TheThe AscottAscott GrapevineGrapevine

Issue 46 April 2005 Grapevine Appeal Services at Holy Trinity The Ascott Grapevine is Church provided FREE to every household in Ascott 1st Sunday 4th Sunday and we wish this to con- of the month of the month tinue for a long time to 11.00am FC 11.00am HC C come. Although ‘The Grape- 2nd Sunday vine’ does receive sup- of the month port from the Parish 8.00am HC P Council and the PCC, it only raises a limited 3rd Sunday amount of revenue from of the month advertising. ‘The Ascott 11.00am HC C Grapevine’ survives mainly on donations. If you would like to help The Grapevine continue, What’s what any donation large or EP = Evening Prayer/ BS = Benefice Service small would be appreci- Service Bapt = Holy Baptism ated. You can give a do- FC = Family Commun- C = Contemporary Lan- nation to any member of ion guage the editorial team. HC = Holy Communion P = Book of Common If there is an aspect of MP = Morning Prayer/ Prayer village life not already Service covered in the Grape- QP = Time of Quiet vine please contact a Prayer member of the produc- tion team to discuss Content & Editorial Policy your ideas. Articles for the July issue of The If you have an article, story or poem you would Grapevine should be like to submit for publication the Grapevine edi- submitted by July 3rd. torial team would love to hear from you. Mate- Call 01993 832163 rial for publication is gratefully accepted. Due to or email: space considerations material may not be used [email protected] immediately but may be held over to be included Stuart Fox, Kingsley, in a later issue. Wendy Pearse, The Grapevine editorial team reserve the right Karen Purvis to shorten, amend or reject any material submit- ted for publication.

The Ascott Grapevine - Page 2 Don’t forget about the Ascott website: Births Deaths

On 14th September January 2005, Iris On 8th February 2005, 2004 to Fiona and Sean Rosamund Salmons, Iris Lavinia Hanks, aged Foy, a son, Charlie aged 87 years. 84 years. James. On 15th January 2005, On 8th March 2005, On 24th February 2005 Malcolm Morris, aged Evelyn Storey, aged 96 to Crista and David 56 years. years. Sanderson, a son, James Alexander. On 18th January 2005, Roy Leslie Pratley, aged 69 years. In Sympathy Our thoughts are with Pete & Judy Moss whose only son was tragically killed in a car crash on 9 April just outside Shipton-under-Wychwood.

Darren was born and brought up in Ascott and lived in Shipton. He leaves a wife and two young boys aged 6 & 1.

Roy Leslie Pratley 1936-2005 Roy Pratley was born on Aldershot. He returned dener, growing his own the 16th January 1936 in to work with his father. vegetables, Roy had a Willesden, London to Later he joined Bill kidney transplant in Albert and Ivy Pratley. Dore the builder in 1992 but in the last few Albert came from Shipton before becom- years he suffered from ill Leafield so in 1940 ing self-employed. In health. He died on the when London was being 1970 he married 18th January 2005 in the bombed, the family Brenda Bennett from Churchill Hospital, Ox- came to live in Ascott- Minster Lovell. Roy’s ford and leaves his wife under-Wychwood. Roy greatest passion was Brenda and two sons. went to Ascott C of E sport especially cricket. At his funeral in Holy School followed by In his younger days, he Trinity Church, Shipton School which played cricket for Ascott £561.60 was collected he left when he was 15 and darts for the local towards the Renal years old and joined his team. Ever since child- Unit, Churchill Hospi- father as a plasterer. At hood he supported tal. 18 he did his National Preston football team. Brenda Pratley and Service in the army at Also, he was a keen gar- Doreen Smith www.ascott-under-wychwood.org.uk Page 3 - Issue 46 John Charles Niebuhr 1944 - 2004 John was born in years and left Woodstock, Oxford- three daugh- shire and lived his early ters, one from life in Shipton, an earlier Lyneham and Ascott- marriage. under-Wychwood with Through his his younger brother and middle sister. He moved to daughter Chipping Norton in the Amy, he was early seventies though introduced planned to return to nine years ago live in the Wychwoods. to horse rid- In his youth he devel- ing which be- oped a passion for mo- came his torbikes which stayed hobby after with him throughout first riding at the age of his life. 53. Many weekends nosis and kept going On leaving school he were spent at horse (and riding) for many worked at the Till yard shows and John liked months longer than ex- at Shipton before mov- nothing better than rid- pected. However he ing to the co-op bakery. ing out across the coun- eventually succumbed In 1974 he began work tryside. Even during his on 29th November as a bus driver on Chip- illness he was keen to 2004, peacefully at ping Norton-Oxford saddle up and enjoy the home with his family as routes and worked for freedom of galloping he had wished. the bus company for across an open field. We miss John des- thirty years. He was John was a kind, gen- perately and there is a popular with passengers tle and quiet man who big hole in our lives. The for his ready smile, was devoted to his fam- affection and esteem cheerfulness and his ily. He had many friends that many friends and willingness to hang on still living in the associates felt for him if they hadn’t quite Wychwoods and was has been apparent in the made it to the stop. He recognised for his cheer- many genuine expres- was greatly missed by ful, smiling face by sions of sadness at his passengers and col- many local people. He loss that family have re- leagues when he had to faced his illness with ceived. We would like stop work. typical calm, courage to acknowledge these John was married to and determination. He and express thanks for Helen for Twenty-one defied the original prog- the many cards, good

The Ascott Grapevine - Page 4 Don’t forget about the Ascott website: wishes and for the chari- Wychwood churchyard life and our thanks for table donations re- where his mother knowing and loving ceived. Kathleen, and his father him. John’s final wish was Willie are. His funeral Annalise Niebuhr to be laid to rest in was a personal tribute Ascott-under- and celebration of his

Malcolm Morris 1948-2005 Malcolm was born in Eventually he worked in interest was motor rac- Oxford on the 16th Sep- the car factory in ing. We went to several tember 1948, the son of Cowley, then known as races at Silverstone and Leonard and Anne Mor- the Pressed Steel Fac- loved watching it on the ris. They also had two tory. television. We travelled other children, Brian He married Iris and quite a lot. Our favour- and Evelyn. The family had a son Vincent but ite holiday was to Dis- moved to Dorchester- the marriage ended in ney World in Florida. It on-Thames when divorce. Malcolm loved had been a dream of Malcolm was very music so with a friend, ours to go there. young and he attended they started their own Malcolm became ill and Dorchester Primary mobile disco which was was diagnosed with dia- School. very successful. They betes as well as other When Malcolm was played at clubs, wed- complaints. He passed 12 years old, his Father dings, colleges and par- away peacefully on the was knocked off his bike ties. I met Malcolm at a 15th January 2005 in the by a car whilst cycling dance in 1987 at Mor- Horton Hospital, home from work and ris’ Club in Cowley and Banbury. My thanks to died, so the family we have stayed together all the staff who looked moved back to Oxford. for 17 years. His other after him. Jackie Pegrum Iris Lavinia Hanks 1920-2005 Iris was born on the 29th Charlbury Glove Fac- dren. Her war effort was October 1920 in tory until the war and working at Pressed Steel Shipton-under- thought nothing of the making tanks. She had Wychwood, the daugh- journey by bike every- a great passion for sport ter of Nelson and day. During the war, and could tell you any- Lavinia Golder. She through her love of thing about it. Also, she moved to Ascott-under- dancing, she met and was active in the village Wychwood as a young married David Hanks helping with the cricket girl. Iris worked in and they had six chil- and football teams. As www.ascott-under-wychwood.org.uk Page 5 - Issue 46 her children grew up and neighbours. Her remember her with they took up most of family will remember great affection. her time, but she always her for always being fair Sheila Cole (daughter) had a word for friends but strict and they will Iris Salmons 1916 - 2005 Iris and Bill, her husband ing, particularly “over- turn, but her failing who died in 1997, the-sticks” and the Chel- health meant that this moved to Ascott many tenham Gold Cup was was not to be. years ago. I first met Iris her favourite meeting. I will remember Iris when we became neigh- Iris’s profession was with much affection as bours in 1994 and she as a fashion designer, a friend and neighbour was amongst the first to specialising in knitwear, and for the many stories greet us as we moved in, which was being manu- she told of her past. offering help if we factured for Marks and Also, I will remember needed it. We soon be- Spencer. She readily her dressed in water- came friends. told stories of trips to proofs and wellingtons Iris had a great love of Paris, seeking inspira- feeding the pony, in all the countryside and her tion for new designs. weathers. I will also re- animals. She kept a pony Sadly, when Bill died member the smartly called Copper, chickens in 1997 Iris found it dif- groomed and immacu- and Thistle, a cairn ter- ficult to cope on her lately dressed lady who rier. In the past she and own and after spending walked into the village Bill had kept and bred some time in hospital each week to collect her beagles and had a moved into a care pension. Truly a lady of number of successes in home. She missed her contrasts! the show-ring. Her main home and animals in Stuart Fox passion was horse rac- Ascott and longed to re- From the Rector It seems to me that peo- to hear it. Others may than on Good Friday? ple love happy endings, love to listen to the can- Of course people love although they don’t like nons and fireworks in happy endings, and to hang around for the final part of Easter is without a them. There are those Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Over- doubt the happiest of who thoroughly enjoy ture, yet have never lis- endings. the Hallelujah Chorus tened to a complete per- The trouble is that from Handel’s Messiah, formance. Is it hardly focussing all one’s atten- but who wouldn’t surprising then that far tion on the happy end- dream of sitting through more people come to ing is like skipping the the whole work waiting church on Easter Day steak and potatoes and The Ascott Grapevine - Page 6 Don’t forget about the Ascott website: From the Rector continued... eating only the trifle or quickly in strips of come clear: W-E-L-L-I- ice cream. It’s like read- cloth, which quickly N-G-T-O-N D-E-F-E-A-T- ing the last page of a became stained with his E-D T-H-E E-N-E-M-Y. detective novel or watch- blood. They had On Good Friday a ing only the last ten min- watched as his body was fog of despair settled on utes of a great film. Yes, placed hastily in a the disciples, such that there may be that good nearby tomb, and they they could only perceive feeling and perhaps a bit had wept the bitter tears a part of the message: of a ‘buzz’, but it of grief as the grave had GOD DEFEATED. doesn’t last very long been closed. During the However, on Easter Day and soon gives way to an intervening time they the whole message be- emptiness since there is would have suffered in came clear: GOD DE- nothing to keep it go- the depths of despair as FEATED THE EN- ing. It’s easy to imagine they awaited the time EMY. This news that we have received when they could return brought such joy to the best life has to offer to the tomb and com- them because they had by avoiding the worst, plete the job of anoint- experienced such dread- but the fact remains ing his body, thus con- ful despair only days ear- that there can be no signing him to death lier. The power of Jesus’ ‘best’ unless there is also forever. resurrection is especially a ‘worst’. At the end of the Bat- clear to those who have When the women tle of Waterloo, news of reflected upon his suffer- went to the tomb in the the result had to be ing on Good Friday. darkness and fear of that brought across the Eng- And the power of Jesus’ first Easter morning, lish Channel by boat victory can be seen in they had already experi- and then signalled over- that, even after two enced the worst. Jesus – land by semaphore to thousand years, Chris- a son to one of them London. High atop tians continue to expe- and a dear friend to the Winchester Cathedral rience its life-changing others – was dead. the signal began to arrive and life-giving effects. Moreover, the death – letter by letter – W-E- Easter is therefore the that he had suffered had L-L-I-N-G-T-O-N D-E-F- most happy of endings been tortuous and hor- E-A-T-E-D. Then a dense that turns out not to be rific. Once death had fog blew across the city, an ending at all, but come mercifully to him, as gloom and despair rather a new beginning. they had seen his lifeless began to spread. Only With my very best body taken down from when the fog lifted did wishes. the cross and wrapped the whole message be- Mark Abrey www.ascott-under-wychwood.org.uk Page 7 - Issue 46 community n. neighbourhood; area; kinship “Ascott Village Shop child free time to work Needs You” – the unpaid and possibly words glared out in big alone when indeed I shop, and a well stocked black bold print from could be at home catch- one at that (even pre- the nursery yellow pa- ing up on the ironing or pared to provide my vis- per stapled to the no- earning some real iting mother-in-law with tice board: A pun; a money? pains au chocolat!) but variation on Moving from Lon- a shop that was sus- Kitchener’s First don three months ear- tained by its commu- World War populist lier there had been cer- nity. Community is very cry “Your Country tain non-negotiable cri- important to me. needs You”; a call to teria on my property Maybe because it ap- arms; a plea for action; wish list: three bed- peals to my latent Marx- or for me, my gold-em- rooms, an eat-in ist views that Utopia bossed invitation to kitchen, a garden for may one day exist. this alluring Cotswold Thomas to run in, and Maybe because when village. a shop within walking you come from London Weeks later as I was distance. (I am a forget- you are unlikely to carting my two year old ful mother at the best of know the people in the son off to nursery, times and if Thomas upstairs flat let alone at prior to my three hour was to get his recom- the other end of the voluntary stint in the mended daily intake of street. But most prob- shop, he asked that in- food then I needed to ably because, commu- evitable question that be able to buy supplies nity gives this single wid- all little people are des- locally!) Estate agents owed mother a sense of tined to ask: “Why details would land belonging and place in Mummy? Why does through the door and the topsy turvey life she the village shop need promptly be binned: finds herself inhabiting. you?” “Because Tho- Nearest shop two miles I maybe a romantic; I mas…,” I began and away- a beautiful stroll may even be a complete then stopped. The an- across the fields! urbanite but I love our swer was not as straight- So when by chance, village shop. My weekly forward as one may ini- we ended up in Ascott stint (free of charge) tially presume. Thomas in January, I was like a gives me an opportunity had a point. Why was pig wallowing in the pro- to momentarily mislay I about to give up three verbial mud. Not only everyday worries and hours of my precious did Ascott boast its own concerns. I have met The Ascott Grapevine - Page 8 Don’t forget about the Ascott website: people, passed the time “Why Mummy? Why “Because Thomas,” I of day, smiled and does the village shop replied, “We need it.” gradually become em- need you?” Emma Jackson bedded in a commu- nity.

Village Gardens Project

The village Gardens Fes- House (old Churchill what a very enjoyable tival weekend will take Arms), London Lane, tel weekend it was for vil- place on 18 and 19 June 832144 or email lagers, and visitors really in aid of the village char- [email protected] appreciated what they ity/shop. A good Any ideas would be ap- saw. All the hard work number of people have preciated and it would and effort made by those already come forward be good to have activi- involved was well to open their gardens or ties such as a garden worthwhile. It was good run activities such as treasure hunt which to show off the village, cream teas, cake stall, would be particularly people‘s talents and plant sale, garden bric- attractive to children. community spirit. Let‘s a-brac stall - so the Everyone who was in make it another great event is building into a the village for the 2003 weekend in 2005. great village weekend. weekend will know, but Yvette Keauffling We’re aiming to equal newcomers won‘t, if not better the fund raising success of 2003 when more than £2000 was collected and put towards the establish- ment of the village shop. Anyone who is not already involved in the festival and would like to open their garden or run/take part in another activity or has a good idea for raising money please contact Yvette Keauffling, Sunset www.ascott-under-wychwood.org.uk Page 9 - Issue 46 Ascott-under-Wychwood Parish Council

It is good to see that Coppice on the allot- Chief Inspector Dennis West Oxfordshire Dis- ment field and it is Evernden, the new Lo- trict Council has re- hoped to make space in cal Police Area Com- placed the damaged the churchyard for a mander for West Ox- street signs on Church wildlife area through the fordshire will attend a View, High Street and Living Churchyard Parish Council meeting Mill Lane. The shed on Scheme. in the near future to ex- the pound was in a dan- We have been in- plain how the changes gerous state of repair formed by Thames Val- will affect us directly. and has now been de- ley Police that there is to Margaret Ismail molished and the old, be a re-structuring of Parish Clerk very dilapidated notice the service known as (832829) board opposite The ‘Challenge & Change’ Parish Council: Swan has been replaced which is intended to Nigel Braithwaite, by a new one. We are provide a more consist- Chairman 831282 happy to say that two ent neighbourhood Elaine Byles 831427 new initiatives are taking service and improve per- Stuart Fox 832004 place that will be good formance. The changes Mike Pearce 830058 for the environment. will involve new train- Wendy Pearse 831023 Permission has been ing and a change of role given by Cornbury Es- for many staff within the tates to plant a Hazel service. We hope that

The Ascott Grapevine - Page 10 Don’t forget about the Ascott website: May Garlands

In 1880 Rev. Samuel fort with her friends, the 2nd War the dancing York then Vicar of making big bunches of tradition continued but Ascott noted in the cowslips, water bubbles by then a hole had been Leafield and Ascott un- (kingcups), bluebells excavated in the school der Wychwood Parish etc., which were usually playground to hold the Magazine ‘May 1st. A tied to the top of a stout Maypole, this hole being very bright May-day for stick and paraded firmly wedged in after- the school children and around her local houses wards with a piece of their May Garland Pro- to the chanting of the wood. cession. They, number- following verse. So the May Pole tra- ing 106 had their tea- Maypole, Maypole, Trot dition survived in the treat in the vicarage gar- Trot Trot. village but sometime den on the Tuesday in See what a maypole I have before the 2nd World Whitsun week.’ got. War the much more Eric Moss in his bi- Garlands high. Garlands ancient custom of the ography ‘Walk Humble low. making of the May Gar- My Son’ describes the Give us a penny and away land and it’s procession importance in Ascott of we’ll go. around the village, dis- the Maypole and May- Each recital hope- appeared. pole Dancing to mark fully collected a penny However back in the the 1st May, a tradition which she thinks was 19th century the mak- which with some inter- probably spent on ing of the May Garland ruptions continued in sweets. More small had been a great event use in Ascott Village groups of children re- for the schoolchildren School until the peated this performance on the one day devoted school’s closure. But in other parts of the vil- solely to celebrating the Eric also describes how lage. Dorothy in his youth in the also recalls that 1920’s they made a May May Day was Garland each May Day. an important This he describes as celebration at ‘great masses of cowslips the school with tied around a stick look- dancing ing like a huge candy- around the floss of flowers.’ Maypole on Between the Wars the Green and Dorothy Harrison also a half day’s remembers as a joint ef- holiday. After www.ascott-under-wychwood.org.uk Page 11 - Issue 46 beginning of the new wore a crown of spring Garland created by their season of growth and flowers. The girls wher- children’s handiwork. fertility – it’s origins ever possible wore white The money collected probably dating back to dresses and the boys went to the preparation pagan times. In ‘Lark their best clothes, both of a tea treat of cake, Rise to Candleford’ outfits decorated with bread and jam for the Flora Thompson gives a brightly coloured rib- children with the sur- long description of the bons. Also a special doll plus money being di- schoolchildren’s May which was kept in the vided amongst them. Day celebrations in the school cupboard was In Spelsbury a village of Lark Rise. placed on a ledge in the church service was also Their Garland was centre of the hoop per- part of the proceedings formed on a framework haps as an image of Our with “May Carols” of hoops making a bell Lady or an even more forming part of the shaped structure which obscure reference to a childrens’ repertoire was liberally covered pagan goddess. Sticks during the procession. with spring flowers, were then inserted into However today, de- primroses, violets, cow- the Garland to enable spite it’s previous wide- slips, wallflowers, flow- the schoolchildren to spread tradition the an- ering currant, in fact carry the Garland cient custom of the May every species of flower around the village in Garland is relatively un- that could be obtained. procession. The villagers known. A girl was nominated as could then pay for the Wendy Pearse May Queen and she privilege of seeing the

The Ascott Grapevine - Page 12 Don’t forget about the Ascott website: Transport Information Service/Day Departs Time Arrives Time Bakers 5 Ascott u Wychwood, Tuesday The Swan 0946 Moreton in Marsh 1031 Ascott u Wychwood, Moreton in Marsh 1245 The Swan 1330

Bakers 34 Ascott u Wychwood, Chipping Norton, Wednesday The Swan 1403 Council Hse 1429 Chipping Norton, West St 1430 Chipping Norton, West St 1630 Chipping Norton, Ascott u Wychwood, Council Hse 1631 The Swan 1656

Pulhams 9/806 Ascott u Wychwood, Chipping Norton Thursday The Swan 0945 Coach Stop 1000 Banbury Bus Station 1030 Banbury Bus Station 1340 Chipping Norton Coach Stop 14.10 Ascott u Wychwood, The Swan 1425

Villager 20 Ascott u Wychwood, Thursday The Swan 1335 Witney, Buttercross 1405 Ascott u Wychwood, Witney, Buttercross 1600 The Swan 1628

Worths 72 Ascott u Wychwood, Rail Link The Swan New timetable available from the Village Shop

Ring a Ride Scheme This is operated by The for transport to work, tween 9.30 am – 12.30 Oxfordshire Council for shopping or visiting Monday to Friday. Jour- Voluntary Action. It is friends but not for hos- neys can be booked up for people who are un- pital or day care. These to 7 days in advance. able to use ordinary journeys are carried out Journeys cost no more buses due to temporary by the Ambulance Serv- than £1.50 for a single or permanent disability. ice and Social Services. journey and £3.00 for a The scheme can be used Call 01865 744478 be- return. www.ascott-under-wychwood.org.uk Page 13 - Issue 46 Who was Tiddy?

In the present Tiddy Hall wooden building erected as The following article writ- is a photograph of the a reading room and with ten by Nicholas Salaman de- founder of the original it’s sprung wooden floor a scribes more details of Tiddy’s Tiddy Hall, a building purposely built arena for life and demonstrates that which used to stand in the morris and folk dancing. Tiddy’s memory after his death south east corner of to- Reggie Tiddy was an Ox- in the Great War has not only day’s car park. The plot of ford Don and lived in been kept alive here in Ascott land was purchased by Priory Cottage at the top but also in the realms of Trin- REGINALD JOHN of Priory Lane with his fa- ity College, Oxford. ELLIOTT TIDDY who in ther and brother. 1912 had the first all

The year 2005 marks the There will be many cel- Wychwood where he 450th anniversary of the ebrations to mark this showed a keen interest in founding of the College of 450th anniversary and not local dialects and tradi- the Most Holy and Undivided least among them will be a tions, wrote the definitive Trinity in the University of revue or Cavalcade marking work on The Mummers’ Oxford. The founder, Sir some of the great events Play, and helped rescue the Thomas Pope and his wife and celebrating some of the Morris Dance from ob- the Lady Elizabeth, were famous sons and daughters livion. He was a close childless and regarded the of the College. This is the friend of Cecil Sharpe of College and its students as gist of what I propose to folk music fame, also of their ‘children’. say on this occasion, as I another illustrious Trinity Sir Thomas was Comp- introduce an element of undergraduate, the com- troller to Queen Mary, a Morris... poser George sort of Cardinal Wolsey to No survey of Trinity Butterworth. the Queen, and bought the would be complete with- Tiddy produced and land and buildings of an out a mention of R.J.E. took part in the first Mor- earlier college, Durham Tiddy, Fellow in English at ris Dance to be performed Hall, a monastic founda- Trinity from 1906-1916. in Oxford in recent his- tion, whose closure had Tiddy came to Trinity in tory, held here in Trinity been ordered by Mary’s fa- 1906 and taught English. gardens, before what was ther, Henry VIII. She was He was apparently an ex- described as ‘the raised eye- married in 1553 to King traordinarily nice man with brows’ of the university. The Philip of Spain, and the ‘a sparkling gift of friendship’. Oxford Journal was enthu- royal arms of Spain are dis- He divided his time be- siastic, praising: played on the great fire- tween Trinity and his cot- ‘The long golden boots... the place of the College Hall... tage in Ascott under harmoniously shaded ribbons..

The Ascott Grapevine - Page 14 Don’t forget about the Ascott website: the black hats.. .the little bells.. .and the way those dancers leapt into the air and played leap-frog, some of them of so- ber years and solid proportions, was wonderful to see. When the Great War broke out, Tiddy, a paci- fist by inclination, felt that he could not stand by and let others do the work, so although shortsighted and asthmatic, he joined up and his group of Ralph Honeybone: ‘I regret versity for this enterprise. young dancers from the vil- to inform you of the death of To echo the words of the lages around Oxford, prin- Mr Tiddy who was struck by Oxford Journal: ‘Surely cipally Ascott, followed a shell in the trench last never before in real life and him into the Ox and night...’. There was a final never before on the stage were Bucks, led by his chief scene in a Morris Musical there ever such glorified Mor- dancer Ralph Honeybone, I planned where Tiddy and ris dancers...’ who became Tiddy’s bat- his heroes danced in Ladies and gentlemen, man. heaven.. we have seen the Morris They danced on Salis- Meanwhile, in memory of Oxford. Now let us enjoy bury Plain among the biv- a brave man and the only the Oxford, no, the Trin- ouacs. They danced in fellow of Trinity to die in ity Morris... France when they arrived. that war, (one of whose Nicholas Salaman They danced behind the epitaphs was penned by front line. And then they my grandfather, Fellow in moved up to the front it- Classics at Trinity, then a self. In due course, almost young man), I give you a inevitably, the President team specially press-ganged received the sad letter from from Trinity and the Uni- www.ascott-under-wychwood.org.uk Page 15 - Issue 46 History of Haymaking

Ever since man began to It is not easy now to to be constructed carefully farm with crops and live- visualise a team of twelve to enable the hay to hold stock thousands of years men with scythes mowing together well, This system ago the communities in a line across a grass field was used over many centu- would have been vitally but this is a fact recorded ries and with all this labour concerned each year about locally as recently as the intensive work available it the quantity and quality of eighteen eighties. Once was a good chance for ex- their hay production. This mown the cut grass would tra helpers from the village was the feed that they re- have lain in thick swathes to make a few shillings. lied upon to sustain their which would then have The hay was carried in a livestock through each win- been spread over the similar method to the ter. The survival of suffi- ground to dry and in the corn harvest with a horse cient breeding stock and following days would have drawn wagon pulled be- working oxen teams would been hand raked into rows, tween the rows of cocks, a have been imperative but then tedded (shaken) and man each side pitching the the number of other ani- turned at times ruled by hay up to a man building mals retained would de- the weather until it was dry the load. “Keep plenty un- pend upon the amount of enough to be made up der thee fit (feet)”, was the feed available and the rest into haycocks. One cock advice given to a novice would have been slaugh- would have been as much loader because if the mid- tered for food, the excess as a man could pick up dle of the load was not kept being preserved for future cleanly in one lift with a firm enough he would be use. pitchfork so they needed waist deep in loose hay and struggling to lift his feet high enough. The loads were taken to the rickyard and built into ricks which were constructed in a simi- lar way to corn ricks with the builder working back- wards in a clockwise direc- tion adding one laying at a time. The middle was kept highest and the hay needed placing carefully to keep the sides upright because a forkful of loose hay does not have a definite shape

The Ascott Grapevine - Page 16 Don’t forget about the Ascott website: and structure like a sheaf and leafy before it becomes a rick has had to be cut of corn and is much less coarse and goes to seed. open through the middle solid. After the end of the People who make hay need to dry it out. It is also pos- day’s work, the rick would endless patience and a sible to overmake hay and have settled by 20 – 25 placid temperament be- dry out some of the nutri- percent by the next morn- cause at this time rain is the ents. An old saying was “A ing and this settling proc- hazard. Every spell of rain farmer who never has a hot ess would continue well reduces the quality and it rick never makes any good after the rick was com- sometimes happens that hay.” pleted. If the hay was un- partly made hay which is In the eighteen eighties loaded directly from the not quite dry enough to mechanisation changed the wagon to the rick, it was gather in has a nice blue- whole system of haymak- necessary for a third man green colour with a deli- ing. Mechanical grass to pass the hay across the cious sweet perfume. Then mowers drawn by a team rick when the builder was it rains – and it rains – and of two horses were available on the opposite side. Ex- it rains! The colour turns as were horse drawn hay tra bits of leaf and short from green to yellow, then turners and tedders and a stalks would accumulate to brown and sometimes horse rake for collecting and make that part of the eventually goes black, rot- the scattered bits which had rick nearest the load more ten and stinking. The been littered over the solid, sometimes resulting problem then is how to ground. Horse drawn in the rick settling away get rid of it. Hay that is sweeps were used, these and needing wooden props stacked before it is suffi- were wooden framed im- against the other side. ciently dry will become hot plements with a row of The best hay is made and possibly set itself on long wooden tynes which from grass mown early in fire. This applies to bales ran points first over the the season when it is young as well as loose hay. Many ground beneath the hay to www.ascott-under-wychwood.org.uk Page 17 - Issue 46 sweep the crop to a chosen point in the field where it could be built into a rick. In later decades sweeps were fitted to the job if only one man was tomatically by a tractor front of tractors and as late building the load on the mounted grab and not nec- as the nineteen fifties they wagon. essarily touched by hand. were used on some farms “See if you can drive it By the nineteen sixties si- to push the hay to a sta- Jim”, I was asked on a lage making was becoming tionary baler. These bales never to be forgotten day more common on some weighed about 50 kgs and when I was seven years old. farms. The grass could they were easier to trans- So that was my out of then be gathered up in port and stack than loose school job, driving the trac- much less time after mow- hay. tor pulling the wagon and ing so the crop could be During my time at hayloader. This meant dad cut younger and the silage Coldstone Farm in Ascott could stay on the wagon was of more consistent and village before we moved to and build the load instead higher feed value than hay. Honeydale Farm upon the of attempting the whole With the coming of the hill in 1952 we used an- task singlehanded. forage harvester which other machine called a The next major advance could chop and blow the hayloader. This was towed was the pick-up baler crop into a trailer, silage behind a wagon and lifted which is drawn by a trac- was tightly stacked and the hay from the ground to tor along a row picking up sealed into clamps and be- the top of the load on the the crop and tying it into came more prevalent than wagon by means of eight bales of about 25kgs. hay. Big round bales are long rakes worked on two These balers were in wide- also sealed in polythene by cranks, so that while some spread use in the nineteen automatic wrapping ma- were pushing up the hay fifties and at first the col- chines. the others were going lection and stacking of the Almost all beef cattle down ready to lift up the bales was mainly done by and dairy cows now have next part of the row. The man power, but various silage as their main winter system was driven by systems developed for mak- feed but good quality hay chains from the wheels on ing the job quicker and is still needed by horses, the hayloader which ran easier culminating in the particularily race horses, along the ground. The “flat eight” system with a and it is pleasing to make wagon was pulled by a trac- mechanical sledge behind some sweet scented good tor over a row of hay which the baler leaving bales in quality hay. the hayloader pitched up squares of eight which are Jim Pearse onto the load. It was a busy picked up and stacked au-

The Ascott Grapevine - Page 18 Don’t forget about the Ascott website: Change a-foot in the Countryside The Wychwood Project The New Year brought 10% in 2006. The Brit- duction is hardest to with it some of the ish Government will predict. We may see a most significant changes top-up this European wider range of crops be- for many years in the money from Britain’s ing grown where indi- way the countryside is own reserves to increase vidual farmers see a mar- managed. At the heart the total amount avail- ket opportunity. This of this change is a break able for countryside con- could bring new colours in the link between the servation. and textures into the direct financial subsidies A large part of the fields. In a few cases, for farming, paid under money raised in this way where the soil is less the European Common will be used to support suited to growing cere- Agricultural Policy and a new scheme known as als, the landowner may agricultural production. Environmental Steward- switch to grassland One result of this change ship. There are two lev- grazed with sheep. is that farmers will have els to this scheme - En- Some landowners may greater freedom to re- try Level and Higher wish to not grow any spond to the demands Level Stewardship. En- crops or raise any live- of the market. try Level pays a flat rate stock at all. This too is Another important of £30 a hectare, or £60 acceptable under the change is that, for the a hectare on Organic new system provided first time, subsidy pay- farms. All eligible land- that the ground is kept ments are linked explic- owners can claim this free of weeds such as itly to the landowner money if they agree to thistles, docks and scrub keeping the land in meet certain minimum growth. DEFRA’S tar- good agricultural and standards of environ- get in Wychwood is to environmental condi- mental management. maintain and increase tion. Higher Level Steward- woodland. A proportion of the ship is more demanding Other noticeable money given to UK ag- and is designed to pro- changes are likely to in- riculture through the vide additional funds clude an increase in the Common Agricultural for high priority situa- number of field corners Policy will be held-back tions and areas. taken out of production and redirected towards So what do these and uncultivated strips environmental and rural changes mean for the appearing around the development schemes. countryside around the edges of fields. These ar- This year 5% of all Wychwoods? The im- eas provide a valuable funds will be re-directed pact of the break be- habitat for wild birds in this way, rising to tween subsidies and pro- and insects. They can www.ascott-under-wychwood.org.uk Page 19 - Issue 46 also help prevent dam- With the benefit of permissive access paths age to hedgerows by pes- Higher Level Steward- particularly where these ticides and from ferti- ship the chance to main- provide links to the lizer washing into tain, restore and enjoy Wychwood Way. ditches and streams. our most valuable land- For more informa- Numbers of typical scape features is even tion on these schemes Cotswold birds such as greater. Particular op- visit the DEFRA the corn bunting, lap- portunities around the website wing, tree sparrow and Ascott area include the www.defra.gov.uk or call sky lark will hopefully restoration and mainte- the Wychwood Project increase, whilst tradi- nance of dry stone walls 01993 814143. tional flowers such as and other important or Nick Motram poppy and cornflower historic boundaries, the The Wychwood may become more evi- creation of new ponds, Project dent. Hedges may be the enhancement and allowed to grow taller linking of woodlands and be cut less often. and, the creation of new

The Gardening Year We’re well into spring can provide such an im- golds where the ground now and able to look pact filled with the likes elder problem exists, forward to those warm of trailing Lobelia, Pel- you won’t see any differ- days of summer just argoniums, Ivy and Na- ence in the first year but around the corner. The sturtiums or why not the following year no garden is very busy with try an edible hanging ground elder. Unfortu- new growth occurring at basket for a change with nately I’m not going to extraordinary speed-it trailing tomatoes or be able to test this out never ceases to amaze chillies with some pars- here but the gentleman me how much a plant ley to provide a really in question swears by it seems to grow between intense green for the – you never know it my going in of an fruit to look fabulous might just work. evening and going out against. Early May is always a again the next morning. Whilst on the subject time I associate with tu- We can start thinking of annuals, at the end of lips but with all the about summer bedding last year I met a gentle- lovely warm weather we and summer hanging man who told me of a had in early spring my baskets in the next few cure for ground elder! I tulips are all but over. weeks as the frosts come know, I couldn’t believe However, there are many to an end. Hanging bas- it either. It involves other plants just com- kets are great fun as they planting French Mari- ing into their prime such The Ascott Grapevine - Page 20 Don’t forget about the Ascott website: as early clematis, incorporate a vegetable heavy clay soil so this Ceanothis, Dicentra bed, sadly I’ll be too late should aid the opera- and early roses – al- to plant parsnips but tion. When the job gets though I’ve seen some will be able to grow tiring and I don’t feel very confused roses still salad crops, beans, cour- like I’m getting any- trying to flower during gettes, carrots and pota- where I shall just think the winter. toes. This does involve of those lovely vegeta- I have plans to re-ar- removing an area of lawn bles straight from the range my garden, al- and moving a brick path garden to the pot! though fairly small, to but luckily I don’t have Ann Mitchell

Cook’s Corner: Ascott’s Favourite Recipes Asparagus, Basil and Fromage Frais Tart Ingredients Shortcrust pastry baking beans and bake chopped basil and half 500g asparagus blind for 10 minutes. the toasted pine nuts to 4 Spring onions the pastry case. 2 packets fresh Basil 2. Remove foil and leaves (chopped) beans and bake pastry 5. In a bowl, beat to- 50g Pine nuts (toasted) for 5 more minutes or gether the fromage frais, 500g Fromage Frais until lightly browned. double cream and 2 142ml double cream eggs. Season with salt 2 large eggs 3. Steam asparagus un- and pepper, add 40g 75g freshly grated til tender and cut in 5cm grated Parmesan and the Parmesan pieces. Finely chop the remaining chopped spring onions and mix basil, mix and pour To make: with 25g of the grated over the pastry filling. 1. Preheat oven to 190C paramesan and use this or gas mark 4. Roll out mix to cover the base of 6.Scatter the remaining the pastry (or use pre- the pastry case. pine nuts on top and rolled) and place in a dust with 10g grated flan tin. Line pastry 4. Add the asparagus Parmesan. with foil and fill with pieces, most of the 7. Cook for 40-50 min- utes, until the filling is Do you have a favourite recipe you would like to share? golden and lightly firm. If so, the Grapevine would love to hear from you. Serve warm. Goes Further contributions to ‘Favourite Recipes’ would nicely with tomato and be appreciated for publication in future issues. basil salad. www.ascott-under-wychwood.org.uk Page 21 - Issue 46 Nature Notes The progression of the We in Ascott are for- typical characteristics of new season is now well tunate, sited as we are veteran trees, these in- under way. Celandines on the edge of the Cots- clude: a large girth for have flowered and wold Area of Outstand- the species concerned, faded, birds are nesting, ing Natural Beauty and major cavities in the bumblebees are busy in the heart of the trunk, decay holes, bark collecting nectar for Wychwood to be able loss, large quantities of their newly established to enjoy a wooded land- dead wood in the homes and the brim- scape containing many canopy, bracket fungi stone butterfly is ancient trees. There is and a covering of putting in an appear- now much interest in epiphytic plants such as ance on warm dry days. locating and recording moss and lichens. As I watch the these ancient and vet- blackthorn come into eran trees as these are flower I listen carefully recognised as part of our to the weather forecast heritage, just as much as as this event is supposed ancient buildings and to herald the start of a so deserve as much pro- sudden cold spell called tection and care. “the blackthorn winter.” All trees pass through All the trees are burst- a similar life cycle, start- ing into leaf, starting ing with the sapling that with the willow and grows into a mature In the case of an oak if a chestnut and ending tree. There then follows tree has a diameter of with the ash and oak, a period of maturity, more than 2.0m (girth their clean, bright green until with great age the 6.25m) at breast height leaves adding to the tree becomes a veteran. it is truly ancient. spring sunshine. How old is a veteran? It Why are they impor- depends on the species. tant? First they provide Oaks may date back to a rich habitat for all Medieval times and manner of wildlife, from some yews may pre-date insects and fungi feed- the coming of Christian- ing from the rotting ity, whereas a birch heartwood to wood- would be very old if it peckers searching for had survived for 100 food and nest sites. years and a beech 200 Second, they tell us years. There are some something of the his-

The Ascott Grapevine - Page 22 Don’t forget about the Ascott website: tory of land use in the crown with no particu- ing, pollarding and area. Trees were often lar signs of being “man- coppicing does seem to planted as markers on aged.” These trees may rejuvenate trees. the edges of estates or have originated in wood- settlements. They may land, forest pasture or also indicate areas of parkland. The second woodland and fields group are the trees, like that have now disap- hazel and ash that have peared and be a direct been coppiced on a regu- link back to the lar basis. An ash stool “wildwood” that cov- that is 2m in diameter ered much of Britain af- is probably over 500 Next time you are ter the last ice age. Also, years old! The third cat- walking through wood- they may be an impor- egory is pollards. Usu- land, like Foxholes Na- tant gene pool, with ally associated with wil- ture Reserve at Bruern, some old trees showing lows some other trees or more open parkland, disease resistance or suit- such as beech and oak such as Blenheim, look ability for pollarding, were often cut back. The out for the gnarled old coppicing and timber products from trees and consider that production. Finally, pollarding might have some of the oaks may they have a visual impact been used for animal have been growing at on the landscape. fodder, wood for fuel the time of Elizabeth I. and charcoal produc- There is an old saying, tion and even bark for which says of the oak the tanning industry. “three centuries he Finally some old trees grows and three he stays that have fallen over or supreme in state and in collapsed root and re- three more he decays.” grow away from the Likewise if you are visit- original base. This is ing an old church that called a “phoenix regen- has a massive yew grow- eration”. Many ancient ing nearby, remember Ancient trees tend to churchyard yews follow that the yew may pre- fall into three or four this pattern of growth date the church! categories. The most and it is often difficult Stuart Fox obvious is the “Maiden” to ascertain where the tree, with a trunk ex- original tree actually tending to the upper started to grow. Man’s intervention by prun- www.ascott-under-wychwood.org.uk Page 23 - Issue 46 On Becoming a Mentor Having been involved in is keen to see this na- ity). You see, Sue died the village shop project tion of volunteers grow. just before the age of 30 as a volunteer and mem- So, where did it all having battled with the ber of the local commu- start? Eight years ago most intense headaches nity, I was recently when I moved into one can imagine. Sue asked by the Ascott Ascott, it coincided was indeed a ‘toughie’ Grapevine about my with a desire to start ‘giv- the nickname she pre- other voluntary activi- ing something back’. I ferred at school to ties with The Prince’s decided that I would ‘deafie’. Because of her Trust. Obviously, this give ten percent of my disability Sue became an has come at a timely paid work to the sort of easy target for the play point as 2005 is the of- charity I wanted to get ground bullies until one ficial year of the volun- involved with. Having day she confronted the teer. It will probably not been a parent of two ring leader (I think she come as a surprise (con- boys who had struggled pinned the perpetrator sidering all the volun- during their school against a wall) and then tary work that is done years and later during she did get respect. in the village) that each their early working years However, what pleased year over 26 million are with dyslexia, I was only Sue most was to win a engaged in some form of too aware of the poten- place at Leicester Univer- volunteering and of that tial hazards and chal- sity and gain an arts de- figure there are a stagger- lenges they would both gree specialising in fash- ing 11 million involved face in their ‘growing’ ion and design. That’s in formal schemes such years. That was my ini- when Sue came to The as The Prince’s Trust, tial reason for choosing Trust where we helped Charity Shops, Poppy The Trust and I have her with a computerised Appeal etc etc. In a civi- been blessed in those knitting machine and a lised society such as eight years with four mentor – me! Al- ours, the more people wonderful young peo- though, I didn’t know that choose to volun- ple who I have had the too much about wom- teer, the greater the ben- privilege to mentor. en’s fashion, I made it efit to those who need My first client was my business to learn support. And it is not Sue who battled away quickly. This meant ar- difficult to cost those throughout her short ranging our monthly benefits, a whopping 40 life (Sue contracted meetings at Sue’s BILLION contribution meningitis at the age of house/workshop and to the economy. No two which left her with joining her at some of wonder Gordon Brown a severe hearing disabil- the craft fayres where she

The Ascott Grapevine - Page 24 Don’t forget about the Ascott website: would sell her work. Sue’s unique work was to take raw, untreated wool, dye it with onion skins, berries and herbs to give it colour and then to create her de- signs in a series of ‘one offs’. Great idea, but Sue had to supplement the more labour inten- sive with mass volume. So, she would make hand made paper and cards to keep the cash turning over. After the shock of Sue’s death, I mentored a young man from one of the neighbouring vil- lages who wanted to didn’t turn out but it and although my formal become a professional did help Rob to really mentoring arrange- illustrator. He had won question his future. It ments has finished, Rob a commission from a was at that point we still sends me his busi- greetings card company looked at various op- ness plan and each year and thought running his tions and Rob decided we have a couple of tel- own business was the to move from his home ephone mentoring ses- next logical step. How- in Oxfordshire and de- sions. And so on to my ever, it soon became ap- part for pastures new to current clients Jay and parent that building a set up his business and Jade but first, a back- business takes more move in with his girl ground to The Trust. than one lucky break. friend. He has since got The Prince’s Trust Cash started to run out a part time job he en- was set up in 1983 in the during year one and joys, is steadily building aftermath of street riots Rob decide to work the his business and has in Toxteth, Liverpool night shift at a local ho- paid back his loan to which had attracted na- tel to supplement his The Trust. We still keep tional attention two (lack) of funds. That in contact four years on years earlier. HRH The www.ascott-under-wychwood.org.uk Page 25 - Issue 46 Prince of Wales, asked period of three years, back so much. As a good the young people in- meeting their mentor on friend said, “the more volved, “why this anger” a monthly basis and you give the more you and the response was when the loan is repaid receive”. I know now “we have no work, we funds are recycled for what that means. I hope have no hope”. Since the benefit of future you enjoy the following that date 60,000 young businesses, thus improv- story of Jay and Jade of people between the ages ing the impact of funds Street Dreams. of 18 and 30 have been raised. As a result, PS Did you know helped to set up their around 80% achieve eco- there are three other own businesses. nomic independence af- Prince’s Trust mentors As The Prince states ter one year; however in Ascott, past and in his introduction to this drops to around 55- present? As this is the volunteers joining The 60% of businesses still official year of the vol- Trust: trading into their third unteer, how about hear- “If we were merely to year – but ahead of what ing from some of you help those who could virtu- the banks achieve with- other volunteers for fu- ally guarantee success, there out the support of a ture features. Replies to would be little point in our mentor. So, you can see the Editor. work. These people could go mentoring does make a John Cull elsewhere for their support. difference! It is my intention that we So, to sum up. Be- Case Study – should take a risk and help coming a mentor has Street Dreams those who have the courage opened many opportu- to take risks themselves. nities; I will be address- Buckinghamshire, They are likely to be the sort ing two hundred guests United Kingdom - of people we will hear on the benefits of Youngsters get a about in the future”. mentoring in Amman, chance to speak out How does it work? Jordon in early May at Young people who the request of the Brit- Co-founders Jade meet the age criteria, are ish Ambassador and Erguvanli and Jay Blades unemployed and have a hope to complete my of Street Dreams have a potential ‘workable’ Masters in Coaching mission and that is to business idea are pro- and Mentoring at Ox- become a microphone vided with a start up ford Brookes later this for young people and loan at below commer- year. Little did I think bring fresh ideas to stale cial rates and are that eight years ago a problems. Street matched with a busi- 10% contribution to Dreams are a dynamic ness mentor. They are The Prince’s Trust organisation committed then supported for a would have given me to realising and reduc-

The Ascott Grapevine - Page 26 Don’t forget about the Ascott website: ing issues raised in to- day’s streets of Britain. By generating projects that tackle problems that arise from issues on ‘the street’, they aim to guide young people in taking more responsibility for a more promising future in a world that is getting in- creasingly difficult to survive in! How do Street Jade Erguvanli and Jay Blades of Street Dreams Dreams work? Street between Oxford Police involved Asian youth, Dreams pull together and the Youth of Ox- Black youth and White groups of people who ford. The aim was to youth and demon- do not understand each close the communica- strated what can be other fully. The very na- tion gap between young achieved when different ture of the way in which people and the police parties work together Jay and Jade operate service and provide a for the common good. makes it possible for strong channel for com- 3. Oxford Fire Serv- them to gain the trust munication. A total of ice: Oxford Commu- required to iron out mis- 800 young people were nity World Cup – 2004 understandings between interviewed by Street A project to bring diverse groups. Dreams and a further together different ethnic Other models of 160 attended work- groups in the Oxford linking police and shops where they were area unified by one goal young people have been able to put their views … football. Sixty four tried around the coun- forward to the police. different nations com- try, but lack of trust peted in a five a side characterises many rela- 2. Thames Valley Police: competition for the first tionships. Banbury-3-Gether – Oxford soccer world Some of Street 2003 cup over a summer Dreams projects A project to under- weekend in June. This 1. Thames Valley Police: stand the ‘major’ and initiative, bringing dif- Youth Awareness ‘minor’ issues that has ferent groups together, Project – 2002 a segregational effect on was so successful a re- A project to develop young people in peat event is planned for positive relationships Banbury. This project 2005. www.ascott-under-wychwood.org.uk Page 27 - Issue 46 Street Dreams and into the public domain. nally red; those issues The Prince’s Trust Such is their confidence that require immediate Jay and Jade had al- for the future, Jay and attention. Jay and Jade ready started their first Jade have recently are required to com- project when they ap- bought their first house plete this ahead of the proached John Cull ( a together and are busy meeting. Key to the mentor for the Prince’s rewiring and installing meetings is to listen to Trust) for advice and plumbing themselves. whatever the challenges support around busi- “We’re planning to com- happen to be and to ness matters i.e. book- bine a business base encourage Jay and Jade keeping, tax, marketing, from within our own to come up with their meeting skills and rela- home, which is far bet- own solutions. John tionship building skills ter than running Street knows only too well (between each other!!). Dreams from a student that the business needs John worked with bed-sit”, says Jay. to belong firmly in the Street Dreams to create What of the future? hands of Jay and Jade. a business plan and then Now the business is John sees his role as a guided them through about to start year three guide and ‘friend’ ensur- the procedures for fund- of Prince’s Trust fund- ing they both face up to ing. As a result, in ing, John and Street the issues they need to 2003, Street Dreams Dreams continue to confront, have clear were awarded £5000.00 meet around once a goals, celebrate success to help fund office and month. However, this and be able to do so in IT equipment. might be more or less a safe and supportive The business set a depending on the chal- environment. sales target in year one lenges Street Dreams are John Cull of £60,000 and this fig- facing at the time. The Mentor: The Prince’s ure was exceeded by interesting feature of the Trust - July 2004 £5,000 and in year two meetings is that Jay and grew by a further ten Jade insist that there is percent. In addition, no formal agenda. extra funding was ob- However, there is a tained by the Sainsbury process where John e- Foundation which has mails in advance ‘traffic eased cash flow and ena- lights’: green for those bled Jay and Jade to de- things that are working velop their marketing well; amber for those capability. Critical to issues that are OK but success is to get the may become an issue if Street Dreams story out left unattended and fi-

The Ascott Grapevine - Page 28 Don’t forget about the Ascott website: Pamela Edwards Remembers Ascott School 1953-1959 Your article on Ascott stove, so much the bet- It’s a wonder our genera- school took me back to ter; if not, you were very tion have any teeth left! my time there, 1953- cold. Our playground was 59. Mrs Walkinshaw tarmac with a little bit Two rooms for us oversaw this room, with of grass around the children, one being the her golden spaniel dog other side of the school. little room, where Mrs ‘Sarah’, of course a fa- We went up the village Green took the five to vourite with the chil- to the playing field on eight year olds. She dren. Geography, a lit- treat days, weather per- taught us ABC and tle History, and the mitting, to play round- times tables and basic three Rs were taught, ers and relay races. addition, after which we alongside movement Being a church had lunch brought to us and exercise on rush school, when we had by Mr Carpenter from matting. On Fridays Mr finished the service at Shipton, in large metal Nicholls the vicar came Trinity Church at containers in his van. and played the piano for Easter, etc., the day was Mrs Collett served us a short service, and we over - great! Catholic lunch, after which the sang hymns: ‘Onward kids went to Shipton little ones had a nap, Christian Soldiers’ I Court to a chapel in the then a story that Mrs seem to remember was grounds, and at Easter Green read to us, after a favourite. or Christmas to Chip- which we went home. Outside plumbing ping Norton. Mrs Green came from was a basic wooden Mostly happy days, Chilson on her motor bench with a hole in the but when we got to bike; she had a white middle, fragrant in the Burford school, you crash helmet and a great- summer, bracing in win- had to grow up and coat, if the weather was ter! If I remember right come into the big snow and ice her hus- we had our personal world. band drove her in the school photos taken Pamela Edwards nee car. with our backs to said Greenaway After the cosiness of walls. the little room, the big Mr Cook was the room loomed. Prepared travelling dentist; we or not, up you went. If called him ‘Killer Cook’ you were lucky in the because he hated kids. winter and sat by the www.ascott-under-wychwood.org.uk Page 29 - Issue 46 Is Re-cycling Rubbish? Here’s how to make sure cling and the roadside separate bags,” she says, the contents of your re- collection service which “but the whole point cycling box really do get trundles around the vil- of curb-side sorting is re-cycled and not lage every Wednesday that the workers do the thrown into a landfill morning has been de- compartmental-ising with the rest of your signed to make it as easy for you at the side of household rubbish. as possible for us to re- the road. We designed Do you stick a few cycle our rubbish. But the system to be as easy things in your re-cycling unbeknown to us, much as possible for the box every week and of our hard sorting and householders to in- plonk it on the road separating work is going crease the chance that with your rubbish bin, to waste because we just they’d re-cycle their wondering whether any don’t know how to work rubbish.” of it will really be re-cy- the system properly. The re-cycling truck cled anyway? Or do you According to Jaime doesn’t take rubbish, diligently wash, de-label, Bugler, waste promo- there isn’t a section for separate and squash tions officer at West Ox- “non re-cyclables” so if then sit back with your fordshire District Coun- the operators spot any- herbal tea and a smug cil, it really is ok just to thing they can’t use, sense of satisfaction? throw all your re- they’re under instruc- More and more of us cyclables into one box. “I tion to just leave it in are becoming aware of do tend to put glass, your box. The rest, the importance of re-cy- metal, plastic etc into they sort into five dif- ferent compartments on the truck. This is then taken to the sorting depot in Abingdon, where more operators stand by a conveyor belt, refining the sorting proc- ess. Re- cyclable pro- duce is

The Ascott Grapevine - Page 30 Don’t forget about the Ascott website: crushed into “bales”and Tetrapaks of any • Only put soft sent off to be re-cycled. kind cannot yet be plastic (bottles and So how can you guar- effectively re-cycled. food containers) antee your household The paper has to be out, as the system waste makes it right coated (with wax or cannot accommo- along the line to be re- foil) to keep food or date many forms of cycled and doesn’t end drink fresh and this hard plastic (such as up in the bin? Here are impairs its re- garden chairs). Jaime’s top tips: cyclability. • Magazines can be re- • Please re-cycle paper, • Don’t allow paper, cycled with newspa- glass, cans, foil, cardboard or tex- pers but the system textiles (at last, a use tiles to get wet. cannot accept for those odd They cannot be re- books (take these to socks!), aerosols, cycled if wet (it charity shops) or plastics, household makes them too Yellow Pages (be- batteries and card- heavy) and must be cause of the yellow board wasted. Use your re- dye). • Containers do NOT cycling box lid (see If you haven’t got a need to be thor- below if you haven’t box, or you’d like more oughly washed, but got one). boxes (up to four per please do rinse off • You don’t have to household) call 01608 any food or food pick paper labels off 861020 and a box will products (swill out tins or bottles to be delivered to you free milk bottles) as ensure their re- of charge within five contaminated cyclability days products cannot be • Do take metal lids If you’d like a lid, re-cycled. Food is off glass or plastic just pop along to the the biggest source of bottles (but don’t council shop in Witney contamination. worry about a small (opposite the Halifax) • Squash down as metal cuff left and pick one up (lids much as you can to behind) can’t be delivered). reduce space (this Louise Atkinson applies particularly to cardboard and Advertise Here … plastic milk bottles) Advertise in The Grapevine and reach all the DO NOT PUT households in Ascott-under-Wychwood in one paper-looking milk go! or juice cartons in email: [email protected] the re-cycling box. or phone: 832163 for details. www.ascott-under-wychwood.org.uk Page 31 - Issue 46 Wychwoods Local History Society Two more meetings are Village Hall at or information about scheduled for this sea- 7.30.p.m.is ‘The Gun- the Society can be ob- son’s series of talks. The powder Plot in the Mid- tained from Wendy first on Thursday, 19th lands’ and the speaker is Pearse, 831023. Old May 2005 will be held Mairi MacDonald. and new members are at Milton Village Hall The Society’s latest welcome. Subscriptions at 7.30p.m.. The Journal number 20 will are £5 for an individual speaker Gillian Bardsley shortly be available. In- and £8 for a couple will give a talk on ‘Lord formation about this which includes a copy Nuffield and Lord Aus- Journal or indeed about of the Journal, tin-The Contrasting Per- any of the past Journals Wychwoods History, sonalities of Two Motor or the Second when published. Visi- Industry Pioneers’. The Wychwood Album tors welcome at any second on Thursday, which contains some meeting at £2 per head. 16th June at Shipton photographs of Ascott, Wendy Pearse.

The Ascott Grapevine - Page 32 Don’t forget about the Ascott website: Stars. clocks and calendars (part 1) The night sky is prob- had hardly begun, it was The moon is a very ably less familiar to us important to define the obvious heavenly body than it was to our ances- passage of the seasons in even for a casual ob- tors, whose daily rou- order to plan ahead for server and our prehis- tine was regulated by the the next sowing and har- toric farmer would have sun and who would vest. Those living in tem- been aware that it rose have seen the well- perate climates were about one hour later known pattern of con- aware that the days were each day, varying its stellations on a clear shorter and the sun rose phases with a cycle of night, unhindered by to a lesser height at mid- about 29 days from one external house and street day in the cold season, new moon to the next. lighting and vice versa in the hot This might have pro- We take for granted season; but the dura- vided him with a the planning of our lives tion of what we call a straightforward way to by time tables, diaries year would have been measure the year, as be- and calendars. We carry difficult for them to de- tween 12 & 13 moon with us the time of day. termine, as it would in- cycles would complete But have we ever volve counting about the yearly cycle corre- stopped to think how 360 days without means sponding, say, to the our ancestors managed of writing. annual harvest. without their personal time pieces and calen- dars to tell them how many shopping days there were to Christmas? Until the Industrial Revolution most peo- ple worked on the land and it was quite appro- priate for their lives to be determined by the hours of daylight. How- ever thousands of years ago when mankind was beginning to form set- tled farming communi- ties and written records

www.ascott-under-wychwood.org.uk Page 33 - Issue 46 A more precise rise or sunset at either ment from east to west method would be to the summer or the win- by a variation of the sun- notice the most north- ter solstice could equally dial, perhaps just by see- erly point of the sum- be used as an end point ing the shadow of a ver- mer sunrise, defining for the yearly cycle, tical stick in the ground. what we call the sum- though in our climate The sundial we use is mer solstice ( when the there is always the risk more accurate and has a Sun stands still ). It is of cloud obscuring the gnomon or inclined thought that a number sun at these times. Also straight edge in a North- of prehistoric monu- the change in the sunrise South direction and at ments such as Stone- position each day is an angle to the horizon- henge show such an ori- small at the solstice, tal, equal to the lati- entation, to determine compared with the equi- tude. the start of a new year. nox, when the day and The passage of the They may well have been the night are of equal hours during the day constructed for this length. has also been measured practical purpose as well The passage of time for thousands of years by as serving as a location during the day could various mechanical for religious ritual. It quite easily be measured methods such as water may be added that sun- using the Sun’s move- clocks or hour glasses

The Ascott Grapevine - Page 34 Don’t forget about the Ascott website: using sand running In ancient Egypt the about to start. This so through a narrow por- whole of the nation was called “heliacal rising” tion of a glass vessel. dependent on the an- could be identified by Later methods relied on nual flooding of the anybody without any the constancy of the Nile which produced a special training and swing of a pendulum to fertile deposit of silt similar methods may govern the movement of each year where there have been used gears that would drive would otherwise be throughout the ancient hands on a clock face. desert and it was very world to regulate the With greater refinement important to be able to farming year. the clocks could be predict the coming of As a guide to regu- made more compact the flood. It seems that lating the rest of the year and accurate. However they noticed that when the Egyptians counted all these needed to be the bright star Sirius 12 lunar months, which checked against astro- could first be seen rising was actually about 11 nomical data to main- just before dawn, that days short of a year. So tain their accuracy. the flood would be when Sirius rose late in Our prehistoric farmer would also have noticed the stars each V J Hancock & Co. Ltd night rising in the east and setting in the west and he might have been Chartered Certified Accountants aware that some stars in & Tax Advisors the northern sky never set, but seemed to A professional and friendly service revolve around what we covering audit, accounts, business call the Pole Star, which and personal taxes, tax planning, is (almost ) due north. VAT, Payroll, manual and He might also have computerised bookkeeping, noticed that the stars tailored to your requirements rise slightly earlier ( by about 4 minutes) each For a free initial consultation call night, completing a cy- cle after a year. This Valerie Hancock on 01608 641044 would actually be the Or 01993 708628 after 6pm truest measure of the duration of the year. Online brochure www.vjhancockandco.ltd.uk www.ascott-under-wychwood.org.uk Page 35 - Issue 46 the 12th month they were able to predict lu- equinoxes were unequal added another 13th nar eclipses by observing with the two quarters month to keep the an- recurring patterns. They before and after the win- nual cycle in step. The used a hexadecimal sys- ter solstice being 88 1/ administrators however tem based on the 8 days and 90 1/8 days needed a more precise number 60 which has respectively and the method than this and come down to us with quarters before and after they decreed 12 months our division of hours the summer solstice be- of 30 days each, with 5 into minutes and then ing 94 ½ days and 92 days added every year . into seconds and of cir- ½ days respectively. We Even this was not ex- cles into degrees, min- now know that this is actly right because the utes and seconds . They because the Earth’s or- year is actually about also noticed the un- bit is an ellipse, with the 365 ¼ days and they equal movement of the Sun at one focus, and did not allow for a leap sun throughout the year the Earth travels faster year, so before long the against the background when it is nearer to the calendar became seri- of the stars, which must Sun, as it is during our ously out of step. have required many northern hemisphere The Babylonians quite precise observa- winter.* from before 2000 BC tions. They realised that Roland Stedeford were making quite de- the intervals between Continued in Part 2 tailed star maps and the solstices and the (July issue)

*The dates of the solstices and equinoxes in our calendar may vary by a day from one year to the next. In 2005 the spring equinox is on 20th March, the summer solstice on 21st June, the autumn equinox on 22nd Sept. and the winter solstice on 21st December.

The Ascott Grapevine - Page 36 Don’t forget about the Ascott website: Ascott Pre-school The pre-school Easter very enjoyable Bunny hunt was held on event for all who Easter Saturday in Ascott. took part. The event was very well The Easter supported and children Bunny Hunt could be seen running came at the end around all over the village of a short but in their attempt to retrieve very successful the letter clues from the spring term. The hidden bunnies. It was visit from Ofsted great to see friends, Dads went extremely and grandparents who usu- well and the pre-school re- 47 children who now at- ally don’t come to the pre- ceived a glowing report. tend the various sessions school on a regular basis, The inspector made par- during the week. A grant turn out with the children ticular reference to the evi- for a digital camera has to make this a truly family dent happiness of the chil- been awarded by the Dis- event. It gave everyone a dren on arrival, the varied trict Liaison Panel. This chance to get to know types of reading matter will be a great help for re- Ascott better and discover available, the development cording the pre-school ac- its charms for themselves. of good conversational tivities. There were hot dogs wait- skills in all the children, The toddler group at ing back at the hall for the the well-organised sessions, the cricket pavilion on weary hunters as well as a the good use of available re- Tuesday mornings (9.30- cake stall and stalls selling sources and the open, 11.30) has been well at- toys and books. It is ex- happy communication tended. The new location pected that this has been a that takes place around the has proved very popular very good fundraiser for interesting topics for dis- and it is expected that num- the pre-school as well as a cussion. bers will further increase The three new during the spring and sum- staff have settled in mer months, as mothers/ well to their rou- carers and toddlers are able tines and work to make full use of the out- and Alison side facilities. It is hoped McCormack is that an open morning can now Vice Chair. be arranged for one Tues- There are 8 staff day in May so that more members to look people are able to take part after the total of in the fun! www.ascott-under-wychwood.org.uk Page 37 - Issue 46 Windrush Valley School

Windrush Valley lowed by the omnipres- from the Oxfordshire School is continuing ent OfSTED. Could LEA Partnership the long tradition of we, in the face of these Worker we were confi- providing quality educa- mandatory (bureau- dent of the outcome of tion for children from cratic) checks, continue the OfSTED inspec- the Wychwoods. Based to retain the confidence tion. Nevertheless it was in the former Ascott- and trust of all our par- encouraging to have con- under-Wychwood pri- ents whilst at the same firmed, yet again, our mary school, as featured time sustaining our core outstanding work with in the ITV programme philosophy of ensuring children of this age. The ‘The Way We Were’, it our children remain inspectors reported that continues in this fine happy and successful? “Windrush Valley School traditional style of com- To us, that the school provides high quality nurs- munity based educa- would succeed in the ery education. . . .” She tion. Today the second face of these challenges provided the highest generation of last night’s was not in doubt, what judgement possible in interviewee attends the was at issue was how all sectors of our provi- school and enjoys the well would we actually sion, praising in particu- benefits that high qual- do. lar the quality of our ity independent educa- Our continued regis- teaching, leadership and tion can bring. tration with the DfES management and part- This year, uniquely, should not be an issue; nership with parents, we have had to undergo after all, an independent before concluding that three stringent inde- school worth its salt “The provision is of high pendent evaluations of should never struggle to quality . . . . enabling all our provision, in order meet its legal obliga- children to make very good to demonstrate our tions, despite these be- progress”. competence as a school. ing more stringent than Our biggest challenge Firstly, we had to satisfy for similar schools in came with the ISI in- strict new registration the maintained sector. spection. Here, peer in- requirements issued by Despite this confidence spectors and HMI col- the Department for Edu- it was gratifying to re- laborated to provide us cation and Skills ceive written confirma- with what we saw as the (DfES), followed by two tion of our compliance definitive judgement of inspections, initially by in all areas. our competence, par- the prestigious Inde- Having ‘received’ ticularly as we had no pendent Schools In- three monitoring visits advance model or infor- spectorate (ISI) fol- per year for four years mation to guide us. Im-

The Ascott Grapevine - Page 38 Don’t forget about the Ascott website: agine our pleasure there- have been exceeded. rounded off yet another fore when they reported Such that, on the rec- outstanding term where that “Windrush Valley is ommendation of the ISI happy, confident, suc- a lively, happy community inspectors report, the cessful and exception- in which boys and girls school is now an offi- ally well-behaved chil- thrive.” They noted in cially accredited mem- dren confirmed their particular that “Pupils’ ber of the Independent parents’ choice of school enthusiastic attitude to Schools Association was indeed the correct learning and their very good (ISA), placing it, within one. behaviour reflect the over- its category, on par with all ethos and philosophy of every other independ- Leafield School the school which results in ent school nationally. Building and decorating them becoming confident Meanwhile, life goes at Leafield School is fi- learners. The happy family on. Seventeen children nally finished and what atmosphere and very good attended the recent a school the village now pastoral care enables all Chipping Norton music has, everyone should be pupils to thrive academi- festival, gaining two dis- very proud of this lovely cally and personally, includ- tinctions, one highly building sitting in the ing the pupils with special commended, three middle of our village educational needs.” Little commended, eight mer- green. But more impor- wonder then that they its and three promising tantly we should all be reported that “By the age awards. Visits to very proud of the excel- of eleven pupils achieve Banbury Museum, lent group of dedicated good standards for their ca- Curioxity, Coventry teachers and their assist- pabilities . . . . (and) their Transport museum and ants and all the other attitudes to learning and the cathedral extended helpers who, guided by behaviour are exemplary.” class topics. Our teams our head Mrs. Ryde, tire- High praise indeed for a took part in inter- lessly teach, encourage non-selective school. school competitive and inspire our children Needless to say, un- events including cross- to do their best every like maintained sector country, football and day. Anyone who has schools, failure to meet netball games. The term not visited the school the demands of any of ended with an excellent recently should take the these independent ex- end-of-term concert time to do so, you will ternal inspections where pupils of all ages see just what a gem is would have led to the and abilities entertained here on our doorstep. quick demise of the their parents with songs, We had a superb of- school. Thankfully, not instrumentals, recitals, ficial open day on a only have these de- readings and dance. This sunny 19th of March. mands been met, they excellent concert The children enjoyed www.ascott-under-wychwood.org.uk Page 39 - Issue 46 being at School on a Sat- danced but diced with parents a very informa- urday and made all of death and made every- tive evening exhibition those who were there one laugh. This was fol- with talks, pictures and feel very proud of them lowed by the egg catch- video production. A and their school. For ing and throwing com- very successful spon- those of you who were petition enjoyed by all sored spell was held unable to be there you who took part with not which not only inspired missed some amazing too many ending up the children to learn treats. The children per- with egg on their faces some difficult spellings formed and entertained as the eggs seemed to but also raised valuable us all throughout the have very hard shells and funds towards play- event with country bounced far too many ground equipment. dancing, gymnastics, times before breaking. A number of children singing and playing mu- Many thanks to all the have been having great sical instruments. Great children, staff and help- fun playing tag rugby af- refreshments were ers who made it such a ter school. Some of our served continuously, successful event. children attended a the craft room and raf- As to school activi- string workshop in Ox- fle were very well sup- ties, the group of 30 ford which they thor- ported and the finale (years 4, 5 and 6) spent oughly enjoyed finishing must have been the an excellent week at up by playing in a con- world travelled enter- Yenworthy in North cert under the guidance tainer Rex Boyd, who Devon at the end of of some excellent teach- not only juggled and November and gave the ers. A group of children

The Ascott Grapevine - Page 40 Don’t forget about the Ascott website: took part in a Cross have purchased dining school lots of activities Country competition room furniture, storage have taken place with at Cokethorpe School, cupboards, a new donations going to a a Tag Rugby Tourna- school sign, blinds for variety of causes includ- ment and KS2 children the hall and a play shed ing the recent Tsunami performed ‘Owl and the for Foundation. There appeal, and comic re- Pussycat’ at a Music Fes- are always plenty of re- lief. tival at Burford School sources a small school For any further infor- with other partnership like Leafield needs mation please contact primaries and then to which are not provided the school secretary Mrs parents in school. automatically, so fund Deb Brown on 01993 We are very grateful raising is very impor- 878273. to the Friends of tant. However, apart Vicky Greves Leafield School who from raising funds for Sport Wychwood Youth The Wychwood Foot- The team has been Oxfordshire Football ball Committee, Man- playing for many sea- Association in time for ager and Players made sons and had an excel- next season who organ- the reluctant decision to lent squad. We are all ise League games for all withdraw the Youth very disappointed but the younger age groups team from the Inter this decision was made in Youth Football. Counties Youth League very reluctantly in view The team will be pre- after they played only of the very few teams sented with their An- four games from No- left in the League. This nual Awards on Satur- vember to next sched- particular age group of day 7th May at the uled League game on 3rd Under 18’s will prob- Beaconsfield Hall April. The final decision ably be taken over by the Paul Marsh was made after the fix- Bed & Breakfast ture for the 13th March was called off because In Ascott the opposition couldn’t raise a team. This left the Excellent independent ensuite rooms Wychwood team with- for your friends or relatives coming to stay. out a fixture for six Children welcome. weeks and not confident of playing many more games. Please ring Mrs. Ingrid Ridley 01993 830612 www.ascott-under-wychwood.org.uk Page 41 - Issue 46 I Love to Run!! Yes, that’s right! Call strong friend- me crazy, mad, insane, ship bonds I’ve heard them all be- formed. With- fore! But, it’s true, run- out a club full ning has become part of of encourage- me, it’s within me, ment and something I have to do friendly sup- to retain my ‘feel good’ port, it’s hard energy, which without, for young ath- my life would be very letes to find different! the motivation I was 7 years old to do well and when my Dad took me go places. To along to my local run- them, I owe ning club ‘Witney Road my thanks for Runners.’ Being one of a club which gave me the very first girls to join ambition and confi- ple of bad seasons which the club I was so nerv- dence, not just in run- really affected me psycho- ous and shy, but soon ning, but also within logically, making me became very competi- myself. never want to run again, tive with the boys and I At 13, I was ap- but because of Allen, and started to love what I proached by my also my friends and fam- was doing. I saw it as present coach, who of- ily, I came out a stronger fun, social and exciting; fered me his experience person, realising that the but now, 11 years on, it and guidance, to help only way one can is perhaps more of a se- me progress further as progress is to learn where rious matter. My goal is a young athlete. Allen you went wrong. to perform to my poten- has been amazing, plan- Recently, my cross- tial, to race the best and ning tough training ses- country season finished to ultimately win the sions, taking me round for another year, which highest of competition the country to com- has been my best achieve- that I realistically can pete, but most of all, ment so far. Over the achieve. he has been a loyal winter, a different train- Witney Road Run- friend. Like everyone, ing programme made me ners have been fantastic I experience highs and into a stronger runner over the years, really sup- lows and he has been and I travelled all over portive, caring and mo- there to share them the UK competing in the tivational with some with. I have had a cou- National Reebok Cross

The Ascott Grapevine - Page 42 Don’t forget about the Ascott website: Country Challenge, fin- that the point, even your running shoes on ishing within the top 20 though painful at times, and just run ½ a mile on most occasions, 8th will one day definitely down the road…..this is in Belfast and 9th in Car- be rewarded and will if you dare…..you might diff, gave me an overall send me closer to the just catch the bug!! UK rank of 9th. I also goals I want to reach. Elysia Ridley became the under 20’s One of my favourite Oxfordshire Cham- quotes, which always pion. lifts me up whenever Running has become something hasn’t gone more than just a hobby quite the way I planned, Congratulations & to me, but the person is, ‘never dwell in the Well done! who has been my rock past, look around you, to over the years and espe- you’re missing the good Nicola Gomm cially this long, hard stuff!’. If after you have who completed the winter is my mum. In read this, (and thanks London Marathon times when I ask myself for taking the time to in only ‘what’s the point?’ my read it!), you still think 3 hours 3 minutes! mum makes me realise how crazy I must be, put Ski Trip At five o’clock in the having ski lessons were fine but spent the next morning on the 28th put into groups, with morning resting. March 2005 a double- some people who had On the 1st April decker bus was waiting skied before taking part Brian took a group of to take Brian Ridley’s in a ski off, where they experienced skiers to the ski party to Heathrow skied down a slope and nearby resort of airport. The whole bus were put into groups Wengen. Despite a few was bubbling with ex- according to their abil- skis and poles going citement but I was ready ity. The people who missing due to April to go back to bed. By weren’t having lessons Fools Day, they re- half past three in the af- skied in little groups turned having had a ternoon we were in our without an instructor in great time. hotel in Murren and get- the morning and then The weather was glo- ting on with the fitting some went with Brian in rious all week, hot, of ski boots and skis the afternoon. There bright sunshine so we ready for the next day’s was only one injury in skied in t-shirts and fac- activities. the second day, Lydia tor sixty sun screen. The On the second day Harrison who dented a hot sun made the snow the people who were bone in her leg. She was quite slushy in the after- www.ascott-under-wychwood.org.uk Page 43 - Issue 46 noons but it didn’t stop Purvis third. There were the train down to anybody enjoying their ski lessons in the after- Lauterbrunnen and trav- skiing. noon but some of the elled back to the airport. At the top of the ca- children skied with their We arrived back in Eng- ble car lift, right on top parents. There was a par- land at around seven of the mountain is the ticularly funny fall when o’clock and were back Schilthorn revolving res- Adie White (one of the in the Wychwoods for taurant. It was built for most experienced skiers) half past nine. the James Bond film went backwards into a There is one person “On Her Majesty’s Se- tree and several people that we’re all thinking cret Service” and gives a have picture and even about, Bob James had a spectacular view of the video clips of the inci- bad fall and broke two Jungfrau, Eiger and dent. vertebrae in his back, we Monch. Most of us went ski- wish him a speedy recov- On Sunday there was ing on Monday until ery. I’m sure everyone a slalom race for all the lunchtime when we had wants to thank Brian children in ski lessons. to take our skis and Ridley for organising the They all did very well boots back to the hire amazing ski trip to with Ben Varnam com- shop and pack up for Murren. ing first, Helen Dunstall another year. At one Lizzie Currie. second and Emma o’clock everyone caught

The Ascott Grapevine - Page 44 Don’t forget about the Ascott website: Ascott Cricket Club 2005

Another May ap- May 8th, 15th, 22nd and so if you’re the slightest proaches, another sea- 29th. bit interested in cricket son begins for Ascott June 5th, 19th and 26th. please feel free to con- CC, this year under new July 10th and 17th. tact me on 01993 leadership. The AGM August 7th, 14th and 831916, membership saw Brent Barnes voted 28th for the season is £30 for in as club captain, in his We enjoyed a fair bit seniors (over 16) and absence I might add. of support from the vil- £12.50 for juniors (un- Don’t miss Ascott CC’s lage last season for der 16), some of us will AGM’s, you never know which we are all thank- be looking for a reduc- what you might get ful. It would be nice to tion in this fee as veter- voted in to do! see similar numbers this ans!!! Match fee on the Ascott have 19 fix- year, even if it’s only to day is £4 for seniors and tures in place for 2005, have a laugh at our ex- £2.50 for juniors. 12 of which are at pense! Clive Jowett home, the dates for the We are still on the home fixtures are as fol- lookout for new players lows: / members for the club

The “Post Office” Stores Milton-under-Wychwood

Open: Mon.-Fri. 7am - 5:30pm (Closed 1-2 for lunch) Open Saturday 7am - 1:00pm & Sunday 8am - 12 noon

Post Office Services Available at ‘The Swan’, Ascott Monday 10:30am - 12:30pm Bank Holiday Excepted

John, Edna & Staff will be please to serve you with newspapers and magazines, greeting cards, fresh bread. Fresh flowers for all occasions Agents for: Sherlocks Dry Cleaners Abbeycolor Photo Processing Link Cash Machine Tel no: Shipton-under-Wychwood 830213 www.ascott-under-wychwood.org.uk Page 45 - Issue 46 Tiddy Hall

. Regular Activities Special Events Monday to Thursday Wednesday Evenings Tiddy Hall AGM Mornings Pre-School- Badminton. Contact Wednesday 22 June Contact Pauline Plant Chris Morgan 01993 at 8 pm. 07968006451 831958.

Friday Mornings Thursday Evenings To book the Tiddy Mother and Toddler Yoga. Contact Chris Set- Hall contact: Group. Contact ters 01608 676236 Rosemary Dawbarn Pauline Plant 01993 831632. 07968006451. Saturday Mornings Dog Training. Contact Tuesday Evenings Sharon Wilson 01993 Yoga. Contact David 831801. Billham 01993 842061. FARMERS MARKETS 2005 rd Leafield Picture Framing Witney - 3 Thursday of the Month (Tony Croft) Woodstock - 1st Satur- Complete Picture Framing Service day of the Month Mount Cutting Chipping Norton - 4th Wash Lining Friday of the Month Tapestry Stretching Charlbury - Quarterly Door to door delivery and collection on Saturdays (Dates to Home consultation if required be Confirmed) Further details from Please telephone 01993 878357 or call Thames Valley Farm- ers’ Market Associa- Tony Croft tion on: Cotswold View, Ascott Road, Leafield 0870 2414762 or For Free Estimate or Further Details visit the web site at: ww.tvfm.co.uk

The Ascott Grapevine - Page 46 Don’t forget about the Ascott website: Choral Evensong

On Sunday 1st May at the Book of Common choral music and the 6.00 pm in Ascott-un- Prayer]. The Wheatsheaf Book Of Common der-Wychwood Consort from Banbury Prayer, please do come Church there will be a will be singing the serv- along. Choral Evensong for ice with music by Bryd Rogation Sunday [for and others. If you like

Wychwood Library Could you be a Bereavement Opening Times Monday: 2pm to 5pm/ 6pm to 7.30pm Support Visitor? Wednesday: 10am to Do you: noon/2pm to 5pm • Have around 12 hours a month to spare? Friday: 2pm to 5pm/ • Have your own transport? 6pm to 7.30pm • Enjoy a challenge? • Saturday: Want to make a difference? 9.30am to noon Are you: • Warm and empathic? Summer Story • A good listener? Times • Able to cope with other people’s sadness? Wednesdays: 3.45 to 4.00p.m. We provide: • Full training commencing September 2005 • Ongoing support and supervision Watch out for details in • Travel and phone expenses the Library of Summer • Rewarding work in a friendly and supportive Reading Scheme and a team Colouring Competi- tion. Come along to one of our Beryl Brown, INTRODUCTORY SESSIONS Library Manager in May or June to find out about our work and meet 01993 830281 some of our existing volunteers For details please phone Jane Elliott or Di Rivers on: (01865) 225878 We do not recommend this work for those who have been bereaved within the last two years www.ascott-under-wychwood.org.uk Page 47 - Issue 46 Providence House, 49 High Street, Burford, Oxfordshire OX18 4QA 01993 824800

Dashwood House, Shipton Road, Milton Under Wychwood, Oxford- shire OX7 6JH Tel: 01993 832288

Email: [email protected] Website: www.wychwoods.com Associated Park Lane Office Wychwoods Estate Agents Ltd t/a Wychwoods

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