200 Issues Of The Chronicle

The article below was originally printed in April 2001 in the 200th issue. It was written by Phil Spooner.

We apologise for the lack of formatting in this lengthy article. It will be tidied up at a later date

In a pre-launch issue of The Chronicle, editor-elect Graham Parker wrote “The Parish Council has accepted the responsibility of producing a monthly newsletter for the village and somehow or other I appear to have been given the job as editor - the principle reason for the dubious honour is probably that I was not at the meeting when the position was discussed”.

Issue Number 1 of The Chronicle hit the streets in September 1983. Articles told how Aston Abbotts came second in Bucks in the Best Kept Village competition; there was an item on the possibility of connecting households to North Sea Gas; Gardening Tips; the Aston Abbotts Cookbook; and a report on the 1983 fete, which was opened by Vic Scott and raised £969.17.

There was also an update on Parish Council activities, with the Parish Council then consisting of Colin Higgs (chairman), John Whyte, Peter Dines, Graham Parker, Les Smith and David Watts. A reply slip asked for views on the future of the Church Room (199 issues later The Chronicle was to do the same again). A feature article by Ruth and David Watts touched on 900 years of Aston Abbotts history and the Message From The Rector Fr. John Heffer, in addition to wishing The Chronicle well, gave news of a forthcoming visit by the Bishop of Buckingham (I feel a limerick coming on).

And with this first issue of 12 pages The Chronicle was established, garnering a favourable reaction from villagers.

The first issues contained no advertising, but by issue 3 Graham was saying, “This issue of funding must be faced,” and estimating the annual cost at £150. Free distribution was an essential guiding principle of The Chronicle and issue 5 in January 1984 carried the first advertisements.

By the time The Chronicle celebrated its first year in publication with issue 12 the ‘Noticeboard’ page – the forerunner to our Peoples Page and What’s On pages - was becoming established and regular contributors were emerging, including an occasional column written by ‘Bucket Of Booze’ which poked fun at village events. Local news included the granting of planning permission for conversion of the former school to a restaurant, despite a petition against it signed by 42 local residents. Less than a year later the Old Masters was open and Juan had become a regular advertiser supporting The Chronicle, as he still does today.

Issue 12 also contained the news that Aston Abbotts had won the Gurney cup for the best kept village in Bucks.

By the end of 1984 editor Graham Parker was threatening to “bore you into submission” if he didn’t receive more articles, and admitting that The Chronicle was running at a loss.

In 1985 issue 27 featured the first Andy Bystra cartoon showing Ernie and Eileen Naylor leaving the Bull and Butcher. The Noticeboard page had metamorphosed into the Peoples Page, edited by Bridget Brandon, with a separate events listing.

In January 86 Graham reported The Chronicle as still running at a loss, despite contributions from the Parish Council (£10) and the Christmas Show (£5)). At that time few people realised that Graham was making up the deficit out of his own pocket.

Issue 30 in February saw the first Andy Bystra cover drawing and some sun appeared on the financial horizon with the publication of a letter from ‘The Friends Of The Chronicle’:

Dear Graham,
The purpose of this letter is two fold. Firstly to extend thanks to you for the work you do in bringing out the Chronicle ever month. The paper is enjoyed by a great many people and is a source of conversation in many houses not to mention pubs. It is something we all look forward to dropping through our letter boxes. The second reason is that we would like to be of some help. Some of us send in the odd article, some of us raise funds which eventually get to you, some of us just smile as we read.

However we realise that you need additional funds to run the Chronicle and we would like to ensure its future health. In conversations this Christmas we came up with the idea of “THE FRIENDS OF THE CHRONICLE”.

This would be a group of people willing to contribute a small sum of money on an occasional basis to give your venture some additional security.
The authors of this letter have already volunteered to become a “Friend” By the publication of this letter we would ask any one else who enjoys the Chronicle and who would like to become a “FRIEND” to contact any one of the people below.
Yours sincerely,
Andy Bystra, Bridget Brandon, Chris Brandon. Neil Chesher, Margaret Chesher, Helga Davies, Stuart Davies, Fred Poulter, Molly Poulter, Patricia Sims, Patrick Sims, Tricia Webb, Marshall Webb, John Whyte, Dee Whyte and Rita Robinson.

In the same issue another letter from Basil Bottom threatened to take over The Chronicle, saying, “I am thinking of making a bid for your magazine and to thereby increase the size of my publishing empire. At present I produce the following: The Undertakers Weekly, - but the circulation of this publication seems to be dying”.

As 1986 progressed Fr John Heffer made an appeal for a demonstration at the dangerous Wingrave crossroads following the death of Wingrave cyclist David Gaskell. The campaigning and protest was to gain momentum over the year featuring in local newspapers as well as in The Chronicle.

‘View From The Corner Of The Bar’, penned by Neil Chesher, appeared and by the middle of the year contributions and fund-raising events were beginning to ensure a future for The Chronicle. The village shop started selling ‘Bric-a-Brac’ and The Chronicle expressed its best wishes to the O’Sullivan and Perkins families whose homes were destroyed by fire. Peter Knight won first prize in the Bucks farming and Wildlife competition.

1987 started with the Parish Council expressing concern over a plan to build one dwelling at the rear of Home Farm and turning down a request for help with Chronicle funding.

April saw Billie and Phil Howe leave the Royal Oak. The Parish Council was in crisis due to lack of candidates for the May elections and the Aston Abbotts Chapel celebrated its 125th anniversary. In the summer streetlights were finally installed at Wingrave crossroads, but the campaign for a safer junction continued.

Arthur Roff, a steward at the Methodist Chapel opened the 1987 Festival. Licensees Barry and Maralyn Sykes kept the Bull and Butcher open all day whilst Trisha Webb and Dick Clifford cooked the burgers that these days are so splendidly provided by out Four Fat Blokes.

In September the first cabaret – an evening of Entertainment – was staged by The Friends Of the Chronicle, raising nearly £300 as reported by a grateful Graham Parker when he penned the editorial for the 50th issue in November, “Now, welcome to our 50th Edition, marked (or perhaps scarred is the more appropriate word) as it was by the ‘Chronicle Aid’ party in the Church Room last Saturday night. Those of you who were there will remember it for many a long day; those of you who were not there will know by now that your good judgement has again been vindicated”.

The Christmas Show raised further much needed funds. At the end of the year the Youth Club closed, due to dwindling membership, and the Royal Oak completed renovations under landlords Gayburn and Joanna Owen.

1988 started with St James having to find £750 for the chancel roof as its inner roof had fallen in and Colin Higgs took BCC’s Highways Department to task over the poor condition of our village roads. New landlords Roger and Lorraine Sykes took over the Bull, only to leave in the summer. A little controversy raised its head over some Chronicle articles signed with a Nom de Plume.

By now The Chronicle had increased in size and was sometimes running to 22 pages or more. Although some of the increased page count was due to larger amounts of advertising that brought in more revenue, it still created a heavy workload for Graham. In 1988 the use of computers was not widespread and much of The Chronicle was typed up by hand and glued onto pages which were then photocopied. This was clearly taking its toll, with many of Graham’s editorials starting, “Sorry for the late arrival of this months Chronicle…”

In Issue 60 matters reached a head as stated in the editorial, “Nothing to say other than hope there is someone out there who would be interested in taking over the position of Editor. While I enjoy the task is does take up time that should be used in other ways, and the likelihood is that publication will become increasingly erratic. So if there is someone who is interested in taking over please let me know and I will gladly explain what is involved”. With remarkable prescience and two inches below appeared the item, “People Page Stop Press. Welcome to Gordon Smith, Caroline Lane and their daughter Sarah, who have just moved into Church Row.”

As the year rushed to a conclusion the Rev John Heffer moved on to Wilden in Beds. Neighbouring Cublington was up in arms over Bootsey Waite and his National Chopper Club rallies, and Aston Abbott’s annual bonfire night celebrations were once again organised by Tony Hewitt and John Ford.

1989 started with bright promise as AVDC agreed to discuss village conservation proposals. Graham Parker was still at the helm and another Chronicle funding cabaret was planned for February, but in the March editorial Graham wrote, “Can I now announce my ‘goodbye’. As from the July issue I am afraid I will be vacating the Editors desk and handing over to .... well I know not who at the moment. If you are interested in taking over the Chronicle, lock, stock and barrel, then please let me know. If no one comes forward the magazine will cease with the July issue”.

Aston Abbotts was suffering from a spate of tyre slashing incidents. The Bull was changing hands rapidly with the departure of Dave and Tonia Parsons and the arrival of Barry and Denise Ward. Don Hinds passed away in the early summer.

A plan to create affordable local housing attracted signs of dissent with a ‘name and address supplied’ article to The Chronicle in June. “As an observer at the May Parish Council meeting I was stunned to hear of the enquiries being made to build what amounts to a brand new ‘village’ between Aston Abbotts and Cublington. Not only that, but that ‘village’ is going to consist of mobile homes. Now to me ‘mobile homes’ is a euphemism for ‘gypsies encampment’ and we have all seen the terrible problems created in the location of the campsite up at Cublington. The area of Aston Abbotts and Cublington has always been under attack. Not so long ago it was the airport, then insidious bits of infilling and now….”

In issue 70 Graham Parker said his final goodbye and announced that Caroline Lane and Gordon Smith would take over the editorship. At the time Caroline and Gordon were renting temporary accommodation in Aylesbury whilst their house in Church Row was being repaired following a fire.

The same issue carried a record number of furious responses to the article on affordable housing, as typified by Lol Hinds, “If anonymous had come to myself or Ray Wilkinson and asked us about this project instead of listening to malicious gossip and rumours, they would realise that we are trying to help the locals of Aston Abbotts, Cublington and Wingrave to remain in or near to their relatives and loved ones in these villages. With the price of houses in this village we see so very often rich businessmen and women coming in then selling up making a quick profit never to be seen again - so much for community spirit.

“Well, I have lived here all my life and I don’t see why I should be shoved out by some rich person trying to make a fast buck at the expense of people like myself. I can assure you that from the huge amount of people who are interested in these types of home not one of them is a gypsy, nor do they ever intend to be one, so that knocks that theory on the head.

“…So please if there were any of you out there taken in by that OTT letter then please spare a thought for people who genuinely want to remain part of this community.”

With that controversy, Chronicle founder Graham Parker bowed out. It took nearly a page for him to list the contributors and advertisers he wished to thank, including special thanks to, “Colin Higgs and Peter Dines who have never missed an issue”.

September 1989 saw Caroline and Gordon’s first issue as editors. Graham Parker opened the festival, and a festival display showed the planned low-cost housing development.

The Beds and Bucks Observer of the 15th August reported the “Gypsy Camp” controversy and how the article in The Chronicle had stirred it up. However, at the end of the month the Observer reported that AVDC had turned down the plan.

Village life continued as usual. Andrew Ford came 72nd out of 1737 runners in the Wycombe Hall marathon and The Chronicle reported on Neil ‘Captain Birds Eye’ Chesher’s abortive attempt to single-handedly sail his dinghy across Ullswater.

New rector Bob Willmott was installed in September and welcomed in print by Peter Dines. An Aylesbury property agent Steve Rotherham purchased the abbey and its contents were put up for sale in November. The first map of the planned Aston Abbotts conservation area was printed in The Chronicle. In December hunt saboteurs disrupted a meeting of the Old Berkeley Beagles near the Royal Oak.

1990 saw Gordon and Caroline settling comfortably into their editor’s chairs. The management of the Church Room was causing a certain amount of discussion, a fund was launched to repair the church clock and Gordon Smith wrote a special report on a plan to build a landfill site between Bierton and Rowsham. Chronicle Treasurer Mike Cox stepped down as he was leaving the village and John Whyte took over the position – and holds it till this day!

June 1990’s editorial asked, “What’s happening to the Bull & Butcher? It’s a question on many people’s lips — well nobody knows anything very much yet. All we know is that the brewery has put it up for sale because it doesn’t make their required amount of sales per week, and that several other pubs belonging to the same brewery are suffering the same fate (such as the Unicorn in Cublington). The Bull is under offer at the moment, and rumour has it that the potential buyers want to keep it as a pub. We hope so. We think it’s good for the village to have two pubs with very different characters and clientele. Furthermore, we think that Josh and Kay are making a splendid job of continuing the Bull’s friendly atmosphere, and if they can’t stay themselves, we hope someone else will”. Hmmm…..

Kay and Josh Reid left the Bull in July. The Peoples page welcomed the von Simpson family to The Abbey in September and Chris and Pam Watson took over at the Bull. Also in that issue Caroline Lane warned: “As many of you will already know, Doris Scutchings is giving up the Post Office at the end of September. She has run the Post Office for 43 years, so will be very much missed. Our good wishes to her for the future.

“Out of curiosity I rang the head office in Oxford to find out what plans are for Aston. They are looking for someone to take it over on a part—time basis. Nobody had applied when I rang. This is sad, but not really surprising — life is getting increasingly difficult for village shops and post offices. The post office is a focal point of daytime life in the village and it would be a shame to lose it, so do find out more if you think you can help.”

Ownership of the Church Room was still puzzling many and its management was starting to become controversial. A full-page article by Bob Willmott attempted to clarify the issue.

The controversy made the local press during November. The campaign against the Bierton landfill site was gaining momentum. Geoffrey Husson of Badgers Oak Farm applied for a license to stage a rock festival with up to 25,000 attendees on his land the following summer. Aston Abbotts and Cublington PCs opposed the proposal.

1991 started with the sale of the Bull by its then owners David and Yvonne Ash and the Peoples Page welcomed new owners Frank and Louise McManus who “...have plans for refurbishment and expansion of facilities at the Bull”. Doris and Len Scutchings celebrated their Golden wedding anniversary and the village celebrated as the plan for the landfill at Bierton was rejected by AVDC.

April’s Chronicle reported that the Wing bypass was to be a dual carriageway and follow the Northern route cutting between Burcott and Wing, and the Owens left The Royal oak.

Bob and Julie Moult took over at the Oak and co-editor of The Chronicle Caroline Lane joined the Parish Council. A letter from Ivy Brandon, Arthur and Brenda Roff, Vie Scott, Vika and Paul Tyldesley, Alf and Wilf Parker and Rev. Peter Lemmon in May’s Church News asked, “First we lost our school, then we lost our Post Office. Do we want to lose our chapel?”

An intruder kicked John Page of Oxley Farm in May. In June BCC announced support for the southern Wing bypass route. Roy Malin took over as chair of the Parish Council after Colin Higgs resigned following 21 years service as a district and parish councillor. By the end of 1991 sufficient funds had been raised for the Church clock to be repaired.

Early in 1992 Caroline and Gordon presided over the 100th issue of The Chronicle. A Cheese and wine party was held in the Church Room to celebrate it (see elsewhere for details of the 200th issue party). The event was celebrated with a collection of article reprints from the first 100 issues. The issue also contained a report on the Chronicle cabaret titled ‘Chesher’s New Organ Revealed’, penned by Ray Wilkinson.

The next issue was looking for fete committee members and also reported on the formation of an Aston Abbotts Action Group to oppose the Wing bypass.

Then in June, grim news from Janet Biddle: “Regretfully it has been decided that the village fete will not be held this year... We had just one offer to join the committee after the article in the May Chronicle, and it was felt we needed the very minimum of eight to make it work. We all have many other commitments with work, families etc. and it just does not seem fair or reasonable to ask six people to undertake such a lot.” However, the Church decided to go ahead with a separate Church fete in the grounds of the Abbey.

September reported on a spate of burglaries in the village. Distributed with the December issue was a copy of the village appraisal, which had been carried out over the previous months. 134 adults and 14 young people aged between 10 and 17 had responded to the survey and its findings included:

“We would support the sorting of rubbish for recycling. The sub—post office is still badly missed. The shop is valued as one of the few village amenities left and for its friendliness, but more stock wanted. Church and chapel: both seen as important to the village by most people.”

In issue 111 Clifford Price reported “It’s no good hanging about if you want tickets for the Cabaret. And it’s no good hanging about if you want to be sure of a good seat. The first members of’ the audience were there forty minutes early, having made it from the far end of Ross Road. The first members of the cast turned up quarter of an hour later, having finally found the key to the Church Room. The scene was set for another memorable evening...”

The Chronicle reported that the Church Room committee were looking at improving the toilet facilities, with a new toilet block extension at an estimated cost of £10,000.

The Bull and Butcher alterations were approved by AVDC. 1993’s fete was opened by Don Bellingham and realised net proceeds of £930. October’s cover showed a drawing of a possible dual carriageway underpass junction at Wingrave crossroads and readers were urged to attend the public meeting about it at Wingrave School hall.

By now, Lol Hinds was organising the annual fireworks display and thanks were extended to him in the last Chronicle of the year. The results of the 1991 census were reported, putting Aston Abbott’s population at 340.

Issue 120 wished a Happy 40th birthday to regular advertiser Dave Lewis (Flackwell Electronics) and listed his hobbies as “Flying, Muff Diving, Gate Crashing Parties and Pubs”! The Neighbourhood watch scheme was revived.

March’s issue 121 reported the theft of the Florence Nightingale collection box from Osborn’s shop. A small spate of car crimes was attracting interest.

In May Caroline and Gordon wrote, “Come the autumn, we will have produced five years’ worth of Chronicles, and we think it’s time to stop before we get too set in our ways” and appealed for someone to take over. The following month they reported, “We have not exactly been swamped by people eager to take over the editorship of The Chronicle”. By July the idea of a rota of people each producing one issue a year was mooted.

Issue 129 appears to be missing from the Archive, but a very smart issue 130 in October, edited by Simon and Helen Dowling, tells us that Chris and Bridget Brandon had edited the previous issue. The rota system of Chronicle editing was well under way.

November saw editors David de Silva and Barbara Bellingham suggesting people might like to protest about the planned Microlight airfield at Aston Clinton, whilst in the Church News Colin reported that the Chapel had closed.

Deirdre Whyte produced the Christmas 1994 issue, with an ominous report appearing in the Parish Council Notes under the Planning Applications section, “Nash’s Farm, conversion of two barns into residential and building of eight further dwellings: after much discussion among councillors and comments from members of the public present, the following comments were made. (1) Building materials had not been specified; it was extremely important that materials should complement houses in the conservation area. (2) Boundary demarcation not specified... (3) What was the purpose of the access left open to the field behind? Further development in the field behind this site would be unwelcome. (4) Although not grounds for objection, the parish council felt an opportunity had been missed to provide starter homes within reach of local people...”

Andy Bystra ushered in 1995 with Jan’s Chronicle, Gordon Kemp and Ann Goodman took over for February, and Janet Biddle produced March’s issue in which Caroline regretted that they had felt unable to print a village 1994 roundup submitted by ‘Ivor Cheek’ for fear of causing offence.

Margaret Chesher’s April issue noted that the Nashs Farm planning application was on hold for legal reasons connected with land donation near to the Rec.

Margaret Kent started the May issue with “Welcome to the May edition of the Chronicle. May, I think, is one of the loveliest months of the year. Everything is fresh and green, birds singing, lambs in the fields, gardens planted and lawns mown. We are lucky indeed to live in such tranquil surroundings, so let us remember and be thankful as we commemorate in our own way the 50th anniversary of VE day on May 8th.” Elsewhere Gordon Smith regretted that there were not more volunteers for the fete.

June 95 was edited by Jeremy Bale and the Parish Council minutes note the refusal of a planning application for an extension at New Zealand Cottages. In issue 139 editor Caroline Lane reported that Andy Bystra would take over editorship when he retired and it was also reported that planning permission had been granted for barn conversions and new dwellings at Nashs Farm. The Bull and Butcher were applying for a public entertainment licence.

Caroline stayed in the chair for the September issue and the following month’s editor Don Bellingham announced that Andy Bystra would be doing the job from now on. With that, the rota system of Chronicle production came to an end.

So in November 1995, with issue 142, Andy Bystra became editor, starting with these words, “Armed with a brand new computer, boxes of Chronicle bumf and Caroline Lane’s detailed list of ‘instructions’; right now it seems like I’ve taken on an impossible task. Oh well; one man plays many parts in his time and all that”.

His sentiments reflected the realisation that producing The Chronicle was not a quick task. Margaret Kent and Tony Hinds have since told me of the amount of work that went into their issue. Although computers were having an impact, much of the magazine was still being assembled by hand and the sheer volume of work in putting together a 24-26 page monthly publication with its local news, regular contributions and reports, features and advertising can only be appreciated when you have tried it.

With Andy taking over The Chronicle, Rita took over The Peoples Page from Bridget Brandon who had produced it since September 1985 –just over ten years.. Also in November, the crossword made its first appearance.

In December Ivor Cheek returned:

Now Ivor sat in relaxation
brain had gone in meditation.
Should he pen some foolish lines
to entertain the village minds
Should he write, just for The Chronicle
more biting satire, diabolical.
It’s tricky now, with laws of liable
His non-de-plume must be reliable.

“If you have any information which might lead to the identification of the scoundrel, please write to The Chronicle immediately” pleaded Andy.

January 1996 started with the news that islands were being considered for Wingrave crossroads. In April Andy was able to report that March’s questionnaire on the future of the Rec had attracted a total of four responses. Next month he reported, “At the end of April I attended a symposium run especially for editors of village magazines… Of the thirty-five or so magazines represented we have the smallest circulation at 174 (the largest was 6,500). We were the only one of a handful which is delivered completely free to every household and the only one which is totally financed by the efforts of villagers and advertising space”.

He also noted that relatively few were using computers to produce their magazine, something that Andy was pioneering with The Chronicle to create greater consistency, make a more attractive presentation, and to try to reduce the workload. In a more humorous moment much was made of the disappearance of Banner Homes’ flags from their Nashs Farm development.

Next month Banner Homes got their own back, as Caroline Lane reported in June 96’s issue 149, “Parish councillors were dismayed and angry as everyone else when the two barns at the front of Nashs Farm were demolished. The Parish Council, our District Councillor Bryan Round, and (we think) AVDC Planning Department all assumed that they were to be converted. However…it is legal….”

The same month Shirley Ford and family were still mourning the death of Shirley’s husband John some weeks earlier, well-known villager Percy Rickard (whose chair is still in the Bull) moved into a residential home and, on a happier note, Ruth and Don Bellingham celebrated their Golden wedding.

Issue 150 passed without any comment upon this particular milestone in Chronicle publishing. The Parish Council minutes in issue 151 shows that the unexpected demolition of the Nashs Farm barns was still very much in people’s minds, “The site appeared to be being deliberately developed by stealth, a piece at a time, whereas a development as large as this, in such a small village should be being considered [by] the village and Aylesbury Vale in it’s entirety.

“The two barns which Aylesbury Vale and our P.C. had all understood were to be converted were deliberately removed in early one morning by Banner Homes. These barns were a dominant feature of this corner of the village and should now be reproduced in some form as part of this latest application.”

1996 drew to a close with Andy Bystra thanking the people who had contributed to The Chronicle during his first year as editor, and also extending thanks to treasurer John Whyte and all those, including the village show performers, who had raised sufficient funds to ensure publication continued. The show itself, with its Star Trek theme was warmly reviewed in February.

March 1997 saw Rita’s People Page welcoming Liz and Ivan to Nashs Farm. I doubt many Astonians knew what an Alpaca looked like back then, let alone thought that Aston Abbotts would become home to a small herd of them!

Issue 158 in April reported that Frank and Louise McManus had raised around £1400 for the Macmillan Cancer Fund with their St Patrick’s charity evening. This month, not for the first time, the issue of improvements to the Church Room was raised. Andy Bystra had drawn up plans for improvements, but “After a site meeting, AVDC had offered an ‘informal view’, to the effect that it was unlikely that the plans would be supported”.

By the time issue 159 appeared in May 1997, funding of The Chronicle had once again become a problem, as reported by Andy in his editorial, “Thanks largely to a donation from The Parish Council this month we have just enough finds to cover the printing of this issue. However, yet again we do not have enough money to publish the next issue hence the ‘begging letter’ in the next column. The level of help received will be a good indication as to whether The Chronicle is valued by the village in general or indeed required at all!!”

In his letter treasurer John Whyte appealed “URGENT! URGENT!! URGENT!!! We need your help for The Chronicle. Each issue costs about £75 to produce and we have run out of money. Please, please can you help?”

Enough donations arrived for the following month’s issue to be printed. On Rita’s People Page a couple of items caught my eye: Andi and Becky were welcomed to their new home in Nashs Farm (Andi Swain is going to play a part in the later stages of our story, of course) and former Chronicle editor Caroline Lane stepped down from the Parish Council after many years of service. Also, planning permission for 5 more homes at Nashs Farm was refused.

In July Andy reported upon a Parish Council donation of £200 to The Chronicle (in addition to a previous £50). He also announced that advertising rates would have to be increased as the amount charged per page was about half of what it was costing to print the page!

August’s editorial was sombre as Andy reflected upon the deep felt shock of everybody following the death of the Princess Of Wales. Bob Willmott reported that Siv Tunicliffe was to be ordained and would become our curate and a weight restriction was put on Castle Hill bridge in Wing, diverting more heavy goods vehicles through Aston Abbotts.

The final editorial of 1997 dealt a double blow. First it was announced that there would be no Christmas show for the first time in many years. Then Andy announced, “As of July next year I intend to ‘stand down’ as editor… During the three years I will have been editor, The Chronicle has been transformed from ‘cut and paste’ into the ‘digital age’ and I believe maintained the aims initially laid down by Graham Parker (today this would be called ‘the mission statement’). However, I now feel it would benefit from a fresh approach to it’s content.”

Andy had indeed transformed the presentation of The Chronicle, applying modern computer techniques to aid layout and incorporate graphics. However, he was writing and typing up large amounts of it as well, organising printing and distribution, and he was spending anything up to six days a month on its preparation. Quite rightly, he wanted more time to concentrate on some pet projects of his own. However, it was to be six months before he would depart. Elsewhere in the issue the sad news of Frank Higgs’ death was reported.

January 1998 started with Andy reflecting on the previous year and observing, “The early part of the year saw our new neighbours move into the Nashs Farm development and friendlier people you couldn’t wish to meet.”

The issue also carried a report from ‘Nobby’ Wilkinson on the ‘Bull Monty’ staged by 630 club members in the Bull and Butcher and inspired by the film with a similar name. And a public meeting was announced to see if there was support for redevelopment of the Church Room. Next month Andy reported that only ten people turned up to the meeting. The Banner homes planning appeals were rumbling on with the news that the plans for five more houses had once again been turned down.

At the Annual Parish meeting, reported in issue 168, it was recorded “Andy Bystra reported that the Chronicle was in improved financial health due to a donation from the Parish Council, private donations, and fundraising events. As always more contributions would be welcome. The average length of each issue had been reduced in order to cut costs.”. It was also reported that a Chronicle Cabaret, organised by Neil Chesher with help from the other cabaret stalwarts, had raised £150 for The Chronicle.

In May Andy worried that there had been no offers to take over the editorship and said, “Therefore I conclude that next month’s issue will be the last”. In his last editorial in the June 1998 issue he thanked all the contributors and said that at that time there was no firm plan for continuation of the magazine. With that, Andy Bystra bowed out as editor, but he didn’t go away. Since then he has remained a major contributor and enthusiastic supporter, with his familiar bee motif still adorning many of the village news items and other articles.

In September 1998 Andi Swain took over as editor. A new approach had been agreed, and The Chronicle was now to be produced as more of a team effort. The team was Andi Swain (editor), Andy Bystra (features and distribution), Ivan Greenaway with Liz Barlow (advertising) and John Whyte (finance/funding). With his first issue Andi was able to celebrate 15 years of The Chronicle and report that regular contributor and former Parish Councillor Colin Higgs had been voted the Top Parish Volunteer.

The next issue – 171 – reported that the final phase of Nashs Farm had been granted planning permission subject to legal formalities and a new feature gave local restaurant reviews along with “Abbott ratings” to show how good they were. November saw Carol and I being welcomed on the Peoples Page (we had arrived in September) and reported that the Open Gardens had raised £270 and the Harvest Auction £260, both for Church Funds. Two whole pages were devoted to ‘Millennium Matters’ with Liz, Francesca and Jackie saying, “there is clearly not enough enthusiasm at present to make it possible to book a marquee”.

Andi Swain’s October editorial said, “Well, my third Chronicle and I seem to be getting into the swing of things! I still haven’t worked out how Andy Bystra managed to look after all elements of production - editorial duties alone are quite time consuming”. This month Dave Lewis’ Flackwell Electronics advert moved to take up the whole back page and the tradition of including within it a (sometimes rather cryptic) cartoon involving Dave began.

Millennium matters gained momentum with the Christmas 1998 issue reporting that a party would be held in a marquee at Oak Farm House and by issue 176 in February 1999 all 120 tickets were sold.

The speed with which the Millennium party preparations gained momentum reflects the surprising extent of social activities within the village. The Chronicle has always reported on these and many articles of that time were reflecting this rich social agenda, with reports on cabarets, a Burns night, a St Georges Dinner and many other events.

In March it was reported that Richard (Dicky) Chapman had passed away. Also that month, Clare Shorrock wrote about the inaugural meeting of the Aston Abbotts History group and Andy Bystra admitted to having lost the previous month’s Chronicles off the back of his motorbike when he picked them up from Waddesdon School, where they are printed.

The following month Andy Bystra reported that the last four new houses at Nashs Farm were nearing completion with the words, “I just hope however, that we have all learned from our dealings over the initial phases of this planning application just how tricky and ruthless developers can be and be better prepared the next time”. A spoof article from ‘The Church Spier’ asked for donations (cash only please) to help fight the Aston Abbotts helipad, recently announced by Dave Lewis and at the 1999 Parish Meeting Andi Swain was able to report that “The Chronicle was in good health with 27 regular advertisers and approximately 20 regular contributors. Distribution had reached 178 copies. Reader’s opinions on content were to be sought informally. Finances were on an even keel - assuming the annual grant from the Parish Council could be renewed, there would be a shortfall circa £250.” Andi asked for a contribution from Fete proceedings.

In May Andi was able to “say a big thank you to Tom Manning and the Parish Council for its very kind contribution to the production costs for the current year”.

Also in May The Chronicle was dragged kicking and screaming into the modern age when it gained an email address. Nigel Palmer grabbed the honour of being the first person to email the magazine but, as reported in June, nobody could read it.

The 1999 fete was blessed with temperatures soaring into the 80s and the first appearance of the Four Fat Blokes burger stand. In his editorial Andi reported, “The fete is a fine example of villagers coming together to help out others whilst having a good time, and is the result of a lot of organisation and hard work. David and Barbara have organised the day to great effect for a number of years but it’s now time for someone else to take the helm”. £2,139 was raised.

Safety on the A418 was causing concern. The Chronicle reported, “At the recent Parish Council meeting the latest fatal accident on the A418 was discussed. This tragedy brings the total number of fatalities on this dangerous stretch of road to ten in the past three years”.

Andy Bystra reported on June’s 630 Club canal cruise organised by Ray Wilkinson and Captain Bob Bean, “A brief stop was made at the White Lion, Marsworth so that the hot meal could be brought on board and the boat manoeuvred up through the lock. The opportunity was not wasted by most members who promptly jumped ship and disappeared into The Lion”.

When issue 183 appeared in October 1999 Andi Swain was warning about the increase in aircraft as Luton airport expanded, the millennium party plans were nearing completion and Clare Shorrock welcomed Gordon Smith to the Aston Abbotts History group as they moved their millennium book project towards production.

The now legendary millennium party clearly left all the Chronicle reporters with such terrible hangovers that the party report did not appear until issue 187 when Andy Bystra wrote, “It was exceptionally nice to be able to celebrate this once in a lifetime event in such a stylish and pleasant way. What made it particularly nice was being able to do so with so many of our family, friends and fellow villagers”.

Controversy had struck following a letter in the previous issue about the village kids playing in the streets. So full was the postbag that Andi was unable to print all of the letters. Opinions varied, but Margaret Kent summed up the feelings of many, “I think the youngsters in this village are a good bunch - there’s no malicious damage, only high spirits. Most of them must be bored, there isn’t much for them to do, and kicking a ball about seems harmless”.

The Castle Hill bridge in Wing was finally re-opened in March, affording an alternative route for heavy goods traffic other than through Aston Abbotts. Also that month the first of a series of Village Interviews conducted by yours truly appeared, with Andy Bystra the vict… err… subject.

In April Rita retired from the Peoples page, which she had compiled for 5 years. May’s cover sported a picture of Clare and Peter Shorrock receiving a large millennium Oak as a gift from grateful partygoers for letting their house and garden be used for the millennium party. And yet more controversy, with the announcement that the Church Room was to be renamed the Parish Hall.

The Abbey gardens were opened to the public as part of the Open Gardens in June and proved hugely popular, as did Vic Scott’s garden with its 400 species of plants.

September saw a report on the Astonbury music event held at Norduck farm “We are fortunate in Aston Abbotts in having people of all ages who have considerable musical talent”. But there was a serious plea from Andi, “I am now into my third year as Editor of this wonderful magazine and the time has come for me to hand the Editor’s cap to somebody new - maybe you? Alas, an ever increasing work-load has somewhat forced the issue and so a new editor is needed rather urgently”.

Two months later Andi was able to gleefully report that some fool had been found for the job. The fool’s protestations that his cry of “I’ll do it” was actually referring to a bet over drinking a pint of beer whilst standing on ones head went unheeded, and as Andy bowed out with the final issue of 2000 - number 196 - the Chronicle was passed over to your current editor.

And so ends my little rummage through the archive box of 200 Chronicles, each issue representing a little labour of love at the hands of the editor of the day and the dozens of people who have contributed to it over the last 18 years. Without doubt I have missed many special people and many important events. So, I apologise now if I have caused any offence.

It’s impossible to thank everybody personally, so I will just say a big Thank You to every one who has contributed in the past, whether it be a single letter or a long stint as editor; to our advertisers; to the people who have made donations or worked so hard to raise funds; to the Parish Council for its support; and to the distribution team.

But, most importantly, thank you to YOU the readers. You are the reason we do this. This is your magazine and it is produced for you. So please write in with letters, articles, news or adverts. We are always pleased to hear from you.

The Chronicle has changed in its 200 editions. It started as a typed newssheet with handwritten headlines and articles cut and glued into place and has now become a Publisher 2000 document printing neatly out of a laser printer at a tap on a keyboard. But this change is only superficial; underneath it The Chronicle hasn’t changed one jot. It still includes the village news and gossip, the What’s On items, the Church reports and news, the jokes and leg-pulls, the cryptic comments and stories, the Parish Council news. It still tries to uphold Graham Parker’s original aims as stated in his first editorial reproduced on page 11. It still tries to inform, entertain and amuse. It still tries to have something for everyone. It’s still the same magazine – and I hope it remains just as useful, relevant and important today as it was when issue number 1 first dropped through Aston Abbotts letterboxes back in September 1983.

~ Phil Spooner