TIMING of pieces of news sometimes gets in the way of their content. Such it was last week, concerning the Guides’ expected sharp increase in hire charges for their current Burford home.

Their leaders were distressed at losing the use of school facilities and urgently needed to find a new hall quickly to be able to arrange a move before September.

What they did not know was that Burford school was already, and quite spontaneously, reconsidering the new rates and how it might continue to accommodate the Guides. Unfortunately, announcement of the decision came after MFP’s publication deadline – the paper had already gone to press. Obviously both parties involved were unhappy about a situation that became unavoidable.

I should stress that both the Guides and Burford had seen the text in last week’s column before copy deadline, and the school’s revision of its decision was made later by head teacher, Karol Whittington, without pressure.

Karol said, earlier this week: “We are very pleased that the Guides will continue to use the facilities at Burford. We feel it is important that the school supports community activity as much as it is able to within the constraints of its own budget. Apologies for any confusion caused as we sought to resolve this issue.”

Brown Owl, Sandie Kemp added “Of course we are both delighted and grateful that the school has been sympathetic to our needs. We are, after all, both dedicated to the same educational principles for our children.

Staying in Burford will certainly spare us a highly disruptive episode in an already challenging world.”

SUMMER fete time is well and truly here, even if the meteorological scene is less well defined.

St Mary’s Pre-school is the latest to take the stage. But they are playing it really clever.

They will be transforming St Mary’s into a Seaside Pier featuring Punch and Judy shows, vintage ice cream, chips in a cone, bouncy castle, sandcastle building, retro sweets, seaside games and crafts with donkeys completing the scene at St. Mary’s Church Hall on Sunday, July 14 from 2 pm until 4.

It costs £1 to get onto the pier and there are some fantastic prizes in the Great Marlow Bottom Bake Off, in three age categories, under 10 years, 10 to 16, and over 16.

Susie Richards will tell you more if you ring 07989 841 352 – don’t hang up if she answers in a Mr Punch voice.

SUMMER and gazebos go together, and gazebos and thieves went together, in the experience of one reader who has his own patch of woodland behind his house.

The family’s hideaway among the trees was there one evening but gone by morning.

The warning is, there’s a thief about who has a taste for recreational canvas ware.

If you have any idea where one has suddenly appeared or has been offered to you a bit cheap contact the police.

This also means temporarily parked bikes and other reasonably portable leisure items need to be watched more carefully.

REBELLION’S Open Weekend takes place on July 6 and 7. The brewery, for those unfamiliar with its generous tradition, is open from about 10 until 5 each day for free ‘tasting’ of all its beers.

You pay, quite moderately, for the products of probably the area’s most extensive barbecue, but not a lot else. Beer, music and relaxed conversation in the sunshine (?) come free.

There are one or two protocols the company asks you to respect. The most important is to donate generously to Scannappeal; a copious supply of Gift Aid envelopes will be available so that a certain Mr Osborne has the privilege to contribute also.

Next, please do not attempt to park on roads anywhere near the premises, so as not to inconvenience neighbours, who may have other plans for the weekend. There will be extensive parking provided adjoining the brewery; please obey the marshals.

Next, please be subdued when leaving for home, again for neighbours’ sakes. Visitor numbers are likely to amount to several thousands, so Rebellion respectfully asks you to choose to come on one day only, to avoid over congestion.

Finally, given half decent weather, this is always a fun event, please come prepared to relax and enjoy yourself.

There can be few such magnanimous gestures to a community anywhere, so it’s only fair to respond by giving your biggest ever contribution to Scannappeal.