AYLESBURY Dux comprehensively beat Stevenage Scorpions seconds 113-52, in this top versus bottom league match.

The first quarter set the tone for the game, with Stevenage reduced to the odd breakaway into the Dux’s half of the court, Aylesbury intercepting their final pass, springing defence into attack and punishing the Scorpions with clinical finishing.

The first quarter ended 26-7 and the second quarter went the same way, with Aylesbury racking up the points to go into the half-time break winning 56-22.

The final two quarters became academic with Aylesbury keeping up the pressure and increasing their lead, while Stevenage’s discipline unravelled and with it any game plan they may have had, reducing them to chasing shadows, fouling and berating the referee in an effort of damage limitation.

The Dux play home games and hold training sessions at Aylesbury High School Sports Hall, Walton Road, Aylesbury. The team’s next game is away to Hatfield Magic on Monday the next training session on Sunday March 4, from 6-8pm.

Aylesbury Dux are always looking to welcome new players.

AYLESBURY racing driver Danny Watts and his Silverstone team Strakka Racing have taken their new car on its first test run ahead of the season curtain-raiser.

Strakka are set to take part in the Endurance World Championships, including the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours, which starts at the Sebring 12 hours, Florida, on March 17.

Danny and his teammates gave the new 3.4 litre Honda ARX-03a a test run at Snetterton, Norfolk, this week.

He said: “It’s great to be back in a race car after a few months away and what a car to come back to.

“It exceeded my expectations being back in LMP1. The conditions at Snetterton were cold and a little bit damp, so you couldn’t push too hard, plus it’s only the shakedown test, but the car did everything and more that I expected it to.”

AYLESBURY’S new police boss says her big priorities will be to tackle anti-social behaviour, metal thefts and burglaries.

Neighbourhood Inspector Kelly Glister has just taken over the town’s top job from Omar Abu-rish and is now in charge of all policing, licensing, CCTV and counter terrorism measures.

The more than 50 staff who report directly to her must call her Ma’am, but for members of the community the personable mum-of-two is happy to be called Kelly.

She said: “I introduced myself on the police community messaging service. I did have a few replies, which was nice, groups inviting me to come and meet them and see what they do. It was evident that people don’t know how to address me. I am happy for members of the community to call me Kelly.”

She has worked in Thames Valley Police for 16 years and spent the last eight months as an acting detective inspector in Milton Keynes. The Vale resident’s background is in protecting the vulnerable. In the past she has worked on child abuse and domestic abuse cases.

One of her first priorities will be to meet community leaders in the town. She also plans to attend neighbourhood action group meetings, have your say events and accompany PCSO’s in school playgrounds – although stresses that she ‘will have to find a balance’ in addition to her other duties.

]]> 1.3548588 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:46:22 +0000 http://www.bucksherald.co.uk/call_to_ban_bully_midwife_at_stoke_mandeville_hospital_is_rejected_1_3548566

THE traumatised parents of a stillborn baby have said they were ‘bullied’ by a Stoke Mandeville Hospital midwife.

On Monday, Diane Gingell, 62, was given a three year caution for her treatment of Benjamin and Rachael Bird.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council heard Gingell had abandoned the couple for up to 25 minutes, and made them feel like an inconvenience.

Gingell failed to perform full checks on the baby’s progress and left the couple, from Tring, at home while she collected pethidine from hospital.

She also failed to tell the parents their child’s heart rate was dropping before calling an ambulance.

The midwife then chatted about the weather to a paramedic without checking on Mrs Bird during the journey to Stoke Mandeville Hospital.

Following the birth of the stillborn baby girl on July 18, 2009, the midwife told Mr Bird she had returned to their home, cleared up all the home birth equipment and checked on their dog.

But the panel heard Gingell had left the house covered in soiled towels and sheets.

The NMC panel decided to issue a three year caution after ruling Gingell’s ‘acts or omissions were not held to have adversely affected that outcome.’

Giving evidence Mr Bird told the panel that they had opted for a home birth because it would be relaxed.

He said: “Rachael and I were told we could have the TV on in the background and it would feel relaxed.

“However, when it came to it, it felt very sterile, and we felt like we were an inconvenience to Ms Gingell.

“She was huffing and puffing as she was taking notes, and just acting like she did not want to be there.”

Mr Bird said the couple did not want to speak to his parents until after the birth, but Gingell ‘bullied’ him into calling them.

He told the panel the midwife had snapped at them, shouting at his wife when she got out of the bath and complained of being cold.

Gingell then called an ambulance and told the couple it was just as a precaution.

Gingell did not attend the hearing but was found guilty of a series of charges including failing to perform full checks on the baby’s progress and leaving Mrs Bird without the care of another midwife or health professional while she collected pethidine from hospital.

She also failed to tell the parents their child’s heart rate was dropping before calling an ambulance.

Gingell was also found to have retrospectively added notes to say she had performed an important procedure before going to hospital, which she had not.

She was further cleared of failing to perform other vital checks on mother and baby and failing to hand over her notes at the hospital. But a call for a striking off order was rejected.

Panel chairman Jacki Pearce said: “With the benefit of hindsight there were signs, which should have raised more and earlier concerns.”

She added that Gingell’s actions did not affect the baby’s death.

A GANG of Aylesbury shoplifters has been ordered to pay back more than £145,000 which they gained through stealing electrical goods.

Reading Crown Court heard that leader, Paul Jones, also known as Mat Wali Khan, from New Street, enlisted the help of local drug users to swipe high-value goods from stores across Bucks and Oxfordshire.

The group would either attempt to return the items, or sell them online, with cash being laundered through their bank accounts.

In May last year, Jones was convicted of conspiracy to steal and conspiracy to convert criminal property. He has been forced to pay back £75,000, the full sum of his available assets.

If he fails to cough up within six months, he will face a further 21 months imprisonment and still be required to pay the amount in full.

He also has to report his financial position every six months for 10 years.

Also forced to pay back cash from the scam was Judith Rogers, aged 56, of Constable Place, Aylesbury.

She was told she must repay £62,550.26.

It followed an investigation by Thames Valley Police’s economic crime unit.

Det Insp Gavin Tyrrell, who headed the investigation, said he was pleased with the result.

He stated: “It is wrong, especially in the current financial climate that criminals are seen to benefit from their crimes and we will make every effort to ensure that within our communities crime will not pay.”

Three members of the group, Vicky Carter, 25, of Ascott Road, Aylesbury; Andrew Mark Short, 28, of Ascott Road, Aylesbury; and Dominic Clarke, 29, of York Place, Aylesbury, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal in June 2010.

In August 2010, Carter was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment and Short was sentenced to two years imprisonment.

Clarke received a community order in September 2010.

Other members of the group, Laura Rogers, 28, and Rebecca Rogers, 24, both from Minehead in Somerset; Judith Rogers, 56, from Constable Place, Aylesbury; and Shehzad Khan, 31, from Luton, all pleaded guilty to money laundering offences and in March 2011 they received suspended sentences.

Laura Rogers received 12 months imprisonment, suspended for 24 months, plus 200 hours of unpaid work and electronic monitoring; Rebecca Rogers received four months imprisonment, suspended for 24 months, plus 80 hours of unpaid work and electronic monitoring; Judith Rogers received nine months imprisonment, suspended for 24 months, plus 180 hours of unpaid work and Shehzad Khan received six months imprisonment, suspended for 24 months, plus 120 hours of unpaid work and electronic monitoring.

The ECU conducted a financial investigation under the Proceeds of Crime Act into those involved in the conspiracy.

Last week confiscation orders were granted at Reading Crown Court against Paul Jones and Judith Rogers.

Confiscation orders were granted at an earlier date against Laura Rogers for £3,495 and Shehzad Khan for £4,196.40.

Rebecca Rogers was ordered to pay a nominal amount.

A statement from police said compensation will be awarded to the victims who suffered losses as a result of the thefts committed by this group.

CHARGES against an Aylesbury man accused of attacking a shopkeeper in a vicious assault in Southcourt have been dropped.

Prosecutors have admitted that they have no evidence to link Luke Atley, of Gatehouse Road, Aylesbury, with an attack on Salinder Singh Khera and his colleague Sunil Kumar.

The 26 year old was charged with grievous bodily harm, actual bodily harm, and possession of a blade.

But the Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed it will not be proceeding with the case.

District Crown Prosecutor Carolyn Oakley said: “The victims did not know their attacker and the key issue in the case was the identification of the assailant.

“Unfortunately, the CCTV was only of moderate quality and was not sufficiently clear to invite a jury to be sure that the defendant was the attacker.

“Identification procedures were carried out, but no positive identifications were made.

“In addition, police submitted several items for forensic analysis, but no links were found to Mr Atley.

“As with all cases, the CPS work closely with the police and the matter was kept under constant review.

“However, in light of these factors, it was decided that there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction and we had no alternative but to offer no evidence.”

The attack happened on November 26, and Mr Atley first appeared in court two days later.

Mr Khera said he was stunned when a knife-wielding man leapt over the counter, threatening to kill him.

He struggled with the man, and was saved when Mr Kumar leapt to his defence.

AYLESBURY Rock Choir is offering a free taster session on a Wednesday to try to tempt new members.

The group meets at Broughton Infant School in Narbeth Drive each week, from 8pm-9.30pm.

Choir leader Emily Kirby-Ashmore said: “It is to give people who love to sing the opportunity to do so in a fun and pressure-free environment.

“The chance to meet fantastic new people and be involved in a fast growing and exciting organisation. Rock Chorus is dedicated to giving something back.

“The majority of our performances are also in aid of charity or local causes. We’ve raised money for Help for Heroes, and The Macintyre School in Wingrave. Singing is proven to have health benefits as well being confidence building.

“Your voice will improve week by week and you’ll make loads of new friends.”

{http://www.rock-chorus.com|For more details visit www.rock-chorus.com|Click here for more}

Described as “24 for grown-ups”, Homeland has already won a Golden Globe and critical acclaim. As the show begins in Britain on Channel 4, its main star Damian Lewis talks to Shereen Low about portraying a US marine sergeant suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and why he really wants to play Don Draper from Mad Men.

Damian Lewis has been up since 7am, but is on remarkably fine form – and has an admission to make.

“You need to know I’m in my pyjamas, clasping a coffee,” he reveals, chuckling down the phone from America, where the working day’s just starting.

The London native, best known for being in The Forsyte Saga, Band Of Brothers and Life, has made North Carolina his temporary home for the past five months to film new US TV series Homeland.

In doing so Lewis has made the ultimate sacrifice – being apart from his family, actress wife Helen McCrory and their two children, five-year-old daughter Manon and son Gulliver, four.

“North Carolina is a beautiful place and I like it here a lot. But I miss my family when they’re not here with me, although they were with me all summer,” he admits in his clipped Old Etonian accent.

“I also miss London because I love London – it is the greatest city in the world. I miss the culture, the vibrancy and bombing around on my bicycle from one place to the next.”

Homeland, the Golden Globe-winning psychological thriller, which also stars Claire Danes and fellow Brit David Harewood MBE, was created by Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa – the brains behind 24.

“The parallel with 24 is inevitable, but this is far more of a psychological, political drama. It’s something we don’t see often – plus you need a black man and a redhead on a show!” he quips.

Lewis, pictured, plays US Marine Sergeant Nicholas Brody, who has been held as a prisoner of war for eight years by Al Qaeda and presumed dead.

He is celebrated as a war hero on his return, but mentally unstable CIA agent Carrie Mathison (Danes) suspects he has been ‘turned’ into a sleeper agent and is now a threat to Homeland security.

“Ambiguity is a complex thing to play. You have to be lightning quick and nimble, there’s a mental and imaginative agility in the performance which is really fun,” says Lewis, 41.

“Inserting a bipolar disorder into the heart of a paranoid thriller is a brave move, as it conveniently allows us to judge Carrie. Is this man a danger to the United States or is she over-reacting? It’s intense. You’re going to love it!”

The series, which has been renewed for a second season, already has famous fans, with US President Barack Obama and his cohorts reported to have called in four DVD box sets.

“It’s exciting when you’ve entered the cultural zeitgeist in such a way,” says Lewis, who last worked in the US on the short-lived NBC cop drama Life.

“The Clintons are now watching it, and it’s gone right through to the top levels of the American administration. They’re all asking for box sets so they can see what their bosses are watching.”

But it could all have turned out differently as Lewis admits: “I very nearly said no to Homeland.

“My experience on Life, which I loved, was at quite a lot of personal cost, from a family point of view. That sounds a bit melodramatic - we’re all still together - but it was long hours working, with Helen sitting in the house with the kids.

“I wasn’t prepared for quite the workshop hours you work on some American TV shows, so I said to my agent I would do this only if it’s extraordinary and is on cable TV.”

The actor particularly enjoys his scenes with Romeo And Juliet actress Danes. “Danesy is whip-smart, extremely committed and focused. She plays that interactive Scrabble game, Words With Friends, endlessly.

“She has about five or six games going on with different people, and got half the crew doing it as well. It’s her way of relaxing.”

Like the audience, Lewis is kept in the dark about his character’s plotlines. “The fundamentals of my character were discussed but the details weren’t fleshed out,” he says.

“It’s fun getting surprises with the episode each week, like reading a novel. It keeps it fresh and interesting.”

The British actor - who attended the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company - did what little research he could.

“I spoke to soldiers, read a lot of literature, looked at documentary footage and tried to understand what it is like to be held as a prisoner of war.

To be authentic in its portrayal of Afghanistan prisons, Lewis had to endure routine torture scenes in which he was stripped of his clothes and subjected to gruelling punishment.

The scenes don’t affect him though, and he jokes: “It leaves me needing a beer! I don’t take my work home with me. I’m not that kind of method actor.

Lewis seems content with his lot, but there’s one person he’d gladly switch places with - Jon Hamm of Mad Men fame.

“I wish I had got the Don Draper role. I’ve got a little bit of a man crush on him!” he laughs.

]]> 1.3546104 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:04:20 +0000 http://www.bucksherald.co.uk/alan_dee_how_purple_paint_could_prick_the_binge_booze_boil_1_3531713

SO, our whole economic system is suffering from a massive hangover but it’s binge drinking that’s going to get sorted out.

You may wonder whether that nice Mr Cameron has got his priorities right – but there’s no denying that, if he can make some headway, he’ll have made as big a contribution to public health as his unlamented Labour predecessors did by introducing the smoking ban.

There’s a strategy on the way, of course, but for starters the PM has called for bars and supermarkets to help tackle a problem that costs the NHS £2.7bn a year.

But it shouldn’t be about money, and we shouldn’t even be thinking about a ban.

And the PM ought to be looking to recruit far beyond the pint-pullers and grog floggers to help achieve this admirable end.

It’s one of those issues – like seat belts and the smoking ban, which have been great successes, and the ban on using your mobile at the wheel, which is still a boil to be lanced – where the vast majority of us are just waiting for someone to take a sensible lead.

And the way to do it is to make life more difficult for the drinker – and when I say drinker, I don’t just mean the lager-fuelled lout or the alcopop addled teenager – I mean all of us.

I’m fed up of all sorts of expensive measures being put in place to pick up the pieces of other people’s lack of self-control. The aim has got to be to stop people regarding the act of getting completely hammered as an option for a night out, or even a night in.

So here are a few ideas to throw into the mix, for the PM to consider over a relaxing glass of wine one evening.

Number 1, ban all alcopops. Strong drink isn’t supposed to taste like lemonade.

Number 2, restrict the sale of all spirits to people over the age of 25. If I had my way I’d also make it illegal to use mixers to soften the taste of hard liquor, for the same reasons that alcopops have to go, but I do enjoy the occasional gin and tonic so that one will have to stay on the drawing board.

Number 3, by all means introduce a higher unit price for alcohol but don’t penalise those who enjoy a bracer but know when to stop – jack up the pub prices only after the first two drinks, introduce maximum purchase rules in supermarkets and the like just like they have for painkillers these days, and halt the sale of alcohol in containers larger than one litre, especially if we’re talking about super strength cider.

Number 4, forget street pastors and people being paid by the public purse to get drunk and incapable kids home safely. Employ them instead to wander town centres at closing time, corner people who have had a skinful, and paint their faces purple.

The paint should not be permanent, of course, but it should be pretty much immovable for a week or so as evidence of a bender that would last a lot longer, and be a lot more visible, to the world at large than a hangover.

Then it would be for the rest of us to bring peer pressure to bear, and sneer and snigger at the victims for long after whatever memory they had of a good night out had faded. Purple paint would make them pariahs, and we’d soon change their habits.

EAGLE-EYED Aylesbury United fans watching Stevenage battle to a hard-earned 0-0 draw against Premier League side Tottenham in the FA Cup on Sunday would have noticed three familiar faces.

Pulling the strings for the plucky underdogs was none other than former Ducks midfielder Gary Smith, pictured.

Smith, who played 48 games for Aylesbury United in the mid-90s, took over as Stevenage manager last month after a successful spell in charge of American side Colarado Rapids.

Sitting next to Smith in the dug out were none other than former Ducks player-manager Gary Phillips, now goalkeeping coach at Stevenage, and former United centre-back Mark Newton, currently Smith’s assistant.

Vice-chairman of Aylesbury United, Ken Turnbull, said: “I couldn’t believe it when I was watching the game and I saw all three of them on the bench.

“It is such a coincidence. They must know each other from their days in pro football.

“What is even stranger is that Mark Jones, brother to current player Danny Jones, is part of the coaching staff at the academy there as well.”

The match, which was shown live on ITV, finished in a very respectable 0-0 draw.

AYLESBURY Rugby Club’s 26-14 loss to Grove saw them crash out of the Southern Counties Cup and, according to their chairman of rugby, effectively ended their season with more than six fixtures remaining.

The defeat means Aylesbury are out of all cup competitions and with a 15-point gap in the league, there seems very little remaining for the Ay’s to play for.

Chairman of rugby Phil Bowden said: “It was a good game played in the best spirit but we were very unlucky and it does mean the season’s basically over. We are comfortable in the league and won’t get relegated but the highest we can finish is sixth.

“But that’s rugby and we just have to dust ourselves down and get on with it.

“We have had a huge injury list this year, something like 18 to 19 long-term first team injuries.”

The Grove match was played in tough conditions with a strong wind and heavy rain making it difficult to handle.

Aylesbury had won their place in the competition earlier in the year with their triumph in the Bucks Shield but Grove had already beaten Ay’s twice in the league this season meaning the visitors were underdogs from the start.

The home side kicked the game off but a smart move from deep saw the Ay’s backs move the ball through several pairs of hands for Lenny Empson to create an overlap and Liam D’Almeida touched down in the corner. Gary Horne converted in tricky conditions to make it 7-0.

Captain Luke Gardner was sin-binned for not rolling away despite it seeming he was in fact trapped and Grove took immediate advantage of the extra man and forced the try.

Five minutes later the Grove number eight broke through a tackle and outpaced both full back and wing to score. The home side then had a man of their own sin-binned Ay’s took advantage with Empson cutting through the Grove defence to score near the posts. Horne converted to take Ay’s back into the lead 12–14 at half-time.

Aylesbury started the second half well and pressed the Grove try line time and time again to no avail. A clearance from a scrum 20 metres from the Aylesbury try line was charged down the kick and touchdown to score against the run of play.

Jack Garland replaced the hard-working Mark Jeffers but Ay’s were again playing from deep and had to make up lots of ground.

The visitors were still chasing the game as time started to run out and a promising move down the right wing saw a loose pass intercepted and Grove had an easy run to secure the game for Grove at 26-14.

Bowden said: “The score doesn’t reflect the game but that’s the way it goes.

“We had a bit of bad luck going into the final 20 minutes 14-12 up with the weather being bad it was difficult to handle and they got a pair of breaks.

“It’s been a bit of a disastrous season for us because of all the injuries. Last year we had a smaller squad that played regularly.”

Aylesbury are set to play Milton Keynes at home in Weston Turville on Saturday.

Sir Jimmy Savile’s famous Carawagon failed to sell at auction over the weekend, after interested bidders did not meet its £12,000 reserve.

The Bucks Herald understands that the highest bid was £11,250 for the 1978 Range Rover estate, which has a double mattress in the back and ‘the faintest smell of rich Cuban cigar smoke’.

The converted vehicle, registration number YBL 322T, was owned by the TV legend when he was at the height of his fame in the late 1970s.

Sir Jimmy used to sleep in it when he was travelling between one of his five houses while doing charity work. There was a great deal of interest in the Carawagon’s sale in Buckinghamshire, because Savile raised in excess of £20 million for the National Spinal Injuries Unit in Stoke Mandeville.

He bought the vehicle in 1978 and sold it in 1983. A spokesman for Historics at Brooklands, the group handling the sale, confirmed that the vehicle is still available to buy if anyone is interested.

]]> 1.3545242 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:58:14 +0000 http://www.bucksherald.co.uk/work_starts_on_repairing_town_bridge_1_3545235

WORKS are due to begin on Wednesday on Stoke Road Railway Bridge in Aylesbury.

Bucks County Council will be carrying out temporary road repairs over the Chiltern Railway lines on Stoke Road, with work finished by Friday.

Work involves the removal of defective area of anti-skid material on the bridge and replacing it.

Previous attempts to repair the area have been hindered by the cold weather.

Further permanent repair work is scheduled for later on in the year.

A section of Stoke Road will have to be controlled by temporary ‘Stop and Go’ boards to provide alternate one-way traffic flow during off-peak hours, between 9.30am-3.30pm, to ensure the works are carried out safely.

A ‘NARCISSISTIC psychopath’ who tried to set fire to Wing police station and a Vale home in an extreme case of harassment has been found guilty of a series of offences.

Al Amin Dhalla, a 42-year-old Canadian national, was found guilty unanimously of harassing Dr Alison Hewitt, a student doctor based in Brighton, and her mother Pamela Hewitt who lives in Aston Abbotts with her husband David. He was also convicted of setting fire to Pamela’s home, attempting to set fire to a police station, theft, criminal damage and perverting the course of justice.

Detective Chief Inspector Rebecca Mears, of Aylesbury police, said she felt that had the police not intercepted they ‘could be looking at a murder, if not three’.

Dhalla began by buying a van in London and having it specially adapted to allow easy access into the back from the driver’s seat and having the window removed.

He then equipped himself with an air rifle with telescopic sights, a BB pistol, two mini crossbows modified to increase their power, and rounds of ammunition.

Suspicions were raised after he was spotted target practising in a field near Wiltshire and was arrested by local police.

Pamela and David’s home was then deliberately set alight, shortly followed by an arson attack at Wing police station.

The victims were then safeguarded by police before they took charge of the manhunt to locate Dhalla and gather crucial evidence needed to investigate the arson attacks and harassment.

Convinced Dhalla may turn up at the hospital where Alison worked, police circulated his photo at the hospital, when staff alerted police he was masquerading as a doctor, dressed in a white coat and wearing a stethoscope around his neck, seeking details of the staff rota in attempts to locate Alison.

The following morning Dhalla was spotted at the hospital by staff who called police, who then arrested him. A further car he hired was found near-by, containing empty fuel cans and various weapons, including a loaded crossbow in the front passenger seat.

EXTRA police will be patrolling the area near Aylesbury Rail Station aft er a teenager was raped in the early hours of Friday morning.

The attack, on a 19-year-old woman, was reported at 2.20am close to Station Way.

Detectives have said the attacker is mixed race, in his mid 20s, with short black hair.

He was wearing a blue and white striped cardigan.

Det Chief Insp Justin Fletcher, who is heading the investigation, said on Tuesday: “We appreciate that this incident has caused concern in the community.

“I would stress that we are taking this matter very seriously and that incidents of this nature are rare in this area.

“We are putting on extra patrols in the neighbourhood to help reassure the community and I would urge anyone with any concerns to speak to those officers.”

Anyone with information about the incident should contact the Aylesbury CID team via the 24-hour inquiry line on 101.

Information can also be passed anonymously to charity Crimestoppers, on 0800 555111, or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.

AYLESBURY Festival is looking for performers to take part in a ‘marathon of music making’ at Claydon House.

The 26-hour event will begin at 10.45am on Friday March 16.

It will feature performances by orchestras and choirs, singer-songwriters showcasing their latest work and there will be musical workshops and lessons – such as a ‘learn to play the ukulele’ class.

Organiser Richard Heason said: “The musical marathon is to raise funds for the Aylesbury Festival which will take place from July 6-15. Throughout the 26 hours there will be workshops and scratch performances by orchestras and choirs.

“There are many opportunities for solo performers alongside preformed groups.

“School groups are very welcome as well as adult performers. You do not need to be an athlete to take part in our musical marathon. Obviously, if you don’t want to take part, you can also just come along and listen.”

{http://www.aylesburyfestival.info|For more details about the event visit www.aylesburyfestival.org|Click here for more}

ASTON Clinton F1 star Mark Webber has laughed off rumours he plans to hang up his helmet at the end of this year.

Webber will hit the accelerator on his 11th season at the pinnacle of the sport next month, when F1 2012 gets underway in front of his home fans in Australia.

And while he is under pressure after being comprehensively outperformed by team-mate, Sebastian Vettel in 2011, the 35-year-old told the Australian press that he is ‘not contemplating’ retirement anytime soon.

“Not at all, (although) you know, I’ve been through enough on and off the track to know that nothing is forever,” he said.

“(According to the media) I was supposed to be replaced by Kimi (Raikkonen) four years ago!”

Despite talk of Webber planning to put the brakes on a life in the fast lane, The Stag at Mentmore co-owner is honest enough to admit 2011 was disappointing.

“I clearly got outperformed last year, there were areas where I could have done a better job,” he added.

“It was a tough start to the year I think, that makes it difficult to roll out of that mid-season and come to the end ... but, again, it’s those old lessons of operating at this level, you know you just have no choice, you’ve just got to get back on the horse, and get on with it.”

Finishing with victory in Brazil at the end of the last campaign sent Webber into the winter on a high and he says he is feeling the benefits.

“I think it’s one of the best breaks I’ve had. It was just a really good break and you know sometimes they don’t always go like that.

“Obviously, on the back of 2010 when I didn’t win the championship that was a different sort of winter getting your head around that, and then the previous winters before that I was having surgery on the leg.

“So this was a real first nice winter, saying, like, let’s pull it all together and come back refreshed, you just feel refreshed, that’s the most important thing,” he concluded.

Although feeling rejuvenated and fresh-faced ahead of the curtain raiser in Melbourne on March 18, Webber admits he slightly is less enthused by the look of his new RB8 car.

With new rules introduced this season, the F1 cars have taken on a distinctly different look with stepped noses proving all the rage.

But Webber thinks the noses are plain ugly.

“F1 cars should look beautiful.

“The stepped nose is not very desirable in my opinion but that’s how it is and that’s okay.

“Aerodynamically the concept is a bit different for sure.

“But I feel comfortable in the car and it goes, so we’ll see,” he added,

You can keep up to date with Mark Webber on Twitter. Go to www.twitter.com and follow

@AussieGrita

Despite temperatures dropping as low as -18 degrees, and equipment failing from the cold, 13-year-old freestyle snowboarder Becky Menday took first place in the second leg of the World Rookie Fest in France at the weekend.

Not only did Waddesdon teen Becky take first place in the under 14s category, she also had the highest female score of the competition – putting her in first place in the overall TTR Ranking.

As a result Becky has also moved into 1st place in the World Snowboarding Federation’s Rookie Rankings.

Becky who is an ‘Elite Junior’ on the GB Freestyle Team, had an outstanding fluid, scored 130 points for her winning run, a clear five points ahead of her next rival.

Becky said: “I was so pleased to be first, I was already really happy with my run, but too not only be on the podium but first overall was so exciting.

“I was disappointed to fall on my first run, so I just wanted to pull everything off on my second run.”

This fantastic result has seen Becky’s TTR World ranking move up to 50th place overall for women in slope style, guaranteeing a place in the World Rookie Fest finals in Ischgl, Austria in April.