THE recent report, A Choice by Right, by the Parliamentary working group on forced marriage, has been a subject of comment both in the mainstream media and Asian community. The first thing to be noted is the report correctly makes a distinction between
IT is totally incomprehensible that Buckinghamshire Health Authority should be considering closing one, if not two, major breast-screening units. The units under threat are at Wycombe Hospital, Aylesbury and Milton Keynes. The health authority could leave
TRAVELLERS have come in for much criticism in this area in recent times - because some groups give all of them a bad reputation. Some are irresponsible and do make a mess and cause problems where they stay, but to tar all with the same brush is unfair
Mann on Friday: Praise for the council mole who protected our democratic rights AT least Wycombe's politicians can comfort themselves with the fact they're in the same boat as Tony Blair as the leaks come thick and fast. Blair has been victim of a mole
SCHOOLBOY Simon Ward who helped make a trophy in memory of his late father went on to win the accolade at his school sports day. Simon, 11, made a plinth for the trophy to commemorate the work his father, Dean, did as a parent governor at Micklefield
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after more than £500-was stolen from a fish and chip shop. The burglar broke into The Lemon Plaice, in The Broadway, Beaconsfield, over-night between 9.30pm on Monday last week and 6am on Tuesday. The thief forced the
THIEVES broke into and vandalised a village school after Ofsted inspectors had commented on how 'nice' the surrounding area and people were. Two school sheds at the Longwick C of E Combined School, Walnut Tree Lane, Longwick, and the main school hall
ORGANISERS of the Marlow Jazz and Groove Festival have vowed never to hold it in the town again after ugly scenes broke out at last weekend's event when one of the main acts failed to show. More than 100 furious festival-goers demanded a refund for their
DAILY Telegraph columnist Paul Goodman has been chosen by Wycombe Tories to replace retiring MP Sir Ray Whitney at the next general election. More than 100 members voted for Mr Goodman at a meeting on Friday night held behind closed doors at Wycombe Town
IS history about to repeat itself with the planned Western Sector development in High Wycombe? When former county councillor Martyn Amor heard from the Free Press that the project might cost the taxpayer up to £25million, three words came into his mind
PATIENTS with psychiatric disorders are getting a lower standard of service in the county according to the latest Department of Health figures. Patients at mental health units in Buckinghamshire, such as Amersham's Haleacre Unit, face a raw deal when
GOLFER David Nichols was banned from driving for 12 months after buying three rounds in his local pub. Nichols, 42, a service engineer, of Slade Road in Stokenchurch, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol when he appeared at Wycombe Magistrates
MORE than 60 women rushed to help a drag queen save the night after two saucy strippers failed to turn up at a fundraising event. Dozens of women were eagerly awaiting the full monty from strippers Buddy Brown and Wild Thing in Piddington Village Hall
SHOPPERS and retailers could be offered a sweetener to help tide them over during the construction chaos which the Western Sector Development will create. Councillors discussed the possibility of dropping parking charges at Newlands car park between 10am
RESIDENTS have threatened to stop paying council tax if housing bosses go ahead with plans to move a family of travellers into their street. The Holmer Green Village Centre in The Common was packed with furious home-owners on Monday protesting against
DEPRESSED Michael Britnell hanged himself because he was unable to cope after separating from his wife Julia, an inquest was told. The 44-year-old, of Highfield Road, Bourne End, was found hanging from a rope in the stairwell of his home on the evening
THE cousin of hit-and-run victim Paul Bowden has appealed for a youngster who was hit by a motorist only an hour before Paul on the same stretch of road to contact police. Warren Lush, 23, of Prestwood, said he wanted two young men to help track down
THE fire service is appealing to housewives and mothers to become part-time firefighters in a bid to tackle a manpower shortage. Marlow fire station, in Dean Street, currently has just nine retained (or part-time) firefighters working and, despite four
COUNCILLOR Sandra Wilson has questioned the selection of prospective parliamentary candidates following a call for an urgent review by Bob Woollard. Buckinghamshire county councillor Woollard called for a shake-up of the current system of electing prospective
Re: 'Gipsy says Wycombe is most racist' - BFP July 14 I HAVE just read the article on this week's Free Press regarding the Reverend Terry Hurst. I am sure he already knows the answer 'why most Wycombe people do not want an official gipsy campsite'. How
WITH reference to the article on the Education page on Friday, July 14, 'Fears Raised After Visit by Inspectors.' I believe that it is important to make certain points clear, regarding some of the issues. It has been a concern for some time that the funding
Posner's Politics: The question whose answer is in the papers AS exclusively predicted by me last week, comment writer Paul Goodman became the second journalist within a day to be selected as a Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for the
Look Who's Talking by Colin Baker: PC emperor is naked and peeling IT is five years ago today that my first column appeared in this august (or should that be July?) weekly. To those of you who have taken the trouble to follow me all the way from the froth
CAMPAIGNERS are fighting against a mobile phone mast which they claim was put up in their neighbourhood without proper notification. Residents are furious and want a One2One with the mobile phone company, who they say never put up a notice to let the
SECRET talks have been held about the possible merger of two schools in Princes Risborough, with one facing possible closure. Headteachers and governors from Berryfield County First School, Berryfield Road, and Icknield County Middle School, Wellington
POP STAR and fast car lover Jay Kay is planning to race his way around Silverstone - in a Ford Fiesta. The celebrity, who lives in Horsenden Manor near Princes Risborough, will leave his beloved Ferrari at home to compete in a night race being organised
POLICE have admitted that burglaries in Marlow are on the increase with up to three being committed in the town each day. Insp Martin Bolton, of Marlow Police, told the Free Press last week: 'Marlow is having a spate of burglaries as did Bourne End earlier
REVELLERS were jiving around Higginson Park on Saturday as about 2,000 people descended on the Marlow Jazz Festival to soak-up some summertime tunes. Despite police being called to calm down the situation after Alexander O'Neal failed to appear, organisers
AN NHS trust has been forced to change hospital procedures after a patient died following a local anaesthetic overdose. Patient Frederick Harris was given ten times more than the usual prescription of lignocaine in Wycombe Hospital after suffering cardiac
THE Bucks Free Press has today launched an SOS campaign to save a major breast screening unit which is under threat of closure. The decision to launch the campaign to save our service came after we discovered there are proposals to close either one or
MAGISTRATES have issued a warrant for the arrest of dog owner Denise Mawby after hearing she goaded her pet to chase after and bite an 11-year-old boy. Mawby, 31, of Clarke Drive, High Wycombe, who is seven months pregnant, did not turn up at Wycombe
MOTORIST Joseph Windall had ten penalty points stamped on his driving licence after being spotted driving along a motorway with his hands behind his head. Windall, 49, of The Croft, Marlow, appeared at Wycombe Magistrates Court on Monday charged with
I WAS shocked to read your leader showing casual indifference to the latest threat to the daily lives of ordinary townsfolk. I refer to the proposed demolition of Tesco. High Wycombe, like most small towns, used to abound in food shops of every description
YOUR reporters are to be congratulated on their accurate reporting of the recent equalities advisory group meeting. Representatives of minority communities did indeed, as you reported, condemn the current Wycombe District Council Tory administration for
Thank you for our perfect day THIS is a letter of thank yous. Last week, the Amersham Round Table and Ladies Circle celebrated our 30th carnival. It was made extra special by having a queen and two princesses who were absolutely enchanting. The crowds
Re: retirement of BFP columnist Arthur Church, a former editor of this paper SHAME you couldn't have persuaded Arthur Church to do a 'Queen Mother' by continuing his official duties until he reached his century. His weekly column has provided a much-needed
