Citizens Lifeline

Fortunately most people reading this will never need to consult the local Citizens Advice services. But in the course of 2017, over 5000 people did, and many of them more than once. And for those people it was a lifeline: a way of helping them manage often in desperate times. For me it is good to know that CA is there for all those people and it's a comfort to know that the advice would be there if I ever needed it. So it was a pleasure to attend the AGM of the service last week in Winslow and support their work.

Below are some pics from the pages of briefing that documents the impact of the service. Effectively it is its annual report. It makes for moving reading. However on the other hand, it was also reported at the AGM that the service made a loss of over £25k last year, a financial position which is unsustainable. More money has to be found for the service because for sure the needs for the advice are mounting.

Put in simple terms, many of the authorities who have traditionally given money to help pay for the CA services, have cut back on their grants. Money to fill to these gaps is becoming harder and harder to obtain as many other charities are chasing this money too. It is not looking rosy.

All this means that I am most glad to have made BACAB, the local charity that raises money for the local CA (especially its home visiting service), one of the three I am supporting during my second Mayoral year. So if you like to help the local CA, you can donate to the Mayor's Charities (see the panel next to this blog >>>), or direct to BACAB (https://bacab.org.uk/donate/) or direct to the CA (http://www.aylesburyvaleadvice.org.uk/fundraising/)

Fields and boxes of Poppies

On Tuesday, I was honoured to be present at this year's launch of the local Royal British Legion's poppy collection at the Old Gaol. Watch out for the picture in this week's paper hopefully. Meanwhile it good to meet many people who have been collecting for years and who proudly display their poppies in remembrance of all those injured and killed as a consequence of war. Please be sure to make your donation to this worthy cause.

This of course is a very special year: it is (as everyone must know by now) a 100 years since the armistice was declared at the end of the First World War in 1918. It was a terrible war, as all wars are of course. My grandfather, who lost his older brother, would never talk about his experiences of the war. I know that many people reading this will have similar connections to this conflict.

May we all use our memories and reflections on these last 100 years and redouble our efforts to continue to build a peaceful and harmonious world where our differences are resolved without resorting violence, harm and death. We all have a part to play in this, I believe.

Rotary Club: 50th Anniversary

Julie and I spent Friday evening in the company of local Rotarians and visitors from many other places to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Buckingham group. It was a delightful occasion with many fine speeches and warm applause. They are, of course, always on the lookout for new members. So if you are interested, please get in touch with them. They seem to be a most welcoming, happy, generous and purposeful bunch of people!

District Governor David Ford offering a speech of thanks and congratulations to the Buckingham Rotary club.

The pennants around the room, I think, are all from visitors to the club over the years or from where club members have visited other clubs in the UK and abroad. It was an impressive display of friendship across the world.

Celebrating the University Library

I was given a most illuminating and inspiring tour of the libraries at the University of Buckingham on Monday morning by Peta Yates, the Librarian. And in case you did not know, anyone can become a reader at the library and use many of their facilities. There is much history to be see and some wonderful books to browse! There is also a local history collection that would be a goldmine for any local historians. Do go and see!

You can check out what books and journals etc they have here: https://buck.sirsidynix.net.uk

Meanwhile, here are a few pics of my visit.

The Edward Legg collection of local history

What was the chapel at the Franciscan Nunnery on London Road 

Old law books (I think!)

Some graffiti from when it was the stables of the Bucks Yeomanry!

The High Sheriff's Justice Service

Julie and I spent most of Sunday participating in the Justice Service hosted and organised by the Buckinghamshire High Sheriff, Professor Ruth Farwell. It was a glorious occasion where the Parish Church of All Saints in High Wycombe was filled with Judges, Magistrates, Recorders, Mayors, Chairs of Councils, the Clergy and High Sheriffs from nearby counties as well and the Chief Constable among many others.

"The Justice historically marks the beginning of the legal year and is a celebration of the work of the legal profession in the county as they seek to ensure that justice is done"

Below are some pics of the event and the lunch beforehand. I have also copied across the programme as I think some might be interested to read the whole piece.

Charlotte Dunn, Under Sheriff of Buckinghamshire, holding the mace presented to the Under Sheriff in 1992 to celebrate a millennium of the office of Sheriff.

Opening the Charter Fair 100

The Charter Fair has been happening in Buckingham for centuries of course. But this year marked a hundred years since the William Nichols (Grandfather to Marshall Nichols, the current Head Showman) began bringing fairs to the town. The Town Council decided to recognise this and award Marshall with a celebratory tankard. Below is the speech I for the occasion Saturday last. (Plus some pics of course)

Amanda Brubaker, the Town Council Events Coordinator, Mayoress & Mayor, Head Showman Marshall Nichols and our Town Crier, Russell Cross.

The rides begin!

A special organ to celebrate 100 years organised by Marshall Nichols

And the Mayoress gets a bunch of flowers from Mr Tunks, a long time helper at the Fair.

thanks to Katharine McElligott for all the pics.

The speech

Today, we are celebrating 100 years of the Nichols family bringing the Charter Fair to Buckingham. 

In a world which can often feel like a carousel spinning faster and faster, it is wonderful to have this tradition as a rock stable pivot on which the town can be anchored. While we live with the Climate Change coconut shy, the Trump waltzer, the Brexit dodgems and the Artificial Intelligence amusement arcade: we know with certainty that we can all have the real thing here on two Saturdays a year! 


So thank you to Marshall Nichols, Head Showman, all the Nichols families past and present, for bringing such stability and amusement to our glorious town of Buckingham for 100 years!

William Nichols, grandfather to Mr Nichols, was a plumber from Forest Gate in London. He started working for Showman Swayle Bolesworth in the early 1900’s and went on to have his own fairground rides.

In 1923, William Nichols had a steam engine called the Princess Mary which powered the roundabouts. The Nichols family toured the same circuit as the Nichols Fun Fairs do now. Mr Nichols is a 3rd generation Showman. 

On behalf of the Town Council, it gives me great pleasure to present this celebratory tankard to Mr Marshal Nichols to mark this occasion. May this Charter Fair continue to provide pleasure to all of our local townsfolk and people from nearby villages. 

So it just remains for me to say thank you to everyone who is involved in organising, setting up and running this fair. I declare this Fair open!! 

And just to say thanks to Marshall for arranging the buffet for the children at the Woolpack this year from 2pm.

A history of amusement

I visited the Old Gaol on Saturday, just before opening the Charter Fair. Do go and visit the exhibition about the history of the fair: fascinating social and local history! Lots of pics below - but there is so much to see!

Community Bus

The Local Area Forum has stumped up the money to pay for the introduction of a community bus for our area. The BART bus - which stands for Buckingham Area Rural Transport scheme - is now up and running. The Town Council had a chance to look over it on Monday evening. And Ashley Waite (a lovely warm chap, I must say!) gave a short presentation and the forward plans. The scheme is looking volunteer drivers and groups to use it! This really a case of use it or lose it... So if you have any ideas about who might use the bus (or you want to be a driver) - please contact Ashley (phone number below). Thanks!