It was also pleasing to note that a number of children (aged up to 15 years) entered exhibits in the open classes, where they were competing with adults.

President Ian Chalk thanked the hard-working committee who had organised and run the show before presenting the trophies (which are awarded for the most points in a group of classes) and the Best in Section Rosettes (which go to the best exhibit in each section).

Graeme and Chrissie Hollingdale did well by winning the RHS Banksian Medal for the most prize money gained in the Horticultural Classes, the Mabel Parkinson Memorial Trophy for the most points gained in all classes in the show, the Major Sladen Challenge Cup for Flower Classes except Dahlias and Chrysanthemums, and a Best in Section rosette for Flowers (for a Vase of six kinds of Perennial Flowers); R Cartwright won both the cups for the vegetable classes - the Robert G Green Challenge Cup for a resident of Haddenham, including Aston Sandford, Kingsey and Scotsgrove, and the Dick Rose Memorial Cup which has no residence restrictions and Mick Penn won both the Bert Wells Perpetual Trophy for the Dahlia classes and the Laurels Chrysanthemum Challenge Trophy. Brenda Bonnage, who returned to live in Haddenham a couple of years ago and was competing in the show for the first time, was surprised to win the Alan Boddington Memorial Trophy for the Art classes, which is presented in memory of her late uncle.

The children's trophies went to Olivia Flaxton, who won the L M R Webb Challenge Cup and Shield for under 11s, and Natalie Quinn, who won the Jubilee Junior Cup and Shield for 11-15 year olds. Dorothy A Pooley won the Best in Section rosette for Art (for a Painting in watercolour, Landscape - an exhibit which also won the Bucks Association of Horticultural Societies' rosette, which is awarded each year to an outstanding exhibit in one of the sections, on a rotating basis).

PARISH COUNCIL. At the September meeting of the full council, the following were among the items discussed and/or agreed. As there was no monthly meeting in August, many of the items refer back to committee meetings held in July.

Playing Fields. Potentially controversial proposals for the expansion of sporting facilities in the village were made by David Impey and Jon Pawsey of Haddenham Cricket Club at the finance and general purposes committee's July meeting and were due to be discussed at the committee's September meeting. There may be more information at next week's full council meeting.

CCTV. The council agreed to accept a quote of £6,290 - from the same company which supplied the Haddenham Medical Centre - to replace the ageing CCTV equipment around Banks Park with a digital system. As the council no longer has to contribute towards the cost of our PCSO, most of the cost of the CCTV will be paid from the savings made there.
Village Hall. It was reported that the Walter Rose Room and the Mabel Parkinson Room had been redecorated, a disabled toilet for the former had been installed and remedial work had been carried out on the toilet in the latter.

AVDC. District Cllr Judy Brandis reported that the Conservation Area document for Haddenham was due to be completed by the end of this month and there will be a six week consultation period before it is ratified. Villagers will have been delighted to note that the 'Booze Buster' sign outside McColls was finally taken down after AVDC threatened to take the company to court. (Retrospective planning permission for the sign had been refused earlier in the year.)
Allotments.

It was agreed that the rent for five, 10 and 20 pole plots should be raised as from Michaelmas 2008 and that track repairs should be done before this winter sets in - even though only one quote was received. The gate will be closed from Bonfire Night until March 5 to protect the drive from cars when the ground is very wet. Brian Bush has agreed to join the committee to represent the allotment holders.

Street Lights. The police had recommended that street lighting at the King's Head end of the High Street should be improved and the council agreed quotes for supplying new lights there, in Rosemary Lane and in Townside (opposite Pope's Acre).

Cycle Routes. Darren Divall, county council team leader for cycling and walking, attended the environmental committee's meeting and gave a presentation on cycle routes. Those campaigning for a Haddenham to Thame route will have to wait - the route is in the medium term plan for Local Transport Schemes and a case for funding will be put together in the 2009/10 financial year (based on its anticipated use for 'utility cycling' - to work, station etc).

A villager suggested asking Thame Town Council for support for the plan as Oxfordshire (OCC) has pulled expenditure out of rural routes but Mr Divall has agreed with OCC to discuss this further. Funding has now been secured for a feasibility study to be undertaken by Jacobs.
Fair. It was agreed that the fee charged for the use of Church End Green by the annual fair should rise from £200 to £250 - the next fee review will be in 2010.

Open Forum. Concern was expressed by a villager about the long-standing pot-holes in the Banks Parade car park, one of which had caused someone to fall off her bike and break her arm. The parish clerk said she had been emailing owner Kim Bowers for several months about the state of the road surface and had been promised repairs. I noticed last week that the pot-holes have recently been filled in.

In connection with the council's July litter pick, thanks to people who keep their own verges clean and tidy were noted.

A question was asked about the location of a nominated waste disposal site in Haddenham (as publicised a few weeks ago in the paper). Cllr David Truesdale said that the proposed site was on the Airfield Business Park but the council has since written to say that this area is already committed for business development.

EDUCATIONAL GRANTS. If you were intending to apply to the Haddenham Educational Charity for a small grant (for Haddenham residents only) towards the purchase of books and equipment for use on university/college courses starting this autumn, please return your completed application forms to the parish clerk by Sunday. If you don't yet have a form, you can get one from the parish office (open tomorrow morning until 11.30am) or leave a message on the parish council's voicemail (292411).

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

Today. Joint meeting of Haddenham Horticultural Society and Haddenham Village Society (8pm) in the Walter Rose Room at the village hall, with naturalist Victor Scott on growing Alpines.
Coffee Morning. Mary and Malcolm White are, once again, hosting the annual coffee morning in aid of Macmillan Nurses - with bring-and-buy, cakes and produce, plants and raffle - on Friday (10am-noon) at 22 Rudds Lane.

Kingsey Fete. Kingsey will be hoping for better weather this Saturday than on July 21, when they had to cancel the summer fete at the eleventh hour due to wet weather. The fete will be held at Tythrop House from 2pm and features music by the Celebration Jazz Band, a children's entertainer and all the usual stalls. Entry is £1 for adults and 50p for children and much of the proceeds will go the village church (St Nicholas).

Ferret Racing. In a new initiative for the County First School and St Mary's School, the two schools are holding a joint fundraising event on Saturday - a ferret race night - at the village hall (7.30 for 8pm). For details and bookings call Sam Nix on 299128 or Rachael Barnard (290812).

Harvest Services. The Methodist Church has its harvest service on Sunday (10.15am) and St Nicholas Church, Cuddington, has one for all ages at 10am. A Haddenham Benefice sung evensong for harvest will be held at Cuddington at 6.30pm.

U3A. At Monday's joint meeting of Haddenham U3A with Haddenham Village Society, (2:15 for a 2:30pm start at the Youth and Community Centre, Woodways), actor Bruce Alexander will be giving the talk (postponed from September 3) on The Pre-Domesday Vale and Acting in the 21st Century. Members of the U3A are due to make a trip to see his new play, Life after Scandal, tomorrow at the Hampstead Theatre, London.
Parish Council. The October meeting is next Monday (7.30pm) in the Walter Rose Room.

Carry on Learning. Juliet Rinkel, who talked about My time in Saudi Arabia at the Thursday Club earlier this month, will be repeating her talk at the Haddenham Abbeyfield, Stonehill House, next Wednesday (10.30am).

Library Van. The small mobile library van will be paying its monthly visit to Butte Furlong (12.35-12.50pm) and Old Mill Close (12.55-1.10pm) next Wednesday.

Darby and Joan. Villager Sue Oswell will be giving an illustrated talk on Chinese Children's Clothes at next Wednesday's meeting (2pm) at the Youth and Community Centre, Woodways, and will be passing round examples of garments.

Archaeology. The WEA will accept late bookings for its seven week course, 'Digging Deeper: More Archaeology' with Dr Jill Eyers, starting next Wednesday (2-4pm) in the Methodist Chapel. Call Carole Fryer on 01296 748538 for details and bookings.

Quiz. The Rose and Thistle, Station Road, has its monthly charity quiz for the Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance Trust on Wednesday (8pm).

NEXT THURSDAY. Check next week's Bucks Herald for details on two afternoon meetings: Beryl Hulbert's talk on Wildlife in Britain at the Thursday Club and Mrs A Woodward's talk on The Roaring Twenties at Haddenham WI's meeting.