their point of view in these pages - an invitation which is extended to all interested parties. In recent years, Dorney Village Hall, and specifically costs associated with its refurbishment, has been controversial. Once again 'DPN' carries a critical view, this time in the form of a reader's letter. I do hope that the Management Committee can give us all clear answers to points raised. Frankly, I thought the response to questions in last March's issue was not adequate. While I do not, personally, feel that reducing the parish precept is the priority and feel that every resident should contribute regardless of their level of usage of the Hall to what is a community undertaking, users of the Hall will have their concerns. At the time of the Annual Show, it was noticed what a sorry state the Hall is in with cracked & dirty windows and tired old furniture. Suggestions such as the Hall having audio visual facilities installed - societies have to erect ramshackle screens, use inadequate mics and wouldn't it be nice to have a Dorney Film Club? - have always been given short shrift by the management. Views on these issues, and any other aspect of 'DPN', would be most welcome. Do please get in touch. Peter Bowman peter.bowman@talktalk.net Revd. La Stacey writes One member of our congregation prayed this autumn prayer and I asked if I could share it with you: 'As autumn takes hold, may the earlier setting of the sun remind us to take time to rest. May the brilliant and changing colours of the leaves remind us of the wonder of your creation. May the harvest from the fields remind us of the abundance we have been given and the bounty we are to share with others. May the steam of our breath in the cool air remind us that it is you who gives us the breath of life. Amen.' Restfulness, wonder, generosity and gentle breath - sounds good and peaceful to me: a beautiful way to draw towards the end of the year. Then comes mistiness, and perhaps sadness, as we think of endings and lives lost- until, in the midst of deepening darkness, the quiet hope of a new life soon to be born emerges. Who hasn't ever felt the stirrings of excitement at the approach of the festive season? Are we far too sophisticated now to admit to such things? We are keen to go it alone and think we can get through without reference to anything or anyone greater than ourselves, but I wonder ... For information about our churches, activities and church history please see our parishes' web site: stjohnstjamesed.org.uk Church Services in November 2018 Sunday 4th November 9.30 am Holy Communion (said BCP) 9.30 am Family Praise (half hour with coffee) 1 1 .00 am All Age Service Wednesday 7th November 1 0.00am Holy Communion (said BCP) Sunday 11th November (Remembrance Sunday) 9.15am Holy Communion with Remembrance 9.30am Family Praise (half hour with coffee) 10.55am Remembrance Service 3.00pm Remembrance Service with cubs Sunday 1 8th November 9.30am Holy Communion 9.30am Family Praise (half hour with coffee) 1 1 .00am Holy Communion Wednesday 21 st November 1 0.00am Holy Communion (said BCP) Sunday 25th November 9.30am Morning Prayer 9.30am Family Praise (ha􀆟 hour with coffee) 1 1 .00am Holy Communion St James the Less, Dorney St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Baptist. Eton Wick St John the Evangelist, Eton St James the Less, Dorney St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Evangelist, Eton St John the Baptist Eton Wick St James the Less, Dorney St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Baptist Eton Wick St John the Evangelist, Eton St James the Less, Dorney St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Baptist, Eton Wick 1 1 Baefice of Eton witlt Eton Wick & Boveney & lJomey TH E G R E AT WA R C E N T E N A R Y' 1 9 1 4 - 1 9 \ R 2 0 1 4 - 2 0 \ R REMEMBR􀀈CE St James the Less Dorney November 11 th starting 9:15 am in churchyard DORNEY AND THE ARMISTICE November 2018 sees the 100" anniversary of the armistice which brought to a close the First World War. What did this mean for the people of Dorney? In Maidenhead, the signing of the armistice was proclaimed at midday on 11 November, by the Mayor from the steps of the town hall in front of a large crowd. The news was welcomed enthusiastically, flags were hung outside buildings, thanksgiving services were held in the churches, and in the evening there was a torchlit cavalcade around the town. Similar rejoi cing took place in Slough, where church bells were rung, and £10 was given to pay for extra comforts for the inmates of the workhouse in honour of the occasion. No doubt Dorney also celebrated, though we don't have any details. Relief at the end of hostilities would have been tempered by grieving for those who had been killed. Four Dorney families had lost loved ones in the conflict. James Eustace, a shepherd, had moved to the Slo,1gh area before 1901, and by 1915 was living in Dorney, later at Court Farm Cottages. He was widowed, and had lost 3 of his 6 children in infancy. His son Robert, born in 1887, emigrated to Canada to farm, and enlisted there on 30 November 1915, joining the Saskatchewan Regiment of the Canadian Infantry. Robert died from wounds in hospital in Warrington on 28 September 1917, and was buried in Dorney. His father suffered a further loss when one of his two remaining daughters died the following year. William and Mary Pool man had moved to Dorney about 1888, and William worked at Pigeon House Farm as a shepherd. They had 11 sons (two of whom had died before the war) and 2 da ughters. One of the younger sons, Percy, born in Dorney in 1891, had served 2 years as a driver in the Army Service Corps from 1909 to 1911, and was immediately recalled at the outbreak of war; he was in France by 19 August 1914. He remained on the Western front throughout the war, with only 3 short periods of home leave, the last in December 1917. In May 1918 he was transferred to the Royal Irish Fusil iers, and he was killed in action in Belgium on 30 September 1918. Percy's older brother Albert was a shepherd in Dorney like his father, and was married with young children when the war started. He enlisted at Slough in the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry, and was later transferred to the Royal Berkshire Regiment. At some point, he was wounded and captured, becoming a prisoner of war in Germany. He died on 5 June 1918 and was buried in Kassel. Another of Percy and Albert's brothers, William, had married Daisy Belcher, whose younger brother Bertie was another casualty. Their father Isaac Belcher was a carter working on farms, who had moved to South Bucks around 1896, eventually settling at Manor Farm in Dorney. Bertie, born in 1890, became a farm labourer. Like Albert Pool man, he enlisted at Slough in the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry. His regiment • fought against the Turks in what was then called Mesopotamia, and he died there of wounds on 14July 1917. Finally, the earliest Dorney casualty had been Jack Moriarty, only son of the rector of Dorney. Born in 1893, he trained at the Royal Military Academy in Woolwich and was commissioned in 1912. He served as a lieutenant in the Royal Garrison Artillery in France from September 1914. Wounded later that year, he had recovered at home in Dorney, and then returned to the front, where he was accidentally killed on 12 October 1915. These men have a special place in Dorney's history. Their sacrifice is commemorated in Dorney church, and you can read more about them on the Dorney history group website. But in November 1918, Dorney residents might also have remembered another young serviceman who had lost his life. Alfred Boag had been born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1884, and later emigrated to South Africa, where he and his father set up business as coachbuilders. Like many colonials, he answered the call to fight for the Allies, and joined the British Army. In April 1916, he was attached to the Royal Flying Corps, based at Ruislip, and began training as a pilot. Two weeks later, his fourth flight took him over Windsor Castle towards Monkey Island, when a problem with the engine caused his biplane to nose dive, and he fell in a field near Pigeon House Farm, sustaining fatal head injuries. One of Bertie Belcher's younger brothers, Horace, born in 1896, worked as a cowman and occasional ploughman on Manor Farm. His callup in 1918 was postponed by the local military tribunal until a suitable replacement farm worker could be found. The tribunal heard that the 60 cows on the farm produced 120 to 130 gallons of milk for Eton, but two men were needed to handle the herd. Horace was eventually mobilised on 22 August, as a private in the same regiment as his brother but serving on the Eastern front. Keeping enough farm workers was a real problem for Dorney during the war. Frank Rumbold of Lake End Farm managed 3 farms with his two sons. The elder, Douglas, had been in the Territorials since 1908, and was mobilised for active service on 5 August 1914, but was discharged as medically unfit in December. In December 1916, Frank sought to retain his younger son, Cyril, who he said managed one part of the farm, looking after and milking SO cows. The appeal was dismissed, but Cyril was not to be called up until a substitute was available. Frank got a similar outcome in January 1917, when he tried to exempt a specialist farm worker who was a machinery expert and had drilled all the corn for 11 years. When another Dorney farmer, William Dickens of Pigeon House Farm, applied to keep the only man still working for him, he explained to the tribunal how much work on the farm was already carried out by his two daughters. Nineteen year-old Lillian milked nine cows, took the milk morning and night to Eton Wick, and looked after the pony which conveyed the milk. Sixteen year-old Gladys did the ploughing with two horses, and both I Disco by OUT OF TH IS WORLD {l •••• .i;t {l / . ''\ ' 􀀟,􀀠 .tJ Raffle w per perm ,_,,,. Bring own food and drink Entry by ticket only Call Teresa on: 01628 621 383 0777634046 Supporting · ':.􀀎 CANCER ':_::f - RESEARCH · ;􀀏􀀐 UK .. • • " girls helped out on the binder and mowing machine. William was congratulated on having two such excellent daughters! The armistice meant that servicemen could gradually return to employment, but it took time for them to be demobilised. Horace Belcher was not released from the Army until March 1919. The newspapers in November 1918 were full of reminders that life would not immediately return to normal. Rationing continued; there were collections for various war charities, and encouragement to invest in war savings; and it was noted that long term care would be needed for the injured. And it was not until May 1920 that William Poelman was invited to apply for the memorial plaque - nicknamed the "death penny" - and scroll to commemorate his son Percy, who "died for freedom and honour" . Virginia Silvester Electrical Services Burnham Napit Part "P" Approved • Additional Sockets - Lights • New Fuse Boards - Updates • Security - Attic Lighting • Home - Landlords Certificates • Portable Appliance Testing • All other Electrical Work Free advice and estimates All work guaranteed No job too small Phone Rob on 01628 60 30 63 Mobile 07801 832 792 G & J Decorating • NAPIT Local decorators with 20 years' experience. All aspects of decorating undertaken to the highest standard. Free estimates and references available. Gav 07795 081 141 James 078 1 3 289468 or 01628 655658 Turfed out on Dorney Common As autumn draws in, our garden at the cottage starts to take a more orderly appearance. Each week sees the end of one large bulk bag containing ingredients such as sharp sand, scalpings or loose ballast. Peering in those colourful bags, always a bright blue or yellow which speaks 'we are making a mess but it will be fine soon', the contents resemble a chef's spice rack on a mammoth scale. The preparation dressing before the clothes arrive. Well, it hasn't quite arrived yet; the new lawn was seeded a little late, so now we wait for the green hue to appear before the temperature plummets too low. Meantime, the damp weather provides instant relief from the parched summer, and everywhere grass has reconnected with the turf, to transform our land back to green again. Meantime, my husband Dave, works tirelessly in his spare time, to shift, shape and sift the soil. Disaster struck one day last week, when he woke up in the night with a knee that had blown up with overuse. Searching for a remedy on his electronic gadget revealed it very likely to be 'housemaid's knee'. Hang on, with our division of pink and blue jobs, how did this happen? Scrubbing the kitchen floor was work that usually fell on to my chore list. Pink and blue, what does that mean to you? In our house, my husband advises my deaf ears, that certain heavy tasks fall to him and the lighter ones to me. In my youth I certainly did not differentiate between the two, they were all the same colour in a palette of a never-ending rainbow of responsibilities. Although the Panto rehearsals remain in full gallop, in addition at the Maidenhead Drama Guild we have a new event, an autumn rehearsed reading. Fascinated to see exactly what this entailed, I attended the auditions to see if a faded, but still blooming character might be required. The play turned out to be, 'The Cemetery Club', a side shoot of the 'Golden Girls', a New York Jewish set of three friends, who shared bereavement and friendship together. Ah, a large stumbling block, my very neutral British accent was one that I have had for years, possibly as long as I can recall. The entire 2-hour production required a quick-fire banter keeping up the intonations of Nao Yawk! Big crisis. The other candidates, foot perfect, left me tongue-tied. I gave it my very best effort, got into character and left the vocal chords to their own devices. A week later, amazingly enough - perhaps she was slightly hard of hearing - the Director offered me two roles, either the bit piece, Mildred, who gave a 30 second appearance, or the main character, Lucille Rubin, who like her namesake of the old TV programme, is the loudest woman on set. Over a coffee, we had a little heart to heart, and she then explained that the production was designed to encourage newbies to drama, those with no experience or wanna-be's like me, who had only appeared in chorus as 'fillers'. Basically the deal was, if you have the sphericals, take the Lucille part, and rise to the challenge. The cavalry was the other ladies cast, all very experienced with some 30 odd years of on-stage work, who would attempt to carry the greenhorn. Later that night, trying to count sheep, my feet felt distinctly icy. Practising my lines every day, things are slowly improving, not hugely, but enough to persuade myself that it will may be alright on the night, if only this accent could be made convincing enough. To keep it going for the entire production where the wordage was punchy and continuous was a tall order. Awkwardly though, I find myself in Sainsburys or my office a t work, tawkin' (talking) in a broad Bronx accent, which really was not the plan. What a fool! Simultaneously, the Panto props have made good progress. With four embroidered wands for three good fairies and one Deadly Nightshade witch just concluded, the list is now down by three-quarters of eleventy-eight i tems. Next on the agenda is the enormous dragon to make (that I have been avoiding), which must manifest itself from papier-mache. The production promises to be a spectacular one. We called it ambitious at first, as originally the complexities of the set and the demands from the new joint Directors, in a fervour to demonstrate their talents, have raised the bar yet again, and along with it burst every budget. Before this magnificent show hits the Desborough Suite in Maidenhead mid-December (book early to avoid disappointment), closer to home we have our Dorney Horticultural Christmas Supper on Friday 16th November. The group are a wonderful bunch of generous kind-hearted folk, and the evening promises to be one full of fun, light entertainment, a hot festive supper with all the Christmas trimmings, plus a chance to meet your neighbours to give them a hug. A busy Autumn, but before then, the back yard is checked and without a doubt this morning both Dave and I saw a faint green hue spread like a thin veil over our new lawn. By Christmas we will be fully turfed - wonderful, the grass has never been greener in our neck of the woods. Kristina Perkins Enjoying Diwali - the 'Festival of Lights' On October 20th Dorney Vi II age Hall was a joyful place - for the seventh year running a packed hall celebrated Diwali, perhaps the best known of all Hindu festivals. 'Diwali' translates as 'rows of lighted lamps' because traditionally homes and public places are decorated with small earthenware oil lamps. One of the prime Diwali legends tells of the return of Rama and Sita to Rama's kingdom after 1 4 years in exile. Diwali is associated with new clothes, gifts, fireworks and festive meals. It was this last aspect that will have been the prime motivation for locals like me to attend, and, yes, we did enjoy a wide range of curries. So much is remarkable about this annual event, launched and still driven by local resident Moni Hunjan. It is equally enjoyed by adults and children, it's a unique chance to hear Indian music (mainly Indian pop music this year - 'bhangra' - I hope I 've got that right), and the Hall does not usually welcome revellers from all over the Home Counties, but local residents were much in evidence. As well as Moni, over the years there have been stalwart helpers both cooking the curries and organising the event. If I single out Raya Rawlings, Liz Stockwood and Joy Richmond, I must be missing many out. Above all, money is raised for charities - each year around £2000 benefits the likes of MacMillan, Mother Teresa's orphanage in Goa and Great Ormond Street. Long may Diwali light up Dorney's autumn. Peter Bowman Telma Duftan lived in Dorney during Warld War Twa. She was in Dorney ta escape the war, as they were living close to the railway line from London ond the Narth Kent coast which the Germon bombers followed ond which they also wished ta destroy, sa they were bombed. Her fa ther was in the services, so her mother decided they should mave right away fram there and Dorney become hame. Telma is in her late BOs, lives near Sydney, Australia, has great affection far Dorney ond wrote this series of articles for the Dorney History Group and those interested in the history of Dorney. A child's view of Dorney Village during World War Two By Telma Dufton (A rticle Four of Four) Another important character was the Dorney Bus, our vital link with the outside world. Due to severe petrol rationing, many of the few cars that there were, were parked up on bricks in garages - Hither Dimmings had an American Cadillac up on bricks in its rickety garage. So the bus had status, more than its appearance might imply. It was a small, ancient bus, sporting rather worse for wear blue paint with white trim. It heaved, hissed and rattled but somehow got there. I am convinced that there must have been a brilliant hidden mechanic who kept it going against all odds. My younger brothers, luckily, actually started their education at Dorney Village Sch ool, but my sister and I were sent to a posh girls' school in Windsor and had to get up early to catch the firs t run into Windsor. There were three or four Windsor and back trips a day, depending on the health of the bus; unfortunately, the bus trip we took back to Dorney after school more often than not, stopped at Eton Wick. This meant a long walk back across the common, come rain, wind or shine - and the cows that I was nervous of. Sometimes we arrived home very cold an d wet, but there was a war on ..... Both of my brothers remember the village school with affection, but both 'picked up' a few things there that my mother didn 't approve of. One really bad affair, which brought down the wrath of mother and sisters alike was this. Some local boys, apparen tly, thought it hilarious to insert a straw into the rear end of fr ogs that they caught, then to blow them up till they burst. Our boys were caught in one of the old wash houses at the back of the house, trying to imitate this. There is no sentimentality about real life in the country, beau tifu l it may be, but it is also brutal. From time to time we would hear a pack of dogs barking in the back fields and a couple of times even in 'our' field at the back of the house. It was 'boys' or rather youths from Eton College with their hounds, hunting hares. I hated them, to set half o dozen dogs on o defenceless animal just for the excitement of killin g something, I felt was quite despicable. I also remember that there was once quite a stir in the village, some local youths had disturbed a Cob that was guarding its nest of Cygnets, it had retaliated as they do, rearing up with wings spread, and they had beaten and stoned it to death. Folks were outraged as much because it was a crime (swans are Royal property), as they were against such a vile act. Children were not noticeably present in Dorney village itself, but when winter come and the fro sts with it, then the ponds on the common would freeze over including the one I Dorney Parish News ;y-dP - --=- ------ - 􀀐􀀅-:􀀫 􀆢-- ----;::;--------􀀪- 􀆣 r( Burnham Lodge part of the Hartford Care family Providing high quality nursing, residential and day care to older people and those who live with dementia Burnham Lodge, Parliament Lane, Burnham, Slough, SLl 8NU Please give us a call on 01628 667345 or email info@hartfordcare.co.uk for more information www.hartfordcare.co. uk hartfordcare care comfort companionship ( JANE MORGAN DRESSES ------- C::> ------- EVENING DRESS IDRE & SALES • Ball gowns, prom dresses & cocktail wear • Handbags, jewellery & wraps • Sizes O - 20, competitively priced • The dresses can be altered to ensure a perfect fit By appointment 6 days a week 01628 600509 jane@jane morgan. co. uk Mob: 07887 994222 www.janemorgandresshire.co.uk 11 follow us 011 Facebook Village Road, Dorney, nr Windsor & Eton E Sargeant & Son FUNERAL DIRECTORS Serving families in Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead since 1712 01753 520081 40 Church Street, Slough SL 1 1 PJ 01753 865982 61 St Leonards Road, Windsor SL4 3BX 01628 783738 11 a· High Street, Maidenhead SL6 1 PT Call us for immediate support, advice or a home visit. We are here to help 24 hours a day Funeral Partners esargeant. co. uk SERVICES IN THE LOCAL CHURCHES ST. JAMES, DORNEY Full details of our Services and Children's Activities are included in this magazine VICAR OF DORNEY Revd. La Stacey The Vicarage. 69a Eton Wick Road, Eton Wick, Windsor. Berks. SL4 6NE Tel: 01753 852268 email: revlastacey@gmail.com METHODIST CHAPEL, Eton Wick Sunday 610 ..1 .030pmam Morning Service and Sunday School Evening Service ST. GILBERT'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, Eton Wick Sunday Mass (on first Sunday of the month only) 9.00am OUR LADY OF PEACE CATHOLIC CHURCH, Burnham Saturday Sunday 6pm 9.45am 6pm Vigil Mass Mass Material for publication should reach one of the Editors by the 16th of the preceding month. NOT PUBLISHED IN JANUARY AND AUGUST Editors: Mr. P. J. Bowman, Tumbleweeds, 12, Harcourt Road, Dorney Reach, Maidenhead. SL6 0DU Tel: 01628 623228 Mrs. J. M. Spencer, Dorincourt, 45, Harcourt Road, Dorney Reach, Maidenhead. SL6 0DT Tel: 01628 624213 Editorial Board: The Editors, Mrs. J. R. Bowman Distributors: Mr Cobb. Mrs Cox,Mrs Leishman, Mrs McCabe, Mr McGuinness, Mrs Oxlade. Mr Penfold, Mrs Richmond, Mr Schwartz Miss Snook, Mrs Tuddenham. Mrs Tyler. Mrs Wood-Dow RATE OF SUBSCRIPTION: £5 per annum for 10 issues (Payable in Advance) 11 is requested that Treasurers of Local Organisations pay their subscriptions in January. Distrihutors who collect subscriptions from those taking the magazine should hand them to Mrs. Cody. The Editors are not responsible for the opinions of correspondents expressed in letters or articles published in this magazine. .. ISSUE NO. 10/18 DECEMBER 2018 EDITORIAL Even with impending celebrations looming, the big issues facing our village roll on. Dev Dhillon, our county councillor, is 'delighted' that the Government has approved Unitary Authority status for Bucks CC. Judged by social media dis_cuss1on, he might be out of step with his electorate in this neck of the woods. Rebellious lot that we are, I hear much approval of the radical alternative of liaison with Windsor and Maidenhead. Earlier in November, there were complaints about noisy M4 road works in the small hours. Alas, more night working is planned. The latest example of the rather obscure communications from Highways England is summarised in this issue. Interaction in the form of 'letters to the Editor' is great. This column expressed fears about Court Lane parking problems stretching up to Dorney Reach. There is an interesting proposal from the Dorney Traffic Working Group_ on Dorney Lake parking. The Village Hall Management Committee respond in detail to points raised in the last issue. These contributions are most welcome. Good things have also happened in 2018. Dorney Horticultural Society has enjoyed something of a revival and the recent Christmas celebration was a joyful evening. Many expressed thanks to Chrys Fisher for his superb turkey supper. Patrons of The Palmer Arms and The Pineapple can look forward to a tasty occasion should they sample Chrys' seasonal menus. Another pleasant surprise is the return of regular distribution of the Maidenhead Advertiser, at least in Dorney Reach. The latest issue reports that Dorney 􀂲chool raised £586 for Children In Need. The deputy head teacher is quoted thus Dorney has once again shown that we are a caring community'. New Year resolution - carry more news from our local school! Also to be found in the local press was a report marking the 100th birthday of Phyllis Wallbank MBE, long term_Dorney resident and campaigner on behalf of the homeless. A onet1me contributor to DPN, a tribute is planned for a future issue. At the end of the year, many thanks to all readers of this magazine for your support, not least to a new editor. Thanks to all contributors (new writers always welcome!) and of course, to the hard working distributors plus a special mention to Jean Spe'ncer, whose proof reading skills are deployed wisely alongside good advice. To those who have supported the magazine, and to every Dorney resident, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Remember, 'Dorney Parish News' is not published in January. Peter Bowman peter.bowman@talktalk.net Revd. La Stacey writes: This is a season of peace. We have just marked, in many moving ceremonies, the 100th anniversary of the end of the first world war when peace came as such a gift to all those who had lived through the trauma of the global conflict. All of us hope to dwell in peace and safety and the story of the peace child is one which stays with me. Do you know the story of the peace child? The Sawi people of New Guinea used to have a ceremony whereby two rival tribes would make peace through the exchange of a child. The fact that a child related to them was living with their rivals acted as a guarantee that the tribes would not descend into conflict again. The story of Christmas is the archetypal 'Peace Child' story: it tells how a child related to every family on earth has been given once and for all to form a peace barrier between violent rivals. Jesus taught us all to call God 'our Father' - we are one family. How can we be violent with each other when it is our own relatives that we may be harming? Can we keep the life of a vulnerable child uppermost in our consciousness as we make our decisions, whether they are on the scale of global politics, or just our day-to-day choices about how much meat to eat or using plastics? May the peace of God be with you this Christmas and remain with you through all the year ahead. La Church Services in December 2018 and January 2019 Sunday 2nd December 9.30 am Holy Communion (said BCP) 9.30 am Family Praise (half hour with coffee) 1 1 .00 am 'All Age' Service Wednesday 5th December 10.00 am Holy Communion (said BCP) Sunday 9th December St James the Less, Dorney St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Evangelist, Eton 9.30 am Holy Communion St James the Less, Dorney 9.30 am Family Praise (half hour with coffee) St John the Baptist, Eton Wick 1 1 .00 am Holy Communion (with children's group) St John the Baptist, Eton Wick 3.00 pm Advent Carol Service St Mary Magdalene, Boveney Sunday 16th December 9.30 am Family Praise (half hour with coffee) 1 1 .00 am Holy Communion 4.00 pm Family Carol Service 6.30 pm Candlelit 9 lessons and Carols Service Wednesday 19th December 10.00 am Holy Communion (said BCP) Sunday 23rd December 9.30 am Morning Worship St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Evangelist, Eton St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St James the Less, Dorney St John the Evangelist, Eton St James the Less, Dorney , • 11.00 am Holy Communion (with children's group) St John the Baptist, Eton Wick Monday 24th December: Christmas Eve 3.00 pm Christingle Service 4.30 pm Christingle Service 11.30 pm Midnight Communion Monday 25th December: Christmas Day 10.15 am Family Communion Sunday 30th December 9.30 am Holy Communion 9.30 am Family Praise (half hour with coffee) 11.00 am Family Communion Wednesday 2nd January 10.00 am Holy Communion (said BCP) Sunday 6th January 9.30 am Holy Communion (said BCP) 9.30 am Family Praise {half hour with coffee) 11.00 am 'Our space' Family Service Sunday 1 3th January St James the Less, Dorney St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St James the Less, Dorney St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St James the Less, Dorney St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Evangelist, Eton St James the Less, Dorney St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Baptist, Eton Wick 9.30 am Holy Communion St James the Less, Dorney 9.30 am Family Praise (half hour with coffee) St John the Baptist, Eton Wick 11.00 am Holy Communion (with children's group) St John the Baptist, Eton Wick Wednesday 16th January 10.00 am Holy Communion (said BCP) Sunday 20th January St John the Evangelist, Eton 9.30 am Holy Communion St James the Less, Dorney 9.30 am Family Praise (half hour with coffee) St John the Baptist, Eton Wick 11.00 am Morning Worship (with children's group) St John the Baptist, Eton Wick Sunday 27th January 9.30 am Morning Worship St James the Less, Dorney 9.30 am Family Praise (half hour with coffee) St John the Baptist, Eton Wick 11.00 am Holy Communion (with children's group) St John the Baptist, Eton Wick For information about our churches, activities and church history please see our parishes' web site: www.stiohnstiamesed.orQ.uk G & J Decorating Local decorators with 20 years' experience. All aspects of decorating undertaken to the highest standard . Free estimates and references available. Gav 07795 081141 James 07813 289468 or 01628 655658 ETON DORNEY DORNEY VILLAGE 'CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT' Thursday 1 3th December 2018 Eton Dorney Specialist School, Village Road, Dorney From 7pm - Carols and singing 7.30pm This year, by kind invitation of the new Eton Dorney Specialist School, we are holding an evening of carols, festive food and cheer at their beautiful home. Come and sing along or enjoy listening to the singing group and students. Two music teachers, Isabel Wiltshire and Maria Glenister, have kindly agreed to lend their support leading the singing and music for a very professional twist to this year's event - thank you! And we look forward to some very special Christmas songs pelformed by the students and teachers of Eton Dorney Specialist School. Chrys Fisher and the team at The Pineapple invite all to wander along to the pub after the carols and enjoy the rest of the evening with a festive tipple there. Collection and all proceeds to charity and the Church. Tickets available via TicketTailor (http://buytickets.aUdorneyvillage/216344) or email lizwiggett@me.com Tickets include hot jacket potato with filling and a non-alcoholic drink £2 per adult £1 per 1 1 -17 years Children 10 and under FREE Learn the Carols? Learn the carols and songs we'll be singing this year. Perfect for any keen carollers as all will be taught 'by ear' so you don't need to be able to read music. All welcome to join us at a very informal rehearsal session with Isabel Wiltshire on Sunday 9th December at 7.30pm - please email your interest to lizwiggett@me.com or call on 07801066302 IRONING by FLORI Your Ironing, my Mission! O n Facebook: Cleaning & ironing by Flori florentinateisanu@yahoo.co.uk Mob: 07879626434 I collect and deliver for free. Prices start at £2.20 per lb. Minimum price £1 1 . I can collect from home or work, day or night. I provide a friendly, professional and reliable service with experience over 1 0 years • • Sunday 9th December 3.00pm Boveney, Candlelit Advent Carols Sunday 16th December 9.30am Eton Wick, Fa1nily Praise 11.00am Eton, Holy Comn1union 4.00pm Eton Wick, Family Carols 6.30pm Dorney, Nine l,essons and Carols by candlelight Monday 24th December 9.30am Eton Wick, Fan1ily Praise 3.00pm Dorney, Christingle 4.30pm Eton Wick, Christingle 11.30pm Dorney, Midnight Con1n1union Tuesday 25th December t 10.15am Eton Wick, Family Comn1union Mulled Whine on Dorney Common This past month, congested with projects awaiting conclusion, had become a bunched-up queue of eleventy-eight events. The dining room littered with craft glues, paints, threads, fabrics, wadding, wire, felt of many shades and a box of glitter tricks, makes visitors sometimes wonder what manifests from this room. Glitter escaping from several tubes, left a tell-tale trail through the kitchen. Finally, the pa pier mache dragon's head, stuck on a broom stick (minus brush) and clamped to a tripod, sat freshly papered and painted, with large curling devil horns, fan-like ear wing pieces and a long curling yellow tongue. Resplendently red, he is ready to go, from the cottage to the rehearsal space at Maidenhead Drama Guild's studio, to join the 8-metre span of red silk fabric wings that the machine ladies have fashioned. It was a combo effort, with my husband, Dave, sawing and screwing the parts in place, and giving my creative labours credence. Having put it off for months, such a relief that this beast does resemble a scary creature, but hopefully not too sinister for the little ones who come to see Panto! Come see it too! Opening on Wednesday 12th December for 7 performances, closing Sunday 16th. Handmade, home grown Panto, created with lavish care and three gruelling months of rehearsals, but guaranteed to kick your Christmas off with a proper belly laugh. This year our two new joint directors are creating a musical magical Sleeping Beauty at the Desborough Suite at Maidenhead's Town Hall. Every Monday evening, Dave rushes home to play his keyboard for a few hours, with his 'old boys' band in his outdoor man cave. On one Monday night just recently, the guitarist, a delightful fellow called Tony, came in through the back door for a very quick comfort stop before departing. It was a dark dank night as he stepped back out through our back door to stumble and call out 'I didn't know you had a dog!' Seeing the huge creature barely two feet away, growling in baritone, we quickly hauled him back, to shut the door, and yell 'we don't!' Looking through the glass, there stood a very hairy, very scary, black dog, the size of a rhino in a fur jacket. Each time we opened the door, his lips drew back revealing perfect pearls, but determined to stay, he sat down on the coir door mat, right outside, on guard, protecting our home. Many calls later, frustrated with the lack of response by help lines, and unable to hear or see anyone on the common searching, we retired to bed. Bed but not to sleep, with each whimper I was at the window gazing down, 'No, he's still there' was my reply to the slumbering husband to his one open ear, as my night continued with my one eye open. In my mind his shadowy shape curled up, emitting the occasional sorrowful whine. Early the next morning, we placed a plea on Next Door Dorney, and fed our dog some scraps of meat from the fridge. Overnight he became our dog, big hairy black face, now with sad doleful eyes, Dave restrained me from opening the door, which was fortuitously • • the right response. Moments from placing our plea, news filtered through, and we joyfully reunited our dog with his owner, who told us we did the right thing, as he was a one-man dog. Happy ending. Life goes on, with the Dorney Horticultural Society's Christmas Supper arriving with cheerful gusto and joy. The committee worked hard to make it an evening to remember, which indeed it was. Overwhelmed by the response, we seated 75 villagers in our beautifully decorated village hall, with lit garlands, soft lighting, and cosy warmth. It was a joyous evening, full of banter and laughter, with a delicious turkey dinner, carved straight from the bird, hand delivered and cooked by our local publican, Chrys and his team. Plates piled high then licked clean, everyone, sated from such a hearty tasty festive supper, exchanged animated neighbourly joviality and goodwill. In addition, the merriment continued with an amusing London Underground table quiz, a raffle with fantastic prizes, and finally a two-part musical rendition from Maidenhead Drama Guild's very own Martin Selman, Musical Director for the Pantos, who amused us all with his humorous rendition of an assortment of songs, with a uke, guitar and a banjo. Amazing fun! How lovely the evening was, such a warm community spirit from our village. Shortly after this fantastic event, actually it was the next night, feeling the fatigue from our do, with a bit of a night-after fuzzy head, came the Re-Act production which set me in the lead role of Lucille from a play called the Cemetery Club. Yeah! It was a great idea at the time! Cold feet now turning into icy blocks, and a swarm of butterflies invading my stomach, my mouth clogged dry from the cotton wool someone put in there. The show must go on, the pre-wait paled the dentist's waiting room into insignificance, now dressed in character, I tried to bolster myself to spend the next two hours attempting continuity of an American twang. Surprisingly, our in-house studio was filled to the rafters and beyond, to watch our experienced actors perform, plus me, the greenhorn! After a few shaky and slightly flaky moments, my momentum gathering stability and pace, we ended our show with a roaring standing ovation. The better bits won the applause, the emotional outpour won the hearts, and finally, at last, my knee-trembling ordeal was done, the relief fell from my shoulders with a plank, as I swigged back a cheap Prosecco. It's been a busy month, it seems to fall from one insane moment to the next, but along the way, the people you meet, the friendships that build, mean much more than anything else. Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light. Raise your glass of mulled wine this Christmas to celebrate our village and all that reside in it. Kristina Perkins Dells Cottage Letter to the Editor (1) Dear Sir, The Dorney Traffic Working Group has been following the recent discussions about the parking issues at the entrance to Dorney Lake and Boveney. The current recommendations appear to be as follows: • A request to be made to Bucks County Council for double yellow lines to be installed along Court Lane from the graveyard to just beyond the houses in Marsh Lane near the entrance to Dorney Lake. This to be funded by Eton College. A new car park for churchgoers. Funding unclear. The Dorney Traffic Working Group has serious concerns whether the first recommendation will be effective because: There are insufficient police resources to enforce the double yellow lines, so certain people will ignore them. • If they are not ignored, cars will simply move further along Court Lane and Marsh Lane. • It does not address the fundamental cause of the problems - charging for parking in Dorney Lake. Dorney is not an urban environment where large towed boat trailers, marquee trucks, toilet trucks and huge numbers of athletes, officials and spectators for such events might be invisible. It is a small, quiet, semi-rural community that prefers to stay that way. On the other hand, Dorney Lake is big enough, once these numbers have passed through the Village, to absorb all of them. Causing further concerns and risks to residents and road users by event participants parking dangerously on the narrow roads that we enjoy is not necessary. On behalf of the Dorney Traffic Working Group I have written a proposal to Eton College/Dorney Lake which addresses the fundamental cause of the problems - charging for parking in Dorney Lake - and have proposed permanent, low cost solutions without any need for double yellow lines/new church car park etc. There are five reasons for the Dorney Lake parking problems: 1. The Regatta Car Parking Charge made by certain Regattas. 2. "No Public Access" Events. Where the public are restricted from bringing cars inside Dorney Lake. 3. 4. 5. The Daily Parking Charge for parking in the "public car park" near the Start. The Closure of Dorney Lake over the Christmas/New Year period. "Travellers" using Dorney Lake as their private Lido in warm weather (2018). I have proposed the following Assumed Objectives and Overarching Principle in order to provide permanent solutions to the first three problems. The fourth has been solved by Dorney Lake agreeing to open the public car park over the holidays. The fifth is outside the scope of these proposals. The Assumed Objectives: • Dorney Lake wishes to be in harmony with the Dorney, Dorney Reach & Boveney communities. Dorney Lake wishes to ensure that the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders & horse leaders and vehicles is paramount around the entrance to Dorney Lake and at Boveney, and risks are eliminated. ,! The Overarching Principle: Dorney Lake will ensure that there will never be any need for fil!Y. users of Dorney Lake to park their cars either outside the entrance to Dorney Lake or in Boveney outside Ramblers Car Park. In order to achieve the Overarching Principle above, I have proposed some radical changes to parking management at Dorney Lake. The proposed permanent solution to the Regatta Parking Charge addresses the two problems: • Seven of the Regattas held at Dorney Lake in 2018 made a Parking Charge for cars of £7 /£10/£15/£20 per car per day. On the ten days of these seven events, very many athletes, officials & spectators decided they would prefer not to pay the Parking Charge and park on the roads providing easy access to Dorney Lake. This causes the serious safety risks. The proposal is that Dorney Lake immediately advises all event organisers that, from 1st January 2019, they will no longer be able to charge for car parking on site. The proposed permanent solution to the "No Public Access" Days problem addresses the 16 days (other than the ten above regatta days) where public access was restricted. The proposal for all these events that, from 1st January 2019, all event parking will be beyond the new lifting gates/five bar gate. This will enable the public to use the public car park. The proposed permanent solution to the Daily Parking Charge addresses the following: • In 2013 Dorney Lake introduced a daily parking fee of £2.50/day to park in their (then) two public car parks. This has led to non-residents parking along Court Lane on most days of the year to avoid the daily £2.50 charge, as they only want to use the Lake for an hour or so and don't want to pay £2.50 for the privilege. The proposal is that the current Daily Parking Charge be stopped immediately, and the public car park in future provides free parking for the public every day of the year. These solutions will avoid all Dorney Lake related parking around the entrance to Dorney Lake. The above proposals are explained in considerably more detail in a 25 page discussion paper entitled 'The Dorney Lake Parking Conundrum. Proposed Permanent Solutions' which is available on the Home page of the DTWG website - www.dorneyvillagetraffic.uk. It suggests detailed ways in which all three issues can be resolved by Eton College/Dorney Lake. This has been sent to the senior management of Eton College and Dorney Lake. They have thanked me for the paper and stated that they will discuss it with the senior team at Dorney Lake and Eton College. This paper addresses the fundamental problem that causes the three main dangerous parking problems in Court Lane/Marsh Lane and in Boveney- namely charging for parking at Dorney Lake either by the Lake or certain event organisers. Parking charges must stop - quickly. Yours, Bill Dax Dorney Traffic Working Group Letter to the Editor (2) Dear Editor I am replying on behalf of U1e Dorney Village Hall Management Committee to Ms Erhardt's letter in the November DPN. Firstly, we did reply to her first letter and we also invited her to attend our AGM. As she was unable to anend, we did not have the chance to meet ber to discuss her points. However, I will take this opportunity to answer her questions for the interest of the residents. Five years ago, the hall was in a very sorry state with water penetrating the roof and ceilings after every rain storm, and needed refurbishment, the cost of which was £ 1 60,000. The hall had reserves of some £20,000, and took a loan of £22,400 from the Bucks Community Foundation. Through the hard work of the volunteer committee, it secured external grants of £35,500 and asked the Parish Council for a grant to cover the balance of £80,700. Currently we make a surplus of around £ I 0,000 a year, but that is before paying ofT the loan and making substantial improvements as well, so we are only slowly building a reserve for future renovation in order not to have to return to the Parish Council and hence, the residents. for funds in the future. Any renovation in 20 years time is likely to cost twice as much as the last time so we will need a large reserve by then. We do not therefore envisage being able to return any of the grant. This year we have spent £ I ,800 on repainting the interior walls and woodwork and £2.700 on re-sanding and polishing the floor, which will probably need to be done every 4 years. Next year we intend to improve the stage area and the men's toilets. Beyond that, the chairs and tables will need to be replaced. The past accounts are nearly ready to submit to the Charities Commission and the lease for the building from SBDC is now in the name of The Official Custodian of Charities. Ms Erhardt also suggests that the Parish Council should be the sole Trustee and be responsible for the finances of the hall. She may not appreciate that the council is VAT registered in order to recover VAT on its expenditure. If the council ran the hall, VAT would have to be applied on all the hiring charges, including to all the local residents for children's parties etc, which is neither practical nor ethical. We are pleased to offer the hall free of charge to local organisations such as the Playground Group and the Youth Club, and for local events, such as the Diwali celebrations and the New Year's Eve Party. Local residents get a 50% discount on rates for private bookings. As can be seen, there are a lot of expenses running a hall and a lot of time has to be spent by the members of our small committee. The committee would welcome any new volunteers who would like to be involved in looking after our village hall. Mr Editor, you commented in your editorial on the condition of the hall. I was disappointed that you did 1101 feel it was up to standard. The hall is professionally cleaned frequently and regularly - cleaning is actually our biggest expense - and any problems notified to us arc acted upon. We are aware of the recently cracked window and are already arranging for a glazier to repair. Within the last year or so, we have bought new tables and chairs suitable for small children. People who hire the hall for ad-hoe events are invited 10 complete a detailed feedback questionnaire on the facilities, and if any issues are highlighted, we act on them. I should say that the satisfaction level recorded is very high, but we are certainly not complacent. In conclusion, I would like to reiterate the invitation for all to attend our AGM next May. Yours sincerely, Virginia Silvester Secretary, Dorney Village Hall Management Committee Dorney Parish News ft Burnham Lodge part of the Hartford Care family Providing high quality nursing, residential and day care to older people and those who live with dementia Burnham Lodge, Parliament Lane, Burnham, Slough, SLl 8NU Please give us a call on 01628 667345 or email info@hartfordcare.co.uk for more information www.hartfordcare.co. uk hartfordcare c a r e c o m f o r t c o ri p a n O " S h p JANE MORGAN DRESSES ------- C=::> ------- EVENING DRESS HIRE & SALES • Ball gowns, prom dresses & cocktail wear • Handbags, jewellery & wraps • Sizes O - 20, competitively priced • The dresses can be altered to ensure a perfect fit By appointment 6 days a week 01628 600509 jane@janemorgan.co. uk Mob: 07887 994222 www.janemorgandresshire.co. uk IJ follow us 011 Facebook Village Road, Dorney, nr Windsor & Eton E Sargeant & Son FUNERAL DIRECTORS Serving families in Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead since 1712 01753 520081 40 Church Street, Slough SL 1 1 PJ 01753 865982 61 St Leonards Road, Windsor SL4 3BX 01628 783738 1 1 8 High Street, Maidenhead SL6 1 PT Call us for immediate support, advice or a home visit. We are here to help 24 hours a day Funeral Partners esargeant. co. uk SERVICES IN THE LOCAL CHURCHES ST. JAMES, DORNEY Full details of our Services and Children's Activities are included in this magazine VICAR OF DORNEY Revd. La Stacey The Vicarage. 69a Eton Wick Road. Eton Wick. Windsor. Berks. SL4 6NE Tel: 0 1 753 852268 email: revlastacey(ii•gmail.com METHODIST CHAPEL, Eton Wick Sunday l fUilam 6.30pm M11rning Servke and Sunday School En'ning Service ST. GILBERT'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, Eton Wick Sunday Mass (on first Sunday of the month only) 9.00am OUR LADY OF PEACE CATHOLIC CHURCH. Burnham Saturday Sunday 6pm 9.45am 6pm Vigil Mw,;-; Mass Material for publication should reach one of the Editors by the 16th of the preceding month. NOT PUBLISHED IN JANUARY AND AUGUST Editors: Mr. P. J. Bowman, Tumblewccds. 12. Harcourt Road, Dorney Reach, Maidenhead. SL6 0DU Tel: 01628 623228 Mrs. J. M. Spencer, Dorincourt, 45. Harcourt Road, Dorney Reach, Maidenhead. SL6 0DT Tel: 01628 624213 Editorial Board: The Editors, Mrs. J. R. Bowman Distributors: Mr Cobb. Mrs Cox.Mrs Leishman, Mrs McCabe, Mr McGuinness. Mrs Oxlade, Mr Penfold, Mrs Richmond, Mr Schwartz Miss Snook. Mrs Tuddenham. Mrs Tyler. Mrs Wood-Dow RATE OF SUBSCRIPTION: £5 per annum for 1 0 issues (Payable in Advance) It is requested that Trea<;urers of Local Or!!anisations pay their subscriptions in January. Distrihutors who collect subscriptions from those taking the magazine should hand them to Mr􀌐. Cody. The Editors are not responsible for lhe opinions of correspondents expressed in letters or articles published in this magazine. • Issue No. 9/1 8 EDITORIAL November 201 8 One hundred years ago this November. the Great War finally came to an end. That armistice set in train patterns of remembrance that have endured for a century. In 2014, 'DPN' marked the centenary of war breaking out with an article detailing the names of Dorney's fallen to be found on a litany desk in St James the Less. Recalling the time since the writing of those words brings home just how long and gruelling four and a half years must have been. I commend to you Virginia Silvester's splendid piece in this issue, which expands on these five lives and the Dorney of 1914. Four years ago, I wrote 'one just feels sadness for each of these lost lives'. I didn't expect that sadness to be multiplied by the sight in recent times of a united Europe that had largely kept the peace since the second great conflict fracturing and falling apart in front of our eyes. Judged by the Parish Council minutes in this issue, various parties have been working hard to find a solution to the parking problems in the approaches to Dorney Lake. It sounds as though James Palmer has suggested a public spirited solution for church congregations' parking. Official double yellow lines in Marsh Lane and Court Lane funded by Bucks CC and Eton College would be welcomed. But residents in Dorney Reach might be fearing that the parking problem will merely shift northwards to their Oust about) peaceful roads. The welcome that Eton extends to all visitors may be admirable, but it is this plus their parking charges which causes the problem. Might they not waive or lower their charges or expand their parking areas? An invitation has been issued to them to put their point of view in these pages - an invitation which is extended to all interested parties. In recent years, Dorney Village Hall, and specifically costs associated with its refurbishment, has been controversial. Once again 'DPN' carries a critical view, this lime in the form of a reader's letter. I do hope that the Management Committee can give us all clear answers to points raised. Frankly. I thought the response to questions in last March's issue was not adequate. While I do not, personally, feel that reducing the parish precept is the priority and feel that every resident should contribute regardless of their level of usage of the Hall to what is a community undertaking, users of the Hall will have their concerns. At the time of the Annual Show, it was noticed what a sorry state the Hall is in with cracked & dirty windows and tired old furniture. Suggestions such as the Hall having audio visual facilities installed - societies have to erect ramshackle screens, use inadequate mics and wouldn't it be nice to have a Dorney Film Club? - have always been given short shrift by the management. Views on these issues, and any other aspect of 'DPN', would be most welcome. Do please get in touch. Peter Bowman peter.bowman@talktalk.net Revd. La Stacey writes One member of our congregation prayed this autumn prayer and I asked if I could share it with you: 'As autumn takes hold, may the earlier setting of the sun remind us to take time to rest. May the brilliant and changing colours of the leaves remind us of the wonder of your creation. May the harvest from the fields remind us of the abundance we have been given and the bounty we are to share with others. May the steam of our breath in the cool air remind us that it is you who gives us the breath of life. Amen.' Restfulness, wonder, generosity and gentle breath - sounds good and peaceful to me: a beautiful way to draw towards the end of the year. Then comes mistiness, and perhaps sadness, as we think of endings and lives lost- until, in the midst of deepening darkness, the quiet hope of a new life soon to be born emerges. Who hasn't ever felt the stirrings of excitement at the approach of the festive season? Are we far too sophisticated now to admit to such things? We are keen to go it alone and think we can get through without reference to anything or anyone greater than ourselves, but I wonder ... For information about our churches, activities and church history please see our parishes' web site: stjohnstjamesed.org.uk Church Services in November 2018 Sunday 4th November 9.30 am Holy Communion (said BCP) 9.30 am Family Praise (half hour with coffee) 1 1 .00 am All Age Service Wednesday 7th November 10.00am Holy Communion (said BCP) Sunday 11th November (Remembrance Sunday) 9.1 5am Holy Communion with Remembrance 9.30am Family Praise (half hour with coffee) 1 0.55am Remembrance Service 3.00pm Remembrance Service with cubs Sunday 18th November 9.30am Holy Communion 9.30am Family Praise (half hour with ccffee) 1 1 .00am Holy Communion Wednesday 21 st November 1 0.00am Holy Communion (said BCP) Sunday 25th November 9.30am Morning Prayer 9.30am Family Praise (half hour with ccffee) 1 1 .00am Holy Communion St James the Less, Dorney St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Evangelist, Eton St James the Less, Dorney St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Evangelist, Eton St John the Baptist Eton Wick St James the Less, Dorney St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Baptist Eton Wick St John the Evangelist, Eton St James the Less, Dorney St John the Baptist, Eton Wick St John the Baptist, Eton Wick 1 Benefice of Eton with Eton Wick & BowMy & Dorney T H E G R E A T WA R C E N T E N A R Y' 1 9 1 4 - 1 9 1 8 t 20 1 4 - 2 0 1 8 REMEMBR$ANCE St James the Less Dorney November 11 th starting 9:15 am in churchyard DORNEY AND THE ARMISTICE November 2018 sees the 100th anniversary of the armistice which brought to a close the First World War. What did this mean for the people of Dorney? In Maidenhead, the signing of the armistice was proclaimed at midday on 11 November, by the Mayor from the steps of the town hall in front of a large crowd. The news was welcomed enthusiastically, flags were hung outside buildings, thanksgiving services were held in the churches, and in the evening there was a torchlit cavalcade around the town. Similar rejoicing took place in Slough, where church bells were rung, and £10 was given to pay for extra comforts for the inmates of the workhouse in honour of the occasion. No doubt Dorney also celebrated, though we don't have any details. Relief at the end of hostilities would have been tempered by grieving for those who had been killed. Four Dorney families had lost loved ones in the conflict. James Eustace, a shepherd, had moved to the Slough area before 1901, and by 1915 was living in Dorney, later at Court Farm Cottages. He was widowed, and had lost 3 of his 6 children in infancy. His son Robert, born in 1887, emigrated to Canada to farm, and enlisted there on 30 November 1915, joining the Saskatchewan Regiment of the Canadian Infantry. Robert died from wounds in hospital in Warrington on 28 September 1917, and was buried in Dorney. His father suffered a further loss when one of his two remaining daughters died the following year. William and Mary Poolman had moved to Dorney about 1888, and William worked at Pigeon House Farm as a shepherd. They had 11 sons (two of whom had died before the war) and 2 daughters. One of the younger sons, Percy, born in Dorney in 1891, had served 2 years as a driver in the Army Service Corps from 1909 to 1911, and was immediately recalled at the outbreak of war; he was in France by 19 August 1914. He remained on the Western front throughout the war, with only 3 short periods of home leave, the last in December 1917. In May 1918 he was transferred to the Royal Irish Fusiliers, and he was killed in action in Belgium on 30 September 1918. Percy's older brother Albert was a shepherd in Dorney like his father, and was married with young children when the war started. He enlisted at Slough in the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry, and was later transferred to the Royal Berkshire Regiment. At some point, he was wounded and captured, becoming a prisoner of war in Germany. He died on 5 June 1918 and was buried in Kassel. Another of Percy and Albert's brothers, William, had married Daisy Belcher, whose younger brother Bertie was another casualty. Their father Isaac Belcher was a carter working on farms, who had moved to South Bucks around 1896, eventually settling at Manor Farm in Dorney. Bertie, born in 1890, became a farm labourer. Like Albert Pool man, he enlisted at Slough in the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry. His regiment • fought against the Turks in what was then called Mesopotamia, and he died there of wounds on 14 July 1917. Finally, the earliest Dorney casualty had been Jack Moriarty, only son of the rector of Dorney. Born in 1893, he trained at the Royal Military Academy in Woolwich and was commissioned in 1912. He served as a lieutenant in the Royal Garrison Artillery in France from September 1914. Wounded later that year, he had recovered at home in Dorney, and then returned to the front, where he was accidentally killed on 12 October 1915. These men have a special place in Dorney's history. Their sacrifice is commemorated in Dorney church, and you can read more about them on the Dorney history group website. But in November 1918, Dorney residents might also have remembered another young serviceman who had lost his life. Alfred Boag had been born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1884, and later emigrated to South Africa, where he and his father set up business as coachbuilders. Like many colonials, he answered the call to fight for the Allies, and joined the British Army. In April 1916, he was attached to the Royal Flying Corps, based at Ruislip, and began training as a pilot. Two weeks later, his fourth flight took him over Windsor Castle towards Monkey Island, when a problem with the engine caused his biplane to nose dive, and he fell in a field near Pigeon House Farm, sustaining fatal head injuries. One of Bertie Belcher's younger brothers, Horace, born in 1896, worked as a cowman and occasional ploughman on Manor Farm. His call up in 1918 was postponed by the local military tribunal until a suitable replacement farm worker could be found. The tribunal heard that the 60 cows on the farm produced 120 to 130 gallons of milk for Eton, but two men were needed to handle the herd. Horace was eventually mobilised on 22 August, as a private in the same regiment as his brother but serving on the Eastern front. Keeping enough farm workers was a real problem for Dorney during the war. Frank Rumbold of Lake End Farm managed 3 farms with his two sons. The elder, Douglas, had been in the Territorials since 1908, and was mobilised for active service on 5 August 1914, but was discharged as medically unfit in December. In December 1916, Frank sought to retain his younger son, Cyril, who he said managed one part of the farm, looking after and milking 50 cows. The appeal was dismissed, but Cyril was not to be called up until a substitute was available. Frank got a similar outcome in January 1917, when he tried to exempt a specialist farm worker who was a machinery expert and had drilled all the corn for 11 years. When another Dorney farmer, William Dickens of Pigeon House Farm, applied to keep the only man still working for him, he explained to the tribunal how much work on the farm was already carried out by his two daughters. Nineteen year-old Lillian milked nine cows, took the milk morning and night to Eton Wick, and looked after the pony which conveyed the milk. Sixteen year-old Gladys did the ploughing with two horses, and both I Disco by OUT OF TH IS WORLD {! ... ',I , ._{I , . , . 􀆦 􀀬... ,ii Raffle w per per􀀆o ,;--::,.. Bring own food and drink Entry by ticket only Call Teresa on: 01628 621383 0777634046 Supporting CANCER RESEARCH UK .,. • girls helped out on the binder and mowing machine. William was congratulated on having two such excellent daughters! The armistice meant that servicemen could gradually return to employment, but it took time for them to be demobilised. Horace Belcher was not released from the Army until March 1919. The newspapers in November 1918 were full of reminders that life would not immediately return to normal. Rationing continued; there were collections for various war charities, and encouragement to invest in war savings; and it was noted that long term care would be needed for the injured. And it was not until May 1920 that William Pool man was invited to apply for the memorial plaque - nicknamed the "death penny" - and scroll to commemorate his son Percy, who "died for freedom and honour". Virginia Silvester Electrical Services Burnham Napit Part "P" Approved • Additional Sockets - Lights • New Fuse Boards - Updates • Security - Attic Lighting • Home - Landlords Certificates • Portable Appliance Testing • All other Electrical Work Free advice and estimates All work guaranteed No job too small Phone Rob on 01628 60 30 63 Mobile 07801 832 792 G & J Decorating NAPIT Local decorators with 20 years' experience. All aspects of decorating undertaken to the highest standard. Free estimates and references available. Gav 07795 081 1 4 1 James 07813 289468 o r 01628 655658 Turfed out on Dorney Common As autumn draws in, our garden at the cottage starts to take a more orderly appearance. Each week sees the end of one large bulk bag containing ingredients such as sharp sand, scalpings or loose ballast. Peering in those colourful bags, always a bright blue or yellow which speaks 'we are making a mess but it will be fine soon', the contents resemble a chef's spice rack on a mammoth scale. The preparation dressing before the clothes arrive. Well, it hasn't quite arrived yet; the new lawn was seeded a little late, so now we wait for the green hue to appear before the temperature plummets too low. Meantime, the damp weather provides instant relief from the parched summer, and everywhere grass has reconnected with the turf, to transform our land back to green again. Meantime, my husband Dave, works tirelessly in his spare time, to shift, shape and sift the soil. Disaster struck one day last week, when he woke up in the night with a knee that had blown up with overuse. Searching for a remedy on his electronic gadget revealed it very likely to be 'housemaid's knee'. Hang on, with our division of pink and blue jobs, how did this happen? Scrubbing the kitchen floor was work that usually fell on to my chore list. Pink and blue, what does that mean to you? In our house, my husband advises my deaf ears, that certain heavy tasks fall to him and the lighter ones to me. In my youth I certainly did not differentiate between the two, they were all the same colour in a palette of a never-ending rainbow of responsibilities. Although the Panto rehearsals remain in full gallop, in addition at the Maidenhead Drama Guild we have a new event, an autumn rehearsed reading. Fascinated to see exactly what this entailed, I attended the auditions to see if a faded, but still blooming character might be required. The play turned out to be, 'The Cemetery Club', a side shoot of the 'Golden Girls', a New York Jewish set of three friends, who shared bereavement and friendship together. Ah, a large stumbling block, my very neutral British accent was one that I have had for years, possibly as long as I can recall. The entire 2-hour production required a quick-fire banter keeping up the intonations of Nao Yawk! Big crisis. The other candidates, foot perfect, left me tongue-tied. I gave it my very best effort, got into character and left the vocal chords to their own devices. A week later, amazingly enough - perhaps she was slightly hard of hearing - the Director offered me two roles, either the bit piece, Mildred, who gave a 30 second appearance, or the main character, Lucille Rubin, who like her namesake of the old TV programme, is the loudest woman on set. Over a coffee, we had a little heart to heart, and she then explained that the production was designed to encourage newbies to drama, those with no experience or wanna-be's like me, who had only appeared in chorus as 'fillers'. Basically the deal was, if you have the sphericals, take the Lucille part, and rise to the challenge. The cavalry was the other ladies cast, all very experienced with some 30 odd years of on-stage work, who would attempt to carry the greenhorn. Later that night, trying to count sheep, my feet felt distinctly icy. Practising my lines every day, things are slowly improving, not hugely, but enough to persuade myself that it will may be alright on the night, if only this accent could be made convincing enough. To keep it going for the entire production where the wordage was t .. t punchy and continuous was a tall order. Awkwardly though, I find myself in Sainsburys or my office at work, tawkin' (talking) in a broad Bronx accent, which really was not the plan. What a fool! Simultaneously, the Panto props have made good progress. With four embroidered wands for three good fairies and one Deadly Nightshade witch just concluded, the list is now down by three-quarters of eleventy-eight items. Next on the agenda is the enormous dragon to make (that I have been avoiding), which must manifest itself from papier-mache. The production promises to be a spectacular one. We called it ambitious at first, as originally the complexities of the set and the demands from the new joint Directors, in a fervour to demonstrate their talents, have raised the bar yet again, and along with it burst every budget. Before this magnificent show hits the Desborough Suite in Maidenhead mid-December (book early to avoid disappointment), closer to home we have our Dorney Horticultural Christmas Supper on Friday 16th November. The group are a wonderful bunch of generous kind-hearted folk, and the evening promises to be one full of fun, light entertainment, a hot festive supper with all the Christmas trimmings, plus a chance to meet your neighbours to give them a hug. A busy Autumn, but before then, the back yard is checked and without a doubt this morning both Dave and I saw a faint green hue spread like a thin veil over our new lawn. By Christmas we will be fully turfed - wonderful, the grass has never been greener in our neck of the woods. Kristina Perkins Enjoying Diwali - the 'Festival of Lights' On October 20th Dorney Village Hall was a joyful place - for the seventh year running a packed hall celebrated Diwali, perhaps the best known of all Hindu festivals. 'Diwali' translates as 'rows of lighted lamps' because traditionally homes and public places are decorated with small earthenware oil lamps. One of the prime Diwali legends tells of the return of Rama and Sita to Rarna's kingdom after 14 years in exile. Diwali is associated with new clothes, gifts, fireworks and festive meals. It was this last aspect that will have been the prime motivation for locals like me to attend, and, yes, we did enjoy a wide range of curries. So much is remarkable about this annual event, launched and still driven by local resident Moni Hunjan. It is equally enjoyed by adults and children, it's a unique chance to hear Indian music ( mainly Indian pop music this year - 'bhangra' - I hope I've got that right), and the Hall does not usually welcome revellers from all over the Home Counties, but local residents were much in evidence. As well as Moni, over the years there have been stalwart helpers both cooking the curries and organising the event. If I single out Raya Rawlings, Liz Stockwood and Joy Richmond, I must be missing many out. Above all, money is raised for charities - each year around £2000 benefits the likes of MacMillan, Mother Teresa's orphanage in Goa and Great Ormond Street. Long may Diwali light up Dorney's autumn. Peter Bowman Telma Duftan lived in Dorney during World War Two. She was in Dorney ta escape the war, as they were living close ta the railway line /ram Landan and the North Kent coost which the German bombers /al/awed and which they alsa wished ta destroy, sa they were bombed. Her father was in the services, sa her mother decided they should mave right away /ram there and Dorney became home. Telma is in her late BOs, lives near Sydney, Australia, has greot offection for Dorney and wrote this series a/ articles far the Dorney History Group and those interested in the history of Dorney. A child's view of Dorney Village during World War Two By Telma Dutton (Article Four of Four) Another important character was the Dorney Bus, our vital link with the outside world. Due to severe petrol rationing, many of the few cars that there were, were parked up on bricks in garages - Hither Dimmings had an American Cadillac up an bricks in its rickety garage. So the bus had status, more than its fJppearance might imply. It was a small, ancient bus, sporting rather worse for wear blue paint with white trim. It heaved, hissed and rattled but somehow got there. I am convinced that there must have been a brilliant hidden mechanic who kept it going against all odds. My younger brothers, luckily, actually started their education at Dorney Village School, but my sister and I were sent to a posh girls' school in Windsor and had to get up early to catch the first run into Windsor. There were three or four Windsor and back trips a day, depending on the health of the bus; unfortunately, the bus trip we took back to Dorney after school more often than not, stopped at Eton Wick. This meant a long walk back across the common, come rain, wind or shine - and the cows that I was nervous of. Sometimes we arrived home very cold and wet, but there was a war on ..... Both of my brothers remember the village school with affection, but both 'picked up' a few things there that my mother didn't approve of. One really bad affair, which brought down the wrath of mother and sisters alike was this. Some local boys, apparently, thought it hilarious to insert a strow into the rear end of frogs that they caught, then to blow them up till they burst. Our boys were caught in one of the old wash houses at the back of the house, trying to imitate this. There is no sentimentality about real life in the country, beautiful it may be, but it is also brutal. From time to time we would hear a pack of dogs barking in the back fields and a couple of times even in 'our' field at the back of the house. It was 'boys ' or rather youths from Eton College with their hounds, hunting hares. I hated them, to set half a dozen dogs on a defenceless animal just for the excitement of killing something, I felt was quite despicable. I also remember that there was once quite a stir in the village, some local youths had disturbed a Cob that was guarding its nest of Cygnets, it had retaliated as they do, rearing up with wings spread, and they had beaten and stoned it to death. Folks were outraged as much because it was a crime (swans are Royal property), as they were against such a vile act. Children were not noticeably present in Dorney village itself, but when winter came and the frosts with it, then the ponds on the common would freeze over including the one nearest the village. Then, from 'out of the woodwork' or bushes, boys would appear to skate on our pond; I suspect they came mainly from Eton Wick. We didn't like them, they shouted, shoved and pushed and were uncouth. The skating was done in our shoes and boots. The idea wos to produce a long polished 'slide', this could be very polished indeed and quite dangerous. One winter actually I starred on the ice, whizzing down a long slide, but I lost my balance at the end and fell backward. My head hit the ice with a loud crack and left a perfectly beautiful star in the ice about two foot across. We didn't get much in the way of snow, but we got good frosts, due to the proximity of the river. In certain conditions, the river steamed like a hot bath and low-lying mists would form overnight. If there was a sudden cold snap ot the same time, we would get beautiful frosts. One of the most beautiful I ever saw anywhere was close to one Christmas time - we woke up to find literally everything frosted white, not just a fuzz on the gross. We walked down to the river which was covered in a blanket of steam and the nearby bushes were covered in exquisite two inch long fragile ice feathers. As we returned to the village, we clapped and shouted under the big trees which were suddenly in leaf again with thousands of frost feathers and the sharp sound dislodged them and they showered down all over us like snow. When Christmas arrived, my sister and I went carol singing around the village properly. Each house got two complete carols from a selection of English, Latin or French before we knocked. If they were keen and generous, they got a third; on one of these ventures we were mistaken for boys from Eton College Chapel Choir, which was a considerable 'Wow'! On another occasion we collected several pounds sterling, which we split fifty-fifty with the Red Cross under my mother's careful eye - it was to go towards something or other special for the soldiers fighting in the war, I wasn't sure what. During the war there was very little of everything, including entertainment, particularly if you were a bit isolated. Television hadn't been heard of and the nearest cinema from us was in Windsor. Someone in Dorney had the idea that there should be a Christmas Concert held in the Village Hall and that the villagers themselves should be the stars! Surprisingly, the villagers responded with enthusiasm and the most unexpected people volunteered, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. My mother was one of them. She and my youngest brother were commandeered to act in a skit, thus. Rows of assorted kitchen chairs were lined up on stage to represent the interior of o bus, with various characters seated on them - my youngest brother, with a saucepan over his head, supposedly jammed there and irremovable, my mother as the child's parent. The skit consisted of advice from the bus passengers on how to remove the saucepan etc. etc. It was supposed to be funny and the audience did laugh; I sat embarrassed at the back of the Village Hall in the dark that my mother would 'let her hair down' in public in that way! Not so my older sister, she was in it up to her ears too. She, because she could sing, sang, "In my sweet little Alice Blue gown, as I just wandered out around the town. I was both proud and shy, as I caught every eye" and so on, rustling back and forth across the s tage, dressed in blue crepe paper. "Shy" she wasn't. She had nagged and bullied me for weeks, to be equally shameless, so that we could be a duo as with the Christmas carols, she on one side of the stage and me on the other, swanning around in crepe paper. It wasn't going to happen, it didn 't and I was very unpopular for yet more weeks. Dorney was slightly scruffy, because it was a working village, but beautiful just the same. It contained a remarkable diversity of people among its inhabitants, almost a stationary Canterbury Tales .... 'old' family with roots going back centuries, with the ancient traditional relationship with their staff, a sprinkling of theatre people, an internationally known painter, a real master baker, one or two city people who had retired there, a farm and all that went with it, a charming and eccentric parson - indeed a long list of diverse characters. Dorney today could never be called scruffy, rather, quiet and well cared for, but I knew a different place. From the milling cows in the farmyard to the quiet stillness of a working artist's studio, the flavourful and unexpected diversity I knew three quarters of a century ago is sadly gone. We don't carry an update from the SMART M4 project this month. Have a look at the Dorney Parish Council website for the latest updates. But we do have an update from a stakeholder group who share Dorney Parish with us DPN subscribers. They contacted us via Peter Tyler. . . . Message from the Marsh Lane Badger Colony To yellow-uniformed workers of Highways England I write on behalf of our families who have dug holes into motorway embankments and occupied setts here for many years. We have had our ups and downs and sadly some deaths. This is usually because your friends drive their engines so fast that we cannot get across the road safely. But you are beginning to really annoy us. What are you doing here? Why do you cut down good trees and put sticks down our front entrances? That's bad enough. Then you place green wire mesh over our holes. Nasty stuff that hurts our feet ifwe tread on it. Very difficult to burrow beneath it. We can only enter and leave with great difficulty. Come on, please give us a break. Freddy Fox has moved his family away. Not very far. Also, you will have noticed those crazy exhibitionists, the kites. They are harmless but I caution you they are keeping an eye on your activities from a safe height. .. t t Dorney Social Diary Friday 16th November Tuesday 20th November Wednesday 11th December Monday 31st December DORNEY PARISH COUNCIL DORNEY VILLAGE HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE DORNEY BADMINTON CLUB DORNEY SHORT MAT BOWLS CLUB DORNEY YOUTH CLUB (for children of the parish) VILLAGE HALL BOOKINGS OOHS Christmas Supper, Dorney Village Hall 7.30 p.m. Something New, 'Crafts & Cards' Dorney Village Hall 10.30 a.m. - 12.30 p.m. Something New, Christmas Social Event - with mince pies and more. Dorney Village Hall 10.30 a.m. - 12.30 p.m. Dorney Village Hall New Year's Eve Party Dorney Village Hall 8.30 p.m. - 12.30 a.m. Second Tuesday of each month (except August) Village Hall 8 p.m. Second Monday of alternate months i.e. July, September Village Hall 8 p.m. Every Tuesday Village Hall 8 - 10 p.m. Every Sunday Village Hall 7 - 10 p.m. Every Thursday evening during term time 6.00- 7.30 p.m. Village Hall Dorney 5-16 year olds Contact Leanne Kittel 07919 484855 Graham Easton 01628 628819 & 07S03 745760 Email: enquiries@dorneyvillagehall.com It's become obvious to me thal much useful material for residents is pushed oul by South Bucks District Council. This in turn is passed to 'DPN' by the Clerk of the Parish Council, Sue Moffat. . . many thanks for that, Sue! This may not be in a format that is easy to reproduce in the narrow confines of our little publication. But here's an outline of two recent offerings ... Ask/or Angela is a splendid initiative 'to raise awareness of sexual violence and abuse and to stop harassment that some people may experience while out on a date'. Many Bucks pubs and clubs are signed up but not necessarily those in our neck of the woods. See www.southbucks.gov.uk/AskForAngela As an SBDC mailing points out 'There is still a need for Neighbourhood Watch'. My impression is that this has vanished from Dorney. I f l'm wrong, let 'DPN' know. The Community Safety Team are keen to offer advice (01494 586535 or commun i tysafety@southbucks.gov. uk) PB Dorney Horticultural Society's Annual Christmas Supper Friday 16th November 7-30pm Dorney Village Hall Roast Turkey supplied by the Palmer Arms & Christmas Pudding Plus Live Festive Entertainment and more Bring your own drink and glasses Please come and join us all welcome Tickets £13/head Book your tickets now with any committee member: Ron Alsworth 01628 669988 Peter Bowman 01628 623228 Janet Messitt 01628 664307 Peter Tyler 01628 621560 :; Kristina Perkins 07971 816130 Wendy Shephard 01628 639366 .,. • Letter to the Editor - Dorney Village Hall Dear Editor Following the request in the March 2018 edition of 'Dorney Parish News' from the Dorney Village Hall Management Committee which was "if anyone has comments with regard to this, drop a note to [ email address]. We would love to hear your thoughts or concerns", I did just that on 1st May 2018, sending an email to the address provided. I did not receive an answer to the three questions I raised. I followed it up with an email on 3rd July 2018. Again, no answer. Having patiently waited nearly six months without answers, I hope that by writing to you they will be forthcoming. The three questions I raised in both emails were as follows: 1. On the assumption that the Village Hall will be able to achieve a similar level of annual surplus (around £10,000) for twenty years (the total period of the loan raised by the Parish Council) you would have cumulative reserves of around £200,000 at the end of the period. You rightly point out that you must ring fence funds for a replacement roof (say £30,000 at today's prices) and you would probably need to allocate another, say, £20,000 for other refurbishments. These, together with the repayment of the Bucks Community Foundation Loan of around £10,000, would total around £60,000. This would leave, after twenty years, a reserve of around £140,000 ( excluding interest) available for other purposes. I agree with the suggestion put forward in the article in the February edition of Dorney Parish News that, in principle, the users of the Village Hall should be paying for the refurbishment rather than those residents who don't use it. I am one of those residents. I note your comment that the council were not legally allowed to give a loan to Dorney Village Hall. Therefore, it would seem financially, ethically and morally reasonable, given the original fair proposal by yourselves on 8th January 201 3 that you "should be in a position to pay back this grant", for you to agree to repay the £91,920 (loan plus interest etc.) of the PWLB refurbishment loan to the residents from the £1 40,000 available reserves over the twenty years. This would need to be on a regular annual repayment basis rather than at period end in order to allow the Parish Precept to be reduced each year accordingly. Under Charity law this would be an "ex-gratia" or an (appropriately named) "moral" payment which would have to be approved by the Charity Commission through a simple process. This, if approved, would result in a fair and moral outcome to all concerned. Otherwise, what exactly does the Dorney Village Hall Charity plan to do with the £140,000 under your governing document? 2. The Charity Commission website for Dorney Village Hall today (7th October 2018) has a Default Notice which states: a. Documents 249 days overdue b. Out-of-date information c. This charity has failed to provide information on its finances within 10 months of its financial year end. d. All charities are reminded of their reporting requirements as their filing deadline approaches. e. If a charity misses its deadline, it receives a default notice and this message is displayed. Assuming this might be an error the Charity Commission was approached, and their response was: '"We can confirm that the information displayed on our website is correct." It now states that the documents are 249 days overdue. Why is the Charity that residents are supporting financially in such serious default? 3. Given this apparent failure to properly run a charity in which residents have invested a considerable amount of money, perhaps it would be in the best interests of all if Dorney Parish Council were to be the sole Trustee of the Village Hall - thus both clarifying financial and governance responsibilities and avoiding any potential conflicts of interest? As a contributor to the Village Hall funds, along with all other residents, I look forward to a clear response to these three questions from the Village Hall Management Committee. Yours, Julie Erhardt The Old Cottage Village Road Dorney SL4 6QJ IRONING by FLORI Your Ironing, my Mission! On Facebook: Cleaning & ironing by Flori florentinateisanu@yahoo.co.uk Mob: 07879626434 I collect and deliver for free. Prices start at £2.20 per lb. Minimum price £1 1 . I can collect from home or work, day or night. I provide a friendly, professional and reliable service with experience over 1 0 years • M. A. SHEPHARD BUILDERS LTD Est 1983 Diggers Den, lA Oak Stubbs Lane, Dorney Reach, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 0DW Phone: 01628 639 366 Mobile: 07803 179962 Email: m.a.shephard@btconnect.com M . A. Shephard Builders Ltd. are proud of our heritage and our workmanship. We have been trading for over 30 years and in that time we have developed a professional relationship with suppliers, building surveyors and other professiona Is. We specialise in high quality workmanship in the fields of heritage work using all the traditional methods and working with traditional materials. We usually carry out the full project from start to finish , taking all the pressure off you . I f you want to project manage alongside u s you are more than welcome. We also carry out all the following: • All types of Refurbishments • New house builds • Commercial to Domestic conversions • Barn conversions • All types of listed work • General building works 1m 1 :t􀀑 • Decorating works RegistereH flO'oll R'> mm fROH H1 GARDlN FOR 1/EOOING'>. mmnr iON\, sououm. fA!lE ARRANGfHENf'>. JAH JAR PO)IE'> OR '>IHPl 1 A lARGl sumr OF fH'>Hl 1 mm flO'ollR'> r f" so􀀣•;"􀀤 # 􀀂 TH[ OlD PlACL lDn PHH, DORNE1. 't/lNDSOt mmm. m 6QQ POTHRINGA80UT@THEOlDPlACE (0.U􀂺 I 'tl'tl'tl OlDPlWflO'tlm co n PlfAC:,E CONTACf ROZ / H l 07%6m'J&q 􀀂□D􀃪􀃫􀃬􀃭 t 􀃮; g􀀏 cap􀀐 g Ba ,1.Wa9 • Site Clearance • Pergolas • Terraces • S uppliers of. • Turfing • Driveways • Brickwork SAND • BALLAST • Plants, Trees • Car Parks Decorative WOOD CHIPS TOP SOIL and Shrubs • Block Paving or Standard MUSHROOM • Fencing • Patios • Mature Trees COMPOST 0 1 628 666022 • 661768 Mobile 07860 706675 THE TRADITIONAL RESTORATION COMPANY LTD The Coach House, Dorney Court 01 628 660708 www.TraditionalRestoration.co.uk enquiries@TraditionalRestoration.co.uk Restorers of Fine Antique Furniture S USAN H A N DY SCHOOL OF DAN C E Aero Jazz Ballet Baby Ballet Ballet Stretch Contemporary Creative Dance Modern Jazz Musical Theatre Tap Adult Tap Adult Ballet GCSE Dance Elite Dance Group Boys Syllabus ' ETON • ETON WICK • WINDSOR • DATCHET • OLD WINDSOR ICKENHAM • PYRFORD • WOKING • RICHMOND WWW.SUSAN HAN DYDANCE.CO.U K 01 753 542672 / 075 1 5 270432 e: office@susanhandydance.co.uk BHS & ABRS Approved Riding School and Pony Club Centre anish Bil Rr:hng School & L1Verv Elm Farm, Boveney Road, Dorney Common N r Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 6QD We are a family run Riding School based on Dorney Common established for over 35 years! • Qualified lntructors • Lessons available fron1 7 years upwards • Pony Rides available for children as young as 4 . • We offer very popular Birthday parties • Large Indoor and Outdoor schools • Pony Club and Own a Pony activity days • Open 6 days a week, Tuesday-Sunday • Gift Vouchers available through the website For bookings and enquiries please call us on 01628 661275 www. spanishbit. co. uk K6 Heritage Phone Box opposite The Pineapple in Lake End Road Some of you may have noticed the recent start of refurbishment of this derelict and unloved phone boF opposite The Pineapple. Dorney is fortunate to have three of these K6 phone boxes which are heritage icons (plus one private one in its full glory in a garden on Dorney Common). The two on Village Road and Harcourt Road have been acquired by Dorney Parish Council who have installed Defibrillators in them. In December 2016 they decided not to acquire the Lake End Road box. This phone box stands at one entrance to Dorney Village and has been derelict for a number of years, becoming an eyesore at this entrance to the village. At the suggestion of some residents, the Dorney History Community Interest Company (Dorney History Group) has acquired the phone box and is in the process of refurbishing it to the BT standard using the official paint and parts specified by BT. The refurbishment will take two weeks or so due to labour availability. The current official undercoat (pinkish! ) will be covered with the official phone box red in around ten days, weather permilling, and the door and side windows repaired and reglazed. Communities around the country are using these old K6 phone boxes for a variety of purposes. The Dorney History Group will consult with Lake End residents to determine if it can have a useful purpose in addition to being a reclaimed and restored heritage icon. The Dorney History Group will be responsible for its future maintenance and has set funds aside for this purpose. Please contact us if you have any suggestions for its future use or have any questions or comments. Dorney History Croup 1 4/ 1 1/18 Defibrillator update for Dorney Reach Having fruitlessly attempted to locate power within the phone box in Harcourt Road the decision has been taken to mount the box on the outside of the Village Hall on the advice of the electrician. The Village Hall committee have agreed to pay for the electricity supply to keep it warm as required. The Parish Council have applied for grants for the equipment and are working closely with the School who are supporting the venture - they can obtain defibrillators at a reduced cost so we are hoping to make this a true community venture. The school have also committed to carrying out the necessary checks during term time which relieves the burden on those trying to ensure that the ambulance service are able to direct those in Dorney Reach to use it. I will provide further updates as they become available. One last point - when we were working on the first installation a couple of people came up and asked whether I really believed they were worthwhile - cases of them being used in earnest were hard to come by - but they are out there. Glenn Hoddle, a recent emergency "client" of a defibrillator, this time in the workplace, would probably attest to them being a useful asset. Alice Foxley SCANDAL IN DORNEY REACH A hundred years ago, Dorney residents would have been shocked to find their quiet neighbourhood featuring in the national newspapers as the location of misconduct reported in a divorce case. Dorney End was the first house built in Dorney Reach in 1902. It was a large house, with 10 rooms including the kitchen. In 1911, it was occupied by Herbert Woodfield and his wife Louisa, with one servant. Around 1916/7, Mrs Woodfield rented it out to a young lady called Mrs Stephens. There she was visited by Mr Julian Stephens. The neighbours, though there weren't many in Dorney Reach at that time, might have thought this was just a young couple renting a quiet house in a pleasant spot by the river. At the end of November 1918, however, some time after the Stephens had left, they would have become aware from detailed reports in the press that things were not as they seemed. The papers were reporting the rescinding of a decree nisi which had been granted a year earlier to Mrs Olive Kitty Bainbridge against her husband Thomas Bainbridge on the grounds of cruelty. Thomas had challenged the decree, alleging that Olive had committed misconduct with Julian Stephens during 1916 and 1917, in a flat in London and at Dorney End. In court, Olive explained that she had married Thomas in 1913, when she was only 17, but left him in September 1913 because of his cruelty. She then got a job in a teashop, where she met Fabian Stephens, and through him his brothers and sister. In February 1914, she left the teashop and went on the stage, using the stage name Olive Desmond. Christian Stephens, one of Fabian's brothers, had fallen in love with her, and promised to marry her if she got a divorce. He had suggested she should live at the flat in London with the four brothers to look after them. She had her own small room there, and lived with the men as their sister. She had left the stage in 1916, and for a period was supported by the Stephens brothers, but returned to acting again in 1917. At the brothers' suggestion, she had called herself Mrs Stephens to avoid any unpleasantness. Julian Stephens had died some months before the court case, but his three brothers - Christian, Fabian and Lucian - all vehemently denied any misconduct between Julian and Olive, who did likewise. All three were actually on active service at the time, in the Royal Navy, but apparently visited the flat and Dorney End from time to time. Against this, the wife of the caretaker at the flat said that Olive referred to Julian's bedroom as "our room", and a former servant said she had seen Olive and Julian in bed together there. The judge decided that there must have been misconduct and overturned the decree nisi, remarking, "I was not born yesterday, you know". I was intrigued by these colourful characters who had briefly drawn Dorney into the public eye, so I looked into their backgrounds. Julian Stephens and his brothers came from a prosperous middle class family of nine. There were servants in the family home when they ,! were children, including a governess, and several of the boys went to boarding school. Their father had died in 1899, when the youngest child was only three years old, and their mother died in 1904. In 1916, Julian was aged 32, Fabian 26, Lucian 24 and Christian 20. Physical descriptions for two of the boys depict them as tall, fair haired and blue eyed. But reports on their naval careers are lukewarm at best; at a time when the country was at war, they seemed disinclined to make much of an effort, and Fabian was recorded as having an alcohol problem. As a postscript, Christian did not marry Olive, but went on to become famous for inventing a dome method for training anti-aircraft gunners during the Second World War. Olive proved more difficult to trace. She was Olive Kitty Parsons when she married Thomas Bainbridge early in 1913. The only definite sighting of Olive before that was in 1911, when she spent census night in a refuge for girls in Lisson Grove. She was described as a blouse maker, aged 18, which, if true, would have made her 19 or 20 when she married. The refuge operated as a home for unmarried mothers, but possibly also as a night shelter for homeless girls or those at risk from prostitution. Olive's theatrical career has also proved elusive. There was an Olive Desmond appearing in music halls between 1892 and 1915, but she seems to have been an Irish girl, who then married. An actress called Olive Desmond then features in reports from 1918 to 1939; was this our Olive, taking the name of a popular performer who had retired from the stage? And could she be the same Olive Desmond named, as hosting opium and cocaine parties, during the inquest into the death of a young actress from drugs after the Victory Ball in London on 27 November 1918? Virginia Silvester ETON WICK HISTORY GROUP MEETINGS Eton Wick Village Hall at 7.30 p.m. Wednesday 12"' December Tony Eaton The Curious Disappearance of Major Glen Miller ..... and, looking ahead to 2019 ... Wednesday 23'" January Josh Lovell A Phoenix from the Flames : The Fire and Restoration of Windsor Castle Wednesday 27•h February Alan and Julie James St Laurence Church Slough and the Herschel Connection Wednesday IO'h April Elias Kupfermann An Eton Wick History Miscellany M4 Upgrade to smart motorway Junctions 3-12 Night working between Monkey Island Lane and Marsh Lane Highways England have promised to keep DPN regularly updated They emailed over a letter dated 16111118 which was to be sent to those living close to the workings. At the time of writing, no one in Dorney Reach seemed to have received it. It S not suitable for inclusion in our small magazine, but it S been posted on Next Door. Here are the main points. It was signed by Matt Orchard, Public Liaison Officer. The works are now moving further east to between Monkey Island Lane and Marsh Lane. Over the weekend of 30/1 1/18 to 3/12/18 'traffic management will be installed to create the necessary working areas'. Then 'working at night' begins. Up to 2 J /I2/1 8 there will be overnight work at three locations - (i) Between Monkey Island Lane and the Thames Bridge connecting temporary barriers to existing barriers and removing redundant centre reserve barriers. (ii) On the Thames Bridge removing redundant barriers. (iii) From the Thames Bridge to Marsh Lane removing redundant barriers and commencing centre reserve excavations. Some good news - between 2 1/12/18 and 7/1/19 work is suspended for the 'Christmas shutdown' - there will be a presence throughout 'to maintain traffic management' but there will be no construction work. Between 7/1/19 and the 'end of February' they will (i) Between Monkey Island Lane and the Thames Bridge dig out the existing centre reservation, concrete the new centre reserve, lay tarmac and install barriers. (ii) On the Thames Bridge from the 'second week in January' plane out the concrete bridge deck, inspect and repair the bridge deck waterproofing, relay the tarmac and install new barriers. (iii) From the Thames Bridge to Marsh Lane continue digging out the centre reserve, lay new tarmac, install new barriers and remove temporary barriers. Local residents will be re-assured, no doubt, because 'the works have been assessed for noise levels and should not exceed permissible limits'. If anyone has any further questions, they say, Highways England can be emailed on M4J3to I 2smartmotorwaysfrl!highwayscngland.co.uk or phoned (the lines are open for 24 hours, it seems) on 0300 123 5000. The project's website is www.highwayscngland.co.uk/m4j3to 12 It appears from the letter that Mr. Orchard includes his own number for daytime contact - 07547 949 5 10. YOGA Jean Tyler has sent information about yoga classes held in the Dorney Village Hall on Wednesday mornings. All are welcome to 'Gentle Yoga' at 1 0.0Oam and 'Chair Yoga' at 1 1 .45am. There will be no classes on 26/2/18 or 2/1/1 9. For more information, contact Bridget Taylor on 07880 541111 or bridget.taylor61 @gmail.com • • I Disco by OUT OF THIS WORLD {! ·-- 1,1 .,' ._.{! , • * 41,' 􀆥 Raffle w per per􀀉o ,;-->,. B ring own food and drink Entry by ticket only Call Teresa on: 01 628 621 3 83 07776364046 ....... ... . ·- c 􀀒 · CANCER :;•. RESEARCH • :􀆤.. UK Sue Moffat Parish Clerk Tel: 07443 588361 Email: clerk@dorney.org.uk Dorney Parish Council 20 Benchmanor Crescent Chalfont St Peter Bucks SL99HL Minutes of the Meeting of Dorney Parish Council Held at the Dorney Village Hall on Tuesday 6th November 2018 at 8 pm Present: - Councillors K. Harris (chaired the meeting), G. Easton, R. Ormond. In Attendance: - Bucks CC Cllr Dev Dhillon, SBDC Cllr D. Pepler, John Barker (MoP) and R Schwartz (MoP), and Sue Moffat (Clerk). 109, PUBLIC PARTICIPATION DCC Report - Cllr Dev Dhillon reported: - (i) He was delighted that the Secretary of Housing and Community has approved for Bucks to become a Unitary Authority. Details about the changes will be emerging soon; (ii) He is applying for funding to Beeches LAF for the installation of double yellow lines from Court Rd to the end ofthe bungalows in Marsh Lane to alleviate the parking problem around the entrance to Eton Rowing Lake. Eton Rowing Lake have also said they will contribute towards the cost; (iii) Cllr Harris asked why Eton Rowing Lake is getting compensation from the M4 Smartmotorway works. Cllr Dhillon will investigate; (iv) Cllr Dhillon has asked for a Parking Review to be carried out in Taplow and Burnham area as regards the impact of CrossraiL (v) The land where the Car Boot Sales take place has been sold; (vi) The new Taplow Cycle Route is being installed in January so there will be some disruptions along the Bath Rd. Cllr Harris asked why the previous cycle path, from Sainsbury to Dorney, is not being maintained as due to overgrown vegetation there is inadequate room for cyclists and pedestrians making it very dangerous; (vii) Cllr Dhillon has secured £300 funding for the Horticultural Society for the 'Wildflower Project' and will look for extra funding to replace the dog bin at the River car park; (viii) Cllr Ormond asked Cllr Dhillon about installing a roundabout at the junction of Court Lane with Village Rd (similar to the 2012 Olympics) to alleviate traffic congestion during the M4 Smartmotorway works. Cllr Dhillon will discuss this with TfB; (ix) Cllr Harris reported that the potholes in Boveney Road are very big and deep and need repairing a.s.a.p. Also, there is an area of mud on a section ofthe road by the newly installed bunds which is dangerous. Cllr Dhillon said he has asked for Boveney Rd to be jet patched in March but he will make an inspection with the Local Arca Technician. SBDC Report - Cllr Pepler reported: (i) There has been a request from SBALC for all planning applications where parish/town councils have raised an objection to be determined by the Planning Committee rather than the Planning Officer; (ii) The World War I Centenary Remembrance Service will be at 9. 1 5 at St James the Less Church and all members of Dorney Parish Council are invited. Cllr Harris and Cllr Ormond will represent the Council to lay one wreath at St James the Less burial ground and the second one at the Village Rd Memorial Garden; (iii) At the next Church meeting the offer from James Palmer to provide a field for parking for Church users will be discussed; (iv) SBDC's Consultation on Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) suggests that it is important for parishes to have a Neighbourhood Plan in place; (v) Mr Barker asked ifit was possible to make the whole village a Conservation Area. The Clerk will make enquiries. l 10. Apologies were received from C\lrs A. Purdie. A. Foxlcy, P. Smith and L. Kittel. 1 1 1. Disclosure of interest in items on the agenda - Cllr K. Harris declared an interest in Planning Application PL/1 8/3482/FA, Elm Farm, being the owner of the property, and took no part in the discussion when the planning application was considered. 1 12. Resolved to receive and approve the minutes of the previous meeting of the Council held on the 91h October 20 18. 1 13. Clerk's Report - None. 1 14. Chairman's Report - No further reports. 1 1S. Defibrillator Update - Cllr Foxley is in the process of seeking a grant for the defibrillator. 116. Update on the parking situation in Court Lane outside the entrance to the Rowing Lake. Cllr Dev Dhillon is in the process of seeking funding from the Beeches LAF as discussed above. 1 17. Planning (a) To note planning issues, decisions and appeals recently notified by South Bucks District Council were noted. • • (b) To consider and comment upon applications where agreed. 118. Finance a) Resolved to authorise payment of Accounts for November 2018 (as circulated). b) Resolved to receive list of income for November 2018 (as circulated). c) The bank statement had not been received in time for this meeting so deferred until the December meeting. d) Resolved to receive the budget for 2018/19. 119. Member's Reports - None 120. Correspon dence:- (i) Neighbourhood Watch, Ask For Angela and Winter Burglary articles; (ii) Minutes SBALC - Meeting - 4 October 2018 (iii) Easter walk - Action Challenge 2019; (iv) Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) - Chiltern and South Bucks District Councils - Preliminary Draft Charging Schedule (v) Announcement from BCC, SBDC and SBALC that the Housing and Communities Secretary, James Brokenshire, has announced that the five councils in Buckinghamshire are set to be replaced by a single unitary council covering the whole county. 121. Resolve any complaints/comments received from residents - Cllr Easton reported that he has re ceived numerous complaints from residents at the end of Meadow Way and Oak Stubbs Lane complaining that there has been a high level of noise at 2 and 3 in the morning due to M4 Smartmotorway works being carried out on Marsh Lane bridge. The Clerk will investigate. 122. Highways employee/work - All going well. Meeting ended 9pm. Date of next meeting: 8pm on l]1h December, 2018 at the Dorney Village Hall. Electrical Services Burnham Napit Part "P" Approved • Additional Sockets - Lights • New Fuse Boards - Updates • Security - Attic Lighting • Home - Landlords Certificates • Portable Appliance Testing • All Other Electrical Work Free advice and estimates All work guaranteed No job too small Phone Rob on 01628 60 30 63 Mobile 07801 832 792 Dorney Website The Dorney website address is dorney.org.uk and the twitter account @DorneyPC • NAPIT Find minutes, planning, tweets, links to SBDC articles etc. Dorney Social Diary Tuesday 11th December Wednesday 12th December Wednesday 12th December Thursday 13th December Saturday 22nd December Monday 31 st December DORNEY PARISH COUNCIL DORNEY BADMINTON CLUB DORNEY SHORT MAT BOWLS CLUB DORNEY YOUTH CLUB (for children of the parish) VILLAGE HALL BOOKINGS Something New, Christmas Social Event - with mince pies and more. Dorney Village Hall 10.30 a.m. - 12.30 p.m. Yoga classes in Dorney Village Hall 10 a.m. See details elsewhere in magazine. Eton Wick History Group Meeting, Eton Wick Village Hall 7 .30 p.m. Carols By Candlelight, Eton Dorney Specialist School. From 7 p.m. Moog Brew- bar open Ye Meads 12-3 p.m. Dorney Village Hall New Year's Eve Party 8.30 p.m. - 12.30 a.m. Second Tuesday of each month (except August) Dorney Village Hall 8 p.m. Every Tuesday Village Hall 8 - 10 p.m. Every Sunday Village Hall 7 - 10 p.m. Every Thursday evening during term time 6.00- 7.30 p.m. Village Hall Dorney 5-16 year olds Contact Leanne Kittel 07919 484855 Graham Easton 01628 628819 & 07503 745760 Email: enquiries@dorneyviflagehall.com The Editor was very happy to receive the following email MOOGBREW ON THE MOVE Our local nanobrewery, MoogBrew has moved, but only around the corner to Ye Meads. In August MoogBrew was listed by the Daily Telegraph as one of the top 30 best places to drink beer in the UK. Since 2016, Margi and Id Williams have been serving their craft beers in a tiny bar in their Marsh Lane garden. At the end or September they moved just around the corner to Meads End, Ye Meads, where they plan to relaunch their brewery and taproom next spring. Local residents will have the opportunity to visit the new premises very soon though. MoogBrew will be opening during the week before Christmas especially for local residents to buy beers for Christmas. No MoogBrew beers will be available as the new equipment is not due for delivery until the end of January. However, mixed boxes of high quality UK and European beers will be available to pre-order and collect by appointment throughout the week before Christmas. Furthermore, the bar will open for the first time on Saturday 22nd December from 12-3 pm, with some very special guest beers on tap. To obtain further details, a price list or to pre-order beer boxes for collection, simply email moogbrew@gmail.com • , M. A. SHEPHARD BUILDERS LTD Est 1983 Diggers Den, l A Oak Stubbs Lane, Dorney Reach, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 ODW Phone: 01628 639 366 Mobile: 07803 179962 Email: m.a.shephard@btconnect.com M. A. Shephard Builders Ltd. are proud of our heritage and our workmanship. We have been trading for over 30 years and in that time we have developed a professional relationship with suppliers, building surveyors and other professionals. We specialise in high quality workmanship in the fields of heritage work using all the traditional methods and working with traditional materials. We usually carry out the full project from start to fin ish, taking all the pressure off you. If you want to project manage alongside us you are more than welcome. We also carry out all the following: • All types of Refurbishments • New house builds • Commercial to Domestic conversions • Barn conversions • All types of listed work • General building works • Decorating works 1:+=1:t􀀆 Registered House􀀕Builder •TRUST --MAR-K Builders 'Wyndham', Village Road, Dorney NATURE + GRANDAD'S SECRET Looking through my diary where each day I briefly note Dorney Parish's wind direction and brief weather notes, October was generally quite good, with plenty of sunshine, with a few cold and wet days. So far, November is set fair in similar fashion. Plants still with us include some roses; spindle berries; Kerria; Canterbury bells; geraniums now in the summer house for protection; alyssum; ivy with plenty of berries; common chickweed; white shepherd's purse; yellow winter jasmine which appeared outside my kitchen window on November 151, and watch out for the Dorney Lake's colourful dogwood bushes which will last through to next February. Our wild garden birds are now drifting back including woodpeckers; sparrows; chaffinches; wrens; robins; blackbirds; hedge accentors, whilst our two crows introduced one of their juniors now the same size as themselves, so an extra pair of eyes and vocal chords to warn off the Court Lane rook and jackdaw marauders. The ring dove fraternity have not been in great evidence - perhaps the hawk brigade including the red kites have been busy. I'm told that on the first day of the month one is supposed to say "white rabbits". Does anyone know the significance of this? According to meteorologists, the Tornado is the fastest wind on earth, and lightning heat is five times greater than the sun. A lovely little Irish lady was well known for her malapropisms. After taking some Omega-3 capsules, she told friends she'd "had three amigos last night". I hope they weren't the Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Better get Clint Eastwood to come ridin' in and sort this out. The song says 'Diamonds are a girl's best friend' - but maybe this one is too hot to handle - a planet twice the size of Earth and made largely of diamond has been discovered by astronomers. The rocky planet called '55 Cancri e' orbits a sun-like star in the constellation of Cancer and is a fast mover - a year there lasts 18 hours; its radius is twice that of Earth's and is much more dense, with a mass eight times greater. It is also extremely hot with temperatures on its surface reaching 3,900 F (1,648 C).Sorry girls this one won't be in your Christmas stocking. Distance too is a problem. This 'nearby' planet is 40 light years or 230 trillion miles away. During the last half term grandson Freddie aged 6 and his sister Annabel aged 4 came to stay on their own for three days with their grandparents. The first evening Grandma was going to a WI meeting and Grandad told the children on the quiet that when she went out they could stay up as late as they like to watch telly, explaining to them the old adage 'when the cat's away, the mice will play.' They stayed awake until 9pm and then went to bed. The following day at the dinner table, Freddie leaned across the table in front of Grandma, and asked in all innocence, "Grandad, is the cat away tonight?" I guess Grandad had some explaining to do. Remember, if Plan 'A' doesn't work out over Christmas, don't worry, for the alphabet has 25 more letters. I'll finish now with the last verse of the traditional 'While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night'. "All Glory he to God on high and on the earth be peace, Goodwill henceforth from heaven to men, begin and never cease. " A Peaceful and Happy Christmas to you all. Regards, Tony Dixon-Smith (D.D.) .. TYRE FIT TAPLOW We fit tyres at a price that fits you NEXEN DEALER Need new tyres? 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Sl q 6QQ POTTHINGA80UHHHEOlDPLACE.(O.n I W'l/111.0lDPlACEflO'IIERS (0 u􀁌 PHASE CONTW 􀁍oz I TEl 07%6W>'>&􀁎 WoD􀀅􀀆􀀇􀀈t􀀉; 4,􀀊cap􀀋 g Builr!i(w • Site Clearance • Pergolas • Terraces • Suppliers of: • Turfing • Driveways • Brickwork SAND• BALLAST • Plants, Trees • Car Parks Decorative WOOD CHIPS and Shrubs • Block Paving or Standard TOP SOIL MUSHROOM • Fencing • Patios • Mature Trees COMPOST 01628 666022 • 661768 Mobile 07860 706675 THE TRADITIONAL RESTORATION COMPANY LTD The Coach House, Dorney Court 01628 660708 www.TraditionalRestoration.co.uk enquiries@TraditionalRestoration.co.uk Restorers of Fine Antique Furniture ( SUSAN HANDY SCHOOL OF DANCE t Aero Jazz Ballet Baby Ballet Ballet Stretch Contemporary Creative Dance Modern Jazz Musical Theatre Tap Adult Tap Adult Ballet GCSE Dance Elite Dance Group , Boys Syllabus ETON • ETON WICK • WINDSOR • DATCHET • OLD WINDSOR ICKENHAM • PYRFORD • WOKING • RICHMOND WWW.SUSANHANDYDANCE.CO.UK 01753 542672 I 07515 270432 e: office@susanhandydance.co.uk BHS & ABRS Approved Riding School and Pony Club Centre anishBit R dine Schoo I & Liverv Elm Farm, Boveney Road, Dorney Common Nr Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 6QD We are a family run Riding School based on Dorney Common established for over 35 years! • Qualified 1@:ctors • Lessons available fron1 7 years upwards • Pony Rides available for children as young as 4. • We offer very popular Birthday parties • Large Indoor and Outdoor schools • Pony Club and Own a Pony activity days • Open 6 days a weet Tuesday-Sunday • Gift Vouchers available through the website For bookings and enquiries please call us on 01628 661275 www.spanishbit.co. uk I nearest the village. Then, from 'out of the woodwork' or bushes, boys would appear to skate on our pond; I suspect they came mainly from Eton Wick. We didn't like them, they shouted, shoved and pushed and were uncouth. The skating was done in our shoes and boots. The idea was to produce a long polished 'slide', this could be very polished indeed and quite dangerous. One winter actually I starred on the ice, whizzing down a long slide, but I lost my balance at the end and fell backward. My head hit the ice with a loud crack and left a perfe ctly beautifu l star in the ice about two fo ot across. We didn't get much in the way of snow, but we got good fr osts, due to the proximity of the river. In certain conditions, the river steamed like a hot bath and low-lying mists would form overnight. If there was a sudden cold snap at the same time, we would get beau tifu l fro sts. One of the most beau tifu l I ever saw anywhere was close to one Christmas time - we woke up to find literally everything fr osted white, not just a fuzz on the grass. We walked down to the river which was covered in a blanket of steam and the nearby bushes were covered in exquisite two inch long fr agile ice fe athers. As we returned to the village, we clapped and shouted under the big trees which were suddenly in leaf again with thousands of fr ost fe athers and the sharp sound dislodged them and they showered down all over us like snow. When Christmas arrived, my sister and I went carol singing around the village properly. Each house got two complete carols from a selection of English, Latin or French before we knocked. If they were keen and generous, they got a third; on one of these ventures we were mistaken for boys from Eton College Chapel Choir, which was a considerable 'Wow'! On another occasion we collected several pounds sterling, which we split fift y-fifty with the Red Cross under my mother's careful eye - it was to go towards something or other special for the soldiers fi ghting in the war, I wasn't sure what. During the war there was very little of everything, including entertainment, particularly if you were a bit isolated. Te levision hadn't been heard of and the nearest cinema from us was in Windsor. Someone in Dorney had the idea that there should be a Christmas Concert held in the Village Hall and that the villagers themselves should be the stars! Surprisin gly, the villagers responded with enthusiasm and the most unexpected people volun teered, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. My mother was one of them. She and my youngest brother were commandeered to act in a skit, thus. Rows of assorted kitchen chairs were lined up on stage to represent the interior of a bus, with various characters seated on them - my youngest brother, with a saucepan over his head, supposedly jammed there and irremovable, my mother as the child's parent. The skit consisted of advice from the bus passengers on how to remove the saucepan etc. etc. It was supposed to be funny and the audience did laugh; I sat embarrassed at the back of the Village Hall in the dark that my mother would 'let her hair down ' in public in that way! Not so my older sister, she was in it up to her ears too. She, because she could sing, sang, "In my sweet little Alice Blue gown, as I just wandered out around the town. I was both proud and shy, as I caught every eye" and so on, rustling back and forth across the stage, dressed in blue crepe paper. "Shy" she wasn't. She had nagged and bullied me for weeks, to be equally shameless, so that we could be a duo as with the Christmas carols, she on one side of the stage and me on the other, swanning around in crepe paper. It wasn't going to happen, it didn't and I was very unpopular for yet more weeks. Dorney was slightly scruffy, because it was a working village, but beautiful just the same. It contained a remarkable diversity of people among its inhabitants, almost a stationary Canterbury Tales .... 'old' family with roots going back centuries, with the ancient traditional relationship with their staff, a sprinkling of theatre people, an internationally known pain ter, a real master baker, one or two city people who had retired there, a farm and all that went with it, a charming and eccentric parson - indeed a long fist of diverse characters. Dorney today could never be called scruffy, rather, quiet and well cared for, but I knew a different place. From the milling cows in the farmyard to the quiet stillness of a working artist's studio, the flavourful and unexpected diversity I knew three quarters of a century ago is sadly gone. We don't carry an update from the SMART M4 project this month. Have a look al the Dorney Parish Council website for the latest updates. But we do have an update from a stakeholder group who share Dorney Parish with us DPN subscribers. They contacted us via Peter Tyler . . . . Message from the Marsh Lane Badger Colony To yellow-uniformed workers of Highways England I write on behalf of our families who have dug holes into motorway embankments and occupied setts here for many years. We have had our ups and downs and sadly some deaths. This is usually because your friends drive their engines so fast that we cannot get across the road safely. But you are beginning to really annoy us. What are you doing here? Why do you cut down good trees and put sticks down our front entrances? That's bad enough. Then you place green wire mesh over our holes. Nasty stuff that hurts our feet if we tread on it. Very difficult to burrow beneath it. We can only enter and leave with great difficulty. Come on, please give us a break. Freddy Fox has moved his family away. Not very far. Also, you will have noticed those crazy exhibitionists, the kites. They are harmless but I caution you they are keeping an eye on your activities from a safe height. Dorney Social Diary Friday 16th November Tuesday 201h November Wednesday 11th December Monday 31st December DORNEY PARISH COUNCIL DORNEY VILIAGE HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE DORNEY BADMINTON CLUB DORNEY SHORT MAT BOWLS CLUB DORNEY YOUTH CLUB (for children of the parish) VILIAGE HALL BOOKINGS OOHS Christmas Supper, Dorney Village Hall 7.30 p.m. Something New, 'Crafts & Cards' Dorney Village Hall 10.30 a.m. - 12.30 p.m. Something New, Christmas Social Eventwith mince pies and more. Dorney Village Hall 10.30 a.m. - 12.30 p.m. Dorney Village Hall New Year's Eve Party Dorney Village Hall S.30 p.m. - 12.30 a.m. Second Tuesday of each month (except August) Village Hall S p.m. Second Monday of alternate months i.e. July, September Village Hall S p.m. Every Tuesday Village Hall S - 10 p.m. Every Sunday Village Hall 7 - 10 p.m. Every Thursday evening during term time 6.00 - 7 .30 p.m. Village Hall Dorney 5-16 year olds Contact Leanne Kittel 07919 484855 Graham Easton 01628 628819 & 07503 745760 Email: enquiries@dorneyvillagehall.com It's become obvious to me that much useful material for residents is pushed out by South Bucks District Council. This in tum is passed to 'DPN' by the Clerk of the Parish Council, Sue Moffat. . . many thanks for that, Sue! This may not be in a format that is easy to reproduce in the narrow confines of our little publication. But here's an outline of two recent offerings . . . Ask/or Angela is a splendid initiative 'to raise awareness of sexual violence and abuse and to stop harassment that some people may experience while out on a date'. Many Bucks pubs and clubs are signed up but not necessarily those in our neck of the woods. See www .southbucks.gov .uk/ AskF or Angela As an SBDC mailing points out 'There is still a need for Neighbourhood Watch'. My impression is that this has vanished from Dorney. If I'm wrong, let 'DPN' know. The Community Safety Team are keen to offer advice (01494 586535 or communitysafety(alsouthbucks.gov.uk) PB ''. Dorney Horticultural Society's Annual Christmas Supper Friday 16th November 7-30pm Dorney Village Hall Roast Turkey supplied by the Palmer Arms & Christmas Pudding Plus Live Festive Entertainment and more ,' , Bring your own drink and glasses ,; Please come and join us all welcome : , , Tickets £13/head , , , Book your tickets now with any committee member: ,, Ron Alsworth 01628 669988 Peter Bowman 01628 623228 Janet Messitt 01628 664307 Peter Tyler 01628 621560 >,, Kristina Perkins 07971 816130 Wendy Shephard 01628 639366 << , ,'· •' • • · '' , , ,; ,> ' <, " ,,,, << • .. Letter to the Editor - Dorney Village Hall Dear Editor Following the request in the March 2018 edition of 'Dorney Parish News' from the Dorney Village Hall Management Committee which was "if anyone has comments with regard to this, drop a note to [email address]. We would love to hear your thoughts or concerns", I did just that on I st May 2018, sending an email to the address provided. I did not receive an answer to the three questions I raised. I followed it up with an email on 3rd July 2018. Again, no answer. Having patiently waited nearly six months without answers, I hope that by writing to you they will be forthcoming. The three questions I raised in both emails were as follows: I . On the assumption that the Village Hall will be able to achieve a similar level of annual surplus (around £ I 0,000) for twenty years (the total period of the loan raised by the Parish Council) you would have cumulative reserves of around £200,000 at the end of the period. You rightly point out that you must ring fence funds for a replacement roof (say £30,000 at today's prices) and you would probably need to allocate another, say, £20,000 for other refurbishments. These, together with the repayment of the Bucks Community Foundation Loan of around £ I 0,000, would total around £60,000. This would leave, after twenty years, a reserve of around £140,000 ( excluding interest) available for other purposes. I agree with the suggestion put forward in the article in the February edition of Dorney Parish News that, in principle, the users of the Village Hall should be paying for the refurbishment rather than those residents who don't use it. I am one of those residents. I note your comment that the council were not legally allowed to give a loan to Dorney Village Hall. Therefore, it would seem financially, ethically and morally reasonable, given the original fair proposal by yourselves on 8th January 2013 that you "should be in a position to pay back this grant", for you to agree to repay the £91,920 (loan plus interest etc.) of the PWLB refurbishment loan to the residents from the £140,000 available reserves over the twenty years. This would need to be on a regular annual repayment basis rather than at period end in order to allow the Parish Precept to be reduced each year accordingly. Under Charity law this would be an "ex-gratia" or an (appropriately named) "moral" payment which would have to be approved by the Charity Commission through a simple process. This, if approved, would result in a fair and moral outcome to all concerned. Otherwise, what exactly does the Dorney Village Hall Charity plan to do with the £140,000 under your governing document? 2. The Charity Commission website for Dorney Village Hall today (7th October 2018) has a Default Notice which states: a. Documents 249 days overdue b. Out-of-date information c. This charity has failed to provide information on its finances within 10 months of its financial year end. d. All charities are reminded of their reporting requirements as their filing deadline approaches. e. If a charity misses its deadline, it receives a default notice and this message is displayed. Assuming this might be an error the Charity Commission was approached, and their response was: "We can confirm that the information displayed on our website is correct." It now states that the documents are 249 days overdue. Why is the Charity that residents are supporting financially in such serious default? 3. Given this apparent failure to properly run a charity in which residents have invested a considerable amount of money, perhaps it would be in the best interests of all if Dorney Parish Council were to be the sole Trustee of the Village Hall - thus both clarifying financial and governance responsibilities and avoiding any potential conflicts of interest? As a contributor to the Village Hall funds, along with all other residents, I look forward to a clear response to these three questions from the Village Hall Management Committee. Yours, Julie Erhardt The Old Cottage Village Road Dorney SL4 6QJ IRONING by FLORI Your Ironing, my Mission! O n Facebook: Cleaning & ironing by Flori florentinateisanu@yahoo.co.uk Mob: 07879626434 I collect and deliver for free. Prices start at £2.20 per lb. Minimum price £1 1 . I can collect from home or work, day or night. I provide a friendly, professional and reliable service with experience over 1 0 years • t ' M. A. SHEPHARD BUILDERS LTD Est 1983 Diggers Den, lA Oak Stubbs Lane, Dorney Reach, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 ODW Phone: 01628 639 366 Mobile: 07803 179962 Email: m.a.shephard@btconnect.com M. A. Shephard Builders Ltd. are proud of our heritage and our workmanship. We have been trad ing for over 30 years and in that time we have developed a professional relationship with suppliers, building surveyors and other profess ionals. We specialise in high quality workmanship in the fields of heritage work using all the traditional methods and working with traditional materials. We usually carry out the full project from start to finish , taking all the pressure off you. If you want to project manage alongside us you are more than welcome. We also carry out all the followi ng: • All types of Refurbishments • New house builds • Commercial to Domestic conversions • Barn conversions • All types of listed work • General building works 1s=1 :t􀀆 • Decorating works Registered House-Builder ilBornep !}ariS'b QCouncH Sue Moffat Parish Clerk 􀀅􀀆;. -p ·􀀇 Dorney Parish Council 20 Benchmanor Crescent Chalfont St Peter Tel: 07443 588361 Email: clerk@domey.org.uk Minutes of the Meeting of the Dorney Parish Council Held at the Dorney Village Hall on Tuesday 91􀀇 October 2018 at 8 pm Present: - Councillors K. Harris (chaired the meeting), A. Foxley, R. Ormond and P. Smith In Attendance: - SBDC Cllr D. Pepler and Sue Moffat (Clerk). Bucks SL9 9HL 94. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION - SBDC Report - Cllr Pepler reported: -(i) SBDC have carried out a Chiltern and South Bucks Open Spaces Strategy and Sports Playing Pitch Strategy 20 I 8-36 to support the new Emerging Local Plan and to develop sustainable facilities that support increased participation. He is sure this information will be sent out soon to parish councils; (ii) The World War 1 Centenary Remembrance Service will be at 9.15 at St James the Less Church and all members of Dorney Parish Council are invited. It was agreed for Cllr Smith to ask the British Legion for 2 wreaths; one to be laid at St James the Less burial ground and one for the Village Rd Memorial Garden. 95. Apologies were received from Cllr A. Purdie, Cllr G. Easton, Cllr L. Kittel and Bucks CC Cllr Dev Dhillon. 96. Disclosure of interest in items on the agenda - None. 97. Resolved to receive and approve the minutes of the previous meeting of the Council held on the 1 11h September 2018. 98. Clerk's Report - None. 99. Chairman's Report - None. 100, Defibrillator Update-Cllr Foxley reported that there is no electricity at the telephone box in Harcourt Rd so the defibrillator will be installed on the outside wall of the Village Hall. She will apply to BA for grant funding 101. Update on the parking situation in Court Lane outside the entrance to the Rowing Lake- After having a pre~meeting with interested parties being:- Ian Warwick (MD Eton College Services Ltd), Adam Clift (Operations Manager, Eton College, Eton Lake), James Palmer (Lord of the Manor), PCSO Angie O'Connell (TVPA), PCSO Heidi Lansley (TVPA) and Dorney Parish Council, the following recommendations were made:- (i) The Clerk will make a request to Bucks CC for double yellow lines to be installed along Court Lane from the graveyard in Court Lane to just beyond the bungalows in Richmond Path subject to Bucks CC (perhaps in conjunction with Beeches LAF) and Eton College funding this project which is in the interest of all parties; (ii) (ii) James Palmer said he would be prepared, subject to all interested parties also offering their assistance with the double yellow lines installation, to provide parking for Church users in his field next to the graveyard, dependant on the Church paying for mesh to cover the ground and to provide a warden at all times whilst in use to ensure it is only used by members of the public using the Church. 102. Traffic Calming Measures in Dorney: - Updates on the Mobile Radar Speed Sign. The 2 radar signs have been purchased and programmed. A contractor is in the process of installing the signs on new poles (which will be at least 12ft above ground level) at the 2 specified locations (i.e. replace the pole by the cattle grid and replace the pole where the old MV AS sign is erected near to the Pineapple PH). 1 1 103. Planning (a) To note planning issues, decisions and appeals recently notified by South Bucks District Council were noted. (b) To consider and comment upon applications where agreed. 104. Finance a) Resolved to authorise payment of Accounts for October 2018 (as circulated). b) Resolved to receive list of income for October 2018 (as circulated). c) Resolved to receive recent bank statements and Chairman to sign reconciliations. d) Resolved to receive the budget for 2018/19. 1 OS. Member's Reports - Cllr Smith had attended the special meeting of SBALC with the new head of Planning at SBDC; (ii) Cllr Purdie had attended the last SBALC meeting where it was decided to ask SBDC Planning Committee to provide extra training for parish councillors and for all planning applications, which have been objected by parish/town councils, to be determined by the District Planning Committee rather than the Planning Officer concerned 106. Correspondence:-(i) PL/18/31 23/FA - Land To The North Of 1 Glebe Close Dorney Reach; (ii) Denham PC questions to the special SBALC meeting on I 8th September; (iii) A request from the School for a copy of the Environment/Noise survey carried out i n early 2016 at the school; (iv) Agenda of the SBALC meeting on 4th October; Closure of the Marlow bridge; (v) Beeches agenda for the meeting on 1 7th October 2018. 107. Resolve any complaints/comments received from residents - None 108. Highways employee/work - Cllr Harris confirmed that he will oversee the servicing and repair of the groundsman's equipment as has been the normal practice. Meeting ended 8.30pm. Chairman ... ...... ... . .... .. .... ... . ..... ... . ...... ..... .. ....... .... Date ....................................... . Date of next meeting - by Council meeting at 8pm on 6thNovember, 2018 at the Dorney Village Hall followed by the Finance meeting Dorney Website The Dorney website address is dorney.org.uk and the twitter account @DorneyPC Find minutes, planning, tweets, links to SBDC articles etc. ETON WICK HISTORY GROUP MEETING Meetings usually held in Eton Wick Village Hall at 7.30 p.m. NB There is no meeting scheduled for November. Wednesday 12th December This meeting is 'Under Review' See www.etonwickhistory.co.uk 'Wyndham', Village Road, Dorney NATURE + GIRL POWER For Dorney Parish, September generally weather-wise was pretty good, as is October mid-way so far. Plenty of sunshine; a reasonable amount of rain; a bluster of wind here and there and the temperatures generally holding to the lower 20's C. Can we take it? Yes, indeed! Plants still with us include Chinese Lantern; Kerria, Canterbury bells; autumn crocus; Michaelmas daisies; white Russian vine (loves hedgerows for climbing); teasel; geraniums; heathers; pink spindle berries; small toadflax (white with purple veins) and common yellow toadflax, to name a few. You will notice that the horse chestnut trees have already shed their conkers and leaves to preserve the main trunk, owing to our hot dry summer. This month the world conker championship takes place and our conkers are so small and weak that conker imports from Germany are being allowed for us to use. Thus, for the first time in centuries, Germany can be the first to claim it 'conkered' Britain- but don't tell Captain Mainwaring. Our wild garden birds are much in evidence now -robins; wrens; sparrows; blue, great and long-tailed tits; hedge accentors; ring doves; magpies; pigeons, plus the blackbirds and parakeets which arc polishing off the few remaining Bramley apples. I've also got a young grey squirrel in my back garden which has been digging up last year's walnuts which no doubt his mum or dad buried. A bidding war has erupted for Horlicks after it was put up for sale by owner GlaxoSmithKline. CocaCola, Nestle and Unilever have tabled offers for the company which was set up by British brothers James and William Horlick in Chicago in 1873. The business - whose sales are mainly in India, where Horlicks is a national favourite - could fetch £3 billion. Horlicks built its first UK factory in Slough in 1908 and became popular with troops in World War I and at the 1948 London Olympics was given to competitors as a bedtime drink. There is now concern for the iconic Slough Horlicks building's future. Locals and past employees want it to remain and be preserved, even if used for other purposes. A pub in Littlehampton, West Sussex, has its own witty definition of marriage. "Marriage is like a deck of cards. In the beginning all you need is two hearts and a diamond. By the end you wish you had a club and a spade." Contrast that with a pearl of wisdom in a cafe loo in Yorkshire "MEN to the LEFT because WOMEN are always RIGHT." Talking of which, it is confirmed that the chief executives of four of America's biggest defence firms -Lockheed Martin; General Dynamics; Northrop Grumman and Boeing's defence division -are all women. How's that for carpet bombing the glass ceiling? Well done girls, and I have no doubt before long we will be encouraged on TV and in newspapers to shop at 'Margaret Spencer' ( queen prawns now available); 'Harriet Nicks'; 'Debbie-nams'; "Janet Lewis'; 'Danielle's of Windsor'; 'Felicity' cat food now available-yes, and even USA's Lockheed Martin becoming 'Lockheed Marilyn'. Stay alert, 'me too' gents brigade! Some pleasant pieces of music for you to try: "The Trap" by Ron Goodwin (used for the London Marathon); "Little Serenade" by John Ireland and "Paree Mihi Domine" by Christobal de Morales with choir and saxophone. I hope you enjoy them. Recently, as I pulled on to my garage forecourt and got out of the car to open the garage, a robin popped out of the adjacent hedge and hopped all around the car as if giving it the safety once-over and then followed the car into the garage. As if satisfied all was in order, he then hopped back outside. Well thank you Mr Robin! I now feel re-assured all is well. The current blustery wind is blowing leaves all over the place, so I'll end up playing 'Autumn Leaves' by Johnny Mercer and Joseph Kosma (1947) "The falling leaves drift by the window, the autumn leaves of red & gold. I see your lips, the summer kisses, the sun-burned hands I used to hold. Since you went away, the days grow long, and soon I'll hear old winter's song, But 1 miss you most of all, my darling, when Autumn Leaves start to fall. " Regards, Tony Dixon-Smith (D.D.) , I • TYRE FIT TAPLOW We fit tyres at a price that fits you NEXEN DEALER Need new tyres? At home or work, we will come to you Plus: TYRES & EXHAUSTS. BATTERIES. STEERING. SUSPENSION. SERVICING. CATALYTIC CONVERTORS. MOTs. TRACKING. ALLOY WHEEL REFURBISHMENT. Old Station Yard, Station Road, Taplow, Bucks SL6 ONU / Ought . I􀀏\\'- IAPS Preparatory Day School for Boys* and Girls from rising 3 - l l Tel: 01628 665778 Mobile: 07884 111500 www.tyredealermaidenhead.co.uk How high c􀀏n !jot.Ar child ftrf. High academic attainment Provision for rising 3s Outstanding pastoral care Extra-curricular activities Small classes School day: 08.00-18.00 35 Eton Road Datchet Berkshire SL3 9AY­ Ol 753 54 l 075 • admin@etonend.org www.etonend.org m OLD PlA(L loct PATH, omn. 't/lND"iOt mm,u. m bQQ POTTHINGA!OUHHHEOLDPLW (0 u􀁇 I 'tl'tl'tl OlDPlWFlO'tlm.co u􀁈 PLEA')[ coNrACT Roz I TEL 07%6q\')')gq US: Design & Construction WOD􀀆􀀇Gu□CP® g􀀌ca.p􀀍 g Bu,1.Wa9 • Site Clearance • Pergolas • Terraces • Suppliers of: • Turfing • Driveways • Brickwork SAND • BALLAST • Plants, Trees • Car Parks Decorative WOOD CHIPS and Shrubs • Block Paving or Standard TOP SOIL MUSHROOM • Fencing • Patios • Mature Trees COMPOST 01628 666022 • 661768 Mobile 07860 706675 THE TRADITIONAL RESTORATION COMPANY LTD The Coach House, Dorney Court 01628 660708 www.TraditionalRestoration.co.uk enquiries@TraditionalRestoration.co.uk Restorers of Fine Antique Furniture SUSAN HANDY SCHOOL OF DANCE Aero Jazz Ballet Baby Ballet Ballet Stretch Contemporary Creative Dance Modern Jazz Musical Theatre Tap Adult Tap Adult Ballet GCSE Dance Elite Dance Group Boys Syllabus ' ETON • ETON WICK • WINDSOR • DATCHET • OLD WINDSOR ICKENHAM • PYRFORD • WOKING • RICHMOND WWW.SUSANHANDYDANCE.CO.UK 01753 542672 I 07515 270432 e: office@susanhandydance.co.uk BHS &ABRS Approved Riding School and Pony Club Centre panishBit Rrlmg chool & Lrverv Elm Farm, Boveney Road, Dorney Common Nr Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 6QD We are a family run Riding School based on Dorney Common established for over 35 years! • Qualified lntructors • Lessons available fron, 7 years upwards • Pony Rides available for children as young as 4. • We offer very popular Birthday parties • Large Indoor and Outdoor schools • Pony Club and Own a Pony activity days • Open 6 days a week/ Tuesday-Sunday • Gift Vouchers available through the website For bookings and enquiries please call us on 01628 661275 www. span is h bit. co. u k The 65th Dorney Annual Horticultural Show, Saturday September 1st. 'A Smashing Village Event ... ' . . .o r so reported the Maidenhead Advertiser in their splendid coverage. If you haven't seen the report check it out on line and see if you were one of the locals pictured with your pumpkins, needlework, paintings or flower arrangements. The Horticultural Society would love to see more entries in all classes, but recognise that with the extremes of heat and drought experienced this summer, it's a miracle we had any entries at all in the Fruit & Vegetables section. Once again, neighbours ilid turn up at the Village Hall in force after judging, and as always, the awards ceremony was a happy occasion. More residents do seem keen to display their skills in the Adult Handicrafts section as the entries and the quality rose again. Just why Dorney seems to have lost the art of cake baking and jam making is a mystery as numbers declined here again . Given the pleasure entering and particularly winning seems to give our younger entrants, we will continue to urge parents to encourage the building of Lego models and the cultivation of miniature gardens. The committee really believes the 65th Show was another step in the revival of the Society after the threatened closure in 20 17. We have an expanded and energetic committee. The recent Harvest Supper had more guests than last year and one of our most entertaining speakers in recent memory in John Pearson of Blessed Are the Cheesemakers. We're looking forward to the ammal Pre-Christmas supper where spectacular entertainment is planned. Adults Best Exhibit - Div. I 'Fruit & Vegetables' = John Akerman Judge's Special Award - Div. I 'Fruit & Vegetables' = John Akern1an Overall Winner Div. I 'Fruit & Vegetables' = John Akerman Overall Winner Div. 2 'Flowers' = Denis Collman Best Exhibit Div . 2 'Flowers' = Denis Collman Best Exhibit - Div. 3 'Domestic Section' - Jams & Preserves = John Akennan Best Exhibit - Div. 3 'Domestic Section' - Pastry = Vera Pearson Overall Winner Div. 3 'Domestic Section' = Vera Pearson Best Exhibit - Div. 4 'Adult Handicrafts' = Peter Pearson Overall Winner Div. 4 'Adult Handicrafts' = Kristina Perkins Most Promising Newcomer = Kristina Perkins Exhibitor with the Most Entries = John Akerman Overall Show Winner = John Akerman Children Best Exhibit - Children under 8 years old = Reuben Seels Overall Winner - Children under 8 years old = Henry Maudsley Best Exhibit - Children 8 years old and over = Grace Rolfe Overall Winner - Children 8 years old and over = Grace Rolfe Dorney & District Horticultural Society Committee Eton Dorney Specialist School I was thrilled to be asked to write a piece for the 'Dorney Parish News' because of the historic links between the school and the Parish Church . . . . . . but most of all, because I am so passionate about what we are trying to achieve here with the support of the community and of course the parish team! You know who you are!!? We opened this wonderful school in April, where our plan was to create a stable nurturing specialist school for pupils aged 8 to 18. With knowledge that our pupils would have additional needs including diagnoses on the autistic spectrum and emotional behaviour difficulties, our aims were to go beyond educational goals; we wanted to build positive relationships with students and lift their confidence and selfesteem, ensuring they feel safe and happy whilst at school. We want them to understand that anything is achievable as long as you have the commitment and passion to pursue it. The Grade IJ listed house dates back to 1 540 and maintains many original features. The school includes classrooms tailored to each subject area and a common room for socialising and eating together. We also provide a sensory room, where students can work on their visual, tactile and auditory stimulation. Therapeutic input such as speech and language, and art therapy are also provided for students. Within the large grounds outside we boast a forest school, chicken coop and area for our two guinea pigs - Bubble and Squeak. During the students' regular horticulture lessons, they have begun an allotment project, where they are responsible for not only investigating what they need, but also creating and maintaining the allotment themselves! Students also have a large role to play in maintaining the animals - feeding, cleaning and collecting the eggs. One of our current projects is to start selling our free range eggs - so keep a look out! We make the most of our rural settings with walks around Dorney village, including around Dorney Lake and down the Jubilee River. Our settings have also provoked research projects for the students including the history of the Eton Dorney Centre and the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle, for which the pupils created a wedding card and sent it to them, and in return the pupils received a thank you card from Meghan and Ha1Ty . Our remarkable team provide a tailored approach to supporting the young people in achieving successful outcomes so that they can progress on to experience fulfilling and rewarding lives. Since we have started, our team has grown from strength to strength and I can honestly put my hand on my heart and thank them and the Lord for putting their energy, passion and commitment into safeguarding and supporting our young people in the most challenging times. Of course we also can't thank the community enough and especially the parish for their genuine kindness and making us feel so welcome. Thank you all x Ludivine Parmentier ,, .. Nick Atkinson, Stakeholder Manager, M4 J3-12 SMP, Major Projects has provided another update on the Smart M4 project. We asked him about the impending clearance of vegetation in Dorney Reach. Survey work is due to start soon in Oak Stubbs Lane. In order to widen the motorway to accommodate four lanes each way we will need to make maximum use of the existing verges and embankments. Although the bulk of the widening is on the north side of the motorway on the Dorney bank of the river leading up to the New Thames Bridge, we will need to clear all the vegetation currently growing there. This will start soon but we hope to wait until leaves have fallen so as to some extent limit the visual impact. Once the works are nearing completion we will be replanting using a mix of plants, the detail of which we will be able to share at a date in the near future. Also of course the motorway edge will be enhanced by the new and in some cases enhanced noise barriers. As part of the planned works to widen the M4, work is needed around the retaining wall leading up to the New Thames Bridge (accesses from Oak Stubbs Lane from the south and Old Marsh Lane from the north). Intrusive surveys need to take place on the retaining walls. This will involve removing the brick cladding to expose the structure behind and carry out Ground Penetrating Radar surveys and visual inspection. The footpath can remain open during the investigation works (which will be day time activities only) and will be temporarily boarded when local barriers placed around the works area are removed at the end of each shift. We will make every effort to salvage the demolition arisings for reuse. However, it is likely replacement units may have to be installed once the survey works are complete. In the meantime the contractor is aiming to put notices out shortly giving the exact timings of the Oak Stubbs Lane survey work. ETON WICK HISTORY GROUP MEETING Eton Wick Village Hall at 7 .30 p.m. Wednesday 3 1 " October The Story of the Poppy Appeal Speakers ..... Mr. & Mrs. Geoff Hayes Dorney Website The Dorney website address is dorney.org.uk and the twitter account @DorneyPC Find minutes, planning, tweets, links to SBDC articles etc. :Dorney social Diary Tuesday 16th October Saturday 20th October Wednesday 31"' October Friday 16th November Tuesday 20th November DORNEY PARISH COUNCIL DORNEY VILLAGE HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE DORNEY BADMINTON CLUB DORNEY SHORT MAT BOWLS CLUB DORNEY YOUTH CLUB (For children of the parish) VILLAGE HALL BOOKINGS Something New, 'Embrace the Far East' A talk by Rev Christine Collinge, Dorney Village Hall 10.30 a.m. - 12.30 p.m. Diwali Celebration Supper, Dorney Village Hall 6.30 p.m. - 10.30 p.m. Eton Wick History Group Meeting Eton Wick Village Hall 7.30 p.m. DDHS Pre-Christmas Supper, Dorney Village Hall 7.30 p.m. Something New, 'Crafts & Cards' Dorney Village Hall 10.30 a.m. - 12.30 p.rn. Second Tuesday of each month (except August) Village Hall 8 p.m. Second Monday of alternate months i.e. July, September Village Hall 8 p.m. Every Tuesday Village Hall 8 - 10 p.m. Every Sunday Village Hall 7 - 10 p.m. Every Thursday evening during term time 6.00 P.M. - 7.30 p.m. Dorney Village Hall 5-16 year olds in two groups Contact Leanne Kittel 07919 484855 Graham Easton 01628 628819 & 07503 745760 Email: enquiries@dorneyvillagehall.com On September 28th, Joy Richmond hosted a splendid event as part of the World's Biggest Coffee Morning for MacMillan Cancer Support. The chocolate brownies were delicious! Joy told me later that overall £332 had been raised for this great cause. In addition, a good time was had by all. Congratulations to all involved. At the coffee morning I was talking to Moni Hunjan, who told me arrangements for another Diwali Celebration Supper were under way. This will be in the Village Hall on October 20th (see above). Here's another great local moneyraising event for charities in the UK and India. If you would like further details, call 01628 676 888 or 07731 958 794. PB .. M. A. SHEPHARD BUILDERS LTD Est 1983 Diggers Den, lA Oak Stubbs Lane, Dorney Reach, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 ODW Phone: 01628 639 366 Mobile: 07803 179962 Email: m.a.shephard@btconnect.com M. A. Shephard Builders Ltd. are proud of our heritage and our workmanship. We have been trading for over 30 years and in that time we have developed a professional relationship with suppliers, building surveyors and other professionals. We specialise in high quality workmanship in the fields of heritage work using all the traditi onal methods and working with traditional materials. We usually carry out the fu ll project from start to finish, taking all the pressure off you. If you want to project manage alongside us you are more than welcome. We also carry out all the following: • All types of Refu rbishments • New house builds • Commercial to Domestic conversions • Barn conversions • All types of listed work • General building works • Decorating works 1m1 :t􀀈 Registered House-Bwlder 􀃜􀀕 .. "·􀁰··;,,, A.,.,00Vl􀀅 I.TRUST : ,, MARK :- 􀀆- o, ( Builders I ilBornep l)arisb Qtouncil Sue Moffat Parish Clerk \􀀝􀀞, Dorney Parish Council 20 Benchmanor Crescent Chalfont St Peter Tel, 07443 588361 Email: clerk@dorney.org.uk Minutes of the Meeting of the Dorney Parish Council Held at the Dorney Village Hall on Tuesday 1 Ith September 2018 at 8 pm Present: - Councillors A. Purdie (chaired the meeting), A. Foxley, R. Ormond and P. Smith Bucks SL9 9HL In Attendance: - Bucks CC Cllr Dev Dhillon, SBDC Cllr D. Pepler, PCSO Angie O'Connell, PCSO Heidi Lansley and Sue Moffat (Clerk). 79. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION - TVPA Report: PCSO O'Connell reported that the Rowing Lake has withdrawn security from the Lake until next summer. The Management at the Rowing Lake are not responding to any emails from the Police. TVPA will be removing the cones. During the summer the Police ticketed all cars that were parked illegally which amounted to approximately 250 tickets. Cllr Dhillon responded that he went to inspect the roads outside the entrance to the Lake with the Local Area Technician and it is not possible to install bollards along Richmond Path as cones would not allow the legal limit of I . Im clearance of the footpaths. If bollards are installed along Court Lane, how far would you need to go? Cllr Dhillon suggested asking for LAF funding for a Feasibility Study for double yellow lines along Court Lane and Richmond Path but would this be acceptable to Dorney PC? He would also hope that Dorney Lake would help with the costs of alleviating the parking problem as it is the Rowing Lake that has caused the problem. If we pursue the introduction of yellow lines he suggested that the timescale should be for completion by next summer. Cllr Onnond suggested that the double yellow lines should be confined to the dangerous sharp bend and that way would not hinder parking for those using the Church. It was agreed for the Clerk to organise a meeting with the manager of Dorney Lake to resolve the matter. Lastly PCSO O'Connell reported that the illegal travellers' incursions in Burnham this summer have been dealt with and the travellers have now left the area. Luckily this did not affect Dorney. Bucks CC Report - Cllr Dev Dhillon reported: - (i) Bucks CC has just commenced a Recycling Consultation survey where the possibility of closing the Burnham Recycling Centre is mentioned. He will ensure there are hard copies of the consultation available at Burnham Library as well as online; (ii) He had a successful MacMillan curry evening and raised £2800; (iii) Cllr Ormond asked Cllr Dhillon for Bucks CC to raise the suggestion of introducing a roundabout at the junction of Village Rd with Court Lane (similar to the 2012 Olympics) during the M4 Smart Motorway works when Marsh Lane is closed in order to ease congestion for residents driving in and out of of Dorney Reach. This has already been suggested to Highways England but does not appear to be included in their remit; (iv) Cllr Dhillon reported that there is strong support for Unitary Authority and hoping for an announcement in October whether this has been agreed. SBDC Report - Cllr Pepler reported:- (i) Bill Chapple is attending Burnham PC's Council meeting to discuss the possible closure of Burnham Recycling centre; (ii) Orchard Herbs Fann Enforcement - Bucks CC could not get involved whilst SBDC was enforcing the removal of the Animal Sanctuary. Although the Animal Sanctuary has gone, SBDC is now involved with further enforcement as commercial vehicles as well as the waste deposits are being investigated. Hopefully something will happen once Highways England start the M4 Smart Motorway works; (iii) SBDC would not give pennission for the owner of I Glebe Rd for a primate enclosure resulting in another planning application being submitted. Highways England have compulsorily purchased the house but cannot move in until the primates are removed; (iv) The Church has agreed to invite Dorney PC to the Remembrance service on 1 1/1 1 ; (v) Cllr Purdie raised concern about tree work being carried out in Dorney and the difficulty in knowing which trees are covered by a TPO. It was agreed for the Clerk to write to SBDC for a map of all the TPO's in Dorney which can then be published on the web site. 80. Apologies were received from Cllr K. Harris, Cllr G. Easton and Cllr L. Kittel 81. Disclosure of interest in items on the agenda - None. • • 82. Resolved to receive and approve the minutes of the previous Council meeting held on the I01h July 2018. 83. Clerk's Report - None. 84. Chairman's Report - None. 85. Defibrillator Update - Cllr Foxley is 80% certain that there is no electricity at the telephone box but is carrying out one more check to be absolutely certain. If this is the case the defibrillator will have to be installed at the Village Hall. Once the location is finalised she will apply to BA for grant funding 86. Update on the parking situation in Court Lane outside the entrance to the Rowing Lake - As discussed with the TVPA at the beginning of the meeting. 87. Traffic Calming Measures in Dorney: - Updates on the Radar Speed Sign. The 2 radar signs have been purchased. Once they have been programmed the Clerk will then arrange for the signs to be erected on the posts. 88. Planning (a) To note planning issues, decisions and appeals recently notified by South Bucks District Council were noted. (b) To consider and comment upon applications where agreed. 89. Finance a) To authorise payment of Accounts for August and September 2018 (as circulated). b) To receive list of income for August and September 2018 (as circulated). c) To receive recent bank statements and Chairman to sign reconciliations. d) To receive the budget for 2018/19. 90. Member's Reports - None. 91. Correspondence:- (i) Dorney PC: Devolved Setvices Contract - 2019 and beyond; (ii) TS Alert! Animal welfare court case, call blocker information, recalls, scam alerts, business news and more in this week's newsletter; (iii) An update on the shared Planning IT system for South Bucks & Chiltern District Councils; (iv) Community Safety News - July 2018 Edition; (v) Thames Valley Police Open Day; (vi) Volunteering in the Community; (vii) Nick Atkinson's response to M4 Noise mitigation concerns; (viii) A404 Volvo Footbridge (Marlow) - Postponed weekend closure; (ix) BCC News: Planned road works update; (x) The Ledbury Decision form BALC; (xi) Response from Nick Atkinson regards the Public meeting on the Smart Motorway; (xii) Rowing Lake parking; (xiii) Monkey Enclosures; (xiv) Community Safety News - August 2018 Edition; (xv) Update on the planning merger between Chiltern and SBDCs; (xvi) CDC Community Safety Team Newsletter; (xvii) Bucks CC Recycling Consultation Survey. 92. Resolve any complaints/comments received from residents - None 93. Highways employee/work - No comments. Meeting ended 9.28pm. Chairman ..... .... ..... ..... ...... .. . ....... ... ...... ... .......... ... Date .................•.................•..•. Date of next meeting - Parish Council meeting at 8pm on 9th October, 2018 at Dorney Village Hall. IRONING by FLORI Your I roning, my Mission! On Facebook: Cleaning & ironing by Flori florentinateisanu@yahoo.co.uk Mob: 07879626434 I collect and deliver for free. Prices start at £2.20 per lb. Minimum price £1 1 . I can collect from home or work, day or night. I provide a friendly, professional and reliable service with experience over 1 0 years 'Wyndham', Village Road, Dorney NATURE + BRITAIN No I After a warm, dry start, August decided to cool off somewhat in Dorney Parish, accompanied by some very welcome rain. Having cleaned out my water butt, I was pleased to receive 45 gallons of fresh rainfall, ideal for plants and the wild garden birds. Then August went out in a blaze of glory, the final two days heralding a very pleasant September - we can take it. Plants surviving well include heathers; wild sweet pea; great mullein and blue Canterbury bells which re-surged thanks to the rainfall; yellow fleabane; orange Chinese Lanterns; pink willow-herb; kerria; Michaelmas daisies; teasel; geraniums; pink and white snapdragon; lilac ivy-leaved toadflax and pink foxglove, to name a few. Our wild garden birds are now returning including blue, great and longtailed tits; wrens; robins; sparrows; hedge accentors; blackbirds; ring doves, while our two resident crows chase off marauding rooks and jackdaws of the Court Lane gang. Recent research into planet Earth suggests Earth is at least 4.5 billion years old and certain fossil remains, which could withstand great heat, are just as old. The search still goes on, of course, as to how planets, stars and galaxies all started. At present, there are lots of theories from religious groups; scientists; cosmologists etc. none of whom have got a clue other than their own beliefs. But that's the challenge for our species Homo Sapiens, who only emerged 200,000 years ago - so carry on everyone! The all British car maker Aston Martin is targeting the super-rich with that golden oldie the DB5 from Bond 007 film 'Goldfinger'. The new 085 models will be made to order, with all the usual film extras such as revolving number plates, automatic weapons, oil-slick drums etc. but no ejector seats. The average cost for an Aston Martin is around £167,000. With all the added extras, no doubt you could double the price. Fortunately, I ordered mine some years ago, and I insisted on the estate version, more room at the back for you know what? Yes, you guessed it- mother's shopping. Aston Martin Estates are made to order, costing in the region of an extra £50,000 or so. But this luxury market doesn't stop there. They include submarines, private planes and Miami flats/apartments costing a cool £38 million each, appealing mainly to the mega-rich from Hong Kong, China, Russia and Saudi Arabia. My DB5 with all its extras is on my mantel piece! Another boost for Britain - a major international survey has ranked London as the world's most desirable city to work in, beating New York, Berlin, Barcelona and others to the top spot in a study by the Boston Consulting Group and recruitment site totaljobs. Meanwhile China's biggest technology company Tencent has set its sights on pioneering UK rivals as it plots global expansion. Tencent is hunting takeover targets in Britain because of our country's talented entrepreneurs and impressive investment record. Already billions of pounds have flowed in since the Brexit vote. However, this should also arouse our national security concerns. So stay alert! A lady recently recalled that she and her girlfriend in 1960 left a coffee bar to find that her bubble car had been blocked in. Some local lads who happened to be around picked it up and moved it for them. Later the two girls realised that they'd been had. One of the lads asked the girl owner on a date and fifty-eight years later they are still happily married. Altogether now - aaahh, proving of course that John Lennon and Paul McCartney got it right when they composed and sang 'All You Need ls Love' in 1967. Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, There 's nothing you can do that can't be done Nothing you can sing that can't be sung Nothing that you can say, but you can learn how to play the game It's easy - all you need is love - all you need is love A/1 you need is love - LOVE - that is all you need Regards, Tony Dixon-Smith (D.D.) ll .. • • TYRE FIT TAPLOW We fit tyres at a price that fits you NEXEN DEALER Need new tyres? At home or work, we will come to you Plus: TYRES & EXHAUSTS. BATTERIES. STEERING. SUSPENSION. SERVICING. CATALYTIC CONVERTORS. MOTs. TRACKING. ALLOY WHEEL REFURBISHMENT. Old Station Yard, Station Road, Taplow, Bucks SL6 ONU I ol.r ghf • I 'l'I, \\ IAPS Preparatory Day School for Boys* and Girls from rising 3 - 11 Tel: 01628 665778 Mobile: 07884 111500 www.tyredealermaidenhead.co.uk How high ctin !jOt.A.r child f![f. High academic attainment Provision for rising 3s Outstanding pastoral care Extra-curricular activities Small classes School day: 08.00-18.00 35 Eton Road Datchet Berkshire SL3 9AX 01 753 541075 • admin@etonend.org www.etonend.org PoH1:rin5 ft/,oo&I 􀁯 Design & Construction \AJoD􀀆􀀇Uu□ CP® ,C􀀋cap􀀌 g. Bai[#.n9 • Site Clearance • Pergolas • Terraces • Suppliers of: • Turfing • Driveways • Brickwork SAND • BALLAST • Plants, Trees • Car Parks Decorative WOOD CHIPS and Shrubs • Block Paving or Standard TOP SOIL MUSHROOM • Fencing • Patios • Mature Trees COMPOST 01628 666022 • 661768 Mobile 07860 706675 THE TRADITIONAL RESTORATION COMPANY LTD The Coach House, Dorney Court 01628 660708 www.TraditionalRestoration.co.uk enquiries@TraditionalRestoration.co.uk Restorers of Fine Antique Furniture • ,. • ,11 • SUSAN HANDY SCHOOLoFDANCE Aero Jazz Ballet Baby Ballet Ballet Stretch Contemporary Creative Dance Modern Jazz Musical Theatre Tap Adult Tap Adult Ballet GCSE Dance Elite Dance Group Boys Syllabus 􀀦 ETON • ETON WICK • WINDSOR • DATCHET • OLD WINDSOR ; ICKENHAM • PYRFORD • WOKING • RICHMOND WWW.SUSANHANDYDANCE.CO.UK 01753 542672 / 07515 270432 e: office@susanhandydance.co.uk BHS & ABRS Approved Riding School and Pony Club Centre panishBil Rd111g School & Lrverv Elm Farm, Boveney Road, Dorney Common Nr Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 6QD We are a family run Riding School based on Dorney Common established for over 35 years! • Qualified lntructors • Lessons available fron1 7 years upwards • Pony Rides available for children as young as 4. • We offer very popular Birthday parties • Large Indoor and Outdoor schools • Pony Club and Own a Pony activity days • Open 6 days a week, Tuesday-Sunday • Gift Vouchers available through the website For bookings and enquiries please call us on , 01628 661275 www.spanishbit.co. uk DORNEY AT THE QUARTER SESSIONS There aren't many sources to shed light on Dorney around 1700, but one which does is the record of activity at Buckinghamshire's Quarter Sessions. This court was held four times a year, at places like Buckingham, Aylesbury or Amersham. Presided over by the county's JPs, the sessions dealt with a wide range of topics, some misdemeanours but many purely administrative. The records for Bucks between 1678 and 1733 mention no fewer than 75 different men and 6 women living in Dorney. Most of these were working in agriculture, as farmers or labourers, but others included a victualler (i.e. innkeeper), a hatter, a shoemaker, a blacksmith, a gardener, and two maltsters. One of the regular pieces of business at the Easter session was to confirm the appointment of the parish constable for the forthcoming year. Selected from among the better off members of the community, the constable was expected to maintain law and order in the village. 34 different men from Dorney held this position between 1679 and 1723. Examples of what they had to do included reporting Roman Catholics and other non-attenders at church to the Quarter Sessions, and being woken up i n the middle o f the night by the vicar t o deal with an alleged assault, only to be threatened by the perpetrator who said he would beat the constable's brains out. Acting as constable was no impediment to being reported to the court yourself. William Barr served as constable in 1683 and again in 1689, but in 1686 was accused of making a ditch and a hedge in the highway between Maidenhead and Windsor. Thomas Goodchild was appointed constable in 1695, but the following year he and others were accused of assault. Few of the offences reported from Dorney were of a serious nature. Bartholomew Langley, together with another man from East Burnham, was accused of breaking into a house and stealing 4 quarts of black cherry wine. Charles Palmer was fined for uttering an oath. There were several cases of alleged assault, but it is not clear whether these really amounted to much; the accused were generally bound over to keep the peace. Another role of the court was to adjudicate on issues of settlement - an important aspect of the poor law, because the parish where a person was judged to be settled was then responsible for providing help in time of need for him and his family. In January 1718, it was decided that Thomas Godard, his wife and children should be removed from Burnham to Dorney, because he had lived there for the required 12 months as a worker employed by a Dorney farmer. It's possible that Thomas and his family never made the move, as they feature in the parish registers for Burnham but not for Dorney. ,. Sometimes the records hint at other issues which are not spelled out. Henry Floyd was fined in 1696 for not taking an oath - the new oaths of allegiance and supremacy laid down by William and Mary when they came to the throne in 1688, but he was i n good company, a s Samuel Pepys, the Archbishop of Canterbury a n d many clergymen also refused to take this oath. At the same time, Henry and others had fallen out with the Rev Henry Atkinson and his wife Susan. It is not clear what status the Rev Atkinson held in Dorney, as officially the position of vicar was vacant in the period before 1699. Another enemy of Henry Floyd was the victualler, Joseph Street, who claimed Henry should be arrested for "haveing uttered Treasonable words against the person of his most sacred Majestie King William the Third, and is a person disaffected to the Government os now established, and of wicked and dangerous principles." Furthermore, it was said that Henry "privily lurks and hides himself in divers obscure places of this County not easily to be discovered." Whatever the truth of the matter, there must have been plenty to keep the village gossips busy. Another interesting case occurred following a fire on 7 March 1707, which resulted in serious losses for maltster Humphrey Clarke. His losses were estimated at over £200 worth of structural damage, certified by bricklayers and carpenters, and more than another £200 worth of lost goods, as certified by 3 other maltsters. The court agreed to reimburse £10 of duty which he had already paid on malt destroyed, and to allow a notice to go out inviting donations to raise compensation. This was a frequent occurrence after fires or natural disasters. Three years' later, however, Humphrey's second wife returned to the court, complaining that he had left her without support. The local JPs investigated, and discovered that Humphrey had rented a farm in Dorney and Boveney worth £80 a year with stock worth more than £400. He had then made over his farm and stock to a son by a former wife, and voluntarily entered debtors' prison in London to avoid maintaining his wife and paying "some few debts of hers". Was Humphrey taking advantage of the generosity of people who had donated towards his losses in the fire and seeking to avoid his responsibilities? Or was he so unhappy in his second marriage (they had married in 1704, in St George's chapel, Windsor) that prison seemed a preferable way out? Virginia Silvester ETO WICK HISTORY CROUP MEETI C Eton Wick V i llage Hall at 7.30 p.m. Wednesday 1 9th September 'The Changing Face of Farming' Speaker . . ... Malcolm Kinross r • t ,.f Dorney Social Diary Thursday 18th September Something New, Visit to Dorney Court Kitchen Garden 10.30 a.m. Wednesday 19th September Eton Wick History Group Meeting Eton Wick Village Hall 7.30 p.m. Friday 21" September OOHS Harvest Supper Dorney Village Hall 7.30 p.m. Friday 28th September World's Biggest Coffee Morning (for Macmillan Cancer Support) 31 Harcourt Road 10.30 a.m. - 12.30 p.m. Tuesday 16th October Something New, 'Far East', Dorney Village Hall 10.30 a.m. - 12.30 p.m. Saturday 20th October Diwali Celebration Supper, Dorney Village Hall 6.30 p.m. - 10.30 p.m. Friday 16th November OOHS Pre-Christmas Supper, Dorney Village Hall 7.30 p.m. Tuesday 20th November Something New, 'Crafts & Cards' Dorney Village Hall 10.30 a.m. - 12.30 p.m. DORNEY PARISH COUNCIL DORNEY VILLAGE HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE DORNEY BADMINTON CLUB DORNEY SHORT MAT BOWLS CLUB DORNEY YOUTH CLUB (for children of the parish) VILLAGE HALL BOOKINGS Second Tuesday of each month (except August) Village Hall 8 p.m. Second Monday of alternate months i.e. July, September Village Hall 8 p.m. Every Tuesday Village Hall 8 • 10 p.m. Every Sunday Village Hall 7 • 10 p.m. Every Thursday evening during term time 6.00 - 7.30 p.m. Village Hall Dorney 5-16 year olds in two groups Contact Leanne Kittel 07919 484855 Graham Easton 01628 628819 & 07503 745760 Email: enquiries@dorneyvillagehall.com Nick A1ki11so11 is Swkeholder Manager. M4 JJ-12, SMP. Major Projecls & interac/ed with residews both in July and at the previous Parish Council A11111wl Meeting. Nick will be regularly updating readers as the project progresses. Reside111s were concemed over the project ·s plans/or Trumpers Field Here are some notes on the proposed flood compensation area that is planned for the top end of Trumpers Field next to the motorway. The purpose of the flood compensation area is to satisfy the Environment Agency (EA) that HE's works will not cause flooding within the flood plain as a result ofus raising the land elsewhere within the flood plain e.g. for the access ramps and working platforms on the north side of the motorway. I should emphasise that the area would only be used - i.e. have water in it - during flood conditions so for something like 90% of the time it would be a shallow depression in the ground. Because it is compensating for temporary works in the flood plain it will be filled in and the field restored as soon as lhe motorway works are finished. Just to put residents' minds fully at rest, we are not proposing any extension to the works area for the scheme; the pond will be fenced off within the works site so it will be completely inaccessible to the public. The timing of the need for 1he flood area depended on the requirements made in the granting by the Secretary of State of the Development Consenl Order (DCO) - effectively the planning conditions anached to 1he consent to improve the motorway. As HE showed in the timeline at the exhibition, 1he discharge of these requirements took some time and the final consent from the Secretary of State (SoS) was only received after the exhibition at the Village Hall. The flood compensation details have been agreed in principle with the EA and local authorities during the discharge ofrequirement DCO 23 and approved by the SoS. We are now required to apply for Flood Risk Activity Pennits to confinn our construction arrangements with the EA and this is where the final detail of the pond will come from. As such we have not yet got this info but are working on it right now. The pond will be in the region of900m3 which means that, given the maximum depth of 60 cm its surface area is likely to be approx. IO0m by 15m with the long side parallel to the motorway embankment. Once we have clarity on the final design for the pond we are happy to come and talk to the Parish Council about it. For JUrther updates on the Smart M4, look on the Dorney PC website. Non-residential Parking in Harcourt Road I read with interest July's editorial regarding the Rowing Lake parking chaos and as to whether there may be a shift in parking places into Dorney Reach. The issue of parking has been happening since the 2012 Olympics. At that time, taxis would queue up at the junction of Marsh lane and Harcourt Road to collect spectators from events. The situation tailgated into Harcourt Road much to the frustration of residents and on one occasion my driveway was blocked by the taxi rank. Since the Olympics, there has been a series of parking incidents along this part of Harcourt Road, always challenged through leaving a polite notice on the vehicle, or by speaking directly to the occupants of the vehicle. Often these vehicles are parked on the kerb, affecting pedestrians. Indeed, I have witnessed families with young children having to go into the road to bypass the obstruction, and once a person in a wheelchair that was being pushed by a carer had to do the same. I list some examples of what has to be contended with. A white van parked up and the occupants unloaded 2 bicycles and went off on their happy jaunt. When this happened for the second time, I asked them not to park opposite my house and the reasons why. I did get quite a mouthful of abuse, but the incident has not re-occurred. Assumed grandparents, parked up and unloading 2 young children with scooters, off for adventure, presumably along Richmond Path. When this occurred every weekend for a month, I then asked the driver to refrain from using the area for parking. He initially disputed with me and then said that he would find an alternative place. Last Sunday (Sth August), two cars parked up and the young people in the cars, headed off towards the Jubilee. I managed to catch the second couple, who said that the police were blocking the entrance to Dorney Lake and nothing was moving in Court Lane. The couple had taken the first road with convenient parking places, which happened to be Harcourt Road. I explained how difficult this was for residents, because of the frequency of parking incidents. The couple did move the car into Oak Stubbs Lane, but this is not the long term answer to the problem. Regularly, it is difficult to access the road from the driveways because a vehicle has parked opposite blocking the exit. This scant regard for residents is not confined to visitors wanting to access Dorney Lake. Frequently taxi drivers collecting clients from further down Harcourt Road, park, light up and enjoy a cigarette, dropping the butt on the ground and then move on, presumably filling a time gap. Delivery vans park up, deliver goods and then reverse out of the road. I dread when an accident will be caused. U turns are manoeuvred between my opposite neighbour's driveway and mine. A mum, would park up and with daughter and dog and walk down to Dorney School. The mum was very apologetic when she realised that she had blocked my disabled daughter's wheelchair transport when she arrived back at her car with the bus waiting for a space to collect my daughter. At 8.30am on a Saturday morning, I could hear people talking and laughing loudly. When I called out, to ask them to move, my request was ignored. So in my pyjamas, armed with a walking stick, yellow post-it and pen, I hobbled across the road and told them that they were in a residential road, disturbing residents and that this was not a picnic area. One of the group asked where was the notice to that effect? I answered by saying where is the picnic sign? I started to write the car number down and the group swiftly got into the car and moved on. This situation cannot continue and is totally out of hand. Dorney Reach is the forgotten area in all the road issues locally, reflected in the non-action/who takes responsibility of Court Lane parking, only to be exacerbated when Marsh Lane is closed due to the Smart Motorway project. Lesley Honey-Green • M. A. SHEPHARD BUILDERS LTD Est 1983 Diggers Den, lA Oak Stubbs Lane, Dorney Reach, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 0DW Phone: 01628 639 366 Mobile: 07803 179962 Email: m.a.shephard@btconnect.com M. A. Shephard Builders Ltd. are proud of our heritage and our workmanship. We have been trading for over 30 years and in that time we have developed a professional relationship with suppliers, building surveyors and other professionals. We specialise in high quality workmanship in the fields of heritage work using all the traditional methods and working with traditional materials. We usually carry out the full project from start to finish, taking all the pressure off you . If you want to project manage alongside us you are more than welcome. We also carry out all the following: • All types of Refurbishments • New house builds • Commercial to Domestic conversions • Barn conversions • All types of listed work • General building works • Decorating works 1mi=t􀀆 Registered House-Builder •TRUST --MAR-K Builders l)ornep ftarisb QCouncil c-· -·~-- f'- - ---- , Sue Moffat Parish Clerk l:. ----, l<: Dorney Parish Council 20 Benchmanor Crescent Chalfont St Peter Tel: 07443 588361 Email: clerk@dorney.org.uk Minutes of the Dorney Parish Meeting of the Council Held at the Dorney Village Hall on Tuesday 10th July 2018 at 8 pm Present:- Councillors K. Harris (chaired the meeting), A. Purdie, R. Ormond and P. Smith In Attendance:- Bucks CC Cllr Dev Dhillon, SBDC Cllr D. Pepler and Sue Moffat (Clerk). Bucks SL9 9HL 61. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION - Bucks CC Report - Cllr Dev Dhillon reported:- (i) He has received complaints about the number of parked cars along Court Lane and Richmond Path near the entrance to the Rowing Lake. Cllr Harris explained that the situation has got worse lately due to the Rowing Lake allowing youths to swim in the Lake during the hot weather and there are security guards at the entrance preventing vehicle access so swimmers have to park on the road. PCSO O'Connell booked 1 5 cars on one occasion. Cllr Dhillon and Cllr Harris will arrange a meeting with the Management of the Rowing Lake to discuss the problem. Cllr Dhillon confirmed that he has funding for bollards along this stretch of road to prevent parking. Cllr Harris said that Dorney Court will be fencing and hedging along the bridleway to replace the wooden post and rail fencing further along Court Lane which will prevent parking on the verge. Also, the white lines at the entrance to the Lake need repainting; (ii) Slough Borough Council will be putting back and upgrading the traffic lights and removing the new roundabout near to Huntercombe Lane South when the new cycle scheme is installed; Slough BC have had no consultation with Bucks CC on this matter. Members felt that the roundabout was working well and returning to the use of traffic lights may hinder traffic flow; (iii) Cllr Dhillon will take the Highways LAT to inspect the surface of Boveney Rd, Lake End Rd cycle path which needs siding out to reinstate the I .Sm width of the path (hedge to be cut back in September) and renewing the white lines at the entrance to the Rowing Lake; (iv) Cllr Harris raised concern about the parked cars at the A4 end of Marsh Lane causing a danger to drivers by the traffic lights. Cllr Dhillon responded that vehicles are allowed to park there and would need the stats to prove that parking in this area was dangerous before the Safety Officer at Bucks CC would take any action. Cllr Harris asked if Taplow PC would take action. Cllr Dhillon responded that a complete review of parking in the area will be carried out after Crossrail starts in Spring 2019. SBDC Report - Cllr Pepler reported:- (i) Enforcement is taking place regards the building work at 7, Old Marsh Lane as it is on the SBDC's agenda for the Planning meeting on 1 81h July; (ii) He was invited to attend Marlow Regatta in his official capacity of Vice-Chairman of SBDC. 62. Apologies were received from Cllr A. Foxley, Cllr G. Easton and Cllr L. Kittel 63. Disclosure of interest in items on the agenda - Cllr Harris and Cllr Smith declared a non-pecuniary interest in Planning Application 18/00944/CLOPED. 64. Resolved to receive and approve the minutes of the previous meeting Council held on the 121h June 2018. 65. Clerk's Report - None. 66. Chairman's Report - Cllr Harris reported that part of Boveney Common is fenced off as the charity, Thames2 l , is a group of volunteers reclaiming Roundmoor ditch. This will probably take about 2 years. 67. Resolved to change the date of the Finance and Council meeting for November 2018 from 13th to 6th November 2018, which is from the second Tuesday of the month to the first Tuesday of the month, for a one off occasion. 68. DefibriUator Update - Cllr Foxley submitted a written update:-The public vote is for a defibrillator at the phone box. The cost is about £ 1400 and if purchased through the School it is about £800 cheaper than using the charity route. Dorney PC have approx. £300 remaining in the bank from the funds for the Village Rd defibrillator. Cllr Foxley will now apply to British Airways for some funding but will still need to find another donor. Dorney School have said they would perform all checks during term time and they would also help with fimdraising if we needed it. 69. The Village Clean Up on 1 6th June, 2018. Cllr Foxley thanked everyone for turning up. There were about 25 people of all ages that litter picked, weeded and edged up around the benches and play ' • • ., • equipment in Trumpers Field and along the roadsides in Dorney and Boveney. 24 bags of rubbish and weeds were collected. Thanks also go to our Groundsman, John Farrell, for all his hard work carrying out the regular maintenance. 70. Resolved to adopt the Privacy Policy, General Privacy notice and Staff and Councillors Privacy Notice to conform to the GDPR that came in to force on 25th May 2018 (as circulated). These documents will be uploaded on to the web site in due course. 71. To consider Devolved Highways work from 2019 and beyond and to extend it to involve road defect repair. It was agreed that it is advantageous to continue this work to keep a high standard of maintenance in Dorney but would ask that there is an inflationary increase in income for doing so. Dorney PC also expressed an interest to extend this work to cover road defect repair. 72. Traffic Calming Measures in Dorney: - Updates on the Radar Speed Sign. It was agreed to purchase 2 Vehicle Activated Signs as per quote of £3778 plus VAT with £1500 funding from Beeches LAF. These signs will show the speed of the passing vehicles and flash up 'Slow Down', if necessary, at the 2 locations either end of the Village as already agreed with Bucks County Council Highways Department. It was also agreed to replace with longer posts to accommodate the sign and solar panel and to organise for a Street Work's Accredited contractor to do this and fit the signs as per quote of £800 and £650 respectively. The M4 Smart motorway Public Presentation is being held on Thursday 1 2 July at the Village Hall. It was agreed for Dorney Parish Council to lobby for the re-introduction of a roundabout at the junction of Village Road and Court Lane (similar to the one that was put in place during the 2012 Olympics) whilst Marsh Lane bridge is closed in order to assist traffic flow and slow down traffic. Also, to ask for the 30mph traffic sign in Lake End Rd to be moved to the other side of the motorway bridge to give drivers more warning to slow down before they reach the Pineapple PH. 73. Planning (a) To note planning issues, decisions and appeals recently notified by South Bucks District Council were noted. (b) To consider and comment upon applications were agreed. Cllrs Harris and Smith declared an interest in Planning Application 18/00944/CLOPED so no comment could be made as not quorate (3 councillors required to be quorate). 74. Finance a) To authorise payment of Accounts for July 2018 (as circulated). b) To receive list of income for July 2018 (as circulated). c) To receive recent bank statements and Chainnan to sign reconciliations. d) To receive the budget for 2018/19. 75. Member's Reports - None. 76. Correspondence- (i) SBALC - Minutes of Annual Meeting - 7 June 2018; (ii) Neighbourhood Watch Week 2018; (iii) SBALC - Planning Issues in South Bucks; (iv) BMKALC - Remembrance Day Silhouette Installation Grants; (v) Bucks & MK Sport Awards 2018 - Thanking the people who make sport happen; (vi) Response to Unitary Authority in Buckinghamshire - Comments from Dominic Grieve QC MP (Upload this response on to the web site); (vii) Planning Issues in South Bucks - SBALC - Special Meeting - Tuesday 1 8 September 2018; (viii) Consultation on Joint Housing Strategy - Chiltern District Council and South Bucks District Council (ix) Highway Report-Local Impact Report; (x) Bucks County Show - Thursday 30th August 2018; (xi) Work on Boveney Common see http://www.sloug hob􀇅crvcr.co.uk/ncws/ 163253 79. join-thc-campaign-to-rcclaim-theroundmoor!'! rcf-crcc; (xi) Unauthorised Encampment Alert System - Apps available; (xii) Burnham Farnhams, Taplow, Dorney Neighbourhood Police Newsletter. 77. Resolve any complaints/comments received from residents - (i)- Dead Chestnut branches overhanging Court Lane. The Highways LAT is organising for the tree to be inspected; (ii) Cllr Purdie received complaints about illegal parking along Court Lane. He videoed this illegal parking and sent it to the Chief Constable and Dominic Grieve QC MP and now awaiting a response. 78. Highways employee/work - No comments. Meeting ended 9.28pm. Chairman ... . ..... ...... ... . ...... ... . .... ...... ... ... .. .. .. .... . .... Date ....................................... . Date of next meeting - Parish Council meeting at 8pm on I Ith September, 2018 at Dorney Village Hall. 'Wyndham', Village Road, Dorney NATURE + LESSONS NOT LEARNED A third of the way through August as I commence writing this letter, our Dorney weather, thanks to a pleasant southerly breeze, has taken a distinct tum for the 'cooler' after three hot, dry months. How often do you hear folk in the country praying for cooler and rainy weather? Plants which thrived in the recent hot weather, in my own back garden and elsewhere included pink willowherb; large pink dog roses; yellow fleabane; wild mauve and pink spotted sweet pea; white flowered Chinese lantern (will tum orange later); greater plantain; ribwort; teasel; blue Canterbury Bell (will resurge if more rain); yellow great mullein and green sun spurge (medicinal) to name a few. As our hot weather progressed, so did calls from Water Authorities to ease up on water use - some even imposed hosepipe bans. Soon cries went up pointing fingers at Water Authority burst pipe wastage etc. But let's be fair as there are two sides to every coin. Yes, some Water Authorities have been slow and negligent in repairs and saving water. On the flipside of the coin, the various governments of the day in this country from the Wilson Government onwards are greatly to blame for 'Lessons Not Being Learned'. From the 1960s onwards we discovered North Sea Gas (Wilson declared "free gas for everyone'' - pull the other one!) and then North Sea Oil. Revenue poured into this country like never before since British Empire days. I worked in the water industry in the 1970s and 80s. We had our own Thames Water internal newspaper which constantly was urging the various governments of the day to use this new found wealth to build Hydro•Electric Power and Desalination stations along our 7,000 plus miles' coastlines, using reliable tidal power. Even today, Swansea Council wanted help from Government to build a Hydro·Electrical Power Station using reliable tidal power from the Bristol Channel. Refused on costs by Government. Our governments have not got the foresight nor the experience nor the planning for using what any padre would say "using God's - given gift to these islands of ours, surrounded by water and surging tidal power. It's there for the taking." Recently I saw some replays on Freeview TV of 'Sorry' with Ronnie Corbett as the mother• dominated son. Barbara Lott plays Phyllis his mother. She's a wonderful actress, a similar genre to Joan Hickson (Miss Marple). As soon as Timothy (Ronnie) comes in from work, mother calls out "Have you wiped your feet, Timothy?" To which he replies "Yes, mother, I'm a centipede and I've got 100 of them. Look mother, I'm 41 years of age and I've got my own brolly and cuff links," to which wife.dominated father Sydney joins in " . . . language, Timothy." What a lovely series - we need more fun and laughter. A husband and wife were shopping in the supermarket. The husband picked up a case of lager and put it in the trolley. "What do you think you are doing?" asked his wife. "They're on sale: £10 for 24 cans." he replied. "Put them back, we can't afford them." she demanded, and they carried on shopping. In the next aisle, she picked up a £20 jar of face cream and put it in the trolley. "What do you think you're doing?" asked the husband. ''It's face cream - it makes me look beautiful," she replied. "So do 24 cans of lager and they're half the price," retorted her husband. He never knew what hit him! After such a splendid summer, will you be thinking of 'Days of Wine and Roses," composed by Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini ( 1962)? The days of wine and roses, laugh and run away like a child at play, Through the meadow land toward a closing door, a door marked "never more ", That wasn't there before. The lonely night discloses Just a passing breeze filled with memories Of the golden smile that introduced me to The days of wine and roses and you. Regards, Tony Dixon•Smith (D.D.) I, • f • TYRE FIT TAPLOW We fit tyres at a price that fits you NEXEN DEALER Need new tyres? At home or work, we will come to you Plus: TYRES & EXHAUSTS. BATTERIES. STEERING. SUSPENSION. SERVICING. CATALYTIC CONVERTORS. MOTs. TRACKING. ALLOY WHEEL REFURBISHMENT. Old Station Yard, Station Road, Taplow, Bucks SL6 ONU / \\\ OVgl)t , \ 􀀇 IAPS Preparatory Day School for Boys* and Girls from rising 3 - l l High academic attainment Provision for rising 3s Outstanding pastoral care Extra-curricular activities Small classes School day: 08.00-18.00 Tel: 01628 665778 Mobile: 07884 111500 www.tyredealermaidenhead.co.uk 35 Eton Road Datchet Berkshire SL3 9AJ< 01753 541075 • admin@etonend.org www.etonend.org Pot+􀀔rih5 ft/,o"'t at Th􀀔 ofd Plac􀀔 KOHf {,RO'iiN lNO{ FIO'wN) BWl':iK HOWf.R) mno HOH H'1 GI\RDtN fOR WEDDING). C.HHRATIOW,, SOUO.UH\ fABlf P.RRANGEHfNfS. JAM JAR PO':ilt\ OR SIHPL'f A LARGE BU(Hf OF FH':iKL'f PIC.HD FIOWH':i )\􀀡\􀀢􀀣.· '{· . - l􀀤 J ' ( - 􀇃j􀇄 ' 't :,i r' (:.. Ii I ' ' rt 1t' ', - - J.;, ---- • _, L_ THE OlD PlACE, lO(I mn, DOINl1, WIND\01, mm1u, Sll bQQ POTHRINGA!OUTe!HlOlDPlAU COUI I WWW OlDPlWFlOWERI CO Ul PlEAIE coNrnu 1oz I nL 071o,111111 􀀄􀀅􀀆􀀇􀀈;; g􀀋cap􀀌 C Bai'5#.n9 • Site Clearance • Turfing • Plants, Trees and Shrubs • Fencing • Pergolas • Terraces • Suppliers of: • Driveways • Brickwork SAND• BALLAST • Car Parks Decorative WOOD CHIPS TOP SOIL • Block Paving or Standard MUSHROOM. • Patios • Mature Trees COMPOST 01628 666022 • 661768 Mobile 07860 706675 THE TRADITIONAL RESTORATION COMPANY LTD The Coach House, Dorney Court 01628 660708 www.TraditionalRestoration.co.uk enquiries@TraditionalRestoration.co.uk Restorers of Fine Antique Furniture • SUSAN HANDY SCHOOL OF DANCE Aero Jazz Ballet Baby Ballet Ballet Stretch Contemporary Creative Dance Modern Jazz Musical Theatre Tap Adult Tap Adult Ballet GCSE Dance Elite Dance Group Boys Syllabus ETON • ETON WICK • WINDSOR • DATCHET • OLD WINDSOR ICKENHAM • PYRFORD • WOKING • RICHMOND WWW.SUSANHANDYDANCE.CO.UK 01753 542672 / 07515 270432 e: office@susanhandydance.co.uk BHS & ABRS Approved Riding School and Pony Club Centre anishBit Ri:lme chool & LJVerv Elm Farm, Boveney Road, Dorney Common Nr Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 6QD We are a family run Riding School based on Dorney Common established for over 35 years! • Qualified lntructors • Lessons available frorn 7 years upwards • Pony Rides available for children as young as 4. • We offer very popular Birthday parties • Large Indoor and Outdoor schools • Pony Club and Own a Pony activity days • Open 6 days a week, Tuesday-Sunday • Gift Vouchers available through the website For bookings and enquiries please call us on 01628 661275 www.spanishbit.co. uk .. hot enough to singe your eyebrows, long narrow ovens on long paddles and the small iron doors slammed shut. You con 't get bread lik􀆂 that onymore. Yet another, to me, dreadful loss, is that of the walled garden belonging to Dorney Court. Where there is now on acre (?) of grovel, there once flourished everything delightful to eat imaginable. I used to visit with the youngish woman who lived in the cottage that is still there in the corner of the garden. Her husband was employed as o gardener by the Polmers but hod been co/led up to fight in the war; I never knew if he returned home. The walls of the garden then, were covered in espaliered fruit trees, figs, plums, peaches and the like. The garden beds, laid out between regular paths, contained in season celery, young carrots, garden peas, asparagus, raspberries, tender pink rhubarb, strawberries - every mouthwatering thing you con think of, now all uprooted and gone. A magic garden, warm, enclosed, peaceful, o tiny paradise in o world at war. A big thank you! A huge vote of thanks to all those who came out yesterday for the Great Tidy. About twenty five peop le of al l-a ges liucr picked. weeded, edged, litter picked again. planted and snippe􀄜 around 􀄝nches and play equipment. The roads. fo otpaths of Dorney Reach and the playground are l_ookin􀄞 beau􀄟1ful and the villaoc hall flowerbed is weed free and has a new selection of plants. The litter pickers in Dorney and the b Dorney Barrow Brigade have perked up the beds an d cleaned up the roads. We would also like 10 thank our groundsman. John Farrell. for ensuring that ''the big johs" are always done. allowing us to concentrate on the nuances that make the Parish look e>.lTa special. We co llected 24 bags of rubbish and weeds. We also consumed 18 rol ls. 2 large bags of popcorn and counlless cups of tea and cofTee - it's possible the presence of which may hav􀄠 enco_uraged the tu􀄡oul... Thanks again - I hope those who came found it reward ing and maybe even a little btt of fu n. Here s to next year! G & J Decorating Local decorators with 20 years' experience. All aspects of decorating undertaken to the h ighest standard. Free estimates and referel")ces available. Gav 07795 081 1 4 1 James 07813 289468 o r 01628 655658 Makin' Whoopee on Dorney Common What a day! As joyous a time as you can imagine with the royal couple resplendently looked on with deep affection, choosing an entertaining service that had the faint air of a Broadway musical. Our bunting flew high and we sat glued to our television to witness a national event that must soften the stoniest of hearts. What a big marshmallow l am! However, as the romantic splendour fades along with the departure of our visitors to Windsor, the streets begin to return to normal, but we are left with a little glow of optimism and hope to see us through this year. Ever one for a good party, our Director for "The Great Gatsby'' asked to use our garden space for a re-enactment of a roaring 20's party, and an opportunity to view a catalogue of authentic film snippets of this era. The cast arrived on a hot sweltering day, so not particularly in the mood for alcohol, although there is no Prohibition in our house. To understand the dynamics of this decade is important, to bring alive the frivolous behaviour that masked an underlying dark scar. The flowing fountain of champagne parties of the 20's hid the recent catastrophic devastation of the Great War that started in 1914, along with past strangulation of women's rights. In 1918, after repeated Parliamentary defeats, the suffrage bill was passed and finally women over 30 could vote! Women's Lib? Not quite bra-burning stuff yet. The 20's dawned with bootleg liquor in Speakeasy joints, released inhibitions, with ladies now quite scantily clad and appearing in public wearing exotic outfits. A new Charleston appeared, the Shimmy which was banned from public performance. It was an overtly erotic dance with women causing a stir by their close physical contact with men during the moves. For the first time ladies wore loose clothes to allow freedom to dance, the celebration of life was taking place, the young felt liberated, women could speak out a little more, and many partied endlessly with gay abandon. After watching several black and white lifestyle clips, we popped our first champagne cork as they frequently did in that decade nearly 100 years ago. Emulating those old film captured moments, we passed the champagne bottle from man to woman and back again, replicating the casual behaviour of the 20's to inaugurate our cast into the mood and create a bond between ourselves. As the cogs were oiled, our Charleston fuelled by uplifting jubilant music and sips of fizz, there was a distinct raising of the bar on our dance moves to a new convincing level. Of course, there is Prohibition on our production run, but since we have emulated the effects at our Gatsby party, we will now be able to replicate the stagger and slur during the decadent scenes, whilst sober and delivering our lines. Champagne, Bourbon and Mint Juleps being the staple of those days, sadly transform to simple iced lemon tea on stage. We have had difficulty sourcing the costumes as so very few remain intact, but finally we are fully equipped with some original and some reproduction outfits that replicate the glitzy fashion of the day. The dresses are heavily sequinned, hugely weighty and are adorned with long strings of flapper pearls and amazing jewelled feather headpieces. The gents look good too, exceptionally dapper in their period suits! Meantime, moving on from the Gatsby dry run, my husband Dave resumes his unrelenting task of garden remodelling. Four months ago, it resembled a Willy Wonka chocolate factory with swathes of mud in drifts and dunes, now reshaped to form areas that are level and sprouting spiky green grass. As the ugly duckling slowly transforms into a swan, it will be for some time a bird without feathers as our planting plan must wait until Autumn or beyond. • .. • • Hiring himself a small mini-digger and a dumper truck, this Spring and into the Summer Dave has taken upon himself to plan, manage and labour the entire project himself. I can only watch from the side-lines and offer cups of hot tea or iced ginger beer as he either sweats and toils in the heat or becomes drenched and chilled in this year's oscillating temperature of extreme highs and lows. Finally, one afternoon he convinced me to take the helm of the dumper truck, as time that weekend was running away with a job unfinished. Being a cautious car driver with not the best eyesight, I had some reservations, but pretty soon I got the hang of it, speeding backwards and forth moving great mounds of earth from one space to another. Little levers and buttons elevated and tipped huge quantities of soil, and if you got the angle right and reversed it could leave a trail of dropped earth to minimalize spade work. I now fully understand why the boys love these toys ! Amid this earth moving experience, I volunteered (in conjunction with a girlfriend from Dorney Reach) to join the Dorney Horticultural Society committee, after having explained to the green fingered committee that whilst fairly competent to move huge hoards of earth, I was not erudite on horticultural knowledge. However, we were both accepted on face value as our enthusiasm was boundless, opening another garden gate for a completely new vista. Our first event was a visit to the local Buddhist Centre, Taplow Court, but feeling a bit the new girl in class, it was quickly evident that OOHS is a very friendly lovely group of local people with a shared interest of the outdoors. It was a wonderful day, making friends and viewing a very special garden of peace and serenity. As a newbie I have learnt there are several events through the year, with a diverse diary of activities tailored to members' interests. The society seems fairly well supported but would dearly embrace more local people to join. I urge others to come and see how delightful and enterprising this wellestablished group is. Do come and join us if you can make a little space in the diary. As the date draws closer for our Gatsby opening night, this magazine has probably already rolled off the press, our curtain about to open, with the catchy enigmatic tunes that are still popular today. Many of the songs have transcended time and are still household favourites, coming back on the scene with today's hits sampled with a ZOs beat. Becky Smith, who lives in our community, is part of our cast and also Choreographer for this production, teaching our left feet to unite with our right one to master the Charleston Stomp. Don't miss it, this run is for four nights only closing on Saturday the 7th July, still time to catch a glimpse of glamour and a story about love and romance that history repeats time and again. Wednesday July the 4th marks Independence Day, marks our opening night, and I hope if you do come along your marks and remarks will be remarkable! Kristina Perkins Dells Cottage 1-- Dorney Website 􀀂1 1 The Dorney website address is l dorney. org. uk and the twitter account @DorneyPC _ Fin? minutes, planning, twe􀃗􀃘l 􀃙nks to SBDC articles etc M. A. SHEPHARD BUILDERS LTD Est 1983 Diggers Den, lA Oak Stubbs Lane, Dorney Reach, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 ODW Phone: 01628 639 366 Mobile: 07803 179962 Email: m.a.shephard@btconnect.com M. A. Shephard Builders Ltd. are proud of our heritage and our workmanship. We have been trading for over 30 years and in that time we have developed a professional relationship with suppliers, building surveyors and other professionals. We specialise in high quality workmanship in the fields of heritage work using all the traditional methods and working with traditional materials. We usually carry out the full project from start to finish, taking all the pressure off you. If you want to project manage alongside us you are more than welcome. We also carry out all the following: • All types of Refurbishments • New house builds • Commercial to Domestic conversions • Barn conversions • All types of listed work • General building works IM1=r, • Decorating works Registered House-Builder •TRUST MARK --BuHders • • • • The tennis season is nearly here. Get out those rusty racquets! Graham Dare Adult and Junior Coach Are you interested in some tennis coaching at the Dorney tennis court? Graham is a licensed L TA Level 2 coach experienced in coaching beginners and intermediate players. In addition to coaching at Dorney Tennis Club, Graham works for the American School in London, supporting the After School Tennis Programme and Summer Holiday Camps. Graham is licensed and insured with the BTCA and has DBS, First Aid and Safeguarding and Protection Certificates. Available for private individual and group coaching for both adults and children. Please call him for further information. Contact 07966 511998 E-mail. graham.darel@gmail.com Dorney Social Diary Thursday 12th .Ju ly Tuesda;y 17th .July Wednesday 18th July & September 19th Saturday 1 st September Friday 21st September Public Information Exhibition, M4 Smart Motoiway, Dorney Village Hall 2 p.m. - 7 p.m. Something Ne"' Dorney Village Hall 10.30 a.m. -12 noon Eton Wick History Group Meeting Eton Wick Village Hall 7.30 p.m. DDHS Annual Show I>DHS Hanrest Supper Dorney Village Hall 7.30 p.m. DORNEY PARISH COUNCIL Second Tuesday of each month (except August) Village Hall 8 p.m. DORNEY VILLAGE HALL Second Monday of alternate months MANAGEMENT COMMITTEt: i.e. July, September Village Hall 8 p.m. DORNEY BADMINTON CLUB Every Tuesday Village Hall 8 -10 p.m. DORNEY SHORT MAT BOWLS CLUB Every Sunday Village Hall 7 - 10 p.m. DORNEY YOUTH CLUB EYery Thursday eYening during term time (for children of the parish) 6.00 - 7.30 p.m. Village Hall Dorney 5-16 vear olds in two groups VILLAGE HALL BOOKINGS Cont􀊧ct Leanne Kittel 07919 484855 Graham Easton 01628 628819 & 07503 745760 Email: enquiries@dorneyYillagehaU.com 1!\ornep flartS'b mm FROM 111 GARDEN FOR \/EDDINGS. CHESRATIONS. souaum. TA8lf ARRANGfMfNTS. JAM JAR POSlfS OR Slt1Pl 1 A lARG[ sucm OF rmm mm FlOIIER'> TO MU SO ING 10URS£lf THE OLD PLW. LOU PATH. DmEl WINDSOt mmiu. SL􀆁 6QQ POTTEUNGAgomHHEOLDPLAU.(0. Ul I WWW.OLDPLACEFLOWHS.CO. Ul PLEm CONTACT Roz I m 07%oqr,.-,gq 􀀂□D􀀄􀀅􀀆􀀇t;; g􀀋ap􀀌 g Bailr&n9 • Site Clearance • Pergolas • Terraces • Suppliers of: • Turfing • Driveways • Brickwork SAND • BALLAST • Plants, Trees • Car Parks Decorative WOOD CHIPS and Shrubs • Block Paving or Standard TOP SOIL • Fencing MUSHROOM • Patios • Mature Trees COMPOST 01628 666022 • 661768 Mobile 07860 706675 THE TRADITIONAL RESTORATION COMPANY LTD The Coach House, Dorney Court 01628 660708 www.TraditionalRestoration.co.uk enquiries@TraditionalRestoration.co.uk Restorers of Fine Antique Furniture SUSAN HANDY ScHOOLoFDANCE Aero Jazz Ballet Baby Ballet Ballet Stretch Contemporary Creative Dance Modern Jazz Musical Theatre Tap Adult Tap Adult Ballet GCSE Dance Elite Dance Group Boys Syllabus ' ETON • ETON WICK • WINDSOR • DATCHET • OLD WINDSOR ICKENHAM • PYRFORD • WOKING • RICHMOND WWW.SUSANHANDYDANCE.CO.UK 01753 542672 / 07515 270432 e: office@susanhandydance.co.uk BHS & ABRS Approved Riding School and Pony Club Centre panishBit RKiing School & Livery Elm Farm, Boveney Road, Dorney Common Nr Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 6QD We are a family run Riding School based on Dorney Common established for over 35 years! • Qualified lntructors • Lessons available fro,n 7 years upwards • Pony Rides available for children as young as 4. • We offer very popular Birthday parties • Large Indoor and Outdoor schools • Pony Club and Own a Pony activity days • Open 6 days a week/ Tuesday-Sunday • Gift Vouchers available through the website For bookings and enquiries please call us on 01628 661275 www.spanishbit.co. uk and bushes withpnd less appealing things like rabbit and mole traps. The raspberry, red and black currant and gooseberry bushes growing by the wash houses on The Palmer Arms side of the property, that were covered by the nets when in fruit, offe red o secret hide out plus fo od supply for us during the summer. They are now oil gone, replaced by a bright blue swimming pool; such a vast amount of readily available clean water situated at the rear of their dwellings, would hove amazed and flabbergasted the country folk who long ago lived in the original two cottages. Between the wash houses and the house was a rose garden and a genuine well, the original water supply for the cottages,• since the well was fa irly deep and still contained water, it was strictly 'off limits ' for us; roses and well are also now both gone. Despite being warned by several 'off limits', my youngest brother managed to get into tro uble. Just behind the fruit bushes and the wash house, in the adjacent field, there were a few trees one of which was half fa llen and still bearing a large hollow branch. In the hollow branch was a colony of Hornets, yet another of the 'off limits '. My brother, age five, being who he was, didn't think that applied to him, so he went into the field with a stick and poked the stick into the hollow branch. Well the Hornets didn 't like that and came out aft er him. Chasing him in an angry cloud, past the gooseberry bushes and wash house, past the apple tree, they raging and him hollering, into the kitchen where there was a downstairs toilet into which he shut himself. Unfortunately, by mistake, with one Hornet. To be continued .... ©Telma Dufto n 2018 Editor's note - I hope DPN will exp and our coverage of Dorney's past, both ancient and more modern and increase our co-operation with the Dorney History Group. My thanks to Bill Dax for bringing the remarkable Te /ma's memories to a wider audience. Electri cal Services Burnham Napit Part "P" Approved Additional Sockets - Lights • New Fuse Boards - Updates • Security - Attic Lighting • Home - Landlords Certificates • Portable Appliance Test ing • All Other Electrical Work Free advice and estimates Alf work guaranteed No job too small Phone Rob on 01628 60 30 63 Mobile 07801 832 792 • NAPIT AN APPEAL RAISING AWARENESS At this present time of job-cutting and tight budgets it is being brought to our attention that in the near future our local churches will no longer be able to fund a Vicar unless we look to this issue NOW. Rural and small parishes are sadly struggling, of which we are one. The work of our vicar, La Stacey (and those before her), often goes unnoticed but I can assure you her presence is very much appreciated by many whether elderly, sick, families going through difficulties; in our local schools, churches and a familiar face around the community. Weddings, funerals and christenings - there is some point in our lives that we look to our local Vicar. Our aim is not to lose this position for Dorney, Eton Wick and Eton. We are appealing to everyone through various outreach sources, this being one, to ask for your support. There is a scheme called the Parish Giving Scheme whereby it is easy to organise through direct debit as little as £5 a month (or more) to make the Diocese of Oxford realise we may be a small parish but we want to keep our Vicar amongst us. Please take a moment to read and fill in a form which can be found on this website: www.parishgivingscheme.org.uk or pick up a form and further information from the church, Jane or Angie (telephone numbers below). Thank you for helping and keeping us a caring community. The bricks and mortar of our churches will be there for years to come but the pastoral care must also be there for our vil lages and villagers. Angie Wood-Dow (01628 660507) and Jane Reed (01753 424547) IRONING by FLORI Your Ironing, my Mission! On Facebook: Cleaning & ironing by Flori florentinateisanu@yahoo.co.uk Mob: 07879626434 I collect and deliver for free. Prices start at £2.20 per lb. Minimum price £1 1 . I can collect from home or work, day or night. I provide a friendly, professional and reliable service with experience over 1 0 years - 1 0- • It's been a busy Spring for Dorney Horticultural Society Spring 20 18 has been a pretty memorable season for Dorney Horticultural Society. In these pages and elsewhere, the Society was gloomy about the future. Our main dilemma was summed up by a basic necessity - the Society needed new recruits on the Committee. Our appeal has been answered! We're delighted that Wendy Shephard and Kristina Graham have come forward. They are most welcome. Others have expressed interest and we would expect a fully functional group to be in place later in the year. Numbers have been good at our two Friday evening events and the enjoyment level has been hig.h. Our trad itional quiz evening retu rned in February, but with a twist or two. This year questions were not limited to the purely horticultural and the guests enjoyed (we hope!) lwo extra rounds of questions on General and Local Knowledge. Our Spring Buffe t even ing in late April was a culinary triumph and we express our thanks to the remarkable Chrys Fisher and hjs team from 'The Palmer Arms' (and now, of course, 'The Pineapple') for the splendid fare on offer. We had an interesting speaker, local botan ical expert from lver, Chris Chadwell. Chris' forth right approach might not have been to all our tastes, but his detailed resume of the wild flora around our village probably served three useful purposes by complementing recent wild flower planting initiatives by the Something New group, illustrating that Dorney had over the last couple of centuries or so been where botanists had recorded unique specimens of various wild flowers, and that successful planting of wild flowers was more than a matter of merely scattering seeds but needed careful pre-planning. In early May, a cheerful group of members joined up for an afternoon visit to Taplow Court. We enjoyed an escorted tour of the bea utiful garden s on a perfect warm sunny afternoon. Members were struck by the continuing development of the garden s, meadows. orchards and flower borders. Jncidentally, if you missed this visit but are intrigued by Tap low Court, a I 9tl' century mansion once the home of the Grenfel 1 fam ily but now the home ofSGI-UK, a lay Buddhist society, there will be other opportunities to visit via a series of free open days running through the summer. Now the 'l- lortSoc' turns its attention to planning the Annual Dorney Show on Saturday. September I ... You are preparing your entries now, aren't you? Dorney & District Horticultural Society Committee. ETON WICK HISTORY GROUP MEETING Eton Wick Village Hall al 7.30 p.m. NO MEETING IN JUNE Wednesday 18th. July THE BERKSHIRE LIEUTENANCY Speaker: John Handcock L VO, DL -1 1- M. A. SHEPHARD BUILDERS LTD Est 1983 Diggers Den, lA Oak Stubbs Lane, Dorney Reach, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 0DW Phone: 01628 639 366 Mobile: 07803 179962 Email: m.a.shephard@btconnect.com M. A. Shephard Builders Ltd. are proud of our heritage and our workmanship. We have been trading for over 30 years and in that time we have developed a professional relationship with suppliers, building surveyors and other professionals. We specialise in high quality workmanship in the fields of heritage work using all the traditional methods and working with traditional materials. We usually carry out the full project from start to finish, taking all the pressure off you. If you want to project manage alongside us you are more than welcome. We also carry out all the following: • All types of Refurbishments • New house builds • Commercial to Domestic conversions • Barn conversions • All types of listed work • General building works 1􀀊1=!􀀋 • Decorating works Registered House-Builder - 1 ?- • • • ,, Sue Moffat Parish Clerk Tel: 07443 588361 Email: cler􀇫dorocy.o􀇬.uk Dorney Parish Council 20 Benchmanor Crescent Cbalfont St Peter Bucks SL99HL Minutes of the Dorney Parish Meeting of the Council Held at the Dorney Village Hall on Tuesday sth May 2018 at 8 pm Present: -Councillors K Harris (chaired the meeting). A Purdie. L Kittel, A Foxley and P Smith In Attendance: - Bucks CC Cllr Dev Dhillon. SBDC Cllr D Pepler and Sue Moffat (Clerk). 1. Election of Chairman - At the proposition of Cllr Smith. seconded by Cllr Foxley. it was unanimously agreed for Cllr Harris to be Chainnan for the ensuing year. 2. Declaration of Acceptance of Office - Cllr Harris accepted the office of Chairman. 3. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION -Bucks CC Report - Cllr Dev Dhillon reported:-(i)He is still waiting for costings for the LAF projects; (ii) He will investigate why the Highways Officer at Bucks CC will not allow the use of the solar panel radar signs that Dorney PC wish to purchase: (iii) After the response from Openreach to Cllr Purdie that Openreach cannot fully upgrade the broadband speed before spring 2019. Cllr Dhillon will make enquiries at Bucks CC to see if the process can be speeded up: (iv) Cllr Dhillon announced that Pauline Caley was nominated by TVPA for an award for her support work with young people and the elderly; (v) Dorney PC continued to press for a more efficient service from Bucks CC regarding pothole repair in Dorney. SBDC Report - Cllr Pepler reported that :-{i) The main work at District Council is re sponding to the Consultation on Unitary Authority after the Secretary of State was minded to recommend the single Unitary authority. SBDC. CDC and High Wycombe District Councils arc campaigning for a 2 Tier Unitary Authority. Democratic Services at SBDC are carrying out a poll on this issue: (ii) There is no fu rther development regarding the Enforcement on the owners of the waste heaps at Orchard Herbs Fann but Cllr Pepler is at a meeting with the Planning Officers at Taplow this week and will continue to make enquiries as to what is happening. 4. Apologies were received fr om Cllr G Easton and Cllr R Onnond. 5. Disclosure of interest in items on the agenda •· None. 6. Resolved to receive and approve the minutes of the previous meeting Council held on the I 011'Apri\20 1 8. 7. Election of Vice-Chairman - At the proposition of Cllr Harris. seconded by Cllr Smith. it wa<; unanimously agreed for Cllr Purdie to be Vice-Chainnan for the ensuing year. 8. It was resolved to fix the amount of the Chairman's allowance in pursuance of section 15(5) of the Local Government Act 1972 at the budgeted amount of£ 150. 9. Finance Committee • It was agreed that membership will be all councillors. At the proposition of Cllr Harris. seconded by Cllr Kittel. it was unanimously agreed for f'llr Ormond to be Chairman of the Finance Committee. 10. To appoint representatives on the undermentioned bodies:SBALC - Cllr Purdie. BALC - Cllr Smith. I I. It was resolved to fix the dates and times of meetings of the Council for the ensuing year - to be at 8pm on second Tuesday of every month - (at Dorney Village Hall) and no meeting in August. Finance Meeting to set budget and precept and review internal audit plan and risk assessments will be held before the Council meeting on 13th November. 20 18 in Dorney Village Hall. 12. Clerk's Report --None. -13- 13. Chairman's Report-None. 14. Web Site - It was agreed to have links to outside bodies such as SBDC's web site for Planning, SBALC meetings and any other local issues that may arise. Finances will be attached to the Minutes. It was also agreed to have the Clerk as the one point of contact. 15. DefibriUator Update -Cllr Foxley reported that the training for volunteers to use the defibrillator took place on 241h April and was very informative. The defibrillator is checked regularly and these checks are reported on line. Now that the defibrillator in Dorney is up and running, Cllr Foxley is investigating the possibility of funding and instaJling another one in Dorney Reach. Dorney Village Hall Committee have agreed for a defibrillator to be installed on the outside wall of the Village Hall provided there is no cost to the Village Hall apart from electricity to top up the battery. However. it was agreed that the telephone box in Harcourt Road would be a more suitable location with higher footfall and easier access. Cllr Kittel also said that Dorney School would support this location and help to look after it. At present this phone box is used a lot as a library and there is a clutter of books which may cause a problem. One suggestion was to attach the defibrillator to the outside of the Phone box to resolve this problem. Cllr Foxley will carry out further investigations at this location 16. The Village Clean Up as mentioned at Dorney AGM. It was agreed to have 3 clean-up teams, one each for Dorney, Dorney Reach and Boveney areas and the leaders to be Cllr Foxley, Cllr Kittel and Cllr Smith respectively. The agreed date was 16th June with all volunteers to first meet up at Dorney Village Hall for a bacon sandwich before dispersing to their teams. Cllr Pepler said that SBDC are able to lend litter pickers, high viz jackets and refuse bags. The Clerk will contact the Waste Team at SBDC to co-ordinate this and arrange for the refuse bags to be collected after the event. 17. Up\&I @□􀀅􀀆􀀇􀀈;; 􀀄􀀅cap􀀆 g. Bu.,lt/itJ9 • Site Clearance • Pergolas • Terraces • Suppliers of: • Turfing • Driveways • Brickwork SAND • BALLAST • Plants, Trees • Car Parks Decorative WOOD CHIPS and Shrubs • Block Paving or Standard TOP SOIL MUSHROOM· • Fencing • Patios • Mature Trees COMPOST 01628 666022 • 661768 Mobile 07860 706675 THE TRADITIONAL RESTORATION COMPANY LTD The Coach House, Dorney Court 01628 660708 www.TraditionalRestoration.co.uk enquiries@TraditionalRestoration.co.uk Restorers of Fine Antique Furniture SUSAN HANDY SCHOOLoFDANCE \ Aero Jazz Ballet Baby Ballet Ballet Stretch Contemporary Creative Dance Modern Jazz Musical Theatre Tap Adult Tap Adult Ballet GCSE Dance Elite Dance Group Boys Syllabus ETON • ETON WICK • WINDSOR • DATCHET • OLD WINDSOR ICKENHAM • PYRFORD • WOKING • RICHMOND WWW.SUSANHANDYDANCE.CO.UK 01753 542672 I 07515 270432 e: office@susanhandydance.co.uk BHS &ABRS Approved Riding School and Pony Club Centre panish5il Rding School & Livery Elm Farm, Boveney Road, Dorney Common NrWindsor, Berkshire, SL4 6QD We are a family run Riding School based on Dorney Common established for over 35 years! • Qualified lntructors • Lessons available fro,n 7 years upwards • Pony Rides available for children as young as 4. • We offer very popular Birthday parties • Large Indoor and Outdoor schools • Pony Club and Own a Pony activity days • Open 6 days a week, Tuesday-Sunday • Gift Vouchers available through the website For bookings and enquiries please call us on 01628 661275 www.spanishbit.co. uk Something New. Dorney Wild Flower Initiative At the meeting held on 201h March the discussion continued about making the Parish more friendly to wild life. In particular how to establish areas where wild flowers can be encouraged to grow. This is how you can contribute in the simplest way to increase our wild flowers. Select one or more patches of suitable ground (e.g. a comer of your garden, roadside or footpath verge) You need an area from about a square yard upwards Obtain the owner's permission, if necessary Perhaps mark out the area with sticks Prepare the soil only by removing large weeds Obtain some wild flower seed Either plant the seed directly in the ground Or raise some plants from seed in pots Or buy 'plugs' (seedlings) Record what you have planted within the selected patch Do not apply fertiliser Monitor the growth of your plants (perhaps take a photograph) Why not work with a friend to share the work? If this simple initiative arouses interest there should be opportunities to extend it over wider areas where it will have significant benefits for insects, other wildlife and as an amenity. During our tea/coffee, talk went off on many tangents:- What do we think about the Proposed Unitary Authority Plans put forward by South Bucks District Council, it was felt by the majority that we needed more information to make an infonmed decision. We are told this will save money by amalgamating but where, how much etc. The perennial problem of "dogs poo". This affects us all, dog owners or not. Who can remember the stench, difficulty to remove from shoes, clothing etc. Notices were put around the Parish but were torn down, further notices were printed and again torn down, much was said on this subject. Others added horse poo to this, as some horses were ridden on the footpath and fouled ii. It was mentioned it was not a bridle way, Car parking right up to the corner on Court Lane. We, as a club, cannot do much about this but can raise this and other concerns at the Council AGM Meeting on the 18th April. 7.30pm. Village Hall Next Meeting Tuesday17th April 10.30am Village Hall Listed Buildings in the Parish. Jean Tyler Do come and join us. Joy Richmond Easter eggs on Dorney Common There is never a convenient time for snow to fall thickly, but it does seem that those that rejoice in a WFH day (working from home) celebrated a week indulging in unexpected confinement. Prolific media warnings of severe weather kept most doors shut. Mostly that week I too stayed at home (WFH), catching up on my paperwork (loading the washing machine), filing piles of invoices (ironing the results of my previous efforts), and answering emails (folding the laundry away) to make good of the time. When l did eventually dare venture out, summoned by a few urgent matters at the office, the lady I work with rang to say that she wouldn't be returning after lunch as the Ascot roads were closing. Glancing up, I could see outside resembled a Christmas snow globe that had just been given a good shake. Luckily I am of the age when everyone drove in snow and didn't care, it was called the 70s. Wearing my wise hat, I packed up and headed home, immediately noticing, apart from the wonderful spacious feel on the roads, how very courteous other drivers were as they drove carefully through the drifts. It was truly a throw back to when cars were the guests and gave way to life. Solitarily cocooned in our fuel enraged vehicles, we seem to have less regard for others. Now the icy snow converted those mostly solemn faces to smiling thoughtful ones. As the snow turned to slush and finally to heavy rain, despite heating the shed that our chicken coop was within, we lost a couple of our old gal hens. Great sadness fell, when suddenly within days, two younger girls after a long barren winter, started to lay. Eggs for Easter! It is fascinating how nature removes and ignites, a constant tidal flow of beginnings and endings to make the circle of life. Now the weather was much improved my daily constitutional walking resumed. One late afternoon after a long session hunched over the keyboard, I took off to cross the common road only to be honked by a very angry driver. I had misjudged the speed of the oncoming car to create an obstruction. My heart said 'you were going too fast' whilst in my head the thoughts were oops, maybe I should wear that old Panto cow outfit. Very soon when our cows arrive, those metal bullets will be obliged to slow down. In my spare time, theatre matters continue, with one curtain dosing and another lifting for a long run up process of previews, readings, auditions, rehearsals and production management. We are shining the green light across the bay soon as auditions commence for The Great Gatsby, a thought provoking fun drama that opens in the Courtyard Theatre at Norden Farm on the 4'h July for the week. Independence Day for some but not for Jay Gatsby as he struggles to capture Daisy's love amidst champagne fuelled parties. -14- This is going to be a fabulous production with glorious swinging 20's outfits and Charleston music. Dells' little creative studio will be under full throttle crafting some authentic looking properties to fit the bill. Do come and see a performance, or if you have some time on your hands, join in to learn a new skill, all ages welcome. With Easter upon us, and the deluge of seasonal confectionary replacing the rain, there is good opportunity to spend some time in the garden as the temperatures slowly inch up. However, our garden currently hovers between a squishy mud bath and a plough of undulating ruts. One man and his digger came out at the height of this recent rainy spell to correct some landscape issues, but left behind a giant chocolate cauldron. My husband Dave, always the great enthusiast, dons his wellies, and with me at his side wearing mine, we do our best. Together working hard with a pink and blue job allocation, we slowly shift towards a summer of glorious succulent bloom. Peonies in their blousy skirts, wallflowers lining up for a dance, penstemon swaying in the breeze, fifty shades of fern and a bowling green lawn. Well this is what we have in our heads, but as they say, if you aim high, the target may eventually be hit! Spring is here, and along with it optimism rises. A long year ahead of balmy days or English warm rainy ones that keep our lovely lands green. I will take a leaf out of the book of good intent, try and use my car less, but when I do, I will certainly be wearing my smiling thoughtful face. Happy Easter! Kristina Perkins Dells Cottage peonywigglar@gmail.com IRONING by FLORI Your Ironing, my Mission! On Facebook: Cleaning & ironing by Flori florentinateisanu@yahoo.co.uk Mob: 07879626434 I collect and deliver for free. Prices start at £2.20 per lb. Minimum price £1 1 . I can collect from home or work, day or night. I provide a friendly, professional and reliable service with experience over 10 years Sue Moffat Parish Clerk Tel: 07443 588361 r:Bomep s!2arish c?o uncil Email: clerk('!)dorne:y.org.uk Dorney Parish Council 20 Beochmanor Crescent Chalfont St Peter Bucks SL9 9HL Minutes of the Dorney Parish Meeting of the Council held at the Dorney Village Hall on Tuesday 13th March 2018 at 8 pm Present:- Councillors K Harri s (chaired the meeting), G Easton, A Foxley, A Purdie and R Onnond. In Attendance:- Bucks CC Cllr Dev Dhillon, SBOC Cllr D Pepler, 2 members of the public and Sue Moffat (Clerk). 180. PUBLIC PARTICIPTION -Bucks CC Report - Cllr Dev Dhillon reported:- (i) Bucks CC have added another £2111 to the £50m to spend on road repairs. Cllr Dhillon has received £9600 between Burnham, Taplow and Dorney PCs to spend on additional highways work under the Members' Maintenance Fund for this year according to the list circulated which includes the cost breakdown e.g. Jet patching, siding out etc. He also has some money in his capital fund for road repairs. Dorney PC suggested jet patching from (a) Lake End Road to Village Road; (b) Motorway bridge to the bend in Taplow and; (c) Marsh Lane to over the Jubilee River. Also siding out footpath along the cycleway from Sainsbury's to Dorney and replacement bench in Vil lage Road which would need to be funded from the £9600. Cllr Dhillon offered fu nding for a new dog bin in Jubilee River car park from his Community Fund; (ii ) Cllr Dhillon asked for any community projects requiring LAF funding for next year. Cllr Harris responded that tl1e closure of Marsh Lane bridge for 18 months, whilst it is being replaced for the M4 Smartmotorway, is causing great concern to the community, particularly as all traffic will be directed around Court Lane including large vehicles trying to manoeuvre around the very sharp corner outside the Rowing Lake entrance which is exacerbated by parked cars. Cllr Dhillon suggested that the rai lings which are going to be erected outside the Newsagents in Lent Rise to stop drivers parking on the pavement, may be a suitable solution of preventing parked cars at the corner of Court Lane and creating greater safety measures to pedest rians. Council lors to consider this and report back; (iii) Cllr Purdie reported to Cllr Dhillon that at recent meetings at Dorney School, the Highways Agency was shocked at the impact that the 18 month dosure of Marsh Lane will have on Dorney School as 80% of the children come from Burnham and Taplow and rely on Marsh Lane for their route to school. Highways at Bucks arc looking into this matter. The School is concerned that the 18 month road closure will have a detrimental impact on the level of numbers attending the school and • are seeking compensation. Also Cllr Purdie pointed out to the Highways Agency that they had not taken into account that the fibre optic cable, prov iding Broadband to Dorney School and residents in Dorney Reach, is linked to Marsh Lane bridge; (iv) Cllr Easton asked Cllr Dhillon about the proposed new cycleway along the A4. Cllr Dhillon responded that Bucks CC have given approval, but he was very much against spending £ 1.2m on this cycleway as he does not believe it is viable proposition and a waste of public money; (v) Please let Cllr Dhillon know if there are any elderly folk in Dorney needing help so that Bucks CC are aware of individual cases and can ofTer help . SBDC Report -· Cllr Pepler reported that:- (i) There has just been an announcement from the Secretary of State that he is minded to make an order for a single unitary authority in Bucks. The District Councils will be making representation to oppose this and seek the District Councils' plan for a two new district authority. He urged others to do the same; (ii) Council tax is increasing in April; (iii) Cllr Pepler understood that the Animal Sanctuary ha, now gone but no more news about the Enforcement on the owners of the waste heaps at Orchard Herbs Farrn 181 . Apologies were received from Cllr L Kittel and Cllr P Smith. 182. Resolved to receive and approve the minutes of the previous Council meeting held on the 9'" Fcbruary 20 18. 183. Disclosure of interest in items on the agenda - None. 184. Clerk's Report - Does Dorney PC wish to make representation regards the recent announcement that the Secretary of State is minded to implement, subject to Parli amentary approval and fonher consultation, the locally led proposal to replace the existing five counc ils in Bucks with a single council for the area? There is a I O week consultation ending on the 25"' May 201 8. It was agreed that it should be considered at the next Council meeting. 185. Chairman's Report -None. 186, Defibrillator Update - Unfortunately the trainers were unable to attend the Volunteer training on 9th March and it will be arranged for another date, but not on a rriday. However the 30 volunteers that did tum up had a pleasant evening and discussed the need for a defibrillator in Domev Reach which could be located on the outside wall of the Vil lage Hall or the disused Phone Box in Harcourt Rd if electricity was reconnected to it. Cllr foxley oftered to investigate this. If there were 2 defibrillators in Dorney they could then be locked ones as the appropriate code would be accessible for both halves of the village. 187. Transparency Code - Cllr Foxley has purchased the IT equipment and uploaded the software. It should be operational for the Clerk by 8'" April. Yearly subscriptions for McCa ffe and Microsoft will need to be included in the budget in future. It was agreed to debate the web site layout at the next meeting. 188. Traffic Calming Measures in Dorney (DTWG) - Cllr Onnond met with Local Area Technician and Cllr Dhillon on site to discuss suitable locations for the Vehicle Activated Sign. Dorney PC recommends 2 perrnanent solar pane l Speed Awareness signs which register the number plate of speed ing vehicles and eliminates the need to man Speed Watch cameras. However Bucks CC has stated that only the specified SW ARCO Mobile Vehicular Activated signs can be used. Further investigations will need to take place to clarify the situation as difTerent types of signs have been spotted -17- around Buckinghamshire. Cllr Dhillon has been successful in obtaining £ 1 500 of LAF funding towards a MV AS. 189. Tree work at Dorney War Memorial. The tree work has been carried out satisfactorily. 190. Proposed security measures required at Trumper's Field -Cir Easton reported that the ditch work is completed. Now waiting for SBDC to organise for the post and rail wooden fencing to be installed alongside tlle ditch. 191. The agenda for the AGM on 18th April, 2018 was agreed. 192. Planning (i) To note planning issues, decisions and appeals recently notified by South Bucks District Council. (ii)To consider and comment upon applications - Agreed. (iii) 1 7/00930/FUL, 3 Harcourt Rd, Single Storey Rear extension - Appeal dismissed. 193.Finance a) To authorise payment of Accounts for March 2018 (as circulated). b) To receive list of income for March 201 8 (as circulated). c) To receive recent bank statements and Chairman to sign reconciliations. d) To receive the budget for 20 I 7 / 1 8. 194.Members' Reports -No meetings. 195. Correspondence (i) South Bucks Scam Community Forum; (ii) Hucks CC Mineral and Waste Consultation; (iii) Bucks CC Draft Freight Strategy Consultation; (iv) SE Water Draft Resources Management Plan Consultation; (v) BALC -Road works - Patching of Village Road; (vi) BALC ·· Winter Weather update; (vii) Beeches LAF agenda for 7"' March 201 8; (vii) Supplement: Local Priorities Budget 2018- 1 9 to the agenda for Beeches Local Area Forum,(viii) Supplement: Local Priorities Budget 20 1 8-19 to the agenda for Beeches Local Area Forum, Wednesday 7th March; (ix) TVP Hidden Ham1 Campaign; (x) Bucks CC - Modernising Local Government in Buckinghamshire 196. Resolve any complaints/comments received from residents (i) Enquiry regarding missing dog bin at Jubilee River car park; (ii) Enquiry regarding building of large out buildings in Old Marsh Lane (referred to Cllr Dev Dhillon who has reported that the Enforcement Ofticcr will be anending tl1is week). 197.Highways employee/work-No further updates. Meeting ended 9.38pm. Chairman .... ......... . . ..... . . .. ........... . . .. . . . .............. .... Date ........................... . Date of next meeting - 8pm on 10" April, 2018 Council meeting at Dorney Village Hall. AGM at 7.30pm on Wednesday 18'" April, 2018 Dorney Website The Dorney website address is dorney.org.uk and the twitter account @DorneyPC Find minutes, planning, tweets, links to SBDC articles etc. - 1 ASunday So, the County's plans seem simplistic and are couched in the cliches of cost cutting politicians since the 19B0s - arrangements will be 'simpler', 'better value' and the people will be 'closer' to the council. The District Councils in the south of Bucks have said they are 'extremely disappointed' by the minister's announcement. They have put forward counter proposals which can be read on their website modernisingbucks.org. Unlike the County's, their proposals seem rooted in reality. Both sides would have Milton Keynes standing apart, but instead of one unitary council, the DCs propose a northern and a southern unitary council. The council in the south would be made up of the current Wycombe, Chiltern & South Bucks DCs. Bucks, says the DC proposal, 'is fundamentally a divided place'. The divide is caused by the Chilterns. North Bucks looks towards The Midlands. South Bucks is oriented towards London & the M4 & M40corridors. There is poor north-south connectivity. It may be apocalyptic, but I was struck by the similarity between here & now and the US pre-civil war with the North v South divide reversed. Maybe not civil war, but the neglect often felt by us in the Deep South is now articulated by our DC with a wealth of sociological & economic data. This is clearly not a case of one size fits all ... One intriguing footnote is that I wondered how the County's unitary proposal could possibly bring residents 'closer' to the Council. It seems a 'Partnership' will be developed by which parish and town councils are given the option of taking on more services. I can't imagine what services small councils like our own or Taplow's could or would want to take over. Is this whole project to hollow out local government another example whereby residents are deprived, in the spurious name of austerity or antibureaucracy, of the services of local expertise (as found at SBDC?) and politicians accountable to local electors? Peter Bowman peter.bowman@talktalk.net DORNEY PARISH COUNCIL ANNUAL PARISH MEETING Wednesday 1 8th Apri I 7.30 p.m. Village Hall - 1 1 - M. A. SHEPHARD BUILDERS LTD Est 1983 Diggers Den, lA Oak Stubbs Lane, Dorney Reach, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 ODW Phone: 01628 639 366 Mobile: 07803 179962 Email: m.a.shephard@btconnect.com M. A. Shephard Builders Ltd. are proud of our heritage and our workmanship. We have been trad ing for over 30 years and in that time we have developed a profe ssional relationship with suppliers, building su rveyors and other professionals. We specialise in high quality workmanship in the fields of heritage work using all the traditional methods and working with traditional materia ls. We usually carry out the full project from start to fi nish, taking all the pressure off you. If you want to project manage alongside us you are more than welcome. We also carry out all the following: • All types of Refu rbishments • New house builds • Commercial to Domestic conversions • Barn conversions • All types of listed work • General building works l􀀅l =t􀀆 • Decorating works Registered House-Builder 􀀑􀀒 ([J I'􀃣 ''"􀀓"'""' ,..,..Q .. O •TRUST ' MARK _ , __ Builders J Dorney Social Diary Tuesday 17'h. April Wednesday 18th April Friday z7'h April DORNEY PARISH COUNCIL DORNEY VILLAGE HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE DORNEY BADMINTON CLUB DORNEY SHORT MAT BOWLS Something New Village Hall 10.30 a.m. -12 noon. Annual Parish Meeting Village Hall 7.30 p.m. Eton Wick History Group Meeting Eton Wick Village Hall 7,30 p.m. DDHS Spring B11ffet with Guest Speaker Village Hall 7.30 p.m. Second Tuesday or each month (except August) Village Hall 8 p.m. Second Monday of alternate months i.e. May, Juty Village Hall 8 p.m. Every Tuesday Village Hall 8-JO p.m. CLUB DORNEY YOUTH CLUB Enry Sunday Village Hall 7 - 10 p.m. Enry Thursday evening during term time (for children or the parish) VILLAGE HALL BOOKINGS 6.00 - 7.30 p.m. Village Hall Dorney 5-16 year olds in two groups contact Leanne Kittel 07919 484855 Graham Easton 01628 628819 & 07503 745760 F.:mail: enquiries<@dorneyvillagehall.com Electrical Services Burnham Napit Part "P" Approved Additional Sockets - Lights New Fuse Boanls - Updates Security ~ Attic Lighting Home - Landlords Certificates Portable Appliance Testing All Other Electrical Work Free advice and estimates All work guaranteed No job too small Phone Rob on 01628 60 30 63 Mobile 07801 832 792 s.: 􀀆. NAPIT Wyndham, Village Road. Dorney NATURE + D. B. SPECIAL AGENT February commenced with very cold dry weather in Dorney Parish, turning wet and windy midmonth, followed by milder, sunny days, but in the last quarter, in came the • Beast from the East' with driving snow and bitterly cold breezes. Fortunately, by 3rd of March, in can1e storm "Emma' off the Atlantic. Whilst she hit Cornwall and Devon hard, we got off well, with her strong enough to blow back the Beast from the East to Siberia where he belongs. Proving once again what girls can do when they want to. Thanks to the current milder weather mid-March, daffodils; primroses; heathers; crocus; celandine; daisies; camellias; alyssum; kerria; are all thriving well. The earlier bitter weather drove many wild garden birds into my back garden where fresh water and tasty morsels were available. As many as eight pied-wagtails: eight or more chaffinches: several robins; blackbirds; woodpeckers; blue and great tits; sparrows; hedge accentors; wrens; a dozen or so starlings: ring doves and pigeons; plus two Village crows paid a visit. The crows enjoyed odd chicken pieces and bones. The main objective was (a) to get through the night and (b) survive the winter. They surely will here. Verbosity again is creeping into everyday use. E.g. 'Tap' = 'Water Replenishment Station'; ·oven' -'---- ·cooking Compartment'. So make it snappy ·o.o.D.D.D." =· Duke of Dorney Due Diligence Department'! Got that! Votes for 16 year olds? One chap said his granddaughter voted "Remain' because she didn't want Donald Trump to be President! Pass the buck is still with us. Two vehicles without MOTs. road tax or insurance had been dumped in a chap's cul-de-sac. He reported this to the police who told him nothing could be done until the vehicles triggered an automatic plate recognition camera. One car hasn't moved in three years and the other for one year --- clearly abandoned and will not be passing any cameras. I le infonned the DVLA no reply and the council didn't want to know, and told him to inform the police. Word has it that secret cameras ,viii be installed through Eton Wick and Eton, recording every vehicle which passes. Location transparency v..-as requested, but the police refused to reveal camera locations. Perhaps it is to do with the forthcoming: weddings of Prince Harry and Princess Eugenie in Windsor? Send for Dick Barton, Special Agent. Will he and Snowy and Jock reveal all? I can hear their signature tune - "The Devil Rides Out' by Charles Williams. Take heed! Sad to hear the passing of another funny man, Ken Dodd, aged 90. He and his diddy men and tickling stick gave lots of fun and laughter to many. It's just what the world needs today - more fun; laughter; joy and plenty of good music. So I will finish by playing on the piano the tune which Ken sang with joy - "HAPPINESS" by Bill Anderson (1963). To me this world is a wonderful place, I'm the luckiest human in the human race I've got no silver and I've got no gold, but I've got happiness In my soul. Happiness to me is an ocean tide, a sunset fading on a mountain side a big old heaven full of stars up above, when I'm in the arms of the one I love. Happiness, happiness, the greatest gift that I posses I thank the Lord that I've been blessed, with more than my share of HAPPINESS. Regards. Tony Dixon Smith (D.D.) TYRE FIT NEXEN DEALER TAPLOW We fit tyres at a price that fits you Need new tyres? At home or work, we will come to you Plus: TYRES & EXHAUSTS. BATTERIES. STEERING. SUSPENSION. SERVICING. CATALYTIC CONVERTORS. MOTs. TRACKING. ALLOY WHEEL REFURBISHMENT. Old Station Yard, Station Road, Taplow, Bucks SL6 0NU 􀀂 l Eton End \ 􀇩, "11111􀇪 I '-----,,,, o'-'ght , I stl IAPS Preparatory Day School for Boys* and Girls from rising 3 - 11 High academic attainment Provision for rising 3s Outstanding pastoral care Extra-curricular activities Small classes School day: 08.00-18.00 35 Eton Road Datchet Berkshire SL3 9r,;t. 01753 541075 • admin@etonend.org www.etonend.org Tel: 01628 665778 Mobile: 07884 111500 www.tyredealermaidenhead.co.uk @□􀀆􀀇􀀈􀀉';; 􀀊􀀋cap􀀌 C Bui£#.a9 • Site Clearance • Pergolas • Terraces • Suppliers of: • Turfing • Driveways • Brickwork SAND• BALLAST • Plants, Trees • Car Parks Decorative WOOD CHIPS and Shrubs • Block Paving or Standard TOP SOIL • Fencing • Patios • Mature Trees MUSHROOM. COMPOST 01628 666022 • 661768 Mobile 07860 706675 THE TRADITIONAL RESTORATION COMPANY LTD The Coach House, Dorney Court 01628 660708 www.TraditionalRestoration.co.uk enquiries@TraditionalRestoration.co.uk Restorers of Fine Antique Furniture SUSAN HANDY ScHOOLoFDANCE Aero Jazz Ballet Baby Ballet Ballet Stretch Contemporary Creative Dance Modern Jazz Musical Theatre Tap Adult Tap Adult Ballet GCSE Dance Elite Dance Group Boys Syllabus ETON • ETON WICK • WINDSOR • DATCHET • OLD WINDSOR ICKENHAM • PYRFORD • WOKING • RICHMOND WWW.SUSANHANDYDANCE.CO.UK 01753 542672 I 07515 270432 e: office@susanhandydance.co.uk BHS & ABRS Approved Riding School and Pony Club Centre anishBit Rrlmg chool & Lrver\. Elm Farm, Boveney Road, Dorney Common NrWindsor, Berkshire, SL4 6QD We are a family run Riding School based on Dorney Common established for over 35 years! • Qualified lntructors • Lessons available fron1 7 years upwards • Pony Rides available for children as young as 4. • We offer very popular Birthday parties • Large Indoor and Outdoor schools • Pony Club and Own a Pony activity days • Open 6 days a week, Tuesday-Sunday • Gift Vouchers available through the website For bookings and enquiries please call us on 01628 661275 www.spanishbit.co. uk Short Statement from the Chairman of Dorney Parish Council Unfortunately we have a small group within our community who appear to have their own agenda. They think it is more appropriate to write an article for the Dorney Parish News rather than address their concerns /questions directly, either in writing or in person, to the Dorney Parish Council first. Had they chosen to do so they would find that the Dorney Parish Council has no case to answer. The Parish Council has always served the whole community with the greatest integrity, due diligence and openness and will continue to do so. If anyone wishes to ask any questions of the Council directly, we will be more than happy to give a full response which will be recorded in the minutes in the appropriate manner. Mr Keith Harris Electrica l Services Burnham Napit Part "P" Approved • Additional Sockets - Lights • New Fuse Boards - Updates • Security - Attic Lighting • Home - Landlords Certificates • Portable Appliance Testing • All Other Electrical Work Free advice and estimates All work guaranteed No job too small Phone Rob on 01628 60 30 63 Mobile 07801 832 792 -9- • NAPIT Agreeing To Differ? It is reported that the current US president is prone to agreeing with and arguing for the latest viewpoint he has heard. This is seen as a weakness. Chaps of the same age as 'the Donald' and myself should be steadfast in their views and principles and certain of their own mind. I suppose there was a time when this was easy. We just weren't exposed to the expression of countless opposing opinions. But something spectacular happened in Dorney recently and I found myself moving with the ebb and flow of the argument. At 10.00pm one evening, there was such a loud bang I almost jumped out of a chair. Within seconds I realised this was nothing more sinister than fireworks and seconds after that I was indignant .. .'you must be joking, what a time for such a racket, who do they think they are .... ?' But a glimpse out of the window at what was now a spectacular display brought in a rush of positive emotions .. .'is it Dorney Court or the Rowing Lake? How lucky we are to be neighbours of such locations! What a party they must be having ... or maybe a wedding .... aarrh .. .' But then very negative vibes started arriving from Next Door, our very own local social medium. Of course parents were right ... this was by now well after ten, it was mid-week .... hadn't anyone, I wondered, stopped to think 'was this a good idea?' But then my belief that we all could do with a little more 'live and let live' kicked in ... should a call really go out to the police as was suggested, and could children really be 'terrified' by fireworks? I recalled our own grandchildren on their last visit to Dorney, with excited faces pressed against window panes during a previous display. But, hold on, that was at New Year when such excesses could be expected and it was much earlier in the evening. Anyway, each family is different as is each child, and there's no need for even one to be afraid, especially as warning could have been given. I now lose the support of most of Dorney when I point out that I feel much less sympathetic to calls for pets' feelings to be spared ... but even there, owners were asking more for prior knowledge not necessarily a fireworks ban. But, 'live and let live' does seem to be a strong sentiment. Mutterings against the display continued online next day, but so did regrets from the organisers and a promise of prior warnings in future. All this seemed to be - 1 0- ,, I accepted with good grace, so traditional good sense allied with social media brought about a speedy compromise and resolution. But, sometimes, however hard you try, it's impossible to see both sides of an argument. Another recent online posting berated car drivers (in general, it seems) for driving too close to horses using Marsh Lane. Did we not realise said the lady rider that she was controlling over a ton of very excitable animal. She was doing something rather dangerous on a public (and genuinely busy) road, so legitimate road users should take second place to her and her mount. Having now lost the sympathy for a second time of animal lovers among DPN's esteemed readership, can I ask why slow moving horses should be anywhere but on a dedicated bridle path? Let me know, and I'm sure I'll agree with you .... Peter Bowman peter.bowman@talktalk.net Something New. The February meeting took place on the 20th, in the Village Hall. This month we had a very interesting talk from Peter Tyler and John Barker on the wild flowers in the Parish and surrounds and the consequent butterflies, moths and insects. We have approximately 300 species of wild flowers within the Parish, the numbers change as soil and climate conditions change. As well as attracting all the insects, birds, mice and small mammals, the honey bees and bumble bees rely on the wild flowers, so we really must help by not using chemicals, cutting our grass (lawns) as if they are bowling greens and keeping a small part of our gardens "wild". Nettles attract butterflies, moths and dragonflies, and we should keep a pile of logs in order to make a "beetle bank" so that stag beetles will appear once again in our gardens. We can do our bit by planting plugs or seeds in the right soil for them. Several members are finding out where and how to plant and how we can obtain grants for wild flower seeds and asking the Parish Council to help. This subject really had the meeting's interest. More of this at a later date The next meeting will be in The Village Hall,1 0.30am on March 20th. We are looking forward to seeing you there. Joy Richmond. - 1 1 - M. A. SHEPHARD BUILDERS LTD Est 1983 Diggers Den, lA Oak Stubbs Lane, Dorney Reach, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 ODW Phone: 01628 639 366 Mobile: 07803 179962 Email: m.a.shephard@btconnect.com M. A. Shephard Builders Ltd. are proud of our heritage and our workmanship. We have been trading for over 30 years and in that time we have developed a professional relationship with suppliers, building surveyors and other professionals. We specialise in high quality workmanship in the fi elds of heritage work using all the traditional methods and working with traditional materials. We usually carry out the full project from start to finish, taking all the pressure off you. If you want to project manage alongside us you are more than welcome. We also carry out all the following: • All types of Refurbishments • New house builds • Commercial to Domestic conversions • Barn conversions • All types of listed work • General building works • Decorating works 1m1 :t􀀗 Registered House-Builder -1?- • TRUST MARK -......if-- Builders ' ' Helping hands on Dorney Common Do you ever have that dilemma when your heart says yes but your sensible head says no? Travelling on the tube in town one Sunday morning recently, on the way to Southwark, a young lady barely out of her 20s stepped into our coach. She was weighed down by multiple layers of assorted garments, five or six deep, smothering her waif -like shape. The first thing I noticed was how well-spoken she was, announcing with clear articulation, 'I am Becky and I am homeless due to unfortunate circumstances'. My husband Dave, sat to my right, groaned and whispered 'here we go', and of course he is right, this is an everyday sight as the underground provides a captive audience and a platform to remonstrate. Whilst I sat there, observing her gaunt features, and watching her apologetic mannerisms, my eyes arrested on the sight of her hands. I have in my youth, worked for the NHS for many years and recognise hypothermic damage. Both extremities incredibly swollen, contorted and a very dark shade of plum, with a sooty garnish. These hands have not had the comfort of a warm duvet for many months. These hands had seen quite a few harsh icy nights probably with substance driven sleep that failed to see them tucked up. Should I give her my gloves? I didn't bring any, and anyway she probably wouldn't use them, and there was no food in my bag to offer. In my head the little voice repeated charity statements that said give sustenance not currency. In my heart a bigger voice said, this person is desperate, as I dropped a little cash into her misshapen fingers and then silently wept inside. Another woman across the aisle looked at me with eyes that said, I know how you feel I am a mum too. I have been in and out of theatres all my life, but this was not a performance, it was a plea. Our journey that day was to a little theatre called the 'Menier Chocolate Factory' near London Bridge. The building itself oozes charm and now houses a180-seater theatre space along with a restaurant (fresh food), bar and rehearsal rooms. Built around 1865 by the French chocolate company Menier, it was a five story factory and warehouse, now sympathetically converted, Grade 2 listed, producing a mixture of musical theatre plus play revivals, new writing and comedy. Falling under the category of Fringe, it offers fabulous theatre at affordable prices and attracts names of great calibre by remaining dynamic, innovative and most of all, personable with sharp edgy productions. -13- That afternoon we saw Barnum, originally perfo rmed by Michael Crawford in the West End, but now a compact version, on a short 4 month run at the Menier. Due to the size of the auditorium it has been cleverly adapted to enhance the cut and thrust of the circus acts along with dance steps that speak at full volume. It was joyous! Jenny Lind (Barnum's Swedish nightingale) played by Celinde Schoemaker was incredible, her voice truly like a songbird, and a privilege to hear. She came to fame in her outsta nding performance as Christine in Phantom of the Opera some years back. However, this run is nearly over, but check out the website as it's well worth the trip. On the return train journey home, my thoughts turn to our little productions, offered by our local Maidenhead Drama Guild. Not quite as rich and rounded as the circus tricks one finds in town, but merit an evening out for interested theatre goers. Diverse offers of classic revivals with attention to detail by a soiree of directors. Our next production is a controversial one, 'Four Knights in Knaresborough' by Paul Webb, opening on the 23'' March for four nights in the Studio at Norden Farm. Hang on, did you get the pun? It recounts the aftermath of the murder of Thomas Becket by four knights, making the worst career choice in history. Despite being an historical drama, the play uses modern language including an abundance of profanity and slang. Not everyone's cup of tea, but our Director for this play tells me he admires the intelligent wit but realises it is not for the faint hearted. Moving on .... this summer brings a much more universally appealing production of The Great Gatsby from the book by F Scott Fitzge rald. Look out for the poster as I designed and painted it (stage left flat key kazoo fading noise). This is a much larger production opening in the first week of July in the Courtyard Theatre at Norden Farm. It prom ises to be a fantastic summer classic with fabulous costume and roaring 20s music. Of course for both productions the Dorney props making workshop at Dells Cottage will be producing exquisite items home grown from your village. If you want to audition (no experience required) drop me an email, as there are openings for opportunities to learn the Charleston whilst drinking champagne. During the run the glasses will be dry but afterwards, well probably not. Spring is around the corner, bulbs are about to bu rst, and Easter awaits us. However, take heed, March can bring further icy wind, so don't forget your gloves, you really must keep your hands warm. Kristina Perkins Dells Cottage peonywigglar@gmail.com Dorney Social Diary Thursday 8th March Friday 9th March Tuesday 20th March Wednesday 18th April DORNEY PARISH COUNCIL DORNE Y VILLAGE HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE DORNEY BADMINTON CLUB DORNEY SHORT MAT BOWLS CLUB DORNEY YOUTH CLUB (for children of the parish) VILLAGE HALL BOOKINGS Lent Lunch Eton Wick Church Room. Noon - 2 p.m. Defibrillator Training Village Hall 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Try Something New ViUage Hall 10.30 a.m. - 12 noon. Eton Wick History Group Meeting Eton Wick ViUage Hall 7.30 p.m. Second Tuesday of each month ( except August) ViUage Hall 8 p.m. Second Monday of alternate months i.e. March. May. ViUage Hall 8 p.m. Every Tuesday Village Hall 8-10 p.m. Every Sunday Village Hall 7 - 10 p.m. Every Thursday evening during term time 6.00 - 7 .30 p.m. Village Hall Dorney 5-16 year olds in two groups contact Leanne Kittel 07919 48485S Graham Easton 01628 628819 & 07503 745760 Email: enquiries@domeyvillagehaU.com Scams Virtual Community Forum South Bucks Log on and talk to Thames Valley Police and Community Safety Partners Talk to us about Cyber Crime Postal Scams Doorstep Selling 7pm - 9pm on Thursday 1 5 March 201 8 Visit: http//thamesvp.coverpage.coveritlive.com G & J Decorating Local decorators with 20 years' experience. All aspects of decorating undertaken to the highest standard. Free estimates and references available. Gav 07795 081 141 James 07813 289468 or 01628 655658 -15- Wyndham, Village Road, Dorney NATURE + BRA VO TO MARY After Storm Eleanor's bluster, January tried its best to give Dorney Parish area pretty decent winter weather with some cloudy, damp days, but also bright sunny if chilly northerly windy days, with February so far following in similar fa shion. The bright sunshine encouraged snowdrops to blossom forth along with heathers; primulas; crocus; winter jasmine; very early camellias in my walled arbour; daisies; alyssum plus catkins of silver birch; alder and hazelnut bushes. Dorney Lake dogwood bushes are still in splendid colour before they receive their "short back and sides.' The cold breezes have not deterred our wild garden birds including pied wagtails; woodpeckers; sparrows; lots of chaffinches; blackbirds; robi ns; wrens; hedge accentors; starlings; blue, great and long-tailed tits and ring doves. Our two crows which nested in nearby neighbour's tall ash tree may well decide to nest this year in Dorney Memorial Garden oak trees, seeing off marauding rooks and jackdaws. It has been suggested that if you need an ambulance, make sure it takes you to an A&E being visited by a government minister, so you won't have to wait for hours on a trolley. For more than 150 years blue plaques have celebrated notable people and the buildings in which they lived e.g. artist Stanley Spencer and his property in nearby Cookharn High Street. But now Mary, a WWII carrier pigeon, has become the first animal to be given the honour. Mary was hit by shrapnel, wounded by pellets and attacked by German war hawks as she flew over the Pas de Calais. Her loft in Exeter, Devon, was also bombed by the Luftwaffe in 1942, resulting in the deaths of many fe athered comrades - were they betrayed? She lived with her owner, pigeon breeder Cecil 'Charlie' Brewer, and the property in Exeter's West Street recently had its blue plaque unveiled. Charlie Brewer had been made a Special Constable in 1941 with responsibility for general control of war pigeons. At the end of the war Mary was awarded the Dickin Medal for distinguished gallantry, the highest animal award for bravery in wartime -equal to the human Victoria Cross. She died in 1950 and is buried with other animal heroes in the PDSA Pet Cemetery in Ilford, Essex. Charlie Brewer had used his skills as a boot maker to stitch up Mary's wounds, and made her a smalJ leather neck support to ease her injuries so she could continue her brave war work. What a cracking partnership. Charlie Brewer died in 1985 aged 90. Mark, aged 5, asked his Grandma, "Is anyone living on Mars?" Grandma rep lied, '" No-one as far as we know," to which Mark inquired, '· Then who makes Mars bars?" Ah! good question. It's reported today, that many folk are looking for 'dates' online. Advice given is to go out with an historian, as dates mean everything to them. Meanwhile, money talks, to coin a phrase. Further more, who is going to explain to the nomads in the Sahara desert, where the sand was recently covered in snow, that it's all down to global warming? One lady recently stated, '"I've got my husband eating out ofmy hand - saves washing the dishes." Yes, thank you girls, we fellas know our place. Now where's the key to the garden shed? Two pieces you might enjoy. (I) A light orchestral by Eric Coates, 'Knightsbridge' from his London Suite. (2) 'Down by the Salley Gardens,' composed and played on the piano by Barry Douglas. Meanwhile I'll finish with 'Enjoy Yourself' composed by Carl Sigman & Herb Magidson ( 1948). You work and work for years and years, you' re always on the go You never take a minute off, too busy making dough Some day you say you'll have your fun when you're a millionaire Imagine all the fun you'll have in your old rocking chair. Enjoy yourself it's later than you think, enjoy yourself while you're still in the pink The years go by as quickly as a wink, enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself It's later than you think Regards, Tony Dixon Smith (D.D.) • TYRE FIT TAPLOW We fit tyres at a price that fits you NEXEN DEALER Need new tyres? At home or work, we will come to you Plus: TYRES & EXHAUSTS. BATTERIES. STEERING. SUSPENSION. SERVICING. CATALYTIC CONVERTORS. MOTs. TRACKING. ALLOY WHEEL REFURBISHMENT. Old Station Yard, Station Road, Taplow, Bucks SL6 0NU 0 􀀍 3 °% Eton End oo., 􀅋, "'•111􀅌 / -..._,.,,, Ought . \ -tl IAPS Preparatory Day School for Boys• and Girls from rising 3 - l l High academic attainment Provision for rising 3s Outstanding pastoral care Extra-curricular activities Small classes School day: 08.00-18.00 Tel: 01628 665778 Mobile: 07884 111500 www. tyredealermaidenhead.co.uk 35 Eton Road Datchet Berkshire SL3 9AX. 01 753 541075 • admin@etonend.org www.etonend.org PoH1irin5 ftJ,o..,+ at Th1i of,j Plac1l HOHi: GROWN lNOT flOWN) 8kill)H flOW􀀯R\ PIC.HD FROM H'I GARDl:N FOR \HDDINGS. UlHRIHION\ 80UO.U!Y:,, rnnE ARRANGfNtNT\ JAM JAR POSIES OR )/HPL'l' A LARGE 8UCHT OF FRE)Hl'I PICHD FL01,IERS 1TO MAH SO􀀰NG '10URSHf ,, .... 􀁡 . 􀁢 ., " I ..., f · t 1li. i/' .· •. 􀀃. f I 1: 􀀈.11 ·~ 􀀃 r, ,,1 . i, .:.i:, ff I 􀁖 i' j;- • I J Ii /. _.i. ,_ 1:.::,_. 􀁹􀁺L THI OLD PLACE, IO(l PHH, DOINEl WINDSOI. mmm. SL\ 6QQ POTTEIINGAIOUTeTHEOLDPlA(E.(O Ul I WWW.OLDPLAlEFlOWEIS.lO. Ul PLEASE (ONTA(T IOZ I TEL 07%,mm @□􀀄􀀅􀀆􀀇􀀈; ,C.􀀌caprd g Bailt!lnr • Site Clearance • Pergolas • Terraces • Suppliers of: • Turfing • Driveways • Brickwork SAND • BALLAST • Plants, Trees • Car Parks Decorative WOOD CHIPS TOP SOIL and Shrubs • Block Paving or Standard MUSHROOM- • Fencing • Patios • Mature Trees COMPOST 01628 666022 • 661768 Mobile 07860 70667 5 THE TRADITIONAL RESTORATION COMPANY LTD The Coach House, Dorney Court 01628 660708 www.TraditionalRestoration.co.uk enquiries@TraditionalRestoration.co.uk Restorers of Fine Antique Furniture SUSAN HANDY SCHOOL OF DANCE Aero Jazz Ballet Baby Ballet Ballet Stretch Contemporary Creative Dance Modern Jazz Musical Theatre Tap Adult Tap Adult Ballet GCSE Dance Elite Dance Group Boys Syllabus ETON • ETON WICK • WINDSOR • DATCHET • OLD WINDSOR t ICKENHAM • PYRFORD • WOKING • RICHMOND WWW.SUSANHANDYDANCE.CO.UK 01753 542672 I 07515 270432 e: office@susanhandydance.co.uk BHS & ABRS Approved Riding School and Pony Club Centre anishBrl Rome chool & Lrverv Elm Farm, Boveney Road, Dorney Common Nr Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 6QD We are a family run Riding School based on Dorney Common established for over 35 years! • Qualified lntructors • Lessons available fro,n 7 years upwards • Pony Rides available for children as young as 4. • We offer very popular Birthday parties • Large Indoor and Outdoor schools • Pony Club and Own a Pony activity days • Open 6 days a week, Tuesday-Sunday • Gift Vouchers available through the website For bookings and enquiries please call us on 01628 661275 www.spanishbit.co. uk t ,f Dorney Horticultural Society Is In Real Danger of Closing If the Horticultural Society cannot replace those committee members who have left and bring our numbers back up to a realistic levei, the current committee will have no choice but to wind up the Society's activities. The longest running and best supported local organisation, which puts on regular and enjoyable evening social events, will disappear along with the Annual Show, which is organised by the Society. We have resolved to attempt to mount a near normal programme in 201 8, but unless at least 2 new full time committee members are found in the near future, we might not be able to complete this programme and by the end of this year the Society will have no choice but to cease its activities under the current committee. Our members are always very supportive on the night, which we sincerely appreciate, and there is never any shortage of helping hands, but we need the continuity provided by those willing to regularly plan, organise and run events. We hold around half a dozen committee meetings a year to plan and organise the events and our meetings are arranged to be as flexible and accommodating as possible. We would love to welcome fresh faces and new ideas to the Society and broaden our activities and membership, so don't be put off if you haven't been attending our social meetings. We hope you agree with us that to lose our 'OOHS' would be a blow to our community, but without a broader committee we will be forced to close. Ron Alsworth Chairman, OOHS ddhs(a),btinternet.com 0 1 628 669988 LENT LUNCHES 20 1 8 This year Lent will start on Wednesday 14th February. We have so far arranged the following lunch to be held in aid of charity during Lent. Thursday 1 5th February at 31 Harcourt Road, Dorney Reach This will be hosted by Joy Richmond in aid of the Thames Valley Adventure Playground. A light lunch will be served from noon to 2 pm. Please come along, bring your friends and meet some neighbours. We hope to arrange more, but details were not available soon enough for this magazine. - 1 1 - CRIME IN VICTORIAN DORNEY Local newspapers are a great source of detail about the past, and fortunately for us, large chunks of historical issues of the Windsor and Eton Express can be seen online, at www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk . Just like now, crime was well reported, and here I'm taking a look at events which affected Dorney residents in the period up to 1860. Most of the misdemeanours were fairly minor, and were dealt with by the Petty Sessions (equivalent to our Magistrates' Court) which met in Burnham or Eton. Typically, people stole crops from the fields - potatoes, cabbages, turnips, hay- or poultry from the chicken coops. Fences were damaged, and there was occasional poaching. In 1859, an 8 year-old boy was convicted of smearing mud on pillars at Dorney Court - the only lad to get caught doing what was apparently a common annoyance when the boys were on their way home from school. In these years before motor vehicles, driving offences still occurred, and John Perryman was found guilty in 1842 of driving his cart into that of an elderly chairmaker (loaded with 17 chairs), causing injury to the old man and damage to his cart. Punishment was a fine or a short prison sentence. More serious crimes, judged at the County Assizes, merited harsher retribution, but I was still surprised to find a burglar sentenced to death in 1818 for a robbery on the Martin family home in Dorney. I suspect this sentence was subsequently commuted to transportation. The Martins' house was broken into again in 1826, during the day when the residents were out working in the fields. The thieves got in by taking a pane of glass out of an upstairs back bedroom window, and stole clothing including a frock coat, trousers, waistcoats and a hat. In 1843, the theft of 2001bs of bacon from William Trumper resulted in transportation for life. As the biggest farmers in Dorney, the Trumpers were always vulnerable to criminals. Horse stealing was a common crime, and the Trumpers had horses taken from their stables at night in 1826 and 1830. Travellers were at risk of highway robbery, and William Trumper was attacked more than once when returning home along the Bath Road in the evening. In 1834 he was robbed of a silver watch and £35 in bank notes. Just over three years later, when riding back from Reading in his gig, he was stopped by two men who made the classic demand of "your money or your life". When he resisted, he was assaulted, dislocating his shoulder, and 12s was taken from his pockets at gunpoint. Unsurprisingly, the Trumpers subscribed to the local Salthill Society, an organisation set up by businessmen and residents to raise funds "for the prosecution of felons and thieves". This was in the days before a police force, when each parish elected a constable to maintain law and order, and victims of crime had to bring prosecutions themselves. -12- • • ; • By 1840, we read of a "police constable" who had been employed to watch the property of J Palmer Esq in Dorney. It's not clear whether this was a private security guard, or a publicly funded constable, perhaps recruited under new initiatives to establish rural constabularies. Newspaper reports then begin, by 1842, to refer to John Larkin, described as "chief constable of lver" but clearly involved in investigating crimes in the wider area of South Bucks. On at least one occasion, his help was sought by a Mr Jerome, the "high constable of Eton". John Larkin was vigorous in his pursuit of criminals, even when the crimes were relatively minor, and in 1847 it was reported at a court hearing that he needed more time to make enquiries, "having been much employed lotely in search of prisoners". The press saw him as "a most active and eager member of the police". Sadly, his reputation was severely damaged during the trial of a robbery at Dorney Vicarage. The Rev George Bull, curate of Dorney, had a young groom, James Clark, who was arrested on suspicion of having stolen a quantity of gold and silver plate from his master, in June 1847. Clark was said to be living above his means, drinking and gambling at a beer shop on Monkey Island, where he had taken the items to dispose of. However, it came out in court that Clark had been persuaded to steal the goods by a hawker, who had separately agreed with John Larkin to share the £20 reward offered by the Rev Bull. Having confessed to the crime, Clark was convicted, and sentenced to 12 months hard labour. Larkin was condemned by the judge as having "conducted himself in a most reprehensible manner", and would probably have lost his job had he not died in the interim. In October 1850, the newspaper's editorial expressed grave concern about high levels of crime in the absence of an organised police force. Anxiety was high throughout the south of England because of the activities of the Frimley gang, so-called because they had shot dead a clergyman during a robbery on his house in Frimley. This gang of young men from Kent, Sussex and Surrey specialised in armed housebreaking, and were undertaking burglaries on an almost nightly basis. The crime wave around Dorney was not so serious, but farmhouses on Dorney Common had been burgled by suspected masked men. The Buckinghamshire Constabulary was finally established in 1857. Virginia Silvester ETON WICK HISTORY GROUP MEETING Eton Wick Village Hall at 7.30 p.m. Wednesday 28th. February SIR SYDNEY CAMM CBE FRAeS AND THE HURRICANE Speaker: Malcolm Lock -13- Extracts from the Minutes of theDomey Parish Meeting of the Council held at the Dorney Vil1age Hall on Tuesday ti11 December2017at 8 pm Present:-Councillors K Harris (chaired the meeting), G Easton,A Foxley, A Purdie, L Kittel, P Smith and R Ormond. In Attendance :- Bucks CC Dev Dhillon and his wife/chauffeur Mrs Dhillon, SBDC Cllr D Pepler, 2 members of the public and Sue Moffat (Clerk). Apologies were received from SBDC Matt Bezzant. 8.28pm Cllr P Smith joined the meeting PUBLIC PARTICIPTION-SBDC Report - Cllr Pepler reported:- (i) A planning application is being sought for the new development of affordable housing aJong the Bath Road in Burnham (by the boundary to Taplow). This will be temporary planning accommodation to provide temporary homes whilst occupiers are waiting for housing and are a short term solution to reduce the expense of private accommodation. The temporary buildings will be installed on contaminated land that has been top dressed to eliminate contamination. Dorney PC did express concern about this; (ii) Updates on the Orchard Herbs Fann site - The AnimaJ Sanctuary is gradually moving out. Dorney PC pointed out that at the adjacent site, the pile of waste may be going out but even more is coming in and the piles of waste are gening higher but nothing seems to be happening to stop this. Cllr Pepler will investi gate the matter with Planning Enforcement at SBOC. Bucks CC Report - Cllr Dev Dhillon reported:- (i) Refurbishment of footpath along Harcourt Road is still on his agenda; (ii) Yellow lines on Hitcham Road by Tesco will eventually be carried out; (iii) Funding for Playground4Dorneyhas been granted to repair the playground; (iv) £1000 additional funding for Dorney PC to upgrade highways is available; (v) In response to Cllr Harris's concern to ensure there is adequate parking at the new Healthcare development at the fonner Roots Garden Centre, Cllr Dev Dhillon and Cllr Pepler will take this concern on board. The suggested proposals to bus staff in to work on a daily basis should be closely scrutinised as this was agreed for the Tesco development but never took place. Also it was highlighted that this site would be a prime location to increase the parking faci lities for Taplow Station when C'rossrail commences; (vi) Dominic Grieve MP visited the proposed Bath Road Cycle scheme and has now recognised how dangerous the roads are in this location. Chairman's Report ---Cllr Harris attended a meeting with the new Healthcare development at the former Roots Garden Centre. Traffic Calming Measures in Dorney (DTWG) - Traffic Calming Measures in Dorney - Response has been received from Bucks CC to Beeches LAF for a Feasibility Study to take into consideration aJI the points highlighted by the DTWG, and the total amounts to £1 3,765.13,- (i) It was agreed that Dorney PC's response to the traffic caJming measures is to install 2 Activated Speed signs either end of the Village to aJert drivers to their speed and to support DTWG to carry out the Speed Watch Cameras. Both these proposed actions will then clarify if speeding is a problem in Dorney Village; (ii) Dorney Parish Council cannot justify an expense of £1 3,765 to fund just the 'concept' of possible traffic caJming with the assumption that there will be fu rther costs to implement any of the numerous actions if agreed. However, Dorney Parish Council would support any community agreed proposals from the DTWG, as actioned by Bucks CC Highways Authority and Thames Valley Police Authority, in DTWG endeavours to seek funding for any agreed actions; (ii) Dorney PC have encouraged DTWG to take up the offer of using the Community Speed watch Camera; (iii) Apparently Taplow PC was asked by PCSO O'Connell to consider a request from Dorney Parish Council to share the use of a Speed Watch Camera as funded by Beeches LAF. According to Taplow PC Minutes no representatives from Dorney PC attended the last meeting so the request was refused. It was noted that Dorney Parish Council did not receive an invitation with adequate prior notice so was wiable to anend. Cllr Foxley offered to attend a future meeting with a representative from DTWG. Dorney PC would urge a representative from the DTWG to attend a Dorney PC;s meeting to discuss matters . Proposed security measures required atTrumpers Field - A response was received from the Highways Agency regarding concern raised about the recent removaJ of the bund and concrete block to allow access to the Smartmotorway work which appears to require access through Trumpers Field to a f • compound that is being installed near to the motorway. The concerns have now been addressed but it was recognised that prior notice should have been given. Representatives of the Highways Agency will attend the January 2018 meeting to respond to any issues raised. Regards the extra security for the site, Cl1r Hanis will arrange for a contractor to improve the ditch on behalf of Dorney PC. Response to Bucks CC Cllr Dbillon's request for road improvement projects from available funding from TtB up to £1000. Councillors have provided a list of roads for vegetation cut back. Resolve any complaints/comments received from residents:(i)The rear of26 Meadow Way has been resolved; (ii) Overhanging vegetation on footpaths particularly Court Lane and Harcourt Road. Cllr Kittel offered to check the addresses of properties. The Clerk will then write to the owners of properties to ask them to cut back overhanging vegetation. The Clerk did highlight that property owners do not always realise the problem and would urge them to walk along their boundary by pubHc highway so if there is a problem they can take appropriate action and ammge for the vegetation to be cut back. Meeting ended 9.24pm. Minutes of the Dorney Parish Meetin! of the Council held at the Dorney Village Hall on Tuesday 9' January 2018 at 8 pm Present:-Councillors K Harris ( chaired the meeting), G Easton, A Foxley, A Purdie. L Kittel and R Ormond. In Attendance:- SBDC Cllr D Pepler, Nick Atkinson (Highways England), Dave Pilsworth (Smartmotorway Design Scheme) Matt Orchard (Balfour Beatty, Smartmotorway Construction) and Sue Moffat (Clerk). 144. PUBLIC PARTICIPTION -Nick Atkinson reported that he has recently joined the M4Smartmotorway project for Highways England. The Government has still not given the go ahead to proceed with this £3/4b project but very close to doing so once some contractual matters have been finalised. The Project should proceed in spring 201 8 and although one contract will be let in two parts being:- (i) Outer bit being the West carriageway of junction 8/9 will start first and; (ii) The carriageway East of Maidenhead starting later. However work on the 4 bridges involved will start at a similar time to Part 1 and Marsh Lane bridge will start at the same time as the Western carriageway, being July 20 1 8 and finishing February 2022. The whole construction of the bridge is planned to the nth degree so these target dates should be met. Matt Orchard looks after the construction side of the scheme and has been in touch with Dorney School after the investigative work commenced in Trumpers Field. He has reminded construction staff that no work in that area should be carried out during school start and finishing times. Surface matting was installed across the field for the temporary access track but the ground is very boggy and the grass will need raking up. The investigative work is quite a big project for this bridge as a major gas mains and drinking water pipeline crosses this part of the river. Industrial divers will be coming to check all this to ensure certainty of the design and construction of the new bridge. At this point Cllr Harris raised his concern that the bridge will be closed for 1 8 months as this has never been mentioned in previous communications. The closure of this bridge will have a devastating effect on Dorney being the only means in this part of the village to cross the M4 otherwise the route will be via Court Lane to Lake End bridge. Court Lane has a very sharp bend, exacerbated by parked cars using Eton Lake and Dorney Church. Also Cllr Harris asked if there were designs to slow down traffic using this bridge. David Pilsworth responded that at this stage Dorney PC can have no influence over the design of the bridge but he will check if 50mph TIRO are proposed. He went on to say that heavy construction vehicles wi11 access the bridge via the -15- motorway and there will be a small depot of 6-7 portacabins for staff as the main depot is elsewhere at Ascot Road site. When the steel colwnns are brought in the motorway will be closed at this point and the traffic re-routed. There is a Traffic Management Plan for the whole scheme and he will send Dorney a link so this can be studied. David took on board the concerns raised about sharp bend in Court Lane including the parked cars particularly for those attending the Church for weddings and funerals and Rowing events at the Lake. There will be another public consultation once the dates have been finalised. Cllr Purdie asked why the bridge construction could not be speeded up by having 24 hour working shifts. David explained that this wou ld entail 5 shifts to cover 24 hours and is not beneficial to the workforce to work at night. There is a fine balance between costs and logistics. Cllr Harris asked about a footpath across the bridge for pedestrians to use whilst the bridge is being built. As Cllr Kittel pointed out, school children use the bridge to attend Dorney School and others crossing the opposite way to go to Burnham Upper schools etc, plus commuters walking to Taplow Station. David did not believe a fo otpath was mentioned at any stage. Lake End Bridge will be constructed alongside the old bridge so there should be minimal disruption. Work should start in spring 2019, moving services in July 2019 and finishing October 2020. Development Consent Orders will allow Compulsory Purchase of land which will include Orchard Herbs. Again Cllr Harris asked if a bend could be part of the design to slow down traffic and Matt responded that this is already in place. David will find out about the TTRO which is proposed. Nick, David and Matt are happy to attend the Annual Parish Meeting on 18th April to provide further updates and answer any queries. SBDC Report - Cllr Pepler reported:- (i) He circulated at the meeting a summary of action taken by Bucks CC and SBDC regarding the deposit of waste at Orchard Herbs Farm but the summary only showed that the 2 auth orities are no further forward in resolving this matter. Recently the Fire Brigade has attended this site twice. Once to put out a fire and a second time to stop land slippage on to the motor way.SBDC are also checking that the Animal Sanctuary has now left the site; (ii) Taplow car boot sale has permission from SBDC to operate for another year; (iii) Tesco's car park at the Bishops Centre appears to be overflowing and causing problems elsewhere. Cllr Purdie responded that SBDC should have ensured there was adequate parking at the planning stage that is why SBDC must now insist that the next development at new care home at Roots has sufficient parking or the same problem will reoc cur. 145. Apologies were received from Cllr Smith and BCCllr Dev Dhillon. 146. Resolved to receive and approve the minutes of the previous meeting Council held on the 12"' December20I7. 147. Disclosure of interest in items on the agenda - None. 148. Clerk's Report - The Clerk had received a complaint that an overgrown hedge was obstructing the 'sharp bend' sign near to the entrance of the Rowing Lake. Cllr Harris responded that this hedge belonged to the Palmers.Also the white lines in front of the entrance need repainting. 149. Chairman's Report -None. 150. Any updates for the proposal of having a defibrillator in the telephone box outside the Old Post Office once adopted by Dorney Parish Council - Cllr Foxley reported that Lottery funding has recently been received for the defibrillator and the invoice for the defibrillator will be paid today. Now this is all in place a training course for the volunteers will be organised. Heartbeat Trust will keep all the records which can be accessed by the volunteers logging in to the system. -10- • 151. Traffic Calming Measures in Dorney (DTWG) - DTWG had recently asked the Clerk for a copy of the response from Bucks CC to Beeches LAF regarding the cost of a Feasibility Study which takes into consideration all the points highlighted by the DTWG and this cost amounts to £13,765.13 just for the Feasibility Study. Dorney PC was surprised to receive a response from Mr Dax on this matter when he said he was unable to respond until after he has spoken to the 183 members of DTWG. However Dorney PC would welcome Mr Dax to attend the nex1 Council meeting to discuss this. In the meantime, Dorney PC will continue to proceed with the purchase ofa solar panelled Speed Awareness sign at either end of the Village to alert drivers to the actual speed they are driving at. These signs have proved to be very effective and recommended by the Police. The Clerk has already contacted Taplow PC again to re-arrange the meeting regards training of volunteers to use the Speed Awareness camera to which Cllr Foxley is willing to attend and hopefully with members of the DTWG. 152. To consider the Quotes to carry out the work resulting from the Tree Survey at Dorney War Memorial The final quote is being finalised for action and a report will be available at the nex1 meeting 153. Proposed security measures required at Trumpers Field -SBDC has asked if Dorney PC can provide further contributions towards the cost of extra security. In response, Dorney PC has offered to pay for the digging of the ditch. It was noted that this land actually belongs to SBDC who is therefore responsible for its security. 154. Planning (i) To note planning issues, decisions and appeals recently notified by South Bucks District Council . (ii)To consider and comment upon applications -Agreed. 155.Finance a) To authorise payment of Accounts for January 2018 (as circulated). b} To receive list of income for January 2018 (as circulated). c) To receive recent bank statements and Chairman to sign reconciliations. d) To receive the budget for 2017/18. 156Member's Reports -No meetings. 157 Correspon dence(i) Your Care your Community; (ii) Potential Funding Opportunity for Gardening/Pollinator Projects; (iii) Dorney PC: Royal Garden Party 2018 nominations by 31 January; (iv) SBDC - Neighbourhood Watch Promotion s: (v} Various TIRO Notifications for events at the Rowing Lake. 158.Resolve any complaints/comments received from residents: (i} Request fi-om a local resident for a copy of the grant application document fi-om the Dorney Village Hall Management Committee to Dorney Parish Council for the £80.000 with supporting papers, estimates of work required etc .. A copy of the grant agreement document(s} between Dorney Parish Council and Dorney Village Hall Management Committee for the £80,000 grant and the date on which one or both parties realised that VAT could be reclaimed on vil lage hall refurbishments and who provided this information. The Clerk replied explaining that Dorney PC granted Dorney Hall Management Committee funding via a loan fi-om the Public Works Loan Board towards payment of some of the invoices for the refurbishment works of the Village Hall as it is a public asset, serves the community and was at the agreement of the community after a public consultation was held. Being a Parish Council, Dorney PC then reclaimed back the VAT from the invoices paid according to the estimated amount agreed. 159.Highways employee/work - All going wel l. Meeting ended 9.56pm. Chairman .............................. Date Date ofoext meeting -8pm on 13•• February, 2018 -17- Wouldn't It Be Nice ... ? The Domesday Book rather set the tone in the 11th century. Ever since 'Dornei' was described as 'land for 3 ploughs and woodland for 150 pigs', life here has been about tilling the fields and land usage. King William's scribes failed to mention where they retired for a skinny latte or a refreshing glass of mead after their day's assessing. Our village doesn't exactly have a 'cafe culture' - we're not Marlow or Marlborough. But I do detect that change may be on the way ... Whenever I recommend a local business, I feel compelled to point out 'other pubs etc. are available'. At the time of writing the Pineapple and the Garden Centre cafe are poised for major refurbishment. Maidenhead, another utilitarian place, makes my point. Wouldn't it be nice, I said, if the town's restaurants & cafes began to reflect a more cosmopolitan clientele brought to Berkshire by Crossrail? A minute or two later, we were relaxing in Bakedd, a rather splendid and spacious cafe, or 'artisan bakery' as the owner describes it at the heart of the Chapel Arches development. My recommendation is the more enthusiastic because we bumped into one or two Dorney chums on our first visit. So in that spirit.. .. wouldn't it be nice to have a pub in your back garden? Or, at least, know someone who does. My household spent a very convivial Christmas Eve afternoon in Marsh Lane enjoying the beer and company at moogBREW 'possibly the smallest brewery in the Thames Valley' with a mission to 'brew the best beers we can while staying small and local and having loads of fun .. .' At the core of this enterprise is 'the tiny brew house at the bottom of our garden in Taplow' which, to me, seems a minor miracle. Check out their website for the dates of open days running regularly at weekends through the spring and of course the range of brews on offer (to buy at the bar or pre-order for collection). My old grandfather would have loved their Imperial Stout and I can give no higher recommendation than that. Amerden has always struck me as a beautiful and slightly mysterious location right on our doorsteps. Taplow Lake must have more to offer than car boot sales and water sports. Wouldn't it be nice if you could break a long walk heading north along Amerden Lane towards the A4, for a drink, a sit down and to enjoy the lakeside from a new perspective? We discovered the Lake House Cafe because it's the prime local stockist of moogBREW's splendid products. It was a pleasant surprise to find this 'independent family run cafe' right by what must be the south west shore of the Lake. As the website says 'we are fortunate that the cafe overlooks Taplow Lake which looks beautiful in all seasons'. We were there last on a crisp, sunny post-Christmas morning. I rather look forward to enjoying the Lake House on a warm summer's evening. In the meantime, a coffee and a cheese and onion toasty is my idea of heaven. We locals are rather ambivalent towards the rowing lake - we expect easy access for us, but don't want the site to become some sort of leisure-park for the general public. So, neither we nor the Lake would want extensive facilities to appear, but, wouldn't it be nice if a hot cup of coffee (sorry, a theme is emerging here; rm not an addict you understand ... ) could be the reward for completing half of that long 4km walk round the lake? Recently, I found myself with face pressed against the boat house reception window at that 2km stage. Seeing a coffee machine it transpires that a cup and, furthermore, a cookie can be had for parting with a nominal contribution. rm not 􀄰 sure this intelligence should be shared with the masses, but it seemed a gracious gesture and the second half of the walk seemed shorter as a result. It's the small pleasures that matter most in life, and I rather think rve discovered three examples in recent weeks, right here in Dorney. Peter Bowman peter.bowman@talktalk.net Dorney & District Horticultural Society Hot Supper and Grand Quiz Friday 23rd February 7.30pm Dorney Village Hall Bring your own drink and glasses Please come along - all welcome Tickets £10 Reserve your place with Ron Alsworth O 1 628 669988 Peter Bowman 01628 623228 or any committee member NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY 2017 IN DORNEY VILLAGE HALL The New Year's Eve Party went really well again and this year we managed to raise £150 for Cancer Research thanks to the many prizes donated by Local Businesses and friends as follows: The Palmer Arms, Dorney Kitchen Garden. Dorney Badminton Club, Tesco Taplow, Sainsburys, The Beauty shop Burnham, Virginia Silvester, Paula Smith, Sue Billington, Terry Duffy and Alice Foxley We are very grateful for their support and hope we can do the same if not better this year. Many thanks. Teresa, Jeanette and Paula Wyndham, Village Road, Dorney NATURE + VALENTINES A Happy New Year to you all. I hope you had a very pleasant Christmas and allow me to thank my loyal, avid Dorney Parish readers for your letters of support, Christmas cards ( over 50) and good wishes as well as invites to Christmas dinners and soirees. As one kind lady remarked, "Dorney is such a lovely village, it deserves to have a Duke." Amen to that, and I trust that I shall continue to carry out my duties with energized DUCACITY. Once again, some eccentrics tried to interfere with folks' seasonal enjoyment. Leicester C.C. was a case in question, advising diners to have no more than six sprouts each for Christmas dinner, to save waste. One chap replied "' ... .ifl eat seven or more, will it be hellfire and brimstone for me?" Contrast that with the Phantom Raspberry Blower of Old London Town who advocated that eating a bag of sprouts was the quickest way to Heaven ! "and Gawd Bless Yer." Talki'!§ of which, who upset "Eleanor' at the beginning of the New Year? From the evening of Jan. 2 . for the next few days she blew and blustered her way through our Parish. On Jan. 3'd_ as I walked across my back garden a sudden gust from Eleanor raised me off my fe et, and I'm no dashing lightweight. I decided if that's the way she treats her boys, I'm staying in until she calms down. Whew ! What a gal! Plants still around include yellow winter jasmine; daisies; some primroses have come alive; Dorney Lake dogwood bushes still showing their striking flaming colours, contrasting with the green of the nearby Scots pines and the Silver birch bark plus nearby flowering trees. Our local wild garden birds are thriving, with increasing numbers of chaffinches and long-tai led tits, plus robins; wrens; hedge accentors; blackbirds; woodpeckers; pied wagtails; blue and great tits; starlings and ring doves. Good news - London has extended its lead as the world's top financial centre in a boost for Britain. The City is ranked ahead of New York, Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo in the twice yearly Global Financial Centres Index. London is also far ahead of its European Rivals - the only European City in the top ten of global rankings is Zurich, lying 9th. More good news. Silk could be used to help repair damaged spinal cords, acting as a scaffold to encourage the re-growth of nerve cells. Laboratory tests at Oxford and Aberdeen Universities found that silk from Chinese Oak silk moth larvae had ideal qualities for the job, as it's pliable enough not to harm spinal cord tissue hut rigid enough to support nerves growing across it. In tests, the silk was shown to bind to nerve cells and encourage them to grow along it. Then the silk naturally biodegrades over time. Wonderful progress! A prol ific serial burglar came before the magistrate and was told the case could be tried immediately. But, ifhe wished to plead ·not guilty' he would go to the Crown Court and his guilt or innocence would be decided by 12 of his peers, "Excuse my ignorance, but who might these peers be?"' he asked. ''Twelve people chosen at random and from the same social background as yourself," replied the magistrate ''Good grief," said the accused, "there is no way I want my fate decided by a bunch of thieves !" So it takes one to know one. Now it's that time of year, ·Valentines,' where 'Lovers Must Learn' -(a 1960s Italian Film). I'm sure many of you will know the tune 'My Fu nny Valentine' - but I'm going to play 'Blueberry Hill' (1940) by A. Lewis, L. Stock & V. Rose. I found my thrill on Blueberry Hill on Blueberry HIii when I found you The moon stood still on Blueberry Hill and lingered until my dream came true The wind In the willow played love's sweet melody But all of those vows you made were never to be Though we're apart you're part of me still For you were my thrill on Blueberry Hill I recommend Thomas 'Fats' Waller playing and singing this tune. Regards, Tony Dixon Smith (D.D.) TYRE FIT TAPLOW We fit tyres at a price that fits you NEXEN DEALER Need new tyres? At home or work, we will come to you Plus: TYRES & EXHAUSTS. BATTERIES. STEERING. SUSPENSION. SERVICING. CATALYTIC CONVERTORS. MOTs. TRACKING. ALLOY WHEEL REFURBISHMENT. 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