CLUB CORNER

The Hills are Alive with exciting musical news!

The Wendover Singers are planning a phased restart at the end of September with a newly refurbished school hall awaiting them.

Two thirds of the 80 members have indicated that they are ready to restart so this will be Phase One.

A third of the members want to start soon but not yet, so they will do so later, maybe half term or next term, and this will be Phase Two.

There are many more, on an ever-growing waiting list who will be invited to join as soon as room capacity and COVID regulations allow. … And in strict order of their name being added to the list.

If you are a member, you will have been receiving regular newsletters over the past months. If you would like to add your name to the waiting list, please contact the community choir on info@ wendoversingers.com.

We can’t wait to get back to singing together again and to catch up with everyone!

Sue Thornton

Wendover Sparrowhawks

The netball season is back! After what has been a challenging 18 months for everyone at Sparrowhawks headquarters, we are delighted to be returning to the Aylesbury League for competitive netball this autumn. As a Club, we endeavoured to maintain contact with players throughout the pandemic, be it through online fitness sessions or outdoor modified training, using England Netball modifications. The Club was able to organise the ever-popular Wendover Netball Summer League this year for the third time which, as always, was well received and supported by other local clubs. Despite the challenges faced in the last year or so, we are so excited to have a continually expanding Club, with two established teams entered in the Senior League and a third team in formation. Our Youth Netball Club is also flourishing, with three teams entered into the Youth League this autumn too. We would like to thank the Lionel Abel Smith Trust for their support this year, providing us with a grant which enabled a return to training when we were able, as our usual fundraising events could not take place.

We cannot wait to see what this year will bring!

Eleanore Brown

Wendover Horticultural Society

The Society is up and running after lockdown. Our first meeting in September was a success and well-attended, as was our coach trip last July. The next meeting is at St Anne’s Hall (new venue) on Thursday 7 October, at 2.30. We are fortunate that our speaker is Edwin Rye, about “Festive Floral Themes”. Here in Wendover we have such talented and knowledgeable people as available speakers. New members and visitors will, of course, be welcome, £3.00 admission. COVID rules are being applied.

Our Meetings and Outings Secretary is apparently practising what we preach. She and her partner, Patrick Lambert of Starveall Farm make a good team, as they won the competition by Chiltern Hills Farmers Agricultural Association for the best farmhouse garden, looking for environment and diversity, as cultivated by working farmers rather than by fulltime gardeners. Apparently the garden is a Work in Progress, but isn’t that so with all gardens?

Neville Morton

BBOWT heralds 'The Return of the Skylark'

We are happy to announce that our talks at Great Missenden Memorial Centre will continue in October, November and December. On Tuesday 19 October at 7.45pm Nick Marriner of the Chilterns Conservation Board will present a double act with Will Lacey, a local farmer. They will review what has been achieved so far with the 'Chalk, Cherries and Chairs' project, for example in surveys that record the return of some of our formerly common farmland birds like the skylark. Then they'll look at what the future holds for farmers, wildlife and the general public under the new environmental regime. Doors open at 7pm for coffee and an opportunity to socialise. Admission is £5 including refreshments and a raffle ticket.

On Sunday 17 October we invite you to our traditional Plant and Produce Market at College Lake (HP23 5QG) from 11am till 1pm - see advert page 4. We shall feature a great variety of plants mostly donated by members and sold at highly competitive prices for BBOWT funds - enquiries to John Catton (richard.catton1@ntlworld.com) please.

Our reserves remain open daily and free of access except for College Lake which is open everyday except Monday from 10am till 4pm and where we request a small donation from visitors. Enjoy the autumn colours at Dancersend (HP23 6LB) and come to Mick Jones's talk about the reserve on Tuesday 23 November.

Richard Birch, BBOWT Chilterns Group

Wendover Cricket Club

Wendover Cricket Club’s last ever event at the Ellesborough Road ground is on Saturday 25 September, starting about 11.00 and continuing until early evening. It’s planned to be an 8-a-side tournament with teams of current players and at least one of ex-players led by Iain Digby. Anyone is welcome, especially past players and members who want a last memory of it as a cricket ground before HS2 take it over on 1 October. A bar and BBQ will be operating.

Both league teams finished lower mid-table in their divisions. The 1st XI had a tense 2-run victory at Bradenham where in reply to 116-10, the home side added 46 for the last wicket but lost their last wicket on the final ball; young Thomas Duff again starred with a personal senior best of 5 for 26 off 10 overs. Meanwhile at home, the 2nd’s had a slightly bigger 5-run win v Whitchurch Jacks, with Anshuman Pandit making 58 and Arshad Mahmood & Rahul Kedia both taking 3 wickets. Jonathan Seabrook took 4-33 v Whitchurch Kings and Hector Charlesworth hit 52 in a 23 run defeat.

Highlights in friendlies: 12 year old George Greer on his senior debut at Monks Risborough took 3 for 35; v Ebury Strollers, Hector Charlesworth 93, Chris Hunt 72 & Charlie Barrett 5 for 26 set up a 69 run win.

Lost by 1 run to Wooburn Nark’s despite Daisy Jackson’s 3-40 & Nick Morley’s 42. Shailesh Govekar hit 64 off 42 balls at Ley Hill. Beating Wealdstone Corinthians by 141 runs, Dom Ealand 61, James Heafford 57, Jon Green 41*, Chris Beckford 3-26 & Thomas Duff 4-23 all did well.

For more info on anything, contact Jonathan Seabrook on 07767 148119 or visit www. pitchero.com/clubs/wendovercricketclub.

Bucks Bird Club

Bucks Bird Club, which used to hold indoor talks in Wendover, has decided to hold most now online via Zoom. These will be accessible to its members, who also receive a monthly emailed bulletin and an annual report of birds in Bucks. The club also supports conservation projects in the county. Visit www.bucksbirdclub.co.uk for details.

RSPB Aylesbury

RSPB’s Aylesbury Local Group has re-started holding indoor meetings and other events again after 18 months suspended due to Covid. The next meeting is on Monday 25 October with a talk given by Nick Marriner on “Chalk, Cherries & Chairs – Landscape Conservation in the Chilterns”. Held at the Prebendal Hall Community Centre, Aylesbury HP19 7QW and starting at 7.30 p.m. More info can be found at www.rspb. org.uk/groups/aylesbury.

Jonathan Seabrook (preceding 3 articles)

Wendover Bowls Club

I have been enjoying the Paralympic games. It is inspirational and humbling seeing how the human spirit confronts and overcomes seemingly impossible odds. What amazing people. In our own small way at the club we do come across players who refuse to give in. One lady from a visiting club can only see a very short distance, but by aligning the mat carefully and a member of her team telling her how far the jack is from the ditch, she plays a reasonable game.

The beginning of October sees the last few outdoor games played and our green closed for the winter. This strange year has put an extra burden on the committee but they have risen to the challenge and the Club is in good shape. Membership has been maintained, unlike some clubs I have heard of who are struggling to get members to come back after the long breaks due to Covid.

One of our members achieved a second Hotshot recently. A Hotshot is a bit like a hole in one at golf; it means that all your team's bowls in an end count and none of the opposition's do. It is rare enough for Bowls England to issue a certificate. The coincidence was that she achieved it on exactly the same day of the same month but nine years apart. Anyone who reads this and isn't a bowler must have found that absolutely riveting. Never mind, you can wake up now.

So here we go on our indoor season. Hopefully there won't be too many restrictions on numbers in the clubhouse. All of us have missed the social side of the club life but let's hope we can enjoy to the full very soon.

Don Knight