Gerrards Cross Together July August 2024

GERRARDS CROSS 

& CHALFONTS 

NEWS AND VIEWS 

Together 

What's On in Bucks 

Gerrards Cross Fun Run 

Scannappeal Charity Skydive 

Visit the Kingdom of Happiness 

View ONLINE: GerrardsCrossTogether.co.uk 

Welfare of older people 

01753 917241 

SUMMER EDITION 

SAVE THE DATE 

Sunday 18th May 

For help or food donations 

office@onecantrust.org.uk 

Tel: 01494 512 277 

July/August 2024 Issue 5

Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month (except August) 

July 9th & 23rd | September 10th & 24th 

Meditation: 19.30 - 20.30 (everyone over age 18 welcome) 

Healing clinic: 20.30 - 21.00 

Chalfont St Peter Community Centre 

Gravel Hill, Chalfont St Peter, SL9 9QX 

Donations go to: 

Inger Lise: 07770 815 715 or email: 

2 Gerrards Cross & Chalfonts Together part of Community Together Communications Ltd

Thanks to Stephen at Vision Hairdressing 

Useful Numbers 

Mental Help Helpline 24/7 

t: 0800 783 0119 / 01865 904 997 

National Domestic Abuse Helpline 24/7 

t: 0808 2000 247 

Chilterns Dial-a-ride for those with 

mobility problems t: 01494 766 123 

Alcoholics Anonymous 

Call confidentially on: t: 0800 917 7650 

Be Amazing and Volunteer 

Age UK’s Befriending service matches older 

people with volunteers who have similar interests. 

t: 01296 431911 

e: age@ageukbucks.org.uk 

GERRARDS 

CROSS 

& CHALFONTS 

Together 

Hello and welcome 

Starting a family in Gerrards Cross has been an 

incredibly rewarding journey for me. Over the years, I 

have formed many wonderful friendships and business 

connections. I have seen numerous shops come and 

go and have lived through the challenging Covid 

times. Despite the difficulties, those times were 

special as they allowed me to truly connect with my 

neighbours and appreciate what is truly important in life. 

I am thrilled to announce that in September, we will 

be going to print with our first issue of Gerrards Cross 

& Chalfonts Together magazine! Hooray! I couldn’t be 

more excited! 

Giving back to my community and fundraising 

are causes very close to my heart. This August, a 

group of us are organising a skydive for the charity 

Scannappeal. Additionally, I am honored to be a part 

of the GX Fun Run committee, where we are eagerly 

preparing for the big day on Sunday, May 18th. Life 

is full and exciting! Please register your interest by 

going to: www.gerrardscrosstogether.co.uk welcome 

page. 

I am constantly inspired by many people, especially 

the remarkable community champions among us. 

Through this magazine, I aim to recognise these 

individuals, share their passions, and inspire others 

to achieve great things as well. 

Keep smiling, see the good in yourself and others, 

and always do the right thing! 

Bucks Mind in Buckinghamshire 

Volunteers over 18 years needed 

t: 01494 463364 or 

w: www.bucksmind.org.uk 

With love, 

Therese 

NEXT COPY DEADLINES! 

September/October 2024 

Editorials: 25th July 

Advertisers: 26th July 

Meet the Team 

Publisher, Editor & Sales 

Therese Cooklin - 07786 735 711 

Magazine Designer 

Mathew Peet, Digital Bear Design - 01949 839 206 

Content is accurate to the best of our knowledge, however Gerrards 

Cross Together is part of Community Together Communications Ltd 

cannot be held liable for loss or damage, caused by errors or omissions. 

Inclusion of advertisers does not indicate our endorsement of their 

products or services. 

The opinions and findings expressed in articles submitted to this 

publication are solely those of the authors and should not be assumed 

to be those of Gerrards Cross Together or its affiliates. 

t: 07786 735 711 

e: therese@gerrardscrosstogether.co.uk 

w: gerrardscrosstogether.co.uk 

Want to be a Community 

Champion Sponsor? 

We are offering select advertising spots on 

Gerrards Cross Together website. Join us 

in making this community come together 

spreading positive news to all.

COMMUNITY NEWS 

What is Domiciliary 

Homecare, and who 

needs it? 

Domiciliary care is a type of care which 

allows you, or a loved one, to receive 

care and support in the comfort of your 

own home, as an alternative to going 

into a residential care home. 

At its heart, Domiciliary care is designed to 

assist people who may find it difficult to 

complete daily activities themselves. This could 

be due to illness, physical or mental disability, 

or old age. 

You receive regular visits from a fully trained 

care worker who can support you with every 

aspect of your life, where these are becoming 

difficult, from personal care to household tasks 

and food preparation. 

Walfinch Mid & South Buckinghamshire 

provides quality domiciliary home care 

and support across Amersham & The 

Chalfonts, and all the towns and villages 

of Buckinghamshire. 

The company is a leading hourly care specialist 

focusing on promoting independence, dignity 

and respect, and enhancing the quality of 

life of its clients through a wide range of care 

services which allows people to stay living in 

their own homes. 

All Walfinch staff are fully trained to ensure 

the highest standard of care support and 

their passionate Registered Manager has over 

20+ years of experience and professional 

connections within the care sector in 

Buckinghamshire. 

Around the clock care from 1 hour up to 

24 hours 7-days a week can be delivered, 

and Walfinch’s mission is to keep people living 

independently and happily in their own homes 

by providing the highest quality care support. 

Your loved ones deserve to 

remain independent at 

home where they feel safe. 

Reach out today for a 

friendly chat. 

01494 506300 

greg@walfinch.com 

@walfinchmsbuckinghamshire 

Walfinch Mid & South Buckinghamshire 

Choose Us For 

Companionship 

Alzheimer’s/Dementia Care 

Sitter Assistance 

Live in Care 

End of Life Care 

Respite Care 


Experienced, Friendly 

& Professional Internal 

& External Decorators. 

We have been 

working in & around 

Beaconsfield, 

Gerrards Cross, 

Amersham & 

surrounding areas 

since 1993. 

Please call to discuss 

your requirements. 

Call Nigel: 

01494 681 794 or 07771 521 263 

www.ngilliedecoratingservices.co.uk 

FAMILY RUN 

DOMESTIC & COMMERCIAL ELECTRICIANS 

Rewiring ( full / partial ) 

Safety electrical testing 

Fuse board upgrades 

Garden lighting 

Landlord reports (PRS) 

Fault finding 

Adam: 077251 72878 Craig: 077305 75633 

w: www.alconelectrical.co.uk 

e: info@alconelectrical.co.uk 

Find us on instagram: @alcon_electrical 

To advertise please call 07786 735 711 or email marketing@gerrardscrosstogether.co.uk 

5


Networking soirée 

at The Crazy Bear 

I am always very grateful for the 

unwavering support from our wonderful 

advertisers, local organizations, charities, 

and community groups. 

Inspired by this support, I was eager to 

organize a networking get-together. Chelsie, 

the market manager from The Crazy Bear, 

spontaneously suggested their Moroccan 

lounge as the perfect venue and to host 

the event. 

The Crazy Bear has recently undergone a 

change of ownership, and the new owner is 

enthusiastic about connecting with the local 

community. They aim to support charities, 

community events, and local businesses. 

They generously allowed us to host our first 

Community Together networking event, 

offering us a chance to experience Crazy Bear’s 

renowned hospitality. Attendees also had the 

opportunity to visit one of the 48 luxurious 

bedrooms and tour round visiting the meeting 

rooms. 

The chef went above and beyond, designing 

and creating exquisite canapés that truly had 

the wow factor, which everyone thoroughly 

enjoyed. The sommelier was on hand to top 

up glasses and educate us about the wines 

available that evening, and the fruit punch was 

incredibly refreshing. 

The evening was a great success, with 

local businesses and charity fundraisers 

from Gerrards Cross and Beaconsfield, 

representatives from Bekonscot Model Village, 

and even Beaconsfield Town Clerk were in 

attendance. We highly recommend a visit to 

The Crazy Bear for anyone looking to enjoy 

exceptional hospitality, stay at the hotel in Old 

Beaconsfield or Stadhampsted or enjoy a meal 

at one of their restaurants. For more details 

check out: https://crazybeargroup.co.uk 

Little Chalfont Evening WI 

Little Chalfont, Village Hall, Cokes Lane HP8 4LJ 

The second Tuesday of each month 

7:30pm for a 7:45pm start 

We have tea, coffee and home-made cake. 

Do come and visit us, as your first visit is free! 

RED KITE CRAFT MARKET 

Little Chalfont Village Hall 

~ Every 2nd Saturday ~ 

(except January & August) 

9am to 1pm 

Tea, coffee and home-made cakes 

from Little Chalfont Evening WI 

FREE ENTRY 

/redkitecraft 

e: redkitemarket@gmail.com 


DESIGN AND MARKETING FOR 

MAXIMUM IMPACT 

A local family run 

business specialising in 

FENCING & 

LANDSCAPING 

LOGOS, ILLUSTRATIONS, ADVERTISEMENT, 

BUSINESS STATIONERY, SOCIAL MEDIA 

ADVERTS, WEBSITES, LEAFLETS, car livery, 

clothing designs 

Other services include: 

Driveways 

Patios 

Concrete Bases & Shed Bases 

Free quotations 

Fully insured 

01494 413 315 

07748 922 776 

Infinityfencingandlandscapes.com 

Providing Outstanding 

Home Care 

Call for a friendly chat on 01494 917344 

or visit ashridgehomecare.co.uk 

Ashridge Home Care specialises in providing highly 

personalised one to one care that enables people to remain 

in the comfort of their own home. We are one of the few 

care companies to offer both around the clock live-in care, 

as well as daily visiting care. Whatever your situation, we 

believe everyone should be able to stay in their own home 

with just the right amount of help and companionship to 

remain safe and independent. 

You may only need help for a couple of hours a week 

with light housework and to keep on top of chores or 

you may require more specialist 24 hour support from a 

professionally trained live-in carer. Ashridge Home Care 

can arrange for qualified carers to help in any situation. 


7

* When you buy a frame for £18 or more. Excludes other offers. Assumes Free NHS eye test and NHS voucher subject to NHS guidelines. Ask for details. 

EYE NEWS 

Care for your eyes 

Nearly all of us use screens everyday whether 

it is mobiles, tablets, laptops or computer. Eye 

strain is becoming more common but can you 

recognise the signs ? 

Eye Fatigue: Prolonged screen use can lead to eye 

fatigue, causing a sensation of tiredness or heaviness 

in the eyes. 

Headaches: Persistent headaches, often around the 

forehead and temples, are a prevalent symptom of 

computer eye strain. 

Dry Eyes: Reduced blinking during screen time can 

result in dry eyes, characterised by a gritty feeling and 

redness. 

Blurred Vision: Extended screen exposure may cause 

temporary blurred vision, requiring frequent squinting 

or rubbing of the eyes. 

Neck and Shoulder Pain: Poor posture during digital 

device use can contribute to neck and shoulder pain, 

adding to overall discomfort. 

Light Sensitivity: Some individuals may experience 

increased sensitivity to light, further intensifying their 

discomfort. 

Difficulty Concentrating: Visual discomfort can 

extend to cognitive challenges, leading to difficulty 

concentrating on tasks and decreased productivity. 

If you wear glasses already consider Blue Control 

lenses. These lenses filter blue light and in some cases 

can help with eye strain. Ensure your glasses are 

Reflection free. These allow the light to go through 

the lens rather than bouncing off the lens surface 

therefore stopping annoying reflections. You may 

also benefit from Anti Fatigue lenses especially if 

you spend significant time on a mobile phone or 

tablet. If you spend more than an hour on a PC or 

laptop, Office Lenses may help by giving you a longer 

viewing range especially if you are wearing varifocals 

or reading glasses. 

Most importantly make sure you have regular eye 

tests and if you are concerned about your eyes or 

vision ....ask your optician. 

Helen Gilbert FBDO 

Dispensing Optician 

HARROLD HARROLDS OPTICIANS 

opticians & audiologists Your vision...Our care 

2 for 1 

Kids & Teens 

glasses 

Polarised prescription 

sunglasses 

£179 

Let us show you the difference... 

... Ask about office lenses 

Eye tests are free for kids 

Complete with single vision lenses. Ask for details. 

With glare reducing lenses designed specifically for night driving , UV protection, blue control lenses, 

photochromic lenses that darken when you drive and polarised lenses, our qualified opticians can advise 

you on the best eyewear for your lifestyle. 

For any advice please phone your local branch. We will be very happy to help. 

Our eye test has retinal photography as standard and the option of OCT. Book your eye test online today. 

3 Station Road Gerrards Cross 85-87 Sycamore Road Amersham 

01753 886306 01494 721795 



9


2024 

from 26 August until 15 September 2024 

country Fair 

Monday 26 August 

Windsor END, Beaconsfield Old Town 

music concert 

SATURDAY 31 AUGUST - St Mary & All saints Church 

SunDAY 15 September - St Michael & All Angels Church 

Desert island films 

with Nick Winton, son of sir nicholas winton mbe, 

SHARING HIS FATHER’S World War II, Kindertransport STORY 

Sunday 8 SEPTEMBER - 7pm 

The National Film School 

Literary fair 

Featuring Frederick forsyth (Day of the Jackal, odessa file) 

& other authors 

SATURDAY 14 SEptember - AM - lunchtime 

St Mary & All saints Church 

Art Exhibition 

14 - 15 SEptember 

10 Gerrards Cross & Chalfonts Together part of Community Together Communications Ltd 

VENUE TO BE CONFIRMED

Our Services Include; 

Boiler installations | Boiler repairs | Boiler replacements | Boiler servicing 

Air Source heat pumps | Underfloor heating | Central heating install 

Energy efficient advice | Gas safety inspections Landlord safety certificates 

Ground Source heat pumps cylinders | General plumbing | Pumps 

Renewable energy products | Bathrooms/Showers etc. 

Worcester Accredited. 

Reesandbrookman.co.uk 

4816 

Established 

in 1949 

Unit 2, Five Acres Farm, Spurlands End Road, Gt. Kingshill, High Wycombe, Bucks. HP15 6PE 

T: 01494 712397 rees.brookman@btconnect.com 

Morse Funeral Services 

Independent Funeral Directors 

Here when your family needs ours 

Together we will arrange a fitting, affordable funeral without compromising 

on respect and dignity for your loved ones. 

* Experienced, personal service * Cremation * Burial * 

* Fully equipped facility for the care of loved ones * 

* Direct Cremation available * Green Funerals * 

* Prepaid Plans * Chapel of Rest * Full wash facilities* 

e: info@morsefunerals.co.uk 

t: 01494 301 232 ( 24 hour ) 

w: www.morsefunerals.co.uk 

38 London End, Beaconsfield, HP9 2JH 


11

What’s On 

July 

Sat 20th & Sun 21st July - 10am - 5pm 

Chiltern Open Air Museum - Classic Vehicles Show 

Collection of stunning classic cars and motor cycles 

Free entry to members or £15 adults £10 children 

https://www.coam.org.uk/events 

23rd July to 31st July (Tues/Wed/Thurs) - 10am - 5.30pm 

Bekonscot Model Village and Railway 

Special activities operating with Bekonscot’s favourite magician 

Greg Chapman and Make and Take craft activities on these days. 

Open every other day as usual. 

www.bekonscot.co.uk 

Sat 27th July & Sun 28th July - 10am - 5pm 

Chiltern Open Air Museum - Heritage Crafts Weekend 

Step back in time and enjoy activities such as blacksmithing and 

straw plaiting. Free entry to members or £15 adults £10 children. 

See p15. 


Sun 28th July & 25th Aug - 10am - 5pm 

Kew Little Pigs Alice in Wonderland Fun Days 

Interactive event is perfect for families looking for a magical day out. 

£15. See website for more details. kewlittlepigs.com 

Tues 30th July - 11am - 5pm 

Chiltern Open Air Museum 

Terrific Tuesdays for families. Craft activities and hands on clay 

modeling. Free entry to members or £15 adults £10 children 


AugusT 

Wed 14th August - 

Noon - 5pm 

Gerrards Cross Community 

Association 

Classic Car Show. Supported by 

Nunn Hayward & Rotary GX & 

CSP. An amazing collection of 

cars and motorcycles. https:// 

www.gxca.org.uk 

Monday 26th August - 

11am - 4pm 

Beaconsfield Country Fair, 

Windsor End. 

Fun for all the family - plant 

& charity stalls - dog show. 

Children’s entertainment. Food 

and drinks. Free entry. (See p14 

for more details.) 

1st to 22nd August (Tues/Wed/Thurs) - 10am - 5.30pm 

Bekonscot Model Village and Railway 

Special activities operating with Bekonscot’s favourite magician 

Greg Chapman and Make and Take craft activities on these days. 

Open every other day as usual. 

www.bekonscot.co.uk 

Tues 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th- 11am - 5pm 

Chiltern Open Air Museum 

Terrific Tuesdays for families. Themed craft activities and hands on clay 

modeling. Free entry to members or £15 adults £10 children 




Burford House 

Care Home 

Burford House Care Home offers the 

ultimate in luxury living alongside 

exceptional residential and nursing care 

in the heart of Chorleywood. 

Home Manager, Kyla has worked in the health 

and social care sector for over 10 years and 

has a passion for delivering high-quality, 

individualised care, backed by a care team 

who are well-led, trained and supported to 

be exceptional and who go the extra mile. 

Rebuilt and opened in September 2022, 

Burford House is carefully designed to promote 

independence and choice within a warm, 

welcoming family community. Maintaining 

personal lifestyle choices is priority, the 

team plan focused personalised activities 

in conjunction with resident wishes and the 

home encourages residents to maintain their 

independence with daily practical activities. 

All 46 individual suites are designed to the 

highest specifications and the home houses a 

whole host of amenities from the popular café, 

Burford Bar, and fine dining room to the cinema 

room, Orangery, spa bathroom and luxury hair 

and nail salon. Burford House was a Finalist 

at the prestigious Healthcare Design Awards 

2024 in the category Best Specialist/Dementia 

Care Design category. 

Come and meet the friendly team, take a tour 

of the home, chat to our residents and see 

first-hand the wonderful facilities available to 

truly understand what Burford House offers. 

It is not just a residence; it’s a community. 

Luxury care in Chorleywood 

Residential | Nursing | Dementia | Respite | Palliative Care 

Call 01923 967010 to arrange a visit 

Rickmansworth Road, 

Chorleywood, 

WD3 5SQ 

www.westgatehc.co.uk 

burfordhousecarehome 

burford@westgatehc.co.uk 


13


DOG FRIENDLY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR 2020 - 21 


Summer at 

Bekonscot Model 

Village and Railway 

As the weather (hopefully) starts to 

improve, we look forward to welcoming 

you to Bekonscot Model Village to enjoy 

a day out in the sunshine. 

Do you have a preschooler at home? Why not 

bring them to our Toddler Takeover session every 

Monday during term time. Age appropriate 

toys and crafts are set up in the Norman Heaton 

Room near the picnic area. Parents and carers 

even get a free hot drink – ask for a token on 

arrival. 

During the school summer holiday between 23rd 

July and 22nd August, Bekonscot’s favourite 

magician, Greg Chapman, will be returning with 

his interactive and inimitable style of close hand 

magic. Greg is always very popular with visitors 

and will be with us every Tuesday, Wednesday 

and Thursday. Make and Take craft activities will 

also be running on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and 

Thursdays during the school summer holidays. 

Enjoy the model village in full summer bloom, 

a ride on the miniature railway and experience 

that shrinking feeling at High Shrunkham Juntion. 

Bring a picnic or indulge in a Beachdean ice 

cream or lunch from our tearoom. Open every 

day 10am until 5.30pm with last entry at 4pm. 

See you soon. 

See: www.bekonscot.co.uk 

CHILTERN OPEN AIR MUSEUM 

STEP BACK IN TIME 

Find out more and book at www.coam.org.uk 

Chiltern Open Air Museum, Newland Park, Gorelands Lane, Chalfont St Giles, Bucks, HP8 4AB 

www.coam.org.uk 


15

CHARITY 

Let Go and Skydive for Scannappeal 

What better way to overcome fear and 

raise money for a great charity at the 

same time than by agreeing to jump 

out of a plane? Join us in our mission to 

“LET GO AND SKYDIVE!” 

Skydiving has been on many people’s 

bucket list but getting the opportunity to 

fulfill this takes an opportunity. In May, after 

a meeting with the lovely BJ from Tesco in 

Old Amersham, who shared his exhilarating 

experience of skydiving. BJ mentioned that 

he would have loved to do his jump as part of 

a team. Inspired by his story, we decided 

to form a skydiving team to support local 

Amersham based charity - Scannappeal. 

We are therefore thrilled to announce that 

eight of us including Bj Tailor (Community 

Champion from Amersham Superstore Tescos), 

Mimi Harker (Chair of Buckinghamshire 

County Council and local Councillor), 

Therese Cooklin, Neil Walker, David Brown 

and the wonderful Events & Fundraiser 

Officer of Scannappeal, Claire Wise, have 

all spontaneously agreed to join the team, 

“Let Go and Skydive!” 

Our goal is to raise £10,000 collectively for 

Scannappeal and Mimi has charities as Chair 

of Bucks Council she would like to additionally 

support; Heart of Bucks, Oasis Partnership 

and South Bucks Hospice. Your generous 

contribution can help us achieve this feat 

and make our jump truly worthwhile. Any 

donation, large or small, will be greatly 

appreciated. 

Thank you for supporting our team in this 

daring adventure and charitable endeavor. 

With love from, 

Team - LET GO AND SKYDIVE ! 

To DONATE please visit 

www.gerrardscrosstogether.co.uk 

for Just Giving details. 

Thank you for all your support! 


Breast Unit at Wycombe 

Hospital 

Scannappeal has raised over 

£1.3m, which has provided 

state of the art equipment 

including: Digital Mobile 

Scanners, 3D technology, 

Biopsy Guidance System and 

a Dedicated Breast Biopsy 

Suite. 

All of this support has enabled 

better and more advanced 

support for patients and for 

the clinicians who use the 

equipment. Mr Giles Cunnick, 

Consultant Breast Surgeon at 

Buckinghamshire Healthcare 

NHS Trust endorses the 

support of Scannappeal: 

“We are so fortunate to 

have a charity such as 

Scannappeal supporting the 

breast department and all 

other departments across the 

hospitals. They have raised a 

significant amount of money 

to purchase much needed 

equipment which has been 

used to identify, diagnose, 

and treat thousands of our 

patients each year.” 

Giles Cunnick 

- Consultant 

Breast Surgeon at 

Buckinghamshire 

Healthcare NHS 

Trust 

Some stats about the impact 

made by Scannappeal on 

the local community ie. 

Wycombe, Stoke Mandeville 

and Amersham hospitals 

as well as in Community 

Hospitals which serve people 

living in Buckinghamshire 

and neighbouring parts of 

Berkshire, Bedfordshire, 

Hertfordshire, Middlesex and 

Oxfordshire. 


17

LEGAL ADVICE 

Travelling abroad 

with children 

The summer holidays are rapidly 

approaching and many parents are 

looking forward to taking their 

children away on a foreign holiday. 

However, for separated parents, it can often 

be tricky to agree with the other parent the 

issue of a foreign holiday and whether the 

children should go. 

To take the children out of England 

and Wales, you must obtain the written 

consent of any person that has parental 

responsibility for the children. This will 

typically, but not always, include both 

parents. The only exceptions are if there is 

an order of the Court specifically permitting 

foreign travel or if the parent travelling with 

the children has a “Lives With” Court Order 

Beacs A5 half page edited 1.pdf 1 30/01/2024 16:18:13 

in their favour permitting them to take the 

children on holiday for up to 28 days without 

the consent of the other parent. It is a 

criminal offence to take a child under the 

age of 16 outside of England and Wales 

without consent or there being an order 

of the Court. 

If an impasse is reached regarding foreign 

travel for your children, taking advice early on 

the available options is important. At Rayden 

Solicitors, we have specialist family lawyers, 

mediators and arbitrators who can work with 

you in order to try and resolve any dispute 

over foreign travel. 

Rosie Deller, 

Associate Solicitor, 

Rayden Solicitors, 

Beaconsfield. 

C 

M 

Y 

CM 

MY 

CY 

MY 

K 


Gerrards Cross 

Fun Run 

2025 

Do something amazing VOLUNTEER 

on the GX Fun Run Committee 

We need help with: 

* Registrations 

* Route planning 

* Volunteer co-ordination 

* Children’s races 

* Marshalling 

* Site management 

A community 5km family fun run event in Gerrards Cross 

This event has been kindly sponsored by businesses 

in the area. In 2022 we raised over £40k for local charities. 

If you would like to be a sponsor or volunteer email: 

gxfunrun@gerrardscrosstogether.co.uk


Holiday advice from 

Citizens Advice 

If you’re planning a holiday this year, 

the chances are you’ll have the relaxing 

break you deserve, but there are a 

few things you can do in advance to 

help your holiday go smoothly. That 

includes the golden rule of getting 

travel insurance and brushing up on 

what your rights are if something goes 

wrong. 

The first thing to do is check if your passport 

is in date. Renewing can take several weeks 

so you don’t want to leave this until the last 

minute. You can check the validity of your 

passport for your trip on GOV.UK by seeing 

the entry requirements of the country you’re 

travelling to. This is especially important if 

you’re flying to Europe as EU countries no 

longer accept passports that are more than ten 

years old. If your passport was issued pre-Brexit 

then the expiry date might be more than ten 

years from the issue date, but if it’s older than 

ten years, you’ll need to get it renewed for EU 

travel - even if it’s still in date. 

Flight delays and cancellations could happen to 

any of us, so it’s worth knowing what your rights 

are if this happens. If your flight is delayed long 

enough, your airline has to give you access 

to food and drink vouchers, phone calls and 

emails, and accommodation if you’re delayed 

overnight. If your flight is cancelled, you have a 

legal right to a full refund or replacement flight 

to help you get to your destination. 

Bags going missing is another classic 

holiday nightmare. But you do have a right 

to compensation if your airline delays, loses 

or damages your checked-in luggage. The 

Citizens Advice website shows you how to 

do this. 

You might also get compensation for other 

things, like a day trip getting cancelled, or 

if you paid for a deluxe room but only got a 

standard one. This will depend on whether 

you booked a package holiday, made ‘linked 

travel arrangements’ or organised the holiday 

yourself as an independent traveller, so it’s 

worth checking to see what compensation 

you can get. 

Finally, Citizens Advice says you should get 

travel insurance, as it can cover many of the 

things already mentioned, like flight delays 

and lost luggage, but also things like a holiday 

cancellation and medical emergencies. You 

should get insurance as soon as you book a 

holiday to make sure you’re covered from 

the get go, but check first to see if you’re 

covered for what you need through an 

existing insurance policy or through your 

bank account. 

Hopefully you won’t face any problems 

while on holiday, but early planning and 

preparations can go a long way. If something 

goes wrong and you need advice on a 

consumer problem, check the Citizens Advice 

website at citizensadvice.org.uk 


Confirmed Gold Sponsors 

If your business would like to be a 

sponsor please get in touch

ISSUE 20 

THE YOUNG JOURNALIST 

Guts world 

tour – a night 

to remember! 

On the 14th of May, I attended Olivia 

Rodrigo’s world tour at the O2 arena. 

It was amazing and certainly a night I 

am not going to forget in a hurry! 

The atmosphere was electric and the quality of 

music – as (in my opinion) it always is with Olivia 

Rodrigo – was pitch perfect! She sang songs from 

her newest album, ‘Guts’ (the album that inspired 

the name of her £80m - and counting - grossing 

tour) and her debut album ‘Sour’ which rose 

her to fame back in 2021. Everyone (including 

myself!) was singing alongside the famous 

Californian singer – even if not many of us could 

sing as well as her! However, the whole room 

went silent when she sang her emotional ballads, 

almost out of respect to the cathartic ways of 

her songwriting. 

The support acts for Olivia Rodrigo were 

the likes of ‘Chappell Roan’, ‘Remi Wolf’, 

‘PinkPantheress’ and ‘The Breeders’. 

When I went, the support act was Miss Remi 

Wolf! She easily worked up the already excited 

crowd with her songs like ‘Cinderella’ and her 

cover of Amy Winehouse’s ‘Valerie’. Personally, 

my favourite part of the evening was when 

Olivia Rodrigo was hoisted up over the 

stadium crowds on a giant purple moon. She 

waved to us fans and a lucky few were even 

treated to a rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ on 

their special day! As well as that, she told the 

story behind some of her favourite songs 

like ‘Happier’ – a song about the conflicting 

feelings of wanting an ex to be happy with 

someone else while also wanting them to 

think of you fondly and to not be forgotten. 

O2 Arena 

As for the venue, the O2 certainly did deliver! 

It was a sold out show on the night I went – 

the opening night – and yet it didn’t feel 

claustrophobic or cramped. We got in smoothly 

and got out -apart from the queue to the 

station from the arena – much easier than I 

expected given the amount of people there 

were (more than 14,000 people at night one 

alone!) I’ve attended other musical events at 

the O2 before but nothing on this scale, its 

definitely my personal favourite place to see 

a concert as its only just over an hour (or even 

less for some!) train ride from this area of 

the Chilterns and – in my experience – I have 

never had any trouble getting out! 

Going out to concerts like the Guts tour has 

made me realise how lucky all of us are to live 

with such great connections to London while 

still having the luxury of the countryside on our 

doorstep! Whever you live in a mansion or a 

flat, London is there for everyone and certainly 

has a lot to offer if you’re interested in going 

to concerts, cultural events or if you just want to 

get out the house! With the summer evenings 

getting longer and longer, why not make use 

of the extra daytime and enjoy everything the 

world-renowned capital has to offer. 

Sophie Hazzard 

Disclaimer 

Please note: the opinions and findings expressed in this article are 

solely those of the author and should not be assumed to be those of 

Amersham & Chalfonts Together or its affiliates. 

22 

Gerrards Cross & Chalfonts Together part of Community Together Communications Ltd

THE YOUNG JOURNALIST 

How minimalist 

are you? 

What really matters? Whether we’re spring 

cleaning our houses or reassessing how we 

spend our precious time and energy, this is 

an important question that the concept of 

minimalism asks. 

Aside from the art movement, minimalism exists as 

the idea of keeping only what you need and what 

serves you in your life, removing sources of clutter 

and overcrowding. Making space for what matters 

most and dedicating ourselves deeply to what we 

truly care about could be a way to find more peace 

and purpose in the frantic pace of our daily lives. 

Perhaps we can begin with the stuff. A minimalist 

home is not only less expensive and easier to 

maintain, it also has positive impacts for the 

environment as consumption is reduced. The 

effects of overconsumption are evident by the 

rapidly deteriorating health of our planet and the 

ecosystems we depend on for food, water and 

survival. Pollution of all kinds pervades our precious 

environment. Could this be an outward reflection of 

all the ‘stuff’ we have accumulated in our homes and 

lives? 

Instead of buying more, let’s focus on reducing, 

reusing and recycling. Instead of buying lots of 

stuff, the money saved could be spent on buying 

higher quality and more sustainable products, such 

as organic hemp or linen clothing to serve you a 

lifetime. 

An excellent example of this was the Sustainable 

Fashion Show at Climate Action Day in Amersham 

on Saturday 23rd March where students from the 

local secondary schools either hand-crafted outfits 

made from recycled materials or upcycled their 

charity shop finds! Clothes are not the only things 

we can declutter. Technological gadgets, household 

appliances and the consumption of many 

other things can be reduced for a cleaner home 

and cleaner planet. Mahatma Gandhi echoed this 

belief: ‘Live simply, so others may simply live’. 

There are also proven positive psychological 

impacts of decluttering your external and internal 

space. The money you spend on stuff can instead 

be spent on activities and trips to enhance your 

experiences and enjoy time with loved ones. A 

sense of freedom and happiness can also arise 

from detaching from material possessions, 

allowing you to focus more on aspects of your life 

that you truly value. This could include personal 

development, relationships and hobbies. The 

online blog ‘Becoming Minimalist’, written by 

American author, Joshua Becker, says: ‘Minimalism 

is the intentional promotion of the things that bring 

you joy and the removal of those that do not’. 

The benefits of minimalism have been advocated 

since ancient times across countless cultures 

including the Chinese author Wu-Men (1183-1260) 

wrote: ‘Ten thousand flowers in spring, the moon 

in autumn, a cool breeze in summer, snow in 

winter. If your mind isn’t clouded by unnecessary 

things, this is the best season of your life.’ 

We all know the feeling of rushing from person to 

person, place to place, project to project. 

Minimalism is not just the decluttering of ‘stuff’ 

from your home, but also identifying what 

unnecessarily drains your time and energy, 

allowing space for new ideas, creativity and peace. 

Visit Becoming Minimalist for more information 

and inspiration: 

https://www.becomingminimalist.com/ 

Sanchi is a student in Little Chalfont. 

The three things she loves most are 

nature, people and writing. Uniting 

these, she aims to create a brighter, 

greener world! 

Sanchi 

Disclaimer 

Please note: the opinions and findings expressed in this article are 

solely those of the author and should not be assumed to be those of 

Amersham & Chalfonts Together or its affiliates. 


23

TRAVEL 

Bhutan - 

The Kingdom of 

Happiness 

Imagine living in a place where the 

prosperity of the nation is measured not 

by Gross Domestic Product (GDP) but 

by Gross National Happiness (GNH). 

This philosophy prioritizes the well-being 

and happiness of its citizens over material 

wealth. Welcome to Bhutan, the Kingdom 

of Happiness, a land where kindness 

and compassion towards neighbors and 

community are central to daily life, and where 

every living creature, from humans to animals 

and insects, is revered and respected. 

A Unique and Protected Nation 

Bhutan, a country of about 790,000 people, 

has long maintained a mystique and spiritual 

aura. Until recently, it was protective about 

opening its borders to foreigners. The 

country’s approach to tourism is unique: 

it imposes a substantial daily fee on visitors, 

which helps control the number of tourists 

and preserves its pristine environment and 

culture. Adding to its exclusivity, the Paro 

International Airport has one of the most 

challenging landings in the world, with only a 

few pilots qualified to navigate it. 

A Spiritual and Harmonious Society 

Seventy percent of Bhutan’s population 

practices Buddhism, which emphasizes love, 

compassion, and a right viewpoint rather than 

worship of a deity. The remaining population 

comprises 20 percent Hindus and 10 percent 

Christians. The warmth, generosity, humility, 

and benevolence of the Bhutanese people 

are palpable to any visitor. 

The Trek to Tiger’s Nest 

One of the most awe-inspiring destinations 

in Bhutan is the Tiger’s Nest Monastery, also 

known as Paro Taktsang. This sacred site is 

perched on the side of a steep cliff, 3,120 

meters above sea level. The trek to reach 

the monastery is a 6.4-kilometer round trip, 

ascending 1,700 feet. This challenging hike, 

which can take 2 to 3 hours each way, is a 

metaphor for life’s journey, encompassing 

easy, tough, super tough, and nearly 

impossible phases. 


TRAVEL 

Sui. We met as an entire group on one day to 

meditate at the feet of the 150 foot Buddha 

Dordenma statue - an absolute once in a lifetime 

experience. The Royal family also joined us. 

A Celebration of Enlightenment 

The Tiger’s Nest Monastery has a significant 

role during the Wesak festival, which 

celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and 

passing of Buddha. This extraordinary 

event gathers many spiritual leaders and 

practitioners, creating a profound and 

transformative experience for those involved. 

I was blessed to be a part of a unique 

experience where sixteen hundred pranic 

healers and Arhatic Yogis gathered for the 

Wesak and Happiness Festival along with eight 

masters who all trained under the founder 

of Pranic Healing - Grand Master Choa Kok 

Bhutan’s commitment to happiness, 

environmental sustainability (it is a carbonnegative 

country), and spiritual richness makes 

it a truly unique and inspiring place to visit or 

imagine living in. The Kingdom of Happiness 

offers a glimpse into a different way of 

measuring and experiencing wealth, one that 

prioritizes the well-being of its people and the 

natural world. 

If there is one place I would recommend 

to visit is a trip to Bhutan. If you would 

like to book a trip please email: 

bhutan@communitytogther.co.uk to book 

an informal chat. 


25


Perseids Shower - 

look out in August! 

Have you ever looked up at the night 

sky in the second week of August and 

caught a glimpse of a fast-moving streak 

of light? 

If so this is likely to be the Perseids meteor 

shower, which NASA experts say will be the 

best shower of the year, with people seeing 

about 60-70 meteors per hour. The best nights 

to see this will be over August 11th to 13th, 

in the later evening, as the moon will be very 

favourable in that it will set before the meteor 

shower gets underway. 

It is best when looking for meteors to take in 

as much sky as possible, and find a dark area, 

with low levels of light pollution. A hilltop or 

open field in the countryside is good. And 

with the Perseid meteor shower it is best to 

look toward the North East. This is toward the 

constellation Perseus, from which the meteor 

gets its name. 

The shower is created by the Earth as it goes 

around the sun passing every year through 

the dust and debris of the Swift-Tuttle comet, 

the largest known object to repeatedly pass 

by Earth. It last passed by in 1992, and the 

next time will be in 2126. It is not forgotten 

however, because of the annual passing of 

Earth through the dust trail. 

As you sit back and look at the meteor shower 

you are actually seeing pieces of the comet 

debris heat up as they enter our atmosphere 

andburn up in vivid bright light streaks, as 

they travel at 37 miles (59 km) per second., 

equivalent to 133,000 miles per hour. 

In space the debris pieces are called 

‘meteoroids’, but when they reach our 

atmosphere they are known as meteors. In 

the unlikely event that they make their way 

down to our planet surface they are called 

‘meteorites’. It’s unlikely that any of the 

Perseid meteors will find their way to Earth 

as they are much too small, being about the 

size of a grain of sand. 

It is interesting that the name ‘meteor’ comes 

from the Greek, meaning all atmospheric 

phenomena, and studying this was called 

meteorology. It was only in the 19th century 

that meteorology became restricted to 

specifically the study of weather. 

So, put a date in your diary between August 

11th to 13th. Find a dark place with a good 

view of the sky after the moon has set and 

look to the North East. Take the family, they 

will be amazed by the spectacle, and all 

because our small fragile planet speeds 

around the sun every single year passing 

through the Swift Tuttle comet dust cloud! 



27

GERRARDS CROSS & CHALFONTS 

Together BRAIN MATTER 

CROSSWORD 

Solve the puzzle in the usual 

way, then rearrange the letters 

in the yellow squares to form a 

word associated with summer. 

ACROSS 

4 Bird common on the coast (7) 

7 Insusceptible to persuasion (7) 

8 Agitated (7) 

10 Restricted computer network (8) 

11 Weedy annual grass (4) 

13 Ring for sealing a pipe joint (6) 

15 Service of china or silverware, used at table (3,3) 

19 Bewildered (4) 

21 Produced by oneself, not mass 

manufactured (4-4) 

22 Sorrow (7) 

23 Large mass of frozen water (7) 

24 Without taking a break (3-4) 

DOWN 

1 Young tree (7) 

2 Moves out of, leaves empty (7) 

3 Dish served traditionally on Shrove Tuesday (8) 

4 CD player (6) 

5 Remorse (5) 

6 Saucepan cover (3) 

9 Spooky (5) 

12 Maker of necklaces, rings, etc (8) 

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE 

There are ten differences between these two pictures. Can you spot them? 

1 2 3 4 5 6 

7 

8 9 

10 11 

13 14 15 16 17 

19 20 21 

22 

24 

14 Bouquet (5) 

16 Surgeon’s knife (7) 

17 Adolescent (7) 

18 

23 

12 

18 Rumour-monger (6) 

20 Hinged lifting tool (5) 

22 ___ City, 2005 film (3) 

Answers on p30 


Safe & gentle ear wax 

removal at a clinic 

near you 

GP's no longer remove ear wax under the NHS. 

We can remove your earwax by one of two methods 

• Suck the wax out (microsuction) 

• Flush the wax out with water (ear irrigation) 

These treatments are usually painless. You have to pay to have them 

done privately. 

Causes of earwax build-up 

A build-up of earwax can happen if: 

• you have narrow or damaged ear canals 

• you have lots of hair in your ear canals 

• you have a skin condition affecting your scalp or around your ear 

• you have inflammation of your ear canal (otitis externa or "swimmer’s ear") 

FREE 

Hearing 

Test with 

every Wax 

Removal 

Preventing earwax build-up 

You cannot prevent earwax. It's there to protect your ears from dirt and germs. 

But you can keep using eardrops for a few days to soften the wax. 

This will help it fall out on its own and should prevent blocked ears. 

Are you experiencing any of the following? 

• Pressure in the ears 

• Blocked feeling in the ears 

• Need to pop your ears but can’t 

• Sudden loss of hearing or muffles sound 

• Hearing aids whistling 

• Underperforming hearing aids 

Call for more information on 

Call: 07903 013 123 / 07535 603 744 or 

01494 590 860 

Email: hearwego.beaconsfield@gmail.com 

New website: www.hearwegoaudiology.co.uk 

The Studio, 37 Station Road, Beaconsfield HP9 1QG 


29


Step back in time 

at Chiltern Open 

Air Museum 

Chiltern Open Air Museum, based in 

Chalfont St Giles, is a 45-acre outdoor 

museum with a collection of reconstructed 

historic buildings. Among the collection is 

a 1940s prefab home, blacksmith’s forge, 

furniture factory and Iron Age roundhouse. 

There is a working historic farm, which is a 

popular filming location and has been used 

for filming Downton Abbey, The Suspicions 

of Mr Whicher, Countryfile and lots more. 

COAM has a programme of traditional craft 

demonstrations such as flint knapping and 

chair making. They also host many fantastic 

re-enactment events and throughout the 

summer, you will find special events on every 

weekend. On 27 and 28 July there is a special 

Heritage Crafts Weekend packed full of a wide 

variety of traditional craft demonstrations. 3 and 

4 August you can see the Clash of the Queens 

where you can discover the trials and tribulations 

of being a female ruler in 16th Century Britain 

and discover how their lives became inextricably 

linked. 10 and 11 August sees Britain at War, 

an event covering multi war periods throughout 

Britain’s history including life on the home front 

and you can take part in come 1940s swing 

dancing. 17 and 18 August is a Victorian Weekend 

offering a unique opportunity to learn about the 

less savoury aspects of Victorian life. 15 and 16 

August Bank Holiday weekend is Viking Raid where 

you can watch the Vikings battle the Saxons. 

Whether you are a history buff, a nature lover, 

or simply looking for a day out with the family, 

Chiltern Open Air Museum is a must-visit 

destination this summer. For further details 

visit www.coam.org.uk 

PUZZLE 

SOLUTIONS 

CROSSWORD 

S V P S E A G U L L 

A D A M A N T U I 

P C N E X C I T E D 

L A C R L E 

I N T R A N E T T A R E 

N E K O J I 

G A S K E T T E A S E T 

R S G W C E 

L O S T H O M E M A D E 

M O S L L N 

S A D N E S S L P A 

I G I C E B E R G 

N O N S T O P R L E 

SPOT THE 

DIFFERENCE 


Vaccination facts 

UK holidaymakers take approximately 

72.8 million visits overseas a year and 

spend around £44.8 billion pounds a 

year on holidays, but we are not always 

savvy about our health when planning 

and going abroad. 


One thing to make sure you have in place 

is the essential travel vaccinations for your 

destination. Here are some of the most 

commonly required: 

1. Rabies - If you are travelling to a country 

where rabies is common, you should have the 

rabies course of vaccinations. You are likely to 

need three injections before you travel to an 

area at high risk of rabies. Even with the vaccine, 

you are not completely protected so if you have 

been exposed to the virus you will need to visit 

a doctor within 72 hours to have an extended 

course 

2. Yellow Fever – You must get a yellow 

fever vaccine if you are travelling to an area 

that is affected and you must travel with an 

International Certificate of Vaccination or 

Prophylaxis (ICVP) to prove you have been 

vaccinated. The yellow fever vaccine is given as 

a single injection and you should be vaccinated 

at least 10 days before you travel, to allow your 

body to develop protection. Your proof of 

vaccination certificate will only become valid 

after this time. The vaccination provides 95- 

100% protection. 

3. Hepatitis B does have a vaccine, but hepatitis 

B is spread through bodily fluids. To avoid 

becoming infected always have protected sex; 

don’t have any medical or dental treatment in 

an unsterile environment, share toothbrushes 

or razors, get a tattoo or piercing without the 

correct precautions being taken, or share needles 

with anyone. 

4. Antimalarial medication varies in how long 

you should take them for and how far in advance 

you should take them. Antimalarial pills are 

also not 100% effective and there is increasing 

resistance to them and so you should always 

try and stop yourself being bitten. Mosquitoes 

carrying the disease often bite after sunset and 

so it is a good idea to wear strong repellent 

and long sleeve clothes after sunset and use 

DEET-based insect repellents. There are also 

diseases spread through mosquito’s that bite 

during the day (such as Dengue fever) so 

avoidance measures should be used during 

day. 

For appointments to seek further advice or 

to book vaccinations, contact Your Thyme on 

0330 088 2020. 


31

Book online 

today 

See a GP in 

person or via 

videocall from 

just £59 

yourthyme.com 0330 088 2020

Gerrards Cross Together July August 2024

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