Theletcombe Register

Home , Wytham

The Letcombe Register The Letcombe Regis Parish Newsletter January 2018

Village Diary January

Tuesdays 9,16,23,30, 09.30 -10.45 am Hatha Yoga with Beth (not 2nd) Village Hall

Tuesdays 9,16,23,30 7.30 pm Letcombe Singers (not 2nd) Village Hall

Thursdays 11,18,25 6.15 - 7.15 pm Table Tennis (not 4th) Village Hall

Thursdays 11,18,25 & 1st 09.30 -10.30 am Pilates with Rachel Lock (not 4th) Village Hall

Mon 1 Noon Tennis Club - ‘New Years Head Clearer’ Tennis Courts

Wed 3 8.00 pm Book Buffs Greyhound Inn

Sun 7 10.00 am Matins - lay led (preacher - Revd Dr R.E.A. Campbell) St. Andrew’s

Sun 7 6.00 pm Greyhound Pot Luck Supper & Quiz (quiz starts 6.30 pm) Greyhound Inn

Sun 7 10.00 pm Greyhound Closes for Paint & Mend fortnight Greyhound Inn

Mon 8 7.30 pm WI - speaker TBA Village Hall

Wed 10 7.30 pm Film Club - ‘Hidden Figures’ Village Hall

Thur 11 2.30 pm Knitwits 4, Hamlyn Close

Sun 14 10.00 am Holy Communion St. Andrew’s

Mon 15 8.00 pm Parish Council Meeting (Warborough Room) Village Hall

Wed 17 7.30 pm Gardening Club - AGM & slideshow Village Hall Fri 19 3.30 pm Greyhound Re-opening Greyhound Inn

Fri 19 7.30 pm Bingo! - jackpot £100 - all welcome Village Hall

Sat 20 1.30 - 4.30 pm Nature Reserve Work Party Nature Reserve

Sun 21 10.00 am Matins - lay led St. Andrew’s

Sun 21 8.00 pm Greyhound Quiz with Big Dave Greyhound Inn

Mon 22 11.00 - 3.00 pm Thames Water & Letcombe Brook ‘drop-in’ session Bassett Village Hall

Tue 23 7.30 pm LRRG&VH Trust Meeting (Warborough Room) Village Hall

Wed 24 6.00 pm Mid-week Fix & Wine Tasting with Alison McLeod Greyhound Inn

Thu 25 2.30 pm Knitwits The Old Manor

Fri 25 7.30 pm Greyhound Burns Night Supper (advanced booking only) Greyhound Inn Sun 28 10.00 am Holy Communion St. Andrew’s

Sun 28 4.00 - 7.00 pm Greyhound Folk Music Greyhound Inn

New Year waste collections

rd Normally Monday (1st Jan) - Wednesday 3 January - Grey Landfill Bin and Food waste th Normally Monday (8th Jan) - Tuesday 9 January - Green Recycling Bin, Food Waste (& Brown Garden waste) © 2018 Francesca Engelmann for Letcombe Regis Parish Council Issue 149 The Letcombe Register January 2018

Letcombe Regis Parish Council 200 Club

The Parish Council wishes you all a Healthy Happy and 200 Club Draw — No 10 January 2018 Prosperous New Year. 26 Sarah CHAPMAN £50 The New Parish Website is due to go ‘live’ following the January PC Meeting with improved style and easier 176 Araminta LAPSLEY-MIKA £25 access. Of course if you would like to feed back on any aspects please contact the Parish Clerk. This will help us 62 Pauline KOLINS £10 to ensure we are providing you with the information you 123 Sharon BEDFORD £10 need. 116 Christine GILLIBRAND £5 Also a reminder that our next meeting will be held on Monday 15th January, 8pm, in the Warborough Room of Non-Winners draw: the Village Hall. All are welcome. 110 Jane ELLIS £25 Finally, advance notice that there will be white line repainting throughout the village, currently scheduled for 32 Lynne & Doug FREWER £20 the third week in January, weather permitting, so apologies in advance for any temporary delays to your journeys. 42 Julie & Peter BATTEN £10 Jeanne Lapsley 10 Mike HADDRELL £10 Chairman of Letcombe Regis Parish Council 146 Anne SHONE £10

Thames Water & Letcombe Brook 122 Paulien HENSHALL £10 New Numbers draw: Due to the upcoming proposed works about Letcombe Brook Augmentation and Childrey Warren scheme, 188 Tony PRIOR £5 Thames Water are holding a drop in session at the Village Hall in Letcombe Bassett on Monday 22nd January 2018 189 Frances RHODES £5 from 11am to 3pm to provide more information to the local residents and answer any queries or concerns. 142 Yvette & Alistair STANDRING £5

Letcombe Regis Recreation Ground and Film Club Village Hall Trust We start the new year with one of the best films released in On behalf of the Recreation Ground and Village Hall Trust, 2017 - “Hidden Figures”. Based on the highly acclaimed we wish you all a Happy New Year! If your New Year’s book by Margot Lee Shetterly, it tells the largely unknown resolution is to start something new, there are lots of true story of three black female mathematicians working at groups meeting at the hall who would welcome new the NASA Research Centre in Langley in the early members from singing to table tennis, gardening, yoga, WI, 1960’s. bingo and cinema, all on your doorstep. Details of these and other clubs are in the diary on the front of the Register. Katherine Coleman, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson For those more active, we are pleased to announce that were “computers” working in the segregated West Wing pilates will be re-starting on Thursdays and don’t forget the supporting the Space Task Group with complex football club and tennis club! The new outdoor riding mathematical calculations. It was a critical time for NASA arena was officially opened in December and this should as the Russians were ahead in the space race and NASA extend the use of the riding club field. Director Al Harrison, played by Kevin Costner, was under pressure to put an American astronaut into orbit around the The next meeting of the Trust will take place on 23rd earth. Her brilliance led to Katherine Coleman being asked January at 7.30 pm in the Warborough Room. All villagers to work with the scientists at the forefront of NASA’s are welcome. research.

Sue Hannon With excellent performances including an Oscar Chairman nomination for Octavia Spencer (who also starred in the Letcombe Regis Recreation Ground and Village Hall “The Help”) as Dorothy Vaughan, it’s no surprise that Trust Hidden Figures was nominated for Best Picture in the 2017 Oscars. It also features Jim Parsons (Sheldon in the Big Bang Theory) and Kirsten Dunst. Letcombe Singers This is a powerful, inspiring and heart warming film which Our Christmas Concerts last month were a great success, comes highly recommended so put the date In your diary. for which we must thank Jane Robinson and Gill Skidmore, Come along early for a pre-film drink and chat. and especially our visitors, the Caritas Children’s Choir. Thanks to the generosity of our audiences, we will be able Future films: to send about £500 to Christian Aid. Thank you all, and we February 14 - Lion hope to see you again next year. March 14 - Suffragette We shall meet again on January 9th, when we start to April 11 - tbc prepare that old favourite, Stainer’s “Crucifixion”, for May 9 - tbc Easter. June 13 - tbc © 2018 Francesca Engelmann for Letcombe Regis Parish Council 2 The Letcombe Register January 2018

St Andrew’s Church Happy New Year from The Greyhound Inn!

We always knew that Joe Barber’s organ recital on We will be holding an extra Pub Quiz on Sunday th December 9 would be very special. What nobody could January 7th just before we close for our Paint and have foreseen was that it was made particularly poignant Mend Fortnight. To help use up the fresh food we are by the sad and untimely death of Robin Elliott. Joe offering a Pot Luck Supper for £5pp from 6pm and dedicated his performance to Robin’s memory and his the quiz will start at the earlier time of 6:30pm. Come beautiful playing provided an eloquent tribute to this and challenge your knowledge of 2017! Booking steadfast man whose death is a great loss not only to his essential. The normal January quiz will be on Sunday family and the family of St Andrew’s but to our community as a whole. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Denise and 21st at the usual time of 8pm. her family. While we are closed you can still call and email us St Andrew’s was packed the following week for Robin’s and we will get back to you. After we open again on funeral as people gathered to wish “Godspeed” to a sailor Friday January 19th (3:30pm) it will be back to setting out on his final voyage. business as usual. On January 24th, our first th Midweek Fix of the year will be accompanied by a Saturday 16 was St Andrew’s Carol Service and a large very special Wine Tasting Event with local congregation enjoyed a varied programme of lessons, winemakers Ali and Andy McLeod. Their Spanish readings and carols, beautifully led by a choir organised by Christine Birch and conducted by Marilyn Mitcham. Yet wines from the Celler Alimara in Catalonia are again, we were fortunate to have Joe playing. Mince pies exceptional examples of the region and they will be and mulled wine afterwards sent everyone home in festive bringing 5 different wines to taste on the night. Please spirit and a generous mood, raising £247.50 for our join us at 6pm on Wednesday 24th January to try Christmas charities, CRISIS and The Children’s Society. these lovely wines. With scarcely time to draw breath, Christine led carol Finally next month, we cannot miss an opportunity to singing round the village the very next evening, ending up celebrate the birthday of Scottish poet Robert Burns. at The Greyhound. The collection, for CRISIS, raised At 7:30pm on Thursday, January 25th we will be £146.48 – along with 1 euro and 10 cents! Every little serving a 4-course Dinner of Chef Phil Currie’s take helps! on the traditional Scottish dishes served on Burns Grateful thanks go to our music makers and must also go Night. Tickets must be bought in advance and are to our tireless treasurer, David Allchin, who sorts out all the £30pp including entertainment and a dram of single various collections and foreign coins, claiming Gift Aid malt whisky to toast the Haggis. wherever possible, to ensure that our chosen charities benefit as much as they can from your generosity. But it’s not just about money. It’s impressive that good people in the village find the time to wrap presents and leave them under the tree, providing some Christmas cheer to those who might otherwise get no presents at all. Thank you. Last year’s St Andrew’s notes ended with the words of a little-known writer, Minnie Louise Haskins. One reader (yes – someone does actually read this) asked to be reminded of them again. So, with no apologies as it bears repeating, here’s the story: it was 1939 and the nation was at war. King George VI wanted to give some words of comfort in troubled times and these were suggested to him by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother; words which were later spoken at her funeral: “And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year, “Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”

And he replied: “Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than a light and safer than a known way.” So I went forth and, finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night. And he led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.” The last element of the Christmas story is the arrival at the manger in Bethlehem of the Magi or wise men from the East. St Andrew’s will be celebrating the Feast of Epiphany with a service of Matins on January 7th. It is our fervent prayer that wise men can bring peace to the East and to the rest of the world in 2018. With all good wishes for a peaceful and blessed New Year.

A new exhibition, ‘Into the Woodland’, opened at the The next meeting will be held in the Greyhound at 8pm on Oxford Museum of Natural History, Parks Road, on 1st Wednesday 3rd January when we will be discussing: December 2017 and runs until 3 June 2018. Woodland- 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry' by Rachel Joyce. inspired works are featured by authors and artists including We will also have our usual review of the books we have Robert Macfarlane, Stanley Donwood, Robin Wilson, Rosie read during 2017. Fairfax-Cholmeley and Richard Lawrence. The exhibit was conceived to celebrate 75 years since Wytham Woods was The library book for February, available at the meeting, is bequeathed to Oxford University and also to mark 800 'The Children Act' by Ian McEwan. We will choose an years since the Charter of the Forest gifted public access alternative at the meeting. to Britain’s woodlands to be used and enjoyed by all. Any queries to Freddie on 767772. Biodiversity research within Wytham Woods has studied the ecological value of the various habitats for Cyanistes caeruleus and Parus major since 1943, small mammals since 1948, badgers since 1976, calcareous Letcombes Gardening Club grassland restoration since 1984 and the impact of climate change on ecosystems since 1992. The links The first meeting of 2018 will be on Wednesday 17th at https://www.wytham.ox.ac.uk/home will take you to fas- January at 7.30 in the Village Hall. cinating information and short films about some of the research at Wytham Woods, as well as to an application A very brief AGM will be followed by a short slideshow of form for the permit required to visit the locality. In another gardens worth visiting. After that we enjoy wine and nib- celebration of the 800 year-old Forest Charter, The bles and a good chat. Woodland Trust launched a new Charter for Trees, Woods and People which sets out ten principles for a society in New members are most welcome. which people, woods and trees co-exist for mutual benefit: Sustain landscapes rich in wildlife; Plant for the Future; Topical Tips Celebrate the power of trees to inspire; Grow forests of I hope you have all recovered from the Christmas opportunity and innovation; Protect irreplaceable trees and excesses. Now is a good time to get out into the garden woods; Plan greener local landscapes; Recover health, and blow the last vestiges of those hangovers away! Don’t hope and wellbeing with the help of trees; Make trees worry. I’ll let you in gently! accessible to all; Combat the threats to our habitats; Strengthen our landscapes with trees. The website https:// If you have lots of pots sitting around then take some time treecharter.uk/ gives much more information on these prin- to clean them all ready for seed sowing in the spring. I ciples and the Charter. hesitate to say this but you can also clean your greenhouse unless, like mine, it is full to the brim with tender plants! Friends Of Letcombe Valley Community Believe it or not you can start sowing seeds in January. Nature Reserve Begonias, pelargoniums and sweet peas can all be sown this month. Ready for some fresh air and exercise after the festivities of Christmas and the New Year? All volunteers are very A small bit of advice on dahlia and canna tubers. Obviously welcome to join this month’s work party on Saturday 20th they don’t want to be so damp they rot off but you also January, 1.30 - 4.30pm; refreshments provided shouldn ’t let them become bone dry or they won’t grow in mid-afternoon. There will be some lighter tasks this month the coming season. to be carried out at your own pace under expert guidance. You can prune and renovate many deciduous trees, BBOWT provides most tools but wheelbarrows, shovels, shrubs and hedges this month. It is easier to see the and rakes would be helpful if you can bring them. Warm, structure when there are no leaves. However don’t touch old, waterproof clothing and working gloves are evergreens, tender plants or prunus species. You can also recommended and, as it is likely to be wet underfoot, move deciduous trees and shrubs as long as the ground wellingtons or walking boots are advisable. Meet by the isn’t frozen or waterlogged. lake on the reserve in Letcombe Regis for the safety and guidance briefing at the start of the session. Opportunities Keep an eye on your paths and patios as they can become for Duke of Edinburgh Award volunteering\skills sections; really slippery. Remove any green algae but don’t use too under 18s accompanied by an adult please. For further much salt as this can damage the plants. details, or in case of uncertain weather conditions, please contact 769194 or 763827. Now for the edibles. January is the time to get out your secateurs as you can prune apples, pears, quinces, currants, gooseberries and autumn raspberries. That Voices in the Vale should keep you occupied for a few days!

As far as vegetables are concerned, consider preparing Voices of the Vale Community Choir is in recess with a some seed beds and covering them with polythene to tentative re-start date of Monday 12th March. If you are warm the soil up. Don’t forget to save your egg boxes, as it interested in joining or trying out the first session, please will soon be time to start chitting your potatoes! email Lisa: [email protected]. Well I think that should provide a good start to 2018 and I wish you all a Happy New Gardening Year!

© 2018 Francesca Engelmann for Letcombe Regis Parish Council 4 The Letcombe Register January 2018 BURWELL ELECTRICAL www.burwell-electrical.co.uk 01235 760567 07860 590814 Jim Izzard [email protected] Electrician 2 Holborn Hill, Letcombe Bassett Wantage OX12 9LU

10% discount for OAPs and ex-service personnel

The Barn Tea Rooms, Court Hill Centre Homemade cakes, light lunches. Just off A338 on the Ridgeway - and it’s all

downhill on the way back! Open 7 days a week 10.30 to 4.00 Assessment and treatment by Tel: 01235 760253 Chartered Physiotherapists for conditions such as spinal and joint pain, Personal Assistant/Carer sports injuries, arthritis and other musculoskeletal problems

DBS checked/insured Clinics at Wantage Health Centre, Teaching/Management background. Wantage Leisure Centre and Richmond, Letcombe Regis Five years as an Activity Organiser Open every week day, three evenings and Saturday morning in residential homes email: [email protected] For help or support please call 07968983673

Registered Dietitian Liane Reeves, BSc (Hons) Nutrition, MSc Allergy HCPC registered, MBDA Expert personalised dietary advice for adults and children. Consultations held at Wantage Osteopathic Practice, 1 Church St. Wantage. To discuss how dietary advice can help you and to arrange an appointment: Tel: 07947 053396 Email:[email protected] www.reevesdiets.co.uk

GCSE Maths Tuition

Does anyone you know need help ? I am local experienced tutor with current DBS check. Please feel free to call or email me for extra tuition. [email protected] 01235 762373 or 07583 918970 (Anne)

Mel Taylor Photography

Qualified and Multi Award Winning Photographer Specialist in Canine and Equine Photography and Newborn and Child Photography See website for full details www.meltaylorphotography.co.uk

Hazel Lee Painter & Decorator

Interior & Exterior. Fully Insured Local & Reliable Female Decorator No job too small Mob: 07866 509683 [email protected]

Letter from Ed Vaizey, MP orchestra fills a gap, and it is very much needed. Music brings great joy to people, and it also plays an important role in our schools and our communities. I wish the Dicot May I take this opportunity to send each of you my best Concert Orchestra every success and I look forward to wishes for a peaceful and prosperous start to 2018. seeing them perform soon in Didcot – if not at the Proms!

In November, the Chancellor delivered his Budget. No one Please feel free to contact me if you have any pressing can pretend it was radical or revolutionary. But most will issues that you would like help with. Either myself or one think that’s a good thing. There's quite enough turmoil at of my team will get back to you as soon as possible and do the moment. what we can to assist. You can contact me on any matter at the House of Commons, SW1A 0AA, The main focus of the budget was housing - a deeply [email protected] or 01235 768 888. Email is the controversial issue in our part of the world. Nevertheless, quickest and most reliable way to get in touch, as I keep a people do know that we need to build more houses, as very close eye on my emails and can reply very property ownership has fallen dramatically and houses quickly. Details of my activities in Parliament can be read have become unaffordable for many people. I am therefore on my website, https://www.vaizey.com. I also send out encouraged that the Chancellor has outlined the occasional general interest emails about developments in Government’s ambition to increase housing supply to its the Wantage and Didcot Constituency. If you would like to highest level since 1970 by the end of this Parliament. This be added to the distribution list, please complete the online will put us on track to deliver 300,000 homes a year by the form at http://bit.ly/EdVaizeyMP. mid-2020s with £15.3 billion new financial support for house building over the next five years – taking the total to at least £44 billion. Pilates

On a local level, it was promising to see an additional £215 th million set aside for Oxfordshire to build infrastructure, A new regular Pilates class starts on 11 January at the deliver new homes and increase economic productivity Letcombe Village Hall with certified Stott Pilates instructor across the county. This is a welcome step in ensuring our Rachel Lock. The classes will be aimed at established local area is fit for the future. beginners to intermediate level. Numbers will be limited to 12 to ensure individual attention to get the best from your I welcome the announcement from Chris Grayling of the workout. Cost is £9 per class. Please call in advance to £47.9bn overhaul of the rail network in England and Wales, book and discuss your current level with Rachel on 07801 including restoring the Oxford to Cambridge rail link. This is 824293. part of the overall strategy suggested by the National If you are a complete beginner there are private class Infrastructure Commission's report earlier this month on options available initially so please call to arrange suitable infrastructure growth across the Cambridge-Milton Keynes- times. Oxford Arc, which Wantage & Grove Station is part of. I will be continuing to campaign in Parliament for a new station at Wantage & Grove whilst there is so much interest in rail infrastructure. Tennis Club

The Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport New Years Head Clearer @ noon on 1st of the (DCMS) has recently compiled a handy list of funding 1st sources available for arts, heritage and cultural projects which may be useful for local organisations. There are With hot toddy and snacks, we are running a Gentle Short many different avenues that organisations seeking support Fun get together with Tennis based games. This is a can pursue and I would recommend that anybody wishing family, friends, dogs etc all abilities excuse for some gentle to make an application first contacts the relevant local convivial exercise, to celebrate the 1st day of 2018. office. Their staff will then be able to provide advice and No need to bring a partner or balls, just a racket, but the support regarding the application process. Full list can be more the merrier!!. Supporting your New Year's resolution found at: goo.gl/QihSKD for more exercise. Good but not essential to let us know who is coming :- On a similar note it is fantastic to see that over the past email [email protected] or ring 762680. three months the Big Lottery Fund has provided nearly

£55,000 of funding to 6 projects in the constituency. Every Indoor Tennis week over £13 million is awarded across the UK to support nd community activity with the money raised from National Next 2 hour session at Abingdon is on Tuesday 2 of Lottery players. The organisation works hard to ensure the January, with shared village transport 8 till 10 pm.. money reaches the people and organisations who make a Tel Anne Jones on 763969 or email letcombetennis- real difference and it’s great that the benefits are being felt [email protected] to book a place. in our area. Vacancy for a Treasurer

The brand new Didcot Concert Orchestra gives its We only hold 1 hour meetings every other month and inaugural concert at Cornerstone arts centre, Didcot at minimize work as much as possible, with an estimated 4pm on Sunday 11 February 2018 playing music from the input of 2 hours per month and full support from outgoing late Romantic era. More info can be found at: Treasurer. http://www.didcotconcertorchestra.org.uk/ Please contact 771100 if you can possibly HELP US, just I am delighted that this Orchestra has been for 1 term. established. Didcot is a vibrant and growing town, and the arts have always been a central part of its life. The concert Wishing you all Happy, Laughing & Healthy 2018. © 2018 Francesca Engelmann for Letcombe Regis Parish Council 6 The Letcombe Register January 2018

LEE’S Exterior Cleaning Solutions

LADDERLESS GUTTER CLEANING

PURE WATER WINDOW CLEANING

01865 823395 / 07967033383 (Southmoor Based)

Letcombes WI JOB VACANCY

The Letcombe WI meeting will be held on Monday 8th January 2018 in the Village Hall.. The Greyhound inn

We are looking for part-time help Letcombe Football Club working as a Housekeeper looking

December has been a disappointing month for the football After the pub and bedrooms. club, and we have now dropped into mid table in the Approx 10-15hrs per week over 2 days. league, having reached second place in November. We 9am-3pm. Occasional weekend work. narrowly lost 2-0 to high flying Easington Sports at home, For more information or to apply and then lost 2-0 at home to Headington Amateurs. A visit Please call 01235 771969 to Swindon to play New College saw us bounce back in style with an emphatic 9-2 victory, but we then lost 2-0 at Or drop off your cv. home to Pewsey Vale, despite playing against ten men for most of the game. Table Tennis Club

Home fixtures in January are : Table Tennis fun sessions will continue by popular th th demand, starting on Thursday 11 January, 6,15 - 7.15. Sat 6 Letcombe v Ardley United league 2.15 Please contact Richard Taylor if you need more Sat 13th Reserves v Hagbourne league 2.00 information, or just turn up! Sat 20th No home match Sat 27th Reserves v tba league 2.00 Tennis Club news on page 6