From the Editor

FROM THE EDITOR This last month has gone by in such a whirlwind.Quote literally as the past few days have seen everything and everyone blown ;about all over the place. The garden looks as though elephants have been having a tea party in it, so flattened is everything. Hopefully, by the time you read this, the weather will have sorted itself out, and we will be basking in glorious sunshine. And so it should. For we are entering the wonderful British fete season. The Pump this month is crammed with outdoor feasts and fetes, shows and open gardens. Cake makers and plant growers go into overdrivc to produce produce aplenty! With any luck, we will not be ill-feted with the weather and enjoy a marvelous summer! Ros A NOTE ON PARISH PUMP DELIVERY Firstly, a big thank you to everyone who delivers the magazine so reliably, this is a great comfort to all those who enjoy reading it, and also to me, as it makes my task very easy. I thought that now we have new arrangements for the delivery of the magazine to the Benefice, i.e. Filkins Church, it would be a good moment to make sure everyone knows that they should pick up their copies from there after Ros has alerted you to the fact that they are ready and waiting. I would be very grateful if you could all contact me to update me on your address, e-mail and telephone number in case of any glitches. Also, if you have anything you wish to feedback about the delivery system, my contact details are in the Parish Pump. Many thanks, Jane Brylewski. THE RECTOR'S LETTER Dear Friends THIS month there is great change afoot. Having spent the last 6 years working and supporting all of us in and around the Benefice, The Rev'd Liz Johnson has decided it is time for her to retire. The good news is that Liz is choosing to remain locally and will continue to be an active member of our clergy team. l Az is a delightful colleague to work with and I know many of you have appreciated her gentle caring ministry within our communities. She has often said to me that serving here has been the happiest time in her ministry and I am sure you would want to join me in wishing Liz many happy years of retirement. Thank you 1,i z for all you give. Following Liz's announcement to retire Bishop Cohn has offered us a curate. For those less familiar with Ecclesiastical terms, this would mean having someone who was learning to become a Vicar. This is the first time in living memory that any of the parishes have had a curate and so it will be a great privilege for us. However I did come across a story from 1631 that the then church warden of Alvescot, a Mr Tomas Ditch, was told not to take his gun to church to make sure that the Curate, The Rev'd Ferriman Twitty wore his surplice to services.(Should Patrick be worried? Ed) The Bishop is very keen that more training opportunities are provided for rural ministry and not just in towns and cities. This is a full time position rather than the part time post that liz held. We have decided to appoint Patrick Wheaton who will be joining us in July. Patrick is married to Louise and has two young children Evie and Noah and they will come to live in the Vicarage in Filkins. Patrick began his training for ministry studying theology at Trinity college Bristol, where he is currently finishing an MPhil on the life of John Hooper who was Bishop of Gloucester in the 15th Century. Prior to that Patrick taught at Pate's school in Cheltenham. Patrick grew up in a Vicarage and so has some idea of what he is letting himself in for. Louise grew up in a local Cotswold village and so is looking i )forward to returning to country life. Patrick will be ordained as a Deacon on 5th July at Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford, and will hopefully on Sunday evening. We very much look forward to Patrick, Louise and lit family joining in july Harry MacInnes FROM THE REGISTERS

WEDDINGS 2nd May KencotVictoria Moore and Daniel Cox 4th April Black Bourton Joanne Williams and Anthony Riordan 11th April Black Bourton Esther Howlett and Mark Wadham

CHRISTENINGS 26th April Filkins Theobald Henry George Hofer (born on 10th January 2007) 3rd May Broadwell Charlie Mark Greenslade (born on 30th August 2007) 10th May ShiltonSerafina Lilian Conlon-Sangster (born on 30th October 2008) 10th May ShiltonImogen Shaw (born on 19th May 2008)

FUNERALS 15th April ShiltonMrs Eileen Nelson (died on 2nd April aged 77) 28th April Oxford Crematorium Mr Edward Jowitt (died on 71h April aged 77) 13th May Black Bourton Mrs Beryl Trinder (died on 3rd May aged 83) 18th May KencotMr John Dossett-Davies MBE (died on 4th May aged 82) CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP Our next meeting is on Wednesday 3rd June in Filkins Methodist Schoolroom at 3.00pm. Our Speaker will be Mrs Jean Smith of Witney. Tea and biscuits to follow as usual. All are welcome. Barbara Edwards FILKINS METHODIST CHURCH We have recently received 12 new upholstered chairs for their schoolroom. They were kindly donated by Cynthia Shanklin who now lives in Alabama in the United States. Cynthia gave the chairs in thankfulness for her 8 years spent in Filkins as a child and a Sunday School scholar at the Methodist Church. The church is grateful to Cynthia for her gift which has enhanced our premises and our comfort. The chairs were dedicated at our service on Easter Sunday by a congregation of 17. In addition, the Church itself has new curtains for which we thank our village friends Ian and Annika. All are welcome to come and see these tangible signs of renewal and hope. Peter Goodhall PARISH & BENEFICE SERVICES

Sunday 7th June Trinity Sunday 10.30am Kelmscott Benefice Communion NUW/HM 6pm Broughton Poggs Benefice Evensong HIM

Sunday 14th June Trinity I 9am Alvescot Holy Communion HM 9am Broadwell Holy Communion NUW 9am Westwell/Holwell Holy Communion AM 10.30am Filkins Parish Communion NUW 10.30am ShiltonParish Communion & AM Childrens Church 11am Little Faringdon Matins HM 6pm Black Bourton Evensong NUW 6pm KencotEvensong HM

Sunday 21st June Trinity II 9am B.Bourton/Alvescot Holy Communion HM 9am Holwell Holy Communion NUW 10.30am Langford Parish Communion HM 6pm Broughton Poggs Evensong HM 6pm Westwell Evensong NUW

Sunday 28th June Trinity Ill 9am KencotHoly Communion NUW 10.30am Alvescot/B.Bourton Parish Communion AM 10.30am Filkins Family Communion HM 10.30am Broadwell Matins NUW 12 noon ShiltonFamily Communion & HM Baptism 6pm Holwell/Westwell Evensong HM 6pm Langford Evensong N 'W

Sunday 5th July Trinity IV 10.30am KencotBenefice Communion AM 6pm Alvescot Benefice Evensong NUW

MIDWEEK SERVICES

Wednesday 3rd June 10am Black Bourton Holy Communion HM

Wednesday 10th June 10am Black Bourton Holy Communion HM

Wednesday 17th June 10am Black Bourton Holy Communion 11M

Wednesday 24th June 10am Black Bourton holy Communion 1 IM On the morning of 5th July our Curate, Patrick Wheaton will be ordained at Christ Church Cathedral as a Deacon. We hope to welcome Patrick in the evening to our Benefice Evensong. Harry Machines CELEBRANTS & SERVICE LEADERS AM The Rev'd Dr Alister McGrath HM The Rev'd Harry MacInnes NUW The Rev'd Neville Usher-Wilson LECTIONARY 7th June Trinity Sunday (White) Isaiah 6.1-8 Psalm 29 Romans 8.12-17 John 3.1-17 14th June Trinity I (Green) Ezekiel 17.22-end Psalm 92 2 Corinthians 5.6-17 Mark 4.26-34 21st June Trinity I1 (Green) Job 38.1-11 Psalm 107.23-end 2 Corinthians 6.1-13 Mark 4.35-end 28th June Trinity III (Green) Lamentations 3.22-33 Psalm 30 2 Corinthians 8.7-end Mark 5.21-end 5th July Trinity IV (Green) Ezekiel 2.1-5 Psalm 123 2 Corinthians 12.2-10 Mark 6.1-13 CHILDREN'S CHURCH Dear Parents of Small, Large and in between children F you have children between the ages of 3 and 12, and would like to come along, we meet every second Sunday of the month at 10.15am in 1 ,1 the Village Hall at Shilton for around 40 minutes of fun and creative Christian based activities before we join the main body of the church for the Family Communion Service. This month we made boats and as the day was so lovely, went and sailed them on the ford. Sunday June 7th at 10.15am in Shilton Village Hall. Sunday July 12th at 10.15am in Shilton Village Hall. There will be no Children's Church in August, but we will start again on Sunday September the 13th at 10.15am in Shilton Village Hall. Look forward to seeing some new faces, give us a go we really have a lot of fun. Call me on 01993 847039 or The Rev'd Harry MacInnes on 01993 845954 Debs Price BENEFICE CHOIR Sunday 10th May saw the Choir and stalwart members of all congregations move to the church of St Peter and St Paul, Broadwell for a combined Choral Evensong with my other choir of St Mary's Bampton and guest preacher, The Rev'd David Lloyd. Combining numbers produced a choir of 22 on the day and what a sound they made! My thanks must go to all concerned for their hard work, commitment and support. Everybody thoroughly enjoyed the service, and I feel that we all managed to do justice to the music, with several particularly memorable moments for me. My thanks must also go to Bernard Martin from St Mary's, Buckland, who kindly played the organ so that I could conduct. As a choir leader, it is always interesting to take members of any choir elsewhere to sing on occasion, so any ideas are always gratefully received and considered. Of course, it always helps to have more singers as well, so if there is anybody out there who has been thinking about it, please get in contact with me! With our weekly rehearsal on Tuesday evening at Kencot Village Hall at 7.30pm, even if you don't consider yourself a confident singer, you would be made very welcome, as well as being helped through the intricacies of singing in parts. David New Junior, Benifice Choir We have started! Attendance at the time of writing is around the low teens (not the age of the children but the number coming), but they all came back for a second week with an addition, so I hope that means that they are enjoying themselves. So far, we have been practicing various `warm-up' exercises, as well as starting to learn some catchy songs, and who knows where we will be when this article is published. The idea is to make singing fun, and bearing in mind the age of the children coming at the moment, we have a lot to fit into an hour to keep the interest up. It is too early to say how the choir is going to develop as I hope it expands with numbers, but I will be trying to keep the `fun' element, and if we get a few older children, then I will adapt things accordingly. 1 have a handful of mums that also come, and they are a great help, not only boosting the children's confidence, but being in the background for crowd control etc (Except the editor, who has, sadly to say, reverted to schoolgirl type, and is to be found ggging in the back row) If you are thinking about persuading your offspring to come, I think they would enjoy it. So far, children have joined from schools as far away as Ducklington and Faringdon. I can be reached on 01993 841807, 07850 064775 or [email protected]. SHILTON BAPTIST CHAPEL By the time this is in print, surely the weather will have settled to more consistent temperatures! March and April lived up to their winds and rain reputations but with some very welcome short spells of sunshine, and we British are noted for discussing the weather, so that was a benefit! The world situation has been unsettled too. But the scripture records that in the `latter times', (the last days), things would deteriorate, and some would depart from the faith. And Ephesians chapter 5 says that times were evil, even in that day. But as I said, talking about the weather is a harmless subject, and at least it exercises friendliness with neighbours and acquaintances, and the quality of being friendly promotes goodwill, which is a blessing, and makes us channels of God's love, which of course Christians should be. Ray Honeyford

Preachers for June 7th June Informal 14th June Graham Sparrowhawk followed by Communion 21st June Derek and Deanna Gardner 28th June Mike and Chris Barrett

I'm afraid we're not opening the Chapel for the Shilton Open Gardens Day this year but we do hope to again next year. The first three meetings in June are at Chapel at 6.00pm as usual. Our last meeting of the month on the 28th is being held at Clouds Hill, Signet. There are two reasons for this: firstly Mike and Mark Chainey are redecorating the Chapel we were so impressed with the job they did on the Old School), and secondly we are having our annual strawberry tea beforehand and then carrying on with the service afterwards. As ever visitors are very welcome at any of our services and at the tea too if they would like to come. Get in touch with me on 01993 843444 and I'll let you know what time we are meeting (we haven't decided yet) Elizabeth Harfield ALVESCOT St Peter's

VILLAGE FETE Saturday 20thJune at 2.00pm The Fete is but a couple of weeks away now, we're all hoping for a fine, sunny day. Come along with your friends to help raise money for our worthy village causes: St. Peter's School, who, once again, will be providing some wonderful singing to open the Fete, St. Peter's Church, the Playing Field, and the Village Hall. There will also be our resident Jazz group, amazing children's entertainment, Bampton Fire Engine, an exciting Formula One racing simulator (Can you beat the Stig?); and our traditional stalls including Milk the Cow, Skittles, Aunt Sally The Fete Committee will coming round the village soon to collect your donations (garden plants/veg/cakes/bottles/brie-a-brae/books/jewellery/toys etc), and to sell raffle tickets. We'll put a note through your door to give you a few days' notice. If you have anything to donate, and think you might be away for the collections please call me on 01993 841522. We would really appreciate some strong helpers on the morning of the Fete to set up the stalls and gazebos. Come to the Playing Field at 10.00am for as long as you can. Ann Cadogan

ALVESCOT 900 VILLAGE LOTTERY 2010 sees the 900'h Anniversary of St Peter's Church, Alvescot. We have been running the Lottery for three years now and this year, commencing on the 1st July, we are running a special Lottery for village residents and friends of St Peter's. Proceeds will go towards the upkeep of our Church. This Lottery is a good way to become involved, hopefully win money and enjoy this initiative. There are four winning tickets each month with a limited number of tickets on sale. I will be putting the Lottery invitations through your letter-boxes in early June; but if you would like to be involved again or as new players, do call me on 01993 843593 or email me on [email protected]. All details of this Lottery can also be emailed to you. The Lottery is a registered and legal initiative. Do please join this enjoyable game; it is a great way to contribute. Many thanks and I look forward to hearing from you. James Gervers

ST PETER'S INFANTS SCHOOL Class 2 took part in an Ultra Olympics at Burford School at the end of April, along with the other schools in the Burford partnership. The students from Burford School organised a range of activities including, javelin, shot put, triple jump and sprinting. For many, this was their first experience of these sports and they all made great progress under the guidance of the students, throughout the afternoon. Chris Hand is now coaching the children in tennis and the school is once again benefiting greatly from the Multi-Use Games Area. Chris also runs a Saturday morning kid's club at Colston Tennis Club so if anyone is interested in joining, please contact Chris on 07970481707. Class 2 visited the Oxford Botanic Gardens to support their work on Rainforests. They had a wonderful day looking all the different plants and the foods that they provide and visited the glass houses where they made some fabulous drawings of the plants. We are all now practising the songs for the Burford Partnership Music Event with Mr Newlands. Some of the songs from the musical, `Pirates with Molly on Board', will be performed at the Village Fete on Saturday 20'h June. We are looking forward to `Walk to School Week' from the 18'h to the 22nd May. The theme this year is 'Walk n Talk' as we want to highlight the social side to walking to school; it can be fun and fascinating. The annual St Peter's Service will be held at St Peter's Church on Sunday 28th June. Please do join us at this special service. Our annual family barbecue will be held on Friday 10th July. This has become a very popular event and we welcome anyone who would like to join us. It is a wonderful opportunity for staff, governors, children and their families to meet our new families who will be joining the school in September as well as members of the local community. Tickets will be available from the school office nearer the time. Finally, Sandie Morris's Jumble Sale raised just over £200 for School Funds. Thank you to everyone who donated jumble, helped on the day and supported the event. Sam King BLACK BOURTON St Mary s

FLOWER FESTIVAL

BYGONE ERAS 24th,-26th July 2009

ST MARY'S CHURCH, BLACK BOURTON Our weekend begins on Friday 24th July at 7.30pm with a demonstration of Floral Art by Elizabeth Matheson, a professional demonstrator and teacher. Elizabeth not only creates beautiful interpretive arrangements but is also vastly entertaining. Do come along for a truly enjoyable evening. Tickets for £10.00, which include a glass of wine. The fun continues on Saturday 25th July at 7.30pm for 8.00pm with a musical duo called `PS'. Sophie and Phil will entertain you with folk music and they play a variety of instruments. Tickets for £10.00 to include a glass of wine and nibbles. On Sunday at 6.00pm, do come and join us for Songs of Praise and raise the roof with your singing. The Church will be open Saturday and Sunday for you to view the flower arrangements by the Church Flower Group and to have a trip down Memory Lane. Tickets available from Christine Pope on 01993 845998 and me on 01993 844124. All proceeds to St Mary's Church. This is a chance for you to support your Church and be entertained at the same time. Have a fun weekend. Doreen Hart BROADWELL St Peter & St Paul's

ALTAR FLOWERS June 7th Jenny Lowe June 21"t Vivien Godfrey June 14th Jenny Lowe June 28th Vivien Godfrey FARM OPEN DAY Sunday 7/h June Broadwell Manor Farm will welcome visitors from 2.00 pm until 4.30 pm. Do come and see the pleasures and problems of a Real Working farm. Watch the cows being milked, look around the young stock, visit the sheep in the fields with their lambs, and take a tour of on the tractor bus. After all of that, come and enjoy some refreshments. If the weather is doubtful then willies would be useful). This event is one of many around the country and is organized by LEAF, Linking the Environment and Farming. This is a method of farming that tries to be more in tune with natural things, whilst still feeding the nation. Not a bad idea, is it? For more information, please call 0774 433333 June Goodenough FILKINS & BROUGHTON POGGS St Peter's

CHURCH FLOWERS June 7th 14th 21st 28th Judith Cross

PARISH COUNCIL Do please remember that minutes and notices of meetings are displayed on the notice boards in the bus shelter, in Broughton Poggs in the Village Shop, and in the Post Office. There is a more comprehensive file of Parish Council bumph in the Cotswold Woollen Weavers Coffee Shop. Cris Hoad

FILKINS AND BROUGHTON POGGS WI When you think of Aromatherapy, what springs to mind? Well, if you were lucky enough to hear the speaker at our April meeting, the usual image of sweet smelling oils was not exactly dispelled, but was certainly expanded when Jane Birchenough, a psychologist and aromatherapist who works in schools and in prisons, explained how she uses 'aromas' to trigger responses and discussions with people who may normally find it difficult to communicate. Her kit bag contained some unusual essential oils, some of them pleasant and some not quite so pleasant as we discovered when we tried them! Please bear in mind that visitors are always welcome at our meetings (£3.00 to include refreshments), with some forthcoming topics to include on 17th June 'Blenheim and The Churchills', with Patrick Baldwin, followed on the 15th July by `Survival of the Fittest - a History of Child Rearing' with Jan Warner. Finally, thank you to Allison Papworth and Lucille Jones who deputised at our April meeting for our President and our Minute Secretary respectively. Please direct your enquires to me on 01367 860430 Pat Clark FILKINS FEAST 2009 Sunday 21,t June from 12 noon. Come and join us on the paddock and enjoy a delicious pig roast (vegetarian option available) and an afternoons entertainment. Music is provided by Highworth Silver Band, a childrens' entertainer and Punch and Judy Show. Tickets available from all the usual outlets:Cotswold Woollen Weavers, The Post Office and the Shop. Jonathan Peach

ST FILICA GREAT (ANTI) DEPRESSION BALL 4th July 2009 Have you booked to join us on the night that is sure to lift you out of the credit crunch? Tickets are going fast so you need to get your spats quick. Do join us for a night of revelry that is sure to be talked about for years to come, well until the next one at least. To reserve an entire table or just want an individual ticket phone Lisa Porter on 01367 860730 for table availability Come on join us in the paddock from 7.30pm and be part of the legend of 2009. Terrns & conditions apply St Filica Society -

CLASSIC CARS Filkins Classic Car Show will take place on Sunday 14th June in the fields at Filkins Farmhouse and is timed to coincide with the Gardens Open in the Village. Two years ago the Car Show attracted more than 100 classic cars and this year the entry should be even bigger, with a number of cars travelling from as far away as Belgium. If you read the Parish Pump and have a classic car, or have friends who do, then please come along and visit the gardens at the same time. The car show starts at 12.00pm and features free tea and coffee all day to participants, loos, bar-bque courtesy of the St Filica Society, and a well known Jaguar engineer will be on hand to help with those annoying 'get you home' car problems. For more details call me on 01367 860195 or just turn up on the day Chris Bristow

ROSTER FOR VOLUNTARY CAR SERVICE TO SURGERIES Covering Filkins, Broughton Poggs, Kencot, Broadwell, Langford and L Faringdon All codes 01367

Tuesdays 2"d June Mrs C Lauzier 860644 9th June Mr J Moir 860031 16th June Mr A Heath860129 23'd June Mrs J Geake 860534 30th June Miss H Squire 860337 7th July Mrs C Lauzier 860644 14th July Mr J Moir 860031 21st July Mr A Heath 860129 28th July Mrs 1 Geake 860534

Thursdays 4th, June Mrs J Higham 860197 11th June Mrs M Cover 860302 18th June Mrs V Godfrey 860498 25th june Lady Allison 860787 2nd July Mr A Woodford 860319 9th July Mrs J Higham 860197 16th July Miss H Squire 860337 July Lady Allison 860787 30th july: Mrs V godfrev860498 Copies of the 6 month roster are posted in the bus shelters at Filkins and Langford. Charges: Surgery Runs: Carterton, Lechlade and Burford - £2.00; Fairford and Witney - £5.00. Hospital Runs: Cirencester and Swindon - L8.00, Cheltenham and Oxford - L10.00 (plus parking charge if applicable) Patients should notify the nominated driver at least 24 hours in advance of their appointment. The Surgery Service only covers appointments up to 4.00pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. All users of the service must be able to make their way to and from the car unaided. For hospital runs contact me on 01367 860319. Tony Woodford

FILKINS POST OFFICE Telephone: 01367 860620 Opening hours Day Morning Afternoon Monday 9.00am to 12.30pm 1.00pm to 5.00pm Tuesday 8.30am to 12.30pm Closed Wednesday Closed Closed Thursday 9.00am to 12.30pm Closed Friday Closed 1.30pm to 4.30pm

FILKINS VILLAGE SHOP Opening Hours Day Am Pm Monday Closed 3-5pm Tuesday 10-12pm 3-5pm Wednesday Closed 3-5pm Thursday 9-12pm 2-5pm Friday Closed 2-5pm Saturday 9-1pm 3-5pm Sunday Closed 3-5pm

FILKINS & BROUGHTON POGGS SWIMMING CLUB The swimming pool with its beautiful new lining is now open! There is just time to get your membership forms and fees in before the early bird discount ends on Sunday 14th June. Full information, including membership forms can be viewed and downloaded from the village website www.filkins.org.uk on the Swimming Pool page, under the Leisure section. Alternatively pop along to one of the membership outlets: - Filkins Community Shop, Filkins Post Office (Both located next to the pool),The Woollen Weavers, 3 Saxons Close, Wynwood or Robbins Cottage. Also a reminder about the Swimming Gala on Sunday 12th July, so put the date in the diary now and start to gather your team of four together. For more information, please contact me on [email protected] or 01367860 159 The long range forecasts are looking good so fingers crossed for a lovely sunny Summer! Helen Holden

SWINFORD MUSEUM

MONEY BOX COMPETITION Thank you all children who entered our competition to make a money box which was supported by The Midcounties Co-operative who provided the prizes. Unfortunately the number of entrants was very disappointing, however, in spite of that, the variety of boxes made it difficult to judge. We are happy to announce the two winners were Isabelle Peach and Ludo West. The runners up were Katherine Hoad, Mia West, Jessica Kent and Toby West. Thank you to all those who entered and the boxes will be on display in the museum on 4th June. Diane Blackett

NURSERY UPDATE We have had an action-packed first half-term looking at Farms. The children have had visits from a Shetland pony, they have learned a great deal about horse and pony care, the use of horses on farms long ago and how to measure in 'hands '; and to the great delight of all our little boys in particular, we have had tractors brought into nursery by two parent-farmers. Our preschool children will also be going to Roves Farm for their summer outing to have even more practical hands-on farming experience. We would like to spend some time looking at various means of transport as our next topic. We have already planned nursery visits from the emergency services, but if anyone has an interesting vehicle they would like to bring along to show the children, please do let me know. We are proud to announce the arrival of three beautiful baby guinea pigs! The children have had such a lovely time looking after them and they are now almost as big as their mother. Unfortunately, the one male baby will be leaving us shortly, but has found a very happy home with a member of staff. We are now registered to accept Tesco vouchers as well as Sainsburys vouchers. Any unwanted vouchers from local residents would be gratefully received. The children now have access to their very own laptop with supervised internet connection, so we look forward to using the Tesco vouchers to refresh our computer software. HOLWELL St Mary s

PARISH MEETING The Parish Meeting took place on May 5th at the house of Michael Sayers, Chairman for the past ten years, and with most of the residents present. It was an occasion touched with sadness as Michael is leaving the village, of which he and his late wife, Peta, were an integral part, after thirty-five years. The following points were raised: 1.The expansion of Brize Norton was briefly discussed, but in the current climate, more information is awaited. 2. The Chairman's proposal to give a tree to be planted on the green in memory of Peta Sayers was warmly welcomed, and after a short discussion, a hornbeam was considered the most appropriate tree. John Heyworth undertook to see it safely planted. 3.Anthony Galione was chosen to succeed as Chair, which he accepted while suggesting that perhaps the appointment have a limited life of 3 years or so. We hope that Michael leaves Holwell with the realisation of the high regard in which he and Peta are held, and the thanks of the village for running our affairs, when this was necessary, diplomatically and with a light hand. We all left the Meeting refreshed. KELMSCOTT St George's

CHURCH BRASS AND FLOWERS Fenella Nicholas

KELMSCOTT VILLAGE GARDENS OPEN This event will take place on Sunday 2nd August 2009, 1.30-4.30pm. Adults £3.00; Children free. Any residents who would like to open their garden and/or donate flowers or plants, or help run refreshments at the Morris Memorial Hall should contact me on 01367 253348 or email on [email protected] Jane Milne

KELMSCOTT CRAFT FAIR Don't forget to come along to the craft fair in the Morris Memorial Hall each Wednesday afternoon, from 12 noon until 5pm. There will be a wide range of crafts for sale including cards, jewellery, artwork, textiles, stained glass, ceramics and aromatherapy products. Please come along and support this activity with stall holder fees going towards upkeep and maintenance of the hall. Any queries, please contact me, Laura Roberts on 01367 253103

KELMSCOTT CHARITY COOKBOOK The long awaited new Kelmscott cookbook is here, full of recipes collected from villagers past and present and beautifully illustrated throughout. Each book costs L10.00 with all proceeds going towards the Morris Memorial Hall. If you would like to purchase books for yourself or as gifts for friends and family, please give me a call on 01367 253103. The cookbook will also be on sale at the weekly craft fairs, each Wednesday, in the Memorial Hall. Laura Roberts KENCOT .St George's

CHURCH FLOWERS 6th' June Louise Eustace 13th June and 20th June Sally Bayliss 27th June and 4th July Stella Chapman

GARDENS OPEN After a number of cold wet days, we were lucky that the day turned out to be sunny and warm. As a result we were able to welcome about 550 visitors under the National Gardens Scheme. The village was looking good and the gardens and the allotments were at their best. The following amounts were raised: Admissions (to the NGS) £1605 Plants (to the NGS) £90 Teas (divided between Church & Village Hall) £476 Maps (to Village Hall) £29.70 Our thanks are due to the garden owners and gardeners, those who manned the gates, all those who made cakes and all who helped to serve teas, especially Jane Fyson and Susan Portergill

DEVIZES TO WESTMINSTER CANOE RACE Heartfelt congratulations to Charlie Stanley-Evans and friend Justin Wateridge for taking part in the Devizes to Westminster kayak race, the world's toughest and longest non-stop kayak and canoe race, an ultra marathon of 125 miles. The aim was to raise money for the Encephalitis Society, which spreads awareness, aids research and helps those affected by encephalitis, a brain disease. They helped to save the life of Charlie's younger daughter, Florence. John Barstow Charlie's Diary: Training started in November, 4 sessions a week in boat and gym. We both suffered hypothermia following a capsize in a freezing lake in January and Justin more seriously in February. The race started in Devizes on Easter Saturday 7.40am.The Start. Charlie without kayaking boots and wet weather gear, which was locked in the hotel. 12.00 Midday.First two major obstacles completed. The Bruce Tunnel, 400 metres of pitch black; Crofton Flight, l mile run carrying kayak past 7 locks. 3.00pm. Reach Newbury, 34.5 miles, over 1 hour behind schedule, our longest distance in training, pain beginning to bite, 90 miles to go! 6.00pm. Temperature quickly drops, starting to rain, first bouts of nausea. 7.30pm. Reach Reading. Two drunks shout `Where are you going?' We tell them., `Don't take the ....' they reply 8.00pm. Dark, still raining, 2 hours behind schedule, Midnight. Marlow. Justin gulping strong coffee at every lock to keep awake. 1.30am.Drizzling, very dark, cold, feeling very low and very sick. Still 55 miles! 2.30.am. A real risk of not catching the tide. 3.00am. We pass Windsor Weir, the most dangerous stretch on the course. 5.30am. Shepperton. First light. 30 miles to go. Charlie complains of furious pain in shoulders, arms and wrists. Justin keeps quiet. Need to go faster. 7.00am. Not sure we're going to make the tide, got to go faster. 8.15am.Arrive at Teddington, the Tideway, with 20 minutes to spare. Now need to wait 12 hours for next tide window. 8.30am. Catching the tide late in its flow means we have to paddle hard. 10.30am. Putney Bridge. See family. Spirits lift. Almost there,7 miles to go. 11.46am. Big Ben strikes the quarter hour and we finish. We are carried from the boat! Our trip took 28 hours and 6 minutes. Out of 180 who started, and 135 who finished, we attained 106th position. We have so far raised over 8,000. If you would like to help, please do look at our just giving web site: www.justgiving.com/charlieandjustin. Charlie Stanley-Evans

THE PORTER TRUST H R Porter made a bequest in 1936 to procure land for a bowling club and a children's recreation ground for Broadwell and Kencot and to provide for the upkeep. Although the Bowls Club is self-sufficient, there is not enough interest from the Trust Fund nowadays to completely cover the children's recreation ground. Therefore from time to time fund raising events have to be organized. Two are planned for the summer bank holiday: Blind Wine-tasting and Quiz : led by Charlie Stanley-Evans in Broadwell on the evening of Sunday August 30th. Playground Fun Day: From 2.00pm to 5.00pm in Kencot on Bank Holiday Monday, August 31st Please do make a note of these dates and make every effort to attend! John Barstow LANGFORD St Matthew's

CHURCH FLOWERS June 71" Mrs. R. Range June 14th and 2l 't Mrs. C. Johnston June 28th Mrs. C. Tinson

GARDENS OPEN DAY Sunday morning, on the 26th April dawned darkly and I feared that Saturday's bad weather might continue. However the wind had died down overnight and some blue began to appear between the clouds. By 9.00am it looked as though the weather might be kind and so it proved. Although in Langford we are usually particularly blessed by the sun when we hold our biannual NGS Garden Open Day, this was a `one-off occasion. St. Matthew's roof is already shrouded in scaffold and work has started but we needed this final push for our fundraising. Without the Yellow Book we were relying on local advertising and hoped some sunshine would pull in the crowds. By 1.00pm the village looked spick and span, gardens glowed and gleamed and the plant, cakes and produce stalls groaned under their load. And so we waited with bated breath as 2.00pm crept closer and ears pricked at the approach of each car. In the event, we had a terrific afternoon. Around 170 visitors came, saw and spent. Fellow gardeners are delightful people and they seemed to really appreciate our efforts. It's always such a pleasure when someone asks about a favourite plant or expresses delight in a certain corner that one has agonised over. All that's left for me to say is an enormous thank you to everyone who opened their gardens and to all those who helped out at the stalls and teas and manned the car park and ticket desk. Without your support it couldn't have happened. We raised £2173.00 for St. Matthew's roof. Well done and grateful thanks to all. Denise Kemp

LANGFORD LADIES We meet every second Thursday of the month, our next meeting is on Thursday 11th June. We would like to see some new faces, you can join anytime during the year, costing £1.50. For more details please contact me on 01367 860514

LANGFORD PARISH COUNCIL Litter pick up around the village on Saturday 4th April The successful litter pick recovered seven bin bags full of tins, bottles and rubbish and one car tyre from Langford's roads and ditches. Many thanks to volunteers Ali and Neil Simpson, Elliot and Mark Harris, Denise Kemp, Phyl Thorpe and Cherry and Ali MacDonald for their efforts. The Parish Council says Goodbye to All MacDonald All MacDonald took over as Clerk to the Parish Council at our meeting on 9th December 2004. He has served the Council and the whole community excellently since that date until May 2009, four and a half years of service. He has been tireless in contacting officials on behalf of the village, be they roadmen (Oxfordshire Highways), gravel men (Oxfordshire County Council), bin men (West Oxfordshire District Council), affordable housing (Cottsway) or any other official who needs to be contacted. He has overseen the finances of the Parish Council, to the satisfaction of the auditors, as well as keeping the Council informed of any information they need to know between meetings. He also makes sure that we perform our duties to the letter of the law. So as you see he has been a paragon as our Clerk and he will be sorely missed. Thank you All. We are so lucky to have Mr. Neil Ray to take over as Clerk to the Council and we welcome him. I am sure that he too will make sure that we, the Council, do our best for the village during his time in office. Denise Kemp

WHIST Join us for an evening of whist at Langford Village Hall on Tuesday 2nd June. We start at 7.30 pm: however if you would like some tuition please arrive a little earlier than this. The entrance fee of £1.00 includes tea and biscuits at half time with all the profits going to Langford Village Hall. We play for the enjoyment of the game and the company with small prizes. Everyone is welcome, you do not need to be an expert card player to come and join us, if you would like to know more or even a lift please call me on 01993 852378 Jo Hatchings

CRAFT FAYRE There will be a craft event on Saturday 20th June at 2.00pm, light refreshments will be available. Tables to cost £5.00 in advance, or £7.00 on the day. This is a great opportunity to buy that present or card for Fathers Day, on Sunday 21st and to save all that hassle of travelling to the nearest town. All proceeds to benefit the Village Hall. For more information, please contact me on 01367 860514

NEWS FROM ST CHRISTOPHERS The new term started at St Christopher's with another challenge for our children. This time it was `Egg-tastic day' The children worked in teams and were given an egg and the brief to make something which would transport the egg 1 metre without it breaking. As always, the children rose to the challenge and quickly started planning their vehicles. All over the school children were hunting for materials to make their mode of transport and others to protect their egg on its journey. The children also had a time limit — ten minutes to plan and find the materials and twenty minutes to build their vehicle. From the Foundation Stage right up to Year 6 children were intent on the challenge, asking each other all sorts of stimulating questions. One of the questions in Ginko was heard to be `will this be aerodynamic enough?'. Simplicity won the day, however, and in nearly every class the most effective model was an old cardboard tube with the egg carefully popped inside and then rolled along the floor or down the carefully angled ramp. This stimulus day was designed to start our term's topic of Transport: it certainly did that. The Creative Curriculum which we teach at St Christopher's is designed to stimulate children, encourage them to be investigative and thoughtful while still teaching them the Literacy and Numeracy skills which they need. We use a topic to link together all subjects; during our Egg-tactic Challenge for example, children were speaking and listening to each other, using scientific language, drawing and designing, talking about Easter and the significance of eggs at this time of year, and much, much, more. It is a fascinating and thought provoking way of teaching and learning which we all enjoy. Children across the school have already been out and about investigating their topics and taking part in various activities with other partnership schools. Cherry and Maple Classes visited the playground in Carterton to look at what forces playground swings and see saws use. Maple Class also took part in the Ultra Olympics at Burford which is always a favourite. Willow and Oak Classes have had Cricket Coaching this term and Ginkgo Class will be designing their very own Willow sculpture in our lovely grounds as part of their arts project. We were delighted that our hard work has been recognised both locally and nationally in the annual league tables. Last year's SATs results were fantastic due to the hard work of children and teachers alike. This put us 10th in Oxfordshire and the highest placed school in the Burford Partnership. We were all, of course, delighted with this recognition of the children's achievements and of all the hard work we have put in to make St Christopher's a great place to be and to learn. Our latest community venture is to host the Junior Benefice Choir. David New is doing a fantastic job presenting a wide range of music and musical games to our choir. If you are interested, the Choir is open to all children from year 4 upwards and is held at St Christopher's on Tuesday evenings from 6.00pm to 7.00pm. Please do come along and join us, you really don't have to be at St Christopher's to attend. Thursday nights have also been busy as Mrs Brownjohn and Mrs Booth have been holding Beginners Circuit training at the school. This was a taster course of five weeks but is proving so popular that I'm sure it will be continuing. Please do contact the school if you are interested in joining in. The SCPA have also been working hard and their next event will be the Summer Fete on Saturday July 11th from 3.00pm. This is always an amazing afternoon so do put the date in your diary and come and join us. As already mentioned, our topic for the summer term is Transport. As always, please do contact the school on 01367 860318 if you have anything you would like to share with us or visit our website at www.st-christophers.oxon.sch.uk to find out more about our school. Sarah Nisbett

Parents Association News After a tremendously busy last year, St Christopher's Parents Association took a well deserved break to restore energy levels before the next onslaught of activities begins. We were thrilled to be able to hand over the full amount we pledged towards the School's new playground and outside development and agree with everyone that it's a fantastic asset to the School. So for 2009, the resting is over and we must crack on to achieve this year's financial target (L6,000 — eeks!). Our events begin on Wednesday, 24th June when we will be running a Nearly New Sale in the school hall from 7.30pm till 9.00pm. Everyone is invited, you don't have to bring anything to sell to attend but if you do have new or nearly new clothes, shoes, handbags, jewellery and accessories that are languishing in cupboards and that could go to a new home, bring to the sale. While 50% of the proceeds will go to the school, each seller can take home 50% for themselves so everyone's a winner! If you'd like a seller's information pack, please contact Sarah Jayne MacDonald on 07881 847931 or [email protected]. Another date for your diaries is our Summer Fete, which will be on Saturday, 11 th July. More information to come. Thank you everyone for continuing to support St Christopher's Parents Association. Helen Keen LITTLE FARINGDON St Margaret's CHURCH FLOWERS June Emma Abdy Collins

800TH ANNIVERSARY

A MEMORABLE 800TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION The Bishop of Oxford, the Right Reverend John Pritchard, (pictured right) led the village church's 800th Anniversary Celebration in Little Faringdon on Sunday 10th May, during a lovely evening service that will be long remembered. Our much-loved church looked more beautiful than ever, newly redecorated and filled with blue and yellow flowers. The church's stunning chalice (dated 1500 and currently on long-term loan to Christ Church in Oxford) graced the altar and was used for communion. The congregation included current and former village residents as well as others with ties to the village. We were delighted to welcome the Waller family from Cape Town. Jonathan Waller is the grandson of the Reverend Pope who was our very own vicar from 1901 until his death in 1913. In the sunshine after the anniversary service, the Bishop dedicated the churchyard's five newly planted elm trees and a stone plaque commemorating the church's 800-year history and all those who have worshipped here. We are immensely grateful to Bishop John and our rector the Reverend Harry MacInnes for officiating at this service. The Bishop's message and friendly manner impressed everyone present. Thanks go to Wanda Adams and Wendy Browne for filling the church with their beautiful singing during communion, also to our talented organist Geoff Holmes, and to Rachel Taylor and all those who helped her decorate the church with flowers. Jamie and Emma Abdy Collins were extremely kind to open their house for everyone to enjoy tea and drinks before and after the service. This gathering gave us all the opportunity to meet with our 'extended family'. It was a day to remember and, as the Bishop suggested, one that makes us wonder what our precious St Margaret's Church will be like 800 years from now!

HISTORY OF CHURCH HOT OFF THE PRESS! To mark the church's 800 years, a booklet summarising the history of St Margaret's Church is now available. Photographed and produced by Derek Cotterill of Burford, it traces the church's history commencing after 1205 and includes intriguing descriptions and colour photography of notable features charting its long existence. The detailed text and illustrations make it possible for visitors to step back in time as they examine the building's architecture and the stonework first touched by the Cistercian monks who set the church's history in motion 800 years ago. Copies of the booklet are available in the church. CHURCH LUNCH The annual St Margaret's Church Lunch will take place on Sunday 28th June (12.30pm for 1.00pm) at Little Faringdon House. Please RSVP to the invitations as soon as possible. No one will want to miss out, and the tables are filling up fast for this always enjoyable event; a highlight of the summer in our village. Barbara Johnson-Browne SHILTON Holy Rood

OPEN GARDENS Shilton's Open Gardens, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, will be on Sunday 21't June. We hope to make this year even better than usual so please come along and enjoy some of our beautiful gardens for the afternoon, between 2.00 and 6.00pm. There will be wonderful teas with homemade cakes in the Old School, plants and books for sale, fabulous flowers in the church, perhaps some music, a raffle and whatever else we can dream up to entice you to visit us.

EGG RACING There was a massive turnout for the Easter races in Shilton on Saturday 11th April, and many beautiful and very creative Easter hats competed to win prizes for the best of the bunch. Over 220 eggs were hard-boiled, hand painted, sold as race entries and then rolled down Hollow Way in three races, the winning owners receiving prizes of eggs The afternoon was topped off by an Easter tea in the Old School and we were delighted to raise a record amount of L279.04 from this very pleasant afternoon. Thanks, as always, go to everyone who helped make it such a success.

OLD SCHOOL DECORATION Not only has the Old School had its long-awaited fresh coat of paint but it now has new curtains too and looks very classy indeed. The front entrance lobby, however, in comparison looks exceedingly shabby, in addition to which the very elderly lighting system is playing up, so that is where money will probably need to be spent next, when some more has been raised of course. The jumble sale held in Carterton WI hall earlier in the year made the Old School £205.38. The last two Bank Holiday Monday car boot sales in Burford have netted another £63.04 and £80, making a grand total so far this year of £348.42 from your unwanted items, which can't be bad. In fact we've sold so much stuff that we'd like some more please, so if you are turning out your cupboards do bear us in mind. The Old School Committee has also invested, at last, in a new and extremely smart, slug & snail proof, lockable noticeboard outside the Old School. It took a long time to get it but it looks really good so was well worth the wait. No more chewed, frayed, faded bits of paper blowing in the wind for us! A huge crowd turned out to hear John Coghlan & the JC's 5Bs Band playing in the Rose & Crown on Sunday May 3rd. There will be a repeat performance in September so keep an eye out for further details. Call me on 01993 842404 for any more information. Shirley Cuthbertson

PARISH COUNCIL Shilton Parish Council meetings will be held on the following dates in the Old School. All meetings start at 7.30 unless otherwise stated. For more information call me on 01993 840825. 24th June 7th October 5th August 2nd December Katherine Robertson

KEEP FIT Keep-fit every Thursday in Shilton Old School, 7.00-8.00pm, £3.50 per session. Sandie Hunter 01993 706265 BRADWELL VILLAGE

BRADWELL, VILLAGE COFFEE SHOP The Coffee Shop is open on Fridays in term time from 10.30am-2.30pm in the Village Hall selling hot and cold drinks and home-made cakes and savouries. This is a splendid social focus for anyone with an hour or so to spare. For further details contact me on 01993 824801. Sharon Howat

BRADWELL VILLAGE STITCHERS The next meeting is on Tuesday 9th June from 10.00am until 2.30pm. Visitors are most welcome, at £2 .00 for the day. The half-annual subscription is £10.00. Please bring along your latest project to work on. Drinks and biscuits are provided, but please bring a packed lunch. For more information, do call me on01993 824475 Marion Ellis

BURFORD CRAFTERS Burford Crafters was formed seven months ago. We now have a keen group of ladies from Burford and the outlying villages meeting together at the Baptist Church Hall in Witney Street, every other Monday from 1.30 til 3.30pm. This is a time in which we share craft ideas and skills, make things and get to know each other. The result of our meetings is that we shall be selling our products and sharing the proceeds of the sale between SPECAL, a local charity helping those with Dementia and SEESAW, a charity set up to come alongside bereaved children who have lost a close member of their family. We shall be selling at the Tolsey in Burford High Street from 11.00am to 3.00pm on Saturday 11th July. If you are interested in joining the Group then please telephone either Christine Brown on 01993 822589 or Moira Hughes on 01993 822828.

THE COTSWOLD ANTIQUES STUDY GROUP On Wednesday 10th June at 2.00 pm in Bradwell Village Hall (coffee 1.15-1.45 pm), The Cotswold Antiques Study Group (Member of NADFAS) will host a talk entitled Giotto - Founder of Modern Art. The speaker will be Alice Foster, MA, BA (Hons), lecturer on the History of Art at the University of Oxford Department of Continuing Education, and group leader on History of Art holidays in Italy. For more information contact the Membership Secretary on 01869 345332. Ray Murray

BRADWELL BABES Term-Time Mondays 9.30am til 11.30am at the Village Hall. £1.50 per session per family includes playtime, songtime, and refreshments. Small slide & trampoline, Soft play, Baby and toddler toys, Role play and lovely new wooden kitchen. We also offer a reading corner, dressing up clothes and music time with instruments. Call Angela 01993 823623 [email protected] or Miranda 01993 822777 [email protected] WESTWELL .'St Mary's

AROUND THE REGION

Goodbye Sam and` Betty, After 40 years in the village, Sam and Betty Vincent have moved to Carterton. Sam came here to drive the big tractor, and he cultivated many acres year by year, he was also good with stock and a great help with the beef herd, a countryman to the core. They made a most attractive garden at 4 The Hill, a riot of colour when the bulbs were out in the spring with a lovely Magnolia, when frost allowed. After the sale of the farm he worked in the garden at the Wildlife Park; while Betty has helped in the shops at the Park for 34 years He and Betty had four children, who went to Burford School from here. Their two daughters, Pearl and Valerie, still live quite close as does Kelvin their youngest son, their other son Graham who also worked on the farm for a bit now lives in Hampshire. All helped with the move on May 2'd. They have moved to be less dependent on the car, and we wish them well in their new home. Chris Fox PAIRS When I was young and fancy-free, It seemed so very odd to me That girls walked out in ill-matched pairs, Inviting all our questing stares, And what we had to ponder on `Which one of us gets the ugly one? Never one to stand and wait, I never left it all to fate, For only the brave deserve the fair: Are always the first to risk the dare. At raw eighteen, I went to war And I could never want for more. Then Henry and 1, in the afternoon heat, Met two bronzed girls on a Cairo street. You'll have no need of a second shot At guessing the one that Henry got. Now three score years and more have gone, But that sun-bronzed girl is still the one Who shares my bed and lights my life And is, of course, my darling wife. Freddie Cooper

BURFORD SCHOOL NEWS A look at events and news. from a little further afield

MATRON RETIRES Pupils and staff were all sorry to say `Good Bye' to Matron (aka Margaret Hepden). On her last day in school before her retirement Poppy and Liam (our Year 9 roving-school reporters) asked her a few questions: Have you enjoyed your time at Burford? I have thankyou, I've enjoyed my time here and have had lots and lots of fun. What has been the best bit? Kindness shown to me and special relationship between both students and staff What has been the hardest bit? (Doing bus duty in the rain How long have you worked here? 33 years Have you got to know the students very well? Extremely well What will you miss the most and why? I'm going to miss all the students What are your plans now? Setting off for'France tomorrow and do some travelling ands-pending more time with my friends. Poppy Baker-Smith & Liam Snook TIME TEAM COMES TO BURFORD ON Wednesday 22"d April, Rich and I were given the fab opportunity to go and nosy around the daily lives of a very famous archaeology programme: Time Team! There were bones and pottery to scrub, diggers and spades and of course, Baldrick himself, Tony Robinson. As I am off next year to do a degree in history and archaeology it was a special opportunity to preview what my degree choice would entail. The dig was taking place at what up until recently was The Priory, where there were 3 trenches being inspected. One in particular caused some head scratching as a few thought it contained a Roman wall of some type, whilst those sceptical archaeologists muttered it was actually mediaeval. They also discovered that Burford, before its charter in the 12th Century, may have actually been based along Tanners Lane with a ford near the bottom over the river and on towards the Stow road. However as I left it had not been determined, so we shall have to wait and see when it is aired to lean more of Burford's history. It was a great day, and although I was assured by many of the archaeologists that the beautiful weather, crispy duck lunch and Pimms `O'clock finish was not a regular when it came to archaeology, I am resolved as ever that, even if it were pouring with rain, and there had only been soggy sandwiches, it would still have been a great day. Megan Holloway VISIT TO WEMBLEY On the 1st April we were fortunate enough to have the chance to visit Wembley to watch the England v Ukraine Football match. Forty students attended the match and everybody had an excellent time. England played very well and won the match 2-1, with goals from John Terry and Peter Crouch, who celebrated with his signature move, the robot! It was a great experience and we would all love to go again. Many thanks to all the PE staff for taking us on the trip. Jess Dearman & Lydia Miles 8ELDESIGN & TECHNOLOGY EXHIBITION The third annual exhibition of students' work will be held in the school hall on 25th June from 5.30pm to 8.00pm when the Department will be displaying work by GCSE, AS level and A2 level students, completed as part of their exam coursework. Work varies from Engineering, Woodwork, Jewellery design & Graphics plus a recycled fashion show. The Department is proud of the students' work and feel it should be on display for guests and parents to see before it is put away into storage and probably never seen again.Everyone is invited to attend, entry is free and there will be lots of delicious refreshments made and served by the catering students. Mary Alcock THE BURFORD SINGERS The Burford Singers and The Oriel Singers will be performing 1610 Vespers by Monteverdi at 7.30 pm on Sunday 29th June at Burford Parish Church Tickets: reserved at £20.00. £17.50 – returns only £15.00 (students £7.50) Burford Singers Box Office, The Red Lion Bookshop, 122 High Street, Burford OX18 40J. Or call 01993 822539 Jan Campbell

The Inaugural Windrush Valley Chamber Music Festival Burford Parish Church 1st– 3rd May 2009 It has been said that Burford is the Gateway to musical excellence in the Cotswolds. This Festival certainly strengthened this claim and what an enlightened concept! Sholto Kynoch is to be congratulated on assembling twelve such young, gifted, professional and dedicated instrumentalists - nine string players and three pianists from six different European countries - their prime object to perform music to the highest standard. (No Prima Donnas here' we overheard.) The programme was equally eclectic. The scintillating solo piano recital given by Bulgarian born Sibila Konstantinova, with works ranging from Scarlatti to Granados showed her absolute mastery of her instrument and `a joy to watch too', heard from our left. Martin Sturfalt, the other solo pianist, introduced us to the contemporary Swedish composer, Anders Nilsson's Five Orchestral Pieces – an instruction to make the piano sound like an orchestra, which Sturfalt certainly achieved. `What a lot of notes!' This was not a Festival which featured established groups of chamber music players. Many of the performers met for the first time on the Friday morning and then played in a variety of ensembles throughout the three days, duos, quartets and quintets — all impressive performances, BUT, for us the highlight of the three days was the final billed item, Mendelssohn's Octet in E flat major. This performance was intoxicating. The rapport between the young musicians and their dedication to the music combined to produce the most exhilarating performance of this work we have ever heard, a veritable tribute to Mendelssohn in his anniversary year. However, there was a coda produced by the three pianists and the remaining viola player, a world premiere of Rachmaninov's Romance for six hands with a line (specially composed that afternoon by Martin Sturfalt) for solo viola, a fitting finale as it involved Sholto Kynoch, who deserved the last accolade for his amazing ability, not only to organise such a successful venture, but also to participate to the same high standard as his friends and colleagues. In addition to those already mentioned do watch out for violinists _Jonathan Stone, Kaija Lukas, Emma Parker and Aida Dizdari; Viola players Nicholas Bootiman, Emmanuella Reiter and Yvali Zilliacus; cellists Andrew Joyce (who took part in more ensembles than anyone else) and Elizabeth Stone. Here's to the second Windrush Valley Chamber Music Festival!!! Jan Campbell. WHAT SHALL WE HAVE FOR DINNER? This month, the hottie from Holwell serves up.... Grillade of Lamb Breast Lamb breasts are tricky blighters. There is not a great deal of meat on them, flavoursome though it is, and, of course, there is the fat. Lots of it. When I was a girl breast of lamb was covered with apricot stuffing, rolled up and cooked slowly to make a dish suitable- just - for a midweek lunch for family only. You wouldn't serve it to Other People. These days I am not sure if you can even buy breast of lamb at the butchers. So why, you may wonder, have I been scouring my cook books for recipes for the beastly things? Well, like many readers of the Pump, I imagine, I buy a whole lamb at a time, from a farmer in the next village, and freeze it. It works out much cheaper that way and I know that the animals were very well cared for and, for those who care about such things, food miles are minimal. However, once the legs, shoulders and chops have been eaten, the neck rings used in Irish Stew, the heart cooked for the dog and the liver made into something delicious, that leaves the breasts. And they do tend to get left, in the freezer, for ages. Now, however, at last, I have found a recipe that actually is rather good. It is not the prettiest dish in the world but is jolly tasty. Even my husband, who is fussy where fat and bones are concerned said it was `not bad'. Praise indeed, from him! It comes from Tamasin Dav-Lewis's Good Tempered Food, a book dedicated to slow food which can be cooked ahead of time and reheated without spoiling, or which will sit happily until you arc ready to eat it. This recipe wins on both counts and is also incredibly inexpensive to make and simplicity itself. Start it the day before you intend to eat it, but don't let that put you off; preparation takes literally 5 minutes. As with last month's roasted peppers, the addition of anchovies brings out the flavour, the finished dish does not taste fishy (but you might prefer not to broadcast their presence to picky eaters). Finally, this month's recipe is dedicated to Richard Scoulding, a very popular chap here in Holwell, and beyond, who breeds Black Welsh Mountain sheep and always has a freezer full of unwanted lamb breasts. Now he will know what to do with them. Serves 6 2lamb breasts, boned* 1 lb/450g onions, peeled and finely sliced 1 oz/25g butter 1 heaped tsp flour 2 tbsp parsley, chopped 1 clove of garlic, chopped 3 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp red wine vinegar 4 anchovy fillets, chopped salt & pepper Pre-heat oven to 140°C (275°F/Gas Mark 1). Put half the onions in a layer in the bottom of a heavy-bottomed, but not too deep, casserole. Place the breasts, laid out flat, in a single layer on top of them and season. Put the rest of the sliced onions in a layer on top of the meat. Work the butter and flour together in a small bowl then divide it into tiny knobs and dot the mixture over the top of the onions. Cover with a layer of buttered greaseproof paper and a lid and cook for 2-21/2 hours. The meat should be utterly tender when pierced with a skewer. Leave to cool overnight. With a slotted spoon and kitchen paper, scoop out every bit of solidified white fat you can see (this is less daunting than it sounds and takes only a minute or so). Mix the chopped parsley, garlic, anchovies, olive oil and vinegar together into a vinaigrette. Pour it over the casserole, replace the greaseproof paper and lid and cook, at the same temperature, for a further 11/2 hours. Some extra chopped parsley will prettify it before serving. *If your lamb breasts are not boned don't worry. Cook as directed then, once cool enough to handle, the bones can be pulled out quite easily. Angela Galione NATURE NOTES It is interesting keeping natural history notes each year to compare when seeing the first of anything to appear. Today, 9th May, I saw my first `local' swifts, six of them doing a fly past over my garden and then around the church screaming so that I knew they had arrived, a great day that I look forward to every year. They are later this year although I have been away for a week so could have missed a possible earlier appearance. The following dates are for the previous three years: 2nd May 2008, 27th April 2007 and 28th April 2006. The first swallow I saw on 12th April this year, 27th April 2008, 6th April, 2007, and 9th April 2006. The first cuckoo I heard 20th April this year 3rd April 2008, not heard in 2007 and 21st April 2006. This last one is certainly getting a lot scarcer. A pair of great tits have taken over my garden nest box this year for the first time, other years it has been occupied by blue tits with varying degrees of success. I saw them going in and out for the first time on 10th April. A lovely story about blue tits; my wife visits Madley Park Care Home in Witney every week and she reported this week that they have erected a blue tit nest box in the garden with a television camera connected. This is now projecting the happenings inside the box in colour on to a large t.v. screen in the residents' lounge. There is a brood of ten youngsters being fed. What a brilliant thing for the residents to see. On 12th April I had a telephone call from a friend at Worsham, off the A40 Witney road, to report a sighting there of 100 golden plovers displaying in a field, in Worsham Lane, together with two displaying lapwings. This is good news. On 13th April, an overcast day, with the wind coming from the north west I had a male yellow hammer feeding from seed in my garden, a blackbird feeding young, orange tipped, brimstone, large and small whites, and small tortoiseshell butterflies seen. Last year was a disaster for the small tortoiseshell, I did not see any with the wet summer and the previous year was also very poor. On 28th April I saw a corn bunting calling on overhead wires in the first field over the stile from the churchyard and four swallows also on overhead wires. There were nine buzzards up over the bottom of the first field, two flying high up and seven interacting quite low down. This is quite unusual to see so many at one time and I have only ever equalled this once before at the top end of Swinbrook some years ago. Having just returned from a week's birding trip to Lesvos, the third largest Greek Island just off the Turkish coast in the Agean Sea I shall write about that next month. It is now 9.45 pm and the tawny owl is calling quite loudly from the vicarage garden. David Roberts BUSCOT PARK Those visitors who wish to view The Faringdon Collection of art in the house will be in for a treat: the Sitting Room, to the right of the Entrance Hall, has been entirely redecorated and a new lighting system installed to enhance the eighteenth English pictures displayed in the room.The previous colour scheme was based around a rather insipid pale green on both walls andceiling, a colour which rather drained the pictures of any life. The new scheme is much warmer, stippled terracotta walls complemented by terracotta cotton damask curtains. The previous silk damask curtains were falling apart — not surprisingly given that they were second-hand when first hung at Buscot in the late 1930s! The nineteenth-century Zeigler carpet has been cleaned and some sofas and chairs reupholstered or replaced. There is also a new addition to the collection upstairs in the Normanton Room, a portrait of Ian Hamilton Finlay at Little Sparta 2006, by Eileen Hogan, purchased by the Trustees from last year's Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy. Buscot Park is open 1st April to 30th September. David Freeman letters

A Correction Dear Editor, Re: the `Guest Preacher' announcement in the May issue of the Parish Pump, I am writing to make a correction. Jo (as he was known before joining Ampleforth as a monk) was born in London, as was his elder sister Miriam, his senior by two years. In 1940 Mrs Joshua, Mrs Wansbrough's aunt, invited them to come and live at Langford Grange, which he had on lease. The children were then aged 5 and 7. They went to school at St. Clohilde's convent at Lechlade Manor, as did my sister Pauline and I, and my father was their family doctor; we became good friends and have remained so. In the late 1940's Mrs Joshua died and Mrs Wansbrough sought to buy Langford Grange. The owners however declined to sell. She therefore bought the Old Rectory at Broughton Poggs, where they moved in 1948. With best regards, Esme Morgan (Thankyou for this, Esme, it is so good to have a bit more information. Ed) BENEFICE CALENDER OF EVENTS Send your event details to Lin Edgar (contact details inside front cove!) by 10th of each month for events taking place during the following month 4th Benedict Pollard starting 65 mile charity run, to mark 65th anniversary of D- Day landings www.justgiving.com/benedictpollard 7th Children's Church in Shilton Village Hall 10.15 am 7th Manor Farm Open Day in Broadwell 2.00pm til 4.00pm 10th Cotswold Antique Study Group talk on Giotto 2.00pm Bradwell Village Hall 14th Open Gardens and Classic Car show in Filkins & Broughton Poggs 2.00 pm til 5.30pm 20th Alvescot Village Fete 2.00 p.m. 20th Langford Village Hall Craft Event 21st Filkins Feast from 12 noon on the Paddock 21st Shilton Open Gardens 30th Anniversary 2.00pm til 6.00 pm 24th Shilton Parish Council Meeting 7.30 p.m. in the Old School 24th D & T Exhibition at Burford School 24th Nearly New Sale 7.30 pm at St Christopher's School 29th Burford Singers performing Monteverdi. 7.30pm at Burford Parish Church CLASSIFIED ADVERTISMENTS Free for private ads

SALE OF OLD CHAIRS

KENCOT Village Hall wants to dispose of a number of black stacking chairs, any reasonable offer accepted, to view call David Portergill on 01367 860217.

ALGARVE APARTMENT Villa 110, Four Seasons Fairways, Quinta do Lago, Portugal is a two bedroom, three bathroom, hillside apartment with a small plunge pool, sleeping a max of 6 (including children). Available: 19- 26 July, and 26 July - 2 Aug. For details of this exclusive resort, by the sea and golf courses, visit www.fourseasonsfairways.com. Normal rent is £1,980 per week. For private hire at a discounted rental contact: Ian & Mike Hussey on: 01993 844354 or [email protected].

DEAD STRANGE The Greek playwright, Aeschylus, died after being hit on the head by a tortoise that had been dropped by a passing eagle. And Atilla the Hun, famous for his ferocity in battle, died from a nosebleed!