NINE-AND-A-HALF-YEAR-OLD Tom Colley, of Barton Farm Cottages, and his friend Tom Rippon, who is almost nine, raided their toy cupboards and collected gifts from their friends at the Community Junior School and held a garage sale last Saturday. They raised £100.30 for the Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital.

MENCAP has been sent a cheque for £10,000 following the 452km bike ride in China undertaken by four Haddenham people, Marjorie Johnstone, Ann Wallace and Jane and John Taylor. Ann told me that although it was hard work the wonderful scenery and warm welcome from the Chinese people more than made up for the discomforts of the unfamiliar 21-gear mountain bikes.

Visits to the Great Wall of China and Tiananmen Square were among the highlights of the trip and all were impressed with the good state of the roads. Ann's main difficulty was finding her bike among 99 identical cycles when they stopped! There were two intruders in the party Monty and Bernard, teddy bear mascots of year one at the County First School joined Marjorie (school secretary) and Ann (parent governor).

JANE Rose has found the perfect recipe for fundraising she opens her lovely garden in Stockwell, Haddenham, and welcomes Rosemary Shaw and her 12-strong all-age Recorder Consort to play light seasonal music while coffee is served and guests browse over well-stocked stalls. £125 was raised for the National Children's Homes Respite Care Centre in Aylesbury.

MY Neighbourhood Watch organiser reports that a monthly crime reduction surgery is being introduced and will be held on the first Thursday of every month at the new council offices at 66 High Street, Aylesbury. Half hourly appointments are available .Ring 01296 585858 and speak to Lesley Yates.

HADDENHAM Tennis Club have a star member. John Masken has won through the qualifying rounds for the 15 and under British Junior National Championship qualifying event held in Cardiff. He now qualifies as one of the top 48 juniors for the nationals to be held in Bournemouth. John is coached by Mark Bright who accompanied him to Cardiff. John is in good company the club's first team have not lost a match in over three years!

A REMINDER to readers about Bucks Art Week events in Haddenham. Clair Aldington Jackson (textile artist) and Heather Hunter (book artist) will have a studio open at Turn End Townside from 11am-6pm from June 16-23. Peter and Sylvia Bradford (painters and poet) will be open on June 23, 24 and 30 and July 1 2-6pm, or by appointment.

Dragon Barn Studio in Churchway hosts work by painters and craftspeople from June 16 to July 1 from 11am-6pm. Diana Odgers the Haddenham sculptor, will display her work at The Old Parsonage, Nether Winchendon from June 17-24 from 11am-5pm.

A SUMMER supper and auction of promises is being held at Manor Farm, Church End, on Saturday, June 16, to raise funds for St Mary's Church Tower development appeal. John Dickins, a professional auctioneer will conduct the sale of about 100 lots ranging from a loaf of bread to a holiday in Scotland. Ring Hilary on 01844 290686 for more details and a booking.

JENNY Bullimore on 01844 291011 still has tickets (£7; £5 concessions) for the concert on Saturday, June 16, by Hugo Zuleta the Venezuelan instrumentalist, who will be appearing at the Methodist Church in High Street in aid of a children's home in Bangalore, India.

FINALLY, you will be welcome at St Mary's Fellowship's coffee morning on Saturday, June 16, from 10.30am to midday at St Mary's Centre, Church End, where stalls will help support Child Advocacy International.