JONATHAN Aitken, the disgraced former Tory MP jailed for perjury and perverting the course of justice, is to make a local appearance next week. With religion now more dominant in his life, the former MP for Thanet, once spoken of as a future Tory leader, shares his faith with people in the business world. Next Friday evening he is to give a talk, Power, Prison and Peace, at a dinner at the Bell House Hotel. The event has been organised by the Reverend Fane Conant, Deanery Officer for Evangelism, who is hoping Christians will take non-Christian friends to the dinner. Further information can be obtained by ringing 01494 6750113.

BROCHURES are now circulating with details of the 19th Gerrards Cross Summer School, which means enrolments can now be made. More than 1,000 students were attracted to last year's event and in excess of 50 courses are on offer this time around. These range from a local history talk on Gerrards Cross Since the Age of the Dinosaurs to craft sessions on glass painting, pen and ink drawing and two-day courses on Chinese brush painting and Beginners Watercolour.

Many courses like computer lessons are booked up quickly so do look out for the purple-covered programme, which is available from the Memorial Centre, libraries and other outlets. The summer school is on from July 22 to August 2.

NEXT meeting of the Gerrards Cross Parish Council is on Monday at 8pm at the Memorial Centre. Incidentally, the parish council is seeking to appoint an assistant to clerk of the council, Diana Hepburn. If you have an interest in local affairs, like dealing with the public and have eight hours a week of spare time, do get in touch on 01753 888018.

CAREERS Springboard, the self-help group that meets on Monday evenings at St Andrew's Church in Packhorse Road, now has a new telephone contact number. It is 01494 677881.

At next Monday evening's meeting entrepreneur Jill Dearlove will explain the importance of Interview Techniques & The First Ten Seconds. It is at 8pm.

IN 1996 Margaret Deakin took early retirement after 30 years teaching to set up Travel Talks, an enterprise which allows her to indulge her passion for travel and lecturing. On Wednesday she visits the Probus Club at St James's Church Hall when she will deliver an illustrated talk entitled Highlights of China.

THE Gerrards Cross Concert-goers group is off up the A40 again on Wednesday evening to visit the Barbican for the latest London Symphony Orchestra concert. This time the attraction is Sir Colin Davis conducting pianist Alfred Brendel in a programme of Beethoven and Bruckner.

PETER Catley is a guest of the Women's Evening Fellowship at the Methodist Church on Wednesday evening. He will be giving a talk about Life In Wellington's Army. It is at 8pm.

ONCE again the Community Association's Attic Sale, scheduled for on Saturday week at the Memorial Centre, has proved a sell-out. A waiting list is now in operation for sellers so there should be plenty of bargains to be had when the sale gets underway from 9.30am until midday.

GEN Up On Genetics is a WEA course of five meetings with tutor Alan Myers, former deputy head teacher at Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School, beginning at the Memorial Centre on Wednesday from 7.30pm for two hours. The course is designed to enable students to take part more fully in the public debate about genetics, gene therapy, DNA fingerprinting and genetically modified crops.

By John Willis

February 14, 2002 13:38