Please call Anna on 292013 if you would like to arrange to see the catalogues. All commission will go to the Aylesbury-based charity The Lymphoma Association, which was founded by her parents and which supports people affected by lymphatic cancer.
Table-top Sale. CHUF (Chearsley and Haddenham Under-Fives) raised £300 at last month's table-top sale with £150 going to Haddenham Library, to buy books for the junior section. The cheque was due to be presented yesterday at a Bounce & Rhyme session at CHUF, to which parents were being invited.

Afternoon Teas. Haddenham Christian Aid committee took part in a new national initiative 'Tea Time for Christian Aid' on September 21 and raised about £97 for the charity. The event attracted large numbers of parents and pupils from the nearby schools and they enjoyed the home-made cakes which had been decorated to appeal to children.

Feast Service. Crowds gathered round the Pettigrove family's fairground carousel on September 23 for an open air service led by the vicar, the Rev Chris Denham. The Baptist minister, the Rev Carol Murray, led the prayers and Jonny Hollingsworth gave a talk on the subject of 'Faith'. A bucket collection was taken and about £140 was raised for the Thursday Club, which provides lunches and activities every week for older members of the community.

Concert. Sheilagh Armitt reports that the Voices for Hospices concert at St Mary's Church on October 6 was very successful and raised £701 for the Florence Nightingale House hospice.

The Haddenham Singers, who got together to rehearse for the first time that morning, sang their way brilliantly through a programme of light classical music conducted by Ian Westley, and the singing was interspersed by pieces performed by Trillium (Sheilagh Armitt - Soprano, Sue Edmonds - Flute and Mary Westley - Piano). Tim Armitt was MC for the evening and a volunteer from the hospice spoke briefly about its work.

The new digital organ, which had been installed just days before the concert, was used (as accompaniment to some of the singing) for the very first time and is now in regular use for services at the church. Villagers will also have a chance to hear it in use at an organ recital planned for next spring.

BIRTHS. Congratulations go to two former County First School pupils on the birth of new babies. Chris Sloan (CFS) and Clare, who live in Exeter, had Alex Thomas on October 12 - a brother for Nicholas and 2nd grandchild for villagers Stuart and Gill Sloan. Suzi née Stanbury (a receptionist at the Haddenham Medical Centre) and her husband Stuart Lebross had a 2nd daughter, Daisy-Mae, on October 16 - sister to Eloise (4) and another grandchild for villagers Robert and Joy Stanbury.

FAREWELLS. A former Darby and Joan Club leader has died recently in Scunthorpe. Nancy Keay, who lived in Haddenham for many years, took over the leadership of the club from Heather Handfield-Jones in 1983 and after handing over the leadership some years later to Elizabeth Boyd, she continued on the committee. Mary Wellby, the current leader, who joined the club as secretary about 20 years ago, has fond memories of Miss Keay who was very helpful in guiding the novice secretary in her new role.

Mary said she was a good organiser who liked things to be done correctly but she was also good fun to be with. Before her retirement, Miss Keay was in charge of training student nurses at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. She moved to Scunthorpe some years ago to be near to family.

Although Pat West, who died last month, had only been in Haddenham for about 12 years (having moved here with her late husband David to be near to family living locally) she has left her mark on several local organisations.

She served as a volunteer driver for the Fish (good neighbour) Scheme, was a volunteer with the now defunct WRVS Meals-on-Wheels and was a Friend (ie supporter) of Darby and Joan. She was involved, as a member, in a number of village organisations - including Haddenham WI, Haddenham Village Society, Haddenham Museum Trust, Haddenham Horticultural Society and Haddenham U3A – and particularly enjoyed the outings organised by the different societies.

A service of thanksgiving for Swiss-born Joanna Allum (89), held on October 17 at St Mary's Church, was attended by members of her family from Switzerland. Mrs Allum came to this country in 1936 to learn English but stayed on and eventually met and married Jim, with whom she moved to Haddenham about 32 years ago. Mrs Allum was a knowledgeable gardener and helped out at Tythrop Manor for a number of years as a part-time gardener. She was also a member of the Haddenham Horticultural Society committee for several years until 1999.

In recent years she attended the Red Cross Day Centre and she was a long-standing member of the Darby and Joan Club, who particularly loved the outings. Club leader Mary Wellby said she was a lovely lady who always thought well of people. Mrs Allum has now been reunited with her late husband in a double grave in St Mary's churchyard. She leaves 2 sons, a daughter, 6 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.
Condolences go to villager Sheila Hazel and her three daughters on the sudden death last month of Alan (67).

THIS WEEK. Visitors and/or prospective members will be welcome at any of the meetings publicised below.

Carry on Learning. Catherine Dolman will give a talk on Mary Queen of Scots at the WEA session today (10.30am) at the Haddenham Abbeyfield, Stonehill House.

Brownies. A table top sale of cakes, toys, children's clothes and books etc is being held today (5-6pm) at the Scout and Guide Centre in aid of Wheel Power (the charity for British wheelchair sport).

Christmas Shopping. CHUF (Chearsley and Haddenham Under Fives) are holding a Christmas Shopping Evening at Chearsley Village Hall tonight (7.30pm). There will be stalls for children's books, gifts, jewellery, handbags, home-made preserves, Christmas cards and more. Admission £1.50, including seasonal refreshments.

Coffee Morning. The November Veterans' Coffee Morning is tomorrow (10am- noon) at 4 White Hart Lane, and veterans of all conflicts will be welcome.

Village Society. Those going to Haddenham Village Society's meal at Aylesbury College tomorrow are reminded that the coach leaves Church End at 6.40pm and Fort End at 6.45pm.

Snakemoor. Please note that the next work group session is November 17 and not November 10 as given in the Haddenham Village News diary. Details next week.

Autumnwatch Tree Party. To celebrate the launch of BBC's Autumnwatch this week, Buckinghamshire Adult learning and Family Learning are getting together to hold a free Family Learning Activity at Haddenham Library on Saturday (11am- 1pm) for anyone aged 5 and over. There's a chance to learn all about nature, join the spotter's club and take part in some craft activities but places are limited, so to join in the fun ask a member of staff or call Sally on 01296 382300.

Dolls' Houses. Freda and George Dorrell's biennial doll's house exhibition is on Saturday (10am-4pm) in the village hall. A new club from Halton will join clubs from Aylesbury, High Wycombe, Princes Risborough, and Thame to put on displays of members' work and you can also see individual houses displayed by their owners.

A craft workshop will give you a chance to learn how to make your own miniature currant buns and craftsmen will demonstrate their skills and sell kits and ready-made items for dolls' houses. The charities benefiting from the event - the Leukaemia Research Fund and Hearing Dogs for Deaf People - will also have a stand each. Snack lunches and other refreshments will be available. Entry is £3 (children £1).
Charity Sale. The annual Tearfund and BRF (Bible Reading Fellowship) Christmas sale, of gifts made in developing countries and books, is on Saturday (10am-3pm) at St Mary's Centre. There will also be home-made soup lunches.

Quizzes. Saturday's quiz at the Youth and Community Centre in aid of Utugi is now fully booked but there are two other quizzes on the same evening. A family charity quiz with supper, games and raffle is being held in the Haddenham Community Junior School hall (7-11pm) in memory of Mason Jack Longley and in aid of the SCBU (Special Care Baby Unit) at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. Tickets are £7.50 each (or 8 tickets for the price of 7) for teams of 4-8 people and are available by calling Bev on 290340 or 07972 156953.

You will need to take your own drinks.

This month's Cricket Club quiz is at the Red Lion (7.30pm) and teams of up to 5 people pay £2.50 per person at the door.

Remembrance service. The service, organised by Churches Together in Haddenham, will be held at St Mary's Church on Sunday (3pm) and continue at the war memorial, where representatives of local organisations will lay wreaths and a 2 minute silence will be observed. The service is preceded by a procession of colours from the village hall to the church.

St Mary's Fellowship. At Monday's meeting (2.30-4pm) in St Mary's Centre, Alex Taylor will be giving an illustrated talk on the Bridewell Therapeutic Gardens.

MEDICAL CENTRE. Haddenham Medical Centre will be closed for the afternoon next Thursday (from 12.30pm) for this month's 'Protected Time for Learning' session. Emergency cover is provided during this time.