RafesPlace was founded as an organisation dedicated to finding a solution to the problem of youth boredom in the Chesham and Amersham area of Buckinghamshire whilst trying to provide facilities and organising events which are beneficial to the community at large.

The lead, inspiration and name came from the late Rafe Chiles who worked hard to make the towns of Chesham, Amersham and the surrounding areas a better place for young people.

The site is now the place for memories of Rafe.

In 2002 Rafe Chiles founded Ultimate Solution, a music promotions company in the Amersham and Chesham area of Buckinghamshire that ran every month to great success. Youths as young as 11 and 12 travelled to the gigs from all over the county, further allowing Rafe’s visions for Ultimate Solution to expand. Rafe believed in giving everyone an opportunity and many bands that played at these events have recently become prominent on the UK music scene.

In 2004 tragedy struck and Rafe died from a severe asthma attack at the young age of 23.

Friends of Rafe tried their best to keep Ultimate Solution running for the next two years but were struggling to fill the gap left by his enigmatic presence.

Rafe forged together a torn community, gave kids somewhere to go and somewhere to feel a part of. He gave them confidence to perform and most of all be themselves and be accepted.

His passing has left a distinct void so a small group of people who knew or were close to him have decided to bring a bit of Rafe back to the community.

THE FINAL SOLUTION

In frozen rows our embryos await their animation.
Such orphans may, one sorry day, perpetuate our nation.
No matter that those so begat will never know their mothers
And young maids grown will soon be shown to marry with their brothers.

From more alarming human farming, multi-birth disasters.
Bred for their parts, pigs lose their hearts to save their ailing masters.
While cancer finds so many kinds of unforgiving ills,
Still farmers keep Chernobyl sheep on panoramic hills.

Did God surmise what might arise from man's ill-fated birth?
Our tears too late, we contemplate the agony of earth.
As we increase to sit obesely worshipping the screen,
We seek to feed our hungry breed whatever that might mean.

Frenetic hens fill tiny pens, while calves forlorn and friendless
Await their fate in meagre crate, the cruelty is endless.
Each boat that sets gigantic nets makes oceans feel the strain.
It is, we learn, quite wrong to turn a forest into plain.

Metallic trees torment the breeze to satisfy our needs
And roads that scar are cut too far - now see how Beauty bleeds,
Where nitrate creeps and Nature weeps her poisons to the shore.
not I think just a blink in the eye of time but an ever-running sore.

The alien gene arrives on scene with Nature's solemn warning,
The chain of life put to the knife, no birdsong in the morning.
And as we toil with precious oil to make our own pollution,
Our suicide may well provide the ultimate solution.

© Rafe Chiles 2004

The 2007 Day in the Park event was one of the most successful in Chesham’s history so thank you to everyone who came along!  With over a thousand visitors the day kicked off in a truly spectacular fashion!

With an incredible range of local musicians and DJs there was certainly no room for boredom as the day progressed!  Thanks to everyone who entered into the skate competition and with over 100 competitors it was definitely a crammed day!

Without writing an endless list, a massive thank you to all those who helped on the day as well, you know who you are.

Our organisation is dedicated to solving Youth Boredom in Bucks and yesterday showed that if we all pull together and the community stands as one, we can have a strong voice.

Thank you.
RafesPlace Team x