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An update from your Parish Council Dear Residents, This last year we have focussed on bringing a number of long held ambitions to fruition to enable us to deliver more extensive and better services and facilities to our residents. We secured Tesco grant funding to carry out significant improvements to Swan Meadow, a hidden nature based gem open to all to spend time in and located on Swan Road just through the stone pillars on the left. It now is home to a kite carving and bench, a deluxe Bug Hotel, a Hibernaculum, and a brass rubbing trail, an open day is planned for the summer for the local school children to enjoy, including a Birds Of Prey display and experience, conservation talks and nature based craft activities. We have also refurbished the old pavilion on Iver recreation ground as a workshop and base for our grounds maintenance team, and plans are underway to refurbish the Iver Heath pavilion for the better enjoyment of the community, including the welcome addition of outdoor Gym Equipment for the enjoyment and benefit of all. The purchase of the Police Station site including our current offices and the four garages has now completed. The current Council offices are being marketed for commercial letting and the old Police Station will not only be our future office base but will also become a vibrant community facility with many groups already seeking space for their organisations. If there are any community groups out there who have an interest in accessing the hub for the benefit of the community please email Lorraine at comms@iverparishvcouncil.gov.uk to discuss your ideas or group needs. Following a successful pilot we have started rolling our new LED street lighting programme with the intention of covering the whole Parish in time. These lights are designed to give the best possible spread of light on the pavement where it is needed. Measurements of air quality in The Ivers have revealed that nitrogen dioxide levels (largely derived from road traffic) exceed EU limits at a number of locations. A proposal to ratify an Air Quality Management Area across the whole parish will be considered by cabinet at SBDC in the coming months. This would enable the introduction of measures to reduce pollution. We have carried out a consultation to shape our Neighbourhood plan and received over 500 responses. We are currently analysing the results to enable us to move forward with this in conjunction with the South Bucks/Chiltern local plan. A technical business case for phase 1 of the relief road in now underway this will enable an application to be made to central government for funding. For further updates, please see our website http://www.iverparishcouncil.gov.uk/ from there you can join our mailing list and follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news on matters concerning and of interest to the community.
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THE ADVENTURES OF MR TOAD CRASHING INTO IVER VILLAGE HALL IN JUNE In their 90-year history, Iver’s award-winning amateur theatre company The Richings Players have never performed the much-loved classic tale of Mr Toad and his band of countryside friends in “The Wind in the Willows”, so Director and the group’s Vice-Chairman Will Torrent, thought it was time they all went for a row down the river and shouted “Poop Poop” at the top of their voices! Ever since Will saw the National Theatre’s production at The Old Vic in the 1990s, he has always loved the story and has wanted the Players to perform it. “I remember watching the 1983 film when I was growing up loving the story and characters of course, but it wasn’t until I saw the National’s magical staging in the 1990s that the story became cemented as one of my favourites. I remember that moment walking down the stairs in the circle of the Old Vic to see that beautifully lit stage, but then it was the revolving stage that changed every time it moved – that was the moment the play got my attention and I knew I had to direct it or be in it! This delightful and ingenious adaption of Kenneth Grahame's classic tale of river-bank antics by Alan Bennett created a sensation at the National Theatre in the 1990s and follows the adventures of Mr Toad, Ratty, Mole and Badger. Along the way, Toad finds himself in prison and manages to escape, but not before Toad Hall, his pride and joy, has been overrun by the wicked Weasels. Thanks to the efforts of his kind and concerned friends, all ends happily, after an exciting battle to regain Toad's home but will Toady learn his lesson?
“We love working with the incredible team at The Iver Academy and Pippa Vinall who heads up the team that come and help us is amazing. Her ideas and execution of them blow us all away; so, we’re super excited to see what she comes up with this time around!” The original and enchanting songs by Jeremy Sams will be in the safe hands of Musical Director Erica Tugwell is a professional musician and music teacher. She is a regular member of West London Sinfonia and West Forest orchestra and is a member of the Gil Amici Musica Wind Quintet. Having spent many years working in orchestra pits for musicals and operas Erica has taken up the baton to direct a number of shows for the Players including “Annie”, “Oliver”, “Godspell” and “Children of Eden”. Choreographer Phoebe Pearson-Hall has been dancing for seventeen years, and has choreographed six shows. This is her second involvement with choreography for the Richings Players following January’s “Panto in the Stone-Age”. Phoebe is currently working towards her Diploma in Dance Instruction in order to become a qualified ballet teacher. With a big cast including children, regular adult members, as well as a number of new actors, it’s looking like another RP classic!
Performing in Iver Village Hall from Wednesday 6th to Saturday 9th June, with Wednesday, Thursday and Friday performances at 7.45pm. The Saturday performance times are 12.30pm and 4.30pm. Tickets are priced at £12 and £10 (Concessions) and can be purchased from calling the Box Office on 01753 654550 or online at The Richings Players, who were awarded a NODA www.richingsplayers.co.uk. Flame Award in 2017 for their magical production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” are renowned for their innovative ways of staging, costume and make-up. With this in mind, make-up will be playing a huge part in the production and will be continuing a flourishing partnership with the Players and local make-up school; The Iver Academy, based at nearby Pinewood Studios. Over the last few years, the Academy who train artists for television, film and theatrical make up, have supplied students to design and deliver the amazing make up that has become another of the Players’ great strengths. Evelyn Stafford-Allen, Chairman of Richings Players and playing the part of ‘Mole’ says: 24
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Award winning local filmmakers seeking support! In 2016, local filmmakers, headed up by Iver Heath resident Richard Rowntree embarked on an ambitious project to make a feature length horror film with almost no budget.
Crowdfunding works by lots of people pledging their support with a small donation – and the filmmakers have once again turned to the trusted website www.kickstarter.com to do this. Their target is to raise £20,000 by the time their campaign ends at 4.30pm on the 18th May – and if they don’t hit that mark, then none of the pledged money will be collected, and they won’t be able to make the film – it’s described as an “all-ornothing” approach – and one the filmmakers think is the only fair route to go down.
Fast forward 2 years, and the film, “Dogged” has been touring film festivals around the world, picking up 6 awards along the way! The film will be released on DVD and VOD in July this year by distributors Left Films. The film was largely shot in and around the village of Iver, and includes But these intrepid folks aren’t asking for somescenes shot in St Peters Church, the Swan public thing for nothing anyone who pledges can house, Wingroves Farm and several local resichoose their own reward on the website – anydences. thing from T Shirts, to DVD’s of the film, posters, mugs, and even money can’t buy experiences Uniquely, the filmmakers don’t earn a penny for like visiting the set, or the chance to be an extra their work – they simply do it for the love of film- in the film! making, and describe the venture as a “very expensive hobby”! By engaging the local community There’s lots more information about the team with their work, they’re able to minimise costs and behind this ambitious project, as well as a video work very frugally – their only expenses being pitch of the project proposal on the website – you essentials such as insurance, catering, travel can find their project (called “Nefarious”, meanexpenses and a few props. The film was all shot ing “extremely wicked or villainous”) by going to at weekends, between their paying jobs – and this link, or by searching Kickstarter: none of the cast or crew were compensated for their time – it’s described as “co-operative film- http://kck.st/2FWT2Wb making”. If you’d like to get involved, or can Following up their huge international success, the offer some sort of in-kind group are hoping to shoot another feature length support for the filmfilm, again around the local area – over week- makers, you can conends from August to October this year. However, tact them via email at: they’re still in the realms of trying to finance the a s h m o u n t a i n essential items in order to make the film a reality film@gmail.com and – and they’re seeking the support of the local they will be very gratecommunity to do so – via crowdfunding. ful to hear from anyone who’s interested in getting involved in any way.
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Tel: 01753 654010 Sally Munn
Heathrow Expansion Plans
Subscriptions
As a follow-on from Heathrow’s consultation event at the Sports Club we have heard that they have now had further thoughts about the Link Park/Thorney Sidings site and are considering whether they could use this as a transport hub for bringing in prefabricated sections of the new airport by rail and running them from there via the rail link to Colnbrook. This would make it now 5 different development companies looking at this site!
As well as accepting cash or cheques as before, the new website also allows for on-line subscription payments. So, if you’ve not yet paid your subscription for this year and mislaid your donation envelope then take advantage of this facility.
Spring Newsletter Hopefully, our hard copy newsletter will be out during this month. This will be available from Costcutter Stores and the Chemist.
Children’s Playground
Residents Garden As you might have seen from our year-end accounts, the bills for this continue to mount. We have though signed up as a worthy cause for support from the South Bucks and Chiltern Lottery. This means that if you buy a lottery ticket from their website and nominate us as your chosen cause then we receive 50p per ticket which we are putting towards the cost of upkeep for the garden.
You should see work starting this month on the installation of this facility which we hope will be up and running by mid-June.
Defibrillator A briefing and familiarisation event is scheduled to be held at the Sports Club on Saturday May 12th from 10:30am to 12:30pm. Whilst it is not necessary to be trained to operate the device – it issues spoken instructions – it may be of interest to you to learn more about it so come along if you’re curious!
Website
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We have now revamped our old website and brought it up to date technically and aesthetically. We are still moving over some of the content from the old site so it will be missing stuff for a little while yet. Information on the website
Tickets can only be purchased on-line at www.chilternsouthbuckslottery.co.uk.
Summer Fete Planning has now started for a Richings Park Summer Fete to be held at the Sports Club on June 24th. Look out for posters and further information on our website.
Constitution A team of the committee has been bringing this up to date. The new version can be seen on our website.
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Butterscotch & Cream
The RSPCA Hillingdon, Slough, Windsor, Kingston and District Branch Registered Charity No: 263515
Spider
Scrumptious Butterscotch & Cream Butterscotch and Cream are a beautiful pair of 2 year old guinea pig boys (boars) who came into our care through no fault of their own. Guinea pigs are sociable, chatty and friendly animals, but like all pets require commitment to their specific accommodation, dietary and health needs. First time owners should do their research first, to understand what is involved. Our animal welfare staff are also always happy to provide any advice needed. Please get in touch if you would like more information about the small furries we have looking for homes.
Spider Poor Spider is a bit fed up with being in the cattery and is longing for a new home. She is a 3 year old black short-haired cat who can be a little shy at first, but enjoys a fuss once she gets to know you. Spider could live with older children providing they were sensible with handling but would prefer a home without other pets. Could you offer lovely Spider or one of our other cats the fresh start in life they deserve? If you would like to help us make sure our animals continue to find their happily-ever-afters, please take a look at our website for ways you can help or give us a call on the number below. Every donation of money / goods for sale / pet food , or help through volunteering or support for our events makes a difference to local animals in need. If you can offer a loving home to any of our animals, please call us on 01895 833417 or visit www.rspcahillingdonclinic.org.uk to apply online. Thank you as always for your support. 84
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