This blog will be updated weekly, every Friday, throughout February
Well known clergyman dies – The former vicar of Penn Street, the Rev Nigel Stowe, has died. Although he retired in 2001 as vicar of Penn Street and Holmer Green after 25 years, he continued to help officiate at St Margaret’s, Tylers Green and Holy Trinity, Penn until last year. His son Jonathan said his father passed away peacefully last Wednesday after spending eight weeks in hospital. Nigel, who was in his eighties, and his wife Pauline have one other son, David.
Fall continues – New cases of coronavirus continue to fall in Buckinghamshire. On Friday 154 were reported. There were 185 new cases reported yesterday, although this probably includes delayed data because of the weekend. Unconfirmed figures show that 21 people died from Covid on Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the Wycombe/Chiltern/South Bucks area (these are people who had tested positive for Covid in the previous 28 days)
Vaccinations rise – Buckinghamshire NHS Trust said at the weekend that nearly 50 per cent of its beds at Wycombe, Amersham and Stoke Mandeville Hospitals continue to be filled by coronavirus patients. From today all hospital blood tests must be pre-booked online to ensure a smooth flow of patients at the hospitals. Nearly 90 per cent of over 80s in Buckinghamshire have now received a first Covid vaccination.
Floods alert – The Environment Agency has 25 flood alerts and eight flood warnings in place in Buckinghamshire. There are alerts along virtually the length of the River Thames from Pangbourne to Shepperton.
Digger stolen – Thieves stole a red Kubota digger belonging to Penn Landscapes on Friday night/Saturday morning. Police are investigating.
Services resume – The Hit or Miss pub in Penn Street is resuming its village shop role on Tuesdays and Thursdays as an online service where customers can pick-up their orders. The Potters Arms at Winchmore Hill is offering a hot food delivery service from Wednesday to Saturdays within a 5km radius of the pub, which includes Penn and Tylers Green.
Collect service – In Time, the gift and party shop at Hazlemere’s Cosy Corner, is trialling a call and collect service from today between 11am and 2pm. Staff will be in store in those times, taking calls, taking payment and preparing items for customers to collect.
Passenger drop – Official figures published at the weekend show there was a 90 per drop in the number of international passengers passing through Heathrow between April and November last year.
Next blog update – Friday 5 February