COUNCILLOR CORNER
A contribution  om Cllr Debbie Brock & Cllr Peter Geary
  Happy Cluistmas
While it still seems a long way off this is the lastcolumnbeforetheendoftheyearsowe would like to take this opportunity to wish everybody a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.
Lavendon V lage Hall
Lavendon Village Hall has recently celebrated its 60th anniversary and a Diamond Celebration Dinner was hosted by the Lavendon Village Hall Management Committee and its Chairman John Salter. The dinner was held on the 9th of N ovember, sixty years to the day that the land on which the village hall is sited was acquired for the purpose. The night was extremely well attended and the musical entertainment was musical memories of the 40s and 50s. Guests of Honour for the evening were Mrs Molly Cony, who had served on the Village Hall Committee for 56 years, Mrs Barbara Kitchener, who is still after 64 years service, issuing and receiving keys back from hirers of the Hall and Mr William Tusting for his family's support of the village spanning many years.
An extract from the Bucks Standard in 1 953 reveals that the Village Hall Committee, presided by Mr Harry Kitchener, passed a resolution to purchase an ex-Army Officers' Pavilion from Messrs F. James and Sons, of Newport Pagnell for £650. The Paper also repo ed that "on Friday evening over a score of male volunteers armed with shovels, forks and hedging tools met on the site and began the task of clearing rubble bushes and trees". Alterations and extensions have been carried out in the intervening period but whilst wearing pretty well after 60 years it is now time for a major facelift.
The Village Hall Management Committee have a large refurbishment planned with a total estimated spend of £80,000, they have already raised £42,000. If you would like to help support the refurbishment please continue to go along to the various events staged during the year or go to www. lavendonconnection.com this will take you to the Local Giving website.
MK Rose Opening
On Saturday 9th November The M K Rose in Campbell Park was opened, despite very wet weather there was a great atmosphere as this brand new public space was unveiled. To create a new and central public space for remembrance was the vision for Milton Keynes some six years ago, that vision evolved as it became apparent that much more could be delivered from such a space, alongside remembrance came also celebration, commemoration and contemplation. Esteemed Artist, Gordon Young has created an inclusive space where anyone could feel relaxed in those
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moments. A space that charts our social history and one will come into it's own as time moves on. Amongst the Pillar dedications featured are 1 st January 1 773 which is the date that Amazing Grace, written by John Newton, was performed in Olney for the first time; Shrove Tuesday with a dedication detailing some of the facts about the race; 26 April is dedicated to William Cowper and 24 February reminds us of a time in 1935 when at The Knoll in Sherington, peace was made between the universities of Oxford and Cambridge as the spot was equidistant between the two cities. The village pump was used to wash away the bitterness of the past, a dove released and a tree planted. On 24th February 1 995 a re-enactment was held, this pillar was introduced by Phil Smith, Mick and Jackie lnskipp, who bought along with them a model of the Village Pump. Coral Bex and Paul Collins from The Cowper and Newton Museum bought both Cowper's and the Shrove Tuesday Pillar to life and Hannah sang beautifully Newton's Amazing Grace. A number of local organisations also helped out for the day by loaning things that helped with the launch, these include Ravenstone Village Hall for the loan of chairs and tables, Olney Town Council for the loan of a display board and Clifton Reynes and Newton Blossomville parish council for the loan of their marquee. We would like to thanks them all, especially David Swanston for his help with the marquee.
The First event at the MK Rose was held just two days later and was hosted by Milton Keynes Mayor Cllr Brian White to mark Armistice Day, again the rain poured. A large choir of children from schools across Milton Keynes participated singing Amazing Grace, including from Olney Middle School. Thanks go to Head teacher Phillip Allman, the sta  and pupils of Olney Middle School who coped with the terrible weather and gave a truly spirited performance.
Olney Highway Improvements
A few years ago quite a lot of work was done to plan changes to the High Street, Weston Road junction and also the High Street Yardley Road junction. These plans have been rethought and they are now in the final stages of preparation. A last chance for people to see the latest plans and to make comment on them is to be held at the Olney Centre on Tuesday 3rd December between 5pm and 8.30pm. Do please come along and give your views on the plans so they can be listened to before construction sta s in the New Year.
Surgery
We will be running our surgeries as normal in December and January on the evening of the first Friday of the month between 7.30 and 8.30pm at the Olney Centre. So please do come along is you feel we can help you with any issue or contact us on the details above.