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It's all happening in Newport Pagnell

Newport Pagnell's location

From Filgrave we will travel on to Newport Pagnell to have our last stop of the day at the Newport Pagnell Youth Club (NPYC).

 

The Newport Pagnell Youth Group as played an active role in the Newport Pagnell community for over fifty years providing opportunities for people aged between 10-25.

Working alongside the Milton Keynes Council’s Children and Families services, NYPC offers their young and local community somewhere to go where they can engage themselves in a variety of activities, or just provide a safe place where they can talk to someone they trust.

The building in which the Youth Club is based also runs and provides space for a whole host of other activities.  These are just some of the activities that take place:

 

·         Weekly Club Nights for 3 different age groups

·         A Youth Club Pre-School. This highly successful group runs alongside term-times on Monday-Friday. They provide a safe and welcoming environment where children can come and learn so that they are happy and confident going in to the beginning of their school life.

·         The Newport Pagnell Youth Football Club. The football club has four teams in total, an Under 18s, Under 15s and two Under 10’s. They provide evening training sessions once a week and part-take in numerous home and away games.

·         Diamond School of Performing Arts. Everything from dance, singing and drama groups run throughout the week and over the weekends. A great confidence builder for anyone and open to kids of all ages.

·         The youth club also hosts groups for Zumba, Boxing, Karate and Young Carers.

The Newport Pagnell Youth Club is a fantastic place where people’s confidence can grow and everyone’s potential can flourish.

 

The Newport Pagnell Youth Club building

 
For more information on any of the activities that take place at the Youth Club contact Darren Smith or Toya Powell on 01908 211701 or 0793 9080349

 

 

 

 

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A Hop, Skip and a Jump to Filgrave Reading Room

Olney and Filgrave's location

From Olney, we will be making the short journey to Filgrave, located just above Newport Pagnell in the parish of Tyringham and Filgrave. Whilst here we will be stopping at the local school, which plays an important role in the lives of the local villagers.

At the beginning of the 20^th Century Mr and Mrs Frederick Konig set up a charitable trust to build a school for the children of Tyringham and Filgrave, who were, at the time, having to walk across the fields to school in Emberton. A reading room was included in the school building for the use of the parishoners of Tyringham and Filgrave. In addition the children had “the provision of milk (winter), boots and stockings (Christmas), green and black caps or hat ribbons for children attending the school and such other charitable purpose as the Trustees decide.”

The building continued to be used as a village school until its closure in the 1980s.

Today the building is maintained by The De Chappuis Konig Charity and is once again used for educational purposes, being leased to a private nursery.

As is tradition the school has only ever been leased out in condition that the Reading Room is available to the residents of Tyringham and Filgrave. Over the years it has been used for village meetings, parish meetings, mother and toddler groups, whilst drives, jumble sales and various organisations and events are able to use the space free of charge.

With no village hall or local shop, the residents of Tyringham and Filgrave rely on the Reading Room to hold village events that would otherwise be lost, along with the community atmosphere that is cherished by so many.

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Our Starting Point - The Cowper and Newton Museum, Olney

Olney's location

Every journey must have a starting point and ours is in Olney, located in the very north of the County as you can see from the map on the left.

On Sunday 16th September 2012, The High Sheriff and her posse will be taking over the traditional market square of Olney Town to officially launch the start of her Charity Ride.

We are hoping that it will be a real spectacle thanks to all the help we have received from The Cowper and Newton Museum.

The Cowper and Newton Museum was opened in 1900 and has been a part of Olney’s heritage ever since. The museum houses a substantial collection of poems and works from the proclaimed 18^th Century poet William Cowper, who lived for a number of years in Olney itself and the nearby village of Weston Underwood.



A portrait of William Cowper by Lemuel Francis Abbott

 

Cowper’s most well known works include the following:

·         The famous Olney Hymns, published in 1779

·         John Gilpin written in 1782. Cowper only admitted authorship to this piece of work after it had been well received. It was the work that was to make him a household name.
·         The Task, published in 1785. This work was popular among high figures of society, including the Royal Family and later influenced Romantic poets such as William Wordsworth.
·         The Castaway, written in 1799

 

 

Portraint of John Newton

Whilst living in Olney, Cowper sparked up a great friendship with the Parish priest, John Newton, with whom he collaborated on the Olney Hymns with.

Newton is perhaps best known as the author of the hymn, Amazing Grace, written in collaboration with William Cowper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

During the morning of the 16^th September, before Carolyn sets off on her journey, there will be a reading of extracts from Cowper’s poem John Gilpin.

This event is open to ALL and we are encouraging everyone who would like to, to come along and support. Carolyn will be arriving on horseback between 11/11.15am so if you want to see her we would suggest that you arrive by 10.45am.

 

Once Carolyn has left, by 12pm, David Gooderson will perform extracts from his play The Castaway, a play based around the life of William Cowper. This event is to take place in the museum and gardens and will start at 12.30pm. This is a separate ticketed event. If you would like more information or tickets for this production please ring the Museum on 01234 711 516, or visit their website:
 

http://www.cowperandnewtonmuseum.org.uk/events/category/museum-events/

 

 

For more information on the play vist David Gooderson's website:

 

http://david-gooderson.co.uk/stage-plays/the-castaway.php

The Cowper and Newton Museum and gardens

 

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Fundraising Update

Thank you so much to everyone who has already very kindly donated to this great cause. So far donations have reached a huge £8400!

It is such a fantastic start and we are all hugely grateful to everyone who has showed their support and donated. 

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Training

As a young girl there were always horses and ponies in Carolyn’s life. Childhood was spent racing ponies around the farm, whilst her early adulthood was more involved in hunting and local cross-country events.

As is the case with so many things in life, Carolyn’s hobby got somewhat side tracked as work, children and everyday life took a more prominent role.

It is therefore fair to say that an element of training was needed before she actually set off on the mammoth task of riding the county.

Carolyn contacted a local stables in Silverstone explaining the position she was in, and what it was she needed to achieve. They were more than willing to help and Carolyn has been having weekly lessons with the owner Sophie since March. During these sessions, Carolyn has been focusing on endurance and stamina, taking long hacks around the beautiful woodland that surrounds the stables.

It is important that Carolyn got used to sitting in the saddle for substantial lengths of time as there will be some days during the ride, where she could be on the horse for up to 5 hours.

So far it has all be going pretty well, no injuries and only a few minor aches and pains at the beginning.

“Sophie has been a fantastic trainer. Knowing I will have to ride several different horses during the week, she has made sure that I feel confident on all shapes and sizes! Much to my relief my riding muscles have come back quite quickly and, despite a lot of mud and wet weather, it is thrilling to be back in the saddle.” – Carolyn Cumming

For information on Silverstone Stables, call or visit their website
www.silverstonestables.co.uk 

Telephone: 01327 857280

Carolyn (R) and Sophie (L), who has been helping prepare Carolyn for the ride

Carolyn aged 17 on 'Tonibell'

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County Map

On this map we have pinpointed the places where Carolyn will be visiting projects along the way. This overall view gives you a good idea of the distance that is being travelled during the week and the long, thin shape of the County.

The County of Buckinghamshire

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