GARDEN
WING OPENING AT HARWOOD HOUSE
17
April 2011
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Rt
Hon Theresa May MP Home Secretary and Minister for Women will
officially open the new £2.5 million Garden Wing at Harwood
House, the leading family-owned care home in Cookham Dean.
Theresa
May cut the first sod of earth in 2008 at the start of the £2.5
million project. The recently completed extension and
refurbishment project was designed by Martin Lloyd. The earth
sheltered underground construction is an innovative and
environmentally friendly solution to a steep sloping site. The low
profile extension has created additional garden space on the
extension roof as well as two new garden terraces. The
refurbishment project included enlarging existing bedrooms,
creating additional seating areas and ensuite facilities in all
rooms and generally creating a home for residents where each room
has a luxurious but homely feel. The project is part of Harwood
House’s Grand Design to set new standards of excellence in the
care and respect of residents in care homes.”
Harwood
House is located at the highest spot in east Berkshire with
beautiful views across the
Thames
Valley
.
On
Friday Theresa May will officially open the new wing and she will
present a plaque to Michael Fitch, Director and owner of Harwood
House, and she will also plant a tree in memory of William Fitch,
former Director of Harwood House, and father of Michael Fitch and
wife of Elinor, who will also be present at the opening.
The
new extension was a finalist in the Pinder’s Healthcare Design
Award 2011.
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NEW
LOOK STATION HILL CAFÉ
15
April 2011
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 Following
a refurbishment the Station Hill Deli is now rebranded as Station
Hill Good Food Café.
There is a brand new extension at the back including new
disabled toilets and baby changing facilities and there is a total
of 45 seats available.
The menu has been extended to include gourmet handmade burgers,
twice fried chips, ice cream milkshakes and much more.
The Café is now fully licensed and open for dinner on Friday and
Saturday evenings, from 6pm-10pm offering a dinner menu at a fixed
price of £11.95 for 2 courses and £14.95 for 3 courses.
There is also a newly extended room for private hire which can be
closed off. It can comfortably seat 24 people and is ideal for
business meetings and children's parties.
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A
CLEANER RIVER BANK
14
April 2011
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A Message from Mandy Brar
I should just like to say thank
you to people who came along to give us a hand with the rubbish
clearance, that was Cindy Barnes and her Husband, Sue Teesdale,
Fiona Hewer, Mac, Gwen Tyler, Mr Blair and another gentleman whose
name I forgot and myself. We are thinking we will do this every
couple of months and it looked much nicer along the riverbank once
all the rubbish was cleared.
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SOLAR
PANELS FOR HIGH ROAD
10
April 2011
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Emily Tomalin writes:
Charles and Barbara Walmesley and my
household have just placed orders for Solar Photovoltaics (PVs) to generate
electricity for our homes, and these quotes were the best we obtained.
The scheme is run by a colleague of mine at TVEnergy (local advisory body
for renewable energy).
Charles house is typical of all those on The High Road, Cookham Rise,
which could benefit from PVs on south facing roofs.
It will be interesting to see what they
think of the results. |
BUY
YOUR TICKET FOR THE COOKHAM FESTIVAL
4
April 2011
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 You
can now buy your tickets for the Cookham Festival at th Stationery
Depot in the Parade. There is sure to be something that will
appeal to you over the fortnight the Festival is on. Most events
are usually a sellout so don't miss out.
Click
here for the Programme
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NEW
FOOTBRIDGE FOR COOKHAM DEAN
1
April 2011
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A
generous benefactor has made an offer to replace the inflatable
Dunlop Arch used for the annual Gravity Grand Prix in Cookham Dean
with a scaffold footbridge.
The
Dunlop Arch is a key landmark on the Grand Prix circuit. However,
the organisers of the charity event were shocked when an
inspection revealed that the base of the inflatable structure has
perished, possibly due to the bad winter.
Mr
Bartlett, one of the event organisers, said: “My wife tells me
that cleaning the structure is time consuming; back-breaking work,
and apparently last year it didn’t dry out properly. We
considered a repair but have been informed by the manufactures
that even if they had a puncture kit big enough to repair the rot,
it would prove very difficult to get insurance.”
He
added: “During a crisis meeting in the pub, Mr Wray of Craufurd
Engineering stepped in with his generous offer to build a
scaffolding bridge over the road at the Village Hall.
“The
new bridge could be decorated with the Dunlop logo on race day,
and we have outline planning consent to make it a permanent
feature. It can then be used as a safe crossing point by the
children at the Noah’s Ark pre-school.”
Now
in its fifth year, the Gravity Grand Prix has become an
established village event. This year’s Grand Prix takes place on
Sunday September 11, with more than a thousand spectators expected
to cheer on 30 teams racing hand-built karts. Last year the event
raised more than £12,500 for the Thames Valley & Chiltern
Air Ambulance.
Mr
Bartlett said: “The Gravity Grand Prix without an Arch would be
unthinkable. Fortunately, the council are very impressed with our
proposed solution, especially in the current climate of cuts,
because the bridge will be self-funding from revenue generated by
selling advertising space.”
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LET'S
CLEAR UP THE RIVER BANK
30
March 2011
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Can you help with the River Bank
clear up just for an hour or so? If so on Wednesday 13th April,
meet in Marsh Meadow car park at 6pm (clearance until about 7pm or
7.30pm). Bags and pickers will be provided for this rubbish
clearance. If weather is fine. Organised by Cllr Mandy Brar and
Peter Boardman our local Community Warden.
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GUINNESS
WORLD RECORD FOR LINE OF PENNIES
25
March 2011
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Can you help Cookhamite Sarah
Parfitt to beat the Guinness World Record for a line of pennies?
Sarah is helping the charity MicroLoan Foundation with their
"Pennies for Life" campaign which is where they are
trying to get into the Guinness World Records for the longest
line of pennies on July 9th and 10th. Sarah
has received a modest grant from the Vodafone Foundation and has
a blog about her experiences.
Sarah is looking for:
1) individuals/businesses to
collect pennies between now and July
www.microloanfoundation.org.uk
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STOP
THE FOOTBALL CLUB CLOSING
16
March 2011
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Cookham Dean FC are holding a
meeting at 8pm on
Wednesday 23 March in their Alfred Major Ground Clubhouse
to discuss the club's future. The club needs help from the local
community to keep running. The club was established in 1879 and
celebrated 130 years of history in 2009 - but recently membership
has declined and newcomers are urgently required to ensure the
village retains its football team.
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WINNER
SPOTLIGHT - SARAH PARFITT
11
March 2011
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Sarah Parfitt who took part in the
Tiberias Marathon in January
and raised £730 for Rainbow
pre School, has had a write up on the Vodaphone website. Well
done Sarah
http://worldofdifference.vodafone.co.uk/news/archives/1303
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BE
A HOST FOR HOST
8
March 2011
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Conference
tables are not the only furniture useful for conducting
international relations. Your supper table could also be a good
place to start!
Many
international students come to UK universities hoping to broaden
their understanding of a culture and way of thinking different
from their own. Unfortunately, they rarely have the opportunity to
meet the ‘real’ people of this country and to appreciate the
way of life in local communities far from the campus and the big
city.
HOST
seeks to redress the balance. For 24 years this not-for-profit
organisation has been linking young adults from all over the world
with hospitable residents of Britain of all ages and walks of
life, for one-off weekends of friendly cultural exchange.
Kate
Durham, a volunteer host in Cookham, writes: ‘During this
time of unrest and uncertainty in the East, we particularly need
to do our bit for international relations. I’ve found that
occasionally my HOST students have received the pastoral care they
needed whilst on a visit. I’m older than the parents of
some and am happy to lend moral support where I can if they feel a
little lost or overwhelmed.’
Not
all HOST guests are needing support: some are just intrigued to
learn more about this country. Many bring fun and laughter (and
even a national dish) to share during a happy and fascinating
weekend visit.
If
you would like to know how you could offer HOST one or two
invitations a year, please see www.hostuk.org,
or have a chat with the regional organiser for Berkshire, Paul
Ryall on 01692 630710.
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HARWOOD
HOUSE SHORTLISTED FOR NATIONAL AWARD
7
March 2011
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Michael
Fitch receiving the certificate from the judge Mark Ellis,
left to right John Chapman,
Mark Ellis, Michael Fitch, Lyth Watson, Morag Forsyth and Martin
Lloyd.
Harwood
House, the leading family-owned care home in Cookham Dean has been
shortlisted for a national Healthcare Design Award by Pinders. Pinders
have been organising the Healthcare Design Awards since 1999, and
the presentation ceremony is now one of the 'must-go' diary dates
in the healthcare calendar. The Awards aim to promote and
recognise the very best developments in all types of care-related
property. Harwood
House is one of three care homes shortlisted in the Refurbishment
and Extensions Category for a new extension and refurbishment
project. The recently completed extension project was designed by
Martin Lloyd. Three judges, Mark Ellis, John Chapman and Lyth
Watson visited Harwood House today and presented a certificate and
£500 cheque to Michael Fitch Director of Harwood House. The
winners will be announced on March 31st at the awards
lunch being held at Lords Cricket Ground, London.
Harwood
House is holding a
series of Open days in March. Visitors are invited to view the new
extension and re-furbished family-owned care home. Visitors can
also enjoy the spectacular views as Harwood House is located at
the highest spot in Berkshire with beautiful views across the
Thames Valley.
Harwood
House will be open to visitors every Saturday and Sunday in March
from11.00am to 4.00pm. For more information contact 01628 478000
www.harwoodhouse.co.uk
Harwood
House. Spring Lane, Cookham Dean SL6 6PW
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MOLE
CATCHER AVAILABLE
6
March 2011
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I
am Tim Joy, the local registered Mole catcher for the area
including Marlow Bucks,
I am registered with The" British Traditional Mole Catchers
register"
there is soon to be lots of these little critters about as
the
young leave the nest in the next month or two and numbers are up
on
last year following the poison ban, so if I can help in their
control,
please get in touch.
NO
POISONS USED !
tele
07502404821 or email : tjoy2010@hotmail.co.uk
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COOKHAM
ACTORS AND THE RSC
4
March 2011
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 The
People's Shakespeare (click on photo for larger image), who are
presenting Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' for this
year's Cookham Festival, are delighted to announce that they have
been invited to join the Royal Shakespeare
Company in their 'Open Stages' programme. This will see the newly
formed company, mostly made up of those new to the stage, working
closely with the RSC and other groups in the area and attending
workshops and theatre skills courses in Stratford. They are also
in with a chance of eventually performing in the world famous
Royal Shakespeare Theatre Company in Stratford upon Avon in 2012.
You can learn more about the People's Shakespeare and watch videos
of
their rehearsals at www.cookhamshakespeare.com
In the meantime, tickets are going fast already - so make sure to
book
yours soon via the Cookham Festival Programme.
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SPENCER
GALLERY WINS DESIGN AWARD
3
March 2011
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The
2010 Awards Ceremony took place on Thursday 20 January 2011, held
in Maidenhead Town Hall's Desborough Suite. The Stanley
Spencer Gallery, Cookham won for re-planning of the interior to
provide new gallery space, with external alterations to relocate a
listed telephone kiosk and create an accessible new glazed
entrance and external surfacing.
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NEW
IYENGAR YOGA CLASS IN COOKHAM
1
March 2011
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I started my first run of classes
since qualifying as an Iyengar yoga teacher late last
autumn.
I will be teaching classes specifically designed to suit the
needs of complete beginners, new beginners and returning
beginners at Holy Trinity Primary School, School Lane, Cookham,
SL6 9QJ, Monday evenings 7.30-9pm, at a rate of £9 for each 90-minute
class.
Iyengar
Yoga is a system developed by Mr B.K.S Iyengar from a lifetime
of intensive practice, study and teaching. Precise posture and
breathing techniques allied to a firm philosophical base lie at
its heart. Mr Iyengar is based in Pune, India and at the age of
92 he continues to practise today.
Yoga both relaxes and energizes
the body and mind and brings vitality, flexibility, strength,
concentration, self-confidence and mental calm. You will
be coming to my classes in the knowledge that you are about to
embark on a system of teaching that is methodical and
progressive and has a strong emphasis on correctness and safety.
Equipment
I have a very limited supply
of spare kit, so it would be great if you could invest in your
own. You will need a yoga mat, 4 foam blocks, 2 bricks (made of
foam, cork or wood), a yoga belt and a blanket (any blanket will
do). All of these can be easily acquired online at very
reasonable prices. There are many websites to chose from. The
one I turn to most often is www.yogamatters.com
For obvious reasons it's best to avoid a heavy meal beforehand.
I should add that I am not yet qualified to teach pregnant women
or anyone with severe ailments, but please call me or come and
talk to me at the start of the class if you have any minor
health problems or are on your menstrual cycle.
Looking forward to seeing you..
Mohini Patel Davis
07931-995409
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HARWOOD
HOUSE OPEN DAYS
24
February 2011
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Harwood
House, the leading family-owned care home in Cookham Dean is
holding a series of Open days in March. Visitors are invited to
view the new extension and re-furbished family-owned care home.
The new extension is a finalist in the Pinder’s Healthcare
Design Award 2011. Visitors can also enjoy the spectacular views
as Harwood House is located at the highest spot in Berkshire with
beautiful views across the Thames Valley.
Harwood
House will be open to visitors every Saturday and Sunday in March
from 11.00am to 4.00pm. For more information contact 01628 478000
www.harwoodhouse.co.uk
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CINDERELLA
UNBUTTONED
21
February 2011
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Cinderella Unbuttoned
After
several years absence, pantomime returns to Cookham!
The Tarrystone Players present “Cinderella Unbuttoned”,
a saucy new take on the Cinderella story.
The
story picks up on Cinderella’s life 25 years after her marriage
to Prince Charming. When
preparing for her Silver Wedding ball, she discovers that all is
not well. Old and new
enemies have been plotting her downfall.
She must use all her ample charms to foil their devious
plans.
Featuring
the most unusual genie ever to appear in any pantomime, Cinderella
Unbuttoned combines traditional panto elements (“Oh no it doesn’t,
Oh yes it does)” with some adult material that make it
unsuitable for young children.
The
talented cast includes local actors and singers well known to
Cookham audiences and the show will be performed at the Pinder
Hall in Cookham on March 3rd, 4th and 5th.
Curtain up is at 8p.m., there is a licensed bar and tickets
are £10, from the Stationery Depot on Station Parade or call
(01628) 524438.
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COOKHAMITES
LIVE IT UP AT VAL D'ISERE
15
February 2011
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Last week
16 Cookhamites headed off to Val D'Isere for a week of fun
skiing. Have a look at the video of what your mates from Cookham
got up to here!
Click
here for the video.
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THE
COOKHAM FESTIVAL ON YOU TUBE
9
February 2011
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The Cookham Festival is on You Tube!
You can keep up to date with preparations for this year's Cookham
Festival by visiting
www.youtube.com/cookhamfestival.
Over the next few weeks and months, there'll be interviews with
those involved, as well as videos of
rehearsals for 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' and other events.
Click
here for the Festival Programme
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SHAKESPEARE
REHEARSALS
31
January 2011
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With
thanks to Gerry Clarke for the photos (click on photo for larger
image)
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Rehearsals for The People's
Shakespeare production of 'A Midsummer
Night's Dream' are well and truly underway ahead of their
performances
for the Cookham Festival in May. John Lewis has very kindly
offered the
award-winning 'Sir Bernard Miller Centre' at the Odney Club as a
venue
for the production, and the cast have been making the most of the
facilities for their rehearsals. Director Richard James says
'After
months of planning, it's great to be underway at last, and with
such a
fantastic cast too - many of whom have never set foot on a stage
before.
As this is a true community event, even our rehearsals are open to
the
public to come along and watch. We rehearse Mondays and Wednesdays
from
7.30pm.' You can see more information about the People's
Shakespeare at
www.cookhamshakespeare.com
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SHANGHAI
FOR TASHA
28
January 2011
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 Tasha
André from Cookham Rise has been given the chance to go to China
by her employer. Tasha has been chosen to design the new uniform
for two thousand five hundred people. She was chosen out of fifty
people and will accompany the managing director to Shanghai where
they will look at ideas for the uniforms with various suppliers,
who will then manufacture them. Tasha says so far she knows they
will be black and white, but that is all, she will get her ideas
when she is in China. It is planned that she will go in March, so
she is extremely excited. Congratulations Tasha.
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WELCOME
DAN
15
January 2011
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If you see a new
face in Cookham on someone in PCSO uniform it will be Dan
Sturridge. Dan has recently joined the Cookham team and can be
seen in the photo with Liz Davidson who is now an old hand and is
probably known by many of us in Cookham, so, if you see Dan around
the Cookhams say 'Hello' to him. Welcome Dan.
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KEITH
RUNS AND BLOGS
9
January 2011
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Keith
Jenkins from Westward Green has taken on a challenge. He is doing
something called Janathon where you run everyday and blog about
it. There are 171 participants and the winner is the person who
has blogged every day, exercised every day and run the most miles!
You can read more about the Janathan Project at
http://www.janathon.com/
Keith's blog
showing his progress can be seen at http://www.thethames.blogspot.com/
He is doing pretty well at the moment and is high up on the list
of challengers.
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RIBBONS
AND PEARLS CELEBRATE THE ROYAL WEDDING
8
January 2011
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Celebrate the Royal Wedding
of HRH Prince William to Miss Kate Middleton here in Cookham.
Ribbons and Pearls The Wedding Shop in High Street is organising a
Competition and Evening Charity Event. Details will be released
shortly. A letter from the palace has arrived giving Ribbons and
pearls exclusive permission to go ahead and plan the event, so
watch this space!
Smiles Viv Mitchell owner
Ribbons and Pearls
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HELP
SAVE COOKHAM FIRE STATION
21
December 2010
|
 Cookham
Fire Station has not been permanently closed as yet. It is a
proposal in the Brigade's future planning and will be voted on, at
a meeting of the Fire Authority in mid Feb 2011. The link below
shows the 2011-2012 consultation document and responses have to be
in by 31 January 2011. We need as many people as possible to voice
their opinion, in order to keep a Fire Station in Cookham, but
they must do it by 31/12. The easist way is to e mail the details
shown at the end of the consultation document, but for ease it is
below. The closure is mentioned on P18.
The link to see the IRMP action Plan 2011-2102
http://www.rbfrs.co.uk/irmp/IRMP-Action-Plan-2011-12.pdf
The e mail address is irmp@rbfrs.co.uk
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ELEPHANT
SPOTTED IN COOKHAM DEAN
21
December 2010
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An elephant was
spotted in Cookham Dean today by sharp eyed Mike Mather. (click
on photo for larger image)
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LOOK
I CAN SWIM!
21
December 2010
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GIRLS'
NIGHT OUT
8
December 2010
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It is Christmas and
the Holy Trinity Mothers and Toddlers Group left the toddlers
behind for a Girls Night Out at the Sanctum on the Green in
Cookham Dean. The Sanctum is newly refurbished and was an ideal
place for the thirty two Mums to get together.
Well done to Jo Hancock for
organising it all.
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THE
SWAN - HUSBAND CRECHE
3
December 2010
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GOLF
LESSONS THIS CHRISTMAS
3
December 2010
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With PGA Professional
Jonathan Jones
Harleyford Golf Club, Henley Rd, Marlow,
Bucks, SL72SP
7
½ hour lessons for the price of 5
Only £125
7
½ hour Jnr lessons for the price of 5
(under 16)
Only
£75
Winter
package to include 6 ½ hour
lessons
1 ½ hour video lesson
6 hole playing lesson
Score analysis and recommendations
Only
£175
Gold
package to include
12 ½ hour lessons
2 ½ hour video lessons
18 hole playing lesson
Score analysis and recommendations
Only
£395
Custom
packages are available to suit your needs, just contact Jon on
07921193044 or email at assistantpro@harleyfordgolf.co.uk
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CARDS
FOR GOOD CAUSES
25
November 2010
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 Have
you bought your Christmas cards yet? There are still a few days
left to find some charity cards from Cards for Good Causes
outlets:
St
Dunstan's Church, Bourne End
9
Nov - 9 Dec Mon-Sat 9.30am - 4.00pm
Town
Hall, St Ives Road, Maidenhead SL6 1RF
25
Oct - 17 Dec Monday-Thursday and Saturday 9.30am-5.00pm,
Friday
9.30am-4.45pm
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KING'S
ARMS HAS BEST MANAGER AND IS BEST PUB
18
November 2010
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Helen
McGarry, the manager of the Kings Arms in Cookham High Street -
part of the pub and pub restaurant operator Mitchells and Butler
has won the best manager of the year award and also the Pub of
the Year (national award) out of around 2,000 pubs.
As her prize she
will be going off to Chicago with her family. Helen
went to the award ceremony last week.
Congratulations
to Helen.
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CHRISTMAS
PRESENT THEME
16
November 2010
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'Christmas Present' is the theme
for the latest exhibition at the Gallery at Elizabeth House.
It's on from 15th
November to 7th
January. A galaxy of local artists has come together to
offer a wide range of art, at an attractive range of prices, in
the lead up to Christmas. "'We're hoping people will call
in over the next few weeks to enjoy some of the best of our
local talent and even find the ideal gift", says Mandy McAllen
who brought the artists together for the show. The
gallery is open weekdays 9.30 to 11.30 and from 10am to 4pm on
Saturdays.
The exhibition features some of
the artists who have had their work at the Gallery over the
past year plus some new faces. Together they show the
exceptional talent we have locally. Do call in to have a look.
And, as we announce our final
show for the year, this is also an opportunity to thank
everyone who has supported the Gallery through 2010 - the
artists, stewards and visitors. We're working on the
2011 programme: if you know of a talented local artist who
would like to be considered for an exhibition contact Mandy McAllen
on 01628 633541 or at i_dissagree@hotmail.com
Our recent meeting to invite local people to get help in running
the gallery brought together around two dozen people. Many
offered to help with stewarding and we also had a few who are
interested to assist with some of the gallery admin. Our
thanks to all of them. If you would like to discuss how you
could get involved - in any way - please drop me a line at mandlcopland@yahoo.co.uk.
We'd love to hear from you.
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COOKHAM
DEAN AUTUMN FAYRE
15
November 2010
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The Autumn Fayre on 13 Nov at
Cookham Dean Village Hall raised £2,175 which will be
divided up between the Alzheimer's Research Trust, the Gurkha
Welfare Trust and the Re-charge Cafe in Maidenhead. It was very
enjoyable and well attended, so a very good effort by the many
who worked so hard for it and those who came and supported it so
generously.
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