Elsewhere in this issue you will have seen the Newsletter from Robin Peirce, Chairman of the Ewelme Watercress Beds Management Committee. He refers to the development of a Revised Management Plan for the cressbeds project, to be prepared by a Review Group which will be independent of the Committee. He also emphasises that the process will include wide scale consultation with all the various parties in order to take account of issues that are important to the village.
The Friends’ Committee very much welcomes this positive initiative and believe that the Chiltern Society is also to be congratulated and thanked for the magnificent efforts that are put into the practical management of the site by all the volunteers and their coordinators. It should also be said, however, that as was pointed out in the recent survey, not everyone is entirely comfortable with all aspects of the existing management arrangements. Genuine concerns have been expressed by some villagers in relation to issues such as the perhaps unanticipated number of visitors to the site, the privacy and security of adjacent properties, parking and congestion on the High Street, the Visitor Centre, potential disturbance of wildlife etc. If you are one of those with particular views on these, or any other matters to do with the current management of the cressbeds, which are such an important part of the historic and visual appeal of our village, then you may wish to let your feelings be known directly to any of the Review Group members to which Robin refers in his newsletter. We understand that David Langston's particular brief is to be relationships with the village. David, Gemma Benoliel and George Cannon all live in the village and most people of course will also know Dr Anne Millar and Tom Stevenson from Benson. They are all most certainly very good friends of Ewelme and the cressbeds and we will very much appreciate their efforts to arrive at a revised Management Plan which everyone will be happy with.
We will be organising another Quiz in the Village Hall, commencing at 7pm on Saturday February 16th 2008. This is always a very popular event and Vernon Miners has kindly agreed to think up yet another set of challenging questions! There will be 6 people in each team as usual and this year the Quiz will end by 10.30pm at the latest. The cost will be held at £8 per person as per the last four years, to include supper and the cost of the membership subscription for 2008. Bookings will be on a ‘first come, first served’ basis, and if demand outstrips supply, preference will be given to teams consisting entirely of existing paid-up members of The Friends (everyone who attended the Quiz in January this year is already a paid-up member for 2007).
So get your team of 6 together, list out the names and addresses of all team members, and post or deliver the list, plus cash or a cheque for £48 (payable to Friends of Ewelme Watercress Beds), to Cynthia Winfield at Aquelma, Burrows Hill, Ewelme. The team leader will then be sent 6 tickets for what will definitely be another great evening! If you would like to take part and are not able to find a team to join, let Cynthia know and she will try to fit you into a team that may be short.
All of our existing 260+ members will receive Renewal Invitations in early 2008 (if they have not already booked to take part in the Quiz - see above). We very much hope that you will assist our administration by renewing in good time, either unprompted or in response to our invitation when received. If, however, you have recently come to the village and are not already a member of The Friends do please consider joining us. You will be most welcome. Our funds are directed only and specifically towards the maintenance of the cress beds and surrounding land. Just put your name, address, and £3 per person membership fee in an envelope and put it through the letterbox at Yew Tree House, next to the ford on the High Street.
Our AGM will take place at 7.30pm on Monday 11th February 2008. All members are welcome. Any resolutions to be put to the AGM must be received in writing by the Secretary no less than 30 days prior to the date of the meeting. Any member wishing to stand for election to the Committee must obtain a Nomination Form from the Secretary and return it to her duly signed no later than 7 days prior to the date of the meeting. All 7 members of the existing Committee as below have already expressed their willingness to be re-elected in 2008.
Des Dix - Chairman 838876
Patrick Gosset - Vice Chairman and Publicity 838228
Peter Lemaire - Treasurer and Membership admin 835660
Cynthia Winfield - Secretary 835687
Vernon Miners - Events and Fundraising 839209
Juliette Nissen - Minutes Secretary 835644
Alisa Moseley - Asst Minutes Secretary 825346