FEEDBACK is always gratifying to receive. Even a dissenting view on something I've written indicates that it was read and that the reader considers if worth commenting. But one reader stopped me this week to thank me for saving him £40 or more. I was obviously mystified. He'd read in this column, last year, that, because of his age, he shouldn't have paid for his new passport. So he claimed the fee back, and was obviously tickled pink that he had read a profitable piece of information here that would otherwise certainly have passed him by.

ROWDY CHILDREN late at night was a discouraging subject for this column a few weeks ago. Sadly, I have been contacted by other residents about other similar incidents. But there is a more sinister aspect this time. The children were seen throwing eggs and tomatoes at houses. The residents who observed this commented that to have such items to hand in the early hours would suggest some element of predetermined intentions.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE between a Guide and a vandal? How dare I even make the comparison, you splutter. Well, they both light fires out in the open air. Guides, of course, clear up afterwards, use safe materials and do it under supervision. Now, there comes the rub (not just the rub together of two sticks), supervision is in such short supply in the valley that we may soon only have vandal firelighters left.

Bev Botting will support me when I say she is desperate. The Beavers may close altogether by the end of this term and the Guides may follow if new leaders cannot be found. Both the Baden Powell organisations corporately and the government have stringent requirements concerning the numbers of adults required not just recommended to supervise children in groups. Unless some more volunteers come forward, BP groups in Marlow Bottom will not be able to comply with those ratios.

The work is not profoundly demanding, except in one respect. The leaders must commit to a negotiated working schedule and keep to those times and dates. Bev has a problem in that her work takes her increasingly further afield and makes her return in the evenings more subject to the vagaries of traffic. She needs assistance to cover those events and the situation is critical. But the task is certainly rewarding and enjoyable.

Bev continued the fire-lighting theme in sanguine tone "If there are would-be pyromaniacs out there who would like to indulge under controlled conditions, or simply those who would die for the occasional toasted marshmallow, now's your chance". Ring Bev on 01628 478019 or email bev.botting@lineone.net ROSE CARNIVAL is almost upon us. Last Tuesday, the stall-holders meeting was held and everybody knows what to do on the day. The Caribbean Sunrise Steel Band, Rose Carnival regulars for several years, have been practising hard in the various Wycombe Arts Festival events and other street festivals that they are now famous for. They will be entertaining the crowds at various times on June 18 between midday and 4pm.

First off will be Burford's line dancers at midday. The Rose Queen, Phoebe Mansfield, who is eight, and the Rose Princess who is six year old Jessica Lowden will be crowned at 1pm. Popmobility take the stage at 1.15pm. The antics of superhero dogs will entertain you at 2pm, with the Cheeky Monkies taking over the arena at 3pm.

There will be a fancy dress competition with the theme of superheroes. Check in and register at the MC's tent when you get to the field. There is still a need for books and toys. Small quantities can be taken to Burford school, starting on Monday. Larger volumes of these as well as bric-a-brac are best taken to the field on the day. You will be able to drive onto the field, but only up to 10am. Incidentally, although you can bring china for sale on the stalls, there will be no china smashing booth this year.

I have been asked about the destination of proceeds. The Burford FOB share of takings, as with all their projects this year, go towards the plan to refurbish and enhance the school playground. As for the playing field committee, Sabine explains that equipment buying plans will probably start next year, and will need to coordinate carefully with Burford's so as not to duplicate facilities.

OPEN GARDENS afternoon will happen. Roxy Grimshaw was concerned a few weeks back that there might not be enough participants to make it worthwhile. Her strenuous and continued efforts have encouraged some last minute gardeners to take part.

The event lasts from 2pm until 6pm on Sunday, June 19 and you can come at any time between those hours. Start at number 89 Marlow Bottom Road, where you will receive a guide to the other gardens in the scheme. Admission is £3 or £1 for children.

Refreshments will be available at various stations along the way, including teas and soft drinks. Roxy apologises to those who may have leaflets. The availability of Pimms is still in the programme, but with a slightly less singular spelling than she declared why do spell-checkers never check the important words in life?

There will also be sales of plants, with proceeds from those, the refreshments, and the admission charges going to the UK Brain Tumour Society, in memory of Steve Earl who, as a sufferer, and as an original participant in the garden day, died last year.

HARPING BACK to last week, I commented on whether the BBC Springwatch programme titles had inadvertently included shots of the rogue harlequin ladybird. I noticed that towards the end of the week, and all this week's titles, just the few frames that show what I considered the suspect creature have been removed there were no other title changes that I was aware of, so, does Bill Oddie read the Marlow Bottom column?

EMERGENCY NOTICE the Rose Carnival programme has been published, and it too prints the dates of the Rebellion open weekend as being in August. The dates have actually had to be changed to July 30 and 31.