GRYFF
RHYS JONES VISITS HERRIES
23
January 2012
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PUPILS
at Herries School, Cookham Dean, were treated to a lesson by the
television presenter Griff Rhys Jones on Monday morning [January
23rd]. Rhys Jones and an ITV1 production crew spent
several days in Cookham and the surrounding area tracing the life
of Kenneth Grahame, author of The Wind In the Willows, who grew up
in the house that became Herries School.
It
is the proximity of the Herries buildings to the River Thames and
the nearby Bisham Woods that are believed to have provided the
inspiration for the setting of Grahame’s tales of Mr Toad, Ratty
and Mole. And to mark the 80thanniversary of the
author’s death, Rhys Jones is presenting a programme called‘In
Search of Toad: The Story of wind In the Willows’ to be screened
in Spring 2012 on ITV1 as part of the channel’s Perspectives
series.
During
filming, Rhys Jones visited the home of one Herries’ pupil -
9-year-old Sam Martin - to read sections of The Wind In The
Willows as a bed time story. “We had lots of conversations about
the book and the characters,” says Sam. “Griff asked me to
read from The Wind In the Willows and asked me about my favourite
character which is Ratty because he is really kind.”
Rhys
Jones describes himself as a big fan of the book; twenty years ago
he played Mr Toad in the National Theatre’s acclaimed production
of the story adapted by Alan Bennett. “It was a joy to spend
time at Herries,” he said. “People mistakenly think that The
Wind in the Willows is too sophisticated a story for children, but
in fact it is a book that appeals to every generation. The
children here have a great understanding of its messages and
people of all ages enjoy losing themselves in Grahame’s
description of the countryside.”
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GOOD
NEWS FOR COOKHAM!
15
January 2012
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Good
news for Cookham! The switchback road footpath and cycle way has
been re-tarmaced. The edges were cleared so the path has been
widened. Drop down curbs at Long Lane have been installed so now
it's a great cycle to Furze Platt for all our Cookham kids!
Brilliant news!
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COOKHAM
JOURNALISTS LAUNCH MEDIA CONSULTANCY
10
January 2012
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TWO
leading journalists from Cookham are launching a media consultancy
for local companies with a series of inspirational talks by high
profile villagers.
Sarah
Parfitt, a freelance radio producer and trainer at the BBC who has
worked on many programmes on Radio 4, Radio 5 Live and the World
Service, and Peta Bee, a multi award-winning author and writer for
The Times, plan to kick off their new company, Parfitt & Bee
Media , with the hour-long ‘Think and Drink’ sessions to be
held at Station Hill Café in Cookham.
Each
of the talks, which start on Thursday January 19 at 10am,
will feature a villager who has achieved notable success in the
arts, media or sport with all money raised from tickets going to
local schools. Among those lined up to speak are renowned music
producer Stuart Epps who has worked with Robbie Williams, Oasis
and Elton John, BBC weatherman Philip Avery, Olympic gold medalist
swimmer Adrian Moorhouse, children’s author, Charles Luxford,
and illustrator, Andrew Prewett.
“We
have such a wealth of talent in Cookham and we thought it would be
a great idea to celebrate that while raising money for local
schools at the same time,” says Peta Bee. “We hope the talks
will provide an insight into the worlds in which these fascinating
people have excelled.”
Sarah
Parfitt says: “Our ‘Think and Drink’ workshops are open to
anyone in the area who is interested in sport, media and the arts
- we hope that they will inform, entertain, and inspire people.
If as a result of one our sessions, someone discovers a new talent
or even launches a new career, so much the better.”.
Manjit Jaspal, owner of Station Hill Café says: "I think
there promises to be some very inspiring and stimulating talks
from really successful people, and we are delighted to be hosting
the events.
Parfitt
& Bee Media offers a range of consultancy services including
public relations, media training, copywriting and one-off media
campaigns. Between them, Sarah and Peta have provided media
services for companies ranging from Asics, Nike, Condor Ferries
and Singapore Airlines, to Save the Children, the MicroLoan
Foundation, and Gillette.
Tickets
for the Think and Drink sessions cost £10 by emailing info@stationhilldeli.co.uk
. Please note - there are a limited number of tickets
for each workshop, so it’s advisable to book early to avoid
disappointment.
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A
VERY SPECIAL COOKHAM CHRISTMAS 2011
22
December 2011
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Gareth
Evans, a video producer, who has recently moved to the area
has produced a Christmas video of the Cookham area to wish
everyone a very Happy Christmas.
Click
here to see the video
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CHRISTMAS
CAROLS AROUND THE TREE
19
December 2011
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The Christmas Carols
around the Tree held at Cookham Parade on Saturday 17th December,
went extremely well, with approximately twenty singers, singing
their hearts out. £140 pounds was collected, so along with the
generous donations Cookham businesses, £500 pounds was
raised in total for The Runaway Campaign, through The Children
Society.
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REPLY
TO COUNCIL'S DECISION TO CLOSE CAUSEWAY
13
December 2011
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Over
three hundred people signed the petition to keep the Causeway open
for vehicles in the case of flooding. The RBWM Cabinet will
discuss this on Thursday.
Comments
on Officer’s report
Summary
The
Officers recommendation invites Members to note the development of
the Cookham Community Flood Plan but omits to mention that there
was no alternative to the closure open to them without the
withdrawal of this order. (background point 17.4 does not indicate
any agreement with the closure by the Cookham Parish Flood Group).
The Petition is supported by 212 signatures submitted by Cllr
Stretton plus 89 e-signatures via the web site (a total of over
300).
If
the recommendations are adopted, there will be NO benefit to
residents
The
Risk Assessment
does not consider any the means of mitigation such as marshalling
or technological assistance. On previous flooding occasions, the
marshalling was initially carried out by the Police before the
erection of traffic lights. Today sensors could detect when
vehicles are on the Causeway enabling better control of the
lights.
The
Risk may arise only rarely – flooding occurs possibly once every
three years for a short period.
In
the Strategic links section the proposed closure cannot in
any way improve Environment, Economy and Transport. There is no
consideration in the report of the effects on the 20 or more
businesses operating in the Village (including two of the larger
employers in the Borough – John Lewis and CIM).
There
is no consideration in the Officers report of the practicalities
of closing the Causeway: where will the residents park their
vehicles even if the “48 hour warning” is used to remove them
from the village? There is no parking with sufficient capacity
nearer than the Alfred Major playing field which is too far for
some of the village residents to walk. How will the businesses in
the village receive their supplies?
Background
information
In
previous flooding events the Borough and the Parish Council have
successfully managed traffic using the Causeway despite the lack
of proper signage. The occasions when vehicles have entered on the
Causeway simultaneously from both ends despite the traffic lights
were very rare and could have been avoided by appropriate signs
being used.
Despite
the assertion that “it was not safe to allow the use of the
Causeway for both pedestrians and vehicles” there have not been
any instances of collision or injury during previous flood events.
Why should it be any safer for pedestrians when emergency vehicles
are using the Causeway? Do the residents of Cookham Village and
their visitors have no common sense?
Our
recommendation
-
Installation
of temporary traffic lights at either end of the Causeway
during the 48 hour “warning” period (or as soon thereafter
as practicable).
-
Erection
of signs at each end to indicate that vehicles should expect a
delay of up to, say, 4 minutes between green lights and
emphasising that anyone who uses the Causeway does so at their
own risk.
Installation
of road and depth marker posts on the B4447 across the Moor to
allow commercial vehicles to use the road for as long as possible
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COOKHAM
ARTS CLUB OPENS CHRISTMAS SHOW AT ELIZABETH HOUSE
7
December 2011
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Cookham Arts Club is closing
its 70th anniversary year with an exhibition at the Gallery at
Elizabeth House, opening this Saturday, 10th December.
There is a wide range of work on show and for sale, representing
the varied talents of local artists. It's a great
opportunity to enjoy the high quality of work created locally -
and maybe find just the right Christmas present. The
exhibition continues to the end of February.
The
Gallery is open 9.30 to 11.30am weekdays and 10am to 4pm on
Saturdays - but
note that the gallery will not have its usual Saturday opening
from Christmas Eve through to the end of January.
Full details of the artists who have exhibited at the Gallery can
be found at www.thegalleryatelizabethhouse.org.uk
. Elizabeth House receives a commission on any works sold.
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CHRISTMAS
AT THE HOCKETT
5
December 2011
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It is the beginning
of the Christmas period and Genevieve and Friends were at the
Hockett on Friday 2nd December to offer some musical Christmas
entertainment for Thames Hospicecare. The entertainment was
accompanied by a delicious two course supper.
Click on photo for
larger image (photo with thanks to Rosalind Hazeldine)
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SAD
DEATH OF ALAN JAY
20
November 2011
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 Many
Cookhamites will remember Alan Jay who lived in Job's Lane in
Cookham for many years until he moved to Hungerford with his wife
Sheila in 2009. Sadly Alan died suddenly on Thursday evening 17
November 2011. Alan had spent much of his working life with IBM,
including some time in Paris. He was always interested in
computers and was involved in the set up of the Cookham website in
1999 when it was launched. Alan was very much the life and soul of
Cookham Bridge Rotary and was involved with Cookham Twinning, More
recently he worked hard to keep the Cookham Dean Post Office when
it was in danger of closing down and was involved in its transfer
to the Jolly Farmer. Alan was always active and getting involved
in village life.
Following
a private cremation, a service of celebration for the life
of Alan will be held on Monday 28th November. It
will be held at St. John the Baptist Church, Cookham Dean, SL6
9PD at 4pm.
Family
flowers only, donations to Macmillan nurses.
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JULIA'S
GOT TALENT
1
November 2011
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 Julia
Bysshe, who was born and bred in Cookham, and whose parents still
live in High Road, is becoming known internationally. Julia has
got into the papers and onto
China
television with her dancing for a Chinese talent show which took
place on
London
Tower
Bridge
last week. She mentioned that she was from Cookham. Click
here to see the article
Julia was also
in a Saudi Arabian talent show last week – two talent shows in
one week! She said many of the Saudi girls had received death
threats for showing their hair. Julia said they all looked very
ordinary when they arrived, but after they put their make up on
the Saudi girls looked stunningly beautifully!
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FUNDS
FOR LEUKAEMIA
26
October 2011
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Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research will
be £1,550 better off this week thanks to Val Eckett who organised
the Elvis Evening at the Pinder Hall on 23 September. This is a
wonderful effort and a lot of hard work. Congratulations to
Val.
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CHARLES
CREATES MR WALKER'S WORLD
23
October 2011
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 Charles
Luxford has been busy over the last twenty months. He has been
creating Mr Walker's World in the form of e-books. So far he has
written two books and they are now in the public domain.
Charles
says "The character emerged from my imagination when I was
providing some bedtime entertainment for my youngest sons. Since
being encouraged to go public, the appeal has spread from seven
years old to seventy-seven!"
Click here
to find out more about Mr. Walker and make contact.
The eBooks are available from: Amazon
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