Bradley Wiggins and Pine class have something in common

SUPPORTING good causes is a characteristic motivation for a huge proportion of the valley population. It’s not just our own valley causes that benefit, though a massive amount of effort goes towards our school, pre-schools, playing field and other organisations. The Barn Club and various other recreational activities raise substantial sums for activities centred outside, but impinge on the well-being of local residents. Of course, Rebellion’s famous Open Weekends have reached staggering heights for Scannappeal – well over £30,000 last time out.

But let’s focus for a moment on some of the more individual challenges that local residents undertake for the benefit of the community at large.

Last weekend, Lindsay Boxall, a dog groomer of renown, took on The Goodnight Walk, a ten mile night-time walk, as the name suggests, in and around Beaconsfield. She is still collecting, but has achieved an impressive figure of over £700 so far. This is towards the Iain Rennie Hospice at Home appeal. Lindsay started at 9pm and was back before midnight for her cream tea award, a bit later than most of us might contemplate such an indulgence.

Although the event has already happened, I’m pretty sure that additional contributions will always be welcome at her Brucewood Parade dog parlour.

GIVING something back figured large in a challenge that Martin Greening and his friend took on a couple of weekends ago.

David Drever had a long-term promise to repay something to the medical experts who saved his younger brother from cancer when he was just a child. Martin (from Martin’s Fitness Studio) is a regular supporter of good causes in the community.

They completed the Three Peaks Challenge in 22 hours and five minutes – a very respectable achievement. In that time they climbed Ben Nevis (3.45), drove to Scafell Pike, which they climbed in 2.54, then on to North Wales to climb Snowdon in 2.49.

Their aim was to achieve £2,000 towards the cancer ward in the Birmingham Children’s Hospital where Neill Drever was restored to health.

I suppose it will not have escaped Martin that the day they chose for their enterprise made it even more of a killer undertaking. It was July 14, Bastille Day.

VALLEY Plus holds its next meeting on Tuesday, July 31. As usual, it will be held at the Methodist Chapel, 148 Marlow Bottom, and starts at 2pm.

Although much has now been revealed about Bletchley Park and its significance in the secret activities that helped Britain’s defence in the Second World War, only much more recently has it become known that Hughenden had a significant role too, in different aspects of the war effort. Hughenden’s double life will be revealed to the meeting by Mary Edwards, a National Trust guide.

During the first part of the meeting Malcolm Blanksby, who has recently been made Honorary Alderman by WDC following many years as our District Councillor, will explain what this new role involves.

Also Jan Caddie will be attending to talk briefly about the Marlow Museum.

Some time ago, Valley Plus was much entertained and enlightened by a talk by Dr Claire Guest. She had discovered, partly through serendipity but mainly through intensive research, discovered that dogs can sniff out some forms of cancer, with remarkable accuracy. Her talk to Valley Plus was so compelling that the organisation decided last year to make Dr Guest’s team the charity of choice for VP. To acknowledge the donation made, Dr Guest has invited any VP member to attend one of her team’s demonstration afternoons. It does mean travelling to Milton Keynes (and making sure you are a member), but there is a chance every month until the end of the year. It’s easiest if you email Jessica.Ryman@medicaldetectiondogs.org.uk for details of times, but you will find it an interesting experience.

PARISH Council Clerk, Lorna Parkins, has had an urgent request to publicise a new health and fitness drive. In view of the renewed emphasis in the press earlier this week about ‘inactivity’ being as dangerous as smoking, I can give brief details of both a fitness programme of classes and a workshop to train local fitness trainers. The amount of information is substantial, so the most efficient way of distributing it is to refer you to the joint website of the Keep Fit Association and the Fitness League which have formed The Exercise Movement and Dance Partnership. Disappointingly, like so many public organisations, they have not appreciated that web addresses need to be brief and memorable to be effective. If you can’t get it right, please email me (my address is under my photo) and I’ll send it to you. However, it is http://www.sportengland.org/about_us/our_news.aspx

The training and ‘taster day’ class activities are scheduled for September and October. They are mostly centred around Milton Keynes, but the current surge in various forms of dance and exercise activities in the valley over the last few months suggests there may be residents who would both be interested and would benefit from such programmes.

An alternative to struggling with the tricky web address might be to ring Cathy Johnson on 01733 566714 or mobile 07960 974315.

SUMMER will soon be drawing to a close – did it ever really begin? Valley News editors are already gathering material for the magazine’s autumn issue. Some reflective articles from residents are already set to be included, but we would certainly like some more, stories, reflections, poems, purely imaginary pieces; if they engage your thoughts, chances are they will appeal to the readers.

Please set pen to paper, or trouble your Word program for a few minutes. Inside the back cover of any fairly recent Valley News will tell you how to proceed.

Go on, you know you can write sense.