That Third Child

When two people talk, they may be having rather different conversations. For one person may be anxious or tired: the other may be self-interested or self-effacing. On the other hand, one may like the person opposite him or her, or at least think that they like them. The other may be more reserved or unsure. At least this is what the good folk at Broadley Wanting find. Broadley Wanting is a delightful village in the Chilterns. I hesitate to say sleepy because the villagers get on with their busy lives, often commuting long distances to those horrid southern cities. You may have driven through Broadley Wanting, along its main street, predictably called Main Street. You may have hiked through the village, for numerous paths from its centre lead directly onto the hills. If so, you may have had a refreshing drink at the wonderfully charismatic, 15th century, half-timbered Pub called The Vanguard. You can't miss it. It is a super, imposing black and white building, set only slightly back from Main Street. It serves several very good real ales, all reasonably priced at about £3.00 per pint. This may be the cheapest in the Chilterns, because Jack Lovett, the landlord and owner, is a bit of a romantic, caring about the quality of his ale more than profit. The most celebrated real ale is their Broadley Camp, named after nearby Roman remains. Watch it though! It is a light, very hoppy beer with a 6.6% a.b.v. Better for the passenger or hiker, than the driver! For the less discerning, there is always lager or Pedigree. No food is sold, apart from crisps and nuts. But Jack never grumbles about folk bringing their own cheese sandwiches. What makes the village really special, though, are the people. You will get acquainted with some of them in these pages but you really should visit the village yourself. Don't think that the folk are dull for calling its only main road, Main Street. It has been called that for over 500 years. Why change it now?