Local News

Fire Brigade Visit!

The Shepherd’s Hut Outdoor Nursery in Wendover had the great privilege of being visited by Aylesbury Fire & Rescue Service on 1 November. The team arrived in their fire engine and the children couldn’t believe their eyes! They greeted the firefighters by singing their favourite fire engine song. The firefighters joined us in the nursery and asked the children several questions about what they knew about fire safety. The firefighters then mentioned some dangers, with it being close to Halloween and Bonfire night, which coincided with our recent topics and they taught the children what they should do in an emergency – call 999! The children were able to inform the firefighters that we have smoke alarms to help notify us of a fire. We then all had a practical lesson of STOP, DROP & ROLL if they were ever on fire – the children were very good at this! The children then had great fun spraying the fire hose and sitting inside the fire engine. We are very proud of our children for completing their fire safety lesson. We wouldlike to say a big thankyou to the Green Watch from Aylesbury Fire Rescue Service! TSH

News from Wendover Canal Trust

The towpath on the Wendover Arm of the Grand Union Canal is set to be made more accessible to local people through a £367,000 partnership project led by the Wendover Canal Trust and national waterways and wellbeing charity the Canal & River Trust.

The work has been funded by the HS2 Chiltern AONB Review Group, Wendover Parish Council, Lionel Abel-Smith Trust, Wendover Community Board and Halton Parish Council. In total over 28 local, regional, and national organisations supported the campaign to upgrade the towpath, which was led by the Wendover Canal Trust in conjunction with the Canal & River Trust. These included all the schools in Wendover, the Chiltern Society, Chilterns Conservation Board, Inland Waterways Association, Sustrans and Chiltern Railways.

The project builds on previous small scale towpath improvements undertaken by the two Trusts in Wendover in the past year. Design work is currently being undertaken and the works are being programmed to commence in January 2023 and be completed by March 2023.

TV personality and vlogger Robbie Cumming has become a patron of the Wendover Canal Trust (WCT) as the charity celebrates its 25th anniversary since work began on the canal’s restoration.

Robbie, who presents BBC Four’s ‘Canal Boat Diaries’ which records his experiences whilst cruising the canals on his boat ‘Naughty Lass’, joins current patron, actor Sir David Suchet CBE of ‘Poirot’ fame. More from WCT on page 21.

Wendover Community Car

With Christmas soon upon us, it is a time when the volunteers and drivers at Wendover Community Car would like to wish all our passengers a Very Happy Christmas. We look forward to helping you again in the New Year. We hope that we have made a small contribution in taking you to places where you can buy your Christmas gifts for your families and your Christmas Fayre.

Of course, Wendover Community Car is always there to help anyone in Wendover and the surrounding area with mobility difficulties who might like a bit of help getting about over the Christmas and New Year Period. Just call on 01296 317769. A Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our passengers.

Chilterns MS Centre to start providing services to stroke survivors

Earlier this year, the Chilterns MS Centre began a pilot programme to open up its services to people with neurological conditions other than MS, starting with Parkinson’s Disease. Due to its success, the pilot has now been extended and from this autumn the Centre has opened up its services to stroke survivors.

If anyone who has experienced a stroke, or anyone with MS or Parkinson’s, feels they would benefit from the services offered then they should get in touch with the Chilterns MS Centre by phoning 01296 696133.

Have your say on the Home to School Transport Consultation

Buckinghamshire Council is holding a Home to School Transport Consultation inviting residents to share their views on proposed changes to council-run school bus charges (Spare Seats Scheme), the Home to School Transport Policy (0- to 25-Year-Olds) and the Post-16 Transport Policy Statement for 2023 to 2024.

Until midnight on Sunday 4 December, people in Buckinghamshire will be able to provide their views on proposals for:

• Spare Seats Scheme charging options

• Updates to our home to school transport policies

Any changes will apply for the 2023 to 2024 academic year onwards and will apply to both new and existing customers.

Complete the online survey at: www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/school-transportconsultation

Art Gallery in Hawridge Common

Former TV presenter, Tony Francis has turned his Hawridge Common cottage into a dazzling art gallery for the winter. He produced such a huge collection of work before and during Covid that the house is bursting with paintings.

Look out for the sandwich board “A Winter’s Tale” outside Gateway Cottage and pop in any time you like. Or phone 07730 012960. It’s open house all through the winter.

The Wendover Society

If you love Wendover, would you like to help enhance living here? At the Harvest Supper, a number of areas were identified for volunteers to support: Heritage, Planning, Business, Infrastructure, Transport, Social. To find out more about the Society, click on https://www. wendoversociety.org.uk/. To volunteer, email thewendoversociety@outlook.com.

Saving Ilona

In October, a stronghold group of local residents joined forces to celebrate a monumental breakthrough in a campaign to save an iconic lone veteran Oak, locally known as Ilona, from unnecessary destruction by HS2. Ilona the Oak is some 250 years old and supports approximately 2,500 species.

As part of the campaign effort, over 200 letters were personally written to HS2’s CEO Mark Thurston, each with their own reason for protecting Ilona and their beloved historical landscape. HS2 are responding to residents to say that “HS2 are now reviewing their plans.”

This is the first time that a group of AONB residents have challenged HS2 and their contractors by conducting their own surveys, carrying out research and producing reports; culminating in meetings with HS2 and their subcontractors in order to hold them to account and review their plans.

Chiltern View Ice Rink Returns!

After launching their first ever ice rink last year Chiltern View Nursery announce that Aylesbury’s only real Ice Rink is back for Winter 2022! And it promises to be bigger, better and even ‘cooler’ than before.

The Ice Rink opened 17 November to a sold out crowd and tickets for sessions are selling fast. With special festive events throughout December

to enhance your experience - pay a visit to the website today to find out more and book your space! www.chilternviewicerink.co.uk

Local support for young onset dementia

Healthwatch Bucks launches new research project People with young onset dementia first experience symptoms before the age of 65. This means their support needs may be quite different from those of older people with dementia.

Healthwatch Bucks wants to know how these individuals, and their families and carers, feel about the support they receive. People can offer their feedback in confidence, via an online questionnaire on www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/ YoungOnsetDementia/ or in person. To chat with Alison on the phone or face-to-face, please contact her via the Healthwatch Bucks website www. healthwatchbucks.co.uk or on 01494 924421.

At the end of the research period for this project, Healthwatch Bucks will provide a report that includes recommendations for improving support for people with young onset dementia to service providers, policymakers and commissioners for review and response.