ASTRODUCKS
IN COOKHAM
21
August 2009
|
|
from
our correspondent embedded at Cookham 21/8/09
The UFO seen over Cookham has been identified as an Unidentified Flying
Duck (UFD). Greetings have been exchanged and a written memo of
understanding signed, penned by the quill used a hundred years ago
to write the letter to The Times in defence of natural bathing at
Cookham.
Permission was given to paddle in Cookham Weir but some sensitivity was
advised in the use of Hedsor Water in view of the terms of the Court of
Appeal's decision to maintain Public Rights of Navigation through that
stretch of water.
Our visitors displayed swimming trunks as proof of their friendly
intentions and undertook to respect the susceptibilities of riparian
residents.
Apologies were proffered for the absence of a bathing hut and it was
explained that with the contested closing of the Parish Bathing Fund
its rebuilding had not been possible.
Enoblement was suggested as an appropriate civic recognition to honour
these epic astroducks, should this power remain with the Monarch
following the reform of the Second Chamber now being debated.
The reply was launched into space this being thought more certain than
routing it through the Single Unitary Authority.
|
NEW
BUSINESS FOR COOKHAM
6
August 2009
|
 The
credit crunch seems to be finishing in Cookham with several new
businesses springing up. Laurence set up in the Arcade six weeks ago
offering Hair and Beauty services. Briggs the estate agent is in the
process of moving into the old Milsom offices in the High Street and
Decorum Interiors have taken over the shop that Plumes had also in the
High Street. The Thai Garden is soon opening in the restaurant which was
Charles Cottage.
|
DUCKS
SUFFER REVERSE
5
August 2009
|
Ducks suffer reverse
a villager 5 August 2009
"To-day I want to speak particularly to our floating voters":
The Mayor faced her audience at the Ducks' Institute 2009 AGM
and - mindful of Tony Blair's fate on a similar occasion nine years
before - sought to hit the right note for her address. A frisson of
quacking and diving ran through the meeting..
"I know that you've a lot on your plates."
"Also, I congratulate our staff on the downgrading of Cookham Pound
from 'perilous' to 'dangerous' and on their new training programme to
improve our backward walking skills and so to dodge the wing mirrors of
following traffic."
"Where'er you walk, walk safely" she concluded.
"and for those who neither train nor pray
I shall offer my
thoughts on "Poetry and Government'".
|
WELL
DONE PENNY
4
August 2009
|
Congratulations to Penny Bysshe who
entered a dance competition at the Imperial Dance School in Bracknell on
Sunday 2 August and came first in both the Foxtrot and the Samba. The
photo is of Penny with her trophies.
|
COOKHAM
DUCK TO STAND DOWN
30
July 2009
|
|
Cookham
duck to stand down
from our own correspondent
Following
the disclosure that he was claiming rent both for his flat in the £1,645
Gosport floating pavilion and for his place in Cookham the independent
member for the Moor vigorously defended his record. “A duck house is
not a dog house” he quipped. "The comfort and the security from
foxes it gave were essential to my work and it was completely within the
rules”, he told our reporter. “I know because I wrote them
myself”.
"Had
the Parish Council's withdrawal of the main Cookham Plan document from
the public domain influenced his decision?" "Not
one bit”, he replied “I very much hope for further
redactions".
His view of the Central America offer was succinct - "been there
and done that" is how he put it. Rather he has accepted a new role
in the programme promoting an attractive European countryside especially
in the Candidate Countries and looked forward to sharing in the
consequent prosperity. "We are all landowners at heart" is how
he put it.
He
will not be standing for re-election.
|
STAR
WITH AYOUSH
27
July 2009
|
|
Although
not actually in Cookham, Ayoush is a restaurant just over Cookham bridge
in Bourne End.
Relax with HALF
PRICE COCKTAILS. Our Happy Hour runs Mon -
Thurs 5-7pm (see our cocktail
list)
Book a meal and receive a FREE
glass of wine in August (with the attached flyer)
Have fun at our Belly
Dancing classes - course begins on
August 5th, 6-7 pm
We hope you'll come and see us soon for lunch, dinner, drinks or to chat
about any upcoming birthday, celebration or wedding you might like to
hold at our wonderful venue.
Regards,
Emily & the Ayoush team
|
THE
END OF COOKHAM FIRE STATION
23
July 2009
|
|
After many years as part of Cookham, the
Fire Station in Berries Road has closed. There have been several
recruitment drives to try and find new volunteers, but sadly the time
has arrived when there are not enough firefighters to man the station.
The Cookhams will now be supported from Maidenhead. The fire engine and
firefighters will be much missed.
click
here to see the Bucks Free Press Article
|
COOKHAM
DEAN POST OFFICE OPENING
21
July 2009
|
|
The Cookham Dean Post Office is re-opening
at the Jolly Farmer pub on Tuesday,11th August at 3pm. There will be
music from the Shirtlifters from 2.30pm and Tim Brooke Taylor has kindly
agreed to perform the opening ceremony. Please come and support this
venture and tell as many residents as possible so that we can welcome
Liz Connell, who will run the Post Office, and her team to the village.
|
COOKHAM
DEAN GARDENS HELP THAMES HOSPICECARE
14
July 2009
|
There was fantastic support for the
'Gardens Open Day' in Cookham Dean in June. Nearly £6,000 was raised
altogether for Thames Hospicecare, which is a marvellous achievement.
The organisers said "We could not have done it without your
help!"
On 3 October they are organising
another fundraiser when they are asking people to come along and sing!
The result will be a performance at Holy Trinity Church of Mozart's
Requiem. So if you fancy being part of a choir give it a go.
|
INVITATION
TO COOKHAM DUCKS
6
July 2009
|
|
Invitation
from ousted President to Cookham ducks
from
the Marx Brothers in El Salvidor
It is
four years since the plight of Euroduck visitors to Cookham hit the
headlines of the Cookham Crier. “Since 2005 we have enjoyed the peace
and purity of the pond” said a duck spokesperson “The Moor became
our new home”
But he
added that just recently the litter on the banks of nearby Cookham Weir
had made landing and take off there impossible.
Marcel
Zelaya, the ousted President of Honduras, heard of their plight
and has
come to their aid. “I have a fellow feeling for Cookham's ducks” he
told our reporter “I was put in a similar situation when the army
barricaded the runway and prevented my jet from landing in Tegucigalpas
and my return to my country.”
“I
invite Cookham's ducks to join me in Central America where they can
manoeuvre freely.”
“I
can't name a place just yet but they might also help me regain my
rightful position.”
“Our
soups are of similar flavours.”
Cookham's
ducks are packed and ready to go.
|
THAI
RESTAURANT FOR COOKHAM
29
June 2009
|
 Many
were sad to see that the Indian restaurant Charles Cottage in Cookham
High Street has closed. However it is soon to re-open and will be
serving Bangladesh and Thai food, which will bring a new cuisine to
Cookham.
Milsoms, the estate agent, has moved to
Cookham Parade from the High Street and their old offices have now been
let to Nigel Briggs who is also an estate agent and has offices in
Beaconsfield although Nigel actually lives in Cookham High Street.
|
CALLING
ALL BOYS
26
June 2009
|
CALLING
ALL BOYS (CHELSEA SUPPORTERS OR OTHERWISE)
Holy
Trinity Church has a rich musical tradition, with 4 choirs: Men &
Boys' Choir, Boys' Choir, Men's Choir, Girls' Choir.
The Boys' Choir is currently seeking
talented boys, aged 7 years and over, who enjoy singing and who would
relish the challenge of joining the current group of enthusiastic and
committed boys.
The
boys meet for a practice on a Wednesday (6-7pm) and they follow this
with either a game of British Bulldog or by having a go about the most
recent game Chelsea has lost or the fact that Chelsea has sacked
another manager. The boys
sing at one Sunday service each week, with weekends off for half term
and during school holidays. In
April this year the Men & Boys' Choir broadcast live on BBC Radio
4. The BBC are returning next year for another live broadcast.
In
return for their commitment, hard work, discipline and enjoyment the
boys not only reap the benefits of a strong musical education and the
development of their practical musical skills but they also get the
opportunity to make many new friends and, in return, receive a small
amount of 'pocket money' at the end of each term, with the chance to
be further financially rewarded for singing at weddings.
Any
boys or parents of boys who would be interested in finding out more
and attending an audition for this well-renowned church choir, please
contact Sara Wood (Director of Music - Holy Trinity Church) on 01628
522593 or sarawood44@hotmail.com
Please
note: much against Sara's better judgement, the choir does accept
Arsenal supporters.
|
2012
OPEN WEEKEND
24
June 2009
|
|
As
an Olympic Training Centre, Longridge is proud to be part of the London
2012 Open Weekend supported by BP and will be offering a Family Activity
Day as our part of a series of events across the country enabling access
to excellence in the arts, culture and sport and celebrating three years
to go until the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Our
Family day will be on 24th July and from 10.30am will be
offering 3 activities of dragon boating, canoeing and rafting finishing
at 3.45pm. The day is open to families and individuals and costs £10.00
per person
Longridge
joins hundreds of other London 2012 Open Weekend events – from
family discover sports days and athletics opportunities to flower
festivals and drawing classes, exploring museum archives and pottery,
there is an opportunity for everyone. Full listings, including
Longridge’s events, at www.london2012.com/openweekend
Longridge
Centre Director, Amanda Foister says:
“we are delighted to be part of 2012 and the
Open Weekend and hope that our activities will encourage more people to
take up one of our sports, maybe not to Olympic levels but definitely to
a level of enjoyment and fun”
This
year’s London 2012 Open Weekend follows the success of last year’s
event, which launched the Cultural Olympiad and enabled over 700,000
people to become involved with the Cultural Olympiad.
|
THE
BOUNTY AND CHIPS
17
June 2009
|
|
 The
Cookham Youth Club had a walk to the Bounty for their Monday evening
activity on 15th June. Youth leaders John Mellor and Elaine Dewis
accompanied the young people, who were served up with chips when they
reached the Bounty. It was then across the footbridge to Bourne End and
a return to Cookham by train. A really enjoyable evening.
The
next outing is on Monday 29th June when the Club will be kayaking at
Hurley, leaving Cookham by coach at 6.30pm arrive back at 9.15pm. Anyone
interested in joining in phone Liz on 01628 525130 or e-mail liz@cookham.com
to book a place.
|
WHO
NEEDS FIRST AID?
15
June 2009
|
The First Aid course run
by the Cookham Youth Project was a great success:
Roger the teacher of
the first aid course had an interesting time with his 12 would-be
medics. Here we are learning cpr, putting people into recovery
and aiding those with broken bones.....
|
KUNG
FU AT THE CRICKET CLUB
8
June 2009
|
|
Monday 8th June 2009 was
Martial Arts night at the Cookham Youth Project. There was a
professional trainer who went through the basics of Kung Fu, followed by
a sword demonstration and ending up with self defence.
For more information
about the Youth Project e-mail liz@cookham.com
or ring 01628 525130.
click on photo for
larger image
|
LEAD
THEFTS
1
June 2009
|
|
During the weekend the police helicoptor
was called out when residents in The Shaw off Whyteladyes Lane noticed
someone on the roof of the pumping station trying to tear something off
it which turned out to be lead. Another person appeared to be keeping
watch and ran off. A wheelie bin had been stolen the day before which
could have been used for carrying stolen property and a hole had been
cut in the fence. The police hope that they have now caught the people
who have been stealing lead in the area. The Pinder Hall, Football Club
and Spencer Gallery have all had lead stolen recently,
|
YOGA
AND LOVE CAKES
27
May 2009
|
I
am holding a three hour session at Sol Mill, Mill Lane, Cookham on
Friday 29 May for boys and girls aged 8 -10 years.
The
programme looks like this:
10.30
- yoga in the studio ~ with relaxation
11.15
~ kitchen for the baking of a Love Cake / aprons on.....
12.00
~ fresh fruit break
12.15
~ story telling/ cake box making and decorating
12.30
~ decorating cake with icing bags
cost
£20.00 with a Love Cake to take home .....
come
and let the children play... we will move, we will groove, we will
stir, we will put wishes into our cakes and we will lick the spoons
when we are done.
|
CELEBRATING
130 YEARS
25
May 2009
|
|
There were several famous events in the
year 1879.
 The Zulu
wars were raging in South Africa where a small force of 150 British
troops defeated 4,000 Zulus at Rorkes Drift with an amazing eleven
Victoria Crosses being awarded for valour in that action.
There was the Tay Rail Bridge disaster
in Scotland when the central part of the bridge collapsed as
a train passed over it, killing 75 near Dundee.
Thomas Eddison also demonstrated the
light bulb to the public for the first time
While there were several notable births
in 1879 with Albert Einstein, Leon Trotsky, and Joseph
Stalin all taking a bow.
On a more localised level it is also 130
years ago that Cookham Dean Football Club was formed. The Club
has enjoyed a very eventful history and this Friday evening 29
May, players from the past and present gather at Maidenhead Golf Club
for a special Dinner & Dance that will not only mark the end of
the 2008/09 season but will also celebrate a truly historical
anniversary.
The event consists of a three course
meal, annual presentations plus a special anniversary raffle
and of course lot's of reminiscing for the older members and for
the younger ones plenty of dancing.
|
125
YEARS OF M&S
21
May 2009
|
 There
were queues outside M&S in Maidenhead today as M&S were
celebrating their 125th anniversary with an Original Penny Bazaar. There
were twenty different products and customers can choose up to five
products each with every penny being donated to the M&S 125 Charity
Challenge which aims to raise £1.24 million for local and regional
charities between May and September. Everyone could buy peel and reveal
cards for their penny purchase with a top purchase worth £12,500. The
Penny Bazaar is in M&S stores for three days from 20 May.
|
GOODBYE
TO RALPH THOMPSON
7
May 2009
|
 Many
Cookham residents were able to see the wonderful drawings and paintings
of Ralph Thompson displayed at the Parish Centre during the Cookham
Festival and to listen to the talk, Ralph Thompson A Very Rare Creature,
by his stepson Wyn on the 1st of May.
It was very sad to hear that Ralph died
on Sunday 3 May in Derby where he had moved to be near his family. His
funeral will be on Wednesday 13th May at the Methodist Church in
Ashbourne at 2.00pm. There will be no flowers, but donations to the
World Wildlife Fund.
There have been ideas put forward for a
celebration of Ralph's life to be held in Cookham later in the year,
with the possibility of an exhibition of some of his paintings. If
anyone has any works by Ralph do let the Webmaster
know.
|
home
back