The ADS Santa Fun Run is back for its 10th outing on 24th November, supporting local families affected by dementia. And Santa’s grotto will give you a warm welcome at Dorney Lake!
Back for its 10th year, continuing a festive tradition cherished by many local families Santas will step up for a great cause, 10.30am-2pm, on Sunday, 24th November at Eton Dorney Lake.
Dressed head-to-toe in Santa suits, hundreds of participants will walk, jog, push or run 5km around the lake, all while raising vital funds for local people affected by dementia and their carers in the Windsor, Ascot, Maidenhead, Slough and Langley areas.
The ADS Santa Fun Run is more than just a race; it’s a community favourite and the perfect way to kickstart the holiday season: get some exercise in, meet new friends locally, and make a real difference. Your participation helps keep crucial local services going, providing vital support to those who need it most.
What’s in store? Get your free Santa suit with registration (or feel free to rock your own Christmas costume!) – this event is open to all ages and abilities. Even your furry friends are welcome to join in the fun in their seasonal costumes. And don’t miss out on the chance to win in categories like Best Dressed Team, Best Dressed Dog, Best Dressed Family, and Best Dressed Wheels. Plus, fundraise over £50 and you’ll be entered into a prize draw.
The day isn’t just about the 5k – it’s packed with festive activities for the whole family. Enjoy Santa’s Grotto, snap a S-elfie with a giant inflatable Santa, and enjoy games like Hook-a-Duck, and special appearances by Princess Elsa, Spiderman, and a surprise superhero. Warm up with a hot drink from the upstairs café while listening to live Christmassy music and watching the Santas run past around the lake. It’s a festive feast for the senses!
ADS Director of Operations, Nysa Harris, says: “This is our signature annual fundraising event, and we’d love to see as many Santas as possible! It’s all about fun, raising awareness, and getting our local community involved.”
Ken Sutton from North West Surrey RSPB shares his love of birds and invites you to join them
Surrey is an excellent county for birds. Our magnificent heathlands hold uncommon species like Nightjar and Dartford Warbler. Parklands, rivers, woods, and gardens all hold a great variety of birds.
Many Surrey residents are members of the RSPB, wit its total membership exceeding a million. One of the ways the RSPB sends its message is through its 134 local groups around the country. Ours is the North West Surrey local group and we cover Weybridge, Woking, Staines, Egham, Chertsey, and surroundings areas. We are this year celebrating our 50th birthday and continue to thrive.
We have a programme of outdoor meetings both weekdays and weekends at bird watching sites both locally and further afield. Our members cover a range of birdwatching skills, the only requirement being enthusiasm for nature. These walks are fun and relaxed and we always see a good range of birds and other species. We also have a programme of indoor meetings where quality indoor speakers give an illustrated talk on a variety of nature related topics. Another string to our bow is a series of talks that we give to local groups such as U3A and Wls. Some cover our Surrey birds, others outside the county or indeed overseas.
In our latest Bucks vox pop, the MD & co-founder of Atula Technologies shares what she loves about Stokenchurch & the surrounding area
Hi Soumya! Please could you tell us a bit about yourself? “I’m just on the cusp of moving to the other side of the 50s. I have two grown-up boys I’ve lived in Stokenchurch for the past 15 years. As for work, at Atula Technologies we build e-commerce platforms and software to solve unique business problems. I take the fear and uncertainty out of technology so it’s accessible to everyone. I love it when I can explain to small business owners how they can add value to their business using technology or plan a business exit strategy or a passive income during retirement.”
Q. That sounds rewarding! “Yes, I like to spend time understanding the business values and mission so that technology can be used to achieve them. For example, I’m helping build a website that’s accessible to the sight-impaired to help achieve the company’s mission for accessibility and inclusivity.”
Q. Are there any local teachers worth a shout-out? “Both my boys went to school locally, and I am so glad they did! I’d love to give a huge shout-out to the lovely Mrs Katie Hayes who has been a music teacher for over 50 years and also Mr Venvell who used to be the music director at the Royal Grammar School in High Wycombe.”
Q. What are you favourite walks? “There are far too many! Along the canal in Wendover is just as rejuvenating as the walk in the woods and fields behind Peterley Manor Farm, as is the walk inside West Wycombe Estate. I also enjoy visiting the woods in Hughenden and Bradenham. The beautiful views from Whiteleaf Hill are also well worth mentioning.”
Q. What do you most love about where you live? “Having the gorgeous countryside on our doorstep! I wouldn’t change a thing.”
Q. What are your favourite local pubs or restaurants? “I really enjoy Vaasu in Marlow and Wagamamas in High Wycombe.”.
Q. What about shops or local businesses? “The Apple Orchard in West Wycombe village all day long! Their café serves up the best coffees and cakes and the gift shop is such a wonderful place to just meander around.”
Q. Where is your favourite landmark or hidden secret? “The churchyard near the river in Marlow and the bridge over the river.”
Q. Are you a member of any local groups? “I’ve recently become a member of the BoB High Wycombe networking group. Although it is business-focused, the people there are absolutely fantastic. Not only do we get business done, but everyone supports each other outside of work, raises money for charity and has fun along the way.”
Q. Finally, if you could make one wish for the world, what would it be? “That people are more accepting: of themselves, and the people around them!”
Join Professor Dave Waltham for an eco-friendly Busting the Myths highlight at 7pm for 7.30pm on Thursday, 14th November, at Marlborough Town Hall
Your local Citizens’ Climate Lobby was formed in 1981 and has 59 members, men and women, Do we really need drastic action to curb fossil fuel emissions? If so, how can it be done – what will it cost – and which of us will bear those costs? Will business be badly damaged? Will the poorest (as so often) suffer most?
The local branch of Citizens’ Climate Lobby UK urges you to join us to address and debate the key existential question of our time, headed by a speaker long acquainted with the fossil fuel industry, and its place in the energy economy.
We’ve been assailed with conflicting and disturbing accounts of the climate/ecological crisis. On May 1st, this year the Telegraph (in line with the government of the day) claimed that The Net Zero Leviathan is Crushing the Economy.
Days later, the Guardian urged new efforts to meet climate targets to avoid a ‘semi-dystopian future’ of heat-waves, wildfires, floods and famine’, quoting hundreds of the world’s leading scientists from the authoritative IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change).
How can we know what to think? And how can we believe that we individuals have any real role to play?
Last May over 100 people joined the Lobby at the Town Hall for a showing of the film 2040 – a heartening, fact-based vision of the astonishing and under-appreciated possibilities for climate safety, human wellbeing, and environmental regeneration in a post-carbon world.
Professor Dave Waltham, now writing the Carbon Literacy Curriculum for Royal Holloway University, is passionately concerned to convey a clarifying and heartening account of the policies needed, and how we can support them.
Free entry, tea and cake available – donations welcome
Graeme Card BSc FCIPS (Retired) tells us abut his epic trip in aid of Cancer Research & urges you to donate if you can to The Rotary Club of Princes Risborough in memory of Barry Tomkins, Sharon Sullivan and Helen Harrison
Together with an old school friend, Martin, whom I have known for 55 years now, I walked the last section of the Camino Portuguese from Vigo to Santiago de Compostela.
For those of you who do not know, the Camino de Santiago is a series of walks setting off from various locations (even the UK if you are so inclined), but all converging on Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
For completing one of these walks, as long as it is longer than 100km (about 62 miles in old money) you get a Compostela (a rather nice certificate in Latin) and the option to attend the service held at the main Cathedral in Santiago each Friday.
The Camino’s roots can be traced back to a legend from the 9th century. It was believed that the remains of St. James the Apostle, one of Jesus Christ’s twelve disciples, were discovered in Northwestern Spain.
Upon hearing this revelation, King Alfonso II ordered the construction of a humble chapel to honour the apostle. Little did he know this chapel would blossom into the awe-inspiring Santiago Cathedral, the emblematic beacon for pilgrims known worldwide today.
As word spread of this sacred resting place, the Middle Ages witnessed a fervent surge in Christian pilgrims, making the arduous journey to pay their respects and seek spiritual solace.
Now I confess to not being in the least bit religious, but I am Rotarian and like to do ‘stuff’ whatever that may be, for charity, so, together with Martin we decided to raise money for Cancer Research, in my case in memory of a fellow Rotarian and in the case of Martin, in memory of his ex-wife and sister in law – both who died in their late 50s.
“I am a Rotarian and like to do ‘stuff’, whatever that may be, for charity”
We arrived in Vigo late Saturday 5th October to less than clement conditions, in fact, it was merrily chucking it down as they say. Things did not bode well. Sunday came somewhat overcast and we got into the habit of checking the weather forecast pretty much daily. Our route took us from Vigo to Redondela, then Pontevedra, Caldas de Reis, Padron, Teo and finally, Santiago. Each port of call was between 16km and 21km apart, except for the final day as we only had 11km to do, it just felt like 20km by that time.
We would spend between 4 and 5 hours walking each day, mostly uphill it seems and for the first 2 days, in very damp weather. The best part of the whole experience for me is fellow ‘Pelegrinos’ Pilgrims you meet on the walk, I have previously done the rather quiet Camino Ingles but this Camino was VERY much busier. We lost count of the nationalities we met along the way with a Cheery “Buen Camino!” as they walked by.
Each day you have to collect at least to staps for your ‘Credencial’, a sort of Pilgrims Passport, to confirm you had done the route, or so, one at start of day, one at the end, each little cafe or bar or church will have their own stamp, in some places people set up little stalls selling foods and trinkets by the pathway. The Galicians are wonderfully friendly and whilst of course some knowledge of the language goes a long way, quite a lot of the locals have a smattering of English. Our accommodation was arranged for us in advance by a company called Galliwonders, a local firm, all-female run, I cannot recommend them highly enough! Superb little two – and three-star hotels in each port of call, you can even have your luggage shipped from place to place too, which is useful in winter so you can take a change of clothing.
Whilst we only did 100km in six days, the entire Portuguese Camino starts in Porto… so you need a fair while to do the entire thing! I intend to do another Camino next year, maybe another section of the Portuguese, maybe the French Camino, whatever, it will be fun, a truly uplifting experience, even if you are not religious and you will meet some wonderful people, to cap it all you end up in Santiago which is beautiful city.
Book your tickets to enjoy a recital by the internationally acclaimed organist, pianist and composer, Iain Farrington on the new organ on 1st November
Hallelujah: the new organ at Bisham Church has arrived!
On September 2nd and 3rd, Viscount Organs delivered and installed the new organ and speakers. They also “voiced” the organ (that means “tuned” for those of you who did not know the term). The whole process was completed in two days.
The organ was played for the first time at the service the following Sunday. By all accounts it is a fine instrument and a number of events have been planned to give everyone some appreciation of the organs potential.
On Friday, 1st November, 7.30-9.30pm you can enjoy a recital by the internationally acclaimed organist, pianist and composer, Iain Farrington. You may have heard one of Iain’s compositions at the coronation of King Charles and more recently, Iain’s piece weaving together TV sports themes performed at the Last Night of the Proms.
Rev John Smith of Bisham Church says: “Iain promises an evening to show off the possibilities of the new organ with music by a range of composers and in a variety of styles. We will hear Bach, Handel, Vaughan Williams and Widor. Iain is known particularly as one of the very few composers of jazz for the organ. We hope he will also play some of his compositions.”
It’s no surprise that the devastating and utterly tragic news of Liam Payne’s death at the age of 31 is hitting so many of us so hard, says Robbie James
Let yourself feel something about it. One Direction were unbelievably famous. For so many young people they’ll be the first ever real band that they got into. No one had touched the obsession space in the same way the Beatles had until Harry, Louis, Niall, Zayn, of course Liam came along. They were instantly our biggest export, instantly figures that teenagers wanted to be, or be with. They brought back the ‘mania’.
Monday mornings were bearable when they were on X Factor. Playgrounds would be full of pupils listening to 1D, talking 1D, and of course watching 1D. There’ll be thousands of parents whose lives have been affected by the band. Story of My Life or Best Song Ever (which by the way I am convinced is one of the great modern day pop songs) will’ve soundtracked millions of minutes worth of car journeys. Tours will have been attended. Merchandise will have been purchased. Sons and daughter’s emotions will have revolved around what the band were up to.
X Factor had a remarkable ability to hook our attention onto the lives of these up and coming singers and bands, and to do it quickly. Many will remember Liam’s stuttered beginning, a failed audition first time round in Birmingham, followed by a successful second, and the creation of One Direction by Simon Cowell. By this point Liam was 16; an age inconceivable to become quite so famous.
2010 was the year where One Direction’s X Factor journey took place. They came third in the contest, but with all respect to eventual winner Matt Cardle, they won the competition forever. Facebook and Twitter were just beginning to rear their heads, and therefore so were the friendships that so many people will’ve formed, all built on the foundations of a love for one particular group. This will hurt for a lot of people in the coming days and weeks.
While we loved to craze over their music and journey, I think they also had a lot of our sympathies. Think back to when you were in your mid teens – how many different things did you have going on in your brain? Seventy eight thousand? Yeah, same. The level of fame they were plunged into must’ve been completely bizarre, for better or for worse.
It’s a strange feeling to grapple with when a famous person who you’ve followed dies. You don’t know them like their friends and family do, but you feel like you know them.
These parasocial relationships that develop through social media can not only mean that the death of a ‘famous’ affects you more than you’d maybe expect, but it also reminds us of grief we’ve experienced from within our own bubbles.
Regardless of whether you’re a 1D fan, or a Liam Payne fan, the news has been unavoidable. Naturally, talk of death, mental health and grief can all unearth memories and traumas and sufferings that we may have gone through, or are going through now – so if you find yourself unexpectedly rocked by the news, please don’t beat yourself up; whack on What Makes You Beautiful and properly sing it, like really sing it. They were and always will be one of the great groups.
Reading Family Aid’s Toys and Teens Appeal is back to put smiles on people’s faces in time for Christmas 2024!
Reading Family Aid is a local charity supporting disadvantaged children and their families. Each Christmas, the Toys and Teens Appeal helps guarantee that children who would otherwise not receive a single present have something to open on Christmas morning.
The Reading area seems so prosperous that many people might find it hard to imagine there are desperately deprived families here, but the cost-of-living crisis continues to hit families hard in so many ways and your support makes a real difference to every family.
Last year, more than 2,500 children received a gift at Christmas, thanks to the generosity of wonderful donors and supporters, but the charity needs your help again this year and there are two ways you can do this:
1. Donate toys at one of the donation points (or they will collect) 2. Donate money to the appeal, to go towards additional toys
If you are buying a new gift please try to limit the cost to a maximum of around £30 per item. Secondhand items must really be ‘as good as new’ so they must be clean, complete, working – good enough that the receiving family can’t really tell they are not new. Sorry, no soft toys, audio cassettes, computer games, DVDs or CDs, baby equipment or clothes.
Nothing electrical or rechargeable unless it is brand new still in its sealed packaging – if it has a plug on the end and is not new, the team are not insured to donate it.
Please make sure that all the pieces of a set are bagged up together and all the pieces of a jigsaw are together in the original box.
You’re all invited to find out more about this friendly group, between 11am & 4pm on Saturday, 2nd November
Now in its fourth exciting year, the WLHG’s annual open day offers visitors a valuable opportunity to engage with the remarkable heritage of Windsor and surrounding towns and villages.
This free event is open to everyone and will take place on Saturday 2nd November at Windsor Baptist Church, Victoria Street, SL4 1EH. Please tell family, friends, colleagues and any individuals who would enjoy learning more about the local area.
Maps, photographs, letters, videos and other artefacts provide fascinating cultural snapshots of these communities, some of which began as early as Saxon and Norman times.
++ Hot off the press ++!!
The latest edition (No. 38) of Windlesora, WLHG’s regular publication, is now available – still only £5! – and will be on sale along with past Windelsora editions, local reference books and other publications and materials. Please feel free to take along your own memorabilia too – the group would be delighted to hear your stories and learn about any research!
Oxfordshire couple Richard and Sian Liwicki, aged 65 and 62 years, have just completed a month-long cycling trip along the longest river in France to raise funds for local charity Wild Oxfordshire
In spite of awful weather they pedalled more than 1,150km along the Loire, climbed a total of 11,200m, carrying all their belongings in paniers.
The couple planned the trip and organised all the logistics themselves. Richard says: “We had cycled the Rhine before so we knew what we needed to pack, and how to organise and navigate all the stages in this long trip. We trained for weeks. What we had not planned for was the wettest September in France in 25 years. We cycled through two icy storms and faced strong headwinds in the mountains. We regularly got wet so getting dry for the next day was an added challenge. However, we knew we could not stop and the French locals were incredibly helpful and kind. Motorists are used to a vibrant cycling culture in France.”
Sian who has been a supporter of Wild Oxfordshire for many years adds: “We wanted to really spend time getting to know this beautiful part of France and travel sustainability. We used public transport to get to the start and for our return journey. We wanted to raise funds for nature in Oxfordshire because we knew it would spur us on during this challenging trip. We were even more determined when we heard that Butterfly Emergency in September.
“Cycling is our way of experiencing and celebrating nature up close. We wrote a wildlife and travel blog along the way, and it was inevitable that we would make comparisons between our county along the Thames, and the Loire countryside.
“Our friends and family have been very encouraging and we are over half way to hitting our target of £7,000. We have just got to get around to telling everyone that we made it!”
Camilla Burrow, Cheif Executive Wild Oxfordshire, says: “As a long-term supporter of Wild Oxfordshire, we’re so delighted and grateful for Sian and Richard’s fundraising efforts. The funds will contribute towards our work enabling more people to take action for nature across Oxfordshire. Our sincere thanks to all those already contributing to nature’s recovery, and we look forward to working with even more people in the future.”
