CBE
FOR WENDY CRAIG, MBE FOR JUDITH DIMENT
28
December 2019
|
 Cookham
resident Wendy Craig has received a CBE in the New Year's Honours. She
became known as a middle-class housewife where she played the role of Ria
in the BBC's Not in Front of the Children, which ran for four
series from 1967 to 1970, to ITV's ...And Mother Makes
Three, in which she played a single parent.
Wendy Craig also starred in the early
1980s drama series Nanny, which she also created, and in ITV's The
Royal, while her guest roles include Death In Paradise.
She receives her CBE for her services
to drama and charity, including being president of Berkshire day centre
Elizabeth House for more than 25 years before stepping down in 2014.
 Also
Judith Diment has received an MBE. Judith is a
tireless campaigner for Rotary International and has focused her
efforts on eradicating polio, which has reduced the disease by 99.9 per
cent. More than 2.5 billion children have been vaccinated a a
result of her efforts. she is heading out to Rwanda in 2020 for a
celebration of the entire continent of Africa being polio-free, which
she called an "incredible achievement". She also helped to
launch Berkshire's Riverside Boat Trust in 2007, and help raise £250,000
to build a boat for disabled and disadvantaged people. Judith is also
involved with the Wheelpower charity, which provides specialist
wheelchairs for disabled people in the UK, and the Thames Valley
Hospice. She has also looked after the PR for the Stanley Spencer
Gallery.
|
PFC
ETHIOPIA SWIM
27
December 2019
|
|
From a Cookham charity organiser
Fundraising can be challenging at
times, but we have just had some wonderful news. More than 3 years after
our son won a competition in the Maidenhead Advertiser to organise a
swim disco for 100 friends in aid of Gende Tesfa School and HT, the
newspaper has generously offered us to do the same again. We will be
having an exclusive PFC Ethiopia swim disco at Windsor swimming pool for
up to 150 children and parents on Sunday, February 2nd. Please pop the
date in your diaries. Special thanks to all of the PFC Ethiopia
Ambassadors who have offered to help on the day. More information to
follow in the New Year:
Click
here to see the article in the Maidenhead Advertiser.
|
STANLEY
SPENCER ENCOUNTERS A CHRISTMAS TURKEY
24
December 2019
|
|
At
a ceremony at the Stanley Spencer Gallery, nine-year old Ethan Olikara
from Claires Court Junior Boys was presented with a prize for his design
for a Christmas card. The picture of Stanley Spencer’s encounter with
a Christmas turkey will feature among the Gallery’s Christmas cards
that go on sale next year.
|
BLOSSOMS
ALL YEAR WITH SHRUBS
19
December 2019
|
|
Adrian
Doble has given us Blossom all year with shrubs – only use open-flowered varieties
, which will offer blooms for bees over the whole year.
|
Month
|
Important shrubs
|
Super
shrubs
|
|
January
|
Salix
caprea pendula
Clematis cirrhosa
(Winter)
|
|
|
February
|
Erica
Darleyensis (Winter
heather)
|
|
|
March
|
Daphne odora
aureomarginata
|
|
|
April
|
Ribes
sanguineum
|
|
|
May
|
Chaenomeles
japonica,
Weigelia
Rosmarinus officinalis
Philadelphus delavayi
|
|
|
June
|
Cotoneaster
simonsii
Erica darleyensis (Summer heather)
Ceanothus
burkwoodii
Pyracantha watereri
|
|
|
July
|
Rosa
canis
Lonicera Americana
(Summer honeysuckle)
Syringa vulgaris
|
|
|
August
|
Lavendula
hidcote
Potentilla fruticosa
|
|
|
September
|
Buddelia
davidii
|
|
|
October
|
Salvia
fulgens
Hebe “E A Bowles”
|
|
|
November
|
Abelia
grandiflora
|
|
|
December
|
Mahonia
japonica
Lonicera fragrantissima
(Winter honeysuckle)
|
|
Other shrubs can be added,
particularly open-flowered garden roses.
|
THANK
YOU FROM THAMES HOSPICE
4
December 2019
|
|
From
Thames Hospice
The
Cookhams' Fundraising Group would like to thankall those who supported
the hospice this year. It has meant that we were able to raise just
under £8,000 in 2019, a similar amount to that we achieved in 2018.
I'm
sure you know that the hospice has a huge task ahead, having to
raise the remaining funds it needs to complete the new building,
whilst continuing to provide excellent care in so many ways, so your
continued support is extremely important to us. The very good news is
that 45% of the remaining £3 million needed has been pledged or given
by a wide variety of organisations and generous individuals, which is
very heartening. However, £1.6m needs to be found in order to complete
the project. The new hospice will be the best in the country, leading
the field in palliative care. Click
here to show you a quick view (45 seconds) of the new building
Our
2020 fundraising programme will continue to offer our supporters a mix
of well-established and new events and we look forward to giving you an
enjoyable time as well as raising money for this worthwhile cause. We
also want to take this opportunity to thank Anthea Webb, our retiring
Acting Chairman of this Fundraising Group, for her considerable efforts
over many years. She has proved a tower of strength and we now look
forward to seeing her sit back, relax and enjoy our events in the
future.
The
Committee wish you a very happy Christmas and a 2020 that is full of
laughter, joy and “living life to the full”.
|
THE
400 CLINIC OPENS
2
December 2019
|
|
The 400 Clinic opens for business today
offering chiropractic facilities and sports massage. It is based
at Station House next to the station. If you are interested in
making an appointment cal 01628 521085
|
NOAH'S
ARK CLOSES
29
November 2019
|
|
After 40 years it has been decided to
close Noah's Ark that runs in Cookham Dean Village Hall. It seems
parents are now looking for longer periods that Noah's Ark was
offering.
Iris who ran Noah's Ark says "I
miss being with the children each day but I am so grateful for my happy
memories and the many friends I have made over the years"/
|
BOROUGH
LOCAL PLAN MEETING
26
November 2019
|
|
Cookham residents made a great effort to
attend the Borough Local Plan meeting last night in Moor Hall about the
plan to build 270 dwellings in Cookham. Mike Copland, who is head of
WildCookham gave a very some extremely good reasons, strongly put, on
the environmental reasons that should be considered.
Mike Coplan Puts forward
the Environmental Problems
Councillor Coppinger
attended and also interim Head of Planning James Carpenter was also
there.
|
COOKHAM
GETS WILDER
26
November 2019
|
|
100 gardens are now involved in the
WildCookham Wild About Gardens scheme. Launched last year with
just under 50 gardens participating, we doubled up to 100 gardens in
2019. This year's award winners were celebrated at a WildCookham
event last Friday, joined by more than 80 residents who also heard
National Trust Ranger Dom Lethbridge talk about the Trust's plans for
the Cookham Commons. Pam Campin, one of the organisers,
congratulated the Gold, Silver and Bronze winners stressing each
garden can make a valuable contribution to our local biodiversity.
The Awards will continue next year with the aim of connecting many
more gardens into the local wild network.
The Cookham Awards scheme was extended
across Maidenhead this year with 150+ gardens involved across the
Borough.
|
WAS
THAT AN ALPACA?
24
November 2019
|
|
ITV's This Morning visited
Copas Turkeys at the farm for a live broadcast with Alice Beer
last Friday 22 November.
The Copas alpacas that protect the turkeys have been quite the stars
also with appearances in The Times newspaper, Express Online, Metro
Online, The Argus and Evening Express.
According to the BBC, Tom Copas, the owner of the family business, came
up with the idea of alpacas in 2015 after a series of fox attacks
resulted in hundreds of birds being killed at the farm.
In the photo Alice Beer
(left) can be seen talking to Verity Copas with the alpacas in the
background and a lot of turkeys just behind them.
|
GOODBYE
HOOKY
16
November 2019
|
|
From the 1st Cookham (David Livingstone)
Cub Pack)
It is with sadness that I have to tell
you that Mark Hook died yesterday 15 November 2019.
Mark was born into a Scouting family.
His mother was Akela for the local Cub Pack and his father the Scout
leader in South East London.
Not as privileged as we are today, the
family combined troop camps into their family holiday. This was
something Mark bought into, always supporting the Scout leaders at 1st
Cookham’s annual camp until illness prevented him from attending in
2019.
For 1st Cookham, though, Mark will be
remembered most for his commitment the Cub packs over more than three
decades. For many years he was Assistant Cub Scout Leader for both the
Cookham packs before becoming Akela for the David Livingstone pack.
Mark held a Green Field nights away
permit but most loved to run “Formosa General Hospital”, in a
large tent during Cub Camp – and to moan about what he thought
others were doing incorrectly!
Mark faced many adversities in life,
not least of which was the loss of his left arm below the elbow, but
he faced them with determination and cheerfulness. He loved to show
how his stump looked like the face of ET.
Mark will be missed by the 1st
Cookham family.
In 2002 Timmy Mallett painted a
portrait of Mark Hook
Mark
Hook
Hooky! Rambo!
Lofty! These are some of Mark's nicknames. He lost his left
forearm in an horrific car accident on the M40, two years ago. The
hook is model number 4 and is operated by cable and shoulder straps.
Mark is the bars
manager at the Chartered Institute of Marketing in Moor Hall, by far
Cookham's biggest employer with around 140 full time staff. He's
been there since 1987, and lived on site for many years. "I can
still roll a barrel, pull a pint, cook, dress, garden and pitch a
tent!" Mark trained as a horticulturist and worked at the Royal
Parks and Eton college; gardening is still a big interest for him as
is St Johns, WAMSAD, Crisis, and scouting. Mark's been involved with
Cookham scouts for 20 years and you'll see him at the village fete,
the regatta and fireworks display. "I like the mixed part of the
local community. People are curious about my hook. I've accepted being
disabled, but I can't change a light bulb anymore and I have to
prioritise now. But I can work, continue my social life and other
community interests".
Mark is a real
inspiration to me and proof that life is for living.
|
THE
DEFINITIVE RAT PACK A GREAT SUCCESS
9
November 2019
|
|
The Definitive Rat Pack for the fantastic
performance gave a fantastic performance at the Taplow Court Hotel last
night, 8 November. A big thank should be made to all the staff and
volunteers at Elizabeth House and the Cookham Bridge Rotary Club for
organising such a great evening last night.
The Definitive Rat Pack can be seen
again at Cadogan Hall on 7th December!
|
25th
TWINNING ANNIVERSARY
1
November 2019
|
|
Last weekend was the 25th anniversary of
the Cookham Twinning link with St Benoit in France. A group of
Cookhamites went over to meet up with our French friends.
|
SWAN
UPPING COMES TO COOKHAM
29
October 2019
|
|
The Tate have loaned the masterpiece
Swan Upping at Cookham to the Stanley Spencer Gallery from Nov 7
2019 – March 22nd 2020, and as the focal point of the exhibition it
will hang beside many other Spencer works relating to the river
including a little seen study (now in private hands).
|
RAILWAY
CLOCK WORKS AGAIN
25
October 2019
|
 Cookham
residents and commuters will be very glad to see that the Millennium
Clock is now working again after a few years of it sticking at the same
time. It seemed that the clock could not be easily repaired originally
as the clock had to be accessed from the upper story of the building to
which it is attached.
The clock was originally put up in 2000
by the Parish Council to celebrate the new millennium. It is decorated
with swans as a reminder of the Thames.
|
PENNIES
FROM HEAVEN
12
October 2019
|
|
Since
the introduction of the ‘Pennies for Plastic’ scheme, Countrystore
has donated £5,579.95 to local schools and nurseries in Cookham, as
well as massively reducing the number of single use plastic carrier
bags.
Their
latest donation of £2,000 to Cookham Dean Primary School will help them
kit out their new library.
Help
them reduce this plastic consumption even more by using their Jute
Bags or re-usable ‘Bags for Life’.
If
you’re a Cookham School wishing to benefit from this continuing
scheme, please get in touch with Countrystore at: admin@cstore.co.uk
|
MASSIVE
PROJECT TO SUPPORT BERKSHIRE'S WILDLIFE
5
October 2019
|
|
WildCookham's
meeting next Wednesday (9th October) brings news of a large-scale
initiative to create a better world for our local wildlife. Hilary
Phillips, BBOWT’s Living Landscapes Manager for Berkshire, will
give an overview of the Wildlife Trust's Living Landscapes, looking at
the overall objectives of these schemes before focusing on the planned
Living Landscape in East Berkshire, of which Cookham would be a part.
Full
details of the meeting at Lea Barn, Winter Hill, Cookham, and
registration are on our Meetup site
here.
To
adapt to climate change, the UK’s wildlife will need to move along
‘climate corridors’ up and down the country, or to shadier slopes or
cooler valleys. Wildlife has done it all before, after the last ice age,
but this time the change is faster and there are new obstacles to
surmount: cities, motorways and expanses of hostile countryside.
If we don’t give our wildlife room to thrive and adapt, a collapse in
biodiversity is inevitable. In the face of climate change it is
essential that we link areas of good habitat for wildlife at a speed and
on a scale that would once have felt impossible. Working closely with
community groups, businesses, land managers and local authorities, The
Wildlife Trusts play a leading role in developing landscape-scale
projects around the UK.
BBOWT now has three Living Landscape schemes that are jewels of the
countryside in their own right. Hilary will explain how
volunteer work parties maintain these habitats and carry out regular
surveys; and how working with local landowners and farmers can improve
the links between habitats on their land and the nature reserves. These
links include hedgerows, woodland, ponds and streams, which provide
vital ‘corridors’ for wildlife to move across the Living Landscape.
Register for the meeting, and get full details, here.
Tea and coffee will be provided. This is a free event, but as ever a £3
donation per attendee is suggested.
And please pass on this email to anyone who you think might be
interested.
|
SAVE
THE ARK
4
October 2019
|
|
Noah’s
Ark pre-school is facing closure due to low attendance numbers and a
shortage of funds to bridge the gap during
this time.
It
has delivered happy memories to children in Cookham Dean Village Hall
since 1975. Operating from 8.30-1
during RBWM term times and run by an exceptionally experienced
team, who often recall our present children's parents as preschoolers,
Noah’s Ark is a very special childcare
setting.
Low
birth rates and a challenging economic climate mean we no longer enjoy
the number of children we have in
previous years. This term, we have less than ten children
registered. As part of our very special community in Cookham Dean, we
need your help to Save the Ark!
Fundraising will enable us to keep running while we
recruit more children to enjoy our idyllic setting daily.
To
donate to Noah's Ark, please visit https://justgiving.com/campaign/s
|
NOAH'S
ARK MAY HAVE TO CLOSE
30
September 2019
|
|
From
Noah's Ark
We
are a traditional village pre-school in Cookham Dean for up to 24
children between 2½ and 5 years old.
We
aim to help every child flourish and fulfil their own potential – to
be confident, sociable and happy.
Open
during RBWM term times 8.30am-1pm, we follow the Early
Years Foundation Stage Curriculum. We provide a safe,
caring and supportive environment in which we offer a nurturing and
fun learning experience. Our team of highly qualified staff have years
of experience in pre-school and school environments (some of them even
taught our current children's parents!) so individual care and attention
is guaranteed. As
well as offering a range of creative and stimulating activities
indoors, we have a secure outside play area and regularly take the
children on country walks and across to the orchard for games and bug
hunts. We're very fortunate to be adjacent National
Trust land so have easy access to beautiful
commons.
If
you are interested or have any ideas to help us contact 485708 (9am -
1pm)
|
TOM'S
D-I-Y AND CAR PARTS ARE CLOSING
27
September 2019
|
|
Tom’s
DIY and Car Parts will be closing this Saturday after forty
years. Richard who has been helping the people of Cookham over
all those years will be taking a well deserved retirement.
Originally Car Parts was set up and next door was Seconds Out
which moved down to Cookham Village and then Tom's D-I-Y was set
up. When they set up they found a lot of old car parts in the
cellar and discovered that they were worth a few bob on eBay.
You can grab a last-minute bargain with up to 50% off so make
the most of it. The shop will be very much missed by many
Cookham residents, Richard would even help change the odd
windscreen wiper or car light bulb. He will be missed.
AWARD
FOR COPAS TURKEYS
22
September 2019
|
|
The British Poultry Awards took place on
the night of 20th September and Copas Traditional Turkeys won the
prestigious Best Turkey Product: Seasonal Award for Free Range
Whole Turkey. It's a massive achievement for the team at the farm and
shows that all the care and attention they give the birds really does
pay off.
|
WILDING
THE COMMONS
22
September 2019
|
This is very exciting news! You may
have noticed and admired the stunning wild flower patches around
Wooburn Green this year. We have BIG plans to do the same around
Cookham - and we need your help! If you'd like to get an enormous
feel-good feeling next summer when the flowers are in full bloom, pop
along to help us prepare the ground on October 6th. If you have a
cordless scarifier or strimmer, please bring it along. Garden forks
and rakes will be helpful as well. To sign up and get all the details,
here's the link:
https://www.meetup.com/WildCookham/events/264722130/
|
TALK
ON FOUR ACRE WOOD
19
September 2019
|
|
Great
evening with local author/broadcaster Prof Richard Fortey last week,
talking about the four-acre wood he bought a few years back and now the
subject of his fascinating book The Wood for the Trees. More than
100 attended for this joint WildCookham/Wild Maidenhead meeting (our
biggest meeting to date) with the chance to buy signed copies of
Richard's book. Also great to have Cookham's Little Bookshop there
with their excellent range of natural history books. Next meeting looks
at BBOWT's plans for an East Berkshire Living Landscape: 9th
October - see our Meetup site (www.meetup.com/WildCookham/)
|
TV
ROSS KEMP SUPPORTS NEW HOSPICE
19
September 2019
|
We were absolutely thrilled to
welcome award-winning documentary maker, actor and author Ross Kemp
to our new hospice site this week. Ross delighted patients and
families (as well as staff!) during his visit to our existing
Hospice in Windsor, before taking a tour of the new hospice under
construction by Bray Lake.
Ross is supporting our Raise the
Roof appeal to raise the final £3million needed to complete the
building of our new hospice. Watch the video below to hear why your
support is so important.
https://www.raisetheroof2020.org.uk/week-34/
|
RESTORE
HISTORIC VIEW FROM WINTER HILL
11
September 2019
|
|
National Trust
rangers for Maidenhead and Cookham Commons are currently planning a
project to restore priority habitat and the historic view from Winter
Hill. The work will be phased over five years to allow wildlife time to
adjust to the change in habitat. This is a great opportunity for
Maidenhead and Cookham to contribute towards the NT’s Land, Outdoors
and Nature target of creating/restoring 25,000ha of priority habitat by
2025.
We
are blessed with a scarce and declining habitat in Cookham. The
Chilterns offer one of the few remaining areas of chalk grasslands in
the country. But everywhere, this specialist environment is under
duress, including in our village. The way we farm has changed -
the use of intensive fertilizers enriches the composition of the soil
and livestock grazing practices have moved on, both of which have a
detrimental effect on this dwindling habitat.
Cookham
villagers were a generous (and foresighted?) lot back in the 1930s
because the 46 acres of water meadows and chalk grassland, from Cock
Marsh to Winter Hill were purchased by the village and donated to The
National Trust in 1934. For donkey’s years this area has been
grazed. Just the right amount of nibbling manages the plant
content, allowing species that tolerate the poor chalky soil to flourish
- even this lime rich earth will be taken over by scrub if it is not
managed correctly. From 1272 the land has been grazed and when
Cookham had a monastery, sheep were an important income. Fleeces
and animals were transported down to Marlow via The Wool Way that ran
along the top of Winter Hill and down through the woods (parts of this
can still be seen today). Nowadays, Commoners still have grazing
rights over some areas and so the cows that appear every Spring on Cock
Marsh, are working hard to maintain this Site of Special Scientific
Interest.
Over
the years, the Winter Hill area has not fared so well however.
Even as recently as the 1960/70s there was an open view across to our
neighbours on the other side of the river, but today the hillside is
largely covered with self-seeded trees, scrub and the odd chicken.
The National Trust are soon to start works to tackle this – in
an effort to restore at least some of the view and chalk grassland,
improve the biodiversity and future proof the area against disease like
ash dieback (Hymenoscyphus
fraxineus).
From the footpath at the corner of the “old” car park to the gate
across the sheep drove this area has been split into 5 compartments, to
be approached in slightly different ways.
Sections
one and three will be clear felled – meaning they will take as many of
the trees out as possible. By doing this they hope to not only
restore the view but enable the chalk grassland species to once again
take a hold. Section two will be thinned – some of the
significant trees will be left and they will install more bird and bat
boxes. Compartments four and five will be selectively felled. Many
of the trees are self-seeded ash trees and quite a few are showing signs
of ash dieback, so these trees will be a focus for the felling.
Some will be replaced with disease resistant varieties and other native
species, of local importance. New habitats such as hazel coppice
and hedgerows will be introduced. You might think that it will be a bit
untidy – dead wood and some felled timber will be left, and some
stumps won’t necessarily be ground out, as these are also an important
habitat for insects and birds.
The
long game is to reinstating areas of priority chalk grassland habitat,
whilst future proofing the site against the effects of a catastrophic
outbreak of ash dieback and ensuring that this pocket of land is as
packed with native species as possible.
The
aim is that “Winter Hill will be a mosaic of chalk grassland,
resilient woodland and woodland edge with stunning views across the
Thames Valley. This combination of important habitats will be home
to a plethora of wildlife. It will be a beloved spot for the
local community and our visitors, whether it’s just a love for
the view or a connection with nature.”
Comments
are welcomed by the National Trust. If you would like to comment, please
email: maidenheadandcookham@nationaltrust.org.uk
|
TV
STARS SUPPORT CAMPAIGN FOR NEW HOSPICE
4
September 2019
|
|
HOSPICE LAUNCHES ITS LARGEST FUNDRAISING APPEAL EVER
Thames
Hospice today announced the launch of ‘RAISE
THE ROOF’,
the most ambitious public fundraising appeal in the charity’s 30-year
history, to help raise the final £3million
urgently needed to
complete the build of a new state-of-the-art hospice for the community.
With up to ten families a day not getting the hospice care they need,
Thames Hospice desperately needs to expand the care it can provide for
local families with the new hospice.
To
raise awareness and the final £3 million needed to complete the new
hospice, the charity will launch its ‘RAISE
THE ROOF’
appeal in
the heart of its community with a day of celebrations at its Maidenhead
store on the High Street, on 14 September 2019 from 11.00am.
Shoppers will have the opportunity to get autographs and selfies (for a
donation!) with TV superstar Ross
Kemp, as well as
enjoy lots of entertainment and refreshments throughout the day.
Debbie Raven, Thames Hospice Chief
Executive, said:
“We are absolutely thrilled to
have the support of Ross Kemp, one of our greatest TV stars. Ross
recently spent time with patients and staff at our Hospice on Hatch Lane
to learn more about our work and we were delighted to show him around
the new hospice by Bray Lake.
“We
are all so excited that Ross, together with Deputy Mayor Gary Muir, will
be joining us in Maidenhead to celebrate and help spread the word about
our appeal to raise the final £3 million we need to complete your new
hospice.
“Please
come and support us and let’s Raise the Roof together!”
The Maidenhead celebration is
just one of a series of exciting roadshow events taking place between 7
– 14 September 2019. The charity is delighted to have further support
from other TV stars throughout the week - much-loved
actress and Thames Hospice Ambassador Sue Holderness will
delight shoppers in both Windsor (7 September) and Dedworth (12
September), whilst actor and author Tim
Brooke-Taylor will
launch the campaign in Wokingham (14 September). Thames Hospice also has
support from Dani Harmer, one of the biggest
stars of children's television, in Bracknell (11 September).
Thames Hospice is one
of the busiest independent hospices in the UK, but is no longer able to
keep up with the increasing number of people who desperately need the
charity’s services. Every day the Inpatient Unit and Community
Services are full and each day there will be up to ten people left at
home or in a hospital bed when it is not what they want or need. The
current situation will only get worse as the local population continues
to grow and age. The Hospice’s much-loved existing building in Windsor
has been added to, altered and expanded and cannot be adapted any
further to meet the growing demand.
To
put that right, construction started at the beginning of this year on a
new £22 million state-of-the-art hospice which will provide urgent
hospice care and support to even more local families now, and for
generations to come. Set
in eight stunning acres by Bray Lake, the new hospice will include 28
private inpatient rooms all with their own bathrooms and space for
families to stay overnight. Thames Hospice will be able to double its
day services provision in a dedicated Day Therapy Centre, and a brand
new education centre and library which will allow the charity to support
community healthcare professionals involved in end-of-life care as well
as carers.
Lisa Parris-Cambridge, a patient who is currently accessing the
services at Thames Hospice, said:
“Thames Hospice has been there
for me and my girls. They provide the care, counselling and support that
make my diagnosis better to deal with.
I can’t imagine what life would be like for others in the same
situation left without Thames Hospice’s support.”
To
find out how you can support Thames Hospice Raise the Roof appeal and
for more information about our roadshows, please visit www.raisetheroof2020.org.uk
Text
RAISE to 70970 to give £5 for a roof rafter
Text
RAISE to 70191 to give £10 for ten bricks
|
NEW
FOOD AND DRINK IN COOKHAM
31
August 2019
|
|
Two new Food and Drink places are soon
coming to Cookham. There is Smiles, a fish and chip shop, in the
Parade which is planned to open on 11 September 2019. Smiles already
have a very successful shop in the Parade in Bourne End. They are
replacing My Cod, so Fish and Chips will be back on the menu again.
Mr
Cooper's Coffee House is soon to open in Cookham High Street
replacing Cutsies' Cup Cakes. They are next door to the Teapot, so tea
and coffee for all. You may have seen the building has now turned pink
and blue, which some people love while others are not so keen! Mr
Cooper's will be offering things such as toasted sandwiches, real fruit
smoothies, pink hot chocolate and even a lavender Latte.
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WINTER
HILL - BACK TO THE FUTURE
23
August 2019
|
|
Many of you will be aware there have,
for some time, been plans to re-open the viewpoint at Winter Hill
in Cookham Dean. These plans are beginning to progress and the
National Trust has told us about them with a request to pass on
information to our supporters.
Broadly speaking the aim is to restore the land to what it was before
much of the vegetation became overgrown which, in turn, also
restricted the view from Winter Hill. The map below shows what is planned.
The area from opposite the top of Startins Lane to Gibraltar Lane, and
a smaller area beyond Gibraltar Lane towards Cockmarsh, will be
impacted. It has been split into five compartments which will
either be clear felled, selectively felled or thinned. Some
compartments will be re-planted with disease resistant and/or
locally significant species. The ultimate objective is to
restore the chalk grassland in two compartments, to increase the
biodiversity across all five, and to future proof the whole area
against the impacts of Ash tree die back.
As the Trust puts it, the aim is that “Winter Hill will be a mosaic
of chalk grassland, resilient woodland and woodland edge with
stunning views across the Thames Valley. This combination of important
habitats will be home to a plethora of wildlife. It will be a beloved
spot for the local community and our visitors, whether it’s
just a love for the view or a connection with nature.”
Our view at WildCookham is that this will be a good move, bringing
back the mix of habitats and vegetation which existed before and
encouraging local biodiversity. The work will be done at a time of
the year to minimise disruption to our wildlife.
If you have any questions about this let us know by emailing wildcookham@gmail.com and
we can relay comments to the local National Trust ranger team at
Cliveden.
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DRAGONFLY
AND DAMSELFLY IDENTIFICATION
29
July 2019
|
The National Trust is hosting a special
session in Cookham (provisionally fixed for 6th
August) providing Dragonfly and Damselfly identification and
survey training and we'd like to hear from anyone who is interested.
You would need some basic knowledge for this to be of value - plus
interest in helping with on-going survey work in the area. The
session (on Widbrook Common) will be led by an expert who is doing a
number of these sessions across the region for the Trust.
With apologies for the short notice - which means getting back to Brian
Clews (brian.clews@btconnect.com
and 07860 290115) as quickly as possible if you are interested.
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SWAN
UPPING
17
July 2019
|
|
Swan Upping was back in Cookham yesterday
16 July, the annual practice of catching the swans on the River
Thames and marking them to indicate ownership by the Crown or a
corporation.
Click
here to see the video
With thanks to 'Neeta
Skeeter'
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DEADLINE
FOR WILD ABOUT GARDEN AWARDS APPROACHES
16
July 2019
|
|
The
closing date for the Wild About Gardens Awards
is Wednesday 31st July.
If
you have already entered your garden - well done. If not please support
our wildlife by adding simple features to your garden - only
four are needed for an Award. You can enter through our website: www.wildcookham.org.uk or
collect an entry form from The Stationery Depot, 23 Station
Road, Cookham Rise.
Tip of the Week: is about feeding birds.
Keep on topping up the feeders all through the summer – baby
birds have big appetites. Also don't panic if some of our plants are nibbled by
caterpillars - the birds will feast on the caterpillars given half
a chance!
And
for further inspiration take a look at last Friday’s Gardeners'
World where Monty Don and team told us about some great things
we can do to encourage our wildlife. It also demonstrated just how
many people are responding to the urgent call to help bring our wildlife
back before it's too late. We can all help.
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NEW
BOOK NEWS
10
July 2019
|
Two books from local actor and author,
Richard James, are now available to buy at The Little Bookshop in
Cookham High Street. The Head In The Ice and The Devil In The Dock are
the first two novels in a series of Victorian detective stories
following Inspector George Bowman of Scotland Yard during the year of
1892. Get your copy in store or find out more at www.bowmanoftheyard.co.uk
!
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IT'S
EASY TO WELCOME WILDLIFE INTO YOUR GARDEN
2
July 2019
|
|
There
are still four weeks left to join people across Cookham to make our
gardens more friendly for Wildlife. Do join us!
It doesn’t mean filling your garden with nettles! We have 24
easy ideas including planting nectar-rich flowers, providing bug hotels
and bird baths, creating all-year-round food - all of which will make a
huge difference.
Last year 50 people entered their gardens to recognise their efforts
through our award scheme. You only need four features to gain an
award. In 2019 we would like to see 150 gardens get involved, and as one
of our supporters, we would love you to take part.
Just pick up the list of recommended garden features from the Stationery
Depot or find the on-line version at www.wildcookham.org.uk.
The whole form is quick and easy to complete and will only take a couple
of minutes.
Our closing date for entries is the 31 July and we are happy to answer
any queries through the email: Cookhamwaga@gmail.com
Tip
for early July -
keep your poppies and let them seed - good for bees and birds.
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GOLD
WINNERS' GARDENS OPEN
25
June 2019
|
Five
Gold winners in last year's Wild About Gardens Awards in Cookham are
giving us a chance to see some of their great ideas. Their gardens
are open this coming Sunday morning (30th June).
Have
you sign up yet for the 2019 Wild About Gardens Awards? There's
still a month to go (deadline 31st July) and the open gardens this
weekend should be a great incentive to get involved!
Three gardens are open from 10am and two from 11.30am. They all
close at 1pm - allowing you also to visit the Open Gardens in Alleyns
Lane, Cookham Dean (in aid of Alexander Devine Children’s
Hospice) during the afternoon.
The gardens, also marked on the map below, are:
10am to 1pm
Hill Cottage, School Lane, Cookham Dean SL69PQ
3 Royal Cottages, Cookham Dean (close to the Sanctum)
Meadow Croft, Sterlings Field, Church Road SL69PQ
11.30 to 1pm
Sterlings Lodge, Sterlings Field, Church Road, SL69PG
Vine Cottage, Dean Lane, Cookham Dean (parking possible in the Chequers
car park opposite)
The owners will be there to talk about their garden and the ideas they
have put into practice. There will also be refreshments at Hill
Cottage in aid of WildCookham and Clink, a charity helping prisoners and
ex-prisoners with gardening.
If you are considering entering for this year's Awards, this is the
perfect opportunity to get some ideas! See you there.
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HEATHROW
EXPANSION CONSULTATION
22
June 2019
|
 Heathrow wants to build its new third runway over the
M25 with a tunnel proposed to run underneath. Also rivers will need to be diverted to allow for the new runway. Leaflets have been distributed to Cookhamites about the third statutory consultation on the airport consultation which lasts from 18 June - 13 September 2019 at 11.15am. Documents are available to be reviewed at Maidenhead Library and there will be a consultation event at Nicholsons Shopping Centre in Maidenhead on 6 July from 10am - 4pm. You can find out more about the consultation .https://www.heathrowconsultation.com where you can also find out about how to give feedback.
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LONDON
TO BRIGHTON
18
June 2019
|
On
Sunday Cookhamite Irene Killinback joined the London to Brighton bike
run. They set off from Clapham
Common on Sunday 16 June and finished on Brighton Beach the same
afternoon. They followed a beautiful route through the Surrey and Sussex
countryside. London to Brighton is for everyone! Young or old, beginner
or experienced. Well done Irene.
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A
SCOUT FAIR MENAGERIE
16
June 2019
|
|
The Annual Scout Fair which was held
yesterday was again a great success. There were some really adorable
dogs in the dog competition also other animals including pigs and goats.
The odd shower did not affect the fun of the fair.
Mylo came in third in
the agility
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WANTED
- NEW TRUSTEE FOR ELIZABETH HOUSE
11
June 2019
|
|
Elizabeth House
will be having its 2019 AGM on 31 July.
Glenn
Maybury is to step down at its annual general meeting in July, after
eight years dedicated service to Elizabeth House. A trustee in 2011 and
Chairman 2014–2017, he has served with great distinction.
For
the past five years, honorary secretary Stephanie Diggon has worked
tirelessly and with great commitment She will retire also as a trustee
at the same time. Both Glenn and Steph will receive honorary life
membership on their retirement.
Jenny
Elton, an Elizabeth House volunteer for last 12 years will take over as
honorary secretary, if elected by the membership at the AGM.
Glenn’s
retirement creates an opportunity for a new trustee at Elizabeth
House. Should anyone in the Cookham community wish to be considered as a
trustee, please email a resume to the current chair, Chris Harris at
chris.harris10@btinternet.com by mid July. No specific qualifications
and expertise are required (although someone with a medical background
would be welcome), other than an enthusiastic team player with an
interest and desire to add value to the management and leadership of
Cookham’s Centre for independent senior citizens.
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COOKHAM
WANDERERS IN SWITZERLAND
10
June 2019
|
This last weekend the Cookham
Wanderers went on tour to Morzine, Switzerland, Hope they won!
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VISIT
TO TIMOTHLEE GARDEN, PINKNEYS GREEN
8
June 2019
|
|
From Wild Cookham
If you are looking for ideas for your
wild garden, or just fancy a visit to a stunning local garden, then head
along to St Timothee Garden in Pinkneys Green next weekend 14/15 JuneE
2019 Bordering Pinkneys Green Common the garden has been developed
over more than a decade to create a stunning English Garden, designed
for year round colour and interest and to provide a home, food, water
and shelter for wildlife.
Sarah Pajwani opens the garden in aid of the National Garden Scheme and
all proceeds go to the NHS's group of Nursing and caring Charities.
It's a delightful garden in a lovely setting - and there's a great tea
available too!
The garden is open on Friday 14th from 11am to 4pm and on Saturday 15th
from 2 to 5pm. Entrance is £4.50 per person.
St Timothee is on Darlings Lane, Pinkneys Green, Maidenhead SL6 6PA.
https://www.ngs.org.uk/find-a-garden/garden/33095/
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JOIN
TWINNING FOR VISIT TO ST BENOIT
5
June 2019
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|
We’re
looking forward to visiting our friends in St Benoit in October (26th-29th).
Some members have already confirmed that they are coming, and others
that they can’t make it this year, but there’s room for more, Please
give me a call if you’d like more information (Keith - 01628 532279).
Everyone is very welcome to join us, you will be guaranteed a wonderful
time. You do not need to speak French even and you stay with the French
in their homes.
Our
hosts have arranged a fascinating itinerary
Saturday
26 October – reception
Sunday
27 October – Sunday lunch in Vouillé , around 20 kms from Poitiers
Monday
28 October – visit to The Chateau and gardens of Villandry and the
Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud, where Henry II, his wife, Eleanor of
Aquitaine and son King Richard the Lionheart are buried. In the evening
a dinner with a musical group in St. Benoit.
Here
are some transport options
•
Train: Eurostar St Pancras to Paris (Gare du Nord) then Paris
Montparnasse to Poitiers - tickets available 3-4 months in advance
•
Air: direct flights (Ryanair) from Stansted to Poitiers Friday 25
October dep STN at 14:05 arr PIS at 16:35. Return Tuesday 29
October dep PIS at 11:00 arr STN at 11:30.
Current
price (return) £87.30 (excluding baggage etc)
•
Drive options
•
Eurostar: Drive Calais to Poitiers – 624 km 6 hours 8 mins
•
Sea: Britanny Ferries from Portsmouth to St Malo overnight
Friday
25 October dep Portsmouth 20:15 arr St Malo Saturday 26 October 08:15 -
current price £175. Drive St Malo to Poitiers 402km 4 hours
Return
Tuesday 29 October dep St Malo 20:30 arr Portsmouth Wednesday 07:45
-current price £130
•
Other routes Britanny Ferries from Portsmouth to Caen daily
Return
Tuesday 29 October dep Caen 16:30 arr Portsmouth 21:15 / dep Caen 23:00
arr Portsmouth 06:45 – current price £115. Drive Poitiers to
Caen 3hours 30 mins
For
those of you that are coming, it would be helpful if you could let me
know your chosen transport option, so that I can let our hosts know. We
also plan to meet for an informal (optional) lunch at the King’s
Arms on Saturday 28th September to meet before we go.
|
THE
HEAD IN THE ICE
26
May 2019
|
Local actor and writer Richard James
is to launch his first novel 'The Head In The Ice' at the Little
Bookshop, Cookham High Street.
It's the first in a series following
Inspector George Bowman on various investigations in Victorian London
while dealing with the death of his wife - a death for which he holds
himself responsible. It's been described as 'a genuinely
impressive debut' and 'a masterful new Victorian mystery series'.
Richard will be chatting about the book
series and signing copies on Saturday
8th June from 2pm.
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NEW
EXHIBITION AT ELIZABETH HOUSE GALLERY
25
May 2019
|
|
Jacqueline Ward and
Val Leung- New Exhibition from Monday 3rd June in our Gallery.
Jacqueline - A
passion for art history, textiles, travel, architecture, music and
photography have inspired me to explore, create and compose a variety of
works involving the development of colour using many techniques.
Restoration of our Cambridgeshire windmill in Wicken continues to be a
source of inspiration for many images; its engineering patterns and
construction fuels further research on mechanical design.
Working mainly in
acrylics on canvas with oil pastels in rich exuberant colours,
there is a realistic yet abstracted presence in the paintings. Strong
thematic ideas which are both expressive and subtle dominate throughout.
‘ I aim to enhance
engagement with the audience drawing on shared experiences, to delight
and inspire’
Val Leung - an active
exhibitor for Windsor Artist Collective www.windsor-artists.org
and on Facebook, Maidenhead Painting Club, Val has an
extensive background in textiles and design. Working on large canvases
in acrylic and pastels, Val explores a variety animal and
travel themes which give her inspiration. A vivid use of mark
making ensures that her works are dynamic and engaging to the
viewer.
Our Gallery is open
for viewing 10am-12noon and 1pm-3pm Monday to Friday. The artists may
decide to have a weekend opening during their exhibition.
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FESTIVAL
PHOTO WINNERS ANNOUNCED AT ODNEY CLUB AWARDS RECEPTION
19
May 2019
|
|
We
had a great response to Wild About Cookham, our joint
WildCookham/Cookham Festival photography
competition. More than 120 photos were submitted, from
which our panel of judges selected 50 to exhibit during
the Festival. If you're quick you have till 5pm
today (Sunday 18th May) to see them in the Sir
Bernard Miller Centre at Cookham's Odney Club in Odney
Lane.
Four winners were announced at a reception at the Odney
Club on Friday: Sarah Luton (Adult Category) ,
William Garrett (Junior), Gill Harper (Smartphone) and,
in a special extra 'judges prize' for best animal photo,
Susan Lee-Tanner. William went away with a camera
donated by Canon, Sarah is £100 better off and Gill and
Susan each had a cheque for £50.
The event was possible thanks to the sponsorship of
global recruitment company Renaissance Leadership whose
CEO (and Cookham resident) Tony Willis presented the
prizes. Big thanks also to Richard Campin and Kira
Holland who ran the whole process and to our judges -
pro photographers Patrick Blake and Mick Vogel, Cookham
Festival's creative head Maureen Smith and Brian Clews
for Wild Cookham. Of course, we could not have had
the exhibition or the Awards event without the generous
support of the John Lewis Partnership team at the Odney
Club. And, most of all, we thank the many people
who submitted their photos of Cookham's wildlife and
landscape.
We had a total of more than 1600 votes cast to
select the winners and there has been universal praise
for the quality of the photos. They also
demonstrate clearly the wonderful wildlife and natural
habitats we have in the Cookhams - a powerful reminder
of the efforts we all need to make to save and enhance
them for the future.
Look out for our 2020 Calendar
There will now be a further selection of photos to
appear in the 2020 WildCookham calendar which is due out
later in the summer. So watch out for this.
The photos show the four winners, with Richard
Campin (left) and Tony Willis - top row Sarah Luton and
Gill Harper; bottom row William Garrett and Susan
Lee-Tanner.
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|
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The results for the Borough elections saw
Mandy Brar( Lib Dem) getting back onto the Council and Gerry Clark
(Conservative) being re-elected.
the correct numbers of
candidates.The
Anna
Bennett an Olympic athlete in hockey has released a book called Health
Kit which she hopes will contain the recipe for success when it comes to
living life to the full.
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