VALLEY WI held their usual Spring Fayre last week, with some trepidation, no doubt, as to how the weather would treat them.

Most days had been marred by showers or even continuous rain, but the WI got away with just a few drops. The sky was threatening thunder storms, but the rain held off until after the event closed.

A goodly turnout enjoyed cream teas and considerable vigorous conversation inside, while plant stalls outside were enthusiastically perused.

It’s a bit early to be certain about the financial benefit to the group’s coffers, but one thing is obvious about these annual events: the community value is considerable, as it brings together so many residents for a couple of hours of chatter, both profound and trivial.

There’s another interesting community aspect, less obvious to most of those buying and conversing. At the end of the afternoon, what remains unsold is passed on through a well practised network of other local fundraising events.

Left-over plants, for instance, go to Joan Gilbert’s famous ever-open front garden sale to support the various charities she espouses. Books and jig-saws also have their established destinations.

It’s all a commendable recycling operation.

VALLEY Plus always amazes me both in the quality of the subjects presented at their meetings and the very strong allegiance of the members to attend.

The most recent meeting was attended by the best part of 70 people who came to listen to Dr Hilary Walsh, a retired senior doctor from the Doctors’ House practice who introduced presenters from the Cottage Hospital supporters organisation.

They told us some of the circumstances that prompted the hospital’s establishment, in the late nineteenth century, and then followed its history through various highlights and crises.

In fact, it was, additionally, an engaging insight into long-forgotten social mores and principles.

Early patients were subject to strict rules governing their personal conduct, including no talking after the 9pm lights out.

Those able to walk outside would be ejected if found in a pub, and there was a designated time when patients had to make their beds. Nurses were equally stringently monitored.

Astonishingly, the first matron, was not entitled to a pension when she retired in 1915, although through some local fund, and monies raised in a public appeal, she was able to live the rest of her life supported comfortably on a pension of £30 – per annum, that is.

A surprise visit to last week’s meeting was from Sir Steve Redgrave.

He talked about the regeneration of the Marlow Rowing Club, now progressing rapidly towards being opened later in the year.

He also spoke of how its function will cover other sporting activities in an expanded catchment area. His visit was also to acknowledge the fact that Valley Plus has elected to make the charity, that partially supports the rowing club, its chosen charity for the coming year – Steve’ll be back to collect the product of the contribution box at the end of the accounting year, he joked.

Like the valley WI, membership continues to be very strong in numbers and enthusiasm.

WYCOMBE District Neighbourhood Watch Association (NW) is recruiting. The valley groups (and others in the area) are affiliated to, and receive information and guidance from the Wycombe centre.

The committee needs a secretary to help run the organisation and its local events, so if you have a couple of hours spare every month and would like to contribute to the success of Neighbourhood Watch in Wycombe district, please read on.

The Secretary’s role is simply to book venues and help arrange various meetings – committee meetings of which there are six a year, the Annual General Meeting and one or two NW talks and Crime Prevention Events.

These meetings are all well-established, regular events so little is required in the way of setting up anything new.

The secretary also takes minutes of the committee meetings and AGM – and that’s about it.

Remember, you may not necessarily be aware of the NW regular activities in your group of streets, but, through the local coordinators, vital information for our security is distributed from the police to those coordinators.

For more details email publicity wdnhwa@hotmail.co.uk SOMEHOW, I’ve missed out on advance notice of the Big Lunch. I also had no idea, like many others, I suspect, of the existence of the national movement that promotes this annual get-together.

Studies showed that communities across the United Kingdom were more fragmented and provided a lower sense of belonging than 40 years ago.

So, the Eden Project (the covered garden spectacular in Cornwall) undertook, with government and Lottery support and help from a number of well-known supermarket chains, determined to improve the situation and, in 2009, organised the first nationwide street party.

It’s a very free-formatted event on the first Sunday in June when neighbours are encouraged to hold some sort of street event Since the start, almost four million people have participated – and no-one let me know.

The best way to discover more is to google ‘the big lunch’ and you will find a wealth of information and lots of guidance about the events.

Ragman’s Close residents (probably the only ones in the valley) had a marvellous street lunch last Sunday, with some 50 or more participants (including this grateful invitee), and they had a party much like the Royal Jubilee, except that the weather was idyllic on this occasion.

Here’s to June 7, 2015.