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September 2025 | Phonebox Magazine 57last month%u2019s summer heatwave and attended to by Bucks Fire and Rescue Service. The Petsoe hedge fi re, which was 20 metres long, was tackled by a fi refi ghter crew from the Newport Pagnell station. It was one of many across the region, including blazes in Two Mile Ash, Shenley Brook End and Oxley Park in Milton Keynes and Addington, Buckinghamshire.Family funWillen Hospice have two family events to look forward to this September. First is the Mini Moo on Sunday 14th, starting at 10.30am from the Hospice at Willen Lake. Each Mini-Mooer%u2019s mission is to walk, run or scoot one sponsored lap of Willen%u2019s North Lake dressed as their favourite character. The event is open to children aged 0%u201314 years and entry is %u00a315.The following weekend (20th-21st), the charity will take over Gulliver%u2019s Land Theme Park Resort, hosting a fun-fi lled weekend with rides, face painting, games and stalls. Discounted entry from %u00a318 is available, with %u00a32.50 of every ticket sale going to the Hospice.Annual Treasure HuntForty ladies gathered recently at Sherington Village Hall for the Sherington Belles WI Annual Treasure Hunt. Up Church Road, they ventured to fi nd the answers on the trail. Around the corner to The White Hart pub, naturally, and passing through the kissing gate by St Laud%u2019s Church, another puzzle awaited the hunters, heading back full of laughter for tea and cake.%u00a0 The ladies had lots of fun as well as learning more about Sherington. The winning team were awarded beautiful trophies made by a talented Belle.If you%u2019d like to join, send an email to thesheringtonbelleswi@gmail.com or visit a meeting at 7pm on the fi rst Tuesday of the month in Sherington Village Hall for %u00a35 cash. They have members from Sherington, the surrounding villages, Newport Pagnell and Milton Keynes. Birds make a swift exitA local bird-watching group has issued a call to help migrating swifts. Paul Dubery of Newport Pagnell Swifts explains: %u201cThe swifts guidance,%u201d said Paul McFadden, Ousedale headteacher. Stamp it outMilton Keynes Philatelic Society has broken its own fundraising record, achieving, for 2024/25 a total of %u00a31070.10. This has all been from the sale of donated stamps, received from public donations at their Stamp Fairs, from stamp dealers, club members, including a member who bequeathed his collection. Stamps were sold at a Charity Auction night and throughout the year at a sale table every club night meeting. %u201cI didn%u2019t think it would be possible to top last year%u2019s total,%u201d said Karen Goodger, club chairman. %u201cIt%u2019s been a lot of work sorting, pricing and storing, which just wouldn%u2019t be possible without the help and support of many of our Club members.%u201dThe money raised has been donated to the MS Society (Multiple Sclerosis). More information about joining the Milton Keynes Philatelic Society or visiting their Stamp Fair at: 01908 521220 or www.miltonkeynesphilatelicsociety.co.uk.Happy birthday Newport Pagnell servicesThe fi rst motorway service in Britain %u2013 Newport Pagnell %u2013 celebrated its 65th birthday recently, with a car-shaped cake. Owners Welcome Break commissioned food artist Michelle Wibowo to make a birthday sponge based on the Austin 1100, the nation%u2019s best-selling motor, back in 1960.When the Newport Pagnell service station fi rst opened its doors, it off ered only petrol, toilets and a cafe. Today, it is open 24 hours a day with seven restaurants, 28 fuel pumps and 52 EV chargers.%u201cI wonder if the fi rst people who stopped at Newport Pagnell way back in 1960 would have thought that in 65 years there would be electric cars, a variety of diff erent food from across the globe at the roadside and the opportunity to listen to your favourite tunes via your mobile phone,%u201d said Gary Steele, operations director, Welcome Break.No smoke without fi reA hedgerow blaze at Petsoe End, Emberton, was among a spate of bush fi res sparked by that were with us for their brief breeding season are now on their way back to Africa, constantly on the wing for the next nine months. Did you see them or hear them screaming above? Maybe you%u2019re aware of them nesting in your neighbourhood? Or you have missed them in recent years? Many of us see them as a clear sign of summer%u2019s return, but may not know much about their fascinating lives.Sadly, many swifts that return next May will fi nd their familiar nest sites blocked due to refurbishments by unwitting humans. That%u2019s where we can help %u2013 artifi cial nest boxes are readily available, specifically designed for their needs. Actions such as these will help to rebuild local populations of these amazing birds, whose numbers have dropped dramatically, partially due to house renovations. It%u2019s never too late to get a box put up; we can advise on positioning, installers, suppliers and more.It%u2019s just as important to record locations where they are nesting, so if you know of previous years%u2019 sites, let us know. And join our Facebook group for local news and sightings, search for %u2018Newport Pagnell Swifts%u2019, and spread the word to friends and neighbours, or email swsm@btinternet.com.VJ Day CelebrationOlney Mayor Debbie Whitworth and RBL Chairman Chris Roberts were among dignitaries who gathered to remember VJ Day last month. In her address, the Mayor said:%u201cEighty years ago today, Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day), marked the surrender of Japanese forces and the offi cial end of the Second World War. While peace was declared in Europe on VE Day, 8 May 1945, the war in the Far East was far from over, raging on for several more months. VJ Day marks a hugely signifi cant moment in our shared history %u2013 it is a time to remember the courage and sacrifi ce of all who served under extremely harsh conditions and in particular those men of Olney lost during the war out in the Far East and the Pacifi c.%u201cWe pay tribute today and honour all those who served, their sacrifi ces will never be forgotten.%u201dasure Hunt success Mia is off to Bristol Uni Peter Rabbit & Friends VJ Day Remembrance Celebration