209 replies to this topic

[Alan]

Hi to everyone,

No surprises that my real name is Kevin. I’m in my late forties, and moved to Amersham in 2004 from Ealing. I live with my wife, 7 year old son and two dogs (Westies). We rented in Amersham for our first year then bought a house in Chesham Bois where we aim to put down long term roots.

We moved to Amersham for space, the countryside, low crime, good schools, and wanting our son to grow up in a child friendly environment. We’re very pleased we’ve made the right move and love it here.

Professionally, I’m an IT project manager who works for a large IT Services company. These days I tend to work mostly in London but it could be anywhere where my work takes me.

Likes :
• Amersham and Chesham Bois being a relaxed, civilised, friendly and stable community
• Being able to walk to the station yet living close to the countryside (we live backing onto Bois Woods and love the beech woods)
• The local wildlife we see from our garden including tawny owls, muntjack deer and wood-peckers. Our dogs like the wildlife too but never catch anything despite trying hard!
• Cycling with my son on the numerous paths and bridleways that surround us

Dislikes:
• I don’t spend as often as I’d like actually in Amersham – too much time commuting and working, although the line is reasonable and Marylebone one of the ‘nicer’ London stations
• The lack of pubs in the centre of top Amersham and the fact that I’m only slowly building up a circle of friends – these two facts might be connected!

Interests: - My family and playing with my son, our dogs, motorcycling & watching motor cycle racing, local natural history.

I think this forum is great (thanks again to Matthew for making it happen) – far better than the local newspaper as it’s more personal and relevant.

Kevin
I don'tknow you and as for links and getting to know people, I've been here since 1986, made my mark good or bad in my local area, however you want to meet local people use local pubs, from Chesham Bois (Bois means woods in French) it sounds like Bwa I can't spell etc. Try Chesnut Lane and the Red Lion. The family I knew have gone, but from time toi time I go there with my children mainly my daughter, it is a traditional pub and local people use it, if that doesn't help email me and I do what I can.

[jotamel]

My name is Mel and I have just recently become a Member.

I currently live in Northolt, Middlesex and am actively househunting in the Chesham/Amersham area as my flat has just gone under offer. We decided that we had had enough of living in the concrete jungle and want a bit of relative peace and quiet, but still close enough for my husband to get to work in the City each day.

About me: Have been married now for 18 months, although we've been together for 16 years. We have a 12 year old son who is a fantastic sprinter, so I spend two evenings of the week sitting out in the cold for 3 hours at a time while he trains!!! He currently runs for Harrow Athletics club, so if we move, suppose we will have to find a club nearer.

I work in Rickmansworth, just started the job two months ago. Working for someone that does Wills and Estate Planning. Before that, I worked for five years for an Independent Financial Adviser in Northolt.

I love to read, although don't get much time to at the moment, what with studying for an exam and househunting!!! The whole family are also HUGE Arsenal fans. Although we are red members and our son is a Junior Gunner, we are about number 40,000 or something on the season ticket waiting list, and we don't get to watch too many games at Emirates due to the cost, so more armchair fans that we would like to be.

I originally hail from Rye, East Sussex, as my Dad is a fisherman, so has always needed to live by the coast.


I think that is all!!

[brillig]

My real name is Anne. My partner Mark and I moved to Amersham 7 years ago and we love it. We live in the town and like the countryside, local wildlife. We have woodpeckers, owls - lots of different birds in our garden and even an occasional visit from a pheasant. We also love to go walking, driving around the countryside and visiting the local pubs and when money allows the local restaurants. Our favourites are Famous Fish and Ask Pizza. Mark works in IT and I'm involved in the media, news. Like a few people have mentioned we have found it difficult to meet people especially since they messed about with our favourite 'local' The Kings Arms (where we used to venture some evenings). I think the forum is a very good idea to bring like minded people together and if there is a get together evening planned we'd love to come along. Speak to you all soon - this is my first post on the forum. Take care Anne.

[struthie]

We have a 12 year old son who is a fantastic sprinter, so I spend two evenings of the week sitting out in the cold for 3 hours at a time while he trains!!! He currently runs for Harrow Athletics club, so if we move, suppose we will have to find a club nearer.


I love to read, although don't get much time to at the moment, what with studying for an exam and househunting!!! The whole family are also HUGE Arsenal fans. Although we are red members and our son is a Junior Gunner, we are about number 40,000 or something on the season ticket waiting list, and we don't get to watch too many games at Emirates due to the cost, so more armchair fans that we would like to be.

Hi Mel my husband is a massive Arsenal fan too,although can't afford to have his season ticket anymore!

Hubby has joined Chiltern Harriers running club he seems to like it maybe that would be an idea for your son.
http://www.chiltern-...g.uk/index.html

Good luck house hunting x

[gazza13]

Gazza13 is actually Gary, born on September 13, my lucky number.

I hail from Harrow originally, but Gill my wife and I movede here some 20 years ago. We have two children and two black poodles.

I work for a utility company in Slough managing the build of high pressure gas equpiment.

We are Chelsea supporters and go to a few games. We also like country & western music. See even Chelsea supporters arn't perfect!!

We laso like the countryside, one of the reasons we moved out here. We met at a walking club.

[jotamel]

Hi Mel my husband is a massive Arsenal fan too,although can't afford to have his season ticket anymore!

Hubby has joined Chiltern Harriers running club he seems to like it maybe that would be an idea for your son.
http://www.chiltern-...g.uk/index.html

Good luck house hunting x

Thanks for that. Everybody on this site is so helpful. I will certainly take a look at their website as it would save me journeys to Harrow every Monday and Wednesday evening!!!

Nice to know there are also some fellow Gunners in the area!!!

[GillB]

We have a local athletics 'hero' ... Nicola Sanders, the new 400m wonder, is an Amersham girl. She was at nursery & secondary school with my older daughter

[struthie]

Thanks for that. Everybody on this site is so helpful. I will certainly take a look at their website as it would save me journeys to Harrow every Monday and Wednesday evening!!!

Nice to know there are also some fellow Gunners in the area!!!

You are welcome,and there are plenty of Gunners here!

[jotamel]

You are welcome,and there are plenty of Gunners here!

FANTASTIC. Have obviously made the right decision in the area that I want to move to!!

[raj v]

Hello all, guess it's my turn.

No surprises that Raj is my name. I moved to Amersham from Ealing last Oct with my fiancee Nicola. We're due to get married on Aug 19 so wedding planning is taking up pretty much all of our time. We live right in the middle, close to both Old and New Amersham so feel we have the best of both worlds.

I work for a major telecoms company improving customer operations in the broadband area (using six sigma if that means anything to anyone). Previously I worked in Tesco head office doing process improvement work in the stores so have been interested to read the lively Tesco debate on the forum.

Likes: it's great to see so many Arsenal fans in the locality. I'm also a gooner and have a season ticket at the Emirates - I was on the waiting list for 8 years before my number came up so can sympathise with the plight of anyone still on the waiting list. Maybe we could set up an Amersham gooners outpost, congregating in a pub to watch gooners games? Although do any pubs round here have sky and show the games?? I also enjoy cycling and am discovering the delights of the countryside round here and the pain of the hills. Like many of you I'm also entranced by the wildlife in the area and on my doorstep. This is a new experience. Most of all I like the sense of security and safety in this community. In the 9 years I lived in Ealing it went downhill rapidly with a sgnificant increase in crime and anti-social behaviour. The area round Ealing Broadbway tube on a fri/sat night is best avoided! I also learn Spanish in my spare time and attend a class at the Chiltern business centre.

Dislikes: the roads riddled with potholes! Both as a driver and cyclist this is a particular issue at the moment. The Tesco car park is a real pain although it is supposed to be improved. Like others I've also found it difficult to build a circle of friends as a newcomer to the area. I also miss some of the 'bigger town' attractions especially a local cinema and perhaps a bigger range of shops.

Well I think that's enough about me!

[Tallguy]

Welcome Raj.

Getting married - check out www.perfecttableplan.co.uk - great piece of software developed by a former neighbour of mine.

[Highwayman59]

Hello everyone,

My name is Colin, I am a British Civil Engineer currently living in Dunedin in New Zealand with my wife and son, we will be returning to the UK during April where I will be working for Bucks CC based in High Wycombe.
We should like to setlle in the Amersham area (initialy renting) and would be grateful to receive any advice or information about the area from other forum members. I would also be grateful for any info on HW.

At the risk of upsetting my new forum buddies; I am a Liverpool supporter and we have suffered some humiliating defeats at the hand of the Gunners recently, However....Payback is Sooooo Sweeet

Regards and thank to you all

Colin.....

[Fran]

We should like to setlle in the Amersham area (initialy renting) and would be grateful to receive any advice or information about the area from other forum members.

Hi Colin. Writing as someone who rented for a few months when first moving to the area, I'd pick a town, but not worry too much about specific areas for temporary renting; you can investigate that yourself once you're here before deciding where to buy. (We ended up 4 miles away from where we thought we wanted to be when we were looking for rental properties.)

[Highwayman59]

Thank you....

Hi Colin. Writing as someone who rented for a few months when first moving to the area, I'd pick a town, but not worry too much about specific areas for temporary renting; you can investigate that yourself once you're here before deciding where to buy. (We ended up 4 miles away from where we thought we wanted to be when we were looking for rental properties.)

[Windlepoons]

Hello,
My name is Selva. I've been lurking for some time. We - self and wife - moved to Amersham a year back from far far away (no, not from Discworld. From Atlanta, USA). It has been a good move. We love the fact that we can walk to shops from home and bike around the many bike routes. My sister lives in Amersham and that was one important reason for relocating here. I and my wife are originally from India.

During the day I work for a software company in Beaconsfield. Rest of the time is spent in reading - popular science books usually. Currently reading 'The Red Queen' by Matt Ridley.

If you have seen a guy wearing a blue jacket, grey helmet riding a rickety old bicycle around Highland road and thereabouts, you've probably spotted me.

Matthew, thank you for creating this friendly forum and having the foresight and commitment to keep it running.

[Tallguy]

Welcome to the Forum? Are you coming to the meet on the 22nd?

[annxx]

Welcome to the Forum? Are you coming to the meet on the 22nd?

hello im Ann and grew up in chalfont st peter but now living in sleepy coleshill.
im 26 (27 in 2 days time :s) and a single mum to a lovely daughter called isabelle whos 6 going on 30..
i work at the local elderly home.. have done for 3 years now. thats all i can think off..erm
chow chow!

[Tallguy]

Welcome annxx - welcome to the forum and we all hope to see you at the meet next Sunday evening.

[annxx]

oh and im a really bad speller..thanx for the welcome

[KerryfromOz]

Hello to all from Australia.

I am Australian born and bred but I beleive that my father's spent the earliest part of his life in Amersham.

I an keen to learn and will be asking some questions on the genealoy forum.

Kerryfom Oz.

[Windlepoons]

Welcome to the Forum? Are you coming to the meet on the 22nd?

I'll try to turn up.

[Indigenous]

Hi all,

I've been lurking around the forums for a while and thought I'd better introduce myself. I'm David and my surname begins with P - but as there's already a David P on the forums, I had to choose another username. As that name suggests, I am indeed a local lad, born in Amersham Hospital's maternity unit (now a housing estate). I grew up playing in the woods and on the common ground at the bottom of Sheepfold Lane/Quarrendon Road (now a housing estate). I also used to play by Hyrons Bridge and on the football field next to the law courts (also now both housing estates). Anybody spot a theme here?

Amersham has changed a lot over that time - not all of it for the better. It's still a nice part of the world to be in though.

I even used to live next door to Paul Eden - hi Paul. Didn't stay there long. (Nothing whatsoever to do with Paul and his charming wife though!)

I'm married to Jackie and we have two lovely kids (four and two years old). Work conspires to keep me away from them too much.

Sorry I couldn't make it to the forum meet - so much to do, so little time. Maybe next time.

[PaulEden]

I even used to live next door to Paul Eden - hi Paul.

[Wingie]

Hi everyone,

I have been a lurker here for a few years; however my partner Anne (forum name: Brillig) and I came to the recent forum meeting, and it was lovely to meet a number of you. I thought I should at least register and say hello, and now my voice has been released – eek!

Brillig has already mentioned that I work in IT; until recently at the BBC later outsourced to Siemens, based at sunny Shepherd’s Bush. Main interests: walking, motorcycling and drinking (not necessarily in that order), and enjoying our glorious countryside and wildlife.

Many many thanks to Matthew and everyone else who helps keep this wonderful forum and the rest of THE Amersham website going.

Best wishes
Mark

[Tony B]

Hi everyone -

My family and I moved to Amersham on Monday and I am really happy to meet you all!

[Fran]

Hi everyone -

My family and I moved to Amersham on Monday and I am really happy to meet you all!

Hello Tony. Welcome to Amersham and the forum; I hope you and your family are happy here. Do you fancy telling us a tiny bit more about yourself, as in some of the posts above (but no problem, if you don't)?

[Tony B]

Hello Tony. Welcome to Amersham and the forum; I hope you and your family are happy here. Do you fancy telling us a tiny bit more about yourself, as in some of the posts above (but no problem, if you don't)?

Hi Fran - and thanks for the welcome!
Well... my wife and our two boys have escaped/moved from Harrow (where it seems many have come from!) We were fed up with the place - and wanted our boys to grow up in much more pleasant surroundings - Harrow has really gone downhill over the last few years, graffitti everywhere, a horrible faceless town centre and just a general unpleasant atmosphere in most areas.
So far our experience of Amersham has been a real breath of fresh air, our new neighbours have popped in and welcomed us to the neighbourhood- and it has great to see that you can say "hello" to a stranger without getting a look of indignation! My eldest son is in awe of the fact that he can see fields when we drive around!
We have a few friends in the area so we know it reasonably well, but we are really looking forward to exploring...
I know that Amersham is not perfect, but it feels 1000% better than Harrow!

[Eaton]

Hi Fran - and thanks for the welcome!
Well... my wife and our two boys have escaped/moved from Harrow (where it seems many have come from!) We were fed up with the place - and wanted our boys to grow up in much more pleasant surroundings - Harrow has really gone downhill over the last few years, graffitti everywhere, a horrible faceless town centre and just a general unpleasant atmosphere in most areas.
So far our experience of Amersham has been a real breath of fresh air, our new neighbours have popped in and welcomed us to the neighbourhood- and it has great to see that you can say "hello" to a stranger without getting a look of indignation! My eldest son is in awe of the fact that he can see fields when we drive around!
We have a few friends in the area so we know it reasonably well, but we are really looking forward to exploring...
I know that Amersham is not perfect, but it feels 1000% better than Harrow!

Welcome to Amersham, we've been here almost 2 years and love it.

Whereabouts in Harrow??

My husband and I lived there in the 90's. Hamilton Road just off Hindes Road (near Tesco's). When we first moved in it was lovely, however last time I went past (a few years ago) it was a tip.

[gazza13]

Hi CheapoTony

I know what you mean about Harrow. I grew up in South Harrow, Mum still lives in there, I sure notice it when I go to visit. It really depresses me. Any way welcome to Amersham. I hope you jion in all the local fun. Carnival, Martyrs plays, Tesco bashing etc!!! Gary

[Tony B]

Welcome to Amersham, we've been here almost 2 years and love it.

Whereabouts in Harrow??

My husband and I lived there in the 90's. Hamilton Road just off Hindes Road (near Tesco's). When we first moved in it was lovely, however last time I went past (a few years ago) it was a tip.

Hi!
We had a house in Hibbert Road, which was off Locket Rd, the Bemont circle end. Nice House and road although we lived near a school which was a pain! I know Hindes Rd as I had a friend who lived there - we also had our Engagement party at the Wealdstone FC club before it was bulldozed to make Tescos. But yes, it's still a tip - I refused to go into the town centre as it was so grim - Harrow on the Hill is really nice though!

Nice to meet you and thanks for the welcome!