ELATION is the feeling of at least five people from, or very closely associated with, Marlow Bottom, at the moment.

Marathon running was more of a challenge for some than others. Fitness ranged from world class sporting readiness to ‘I don’t really do running’. All those I’ve been able to talk to were well satisfied with both their personal physical performances and the financial outcome for their chosen charities. Bearing in mind that their successes will inevitably stimulate a few late contributions, it looks as if everybody will have beaten their original targets with more than £3,000 each.

Some reflections are well worth recording here, in the interests of history, as well as, maybe, encouragement for participation next year.

IN PARIS, Jane Kaushal was much encouraged by the French crowds who tagged onto her name emblazoned on her t-shirt.

“Allez, Jane” rang out to help her through those tougher moments. Jane was delighted to have come in under five hours, and was collecting for Kids Company, commemorating the niece she lost just a year ago.

TANYA Warnford-Davis, pictured, was on cloud nine when I rang her on Monday morning.

She ‘ran’ in just over six hours, but that included more than half an hour of chatting to her many family supporters along the route. Tanya commented on the celebration demeanour of the crowds, both the ones who had come for the event, and those whose houses were along the route. The latter had sometimes even made treats to offer the runners as they passed.

It could be that the numbers, estimated at around three quarters of a million, were boosted by the defiant response to the Boston atrocity and, in part, the appearance of Mo Farah. Tanya jauntily commented “At least I did better than Mo – I finished.”

And she added: “For those who have known me for a long time, your head must have done a double spin when you heard about this! Yes, exercise was not a word in my dictionary and no, I didn’t run. However, can’t is a word I try not to use and once I set my mind to do something, unfortunately that’s it – I am a Taurean after all!

GARY Sheppard may be better known as the Barn Club secretary, but he has done the London Marathon before; he came in after just three hours and 51 minutes, thereby beating last year’s time and, in the process, last year's monetary total.

It was interesting that Gary also met up with family members at various times along the route. The tactic seems to be to get them organised to be at various points in the later stages of the race, when a boost to flagging body stamina and mental drive are likely to benefit most. Daughters Thea and Freddie were believed to be satisfied with dad's performance and he was over the moon.

ANDREW Strauss certainly finished, at least; he was the only local to have had the moment recorded on TV. He and wife, Ruth, ran for The Lord’s Taverners, another charity that supports disabled and disadvantaged youngsters through cricket and other sporting opportunities. It seems their joint efforts have raised close to £30,000.

Commenting in The Independent, he too recognised the post-Boston defiant spirit saying: “It’s a matter of solidarity, and of showing people doing good things, raising millions for charity, won’t be beaten.”

Finally, in this review of commendable achievements of valley stalwarts, it seems only fair to quote their individual charity collecting sites one last time and to congratulate all for remarkable performances.

www.justgiving.com/Jane-Kaushal http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/TanyaWD http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/GarySheppard1 http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/Strauss REACTION to the cancellation of this year’s Rose Carnival has created discussion and some significant contention in the valley. This could be a positive matter if it were to stimulate participation in the restoration of the valley’s big regular social event.

It started with the announcement of the facts and a letter in Valley News expressing extreme disappointment that an institution and many of its associated valley facilities, demanding such effort and dedication decades ago, should so summarily cease.

The summer issue (due in June) will include letters that express hopes of its eventual return and defence of the school and other organisations that there was certainly no conspiracy arising from Burford’s 40th anniversary celebrations to suppress the Rose Carnival.

Both the Playing Fields committee and school authorities stress that a catastrophic dip in practical support was to blame.

Normally, there is a continuous and gradual transition of supporting adults, as their children get older, moving on through organisations, and being replaced by the younger crop of volunteers.

As I wrote in the paper earlier this year, that process and the driving ethic have failed to produce new supporters in recent years, and the current ‘maturing’ supporters feel, quite reasonably, that they have done their bit.

Watch out for the next Valley News or, better still, contribute your own views and potential solutions to restore a historical drive.