Calling All History Buffs 📣

The best of Bucks History Fest, plus Remembrance Day, a brewery tour, and even some toilet news...

Author

Wycombe Pulse
November 07, 2024

Good morning, Wycombe!

It's the Wycombe Pulse. The local newsletter that's staying far, far away from global politics and any talk about presidential elections…

Thankfully, there's plenty to focus on in Wycombe this week:

  • Remembrance Sunday march past and wreath laying 🌺

  • Model railway exhibition in Cressex 🚂

  • ABBA Bottomless Brunch 🕺🏻

Plus we've rounded up the top highlights from Bucks History Festival, the remainder of the firework displays, some amazing zen and relaxation events, live music, kids and parents' activities, and we've even got the scoop on the latest public toilet news...

This Week's Highlights

  • Remembrance Sunday at the War Memorial in All Saints church yard on Sunday 10th November at 11am - there will be a march past, wreath laying and a two minute silence, followed by a service in All Saints Church 🌺

  • Women's Wellness 'Deep Rest & Relaxation' Evening at Trinity United Reformed Church on Wednesday 13th November from 7-9pm - join the Wellness Sanctuary as they guide you through an ultra relaxing evening, featuring breathing practices, yoga, meditation, crystal healing bowls, massage, reiki and energy healing 😌

  • Brewery Tour at Brazenor’s Brews on Monday 11th November at 7pm - a FREE tour of brand new brewery and taproom Brazenor’s Brews 🍺

  • MRX24 Model Railway Exhibition at Cressex Community Centre on Saturday 9th November from 10am-4pm - the High Wycombe & District Model Railway Society present their Wycrail exhibition experience to the public with 11 model railway layouts in a wide range of scales and gauges. There will be trade stands too and the Society's junior modellers' layout on display as well 🚂

  • Writing for Children Workshop at Beaconsfield ALC on Saturday 9th November from 10am-3.30pm - a workshop on writing for all age groups of children, including Young Adult, and covering requirements for each age range. You can expect tutor lectures, class discussions, writing exercises and more. Ideal for beginners and those with some writing experience 👩🏻‍💻

  • "Searching for London's Lost History" talk at Hedgerley Memorial Hall on Saturday 9th November at 2pm - if you don't mind driving 15 minutes away from Wycombe, this talk by Jason Sandy, author of 'MUDLARKS: Treasures from the Thames', promises to be quite something. He will reveal some of the greatest artefacts found in the River Thames as well as display hundreds from his own personal collection 🏞️

Firework Displays 🎆

Guy Fawkes' night and Diwali may be in the rearview mirror but there's still a couple of displays in the calendar if you're looking for your firework fix.

Remembrance Sunday 🙏

As well as the British Legion march and service at All Saints (as detailed in Highlights), there are a few more Remembrance Day-themed events that would love your support.

  • Remembrance Sunday at Air Raid Shelter Café and Tea Room on Sunday 10th November - Martin and Adele, vintage singers performing hits from Formby to Frank, Vera to Marilyn, will be performing live in two shows at 12pm and 2pm 🎙️

  • Cheers to Heroes Breakfast at Spindle and Thread on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th November from 9.30am-12.30pm - everyone is welcome, whether you're a veteran, currently serving or simply want to show your support. Veterans and current members of the armed forces get 20% discount on standard breakfast and a free tea or coffee 🇬🇧

  • Remembrance Day Breakfast at the Squirrel on Sunday 10th November from 9-11am - breakfast and a heartfelt service by Christ the Servant King Church (with space for children to have fun while you pay your respects) followed by a 2-minute silence at 11am. There is 10% off for all members of the armed forces, past and present.

Entertainment

Time for You

Bucks History Festival Highlights

November is the month of the Buckinghamshire History Festival, a celebration of heritage throughout our county.

There's absolutely loads on -- we've handpicked the High Wycombe events for you as well as a few gems out of town that look especially interesting...

  • History on our High Street - join Denise Lindsay for a FREE walking tour around Wycombe town on Thursday 7th November from 10-11.30am, starting at Pann Mill.

  • 1000 Years of Wycombe's History - another FREE guided walk, starting at the red letter box at the train station on Saturday 9th November from 11am-12pm. It will include images of the original trains serving on the Brunel-designed broad gauge railway line from Wycombe to Maidenhead; hearing about the 4 reincarnations of Loakes Manor/Wycombe Abbey; and much more.

  • Remembrance Sunday: Block H Tour - head over to Bletchley Park on Sunday 10th November from 2-4pm to honour the legacy of those that worked at Block H. You'll be viewing Alan Turing's Bombe machine, the Colossus Computer and more with a museum guide.

  • Tales of a House Detective - a FREE talk by Marian Miller and hosted by the High Wycombe Society at Trinity United Reformed Church on Monday 11th November at 7.30pm. Marian's illustrated talk will reveal all about the people who lived in the buildings she has researched, from stately piles to country cottages.

  • Archive Your Story - head to High Wycombe Library on Saturday 16th November between 10am and 2pm to meet the Bucks Archives team as they're looking for stories from local children and young people to preserve for the future.

  • Chairmen and Chair Boys - a FREE guided walk on Sunday 17th November at 11am-12pm where you'll learn about the town's most famous industry, Wycombe's serial criminal, the lady who set up the first Sunday school and some interesting titbits about Wycombe Wanderers. It starts at the Air Raid Shelter on Frogmoor.

  • Mary Does Marlow - lead by 'Mary Shelley', this walking tour explores the darker side of Marlow on Thursday 21st November from 7.15-8.15pm and you'll discover how the town inspired her gothic masterpiece, 'Frankenstein'.

  • Winter Cellar Tour and Tasting - budding sommeliers shouldn't miss this cellar tour at Waddesdon Manor on Friday 22nd November from 2.30-3.30pm where you can discover the largest collection of Château Lafite Rothschild outside of the Château itself.

  • Archaeology Talk in Taplow Old Churchyard - join Julian Munby, archaeological advisor to the diocese of Oxford, and Lorna Hunter on Saturday 23rd November at 2pm as they discuss medieval St Nicholas Church and the Hampson burial vault below, as well as new research on the Saxon Barrow.

  • My Year Walks - based on Roald Dahl's last book, you can embrace the seasons on this guided countryside walk with the Roald Dahl museum on Sunday 24th November at various times.

  • The Heart of High Wycombe - a FREE guided circular walk starting under the Guildhall on Saturday 30th November from 11am-12pm, where you'll learn about the town's crest and motto, how Disraeli fared trying to become the MP of High Wycombe and much more.

  • The Early History of the Wycombe Railway - an illustrated talk at High Wycombe Library on Saturday 30th November from 2-3.30pm, with emphasis on the surviving Brunel Shed and some incredible sources and photos.

Parents and Kids

Private School Open Mornings

Shopping

Sports and Activities

Fancy Trying Something New?

Open/Cold Water Swimming - Sue Lord Open Water Coaching have an open/cold water swimming introduction session this Sunday 10th November from 8.45-10.45am at Westhorpe Watersports. It will start with a group safety talk and will be followed by a supervised swim, aiming to provide you with the information you need to swim safely in the colder months 🏊🏼‍♀️

Do you run a sports team/fitness activity and are looking for players/new joiners/spectators for upcoming fixtures or practices? Please email me at [email protected] with the details if you'd like to be featured.

Community Notes 🚽

The High Wycombe Community Board have appointed a 'Task & Finish' group to increase the availability of toilets for public use in the town. Many of the existing public toilets have been closed for some time now due to vandalism and other anti-social behaviour, resulting in unacceptable expenditure on frequent repairs and cleaning.

A 1 year trial of a 'Community Toilet Scheme' has been proposed whereby a number of town centre businesses (where possible and with their agreement) will provide public access to their toilets regardless of whether the users are customers. They will signpost their involvement in the scheme with notices on display and will be placed on town maps showing their whereabouts in car park noticeboards and other prominent locations. The group is currently finalising a list of businesses to approach and will meet again in early December to hopefully accelerate progress. Likely participants will be larger stores, restaurants, pubs and coffee shops.

Alongside this, the Bus Station toilets will be kept open for longer, eventually aiming for full 24-hour operation.

Sounds promising!

Business News

The Flint Cottage pub on Amersham Hill is now under new management, and they aim to transform into the town's go-to venue for sports, great food and an unbeatable pub atmosphere. They'll now be showing Sky Sports and TNT Sports, including box office sports, plus they've got a pool table, darts and beer pong table too. Head in for a pint to show them support 🍻

Teamsport, the indoor karting experience, recently opened in the Eden Centre. You can get 20% off bookings Monday-Friday through November with the code EDEN20 🏁

If you're jonesing for a Wagamama this weekend, please be aware that it's temporarily closed for refurbishments and will reopen on Tuesday 12th November 🍜

Where in Wycombe am I?

Hint: if you get through the woodland, you might just find an Iron Age hillfort...

Last week's answer: I was at Castle Hill House - now the home of Wycombe Museum. This site has a long and fascinating history, starting its life as a Saxon farm and even as a burial ground - an Anglo Saxon female skeleton was found buried at the entrance near the water trough. Of course, there's the massive 10-metre mound in the grounds which is believed to be a medieval defence system - and, in fact, it's thought that people have lived on the site since the early Middle Ages. The house itself is comprised of a 17th century farmhouse (where the Victorian kitchen exhibition is now housed) and the beautiful flint-covered Regency villa you can see in the photo. It's a Scheduled Ancient Monument and is referenced in documents dating all the way back to 1170. The Museum is definitely a worthy custodian of it today!

Weather in Wycombe

Misty mornings are coming in hot (well, at least mild) this weekend...

Friday

🌤️ 12°C - 💨 6 mph - ☂️ 0% chance

Saturday

🌤️ 13°C - 💨 2 mph - ☂️ 0% chance (but misty)

Sunday

🌤️ 14°C - 💨 2 mph - ☂️ 30% chance (and misty)

We hope you've enjoyed this week's edition of the Pulse!

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Until next Thursday...

Steph

Publisher and Editor, Wycombe Pulse

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