Welcome back, in reverse as it were! I’m almost tempted to say ‘by popular demand’. Many readers have asked after my wellbeing and wondered when/if I would return. Thanks for the interest; let’s just say it’s been a crisis of confidence that’s kept me away and I intend to grab back, permanently, the space lent to Michael Eagleton.

I’ll try to catch up on some worthy topics over the coming issues, such as charity successes, local irritations and that largely unwanted cycle path.

Longest running story in the valley must be our salute to Sir Steve. The residents’ association has been trying for years to honour five-time Olympic champion Steve Redgrave at the entrance to the village.

But hurdles including a row over licensing issues with the International Olympic Committee have delayed the project until now. Well the groundworks are about to start, with the official opening set for early May. This immense delay has been largely due to the grudging non-cooperation of the London Olympic Committee over seeming trivia and some initial decisions by WDC.

Celebrations to mark the 40th anniversary of the opening of the Anglican church will be one of the highlights of May. I will have more to say next week.

Marlow Methodist Church, Spittal Street, hold a spring fair this Saturday, March 28, from 10am to 2pm.

Stalls include homemade cakes and preserves, Easter eggs and gifts, toiletries, bric-a-brac, books, jewellery and linens. Coffee will be served from 10am and lunches from 12noon. Entry is free and proceeds are distributed between a variety of charities.

Wondering what had happened to the Valley Plus meeting this month? The regular meeting date, which is the last Tuesday of every month, happens to fall on the very last day of March. BUT... it will have been worth the wait!

Evelyn Carter, one of its members, will talk about her childhood in Germany. Evelyn has spent most of a distinguished and fulfilling life in this country but her earliest memories are as a small child in Germany in the last days and the aftermath of World War Two. She was to experience the Berlin Air Lift first hand. Through her memories, we can see familiar events from a different perspective.

Evelyn will be followed by Lori Spragg. The Ebola outbreak has largely disappeared from the headlines – for which we should be grateful – but in those areas where it raged, the effects will be felt for a generation. Lori will talk about the children orphaned by this terrible disease.