August 2016

VC Commemoration for Captain John Green, VC, 1

July 2016

by Fiona Shirley, Chairman of Buckden Parish Council

I usually write this column in a rather impartial voice. However, this month, I would like to give a much more per-

sonal view.

I felt very proud and privileged to be a part of the Ceremony of Commemoration on 1

July, when the commemo-

rative paving stone for Captain John Green was unveiled. Captain Green, a son of Buckden, was awarded the VC,

sadly posthumously, for his valour during the first day of The Battle of the Somme. The day was particularly poign-

ant as people throughout the country remembered that dreadful day, 100 years ago. At our ceremony, we also

remembered all the sons of Buckden and Stirtloe who died during the First World War and we were so fortunate to

have relatives of 5 of the men listed on our War Memorial at the ceremony.

People have been kind enough to say that they thought the ceremony was very fitting and moving and we had

many special guests who took their part, who I have already thanked. However, these occasions require a great

deal of work and I would like to thank the following for all the efforts that they put in prior to, and on, the day.

Thank you to:

Our Village Handyman, Martin Craddock for all the work he carried out restoring areas of the Green and War Me-

morials and Chris Richardson for assisting with installing the commemorative stone;

John Chase, our Clerk, for making all sorts of things happen, and Alan Newman, our PSCO, for his assistance;

Our ‘Tea Ladies’, ably led by Chris Lawrence;

Judith Alban, for the beautiful flowers at both locations;

Buckden School, The Towers and St Mary’s Church for their input and assistance;

The councillors and wives/husbands who helped on the day and, especially, my fellow members of the working

group who laboured hard for many months to organise this event, Terry Hayward, Jes Salt, Rick Screaton and Tim

Walker.

If you haven’t yet seen the Commemorative Paving Stone, please go along and take a look. It is located in the

short path leading to the War Memorial in St Mary’s Churchyard. I think that, like me, you will find that it looks very

much at home already and it represents another aspect of our community, where we are so fortunate to live, of

which we can be very proud.

Allotments

There are still vacant allotment plots to rent at a rent of £15.00 per annum, if you are interested please contact the

Clerk

Photo Competition

Unfortunately, we had to abandon the Photo Competition, due to lack of entries. We’re not quite sure what hap-

pened this year as previously we had 150 entries! We’re blaming it on the referendum. However, not to be put off,

we’re going to try again next year. Watch out for the categories in the January 2017 edition of the Roundabout.

Any questions or comments on this report can be addressed to the Parish Clerk John Chase, Clerk to Buckden

Parish Council, Buckden Village Hall, Burberry Road, Buckden PE19 5UY, Telephone (01480) 819407, Email

clerk@buckdenparishcouncil.org.uk

The

Parish Council, does not meet in August the next meeting will be on Tuesday 13

September.

If required, the

Parish Council’s Planning Committee

will meet on

Tuesday 9th and Tuesday

August

starting 7pm. Agendas for the meetings are posted on the Parish Council notice

boards not later than the Saturday preceding the meeting