
Be on the look out for a Christmas
visit from the Pebble Fairy!
If you find one, please send us
your photo via the contact page
Second Swanbourne Open Tennis day a success
Professional Tennis coach Paul Robertson conducted an Open Day at the Recreation Ground for all, young and old, total novices and experienced players.
He provided all the equipment from “Mini Tennis” equipment for the first time youngsters, a ball serving machine and a service speed gun
for the more serious players.
The event was well supported and thanks to Paul’s coaching skills, all who attended finished the day more knowledgeable and with advice to take away and improve their game. Youngsters Max age 5, and sister Charlotte,age 8 (see photo above) grandchildren of Clive and Linda Rodgers enjoyed their first game of Mini-tennis and received one on one coaching from Paul.
There was also a nice surprise for Paul. Some eight years ago,Paul was
voluntarily coaching some local youngsters. He encouraged a three year old youngster to pick up a racket for the first time as he seemed interested in what was going on with the older kids. His name was Thomas Hall and he showed natural talent.When aged 5, Thomas moved to Abu Dhabi with his parents Ivor and Natalie when their careers
took them there. So who should turn up at the Swanbourne Tennis Open day, but a now strapping 11 year old Thomas, back living in the area, and boy did he
have a tale to tell! He had kept up his training while he was out in the Middle East, and still only 5 years old had the good fortune to practice alongside Tim Henman and Pat
Cash at an exhibition match and workshop. Henman was moved to tell his parents that Thomas was an exciting prospect and to keep working at his game
So the family had come back to where it all started for Thomas, the old Swanbourne
recreation ground tennis court, now fully re-furbished.Thomas having been coached
around the world is now back in the Milton Keynes area and picking up awards, thanks to his dedication and supportive parents, and the keen-eyed coach Paul Robertson.
Despite the disappointingly cold weather about thirty local residents turned out to support the “official opening” of the recently re-furbished Tennis facility at Swanbourne Recreation Ground.
Young and old, first timers and keen club players were put through their paces and given advice on improving their skills by British Tennis Coaches Association coach Paul Robertson who coaches at Stowe School.
Paul provided all the equipment including mini-nets, rackets, balls, a ball machine and speed gun.
The event was well received by all who attended, and we hope to arrange regular weekly/monthly “club” sessions on a preferred day during the summer, so please let us have your input.
You can of course turn up and play at any time if you have your own kit.
Swanbourne is expanding
Breakfast Field (formerly known as Spuddlespits) development (left) comprising twelve new properties is now occupied and the Deverell's Farm project adjacent to St Swithun's is nearing completion.
Peacock butterfly (left)
and Brimstone (below)
in Swanbourne garden
today - 26 February!
Suitable for adults and + older children teams (3-6 persons per team).
- Arrive at 6.15pm for fish/chip supper at 6.30pm
- Quiz begins at approx. 7.00pm
- Quizmasters: Frankie Fisher and Anne Parker
- £8 per person (£3 without fish/chip supper)
* SUPPER MUST BE PRE-ORDERED *
BYO Drinks
The second and final drawing of 2018 lottery was made at our Christmas Lunch
by Reverend Simon Faulks on 3rd December in the Village Hall
Congratulations to our winners:-
1st prize £200 ticket number 192 Philip and Sylvia Dalton
2nd prize £100 ticket number 154 David and Dee Blunt
3rd prize £ 50 ticket number 4 Philip Alderman
4th prize £ 25 ticket number 73 Helen Cleaveley
The Swanbourne Lottery began in the 1990s as the 200 Club, as a way of raising funds for village amenities. However, changes in both the law and in the way that the SCA is organised have meant that, in recent years, we have changed it into a lottery registered with Aylesbury Vale District Council.
The SCA now intends to hold 2 draws a year, one in July and one in December, winners to be drawn at SCA activities. There will be 200 numbers available, drawn by lot rather than people choosing their own numbers. Each number costs £10 for two draws.
Entrants must be aged 18 or over, and can have 2 entries into the draw if they wish. If anyone under 18 wishes to participate, then the entry must be made on their behalf by an adult.
Prizes in each draw will be:
1st Prize £200
2nd Prize £100
3rd Prize £ 50
4th Prize £ 25
Depending on the number of tickets sold, there could be more than one £25 prize in each draw.
At least 50% of the money paid for tickets will be given out in prize money. Any surplus raised will be used to support village activities and events. How to Enter the Swanbourne Lottery
Members of the SCA will visit each household in Swanbourne during May and June 2018. However, you can help us in carrying this out if you fill in the form below and return it to one of the following addresses to show your interest:
We would like to buy entries into the Swanbourne Lottery.
Address: ……………………………………………………………..
Telephone number(s).………………………………………………
Name:………………………………………………………………..
Number of tickets:……………
Name:………………………………………………………………..
Number of tickets:……………
Name:………………………………………………………………..
Number of tickets:……………
Name:………………………………………………………………..
Number of tickets:……………
A fascinating evening was enjoyed in the Village Hall as Clive Rodgers and Ken Harris told about the emigration from Swanbourne in 19th Century to Canada, America and Australia and the underlying factors. With the help of Linda Rodgers dedicated research, the group have also traced the descendants of James Adams Lord of the Manor who died in 1775 right up to the current date, with a little help by some recent on location detective work in Fremantle Western Australia by Roger and Anne Parker.
For those of you who couldn't make it to the meeting you can catch up here and listen to "bite size" ten minute chunks by clicking on each of the links below (apologies for the poor quality images, it was not possible to balance the contrast between the brightness of the projector screen and the speakers - but what they had to say was the important part)
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Swanbourne History Group, emigration 160318 PART A
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Swanbourne History Group Emigration 160318 part A
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Swanbourne History Group, emigration 160318 PART C
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Swanbourne History Group 160318 Part D
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Uploaded by roger parker on 2018-03-19.
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Uploaded by roger parker on 2018-03-19.
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Uploaded by roger parker on 2018-03-19.
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Swanbourne History Group 160318 Part H Neil Harris, The Alderman Family
On Sunday 3rd December 2017 Swanbourne Methodist Chapel celebrated “Christingle"
About forty Christingles were traditionally made by the Chapel
Sunday School children using an orange decorated with red tape, sweets and a candle.After the service, a stable and figures depicting the birth of Jesus, was blessed by the Reverend Donna-Marie
Broadbent-Kelly.
Christingle takes place on First Sunday of Advent and is the start of the Christmas season, and the beginning of the Church year. The idea of Christingles came from a Moravian Church in Germany in 1747. The custom has spread to all kinds of churches and is one of the most common and popular Christmas services in the UK, especially among children.
assisted by Reverend Frankie Fisher and Anne Parker, All the figures were handmade from formed wire, then clothed, dipped in cement, fired, and
hand painted. It sits outside the Chapel and will remain illuminated every evening until the end of the festive season.
ALL HALLOWS EVE TUESDAY 31 OCTOBER
If you want to go round the village with the Playout people, meet at 6pm at the top of the New Walk.
If you would welcome Halloween visitors please display a pumpkin or
lights as we don't want to disturb anyone who does't wish to participate
Good quizzing enjoyed by all, and the Fish & Chips!
Worthy winners of a £10 shopping voucher for the Swanbourne
Stores
in a close finish were the "Brown Manns"
team
of Greg & Trudy Timms and Mo & David Gray
Endeavour Swanbourne is a grueling off-road endurance event that allows you to plunge into the wilds of Buckinghamshire – streams, woods, fields, haystacks, fire – a cross-country endurance race that pushes you to the limit and beyond. Here are some of the gutsy tailenders enjoying their "day in the country"
Young Swanbourne Trick or Treaters observe Halloween tradition ("All Hallows Evening") in colourful scary outfits. Welcoming them to call on willing local residents to receive sweet treats were many carved and illuminated pumpkins, including "Donald Trumpkin" in Nearton End.
We
have some great news for you, which we are confident you have all been
looking forward to hearing. At long last and after considerable effort
by some amazing people (Swanbourne Estate workers, Tom Finchett and Matt
Little) we are very pleased to announce that Aylesbury Vale
Broadband's fibre network has now reached Swanbourne.
The public works to lay the ducting for our fibre is scheduled to start
Tuesday the 16th August (pending final approval by Buckinghamshire
County Council) and we expect it to take approximately two months - but
once our civils team has finished their work on your street then we will
be able to connect you a week or two later.
If you haven't paid your deposit you can still do so here - Https://www.avbroadband.co.uk/swanbourne -
and of course if you have any questions please contact your village
champion (his details are on the website page listed above) or you can
contact us direct - [email protected]
It won't be long before the residents of Swanbourne will be able to
enjoy broadband speeds that only 5% of the UK population can currently
access.
Ultra-fast broadband is on its way!
Stuart Greenwood reports that the first of the fibre ducting was mole ploughed in place today on Avey lane, roughly 2.2km done!
Well done Stuart - Bring it on!
photos Stuart Greenwood
Master of Ceremonies and Auctioneeer Adrian Hoy handed over a luxury food hamper (kindly donated by Morrisons Stores Westcroft Milton Keynes) to the winning bidder Jo Hill. Her Canine Partner dog “Derby” seems more interested in the pistachio nuts, than posing for the cameraman!
Disabled herself, Jo made the winning bid and she is actively involved in promoting the Canine Partners charity. The proceeds from the auction were donated to “Riding for the Disabled” and “The Horse Trust”
The event was organized by local residents Victoria Hoy, Hugo and Wilma Gilbert, Leanne Gibb, and Juliet Robinson and received generous sponsorship from The Wilkinson Partnership, and Taylor French Developments.
The Giocoso Band
The
Aylesbury Vale Broadband (AVB) has been given the green light to expand its
network.
So ultra-fast broadband is definitely on it’s way to Swanbourne, and soon.
This follows the recent meeting in Swanbourne Village Hall, chaired by Tom Finchett, when Andrew Mills of AVB gave a presentation following the successful launch in North Marston, and the current expansion into Granborough.
The AVB scheme is 95% owned by AVDC, and 5% owned by local IT and broadband expert Andrew.
Stuart Greenwood will act as Swanbourne Broadband “Tsar” you can contact Stuart by phone:- 07855397076, or email [email protected]
To contact Andrew Mills it’s:- [email protected]
Proposed costs are that there will be a £150 ‘one off’ charge to get the cable to your property.
Each subscribing household will then be provided with a kit to carry the fibre from your land into your premises and a router. By eliminating the old fashioned BT copper wire, we will be able to enjoy the fastest speeds in the country direct to your home or business.
The monthly rental is expected to be:-
£30 per month for 30 Mb/s both uploads and downloads
£38 per month for 100 Mb/s both uploads and downloads
£135 per month for 300 Mb/s both uploads and downloads
AVB has partnered with phone company Vonage, so for an additional £8 per month you can keep your existing phone number and get unlimited UK landline calls.
You can follow progress at the AVB Website:-
http://www.avbroadband.co.uk/
A big thank you to everyone from the SCA committee to everyone who purchased tickets for the 2015 Lottery, and also those who came along for the prize drawing at the “Christmas Singalong” in the Betsey Wynne on Sunday 20 December.
Steve Hunt entertained those present for two hours before Tom Finchett drew the following lucky balls out of the bag:-Second prize:- £50 ticket 28 Caroline Walker (again - twice a winner this year!)
Third Prizes:- £25 ticket 7 Steve French and £25 ticket 4 - err-erm,,, Roger Parker.
On Sunday 15th November the Reverend Jackie Brown conducted a ceremony dedicating a Bench in the new Swanbourne Memorial Garden as a lasting tribute to Lady Ann Cottesloe who passed away two years ago.
The guest of Honour was Lord Cottesloe who, assisted by his daughters Betsy and Fanny and grand-daughter Alyssia (pictured left) unveiled the circular teak bench. The Rt. Hon. Iain Duncan Smith (Secretary of State for Work and Pensions) and thirty local residents also attended the moving ceremony.