Article for the Village News – February 2013.
Posted by lmphs - 19/01/13 at 07:01:37 pmA very Happy New Year to all our readers from The Long Marston & Puttenham Horticultural Society. Here’s hoping all made it through the festive period and are now looking forward to a successful 2013 and the impending delight that is our annual village Pantomime!
This year we are staging ‘Sinbad the Sailor’ over the February half-term holiday and it is looking like another knockout production from the amazing Neil Gurney. With all the fun of a traditional pantomime, including great song and dance numbers, side-splitting slapstick and of course the obligatory sweets, this must be an essential part of any local’s diary this month. We start on Thursday 21st then Friday 22nd, both at 8pm, followed by 2 performances on Saturday 23rd, at 2pm and 7.30pm. Tickets are available now at the Queens Head in Long Marston and both the Community Shop and Meads Farm Shop in Wilstone. Prices have been held at £6 Adults, £4 Senior Citizens & £3 for Children. For details, Please call 07855 369515.
A major production like this however requires a lot of help putting it all together. We have a hardy band of willing volunteers who help in all aspects from Costumes to Scenery, but we would still welcome anyone who would like to join us. We will be at Wilstone Village Hall for the next two Sundays (3rd & 10th Feb) and then move to Long Marston the following weekend for a week of rehearsals before the opening night on the Thursday. We need people to help with such things as make-up, scenery shifting, or even selling raffle tickets and programmes. If you can help IN ANY WAY, please contact Vicky Hayes on 01296 661586 or Toby Davidson on 07970 636168.
The Horti also have a number of other events planned during the year, including the annual village show and a midsummer picnic on the recreation ground. More details to follow next month.
Article by Toby Davidson.
Article for the Village News – December 2012.
Posted by lmphs - 08/12/12 at 08:12:18 amAfter the Fabulous Fireworks display (Thanks David!) at the start of the month, one’s mind turns to the Christmas season and the Horti’s annual ‘Carols round the tree’ evening on Tuesday 18th December. Once again we will have a live band playing the carols and a visit from Santa with presents for the children as well as free mulled wine and mince pies to help you join in the singing! I would however like to encourage anybody from the villages who plays an instrument, preferably brass, to join in with the band. If you are interested, you must call Toby Davidson on 07970 636168 at least a week before the event.
With no village magazine in January, the Horti are once again looking for volunteers to help us put on our annual pantomime. Our production for 2013 will be ‘Sinbad the Sailor’ and will be performed during the February half term holiday (21st–23rd). However, this is a huge undertaking for a dedicated body of people who need your help. As is the case in all walks of life, our core of helpers is getting no younger and we are seeking some fresh blood to help us continue putting on all our village activities during the year. Although grateful for people who can commit more of their time, volunteering to help us need not be the commitment you may think. For example, maybe you could help by making one set of uniforms for the chorus – or come over to Wilstone for one Sunday in January to help paint the scenery and props. There is also ample opportunity to display your acting skills by becoming an actor.
I am not asking for you to make yourself available over a long period, just offer us a few hours of your time to help during the post-Christmas period. If you can offer us any help, please contact either Vicky Hayes on 01296 661586 or Toby Davidson on 07970 636168 or preferably come to our pre-panto meeting at Long Marston Victory Hall on Sunday 2nd December at 5pm.
Article for the Village News – November 2012.
Posted by lmphs - 08/12/12 at 08:12:02 amThe month of November is upon us and that gives us the last major public landmarks before Christmas! I for one have already got my poppy in support of those who died in the two world wars and beyond – something that should be marked with dignity. However, the main focus of our group will be the Village Hall’s annual fireworks display on the 3rd. We are blessed in the village with a complete pyromaniac whose displays over the years have been nothing short of brilliant every time and then combine that with a large bonfire and a full concessions stall offering burgers, sweets and the obligatory mulled wine. This year we are once again setting up on Old Tom’s field on the edge of Long Marston (heading towards Wingrave) and hope for a dry evening and a good turnout from the local area. Please however remember that there is no parking on the field (bar yellow badge holders)
We have also heard from our esteemed pantomime creator, Neil Gurney, who has agreed to doing it again next year! Neil has been very busy recently and is currently directing a production of ‘Half a sixpence’ at the Pendley Theatre in Tring from 20-24th November which I am very much looking forward to seeing. With 2 flower arranging shows in Aylesbury on top, we are very grateful for his time and expertise. The pre-panto meeting has been set up for Sunday 2nd of December in Long Marston village hall where auditions for next year’s chorus will take place at 3:30pm. Being involved in panto is hard work but most rewarding. I would encourage any child with an interest in singing and dancing to give it a try and anyone who is interested in helping us come at 5:00 to meet the team.
Article for the Village News – September 2012.
Posted by lmphs - 08/12/12 at 08:12:31 amWhat a superb summer of sport we have had this year! The Olympics were superb and I thoroughly enjoyed my day out at the Olympic Park. By all accounts, everyone also enjoyed their day out at this year’s village show with all the stalls doing well and the children’s games in full swing once again.
The Horti now has a well-earned break between events after spending a lot of hours putting the show together, but we continue to focus on our future activities. In support of the Victory Hall committee, our next major joint event is the annual fireworks display. This year, we will once again be at Old Tom’s Field on the edge of the village on Saturday 3rd September. The Bonfire will be lit at 6.30 and the fireworks start at 7.00. Tickets remain at £6 adults and £2 children, but they can be bought at a discount (£5 / £1.50) from the Queens Head or direct from David Severs on 01296 661021.
The Hall itself will be hosting a special Halloween disco on Saturday 27th October at 8pm. This is a ‘bring your own booze’ event with a door charge of £5 and promises to be a good night out.
My personal favourite event each year is the annual ‘Carols round the Tree’ this year being staged on Tuesday 18th December. We are so fortunate to have the services of a small band that makes the evening so more enjoyable whilst trying to raise a lot of money for Help for Heroes and really brings home the spirit of Christmas. The free mince pies and mulled wine help as well!
November will also see the auditions being staged for next year’s pantomime, so let’s hope we get a good turnout, but more details will be available next month.
Long Marston Village Show – Saturday 6th August.
Posted by lmphs - 21/06/11 at 05:06:32 amTo all my loyal readers, this is the big one! The Long Marston Village Show is upon us! The theme of this year’s show is Royal Britain which is reflected in the hall and on the show field. Continue reading Long Marston Village Show – Saturday 6th August….
Black Poplar Update Following The Original Survey Of 1998/2000.
Posted by lmphs - 16/06/11 at 11:06:54 amA second survey over about 5 years 2002/2007 Continue reading Black Poplar Update Following The Original Survey Of 1998/2000….
Millennium map re-issued
Posted by lmphs - 26/05/11 at 08:05:46 am
This month the Horti are re-launching a piece of local history. On one of my walks recently, I visited my friend Oliver Matthews and bought one of his wonderful village plans he compiled just before the millennium. This is an A2 sized print of the Ordinance Survey maps from 1796 and 1996 showing how Long Marston and the surrounding hamlets looked at the time, superbly drawn by Ken Peak, accompanied by some beautifully painted pictures of local landmarks by Phyl Thorpe. With the ever changing village population, the Horti feel we should reissue these at £10 a copy. Anyone interested should contact Oliver directly on 01296 662181.
From our Horti Correspondent
Memories.
Posted by lmphs - 13/05/11 at 04:05:19 pmEverybody knows what the strange people in the Long Marston and Puttenham Horticultural Society do – they potter about in old clothes doing puzzling things to plants; a bit like a cross between Alan Titchmarsh and Miss Marple. Well, there are some a bit like that, it’s true, but there are many other quite normal types who don’t have noticeably green fingers, and who spend a lot of their time helping to arrange, organise and run events in the village, like the May Ball and the Annual Village Show.
Others help to maintain the web site (www.longmarston.org) which is a fascinating store of local information and well worth a visit. Part of this web site covers all aspects of the history of our local area, and much of the information has been provided by local residents sharing their memories and stories.
We are always interested to hear from our fellow Long Marstonites and Puttenhamites, so if you have any recollections or family stories concerning any aspect of the villages we would love to share them.
Any subject is of interest – The Airfield, Village Pubs, Shops and Businesses, The Wars, Local Characters – anything. Please contact us with your stories and memories either by post to: Martin Winship,13 Marston Court, Long Marston, HP23 4QS or by email: martinwinship@live.co.uk.
Our aim is to produce a Long Marston and Puttenham booklet, in which all contributions will be acknowledged.
Article by Martin Winship.
B-24 Liberator “Beast of Bourbon”
Posted by lmphs - 07/05/11 at 08:05:27 am
Memorial Dedication to the crew of B-24 Liberator on V.E. day.
Organised by Chas Jellis.
There will be a memorial dedication to the crew of the B-24 Liberator “Beast of Bourbon” on Saturday 7th May 2011 at 12 noon. The memorial stone will be placed on the green in Long Marston next to the existing war memorial.
Airmen of Lt. Louis McCarthy’s crew in Liberator #42-50385, R4-H nicknamed Beast of Bourbon who died in a take-off crash at Long Marston, England on February 19, 1945 were arial gunners: S/Sgt. Carl E. Lindquist (21), Pvt. Fred K. Becker (20), Pvt. Howard F. Haley (20).
Continue reading B-24 Liberator “Beast of Bourbon”…
Give volunteering a try
Posted by lmphs - 01/05/11 at 12:05:36 pmby the Scribe with the Scroll
SO I’m sitting at home, getting more frustrated by the England performances at the Cricket World Cup, when I come across an interesting article in the local paper about volunteering for local community projects. Continue reading Give volunteering a try…
Powered by WordPress with GimpStyle Theme design by Horacio Bella.
Entries and comments feeds.
Valid XHTML and CSS.