BEACONSFIELD & LOUDWATER - HP9/10 - MARCH 2010BEACONSFIELD & LOUDWATER - HP9/10 - MARCH 2010
Spring at last – the days are getting longer and less cold. There's more daylight than darkness, always a bonus and the clocks go forward at the end of the month (28th), what a joy. Time to get outside and enjoy the birds singing and the flowers growing. The only downside being that the garden is going to need quite a lot of attention after such a long and damp (to put it mildly) winter. If you can't face that yet, move on to getting round and about with some of our 'happenings' this month.
Music – it's still winter, and there's still lots of it to chose from. . In date order, the musical selection for this month. Eton College Hall, postcode SL4 6DW, is holding a concert by the Windsor and Maidenhead Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Leon Gee, on 13 March, 7.30pm start. The concert includes works by Strauss, Glazunov and Sibelius. Tickets available from WMSO hotline tel 0118 966 5149 or visit www.wmso.org.uk or on the night at the door.
Music at Oxford has been offering a series of events from October 2009 which will run until June 2010 entitled The Chapel Series. This allows audiences to her the new generation of top musicians whilst discovering breathtaking chapels. March's offering is at Exeter College Chapel by Pei-Jee Ng and Pei-Sian Ng on the cello. Pieces will include music by JS Back, Daniel Kidane and Elena Kats-Chernin. Tickets are available from the box office, tel 0870 7500659, online, visit www.musicatoxford.com or from The Oxford Playhouse.
More Bach, plus orchestra and soloists, is on offer from the Wooburn Singers on 20 March, 7.30pm, All Saints Parish Church, High Wycombe. Greg Beardsell will be conducting. Further details visit www.wooburnsingers.org.uk
The final concert of the 67th series presented by Beaconsfield Concerts will take place on Saturday 20 March, 7.45pm at Beaconsfield High School, Wattleton Road. The Barbirolli Quartet and pianist Simon Crawford-Phillips will take the stage with precise and energetic performances by Mozart, Janacek and Kreutzer. Tickets available from the Beacon Bookshop, Gregories Road or tel 01494 678595. Further details visit www.beaconsfieldmusic.org.uk
Marlow Choral Society and Princes Risborough Music Society will join forces on 28 March, 7.30pm at Wycombe Swan Theatre to perform 'The Armed Man'. Also performing is Anna Markland who will play Grieg's Piano Concerto. Tickets tel 07976 848002 or contact theatre ticket office tel 01494 512000.
Mother's Day falls on 14 March this year and that's the time to spoil your mum. You could take her out for lunch; for a pampering session at a local spa, or just buy her a bunch of flowers. However, there are more extreme activities on offer to spoil your mum with (this is just for the girls, though so men look away). This event is organised by the Fire Fighters Charity and Grove House Hospice. Entitled 'The Ladies Driving Challenge', it will take place on Mother's Day at Bovingdon Airfield near Hemel Hempstead and offers ladies the opportunity to drive vehicles that they perhaps wouldn't normally drive, such as fire engines, HGV's and JCB's. All entrants must be over age 17, have a full driving license and raise a minimum of £90 sponsorship money. All proceeds will go to the above mentioned charities. The perfect opportunity to give your mother a Mother's Day treat to remember.
On the subject of Mother's Day, if you're looking for something a bit more traditional, Cliveden is opening its gates free of charge to all Mums on Mother's Day, there's also free cake. Who's Mum could resist a slice of cake?! Talking of which, did you know that Mother's Day is traditionally the fourth Sunday in the month of Lent and was the day people baked cakes; known as Simnel Sunday. No more excuses, definitely got to eat cake now on Mother's Day!
Yummy Mummy week is happening this year from 6 to 14 March to incorporate Mother's Day. The actress Patsy Palmer is the face of Yummy Mummy week and she's encouraging all mums out there to raise money for CLIC Sargent, the charity for children's cancer. There's lots of ideas to raise money including 'Eat Yummy' – fund raising dinner parties; 'Dress Yummy' dress in pink for work, pyjama parties; 'Feel Yummy' pamper nights; 'Party Yummy' balls and garden parties; 'Go Yummy', bike rides, swims or anything active. Further details and to register visit www.yummymummy.org.uk or tel 08451 206 658.
Slightly, girlie but men are welcome – the NCT Nearly New Sale is being held on 13 March at the Curzon Centre, Maxwell Road. Start time 1.15pm (1pm if you're an NCT member) until 2.30pm. If you've anything to sell by way of baby clothes, toys, maternity wear, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for a sellers pack before 3 March.
Our last 'girlie' event isn't strictly for girls, but has, traditionally, been a female pastime. Abingdon Quilting Groups is holding a Quilting Exhibition on 27 and 28 March at the Sewell Centre Gallery, Radley College, Abingdon, OX14 2HR, 10am – 4pm. There will be talks and demonstrations as well as a showcase exhibition and sales tables.
As early spring approaches, we should be considering what we should all be doing in the garden during the month of March (on a very basic level, of course – not being much of a gardener, this will be advice for the uninitiated!)
Apparently we should be mulching the vegetable patch during the first week of March. Mulch traps in moisture from the winter wet weather and can be made up from substances such as leaf mould and farmyard manure, or for a more decorative look (and keeping recycling in mind) crushed up CDs can be used. We should also be dividing and conquering the herb garden whilst they're still dormant. Split them up if they've become congested over the winter months (that's if they haven't suffocated under several inches of snow). Finally, prune your existing shrubs and make new plants from the prunings and don't forget to plan your garden and start ordering seeds. All sounds quite manageable and not too time consuming – good luck!
If you'd like to spend more time learning about what to do in the garden, Waddesdon Plant Centre is offering a week's worth of workshops from 2 – 5 March. The itinerary ranges from flower arranging, hedgerow basketry, glass pane hanging and an introduction to landscapes in watercolour – take your pick. Book is essential tel 01296 653226 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Perhaps you need some inspiration to tackle the garden? Cliveden is running a 'Wake up to Spring, Tuesday Tours' every Tuesday (as the name would suggest) throughout March. This is a guided tour of Cliveden which will take you around the grounds. You'll either be inspired with your own garden, or too worn out to even venture out there; either way it'll be good for the health. Booking not essential. Meet at the Information Centre in the main car park at 11am.
The National Trust know how to appeal to all. If you're not into your own garden or tramping around other peoples'. How about a Top Secret Tour at Hughenden Manor? The tour takes you around Hughenden and teaches you about its secret war time past. Coffee on arrival, and lunch are included and the tour starts at 10.15am and the whole thing finishes at 1.30pm. Booking is essential tel 0844 2491895.
The Environment Centre on Holywell Mead, High Wycombe, seems to have had a new lease of life. During March they are offering a six week beginners course on bee keeping, every Tuesday starting 2 March, 7.30pm – 9.30pm. (Bees are vital to the survival of our planet, as I've rambled on about in previous issues, but did you know the latest theory on the demise of the honey bee? Apparently, using mobile phones is the cause; the radiation given off by them, and other high tech gadgets is interfering with the bees navigation systems which means that they cannot find their way back to their hives. This theory has been backed up with some evidence where empty hives have been found containing only queens, eggs and some immature worker bees) The Centre is also providing a venue for Wycombe Friends of the Earth monthly meetings. Visit www.ecobuzz.co.uk for more details on dates and times.
Did you know that a certain duffel coat wearing, marmalade sandwich eating bear, reputed to be from darkest Peru, was actually created in Reading? We all know Paddington Bear as he's been around fifty years. His creator, Michael Bond, was brought up in the town of Reading and it was possibly Reading Station that inspired the creation of Paddington Bear. At the start of the Second World War, thousands of people were evacuated to Reading from London. They arrived with all they owned in a suitcase and a label around their necks; reminiscent of Paddington. Reading Museum has created some fun activities as part of their 'Life and Times of Paddington Bear' exhibition which will run from 27 March to 4 July 2010. Further details visit www.readingmuseum.org.uk
History of a different nature - by one of our regulars, the Bucks Family History Society. A talk is being given by Ian Waller on Manorial Records; showing the value of using records from the medieval period. 9 March at the Community Centre, Wakeman Road, Bourne End – 7.30pm for 7.45pm
March is the month for Marie Curie's annual flagship campaign – The Great Daffodil Appeal. This year they're looking for 20,000 volunteers to donate one hour of their time to become daffodil collectors. Further details visit http://daffodil.mariecurie.org.uk/ or tel 0845 601 3107. The Marie Curie Charity has been set up to provide a free nursing service to terminally ill patients in their own homes and support for their families.
Keeping with the charity theme, March 13 – 19 is Baby Hip Health week for the national charity STEPS to raise awareness amongst parents and health professionals of the vital need to check babies' hips during the first few weeks of life to prevent unnecessary pain an disability in later years. Up to 2000 children a year are diagnosed with Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH), which covers a range of conditions from mild instability to total dislocation of the hip. Early detection means DDH can be corrected at an outpatient appointment and avoids the potential need for operations and a permanent disability. During Baby Hip Health Week, the charity is asking that you host a 'put the kettle on' event to raise money to support the charity. Further details on the charity and other fund raising events visit www.steps-charity.org.uk
It's Sport Relief weekend from 19 – 21 March and there's a whole raft of fun and activities to help raise money for the poor and vulnerable in the UK and some of the world's poorest countries. Sainsbury's Sport Relief Mile is taking place at various venues around the country. There's a choice of running 1, 3 or 6 miles. Events local to this area are in Slough Upton Court Park – SL3 7LT. This event opens at 10.30am; and Maidenhead Braywick Park – SL6 1BN. This event opens at 12.30pm. Further details and dates on these and other fund raising events visit www.sportrelief.com
It probably feels a bit soon to be talking about Easter, but as it's at the beginning of April and this may land on your doormat too late, we thought we'd mention the Falconry Display on Aldworth's recreation field on Easter Saturday, 3 April. 9am – 12pm. Ray Prior will be at Aldworth all morning with the amazing birds of prey and the village market will be in full swing. Aldworth is 3 miles up Streatley Hill of the B4009. Further details tel 01635 578177.
Something else you might want to think about for April, if you're into bowls. The Glory Mills Bowls Club in Wooburn Green starts its new season in April, after having a revamp of its kitchen facilities in the New Year. If you're interested in joining socially or to learn to play, tel club captain, Tony Murray 01628 524576 or 07798 713944.
Burglars in the local area are indulging in a new scam. They are leaving blank post it notes on the windows of houses. If the note is still there a few days later, they break into the house, so beware if you see any post it notes stuck to your window, remove it quickly.
Remember the phrase 'When March comes in like a lion, it goes out like a lamb'. Let's hope that there's some lion like weather whilst your reading this so we can look forward to warmer, sunnier days as we approach April and don't forget, Spring is officially here on the 21st. Have fun going round and about.
