Page 81 - Phonebox Magazine September 2014

Expeditionary Force
In last month’s Phonebox two of the paragraphs in Mike Totton’s article on the British Expeditionary Force got mixed up.
It was regarding the ‘right hook’ offensive and should have read:
Sir John French was not a good choice as leader of the BEF. He did not speak French and distrusted his allies with a “Colonel Blimp” attitude to all foreigners. He immediately moved the army up between the French and Belgium armies and marched into Belgium and headed straight into the hammer blow of the German “right hook”. The battle which followed caught Sir John French completely by surprise. The Battle of Mons showed the BEF exactly where it stood in the order of things.
Fortunately for the French, the two main German armies making up the “right hook” began to lose contact with each other and French pressure on their flank forced them to move eastward, across the north of Paris instead of westward and around it.
Our apologies to Mike and anyone confused by this error.
The Harry Middleton Gift Fund
In the twelve months from April 2013 to March 2014 the Harry Middleton Gift Fund received income of £23,092 and gave seven grants totalling £7,142. In respect of the completed grants the organisations and the purpose for which the grants were given are listed below. The grants
are often only part of the total cost of a purchase or project, the balance being raised elsewhere by the requesting organisation.
Carnival Trophies .......................................................................... £860 Bowls Club Car Park ................................................................... £2400 Town Council Flower Baskets....................................................£1236 Tickford Park Primary School Outside learning area ................ £700 Xmas Lights ................................................................................. £1026 Brooklands Club Xmas Lunches ................................................. £500 Bathing Place Plaque....................................................................£420
The level of requests for qualifying projects has of recent years been disappointingly low. However any income not used within a year rolls up and becomes available should a larger project occur in later years.
The Harry Middleton Gift is a registered charity, which has been administered by trustees within Newport Pagnell since 1979. During that time it has made grants to town organisations totalling over £459,000. The Gift Fund can make grants to most organisations within the town for equipment or capital costs. It does not make grants to individuals or towards running costs such as leaflet printing or organisational costs. Nor does it fund minor items where the participants or the families of participants would normally be expected to provide them. The only exception that the Trustees have made is an annual subsidy to help provide Christmas lunches for the elderly at the Brooklands Centre. The organisation must be non-commercial, based in the town and be almost entirely for the benefit of Newport Pagnell residents. If you think your organisation would qualify and could benefit from a grant contact the correspondent, David Kirkbright, on 01908 611650 or email davidkirkbright@hotmail.co.uk for more information. Application forms can also be obtained from the Town Council office. Copies of the annual report and accounts can also be requested from the correspondent. David Kirkbright
Newport Pagnell Partnership
Hands up all those who have heard of the Newport Pagnell Partnership. Not many I’ll bet. In that case, I had better explain to you what it is. It is an association of groups and
organisations working together for the benefit of everyone in Newport Pagnell and for those who visit for work, shopping, etc. These groups each send a representative to join the Partnership board, which sits on a monthly basis. We have members from the Town Council, NP Ward members of Milton Keynes Council, the Churches, Historical Society and the Business Association. Also represented are groups dedicated to solving parking and traffic problems and the one that I represent, which is the Parks and Gardens who maintain Ousebank Gardens and the adjacent cemetery.
The Partnership, as a body, can achieve more things that can be done by individual groups or local authorities working alone. Local authorities are not eligible for many grants that other organisations, such as ours, can obtain. The best example of this is the refurbishment of the High Street that took place a few years ago. All the new paving, revamped parking bays, street furniture and the specially commissioned street lamp columns. All this was done with funding from various grant giving bodies, including the Lottery, at no extra cost to you or me.
But time marches on and it is now time for the Partnership to find something else to focus on. We want to do the next big project and we need your help in deciding what is needed, here in Newport. Something that we do not have already. What do you want to see happen? There are many things that can be done. Perhaps you might like to see the purchase and renovation of the old Aston Martin buildings, a new cycle route through the estates, a new bigger building for the town museum. It might not always be possible. But this is the type of thinking that we are looking for. Be ambitious. Think big. Be creative. If you don’t ask, you don’t get. Those of you who recognise my name will know that I am passionate about where I live. Right now it is a passion that needs to be directed towards a new goal. Come and help me find that goal. Are you a member of a group or organisation based in Newport Pagnell that would benefit from joining the Partnership? If you are, then get in touch. We are always looking for new blood, as it were. Newport Pagnell needs to keep moving, looking forward to a bright future, but not forgetting the past that has shaped us.
Should you wish to join us in a venture, or just want a bit more information on how you can make a difference to where you live, follow our link on the Newport Pagnell Town Council web site. www.newport-pagnell.org.uk. We will also be joining the Town Council with a display of our own, when they show the next stage of their Neighbourhood Plan, which will be announced locally and on their Facebook page. Do come along and have a chat. We don’t bite! John C Smith
Phonebox Magazine 81