Minutes of the ANNUAL PARISH MEETING of the PARISH OF FARNHAM ROYAL
held on Monday, 3rd March 2014 in Farnham Royal Village Hall at 8 pm
Present: Mr. B Youel (Chairman), Mr. T Clapp, Mr. R Milne, Mr. C Robinson, Mr. A French,
Mrs. V Thompson and Mrs. H Hodgkins.
In attendance: District Councillors David Anthony and Maureen Royston, County Councillor Lin
Hazell, the Clerk and 22 members of the public.
Apologies for absence: Apologies were received from Mr. P Cathcart, Mr. J Hodges and Mr. K
Tipping
1. Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting on 4th March 2013
These were agreed as a true record and signed by the Chairman.
2. Report of the Parish Council 2013-14
Given by the Chairman, Councillor Bill Youel
appended to these minutes
3. Report on Buckinghamshire County Council
County Councillor Trevor Egleton, presented by Lin Hazell
appended to these minutes
4. Report from School Governors
Farnham Common Infant School -Given by Ben Kunicki
St Mary’s Farnham Royal – Given by Rev’d Saunders
appended to these minutes
appended to these minutes
5. Report from the Farnhams Magazine
Given by Daven Chamberlain
appended to these minutes
6. Report from Farnham Royal Village Hall
Given by Stanley Swann, presented by Jerry Houdret
appended to these minutes
7. Report from Farnham Common Village Hall
Given by Marilyn Rolfe
appended to these minutes
8. Report from the Community Orchard Committee
Given by Alan French
appended to these minutes
9. Looking South- the Changing Face of the Parish of Farnham Royal
Illustrated talk given by Mrs Jessica Houdret
10. Those present noted that written reports had been received from:
Thames Valley Police
Farnham Common Junior School
Farnham Common Sports Club
Farnham Common Community Library
Farnham Royal Charities
Burnham Beeches
The Royal British Legion
The Children’s Centre
all appended to these minutes
11 Close of meeting
The Chairman thanked everyone who had attended the meeting and especially Mrs
Houdret for her interesting talk. The meeting closed at 9.35pm
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APPENDICES
Item 2: CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Following on from last year’s Royal Jubilee- with its flags and bunting- it was back to work as
usual this year for your Parish Council. We started off at our March meeting with the co-option
of Mrs. Vicky Thompson as a Councillor. Vicky has proved to be a dynamic addition to the team
of which more later.
I’m going to start by dealing with planning matters as this is one of the issues that some
residents have been passionate about lately. Specifically Lynch Hill Enterprise Academy. We
are still awaiting a planning application to be made to SBDC for this proposed development. The
latest news we have from the school is that the application is currently scheduled to be
submitted at the end of this week. Although technically in the Parish of Burnham we are aware
that there are concerns amongst our residents and have taken steps to ensure that we will be
consulted and we are committed to debate this issue at our next Parish Council meeting on 24th
March provided the application is submitted by then as promised.
In terms of this Council’s general approach to dealing with planning issues it is worth saying that
we, as a council made up of local residents, are fully aware of the reasons that many choose to
live in our villages. High on the list is open spaces with public access. We can add to that
wooded roads and never being far from fields and greenery. Also individual villages and a good
education system.
We also have a good idea what people don’t want - villages coalescing into one another,
urbanisation or becoming part of a sprawling conurbation. Also people are wary of change.
Whilst a lot of changes are beyond our control we do seek to influence changes via the planning
consultation processes.
The Green Belt is a hot topic. There are stories in the press of other Districts asking that their
own planning authorities allow that essential infrastructure projects are allowed as special
cases. There are calls for reviews of the Green Belt. However our local planning authority South
Bucks District Council has robust policies in its Local Plan to protect the Green Belt. The Latest
South Bucks core strategy states, housing needs identified in the Strategic Housing Land
Availability Assessment can be met until 2026 and that no amendments are required to the
green belt until 2031.
This is encouraging but we must not be complacent as the local plan has to sit within central
government plans and therefore subject to their whims and as mentioned in some districts there
is pressure to be given more leeway over Green Belt development. We were disappointed when
changes to permitted development were announced that the green belt came down the
protection pecking order behind national Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Moving on this brings me to the subject of the work the Parish Council does on your behalf. This
includes the routine maintenance of open spaces, rights of way, play areas, the churchyard, and
over 200 lampposts as well as providing the flowers in the villages.
In terms of the Open Spaces there have been specific achievements in a number of areas.
I mentioned last year that the planned clearance of Temple Dell had been delayed due to
inclement weather. At last in late spring the operation got underway there was swift progress as
we cut through the brambles and mulched them, but then we found out why a large area had
become a no go area. There were trees that had blown down and died possibly during the storm
of 1987 and others that had sprouted up from their horizontal position all becoming overgrown.
We have reclaimed a large area and just by mowing have kept the undergrowth under control,
of course the proof of the pudding will be what happens in the next month or two as we go
though the virulent growing season. We are quietly confident and look ahead to deciding how to
go forward. there are several ideas being put forward, picnic tables, fitness trails etc, But there
is still plenty to consider for example do we wish to allow undergrowth to grow back around
trees and shrubs in a controlled manner to add character?
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JAWS (the local Joggers and Wheelers club) have already provided a picnic table to
acknowledge the contribution to the village by Ron Bright.
Work is continuing in the woodlands, we have assessed all the wooded area we are responsible
for and have a rolling inspection program where an arboriculturalist will flag up concerns for our
contractors to deal with this is in addition to our quarterly maintenance visits.
We regularly inspect and maintain the bus shelters. We came to the conclusion that just to
patch up the wooden shelter by One Pin Lane would be a waste of money. Having ascertained
that a suitable replacement would be in excess of £6k it was decided to refurbish it, it was re
roofed, rotten wood replaced, completely repainted and glazing installed, it has been more that
twenty years since it had had glazing.
A lot of work has been put into developing a new map for the villages that are now displayed in
new display cases. We have local artist Ron Whiting to thank for this, anyone who has tried to
update a map will know how fiddly and laborious it is and it was surprising the mistakes that we
found on the original 1994 one. Well done Ron.
Many of you will have noticed that the Mobile Vehicle Activated Sign is now being deployed. We
are building up a pattern of traffic flow and speeds that may assist in informing the Highways
Authority in the future. So far it appears that a significant amount of motorists feel that it’s quite
all right to add 10 MPH to the speed limit, whether this is because they think that they know best
and that the speed limits only apply to other people or that the chances of being prosecuted is
very slim, we are not sure.
In addition to the maintenance and project work we undertake we also try and help with events
in the Parish.
A health & well being weekend was held in July with events at Farnham Common Sports Club
and Burnham Beeches, The event brought together many local groups to promote the physical,
mental and spiritual well being of all ages, this was facilitated by Councillor Vicky Thompson
who secured funding from South Bucks District council.
The orchard steering group held an after school Mayday celebration and a September Orchard
day festival for the whole community. More details in the orchard report.
We were approach by Bucks County Council Local Area Forum who wished to hold a youth event,
Vicky came to the rescue and the event was held in September at the Brian Jubb Hall and also
involved volunteers from the Community Church. Funding has been secured to hold more of these
events.
At Christmas we had a puppet theatre production of the Snow Queen organised by Councillor
Heidi Hodgkins, followed by our usual Carols on the Green, this year it was particularly well
attended. We would like to thank all the people that worked hard to ensure that this event was a
success.
We have an upcoming village tea party taking place in the Farnham Common village hall on
Thursday this week sponsored by South Bucks District Council and supported by the
Community Church.
In terms of how the local authorities work there are changes afoot in the organisation of District
Wards. Due to the reduction of district Councillors it was proposed that Farnham Common be
split between two district wards. We as a council felt that this was bureaucracy and suggested
that it was vital that the Parish of Farnham Royal was part of one ward. We accepted for this to
happen this new ward would need to cover areas outside of our parish. SBDC agreed and has
submitted a proposal to the Boundaries Commission for a new ward of Farnhams and
Hedgerley that will be represented by three district councillors. This will mean the whole of both
villages will be in the same ward and the area around St Mary’s church will no longer be in the
Stoke Poges ward. We look forward to the Boundaries Commission’s decision.
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For the fourth year running your council has held its precept at the same level of £115k for the
coming 14/15 financial year (it was last increased in 10/11). A small part of this used to be made
up via a central government grant that has now been withdrawn which results in a slight
increase in council tax, we are told that this will increase the parish portion of the council tax for
a band D property from £36.98 to £38.41.
We all must thank our clerk, Hilda, for her excellent work throughout the year in running the
office and the day to day business of the council in a most professional way and being the
public face of the council. I would also thank my fellow councillors, as being a member of a
parish council is purely voluntary without pay or allowances.
Bill Youel
Chairman
Item 3:BUCKS COUNTY COUNCILLOR,T. EGLETON’S REPORT (read by Lin Hazell)
Once again the County Council’s budget process has been member led with the councillors
working in teams to scrutinise individual cabinet member’s proposals and finally the whole
budget was challenged in public by the Select Committee for Resources. This robust process
ensured that the four year budget plan aligned with the Council’s Strategic Plan priorities which
are:
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Ensuring Buckinghamshire has a thriving economy that is creating jobs
Improving transport networks including our roads
Protecting the county’s special environment and ensuring it continues to be recognised
nationally as one of the best places to live and work
Helping children and young people to reach their full potential
Encouraging people to do more for themselves whilst providing a safety net for the most
vulnerable members of our population
Continuing to provide excellent value for money in everything we do
Ensuring we all protect the interests of Buckinghamshire residents at local, regional and
national levels
Combating the sexual exploitation of children
Progressing the integration of NHS Health Care and local authority Social Care for our
residents
The last two objectives have been added this year following a members’ review of the plan.
This year the Council has agreed a budget that reflects the current challenges we are facing:
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Large increases in our ageing population resulting in added pressure on Adult Social
Care Services
Large increase in referrals of vulnerable children to the Child Protection Service
Increase in demand for additional school places in some parts of the county where
development is proposed
Significant damage to our infrastructure following a period of extreme winter weather
conditions
The accumulated impact of inflation on our service costs following a three year period of
council tax freeze.
National inflation of 16% over the four year period
A saving of £85 million on our costs over the last four years
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The Council have therefore adopted a four year budget that:
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Produces a Council Tax rise of 1.5% which is the first rise for four years
Commits to spending nearly £65 million on roads and pavements up to 2018
Protects key services to the most vulnerable residents
Ensures a further £200,000 investment in preventing child sexual exploitation
There are still challenges for the future and over the next four years the Council has budgeted to
save an additional £49 million which will be achieved by efficiency savings and new ways of
working.
This year the Council has formed the Bucks Learning Trust and a local authority trading
company to provide services to its day centres. Both operations are backed by Bucks County
Council and are trading companies that can sell their services to other Authorities thus
maximising income generation and providing value for money for our tax payers. The Council’s
legal services have applied to the appropriate authorities for a licence to enable them to also
operate as a trading operation which will then be able to provide legal advice to other authorities
and intuitions such as parish councils and schools for a fee. These, and other new ways of
working, are being explored for more departments to ensure that the council provides cost
efficient services with the opportunity to generate income streams for the benefit of
Buckinghamshire tax payers.
The Council will continue to oppose inappropriate development and campaign to preserve our
environment.
The Leader chairs the anti-HS2 consortium of local authorities and is currently taking a two
pronged approach to this project. Whilst still opposing the proposed railway the council is
preparing the Buckinghamshire Mitigation Blueprint which is the proposed compensation and
mitigation measures the County wishes to be put in place should this project be given the final
approval by Parliament.
Trevor Egleton
Buckinghamshire County Council
Mr Hoare of North Cottages asked Cllr Hazell to investigate why the stop signs for flooding had
been removed from outside his house. He also complained that gully clearing had still not taken
place. She said she would ask the new LAT to look into this. She added that he was in the area
in the next few days because of the works to Farnham Lane. She advised that gully clearing in
the Broadway was scheduled as was resurfacing on the A355 from Templewood Lane to the
Green Man although she could not say when this would actually take place.
Mr Wethersby complained about the signs which had been left up along the A355 to the north of
the villages given that the work had been completed. Mrs Royston commented that it was her
understanding that signs had to be left up for three months. Cllr Hazell said she would clarify the
situation.
Item 4: FARNHAM COMMON INFANT SCHOOL’S REPORT
Introduction
The past 12 months have been a successful and enjoyable time for all at Farnham Common
Infants School. We remain committed to providing all our children with rich first-hand
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experiences that spark their imaginations, develop their potential for learning and help them
become resilient and socially active young people.
Results and curriculum
We continue to maintain a full roll with the popularity of the school extending outside the village,
meaning 28% of our pupils now come from outside catchment.
Our pupils continue to make good progress with all achievement levels at Early Years
Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 comfortably above the national averages in literacy and
numeracy.
However, we did see a blip this year with our Phonics results experiencing a slight dip and as a
result we have overhauled our phonics teaching with all children taking part in phonics sessions
first thing every day in mixed ability teaching groups that cut across year groups.
A series of parent workshops have been held during the past year to try and engage parents
with different methods of learning and demonstrating how we try to inspire their children. We
have held workshops on how we use problem solving, and how to use games to improve
children’s maths.
Following a successful pilot period we have introduced a new learning log system for children
across the school. The log is taken home with children on a weekend for them to fill in about the
topics they have covered during the week. Not only does this reinforce the lessons they have
learned in school time but it also allows them to engage with their parents about what they have
been doing at school as well.
We have continued to develop our outdoor learning through the Outdoor Learning Project and in
joining an outdoor learning network with other schools to share good practice. The objective is
deliver one lesson a week outside, either in our Forest School area or the playground.
We have also piloted a new philosophy for children programme with help from a Local Authority
adviser. These sessions encourage children to think creatively about real life questions, while
helping them with their speaking and listening skills.
Extension and Nursery
The big news for the school this winter has been the completion of the extension to the nursery
area at the front of the building. This new space will assist the staff to teach more effectively in
smaller groups whereas in previous years group work had been taking place in any available
space, however inconvenient. It will also allow a flexible space for the nursery which we are
hoping to receive funding to run all the academic year round from September, rather than from
January as is currently the case.
We are also delighted to confirm that the project which began in November was completed on
time and to budget!
Forest school
The project to further improve our Forest School facilities was also completed in the past year
thanks to funding from the Friends of Farnham Common Infant School. The additional shelter
will help the children get the most out of our programme of outdoor lessons which continue to be
a cornerstone of our curriculum and extremely popular with pupils and parents alike.
Staff changes
Mrs Abban one of Year 1 teachers left at the end of the last academic year, while Mrs Glasgow
from Year 2 went on maternity leave just before Christmas. Miss Marshall joined us as an NQT
from September.
After 30 years associated with our school, Deputy Head Mrs Staynor has announced she will
retire at the end of this academic year. We thank her for all the wonderful work she has done
with the children of Farnham Common over the years and wish her well for a well deserved
retirement.
The governing body has seen changes over the past year as well, with Sarah Naylor Hagger
and Janet Armitage leaving, we thank them for their efforts. In addition, Catherine Scott has
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stepped down from full to associate governor. Colin Lobley has joined as Community Governor,
while Pam Naish has become the new Local Authority Governor for the school.
Events
We continue to hold our successful events in and out of school time throughout the year,
celebrating festivals such as Harvest Festival and Christmas. Our annual school sports day was
again held at the Junior School with assistance from their pupils which we thank them for.
In addition we have particularly been promoting our travel initiatives, signing up to the WOW
initiative from Living Streets to increase the number of children who walk to school. We also
held Halloween and Santa walks in Burnham Beeches.
Parent helper Hannah Masquelier has continued here excellent work with the scooter and bike
workshops and was on hand to collect our Bronze award at the Modeshift travel awards.
School trips have included visits to Windsor Castle, Chiltern Open Air Museum and the Florence
Nightingale Museum last year. While Reception went to to Tiggywinkles Wild life hospital
Looking forward
Over the next 12 months, we will continue to develop our curriculum with particular emphasis on
providing those rich first-hand experiences that we believe are so important.
Our next major project will be to renew our IT systems to ensure our children have the very best
support going forward, and we are grateful to have the support of the Friends in doing that.
We would like to thank all our stakeholders for their support over the last year, from our children
and their parents, to the Friends and the Local Authority and all the members of this local
community who have played their part in helping us deliver a rewarding learning experience for
our children.
Ben Kunicki
Governor
Item 5: ST. MARY’S FARNHAM ROYAL C OF E PRIMARY SCHOOL’S REPORT
Following the latest Ofsted Inspection in October 2013, it was judged as ‘Requires Improvement
in all areas’. There were many positive findings by Ofsted including initiatives that were too early
to judge as not yet embedded.
The school has the following strengths
 Pupils’ standards are rising steadily. Results at the end of Key Stage 2 are improving,
and are broadly average.
 Pupils enjoy school and feel safe. Most pupils behave well around the school and in
lessons.
 Pupils’ attendance is improving and is now at national average levels.
 The newly-appointed headteacher has taken strong action to help staff to understand
what they need to do improve their teaching. This has successfully raised the quality of
teaching in the school. Much teaching seen during the inspection was good.
 Parents and carers are very supportive of the school and its leaders.
New Initiatives introduced following the Ofsted Report
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 Gem project introduced and is now securely established as a whole school initiative.
This enables pupils to develop more positive learning habits, and as a result impact on
their levels of attainment and achievement over time. Understanding how thinking
positively about yourself and others can dramatically impact on your ability to learn.
 Phonics / SPAG is now becoming embedded throughout school, and daily sessions take
place which is monitored and assessed rigorously by subject leaders.
 New Curriculum has been introduced and staff are becoming more confident in planning
topics based on a broad and balanced long term plan. Teachers are aware of the
importance of the ‘wow’ factor of a topic.
Reverend Saunders
Ex officio Governor at St Mary’s Farnham Royal C of E Primary School
Item 6: THE FARNHAMS MAGAZINE
In this review we will cover the magazine’s progress through 2013. As always we start with
some basic statistics: we published six magazines during the year, each of 88 pages length,
with a total print run of just under 11,000. Compared with last year there was a drop of almost
500 copies, most of which can be accounted for by a change of working practice whereby we
are using digital rather than hard copy for complimentary copies.
Last year was the first to have the magazine run by joint editors, each taking three issues. There
was also a subtle change in content, with significant additional columns being provided by a
number of Sports Clubs (FC Drifters – Rugby; FC Cricket; and FC Squash); The Farnham
Common Community Library Reading Group has given us reviews of some books; Burnham
Rotary Club has come on board; and we are starting to rekindle a relationship with St Anthony’s
Catholic Church following the appointment of Father Michael.
We are pleased to note the breadth of material covered in the Magazine has grown significantly
over the last couple of years, but are aware it could be wider still. We are conscious that Sports
Clubs in Farnham Royal, which have been approached in the past, still do not contribute; the
same goes for some local schools and there are many other community groups that we are sure
would benefit from wider coverage. So we extend an offer to the community at large – The
Farnhams Magazine is here to represent you, but we cannot do so unless you send us material
(both text and images).
As regards our staff – remember this publication is run entirely on a voluntary basis - there have
been no changes over the last year. However, there have been significant changes in working
practice, thanks in no small part to Clare Henry, our Advertising Sales supremo. This has both
streamlined our process and resulted in reduced workload for another volunteer, Doug
Campbell, who mails copies of our magazine to various interested parties. This initiative has
produced a significant saving in terms of costs and workload, and improved our environmental
footprint! The cost saving in particular has allowed us to make a very significant donation to the
Charles Warner Trust; a charity which aims to help young people in our community.
In concluding this whistle-stop summary of the year, we would like to thank all involved in the
magazine – both volunteers and contributors – for making it such a success. We hope that
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during the coming year we can continue to explore new subjects and add new columns, so
helping us to fulfil our by-line ‘sharing life in our community’.
Daven Chamberlain & Charlotte Morrison (Joint Editors)
Mrs. Wethersby asked for clarification whether it was a constitutional aim of the Magazine to
donate to charity. Rev’d Saunders said they had the power to do so but it was not a specific
aim. Mrs. Stewart thanked the Magazine for contributing to the Charity and Mr. Banks thanked
them for their support of the Childrens Centre.
Item 7: FARNHAM ROYAL VILLAGE HALL
2013 had for the most part been a steady year with bookings coming in on a regular basis and our
regular hirers continuing to use our facilities.
As a Management Committee entrusted with the upkeep of the hall we did a number of things to
keep the standards of the hall high including some redecoration, floor maintenance, and running
repairs to the heating system.
Sadly in the middle of the year our Caretaker Mrs Shirley Westover was taken ill and this put much
pressure on her husband Richard to maintain the hall and keep it going with our support. Very sadly
Shirley’s condition worsened and Richard was also taken ill and ended up being taken into hospital.
The Management Committee and Trustees rallied round and kept things moving along.
However, tragically Shirley passed away in hospital and was quickly followed by her husband
Richard to the huge shock of their family and all those who knew them. Both Shirley and Richard
had been stalwart workers for the Hall for many years and we express our gratitude in their
memory, to both of them for all they did for the Hall.
This left us in a very difficult position and we are grateful for the help given to us by Hilda Holder,
the Clerk to Farnham Royal Parish Council, which helped us concentrate our efforts on getting
replacements for Richard and Shirley.
I am glad to report that since the start of 2014 we have two new Caretakers in place, Marie and
Vincent Edwards, who are local residents, and things are moving along smoothly again. We have
modernized our booking procedure and now use texting and emails. We have also joined the local
web site to advertise our Hall and all in all things are looking good.
We still have our regular residents of the Montessori School, the Zumba and dance classes, both of
which continue to be very popular. We also enjoy good utilization of the Men’s Club at the Hall.
The Management Committee and Trustees have a number of projects in mind to enhance the
facilities at the hall and these include the new lighting, and I guess the word for the future is ‘Watch
this space’.
I, as Chairman express my gratitude to my fellow Committee members for their help and efforts
through a difficult period and also to our Trustees who once again have not been found wanting
when the chips were down, and gave us good advice and guidance when it was needed.
Stanley SWANN BEM
Chairman, Farnham Royal Management Committee
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Item 8: FARNHAM COMMON VILLAGE HALL
Average monthly hirings this year for hall usage is some 177.5 hours whereas last year this
was 154 hours the hall being used for a wide variety of activities from dancing, badminton, soft
mat bowls, mother and baby get togethers, keep fit for the senior ladies to training of care
workers etc.
We are just in the process of installing a baby changing table into our disabled toilet to be more
multi-functional as we have a lot of young mothers and babies using the hall. Our kitchen is in
the process of having the hot water upgraded and we are also in the early stages of replacing
the chairs in the hall and some additional tables, the chairs have deteriorated quite rapidly and
now need to be urgently changed. We will be looking to bring a request for support to the
Parish Council for this if this is at all possible.
Annual accounts are in the process of going to our auditors for audit. Our income is slightly up
on last year and we have again avoided dipping into our small reserves and have this year a
small surplus to re-invest in the facility. It is hoped that this year we will continue to increase
the hours booked to steadily increase income to enable us to keep pace with the continuing
increases in utility costs and repairs. Full financials will be presented at the AGM in May.
I am pleased to advise Farnham Common Village Hall now has a Support Group which is
assisting the Trustees & the Management Committee in working to build a sustainable future for
the village hall, and to ensure we can continue to support the various users from the community
and the surrounding area.
We recognise our hall (and the newest bits were built in 1958), needs work to renovate and
upgrade its facilities, and we are extremely keen to extend its life, and in doing so, improve its
looks, eco-efficiency and to be even more flexible with regards to availability of room size and
facilities.
With the Support Group, we’ve generated more ideas than we’ve had the time or funds to follow
through to completion. We are now looking for additional volunteers to help us, especially
people with specific skills and vision to join the supporters committee: this includes an architect,
a surveyor, fund raiser, secretary, project manager to help us move this activity on as fast as
we can. We are also looking for a couple of willing volunteers to assist with the bookings and
showing potential hirers round the hall.
We are also looking for volunteers on an ad-hoc basis to help us as a “task force” for example,
to give the hall a Spring “Deep Clean”, and to help us with tasks such as painting or fixing the
car-park. We’re running the hall on a shoestring the only income being from hall rentals, and
the occasional support grant, so we are dependent on the support of the local community to
sustain and improve the facilities.
We are nearing completion on our website which will enable prospective hirers to contact via the
website and which will provide details of the halls facilities and activities.
We carried out a survey in the autumn in the village of the halls for hire and had a good portion
of the community take part, with 104 responses.
We were delighted that a resounding 99% of respondents thought that it was important to have
a village hall in Farnham Common and that 40% respondents used one or more of the Village
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Hall or the Brian Jubb Hall or Sports Club at least once a week, rising to 72% using one of these
venues at least once a year.
We gained useful feedback on what was most valued by users of the halls, balanced by some of
the drawbacks. The main functions attended at the village hall by our respondents were indoor
sport events, children’s events (both regular groups and parties) and people attending various
clubs and societies.
We also discovered from our day outside Sainsbury’s, just how many people from out of the
area pull in to use the shops, and also we were surprised that so many new people had moved
into the area and did not know where the Village Hall was!
2013 has been a successful year in the history of Farnham Common Village Hall, we have
managed to gather more support for the hall which is greatly appreciated, we are now looking
forward to achieving a lot more for the facility. We are working towards developing the plans
that are proposed to provide a more efficient, functional and appealing community hall that
everyone will want to use and we will share those plans, as we formulate them with the
community. The hall needs the support of the community to enable the hall to remain as it is
only by being hired that enables us to pay the bills and keep on improving the hall.
I would like to take this opportunity of thanking the Farnham Royal Parish Council for their
support in this and also the members of the community that continue to support us and help
provide the varied activities that are available at Farnham Common Village Hall. I would like to
invite you all to Farnham Common Village Halls AGM on the 12th May at 19.30 and hope that as
many of the community will attend and if possible offer their support from time to time during
the year.
Marilyn Rolfe
Chairman Farnham Common Village Hall committee
Item 9: COMMUNITY ORCHARD
The Community Orchard planted in 2011 within Temple Dell Farnham Common is an amenity
available for use by all members and organisations in the community.
Originally sponsored and planted by the Rotary Club of Burnham Beeches the orchard is now
overseen by volunteers acting as a Steering Group, affiliated as a working party to Farnham
Royal Parish Council, which manages and maintains and seeks to enhance the Temple Dell
community space.
Temple Dell and the orchard within offers space which parishioners, families and voluntary
organisations are encouraged to use more frequently for recreation including tranquil
contemplation, exercise, picnics, outdoor meetings and events.
The trees in the orchard are sponsored by local schools and voluntary organisations with the
expectation that they will take an interest in the trees as they develop and, in the case of
schools and children, use them as an aid to learning. For this reason an education pack was
provided to each of the school and youth organisations when they originally sponsored a tree.
Schools will be using the orchard as a learning resource again this year.
The Steering Group seeks to maintain the connection between the tree sponsors, the
community and the orchard by providing events within the orchard each year that are both
entertaining and informative. So far these have taken the form of a Mayday Celebration and an
Orchard Festival.
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Mayday Celebration
This event was planned with teachers who advised that an after school event in May was the
best opportunity to engage pupils and parents and to maintain their connection with the trees
they had planted. In 2013 we ran our second Mayday on the 21st May providing Maypole
dancing, storytelling, a Treasure Hunt, Teddy Bears picnic, Games, Biscuit Icing alongside a
cake and drinks stall and Ice cream provision. Entry was free.
Despite having again to move the date due to bad weather about 150 children and parents
mainly from the Infant School attended including some from pre-school groups.
Additionally, a kind sponsor obtained a portable Maypole that is now available for schools to
borrow so that children can be taught these traditional dance skills within their curriculum.
Orchard Festival
This free event which was held for the third time in September 2013 targeted the whole Parish
with a greater emphasis on encouraging adults as well as children and young people to take an
interest in the orchard. The key objective was entertainment including music with the attendance
of Morris dancers, Apple juicing, apple and beekeeping displays, Maypole/traditional dancing,
stands from local community organisations e.g Rotary, Library and the Community Church and
games for children. The event was poorly supported and, as usual our volunteers are in short
supply so we will be giving this event a rest this year. We will, however, promote another activity
to maintain interest in the orchard. Watch this space.
Funding
Generally the Orchard does not need much in the way of funding although replacement of trees
and sponsor signs has already become necessary from time to time. There are improvements
that can be made, however, and the Steering Group is seeking to significantly increase the
information available to visitors by providing nature information by means of a new interpretation
board. We have successfully applied for a grant from the Chiltern Society Don Millar Fund and
this together with the funds we have accrued over the last few years will enable us to design
and erect a new sign within the next few months.
Clearance of Briars in Temple Dell
During the year we have overseen a major piece of work to clear the briars from Temple Dell.
This work financed by the Parish Council has successfully opened up more space for public
use.
Summary
The trees are maturing and over the next few years the orchard should begin to assume some
stature and bear more fruit. The classroom/meeting area within the orchard will become more
shaded and quieter and a facility that begs to be used. The fruiting hedge along the boundary
will develop and provide some more soundproofing as well as those delicious currants. If there
is a demand and the money available it is possible that, in due course, some picnic tables, a
children’s treasure trail might be considered to enhance the Dell surrounding the orchard.
It is important to note though that if the events are to continue then several more volunteers will
be necessary. In our view, it would a shame if the opportunity provided by this open space and
meeting area with all of its potential for recreation cannot be maximised. So if you feel you can
help please contact me.
Alan French
Chairman Steering Group
Mrs Patsy Kemp enquired why three trees had had to be severely chopped back. It was
explained that these were not orchard trees and work had been necessary following the severe
storms to pollard the trees and remove damaged branches.
Item 10: Looking South- the Changing Face of the Parish of Farnham Royal
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My Talk tonight is about the southern end of Farnham Royal parish and how the landscape of
the past has shaped the boundaries of the modern civil parish. Farnham Royal village was once
the centre of the parish universe, rather than the all-but forgotten corner it has since become –
though recently, the conservation department at SBDC panicked, having lost so many of the
important houses of the village, and made a very small area – notably the church, our house
and surrounding barns, a conservation area.
Looking at a modern map, imagine, if you will, that you were a complete stranger, who had
turned off the M4 motorway at the Slough/Windsor junction heading for the M40, by way of the
A355 Beaconsfield road. You would come to the frustrating Three Tuns crossroads, the endless
traffic lights and traffic jams of the Farnham Road, until eventually you come to the
Buckinghamshire County border, complete with sign for Farnham Royal. If at that point you
glance to your right, you will catch sight of a church tower, but you will undoubtedly not realise
that this marks the epicentre of the medieval village in the one time Manor of Farnham Royal.
As you sweep across some mini-roundabouts, you might notice a couple of pubs and a
grandiose, new office building but you are unlikely to register that you have just driven through
the centre of Farnham Royal village. You will be aware, shortly afterwards, that you have
reached the bustling shopping parade of Farnham Common, before built-up suburbia gives way
to a few fields and woodland and you hit the M40.
But you could hardly know, that on this little journey, you have just driven through the ancient
parish of Farnham Royal.
This Tithe Map of 1840 gives a comprehensive picture of the layout of the land and who owned
what. [Original document, held at National Archives with a copy at Buckinghamshire Archives, is
12ft x 1 ft.] It includes the hamlet of Seer Green, an adjunct to the Parish of Farnham Royal.
‘Farnham Royal Common’ is marked on it and right at the bottom end Salt Hill, now in Slough,
but then part of the parish.
It was a rural farming community, with a few scattered dwellings. The population of the whole
extended parish in 1840 was 550 living in 112 houses. Now it is just over 5,000 in a much
smaller area.
In the 19th C people came out to Salt Hill for the quality of the fresh air. Clearly marked on the
map is the Castle Inn and Windmill Inn (no longer in existence) and the Three Tuns Inn which
is. The Three Tuns crossroads was an important staging post on the main London to Bath Road
before the railway was built in 1840. Because of potentially rich pickings from wealthy travellers
it attracted some notorious Highwaymen, including one Claude Duvall, operating in the 17thC.
According to one modern source (The short & Bloody History of Highwaymen, by John
Farnman – Random House 2012) these chaps became “massive sex symbols to upper class
women - a bit like rock or film stars – Many of their blokes (including the aristocracy) you see
were unmanly to the point of effeminacy and the ladies swooned at the tales of the
highwaymen’s daring deeds.”
A painting of 1860, by William Powell, shows CLAUDE DUVALL in action. The story goes that
he allowed one wealthy traveller, seen in the picture cowering ‘effeminately’ in the background,
to keep most of his money, provided his wife agreed to dance the ‘corante’ with him on the spot
– which apparently she willingly did.
So next time you’re sitting fuming at the Three Tuns traffic lights, breathing in the polluted
particulate-laden air of today, you may regret the fresh air of the past, but at least you won’t
have to dance with a highwayman.
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The Perrymans were a prominent local family, whose graves are in Farnham Royal churchyard.
James Perryman of East Burnham and Edward Perryman of Farnham Royal were members of
the Salt Hill Society for the Protection of Persons and Property from Felons and Thieves in the
County of Bucks. So it wasn’t all sunlit fields and happy farmers – they had their share of crime
to contend with too.
Let’s go back briefly to the earliest written records of Farnham Royal – the famous entry in the
Domesday Book of 1086. It gives us the Saxon owner of the land, before it was
unceremoniously seized by William the Conqueror. This was Countess Goda of England,
daughter of Ethelred the Unready and sister of Edward the Confessor.
It is unlikely that she ever lived here, it was just one of her many possessions. This is what has
characterised Farnham Royal down the ages – none of the Lords of the Manor, nor many of the
other landowning grandees, or even some of the rectors, lived here.
The first Lord of the Manor was Bertram de Verdon and the relevance of the history of the
manor lands of Farnham Royal is that they shaped the boundaries of the modern civil parish.
Although it was small in terms of households, the manor had woodland for 600 hogs, a
watermill, as well as plenty of ploughlands, and was considered a valuable property, assessed
for tax at 10 geld units, which was apparently very high.
Certainly there were all sorts of claims and manoeuvrings when it came to ownership. Female
succession played an important part. It was also sold at various points. Looking at a list of the
various lords down the centuries, just notice the legacy of some of the names, notably Furnivals
And Godolphins, which have lived on the modern names of Furnival Avenue, at the top of
Farnham Road, and Godolphin School, just off the Farnham Road.
Eustace Mascoll was one of Farnham Royal’s most famous sons. He died in 1564 and there is
a brass memorial to him in St Mary’s Church. He was Clerk of Works to Cardinal Wolsey, later
responsible for all Henry VIII’s palaces and buildings within a 20-mile radius of London – and for
a time lived in Farnham Court.
FARNHAM COURT, seen here from the west end in a drawing of the 1920s or 30s, shows a
chimney, no longer in place, as it was knocked down in the Second World War, when a bomb
fell in the adjacent churchyard.
Some publications refer to Farnham Court as the former ‘manor house’. It was the property of
the Lords of the Manor, for sure, lived in by his steward or representative and more than
probably the place where the Manorial Court was held. It was certainly, though, first and
foremost the manor farmhouse, originally farming on behalf of the Lord with farmlands
stretching down to the Bath Road. It remained a working farm until at least between the wars.
The house dates back to Tudor times, but has been greatly altered and added on to since then.
This is a view of the same west end of the house a few years ago in the snow. The picture inset
was taken in 2009 when we had the house re-roofed and some repairs made to the brickwork.
During the re-pointing, some of the bricks fell away and revealed the timber-framed walls dating
from the Tudor period.
Early maps, including the tithe map, show the layout of the surrounding farm buildings – most,
but not all, are still in existence and are now private houses. The Barn adjoining Farnham Court
is now of course a private dwelling and the large Tithe, or threshing barn in front of the house, a
listed building, dating from the 17th century, is now two private dwellings.
These buildings, also in the Conservation Area, are now surrounded by mansion flats, houses
built in the 1960s and bordered by the sprawling Manor Park estate. It may look spacious when
you are in the confines of our garden, but as most of you know, we have lived for years with the
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threat of a scrapyard on our western boundary and suffered regular invasions by members of
the travelling community.
Looking across our garden from the Church Tower, Windsor Castle is clearly visible on the
horizon with the houses of Manor Park in between.
St Mary’s Church in1821, before it was rebuilt as you see it today, still had the Norman Tower in
situ. There was a church on this site in Norman times and possibly before.
There are still features remaining in the Chancel today which were part of the original Norman
building and there is an original Norman window with modern stained glass in it.
In 1868 the Church had a complete make-over, under the Rev Stirling Marshall’s direction. And
it is this building, with its treasures, that we have inherited today. The rebuilding was done when
the Aesthetic Movement in art and design was at its height, overlapping with the Arts & Crafts
Movement. As such, it has some very unusual features, not least the unique turret clock, with its
Arts & Crafts dials.
Eden Nesfield was the designer, a leading Aesthetic Movement architect, who was noted for his
country house designs. His signature motif, which he put into all his buildings, was a Japanese
Pie ornament, carved into the stone. There are many examples on the exterior and interior of St
Mary’s, which is unusual to see in Church architecture.
There is much of interest in the interior, including this genuine William Morris window. For a
small parish church it contains a wealth of good stained glass of the Victorian era – due to the
number of well-to-do parishioners of the time who had windows installed in memory of loved
ones.
The Tithe Map shows the original ‘parsonage’, later called Rectory, was in Parsonage Lane, a
fair way from the Church. It was opposite Farnham Park Rehabilitation Centre, now knocked
down and formerly called The Chase, home of Francis Culling Carr-Gomm . Unlike so many of
the old houses, the old rectory, renamed, is still in existence and is a listed building.
Stag hunting was a popular sport all over this area which continued into the early 20th C. There
were frequent meets at Salt Hill with royalty often participating, and there is the Stag & Hounds
Pub in Farnham Common.
Entries in a hunting diary kept by a chap called Francis King-King of the 13th Hussars, describe
these occasions vividly. The entries shown are dated April 1900. The first one, concerning the
Berks and Bucks hunt, is about a wretched stag who refused to run, when ‘uncarted’ - they
would bring the stag in a cart to an appropriate spot for the chase to begin – but this one had to
be brow beaten into getting on with it. The second is about a meet of the Queen’s Staghounds
at Farnham Common when the stag “was driven off his line by a lot of cads, and unluckily the
wind was the wrong way.”
Going back to The Old Rectory in Parsonage Lane. John Septimus Grover was the Rector from
1817 to 1853 and lived here with his family and his wife Harriet. In 1846 he was made Provost
of Eton at which time he became an absentee rector and left the running of the parish (as did
the subsequent rector) to the curate, who moved into the Rectory with his family.
There is a wonderful story in the Hubbard Family History (by Judith Hubbard) about “Harriet,
known as Aunt Grover, whose husband, the Rev. Septimus Grover, was the incumbent of
Farnham Royal near Slough, at the time when stag hunting was popular. One day, a stag,
close pressed by hounds and huntsmen, rushed in through the open front door and into the
room where Aunt Grover was sitting. The old lady took this in her stride, shut the stag in and
15
stood squarely at the front door, as hounds and huntsmen were pouring up the drive. When the
leaders demanded to be admitted, she replied that the stag had sought sanctuary under her
roof, and they would only get at it over her dead body. She then told them to remove the hounds
and horses immediately, as they were ruining her garden and drive. She won the day, though
history does not record how she ultimately dealt with a large and terrified stag in her drawing
room.”
Francis Culling Carr-Gomm, who lived in The Chase, was the first Chairman of the Parish
Council, set up in 1894, amongst other roles he was a Churchwarden, to whom all Parish
historians owe a huge debt for his work “Records of the Parish of Farnham Royal”. One of his
many gifts to the Church was the finely carved Lych Gate.
Subsequently a newspaper baron called Gomer Berry, lived in The Chase. He was made a
peer in 1936, when he is said to have asked Garter King of Arms if he could be called Lord
Farnham Royal, and was told no, the King wouldn’t like it, but you could if you wish be called
Lord Farnham Common – which hardly has the same ring to it. [He was actually titled Baron
Kemsley of Farnham Royal. (Later Viscount Kemsley of Dropmore)]
The Ordnance Survey Map of 1876 shows Cork Tree House, an old property, but much nearer
the Church, which was acquired as the new Rectory in the 1890s. It was subsequently
demolished for a lot of new houses to be built in what is now named Rectory Close.
Swiss Villa, now sadly also demolished, opposite the end of Church Road, was the home of the
Roxburghs who were great benefactors of the Parish Church.
Helen Roxburgh commissioned a beautiful oak and stained glass screen which was installed in
St Mary’s Church at her death in 1901. She was also responsible for the William Morris Window
of 1868, erected in memory of her father.
The School was built in 1875. You can see the outline of the original Victorian building in this
photo taken from the church tower. In 1894 there were 79 pupils on the books, although there
were frequent absences for helping with the harvest and so on, today there are 370. Previously
there was a school building in present day Lawklands and prior to 1821 the children were taught
in the church. Daily records were kept, from 1863 onwards, many of which are reproduced in
Duncan Stewart’s excellent and definitive work on the Farnhams, and provide a wonderful
insight into the behaviour and practices of the times.
“17th Jan 1865 – Children dismissed at 11 o’clock to see the stag turned out in adjoining
meadow.”
There are plenty of instances of kids using bad language and being cheeky, of being ‘both
stupid and idle over arithmetic’ and of teachers ‘kicking and caning’ children or hitting them on
the head with a ruler.
An aerial view of Farnham Royal village in 1921 shows the pump, Cork Tree House, Swiss Villa,
The Duke’s Head, The Crown, Farnham House, then called the Poplars, Flint Cottage and
Farnham Cottage. During the latter part of the 19th C, because of its good transport links and
rural character, Farnham Royal became a popular place for the ‘gentry’ to live, or at least to
have a second home. Some of the big houses, now demolished, date from that period.
Farnham Cottage was on present day Devonshire Green – so called after the Head Gardener,
who along with the housekeeper were the principal residents (according to the census returns) –
because the owners the Hon. Magdalen Wellelsley and the Hon Elizabeth Montague were more
often to be found at their London address.
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Magdalen Wellesley was the widow of the Dean of Windsor, and a lady-in-waiting to Queen
Victoria. Here she is when younger with Queen Victoria’s 3rd daughter Princess Helena (Prince
Christian of Schleswig-Holstein, who opened Farnham Common Church in 1907). Although
there are instances of them being visited in Farnham Cottage by Queen Victoria, it was in fact
their second home, their country cottage. The sisters’ memorial is in St Mary’s Church.
Farnham Royal village in 1915 was a sleepy looking place, with trees concealing Farnham
House (the Poplars) and tea shops for visitors who came to enjoy the surrounding attractions
like Burnham Beeches. At this time, a mere 100 years ago, the parish was still rural in character
and Farnham Royal Village was still the centre. It was only at the boundary changes of the
1930s that the Parish lost the southern end down to Salt Hill. In 1975 another boundary change
cut off even more of the southern end. The development of Farnham Common with its shops
and housing took off in a big way post-war, until now it has become the main focus of activity of
the two villages.
Huge changes have occurred in the Parish since records began 900, nearly 1000 years ago.
But it is really only since the 2nd World War that the landscape has changed dramatically as to
be unrecognisable for what it had been over so many centuries. The once rural scattered
farming community has been submerged by the population explosion and disappeared beneath
a tide of suburban housing. But that’s the way of the world. There are more people and they
have to live somewhere. Fortunately, the Farnhams as a whole have still managed to retain
some character, but Farnham Royal is definitely a beleaguered outpost and needs defending for
posterity by positive planning rather than by a blinkered refusal to consider the real issues of
those living on the front line.
Jessica Houdret
Item 11: WRITTEN REPORTS
Thames Valley Police
Last year saw officers move from Burnham Police station to the new base at Taplow. This was a
mostly seamless transition and the new Base is working well. There have been a few changes
to the neighbourhood policing team in recent months. PC Box has left the team and is currently
in an acting sergeant role for one of the response teams at Taplow Police Base. PC Matheson
has come across from response on a secondment basis to the Burnham\Taplow\Farnham
neighbourhood team. He works out of the Farnham Common Library office. PCSO Webster has
returned from maternity leave and works alongside PC Matheson and PCSO Kiffin. PC
Matheson will be returning to the response team when his secondment period finishes at the
end of February.
The neighbourhood policing teams, CID and the uniform teams are working hard throughout
Chiltern and South Buckinghamshire and the focus continues to be preventing burglaries and
bringing those offenders to justice. 1st April 2013 to 31st December 2013 saw a 7% drop in
dwelling burglaries. Year to date we are tracking 7.5% below last year for this type of offence
and we continue to work hard to improve our performance in this area. Over the past 12 months
Thames Valley Police has had a renewed focus on rural crime and all front line officers have
received additional training to assist them in detecting and preventing this type of crime. To
assist a new response plan has been created and this will help us deal with the criminals that
target rural economy most.
PC 6573 Dom Matheson
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Neighbourhood Officer
Farnham Royal & Farnham Common
Farnham Common Junior School
Farnham Common Junior School has had another very full and interesting year. There have
been a number of significant changes to which staff, governors and children have all had to
adapt.
One of the most significant challenges has been the change in staffing. We have seen staff
move on to other jobs, have career changes and retire.
After many years at the school Mrs Jan Huby retired; Mrs Ellis, Mrs Streete, Miss Carlsson and
Mrs Pilborough all moved to take up new posts and further opportunities to develop their
careers. Mrs Helen Jones, our Headteacher for the past five years, also moved to become
Headteacher at a larger primary school just outside Oxford.
It is appropriate to pay tribute to the huge contribution all these staff have made to the school in
their various ways. Everyone has had a unique contribution to make to the education of all our
children as well as having exceptional teaching skills. In particular, Mrs Huby for her work as the
Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator and Mrs Jones who always impressed with her
enthusiasm, drive, commitment and energy to ensure that each child and the school as a whole
moved forward. Mrs Jones has left a legacy of good practice, tight policies and procedures and
above all ways of ensuring that every member of staff knows how well each child is progressing
and what each child needs to fulfil their potential.
During the prolonged recruitment process – a phenomenon familiar to many schools across the
County - Mrs Christine Salter, our Deputy Headteacher, has been our Acting Headteacher. I am
delighted to report that due process has now been completed and Mrs Salter has been
appointed to the post of Headteacher. The governors and staff are all delighted at her welldeserved appointment.
Staffing has also been restructured over the last year. We now have two Assistant
Headteachers in post instead of one Deputy Headteacher. Miss Catherine Weeks was
promoted to one of these posts and Mrs Jane Hurst was appointed to the other. Miss Weeks
had already made significant contributions in the classroom and to the school in general since
her appointment as a Newly Qualified Teacher two years ago. She continues to help move the
school forward and has been in charge of the implementation of the New Primary Curriculum
which officially comes into operation from September this year. FCJS has been very active in
ensuring that the transition to the new curriculum is smooth and seamless and Miss Weeks has
worked with all the staff to put some of the new structure in place ahead of the new academic
year.
Mrs Hurst is a very experienced teacher who has joined the team to support the Headteacher
and staff as we take the children’s learning forward.
We also congratulate Mrs Rebbecca Pineaar on the birth of her daughter just after Christmas
and look forward to her return after Maternity Leave.
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New staff who have joined us include three Newly Qualified Teachers, Miss Hayley Hine, Mr
Chris Mellon and Mr Alex Feaver. All three have settled quickly into the school and are much
respected by their colleagues and loved by the children. Other equally successful appointments
over the last year have been Miss Taiyibha Ahmed, Miss Jade Dalrymple, and Miss Alexandra
Mawn who is covering Mrs Pineaar’s maternity leave.
Our Support Staff should also be mentioned and congratulated on their contributions. Many
have been with the school for a number of years and they have given a real sense of continuity
in the way they have supported the new staff whilst they have “settled in”. We have also
appointed Mrs Julie Smith as our Business Manager as we work to maximise the use of our
resources.
The Governing Body is extremely pleased to report that the school is fully staffed and look
forward to a period of stability as we aim to improve the children’s learning environment and
accelerate their levels of progress and achievement.
Beyond all the staff changes and a new National Curriculum, our current Year 6 children have
participated in the new 11+ test format. The test is now administered over two papers which are
taken on the same day. The rationale behind the format is that “coaching to the test” is much
more difficult and children whose strength may be numerical rather than literal are not
disadvantaged as they may have been under the old format. The test also takes place in
September so that children know before they chose a secondary school what their options are.
The initial success rates at FCJS were lower than under the old format. However, this proved to
be the case across the County in both the state and private schools. The new Review Process
has already taken place (again being completed much more quickly than under the old format)
and we now have some 30+% of our children being offered grammar school places. This
compares favourably with our results under the “old” format and we believe will keep us above
both County and National averages.
The Governing Body now has access to several different forms of data on progress and
achievement for children within the school. This data is scrutinised and discussed with the
Headteacher and staff in order to ensure governors understand how well children are
progressing and achieving and what may be needed in order to accelerate this.
Our overall SATs results continue to be above both County and National averages. Across
Writing and Reading children are attaining expected Level 4 targets and some are exceeding
them to achieve the higher Levels 5 and 6. In Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar 68% of
pupils achieved Level 5 and 7% Level 6. Results in Maths and Science were a little
disappointing as 92% of children achieved Level 4 rather than the predicted 93%. It should be
noted that this, in effect, means 1 child only missed the target and their result is under dispute.
Similarly for Level 5 Maths, 52% of children were predicted to reach this level, but only 47%
achieved it. However, we are very pleased to report that 10% of children achieved Level 6. At
Level 5 for Science we predicted 65% achievement but only made 51%. All results
were,however, above the National Targets.
Whilst there is no discernable pattern to the overall results, the school is making provision for
improved maths teaching to ensure future targets are not only met but exceeded.
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On a very positive note, governors and staff are working hard to further our relationship with the
parents and carers at the school. Mrs Salter has introduced regular “Coffee Mornings” for
parents to stop and talk with staff and governors after they have dropped their children off for
the school day. These have had a very positive response and parents’ comments and
suggestions have been welcomed and acted on. It must also be noted that staff and governors
have also had the opportunity to clarify some misconceptions about what is happening at the
school. We are also arranging further Parent Forums (such as the ones we have held on the
new 11+ format and cyber safety) in order to exchange information and views on specific topics.
We continue to encourage parents to meet with their child’s teacher if they have any concerns.
We are also introducing a more structured Parents’ Evening where parents will be able to see
what targets their child is working towards, how well they are progressing and what the parents
can do to help their child.
The relationship between FCJS and the local community in Farnham Common and Hedgerley is
another area of development. Children are enjoying opportunities to go out into the community
to learn and to represent the school. We are making much more use of The Beeches where the
children have been orienteering and doing some real life sketching with a local artist. Children
visit The Orchard in The Dell for learning and we are looking to develop a closer relationship
with Burnham Beeches Rotary Club through their school’s programme. JAWS, the local running
and cycling club, continue with their support for sports and the Annual House Run at the school.
Our School Choir has sung at Tithe Farm Nursing Home.
We have had further meetings with our neighbours in Sherbourne Walk and Mayflower Way
with regard to the parking problems at the beginning and end of the school day. This has
resulted in a specific mention in Our Home School Agreement with parents rewquesting them to
respect our neighbours and to ask them not to drive down to the school gate.
I would also like to briefly signpost some of the wonderful achievements and new initiatives
which the children have enjoyed:
●we continue the excellent sporting traditions, 12 of our children have attending training in
becoming sports leaders; Year 6 came 2nd and Year 5 came 3rd in a local inter-schools indoor
rowing competition; we reached the zone finals again for the English Schools Table Tennis
Association Tournament ; FCJS won the annual Quad Sports; we had a winner in the Slough
Schools Cross Country race; FCJS came 6th in the Bucks Inter-School Cross Country races; we
came 2nd in a one-day Badminton Tournament with local schools; our Netball Team also won
the Trish Ell Cup, and we look forward to the resumption of the football tournaments with an
improvement in the weather.
●children have taken part in a Science Day at Burnham Grammar School; Year 4 won the
Daveney’s Superstar competition;.
●our PTA continue their magnificent efforts to raise money to improve the school facilities. They
have provided a much improved sound system in our Hall and built a wonderful outdoor wooden
Gazebo which can be used for a variety of activities.
For the future, we would like to “open our doors” more to the community. We have some
wonderful facilities which we would be happy to share. Staff, governors and children are all
looking forward to the challenges the next year will undoubtedly bring and we will continue to
see these as opportunities to take our school to the next level.
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Thank you for your support.
Brenda Cox
Governor
Farnham Common Sports Club
Farnham Common Sports Club is run by a committee of volunteer members, one from each of
the sports played at the club, plus those who take on the various management positions
essential to running the club. Every one of these people give up a large amount of their time to
ensure that the club continues to be a successful and forward looking element of the local
community, and for that I would like to thank them all.
During the past year, our Cricket Club has managed to win the Club Mark accreditation. This is
a great achievement for the cricketers, and we hope it will encourage more youngsters to come
and try out the sport. It is also hoped that the new cricket nets will be installed for this season,
which will greatly enhance the facility.
Our Rugby Club celebrated its 50th Anniversary in August with a wonderful ball, attended by
players and supporters from throughout the whole half-century. The Drifters continue to go from
strength to strength, and again I must thank the many volunteers who run the mini and junior
rugby sections so successfully on Saturday mornings.
We are of course not solely concerned with sport – we do have a thriving social membership –
and now field 2 quiz teams in the local leagues, one of which won both the League and the Cup
last season. New recruits are always welcome!
During the summer we were delighted to host a Health & Wellbeing day for the village, which
was organized by a member of the Parish Council, and we hope that this will be repeated this
year. Whilst on the subject of health, we have also installed a defibrillator behind our bar –
which of course would be available for anyone, should an emergency so require.
To conclude, the club currently has over 700 members, of which more than 300 are juniors,
playing either cricket, hockey, rugby, squash or tennis. Why don’t you come along and give us
a try.
Pauline Gregory
Chair
Farnham Common Community Library
The Library has entered its third year as a community led organisation and continues to be well
supported by its volunteers, Friends of the Library and is providing a valuable service to the
local community.
During the last year we continued to add to shelving space and book stock and now have
almost 40% more stock than when we took over. Much of the increase has come from public
donations but we have also been buying stock on our own account. We have refreshed the
shelving layout added a teenage section and are in the process of expanding the local history
offering. The children’s library in particular is well used due in no small part to the activities that
we put on the school holidays.
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As our programme of events expands we try to maintain a balance between raising funds for the
library and providing interesting activities for the local community. In the latter category were
visits to the Royal Albert Hall, Highgrove Gardens, theatres and concerts. The Christmas supper
attracted record attendance and the lunch and reading groups go from strength to strength.
Other activities included a Quiz Night and the Farnhams Open Gardens day both of which
raised valuable funds for the library. We provide a wide range of activities for children, a weekly
story time, Children’s World Book Day, a Poetry Competition run in conjunction with local
schools and the popular activities’ weeks in the school holidays.
We are fortunate that we have two tenants in the library building Thames Valley Police and
SureStart both of which help us fulfil our role as a community service. We have featured them
both in our regular bi-monthly newsletter explaining and promoting their activities and services.
SureStart have added to the services available from the library and are now using it for the
weekly baby weighing run by the health visitors. In addition we are supporting the One Can
Trust Foodbank that is run by SureStart in conjunction with other community organisations.
Our financial position is currently strong but we are acutely aware of the continuing pressure on
local authority funding which may ultimately have an impact on us. However our supporter base
of Friends of the Library, all of whom make an annual subscription, is now over 350 strong and
our charitable status enables us to benefit from Gift Aid and a valuable concession on local
Council rates. Our newsletter is distributed to over 600 people on our database and twice a year
we circulate it to over 3000 local homes.
The Community Library can and does bring wider social benefits beyond simply the number of
books issued, visitors and borrowers. We are constantly on the look out to add to our range of
activities to cater for people of all ages and backgrounds in the local community and welcome
any suggestions to do this. One of our current projects is to provide computer courses for
beginners. The first part of this, to install a wi-fi facility in the library, will be completed during
April thanks to the funding obtained by Lyn Hazell, BCC District Councillor. We are also working
with Locality to obtain funding for a number of laptop computers following which we hope to start
a series of computer courses for beginners later this year.
In summary the success of the Community Library is due to the large band of Friends,
Supporters and Volunteers who contribute both their time and money. In addition I am grateful
to the strong and enthusiastic management committee each of whom provides a valuable
contribution. I would like to thank all of these groups and individuals for their continued support
and involvement without which we would not be able to sustain such a successful Community
Library.
Michael Mills
Farnham Royal Charities
The Trustees comprising Reverend Saunders and four members of the Parish Council continue
to run the affairs of the Charities in good order.
The Charities hold approximately £19,000 in investments and currently have approximately
£6,300 available for distribution from income from these investments. Future income depends
on the economy and the Charity has seen income substantially reduced in recent years with the
low interest rates.
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Despite regular notices that this money is available, the trustees have only had one application
for funds for this financial year from a young lady referred to them via Sure Start who - through
expecting her first child as a single parent – needed funds to buy equipment for the new baby.
The trustees were able to offer £400 to this new family to alleviate their circumstances to a
degree.
We would encourage anybody who feels they might benefit from a grant from the charity to
contact the Clerk to the Parish Council who will deal with any approach in strict confidence and
as efficiently as possible. There are no difficult hoops to jump through but it will help to be clear
what you need the money for and to have the support of an organisation like Sure Start or a
doctor teacher or other professional so that we can more easily substantiate your claim.
Peter Cathcart
Chairman
Burnham Beeches
1. Awards The reserve received its 10th successive Green Flag Award and its 9th successive
Green Heritage award. The scores in each case were very high.
2 Finance The budgets for both sites remain under considerable stress. The site continues to
invest a significant proportion of the income it generates in projects that will increase the funds
available for the years ahead. The purchase last year of 3 ‘hybrid’ electric bicycles and an
electric quad, have significantly reduced vehicle running costs and made staff more
approachable/visible to the public. The City is currently undertaking a service based review to
identify further savings. The outcome and implications of this review should be known by the
end of the current financial year.
3. Projects The sites pollard restoration project continues a pace and we have just completed
this year’s programme having carried out work on 35 veterans and around 100 new pollards
have also been created. We have also undertaken some experimental work to investigate
further the idea that trees will respond differently to being cut for the first time at different times
of year to try and confirm the optimal cutting period for different tree species.
4. Events As far as guided walks and other events are concerned the team at Burnham
Beeches has delivered 25 programmed events and walks 26 requested walks & talks Total
2500 people.The Beeches also hosted 56 community events, school visits, scout, guide cub and
rainbow hikes and activities, orienteering events, cycle rides community picnics etc.
5. Volunteers Input from volunteers has again been vital for the running of the reserve with
approx. 5500 hours of assistance being provided in the last 12 month. Tasks have included
scrub clearance and path widening works at Stoke Common and the continuing clearance of
scrub from the heath and wetland areas at Burnham Beeches. Volunteers have also acted as
‘eyes and ears’ reporting faults and problems they find out on site, lead walk and events,
provided admin cover, cared for the site’s captive dormouse population and increasingly have
carried out significant amounts of scientific monitoring.
6. Stoke Common We are now into year six of the site’s management plan and extensive
works have been carried out to restore the rare and ancient heath land habitat on the site. Much
of this work has been carried out by volunteers including the Friends of Stoke Common, a
group that continues to flourish. Heavier duty works such as tree felling and mulching have
also been carried out by specialist contractors. The grazing scheme continues to help with the
restoration programme and the herd is now developing nicely in terms of breeding and age.
Ponies have also been successfully used for winter grazing on the common.
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7. Forthcoming projects Livestock grazing at Burnham Beeches. Following the successful trials
of invisible fencing in 2012 and 2013 the project to expand the conservation grazing scheme
(to cover as much of Burnham Beeches as possible) will continue again this year with further
trials in new areas and with the intention of having livestock grazing extensively across the
site by May 2015. This expansion is in line with the current management plan and will trigger
funding commitments by DEFRA via the Higher Level Stewardship Scheme.
Introduction of Dog Control Orders at Burnham Beeches. Following the granting of Secondary
Authority status (May 2012) and consideration of evidence of need, the City of London's Epping
Forest and Commons Committee approved (September 2012) the statutory consultation
process necessary to introduce Dog Control Orders at Burnham Beeches National Nature
Reserve. During 2013 an extensive public consultation was held on site from July –
November. Plans have now been drawn up and agreed with the Burnham Beeches
Consultation Group - and will return to the Epping Forest and Commons Committee for final
approval in March Statutory consultation on the implementation of DCO’s will then follow later
in 2014 with the aim of introducing Dog Control Orders on the site in early autumn 2014. The
City of London has worked hard over the last 15 years or so to accommodate the needs of the
dog walking community on this highly protected site but this has only taken us so far and sadly
the number of dog related incidents on site remains consistently high. It is our sincere hope
that the proportionate use of DCO’s will help to reduce the amount of irresponsible dog
ownership that presently occurs, improve the quality of visit for the majority of site users,
enhance its wildlife habitat function and ensure that the majority of dog walkers continue to
enjoy the site without interruption.
Changes for the local Management Team. The Superintendent of Burnham Beeches and Stoke
has recently agreed to oversee the management of the City of London’s Commons in Surrey
until April 2015. Together with Burnham Beeches and Stoke Common, these 7 additional open
spaces total 2100 acres and now bring extensive areas of chalk downland to the habitat
portfolio. This new responsibility is spread over 4 separate charities, each with its own Head
Ranger. Whilst the Superintendent will continue to be mainly based at the Burnham Beeches
Office the day to day management of the suite of sites will rest with the Head Rangers. This is a
significant change for the team at Burnham Beeches as no additional resources have been
provided.
Martin Hartup
Head Ranger
The Royal British Legion
I am able to review my 7th year as RBL Branch Chairman, and 2013 has been a good year with
excellent achievements by the RBL Committee and Branch.
In MARCH we again held our Annual Dinner at Stoke Park, and we are - as ever – deeply
grateful to Roger KING for his continued support for our Branch and its aims. We were
delighted to have a good number of attendees in these recessionary times – almost 100 – at the
Dinner, and we were extremely gratified to welcome our Member of Parliament, Dominic
GRIEVE, MP.
During the year we have had a number of fundraising events, which offer the additional benefit
of being great social events, including :
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Beetle Drive in MARCH
Plant Sale in MAY
Sponsored Walk in Burnham Beeches in JULY
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A new event, a Late Summer Buffet Lunch in SEPTEMBER
‘Bangers and Mash’ Supper in OCTOBER
Attendance at Village Fetes in Stoke Poges, the Farnhams, and Hedgerley
Our Poppy Appeal in 2012 achieved a new record for the Branch – and £ 20,000 was forwarded
to Headquarters from our Poppy Appeal again placing us 2nd in the County for Branches without
a Club, beaten only by Aylesbury. A magnificent achievement by one and all.
In 2013, for the first time, we were able to collect at the Beaconsfield Motorway Service Area
which actually falls in Hedgerley, and the amounts collected were truly excellent, augmenting
our more conventional collecting. Our presence was augmented by a visit of the Military Jeep
driven by one of our supporters from Stoke Poges.
Here, I would like to pay tribute once again to the hard work and leadership shown by Cherry
and Dave MARRIOTT, who – as our Joint Poppy Appeal Organisers – have now served our
Branch so well for over 10 years performing this vital role for the Branch. We owe them a very
big ‘thank you’ for all they have done, and with some of the work involved in the Poppy Appeal
being delegated to Committee Members and Poppy People, we hope that this year’s Appeal
will be a new record.
This last year, we commemorated both Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day. In both the
Farnhams, Stoke Poges and Hedgerley, representatives of many local Groups joined in the
commemorations, and with wreaths laid from the respective Parish Councils. We were
delighted that the Chairman of South Bucks District Council – Cllr Santokh CHOKKAR – was
able once again to attend the Remembrance Service in Farnham Common.
During the year, Hardeep SINGH, a Villager in The Farnhams, very generously paid for a new
flag at the Village Flagpole in Farnham Common, as the former flag was sadly very weatherworn.
Our Committee has seen several changes, and our Vice Chairman – Charles KING – resigned
for family reasons ; Howard GIBBS, our Standard Bearer stood down to concentrate on the
Legion Bikers with which he is associated ; and Ruth POTTS, our Treasurer for several years,
sadly stood down for health reasons. We have been delighted to welcome Frank HARPERJONES as Standard Bearer, Sian FOSTER as Vice Chairman, and Andy CROW as Treasurer.
Many thanks to all the Committee |Members who help make our Branch ‘tick’.
Regarding Branch Membership, sadly we continue to lose Members – all too often by death but your Committee and Peter PRICE, our industrious Membership Secretary, are working hard
to enrol new Members and especially those from the younger generations. Our presence at
local Fetes and Show is enhanced greatly by the display of the special banners to help publicise
our Branch.
With the spotlight again this year being shone so brightly on our Armed Forces’ service, and
thereby losses in Afghanistan, there has never been a better time to interest younger
generations. Please can we all bear this in mind when chatting to younger people, and thereby
potential Members, these days. One misconception that we must be certain to overcome, is the
belief held by so many that Membership of the Royal British Legion is open only to those with a
service background.
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NAOMI C ARNOLD, MBE
Chairman
The Children’s Centre
The Childrens Centre is based at the Farnham Common Community Library and there are two
full time Family Support Workers and a Manager who also runs another centre in Burnham.
The area that our centre serves includes Stoke Poges, Fulmar, Wexham Street, the Farnhams
and Hedgerley but because we are so close to the border with Slough we also welcome families
from Slough where parents have found provision is limited.
Sure Start is focused on giving children the opportunity to learn and develop so that they are
able to reach childhood milestones. Activities at the centre can help children prepare for preschool and school. It also gives parents and carers support where needed and an opportunity
to meet other local families when being a parent can be an isolating experience.
In the current year we have been looking to support teenage parents, lone parents, workless
households, disabled children, and families where the Dad was a primary carer. We believe
that we have made a significant impact but there is much work to do. One of the frailties of the
system is that the families most in need of support are often the hardest for our Family Support
Workers to reach. Although the general Stay and Plays in each of the villages, the Story Songs
and Rhymes and other fun events are very important, it is the work that Family Support Workers
do in homes around the villages and behind closed doors where the impact is greatest.
The fact that we are the only non purpose built centre in the County has proved a strength
because it allows us to use our mobility to good effect by hiring venues in the hearts of the
communities we seek to reach. Other centres can tend to get caught in the trap of feeling they
need to provide services at their premises. Experience is that parents are far more likely to
come to events offered in their vicinity and many families only have one car used for work,
while some have no car at all and public transport links remain poor between the villages we
serve.
We work closely with community groups in the villages liaising with the schools, nurseries,
Churches, the Library, the Police, Adult Learning, Information Services and other institutions
and agencies . Cross community working has been a feature of the year as illustrated by the
introduction of the One Can Trust food bin. This was set up by Family Support Worker Janet
Rooney and Pastor and Cllr Vicky Thompson. They worked with the Churches and the Library
to get the initiative up and running. The working group is now seeking volunteers to extend the
reach of the service beyond families with children of Sure Start age. At Christmas time this
year, Farnham Common’s food bin was self supporting and fed 11 families through an
extremely difficult time. It has caught the attention of Dominic Grieve QC MP who is coming to
visit the Children’s Centre and to talk to One Can Trust volunteers.
Parents have been able to seek adult learning courses offered in the village halls. A careers
adviser has seen many parents taking up the opportunity of a free consultation to give them
advice on how to get back into work after taking the time to bring up their young children. Other
parents have used the Citizens Advice Service. Going forward there is going to be sessions on
dealing with debt and managing budgeting, something that is a significant issue in these difficult
times.
I would like to take the opportunity to thank the Staff at the centre, our partners in the
community and the Advisory Board who come from the villages and have greatly enhanced our
strategic focus this year.
David Banks
Chairman of the Childrens Centre Advisory Board
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