A smaller version of The Society, The Village Green Association, was formed informally in December 2021, when a group of residents around the Village Green wanted to do something for the community. We dressed the trees in baubles and festive decorations and hung fairy lights in all the trees to spread some village cheer to all - it was a huge success and we wanted to do more.
We learnt that a Stoke Mandeville Society was setup 50 years ago in 1973, with the mission to “preserve a village way of life and community spirit” and so in March 2022, we resurrected The Society and set about doing some good stuff in the village, with the same goals.
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We feel Stoke Mandeville has been overlooked, despite in the past winning Buckinghamshire’s ‘Best Kept Village’ awards numerous times, but since 2000 we have fallen short, so The Society seeks to ensure that the village’s character, charm and scale are protected and enhanced. We also want to improve our sense of community and thereby ensure ‘village life’ remains at the heart of the village.
It’s an ambitious undertaking, given what we are facing, but even putting up some Christmas baubles and lights made such a difference to everyone - as a famous grocery brand tells us ‘every little (really does) help’.
Read all about the original Society
(Published January 1992) FIFTY years since it was set up!
Our Mission
Ensure ‘village life’ remains at the heart of our growing community
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Help protect and promote the village heritage in collaboration with other bodies
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Encourage and develop community activities & initiatives throughout the year
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Regularly communicate what’s going on to generate interest & awareness in our community
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Support the improvement and development of amenities which can enhance quality of life
What is 'village life'?
The connecting and socialising between individuals, tightly knit communities and those with common interests. As a Society we seek out opportunities to bring people together in order to help tackle social isolation and loneliness, promote well-being and respect for all parts of our diverse community and create a sense of pride in our surroundings.
Having opportunities for the community to come together often requires amenities to be available for ‘communing’ to take place, and whilst the village is well-served with amenities expected of an English semi-rural village, there are always opportunities to improve.
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We believe in the power of ‘village life’ and that post-covid, people need it more than ever. We are NOT about political or electoral wards where demarcation of streets for voting purposes divides communities, we support anyone and everyone who loves ‘village life’.
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‘Village life’ happens in the area that is central to the Parish of Stoke Mandeville – the historic village. We encourage as many as possible to come to the centre of the Parish and enjoy the pubs, businesses, amenities, playing field, church, school, post office, shop and playschool et al, which are all located in the centre of the village. These are places where people can come together to enjoy the sense of community which these amenities provide for everyone in the Parish and beyond.
The Society is open to anyone who visits Stoke Mandeville village to use the amenities, all those who work in the village and of course all residents. We are run solely by volunteers who are passionate about ‘village life’ and we rely on our members, sponsors, and friends to support us when we need them, to ensure our activities are a success.
Our Ultimate Goal
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We will win Buckinghamshire's Best Kept Village again (we last won it in 2000).
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Benefits of winning this award include decreased littering, greater community communication, communal pride in homes and public spaces, a more attractive and welcoming appearance, name recognition for the village, and increased tourism and income for local businesses.
A 'best kept village' is a village that has won one of the annual county competitions in the United Kingdom for its tidiness, appropriateness, and typicality. The competitions have been nationally organized by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) since the early 1970s.
A panel of anonymous judges, touring between May and June and conducting final judging in July and August, evaluates each village on the following criteria:
• Absence of litter and unsightly refuse dumps on verges (10 points)
• Condition of village greens, playing fields, school yards, public seats, and noticeboards (10 points)
• Condition of public and private buildings, gardens, and allotments (10 points)
• Condition of churchyards, cemeteries, and war memorials (10 points)
• Condition of public halls, sports facilities, and car parks (10 points)
• Cleanliness of public toilets, bus shelters, and telephone kiosks (10 points)
• State of footpaths, stiles, field gates, signposting, ponds, and streams (10 points)
• Condition of commercial and business premises, including advertisements and other signs (10 points)
• Initiative in the care of the environment of the village (10 points)
• Evidence of community spirit and usefulness of Village Map (10 points)
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The CPRE makes it clear that the competition is not about finding "the most beautiful village, nor the most ancient, nor the most picturesque, just the one that is best cared for" and "its aim is to involve everyone in the village, encouraging them to take greater pride in their surroundings.“ Villages are judged on how clean and well cared for they are, as well as their impact on the environment.
Our Mascot
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If a ladybird lands on you then that's very lucky. It is believed that whatever the ladybird touches will be improved.
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If you see a ladybird that means good weather is near or that a person will soon have luck with love or money.
