Buckden - a Huntingdonshire Village

THE BUCKDEN ROUNDABOUT 186 invited to advertise events such as meetings and social events. Needless to say, everything began to fall into place at quite a rapid pace. In the weeks leading up to the launch, Canon Griffiths wrote a short message which was delivered to all households to ensure that everyone knew that a new community magazine was to be published in the first week of September, and would be delivered free to every house in Buckden. He emphasised the way it should improve communications and encourage life together as a community, and avoid unnecessary competition and clashing of dates. The first monthly issue – which opened with an introductory message from the late Mr Jim Davie, then Chairman of Buckden Parish Council - was collated in the kitchen at Coneygarth in the High Street and took the best part of a day to complete. After this first marathon session of collating, the production party was invited by Father Fischer to carry out future collating in the refectory at the main house of the Towers. Not only was there more space, but also a welcome cup of coffee for all who helped. With each month things became easier, though not without the occasional setback to be overcome. The village clubs and organisations made good use of the facility, and the Parish Council was able to reach everyone in the village with the items of interest discussed at the monthly meetings. But behind the scenes there were regular hiccups with the printing, and after only a few months the duplicating machine ground to a halt with the pressure of churning out 12,000 sheets a month. At these times it was necessary to turn to the school and also the scouts for help with the use of their duplicators. Another machine had to be bought, another second-hand one, which meant having to appeal again for financial help. Thankfully, sufficient money was realised and things ran smoothly for a few more years. The venue for the printing and the collating changed again when the printer needed to be re-housed, the new home being the Methodist Schoolroom. The work continued there for a number of years, thanks to the hospitality of the Methodist Church. However, it was still difficulties with the unpredictable duplicators which caused the team the most concern, and eventually the Parish Council came to the rescue by taking over the financial and running costs of the magazine. It also provided a new printer (as opposed to duplicator), which is serviced on a regular basis and copes admirably with the pounding it takes each month. This was like an answer to a prayer, and since that happened, things have run like clockwork. The Roundabout could not function without the dedication and professionalism of the typist who always manages to fit items into each page with such skill. As indeed, did her predecessors, all five of them, over the past thirty years. The magazine’s Diary of Events provides parishioners with a record of most of the village happenings over the coming month, and is compiled very proficiently by yet another volunteer. The duplicating or printing - definitely the cause of the most frustrations over the years - has been in very capable hands at all times, with several different people taking on this onerous job since 1979. On the last Thursday of every month a group of twelve or more volunteers gathers at the Millennium Hall to put the month’s magazine together, This task now takes less than two hours - a far cry from the early days when it took at least a whole morning. The final job of the monthly production is carried out by the forty people who deliver the magazine to all the houses, again on a voluntary basis. Thirty years is not a very long history, but thanks to the dedication of an enthusiastic team of volunteers, the people of Buckden have been made aware of most of the events in the village throughout those years and hopefully will continue to do so for many years to come. Editor’s note In the summer of 2009, Brenda Steadman announced that the September issue of the Roundabout would be the last to appear under her editorship. Mrs Pamela Davenport, a former parish clerk, was named as her successor. Brenda’s long service to Buckden was recognised by an invitation to a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace.