LOCAL NEWS

Thanks from Lindengate

Lindengate would like to take this opportunity to thank Ellesborough Golf Club and its members for their amazing donation of £5303.63, raised during very challenging times in 2020 – it is very much appreciated.

Roger Priest

Roger Priest was the founder of Youth Concern Aylesbury. He passed away in December 2020. This Tribute comes from Hannah Asquith, CEO of the charity:

We were saddened to hear of the death of our founder, Roger Priest.

In the eighties, the lack of care for teenagers and young adults, particularly single mums, greatly moved Roger so he and some friends started the Uptown Coffee Bar and Youth Concern.

As a long-term District and County Councillor he was in a position to be an influence for good; he was awarded an MBE in 2006 for his services to the local community.

Roger will be greatly missed by many people, both young and old.

Paying a tribute to Roger, David Lidington said “Roger was my Labour opponent in 1992. Whatever our political differences, we got on well and he was utterly committed to campaigning for a better deal for young people in Aylesbury.”

Roger's family has asked that donations are made to Youth Concern in his memory. Donations can be made at https://bit. ly/3serUuq.

RAF Halton Anniversary

Elisabeth Bendall contacted Wendover News for assistance recently. She says:

I am preparing a talk for Tring U3A on “Human-Powered Flight”, and I discovered an RAF Halton 50th anniversary in 2022 whilst doing my research.

In the 1960s the Weybridge Human-Powered Aircraft Group was formed at the Vickers Armstrong premises in Weybridge, and my father was involved in the design.

Five new British human-powered aircraft flew in 1971 and 1972 including “Dumbo” built by the Weybridge Man-Powered Aircraft Group at what was at that time the British Aircraft Corporation’s base in Weybridge.

“Dumbo” was moved to RAF Cranwell, and was renamed “Mercury” and then “Jupiter”. The Royal Air Force Apprentice Training School at RAF Halton reconstructed “Jupiter”, and in 1972 the aircraft flew 1071 metres at RAF Benson.

Commemorative Postcard dated 17 May 1972

The postcard reads: "Pilot John Porter - Flown in Jupiter on one of a series of Development Flights made at RAF Benson, Oxon. Average distance of 600 yards, Maximum height 12 feet, Maximum speed 20mph.”

I wondered if there are any Wendover residents who were linked to this project?

Editor's note: If you were involved or know someone who was, please contact Wendover News on editor@wendovernews.co.uk.

Jon Samsworth

Jon is a local musician who has written a short piece called "Wendover Sleeping" which you can see performed by Jon (on piano) and others on the link below. Jon reports that it has been described by a friend as an "enigmatic miniature".

https://youtu.be/sfM2o-hTh-M

Jon goes on to say: "I'm from Aylesbury but when I was younger I went to secondary school in Wendover and there was something about the place and my experiences at that time that still resonate.

"I am a bit of a musical outsider, doing what feels right and not worrying about trying to fit in or trying to be commercially successful. My debut EP ('Without Words' 2018), found

some favour with Stuart Maconie and Tom Robinson on BBC radio and had aspects of the locality; one track was entitled 'The Monument' and another - 'Echoes of Cambridge Street' featured sounds recorded on Cambridge Street, Aylesbury such as traffic and the church bells."

Jon Samsworth can be found at: www.jonsamsworth.com www.facebook.com/JonSamsworthMusic/ @JonSamsworth

Hospice to review future services following third lockdown

Hospice services in Buckinghamshire could be under threat after the Government announced the county has been put under stricter Covid measures.

Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity closed its entire retail network on 20 December when the Prime Minister put London and the South East into a new Tier 4, meaning all non-essential shops had to shut.

Like so many other charity retailers, they had only recently opened after previous restrictions were lifted and they invested heavily in screens and new procedures.

And now the public is being told to stay at home under a third national lockdown. Organised activities have also been cancelled and supporters are no longer able to take on fundraising challenges that bring in muchneeded income.

The charity has not specified the potential impact on future services but is anticipating a shortfall of around £1 million by the end of March. In 2019, it expanded its services with the launch of a two-year pilot Hospice At Home scheme, operating in the Aylesbury Vale to help those with life-limiting illnesses avoid hospital admission so they can spend their last days in the comfort of their homes.

A spokesperson for the charity said everything is being done to ensure patients receive excellent care now and into the future.

We are aware that the charity has cashed in significant amounts of its reserves, held in investments.

In April, the Government announced a £200 million support package for hospices. However, Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity’s chief executive, Jo Turner, told us that it is one of just a handful not to receive the generous coronavirus relief money due to the way it works with the NHS.

Ms Turner said: “We are focused on ensuring exceptionally high level of care continues to be provided through the many services paid for by sales at our shops and donations from the public.

“Through their support in the past, we have built robust finances to ensure those needing end-of-life care have received it whatever their circumstances and free of charge. However, no-one anticipated the impact of the global pandemic that is set to last well into 2021.

“We are determined to maintain services until everything is back to normal. In the meantime, we are reviewing how we fund all that we do.

“Whatever happens, specialist doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals are working tirelessly under difficult circumstances to provide an incredible level of care and compassion.”

The Great Pottery Throw Down

Peter White, who currently works parttime at the John Colet School teaching Art and D&T, is a contestant on this series, which began on Channel 4 on 10 January. Wendover News wishes him luck!