Of the village, by the village, for the village August/September 2016 99 FinstockServing Finstock, Fawler, Wilcote, Mt.SkippettNews and Finstock Heath

Events: Watercolours; Forest Fair; Bridewell ������ 2 Shop & PO; Table Tennis Club...... 8 Festival & School Fête; FoFS ������������������������������ 3 School; Early Years; First Responders...... 9 John Wells; Roal Dahl; Parish; Oxon Museum �� 4 Girlguiding; Hubble; health services...... 10 Small Ads; C.19th life; Dance classes ����������������� 5 Finstock Ale; Craft Club; Folk music...... 11 Conservation: pots>products; Wine ����������������� 6 Garden sparkle; District councillors...... 12 County; Baby & Toddler; wildlife; CHoC ���������� 7

n this issue of the Finstock News we have reports on this year’s Finstock Festival and School Fête and an invitation for the next Finstock Ale. We have informative reports from our County and District Councillors and one from our own Parish Council. There are many entertaining activities taking place in the Village Hall and our gardening and wine columns for the more sedate. We begin with a travel Ireport from Ags Connolly, the local man making good with his music in America. AGS ON A US TOUR In February I went out on my first We played gigs in Lafayette, Baton Rouge US tour with two artists from St Louis, and New Orleans. The latter is a place Missouri – Jack Grelle and Ryan Koenig, I’d always wanted to visit. New Orleans plus a bass player and drummer. Ryan and has a unique and unpredictable vibe that Matt Meyer, the drummer, are also part of I can’t totally put my finger on; I just wish well-known retro country and jazz artist I’d had time to explore it further. Pokey LaFarge’s band. Georgia, Tennessee and Kentucky We played a total of 16 shows in 13 were all surprisingly cold and also brought www.agsconnolly.com cities across Missouri, Kansas, Texas, their own challenges. We were paid a Louisiana, Georgia, Tennessee and Kentucky. Needless to say grand total of $15 in Atlanta (a ‘percentage’ of the bar takings it was a great experience. apparently), while our support act in Chattanooga covered the We had some interesting times out on the road. Two fun stage in stuffed animals for some reason. In Paducah we played shows in Columbia and Kansas City started us off but didn’t in a cinema while a film played (silently) behind us. As I’m sure afford us an awful lot of sleep. On the way down to Texas, via you’ve guessed there are a fair few more stories; if you catch a strange, deserted gig in Wichita, our van conked out; but we me in the pub I’ll probably tell them! arrived at the gig in Austin just in time, all piled in the back of a The last show of the tour at Off Broadway in St.Louis was U-Haul trailer. At one of our other shows in Austin, someone one of the most memorable I’ve played. Fortunately the audio brought a lizard along. That was a first for me! from it was recorded so I’m hopeful I’ll able to release it in Our van troubles followed us to our show in rural some form in the future. I was very lucky to play with such a Fredericksburg but happily they ended there. We continued superb band and visit so many great places. I hope I’ll be back on to Houston, then out of Texas and into the swamplands of for more in years to come. Louisiana where Cajun food and Zydeco music kept us going. Ags Connolly Local singer/songwriter

Finstock Village Hall and David Cameron MP

A grand opening of the Village Hall presided over by Rt. Hon David Cameron MP was held in May, where he spoke in a very upbeat manner, warmly congratulating the village on its fundraising efforts and citing it as a fine example of the Big Society in action. 0 . VILLAGE EVENTS 0 . Finstock Local History Society August We shall meet again on Friday October 21st: Child Labour in 19th Century 4th-7th Wilderness Festival Oxfordshire by Liz Woolley. 5th-21st Rio Olympics North Leigh History Society 18th Bridewell Open Garden Tuesday September 6th: The Green Man, a talk by Tim Healey at 7.30pm in Turner The Big Festival at Hall, Church Road, North Leigh OX29 6TX. All welcome. Visitors £4, Members 26th-28th Kingham, with Alex free. Further details from Diana Power 882301. James and Jamie Oliver Finstock Good Companions September 4th Wychwood Fair Saturday December 17th: Finstock Good Companions Christmas dinner returns. 5th Autumn term starts The Village Hall will host the event together with Eileen Peters. This is free to all those aged over 65 from Finstock and Fawler. Arrive 12pm for 12.30pm lunch, followed by 9th Finstock Ale entertainment and singing. Booking is essential due to limited numbers. To reserve a 11th Stately Car Boot Sale at space contact Eileen on 868746 or contact her at 45 Hill Crescent, OX7 3BT. Cornbury 13th New £5 note issued Watercolour Painting Class 16th Bridewell Open Garden It is never too late to learn a new skill! Every second Tuesday of the month Rosemary Wise runs watercolour painting classes in the Village Hall, focusing on 18th Folk music at the Hall objects of natural history. Techniques will be covered for new-comers each time with 30th Folk music at the Hall a few simple exercises to get started. I can supply paper and paint boxes but you need to bring pencils, rubber, ruler and fine brushes. Classes run from 10am to 4pm; £20 Bridewell Organic Gardens per day, including materials. Community Afternoon It is great fun, come along and learn to paint plants, feathers, shells, minerals, The Walled Garden and Vineyard fossils, fruit and vegetables and so on. Tel: Rosemary on 868529 or email r.wise182@ at Wilcote (OX7 3EB) will be open btinternet.com. on Thursday August 18th and Friday Ladies, give us your support! September 16th from 2-4pm. Admission Give all your unwanted old bras a new lease of life and help raise money for breast £3.50, children free. cancer research. Bring them to Joy Murphy at 63 High Street. Against Breast Cancer Refreshments and plants will be for sale. will receive a donation based on the weight of bras we collect, so every bra counts! For further information please call 864530 or go to www.bridewellorganicgardens. Wychwood Forest Fair, Cornbury Park, Sunday Sept.4th co.uk. The 17th annual Wychwood Forest Fair is a great family day out offering a wide New £5 note range of entertainment from Charlbury Morris dancers to ferret racing, bee keeping and basket making, delicious food, rural craft demonstrations, music, shopping The Bank of England has been issuing including our famous second hand bookstall, and much, much more. This year we banknotes for over three hundred years. A have two local Forest Schools to provide activity based taster sessions - HJ Jungling new £5 note will be issued on September and Ascott Forest School; find out more 13th. The New Fiver is the first Bank of FREE about outdoor learning opportunities for England note to be printed on polymer, a WIFI children. Join ‘Fearless Photographer’ thin flexible plastic, and will feature Sir William Mankelow at a mini-workshop to Winston Churchill. learn how to photograph nature on your The Plough phone; a short session full of useful tips presented at 12pm and repeated at 1pm. Our Bar is open: Tickets £7 on the gate, or £6 in advance Mon: 6pm – close via the Wychwood Project website, www. Tues – Fri: 12 noon – 3pm & 6pm – close wychwoodproject.org. Sat: 12 noon – close Sun: 12 noon – 6.00pm Charity Tea Party in aid of Our kitchen is open: Mind Tues – Sun Lunch: 12 noon – 2.00pm Saturday October 8th 2-4pm at Finstock Dinner: 6.30pm – 9.00pm Village Hall Come and visit us, we’d love to see you. Adults £5, Children £2 including Celebrate with Guy and Jordan as The Plough Inn biscuit decorating activity they become the new owners of The High Street, Finstock OX7 3BY Tickets can be purchased from Plough. Watch for the signs! The Race Tel: 01993 868333 Finstock shop or Loren Townsend: Night at the Plough in aid of prostate www.theplough-inn.co.uk [email protected] cancer raised £250. 2

Plough_ad_90x60mm_Details_2015.indd 1 29/10/2015 15:47 FRIENDS OF FINSTOCK SCHOOL (FoFS)

The end of the school year was collaboration! Thank you to everyone rather busy for FoFS. We held a great who made this incredible amount Ladies Pamper Night in May, organised possible. brilliantly by Tammy Judd, which raised In addition, we had Rob Barkworth over £300, which when matched by a and Paul Coombes doing their amazing further £300 from our savings, enabled walk to London. They have raised £2,300 us to buy two much needed outdoor and counting! Plans are underway benches for the school. We also had to improve the outside area by Oak a Bag-2-School collection which raised Class and this ambitious project will be £56; thank you for donating your funded from this money. Please accept unwanted textiles to the school. Rob and Paul’s thanks to everyone who The main fundraiser for the term was supported them in realising their goal. the School Summer Fête and Fun Dog to Pete Welply and the rest of Finstock We ended the year with our usual Show, held as part of Finstock Festival. Community Projects for inviting us to Social evening, a highlight in our school We must give massive thanks to Beverley join them as part of the Finstock Festival calendar, which is not designed to raise Morley for organising the amazing dog weekend. money but more to say thank you to all show for us and special thanks to our Overall, we raised over £1,850 our wonderful staff, pupils and families. very own Lisa Williams who put lots of which was fantastic and a 50 percent Thank you to everyone who has time and effort into making our raffle increase on our typical profits from this helped us in any way this year to make such a huge success. Also, our thanks go event in recent years; a very lucrative this a successful year for FoFS. Rachel Mackenzie (on behalf of FoFS)

Finstock Festival & School Fête 2016 This year’s Festival was made so much This brings us on to Saturday night. more manageable thanks to the extra This was kick started with our resident help in all aspects of the event. It was Wood Green School Big Band who also better having the School Fête on yet again thrilled us with an array of the Saturday afternoon. This took a lot famous hits. They were followed by of pressure off the Finstock Community Vinyl Daze with their repertoire of rock Projects committee. I would like to covers. All in all it was a great night of thank everyone that helped to bring it entertainment. We have not finalised all together over the four days and nights the financial figures however we are it took to get this great village event pretty sure we will see a profit, which completed. is always good. The weather was a mixed bunch of Unfortunately we had the police the main marquees due to several heavy good and bad. As usual we had to do our attend on both nights for unrelated downpours. We also had to contend with siphoning and bailing of the gutters on incidents. They told me this could have very strong winds, one of which managed an effect on our licence for next year’s to blow a scout tent across the field into Festival so we will have to tread carefully the adjoining garden. Sadly that tent is in future. now in the bin, but the rest we managed On the same note, it was a shame to hold down with very large tent pegs the following morning to see that people and lots of lashings. had come into the main marquees with The Friday night was very well whole cases of cider and lager purchased supported and we managed to keep elsewhere leaving the piles of cans and the entrance free of charge with the bar bottles under the tables for us to clear up. profits paying for the two live musicians, Obviously the main income to cover the Swanny Lane and Alex Chapman, both considerable cost of running the Festival with their own take on popular covers. is from the bar. Without this source of Saturday afternoon was the School money the event would not happen. Fête with the Finstock Bake Off, the Dog However, it was another great festival A tree surgery company with Show, Showman Shane and a multitude which I hope you all enjoyed as much as the integrity you can trust. of side stalls to keep everyone happy, I did. Thanks again for all the people that including a bar for the dads! I am told Tel: 0845 458 2980 helped at the festival and most of all to this was very successful in comparison Mobile: 07976 261850 the folks that attended. Email: [email protected] to previous years so we hope this format Here’s to Finstock Festival 2017 www.townandcountrytrees.co.uk will continue next year. Colin Stringfellow Chairman 3 IN MEMORY OF JOHN WELLS Finstock Parish Council Having completed the Village Hall John and then recruited project, the Parish Council’s attention Barbara moved him as our in recent meetings has concentrated on to Finstock in Advertising ensuring that the rest of the infrastructure 1 9 9 8 a n d Manager, a of the village is as good as we can afford contributed position he it to be; you may have noticed that the to our village held until adventure playground and our public from the start. his death spaces on Well Hill are now looking They helped earlier this much tidier. PC meetings also review neighbours year. Barbara upcoming issues that will affect the in need and continues to Village. Our councillors at County and became active handle the District level regularly come along to in village distribution of brief us on issues as various as changes life through the Finstock to waste collection, trimming verges to Barbara joining the WI and John jumping News. ensure that road users have the visibility into the construction of our new Village We are going to miss John’s insightful they need to drive safely, the pros and Shop and Post Office. contributions, thoughtful comments and cons of the competing schemes being John had worked at Henry Cooper’s delightful sense of humour. discussed for unitary councils and the and Sons, a firm of quantity surveyors “People do not die for us immediately, future of the local bus services. Cuts to in Oxford until his retirement in 2001. but remain bathed in a sort of aura of life council services are going to present us John used his knowledge and expertise which bears no relation to true immortality with challenges and we are exploring to oversee the successful reconstruction but through which they continue to occupy our thoughts in the same way as when they opportunities to share services with other of The Crown Barn into the Three Villages were alive. It is as though they were travelling Parishes where we can. Shop in Finstock. The Finstock News abroad.” Marcel Proust Other topics come up from time to Roald Dahl (born Sept.13th 1916) time, particularly proposals for housing Roald Dahl has been referred to as Matilda, The Witches, Fantastic Mr Fox, development and home extensions. one of the greatest storytellers for children The BFG (coming soon in a new movie, A topical example is the proposal to of the 20th century. Dahl’s works for The Twits and George’s Marvellous build seven short term holiday lets in children include James and the Giant Medicine. the Forest by Finstock Heath. This Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, development is not in our Parish but the Parish Council nevertheless has the right THE EDITORIAL COMMITTEE to comment and to reflect well-founded Sean Connolly 868561 Member MARK BILLINGE local concerns. In this particular case CHIMNEY SWEEP Nicky Higgins 868425 Proofing Tony Hirtenstein 868600 Layout the PC has objected to the proposal, For a clean and efficient service Joy Murphy 868575 Editor reflecting our residents’ worries regarding [email protected] the safety of the proposed entrance and Tel.: 01367-243052 Ann Sullivan 868597 Advertising exit by way of the Charlbury-Witney road Barbara Wells 868776 Distribution (B4020), the fact that the site is in the local Photographs thanks to staff members and Area of Outstanding Beauty and also that Andrew A.Adams others. it may be sited on what remains of Grim’s Read the Finstock News online at www. Ditch, which is an ancient monument. FCCA finstock.org.uk; join the Finstock Yahoo The Parish Council meets at 7:30pm group – groups.yahoo.com/group/finstock; on the 4th Monday of the month (except Chartered Certified or write to us at 63 High Street, Finstock in August and December) in the comfort Oxon OX7 3DA. of the Village Hall; the meetings are open Accountant Plan ahead – Know the deadlines to the public and all are welcome to come Quality personal service for your Issue Deadline along and find out what is going on. Accounting, Taxation and Feb/Mar First of January Mike Woodfield Chairman April/May First of March Business needs June/July First of May The Oxfordshire Competitive fees agreed in August/September First of July Museum advance October/November First of September The Cotswold Art & Antiques Dealers Free initial meeting December/January First of November Exhibition September 21st-October 16th Please keep articles short. As space Park Street, Woodstock, OX20 1SN Telephone: 07790 854574 is limited, the Editors reserve the Tel: 814103 01993 891280 right to shorten long pieces in the www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/ interest of balance. Finstock News [email protected] does not necessarily share the views oxfordshiremuseum expressed in readers’ letters. It’s FREE! 4 SMALL ADS (All numbers start with 01993 unless otherwise stated) Hairdressing in your home Use the Village Hall for your next Kings Cleaning Services (Est. 40 Thirty-plus years’ experience event. years) Windows – gutters – UPVC Women, men or children – The whole Contact [email protected] or frames – fascia – Specialist equipment family. Reasonable rates. ring 868020. for conservatories, including roofs. Also Contact: Alison Pritchard, domestic house cleaning. Fully insured. Tel: 01608-810533 PJR - Gas Safe registered heating, Ring 882727 for a professional and Gas and plumbing engineer. Peter Smith & Son Funeral Directors reliable service. Installation, service and repairs. Ltd. Personal 24 hour service, Pre-paid Mobile: 07515 733398; Tel: 881069; Line ads are charged at 20p per funeral Plans, all types of memorial work. Email: [email protected] word, payment in advance. Tel 702000. Please contact: Ann www.petersmithandson.co.uk Sullivan on 868597.

Nineteenth-Century Rural Life in West Oxfordshire Firm Fizzique A short programme at Finstock Village places, work and social life, charity and Firm Fizzique is a mind and body Hall with Shaun Morley, DPhil (Oxon), self-help, religion and education, and the experience with Yoga and Pilates classes MSc, BSc (Hons) Thursday September interaction between all aspects of life will in Finstock on Thursday mornings 9.30- 29th to Thursday December 8th (no be examined, set against the backdrop 11am. Offering you the opportunity to meeting October 27th) from 10.45am to of the continuing agricultural revolution, strengthen your body and quieten the 12.45pm each week. developing empire and industrialisation. mind to gain overall fitness through a The nineteenth century was an But it will be the impact on the local variety of disciplines, including mind body important period of change in rural places and people that will be the focus. classes such as Yoga, Fuzion and Pilates England and this ten-week programme No prior knowledge will be assumed to cardio based exercise: Boxercise, explores change in key aspects of the although it is equally appropriate for those Cardiosculpt and Spinning. www. English village including social, political, who have knowledge of other aspects firmfizzique.co.uk and on Facebook. economic, cultural and religious life or periods of English Local History. Cost Dance Classes drawing upon local Wychwood records. will be £2 a week to cover hire of hall, We are proud to announce that With the interactive use of local refreshments and photocopying. Booking Witney based Deborah Manning School material from Finstock, Fawler, Stonesfield is essential from villagehallfinstock@ of Dance will be holding classes every and nearby villages, an understanding of gmail.com or 868134. A minimum Thursday in term-time commencing many key aspects or rural life will be of seven people needed to run the September 1st with the following classes: explored. Topics include examination programme, maximum twenty. of rural conflict, social provision through Jazz/Commercial - 4.15 to 4.45pm - Age No Spring, nor Summer Beauty Poor Laws and local initiatives, rural 5-7 Years 2066-BMad-Host5 60x93 ptrt A&J bw.qxp_Layout 1 05hath such grace, industry and custom. The people and Jazz/Commercial - 4.45 to 5.35pm - Age As I have seen in one Autumnal face. 8-12 Years John Donne We’ve got just Jazz/Commercial - 5.40 to 6.25pm - Age the thing to 13+ Years make you feel better. Body Conditioning - 6.30 to 7.15pm - Adults (Age 14+) FREE trial for the first week for new pupils that are not currently at the school. For more information contact conniemanning16@ yahoo.co.uk; Website www. deborahmanningschoolofdance.com Why not look after someone’s dog while they’re away? Crowd watching David Cameron Become a host with Barking Mad

It’s great fun, all of the benefits of dog ownership without the emotional or financial commitment. We carefully match dogs to your home. Jeannie & Amanda T: 01865 922004 M: 07985 766868 E: [email protected] BarkingMad.uk.com

5 COUNTRYSIDE CONSERVATION You see things as they are and ask, “Why?” I dream things as they never were and ask, “Why not?” George Bernard Shaw Act Global, Eat Local  Dreaming of the Loire A new local food directory for Oxfordshire priced £1 is now available. More than “I hate all those weathermen who tell 50 independent farmers, bakers and brewers from Oxfordshire are listed. Support you that rain is bad weather. There’s no Oxfordshire businesses; reduce your carbon footprint. goodfoodoxford.org such thing as bad weather, just the wrong Turning redundant pots into new useful products clothing.” Billy Connolly It’s estimated that we each own about 39 redundant plastic plant pots and over the Asked to name the wine most UK it is suggested there are over five million languishing in sheds and garages. Why? associated with Scotland, the first thing Because we all think that one day they might be useful; and also up until now, plastic that comes to mind is Buckfast Tonic flower pots have been notoriously hard to recycle with most council collections and Wine, a low cost, 15 per cent proof drink municipal centres not accepting them. Now your 39 pots can make a house sign or made by well-meaning monks in deepest eight bird feeders or even 39 plant labels! Please help us turn your old redundant plant Devon. This concoction is known in pots into new, useful home and garden products. www.pottoproduct.co.uk Scotland as ‘commotion lotion’ and has Waterperry Gardens achieved cult status with a certain breed www.waterperrygardens.co.uk of football supporter. Stately home’s ornamental gardens, with nurseries, orchards, a plant sales centre But could Scotland soon produce its and a tearoom. Waterperry OX33 1JZ; Tel: 01844-339226. A green bin in the parking own wine? Spurred on by the remarkable lot will take your plastic plant pots and turn them into new products as part of the success of sparkling wine in the South of Potstoproducts organisation. England, there is now an actual vineyard Waste and recycling service changes in Upper Largo on the south coast of Fife From October next year (2017) West Oxfordshire residents will be able to put the overlooking the Firth of Forth. The vines majority of recycling items that are currently placed in black boxes, all together into a were planted by Christopher Trotter, a wheelie bin. Glass will still need to be placed in a black box as it has to be collected former chef at London’s Savoy Hotel. separately. A new kerbside collection for small electrical items will be introduced He was acting on the advice of a farming when the new service starts. Recycling collections will become fortnightly and will friend, who had confidently predicted alternate with the general household rubbish collection. Food waste will continue that, due to climate change, within 20 to be collected weekly. The garden waste collection will be an optional service for years Fife would have the climate of the residents, but from April 2017 there will be a small annual charge of £30 for each Loire Valley. This area has some of the garden waste wheeled bin. highest sunshine levels in the United Kingdom. Polli:Nation survey Pollinating insects, such as bees and butterflies, are in decline across the UK. To But one would have to be a serious help reverse this trend OPAL has created a survey to enable everyone to survey their optimist to try to make wine in one of outdoor space using the new survey; make improvements for pollinators to their outdoor the wettest parts of Europe, and the space; re-survey their outdoor space to see the impacts the improvements have had. first harvest of Chateau Largo in 2014 www.opalexplorenature.org/node/4611 (OPAL Web Editor, Wild Oxfordshire) was described by the professionals as ‘undrinkable.’ “We made a few mistakes,” explains Mr Trotter. This was something of an understatement. The harvest produced just ten bottles. Worse was to come. The 2015 harvest Hotel was washed out completely because We’ve made a few changes, come and see. Always open. there was simply too much rain. The Brasserie Dreamers are always ahead of their We poached the head chef from The Randolph in Oxford, come and try his food. Open from 7.00pm – 9.30pm time and Mr Trotter will have to wait. My suggestion would be to fly the 607 The Gun Room Bar miles from Edinburgh to Nantes and We transformed ours into a relaxing bar for everyone, come for light meals and snacks. Open from 12.00pm - 9.30pm wait there: much better weather, and Leisure Club excellent wines. Swimming pool, gym and fitness classes. Osiris Join ‘The Club’ not a Gym. Open daily

To enjoy – to love a thing for its own sake www.eynshamhall.com | [email protected] 01993 885200 and for no other reason. North Leigh, Witney, Oxfordshire OX29 6PN Leonardo da Vinci

6 COUNTY COUNCILLOR REPORT Finstock Baby and Toddler Group Updates As Deputy Leader, one of my “jobs” is the talks I had with Andrew Pulham back Lots of fun has been had by all at to work with the Leader, Ian Hudspeth, in early May, and I am very glad we are our Baby and Toddler Group over the on all issues relating to the running keeping most of the X9 timetable. We are summer term! We’ve enjoyed meeting of the County Council. The two big also looking at putting a million pounds new faces and are thankful to all regular issues at present are the impacts of the back into local works, which I am hoping attendees who make the group such Unitary debate on the one hand, and may help the Villager Bus Company in the a great way to spend a Wednesday repercussions from the Brexit vote on smaller villages in our area. morning. the other. For those of you who work in and Over the summer term we’ve had all On the Unitary debate, the Grant around Oxford, the Oxford Flood the usual things on offer: snacks, activities Thornton Study comparing all Unitary Alleviation scheme is working towards full and not to mention plenty of toys for options including the status quo, are design works, which is the £120M scheme the little ones plus hot drinks, cake and virtually complete. The Referendum vote that will keep roads and rail open. Travel chat for the adults. Each week there may well have an impact on the decision should be a lot easier in times of flooding, is something crafty for the kids to get as the Treasury may go for the most cost- and to also ease travel, works on the involved in and we’ve been decorating effective option, an option that would Wolvercote and Cutteslowe roundabouts cakes, painting flowers with celery and generate a lot of cash if replicated over should be complete by October 14th, six making an “Under The Sea” themed the whole of England. This option would weeks ahead of schedule. poster for the Toddler noticeboard. Big be the single Unitary for the County. A Councillor Rodney Rose thanks to Tammy Judd who has put in downside of the vote may stop the whole many extra hours sorting and cleaning up process should Whitehall and the civil our toys from storage, sourcing new ones service get so involved in EU negotiations Make a home for wildlife and going early every week to set up and that it has no capacity left to consider From bees to birds, bats to butterflies, make the hall so inviting for everyone: other matters, such as local government nature needs our help. The little things you’re a star Tammy! reorganisation. that you do can have a big impact. See The end of the summer term will be More locally, I was very pleased with how you can help: www.rspb.org.uk finished with one of our infamous parties, this time with an Olympic theme as we Stately Car Boot Sale look forward to cheering on our athletes The Stately Car Boot Sale takes place in the stunning grounds of Cornbury Park on in August. Toddler group normally runs Sunday September 11th. Gates open at 8:30am until 12:30pm. Buyers and sellers in term time only; but during August we come from all over the Cotswolds to sell their unwanted items and to find some plan to go on a few outings (weather hidden treasure. As well as bargains, they can enjoy tea tents, pizza vans, ice creams, permitting) or alternatively we will meet bands and (we hope!) some sunny weather. All money goes to ROSY (Respite Care up in the Hall for those interested. Older for Oxfordshire’s Sick Youngsters.) ROSY is an organisation which directly pays siblings are more than welcome and we the salaries of nurses who care for children with life-limiting, chronic and terminal will try to put on something for everyone. conditions in their own homes. It operates under the umbrella of the Oxfordshire Keep up to date on what we will be Primary Care Trust Charity that is dedicated to the provision of additional respite doing with our emails or on Facebook. If care to Oxfordshire’s Sick Youngsters. you are not on our list send us your details and we can add you. Finstock For further details contact Helen Fallows via email: finstocktoddlergroup@ cattery gmail.com or find us on Facebook. We Proprietors Julie & John Stoney look forward to seeing you there! *LUXURY BOARDING “We trained hard... but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form up *SPACIOUS HEATED PENS into teams we would be reorganized. I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet *PERSONAL CARE any new situation by reorganizing; and a wonderful method it can be for creating the *INSPECTION INVITED illusion of progress while producing confusion, inefficiency, and demoralization.”

8 Wards Lane, Finstock, Oxon OX7 3BP ChOC Films www.chocfilms.org Tel: 01993 868413 Sunday August 14th: Brooklyn A period drama, romantic story and great [email protected] performance by Saoirse Ronan. 7 VILLAGE SHOP AND POST OFFICE Finstock Table Tennis Club Come into your Village Shop for On July 28th a set of beautiful Beatrix everything from ice cream to newspapers, Potter stamps showing all her delightful tinned soup to fresh new-laid eggs, characters was issued to celebrate 150 toothpaste to delicious locally baked years since her birth. These will sell very cakes! Much of what we offer is locally quickly so please buy yours soon. produced, including bread, jams and On August 16th a set will be issued on honey, chutneys, Landscape Gardens mus t ards, ham, Shop opening hours:– to coincide with the We have recently purchased a third bacon and sausages, Weekdays 8-5.30 300th anniversary of new table to meet demand as we have and Hook Norton Saturdays 8.30-1 Lancelot ‘Capability’ had some very busy evenings, which is beer. Closed on Sundays Brown’s birth; on superb. We have an additional table on temporary loan from Julian, which brings You will find Shop Telephone Number – September 2nd a our table count to four! a wide range of Orders Taken: 869096 set to remember the newspapers and 350th anniversary We are lucky to have booked a magazines (which can be specifically of the Great Fire of London; and on qualified coach (not only UKCC qualified ordered or reserved), reasonably priced September 15th there will be a set to but also twice junior champion and has wines, vegetables and frozen food. commemorate the 40th anniversary of represented Southern England) who has Yogurts, cheeses, filled rolls and snacks the death of Agatha Christie. coached our Juniors and Seniors for one are in the chiller. As well as posting letters and parcels, in session. This was very useful and I think We are a dropping-off point for the Post Office you can pay the majority we will all benefit hugely from further contributions to the local food bank of your utility bills, withdraw cash from coaching sessions, which we hope to and people are continuing to be very your bank account and buy foreign continue when possible. generous. currency. The Senior session is proving very popular; we have players from Witney, Once again we would like to appeal Post Office open Monday Ramsden, Leafield, East End and Finstock. to anyone who can spare a couple of to Friday 9am-1pm. hours on a Saturday to help in the Shop. The grading system has evolved into a Please have a word with Karen in the Karen Williams and the Volunteers league now, which is great news. Shop or whenever you see her around We are still welcoming new members Finstock Village Music the village. Training will be given and we for Juniors and Seniors so if you have at the Bower can promise you will enjoy your time not yet come along and fancy having a here. It is important to keep this Shop go or have any questions, please either and Post Office in operation, and it does turn up on a Tuesday or contact me take person power! ([email protected]). Venue: Finstock Village Hall The Post Office has a range of special 6.30pm-8pm: Juniors meeting every and commemorative stamps. Tuesday during term-time. 8pm-10pm: Seniors meeting every Tuesday during term time and school holidays unless notified otherwise. NICOLA MORGAN DC MMCA Registered Chiropractor – McTimoney Technique Shaun Guard Kimber Cottage, Holly Tree Cottages, Woodstock Rd, Earls Lane, Charlbury OX7 3ET Deddington OX15 0TQ TV AERIAL Tel: 07968-381335 I have almost 30 years’ experience in this SERVICES gentle, effective manipulative therapy, which Poor Reception Solved is suitable for many conditions and ages. I Aerials repaired & supplied offer very flexible appointment times in two TVs - Hung on your wall for you Also supplied & tuned locations. Extra TV Points See www.chippingnortonchiropractor.co.uk For aerial and Sky (In HD!) Provider for BUPA, PPP, WPA and all major Sky TV - Also Foreign Language TV health insurance companies Member of the General Council & Register for Call Witney Chiropractors and the McTimoney Chiropractic 01993 608118 Association. A part of

8 What a joy it is to see a bit of sunshine FINSTOCK SCHOOL Another busy year at Finstock School at last! During the Summer Term we comes to an end! We finished our year have a lot of outdoor events and it is with a production of Mary Poppins, always easier when the sun is out. a whole school picnic, the Leavers’ This Summer is a very sporty Assembly and Prize Giving, a Leavers’ one with first the European Football Trip and our Moving On church service. Championship and then the Olympics. My thanks to the staff, parents and At Finstock, we too have been having members of the community for their a somewhat sporting theme. At the fantastic support this year. Good Luck beginning of this term we had an to our Year 6 children who are moving Olympic Week, where children learnt on, and a restful summer to all. about the origins of the Olympics, had to trust a guide to lead them). The Sue Dawe the sports that are included and also all children really enjoyed these activities, about Brazil. Alongside lessons in their which gave them a perfect opportunity Early Years Unit classrooms, they also learnt a lot of new to practice the Olympic and Paralympic It has been a wonderful school term in sporting skills based around gymnastics, Values of friendship, respect, excellence, Finstock School’s Foundation Stage Unit athletics and paralympic sports (including determination, inspiration, courage and Royal oak ads F_Layout 1 29/10/2015 17:29 Page 1 (Cherry Class). Alongside participating blindfolded obstacle races where they equality; there really were some great in the whole school sports day and also examples of these demonstrated by our ‘Olympic Week’ activities, we have been children. learning about The World as our most This was followed up by our school recent topic. This has involved looking at Sports Day (only postponed the once a different country each week, finding it because of rain). The event started with on the world map and discovering facts WE’RE BACK IN BUSINESSthe children performing an ‘Opening about that country’s culture, language Ceremony’ to a song called ‘Proud’, OPENING and food. We even got a little taste of a YA where they paraded with flags from the A tradition O L HOURS different cuisine each Friday! Our learning R O countries competing in the Olympics, of warm Mon - Fri about the world has been extended E A and mimed different sports. The children

FIREWOOD 11.30-3.00pm through our Travel Agents role play area,

hospitality K H then competed in houses – Windrush,

since the 6.30-11.00pm which prompted many discussions about T Evenlode and Thames; first doing Sat 11.30-11pm where countries are in relation to the 17th century throwing and jumping events, then Quality Seasoned Hardwood Logs Sun 12.00-10.30pm UK and which transport we would use 1 Cubic MetreRAMSDEN £75 races. Well done to Thames who were to get to various places! Mrs Daniel was 2 Cubic Metres £130 Tel: 01993 868864 / 868213the overall winners. Again there were delighted with her trip to Disneyworld 4 Cubic Metres £240 [email protected] • www.royaloakramsden.commany examples of children showing the that she booked in Cherry Class Travel Softwood also available Olympic values. My thanks to the parents Kindling & Stacking Service A Agents for £12! Tel: 01993 868001 who nominated children. Order Online: www.jagtimber.co.uk During this busy term, Cherry Class also attended Forest School for the first First Responders time. They loved exploring the Forest by Whether we are in the EU or out searching for bugs, gaining confidence to has limited impact on the support the use the rope swing independently and WE’RE BACK Community Responders offer. Here making their own pretend campfires! to support the local community are a Another exciting event was our trip to IN BUSINESS volunteer team that help reach as soon The Oxfordshire Museum in Woodstock A tradition of warm hospitality as possible those unfortunately in need to take part in a Dinosaur workshop, since the 17th century. of the ambulance service. We aim to which followed on from our Dinosaur provide support whilst the Ambulance is topic earlier this year. This was a fantastic OYAL en route and use our local knowledge to day, led by an expert team at the R O get to you as soon as possible. We remain museum who used drama to show us

E A an additional resource; you will still how fossils were created out of dinosaur

K footprints. We also loved exploring the H receive the nearest available ambulance. T However as the chance of surviving a dinosaur discovery room and meeting cardiac arrest decreaseB 14 percent per the Megalosaur in the dinosaur garden! RAMSDEN minute before defibrillation occurs, every What a busy time we have had! We Mon - Fri: 11.30-3.00pm, 6.30-11.00pm minute counts. The local presence and wish our Reception children all the Sat: 11.30-11pm Sun: 12.00-10.30pm those few minutes can make a difference. best for beginning Year 1 next year and If you would like any more information we look forward to welcoming new Tel: 01993 868213 with regard Community Responding visit members of Cherry Class in September. [email protected] www.southcentralambulance.nhs.uk. Happy Summer holidays! www.royaloakramsden.com Sara Cooper Mrs.Daniel 9 Get Involved in the NHS FINSTOCK GIRLGUIDING The Oxfordshire Primary Care All sections meet on Wednesdays. Guides: for girls aged between 10 and Commissioning Committee wants to Rainbows: for girls aged between 5 and 7; 14 years; meets from 7pm until 8.30pm. make it simple for patients, their families meets from 4.45pm until 5.45pm. This term they have enjoyed many and carers to give feedback and to Contact: Amy Booth 07495-064634, challenges which come with being a suggest ideas for change. There are [email protected] new group. Also - Go for Its, climbing several ways in which you can get and abseiling, swimming, fire lighting and involved and you can find out how here: Brownies: for girls aged between 7 and 10; outdoor cooking, knots, team building www.oxfordshireccg.nhs.uk/get-involved, meets from 6pm until 7.30pm. skills, compass work and much more or ring 01865-520520. This term we have covered the Designer including camping, which will hopefully OCCG’s Talking badge; many challenges: swimming, continue into next term. climbing and abseiling, bike night, out and Health website In July, three Guides and Caroline about walk, cooking; and we tried out the (Brown Owl) attended an event called The This site lets people take part in table tennis and short mat bowls facilities Big Gig at Wembley. This is a pop concert local consultations, surveys and public in the Hall. solely for Girlguiding members only, which events to find ways to improve local Next term we will be looking forward is fun but VERY noisy. health services. They can also feed back to holding our first sleepover in the Hall, Eight guides plus Eagle Owl (Kim) their ideas and thoughts on services, which will be great as many of our girls attended their first ever Guide Challenge helping OCCG to deliver better quality haven’t been on a pack holiday with us event and camping at Beanwood and Hill healthcare. consult.oxfordshireccg.nhs. yet. It will be good to start off locally with End, which was a County Event. They uk/consult.ti/system/register. them. Next term we are hoping to have learnt many new skills and some new many new adventures. songs which they have enjoyed teaching New Smart Phone APP to Contact: Caroline Booth 07890- the other girls. The weather was very wet help you find Health Services 629001, [email protected]. but in true Guiding style they enjoyed OCCG has launched a new phone app themselves regardless! to signpost you to the best places to get All of the above groups attended our help if you are injured or unwell. Health Hubble Space Telescope Division Challenge Day at Blenheim on and Care Oxfordshire provides advice on The Hubble Space Telescope is a July 17th. when it might be best to visit a pharmacist collaboration between ESA and NASA. Our Girl Guides made their debut or a GP; when to call NHS 111; and It’s a long-term, space-based observatory. appearance representing the Finstock units when self-management at home might be The observations are carried out in at Ramsden Church in June. We were more appropriate. It highlights the type visible, infrared and ultraviolet light. In kindly asked to go along and help out with of injuries or illnesses most appropriate many ways Hubble has revolutionized the service to commemorate the Queen’s to be seen at minor injuries units or first modern astronomy, by not only being an 90th birthday. It was a great service and aid units in Oxfordshire. Download efficient tool for making new discoveries, the girls did a wonderful job. from the usual app stores (search for but also by driving astronomical research Contact for Guides is Kim Lovelock 07792- health and care in Oxfordshire) or go to in general. 907252, [email protected]. www.oxfordshireccg.nhs.uk/your-health/ www.spacetelescope.org/about choose-well.

West Oxon PELLMANS Your Local Solicitors Handyman & Home • Business and Employment Law Contracts, Legal Compliance and Improvement Services Disputes • Property Electrical / Plumbing / Flooring / Buying and Selling Homes, City & Guilds Qualiied Groomer Decorating / Tiling / Woodwork ts. Commercial and Agricultural Services include: A member of Flat pack furniture / Bathroom & Collection & drop-off facility • Wills, Probate and Trusts Hydrotherapy bathing Tax Planning and Lasting Powers kitchen installation Full groom & styling of Attorney Removal of knots & tangles Hand stripping Quality finish Fully insured GroomingG for show on selected breeds Nail trimming No job too small All jobs considered 01865 884400 Tel: 01993 868118 Mobile: 0796 8733412 www.pellmans.co.uk For a free quote call 01993- Email: [email protected] Website: www.wychwoodgrooming.co.uk. 868725 or 07717-878323 1 Abbey Street, Eynsham, Witney, Open Monday - Saturday by Wendy Heather OX29 4TB apointment only. Rock Glen, The Bungalow Email [email protected] Please contact us to book Leaaeld Road, Finstock Home visits and evening appointments an appointment. Oxfordshire, OX7 3DB available 10 FINSTOCK ALE The Finstock Ale returns for a fourth our wonderful Millennium Playground. year. It is sponsored by Howse & O’Reilly, Entry to the music is FREE, and it starts at electricians, and Johns Cars of Oxford. 1pm with a great line up of acts through We have a great line-up of beers, ciders, to the close at midnight. The music stage music and comedy for a perfect evening! is sponsored by Oxlets Ltd. Friday September 9th sees the launch 1pm Joely Rendle; 1.30pm Zhana and Jae; of the festival with Flock Comedy Night 2.30pm Ags Connolly; 3pm Blackthorn; from 7.30pm, sponsored by Finstock 4pm The Wirebirds; 5pm Charlbury and business Sonnox Ltd. The comedy night Finstock Morris; 5.30pm Jamo Morgan; Finstock Craft Club presents three stand-up comedians with 6.40pm Black Max and the Pirates; Please note the following a compère; comedy suitable for all. Entry 7.50pm Drivin’ Sideways; 9pm Damn changes to meeting dates £10 in advance or £12 on the night, which Good Reason; 10.10pm Roughcut Ruby We will now meet on two evenings per also gives exclusive early access to the Overnight camping available on month at the Village Hall: 2nd Monday festival beers and ciders. Friday and Saturday but prior permission of every month from 7:30 to 9:30pm The beer festival opens at midday needed. Ample parking. Location: (New Date) on Saturday September 10th with over Finstock Playing Field, off Church Rise, 4th Wednesday of every month from twenty beers and six ciders including Finstock, Oxfordshire, OX7 3DH. local brews from Bellingers, Donnington, 7:30 to 10pm (Existing Date) All proceeds go to Finstock Village Chadlington and Adkins, and a great NB There will be no morning session. Hall, registered charity 279171. Email: selection of beers celebrating the north Dates for the next meetings: Monday [email protected]; Facebook: and Wales, which is our theme for this August 8th; Wednesday August 24th; www.facebook.com/TheFinstockAle. year. Entry just £5 includes festival glass, Monday September 12th; Wednesday Tel: 868020 Tickets for comedy online free pint and tasting notes. Families September 28th. at www.wegottickets.com or via email welcome with FREE bouncy castle and Please come to the evening club or telephone. sessions. You can be assured of meeting Folk Music at the Village Hall like-minded crafters, some of whom Sunday September 18th 7.45pm. A pop-up Saturday October 22nd 8pm. Evenlode come along to learn a craft they’ve been folk event with Xogara, an energetic acoustic Folk presents Oxfordshire folk legend John ‘longing to have a go at for as long as Anglo-Welsh-Galician folk band based in Spiers, well known lead for the massively they can remember’. Others are looking Oxford, supported by members of the Delly popular Bellowhead. This will be a SELL- for new ideas and techniques to add to Welly Boot Band. £8 on the door. OUT so get your tickets early at £10 in their current skills. We can help in a comfortable and friendly environment Friday September 30th 8pm. Evenlode Folk advance. over a chat and a cup of tea at our lovely presents The Oxford Fiddle Group, a large Tickets from www.wegottickets.com, or new Village Hall. group of musicians performing largely songs [email protected], tel: 868020 We have a sewing machine available from England and Scotland, including tunes or on the door. from Oxfordshire. Their performances are for projects such as sewing, dressmaking, always tight and fun, yet always played with or quilting... passion. £5 You might also want to start thinking about Christmas. We all tend to put off Decorator & Tradesman Crockford Builders many of the tasks relating to this, so why not come along and start making your 35 School Rd, Finstock, - House & Home Services own cards, gifts and decorations for the Oxon OX7 3DN festive season. Of course you can come Painting and Decorating. EST 1973 to the club and start this any time but Maintenance and Repairs. New builds, Extensions, from September we will be dedicating Help around the home. Renovations, much of the time at the club to this and Dry or mortar stone walling, teaching beginners some of the methods Reliable Local Tradesman. and techniques required to make those Groundwork, Hard landscaping, much treasured, home-made, gifts and Natural stone slate specialists, cards. Richard Buck, Elbie House, Re-roofing, On Wednesdays, we continue to work with the Guides, who have already East End, North General Maintenance. enthusiastically learned some interesting Leigh, OX29 6PX All building work undertaken card making techniques and produced Domestic & Commercial lovely Dreamcatchers for the recent Tel: 880166; Mob - Call William on Finstock music event. 07791 046583 01993 868617 OR 07817248329 Rosa Charlesworth [email protected] 11 SPARKLE AND MOVEMENT IN THE GARDEN The music of bubbling streams, with waterfalls plunging into crystal clear pools, brings accompanied by the brightly coloured a magical focus to a garden, increasing the range of plants grown and the arrival of red, pink yellow and white flowers of the interesting wildlife: birds enjoying a bath, and preening their feathers; damselflies and waterlilies with their lily pads as in the dragonflies in hues of electric blues, greens and book Jeremy Fisher by Beatrice Potter, reds dart about hunting small flies or pairing to lay which charms children and adults alike. their eggs on plants in the pond, which will take There are water features to suit every over as a nursery for their young. The croaks of garden. If parents are worried about the toads and frogs herald their arrival in spring to danger to their children, a pebble pond mate and spawn; these are good helpers with water bubbling out of a in the control of slugs from attacking stone, large terrace pot ponds the purple and white flowering Hostas or wall fountains all work well. which thrive on the banks of the Water gardens are important stream. The yellow water buttercups, frothy red and pink flowering Astilbes for Chinese traditions and and the red, orange and pink flowers of Asiatic primula are a delight. The folklore. An emerging statuesque forms of Iris ensata, with blue and white flowers, make good spout of water, the birth; the marginal plants; they are revered in Japan where they have been cultivated cascade and fast moving water for over 500 years. The sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis produces its yellow- symbolizes when we are young green fronds with pink edges, and the later red black stems with a club of and active; the slowing of the black beads giving its other name, the bead fern. stream middle age. The bridge I have also found insectivorous plants do extremely well, many of which is the barrier separating the can survive minus 20 degrees in winter, such as the cobra Lily Darlingtonia californica, slow moving flow where a stone turtle with its serpent-like heads, and the Sarracenia which have impressive large yellow, trying to swim back represents us trying orange or red flowers appearing first followed by their large pitchers consuming large in vain to return to our younger years; and numbers of midges. the water ends in a still reflective pond. In the pond are the white spires of the water hawthorn, Aponogeton distachyos, Enjoy pond dipping, Robert

District Councillors This article is dedicated to one of the unequivocally. We will not allow xenophobic and criminal behaviour. residents who wrote to me since the hate to become acceptable. We will I want to thank you all for voting in the Referendum, but I wanted to share it as work to ensure that local bodies and Referendum and trust by working together I hope, and expect, with division in the programmes have the support and whatever our differences we can work and country this is something we can all agree resources they need to fight and prevent live together for the common good. The on:– racism and xenophobia. We reassure all Finstock Village Hall is testimony to that, as are the women of Finstock who I met “We are proud to live in a diverse and people living in this area that they are recently to establish youth drama in the tolerant society. Racism, xenophobia valued members of our community.” village. Watch out for more local news on and hate crimes have no place in I would also like you to publicly condemn that! Cllr Andy Graham our country. Our council condemns any such attacks and make it clear what racism, xenophobia and hate crimes steps the council will take to tackle this racist,

Now that the EU referendum is over, I am settling down to “business as usual”. HILLTOP GARDEN STORE I am working with a group of people in Chipping Norton to review the cuts to bus SOFT PLAY BARN PLANTS services across the district. We hope to Play for up to two Extensive plant range, gardening hours from just £2.50 products and inspirational home form a co-operative to keep buses running per child* and gift ideas. é serves in some of the smaller villages that are about Our Pizza Caf homemade, cooked to to lose their services. Fortunately, the X9 is order pizzas, snacks and GARDEN FURNITURE drinks - hot, cold and shaken! Make the most of your garden with our one of the services that will continue as it is *For Seasons Reward Card members. Join for FREE in-store. fantastic range of garden furniture and BBQ’s. very well used, but it will run to a reduced SHOP schedule. We will be putting out a leaflet Restaurant that gives everyone the new bus timetable, ONLINE 24/7 Relax in our restaurant famous with locals for tasty breakfasts, as the new schedule will be a lot less easy gardenstoreonline.co.uk lunches and home baking. to remember than the old one. I hope that the many people that use the service will (On the B4022, between Charlbury and Witney) YOU’LL Witney Road, Ramsden, Oxon. OX7 3AS Hilltop FIND US continue to do so, as if numbers of users ON THE WITNEY Tel: 01993 868403 ROAD BETWEEN drop it may not be viable in future. So “use Open 9am-5.30pm Mon-Sat 10.30am-4.30pm Sun CHARLBURY & WITNEY. it or lose it” is our slogan, and I will be doing Please note, the restaurant and pizza café will close half an hour before the garden centre. all I can to make sure that this vital service is retained. Liz Leffman 12