CLUB CORNER

Wendover Arm Trust

After more than three months of inactivity owing to Coronavirus, volunteers from the Wendover Arm Trust re-commenced restoration work on 17 July following the go ahead from the Canal & River Trust, the owners of the canal.

One of the first jobs was to transport and erect the new welfare hut, purchased by WAT, to provide improved facilities for the volunteers. This was transported to the site using the new flat bed trailer (see photograph above but please note the two volunteers standing together are sisters).

As a result of the backlog of work, resulting from the shutdown, the August working party has been extended to two weeks with co-operation from the various volunteers. Social distancing and other precautions, including masks, have been introduced. A few volunteers have decided against returning until a vaccine is found - their decision is understandable but, fortunately, some new volunteers have come forward to maintain progress.

A specialist company has been employed to investigate the old tip at Little Tring which currently prevents connection between Phase One and Two of the restoration. This is being funded by WAT at a cost exceeding £10,000 and is essential to determine what hazardous materials, if any, exist. The Trust is faced with some huge future expenditure and is exploring possible funding avenues.

Nigel Williams, Wendover Arm Trust

BBOWT Chilterns Group steams into September

Local reserves remain active with small scale work parties within Covid limitations. For news on dates for Bacombe Hill contact steve_keene@btinternet.com and for Dancersend contact judiandbryan@yahoo. co.uk.

A recent litter pick at Weston Turville Reservoir

At Weston Turville Reservoir the main job remains patrolling and litter picking for which the organiser is richardbirch60@yahoo. com. We have a growing team but more volunteers will mean we can cover more days of the week and have a good presence at weekends when picnics and their detritus can be a headache . . . Our thanks to all the many users, including an increasing number of the younger ones, who take their litter home!

At College Lake, the reserve is open currently every day except Monday from 9.30 till 4.30. The cafe is serving to people using the outside tables and the shop has simply moved nearer the lake from the visitor centre itself. The toilets are operational near the education centre and the wildlife garden, which is looking particularly good. Please visit any of our reserves but preferably check online first at www.bbowt.org.uk in case of new restrictions.

Richard Birch, BBOWT

Wendover Horticultural Society

Wendover Horticultural Society have plans for the future. Our committee have recently met and these are our thoughts for 2021, based on comments from our members: • At present due to the continuing COVID -19 situation all our autumn meetings have been cancelled, but as from January 2021 normal meetings will resume. • They will take place on the 3rd Thursday at 2.30 as usual, but move to St Anne’s Hall, on Aylesbury Road, opposite Wharf Road.

This is partly because the Library Room is currently unavailable, but will also give us the ability to socially distance.

We have to restart sometime. Our full programme of meetings and outings is nearly ready. Of course, we may be prevented by circumstances from doing so, but given continuing reductions in infection, and barring a second wave or spike in the virus, this is what we hope will happen.

Diane Smith, WHS Club Secretary

Wendover Cricket Club HS2 decision

HS2 Ltd confirmed their U-turn on the future of Wendover Cricket Club’s (WCC) Ellesborough Road Ground (ERG) on Wednesday 29 July and the decision is that WCC will have to permanently vacate ERG to a new location. WCC will get a brand-new facility that conforms to modern standards, both in terms of the cricket ground and the associated facilities – a new square and playing surface, pavilion, nets, parking and with appropriate disabled provision. WCC will also receive a sum to go towards developing a second ground at the new site. It appears we can continue playing at the ERG in 2021 but will have to ground-share with/hire other clubs and facilities in 2022 and until the new ground is ready for use, with costs covered by HS2. Although there is likely to be some turmoil for the next couple of years, the new facilities will offer a bright future for the Club. Activities at the Witchell ground remain unaffected by the ERG decision.

HS2’s earlier proposals for the ERG were for a 5 metre high retaining wall alongside the new railway, but they ultimately recognised that the design and construction were too complex and costly to avoid significantly impacting on the cricket ground and nor could they apparently meet the planning requirements within this part of the AONB. It appears that the design will focus on providing a typical cut and fill green tunnel, with it mainly being fill that will spill out over the ERG and raise the existing ground levels.

Club Activities

With the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, cricketers have been training regularly and there have been numerous midweek junior games in late July and August when, in normal seasons, there’s usually none. A form of the Village Cup has seen games played at weekends at Witchell. The senior side has put out 3 teams every weekend since 11 July and interest in playing across all ages has been high. In the senior games played, more have been won than lost and notable performances have come from George Robinson with his first 2 innings both being hundreds, youngsters Will Cliffe and George Jackson both took 4 wickets against Old Berkeley, Will Digby hit 92 and Nick Morley 70 versus Regals, Kevin Jackson 4 wickets v Goodwill Wanderers and has struck an 84, Jonathan Seabrook took 4 wickets in one game and Jon Green 5 in another. More information and contacts are available on the WCC website https://www.pitchero. com/clubs/wendovercricketclub

The Ellesborough Road Cricket Ground

Wendover Bowls Club

World War 3 is in full swing at the Club. This cut throat competition between the Wendover Widgets, the Wanderers and the Warriors (hence WWW3) has meant that, at least, we have managed to get some action this summer. There is also a triples competition but the year is a shadow of what we usually enjoy. It is hard to realise that our outdoor season is almost over and we will be starting the indoor season soon. This will be harder to organise than outdoor activities but I'm sure that the committee has given it a lot of thought. At least we are back in the Clubhouse again, albeit with a lot of restrictions with social distancing and so on. We have even had a new member join so things are slowly getting back to normal. Roll on the end of Coronavirus and the return of life as we knew it.

Wendover Youth Centre

Wendover Youth Centre has been open and running activities for young people throughout summer. These activities have included arts and crafts, drama provided by Drama Hub Wendover, sport sessions and friends Fridays. We have had over 70 different young people aged 9-18 attend our summer programme. It has been fantastic to see all the young people who have attended and we look forward to continuing to see these young people during term time. To find out what youth activities we are providing please follow our Facebook: Wendover Youth Centre or contact our Lead Youth Worker Peter Swinford by email peter@wendoveryouth.co.uk or call on 07950667895.