POUNDFIELD
DECISION
21
December 2016
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Around 100 people were able to attend the
Maidenhead Development Control Panel on the 19th December to hear the
news that the RBWM rejected the applications to develop on Poundfield
(including the Pony Field) in Cookham.
This decision is thanks in no small part to the many people who
have played in demonstrating with hearts and minds to the swell of
feeling that people love this spot, want to preserve it and are prepared
to fight for it.
Work doesn’t stop here though. There may, in the future be further
applications that are lodged by developers.
LOCAL GREEN SPACE
In the meantime, however, the best chance we have of protecting
Poundfield now and in the future, is to ensure that anyone living in the
Borough votes with their feet during the remaining Borough Local Plan
Consultation period, to support the designation of Poundfield as Local
Green Space.
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CHRISTMAS
IS COMING
18
December 2016
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Saturday morning, 17th December, brought
out members of the Methodist Church to sing around the Christmas Tree at
Cookham Parade.
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COOKHAM
SOCIETY 2017 DESIGN AWARD
13
December 2016
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“The Cookham Society invites
applications for its 2017 Design Award. The Award is open to all
new building projects, extensions or landscaping completed in 2016 in
Cookham. If you would like to nominate a project for the Award
please apply for an Entry Form from Pablo Dubois, Regency Cottage,
The Pound, Cookham SL6 9QD, or email: pablo@dubois.me.uk
. Completed forms must be received by 31 January 2017.”
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CHRISTMAS
DELIGHTS AT THE GALLERY. ELIZABETH HOUSE
5
December 2016
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Cookham
Arts Club is exhibiting paintings and greetings cards from December
5th at the Gallery at Elizabeth House. As in past years the
local artists are offering a range of ideal Christmas presents with a
difference, with framed and unframed paintings at reasonable prices.
It's a great opportunity for your Christmas shopping, whilst
also supporting Elizabeth House, one of our favourite local charities.
The exhibition runs through to the end
of January and you can visit during the usual
Elizabeth House opening hours (9am to 3pm weekdays with a one-hour
break from noon). Please note any Christmas closing times
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WINNING
CHRISTMAS CARD DESIGNER GIVES VERDICT ON SPENCER
2
December 2016
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 It
can be a tricky deciding which Christmas card to send so we asked local
artist Ursula Downes to judge this year’s Stanley Spencer Gallery
cards and to pick her favourite design.
Ursula is well qualified to do this as
the winner of the 2016 Royal Horticultural Society Campaign for School
Gardening Christmas card competition, with her very bright and lovely
collage of a robin in the snow.
She had a whole range of Spencer’s
card designs to choose from with snowy scenes, angels, festive holly,
roaring fires and more captured in enchanting scenes.
 After
much discussion with her sister Imogen Downes and friend Annabelle
Stratford, Ursula judged ‘Apple Trees in the Snow’ to be her top
choice: “I love the detail and the realistic effect of the snow on the
trees. It looks as if the snow has only just fallen.” And as Imogen
added: “It is snowy just like Ursula’s own card.”
 Second
choice was the roaring fire: “It makes you really feel like Christmas,
sitting by the fire and once the fire is lit you know that Santa has
been.”
Then came ‘Collecting Holly’ “...
because the drawing tells story that is relevant to Christmas very
clearly.”
A pupil of Cookham Dean Primary School,
Ursula who is 8 years old, has been to the Gallery before with her
school and very much enjoyed visiting again. She hopes to be an artist
like Stanley Spencer one day.
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ANDREW
AND DAN DARE
30
November 2016
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Last Thursday B7 Media Producer and
Director and Cookham resident Andrew Mark Sewell gave a
presentation at the Media Hub in Cookham about the arrival of
"Dan Dare at Big Finish", a new audio production from B7
Media starring Ed Stoppard as Dan Dare, Geoff McGivern as Digby, Heida
Reed as Professor Peabody, and Raad Rawi as the Mekon. Andrew is
very happy to give interviews. His mobile is: 07779 648488
Andrew said: “Ever since my father
first introduced me to Dan Dare I’ve been captivated by his space
adventures - so brilliantly realised by the creative genius that was
Frank Hampson. It also ignited my fascination with mankind’s quest
to journey beyond our blue planet and explore strange new alien
worlds. With the world of film and television drama now seemingly
dominated by American comic book heroes, Dan Dare has always stood out
as the definitive ‘British’ comic book space hero — a bright
light of optimism that captured the hearts and imagination of a
generation. The opportunity to realise Dan Dare for audio, and to
partner once more with Big Finish, was an opportunity too great to
turn down."
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COOKHAM
SINGER LAUNCHES SINGLE
29
November 2016
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Tomorrow, 30 November, Cookham
singer and mum-of-four Renee Cullen launches her new single, Old
Coast Road, dedicated to her dad, who tragically drowned in a diving
accident off the coast of Whangamata, New Zealand, in 2003. We had a
sneak preview of Renee's single at the Media Hub the other evening, and
wow, it's fantastic. "Old Coast Road" was produced by
Cookhamite Stuart Epps.
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DEFIBRILLATOR
AT COOKHAM DEAN VILLAGE HALL
26
November 2016
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The Kaffirs are
pleased to announce that they have installed and will be maintaining a
defibrillator outside of the Cookham Dean Village Hall. It is available
to the public to use in the event of an emergency. This is the only defibrillator
in Cookham Dean. The Sailing Club have recently installed one at the
Sailing Club in Cookham Village.
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GREETINGS
FROM ETHIOPIA
20
November 2016
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Cookhamite
Sarah Parfitt is doing the Great Ethiopian Run in Addis Ababa today,
and then flying back to the UK tomorrow. With 40,000 runners, iit
should be amazing. The race starts at 8.45am Ethiopian time (5.45am
UK time).Sarah is then flying
home tomorrow.
See
Sarah's blog at https://diaryofamarathonmum.wordpress.com/
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AN
INVITATION FROM LORD ASTOR
14
November 2016
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On
Sunday13th November there was a special evening at Cliveden where the
custodians and other volunteers, who make the Stanley Spencer Gallery
such a special part of Cookham, were invited. Champagne and canapés
were provided in the beautiful French dining room at Cliveden House. The
evening was a special thank you and celebration of the Gallery being
awarded the Queen's Award earlier in the year.
With
Spencer’s love of daily routine elevated to the unique and
extraordinary, he would have no doubt rejoiced at the Queen’s Award
for Voluntary Service recently won by the Gallery.
Lord
Astor, whose father was a friend of audacious 20thcentury artist,
Stanley Spencer, extended a warm invitation to all the volunteer
custodians to a champagne reception at Cliveden last Sunday evening. As
an aspiring artist, the young William Astor had been taught by Spencer.
He later became one of the founding Trustees of the bijou Gallery in
Cookham.
The
photograph shows our host with long serving custodian, Di Benson, and
freshman, William Smith, who joined the team in the summer. Di comments
on her 15 year relationship with the Gallery which has changed from
visitors viewing the paintings on a backdrop of brown hessian, trhough
the 2007 refurbishment, to its current upwardly mobile position among
the best of world class: “I have met many talented, clever and kind
volunteers who have become friends and so it has been an enormous
pleasure and privilege to have the gallery as part of my life.”
And
William explains how he became involved as a custodian: "It was
quite daunting at first. I knew of the Gallery and had been there a few
times but I wouldn't say I was a Spencer expert. I was persuaded to help
by a friend who already volunteers with the Gallery and I am so pleased
I did."
The
constant in all this is that the Gallery is still run successfully by
volunteers.
The
Queen's Award
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SARAH
OFF TO ETHIOPIA
10
November 2016
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 Cookham
resident Sarah Parfitt is heading over to Ethiopia on Sunday to visit
Gende Tesfa and to run the Great Ethiopian Run (the biggest 10km in
Africa). she is self-funding the trip in the hope of attracting more
ambassadors for PFC Ethiopia projects. There's already been some
interest from Burnham Grammar School and Dale Street Primary School in
Chiswick.
Sarah said "I am heading over there
with my friend Caroline Field (a photographer), Tutu Melaku (who runs
Tutu's Ethiopia in Reading and is friend of Bishop Andrew's) and my
friend, Nancy who is a radio presenter in Cape Town is joining
us.
During the first part of our stay,
Caroline and I will be flying to Dire Dawa and visiting the
community of Gende Tesfa which is very poor and where nearly every
family is affected by leprosy. Along with my 9 year old son Joshua
(Mustard), I am an Ambassador for an amazing charity called PFC
Ethiopia: Over the last 2 years, together with Holy Trinity School
in Cookham and the Social Action Committee, we have now raised a
staggering £12,662.04 for Gende Tesfa. We have built a sports
ground, funded the Breakfast Club, funded water-points and books. I
would like to thank everyone for their support (financial, practical
and moral!!)"
Sarah is hoping to take some
letters and cards over to the school from some of the organisations
who have been involved with the project.
Good luck to Sarah who is flying over
on Sunday night.
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A
BRUSH WITH ART
29
October 2016
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A
new exhibition is just starting at the Gallery at Elizabeth House,
with a group of local artists putting on the show this time.
The
Wednesday Group,
part of the Maidenhead Painting Club, is staging its latest
exhibition at the Gallery at Elizabeth House, Cookham, through the
month of November. The Group has been meeting weekly, for
several years, and each member paints very much in their own style.
Their work this time takes the theme of "A Brush with Art".
One of the members is
Derin Waller, who lives in Cookham village. "We paint,
laugh and learn from one another through a process of friendly
feedback. All of us live locally and have worked, or are working, in
many different careers and areas of expertise. We are now
thoroughly enjoying the creative outlet that painting offers."
In addition to the
usual Elizabeth House opening hours (9am to 3pm weekdays with a
one-hour break from noon) the exhibition
will be open each Saturday
in November from 10am -3.30pm.
Also, there will be a
special viewing on Saturday 12th from 5.30pm - 7.30pm to which all
will be most welcome.
Photo shows Sue Looker (left) and
Patricia Ashcroft at the exhibition hanging.
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DEATH
OF JOYCE SAYER
26
October 2016
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 Sadly
Joyce Sayer who was a well known figure in Cookham died on October 16th
2016. Joyce was married to Ivor and lived in Bass Mead.
The funeral service will take place at Holy Trinity Church, Cookham, on
Thursday, October 27, at 2.30 p.m. Family flowers only. Donations to
Barnardo's may be sent c/o Arnold Funeral Service, 21-23 Little Marlow
Road, Marlow, SL7 1HA. Tel: 01628 898866. There will be a
gathering in the back bar of the Ferry before the service for family and
Joyce’s closest friends.
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BIG
AL AND THE BLISTERING BUICKS ROCK
25
October 2016
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On 7 October the Rock Band, Big Al and the
Blistering Buicks came to
Cookham Dean Cricket Club. This is a new band chosen because they play
great 70's and 80's classics - good to hear and dance to. The
Rock night was very successful, there was a full house of 75 people and
it rocked. The Raffle took some £250 which was split between Elizabeth
House and Starfish (swim club at Magnet which helps handicapped children
).
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KATHY
FLIES TO PALESTINE TO HELP WITH OLIVE CROPS
17
October 2016
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Today, Monday October 17th Kathy Rickman
from Cookham in Berkshire is flying out from Heathrow to Palestine for a
week to stand side-by-side with local Palestinian farmers and their
families, working with them to harvest and save their vital olive crops.
This unique trip, which was organised by UK charity Embrace the Middle
East will see Kathy join a group of 11 volunteers from the UK. It was
also designed to give her and the team a special and personal insight
into Palestinian life, bringing her face-to-face with the challenges
that people face there on a day-to-day basis.
As access to parts of the West Bank is controlled by Israel, many
farmers need permits to access their own land and these are time
limited. Without Embrace the Middle East volunteers such as Kathy and
others who also visit the country to lend their support, many farmers
would simply not have enough time to get their whole crop in and olives
would be left rotting on the trees. The beautiful and versatile olive
tree has been a symbol of peace throughout the ages, yet sadly, it is
also an increasing symbol of the conflict between Israelis and
Palestinians.
Kathy says, “I am really excited to be part of this amazing
opportunity. It’ll be a privilege to meet and work with some of the
local Palestinian farmers and meet their families. I love the work that
Embrace the Middle East does in partnering with projects in the country
and also across the Middle East who are having an impact in their own
communities for good.”
She continues, “The charity supports and resources local organisations
such as the one I’m working with who support local farmers, so they
can make a difference for the poor and vulnerable right where they are.
I know I’m going to have lots of stories to share and things to learn,
especially about harvesting olives!”
Palestinian culture is rooted in land and its cultivation with
agriculture being the mainstay of the Palestinian economy. 13.4% of
Palestinians are formally employed in the agriculture sector but 90% of
the population informally work the land with olive products earning more
in export income than any other agricultural crop. Kathryn’s support
in helping harvest the crop for local farmers, is key in helping them
earn the much needed money they need to feed their families and invest
into their land for the future.
However many Palestinians have to hold down a formal job, while needing
to work the land at the same time. Naim is a local man who teaches at a
boy’s school in the West Bank and because of the fraught political
situation, he can often go months at a time without being paid.
Making his family’s land productive means as a father he can provide
for his three young children, while as a teacher he can still stay
working at the school which he cares so much about.
Naim says, “Our roots, our family is here in Palestine. The tension is
always high. We think again and again about leaving, for our kids, for
their futures. But we have this small piece of land, which many others
don’t have. We look after it, we care for it. If we don’t do this,
the Israelis may come and take it. We have to stay to look after it.”
Naim approached Embrace the Middle East’s local partner, the JAI, who
through the Olive Tree Project enabled Naim to plant olive trees and
ensure that the land is well tended, allowing him to invest into his
family’s future and meaning that they don’t have to leave their
home.
Last year Embrace the Middle East were able to facilitate the planting
of 2,261 olive trees in Palestine and through their Alternative Gift
Catalogue, anyone in the UK can join the charity in supporting the
country by sponsoring one of these trees for just £15.
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OSTEOPOROSIS
- BONES FOR LIFE
14
October 2016
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“Bones for Life” is a programme of
strengthening bone through natural movement and weight-bearing posture,
and is the result of research with both NASA and the movement style of
African women who successfully carry heavy loads on their heads. Marye
Wyvill, an experienced ‘Bones for Life’ teacher is travelling from
Wales to share her wisdom with us, holding a Masterclass in Cookham
Dean Village Hall (SL6 9PY) on Sunday 30th October from 10-30am-4.30pm..
During this full-day workshop, Marye will help us explore posture and
movements that can build bone; preventing or alleviating osteoporosis.
It’s only £50 for this potentially transformative day. Space is
limited so pre-booking is essential. The day is not specifically yoga
based and is designed for all ages and abilities; it is open to both men
and women. Tea and coffee will be provided and bring your own
lunch. For more informationa and book please contact Emily on
07970 627390 or emily@findingstillness.co.uk
There is widespread concern about the increasing numbers of people being
diagnosed with osteoporosis. In view of the sedentary lifestyles imposed
on more and more children, this problem can only get worse over the
coming decades. The effect of being told one is osteoporotic can be
devastating. One assumes deterioration is inevitable, curtails movement
from fear of fracture, and places faith in supplements. But consider the
following examples:
• An astronaut returning to earth has to be carried from his craft
because his bones are too weak to support him. After living for just a
few months in zero-gravity, he is suffering significant loss of bone
density, which will, however, return within two years, after a vigorous
programme of exercise.
• Throughout rural Africa, women are carrying up to a third of their
body weight on their heads. Their bone density is lower than that of the
average woman in the west, yet osteoporotic fracture is extremely rare.
Unlike the average westerner, their movement is fluid and their posture
graceful.
From the first example we learn that it is possible to re-build bone,
and, from the second, that posture and movement style are likely to be
factors contributing to immunity from fracture.
Ruthy Alon, a senior Feledenkreis trainer and founder of “Bones for
Life”, has worked with NASA, devising exercise regimes to counter the
effects of zero-gravity. She has also lived with the Masai tribe in
Kenya, and spent many years analysing the harmonious movement style of
women who successfully carry heavy loads on their heads. “Bones for
Life”, a programme of strengthening bone through natural movement and
weight-bearing posture, is the result of a lifetime of research. For
more information, see www.bonesforlife.com
Our “Bones for Life” day will include:
• introducing the background and methodology of Ruthy Alon’s Bones
for Life programme
• demonstrating the two main options for the response of the spine to
pressure
• exploring safe posture for sustaining the dynamic movements that can
build bone
• exploring strategies for promoting uprightness and the body-language
of gentle assertion and leadership
• learning from evolutionary patterns of self-mobilization
Marye’s movement background includes 5 years' training at the Dharma
Yoga Centre under the tutelage of Julie Friedeberger and Swami
Dharmananda, and 4 years as resident and teacher at Mandala Yoga Ashram
in Wales. She has additionally trained as a “Bones for Life”
teacher.
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NEW
LUXURY HAIR AND BEAUTY SALON
9
October 2016
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A luxury Hair, Nail &
Beauty salon, Ross Poole Hair and Beauty, will be opening on Saturday
29th October 2016 in the Arcade, Cookham Village. They will be offering
a 20% reduction on the first
appointment to all readers of www.cookham.com. Clients need to mention www.cookham.com
when booking, the offer expires 30/11/2016.
You cam also sign up
online for the chance to win an invite for you and a friend to the
launch party. CLICK
HERE.
11-13
The Arcade, High Street, Cookham, Berkshire SL6 9TA
www.rosspoole.com
cookham@rosspoole.com 01628 298384
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RIPPLE
EFFECT AT THE GALLERY AT ELIZABETH HOUSE
7
October 2016
|
 The
October exhibition at the Gallery at Elizabeth House features the work
of Henley artist Lynda
Hopkins. Her exhibition, titled 'Ripples', illustrates
our links to water, its moods and environs, alongside her still life
works.
Lynda
has lived in the Henley area for nearly 30 years and before that in
Hackney where she would walk to the River Lea. She was a student at
Portsmouth in the late seventies where the sea was part of her daily
journey so she has often been inspired to respond to water. Her most
vivid experience was a trip to Venice.
She has also written and illustrated a collection of poems
called Sea of Surprises. Her
next project will show links with the
contemporary world of architecture and waterways.
The
exhibition opened on Monday 3rd October and
runs until Friday 28th October. There is a reception
open to all between 5 and 7pm on Saturday 8th October and you are
warmly invited to this.
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PRESENTATION
OF THE QUEEN'S AWARD TO THE STANLEY SPENCER GALLERY
5
October 2016
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 On Wednesday 28th September the Gallery volunteers were presented with their certificate for the Queen's Award that they won in June 2016. Gallery Chairman Stuart Conlin said "I am thrilled that the Gallery volunteers have won this most prestigious award. We have been recognised in this as a unique organisation which has existed in its current form for 54 years using an entirely voluntary workforce. In this period we have continuously provided expertly curated varying exhibitions and education facilities for the public, as well as accumulating the largest collection in the world of the British painter, Sir Stanley Spencer. Our 14,000 visitors per year come from all backgrounds and include the old, the young, the fortunate, and the severely disadvantaged. Our highly motivated workforce are always looking for new volunteers, so I would urge anyone interested to contact us E-Mail: info@stanleyspencer.org.uk if they might be interested in joining our award winning team!".
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COOKHAM
JUNIORS ON THE CHARGE
4
October 2016
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COOKHAM
Running Club’s juniors were out in force for their first cross country
fixture of the season at Perivale, West London. Fifty of the club’s
young athletes turned out in the North West London young Athletes League
producing some impressive team and individual results.
Battling
through heavy ran, Tom Ellington of Cookham Dean C of E Primary was
first past the post in the Under 11 Boys 1600m race, closely followed by
club mate Tom Lebeau in 3rd. Backed up by Henry Johnston
in 7th and Ben Hearsey, another Cookham Dean pupil, in
18th, the club snatched team honours from Highgate
Harriers.
Siena
Brancato narrowly missed out on individual victory in the Under 11 girls
race, but ran strongly for second and led home twins Carys and
Grace Allan (12th and 13th
respectively) to 2nd team spot. Cookham’s Under 13
girls A team comprising Cara Terry in 3rd,
Kensa Horner in 5th and Brogan McCafferty in 13th
went one better to secure resounding win over Thames Valley Harriers.
Cookham’s B team of Jemima Ridley (18th), Zoe
Allanson (19th) and Jasmine Stockdale (21st)
finished 6th, was strong enough to beat the A teams
from 6 other clubs.
In
the Under 13 boys race, four Furze Platt Senior School pupils made up
the 2nd placed Cookham A team. Frank McGrath, in 5th,
led the way, followed by Iwan Hughes (11th), Alex Bate
(16th) and Josh Dilley (25th). Adam
Gambrill and Elliot Lowe, also pupils at Furze Platt, finished 5th
and 14th in the Under 15 boys race to help take their
team to 5th place. Cookham’s Under 15 girls team of
Emily Taylor-West (21st), Imogen Shaw (22nd)
and Beth Murray (26th) finished 9th
team.
At
Under 17 level, Harry Turner was Cookham’s star, holding on to 3rd
place in the 4.7km race. His team finished 4th. Sandie
Pohlman was 5th in the Under 17 g-rls race and, with
Maria Rees in 11th, the team also placed 4th.
Cookham’s
junior teams head to Birmingham this weekend to contest the National
Road Relays on October 8.
www.cookhamrunningclub.com
Facebook:
Cookham Running
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WAITROSE
GIVES COOKHAM WILDLIFE A BOOST
29
September 2016
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Cookham Wildlife Supporters Group has been
selected as one of the three local charities to be supported by Waitrose
in Maidenhead during October. The group, formed last year to
encourage local people to take care of wildlife and share their passion
and knowledge in a practical and fun way, has already attracted well
over 150 local residents and has held several talks and walks during
2016. Waitrose's support is a great boost for this local
initiative so, if you shop at Waitrose, look out for the Cookham
Wildlife Supporters box near the exit and drop in your tokens. The
group stands to gain anything up to £1,000 with a minimum of £200.
For more info on the group, email cindygreener@btinternet.com.
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SPENCER
IN OZ
24
September 2016
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In August 2016 Stanley Spencer Gallery
Trustee Carolyn Leder was flown out to Adelaide, South Australia, as
keynote speaker at a study day held in connection with Carrick Hill’s Stanley
Spencer: A Twentieth Century British Master, the largest Spencer
exhibition ever held in Australia..
To
read about Carolyn's visit Click Here.
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NEW
CARETAKER FOR THE PINDER HALL
13
September 2016
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 Anna
Oliver, who is well known in Cookham as the caretaker of the Pinder Hall
for the last eight years has moved to pastures new in Maidenhead. Anna's
position is being taken over by Viktoria Radics and is being helped by
her husband Robert. She will be living in Bank House next to the Pinder
Hall with Robert and her two children. Viktoria is looking forward to
meeting all the users. Anna is continuing to take bookings for events
for the next few weeks while Viktoria learns the ropes. Welcome to
Viktoria.
www.pinderhall.org.uk
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COOKHAM
AND MAIDENHEAD ARTS TRAIL IS BACK
9
September 2016
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The
Cookham & Maidenhead Arts Trail is back for its third year, on
Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th of September. From
10am - 6pm studios and homes around Maidenhead and Cookham will open
their doors to the public showing the work of 32 painters, potters,
jewellers, embroiderers and sculptors.
Building
on the success of previous years, the Cookham and Maidenhead Arts
Trail has become a permanent fixture on the local arts scene,
joining other popular events including the Bucks Open Studios,
Henley Arts Trail and West Berkshire's Open Studios.
A
diverse range of mediums will be on display and for sale, ranging
from glass sculpture, prints, ceramics and jewellery. Visitors are
urged to engage with the artists in their creative space and warmly
invited to ask questions about the artistic process over a cup of
tea.
For
more information visit the website at camat.org.uk
where you'll find a map of the venues, list of supporters,
exhibitors and links to their websites and a brochure.
This
year Cookham will host Clarissa Galliano at 2 Gatehouse Cottages,
Sutton Road, Astrid Baerndal at 79 Westwood Green. Elizabeth House,
Station Road will have an exhibition of paintings by Martin
Dutton and a collection of work by the Embroiderers Guild until 30
September.
For further details and a map of the trail, please visit www.camat.org.uk
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COOKHAM
DEAN WAR MEMORIAL
2
September 2016
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|
 We
are delighted to announce that the restoration work is nearly complete!
The
remaining stonework will be installed in early September but protective
barriers will remain in place until after the Village Fete (17th
Sept) when the final landscaping will then be carried out.
If
you have any questions about the work taking place, please contact The
Clerk, Anne Osborne, on 01628 522003 or email office@cookhamparishcouncil.org.uk
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SPRINT
FOR FINAL SPACES ON RUNNING COURSE
1
September 2016
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COOKHAM Running Club is holding the
latest of its renowned Couch To 5km courses from September 7th. The
6-week course, led by experienced coach and former international
athlete Paddy McGrath of Cookham Dean, takes place in and around
Cookham on Wednesday evenings at 7pm. Several hundred locals have
successfully completed the course over the last couple of years with
many going on to become fully-fledged members of the thriving village
club. With the latest course nearly full, only a couple of spaces
remain. If you would like to book one, please contact Paddy on paddymcrun@btinternet.com (more
details at www.paddymcgtahrunning.com or
www.cookhamrunningclub.com).
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LEARN
MOVIE MAKING SKILLS
18
August 2016
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A
new 7-week course for aspiring movie makers will start in
Bourne End in September. Created for people who would like to
go beyond home movies and create travelogue, drama or documentary style
films, the course will run on Monday evenings between 7:30 and
10:00pm at Bourne End Community Centre from
19 September-31 October 2016.
The
course is aimed at anyone aged 16 and over who is interested in creative
video making whether or not they have previously dabbled or are complete
novices. 'All that you need to take part is enthusiasm. Equipment
will be provided for practice exercises or bring along your own
camcorder, DSLR or smartphone.
The
course will be led by Algie Gray. Algie is a graduate of Royal
Holloway’s Media Arts department, an Associate Member of the Institute
of Videographers and is an experienced videographer, editor and
production engineer. Asked about the course, Algie said “Many
people are put off video making by the technology involved
these days. I hope to demystify this so that people can enjoy the
fun and creative side of the medium.”
The
course is sponsored by Bourne End Video Makers(BEVM), a local club which
helps its members to improve their skills and to collaborate
in producing prize-winning short films. Members
of the club will be on hand to provide support and graduates of
the course will be invited to join BEVM at a reduced membership rate.
BEVM Chairman
Roger Davies said “The club welcomes people of all skill
levels and interests. We have members who are film
makers in their own right but many prefer to specialise in production, camerawork,
editing or one of the many other areas needed to make a film.
I hope that this course will encourage many more to get
involved.”
To
find out more, contact Training@BEVM.co.uk.
Click
here for poster
|
COOKHAM
BOOK CLUB
29
July 2016
|
(From Martin Garrett)
I would like to make you aware of a book club in Cookham we started last
year, we only have a few members (all men at the moment) but we are keen
to allow others to join.
This months book for Review:.
Jonas Jonason - The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed out of the
Window and Disappeared.
We have a Face Book Group 'Cookham Book Club' which was closed to
members only but I have temporally opened to Public for now.
Our next meeting will be on 6th September at the Swan Uppers to
review the above book.
|
DEFIBRILLATOR
FOR SCOUTS
22
July 2016
|
|
As a result of a generous donation from
the Cookham Christmas Society, Cookham Scouts has purchased a
defibrillator for use as part of first aid provision at local public
community and charity and voluntary organisation events. To book
or obtain further information please contact: Mark on 07990 730219 or mark.hook@btinternet.com.
Donations welcome to cover on-going training and maintenance.
|
MY
WINTER HILL
14
July 2016
|
 The
NT held an informative event about their ideas on Winter Hill at the WI
institute in Cookham Dean last Thursday 7 July.
Inge Beck went along to look at the display. Amongst it all she found a
beautiful poem on Winter Hill written by Jordan Worsfold, the NT Academy
Ranger.
She asked for a copy and whether we could publish it, which he agreed.
Here it is:
My
Winter Hill by Jordan Worsfold . National
Trust Academy Ranger
I
cast myself away from the suburban sprawls of London, Slough and
Maidenhead.
My
path leads me along the old ways of the commons, to lush, verdant spaces
beyond.
I
walk into a historic landscape of culture and community combined.
The mechanical cries of the city give way to the sweet song of the
hedgerow.
The
way rises now, my breath quickens to the pace of my climbing stride. I
relish the cool shade the sycamores, limes and hornbeams
provide me as they roof the single track lane with their sun dappled
thatch.
I
climb still, through the picture postcard village and dew
soaked verges of Cookham Dean, a country darling old and wise
in her years but still holding the beauty of a time she and few
others can now recall.
The
cottages dwindle and my green veil returns.
Suddenly,
a light at the end of the broad-leaf tunnel, the burning light only a
midsummer morning can provide, the echoes of my boot steps in the deep
sided track begin to fail. Theveil is drawn back and my vista takes my
breath away.
Grassland,
rich in wild flowers lies before me; bees skip between the
orchids and yellow rockrose, a damselfly grapples a subtle breeze and
the orchestral tuning of green grasshoppers fills my ears.
A
red kite, majestic against a cloudless sky searches the grasslands and
woodland edges for its prey, he will seldom go hungry as these open
spaces and wooded perimeters are rich with field mice, common
voles and other such creatures.
Darting
from a hedgerow to my left a bullfinch drops down the bank over the
unsuspecting heads of other visitors to perch on a nearby rowan, a tree
that will soon display hues of red as fine as the bullfinch himself.
The
chitter chatter of skylarks radiates up from the swathes of
Yorkshire Fog and Crested Dogs-Tail.
The
friction sounds of leaf on leaf drift up from the woodland at the bottom
of this great chalk ridge.
And
beyond, for my eye takes me far is the rolling gateway to the
Chiltern hills.
I
see all ages of man in this view, from the tender steps of early
Saxon agriculture on the floodplain to the motorway, whose metallic
occupants would appear in the morning sun like drops of rain gliding
down a blade of fresh grown grass.
The
Thames winds her way to London far below, she is in no hurry and neither
am I.
This
is a place I will linger long enough to name the flowers, to write
melodies into the breeze and to call my momentary home, my doorstep
home, my Winter Hill.
|
WAR
MEMORIAL RESTORATION DELAY
7
July 2016
|
|
War
Memorial Restoration Delays But It’ll Be Worth The Wait!
 The
Cookham Dean War Memorial Conservation and Restoration Project is an
exciting and important undertaking that will help ensure a strong future
for Remembrance in Cookham, and preserve community history. Historic
England have invited us to nominate the completed memorial for Listed
Monument status. It is an unusual and highly specialised project.
Unfortunately, despite detailed preparations with our
expert partners, the work has been delayed by some unexpected problems.
We are determined to achieve a high quality finish - we want
it to grace our village for another 100 years. This has meant the
site has been inactive while we wait for key investigations to take
place, and it has not been possible to complete the work in the 10 weeks
we had planned. Cookham Parish Council apologises for the inconvenience.
We ask residents for patience as we work to complete the project as soon
as we can. Please get in touch if you have any questions or
concerns.
Tel
01628 522003 email office@cookhamparishcouncil.org.uk
|
DEATH
OF JILL FINLAN
4
July 2016
|
|
Jill Finlan passed away on the 29th
June 2016. Jill lived in Popes Lane Cookham Dean with her husband
Peter and three children. Her family have many wonderful memories of
time spent in the villages which some of you may share. She was was one
of the first women to drive in the village and set up her mini bus
company Finlan Travel in 1975 when she saw that people were struggling
to get around the local area. The buses can still be seen around the
village today. (See newspaper article below.) She will be
sadly missed by her three children and four grandchildren. Thank you for
all your kind words and support at this time.
Jill's cremation service will be
at Amersham Crematorium on the 12th July at 12.15. If you are
unable to make the crematorium please feel free to join
us for drink at Cookham Dean Cricket Club from 1.30pm. Family flowers
only and no black. Donations to the Alzheimer Society, care
of Pymms and son.
Click on photo for larger image.
|
MIKE
COPLAND BEM
3
July 2016
|
 Congratulations
to Mike Copland who has been awarded the BEM in the Queen's Birthday
Honours. Mike has achieved the honour for Services to the Community in
Cookham. Mike has been active in so many things over the years in
Cookham and has made it very much the vibrant village it is today. He
has been particularly involved in Elizabeth House and also the Gallery
there, not to mention chairing the Cookham Festival for several years,
also support of charity events such as Amnesty International in Cookham.
More recently Mike has been working on a project on the First World War
as it affected the Cookham area.. Congratulations Mike, a much deserved
award.
|
TWO
OF A KIND
24
June 2016
|
|
The
exhibition at the Gallery at Elizabeth House through the two high
summer months features two artists new to the gallery.
Alan Davies and Angela Fielding are both local and their exhibition, Two
of a Kind, focuses on landscape.
The
exhibition opens this weekend with a preview between 5 and 8pm this
Saturday, 25th June.
All
are welcome.
Angela
started her career in fashion - the drawing and design side a
particular success.
She moved onto painting, developing her own individual style,
after encouragement from her husband. She loves the patterns and
shapes of the changing seasons in the countryside and uses watercolour
combined with inks to give vibrant and striking images.
Angela has exhibited in the RA summer exhibition, the Mall
Galleries, Chelsea Flower Show, the Lange Art Exhibition and the
Society of Women Artists and the Armed Forces Art Society exhibitions.
Alan
is
a retired architect living in Windsor and he lists painting for
pleasure as one of his enjoyable retirement activities. His
subjects vary according to his reaction and attraction to different
objects and landscapes discovered when out walking in the countryside
or at the coast both in this country and abroad.
His previous exhibitions include Reading Contemporary Art Fair
and the annual Woburn Festival.
Their
show runs continues to 2nd
September.
The
Gallery is open weekdays 9.30am to 3pm, avoiding noon to 1pm, at
Elizabeth House, Station Hill, Cookham SL6 9BS. The current
exhibition of Juliette Palmer's work continues to this Friday morning.
Come
to the opening this Saturday, 25th June, between 5 and 8pm.
|
ADAM
WINS A MUDDY STILETTOS AWARD
18
June 2016
|
|
Congratulations to Adam
Garrett of Devine Flowers on Cookham High Street who has just won the
Muddy Stilettos award for best florist in Berkshire. 20,000 people cast
their votes for their favourite local shops, businesses and people. In
addition to Adam's win there were three other Cookham businsses who were
runners up in their groups. These are the Crown, Deliciously French and
the White Oak.
|
STANLEY
SPENCER GALLERY RECEIVES THE QUEEN'S GOLDEN JUBILEE AWARD
8
June 2016
|
|
The
Sir Stanley Spencer Memorial Trust and Stanley Spencer Gallery have just
won a coveted Queens Golden Jubilee Award for Voluntary Service
(Announced 2nd June).
Just how does an organisation comprising only volunteers, with
no paid staff at all, and no ongoing grant from Government or any other
source, take on, manage and sustain such a remarkable operation, of such
a scale, now in its 54th year?
The exacting and diverse tasks undertaken by the Sir Stanley Spencer
Memorial Trust and the Stanley Spencer Gallery include:
- The safe-keeping of more
than 120 precious works of the great 20th century painter. Except when a
major Stanley Spencer retrospective exhibition is mounted elsewhere, the
Stanley Spencer Gallery at Cookham has the largest collection of Spencer
works on display anywhere in the world.
- Arranging the physical
transfer of Spencer paintings and drawings (both lending these to others
and accepting them on loan) across the UK and to illustrious exhibitions
overseas.
- Running (as a modern,
environmentally-controlled exhibition space) the wonderful refurbished
nineteenth century Wesleyan chapel where Spencer once worshipped.
- Organising and mounting a
series of stunning exhibitions (usually two per year) and all the
marketing and publicity needed to draw visitors to these events in
sufficient numbers to maintain the whole operation financially.
- Welcoming of visitors by
knowledgeable and well-trained front-of-house volunteers,‘who choose
how often they will appear on the rota and when.
- A programme of talks and
events, together with special sessions for visitors with wide-ranging
disabilities.
- A highly active educational
programme including frequent visits by groups of schoolchildren and
carefully pre-planned movement of one of Spencer’s great works to a
‘lucky’ school for a day of varied talks and discussion sessions.
- An impressive and
ever-growing archive of Spencer-related material, with expert advice on
hand, all largely open to visitors, as well as being routinely consulted
by Art Historians and authors as well as in relation to Master’s
degrees, PhD theses, and other research goals.
- Achievement and maintenance
of Full Accreditation under the Arts Council England Scheme
The astonishing underpinning to all of these facets is the purely
voluntary workforce. What holds things together, therefore? What
moves things forward and what gets things done? What
produces the constant innovation within the Gallery that so enchants its
visitors? Where does the energy, the expertise and the
effort, the attention to detail, and the steadfast loyalty come from?
What structures are in place to focus and channel these great
attributes, to achieve the best and most rewarding outcomes for visitors
and volunteers alike, and, most especially, for the memory of this great
painter? How can this organisation manage without regular
grant funding whilst others cannot? And finally, of course, what
points can other organisations, large and small draw from this
particular way of functioning.
This is ‘The Year of Stanley Spencer’ (see our website stanleyspencer.org.uk)
and it seems very fitting to have secured this Queen's Award for
Voluntary Service in this already very special year.
|
SECONDS
OUT IS CLOSING DOWN
1
June 2016
|
|
 After
many years Jayne Milburn of Seconds Out & New Too in the High Street
has decided to hang up her hat and retire from retail. Seconds Out will
be closing its doors for good on Saturday 30th July 2016 after nearly 31
years of trading .
Jayne says "We are advising all clients to make sure that they have
checked their accounts and collected any unsold clothing and monies
owing by Saturday 30th July .
After this date , ALL clothing and accessories left in the shop not
collected , will be donated to local charities and will no longer be
available for collection .
We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support,
custom and friendship over the years .
The closing down SALE is starting this Friday 3rd June .......really
fantastic bargains as everything must go !
See you soon !"
Click
here for details of the closing down sale.
|
SARAH
IS READY FOR THE BLENHEIM PALACE TRIATHLON
29
May 2016
|
|
There are six days to go until the
Blenheim Palace Triathlon and Cookham's Sarah Parfitt has been in
training.. As she says "Yikes! Fortunately, I have a "partner
in crime" - Joshua is going to do the Junior Duathlon and our team
name is "Keen as Mustard".
As many friends know, I am an
Ambassador for a fantastic charity called PFC Ethiopia, so we're raising
money for Gende Tesfa School. Cookham's current fundraising total is an
amazing £9,129.54 (WOW!). We have already built a sports ground and
funded the Breakfast Club at the school and also constructed
water-points in the village, but Joshua and I would like to make that £10,000
so that we can change more children's lives. If you would like to make a
donation, however small, here is the link:
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/KeenAsMustard.
The last 4 or 5 weeks have been a steep
learning curve for me - I have been trying to learn how to do the crawl
and I have swum in a lake in a wetsuit for the first time. My friend
Bridget King has also introduced me to "the joy" (!!) of a
road bike and clip-in pedals! Thanks Bridget. Good luck to Paul Harris
and Gerald Cooper who are also doing Blenheim too. Caroline Field and
Renee Cullen - wish you could be there next Saturday!
|
THE
TRAVELLERS HAVE ARRIVED
26
May 2016
|
|
Just when the police were putting out
warnings about ensuring that land was protected from
"visitors", they arrived on Cookham Moor. Let's Rock the Moor
which happened last Saturday was being cleared up so the track to Marsh
Meadow had not been blocked off, so several caravans and cars took the
opportunity to Park on the Moor. The National Trust looked on and wrung
their hands. It is just hoped they will move on before the Scout Fair in
a couple of weeks time. Unless they are put off by the dog walkers and
the crowds at the Crown before that.
|
DOWN
UNDER IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA
20
May 2016
|
 A
packed audience in the Stanley Spencer Gallery on the evening of 12th
May 2016 learned how the enchanting roofs of old Cookham are soon to be
on exhibition in Australia and also how the diminutive Stanley Spencer
had to gaze upwards to paint a sunflower.
These beautiful paintings and many others, most unseen for more than
half a century in the UK, are to be exhibited at Carrick Hill Museum and
Gallery in South Australia from 3rd August to 4th December, 2016.
 The
Loan Exhibition of Contemporary British Art in 1935 was the original
event which led to the paintings of Stanley Spencer going to Adelaide
and to Carrick Hill. This exhibition caused a sensation and the Carrick
Hill owners, the Hayward family, formed a particular fascination with
the work of Stanley Spencer. Following a series of connections and
coincidences, many of Spencer’s paintings were subsequently purchased
in Australia and remain there to this day.
Richard Heathcote, Director of Carrick Hill, talked about the
forthcoming exhibition, which will feature Spencer’s flower and garden
paintings. The exhibition is to be accompanied by an educational
programme regarding Spencer, including a book and a documentary film.
Filming for this is to take place in the Stanley Spencer Gallery towards
the end of this month.
Gallery Chairman, Stuart Conlin commented ,” This is a most
significant part of ‘The Year of Stanley Spencer’, the details of
which are on our website. Carrick Hill is our Cultural Partner and we
were delighted to receive such an entertaining and illuminating account
from Richard Heathcote.. We look forward to the filming later this
month”.
|
LAUNCH
OF THE COOKHAM FESTIVAL SPENCER POETRY COMPETITION
14
May 2016
|
|
On
May 13th 2016
the competition was launched at the Stanley Spencer Gallery in Cookham.
As part of the Cookham Festival 2017, the Cookham Festival has
linked up with the Stanley Spencer Gallery to organise an International
Poetry Competition. on the theme of Sir Stanley Spencer; his work, his
life, his themes, influences or beliefs. There will be three
judges Professor Peter Robinson from the University of Reading, poet
Jane Draycott and Carolyn Leder, trustee and curator of the Stanley
Spencer Gallery.
Why
not write a poem? Click
here for more information on entry – closing date for the
competition is 30th September
2016.
|
COOKHAM
RUNNING UPDATE
11
May 2016
|
Cookham Running Club’s website has had
an overhaul and re-design as it continues to attract more and more new
visitors. The popular club now has around 150 members, including a
flourishing junior section that is challenging for major honours in
league and championship athletics events. At senior level, the club
caters for everyone from the complete beginner to top level age group
runners, some of whom have competed for Great Britain. There are many
social events including regular club handicap races on the Moor and
Summer barbecues. The club’s Facebook page, Cookham Running, was set
up a month ago and already has almost 250 followers. You can visit the
new website at www.cookhamrunningclub.com
|
SAVE
POUNDFIELD UPDATE
8
May 2016
|
|
Over 100 people came along to our launch
event. It was heartening to see the level of support for the campaign,
including from Theresa May, MP. But the work has only just
begun.....
We understand that both Oakford Homes and Berkeley Homes
will be submitting their applications for development very shortly.
In the meantime, we are always looking
for ideas from people who are able to offer some practical help as the
campaign ramps up. Attached is a document offering some
suggestions to get you started however, in particular we are
looking for people to act as a representative for their road to help
distribute leaflets and be a key contact for both the Save Poundfield
group and your neighbouring houses. If you think you are able to help
with this or in any other way then please let us know confirming the
road or roads you would like to represent poundfieldprotection1@gmail.com
Once again, thank you for your ongoing
support and please don't forget to spread the word and encourage your
friends and family to register their support at: www.savepoundfield.co.uk
|
DEFIBRILLATOR
INSTALLED AT COOKHAM REACH SAILING CLUB
5
May 2016
|
|
The
Cookham Reach Sailing Club defibrillator has been installed and is now
fully operational. It’s on the river bank outside the club.
It’s there for every river user and everybody in the Cookham
community.
|
MUM2MUM
MARKET COMES TO COOKHAM
4
May 2016
|
|
Bourne
End Mum Silvana saw the award winning Mum2Mum Market being pitched on
Dragons Den in February.
Inspired
by the the opportunity to help mums buy children’s items at massive
discounts and earn an income whilst working around her family
commitments she decided to bring the pop up market to Pinder
Hall Cookham in June.
Mum2mum
market nearly new sales provide an opportunity for parents to sell on
and recycle their outgrown baby clothes and equipment to other
families.
With
at least 20 mums selling at every mum2mum market there is a huge choice
of baby and children’s items for sale.
All goods for sale must be in excellent condition and sellers
keep 100% of their proceeds on the day.
Goods
for sale range from large items such as prams, cots, toys, books, baby
equipment as well as clothes from newborn to age six.
Local
mum Silvana will be launching mum2mum market in Cookham at the Pinder
Hall.
Silvana
says ‘I heard about mum2mum
market on Dragons Den and thought it was a brilliant idea.
I am so excited to be giving local parents the opportunity to buy
great quality second hand and sometimes new goods or make some cash from
their outgrown children’s stuff.’
The
first Mum2Mum Market will be held at The
Pinder Hall Lower Road ,
Cookham Rise, Berkshire SL6 9EH June
11th 2016 at 14:30 to 16:30.
Admission
is £2 on the door, children free, and free admission after for the last
half hour of the sale. Full
information at www.mum2mummarket.co.uk
You
would be most welcome to come along to a mum2mum market to see for
yourself what it is all about!
|
SAVE
POUNDFIELD LAUNCH
1
May 2016
|
|
The Save Poundfield launch
was held yesterday Saturday 30 April. The organisers said:
"Huge thank you to everyone
who was able to attend the "Save Poundfield" launch yesterday.
There were over 100 people in total who came along. It was heartening to
see the level of support for the campaign, including from Theresa May
who did a sterling job! You may spot yourself on the attached photo
(yes, even the sun came out for us, for a while at least)! Please look
out for reports of the launch in next week's "Maidenhead
Advertiser" and "Bucks Free Press".
We understand that Berkeley Homes will be submitting their application
for development within the next couple of months and you will receive a
further email in the near future from us giving you more information as
to how you can help to oppose this.
In the meantime, we are always looking for ideas from people who are
able to offer some practical help as the campaign ramps up. This could
be in lots of ways, but some examples are: delivering leaflets,
displaying banners, publicity, fundraising etc.
If you are able to offer to do any of this or have some ideas and
thoughts of your own then we would love to hear from you so please do
get in touch via this email address. poundfieldprotection1@gmail.com
Once again, thank you for your ongoing support and please don't forget
to spread the word and encourage your friends and family to register
their support at: www.savepoundfield.co.uk
"
|
COOKHAM
DEAN FOOTBALL CLUB IN BERKSHIRE TROPHY CUP FINAL
28
April 2016
|
|
On
Tuesday, May 10 2016 6:30pm - 8:15pm Cookham Dean Football Club will be
crowning a superb season in the Final of the Berkshire Trophy Cup.
They will be playing AFC Aldermaston, the Thames Valley Premier League
Champions, at the: Madejski Stadium on the A33 in Reading. A very small
entrance fee is payable on the gate at the Madejski Stadium and Parking
is plentiful at the ground and that is Free.
Contact: sidneynewell@aol.com more information can be found on the
Club's web site www.cookhamdeanfc.co.uk
Photo at last weekend's Cup Semi Final victory when Cookham Dean
Football Club beat Tilehurst side Westwood United 3-2 to reach the Final
|
KEITH
TO RUN THE LONDON MARATHON FOR ASTHMA UK
14
April 2016
|
Keith Jenkins is running for Asthma UK in
the London Marathon on 24th April. This year they contacted him at the
last minute as they had had runners drop out.
Keith says "I have asthma which is well controlled but I have had
an asthma attack in the past and it was a very scary experience. Since
I’ve been fundraising for Asthma UK I have met a number of people who
have really bad asthma and have also met people who have lost loved ones
to asthma. Asthma affects so many people both here in the UK and around
the world, most people know somebody with asthma."
Keith lives in Cookham and does a fair amount of running, often with his
border collie Fleet. Besides running the London marathon he is also
running ‘Race to the King’, a double marathon (52 miles) along the
South Downs Way with 5412 feet of elevation on the 25th June http://www.racetotheking.com/
and then three weeks later he is following this with a 100km ultra along
the Ridgeway in ‘Race to the Stones’ which is on the 16th July http://www.racetothestones.com/
Keith's fundraising site is http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Keith2016
if you want to support him.
Stephen
Fry has prepared a fundraising video for Keith Click here
|
THE
WEA AND STANLEY SPENCER
10
April 2016
|
|
The 2016-17 WEA Maidenhead time table is now available for anyone who would like to book a session. They are running a third film course in Cookham Dean this year.
http://www.cookham.com/adverts/miscellaneous/wea/index.htm
Ann Danks is giving a series of classes on The Art of Stanley Spencer:
Sacred and Profane for the WEA in the Autumn.
The
course explores the extraordinary world of this most original
twentieth century artist. Famous for portrayals of biblical events
taking place in his native village of Cookham, Spencer was also an
official war artist and a fine painter of landscapes and portraits,
whose colourful personal life inspired a revolution in the painting of
the nude.
6
meetings and 1 visit on Tuesdays, starting 20 September
Fee:
£57.40 Venue: St Joseph’s Centre, Cookham Rd, SL6 7EG.
The
course is sure to be popular – so please book early to secure your
place. For information about WEA Maidenhead, other classes and
booking, please look
online or pick up a brochure from the Cookham station, The
Stationery Depot or from Cookham library.
|
COOKHAM
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
7
April 2016
|
|
Last
night Jayne from Seconds Out and
Adam from the Rose Boutique asked the Parish Council how they could help
Cookham High Street to continue to look its very best at Christmas this
year. They said "It’s such a fabulous scene for Residents and
visitors, it would be dreadful if we could not replace the lights that
are a decade past their sell-by-date."
Borough
Cllr M-J Saunders said "Cookham
is far from alone. Across the Borough, including in Windsor and
Maidenhead, the opportunity to give Residents and businesses a lift at
Christmas has needed help. RBWM has recognised this need,
providing financial or practical support to help High Streets across the
Borough offer inspiring Christmas displays.
And
now the Residents, visitors and businesses in Cookham High Street will
benefit from this support. The Cabinet Member for Finance, Cllr
Simon Dudley, and the RBWM Finance Officers have today added Cookham,
with an allocation of £15,000 to help adorn the High Street with new
Christmas lights and decorations. The remaining funding required
will be contributed by the High Street businesses and local Residents.
There
is a wealth of experience across the Borough in how best to present
local Christmas displays, including the Maidenhead Town Manager, Steph
James, who works closely with the town and its businesses with a
programme of inspiring events, including the new Christmas lights last
year. I’m sure the dedicated organisers of Cookham’s celebrations
will be liaising with Steph and other experts in Windsor and elsewhere
to dress Cookham in its very best at Christmas."
|
SLEEPING
POLICEMEN TO BE INSTALLED IN THE DEAN
1
April 2016
|
|
The
Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead has confirmed that sleeping
policemen will be installed in the Dean to help enforce the new 30 mph
limit imposed last year.
The
announcement will give many local residents the hump, not least because
there has been little or no consultation on the plan.
Nine
of the Vertical Deflection Devices, as they are officially known, will
be installed along Church Road and between Woodlands Farm and the Lower
Road. A further three will be laid on the gravel road surrounding
the Old Cricket Common if the first phase is judged a success.
A
spokesman for the Royal Borough’s Highways Department confirmed that
lengthy talks have taken place with the organising committee of the
annual Cookham Dean Gravity Grand Prix. “All their carts go faster
than 30mph, but unfortunately we can’t change the speed limit for just
one day - the Department of Transport don’t even have a box for us to
tick for that on their intranet.”
 He
added: “The Gravity Grand Prix committee promised they would come back
to me with alternative plans, but sadly it would seem they have done
nothing, so we need to impose traffic calming measures of our own. To do
nothing is not an option, because we cannot be seen to be condoning
speeding.
“It
really doesn't matter if your cart is powered by gravity or a jet
engine, anyone going over 30 mph will be breaking the law and can expect
points on their licence. The committee was warned last year that if they
didn’t act to prevent speeding, then the council would have to step in
and do it for them.”
Responding
to the comment, GGP committee member Peter Bartlett said: “This year
we have made plans to introduce a chicane, as well as a ramp to
celebrate leap year. The council have jumped the gun on this and imposed
a solution no one wants. They should have given us more time to present
our alternative proposal, which has far more local support.”
Celebrating
its tenth year in 2016, the Gravity Grand Prix has become a popular
local event, which sees up to 30 hand-built carts travel down Church
Lane, powered by nothing more than gravity and the cheers from the
crowd. This year will see the total contributions donated to charity top
the £100,000 mark.
This
year’s Gravity Grand Prix will be held on Sunday 11th September at
1:30 pm. The event is always in need of volunteers, so if you feel you
can help please look at the volunteering section on the web site www.GravityGrandPrix.co.uk
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SPRING
INTO SHAPE
31
March 2016
|
 COOKHAM
Running Club is staging the latest of its hugely popular Couch to 5km
courses in April. The 6-week course, lead by qualified running coach and
former international runner Paddy McGrath from
Cookham Dean, starts on Wednesday April 6 with the focus on fun and
fitness. Paddy has put almost 200 local people through the beginner
running programme over the last few years and none of the participants
has yet failed to complete a 5km run at the end of the course.
To sign up, please email paddymcrun@btinternet.com
or call 07714 950748. The course costs £40 for 6 weeks including email
and phone support, a full scheduled, guaranteed fat-burning, lots of fun
and new friendships. Only a few places left, so sprint for it! More
information about Paddy at www.paddymcgrathrunning.com
and www.cookhamrunningclub.com
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COOKHAM
SOCIETY DESIGN AWARD 2016
30
March 2016
|
 The
Cookham Society’s annual Design Award has been given to Cookham Dean
Primary School garden. The garden was a community project designed by
Hannah Wilson and Catherine Downes who both sit on the PTA.
The Award Certificate was presented to Ms Wilson at the Society’s AGM
on 10 March by the Society’s President, John Bowley.
The garden, which opened in June 2014, includes a sensory bed, wildlife
border and herb garden. In its assessment for the Award the
Society noted that the garden is designed to enable all age groups of
pupils to participate with appropriate plantings. It has common areas as
well as nature zones to encourage specific types of wild life - it even
has "meat eating well" to demonstrate the work of carnivorous
plants. The whole garden has been created as a school project with
considerable input from parents and others. It represents many of the
elements central to the Cookham Village Design Statement: it has been
sensitively and imaginatively designed; it involves the community at
many levels; it enhances an area which would otherwise have been
neglected; and it provides an aesthetically pleasing facility for the
education of children to encourage them to be considerate of the
environment
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CLEANING
FOR THE QUEEN
20
March 2016
|
|
As
part of the campaign to clean the streets for the queen’s 90th
birthday volunteers from Dean Rise WI spent an afternoon collecting
rubbish on Friday March 4th.
Five
bags of rubbish were collected from the station car park and the shops
in the parade.
Mary-Lou
Kellaway said:” We found a lot of cigarette butts on the floor which
are very difficult to tidy up. We really need more cigarette butt
disposal bins. We also picked up a lot of bottles.
Some
people stopped to ask if we were on community service, which was quite
funny. We had to explain to them what we were doing. A lot of people
came up and thanked us. People appreciated it.”
Dean
Rise WI has now become a registered “adopt a street” group. Visit www.rbwm.gov.uk
for details.
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MEDICAL
CENTRE QUESTIONNAIRE
19
March 2016
|
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It’s
that time of year when we produce the Cookham Medical Centre Patient
Questionnaire on behalf of Cookham Medical Centre.
Please
do complete it, and encourage other members of your household to do so
too. Your views help make change happen:
The
Cookham Medical Centre is committed to continuously improving the
service it provides to its patients. This short survey is designed to
raise awareness and is particularly relevant to current developments in
the NHS. The results of this questionnaire will be analysed by the PPG
committee and all comments are treated in confidence.
This questionnaire is for patients of Cookham and their carers
and is separate from the Friends and Family Test. Please pass this on to
any carers that are caring for Cookham patients, but are not patients at
Cookham themselves.
To
complete the survey online, please go to:
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/WDBCQRN
Paper copies will be in the surgery soon, please help us get a good
response by letting any other patients know they can take part.
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FAREWELL
TO LYNNE HATCH
16
March 2016
|
|
Friends
gathered at Elizabeth House to bid a fond farewell to Lynne Hatch after
seven years of devoted service to Elizabeth House, Cookham’s centre
for the over 60s.
John
Bowley vice chairman of the trustees presented her with gifts and
flowers from her friends and colleagues. He paid tribute to Lynne:
“She always welcomed visitors to Elizabeth House with a smile and a
big hug and always worked well beyond the call of duty. We will
miss her valuable contribution and her big heart. And we will see
Lynne again when she returns from her holiday in Costa Rica.”
Lynne
replied: “These last seven years had been the most magical of my
career. I knew the job was for me when I first saw the
advertisement and I felt instantly at home from my first day at
the Centre”. In the day room, surrounded by well-wishers,
Lynne’s parting advice was “Enjoy the moment”.
 
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WHEN
THEY GET OLDER
8
March 2016
|
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When
They Get Older – continues to
do its job providing a really useful and independent
site for anyone with ageing and elderly family and friends.
Its
taken us on a journey which has resulted in the launch of Joseph
PIp. A frozen ready meal range, delivered to your door throughout
Bucks and Berks.
We
have become aware of a large demand for really tasty, specially designed
meals for the senior palate. Meals where everything is in one place:
protein, carbohydrate and vegetables. And where you don’t have to
prepare all the parts separately. There are products on the market that
offer this approach, but they are more at the school dinners’ end of
the market. We believe that seniors deserve better than that. Of course
you can buy tasty, premium ready meals from the supermarkets. But they
are not designed as a suite of meals that provide choice for seven days
a week.
And so another leg of the journey began
as we went in search of the best cooking skills to deliver our vision.
Our search literally took us country wide from Yorkshire to Devon to
Nottinghamshire. Our journey brought us round and back again and finally
we are proud to be working with local cook Mark Robertson. Together we
have developed a delicious
range of 16 dishes that can be eaten every day of the week.
Using our insights into the senior market and Mark’s culinary skills
we have developed a menu that gives us great pride.
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WORLD
BOOK DAY
1
March 2016
|
On World Book Day (March 3rd) pupils
from Holy Trinity C of E School in Cookham will be dressing up as
their favourite book characters and also doing a sponsored
#leap4africa (a longjump).
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LEAP
FOR AFRICA THIS LEAP YEAR
28
February 2016
|
 Cookham
will be leaping for Africa tomorrow to raise money for two African
schools and to make the most of their extra day this Leap Year. You
are invited to join in the fun. The two key events are:
1) Through the day, locals will be
attempting the Leap of Faith at Longridge - this involves
climbing a 13 metre pole, balancing on a small platform and then
jumping onto a trapeze. People can jump from 8am and 9.30pm. Beth
Morris who is in #teampaloma on #theVoiceUK and lives in Maidenhead is
supporting #leap4africa. Here is footage of her recent successful
jump:
For Longridge booking enquiries, please
phone Gerald Cooper or a member of the team: 01628 483 252.
2) Cookham Rise School in Cookham will
be doing a sponsored star-jump and doing their #leap4africa on
Monday, February 29th. For further details and photos, please phone
Deputy Head Richard Rhodes during school-hours on: 01628 520961.
We would like people to come down
and do the Leap of Faith at Longridge (Marlow) between 8am and 9.30pm tomorrow
29 February. Online bookings close at Midday today (Sunday, February
28th), but people can turn up on the day and pay £15. http://www.longridge.org.uk/portfolios/leap-of-faith/
WHERE WILL THE MONEY GO?
All funds raised will be donated
to Gende Tesfa School in Ethiopia (through the charity Partners For
Change Ethiopia): www.pfcethiopia.org.and
the New Brainstorm School in Ethiopia: ttps://www.facebook.com/Brainstormcookham/
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INVITATION
TO PUBLIC EXHIBITION FROM BERKELEY HOMES
19
February 2016
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Berkeley Homes have
recently secured an interest in a site at Terry’s Lane and Poundfield
Lane, Cookham.
The Public Exhibition will be held at:
Venue – Moor Hall Conference Centre, The Moor, Cookham, SL6 9QH
Time – Wednesday 24th February 2016 between 4pm and 7.30pm
Representatives of Berkeley Homes will be there to answer questions. For
further information, please call our Office on:
01753 784 400 or email david.jacobs@berkeleygroup.co.uk
We look forward to discussing our proposals with you.
(click on photo for larger
image)
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PLAY
TENNIS OR CROQUET AND SUPPORT LOCAL CHARITY
8
February 2016
|
The Cookham Dean Charity Tournament will
take place on Sunday July 3rd, using private courts in some of the
beautiful gardens in and around Cookham. This annual event raises money
for a number of local charities but is also great fun, and many people
enter every year. All standards of player are welcome; everybody gets
the chance to play against several different opponents, and there are
trophies for the overall winners.
You can enter as a pair or on your own (in which case the committee will
match you up with another player to play as mixed doubles). If you get
your entry in early you will qualify for a reduced entry fee (see
below); the entry fee is also reduced for anybody who has not
entered before. In addition, if you organise a whole court of eight
people for either tennis or croquet, you can enjoy a free bottle of
Prosecco while you play.
ENTRY FEES
Standard entries£20
Early bird entries (before May 31st)£18
First time entries£15
Regular players with a first time partner£30 per pair
More information and entry forms are available on the website, www.cookhamdean.net
.
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BIG
BAND HELP GENDE TESDA
6
February 2016
|
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What a great evening the Echoes of Big
Band gave everyone on Friday 5th February at the Methodist Church. and
what a fantastic achievement raising £440 for the community of Gende
Tesfa in Ethiopia.
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RURAL
BUSINESS RATE RELIEF
5
February 2016
|
Following the initiative led by Cookham
Parish Council, we are pleased to report
that RBWM have re-assessed the designation of parts of Cookham as a
rural areas.
Until recently, certain eligible businesses in Cookham were able to
apply for a rebate on their business rates as Cookham was considered a
rural area. Under national guidelines, this benefit was removed based on
the fact that Cookham’s total population was over 3000.
Cllr M J Saunders was able to encourage RBWM to consider Cookham as 3
separate areas. which meant that, in terms of population, Cookham
Village and Cookham Dean still fall within the specified criteria.
We therefore hope that businesses in the two villages will investigate
this opportunity to reduce their costs.
Cookham Parish Council will continue to support local businesses in an
effort to maintain facilities and an active environment for the
Community. We will welcome any enquiries for further information on tel
01628 522003 or office@cookhamparishcouncil.org.uk
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COOKHAM
PILATES AND YOGA STUDIO
4
February 2016
|
Jan Wickens has opened a beautiful Pilates
and Yoga Studio in Whyteladyes Lane, Cookham. Their will be Pilates,
Hatha and Restorative Yoga and PureStretch. With the New Year she is
hoping to welcome all those who would be interested in coming to some of
her new classes.
Jan's website is http://www.pilatesandyoga.co.uk
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COLOUR,
PATTERN AND FORM AT THE GALLERY, ELIZABETH HOUSE
2
February 2016
|
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Pat Shenstone's architectural work gives
us reflections of colour, pattern and form with the architecture of
Italian churches offering a visual confusion that sits alongside a
modern reworking of spaces with glass. Pat’s other subjects
are more domestic. Patterned cups and saucers against patterned cloths
and large flowers that are painted with an emphasis on shape and
pattern are recurring themes in the paintings.
Pat has recently moved from Maidenhead
to spend time in a new home in Derbyshire though retaining her local
base. Following the opening event on 6th February,
the exhibition continues to 1st April – open
weekdays between 9am and 3pm, with a break each day between noon and
1pm.
The Gallery is on Station Hill, Cookham
Rise , SL6 6BS .
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HOLY
TRINITY CHURCH CAROL SERVICE COLLECTIONS
1
February 2016
|
 Thank
you to all those who attended and who gave so generously following
Holy Trinity Church's three Carols by Candlelight services for Advent,
Christmas Day and Epiphany. The total raised from the collections, in
aid of Alexander Devine Children's Hospice, was £1,345.
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STARLING
MURMURATION
31
January 2016
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From
Cindy Barnes - Cookham Wildlife
I
have to share this as I’ve just come back from seeing yet another
amazing Starling murmuration at Otmoor RSPB reserve near Oxford.
It’s about a 40 minute drive from Cookham but when you get there allow
another 30 minutes to walk from the car park to the viewing areas.
They started gathering tonight about 4.45 with a few, very large and
spectacular murmurations and by 5pm it was all over and they’d
roosted. It’s also very wet there so if you go wear wellies.
Well worth a visit. You need a clear, dry evening so check the
forecasts.
Click
here for some more information about Otmoor from the RSPB
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ARE
YOU A HIGHLY SENSITIVE PERSON?
27
January 2016
|
Have you ever been told that you’re just
too sensitive? Maybe you feel emotions much stronger and for
longer than others.
Some people are highly sensitive (HSP). This is a normal character trait
that 15-20% of people are born with and is characterised by 4 things:
1. Depth of processing – You think about things deeply, things like
the meaning of life and your purpose.
2. Easily over stimulated and overwhelmed – You may be more easily
stressed by noise, by lights, chaotic situations, deadlines, or too many
people.
3. Strength of emotions and empathy – You feel emotions deeper and for
longer than most people. You have considerable empathy for others and
often know intuitively what other people need.
4. Sensory sensitivity – You’ll notice subtle changes in the
environment like the texture and colour of objects in someone's home or
a perfume. You might be very sensitive to noise.
The HSP trait has been validated by major research studies. If you think
this sounds like you, take the short test on Dr Elaine Aron’s website.
http://hsperson.com/test/
Knowing that you are an HSP can be a huge relief as many people feel
that they just don’t fit in. The sense of overwhelm that many HSPs
feel can lead to depression and anxiety.
Come and join the new group meeting for HSP to learn more about the
trait. This is being run by counsellor and HSP specialist Cindy
Barnes
February 13th 2016 in the WI Hall, Church Road, Cookham Dean from
1.30pm – 3.30pm. £10 to cover the room hire. Hot drinks and
biscuits will be offered.
Please sign up and register via Meetup
http://www.meetup.com/Positively-Sensitive-Network/events/228304852/
Or email cindy@cindy-barnes.com
for more details.
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COOKHAM
SOCIETY DESIGN AWARDS
18
January 2016
|
The Cookham Society is calling for
nominations for its 2016 Design Award. The Award is available for
buildings, extensions and landscape schemes completed in Cookham in
2015. The Award is for excellence and follows the guidelines in
the Cookham Village Design Statement.
The closing date for nominations for the Cookham Society Design Awards
has been extended to 23 January. Forms can be obtained from our
Secretary ( Kirstytyce@hotmail.co.uk
) or Pablo Dubois (Pablo@dubois.me.uk).
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PETER
FINLAN'S THANKSGIVING SERVICE
17
January 2016
|
 Peter
Finlan passed away on the 3rd January 2016. Peter lived in Cookham as
a child and his married life in Popes Lane Cookham Dean. His family
have many wonderful memories of time spent in the villages which some
of you may share. He was a wonderful man and contributed to many
activities in the Cookham community. He will be sadly missed by
his loving wife Jill, his three children and four grandchildren. Thank
you for all your kind words and support at this time. Peter’s
Thanksgiving service will be at St John the Baptist church at 3.15pm
on the 29th January. Donations to the British Heart Foundation care of
Pymms and son. We are looking into donating a defibrillator which will
be housed in Pinder Hall in memory of Peter.
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TONY
AUSTIN'S MEMORIAL SERVICE
12
January 2016
|
 Tony
Austin, President of Cookham Dean
Cricket Club died just before Christmas and will be sadly missed by
the Cookham community.
Tony was a member of the Club for 30
years, a fast bowling all- rounder and more recently a long serving
Chairman and in his final year as President.
During his 10 years as Chairman he
oversaw a radical transformation in the Club’s facilities and the
Club’s rise from the lower echelons of the Chiltern League to the
Home Counties Premier League. Tony was a well-liked and respected
figure throughout the local cricket community having previously played
at Slough and Marlow Park and served as Chairman of the Julian Cup
competition. Tony will be much missed and thoughts are with his wife,
Lesley and sons Christian and Alexis and family.
There will be a Memorial Service for
Tony on Friday January 15th. at 12pm at Holy Trinity Church-Cookham
Village.
Tony's family have asked that rather than flowers.... for donations to
be made to Tony's charity WWW.Newlifecharity.co.uk
.
Arrangements have been made for these donations to go via Skinners
Funeral Directors Lower Cookham Road Cookham-just before Pinder Hall.
Parking at the Church is not available but we have been able to secure
the following options please.
1.The Odney Club have very kindly granted access to their 2 sites in
Odney Lane....The Grove on the left and Odney itself. They have asked
if we can use The Grove first please followed by Odney itself.
2.Maliks Car Park-please leave the first 4 spaces on the right as you
enter free please for their lunch time customers-feel free to use the
rest of the car park.
3.Berries Road- beyond Vicarage Close-+Vicarage Close itself. From
these 2 roads access to the Church is via a wooden door at the end of
Vicarage Close.
4.Andy +Sue Finlan are very kindly running a shuttle service from CDCC
to the service and back to CDCC after for those who wish to leave
their cars at the Club. These will leave at 11.15am to Holy Trinity.
If parking at CDCC-please leave the area free by the mini conifer
hedge on the right as we will need this reserved for when the family
arrive.
5.Given the current weather we don't know as yet whether we can use
the paddock-I will know more by Wednesday and send another email.
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