WEARING pink is back at the top of the autumn fashion choices. Always ready to support deserving causes, Gav Singh will be putting the valley chip-shop in the pink of things.

The occasion is the annual appeal for the Breast Cancer Campaign or Wear It Pink Day.

This year, Gav is hoping that Suzanne Brown, Mayor of Marlow, will open the proceedings at 1pm on Friday, October 24. Customers are invited to come along and enjoy a drink and some nibbles and some fun in pink to create awareness about breast cancer.

Of course, those collecting boxes will still be on duty for the evening opening hours, so be prudent about what you do with your change.

BEING considerate to other members of the community is what Thames Valley Police has in mind for all this month. It’s difficult to comprehend but, last year, more than 100 incidents of hate crime, directed at disabled people specifically, were reported to TVP.

Throughout this month, Thames Valley Police is raising awareness about disability hate crime, and encouraging victims, friends, family and support workers to report any incident where the victim believes they have been targeted because they have a disability. These incidents can include, but aren’t limited to name calling, verbal abuse, criminal damage or doing anything to make the victim feel unsafe. These incidents and crimes can be reported by friends, family, co-workers and carers as well as the victims themselves and witnesses.

The police believe many more occurrences are simply not being reported. The easiest way to report them is to ring 101 – the police will treat reports with great discretion.

If a victim or witness feels unable to report the crime to police for whatever reason, they can contact independent charities such as Stop Hate UK and True Vision, in confidence. There is a web address but, as so often happens, it is off-puttingly long and complex – easier to search on the names above.

ANOTHER seasonal practice that can be perceived as threatening will soon be with us. Many residents enjoy Halloween and view it as harmless fun, but for others it can be distressing receiving visits from unexpected callers.

The neighbourhood police teams in the Thames Valley will be undertaking high-visibility patrols over the Halloween period to deal with any anti-social behaviour. They also work with schools and parents to reduce the incidents of nuisance and criminal damage that can happen at this time of year.

You can download and print a ‘No trick-or-treat’ flyer from http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/Halloween. Click on No Trick or Treat down the right hand column. Display it in a window or pick up a copy from the police station.

HELP, I need conkers. No, I’m not planning to take on the hottest players in Burford School. I’m begging for some kind reader to pick up a bagful while walking the dog. After a couple of years with little groups of conkers, strategically placed near doors, I’m convinced that this is an effective method of alerting spiders to the fact they are distinctly not welcome here.

I notice that manufacturers of spider repellent sprays include essence of conker in their preparations – but hey, my spiders deserve the best fresh produce.

ARCHAEOLOGY is a significant attractant, maybe an addiction, for Peter Borrows, the Residents’ Association chairman. While the Valley has limited vital points of interest, according to his talk at a recent Valley Plus meeting, the general area has much worthy of exploration. Finding isolated examples of artefacts without an explanatory context can still be revealing if experience of other, more complete, sites indicate the function of such artefacts. Equally, much can be inferred from discoveries of objects about the way communities were structured or how they worked, perhaps simply from the revelation of the materials used in walls.

One of the fascinations about Marlow is that historical writings or art finds often point decisively to the existence of places or buildings of which no physical evidence has been found of where they are.

It’s matters like this that keep archaeological interest so captivating.

INTENTIONS were to tell you how much Joan Gilbert made in her regular jumble sale last Saturday, but, guess what? I got one vital fact wrong. It’s not until October 25, at 2pm in St Mary’s.

If you have a question about what is happening in Westminster, tonight’s your chance to find out from Steve Baker MP. He will be at the Methodist Chapel at 7.30pm in a public Question Timelike meeting organised by Valley Plus.

MACMILLAN Nurses benefited from the Barn Club’s coffee morning to the tune of around £130.

Last Saturday the Bublé tribute dinner attracted more than 40 diners and listeners to the club.