Was how Sharon was described by Councillor Vicki Smith BEM in her presentation to a full house after the Annual Parish Meeting on 23rd May 2024 in the West Wycombe Village Hall.

Sharon took the job of Parish Clerk to West Wycombe Parish Council nearly 29 years ago.

The Clerk’s job was very different in those days. No computers were used then, I remember Sharon taking Minutes by hand…  … hard to believe now.

Through the years there have been many, many changes to parish councils. Laws, rules and regulations, procedure, accounts and planning legislation, let alone I T!

Sharon has always embraced the changes that came along by taking training and with confidence helped us become and remain the well-respected parish council we are today.

A good few years ago there was an examination board then known as AQA that did a degree course in Council Administration and Law. Sharon was ‘persuaded’ to take on this task which would stand us in good stead and give her a qualification. It took a lot of hard work and she passed with flying colours, this enabled us to become a Quality Parish Council. One of only two at the time in Buckinghamshire.

Sharon has been awarded best Parish Clerk in Buckinghamshire by Bucks Association of Local Councils, and the late WDC Chairman Bill Bendyshe-Brown gave her an award for her outstanding work as a Parish Council Clerk because as he travelled round Wycombe District calling in at Parish Council meetings he came across Sharon ‘Clerking’ for  Piddington and Wheeler End Parish Council, Hambleden Parish Council and West Wycombe Parish Council, all at the same time on different days of the month! He was very impressed! She also worked for Lane End Parish Council covering for their Clerks maternity leave.

Sharon has on more than one occasion given talks to Buckinghamshire Councillors and other County Councils on how Parish Councils work as obviously most do not know how we work.

As a Parish Council if we decide we want to create a project that will help or enhance the parish Sharon as our Clerk has been the one to check the possibilities, feasibility and of course, cost. A lot of work!

To mention just a few projects Sharon has helped with over the years……. 2 Road Crossings, the Burial Ground, the Pedestal Playing Field, the Chorley Road Allotments, and the new lighting scheme throughout the parish.
I am sure you can imagine how much paperwork these projects entailed!  Sharon has been dogged, as we were, in her determination in getting these ‘jobs’ to fruition and that’s not to mention the amount of nagging she has done to councils about the jobs they should be doing.
Sharon has almost single-handedly set up the Community Orchard behind our Burial Ground. It is a peaceful place for all to use for years to come.

But possibly one of her outstanding achievements for West Wycombe must be when she gave a presentation to The House of Commons Select Committee in the Houses of Parliament because we were concerned about HS2 traffic coming through our parish. Although Chairman at the time I couldn’t be at the original meetings, so Sharon took the lead with me supporting her later. We formed the HS2, A4010 team, consisting of Wycombe District Council, Bradenham Parish Council, and Princes Risborough Town Council with the help of Jim Stevens a highways expert.

We had many meetings before being given a chance to speak to the HS2 Select Committee. Everyone delivered excellent presentations on behalf of their parishes to The House of Commons Select Committee. Sharon did an excellent presentation for West Wycombe and we were rewarded with the HS2 traffic being barred from using the A40 through West Wycombe Village and HS2 having to provide money for repairs and improvements on the A4010. Quite an achievement and to be in the Houses of Parliament, an amazing experience for all concerned.

Yes, Sharon was employed by the Parish Council but from herding cows back into the field off the A40 in the morning rush hour or coming out at all hours to lock a gate, put a up a barrier or a sign if it was needed to avert a difficult situation, Sharon has gone well and truly beyond the call of duty countless times.

Sharon has been an exemplary Parish Clerk and we have been extremely spoiled!

We wish her health and happiness in her retirement and would like her to step forward to receive gifts from all here tonight as a mark of our thanks for all she has done for everyone in West Wycombe.

Please will you raise your glass in thanks to Sharon.

Cllr Mrs Vicki Smith BEM
23-05-2024