Local Face: Stella Howes

Stella Howes was a fairly local girl in as much as she was born and brought up in Aylesbury with very happy childhood memories of picnics on Coombe Hill and walking in the woods around Wendover. As a teenager during the war, she remembers going to dances in Aylesbury Road “Sweat Box” where there were many RAF apprentices, including Polish ones, but she finally met Jim Dellar from the Camp. In the nature of these things, they married, 53 years ago, when he returned from Burma and went off to live at Belvedere in Kent for 10 years where three children were born: Tricia, Kay and Terry. When Jim came to leave the RAF they yearned to return to central Buckinghamshire and he found a job in Princes Risborough. The Wendover building boom was still in full swing and they were able to buy a new house where they live to this day.

Back in the late fifties and early sixties lots of couples with young children were moving into the new houses and they all knew one another very well. Most have now moved on but Stella and Jim remain. They determined that they would go out and meet people so Stella soon joined Wend over Mothers’ Club and the Royal British Legion Women’s Section and remains very actively involved to this day. In addition, Stella was recently honoured with several others who have spent 35 years collecting for the Earl Haig Poppy Fund.

New house, new baby soon meant that Jane arrived to join the Deller family. All the girls enjoyed their time at Wendover schools and Aylesbury College but they have since left the village. Tricia lives in Whitchurch and a works at Champneys, Kay runs a Safari Lodge in Botswana with her childhood sweetheart whom she met at John Colet School, Terry works at a Police Rehabilitation Centre just outside Reading and Jane runs a Guest House in Cape Town as well s as continuing her obsession with horses which started as a girl in Wendover. Stella and Jim now have 6 grandchildren aged 16-25. When her daughters were all at school, Stella became a dinner lady then worked part-time at Hampshires which has now become “No 1” at the bottom of the High Street. It was always great fun to work there and Stella thinks its reincarnation is just beautiful. Jim also changed his job and worked for the Library Service prior to his retirement.

Living so close to Wendover Memorial Hall, using its facilities and knowing many of the people involved in its running, Mr Crooke, Mr Birtwell and Mr Mogford, Stella and Jim agreed to “help out” when the caretaker Mr Head wanted to leave. This temporary appointment has lasted thirty years and has seen many changes in the use of the hall. Then, it was not used as much as it is today.

There were more dances and discos then but that meant Stella and Jim often had to work until 2.30am clearing up afterwards. The licensing laws are much more strictly enforced nowadays and gatherings tend to be for families and mixed age events. Stella and Jim do simple maintenance and are keen to support the Hall Committee as they decide the future of this vital local amenity.

The two main users of Wendover Memorial Hall had not opened when Stella and Jim started to look after it. Wendover Preschool now meets every term time morning in the Committee Room. One of the helpers there, Chris Murphy, who also lives nearby, takes bookings for the hall and is in close communication with Stella and Jim. They have also got to know Grace Mapplethorpe, principal of the Rozelle School of Dance, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Other weekly events at Wendover Memorial Hall include:

Monday afternoons Wendover Toddlers evenings German Shepherds
Tuesday mornings Health & Beauty Exercise afternoons Forget-me-nots evenings Wheelers and Dealers
Wednesday afternoons WI Keep Fit evenings Tae Kwondo
Thursday evenings Dallas Dancing
Friday momings Jellybeans afternoons U3A Tai Chi

In addition, Bucks Bird Club, the Caravan Club, Wendover Afternoon WI, Wendover Horticultural Society and U3A have monthly meetings. Clubs have celebrations and fundraisers on Friday evenings and Jumble Sales are held on Saturday afternoons. If you would like to make a booking please telephone.