education

We are proud of the education services in our village; Windmill Pre-school and Brill Church of England Primary School. Brill falls within the catchment area for several excellent secondary schools: Lord Williams’s School in Thame, Aylesbury High School, Aylesbury Grammar School and Henry Floyd Grammar School also in Aylesbury. Note that Buckinghamshire operates an optional secondary transfer test system (the so-called 11+).

Faith

Brill is served by two churches. All Saints, a Church of England Church and part of the Bernwode Benefice, is just off The Green, and Brill United Reformed Church (URC) is halfway along the High Street. Gemma Beesley is the Rector for All Saints, Jenny Edmans is Associate Minister (01844 237855) and Sue Horton is the URC secretary (01844 237982).

There are Catholic Churches in Haddenham and Long Crendon. The Catholic Priest is Fr Leszek Wisniewki (01844 290178).

See this month’s Bernwode News (on sale in local shops) or the Bernwode Benefice website for details of services and activities. Beside religious services, regular Brill events include the Memory Lane Café and Small Saints on Monday.

Healthcare

NHS primary healthcare and GP services in Brill are provided by Unity Health. The surgery is on Thame Road, just before the 30 mph signs. Brill residents also have access to Unity’s surgeries in Thame and Long Crendon.

Brill Surgery, which includes a dispensing facility, is open Monday to Friday, 8.30am - 6pm. Call the surgery (01844 238284) to book an appointment; call the same number out-of-hours and you will be redirected. Please try and order repeat prescriptions online. For urgent problems that cannot wait, dial 111 for the NHS 111 service. In an emergency, dial 999.

The nearest NHS hospitals are Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury and the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. Both have Accident & Emergency departments. Unity Health patients may also be referred to services based at Thame Community Hospital.

Automated external Defibrillators (AED)

Call 999 if someone collapses and the operator will give you the location of the nearest AED and access code. Brill has two AEDs (with another one planned).

The AED on the fire station in Temple Street is in a yellow cabinet on the wall, to the left of the main doors. The AED at Brill Sports & Social Club is on the back wall (facing the church). This one is lit up at night.

Don’t wait until the worst happens; watch this video on the British Heart Foundation website TODAY. Better still, get trained in basic life saving skills.

Brill Fire Station

Brill is apparently “one of the most remote stations in Buckinghamshire”. Drill nights are Monday and they’re always keen to recruit new retained firefighters. The Brill Station commander is James Tuffley.

Browse the Safety Advice Hub on the Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue website for advice on seasonal hazards. Other categories include safety at home and at work/school, water and weather safety, animals and driving.

Call 999 for fire and rescue emergencies.

Water

Brill’s water supply is managed by Thames Water. Although generally satisfactory, aging pipes do sometimes spring leaks - and, although we all love living on a hill, there are associated challenges related to pumping water up to our reservoir on Muswell Hill and keeping this topped up. There is now an automated back-up oil-fuelled generator on Muswell Hill to ensure an uninterrupted supply even if there is a power cut.

If the water goes off, check this page on the Thames Water website or call 0800 316 9800.

Thames Water operate priority services for people who may suffer the most faced with a water outage pensioners including pensioners, those with a mental or physical disability, and families with children under five. Support includes the home delivery of bottled water and registration is quick and easy.