Flypast flurry over Halton

Local plane spotters have been treated to an unusual variety of flypasts over RAF Halton this summer, marking significant events and anniversaries.

Early evening on May 16 saw the UK’s last flying Avro Lancaster bomber touring the UK to mark the 80th anniversary of the famous Dambusters (Operation Chastise) on the Ruhr valley dams in Germany on 16/17 May 1943. It circled Halton’s airfield a few times, treating locals to the evocative sound of its four Rolls Royce Merlin engines, before continuing north.

A Recruit Squadron graduation day on 24 May was marked by a rare flypast by one of the RAF’s big Atlas C.1 (Airbus A400M ) four-engined transports, again with its own very distinctive turboprop sound. The Chief of the Air Staff was attending for one of his last formal events prior to changing office.

RAF Halton’s Families Day on 10 June was fun filled, with zorb racing, giant football darts, a charity colour run, face painters, children’s entertainer and more. This was treated to a flypast over Wendover and Halton by the ever-popular Red Arrows, with the Hawk jets trailing red, white and blue smoke.

A few days later saw the farewell airborne tour for the RAF’s venerable Hercules transports, which in various forms have served since 1967. They have now been retired and replaced by a smaller number of the larger Atlas type. Three of the unmistakable Hercules C-130J type flew in close formation over RAF Halton in the early evening of 14 June.

Early July saw a flypast by the RAF’s largest airlifter, a four-jet Boeing C-17A Globemaster flying from Brize Norton.

Finally, July’s graduation day was marked by an aerial visit by one of the RAF’s latest acquisitions, a twin-jet Boeing P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, flying from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland.

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‘One World’ Arts and Culture Festival

On Saturday 29 July there will be a a new, exciting and immersive ‘One World’ themed festival as part of Buckinghamshire Culture’s Open Weekend.

There will be circus performers, acoustic musicians, a storyteller, a flamenco dancer (as seen on Strictly Come Dancing), spray painting and mask making. Enjoy street food from around the world as well as local homemade ice cream vendor and a bar with local beers.

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It will be a totally interactive festival with performers running demonstrations and drop-in workshops throughout, so whether it’s painting, dancing, crafting, joining in with the circus or feeding the animals, everyone is invited to get involved and enjoy new and exciting experiences.

Tickets: Adults +16 £15 / Child 2-16 £7.50 / Under 2’s FREE (includes access to all demos, workshops and entry to Obsidian Gallery and The Bucks Goat Centre. Full details for this ‘One World’ Arts & Culture Festival at The Bucks Goat Centre are available here: http://www.obsidianart.co.uk

Abbeyfield House, Wendover

Further to the article on the front page of the July print edition of Wendover News, the consultation process continues as Wendover News goes to press. The response did not come quickly.

Abbeyfield is continuing the consultation and advise it is considering possibilities to retain the Wendover House. It has agreed to hold a meeting with local representatives and residents. This is considered to be a positive step.

Atila’s new chef

The refurbishment of McCoys has attracted so many customers that the owners are delighted to employ another chef who also a butcher and from Cyprus, and who is enabling them to extend their menu.

In addition, they are now offering a home delivery service from the entire menu including fish and chips. See ad p5

Chiltern Young Creatives

A new community group based in Wendover is now open to local children aged 11 and under. It started with a one hour session on Saturday, June 10. The aim is to build children’s self-esteem by engaging in the creative arts; provide opportunities to discover and showcase young people’s talents; foster a sense of accomplishment and increased self confidence; and empower children to become well rounded individuals capable of navigating an ever-evolving world with imagination, empathy and creativity.

Parents, grandparents and other family grown-ups are asked to register their under -11s at Wendover Community Library by 10.30am for an 11am start. The plan is for participating children to have written and illustrated their first book which will be published in time for Christmas.

The project is free of charge for the first term and all profits made from book sales will be given to charity. The library, local junior school book shop and other individuals are providing start up support but for more information, please phone 07525 777888.

Wendover's housing market remains resilient

What’s happening to local house prices? Are they going up due to inflation and shortage, or down due to inflation (again) impacting incomes, together with rising mortgage interest rates? What will happen next?

Wendover News talked to Ross Final, who has 24 years’ experience in the local housing market, including owning Christopher Pallet Estate Agents for the past decade.

What, we asked, is the impact of all these trends? Ross thinks that there’s still ample cause for optimism, if you regard prices holding firm as a good thing. “Wendover has unique charm and limited housing supply, so it has long been a sought-after destination for prospective homeowners. The demand for properties here remains consistently high, ensuring that house prices in our area tend to hold firm even during uncertain times."

“In recent months we have seen a slight adjustment in prices, with a modest decrease of around 5% from the peak of last year. Even so, average selling prices are still higher than they were just a couple of years ago. This demonstrates the inherent strength of our local housing market.”

Recent increases in interest rates, with apparently more to come, may well concern people coming off fixed mortgage rates. “It is essential to understand that these rates are simply returning to a more normal level, akin to what we experienced in 2008 and before,” says Ross. “We have enjoyed historically low rates for an extended period, and a gradual increase was inevitable. While this change might require some adjustment, it is a sign of a healthy and stabilising market.”

In June alone, Christopher Pallet Estate Agents facilitated the sales that represent the diversity of the local market. For example a two-bedroom apartment listed at £290,000, three-bedroom Victorian homes at £699,950, and a luxury five-bedroom build exceeding £1,000,000.

A key factor is the persistent shortage of available homes, he says. “We are still not building enough houses to meet the existing demand, especially in our most desirable areas. This fundamental supply-demand imbalance ensures that, despite temporary fluctuations, the market will rebound swiftly. The allure of Wendover, with its captivating surroundings and vibrant community, continues to attract homebuyers.”

In conclusion, Ross says that the recent adjustments in the housing market are “an opportunity rather than a setback and that Wendover's enduring appeal, combined with a market that is readjusting to a more normalised interest rate environment, sets the stage for a positive future. The local housing market is resilient, and the journey of homeownership in Wendover is one filled continued on next page...

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