Marlow Bottom News Jan. 6, 2012

Having a quick lunch in a High Wycombe cafe (one quite well-known for its cakes), I was the victim of a dropped cream cake. Big deal, I hear you say, what’s the problem with a little cupcake? Well, none, but read on.

There was one of those yellow stand-up plastic signs near my table, warning of a wet floor. A waiter was carrying said cake and obviously didn’t take due care of the sign. The cake was projected into my lap, at some speed, as he fell. Did I fail to mention it was one of those giant 16 or 20 inch square jobs, smothered in whipped cream and dripping with raspberry sauce, as was I from waist to toe of shoe, as it disintegrated?

Never was such a complete pasting seen on the Swan stage, and I didn’t even have one to throw back at the waiter, as any decent pantomime script would have prescribed; nor even a free cup of tea to calm my shattered nerves.

THOSE adventurous Brownies are off on their enterprises again (other Baden Powell groups are available, let’s hear from you), starting Wednesday, January 11. They’re also taking a trip to the pantomime, ice-cream provided, but all in full uniform!

MARLOW Jazz Club kicks off 2012 with a visit from the award-winning Simon Spillett. Now firmly installed as one of Britain’s top jazzmen, the dynamic tenor saxophonist from Chesham will be featuring tunes and reminiscences relating to his hero the legendary Tubby Hayes. Backed by the Frank Toms Trio, Simon will be at the Royal British Legion Hall on Tuesday, January 10, from 8.30pm, admission £7. More details on www.marlowjazz.co.uk TURKEYS have had vigorous publicity over the Christmas celebrations, and not just in the context that you would expect.

As a result of two unusual encounters with turkeys, Bernie has featured in the paper on two consecutive weeks. There was that incident when he won back the turkey he had supplied to the Barn Club raffle. I’m not sure if he has graduated onto the National Lottery as the result of his new-found confidence. But the really admirable story was the hurried disposal of an out-size bird to charity after he discovered a late, shall I say, ‘hen-up’ in his ordering discipline, leaving him with a turkey that he had little or no chance of selling before, or even half-price after, Christmas. The outcome was 33 people benefited, through the dedicated efforts of the Salvation Army and their association in Churches Together.

Bernie was genuinely moved by the organisational effort of the whole episode. What was a relatively insignificant monetary loss to him and a quick trip to Maidenhead, only came to effective fruition through a huge amount of work and sacrifice of time and personal convenience by many others. I’m sure I do him no injustice in commenting that he was humbled by their dedication. It’s the ultimate outcome that makes it worth commenting further on how community good can arise from a fairly simple starting point.

ACQUIRING a quality reputation is important to a new business. If you want to be amazed how that can go ‘national’ from a local base, try looking at the remarkable customer feedback Westmount Music has achieved through its association with Amazon – quite outstanding.

TALKING about quality reputations in valley businesses, why does Lindsay so seldom get mentioned here for her Scoobies dog parlour? Well, you could start to understand if you try to get an appointment within the next umpteen months or so.

HISTORY of the valley has become a focus of interest over very recent years. Boosted now by the sharpened awareness that we are now rapidly losing valuable memories of older citizens, probably strengthened by those excellent books from Michael Eagleton that have recently ventured into the valley, plus activities of the Residents’ Association, it is deemed valuable, even a social duty, to preserve our history if we can.

There is also a growing understanding that history is an amalgamation of many small bits of information.

Another step along the way to recording the valley’s story is planned for February 20 in the Garden Room, Liston Hall.

At 7.30, that evening there will be a presentation of aspects of the valley’s significant past that has been researched and constructed by John Holles, although he will probably delegate the speaking to others.

John, of course, is widely known in the village as being an authority on its development.

The detailed structure of, and participants in, the evening are still being organised, but John is keen that the date be known now so that people can plan to keep the evening available to come along.

PRE-OCCUPIED with family matters over the last few weeks, new fathers of sons, Gav and Chris from the chip-shop are starting their next promotion.

From January 12, customers are asked to record their satisfaction votes for their favourite chippy, in ‘National Chip Week’.

Last year, they came third in the south-east, even after a rushed late participation.

The method of participation is a little different this year, involving scratch cards, and the main involvement week is from February 20 to 26.

By the way, Chris changed his son’s name literally as he entered the Registrar’s office; a Christmas influence, perhaps, means a planned Alexander has actually become Gabriel.

WYCOMBE Community Safety Partnership is made up of organisations working together to improve community safety in the district. Each year it produces a Community Safety Partnership Plan which sets out priorities for improving safety and how the partnership will do this.

An online survey is available at www.wycombe.gov.uk/council-services/community-and-living/community-safety/news.aspx This will be available until Friday, February 10 for comments to be submitted, and the council is eager that the wider public’s views should be recorded.

SINGING nuns will be whooping it up in Wycombe soon.

Now what’s that all about? I’ll unveil next week.