Wargrave Parish Council is organizing a public meeting to try to help residents who will be left stranded when yet another bus service is axed in July.

The Alder Valley No. 17 bus picks up at Crazies Hill and the nearby village of Cockpole Green on its way between Henley and Maidenhead.

But when the service stops on July 17th—it is being discontinued because the company is losing heavily on it—residents who do not own cars will have no means of transport.

The parish council has called a public meeting for May 15th at 8 p.m. at Crazies Hill Hall to discuss possible alternative means of transport.

Mr. John Luker, proprietor of Higgs and Co., printers and publishers of the “Henley Standard,” is the new president of the Reading and District Printing Industries Association.

He was elected to succeed Mr. David Boddington at the association’s annual meeting at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Caversham, on Wednesday. The new vice-president is Mr. Keith Robertshaw, general manager of Field, Sons and Co. Ltd., of Thatcham.

Mr. George Russell and Mr. Stuart Parnell were re-elected secretary and treasurer respectively.

Henley Town Council’s campaign against the resident pigeons at the Town Hall has ended in almost complete success.

The council paid £245 to install trip wires and to put-on a special paint which deters the birds from perching on the building.

And at Tuesday’s meeting of the finance committee Mr. Ernest Leaver, the town clerk, declared gleefully that the new precautions had proved 95 per cent effective. “There are only a couple of birds that will not take notice.” he said.

The new pigeon-proofing comes at the end of years of failure to solve the messy problem which has involved many droppings on the Town Hall steps.

And yesterday the Thames Conservancy issued a warning to holidaymakers and other inexperienced river-users about dangers on the river.

Police were still searching yesterday for the body of the 25-year-old woman drowned at Hurley when the 18ft. outboard craft in which she was travelling went over the weir on Sunday afternoon. She has not yet been named by police. Four other people were in the boat at the time, but they escaped.

Hire traffic on the river was virtually brought to a complete halt over the weekend because of the high water levels. Warning notices were posted by the Thames Conservancy at locks and weirs, and lock-keepers were instructed to advise people to tie up.

On Monday, the hire firms sent out pilots to take charge of their craft because of the dangerous state of the river.

Relief lock-keeper at Sonning, Mr. Cliff Colborne, told the Standard on Monday: “The trouble is that we have been instructed to advise people to stop when the river is like this—and that’s all we can do.

“If you look at the river in some places, like the lock approaches, it seems as calm as a mill pond. But if you get near the weir the current is very strong.”

Warning boards had been taken down from locks and weirs yesterday, but a spokesman for the Thames Conservancy made several points for river users to remember.

The craft should be sound, and equipped with the necessary safety equipment—including lifejackets; users should have confidence in their ability to handle it properly; in case of any doubt, advice about the use of the river may be obtained from the Thames Conservancy, either from their head offices in Reading, or from lock-keepers

Finally: “When at a dangerous level the river is no place to be unless really necessary, and unless you have a really good boat and are competent to handle it properly.”

The Thames Conservancy, along with a private launch and a craft from Hobbs’ Boatyard were called out on Saturday when a launch was trapped against the centre arch of Henley bridge.

The current was so strong that it was jammed against the arch, causing damage to some of the superstructure. It was unable to get off under its own power, and in spite of the danger none of those on board wore lifejackets.

The danger was that the craft could have been turned over by the current, and crew members could have been trapped underneath it.

Mr. Col borne added: “It’s always the same with this sort of thing—people say ‘it won’t happen to me’—and they never learn that sometimes it does.”

In a bid to combat the dangers of the river, Henley people will be manning a new safety station, under the guidance of the Thames River Rescue Service, off Wargrave Road, during the summer months.

But this week Mrs. Margaret Day, chairman of the Henley River Rescue Working Party, warned: “There are lessons to be learned for all river-users from this latest tragedy. The river must be respected.

“Although the Thames River Rescue Service will cover well-populated areas at weekends during the summer months, tragedies always seem to occur in the quieter stretches of the river, mainly due to ignorance and carelessness and when people are off their guard.”

MR. AND MRS. Guy and Marjorie Warner can begin work on building an indoor riding school at their equestrian centre at Badgemore Dairy Farm, Henley, a High Court decided on Tuesday.

But Mr. Justice Browne-Wilkinson added that only The foundations should be laid before a further court hearing next Tuesday—and the Warners must agree to remove or cover them if it should later be decided that they had been wrongly laid.

The judge refused to grant a temporary order sought by the Badgemore Park Country Club to stop all work on the indoor school,

Mr. Hubert Picarda, counsel for the club, said that their claim was based on a restrictive covenant in the deed which conveyed the farm to the Warners in June, 1971.

This prevented them from erecting any buildings on the property without the written consent of the club’s directors.

“The Golf Club is in extremely attractive surroundings and the continuance of this building work will cause inconvenience to the club and its customers,” said Mr. Picarda.

He said that the Warners had only themselves to blame for going ahead with the building when there was a dispute about their right to use their premises as a riding school.

There are at present three sets of proceedings in the High Court between the club and the Warners, he added.

Mr. Oliver Albery, for the Warners, said they had, until February this year, used an indoor school owned by the club.

It would take about four weeks for them to construct a new school, which was needed for British Horse Society examinations on June 16th.

Mr. Albery said that the Warners would be submitting, in defence to the club’s action, that building consent had been unreasonably withheld. “We say that the building and landscaping will not cause any detrimental effect to the club.”

The “true” reason why the club would not consent to the building was because they did not want to see any extension of the Warners’ business, Mr. Albery alleged. “Animosity has arisen to such an extent that, if the Warners ask for anything, it is going to be refused,” he said.

The judge said he would not make an order stopping the building, but would accept undertakings from the Warners not to carry the work above ground level before next Tuesday and to remove or cover the foundations if it should later be decided that the work was unjustified.

And he warned, “Nothing I have decided today is in any way going to influence me as to what happens in a week’s time. If the Warners choose to spend money it is on the understanding that I may perfectly well decide in a week’s time that the work should not go on.”

THE CAMPAIGN to save the War Memorial Hospital gets under way in earnest tonight (Friday), when an action committee will be formed to decide the best way to fight health chiefs’ proposals to close down the hospital.

The meeting has been instigated by Henley town councillors, and they have invited local doctors and other individuals, including Mr. Bob Brackston (one of the leaders of a similar campaign two years ago) and district councillor Dr. Terry Clarke, to attend the meeting and join the committee.

Amongst other topics of discussion, those present will be discussing the best ways to involve the public in the campaign, and how to distribute information leaflets that are being produced by the West Berkshire Community Health Council.

Already, a meeting of invited representatives from local organisations has been tentatively arranged for May 25th and a public meeting is likely to follow on June 7th.

Public opinion must be made known before July 5th, so the new action group will be working against the clock to mobilise the campaign that has warded off closure of the 60-year-old hospital several times in the past.

Mr. David Whiting, Labour’s prospective parliamentary candidate for Henley, who recently slammed the campaign against the closure of the War Memorial Hospital as ill-advised and hasty, has made a plea for open-minded discussion of the health authority’s proposals.

Speaking at a Young Socialists’ meeting at Shiplake, he said that the proposals were not being debated open-mindedly. He supported government measures to cut expenditure and said the proposal to close the War Memorial Hospital arose from these measures. This did not necessarily mean that the health authority had got its priorities right, and he had never said so.

It would have meant that in the course of construction-over a period of six to 10 years—nearly a million tons of sand and gravel would have been exported from the site by a conveyor running under Spring Lane and the Playhatch Road to the existing sand and gravel processing plant operated by Folley Bros. Ltd.

South Oxfordshire District Council raised objections to the plan on the following grounds:

• It was contrary to the county development plan and the interim minerals policy;

• The site fell in a “no go” area in the county council’s draft minerals amendment to the first structure plan for Oxfordshire;

• Being within the flood plain of the Thames, the site came within policy guidelines which laid down that any development which would “detract from the special character of the river” would be strongly resisted;

• The planned development was described by S.O.D.C as “a substantial intrusion into a presently undisturbed area of agricultural land, and would present a major change of character to the landscape.”

• Because of noise, dust, disturbance and the prolongation of gravel traffic, gravel extraction in the area would badly affect the amenities of local residents.

Both Sonning and Eye and Dunsden parish councils objected to the plan, and residents at a public meeting held in Sonning were against the idea.

The applicants are Pool Springs (Sonning) Ltd., and this is the third application they have made for the development of the site as a trout fishery.

In his report to the environmental committee the county planning officer notes: “The applicants state that this application is made primarily for a trout fishery, and as such it is not intended that there should be any financial gain from the winning of the minerals.

“However, I consider that it should also be regarded as a sand and gravel application, that being the first stage of the development.

“Accordingly, the output of sand and gravel must be considered in the light of the permitted reserves in this area and whether further permissions should be granted.”

The problems were highlighted last weekend when the children’s library was flooded by an overflow from the public toilets at the Town Hall, and several books were damaged as water seeped under the linoleum.

That caused the small room to be closed to the public, and on Wednesday a member of the six-strong library staff based at Henley said she did not know when it would open again.

The flooding has happened several times before, and it provoked a strong outburst from Mr. Paul Cherrington at Tuesday’s meeting of Henley Town Council’s general purposes committee.

He complained that the situation is made worse by the lack of ventilation, and he added: “I think it is absolutely scandalous. The smell was appalling.”

Oxfordshire County Council runs the library, but South Oxfordshire District Council is responsible for the public toilets. Several times over the past few years district council staff have been called on to unblock the pipes that caused the overflow and it is the second time in the past three weeks that the children’s section of the library has been flooded.

Town councillors, responsible overall for the Town Hall, were reluctant to involved themselves in a row with the county council— even though many agreed that working conditions there failed to satisfy modern regulations— because delicate negotiations are taking place over the possibility of a new library being provided for Henley.

But Mr. Cherrington was adamant that a complaint should be registered, and he warned: “If this council will not take action then I shall press for another council to do so. It is not a fit place to have staff working.”

Finally, members agreed to bring the matter to the attention of the county librarian.

Meanwhile Liberal prospective parliamentary candidate for South Oxon, Mr. Steve Atack, said this week: “Henley urgently needs a new library but at highest speed it will take a year or two to provide one. In the meantime, Henley residents and the library staff have to go on using unsatisfactory and, one would imagine, insanitary premises.

“It is a challenge to the three local authorities to get together again to solve the current problem until the long term solution of a new library is provided.”

On Wednesday it looked as if that challenge had been taken up. The district council stated the seepage had apparently been caused by a blockage in the main sewers, which built up pressure against manhole covers in the Town Hall. “It is being investigated now and remedial action will be taken,” said a spokesman.

Results of the draw for the Henley Boys Football Club 200 Club, on May 3rd were: 188 K. Westwood (£10), 121 D. Kelly (£8), 70 J. Shearman (£5), 33 Mrs. V. Hoskins (£2).

In this inter-club match played at Henley on Saturday, the home club won by three matches to one. Results, Henley names first, were: J. Menzies and J. McDonald bt A. F. Hill and D. H. Easby; R. Girdler and G. Lennard bt V. Milam and R. Taylor; A. Henderson and R. Northrop bt A. Hemingway and M. Ballard; M. Jordan and B. Leadley lost to B. Boniface and R. Burgess.

A total of 46 pairs entered this fourball, betterball competition played against bogey on Sunday. Results were:

1, G. Lennard and A. Henderson (5 up) with runners-up R. Northrop and J. Fitzgerald (4 up). Other scores were: R. Griffiths and J. Honan (3 up); L. C. James and C. Messenger (3 up).

On Sunday, Stuarts opened their season with a visit to near neighbours Shiplake, resulting in a Stuarts win by 111 shots to 104. Details:

Shiplake (D. Davis, E. Leaver, J. Howard) 25, Stuarts (M. Bennett, D. Spicer, J. Berry) 13. Shiplake (J. Humphries, K. Morgan, E. Davis) 24, Stuarts (A. Harris, L. Hill, D. Green) 19. Shiplake (J. Mansfield, M. Bird, S. Bird) 13, Stuarts (A. Woodwards, P. Green, J. Green) 25, Shiplake (M. Howard, F. Keene, A. Renton) 18, Stuarts (J. Crome, R. Mortimer. C. Rhodes) 26. Shiplake (P. Mansfield, F. Simmonds, J. Blake) 21, Stuarts (W. Cope, C. Barrett, T. Mudie) 28.

They beat Royal Shrewsbury School by l 1/2 lengths in their heat and Green bank Falmouth easily in the final. Their time of 6 mins. 38 secs, in the semi-final compared with 6.33 in the similar round of the Elite IVs. The Senior “C” eight lost to Eton College, the losing finalists, while the Senior “C’ sculler, John Nowak, lost in his first round to the eventual winner from Quintin B.C.

On the same day at Mortlake Spring Regatta, Henley R.C. Veterans C IV of R. Spatcher, I. Duff-Barclay, D. G. Wilson and K. Trivett lost by a length to London R.C., beating Twickenham into third place. London won the final.

Tomorrow (Saturday) the club will be represented by four crews at Thames Ditton Regatta.

Also last Saturday, at Evesham Regatta, where Upper Thames R.C. were represented. King James’s College of Henley, won a division of the Novice IVs. The school is having a very good season with wins on two successive weeks

Berkshire county squash player Duncan Kemp was captain of the Runnymede team which carried off a top national trophy at Wimbledon Stadium on Sunday.

Mr. Kemp, who is a partner in Meadman Sports, of Bell Street, Henley, led his side to a crushing 5—0 victory’ over Dallington in the final of the Ascot National League.

They reached the knockout finals by winning tbe Home Counties Sooth-east regional league, and they beat Cardiff in tbe semi-final the week before to qualify for the final against northern league champions Dallington.

Over 600 teams set out in the regional leagues at the start of the season, so it was a great thrill for Duncan, still only 22, who lives at Maidenhead, to receive the solid gold trophy.

The players also received bags and rackets for their efforts.

Henley Squash Club were convincingly beaten by 4—I in their away match at Wallingford on Tuesday last week.

Individual results for Henley were: Bruce Kernick lost 6—9, 7—9, 9—6, 6—9; John Thompson lost 8—10, 9—3, 4—9, 9—0. 4—9; Ken Ridgeway lost 9—1, 5—9, 9—10, 4—9; Vaughan Wade won 10—8, 9—7, 5—9, 4—9; Lloyd Wade lost 6—9, 9—3. 8—10, 5—9.

NEWTOWN came back twice to snatch a draw in their last league match on Wednesday last week.

The match was played for four points, so each side took two points to add to their tally.

Newtown opened brightly but it was the home side that went in front after half an hour. Eight minutes later the visitors were level, when from Douglas’s free-kick Brinsden headed home.

After the interval it was Newtown who produced most of the attacks, but the university side took the lead against the run of play in the 51st minute.

Green hit the crossbar and Desmond and Brinsden both went close before Newtown scored their second equaliser. In the 78th minute a home defender handled in the penalty area, and Desmond made no mistake from the spot to give his side a share in the points.

HENLEY’S bad run continued right to their last match, in which they actually led the league leaders with a 22nd minute penalty from Hall after Billy Smith had been pulled down.

Hall and Smith tested Gus Leitrim with shots before the penalty and there was no hint of the disaster to come.Holmer, needing a big win to have any chance of the title, because Molins had the same number of points but a game in hand, suddenly struck.

Three goals whistled past Grinham, deputising for the injured Muir, in six minutes just before half-time.

The news filtered through that Molins were 5—0 up at Broomwade and the green-shirted forwards immediately hit a goal almost from the kick-off.

More goals followed, but Hall, Smith and Crook wasted chances and Hall was sent-off two minutes from time in a mysterious incident that had even the home defenders protesting.

And so the Town finished an amazing run, taking only one point from their last eight matches.

Henley: Grinham, Barlow, Wylie. Willmott, Potter; D. Luff. Crook, M. Luff; R. Smith, Hall. W.Smith. Sub: Tuson.

After a bright start tbe Y.M.CA. surprisingly found themselves a goal down, but they continued to attack the home side and R. Bishop equalised.

Two breakaway goals gave Berks College a good half-time lead, however.

The Y.M. had the bulk of the pressure in the second half but never really .looked like scoring and they were often grateful to Cooke for some fine saves.

On a heavy pitch, Shiplake were defeated because the ball stopped twice in a paddle with the goalkeeper beaten.

Shiplake took a 2—1 lead at half-time through goals from Don Perchard and Kevan Morris but thanks to two late goals. Civil Service stole the match.

Shiplake, needing just one point from their last game of the season to finish third in the league and gain promotion came out worthy winners in a hard fought game.

Two goals came from leading goalscorer Don Perchard and the winning goal was scored by Kevan Morris.

Henley Boys had one of their hardest games to end tbe season, and they were never allowed to reach their usual standard. By half-time they were one down.

Henley went into the second half with more determination and after much pressure, McAlpine scored with a good chip shot to equalise.

On Sunday Henley Y.M.CA. play Falaise (France) in a friendly fixture, kick-off 4 p.m., and in the evening the visitors will be entertained in the Y.M. clubhouse.

IF ANYONE does not believe what licensee Edward Pfyl says about the size of the rainbow trout be caught last week be just goes to his deep freeze and pulls out the evidence.

For there, amongst the carrots and sausages, is the most enormous trout that anyone is ever likely to see.

Edward, who is the landlord of the Bear Inn, Bell Street, Henley, caught the monster at the famous Avington trout lakes in Hampshire where he has been fishing once a week throughout tbe season for the past three years hoping for a giant such as the one he landed on Thursday.

It weighed 171b. 2oz., which is only 21b. 4oz. short of the world record, which was for a fish taken from the same lakes last year.

For the technically minded, Edward caught the fish with a Jersey Herd No. 8 fly and a 10lb. breaking-strain casting line—bought from Woolworths.

The monthly meeting of the Lions Club, held at the Old White Hart on Monday, was an open one, and many members brought along guests who were welcomed by the president, Vivian Morris.

Plans were obviously well advanced for the festival of Youth to be held in Mill Meadows on Saturday, June 17th, preceded by a carnival procession through the town, with discos at the Town Hall on both Friday and Saturday. A Festival of Music is also to be held on the Saturday and a Youth Service on the Sunday. Detailed plans will be announced later.

The adventure playground in the grounds of Smith’s Hospital School is now half completed, and another working party was arranged.

An appeal was made for storage accommodation, such as a garage, in which the Lions Club could store equipment and spare furniture and anyone prepared to allow the Lions the use of suitable, lockable storage space is asked to contact the Secretary, Ron Gilbert (Wargrave 2951).

THE NEW bowls season started on Saturday, and this year is a special landmark in the history of the Henley Bowls Club—it celebrates its golden jubilee.

It was one day in 1928 that 12 local business men met in the town hall, under the chairmanship of the Mayor, to discuss the formation of a club designed to pursue the game of bowls, the origin of which was primarily English, and a game steeped in tradition for many centuries.

Three weeks later, the club was in being, with the constitution and a set of rules drawn up, and the first officers elected. These officers, wise administrators as they proved to be, built the foundations and structure of the club, and were intent upon adhering to the ideals set by the English Bowling Association, the controlling body of the game, since its inception in 1903.

The conduct of the club’s affairs had always to be in the highest principles of sportsmanship and loyalty, together with tolerance and good fellowship shown to all men who would be met as opponents on the bowling green, and indeed, between all men who joined together as club members. There is no doubt that these qualities have fostered a tremendous spirit of comradeship within the game, which stands pre-eminent throughout the world of sport in the conduct of its players.

With the passing of the last 50 years, it can be truly said that the Henley Bowling Club has endeavoured to do its share in the maintenance of this high standard.

Shortly after formation, the club was accepted as an affiliated member of the Oxfordshire County Bowling Association, and later, to the English Bowling Association, being then in a position to secure the many benefits both associations could contribute in furthering the progress of the game in the ancient town of Henley.

At the first meeting of the elected officers, they decided that the annual subscription for members be fixed at ten shillings, and an agreement was made with the local corporation that three-quarters of the total annual subscriptions be paid for use of the bowling green at Mill Meadows, with the balance being retained for club funds.

This agreement was the beginning of a very happy relationship between landlord and tenant, and which continues to exist today. Such was the interest generated through the town in the first year of operation, that the Mayor accepted an invitation to the office of club president, and despite the many calls upon his time, each successive Mayor down through the years has occupied this office, an honour bestowed upon the club that has been deeply appreciated by its members.

The first annual general meeting was held in October 1929, with 26 members present. Insofar as the playing season was concerned, this was recognised as being very successful, and it was gratifying to have one of the members selected to play for the county at Oxford.

Moneywise the treasurer was able to report that the financial situation was satisfactory, with a balance on hand amounting to £7! Of course, at today’s money values, this would represent at least £70, so one might assume that the treasurer’s description was acceptable.

There were a number of problems to be faced as the years went by. but nevertheless numerous improvements and innovations were made. With the membership growing steadily, the officers decided to introduce an annual dinner, and perhaps it is hard to believe in these days of the seventies that the cost of a three-course dinner amounted to three shillings per head!

Permission was obtained to use the Borough coat of arms as a pattern for the club badge. Competitions were organised, and many local personalities were kind enough to donate silver cups for presentation to the winners. For the principal competition, that of the club championship, Brakspears donated a cup in 1931.

Spoon drives were introduced, where the winners received a silver spoon, suitably affixed with the town crest, and in 1935 the first of the annual matches with the Mayor and council members was played.

At all home games members’ wives gave their support and provided teas at a cost of one-shilling per head, with all profits going to club funds! But the time was not far off when, in 1939, the nation was involved in war.

However, even this catastrophe did not prevent the club from continuing its activites, for comradeship and recreation were vital factors in helping the community through the dark days of world war two. Assisted by improvisation and adaptation, club members pursued their activities, and to their credit, combined within their efforts the raising of money for donation to war charities, and by 1944 the sum of £200 had been collected.

The years immediately after the war allowed for little progress in every sphere of life, but gradually, improvement came, and in 1949 the officers sought to enlarge the bowling green, suggesting to the corporation that it should be extended to cover a 40 yard surface and be re-laid.

On behalf of the club, they agreed to assist in defraying the cost by payment of 50 per cent of the loan charges. Whilst the work proceeded, all matches in the years 1950 and 1951 were played on away greens, with consequent adverse effect upon the club’s finances. These reached such a low level in 1952 that the strictest economy had to be exercised.

The next few years proved a testing time for the club, and the limited resources were stretched to a point that could not be passed.

In 1958 members’ wives petitioned the club to create a Ladies’ Section, and this was formed in readiness for the bowling season of that year. With their support and enthusiasm, the club began to turn the corner, and in 1959 a bar was installed at the pavilion.

This added facility pleased not only club members, but also their visiting opponents, and it certainly helped to move finances in the right direction!

In the 1960’s further improvements were carried out, and it could then be said that the Henley Bowling Gub, with its excellent green ideally located and the provision of greater and better facilities, was able to line up with the best clubs in the county. This situation could not have been achieved without the wholehearted support of all members and the co-operation of the local council.

And now in 1978, the club has a membership of over 100, is financially sound, and ready to celebrate the golden jubilee. To assist in the celebrations the English Bowling Association is sending a representative team to play at Mill Meadows on September 14th, and the Oxfordshire and Norfolk counties will also be sending representative teams to play on May 18th and May 22nd respectively.

As far as the Ladies’ Section is concerned, a match will take place on September 7th between ladies representing Oxfordshire and Huntingdonshire. These games apart, the club has a very full fixture list for 1978, and one other added new feature will be the play-off of the ladies and men’s club cup finals which will take place at Mill Meadows on September 16th and 17th.

Present-dsay members do appreciate the efforts of those very enthusiastic members of past days, which created the foundation of the club, and it is their aim to add their contribution so that an even more prosperous and happy club can be handed on to those who follow them.

The club’s golden jubilee season got off to a damp start on Saturday, with the green being rendered unplayable, and their opening match against Marlow being cancelled.

But the soccer fans in the club had the cup final to take their minds off their disappointment.

At the April meeting of Holy Trinity Women’s Group members heard an interesting talk, illustrated by slides, by the Rev. Paul le Sueur on his Australian study tour, an exchange scheme sponsored by a Rotary Club

In his talk be described the different life styles in the big cities and the interior. The vote of thanks was given by Mrs. Allan.

Miss Buckland thanked members for help at the recent rummage sale, which realised £85-31 for church funds.

The Henley Water Carnival, to be held on Saturday. June 17th. will include the successful raft race and organiser Julian Day is hopeful that there will be more entries this year. Additionally, this year’s carnival will include sections for under-16s and women.

After the racing there will be a procession of boats which will be judged under two categories—the best disguised Q-ship and the best dressed ship.

Organisations involved in last year’s event will be receiving further details but anyone else interested in taking part should contact Mr. Day at Birch Lawn. Greys Road, Henley.

Months of fund-raising by members of tbe Henley Ladies’ Circle finally came to fruition last week with the formal handing over by them of a £500 cheque to the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.

Members met at the Catherine Wheel and their special guest was Mr. Charles Whittle, Midlands regional organiser for the Guide Dogs for tbe Blind Association. With him was his own guide dog, Ilk,

The presentation was made by Mrs. Joan Anley, chairman last year—when the money was raised—and also shown above is the present chairman Mrs. Janet Elmes.

The money is enough to provide a blind person with a guide dog, and after receiving the cheque Mr. Whittle said: “This will give somone the opportunity to lead a richer and more independent life, and whoever he or she may be, will thank you and bless you every step of the way.”

The money was raised by different Ladies Circle activities, including the Mile of Silver event which marked the Silver Jubilee. They also organised coffee mornings, a Christmas stall for the sale of goods and other activities. A cheque for £10 came from the 2nd and 4th Henley Brownies.

The two horses belong to Samantha and Helen Sykes. aged seven and five respectively, and between them they carried off 30 prizes from local shows last year. At one stage one of the ponies chalked up 15 in successive events.

Now the girls’ father, Mr. David Sykes, of 72 Star Road. Caversham, has applied for planning permission to keep the ponies in a field off Tanner’s Lane. Chalkhouse Green, Kidmore End, and he also wants to build a storage shed for feed and provide one portable stable.

The application will be considered by South Oxfordshire District Council’s southern area planning sub-committee, along with the following:

Shiplake: Two-storey dwelling with access adjacent to Apple Tree Cottage, for Miss M. Mann.

Harpsden: Demolition of kitchen and staircase, extension to provide new staircase, hall, study, lounge, bathroom and bedroom and conversion of living room and bathroom to kitchen, at Crowsley Park Lodge, Harpsden Bottom, for H. O. Rasbridge.

From the Henley Group of Riding for the Disabled comes an urgent plea for help with weekly riding lessons for Smith Hospital children.

Each Tuesday morning six of the disabled children are given riding lessons at the Badgemore Riding Stables by members of the group but because of the youngsters’ disabilities eight adult helpers are needed at each session and there are insufficient volunteers at present.

Mrs. Rance (Wargrave 2935) is anxious to hear from anyone who feels they could help.

The management committee formed from local organisations to run the venture has just obtained a grant of £5,000 from the Department of Education and Science to add to the £2,500 grant received from the parish council towards the conversion cost, which could be as much as £10,000.

Conversion work, which is being supervised by Oxfordshire County Council, is likely to take place throughout the summer and it is hoped that the hall will be fully in use by the winter.

It was at the end of 1973 that the village school was closed, much to the annoyance of villagers, due to falling numbers. The village, which has neither shop nor public house, felt the loss of this lone amenity and efforts were soon being made to try to obtain the building and turn it into a village hall.

Built in 1869, the school was given over to the church by Mary Isabella Golding Palmer in 1898 to be administered by the vicar of the day and the parochial church council.

Its fate upon closure was uncertain, for unless one of the descendants of the original donor could be found .the building was due to be sold by the church to the highest bidder and the proceeds used to support other Church of England schools.

It was then that Mr. Gilbert Craddock. of Little Stead Green Cottage, embarked on what was to prove to be long and. at times, frustrating inquiries to trace one of Mrs. Palmer’s beneficiaries.

After nine months, he traced a co-beneficiary to Paris and was delighted when the person agreed to co-operate with the villagers’ plan.

And the breakthrough came only just in time, for the church authorities were notified that someone with an interest in the property had been found just two weeks before the deadline after which the church would have been free to dispose of the building.

The Eye and Dunsden Parish Council were very enthusiastic about the property and it was agreed that they should buy it for one-half the valuation figure of £16,000 and that the hall should be administered by a trust run by a management committee on which local organisations would be represented. Mr. Craddock is the chairman and parish council chairman Douglas Hill is vice-chairman.

The building, including the adjoining caretaker’s accommodation. was purchased and all was set fair for completion of the project, but there was to be a frustrating delay in the granting to the trust of a certicatc confirming charitable status.

This was required so that grants could be obtained and it was not until early this year that it was provided and the grants obtained.

But now, all that remains is for the conversion work to be done and Mr. Craddock is hopeful that within a few months the village’s organisations will be given a big boost by having a good meeting place available.

And it is expected that the hall, which will have a kitchen, committee room and toilets as well as the main room, will cater for the needs of a wider area than just the immediate village. Residents of Caversham Park Village will also be eligible to use the hall and so it is expected it will serve around 8.000 people.

The Oxfordshire branch of the British Red Cross Society is about to launch a major lottery. Robert Smith, the appeals officer for the branch, plans to have the first fortnightly draw on Friday, June 16th. Tickets will be 25p each and prizes each fortnight will total £3,800, including a first prize of £1,000, second prize of £750 and third prize of £500.

The tickets will be on sale through shopkeepers, publicans, and other individual agents throughout Oxfordshire.

The Red Cross is the first charity to organise a lottery in the county. It is hoped that the foods raised will enable the branch to add to the services and increase the help it already gives to the old and infirm, the sick in hospital and at home and to the handicapped and in the provision of training in home nursing and first aid.

A Sonning Common woman was taken to Battle Hospital with rib injuries after three cars were involved in a crash near her home on Saturday morning.

Mrs. Nina Hughes (24), of Ashford Avenue, Sonning Common, was a passenger in an Austin car driven by Paul Hughes of the same address. She was treated for the injury, but later discharged from hospital.

The other two cars involved were a Mini Clubman driven by Mr. Fred Holmes, of Palmerstone Road, Earley, and another Austin driven by Mrs. Irene Penny, of 25 Grove Road, Sonning Common.

The accident happened at 11.55 a.m. at the junction of Peppard Road and Grove Road, Sonning Common.

Plans for an extension at a house in Harpsden are to go to appeal following South Oxfordshire District Council’s refusal to grant planning permission on amenity grounds.

The plan, for an extension to form a utility room, kitchen and garage, is for Hunts Lodge, Harpsden Hill. The appellant is Mr. W. A. Buffin.

South Oxfordshire District Council refused planning permission because “ having regard to its size, prominent siting and incongruous roof forms, the proposed extension would detract from the appearance and setting of the existing house and be detrimental to the visual amenities of the area.”

The appeal is to be dealt with by means of written representations.

British Rail’s Sunday summer service for Henley will be running from Sunday until October 1st this year.

Cartwrights will be open tonight (Friday) from 5.30 to 6.30 p.m. and close at 5.30 p.m. tomorrow.

Haywards will be open from 12 noon to 1 p.m. on Sunday and from 5.30 to 6.30 p.m. during the week.

A demonstration to delight the dedicated flower arranger was enjoyed by many members and visitors in the Town Hall on Monday.

The chairman of Henley Flower Arrangement Club, Mrs. Barbara Rook, introduced the demonstrator, Mrs. Gordon-Smith, who, with the help of some beautiful containers collected around the world, interesting foliage from her garden in the Vale of Evesham and florist flowers, complemented fabrics and furnishings of many periods in history.

Winners in the monthly competition were: intermediate, Mrs. Irvine and Mrs. Elliman (tied); advanced, Mrs. Norman; advanced A, Mrs. Aspinwail and Mrs. Rowton-Lee (tied).

The visitors—four Rotarians and their wives—were from Naestvad, which some Henley Rotarians visited last year while on a district Rotary trip.

After the meal Erik Gilsaa, one of the Danes, thanked Rotarians for the warm welcome they had given them and spoke of his hopes that links could be formed between their clubs.

He said that the contingent had welcomed the chance to discuss the idea and would be urging it on fellow members when they returned to Denmark.

Thanks for hospitality shown were also expressed by another of the Danish party, Anne-Marie Fich, secretary of the Inner Wheel.

There was a surprise awaiting Henley Rotary Club’s president Mr. Gordon Mintern when he arrived at the event. Mr. Mintern, who is the manager of the Regal Cinema in Henley, found that he was depicted as King Kong on the specially-designed menu card.

Mr. Mintern welcomed guests who included the Mayor, Mr. Jim Corrall and the Mayoress; Mr. Don Sawyer, zone vice-chairman of the Rotary District 109, and his wife; Mr. William Davies, the well-known organist, who made an amusing speech; Mr. Vivian Morris, Henley Lions Club president and his wife; Henley Inner Wheel president Mrs. Joyce Walden and Mr. David Walden; and the Bracknell Inner Wheel president Mrs. Hazel Henwood and her husband.

After the speeches there was dancing to the music of Sid Astley and during the interval guests were entertained by a barbers’ shop quartet, the Four No-Trumps. Mr. John Luker was M.C.

It was thought that an outbuilding at the rear of No. 91 Bell Street, might have housed the glass furnace but it has been shown by excavation to have been built in the 18th century, too late for the glass works which had closed down before the turn of the previous century.

However, careful scrutiny of the documentary evidence and the limited extent of the trial excavations undertaken does not rule out completely the existence of glass manufacture in this area of Henley, say the group who undertook the work under the direction of Mr. R. A. Chambers, for the Oxfordshire Archaelogical Unit.

In the gardens to the north of the 18th century outbuilding, nine trial holes showed widespread 18th, 19th and 20th century disturbance of the soil right down to the gravel subsoil, approximately 1-1 metres below the present surface.

However, beneath the 18th century outbuilding the soil was no so disturbed and traces of earlier wattle and daub structure of late mediaeval or early post-mediaeval date (15th-I6th centuries) were found.

Several fragments of mediaeval pottery were recovered from beneath the compacted earth floor of this earlier building— apparently the first mediaeval pottery to be found in Henley.

A large number of post-mediaeval clay-pipe fragments were retrieved from the excavations, some of which, together withother finds of pottery, stoneware and a glass bottle fragment, were used to date the outbuilding behind No. 91 Bell Street.

As far as is known at present, there never were any clay-pipe makers registered in Henley and so it is not surprising that the majority of the clay-pipes from this excavation appear to have been brought up river from London.

Freddie, the donkey, has a big engagement today. He’s off to compete at the Windsor Horse Show, mecca for Europe’s top riders and their horses.

Freddie comes from the Andrew Duncan House, Ship-lake, where be and his mate Melodie, pull carts driven by tbe disabled girl residents.

Freddie and two of tbe girls are competing in a fancy dress competition held for tbe first time with great success at last year’s show. They are depicting Davy Jones’s Locker.

Council workmen faced a familiar problem after their tractor was damaged by fire last week—a strike by British Lcyland prevented them getting spare parts.

About £60 worth of damage was caused when the engine caught fire as town council staff were about to start work for the afternoon at Henlev Sports Centre on Thursday.

This week they were shopping around trying to find the parts that will put the tractor back in operation.

Town clerk Mr. Ernest Leaver explained on Wednesday: “They were just about to start work after dinner when they smelt burning. Some of the wiring and the generator and the alternator had burnt out. We hope to have it back in use today or tomorrow.”

Henley Town Council’s finance committee is recommending a £200 grant to the town’s youth centre in Deanfield Avenue, to cover the centre’s losses on the past year. They are also recommending that the council should make a grant of £100 to the Henley Sea Cadets.

Henley Swimming Club will benefit in a different way. The committee wants to provide a trophy for the club’s women’s medley race at the annual championships, and they are prepared to spend up to £30 on it.

There was some criticism last year that the town did not have red. white and blue bunting for the Jubilee, and this was because none was available when the existing red and orange decorations were ordered two years ago.

In response to a complainr by the chamber about dogs fouling pavements, the chief environmental health officer of South Oxfordshire District Council has written saying that there is a byelaw which makes it an offence to allow a dog on a lead to foul a public footway.

The officer, Mr. K. T. Jolley, says: “Enforcement of the byelaw depends upon members of the public who witness contraventions being able and willing to give the police sufficiently detailed evidence to result in a prosecution. This, of course, is not easy.”

The chamber hopes that people who see breaches of the byelaw will come forward so that action can be taken.

The chamber is drawing to the attention of members the special needs of disabled people when shopping. The move follows a request from a committee set up by the district council in response to recommendations by Mr. Alfred Morris, the Minister for the Disabled. The committee has discussed a number of points including the need for wider check-out points at supermarkets to accommodate wheelchairs.

The wedding of Mr Trevor Kenneth Barlow and Miss Lesley Jane Harper took place at Sacred Heart Church.

The bridegroom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. K. C. Barlow, of 7 Berrylands Road, Caversham. and the bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Harper, of 11 Cooper Road. Henley.

The bride, who was given away by her father, wore a full-length dress with a three-quarter length cape, Juliet cap and veil. She carried a bouquet of lily-of-the-valley, white freesias and pink rosebuds

She was attended by her sister, Maureen Aspinell, who wore a full-length dress with white lace trimmings, and carried a bouquet of white and blue mixed flowers

The best man was Mr. Christopher Brooks and the service was conducted by the Rev. D. Toplass.

After the reception in the Sacred Heart Church Hall, the couple left for their honeymoon at Ambleside, in the Lake District. Thev will be living at Meadow Way. Theale on their return.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Barlow work for a large assurance company in Reading.

The organisers, the Henley branch of the charity. are hoping for a big turnout and an even bigger success than a similar fund-raising walk two years ago, when 500 people took part and over £2,000 was collected.

The first participants will be leaving Yewden Farm at 10 a.m. for the five-mile walk over the Hambleden estate. But those wishing to turn up later in the day can also take part and the beautiful scenery of the private estate for a small donation

The walk provides an ideal opportunity for parents who want to leave their offspring and go off somewhere else, for children will by fully supervised.

Adding a touch of humour to the proceedings will be nine-year-old Spencer Charles Hicks, of Banbury, who will be sporting the garb of Charlie Chaplin in which he won a first place on the television programme “Opportunity Knocks” a short time ago. And children will be encouraged to keep their eyes open on the walk, for prizes are to be awarded to those who can come up with the answers to questions about the estate.

People from all sections of the publishing business, from authors to booksellers, were at the Henley premises of Routiedge and Kegan Paul Ltd., the publishers, in Newtown Road, on Wednesday last week for the formal opening of a new building increasing considerably the office accommodation and warehousing for books.

As well as authors and booksellers, there were other publishers present, including Julian Black well, of the Oxford firm of B. H. Black-well and Co., Rqutledge and Kegan.

Paul’s own staff and their families and a number of retired employees.

A plaque in the reception area was unveiled by the Mayor, Mr. Jim Corrall, in the presence of Mr. Norman Franklin, the firm’s chairman. South Oxfordshire District Council was represented by the chairman, Mr. Andrew Southern.

A large buffet, drinks and music were provided and guests had the opportunity to tour the premises and hear about the firm’s operations from members of the staff.

Mrs. Marjorie Warner, proprietor of the equestrian centre, had sought an order banning the golf club from interfering with an indoor riding school.

She claimed that the golf club, freehold owners of the land, at Badgemore End, had granted her right of occupation of the school for at least 12 months from January last year with an extension of six months by further agreement.

But deputy judge Sir Douglas Frank ruled on February 28th this year that the agreement was only for a period of three months and could be terminated at one month’s notice.

On Friday, the judge had to decide whether or not a temporary “no interference” injunction— granted to Mrs. Warner, before the trial of the action against the club and a company waiting to take over the premises—was a proper order.

The judge found that the injunction, made by Mr. Justice Slade, was properly granted.

He ordered an inquiry in which the club will ask for damages against Mrs. Warner in respect of her occupation of the premises housing the indoor riding school which she has now vacated.

Mrs. Warner will be seeking damages against the club in respect of a period during which she was out of occupation.

Ramarshe Ltd. the company that planned to take over the premises, will also be claiming damages at the inquiry for being kept out of possession.

Costs will be awarded later.

Local Wait rose manager. Mr. Tony Davis, gave a talk at Tuesday’s meeting of Henley Rotary Club at the Red Lion Hotel.

He traced the history of the John Lewis Partnership since Mr. John Lewis opened his first store in 1864 and reminded members that Waitrose had had their supermarket in Henley since 1965.

He described the unique management structure of the partnership witfi 120 elected representatives of the staff forming a central council. Of this, only three members were branch managers, the majority coming literally “from the shop floor.” Ernie Leaver proposed the vote of thanks.

The May Queen, 11-year-old Melanie Holland, was crowned by the vicar, the Rev. John Ratings, and surrounded by attendants Natalie Wade, Alison Bridge, Julie Musselwhite, Tracy Turner, Debbie Dewson and Dawn Weston.

Children of all ages performed dances, including some around the Maypole, watched by a large number of parents and other villagers.

An innovation afterwards was the holding of four stalls, for new books, stationery, clothes and cakes. Each took about £28 gross and the funds from tbe sale of cakes, which were made by parents, will go towards the costs of the field study week in Devon for 39 pupils at the beginning of June.

Melanie, Natalie and Alison are pictured with the vicar after the crowning.

COUNCIL THE following applications have been received for Listed Building Consent:— SO/S/270/78/LB—Demolition of range of pig sties and erection of range of two stables with tack room at Old Peppard Farm, Peppard Common. Rotherfield Peppard. The follouing applications have been received for sites in Conservation Areas:— SO/S/249/78/RM—Erection of industrial building of 11,250 sq. ft. at Sheldon’s Piece. Watlington. SO/S/264/78—Extension to provide stock room for post office at Automatic Telephone Exchange. High Street. Goring.

SO/S/269/78 R Alterations to entrance and driveway adjoining Ingham House, Brook Street. Watlington. The above applications can be inspected at the Planning Department. Churchill House. Didcot. between the hours of 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Mondays to Fridavs during the period of 21 days from now (Or by arrangement with the Clerk to the Watlington Parish Council, W. J Fowler M A.. 25 High Street, Watlington.

A total of 27 students with eight adults will be setting off for Morocco, the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara Desert, on July 31st.

They will be starting with a 24-hour boat trip from Plymouth to Santander on the north coast of Spain, and this will be followed by a two-day drive across Spain to Algeciras.

Their route will then take them to Marrakesh via Algeciras. Ceuda and Casablanca, where they will spend about two weeks.

They will then cross the Atlas Mountains to the Sahara and come back over the mountains to Ceuda via Fez.

On the trip they will study land use in settlements at different altitudes. the effects of climate on body fluids, the ecology of vegetation, and the local villages and other settlements.

The total cost of the expedition is £4,500, but a cash grant has come from the Royal Geographical Society and the Young Explorers’ Trust. The students raised £150 at a squash marathon which they organised, and a further £110 came from a discotheque. So far about £200 has come from firms and organisations.

The treasurer for the project is Mr. Alan Jenkins, who is on the staff at King James’s College.

Seventeen - year - old Charles Dunne, whose parents live at 8 Fair Mile, Henley, has been selected to carry out scientific research in south-east Iceland for six weeks during July and August.

But before he can take his coveted place in the 65-strong party, he must raise over £500 for his fare and for the specialised equipment he will need to carry— and this is where the locals can help.

As his mother, Mrs. Patricia Dunne, explained: ‘This is a tremendous opportunity for him. But without substantial financial assistance from outside, he will certainly not be able to join the expedition.”

Charles, who is studying A level geography and geology at Mount St. Mary’s School, Sheffield, is hoping to borrow some of the gear from the school cadet corps, of which he is member, and he can rely on financial support from his parents, too.

But much of the equipment and clothing is designed specifically for mountaineering and camping in Arctic conditions and, in all, it could cost him up to £150 on top of the £440 expedition fee.

Charles is hoping that local organisations such as the Rotary and Lions clubs and the Round Table can help and possibly also local firms.

Charles, who plays for the school 1st XV and has represented Henley Rugby Club in the past, was chosen for the trip after a gruelling interview at the Royal Geographical Society in London.

For the first 10 days the group will be settling in at their base camp, and after that they will be splitting up to carry’ out their various tasks. The party is scheduled to fly out on July 20th, returning home on August 31st.

On Tuesday, they agreed to write to the BBC, asking for details of what it takes to put on such an event, after hearing a letter from Mrs. Rosalie Monbiot, secretary of the Henley and District Sports and Recreation Council, suggesting the idea.

She wrote: “There is a great opportunity for Henley to enter the competition in either 1979 or 1980. I do feel Henley qualifies admirably for staging such an event.

“Not only is it visually interesting with its river and surrounding hills, but it now has adequate training facilities at the indoor and outdoor sports centres.”

But although councillors are to look into the matter, there could be many obstacles to get over before they agree to the idea.

Their main worry is the cost of building stands and providing track suits and all the other facilities that are needed for the programme—and some feel this could run into thousands of pounds.

They arc not convinced by Mrs. Monbiot’s assertion that much of the money could be re-couped by selling special tee-shirts and other goods to the hundreds of people who would flock to Henley for the event.

However, the scheme has at least one keen supporter on the town council in Mr. Tony Lane, the chairman of the general purposes committee which discussed the project.

He said: “This event could put Henley on the map and I think it could do nothing but good for the town.”

Stewart Arthur Jackson (18) of 26 Westleigh Drive, Sonning Common, pleaded guilty to taking the car without consent, and to driving without insurance. Christopher Frederick Young (18) of Scarletts, Tokers Green, pleaded guilty to allowing himself to be carried in a vehicle knowing it to have been stolen.

Insp. Roy Strickland, prosecuting, said the car—a Mini GT— had been parked at the War Memorial Hall, Peppard, on March 23rd. After being driven away it was found the next day at Wyfold, crashed into a tree.

Young was arrested on April 18th and in a police statement admitted his part in the incident. In the crash the windscreen of the car shattered and his face was cut.

Jackson was arrested the following day. and in a statement to police said the interior light of the car was on. the car was unlocked, and the keys were in the dashboard pocket.

He had rolled it from its place in the car park but hit a post because the steering lock was still on. but afterwards he started it and drove off.

“1 don’t know why I took the car—it was just on the spur of the moment because the keys were in it,” he told police.

The court heard that a group of five youths had been drinking that night at the Greyhound public house, and when the pub had closed they had split up.

In his statement. Young said the next time he had seen Jackson was when he pulled up beside him on the road and told him to get into the car.

Mr. M. J. Thompson, defending both youths, stressed that a group of five had been involved, and suggested that the other three might have played a significant part in the taking of the car in the first place.

He spoke of the “shame and remorse” their action had caused to both defendants. Young’s parents stressed that it had been an isolated incident, and a character reference also came from a local youth club leader.

Jackson’s parents and the same youth club leader also spoke for him, and Mr. Thompson stressed that he was “not the sort of person who instigates things in the first place.”

The court heard that after the crash the police had incurred costs of £19.44 towing in the damaged vehicle.

Jackson, a provisional licence holder, was fined £100 for driving away the vehicle, and disqualified from driving for nine months. For driving without insurance he was fined £50 and his licence was endorsed, and he was ordered to pay £9.72 towards the towing-in fee.

Young, who also holds a provisional driving licence, was fined £50, disqualified from driving for three months, and was also ordered to pay £9.72.