Our Quarterly Newsletter March 2018 Number 72

The Fulbrook News Our Quarterly Newsletter March 2018 Number 72

In this issue:  The latest news on our clubs and activities  Report from the FaB WI  Fulbrook News and Views with your views, comments & articles from within Fulbrook  An update from our local MP, Robert Courts, who has also become a postal subscriber to our Newsletter.  News from the Rotary Club of Burford & Kingham  An invitation to Volunteer with the Wychwood Project

 News of the Local Elections taking Planting the new tree near the War Memorial by Sally place on Thursday May 3rd and Peter Wyatt, their granddaughter Madeleine, and Bob Tivey.  What’s going on at the FMP & the Diary The tree is a Japanese Flowering Cherry to replace  News and forthcoming events from the Golden Locust which died last year. Before that Fulbrook Church there had been another Japanese Cherry on the same spot for many years and hopefully this one will grow  A new recipe from our new Chef and provide shade and blossom in the spring like its  Do read on . . . . . predecessor.

WANTED for publication! Please send us your articles, comments, ideas, letters, poems, whatever. This is your Newsletter – please send contributions to our email address: [email protected] Next Issue: June 2018, Copy Date – Thursday 10th May 2018 The Fulbrook Newsletter is distributed free to every household in the village. Subscription copies are available by post at £5.00 per annum from the distribution office at Dolphin House, Westhall Hill, OX18 4BJ

Dear Readers, The snowdrops and aconites have been looking beautiful, as have the lovely cyclamen in the Churchyard, and now the daffodil buds are showing, ready for spring which I hope will burst upon us soon. Also I’ve noticed moles are being very busy pushing up their hills in the fields, but I am praying that they won’t decide to move into the garden to join the rabbits and the muntjac and completely destroy the lawn. It has been a cold winter with power cuts, snow, wind, rain and a lot of illness in the village in varying degrees of severity. Our thoughts particularly go out to Jan Park, Corinne Titcomb, Peggy Hayward and Sebastian Lyle, not forgetting Kathy Hedigan whose mother, Doreen Newsham, passed away recently. Congratulations to Sally Radcliffe who has a new granddaughter, Aura. Christmas seems a long time ago but those of us who went to the marvellous Septura Concert in Burford Church a few days before will not forget that, nor Brian Kay telling the story of The Nutcracker. The Knights must be so very proud of Matthew, their son, the trombonist, and founder of this innovative group of Brass players. We are lucky to catch them between performances around the world. The good news is that some potholes have been repaired in Beech Grove and on the A361, however there are many more to be done. Should you find new potholes you can now report them on www.fixmystreet.com which goes straight to the Council who will inform you when they are fixed. Once reported should any car be damaged by those potholes it is the responsibility of the Council to pay the owner compensation. While we are on the subject of roads you may not know that, in an attempt to slow down the traffic through Fulbrook, local volunteers have donned yellow jackets and will zap anyone going over 30 mph, so beware, speedsters, you will be zapped and reported to the police. Three zaps and you’ll be prosecuted. As you see from the front page photograph we now have a cherry tree by the memorial. The previous tree died and this one has been very kindly donated to us and planted by the Wyatts and Bob Tivey, for which we thank them greatly. It will be a lovely sight. On Saturday April 21st at 10 am there will be the Spring Village Clear Up. Do come along to help, if you have a strong pair of gloves and some secateurs all the better, but it is worthwhile and ends up at the FMP for a well earned cup of delicious tea and cakes afterwards. Don’t forget the Annual Plant Sale on May 12th and don’t be late as things are snapped up extremely quickly - every year I’m late and what I’m looking for has invariably gone! This year we have another Open Gardens Day, on June 10th. Let us hope the weather will be kind as the gardens are always wonderful and the gardeners work hard to make them so. It really is worth visiting as many as you can. We are very sad to lose our curate, Rob Wainwright who has been appointed Chaplain and Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford. We congratulate him and wish him well. A tea party to show our appreciation and thanks for all his work in Fulbrook is going to be held for him in our Church on March 18th to which all are welcome. Our new curate, Oliver Strange, is coming in June with his wife Lucy and we hope they will be happy in our Benefice. Last, but not least, we have a new Semi-Naked Chef: Professor Peter Burns who has kindly agreed to take over. He was a professional chef before his academic life, so we have some interesting recipes to look forward to. Many thanks, of course, to the previous anonymous Semi-Naked Chef who has given us such a quantity of varied and delicious meals over a number of years. What about publishing a Collection of Newsletter Recipes? We are very lucky to have such culinary talent in the village prepared to share their recipes, it could be a winner! Diana Brown

Editorial Team: Hon. Secretary & Distributor: Jenny Jones, Meadow House, Meadow Lane, 823492 Hon. Treasurer & Compiler: Laurence Balbes, Meadow Way Cottage, Meadow Lane, 823990 Advertising: Lesley Beveridge, Meadow View, Arkel Close, 824352 Local Correspondent & Distributor: Diana Brown, Dolphin House, Westhall Hill, 8221472 ( Editorial this issue) Lyn Bibbings Burns, Garden House, Dolphin Lane, 823640 FULBROOK, OXFORDSHIRE Tricia Picking, Bob Warner, Lynn Weir, Peter Burns, Walford Ingleby or current PARISH COUNCIL Chairman: Parish Clerk Jo Glyde. Wally Ingleby 822192  Please let the Parish Council know what Councillors: you think about any of the above or other Peter Burns 823640 (VC) issues. Meetings of FPC are held at the Tricia Picking 822287 Meeting Place at the back of the church Bob Warner 822761 Lyn Newland 07810 088374 and the following date has been set for the next meeting:- Parish Clerk: 5th March 2018 @ 7.30pm Jo Glyde All are welcome at these meetings. ([email protected]) Don’t forget the website: Pipkin, Beech Grove, Fulbrook, OX18 4DF www.fulbrookvillage.net Telephone 823023 www.fulbrookvillage.net Walford Ingleby Chairman

FULBROOK PARISH COUNCIL From the Parish Clerk: There has been one Parish Council meeting held since the last Newsletter, the date of which was 15th Community Speedwatch January 2018. The Parish Council has invested in a radar gun and Points to Note are:- arranged training for 22 willing volunteers who are  Amenities Committee. The committee helping to slow the traffic through the village on the organized a very successful Carol singing A361. Since the beginning of January we have held throughout the village which was attended at least 3 sessions per week which has resulted in at by a large group of village residents who least 63 drivers being sent letters by the Police. The were in splendid voice. highest speed we have monitored is 46mph.  Speeding through the village is a constant source of concern for all. We have now I think we all realise that this is just the tip of the completed the initial training of our 20 plus iceberg, but we know that every time we are by the volunteers and sessions are regularly roadside, car drivers are more aware of their speed catching 10 to 15 culprits who are being and do slow down. This is partly the effect of the Hi reported to Thames Valley Police. viz jackets, but also, I hope, that the drivers see the  January saw the planting of the new tree Speedwatch volunteers as a hazard. at the war memorial, kindly donated by It is amazingly difficult to monitor the speed and the Wyatt family and the Tivey family. then record all the necessary details required by the The Parish Council would like to express police for checking the vehicles, but we are all their sincere thanks and appreciation to getting better. As I walk in the morning I now test all who not only made the donation but myself on the make and model of the vehicles in the also undertook the hard work of removing traffic! The petrol heads among us are really good at the old dead tree and planting the new recognising models and makes. It needs a huge one. Many thanks for this tremendous amount of concentration to get all the necessary effort which will ready us for the information, so please forgive us if we cannot chat. ceremonies to mark the 100th anniversary Hopefully our efforts will encourage drivers to slow of World War 1. down, not only in Fulbrook but in the other  We will have a vacancy for a Parish Clerk surrounding villages also. in May 2018. As you know this is a part Richard Newport has very kindly offered to take time paid post. The search is on for a over the administration of Community Speedwatch candidate who will have an interest in from the Parish Clerk. Thank you, Richard. taking forward the already good works

done by Jo and Phil Glyde on behalf of the

Parish Council. Anyone interested in the

position can register their interest by

contacting any of the Parish Councillors

Dates for your diary: switched for replicas in cubic zirconia and the Saturday April 21st – Village clear up originals were transferred to a safe in Tim’s office. Saturday May 12th – Plant Sale – at Woodgrove Tim told us about two aborted raids on the Dome, House, by kind permission of Mr and Mrs R one by boat which had to be aborted when the Newport. engine failed. However, when the closure of the Dome at the end of November 2000 was announced, The parish clerk sends out a fortnightly e-mail with the raiders planned their raid for 7th November when details of events in the FMP, planning applications there would be a high tide which was necessary for and other information from the local and county their planned escape but due to their surveillance the council. If you would like to be added to this list police were aware of their intentions and had 67 please e mail Jo at [email protected] armed officers inside the Dome plus more on the Jo Glyde river bank and helicopter coverage. Parish Clerk th 01993 823023 The raid started at 9.30 am on 7 November with the raiders smashing their way into the Dome using a THE FULBROOK FORUM JCB digger. They got into the exhibition and were attempting to smash the display case containing the 7th December 2017 – The Millennium Star by Millennium Star with nail guns and sledgehammers Tim Thorn when the Flying Squad pounced and arrested all 7 Tim Thorn, who was formerly Director of Security members of the gang. Tim showed us photos of the for De Beers, told us about the Millennium Star, display case after the attempt to break into it. which was the main target of an attempted diamond They were tried 6 months later at the Old Bailey and robbery from an exhibition in the Millennium Dome received sentences of up to 18 years imprisonment. in November 2000. The Flying Squad had foiled what would have Tim first told us how in 1996, a 776 carat ‘shiny become the biggest robbery in history at the time. rock’ was found by two young boys playing football The audience gave Tim a warm round of applause in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo). for a fascinating talk. Their father recognised it as a diamond and took it to De Beers who offered him $4.5 million which he 1 February - My Times in Burford by Peter accepted as long as the money was paid in $100 Harris bills. Peter spent most of his career in the antiques trade De Beers employed three of the world’s best master working for Frank Williams. In 1942 Frank cutters and a master polisher who produced the negotiated the purchase of the shop which is now the Millennium Star, a pear-shaped, flawless, 203 carat Oxford Shirt Company. In the 70’s and 80’s the diamond with an estimated value of £200 million. It High Street had a proliferation of antique shops. Out was the centrepiece of an exhibition by De Beers in of the 29 at the time, there were 3 main dealers in the Millennium Dome which also included 11 rare Burford; Roger Warner, Frank Williams and the blue diamonds and had a total value of £350 million. Bowermans. Following the Second World War, Tim told us about the security measures at the when Brize Norton was an American Air base, many exhibition which included the construction of a of the customers were from America. Furniture concrete bunker with armoured glass display cases, lorries were a common sight on the High Street as CCTV and listening devices. Despite these antiques were transported from dealer to dealer and measures, Tim was notified by the police that they dealers to private customers, many of whom were had received a tip-off that a raid on the exhibition shipping antiques to the USA. Peter shared with us was planned and that Kent Police had under many amusing encounters with illustrious surveillance a gang who had made two unsuccessful customers, including the Duchess of Marlborough, raids on security vans and had made their escape in Princess Margaret and Elizabeth Taylor. inflatable boats. Members of the gang had been seen visiting the Dome, filming the surrounding river and jetty and testing a speedboat in a harbour in Kent. As a result Tim arranged for the diamonds to be

Future Fulbrook Forum meetings 3pm in the Carpenters Arms, Fulbrook: HISTORY GROUP

1 March Norway; Land Sea and Air by At our latest meeting on 8th January 2018 Maurice Hugh Woodsend. Come along for a Eldridge showed us some photographs given to the cruise, a flight in an F16, a visit to the History Group by Joan Smith which include one of Ice Hotel, and a trip on the scenic Fulbrook Sunday School in 1896 which includes Rauma railway. Joan’s father Enos Sellers Smith at the age of about 10 and one of the Coronation Day children’s fancy 5 April A Moment in Time - The Cotswold dress party in May 1937. Life of John and Thomas Keble by th Allan Ledger. Two 18 century Maurice also showed us an article from The Oxford brothers who were local academic Times dated 25 December 1909 reporting on the Clerics and who made their marks on Fulbrook School Prize Distribution that he found in both Oxford University and Cotswold The British Newspaper Archive which he subscribes villages. to. There are many recognisable names among the prizewinners including Harvey Crook and Maurice’s 3 May Crime on Your Doorstep by grandfather Walter Eldridge and great uncle Arthur Darryn Moulding, our PCSO. Eldridge. Learn about distraction crime, fraud and general crime prevention We have received an enquiry via the Parish Clerk from Mrs Judi Alexander of Melbourne, Australia 7 June The fascinating story of Benjamin who is trying to find further information about her Britten’s 1963 War Requiem by Great Great Great Grandparents, William and Jane Brian Kay, who will introduce us to Lunn, who lived in Dolphin Lane when the 1871 the work, together with some Census was taken. She is trying to establish which recorded excerpts, in preparation for house in Dolphin Lane they lived at. William and the Burford Singers performance later Jane are buried in St James the Great churchyard in the month. and Mrs Alexander has visited the church and their grave several times and is coming again in April Please put our future meetings in your diary. If you 2018. If anyone has any information that we could would like a diary reminder about 1 week before pass on to Mrs Alexander please could they notify me on 823990. each meeting, email [email protected] with your email address. Our next meeting will be on Monday 16th April 2018 All meetings are held at the Carpenters Arms, at 7.30 pm at Triggers Cottage, Meadow Lane. We Fulbrook, by kind permission of the Landlords Dan welcome guests to our meetings, so if you are & Frankie Fowkes at 3pm. £2 donation to include interested in the history of the village or if you have tea, coffee and refreshments. any information to contribute to our research you are Oliver Sharpley welcome to join us. Laurence Balbes AMENITIES GROUP Saturday April 21st – 10.00 am – Village Clear NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH up. March 2018 Please gather in the FMP for well-deserved tea and Safer Communities, Safer Fulbrook cake after the clear up. LOCAL ACTIVITY UPDATE Saturday May 12th – 10.00 am – Annual Plant Sale Date for your diary with The Fulbrook Forum: Please come along to Woodgrove House for plants, 3.00pm 3 May 2018, Carpenter’s Arms, cakes, bric-a-brac, raffle, tombola, bacon rolls and Fulbrook. much more. Darryn Moulding, (Police, PCSO, West Malcolm Taylor Oxfordshire), will be giving us the benefit of his and 5 the Police’s knowledge and experience with a talk - does your insurance cover you for personal on ‘Crime on your doorstep’. Please come along… identity theft? - thinking of renewing your insurance – it’s worth Scams checking on www.moneysupermarket.com to see There have been a few in this past period which I what deals are available and best suited to your have circulated in my Alerts: employment fraud situation. alert, fake government grants fraud alert, phantom debt fraud alert. Be scam aware… Your Car - check the small print of your car (or home) Community Speedwatch insurance to make sure you are covered for the Thanks to everyone who has volunteered to support valuables you leave in your car. Many people this initiative – it’s now underway in Fulbrook in an leave smart phones, laptops, handbags and effort to slow traffic and encourage drivers to drive expensive sunglasses in their car without a within the statutory speed limit within our village. second thought. All of these are items of interest Please be aware of this initiative – you don’t want to to opportunistic thieves. Make sure you know be caught by your neighbours who are manning the what cover you have. And make sure items of radar gun!!! All volunteers welcome, please contact value are always placed in the boot of your car - Jo Glyde at [email protected] out of sight. - many insurers allow anyone to drive your car Burglaries and Vehicle Crimes (with your permission) in a medical emergency Unfortunately, given the time of the year, as we its worth checking if yours does. Handy to approached Christmas, we have seen an increase in know…! burglaries and vehicle crimes in the Oxfordshire - if hiring a car abroad, be clear on what contents area including a couple locally. I do circulate details insurance is included - personal items such as of these local crimes in my email Alerts – let me golf clubs or jewellery may not be covered if left know if you want to be added to the distribution list. in the car, even if you are only away from the car for five minutes. INSURANCE FOCUS – are you really covered if things go wrong? On Holiday - be clear on what your travel insurance covers you Please take some time to focus on the insurances for regarding any valuables you may take abroad. you have in place for your home, car and holidays - Consider what you pack in your ‘aircraft hold’ in the spirit of protecting you/your belongings, it’s luggage v’s hand carry / cabin luggage. make worth the time and effort. With many folks now sure your case is secure and easily identifiable thinking ahead to holidays, as the better weather when it comes off the carousel. approaches, it’s worth taking a little time (on a rainy - it is recommended that you don’t put your home day!) to make sure you are properly covered should address on any luggage tags until you are anything happen to your home, or to you, whilst you returning to the UK – to avoid alerting thieves to are away… Remember YOU ARE YOUR OWN the fact that you are away from home and your INSURER!! home is unoccupied Your Home - and don’t forget to take a list of emergency - does your home insurance truly reflect both the telephone numbers and policy details with you value of your home ‘building’ today and the when abroad so if you need to contact insurers, ‘contents' within? Burford estate agents travel agents, neighbours you have the details to sometimes offer free valuations so it’s worth hand. getting the value of your home checked. Stay safe and be prepared! - have you been gifted something of value in recent years which needs to be itemised on your If you see something, report it! In an emergency insurance - perhaps a family heirloom or an item dial 999. Otherwise contact Thames Valley of jewellery that you may not know the value of? Police on 101. - are you properly insured for the technology you use in your home - smart phones, smart TVs, Jim MacAllan laptops, head phones etc? Is your ‘find my Email: [email protected] device’ app enabled?

AN INVITATION TO ALL WHO MIGHT We are 3 very different local artists who have a ENJOY SOME ORIGINAL ART mutual appreciation for each other's work. I hope lots of you might want to come and be For any who don't know me, I'm Sally Wyatt and creatively inspired. I've lived in Fulbrook since 1991. I'm an artist who paints with Watercolour, Oil or the ancient medium Sally Wyatt of Egg Tempera. I paint expressively, abstracting elements from drawings of plants and landscapes. Here is the latest contribution from our resident I want to thank everybody who's given me support poet Joanna Lynham: in the last few years and I would like to invite all Fulbrook Newsletter readers to come along to any of Seduction in a London Hotel my next local exhibitions. Love it or hate it, we artists love to provoke emotional reaction and to talk Agile as a cat on the prowl, battle-scarred, confident about the pure pleasure and sense of wellbeing we He woos the young female with purring charm find in being creative. It truly isn't all about selling, Knows all the angles, when to advance just looking is just fine. Retreat, offer a smile, a compliment, a cigarette Smooth operator, sure of success Beyond Observation. West Ox Art Gallery. Town Hall, Bampton. Open Tues - Sat 11.30-4.30. 31st And she, barely left the kitten basket, March- 21st April. Drinks reception Sat 7th April Whiskers primed, courting – what? 12-2pm. Everyone welcome. I'm exhibiting with artist Nicki Heenan. We have Will he have his way, his moment much in common as artists. We both have science Discarding the pretty kitten form backgrounds, we love wilderness, our palettes are Casually as he picked it up? similar, but our processes are very different. I will Or is she the hunter, a female of her generation be showing some work inspired by Cornish coastal Intent on advancement, eyes bright, claws sheathed walking and plants observed in my garden and on Waiting to pounce? local walks this winter. Nicki's collection focuses on The Avon which flows past her Cotswold house Who knows? near Malmsbury. We will be doing a collaborative I wish them well whatever happens. talk/ demo and also running a workshop together. JL Beginners welcome. Contact the gallery for dates yet to be confirmed. Oxfordshire Artweeks Festival. Sally Wyatt Open Studio. Star Cottage, Meadow Lane, Fulbrook,

Burford. OX18 4BW Open daily Midday- 6pm 5th- 11th May. I will show some new work and have a studio sale of older pieces. Visitors will be able look at sketches, works in progress and disasters too. 'Have a go' at my kitchen table. I'm often asked if l offer workshops and I would like to gather names and thoughts from anyone who might be interested. A glass of wine on opening day, also tea and cake. The Gardens Gallery. The Park, Montpellier, Cheltenham 23rd-29th May. Full details to be arranged. I'm planning to exhibit new work inspired by the West Coast of Ireland, in a group exhibition with landscape artists Betty Harrison and Mike Duckering. 7

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2018 is a very important landmark in the ongoing history of the WI in Burford and Fulbrook. It was during 1918 the group was first formed and, therefore, this will be our centenary year. We intend to publically mark achieving this great age with a celebratory lunch on the 7th July in the Warwick Hall. We would like to share our celebration with our friends and as many past and present WI members as possible. If you (or someone you know) have ever been a member of Burford and Fulbrook WI, even for a few months, please contact Angela Weller on 01993 822102 or [email protected] and we would be delighted to include you in our celebration. We hope this will be gateway to our next hundred years offering friendship, education and stimulating discussion to the women of the area. There is a lot of laughter at our meetings and we hope this will be infectious.

2017 ended abruptly for us as our December meeting, which was due to host the amazing Rosie from Rosie Red

Corsetry and Couture, had to be cancelled due to the untimely snowfall but we made up for the disappointment by starting 2018 with a delightful dinner at the Bull Hotel in Burford. There was a warm welcome from our hosts, lots of laughs, delicious food and a great atmosphere. At our February meeting we had the pleasure of hosting Jenny Maxwell who told us the fascinating story of her travels in India and her subsequent setting up of a children’s pre-school charity in the country.

We have a very mixed programme planned and future speakers for early 2018 include Christine Wallace, a Great

British Bake-Off contestant, who will tell us about her experience on and off screen, Kirsty Southgate from

Bower and Baily Solicitors talking about Inheritance Tax planning and the Brakespeare Clinic at Milton-under-

Wychwood telling us how to manage our aches and pains. The next outing of the FaB WI Walking group will be on the 2nd of March. We will be spreading our wings and leaving the immediate environs of Burford and Fulbrook to enjoy a walk around the Sherbourne Estate. Our walks are open to everyone and not just WI members; they are relatively gentle and between 4-5 miles long. Well-behaved dogs are welcome to join us too. The start time is 10 a.m. from the Carpenter’s Arms in Fulbrook and transport when needed will be shared. Contact Sue on 07966 153797 or [email protected] for further details of the future programme.

Our Book Club meets monthly and is open to anyone who loves reading, not just WI members. Meetings in 2018 will be held 7.30 p.m. at the Burford House Hotel on the 2nd Monday of each month. Contact Sara Hall at the Madhatter’s Bookshop on the High Street for details of the books being read. Our members also enjoy a monthly Lunch Club and a Theatre Group.

We are a small and very friendly group and you are most welcome to join us as a guest to enjoy interesting talks and meet people from your local community. There is a suggested donation of £4.50 for guests. We meet every second Tuesday of the month at 7.30 p.m. in the Warwick Hall. Contact our President Angela Weller, as above, for further details.

Angela Weller

The purpose of Fulbrook News and Views Fulbrook News and Views From the Editorial Team...... is to highlight issues or interests within the village. For this to work successfully In this issue we include an update from our local MP Robert Courts, news from the Rotary Club we need contributions from as many

of Burford & Kingham, news of upcoming readers as possible. As you can see here, events for the Burford Orchestra and the these can be of a serious, flippant or Burford Singers, an invitation to volunteer with The Wychwood Project and much more ...... humorous nature

A conversation with . . . .

Angela Weller more accessible than deepest Herefordshire as their family members were setting up homes in London and Bristol. They had been looking for quite some time in the area and snapped up Ivy Cottage as soon as it came on the market. More or less immediately Angela was getting involved in village life, to begin with a member of the Amenities Committee. As such she rolled up her sleeves and went to work on various village projects including helping to organise a cricket match, sports day, not to mention the village clean-up. She is currently on the speed watch team monitoring traffic through the village. For as long as she can remember she has been on a Parochial Church Council (PCC) and the Burford Benefice is no exception. She holds the position of Secretary and is responsible for drawing up agendas, writing the Minutes of meetings (there are 4 per year), administration and correspondence. She admits that she is not a fundraiser but enjoys being involved in the general management of the church. She takes her turn with the flowers in church, has sewn kneelers, been a reader and undertakes tasks as required to help in any way she can. So, what for? What does the church bring to Angela? “It offers me a When we approached Angela about this spiritual home - somewhere I can be comfortable conversation she said “Why do you want to so that I can express my faith.” She believes that feature me when I’m sure there is someone much the church provides a sense of community to all more interesting to do?” and Martin, Angela’s and, when used as a meeting place, is very husband, said “Make it up so that it will be effective in delivering events for everyone to interesting!”. Well the conversation that followed enjoy. It is a great use of space! revealed an active member of our community, always ready to have a go. You can decide if it’s Another major part of Angela’s life is the made up or not! Women’s Institute (WI). Some years ago she was in the Mason’s Arms when Tally Nelson asked Angela and Martin came to live in Fulbrook in her (and several others) to join the local branch of 2006 on retirement, needing to be somewhere the WI as Tally was taking on the presidential 9 role. Yes, Tally was drumming-up support and she Most left school at 15. It was a very limited received it in spades. It wasn’t long before Angela curriculum with no science! Teaching was agreed to become the Secretary, a role she still definitely the right career for Angela and after holds, and 6 months later she became President nearly 40 years in teaching she achieved Senior herself. The old adage ‘if you want something Management status as the Special Needs doing, ask a busy person’ is quite apt here. As Coordinator at Aylestone School. Special needs President she is the face of the local branch and was the perfect area of the curriculum for Angela networks with other WI members from different as she herself is dyslexic - a term we understand parts of the country. The WI meets each month nowadays but for Angela then she was just and its primary function is to educate through labelled as ‘thick’. Far from true though as her activities and skills usually supported by, in her achievements have proved. One abiding memory words, “Inspirational speakers” from different as a trainee was a child in the class saying, ”Miss, disciplines. Angela needs to direct the programme Harold’s climbing out of the window”. “Yes, just to reflect the ethos of WI and its purpose - women get on with your work please”, says Miss. supporting women and developing skills along the Looking up shortly after Angela did indeed notice way. This is achieved with the help and support of just Harold’s feet as he attempted to slither out of her committee of 8 where everyone does a the window! A highlight of her career emerged specific job e.g. programme, refreshments, when she took part in the annual charity fun run communications. Angela will be standing down as dressed as a Hawaiian princess. Her reputation President in 2019 as she feels they have had the went before her as ‘a 90 year-old fire-breathing best of her and they need some new ideas, but she dragon’, a hard won accolade and, as she pointed will continue her membership and sit back and out, she did have white hair! enjoy it all! Just last week she was belly-dancing Deep sadness descended when Angela lost her with members of the Oxford federation of WIs. beloved sister, Gillian, to cancer in 2006. As girls She named our local branch FAB WI to keep up they were never close - Gillian was 5 years her with the other fun rebranding names coming into senior. Gillian was a scholar and a talented play, for instance WOWI (West Oxon Women’s musician. She had a beautiful voice and sang in Institute) and the Tea Birds group. the Sir Malcolm Sargent Cancer Choir, which Angela met Martin at the age of 18 when she took her all over the world singing notably at St started her teacher training course in Hereford. Peter’s in Rome and Sydney Opera House. As a She was brought up in Heston near Hounslow. committed Christian she was a leading light in the They have 3 children Ashley, Simon and Sam and church and in the Guiding movement. The two the young family lived in Ashperton, near became soul-mates as adults and Gillian was a Ledbury, until 1984 before moving to the city for great auntie to the children who adored her. She the schools and Martin’s newly formed business remains with Angela in spirit and will never be as an Insurance Broker. Now grown up, the two forgotten, which is evident from various boys have produced 6 grandchildren, two of mementos all around the house. It is obvious how which are twins, with ages ranging from 5 up to proud Angela is of Gillian. 11. As hands-on grandparents Angela believes in Since retirement Angela and Martin take off on continuing the family structure, giving the trips around the world and they have visited all children a perspective and understanding of age. continents. Her first flight was to Australia to see The family know that help is on hand. Angela’s her son, so was a baptism of fire. Some of us daughter, Sam, is an interesting character with a remember Angela’s article in the Newsletter passion for endurance motorbike racing. She can describing her holiday in Brazil and the famous strip down a bike and rebuild it as required in a Rio carnival. We still miss her contributions to the weekend. She is currently an administrator at the Newsletter after she had to stand down from the Elizabeth Finn Home in Bradwell Village. Editorial Committee to further her work with the Her school Headmistress recognised that Angela WI. She bakes, sews, knits - you name it she’ll was one of life’s organisers and she was have a go and, of course, she supports Martin in determined that Angela should become a teacher. his love of their green Morgan Roadster 100 as After dismally failing her 11+ (her words) she they drive off into the sunset with the Morgan attended a secondary modern where the girls were Motor Club. trained in household tasks and jobs for women. You couldn’t make it up! 10

Quick Fire Questions to Angela Gardening or gardener? Flower arranging or baking? Gardening Baking - no question High heels or brogues? Classical music or Hip Hop? Stilettos of course Jazz - I’m a fan of Thelonious Monk Preparing Minutes or writing school reports? Strictly or X-Factor? Probably Minutes because reports had to be Scandi crime drama very detailed in fountain pen and my spelling is Sea or mountains? bizarre - thank God for the spell-checker! Mountains - I love the beauty and wonder of Ferrari or Jeep? nature VW Beetle - always Wine or water? Wine definitely - preferably red

Robert Courts MP

As we find ourselves well into the New Year, I look forward to all that 2018 has to offer. I am very optimistic about the coming year as I carry on working hard and doing the job that I love – being your Member of Parliament. 2017 was a busy year but with so much achieved, locally and nationally. We have seen a deal struck by the District Council and Government to complete the rollout of high-speed broadband and not one, but two ground-breaking new plans for affordable housing in our district. £215m was secured for Oxfordshire in the Budget, whilst I and local Councils are pursuing a number of different options for improvements to local transport infrastructure, such as the County Council’s recent Housing Infrastructure Fund bid. Furthermore, we have secured more support for Oxfordshire’s healthcare (such as £3,787,800 more to help with winter pressures) and in my particular interest area of mental health. Of course, as ever, there’s more to do. I continue to participate fully in the discussions over primary care for Witney and the surrounding area. Work continues on our plans to improve local transport infrastructure, including campaigning for maintenance works along the A361 through Fulbrook. I want to see improvements in broadband matched by improvements in mobile signals, to make it easier for local businesses to grow and thrive. I want to do all I can to support our NHS and education systems as they continue their outstanding work. Rest assured, these are only a few of my aims for the year ahead. If there is any issue you wish to raise with me, please do email me at [email protected] as I would greatly appreciate hearing your views. Alternatively, if you would like to sign up to my fortnightly newsletter, please do visit www.robertcourts.co.uk. I look forward to seeing you out and about in Fulbrook. Robert Courts MP

Burford Orchestra On Saturday 24 March 2018, Burford Orchestra returns to Witney’s historic St Mary’s Church for the first time in over ten years with a delightful programme for a spring evening. The concert, which starts at 7.30pm, opens with the great German composer Johannes Brahms’s brooding Tragic Overture before moving into France with Georges Bizet’s ever-popular L’Arlésienne suites. The evening is rounded out with the first symphony by the little-known Russian composer Vasily Kalinnikov, a piece that – like its author – definitely deserves to be much more widely known. Tickets cost £9 with £1 entry for under 16s and are available in advance from [email protected] or by contacting Sarah11 on 01993 883490

We have received the following letter from Iris Chapman enclosing her annual postal subscription of £5. Iris used to live in Fulbrook and is now one of our postal subscribers:

67 Higher Reedley Road Brierfield, Lancs To The Distribution Office, Fulbrook Newsletter Thank you for sending me the Fulbrook News this year. I do enjoy reading about the happenings at Fulbrook and still miss Keith* and miss being a resident there. I am not really fit to travel there now and I will be 89 years old this year but though I can’t get down to put flowers on Keith’s grave it makes me feel close to him. I trust you are all well there and wish you all the best - good health and happiness. Yours sincerely Iris Chapman

*Keith Fitchew, Iris’s late fiancé. For those of you who keep back copies of the Newsletter, there is an article by Keith on page 12 of the December 2014 issue about how he and Iris met, lost touch and both married other people and then met again and rekindled their love after they were both widowed.

Art Group moving to Burford!

The North Cotswold Arts Association is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year. Formed in 1968, the NCAA is a lively and friendly art group made up from a diverse range of artists from all over the North Cotswold area. The purpose of the organisation is to promote and encourage artistic pursuits and appreciation by arranging monthly demonstrations and workshops as well as providing members with the opportunity to sell their work at an annual exhibition. Our members include professional and amateur artists as well as leisure painters.

From April 2018 we will be holding our monthly meetings upstairs at the Warwick Hall, Burford as well as holding our exhibition in the main hall at the end of August. Do come along to our first meeting on Wednesday 11th April from 2 - 4pm which will be our AGM. It will be an opportunity for new members to come and meet us and find out what we do.

Burford Singers – A Concert for Palm Sunday

Purcell – Funeral Sentences for Queen Mary Stainer - Crucifixion

Sunday, 25th March , 7.30pm Church of St John the Baptist, Church Green, Burford OX18 4RY

Burford Singers with: Tenor : Joshua Ellicott Bass : Quentin Hayes Organist: Robin Baggs Conductor: Brian Kay

Our annual Palm Sunday concert brings together Stainer's Crucifixion and Henry Purcell's deeply moving and heartfelt tribute to his beloved Queen Mary

Tickets reserved at £17, £15, £12 and £8. Online booking at http://www.burfordsingers.org.uk/box-office (Booking fee applies) Booking in person at The Madhatter Bookshop, 122 High Street, Burford OX18 4QJ

Full details and booking form available on our website www.burfordsingers.org.uk

Catherine Martin Burford Singers Publicity

The FaB Walking Group

The FaB walking group meets on the first Friday of each month from The Carpenters Arms Pub at 10am. Created by The FaB WI but open to ALL, we walk around 4-5 miles on local footpaths and quiet lanes. Dogs welcome – as usual, please keep them under close control and scoop your poop!

We have a varied programme of walks this year, including some which start at 10am from the pub, carsharing if you’d like a lift, or 10-15 mins later at the agreed start point. Our walks are as below – please contact Sue Newport [email protected] or 07966 153797 if you’d like more information or to arrange a lift. A leaflet on all our walks is available from The Carpenters Arms.

Fri 6 Apr – Burford Water Meadows Fri 7 Sept – Millennium Steps Fri 4 May – Foxholes Nature Reserve Fri 5 Oct – Eastleach Valley Fri 1 June – Minster Lovell Ruins Fri 2 Nov – Shilton Fri 6 July – Lyneham Fri 7 Dec – Holwell / Westwell Fri 3 Aug – Sherbourne Estate (Barrington side)

Please note – everyone walks at their own risk and should bring their own supplies of water etc. Walks can be muddy and uneven and contain stiles, and we walk in most weathers. Walks are at a moderate pace and we enjoy plenty of laughs en-route. We look forward to walking with you soon.

Sue Newport

THE FULBROOK MEETING PLACE The Fulbrook Meeting Place continues to host the regular weekly Fitness Group and monthly lunch club and coffee mornings plus occasional Special events.

Fulbrook Fitness Group - SPECIAL EVENTS

WINE LOVERS, TAKE NOTE! There is a Wine Tasting coming up - New World v Old World - at the Fulbrook Meeting Place, on Saturday 21April at 7pm. As ever, there will be a welcome glass of fizz on arrival, followed by 3 pairs of wines to compare. The wines will be presented by local residents and your views will be needed to nominate your preferred choice in each case. There will be food served with each pair of wines. This event promises to be a very entertaining evening. Don't forget to book early as you know the numbers are limited at the FMP. Tickets are £22.50 per head so please, don't delay, contact 822451 or [email protected] now to book your seat/s. Proceeds from this event will go to the Children's Society and towards the upkeep of Fulbrook Church. Jacky Harrington

FULBROOK OPEN GARDENS It doesn't seem possible that we are now in the third month of this year. Where does the time go? Our gardens are coming to life and Spring is just around the corner and we are now just three months away from Open Gardens in Fulbrook - Sunday 10 June, 11am to 6pm. (I apologise for the wrong date I gave in the last Fulbrook News edition but we have always held this event on a Sunday.) Many thanks to the villagers who have already agreed to open their gardens this year but we would still like more so, if you wish to join in the fun, please contact me on 822451 or [email protected]. As in the past, we will be serving light lunches followed by afternoon teas in the Fulbrook Meeting Place. This is a great stopping off point for all visitors as it is in the centre of our village. Proceeds from the event this year will be shared between Turn2Us, a charity which raises money to help families in financial difficulty in this area and for the upkeep of Fulbrook Church. John Harrington

REGULAR EVENTS

Fulbrook Fitness Group – Fulbrook Fitness is held every Thursday morning at 9am until 10am. Run by Pat Ferrett, we do 30 mins of aerobics and 30 mins stretching. No age limit – just put in as much, or as little, effort as you are comfortable with. Contact Pat on 822892 or just turn up at the FMP with your exercise mat. Lunch Club - Come and enjoy homemade soups and a roll, followed by cakes and tea or coffee. Lifts can be arranged if needed. This is held every second Thursday of the month starting at midday. Do come to our next lunch on 8 March, followed by 12 April and 10 May. Just ring Jacky or John Harrington on 822451 if you would like to join us. Coffee Morning - Every fourth Thursday in the month from 10.30am to 12 noon. That will be 22 March, followed by 26April and 24 May. Come in for a friendly chat and fresh coffee and biscuits. For more details, call Gilly Kay on 823193.

The Fulbrook Meeting Place is our village hall and as such is available for hire, subject to conditions, at a very reasonable rate. If you are interested in hiring the FMP for a meeting, afternoon get-together or a family party, please contact our Booking Clerk, Chris Wright, on 822192.

FULBROOK MEETING PLACE

DIARY OF EVENTS March 2018 – May 2018

Mon 5 Mar 7.30pm Parish Council Meeting Thurs 8 Mar 12.00pm Lunch Club Thurs 22 Mar 10.30am Coffee Morning

Fri 6 Apr 7.30pm Bell Ringing Practice Thurs 12 Apr 12.00pm Lunch Club Wed 18 Apr 7.30pm APCM Thurs 26 Apr 10.30am Coffee Morning

Thurs 10 May 12.00pm Lunch Club Mon 14 May 7.30pm Parish Council Meeting Thurs 24 May 10.30am Coffee Morning

Every Thursday there will be Fitness Group at 9.00 am. Contact Pat Ferrett for details 01993 822892 For bookings and further information call: Chris Wright 01993 822803 E mail: [email protected]

Local Elections

On Thursday May 3rd local elections will be held to decide 16 seats on the District Council and 5 seats on Fulbrook Parish Council (as well as another 16 parishes/towns in the district). Guidance notes for candidates, together with nomination papers will be available from around the middle of March. Copies can be obtained from West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC) Elections Office, or for Fulbrook Parish Council, from the Parish Clerk. The final date and time for receipt of completed nomination forms in the elections office at Woodgreen, Witney will be 4 pm on Friday April 6th 2018. These have to be delivered by hand.

Everyone who wishes to vote has to be on the Electoral Register. Applications to register have to be made either online at www.gov.uk/registertovote or received in the Elections Office by no later th rd than Tuesday 17 April 2018 if they are to be effective for the elections held on Thursday May 3 . If you are already registered you do not need to apply again; and people who are registered should receive their “offical poll card” at the very end of March. For any further information regarding the local elections please look at the elections page on the WODC website www.westoxon.gov.uk/about-the-council/elections-voting/future-elections/ or look at the website for the electoral commission, www.electoralcommission.org.uk which contains loads of information.

I write this in the week that we marked that it is 100 years since some women won the right to vote; Remember that your vote matters.

Jo Glyde, Fulbrook Parish Clerk.

Rotary Club of Burford & Kingham news.

As 2017 ended the club donated towards Central Beacon Mountain Rescue Team HQ repair. We had two interesting talks: “40 years a vet” by Peter Aylmer, which included local & faraway places, while Robert Llewellyn (of Red Dwarf fame) was a splendid highlight of the Christmas Dinner & Charter night. Future talks include “A visit to Nepal”, “Parkinson's UK charity” and the micro-artist, Graham Short, who engraved Jane Austen on the new £5 notes. In January, we changed our meetings venue to the Bay Tree Hotel where, in March David Eagles of Taynton will enlighten us on the thrills and spills of being a Fleet Air Arm pilot and defence industry test pilot. 2018 Fund-raising will include the May-time Bluebell Walk through Cornbury Park (including areas usually off-limits to the general public), the Burford Fire Station's River Thames charity walk, Christian Aid Week door-to-door collection & helping with hospitality at the National Trust's Chastleton House. Having planted many crocus corms at the A40/A361 roundabout in Burford last autumn, we hope to have a display of flowers advertising Rotary's worldwide efforts to eradicate Polio. Later in the year, we plan to visit club member Laith Reynold's Bell Foundry in Loughborough & we have invited Graham Short, the micro-artist, who engraved Jane Austen on our new £5 notes to talk to us. Plans progress for the:- Annual Bluebell Charity Walk through public & private parts of Cornbury Estate, Chastleton House (National Trust) afternoon teas Carterton Town Barbecue 2018 Burford Fire Station’s Charity River Thames Walk Christian Aid Week (13-19 May) door-to-door Collection (volunteers NEEDED!) & helping the Burford Festival 2019 committee If you would like to visit us contact secretary Terry Best at [email protected]

LOCAL FAMILY CRISIS! Towards the end of November Sebastian Lyle, 12, came home from school with a tummy ache and started vomiting. The doctor suspected a perforated appendix and Seb was taken immediately to the JR where a surgical team was waiting. What followed was a situation where every complication that could have happened did. Seb’s appendix burst during the operation and after 4 hours in surgery he emerged with tubes and lines everywhere supplying nourishment and draining his system of poison. But Seb didn’t improve and, after a further X-ray, his parents were informed that another surgical team was waiting this time to correct his twisted small intestine and repair his large intestine, which had in effect collapsed. Seb was a very poorly young man and for 2 days his parents didn’t leave his side. When recounting his ordeal Seb likened the removal of his intestines to being attacked by monsters! Seb’s sister, Rosa and younger brother, Caspar, were shipped out to grandparents whilst Simon and Louise needed to be with their son as his fever raged. Seb was in so much agony he didn’t know what was going on. Loads of antibiotic was pumped in and after 3 days he started to respond - Louise said that it was like a switch had been flicked. Their son was going to recover. The family praise the JR and the staff for their professionalism and skill. Throughout this tense time Simon and Louise were kept informed of all procedures and during his long stay on Melanie ward there were a number of highlights: Oxford City FC team members and pilots from RAF Benson came in with goodies. One very special nurse called EJ taught him card tricks - Seb found him to be of great support throughout. The family would like to pay tribute to the surgical team, led by Dr Wagner. Recently Seb had a check-up which was “Like meeting up with old friends”. He has been given the all clear for 6 months and can now return to a normal life, including sport. Burford School has also played its part in Seb’s recovery and has been very supportive in setting up a programme of work. He has been back at school full-time for three weeks now and things seem to be going well. 16

LOCAL FAMILY CRISIS (Continued) Throughout his ordeal there was no grumbling from Seb and he was very brave in the way he handled his situation. Louise said “It opens your eyes to the NHS and makes you realise just what they do. We are very grateful”. The Lyles live at Cotters Bow House here in our village and we wish the family all the very best after this most distressing time.

Get Active – Volunteer with the Wychwood Project

Come and get some exercise and fresh air, meet friendly fellow volunteers - and help the Wychwood Project!

In 2017 volunteers helped us plant over 1,500 trees, coppice woodland, lay hedges, repair dry stone walls, and monitor Barn Owls and Flora to improve West Oxfordshire's habitats and landscape. Wychwood Project volunteering is on offer every month, why not come and join us to get some exercise and fresh air, meet some friendly fellow volunteers - and help the Wychwood Project.

Here's what's coming up: Thursday 15 March - Woodstock water meadows. Logs for Labour - tree work and possibly a bonfire, meet at the garages at the foot of Brook Hill (by the A44). James Aylward, WP Conservation Officer 07907 905070 Drystone walling happens every Monday and Tuesday (weather permitting). You are welcome to join any day and stay as long as you wish. All tools and training needed are provided, but bring your own gloves and refreshments. The work is often away from any shelter so be prepared for all weathers. If you decide the drystone wallers’ life is for you and you join us regularly you will need steel toe cap boots....stones can be heavy! We are currently working on a wall at St Mary’s Church, Charlbury. Contact the office [email protected] for more information and directions. There is no need to book; just turn up at 9.30, and stay for as long as you have time (or energy!). Or join our Bird Aid, Flora or Barn Owl Groups who meet regularly to protect species across West Oxfordshire. No experience is necessary for any of the tasks (full instruction is part of the day) but you should wear appropriate clothing for outdoor work including stout boots and gloves; tools are provided but you can bring your own (hand tools only); activities usually take place with 'behind the hedge' loo facilities only! Activities run from 9.30am to 3pm unless otherwise stated. There is normally no need to book (the listing will say if booking is required); but do check the website or our facebook page before setting out in case of any last minute changes due to weather conditions or other circumstances beyond our control. You don't need to stay for the whole session if you don't have time (or energy!) For more information, a full calendar and to get involved with the Wychwood Project visit: www.wychwoodproject.org or www.facebook.com/WychwoodProject phone: 07584 262437 (Mon, Wed, Thur) email: [email protected]

Children’s Society Coin Box Collection

After counting 15 boxes of small change I banked just shy of £700.00, £699.60 to be exact. This is a tremendous result from our small village. The Children’s Society does such sterling work with troubled and disadvantaged children so every penny counts! My thanks to all those who collect the coins throughout the year. I will be asking for the boxes in November so let’s see if we can improve even on last year’s wonderful outcome.

Gilly Kay (823193)

News from Burford

School

March 2018

Burford School – a growing centre of excellence It is now almost 450 years since the merchants of Burford had the foresight and vision to establish a grammar school in their town. Would they be proud to know that, so many years on, the school is not only still in existence, but flourishing? I’m sure they would. There have been many changes over the years and today the school continues to be the first on the list of school choices made by more and more parents of children moving on from primary. (Last year we welcomed students from more than 40 local primary schools.)

Fortunately, the withdrawal of free transport from our partnership schools has not diminished the demand for places and we have found ourselves oversubscribed now for a number of years. The Headteacher and Governors have, therefore, made the decision to grow annually from a seven-form entry at Year 7 to an eight-form entry. In the last eighteen months, we have been under pressure to take more students, but the Governors and staff believe that to maintain the excellent quality of education that Burford offers we need to control the size of the school. In March, confirmation of those to be offered a place in Year 7 for 2018 will be made and we look forward to welcoming them all to the growing family, which is Burford School.

Welcoming our new Patrons of Reading We are delighted to announce that we are welcoming not one, but two, authors as our new Patrons of Reading. Our new Lower School Patron is local author, Ian Johnstone, author of The Mirror Chronicles, and our new Upper School Patron is author Martin Stewart whose debut novel Riverkeep made the longlist for a number of awards including the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize. Martin lives in Glasgow and, in addition to visits to school, will be interacting with classes remotely. We look forward to working with them both.

Fauré’s Requiem (Op.48) – TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE Over 100 parents, students, staff, alumni and members of the local community have been rehearsing since January for a performance of Fauré’s Requiem in Burford Church on Tuesday 15 March. The performance will be followed by light refreshments in the Lady Chapel. Tickets are now available through TicketSource or email: [email protected]. We do hope you will join us.

Lunches at the Boarding House Lunches are once again available at Lenthall House, and are open to the senior members of our community and to former students and staff of Burford School. Dates for this year are: Monday 26 March - Monday 30 April - Monday 25 June. Please contact Mrs Sarah Imms, by the previous Wednesday, if you would like to attend. (01993 823283 [email protected])

Sarah Duckworth Marketing Manager Burford School www.burford.oxon.sch.uk

Dear friends

Sincere warm thanks to all who have been rooting for me during my unexpected spell in the Neuroscience department of the JR. Pleased to say I have made a good recovery and looking forward to a quiet convalescence at home. Simon and I couldn't have pulled through without the support of our wonderful family and the kind and thoughtful messages from our friends in Fulbrook. Spring is round the corner and I look forward to seeing your smiles when I am able to get out and about again. Much love

Jan Park

Rural crime update from Assistant Chief Constable Nikki Ross, Thames Valley Police

Reports of rural crime in the Thames Valley have increased by five percent between October 2016 and September 2017. I would like to reassure members of our rural communities of my commitment to investigating reports of rural crime. We rely on information from our local communities and take such reports very seriously. Incidents are robustly investigated by our local policing teams who have dedicated Rural Crime and Wildlife Officers based across the Thames Valley. Rural crime can take many different forms including burglary, robbery, theft, criminal damage, fly tipping, poaching and hare coursing. We are continuing to work with local residents, businesses and partners to raise awareness of crime prevention techniques while developing problem solving solutions to tackle rural crime. There are often fewer witnesses to rural crimes and greater opportunities for criminals to target isolated properties and businesses. The impact of these crimes can also be greater, with people feeling more vulnerable due to their remote location. You can reduce the risk of becoming a victim of rural crime by taking a few simple steps including:  Keeping the boundaries of your land and property well-maintained and secure  Fitting strong locks to sheds, garages and outbuildings  Checking security equipment regularly to ensure it is working properly  Locking equipment away in a secure building when it’s not in use  Security marking your tools and equipment For more crime prevention advice, and to see details of your local Rural Crime Officers, visit the Rural Crime page on the Thames Valley Police website at: https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/advice/protecting-your-business/rural-crime/ If you become a victim of rural crime or suspect that a crime has taken place, you should always report it to police by calling the non-emergency number, 101. If an incident is in progress, or there is an immediate threat to life, you should call 999. You can receive the latest rural crime news from Thames Valley Police and their partners directly to your phone or inbox by signing up to CountryWatch at: http://www.thamesvalleycountrywatch.co.uk/

NEWS FROM FULBROOK CHURCH

It has been a long, wet, cold and snowy winter with lots of people falling ill to the dreaded flu and cough and with two power failures for half the village. Many thanks are due to all the people in the church and village who looked after their neighbours so well when they couldn’t get out, or hadn’t any power, or were poorly. It is truly wonderful to see how people care for each other in Fulbrook. Many prayers have been said in church this winter for those who are ill or in need, both at the Sunday services and at our regular quiet prayer at 5pm on Thursdays. If you would prayers to be said for anyone please let either John or Lyn (the Churchwardens) know (John- 01993 824044, Lyn- 01993 823640) or put their names on the pad on the small table to the left of the entrance door, and we shall ensure they are remembered in our prayers. However, there are now hopeful signs of spring and if you haven’t yet seen the heart-warming display of cyclamen on the approach to the church they are worth a visit. Our sincere condolences go to the Hedigan family on the death of Cathy’s mother, Doreen Newsham who is now buried in the churchyard. Congratulations to Esmeé Jennifer Elliot who was baptised in Fulbrook Church in January. We have many things planned for this year and everyone is welcome and encouraged to take part in everything! In addition to the regular 9.30 am weekly services on Sunday, there will also be three Taizé services of contemplation (March, July and November), and an evensong service in September. There are regular times every month to meet and share lunch and coffee (see the FMP notices for details). We also have some sociable as well as fundraising activities (for both the church and charities) planned this year – and some more still in the planning stages for later in the year. Additional dates for your diaries: Date Time Details 11th March 9.30am Mothering Sunday Holy Communion 11th March 4pm Taizé service 18th March 4pm Afternoon tea Farewell from Fulbrook to Rev’d Rob Wainwright, our curate who has moved to be Chaplain at Oriel College, Oxford 24th March 10am Church and Churchyard Please come and help clean the walls and spring clean- followed by floor of the church or help remove ivy from coffee and cake walls and gravestones. 25th March 9.30 Palm Sunday Holy Communion 1st April 9.30 Easter Day Holy Communion 18th April 7pm Annual Parish Council Drinks and nibbles at 7, meeting starts at Meeting 7.30 21st April 7pm Wine tasting social evening See the FMP notices for details and fundraiser 10th June 11 -6 Open Gardens Lunches and teas served in the church 1st July 4pm Taize service All denomination contemplative service 8th Sept 10m – Sponsored walking or riding to visit 5pm Ride and Stride churches.. 23rd Sept 6pm Evensong No morning service on this day 14th October 11am Harvest Festival service All welcome to come to this service and to followed by lunch the free lunch 11th Nov 9.30 Remembrance Sunday Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial followed by church service 18th Nov 4pm Taizé service All denomination contemplative service 24th 4pm Carol service All welcome and especially children to see December the crib 25th 9.30am Christmas Day Holy Communion December

A recipe from the cookbook of our new chef 7. To serve, using the back of a teaspoon, Peter Burns: gently pull the edges away from the moulds, then dip the moulds into hot water for 10 Orange pannacotta for six people seconds, put the mould upside down onto a serving plate, give it a shake and they Something we’ve all eaten in restaurants but should slide out. If they won’t budge, use a may have backed off from making at home. little knife to go round the mould and try Don’t be afraid! It’s really easy. This is my again. version of Gordon Ramsay’s recipe. 8. Garnish with the orange segments and a few leaves of mint. Ingredients 125g caster sugar Buon appetito! 600ml double cream 150ml milk 4 drops of vanilla essence 3 sheets of leaf gelatine Finely grated zest of 2 oranges (then peel all the pith from the oranges and cut between segments to make the garnish) 1 orange finely peeled with a vegetable peeler, for infusing the cream 2 tablespoons of Cointreau Fresh mint for garnish

Method 1. Start by very lightly oiling six mini pudding moulds (dariole moulds if you have them, or ramekin dishes as a last resort). Put them on a tray and pop them in the fridge. 2. Put the gelatine leaves into cold water, leave to one side to soak and soften. 3. Pour the cream and milk into a large thick, non-stick saucepan with the orange peel.

Let it come to a gentle boil, turn it down and continue to boil for about seven minutes or so. Stir frequently with a wooden or plastic spoon to ensure the cream mixture doesn’t ‘catch’ on the bottom. 4. Remove from the heat and remove the infused peel. Add sugar, vanilla, orange zest and squeezed out gelatine leaves. Stir/ whisk all together. 5. When the mixture has cooled down somewhat, add the Cointreau, then pour the mixture gently into the moulds, stirring as you go to ensure distribution of the orange zest. 6. Put into the fridge for at least 3 hours. You can make them the day before if you wish… they keep for a couple of days without harm.

Serving food Monday - Saturday 12-9pm Sunday 12-4pm Take away also available

Regular quiz nights, Happy Hour everyday 5.30-6.30pm, Friday Fish Nights, Saturday Steak Night, Traditional Sunday Roasts

Tel: 01993 823267 Email: [email protected] Web: www.thecarpentersarmsfulbrook.com