AUTUMN has arrived, albeit a very benign one so far. But, with the hour going back, it does mean there is an additional hazard to contend with. Darkness has now encroached into our normal hours of activity. Cycling always presents its problems but, without the aid of lights, it becomes a very risky activity.

Earlier in the week, driving up Marlow Bottom, I sensed a movement ahead of me, but no real visual certainty. Indeed, two bikes had just moved out to pass a parked car. Neither had lights and apparently no reflectors either. One cyclist was carrying a passenger astride the rear wheel – I couldn’t see how he was supported. If it had been raining too, I might well have ploughed into these three as they were almost invisible already. I don’t think any of them had the benefit of a helmet.

This sort of incident will undoubtedly produce an accident of potentially life-threatening proportions, and it will happen to one of our valley youngsters. So, please, parents inquire from your own children if they ever take such risks and check that their bikes are properly equipped. Forbid them from pillion riding.

I might point out that an accident in such a scenario would certainly be mentally, perhaps also physically, traumatic for any car driver involved.

SEVERAL years ago a group of streetlights in the valley failed, suggesting a possible cable fault. BCC were reasonably prompt in taking action, but they failed the dig, fix, fill rule for such repairs.

A large, neatly sculpted, pit was dug in the road, and eventually the work was completed to well-finished standards, with the seams to the original surface well sealed with a tar filler.

The problem was that the lights still didn’t work. The county planners had organised the diggers and the fillers-in, but failed to arrange for the electricians to come and fix the problem in the proper sequence of things.

Last week, in almost the exact same spot, a hole was dug in the road, and it was subsequently expertly filled in. I don’t know what the problem was to fix, but it wasn’t. Again the task sequencers got it a bit wrong. If you are specifically skilled at getting a multi-faceted project undertaken in the appropriate order of activities, perhaps you might like to offer your expertise to BCC when next they come a-digging in the valley.

An evening of entertainment to showcase the talents of more local singing talents. MAOS, Marlow’s very own musical theatre society, offers songs and dances from West End musicals including Rent, Wicked, and Billy Elliot, as well as smash hits from performers throughout the decades including Rhianna, Pharrell Williams and Michael Jackson.

Their two performances are tonight, October 31, and tomorrow, November 1, at 8pm, Liston Hall, Marlow.

Contact Heather on 077166 06539 for tickets and information. www.maosmarlow.com CHRISTMAS and its advent brings a sequence of traditional services in the valley’s churches.

Sunday, November 9, at 10.30am brings the Remembrance Day Service organised and led jointly by St Mary’s and Marlow Bottom Methodist churches. It will be held in Burford School hall.

A Christingle service will be held at St Mary’s, at 4pm on Sunday, December 14. It’s a family event, raising money for the Children’s Society.

Christmas Eve sees the Crib service at St Mary’s. This is intended specially for young families. Children are invited to come dressed up as a nativity character.

On Christmas Day there will be Holy Communion at 9.30, in St Mary’s.

REMEMBER when, earlier this year, the government got themselves embroiled in public protests about personal security of medical records they wanted to transfer to computer records? They eventually admitted that an incomplete job of informing the public made it prudent to postpone decisions until we were all given the facts.

The programme of informing comes to an end on November 9.

Making health and social care information accessible to those who need it is still.

The NHS England commitment still holds good, with standard aims to establish a clear and consistent framework, and provide direction to the health and adult social care system, to the benefit of patients.

People with an interest in accessible information are invited to comment on the draft standard. This includes patients, service users and carers, health and care professionals and organisations, voluntary organisations, patient groups and communication professionals.

The consultation document is available on the website www.england.nhs.uk/accessibleinfo If you would like a paper copy or indeed any other format, you can call 0113 825 1324. Please note, the consultation closes on November 9.

FINALLY, can I make a plea to local organisations? Recently, notice of interesting amateur events has been very short in this column. Can I suggest that, for weekend events, it’s best for them to appear in the edition of the previous Friday. That is, at least a week seems to be appropriate for the message to get read. I need to know on the Monday before publication.

APOLOGIES are necessary after an alert reader emailed to suggest that the Marlow Bottom Pre-school is more likely to be holding a Christmas bazaar in the Village Hall on November 29, not October.