ABOUT
MAGNA CARTA
1
June 2015
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Magna
Carta celebrations will soon be here. This is a bit about Magna Carta.
 There
will be a unique opportunity for the people of Cookham to celebrate and
learn about the Magna Carta on Saturday
13th June at Bellrope Meadow (between Cookham Bridge and
Sailing Club).
H.M.
Queen’s row barge ‘Gloriana’ which was used for her Diamond
Jubilee will be the jewel in a flotilla of about 200 craft of all shapes
and sizes in a ‘spectacular’ river event celebrating the 800th
anniversary of the sealing of the
sealing of Magna Carta in 1215.
The
‘Gloriana’ will lead the flotilla and is expected to arrive at
Cookham moorings on Bellrope Meadow at 1pm.
Then at 2pm there will be an historical re-enactment of the
signing of Magna Carta by King John and his barons.
The Ellington Morris will also be there with a performance of
traditional Morris dancing.
The
pageant is part of the Magna Carta’s 800th river relay. Claire Pearce,
General Manager of Moor Hall will be the River relay Charter Bearer
representing Cookham.
Why
not come down to the Meadow, bring a picnic, your friends and family and
watch this wonderful and unique spectacle.
Holy
Trinity Church, which is the only surviving building in Cookham from the
time of the Magna Carta, is organising a small procession from the
Church down to the River to greet the Royal barge at 1p.m. Tea, coffee
and cakes will be served in the Church Tower during the afternoon.
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DR
NICOLA STINGELIN COMES TO COOKHAM
17
May 2015
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 Conducting
medical research in Africa is deeply political: people are dying
needlessly, but Africa cannot afford to pay; international global
pharmaceutical companies are being asked to produce the drugs at cost
and tax payers in developed countries are being asked to foot the bill.
The
vast majority of this work goes well. But for the more problematic
cases, ethicists, driven by Human Rights, are brought in to use their
analytical skills to advise governments and non-governmental agencies
(NGOs) such as Oxfam and Nuffield which diseases to prioritise, where to
allocate their money, how to conduct their research and how to price the
drugs.
In
the May Elizabeth House Talk, Dr Nicola Stingelin, talked about these
complex, moral issues and how any research done in the field had to
respect cultural and religious sensibilities, local stakeholders and be
both beneficial to and useable by the communities directly involved.
Nicola
argued for a democratic debate. Who should decide? The
erudite audience responded with equal spirit and the debate ranged from
the move from ‘pure research’ to the lack of accountability of
private institutions and the broader issue of Human Rights post WW2.
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OH
I DO LIKE TO BE BESIDE THE SEASIDE
13
May 2015
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Tuesday 12th May 2105: Oh I do like to be
beside the seaside! And this afternoon at the Stanley Spencer Gallery in
Cookham was no exception.
 Historian
Dr Kathryn Ferry took us on a fun packed outing to the British seaside,
inspired by Stanley Spencer’s iconic painting of Southwold, which is
on display at the Gallery’s current Creative Genius of Stanley Spencer
exhibition.
Looking at both the content and the
context of the picture, we saw how the bathing machine evolved from
horse-drawn medicine cart to the brightly coloured beach hut that
commandeers one corner of Stanley’s beach scene.
Kathryn described the Cookham artist as
taking “the laziness of the deckchair to its full potential” in the
painting, a far cry from the deckchair’s origins as an uncomfortable
upright wooden chair.
Sunbathing, a new trend in the
late1930’s, takes centre stage in Southwold. Swimming was all the rage
too, highlighted by the row of woollen bathing suits at the forefront of
the painting.
But this picture “tells us as much as
it is not telling us”, according to Dr Ferry. There are no modernist
style holiday camps here, no hint of the ocean liner aesthetics so
popular with beach architecture of the time at Blackpool, Brighton and
Margate, “no sense of an alternative seaside”.
Timeless, sparkling sea and warm
sunshine are the order of the day in Southwold but as Gallery Custodian
Chrissy Rossenthal said after the fascinating talk “it really is
amazing the avenues Stanley can take you down.”
And on a cold and rainy day in Cookham
you need go no further than the Stanley Spencer Gallery for a warm,
sunny trip to the seaside!
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LOCAL
ELECTION RESULTS
9
May 2015
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As part of the excitement of the General
Election on Thursday, Cookham was also voting for both Parish and
Borough Councillors.
For the Borough Council the three
Conservative candidates were elected. Two of these Richard Kellaway and
M-J Saunders had represented us previously, Richard Kellaway was mayor
for 2014-2015. A new Conservative candidate was Gerry Clark.
The Results can be seen at http://www3.rbwm.gov.uk/info/200394/election_results/411/borough_election_results_2015_-_by_ward/4
The Parish Council has three wards, in
Cookham Dean and Cookham Village there was no vote required as only the
right number of candidates stood. In the case of Cookham Rise, eleven
candidates stood for just nine places. Eight Lib Dem candidates got
elected and one Independent. Six of those elected had been on in the
Parish Council during the last term. There are three new Councillors,
Eileen Bune, Christine Doyle and Laura Tull all who stood as Lib Dems.
Mike Wellman who was also on the Parish Council did not make it this
time, while neither did Ian Wernham who stood for the first time as an
independent and is new to Cookham.
The results can be seen at
http://www3.rbwm.gov.uk/info/200394/election_results/412/parish_council_election_results_2015/3
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LASER
CLINIC COMES TO COOKHAM
7
May 2015
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Do you need to have that mistaken tattoo
removed? Or perhaps those thread veins, stray hairs or age spots zapped?
Wendy has set up the Laser Clinic in the Arcade in Cookham Village and
will be opening on Saturday 9th May with a complimentary glass of
bubbly. There is also an initial 25% discount offer on any treatments. http://www.lasercookham.com/
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JON
OXTOBY HONOURED BY CHIEF SCOUT BEAR GRYLLS
1
May 2015
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 On
26th April, Jon Oxtoby,
a 26 year-old Scout was honoured by Chief Scout and international adventurer, Bear
Grylls, at Windsor Castle as he received his Queen’s Scout Award. Bear
was joined by Birgitte, Duchess of
Gloucester GCVO, who is the cousin of HM The Queen.
The
Queen’s Scout Award is the highest honour in Scouting and is awarded
for outstanding personal achievement. This honour is achieved by young
people aged between 16 and 25 who have completed a range of challenges,
which includes service to their community, completing an expedition in
wild country, undertaking a five-day residential project in an
unfamiliar environment and learning a new skill or developing an
existing talent.
Jon
is one of nearly 500 Scouts to be receiving a Queen’s Scout Award at
this annual event. Commenting
on his achievement, Jon said: “Working for my Queen's Scout Award has been such an incredible
experience and I’ve learnt so much along the way. When I joined Cubs I was a
painfully shy child, and I can honestly say without my varied Scouting
challenges and adventures I would not be the man I am proud of being
today.
“The
best part of working for my award was spending three months travelling
through the Americas, linking local Scouts there with groups back in the
UK and enabling youngsters across the world to feel part of a united
Scouting family. For the community service element of my award, I also
supported teenage Scouts who were working to become Young Leaders. It
was fantastic to be involved in their journeys and in nurturing the next
generation of Scout Leaders.”
Chief Scout Bear Grylls said:
"All these young people have lived
the adventure of a lifetime to achieve their Queen’s Scout Awards, and
I admire that spirit so much. They are huge inspirations to the
other 550,000 Scouts in the UK and I am so pleased that both Scouting
has honoured them today. They are amazing.”
The event at Windsor coincides with The Scout Association’s announcement
of its largest ever
revamp of its youth activity programme. The Movement is launching 165
new and updated badges, making up a total of 250 age-appropriate badges
for its youth membership (6-18 yrs).
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SARAH'S
LAST MARATHON
30
April 2015
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Sarah
Parfitt from Cookham ran her last London Marathon on Sunday. Sarah
said "Running connects me to the euphoria of life.".
My
14th and last ever marathon and what a beautiful finale it was despite
ending up in A and E and having three stitches at the end of it!
The thought of not experiencing the elation of completing a
marathon again feels almost like a bereavement – it is going to
leave a huge void in my life, but life goes on, and I am sure there is
another sporting challenge just around the corner.
The
London Marathon is quite simply the best day of the year in our
beautiful capital city - a record 38,000 runners tackling
a 26.2 mile course around many of the city’s landmarks. The support
and goodwill from the crowds is phenomenal.
Despite
all the doom and gloom in the news, marathon day reminds us of our
shared humanity – people united in their passion for running,
strangers helping each other out, some even crossing the finish-line #handinhand
this year. Whether you’re running for a PB or for a charity you
believe in, completing the 26.2 mile course is no easy feat.
I
am so glad that I took part yesterday. Having been told after an MRI a
few months ago that I had torn the surface cartilage in my knee-cap
(“chondral damage to the medial facet of the patella”) and that I
should abandon my marathon training-plan, I agonised over whether to
still take part. In the end after consulting my surgeon, I decided to
do it as a celebration, and also to raise money for Gende Tesfa School
in Ethiopia which I visited last month for Partners For Change
Ethiopia, an amazing charity which helps children living in very poor
communities in Ethiopia:
Given
my injury, I thought that I would need to walk or skip around the
course, but in the end, I surprised myself and jogged all 26.2 miles
in 4 hours 21 minutes which is a long way from my PB of 3 hours 44 but
then, this was always going to be a different marathon experience for
me. It was never going to be about the time and it was #AllAbouttheChild.
I
was swept around by the atmosphere and the live music. I absolutely
loved it! For the first time ever, I ditched my walkman and was
energised by the crowds and the sound of thousands of feet pounding
the streets of London. If the going got tough, I remembered the video
clip which Gende Tesfa School sent me over the weekend:
The
only time I stopped during the race was at Mile 7, when I dropped my
running-beans, bent over to pick them up, and a fellow runner
accidentally flattened me to the ground. It was completely my fault
not his, but I was in a different zone and wasn’t thinking clearly.
Adrenalin carried me around the course and it was only at the end of
the race that I realise I had cut my knee quite badly. I ended up
having 3 stitches at High Wycombe Hospital last night. On a plus note,
I fell on my good knee!
When
I first embarked on my first London Marathon in 2003, I had no idea
that my fun-running career would take me all over the world and be the
trigger for so many new adventures and friendships – Berlin, Vienna,
New York, Kathmandu, Tiberius, Zurich, Cardiff and seven London
Marathons. As a child, I believed that I was useless at sport, but
over the last 12 years, I have achieved things which I never thought
was possible – for instance, being the second woman across the line
at the Kathamdu Marathon back in 2005. I now know to quote Sport
England that #thisgirlcan.
I
would like to say a very big thank-you to Cookham Running Club and the
BBC Running Club and for all their support. Steve Wehrle, the former
chairman of BBC Running Club, who is now 67, completed his 50th
marathon yesterday! I would also like to thank the friends and
colleagues who taken the trouble to come out and support me or sponsor
me over the years. I will come and watch you next year! Most of all, I
would like to thank my wonderful husband Damian and my gorgeous boys
Josh and Jack for their love, patience and understanding.
If
you feel like a running challenge in 2016, I would definitely
recommend doing the London Marathon. Whether you do it in 3 hours or 7
hours, it will empower you – I guarantee that if can conquer your
doubts and fears, your legs will do the rest.
For me another marathon continues, I
have raised £3, 133.25 (including £400 in cheques) so far
for Gende Tesfa School but need £6000 for fund a Breakfast Club and
play-area. Please do get in touch if you can help or know someone who
can!
Mob: 07900 4117 15
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LOOKING
FOR COOKHAM HISTORY
29
April 2015
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 The
Maidenhead Heritage Centre are holding an event aimed at finding out
more about Cookham local history during WWI. On Sunday 10 May
from 9.30am to 1pm at Cookham Library in High Road, they will have an army of volunteers and Museum
specialists available for locals to bring in anything they have that’s
around 100 years old, from the home front or the military effort.
We’ll photograph or scan the objects and record their stories on
audio.
The photo shows Mike Armitage (left)
project volunteer, and Malcolm Lock (Chairman of the Friends of
Windsor Museum) looking at a find brought in by someone at the
Maidenhead Heritage Centre.
While
they wait, the Berkshire Family History specialists will be on hand to
help visitors research their family history free of charge.
The
results will be part of museum archives at the Maidehead Heritage Centre
and the Windsor & Royal Borough Museum, and will be used on our
project website too.
They
have already begun running these and uncovered some wonderful stories
but we know Cookham is likely to have some very special additions to our
collection of stories.
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MBE
FOR SUSAN FLOHR
22
April 2015
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 Susan
Flohr from Sutton Road Cookham was honoured last Tuesday, 14th April, by
the Queen when she was given an MBE at Windsor Castle for her services
to people with dyslexia over the last twenty five years. One of Susan's
children was diagnosed with dyslexia in 1990 and this led her to offer
her services to helping those with dyslexia through the British Dyslexia
Society. She is now their Helpline and Policy Manager. Since her first
child was diagnosed with dyslexia it was found that her other four
children also had it as well as herself and her husband. Congratulations
Susan.
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DOG
POO IN COOKHAM
15
April 2015
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A cookham.com reader saw
this rather unwelcome sight down at Odney wier.
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SARAH
TO RUN THE MARATHON
14
April 2015
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Sarah Parfitt is running
the London Marathon on April 26th for a fantastic charity called
Partners For Change Ethiopia. Due to an injury, she has been advised
to stop running after that. So this will probably be her 14th
and last ever marathon! She says " I will probably need to
jog and walk or even skip some of it! My only goal is to raise lots of
money for PFC Ethiopia and make it a memorable day."
Michael
Buerk has recorded a Radio 4 Appeal for the charity and it will be
broadcast on Sunday (April 19th). Sarah recently recorded this
with him.
Sarah is donating all of the money she
raises to the playground and the Breakfast Club to help the
school at Gende Tesfa. Nearly every family is affected by leprosy so
every penny counts.
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ELECTION
ROAD SHOW
13
April 2015
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Theresa May MP with three
other candidates and Andrew Peach presenter BBC Radio Berkshire take
part in the election road show programme this morning in Maidenhead High
Street.
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COOKHAM
COUPE FOUND AFTER MISSING FOR 37 YEARS
13
April 2015
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From an Exhibitor of a Vintage Car at
the Classic Car Show on Saturday 18 April 2015. Does anyone remember
Zoe Shepherd? (webmaster@cookham.com
)
On Saturday I will be bringing a 1935
Ford V8 Coupe de Luxe to the Classic Car Show at Cookham Dean Cricket
Club. It originally belonged to local GP Dr Shepard and lived in
Cookham Dean until 1978. I knew it as a boy growing up in Cookham and
dreamt of owning it. I finally tracked it down last year and bought
it.
In October 1935, Cookham Dean GP Dr Robert Shepard went to the Motor
Show in London and bought a new black Ford V8 Coupe de Luxe that was
on display. Local Ford agent A W Heywood of Market St Maidenhead
delivered it to him in December, after painting the wheels and side
panels cream, as the doctor thought the black too sombre.
In 1940, Dr Shepard died from injuries
sustained in a fall from a ladder at his home Lynwood (next to the
Jolly Farmer), leaving a 42 yr old widow, Zoe. The coupe
remained in the Coach house at Lynwood for the duration of the War.
In 1950, Zoe briefly put it back on the road but realised she couldn't
afford to run it. However she loved the car and refused to sell,
keeping the dream of one day driving it again.
I met Zoe in 1962, through my best
friend John Brice. Sitting in the kitchen of his home in School Lane,
his mother Mary said 'You car-mad boys need to meet Zoe and see her
car'. The car was beautiful with only 19,500 miles on the
clock, but beginning to look a little neglected. We volunteered
to clean it up, so we two 13yr old schoolboys spent our summer holiday
washing, polishing, tyre-pumping, etc to get the car running and back
to its former glory. And getting slap-up teas with home made cake.
But we left water in the radiator and the infamous winter of '62/'63
struck. Said to be the coldest since the 1750s, everything in
the country froze, including the Ford's engine. I suspect John's
father Ernest got a lot of flak for not supervising our activities.
And we were no longer welcome for tea.
Zoe never got it back on the road and in
1978 finally gave in to the inevitable and it was auctioned by
Sotheby's for the amazing (for then) price of £5000. And it
promptly disappeared - no one in the old car hobby knew where it had
gone. I knew about the sale but, as a mortgaged-to-the-hilt 30yr old,
could scarcely raise £50.
About 20 yrs ago, I realised I probably could afford to buy the coupe,
if I could but find it! But the trail was cold. I found the Sotheby's
consultant who took the winning bid - the buyer was an American, Bill
Bass. But no one recognised him as a collector or classic car dealer.
Then Bill Bass died, and the Coupe surfaced for sale in Chicago. An
Englishman brought it back to the UK, had the engine rebuilt and then
offered it to me. I carried on the careful sympathetic
recommissioning work, so with new radiator, fuel tank, brakes and
tyres it now runs beautifully, but still has its original interior and
paint. Amazingly, when I saw it in 2014 it had only done 152
miles in the intervening 52 years; Bill Bass had never managed to fix
the damaged engine properly
I have now done about 500 miles in it, every one with a big
stupid grin on my face. Total mileage from new is just about to
hit 20,200.
Maidenhead Heritage Centre have an archive of Dr Shepard's business
& professional papers which Zoe left for the benefit of the
village, but sadly nothing personal such as photos. I would love
to know if anybody has anything personal relating to the Shepards.
Someone cared enough about Zoe on her death in 1987 to have her buried
directly opposite Lynwood and erect a beautiful memorial stone.
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NATIONAL
TRUST IMPROVEMENTS AT COOKHAM MOOR
2
April 2015
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The National Trust and Royal Borough of
Windsor and Maidenhead are working in partnership to improve the car
park at Cookham Moor. The car park has high levels of usage and floods
regularly, and thus is a challenge for the National Trust to maintain.
Although repairs are usually carried out twice a year, the surface
always deteriorates over the winter. Recognising this challenge, the
Royal Borough has stepped in and provided funds to help improve the
surface for local users.
Due to the car park being on Common Land the National Trust cannot lay a
permanent tarmac surface and therefore have to use ‘softer’ options
that degrade quickly.
“We realise it can be frustrating for local residents that the surface
always seems in a poor condition,” says Rachel Forsyth, Lead Ranger
for the National Trust. “We will be working closely with the Royal
Borough to develop a longer term solution to provide a more durable car
park surface.”
The work will begin on Monday 13 April. Parking provision will be
reduced during this time to allow works to occur but efforts will be
taken to minimise disruption. The National Trust will complement the
improvements to the surface by installing new benches, planting and
signage later in the year.
Maidenhead and Cookham Commons covers 842 acres and was donated to the
National Trust by local residents in 1934. Today, the Trust spends
around £90,000 a year conserving and maintaining the landscape.
Rachel explains “For us, conservation is absolutely key in all of the
work that we do, and having the support of the Royal Borough at Cookham
Moor means we can focus more of our resources on this.”
The National Trust and Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead are
working in partnership to improve the car park at Cookham Moor. The car
park has high levels of usage and floods regularly, and thus is a
challenge for the National Trust to maintain. Although repairs are
usually carried out twice a year, the surface always deteriorates over
the winter. Recognising this challenge, the Royal Borough has stepped in
and provided funds to help improve the surface for local users.
Due to the car park being on Common Land the National Trust cannot lay a
permanent tarmac surface and therefore have to use ‘softer’ options
that degrade quickly.
“We realise it can be frustrating for local residents that the surface
always seems in a poor condition,” says Rachel Forsyth, Lead Ranger
for the National Trust. “We will be working closely with the Royal
Borough to develop a longer term solution to provide a more durable car
park surface.”
The work will begin on Monday 13 April. Parking provision will be
reduced during this time to allow works to occur but efforts will be
taken to minimise disruption. The National Trust will complement the
improvements to the surface by installing new benches, planting and
signage later in the year.
Maidenhead and Cookham Commons covers 842 acres and was donated to the
National Trust by local residents in 1934. Today, the Trust spends
around £90,000 a year conserving and maintaining the landscape.
Rachel explains “For us, conservation is absolutely key in all of the
work that we do, and having the support of the Royal Borough at Cookham
Moor means we can focus more of our resources on this.”
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JEREMY
CLARKSON ENTERS THE GRAVITY GRAND PRIX
1
April 2015
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Popular
TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson is to enter the annual Gravity Grand Prix
in Cookham Dean. The much-loved host of Top Gear will build and
pilot a vehicle of his own design after being entered into the event by
his family.
Clarkson’s
appearance is expected to see the 2015 Gravity Grand Prix, taking place
on September 13th, draw larger crowds than ever to line the
700m course and cheer on up to 30 teams taking part.
Peter
Bartlett, one of the event organisers, revealed that he had been
approached by Clarkson’s wife, who believes the star will benefit from
having a new interest after his recent unexpected bout of gardening
leave.
Bartlett
revealed: “The way she phrased it is that she is “sick of having him
at home”. He doesn’t help with the housework, and she hopes a
project like this will keep him occupied.”
Bartlett
added: “I was very impressed by Mrs Clarkson’s attention to detail
and her commitment to health & safety. She was particularly
interested in the hairpin curve we call ‘widow-makers bend’, and
kept me talking for ages about what could potentially go wrong if Jeremy
isn’t properly briefed.”
Clarkson
will be driving his own creation, the Mini Fracas, which superficially
closely resembles a Mini Cooper but with more of a punch.
Paul
Webb, chair of the Gravity Grand Prix, committee said: “We are
desperately short of entries this year, so Mr Clarkson will be made most
welcome. We have made arrangements to ensure the catering staff keep him
supplied with hot food however late the hour.”
The Cookham Dean
Gravity Grand Prix is easy to enter, with all the details at www.GravityGrandPrix.co.uk.
Entrants have plenty of leeway
in their design, and one of the highlights of this year’s event
promises to be a dodgem car called Fun Fair Dismissal.
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MIDSOMER
MURDERS BEING FILMED IN COOKHAM DEAN
27
March 2015
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Midsomer Murders is in its second day of
filming in Cookham Dean in the Church Road area. Cookham Dean has been
used for Midsomer Murders in the past. Also it is a popular area for
filming of other programmes too. The Cookham Dean WI Hall has been
used for a comedy series and Cookham Village often sees filming taking
place.
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ACTION
PACKED WEEKEND FOR BEAVERS, CUBS AND SCOUTS
19
March 2015
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Beavers,
cubs and scouts from across Cookham and Maidenhead have taken part in
an action-packed weekend of activities.
The
annual Beaveree was held at Altwood School on Saturday, March 7,
allowing youngsters to try their hand at crafts, cookery, competitions
and other events.
Beavers
raised £750 in aid of Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service,
with 1st Maidenhead Sea Beavers winning a trophy for their efforts to
collect £154.
The
Cubs held a flag competition, with rounds in compass knowledge,
mapping, knots, a Lego challenge and an obstacle course.
Not
to be outdone, a number of Scouts competed in a cross-country race
around Pinkneys Green.
Explorers
and MAD Ferrets volunteered their time to make all the events
possible.
Graham
Parkins, Maidenhead Scouts district commissioner, said: “I estimate
over 230 of our young people did some scouting today.
"Without
exception, everywhere I look I see children of all ages and abilities,
joining in and having fun.
"Amazing
things are happening in Scouting.
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PUT
A SPRING IN YOUR STEP
18
March 2015
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COOKHAM Running Club is starting the
next of its hugely popular couch to 5km courses on Wednesday April
22nd. The 6-week evening course, lead by top coach Paddy McGrath, is
aimed at complete beginners or those who want to resume running
after a lay-off. More than 200 people have graduated from the club's
beginner programmes in the last two years and everyone who has
completed the course has managed to run 5km at the end. Cost is £40
which includes race entry, weekly schedules and online support.
Contact Paddy McGrath on paddymcrun@btinternet.com for
more information.
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CENTENARY
BATON REACHES BERKSHIRE
17
March 2015
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 In
this, the centenary year of the Women’s Institute, from town to
countryside, coast to coast, Women’s Institutes around the UK are
welcoming and passing on the Federation Link Baton. As it makes its way
to the Royal Albert Hall on 4th June for the Centenary Annual
Meeting of the WI.
Since
January the Baton has journeyed around England and Wales and in April it
is passing through Berkshire, resplendent on it’s Centenary Cushion
designed and made by local WI member Ruth Daniel.
On
April 13th the three Cookham WI’s will welcome the
Baton at a celebration tea in the Cookham Dean Cricket Club Pavilion.
Special guest will be Mayor Richard Kellaway whose wife, Mayoress
Mary-Lou Kellaway is a long standing member of Dean Rise WI.
Annie
Panton, of Dean Rise WI, said: ‘We are delighted that this occasion is
being celebrated in Cookham, where we have three branches of the W.I. We
are all looking forward to the next century of the W.I. and its
continuing inspiration to women around the world’.
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FROM
FRUIT BATS TO FRUIT FLIES
16
March 2015
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Dr
John Church and chef Ronnie
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Dr
John Church, entertained guests on Monday at the Elizabeth House Monthly
Talks held at the Bel & The Dragon, Cookham. John is a British
doctor who was born in Uganda, the
son of medical missionaries, who worked in hospitals in Uganda, Rwanda
and Kenya in the sixties and seventies, and witnessed first hand many of
the historical events of these emerging independent African states. His
medical work ranged from
helping polio victims in Uganda prior to Idi Amin’s reign, or saving
the lives of those caught in the Rwanda genocide. More
recently John has pioneered the use of dogs in diagnosing cancer and his
talk outlined his
latest research on
the use of fruit
bats and fruit flies in medical diagnosis.
Thirty
guests attended the event at the Bel & The Dragon, Cookham and
enjoyed the talk which was followed by a very lively discussion.
The
series of monthly talks is a new fund raising initiative for Elizabeth
House, the Cookham Day Centre for people over 60. The organiser
Stephanie Diggon said “ The event on Monday raised
£300 for Elizabeth House and it was a very convivial evening enjoyed by
all. Every year it costs £70,000 to keep Cookham’s much-loved
day centre running. After income from members’ subscriptions,
lunch money, room rental and art commissions, the Centre has to fill a
gap of £40,000 with fund-raising activities and support from local
individuals and organisations, such as Bel & The Dragon.”
The
speaker for the next talk, on Monday 11 May, is Dr. Nicola Stingelin
MBA, MAE, MAS and her subject is Conducting Medical Research in Africa
on ‘Neglected Diseases’ - An Ethics Perspective. Nicola has
held various research and lecturing posts at the University of Basel and
other institution in different practical ethics fields,
specialising in research ethics in medical, public health,
business and environmental fields, (especially in the emerging sciences
and technologies, including genomics).
Everyone
is welcome, tickets are available from Elizabeth House and cost £15 to
include a glass of wine and canapés.
Future dates are May 11, 8 June; 14 September; 12 October;
and 9 November. There
is no meeting in April.
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DOUBLE
YELLOW LINES IN SUTTON ROAD
6
March 2015
|
 It
appears that the Borough Council has stepped down on the plan to paint
double yellow lines along Sutton Road from the High Street to past Black
Butts. The step down is due to the number of people who have said NO to
the proposal. The actual number is not yet available but should be seen http://www.rbwm.gov.uk/web/parkingconsult.htm
next week.
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CAN
ART HELP HEAL THE TRAUMA OF WARTIME EXPERIENCE?
2
March 2015
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Cookham's Stanley
Spencer Gallery is seeking to be in touch with people
with
a special interest in the beneficial effects of art following
traumatic combat experiences.
 Sir
Stanley Spencer was deeply troubled on his return to his beloved home
village of Cookham following the First World War.
Yet he went on in the immediate post-war years to paint many of
his finest works.
Strikingly,
Spencer’s paintings relating to wartime experiences reflect largely positive
thoughts, rather than distressing memories of battle. He
focused on steadfast non-fighting work, the courage of the
wounded, the 'mountain and mules' seen in his Salonika war service
years and 'joyful resurrections'. He celebrated in paint,
too, his return to a Cookham of tranquility and
hope.
With
just one month left of our current much-visited ‘Paradise
Regained’ exhibition, which explores Spencer’s amazing post WW1
journey, we would invite anyone with thoughts or experience on the
role that art can play in healing wartime experiences to get in touch
with us.
We will be creating a Compendium of your thoughts on this
matter and
will make sure you receive a copy of the resulting document.
Please email
shez@stanleyspencer.org.uk.
Our
present exhibition is followed, from 2nd April, by a particularly
wide-ranging assembly of Spencer works entitled 'The
Creative Genius of Stanley Spencer'.
Shez
Courtenay-Smith, Custodian at the Stanley Spencer Gallery,
Cookham
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SARAH
TO RUN THE MARATHON FOR ETHIOPIA
2
March 2015
|
 This
weekend Sarah Parfitt travelled to Ethiopia to visit the community
of Gende Tesfa. She takes with her a number of ‘gifts’ from
Holy Trinity children to those children living in the village. She
plans to run the London Marathon to raise money for the community.
All week Heron and Kingfisher
Class have been writing accounts of ‘A Day in the Life of Holy
Trinity School’ and taking photographs to show the children
there how the school functions. They have even been making movies
using the iPads and a special time lapse programme for Sarah to
show those she meets.
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PUPILS
AT COOKHAM RISE HELP UGANDAN STUDENTS
28
February 2015
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After teaching assistant Lisa
Peters visited the Brainstorm school in Africa in 2013, the children
have been learning about the project and have established pen pals with
the pupils thousands of miles away.
When they learnt that the school
will close down if £3,000 cannot be found for repairs, they quickly
began to conjure up ways of finding the funds.
Lisa explained that students have
held sponsored silences and created a stall at the school's summer fete
selling loom bands to donate to the cause.
She said their determination has
been unwavering and that they had been the ones inspiring her not
to give up.
Pupils have written letters
appealing for help from anyone who can hold fundraisers or donate to
help save the school from closure.
Brainstorm has until the end of
April to raise the money.
Email julieandlisa@btinternet.com
for details of how to get involved.
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POTENTIAL
MINIBUS COMMUTE COOKHAM - LONDON
25
February 2015
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We
are a long established local business, and we are looking to introduce
a new service to Cookham Residents using existing infrastructure but
in a different area to our core business.
In
late March 2015, early April, we are looking to start two minibus
services commuting between Cookham and London.
Timing, costs, and pickup points will be confirmed once we find out
what the people from Cookham want. However, it will not be worse than
the existing annual commute cost of £2,908.
What do you get: a confirmed seat 52 weeks of the year Monday to
Friday (excluding bank holidays) for an early morning commute to
London (circa 6.00am) and return (circa 6.00pm).
We own three minibuses with 14 dedicated seats, and two jump seats in
the front cab with the driver. We would only be selling 14 seats for
each service, using the jump seats so we can offer a limited
flexibility.
The buses day job is to carry precious cargo of school children and as
such are maintained beyond legislative standards, and our drivers have
enhanced annual DBS checks.
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COOKHAM
RUNNERS RACE TO SUCCESS
24
February 2015
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Five members of
Cookham Running Club, all coached by head club coach and former Ireland
international Paddy McGrath, featured prominently in the Maxifuel Hot
Chocolate 10km race at Dorney Lake on Saturday February 21st.
Gary Knight finished 3rd man overall, just failing to
break the 40 minute barrier with a time of 40.08 with club mate Jim
Cotter in 7th position in a time of 41.48. Duncan Bulgin
also had a strong run to come in 15th (45.25). In the
ladies event Anna Slater took 2nd place in 44.11 and
Sarah Walker 3rd in 45.53.
ANNA
SLATER, right AND SARAH WALKER GETTING THEIR PRIZES.
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HIS
HONOUR CHARLES ELLY DL LAUNCHES ELIZABETH HOUSE MONTHLY TALKS
13
February 2015
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 His
Honour Charles Elly DL gave the inaugural Elizabeth House Monthly Talk
on Monday. Forty guests attended the event at the Bel & The Dragon,
Cookham and enjoyed the talk on Law vs Justice which was followed
by a very lively discussion. Charles had a distinguished
legal career, in practice as a solicitor at Reynolds Parry Jones
in High Wycombe, he was President of the Law Society and went on to
become a circuit judge before retiring.
The
series of monthly talks is a new fund raising initiative for Elizabeth
House, the Cookham Day Centre for people over 60. The organiser
Stephanie Diggon said “ The event on Monday raised over £350 for
Elizabeth House and it was a very convivial evening enjoyed by all.
Every year it costs £70,000 to keep Cookham’s much-loved day centre
running. After income from members’ subscriptions, lunch money,
room rental and art commissions, the Centre has to fill a gap of £40,000
with fund-raising activities and support from local individuals and
organisations, such as Bel & The Dragon.”
The
speaker for the next talk, on Monday, 9 March, is John Church and
everyone is welcome. Tickets are available from Elizabeth House and cost
£15 to include a glass of wine and canapés.
Future
dates are 11 May; 8 June; 14 September; 12 October; and 9 November.
For
more information please email Stephanie Diggon stephaniediggon@hotmail.com
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TALKING
TO MYSELF AND COOKHAM'S COOKHAMNESS
28
January 2015
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Not-to-be-missed
fascinating elements of still unpublished letters from Stanley
Spencer to his niece Daphne, 1950 - 59. Dr Harvey reveals
intriguing insights, as Spencer muses on his own habits,
lifestyle and progress, also revealing his ‘Cookhamness’
and his sense of humour. Tuesday
17 February at 13.30 in the
Stanley Spencer
Gallery. Tickets £7.50 from Maura Carr on 01628
530181 or from the Stanley Spencer Gallery, High Street, Cookham, SL6
9SJ.
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DEVINE
CHILDREN'S HOSPICE SERVICE
26
January 2015
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The collections taken at Holy Trinity
Church's Advent, Christmas and Epiphany Carols by Candlelight services
came to a total of just over £1,700 for the Alexander Devine
Children's Hospice Service. Thank you to all who attended and gave so
generously.
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CREATIVE
ARTS IN THE CLASSROOM
19
January 2015
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In
2014 six museums in the Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead area embarked on
an exciting project which aimed to enhance museum leaning in schools.
Six museums were involved partnered with eight local schools including
Cookham Dean C of E Primary School. One of the museums is the Stanley
Spencer Gallery in Cookham High Street, where students can experience
visual arts. Not only does the Stanley Spencer Gallery offer talks,
guided tours and walks around Cookham showing where Spencer painted some
of his works, but also resources include a loan box, large illustrated
and laminated boards, a PowerPoint presentation
on the life of Spencer, books and archived
material available to view, a child’s gallery
activity sheet, postcards, prints and exhibition
guides. It is also possible to consider bringing
a Spencer work to a school/college by special
arrangement and subject to security requirements.
Click
here for more information about the project.
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FOOTBALL
COACH OPENS ELITE ACADEMY FOR VILLAGE YOUNGSTERS
16
January 2015
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A
leading local football coach who works with teams at each of the Cookham
primary schools is launching an elite academy for school years 2-7. Sean
Kelleher, who has guided pupils at Holy Trinity C of E, Cookham Dean and
Cookham Rise schools for several years will oversee the Pro-Direct
Academy at the new 3G pitches Furze Platt Senior School where selected
youngsters will get the chance to train with expert FA/UEFA qualified
coaches every Friday evening. “We run a similar centre in Reading
where we have seen many young players
signing for professional clubs including Chelsea, Fulham, Crystal
Palace, Reading and Brentford,” Kelleher says. One of his protégées
is Matt Philips currently playing with Queens’ Park Rangers and the
Scottish international side. “Our Furze Platt centre aims to attract
local young players that have a real passion for developing their
football while playing for their local team,” Kelleher says. “We
really want to enhance football quality in the local area.” Trials
will be held on Jan 23rdand 30th Jan
at 5.30-7pm at Furze Platt Senior School. For details and to register,
contact carly.markham@prodirectsocceracademy.com or
call call 01189 581556
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GOODBYE
TO AUDREY AND TONY
6
January 2015
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It
was with sadness that Cookham.com learnt of the recent deaths of Audrey
Springate and Dr Tony Diment.
Audrey
died on New Year's Day and  her
funeral will be at St John the Baptist on 14 January at 11.30am. Audrey
had motor neurone disease. Audrey was well know in Cookham Dean
and had been a founder member of Cookham Twinning in the early 1990s,
when she went on the first trip to see if Cookham should be twinned with
them. She married Cookham's poet, Mike Springate, in 2005 after the
death of her husband.
Tony
died at the weekend from a brain tumour. Tony was a great athlete  and
loved playing golf
also skiing, scuba diving, fishing and sailing.
He was chairman of Maidenhead Golf Club for the last three years. He was
also Black Belt First Dan in Shotokan Karate. Tony
received a PhD in Nuclear Engineering from St Mary College, London and
went on to work for various organisations at the forefront of
technology. When he married his wife they moved to Marlow and then on to
Maidenhead. He loved traveling and worked hard at improving his French.
He was a member of Cookham Twinning and had visited Cookham's twin town
St Benoit in France and had also hosted French visitors who had come to
Cookham. In addition he was involved with many other charities including
the RNLI, RBL and Cancer Research. He also gave Judith support in the
many charities in which she is involved.
One
tribute to Tony summed him up as ‘a gentleman and a gentle man,
capable of demonstrating both passion and patience, a kind and generous
man who achieved much throughout his life’ and he will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
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