MARLOW Museum volunteer Jan Caddie came to talk to the last Valley Plus meeting about the Marlow Museum. This small and largely voluntarily run collection is in the Court Garden complex and its literature makes the point that it is as concerned with surrounding villages as it is with Marlow town artefacts, and that includes Marlow Bottom.

Visiting is free and is between 1pm and 5pm on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays, from March to October, and Sundays only between 2pm and 4pm during the winter months.

While Jan was keen to publicise the museum in general, her main target at the moment is to increase the number of volunteers who might be prepared to staff the opening hours.

Readers know that I often emphasise the importance of preserving all our information about the community’s past, so the museum is keen also to be given custodianship of such valuable information or artefacts that make up the fabric of our society. Local knowledge is remarkably short-lived unless committed to recording of some sort and there has never been an era when such records have been cheaper to make and preserve.

So, if you feel you can help by contributing time or items, or you simply want to visit, you can find out more by ringing 01628 485474 or emailing marlowmuseum@tiscali.co.uk COMMUNITY cafes are a little bit of a mystery to me. But, it is one of the possible developments that are allegedly being considered for the former Visage kitchen shop premises. There is speculation about whether this means some sort of charitable operation, a community funded facility (though the Parish Council strenuously denied to me that they might be involved), or merely a step on the way to a commercial enterprise that may eventually result in a take-away. For various technical requirements of planning regulations and immediate access, the latter seems improbable, but if you have more concrete information, please leave a message on the residents’ website, marlowbottom.org.uk SOMEWHAT belatedly, the Post Office organisation has released definitive details of how its services will be provided through One Stop from September onwards. While damaging rumour could have been avoided if the latest customer letter had been issued many weeks ago when the PO clearly knew the final plans, some of the changes can be quite advantageous to the public. Being open from 7am to 10pm can certainly serve many better than ever before.

The downside seems less distressing than previously speculated. The biggest losses are all National Savings transactions, immediate access to travel insurance (but still available on notice), certain mechanisms for bill payment and cash availability from non-PO accounts.

Commercial enterprises, home businesses or Rose industrial estate companies, will find the restrictions on posting many types of parcels very limiting. The letter points out that Oaktree Road fills all the gaps in the new availability.

Foreign currency is not much affected; dollars and euros on demand, other currencies to order.

It may well turn out the new arrangements improve the service to most non-commercial customers.

The Post Office (and One Stop itself) will close at 5.30pm on Thursday, August 30, and re-open in the new format 9am on Friday, September 7.

ICONIC images of regular valley life include the familiar driving tuition car of Mike Collo. Well, an era ends next week; Mike retires and the family is moving to Hampshire to live.

Apart from being a familiar sight, Mike has been a loyal supporter of Valley News, and hence the broader community, by taking advertising space for many years.

Good wishes to the Collo family.

DIFFICULTY finding things for the kids to do? Tired of the plea ‘I’m Bored, what is there to do?’ A day out to Hughenden might be appealing. They have special events on Thursdays and Fridays throughout August to help entertain junior visitors, and those kids go free.

If you have any visiting family in August you may be interested in this Kids Go Free offer at Hughenden from 11am till 5. Activities range from war games, equipment and stories to nature trails and safaris.

Ring 01494 755573 for more information.

RAGMAN’S Lane was originally included in the BCC road repair plans for the area. I have no idea when that plan changed, but there seems little evidence of it happening yet. I’ll ask the Parish Council.

SOMEONE informed me of a valley competitor in the Paralympics, but I can find no further details.

Please ring me anyone with information.