CELEBRATIONS were taking place in the Barn Club last Sunday. A large party of family, friends and supporters of some of the valley London marathon runners was in fine spirits enjoying an excellent meal.

On the previous Tuesday, St George’s Day, more than 60 people sat down at tables, decorated with English flags and English roses, to indulge in good old English roast beef with all the trimmings.

While the club always celebrates St George, it’s interesting to muse that the club has fairly suddenly become a natural venue for quality eating, and that’s significant for the valley.

It’s important to point out that any praise I direct at the Barn Club should not be misconstrued as unfair commercial advantage; it is a private members’ club, non-profit making, and is not competitive with anything else in the community; it has a constitution that makes it unusual, as all adult residents of the valley are eligible to become members for a very modest subscription, with only a small proportion of non-resident members permitted.

Why is it important to the community? Well, it’s the only completely secular and autonomous organisation, and meeting place here.

Some villages have pubs that acquire the aura of being a village hub. We lost ours a few years ago, no doubt hastened by the general demise in the industry.

The Barn Club has to take that role for the benefit of coalescing the community spirit. That’s not to deprecate in any way the inestimable value of the many industrious and venerable associations in our midst; but they all have their targeted interests and mostly they represent subsets of the population, albeit sometimes large proportions of us.

The Barn Club has had a challenging time for a couple of years, but I get a strong feeling that it’s all about to change direction. It’s a comfortable place, relaxed and with lots of in-house interests and recreations (even smokers are given the best conditions the law will allow). It doesn’t feel like a pub – even the most appealing ones. It’s family friendly, supports and sponsors many outside sports and community activities, but is at the same time relaxing.

What is the catalyst that might set the club on a more flourishing future? Well, the food that is provided by the new steward and stewardess is outstanding and word is getting about fast.

Watch out for some of the non-member events – there’s a public barbecue being planned, for instance. Sadly, your new membership will be too late to take advantage of a forthcoming ‘adult evening, mainly aimed at lady member interest’; all the tickets for that went faster than a former JLS gig!

FOLLOWING last week’s very successful joint presentation at Christ Church URC, which featured USA pianist Lenore Raphael, Marlow Jazz Club return to their normal base next Tuesday, May 7, when another world class star is on stage.

Brilliant guitarist Howard Alden is on a short tour from his New York home and will play at the Royal British Legion Hall along with his favourite British saxophonist Karen Sharp, plus Simon Woolfe on bass and club regular Denis Smith on drums. Howard topped the USA Downbeat poll last year as being world’s Number One jazz guitarist.

Music starts 8.30pm with admission at £8.

RESIDENTS’ Association committee members, and a small number of residents, discussed some matters of concern to our community. Apart from reviewing some current planning applications that seem less than sympathetic, much of the evening was taken up with pondering the potential consequences of the government’s relaxation of planning protocols.

Some of the immediate interest involved the noodle bar. Councillor, Dominic Barnes explained that WDC will be very alert to any infringements of the class 3 retail provisions the premises now holds. This strictly allows for providing food for consumption on the premises. Local residents fear attrition to a full class five takeaway licence, with serious implications for the neighbourhood.

On the more general front, Mr Barnes explained that the government’s intended direction is far from well-defined, either for the benefit of the public or even to council planning specialists. Perhaps a period of ‘testing the boundaries’ may ensue before clear rules are established. He pointed out that coming months could provoke a flurry of building extension activity when householders hope to stretch the perceived relaxation of rules to the detriment of individual neighbours and the community at large.

He urged the public to be alert to extravagant plans; he, for one, will be eager to see early clarification to or by the planning authorities as to how the new regime will operate.

In formal terms, the AGM approved the re-appointment of the current committee and was pleased to hear that, with the removal of most hindrances, we should soon see a sculpture commemorating Sir Steve’s Olympic achievements being installed near the valley entrance.