MANY of us will want to start the year by thanking the children in Burford school for treating the more mature valley citizens to a musical entertainment followed by tea. Everybody there praised the children's enthusiasm on stage and their vigorous and attentive hospitality.
SUMMERLEAZE receptionist, Jaqui, was distressed about a Jack Russell which was knocked down near Badger's Way. The dog, which lived with its owners, the Marshall family in Goodwood Rise, has died. All concerned are distressed that the driver of the vehicle neither stopped nor reported the incident. If you know anything about the circumstances, please ring the police, as killing a dog is a reportable incident.
UNUSUAL visitors have been sighted in the valley. They may be up to no good. So please be cautious and report any strange activity to the police. Malcolm Blanksby re-emphasises that burglars do not necessarily wear striped pullovers, cover their eyes with Zorro masks or carry a designer bag marked 'swag'. You should consider any person or any incident suspicious if what you have noticed about them just doesn't seem to fit with life as you know it in the valley.
REBELLION faced a dilemma before Christmas, the prospect of a brewery with no beer. They had overcome the sub-contractor problems that had ruined two whole brewing runs of their prize-winning White beer, and there were adequate supplies of it for their Christmas trade. But then they began to see Red, or rather they saw Red disappearing faster than they had anticipated.
It all happened when a retail chain, let down by their regular supplier, tried Rebellion Red as a stop-gap. Their customers liked it so much that the chain came back and ordered more, much more. In fact, as a result, supplies for the local trade and the eager valley fans completely ran out a week before Christmas. There were gallons available in the finishing vats, but no local bottling capacity to make it available for sale.
Red-faced, maybe, but Tim Coombes pointed out that this sort of chance incident could open up business in new markets, in this case the north of England. It could all help secure supplies of Red and all their other products for years to come. Rebellion is certainly spreading.
THROAT sweets and tights are essential for the success of the Marlow Entertainers' pantomime in Court Garden, starting tonight.
Ron Sodera, our local Consignia man was consigned from the post office counter straight to his bed recently, suffering the flu-like chest infection that seems to be sweeping through the valley. As Alderman in Dick Whittington, Ron needs to get vocal on stage, if only to control his seditious counter colleague, Alan Barnard, who is King Rat in the production.
There are performances tonight, on Saturday and Sunday, then again Thursday until Saturday next week. All the details of times are on a leaflet at the post office, and the admission is £6 with some concessions. If you collect a pension or post a parcel in the next few days, listen carefully and spare the voices of the stars.
TALKING stage matters, there was no time or space to report on Valley Act in pre-Christmas columns. Their special family production of Tyke Tyler was well received. Well over 120 people enjoyed the two performances, and that's not at all bad for the limited space in the school hall.
After delays resulting from illness and bereavement among the committee, discussions on choice and casting are well advanced for the spring production, which will probably be around the middle of April. The group is eager to expand its forces to give greater scope to what it can tackle, so new members are always welcome, whether you fancy acting or back-stage operations. Just ring Peter Wood on 01628 471260.
BARBECUE time is here. As always, the Barn Club held the first barbecue of the year on January 1. Like last year, they roasted a pig. Chairman Charlie Symes told me every bit of the pig went, and there were loads of very satisfied customers around. A really good time was had by a lot of people who made a pig of themselves for the first time in 2002.
CHRISTMAS is about giving. Jancis Shepherd has sadly discovered that it is about giving and taking. I told you before Christmas that Jancis was again putting up garden lights to attract people to give to her collecting box for local hospices. She got around £70.
However, there was strong evidence that money was taken from her collecting pot at the garden gate. When, after one day the money seemed slack, Jancis carefully primed the pot, she was in no doubt that some proceeds had been taken.
Nevertheless, Jancis wants to thank all those who stopped to contribute, and she says her experiences this year have not put her off doing the same next year, she'll just be a touch more cautious.
RESIDENTS are getting fed up with the continuing stream of petty crime, vandalism and loutish behaviour in the valley. This week it was again the turn of the valley church to be attacked. A few months ago they had a window broken. This time their church sign and notice board has been pushed over.
Reverend Matthew Reed was characteristically moderate in his comments to me about the incident, but it was clear that he felt considerable frustration at this pointless damage.
As he said, "It's not the cost, or the effort, of replacing things, it's the fact that our time and money can be so much better spent on so many more worthwhile activities".
The damage was done some time last Monday night. Please tell the police if you know anything that might help trace the offenders.
Another resident, commenting on this and other recent outrages, said that it is impossible to believe that nobody knows anything about these acts.
Somewhere, somebody is misguided enough to be protecting a vandal so that they can do the same again sometime.
FATHER CHRISTMAS had a dry time in the valley this year.
Having had a couple of years when the rain poured, this year's tour in the sleigh provided by the Round Table was in quite decent weather.
Wycombe Special Care Baby Unit should benefit by around £350 from the two evenings collecting in the village.
TRADITION in the valley remains alive and vigorous. The traditional New Year's Day walk from the shops attracted some two dozen participants. They took the flat way to lunch at The Spade Oak but, Joan Gilbert tells me, they came back the pretty way.
The next walk will be from Dhillons, on Easter Monday, leaving at around 10am. Join them and keep the tradition.
By Mike Williams
