CLUB CORNER

Bowls Club

The month started with a quiz and supper. How good to get back to some semblance of normality after so long. It will take a little while to get our social scene back on its feet but, with time I'm sure it will happen. About thirty members showed off their intellectual brilliance (or otherwise) and it was declared a great success.

A few days later we held our AGM. More than sixty members turned up to discuss a whole range of subjects. As we missed last year's meeting due to covid there was a lot to get through. Our indomitable President, Tony Mogford, kept us in order despite some differences of opinion. There were no fights and no one resorted to using a loud hailer as seen in some council meetings shown on television recently. patches and a leaking roof. The decision was taken to go ahead with the work.

A suggestion that there should be no more ladies only matches, as they had been poorly supported in the past, was overturned. As this concerned only the ladies it was put that only the ladies should vote. The chair pointed out that this was unconstitutional as we are an inclusive club and it is wrong to exclude any section... The gentlemen proved that they really are gentlemen and abstained to a man in the vote.

Heartfelt votes of thanks were given to David Catlin, our chairman, who has worked so hard to guide us through these difficult times, and all the helpers especially those keeping the green as one of the very best in Buckinghamshire.

In spite of Covid, membership has remained steady and our finances are good.

One of the main points discussed concerned the refurbishment of the lean-to along the back of the clubhouse involving considerable expenditure. This venerable structure, fondly known as the parrot house, is showing its age with damp So, here we are at Christmas. On behalf of all of us in the Bowls Club, have a happy festive season and a healthy 2022.

Don Knight

Wendover Evening WI

The December meeting on Tuesday the 14th at 7.30pm in St Anne’s Hall is full of festive fun and entertainment. Please contact Sheila on 07743 133963 for more information about the club's activities.

Sandra Borns

Wendover Horticultural Society

The next monthly meeting of the Wendover Horticultural Society is on Thursday 2 December, at St Anne’s Hall, at 2.30 pm. This is a Christmas social with festive fare, discussion and a quiz, but with no speaker. Visitors are welcome to come and meet us, admission £3.00 as usual.

Neville Morton

Wendover Cricket Club

Wendover Cricket Club submitted the planning application for their new ground in October to the authority and the reference is 21/04122/APP. Design development is ongoing and the programme is to construct the new ground next summer.

A full programme of indoor training for all ages has been organised for the new year. Enquiries on anything – players, volunteers to umpire or score or other – to Jonathan Seabrook on 07767 148119 or jseabrook@talktalk.net.

RSPB Aylesbury Group

RSPB Aylesbury Group’s next indoor meeting is on Monday 13 December when Barry Oxley talks about “California from giant redwoods, roadrunners and humpback whales to Hollywood” and other wildlife. Held at the Prebendal Hall Community Centre, Aylesbury HP19 7QW, starting at 7.30 p.m. More info at www.rspb.org. uk/groups/aylesbury.

Jonathan Seabrook

Men's Sheds

I’ve always enjoyed learning new skills but it was only when I was looking at what I was going to do following my retirement from procurement in the NHS that I thought about setting up my own business. I employed a colleague who was skilled particularly on the IT side of things. The difference in working on my own compared to working with others was noticeable. As a man I had also been conscious of the difficulties I had had with my own mental health. The fix I got by working with someone who had a shared objective was tremendous.

Men are useless sometimes at admitting to problems – especially health problems. My work in the community as a volunteer and as a previous Chair of the local Parish Council spurred me into action and I became a member of Men’s Sheds. There are Men’s Sheds north of Aylesbury and at Amersham but nothing in Wendover. Men typically find it more difficult to build social connections than women, and unlike women of a similar age, fewer older men have networks of friends and rarely share personal concerns about health and personal worries. It is not the case for all men, but for some, when retirement comes, it can feel like personal identity and purpose is lost. Men’s Sheds can change all of that. Sheds are about meeting like-minded people and having someone to share your worries with. They are about having fun, sharing skills and knowledge and gaining a renewed sense of purpose and belonging. As a by-product of all of that they reduce isolation and feelings of loneliness, they allow men to deal with mental health challenges more easily and remain independent, they rebuild communities and in many cases, they save men’s lives.

My mission is simple! To get a small group together – so far there is me, the Minister of the local Free Church and a local Countryside gentlemen's group. We will meet in the New Year with a view to obtaining support from the local community and the organisation of Men’s Sheds itself to set up a Men’s Shed in Wendover. Men’s Sheds are vital.

Bob Duggan

WJFC – Football for women comes to Wendover!

Following the successful introduction of girls’ football, WJFC are excited to announce a new venture to provide football for women in Wendover and the surrounding areas.

Where: 3G, John Colet School When: Mondays starting 22 November 2021 Time: 7:00pm to 8:00pm

We welcome those 18 years and over to come along to our dedicated women’s football evenings. Just turn up to play in your sports kit, we will provide the equipment and arrange games based on the number of attendees. No previous experience needed, just a bottle of water and a bag of enthusiasm. Women’s football is taking off massively and with the Women’s Euro 2022 being played in England there is no better time to take part in the beautiful game.

Sessions are free of charge in 2021! Any queries please email wjfc-girls@outlook.com