Back in the day, several people in Haddenham used to breed the large white 'Aylesbury Ducks', keeping them on the many village ponds around the village. They thatched a duck house at the pond by St. Mary's Church, in Church End to stop the ducklings getting wet and as a consequence, Haddenham earned the name 'silly Haddenham'.
The duck house is no longer there, but local resident and volunteer 'Duck Warden', Brian Bowman, decided it was time the pond had a new floating Duck House, like the one enjoyed by the ducks on the pond in Rudds Lane.
On behalf on the Village Society, Brian took it upon himself to commission one for Church End pond and, on St George's Day 2026 (Thursday 23rd April), with assistance from Robyn Thorogood and Tony Blackburn kitted out in waders, the new Duck House was installed.
There to witness the efforts of those who braved the slime and deep mud to drag the Duck House into the middle of the pond was a small group of children and local residents.
The whole event took place with musical accompaniment, courtesy of Roger Jackson, while Zoe Bowman popped the cork on a bottle of fizz to celebrate!
(Editor: with thanks to Mike Cottrell and Loraine Milmer for the images)
