Your Letters
To the EditorMay I thank everyone in the Parish who supported me in the County Council election which saw a record turnout in Chiltern Ridges of 50.4%, the highest in Buckinghamshire!
Please let me know of any concerns you wish me to take up with officers at County Hall and I look forward to seeing you at our events during the summer.
Tricia Birchley
County Hall
To the Editor
On behalf of Tim and Judy Hart, can we please say a huge thank you to all who helped on Sunday 17th May when the gardens at Kingswood House and 2 Kingswood Cottages were open for the National Gardens Scheme (NGS)?
Once again you could have set your clock by the rain which fell at 2:00pm, just as we opened; but many hardy souls ventured forth undaunted (approx 300). It takes tremendous organisation to man the car parking, plant stall and provide the delicious teas. So many thanks once again to the bakers, parkers, sellers and servers -£2,070 was raised for the NGS and £691 for the Church.
Trish and Jon Swain
Swan Bottom
Potter Row? To the Editor
Interesting name for a row. Not a lot of potters about as far as I can see. Plenty of long standing potholes though. Is there some connection? Or is it more to do with ‘pottering about’? Like the Council, pottering about half-filling just a few of the potholes like they do?
We need to be told. Clearly, in our new government system, expenses can get some very interesting-to-hear explanations these days.
Philip Lund
The Lee
To the Editor
Through the Editor I accept Mr Campbell’s and Mr Sully’s apology.
Big time for The-Lee being compared with Machu Pichu and the pyramids – hope Santa Maria della Salute and the Grand Canyon won’t sulk.
How lovely – I’d no idea “families who live in this parish are largely responsible for the upkeep and protection of the woods and areas of natural beauty”.
That’s a weight off my mind! So I no longer have to farm responsibly, employ professional woodmen, mow and chain the green, maintain the hedges, trim overhanging branches, keep the Park grazed, contribute towards tidying the churchyard, plant and look after the wild bird and plant reserve and do the church bonfire. News flash: sodden oasis cannot be burnt, please, please take it home – I’ve just collected a sackfull.
Oh yes, we also try and look after all the let property with the inimitable help of Nick Humphreys.
I’m thinking of taking up ping-pong with all the spare time I didn’t know I had.
Liz Stewart-Liberty
The Lee
To the Editor
I wonder if you can help. I am doing a masters degree in History of Film at Birkbeck College and am researching a film maker from St Albans who set up a film company, almost one hundred years ago, with a gentleman called Andrew Heron, from ‘Lee’.
Around 1913-1915, Heron provided the capital for Arthur Melbourne Cooper to set up Kinema Industries Ltd. This company folded when Heron volunteered for active service in WWI.
On one, usually reputable, academic database, this Heron and the company were said to have been based in Lee, Kent. However, Wikipedia suggests that Cooper went to live in Manor Park, Lee.
I have checked with Kent archives and then the Lewisham archives (because Lee was part of Lewisham) – neither has a record of anyone by this name nor a listing for this business.
Also, I have reason to believe that Melbourne Cooper would not have ‘strayed’ so far - since I believe he was living in Barnet at the time. Therefore, I am wondering if they mean YOUR Lee?
Please could you let me know if this rings any bells or if anyone can point me the right direction?
Jo Coleman
Freelance Writer/Broadcaster
jo_coleman_home@yahoo.co.uk