Local Face: Sharle Norton

Sharle and her husband Phil were househunting in 1986 and by good fortune they found a house they liked in Wendover. This was not their ideal location because it meant more awkward journeys to work for both of them but it was worth a try. They moved in March.

Sharle found it difficult to settle at first because she was working at least 3 days a week. All her childcare arrangements for 16 month old Andrew were only 20 minutes drive away so she saw no need to change them. The neighbours were very friendly but with both sets of grandparents nearby there was no need even to join the very welcoming babysitting circle.

In January 1987 Sharle found herself on maternity leave again and at last had the time to look at Wendover. The Mother and Toddler Club on Monday afternoons at Wendover Memorial Hall was seriously fund raising for Wendover Playground Project with Wendover Parish Council matching not only money but commitment (a commitment which lasts to this day). This was to be Sharle’s first involvement in Wendover life.

Almost before she knew it, Andrew was starting school and Sharle was recruited onto the Friends of John Hampden Committee becoming the school liaison member. She stayed until Emma left the school helping both as a volunteer in the school and fund raising too. In addition, Sharle trained as a swimming teacher and was able to help teach swimming to John Hampden pupils in the summer term in Wendover’s open air swimming pool. Other mothers were volunteer lifeguards and yet others helped the children to change while the class teacher supervised all. Sharle and her friend Linda Chamlet ran swimming lessons after school at Wendover Swimming] Pool until it closed to be covered. Meanwhile, Andrew had moved on to Wendover Middle School and the PTA immediately found a place for these willing hands. For two years, with a child at each school, Sharle was involved with both committees. She did this because she enjoyed helping children and wanted to improve resources for every child.

As treasurer for 3 years, then joint chair and now chair of Wendover Middle School PTA, she has seen how the budgets have been squeezed every year. She firmly believes that the PTA helps to provide resources essential to support the high quality of education we have come to expect for our children in Wendover.

Last year, the PTA gave £8,000 to the school for items which include: computers, books, art equipment, construction equipment and a computer scanner. This year, the most recent Wendover Middle School Project has been to improve a playground area with an all weather safety surface under the existing equipment (£3,900). Work should be completed this term. The next stage (an extra £5,000) will extend the area with more surfacing and low level agility equipment. For the past three years, Sharle has served on the Chilterns Art Exhibition Subcommittee. This PT A activity takes place this year from lOam to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday 21st – 22nd November. The Chilterns Art Exhibition is, at 14 years, one of the longest established local art exhibitions and is always very popular. It provides an excellent opportunity to buy high quality original works by locally acclaimed artists. There are 337 framed works by 70 carefully chosen artists. Many purchasers follow a particular style or collect a named artist. For the second year running unframed paintings will be available. As well as visitors who buy paintings there are many who just enjoy the show and excellent refreshments always available. It is a joy to pop in to a glorious array of colour on a November weekend.

For the past three years, Sharle and Phil have both helped to co-ordinate the “Cycling Awareness Programme” for Wendover Middle School children. This aims to help the children become safe and careful cyclists.

This is Emma’s last year at Wendover Middle School so Sharle’s nine year stint as a primary school fund raiser is coming to an end. She will be a hard act to follow but Sharle is confident that there are many parents who feel as strongly as she does that all our children deserve as much support as we can give them.

Meanwhile Sharle has been planning a new venture, with a friend, catering for lunches, dinner parties and small events.