Newsletter Spring 1997

COOKHAM SOCIETY Newsletter Spring 1997
Poundfield - Spencer Land Secured Junior Art Competition Cookham Day Centre - Lift Appeal Cookham Dean Fete The Pound	"Did you know?" Sutton Road/Mill Lane Membership Cookham Bridge				Profile - Jean Stretton Committee Capital Projects 1997 Diary Note
Poundfield Spencer Landscape Secured Splendid News!
Our village, Stanley Spencer's village, has at last received news that Poundfield is to retain Green Belt status though challenged by the developers at the Local Plan Public Inquiry, which ran from April 1995 to February 1996. The inspector's report confirms the environmental value of the area. It is of particular importance to us, as the Green Belt status to Poundfield following the Poundfield Public Inquiry in 1990 has been under threat ever since. The Forward Planning Unit of the Royal Borough is, at the present time studying the report, the recommendations and proposed changes and will report back to the Council during the month of May 1997.			The document will then be subject to Public Consultation during a six week period with a view for adoption in the Autumn 1997. Over the past thirty years there have been five determined attempts to develop Poundfield. All have failed. The developer always lives to fight another day. The community can only lose one. Through the local plan we now put Poundfield beyond the grasp of the developers for the foreseeable future.
Junior Art Competition Pinder Hall ~ 9th October 1996
We were delighted with the enthusiasm and high quality of the exhibits received from the children of our local schools. Cookham Dean Primary School won the Cup for the overall high quality of exhibits. Chris Barrie, a comparatively new Cookham resident, but well known for his TV appearances in The Brittas Empire			and Red Dwarf, came along to judge and present the prizes. Very many thanks to Chris for helping to make this a happy and successful day. We hope to make this competition an annual event and look forward to the 1997 entries.
In the 3-5 age group Cookham Nursery School: Dominic Ebbetts with his model of a Kingfisher		In the 6-8 age group: Cookham Rise County Primary School: William Wetherall with his drawing of a rabbit		In the 9-12 age group: Cookham Dean Primary School: Oliver Dunning with his pencil drawing of a fly
Cookham Day Centre ~ Lift Appeal
It is now 18 years since plans were announced for the conversion of the old Police Station to a Day Centre for the Elderly. These plans were widely reported in the "Maidenhead Advertiser" and thanks are extended to them for help with this copy. There were some misgivings at the time, "Why does it have to be for old people? Why not a community centre?" - "Is there a need?" As one elderly resident put it "It would give me a reason to come out in the winter". Time has shown the Day Centre to be an outstanding success. The centre is a centralized meeting point, almost a club. It is open five days a week, it offers a day room with easy chairs, somewhere members can meet their friends. There is a dining room which provides cooked lunches at reduced prices and tea and coffee during the day. Upstairs there is a small library, hairdressing, chiropody, physiotherapy and the services of an occupational therapist is also on offer.			An Art group meets on a Monday, Christian Workshop is celebrated each Wednesday from 1:30 to 2pm. The trusty lift that has transported members to the first floor for so long can no longer be repaired. A fund raising scheme is under way to raise Ł30,000 to install a new one. Various fund raising events continue to take place and many residents are contributing to the fund and to date the sum of Ł10,000 has been raised. We would put it to our generous and good hearted members that individual donations to this fund would be so worthwhile, thereby assisting the centre to continue its splendid work. To this end the Society has donated Ł500 from the profits of the successful Summer Dance held last July. We wish the Day Centre every success in this venture.
Cookham Dean Fete
Last year the Society decided to participate in the Cookham Dean Fete, which was held on the 21st September., The main purpose was to inform people about our aims and activities and to encourage more residents of Cookham Dean to become members. It was a very sunny afternoon, there was a lot of interest in our stand and a good number of members were recruited. Although most of the issues occupying the Committee;s attention at present are connected with Cookham Village and the Rise, a great deal of concern was expressed about the speed of traffic through the narrow lanes of Cookham Dean.			This matter will no doubt be considered at a future meeting. As most Dean residents drive through Cookham some time during the week, we were able to update them on proposed traffic-calming measures in The Pound and the whole question of possible development of Poundfield, both of which will affect everyone living in the Cookhams. Now that the Society has been able to acquire a display stand, we hope to be able to exhibit at other local events and raise awareness of the Society's activities and its role in keeping a watching brief on all development in this lovely area.
The Pound
As we all know, the long awaited proposed traffic-calming scheme for last July/August did not take place. It is now proposed that a full reconstruction of the carriageway should be undertaken with the choice of material being Granite Kerbs, Blue Paviours for the flat tops of the road tables (with Granite Setts on the leading edge) and Granite Setts to be used in the centre of the mini-roundabouts.			The works proposed would require the road to be closed for up to six weeks, would not commence until May 1997 and will cost a further Ł170,000 to complete. The sources of this extra funding is being investigated. We will keep members informed as we receive further information.
"Did you know?"
A fascinating item of Cookham history has been brought to the attention of the Society by Mrs. Jean Denison of New Malden, Surrey. Her Aunt, Mrs. Doris Smithers (nee Meaden) moved to Cookham at the beginning of World War II, no doubt to escape the bombing in London. She worked for Mr. & Mrs. Tiley who lived at Riverdene Cottages and also Mrs. Turk (Mother of John Turk). At the same time she worked for Hoover Limited at their "Cookham Factory"