TRIBUTES have been paid to John Kenneth Edward Slack – the popular Cuddington man known as CJ – who presided over Aylesbury Crown Court for many years.

Among his many achievements, His Honour John Slack will be remembered for his passion for cricket, rugby and golf – including captaining the title winning Bucks County Cricket team in the late 60s and early 70s.

Born in 1930 in London he attended University College School (UCS) in Hampstead, gaining a scholarship to St John’s College in Cambridge – an experience delayed by his national service as a captain in the Education Corps, based at Woolwich Garrison. After university he worked his way up through a law firm in West London (after turning down a cricket contract with Middlesex to focus on law) and in 1959 married Patricia Helen Metcalfe, who he met in Cambridge.

During the week he commuted from Iver to West Kensington and at weekends played for UCS Old Boys Rugby in the Winter and Beaconsfield and Buckinghamshire cricket teams during the Summer.

He became a Recorder after the 1970 Courts Act permitted solicitors to be appointed to the Crown Court Bench and later became a full time circuit judge – where the acronym ‘CJ’ became his nickname. He was known for his expertise in fraud trials and for his impatience with sloppy evidence or preparation by prosecuting lawyers and witnesses.

Also prominent was his passion for recruiting and training magistrates, efforts which were reflected in his appointment as a Deputy Lieutenant. By this time the cricket and rugby playing years had gone, replaced by a passion for golf and Beaconsfield Golf Club in particular. He also served as chairman of the governors at UCS Old Boys RFC. In this role he worked for a time with Ken Livingston, for whom he had much regard. During retirement, His Honour John Slack spent several years enjoying a relaxed life with his wife in Cuddington. He passed away on May 6 from a stroke aged 81. He leaves his wife Patty, two sons Chris and Martin, grandchildren Rosie and Josh and many friends.

His funeral takes place at 2.30pm on May 22 at Amersham (Chiltern) Crematorium, followed by a reception at Beaconsfield Golf Club.

A SON has paid tribute to the last long-term owner of the Bucks Herald – when it was a family business – after he lost his battle with cancer.

Brian de Fraine began working at the Herald in 1939 aged 16 and was managing director between 1964 and 1988.

During that time he acquired a number of titles for the group including the Bucks Advertiser and the Thame Gazette, and his son Paul de Fraine credited him with turning it from a ‘tin pot little paper’ to one which was ‘well respected’ and ‘way ahead of the competition’.

Paul, one of three sons who took over the company in 1988, said his father was ‘completely dedicated to the newspaper’.

He said: “He cared about the newspaper and was very passionate about it.

“Standards were very important to him and he thought if you let that go you may as well let it all go.

“He was very old school. He was kind, gentle and humorous, but a very determined person.”

Working up from the bottom and fighting for his country in North Africa and Malta during the Second World War, Mr de Fraine was central to the development of the Herald.

Paul said: “He worked in every department and his view was that if you didn’t know what was going on everywhere you didn’t know what was going on at all.

“His vision was always to use the latest technology to produce the best papers he could.

“We were one of the first local papers to have web offset and were way ahead in terms of technology.”

Mr de Fraine oversaw the sale to Emap in 1989, releasing a company owned by the de Fraine’s since 1872.

Paul said: “He was very upset about selling it but he could see in reality it was the right way to go.”

Mr de Fraine, a keen sailor, married twice, both times to women named Susan, had three children – Paul, John and Colin – two step-children, ten grandchildren, three step-grandchildren and one great grandchild.

He died aged 88 in his sleep on May 9 after being diagnosed with a combination of lung, stomach and liver cancer during Christmas 2011.

A service of remembrance is due to be held on Friday at 1pm at All Saints Church, Crudwell, Wiltshire, close to where Mr de Fraine lived.

The Dictator

Described as ‘the heroic story of a dictator who risks his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed’, we know we are in the hands of arch provocateur Sacha Baron Cohen.

The third cinematic collaboration between the man who gave us Ali G and director Larry Charles is a move on from the verite aggravations of the brilliant Borat and the less successful Bruno, into scripted territory.

The story tells of a dictator, deposed and ending up working in an organic café in New York, who is mistaken for an activist by a girl (brilliantly played by Anna Faris, finally getting a comic role of worth), causing love and trauma to ensue.

What makes this such a joy is both the Chris Morris level of borderline offensiveness Cohen treads, coupled with a spontaneity that comes from a lifetime of shooting on the hoof, trying not to get shot by secret service agents.

Hilarious in parts it is also a smart, crushing satire of the idea of democracy, that makes us realise we claim to be civilised and libertarian in the West, but really we are victims of draconian ways as much those elsewhere in the world. Frank and funny filmmaking.

The Raid

Sometimes, a film comes along that is so viscerally thrilling you lose your mind, and all sense of reason. The Raid is such a film.

It’s a simple story. Crime boss is holed up on the top floor of an apartment building. Elite cops are trying to get to him. There are 30 floors between them. That’s the plot. The film is watching it unfold, and boy does it unfold.

Welsh director Gareth Evans is a filmmaker with a passion and understanding of Asian cinema who has forged a great career out in the Far East and now has conjured an action movie of pure adrenaline and unbridled skill that will see him move powerfully into the mainstream.

It’s a remarkable, chest-pumping feast for the eyes and the ears. It’s nonsense, really, but wow is it impressive nonsense that balances British humour and Far East fighting artistry.

All the more impressive that it has just come out of nowhere to floor everyone and show that you don’t always need massive budgets to deliver a knock out punch, you just need imagination, passion and conviction. Breathtakingly fun.

Two Days In New York

Unlikely to play locally, but it will be around and provides a refreshing antidote to the testosterone fest of The Avengers, The Raid and The Dictator.

Director and star Julie Delpy follows up her sweet and memorable 2 Days in Paris with this tale, which sees her relocated to New York with child.

She is preparing for an exhibition and living with her new boyfriend played by Chris Rock (playing serious) but a surprise visit from her family, and ex, means a weekend of tough questions and confrontations. Funny and intelligent and delicately delivered, but not without bite.

CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a new housing estate between Aylesbury and Waddesdon have been put on hold.

The fate of the bid to build 2,745 homes in Fleet Marston had been set to be decided on Wednesday.

But politicians were told they could not reach a meaningful decision – because transport chiefs at County Hall had not reached a final ruling on the scheme’s impact on traffic.

The meeting happened the day after cabinet members at Aylesbury Vale District Council said the Vale needs 9,000 new homes and 6,000 new jobs by 2031 – on top of plans which have already been approved.

Explaining the delay with Fleet Marston, Marcus Rogers, head of planning at Bucks County Council, said officers had been working late into the night to do traffic assessment work.

He said: “I didn’t feel we had sufficient time, so we’ve continued with our holding objection and request a deferral until we’ve been able to fully complete our technical work.”

Objector Jenny Connor, from campaign group Save The Vale, said the bid included a ‘devastating’ number of houses’.

Mike Taylor, speaking for developers, said: “We’re confident the highways issues can be resolved.”

Members of the strategic development control committee voted unanimously in favour of deferring the bid until June.

BLUE Peter and Strictly Come Dancing star Gethin Jones has revealed his only memories of Aylesbury are rather hazy thanks to it hosting his ‘most drunken night’.

The Welsh television presenter made his sole trip as part of a friend’s stag do, but is now trying to inspire some more lasting memories of the Vale in his role as a Sky Ride ambassador, which has set a target of getting one million more people in Britain cycling regularly by 2013, with 688,000 doing so in the last three years.

Mr Jones is no stranger to hitting ambitious goals, holding no less than four world records including pulling the most Christmas crackers within a limited time.

Sky Ride, which Mr Jones has now been involved with for four years, is holding 18 city events in 2012, but this year there is more of a focus on local ones, including a number which are taking place around the Aylesbury Vale between now and October.

The idea is to get anyone and everyone on their bikes regularly.

Mr Jones said: “People of all abilities and ages can get involved, whether they want to use it as a way to get fit or start using their bike as a way to travel to work instead of a car.

“My advice would be just give it a go. If people come along they will love it and hopefully they will become regulars.”

He added that many people are often scared of using their bike because of safety risks, but said there is no need to be, especially with a Sky Ride guide on the scene.

Mr Jones, who has been a keen cyclist since he was young, also hopes good results for British riders in events this summer will inspire people to get their bikes out of the garden shed.

He said: “Kids look up to guys like Bradley Wiggins and Chris Hoy and I hope their success will spark people to get involved.

“Cycling is the second most watched sport in Britain, which just shows it is getting bigger and bigger.

“With sports like tennis it takes a while to get into. With cycling you can just get on a bike and go.”

For more information visit www.goskyride.com

The countdown has begun towards a new era for the Bucks Herald.

On Wednesday, May 30, the Herald will change from its traditional broadsheet format into a modern compact style.

An internationally renowned Spanish design team has been brought in to oversee the historic makeover.

Readers and advertisers alike will benefit from the bright design which will incorporate all your regular features, news and sport. Plus there will be some exciting new content to reflect the paper’s commitment to Aylesbury and the surrounding villages.

The new format will be easy to read, easy to handle and easy on the eye.

So although it is a sad farewell to 180 years of history it is a big, warm welcome to a new beginning.

And to welcome your new-look Herald there will be plenty of giveaways and promotion around the town. Lookout for our interactive computer screens and promotion teams that will be in your neighbourhood in the coming weeks.

Editor Roger Hawes said: “This will be an exciting and defining moment for the Bucks Herald.

“Aylesbury Vale is changing. The town is growing at a very fast rate and modernising. The Bucks Herald needs to recognise and embrace these changes.

“The new paper will incorporate many of the traditional aspects of the area and remain truly local. But it will also recognise the growth in digital media and advertising and the expansion of online journalism.

“The final souvenir broadsheet paper goes out next week and will have a comprehensive look back at the golden years of the Bucks Herald , from its first issue on Saturday, January 7, 1832 to the present day.

“I would expect there to be quite a demand for the last broadsheet edition and advise readers to order a copy in advance through their local newsagent.”

A FORMER taxi driver jailed for raping a young woman in a gym car park has been deported back to Pakistan.

Abid Mehmood, 30, formerly of Elmhurst Road, Quarrendon, was put behind bars in 2009 after attacking the woman in the back of his taxi on the car park of Nuffield Health Centre in Fairford Leys.

He was jailed for seven and a half years, and having served less than three years, has been sent back to Pakistan by the UK Border Agency, as is normal for any foreign national sentenced to more than 12 months in prison.

Mehmood has left behind a wife and two young children in Aylesbury, one of whom was born on the day he was convicted.

Former equalities officer at the Aylesbury Equality and Human Rights Council, Ranjula Takodra MBE, has been working with Mehmood’s wife throughout the case in an attempt to support her through this difficult time.

“Mehmood’s wife is just devastated,” said Mrs Takodra.

“It has been an incredibly difficult time for her, and her children will now have to be without a father.

“I believe that while the couple remain together, Mehmood’s wife will stay here, as she and the children were born and brought up in this country.

“Since the incident, the wife has been left to pick up the pieces – and I respect her a great deal for doing everything she could in these awful circumstances.”

Meanwhile, the Aylesbury Vale Rape Crisis group has praised the judicial system for convicting, jailing and deporting Mehmood for his crime.

A spokesman for the organisation said: “This has been a great result – the people involved in the organisation of his conviction and deportation have done very well indeed.

“It must be such a relief to the person which it happened to, as well as to her family and friends.

“It may also be a relief for the people of Aylesbury, knowing that he is no longer around.

“The results of this case send out signals that rape is taken very seriously, which is a big result.

“Rape can have effects that last for many, many years; such as flashbacks, nightmares, intrusive thoughts and difficulties in relationships.”

The police officer who dealt with the case at the time, Det Sgt Bob Ducker, has described the incident as having had a ‘deep effect on the victim’.

“This was a horrific attack on a vulnerable woman who had caught a taxi with the hope of getting home.

“The offender used his position to take advantage of this woman and raped her in a car park.

“The incident had a deep effect on the victim and she was offered the support of specially trained officers.

“While Mehmood was responsible for this attack there was no evidence to suggest that he was a predatory sex offender.”

If you have been affected by a sexual attack or have been a victim of rape, the Aylesbury Vale Rape Crisis group may be able to offer support.

Contact the organisation on 01296 392468.

THE wife of Aylesbury 7/7 bomber Jermaine Lindsay has been charged with a bomb plot which could have killed hundreds of holiday makers.

Aylesbury-born Samantha Lewthwaite has been accused by police in Kenya of trying to improvise explosives.

She was charged in her absence with a plot to attack tourists in Mombasa by bombing luxury hotels.

The mother-of-three, who lived in Northern Road, Aylesbury, when her husband carried out the London bombing, is thought to have fled to Somalia.

Prosecutors in Kenya say the 28 year old may be tried in her absence.

As well as targeting hotels, it is also thought Lewthwaite intended to bomb a shopping centre. She was charged with ‘conspiring to improvise an explosive device with the intent to cause harm to innocent civilians’.

Prosecutors say she was days from carrying out the deadly attacks in December, before her Al Qaeda-linked plot was foiled.

Her family say they have not seen her for years.

Officials in Kenya say Miss Lewthwaite was most recently using the name Natalie Faye Webb and carrying a forged South African passport.

She lived in Northern Road, Aylesbury, with husband Jermaine, who killed 26 people when he detonated a bomb between King’s Cross and Russell Square in July 2005.

When reports first emerged of her links to the plot, Thames Valley Police revealed it was providing support for her family, but was not involved in the search for her.

PARENTS have reacted with anger to letters demanding they pay an admin fee if they want their child to catch the school bus.

Ross Holden, of Stone, is one of 4,700 mums and dads to receive a letter from Bucks County Council requesting £76 – because his 14 year old daughter Aine does not qualify for free transport under national legislation.

The £2 a week fee was agreed at the start of this year, following two public consultations. The changes aim to save between £600,000 and £1.4million-a-year over five years.

Mr Holden said: “It is laughable, because we are in a recession and they think they can get away with this. This in an income stream dressed up as an admin charge, it is over the top.” He also criticised the

requirement to pay by June 1, saying: “They are trying to bank the £76 cheques early, it is a brilliant scam.”

Mandeville School pupil Miss Holden is currently in year 10. She joined the school in Year 7, under direction from Bucks County Council.

The authority currently spends £16.2 million a year on school transport for the 10,000 mainstream pupils who are entitled to it. Officials are concerned that because schools can apply to become academies and determine their own catchment areas, the number using the service will rise.

Stephen Bagnall, the council’s head of prevention and commissioning, said: “Before taking difficult decisions on the eligibility policy we consulted as widely as possible.

“The feedback was that whilst there was opposition to increased charges, respondents said that if it were to be introduced they should be spread as widely as possible. The introduction of the admin charge helps to achieve that. The average cost of transporting a child is £676, so parents being asked to pay the admin fee are still effectively receiving a £600 subsidy.”

Mr Bagnall also stresses that the admin fee is payable by June to ‘allow us to identify existing need and reserve seats for pupils on next year’s buses in good time’.

Officials at the council held two public consultations on the plans, in December 2011 and January 2012 – which received more than 4,000 responses. The council attended 20 public meetings and each child was given a leaflet to take home to their parents that explained the proposals.

The leader of the opposition at Bucks County Council Mary Baldwin said: “I don’t think it is fair what they have done. I think when times are hard this is hurting the wrong people.”

A FAMILY from Crowell were forced to escape from a plane following a dramatic emergency landing.

This week Kirsty Bonwick spoke of the shock she endured when the Virgin Atlantic Airbus was forced to return to Gatwick.

The 37 year old was bound for Orlando with husband Geoff, 46, and son Dino, 16, when the drama unfolded.

The trio were in the air when they learned there was a problem.

Mrs Bonwick said: “We’d been in the air about 25 minutes when the captain said we had to return because we were having a technical problem.

“I didn’t think much at that point.

“It wasn’t until the captain came over the loudspeaker and called for all the stewards to go immediately to the cockpit, and they all ran down the aisles.

“That’s when the panic set in.

“I was thinking: ‘Am I going to see the rest of my family again?’

“Your imagination goes mad.”

After the plane touched down back at Gatwick, passengers were told they needed to evacuate quickly through the emergency exit.

Mrs Bonwick recalled: “Everyone got hurt coming down the chute, we were lucky that we were in the second row back from the emergency exit.

“We just went flying across the concrete, there were some quite serious injuries.”

All passengers had to give an account to police before being transported to a nearby hotel overnight.

The following day, the family decided to head to the United States on an alternate flight.

She said: “We thought that if we didn’t take the flight, we never would.”

Four people were injured during the evacuation on April 16.

Gatwick Airport was closed for two hours following the incident.

It is thought the emergency was triggered by a fire in the hold of the plane.

THIS WEEKEND’S Chiltern Car rally has been cancelled, but there are still lots of other things to try and do.

Pick up a copy of this week’s Bucks Herald for a comprehensive seven-day what’s on guide.

FRIDAY

Theatre

Award-winning show South Pacific opens at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre. The latest production is a reinvention of Rodger’s and Hammerstein’s classic musical, which played to sell-out audiences on Broadway for two years. Runs until Saturday, May 26. Shows start at 7.30pm. For more details visit www.atgtickets.com/aylesbury

Blackadder Goes Forth will be performed at the Court Theatre in Pendley, Tring until Saturday. The stage play is based on the original Richard Curtis and Ben Elton TV programme and set in the trenches of the First Word War. Shows start at 8pm. For more details visit www.courttheatre.co.uk

Cheddington Amateur Dramatic present Norman Robbins’ comedy Where There’s A Will tonight and tomorrow at the Village Hall. The play about inheritance is set after a funeral. Tickets £4.50-£6. Doors open at 7.30pm. For details call the box office on 01296 662398.

Circus

Award winning clowns Kakehole and Popol, who were named Britain’s Best Circus Comedy Act twice, are heading to Wendover this weekend. The show also features Britain’s Got Talent finalist Denis Remnev, who will set pulses racing as he swoops and soars around the roof of the big top. The show times are at 4.30pm and 7.30pm on Friday. Saturday at 2pm and 5pm and Sunday at 2pm.

Live music

Acclaimed blues and rock band, Virgil and the Accelerators perform at Aylesbury’s Limelight Theatre. Tickets £9-£11. Shows starts at 8pm. For more details visit www.qpc.org

Why not visit?

The Beaconsfield spring art fair today, Saturday and Sunday. Mixture of paintings, prints, photographs, sculptures and ceramics. Free entry. For details visit www.thebeaconsfieldartfair.moonfruit.com

Children

Musical group for babies and toddlers every Friday afternoon in Bedgrove at Our Lady of Lourdes Church Hall. Runs 2pm-2.45pm with www.jacqinthebox.com

Aylesbury Library bounce and rhyme session for under fives, 10:30am-11am. Free entry, but booking required as only enough space for 35 children. For details call 0845 230 3232 or email lib-ayl@buckscc.gov.uk

Princes Risborough Library storytime session for under fives, 2.15pm-2.45pm. Free entrance, no booking required.

SATURDAY

Live music

Music in Quiet places concerts return to Aylesbury Vale with a performance at All Saints Church in Brill at 7.30pm.Before each concert there is a free scenic walk around the village with a historian which is open to everyone, not just those attending the concert. For details visit www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk

Evening concert at St Mary’s Church in Aylesbury from 7.30pm. Featuring violinist Ksenia Berezina and pianist Yulia Vorontsova. Their programme includes three contrasting sonatas, by Tartini (dazzling virtuosity), Poulenc (hauntingly bittersweet) and Grieg (highly passionate). Tickets £8.50-£10 or free for under 18s.

Art

Art On The Hill exhibition returns to Brill Church of England Combined School today and tomorrow. The annual exhibition features paintings, photography and sculpture. A series of workshops are also taking place, showing how to create a Jubilee Hobby Horse for example. For details visit www.brillpta.co.uk

Why not visit?

Vale MP and Commons Speaker John Bercow will be the guest of honour at Aylesbury’s Queen’s Park Arts Centre open day from 11am-3pm. There will be free have-a-go workshops, demonstrations, performances and children’s activities throughout the day. Also the grand unveiling of work to the centre’s building and signage. For more details visit www.qpc.org.uk

1940s weekend at the Bucks Railway Centre in Quainton. There will be an art exhibition, live music, trade stands, military vehicles, re-enactments and firing demonstrations. For details visit www.bucksrailcentre.org

Talk

Bucks Family History presents a talk on women in the 18th century. Tom Doig will describe the lives of women at the time, looking at childbirth, marriage, work and family life. Starts at 2.30pm at Prebendal Farm Community Centre. For details visit www.bucksfhs.org.uk

Bucks and Oxon group of the Hardy plant society present Clematis Queen Of Climbers talk by horticultural lecturer writer and broadcaster Stuart Dixon. Takes place at the Winslow Centre at 2.15pm. £4 charge for visitors. For more details call 01280 813352.

Why not visit?

Spring fair in Long Crendon Catholic Church selling nearly new clothes, books and handbags. Starts at 2pm and is in aid of the Yala fund which is a charity that supports children in Sri Lanka.

Renaissance day centre spring craft fair at Ardenham House in Aylesbury from 10am. For details call 01296 334755 or email renaissance@hpcha.org.uk

Annual plant sale at The Ark, 28 Risborough Road, Stoke Mandeville. Starts at 1.30pm.

Breast Cancer Care’s 10 or 20 mile Pink Ribbonwalk around the grounds of Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, in association with Woman And Home magazine. For details visit www.pinkribbonwalk.org.uk

Theatre

Chesham Bois Catholic Players will perform House Guest by Francis Durbridge – the story of two movie stars whose child is kidnapped. Runs today and Sunday, then Friday and Saturday next week at The Little Theatre By The Park. For details visit www.c-b-c-p.org

SUNDAY

Why not visit?

Princes Risborough monthly Sunday market 10am-2pm in the High Street. Offering a range of vegetables, jams, chutneys, cushions, cards and juices.

Live music

Stewkley singers present Happy And Glorious: A Concert To Celebrate The Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. Runs 7.30pm-9pm at St Lawrence Church in Winslow. For details visit www.stewkleysingers.org

Exercise

Aylesbury and District Ramblers will meet at Wendover Library car park at 10.30am and walk to Buckland Common. For details visit www.aylesbury-ramblers.org.uk

Enjoy a guided walk around Stowe Gardens and learn about the several species of bats which live around the grounds. Talk is being organised by the National Trust and North Bucks Bat Group. Starts at 8pm. For more details visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/stowe

The Rotary Club of High Wycombe is holding its 17th annual Chiltern Cycle Pedal Push, featuring 25- or 50-mile signposted and marshalled routes through the Chilterns and Aylesbury Vale. Starts and finishes at Hearing Dogs for Deaf People in Saunderton from 8am. Entry is £20. For more details visit www.PedalPush.org.uk

RECRUITS from around the country gathered at RAF Halton as part of final preparations for a special Armed Forces event on Saturday, May 19, at Windsor to mark Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

More than 500 personnel took part in a drill exercise which will be on show before the Queen and other members of the Royal Family, including His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.

Some 2,500 personnel will take part in the tri-service parade, followed by a Muster in Windsor Castle grounds, with the finale including a unique flypast of more than 70 current and historic aircraft.

FOR some reason or another I decided to check exactly what I have in my loft. Don’t ask me why because I haven’t lived in my present house for that long, but clamber up a ladder I did.

Among the videos I can’t use because I no longer have a player, I found a copy of a TV Trailer I did for my Three Counties Radio show. I am going to keep it in the hope that one day the grandchildren might be interested in such a family heirloom.

I also found a photograph of my first two daughters Sarah and Emma that appeared on the front page of the (now defunct) Halesworth Times. The kids are seen cuddling some first born spring lambs whilst shivering in the snow when they were three and five years old respectively.

Among the other pics found in the loft is one of yours truly taken during the Queens Coronation celebrations, which shows that I was not always a somewhat reactionary old geezer. The camera caught me posing in a neighbour’s front garden dressed as a Scotsman!

Don’t ask me why but I would guess that my mum ran out of ideas for the fancy dress contest held at our street party on the great day.

Mum always came up with something and it usually had something to do with the fact those times were hard and she had two daughters to dress up as well. I obviously got the short straw because my outfit consisted of a check shirt worn with a tartan skirt owned (I assume) by my older sister June, a Tam o’ Shanter, which was my mum’s hand-knitted bonnet and a pair of white socks and baseball boots!

I won’t go into details of some other photographs of my early years because they consist of things like my appearance at Watford Town Hall when I played the bells in the school band and the boys wore red and white satin type shirts with black satin shorts.

My only excuse is that I was only about seven years old and subject to my school teachers influences!

Have a good week – I’m off to censor a few other bits of my youth.

A MADAM from Aylesbury ran a brothel as a women’s collective with no ‘Mr Big’ in control, a court has heard.

Trudy Rigby, 44, of Ceely Road, gave a ‘full and frank’ admission to police after they raided a one-bedroom flat and found a working girl having sex with a male client.

Prosecutor David Chrimes told the court: “She said she was sometimes a working girl and on other occasions a receptionist.

“She had got involved as a receptionist and then provided sex to the public. On her own admission this had gone on from 2009. The police started detailed inquiries into the case.

“Unusually the brothel seems to have been run as a co-op or collective. There were no Mr Bigs or pimps involved.”

Rigby ran the brothel from a one-bedroom flat in Watford.

Police found that she had placed adverts for massage at ‘Laceys’ in the local media.

Her latest tax return put her income at £9,000 a year, but she will now be subject to a financial investigation under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Neil Jarvis, defending, told St Albans Crown Court on Tuesday: “There was a number of middle-aged women who took over this establishment and were working as a collective.

“There was no coercion and no under-age girls.”

Judge Stephen Gullick gave Rigby a conditional discharge for two years telling her: “Don’t do it again or you will find yourself back here.”

He said he was giving her a conditional discharge because there was no evidence of exploitation, but said she will have to return to court in the autumn to face the financial proceedings.

MANDEVILLE School students have ensured their place in history after producing an animation to be shown in London’s 2012 Paralympics opening ceremony.

As part of the project ‘Driving Inspiration’, 20 students from year seven to year 13 have worked with renowned animator David Bunting to produce the opening minute of a short film which will be viewed by millions of people.

David Bunting said: “This project has literally been like the Olympic torch being passed around the globe. We got hold of it this past week and we’ve just run with it.

“It’s been intense and by far the most ambitious thing I’ve worked on. It is a massive international collaboration and it’s so exciting.”

The project has seen hundreds of students from 12 different countries connect online to help create the ten minute film.

The piece sees the Paralympic torch leave Stoke Mandeville Stadium before embarking on a trip round the world to share the cultures of other countries.

Further inspiration for the project has been provided by the presence of paralympian and former discus gold medallist John Harris at the school, who was left paralysed when he was 18-years-old.

Mandeville has close ties to the Paralympics, as it was where the first Games took place in 1948 under the stewardship of Dr. Ludwig Guttman. One of the mascots for the Games has also been named Mandeville.

The film is set to premier on July 9th when the Olympic torch visits the school.

AYLESBURY Vale District Council shelled out more than £6,000 on food and alcohol at a lavish reception to open its new offices.

The council says the money was an investment, with the event held to showcase its £9.5million offices to hirers.

Critics have branded the council as ‘out of touch’ after it was revealed the opening ceremony cost taxpayers £8,749.

As well as spending £6,229 on food and alcohol, the council paid £1,250 for lighting and £1,270 on musicians.

Five days later, on Wednesday last week, members of the full council were served a further £160 worth of refreshments after its annual meeting.

Tory Councillor Phil Yerby, took to social networking site Twitter to criticise the spending.

He wrote: “A formality, then followed by wine and food at your expense. Out of touch, esp after a big party last Friday.”

Mr Yerby, who did not attend the opening, said: “In my personal view, we shouldn’t be seen to be spending public money on entertaining ourselves.”

Councillor Chris Adams, who heads the UKIP group, said the two members of his party had not accepted any food or alcohol at either reception, telling the Herald: “In times of austerity, I think this is foolish.”

District council leader John Cartwright said the opening had been combined with the chairman’s reception, which recognises people for their work in the community.

He said: “The guest list was extended to reflect this and included local businesses and other potential hirers of the new facilities.

“AVDC is committed to making the conference centre a success and generating income from bookings.

“Any business running a professional conference centre would expect to invest in the marketing and promotion of its facilities.

“Friday’s event was part of our programme to do this.”

Liberal Democrat group leader Steven Lambert claimed he had been misled into attending.

He told the Herald: “I tested the invitation to see if it was the chairman’s reception and was told yes, that is all it is, nothing more.

“But it became clear on the night that Cartwright had taken this over for the celebration of his own achievements.

“There was no need for it to cost so much money.”

Two weeks ago, more than 290 completed their move from the council’s High Street offices to the new Gatehouse Road building.

A TOTAL of 15 new jobs have been created in Thame by hotel firm Travelodge.

The jobs will be made available at the company’s head office based in Thame, 10 of which will be management roles.

The positions are part of 100 new jobs created nationwide by the firm.

AYLESBURY MP David Lidington has demanded answers after a government report on HS2 found the ‘successful delivery of the project is in doubt’ and highlighted ‘major risks or issues’ with the plans.

The rail line was given a downbeat amber/red rating by the Major Projects Authority – which was formed by the Prime Minister in October 2010 to oversee large scale government schemes.

Since the report HS2 Ltd has advertised a series of £97,000-a-year jobs (such as head of PR and head of information) leading anti-HS2 campaigners to accuse the organisation of ‘ploughing ahead regardless’.

In a letter to cabinet office boss Francis Maude, Mr Lidington asked him to ‘clarify what analysis the authority undertook in coming to its conclusion’.

He also asked ‘will the urgent action that is required affect the Department for Transport’s timetable for implementation of the HS2 proposals?’

Penny Gaines, of Quainton, social media director of the Stop HS2 campaign group, has also called for the authority’s report to be released. She said: “This is still a fairly early stage of the project. They are still designing it and an amber alert at this stage is a real concern. The entire project will take another 15 years before it opens and it will be relatively easy to cancel now when you compare how much money is committed if this goes ahead – £17 billion.

“It’s crazy in a time when so many services and projects at an advanced stage are being cancelled. It seems silly to carry on with this project.”

Following the amber/red status Ms Gaines is urging the coalition to commission research into the future of video conferencing.

She believes that new technology, such as tablets and smart phones, will reduce the number of people who chose to travel for meetings by 2026 – which may raise questions about the project’s business case.

MOBILE phones have a place in schools despite Ofsted’s top inspector calling for them to be banned.

That is the view of three Vale headteachers The Bucks Herald spoke to following a call by Sir Michael Wilshaw for a blanket ban on bringing mobiles to schools because of the disruption they can cause.

Rules regarding phones at The Grange, Cottesloe and Mandeville schools vary.

The Cottesloe has the strictest policy, banning mobiles from both the classroom and break times.

Headteacher Nigel Fox said: “Once pupils come into school they remain in their bags and should not be brought out.

“For some youngsters it is almost becoming an addiction to have the phone in their hands so we have to work hard on that.”

He said a handful of pupils flout the policy and have their phones confiscated until the end of the day.

However, Mr Fox resisted demands for a complete ban.

“You do have the safety aspect.

“Youngsters here are bused in so when it is dark or maybe they have missed the bus they can contact their parents. They can be extremely helpful in these instances.”

At the Grange phones are allowed to be used at break times – but those who abuse the rules can have their mobiles confiscated for up to a week.

Headteacher Vince Murray said: “Our policy is no mobile phones in and around the building – but if you are in the playground, yes, by all means. It is something we have had in place for a number of years and parents are generally supportive.”

Although phones can be confiscated for a week, Mr Murray added there is a ‘caveat’ that mobiles are returned if parents can prove a genuine need for them.

But he said he could understand where Mr Wilshaw was ‘coming from’.

“It is not a massive concern for us but at the same time if you are in a situation where students are texting and emailing and the phones are going ping all the time then clearly it is disruptive to teaching taking place.”

Mandeville School used to have a blanket ban in place – but headteacher Peter Patchett said rules have been relaxed and that phones can actually ‘improve learning by allowing access to databases and statistics’.

However, unless a teacher instructs that a mobile can be brought out, they must otherwise remain on silent in the pupils’ bags, he said.

But he said the school was always re-evaluating the policy.

“If we feel young people are abusing that privilege then we will ban the devices from coming into school.”

> Have you got an education story? Contact news editor Adam King on 01296 619764.

THE future remains uncertain for the latest victim of the recession in the town centre – Clinton’s Cards.

In recent months, national retailers Game, HMV, Peacocks and La Senza have closed down in Friars Square, leaving the centre with empty units and less to offer shoppers.

And now Clinton’s Cards, which owns three stores in Aylesbury town centre, has gone into administration.

But manager at Friars Square, Andy Margieson, has revealed that the departure of fashion retailer Peacocks may in fact have a silver lining for the town.

“Peacocks leaving has freed up a unit in a prime location, and has attracted four or five national retailers to the town,” he said.

“This is great news for Aylesbury, as as soon as we get these companies interested, we can offer them other units if we can’t put them in Peacocks, which we can then tailor to their needs.

“We’ve had a wide variety of national firms show an interest in the town centre – ranging from fashion retailers, to toy stores and budget priced household goods retailers.”

He did, however, add that while the units vacated by firms now under administration are empty, the administrators still have the keys, therefore no new shops can yet move in.