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ProvidingNewsandViewsformorethan30yearsFoxPharmacy,HGHair&Page11theRennieGrovePeaceCharityShop.MEMORIESFROMASCRAPBOOK-1994IrecentlywaslookingthroughanoldscrapbookandrealisedthisyearinHolmerGreenmarks many anniversaries, thirty years ago Christ Church in Holmer Green celebrated 100 years since it wasbuilt.Nigel Stowe the vicar at thetime organised a week ofcelebrations reenacting the original laying of the fountain stone by Lord Howe.His stone was a cardboardbox but the idea was the same.The present Lady Elizabeth Howe was invited, she was driven from Penn Street in a pony and trap escortedbytwoliverymen-JohnParslow and Bob Dunning, other members of the church were represented and dressed in appropriate uniform wereMr Alan Jones.Many villagers dressed in Victorian dress for the occasion.They were told the storyofhowthechurchwasbuilt.AnextractfromtheSouthBuck%u2019sStandardnewspaperin1894tells thestoryofananonymousdonationof%u00a3400.00senttoRevLindemanwhichenabledhimtoindulgein a hope a church would be built in Holmer Green.Earl and Countess Howe promoted a Bazaar at Penn house and gave an acre of land at the top of the recreation ground as a site for a church and burialground and also promised %u00a3100.00 towards the building fund.The erection of the building had been entrustedtoMessrsThos.TurnerLtdofWatfordwhowonthecontractatapriceof%u00a3870.00.There had been a long tradition that Messrs Biggs of Kingshill built Christ church, Mr Harold Biggs,who died only a few years ago maintained that this grandfather built the church and that his fatherwill have worked on its construction.This belief may not be in contradiction to the statement that Messrs Thom Turner won the contract as in those days they would have sub contracted to MessrsBiggs.There would not have been transport to bring workers from Watford every day.Part of the celebrationswasaflowerfestivalwasheldinthechurch.Includingorganrecitalsduringtheday.TheeveningwascompletewithaBarnDanceheldinthechurchcentre.TheVPA,HolmerGreenGardeningClub,alsocelebrated50yearsofexistence.IntheBucksFree Press, they used to have a column from all the local villagers each week, Jack Cox was the local correspondent.InSeptember1994,itreportedthatover500entriesin the various classes were exhibited in the autumn show.It also said the giant pumpkin was won by Eric Maygers, 80lbsin contrast to Linda Meatyard%u2019s entry weighing 31/2half pounds.September saw the 50th Annual Harvest supper where traditionally produce was auctioned off at the end of the meal.That year, like many others, an annual fete was held on the common.Many organisations entered a float, the surrounding roads were closed so a parade around village happened.Many groups had a stall to promote themselves.Thescoutgroupprovided entertainment for many children in the form of a greasy pole.Does anyone rememberhavingago?The Royal British Legion in Holmer Green also celebrated the50thAnniversaryof%u201cD%u201dDayonthecommoninaservicecalledDrumheadServiceofCommemoration.Alltheuniformedgroupsattended,includingthescouts.Doyouhaveanymemoriesofthatyearwewouldlovetohearfromyou.LindaMeatyard(Continuedonpage18)