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BLETCHINGTON VILLAGE NEWS KEEPING YOU INFORMED OF EVENTS AND ORGANISATIONS IN YOUR VILLAGE

ISSUE 230 Oct – Nov 2017

Church News Report from Sports & Social Club Report from Brownies School News Contributions from the Schoolchildren

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B L E T C H I N G T O N

Tel: 01869 350359 Kenwood, e-mail: [email protected] Road.

From the Editor It doesn’t seem possible that this is the penultimate issue before the Christmas one! Where does the time go?! The Bletchington Charity has been funding football and cricket training for local children and the cover picture shows the new wicket being blessed. As usual in the lead up to Christmas there are a number of events advertised in this issue, which we hope you will support. The Bletchington Band’s next concert, as mentioned in the last issue, is on 7th October so we hope this reaches you in time! Thank you for contributions to this issue, especially for the nonsense poems from the school children and to Ian for the photographs of the Tour of Britain cyclists as they came through the village. Thank you also for the photographs of the Brownies. Articles for inclusion in the December 2017/January 2018 Issue are welcome at any time but by 27th November 2017 at the latest please. For your convenience it is possible to send your articles, adverts or cover designs directly by e-mail. The Village News e-mail address is [email protected]

CHRISTMAS COVER COMPETITION If you would like to win £5 please have a go at designing a cover for the next Issue, ideally with a Christmas theme. The picture needs to fit in the middle of the page (approximately 17.5 x 14.5cms) and should be drawn with a dark lead pencil. So that it will scan. The last date for entries will be 27th November. Please give your picture to Greta, or send it by e-mail.

Harvest Praise: The annual Harvest Festival will be held on Sunday, October 15th at 10 a.m. As usual, gifts of produce (not fresh items please) are very welcome and will be given to the Food Bank for those less fortunate than ourselves. The collection will be given to a charity as our contacts have moved from Lithuania and we have lost our link to the orphanage now. All Souls' Service: The annual service, at which we traditionally remember our friends and family who are no longer with us, will be held on Sunday, November 5th at 11 a.m. All are welcome, especially those who have been bereaved in the last year. Christine and Sue will make individual posies for those in our church registers during the last year, but if you would like to contribute to a floral arrangement in memory of someone (not necessarily from this village) please get in touch with Christine Mercer (Oaklands, Islip Road, Bletchington, Oxon OX5 3DP, tel. 01869 350335) – cheques made payable to PCC Bletchington. The upkeep of the churchyards is very expensive and if you would like to remember your relative by helping to keep the churchyards looking so beautiful, Ian Gedling (01869 350491) would be very pleased to hear from you. Remembrance Service: There will be a service of Remembrance on Sunday, November 12th at 10.45 a.m. Please come along (and bring your children) to remember the men and women who gave their lives for us, especially those from this village. The names of the men on the two plaques in the church will be read and Bletchington Silver Band will again accompany the hymns and sound the Last Post.

SAVE THE DATE!!

Come and join us for PRE-CHRISTMAS DRINKS

At Village Hall On Saturday 2nd December 2017 6-8pm

Tickets £3 including first drink Snacks will be served during the evening

Cash Bar Raffle

In aid of St Giles Church Bletchingdon

Look out for posters! Tickets from Judith Ledger 351542 or Fiona Teddy 350034

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ST. GILES’ CHURCH NEWS AND SERVICES

We are part of the AKEMAN BENEFICE (Bletchington, , Weston-on-the-Green, Chesterton, , and ) Rector: The Revd Gareth Miller, The Rectory, Kirtlington, Oxon OX5 3HA (01869 350224) email [email protected] Assistant Rector: Revd. Brian Wood, The Rectory, Alchester Road, Chesterton, Oxon OX 26 1UW (01869 369815) email [email protected] Churchwarden: Judith Ledger Assistant Churchwarden: Fiona Teddy Secretary: Patricia Hampson Treasurer: Ian Gedling Members of the PCC: Greta Bickley.

At the United Benefice Service at Wendlebury on September 24th, Kevin Lovell, who recently moved to Wendlebury with his wife, was installed as a Licenced Lay Minister. This means (briefly) that he supports the ministry team and is able to take certain services, but is unpaid. We welcome Kevin into the Akeman Benefice and hope to see him at St. Giles soon. Services in the Akeman Benefice

Key: # = BCP * = Baptism @ = Patronal % = Harvest October 2017 FIRST Sunday: 01 Oct Trinity 16 SECOND Sunday: 08 Oct Trinity 17

Bletchingdon 1100 Holy Communion Bletchingdon 0800 Holy Communion# Chesterton 0800 Holy Communion# Kirtlington 0915 Holy Communion Chesterton 1100 Young Families % Chesterton 1100 Holy Communion Kirtlington 1100 Family Service%* Weston o/t Green 1100 Family Service% Middleton Stoney 1100 Family Service% Wendlebury 1600 Taize Hampton Gay 1515 Evensong% Wendlebury 1700 Family Service% THIRD Sunday: 15 Oct Trinity 18 FOURTH Sunday: 22 Oct Trinity 19

Bletchingdon 1000 Family Service Bletchingdon 1000 Benefice Holy Communion 'Harvest Praise with Baptism' Kirtlington 1600 Messy Church

Kirtlington 0800 Holy Communion# FIFTH Sunday: 29 Oct Last Trinity / All Saints Middleton Stoney 0915 Holy Communion Chesterton 1100 Chesterton Praise Middleton Stoney 1000 Benefice Service Weston o/t Green 1100 Holy Communion (not HC, a special service for the families of all Kirtlington 1800 Evensong those recently baptised) Weston o/t Green 1800 Holy Communion# Kirtlington 1800 All Souls’ Service Thursday communions at Kirtlington at 0930: 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th Oct

November 2017 FIRST Sunday: 05 Nov 4 before Advent / All Souls SECOND Sunday: 12 Nov Remembrance

Bletchingdon 1100 Holy Communion Bletchingdon 1045 Remembrance with All Souls Middleton Stoney 0915 Holy Communion + Chesterton 0800 Holy Communion# Remembrance Wendlebury 0915 Holy Communion Chesterton 1045 Remembrance Chesterton 1100 Young Families Kirtlington 1045 Remembrance Middleton Stoney 1100 Morning Worship Weston o/t Green 1045 Remembrance Kirtlington 1600 Family Service* THIRD Sunday: 19 Nov 2 before Advent FOURTH Sunday: 26 Nov Christ the King

Bletchingdon 1000 Family Service Kirtlington 0800 Holy Communion# Weston o/t Green 1000 Middleton Stoney 0915 Holy Communion Benefice Holy Communion Chesterton 1100 Chesterton Praise Weston o/t Green 1100 Holy Communion Kirtlington 1800 Evensong# Thursday Communions at Kirtlington at 0930: 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th Nov

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Our services are for any age and everyone is welcome, but children may find that the Family (All Age) Service, usually on the third Sunday, is easier to understand. These family services are great fun – why not come along and see for yourselves! For details of services in the other parishes in the Benefice please see the notices on the Church and Parish Council notice boards. Times of the services are also on the internet on the village website www.bletchingdon- pc.org.uk or the Benefice website www.akemanbenefice.org.uk From the registers: August 29th Marriage of Benjamin Ayrton Wright and Emily Frances Watts August 29th Marriage of Liam Alexander McRae Moore and Katie Marie Slattery We send best wishes to both couples for their future happiness together. Morning Prayer: A group is meeting in the cafe area in the village hall each Tuesday at 8.45am. It is just for 15 minutes, so do come along if you can. Pastoral Care: If you would like to be visited by a member of the Church or a Priest, or if you would like to request a visit on behalf of a friend or neighbour, please contact Brian Wood (address above). School Prayer Group: A prayer group has been established in the village and meets once a month. The idea is that prayers can be posted by children and staff attending the Akeman Benefice schools in a prayer box in the school, which are then collected weekly and prayed for by the group.

Letter from The Rector

Dear friends

We have become a grandfather. And very good it feels too, if a somewhat sobering reminder of advancing years. By the time you read this I hope to have met my first grand-daughter, but thanks to the wonders of modern technology I already have a good idea of what she looks like.

When I was growing up I was fortunate to live with my grandmother and near my grandfather (they were separated). He used to take me out every Saturday morning, and it was a hugely enriching experience. We would meet outside the Odeon in Kensington High Street, and then we would have an excursion of some kind, always ending up at Harvey's Restaurant in Marloes Road, where I usually ordered liver and bacon (still a favourite!).

As my grand-daughter is currently domiciled in Edinburgh I doubt I will see much of her in her early years, a reflection of the rather dispersed nature of modern families with which many of you will be familiar. But what will be the influences on her? Will she inherit family looks and mannerisms? Will she have a Scottish accent?

Far more importantly, what kind of world has she been born into? It's easy, especially given the events of the past year or so, to echo Private Fraser's intimations of doom. Or to borrow the words of Henry Francis Lyte: "change and decay in all around I see." But the facts rather contradict this. Life expectancy is longer than it has ever been, access to water and sanitation across the globe is vastly improved, and there are actually fewer conflicts than at almost any time. We can communicate in ways unimaginable to our forebears (though some might question whether this is always a blessing). Although I am sometimes tempted to wish I had been born in another century, I would not want to have lived in an age when slavery was acceptable and execution widely practised (please don't write to remind me that these still exist in many places). Progress in the advancement of humane policies and finding ways of sharing this planet justly and equitably is painfully slow. I suspect that in years to come we will look back and wonder why, in the 21st century, we still thought it a good idea to lock people up for twenty or thirty years in institutions where their worst habits are exacerbated instead of investing in their education and rehabilitation.

As I write, I have on in the background a radio programme about John Betjeman and his attitude to town planning. It's easy to dismiss Betjeman as a quaint old buffer. The programme hints at the contradictions in his character (eg a left-leaning liberal with a strong sense of Tory nostalgia for the of old - rather like his friend Mervyn Stockwood, whom I have mentioned before). Some people are impatient with those who seem to hold conflicting views within their own mindset, but Betjeman embodied, I think, an attitude and ability which Jesus Christ himself encouraged in the Gospel - namely the capacity to bring out of one's store things both new and old.

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Let's never play the game of thinking everything in the past was wonderful and everything contemporary is bad. The key to living an open and balanced life is flexibility and adaptability. Some of us, when getting on a bit, are tempted to feel a bit overwhelmed by technology. Not so one octogenarian churchwarden who is a very adroit user of her iPad! I have to confess that I can't quite envisage myself having a conversation with Alexa, but perhaps I should get up to speed, like the Bishop of Oxford, who is the 's lead speaker on Artificial Intelligence.

As I prepare for my first encounter with my son's new baby my prayer is that she may find the world full of blessings and be a blessing to it. And here are some words which will be familiar to many of you, and which would not be a bad guide for her as she begins her journey through it: 'Go forth into the world in peace: be of good courage; hold fast that which is good; render to no one evil for evil; strengthen the fainthearted; support the weak; help the afflicted; honour all people; love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.'

With all good wishes

Gareth

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL! Wednesday 20th December Weston on the Green Village Hall, 1.30 – 5pm We are running another children’s workshop for Christmas: a Christmas tea party so book in for an afternoon of games, balloons, the Christmas story, singing and lots of Christmassy crafts. £5 payable on arrival.

To sign up, contact Jo Cropp on 07759 177014 or [email protected] by Wednesday 13th December, please.

BLETCHINGTON SILVER BAND

Trophy rater…. Chunk nicer ….Offers Bads…no folks we haven’t gone crazy these are anagrams of some of the pieces of music which we are currently rehearsing for our Night at the Movies Concert. It promises to be the ultimate movie night, with great music, popcorn, and a licensed bar. Doors open at 7pm for a 7:30pm start at Bletchington Village Hall. Admission is £5 adults, £3 for concessions with fewer than 12s free. Looking forward to seeing you all on Saturday 7th October.

2017 sees the Bletchington “B” Band (formally Bletchington Training Band) reach its 20th Birthday. As a way to celebrate this wonderful achievement, everyone who has played or been associated with the Training Band, over the years is invited to attend their birthday celebrations. The day will consist of Brass banding royalty Alan Fernie running a master class for the B Band, bringing with him a specially commissioned piece for the occasion. There will be a tea party followed by a performance from the B Band with the piece they have been working on with Alan. This special occasion is on Sunday 19th November at the Village Hall and we very much look forward to catching up with old friends, supporters and players during this wonderful celebration.

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THURSDAY CLUB

For our August meeting, members met for lunch at The Black Horse in . This was in place of the planned trip to Bourton on the Water. In September we held a tea party with entertainment in the form of a singer. This was enjoyed by all, with many joining in with songs and foot tapping. Our Harvest Festival is on 5th October in the Village Hall at 1 p.m. Thursday Club is held on the 1st Thursday of the month in the Village Hall. New members would be very welcome. We start at 2 p.m.

Bletchingdon Parochial CE (VA) Primary School Dear Villagers

The 20217-18 new academic year has started well with lots going on. Welcome to: Jay and Emma Berry, Imogen Hooper, Bobby MacKenzie, Regan McMahon, Jacob Collier, Jake Nicholl, William Van Boxel, Bella Squibb-Williams, Callum Warton, Louie Whitehead and their families. The past four weeks have been very busy with us all getting back in to routine, the introduction of sports coaches during two lunchbreaks, daily ‘Wake n Shake’ sessions for the whole school, a whole school art afternoon, visits from two university students and our Early Years’ Harvest Breakfast. As well as all this, our Year 6s will be taking part in cycle training in two weeks’ time and on the 30th October they are off (with our Year 5s) to Kilvrough, (just outside Swansea) on residential.

Our Owl class have been looking at the nonsense poem ‘Jabberwocky’ by Lewis Carrol. The Jabberwock is a fictional character in ‘Alice Through the Looking Glass’. Having interpreted the poem and performed it, they then wrote their own versions. Here are two of them:

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We would love to see you at our school harvest festival service at 2.15pm on Thursday 12th October 2017 in St Giles Church.

Yours sincerely Louise Hatton and colleagues at Bletchingdon Parochial CE Primary School

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Bletchingdon CE (VA) Primary School Nursery www.bletchingdon.oxon.sch.uk (Springwell Hill, Bletchingdon, Oxon, OX5 3ES) Tel: 01869 350393 e-mail: [email protected] Headteacher: Mrs Louise Hatton

Our new Foundation Stage Unit (encompassing both our Nursery and Reception Classes) opened last September.

Admission into a nursery class is not a statutory process, as it is with a Reception class, so arrangements are made directly with the school. Completing an application form will let us know that you would like your child to be added to our list. Around four months before your child is due to join us, we will contact you concerning the number of hours you would like your child to attend, invite you to come along for a visit and ask you to complete an admissions form with contact and medical details on. We will also have regular open days which you are welcome to attend.

Our Nursery Application Form can be found on our website under ‘Parents’. Alternatively call us or pop in to see Jackie in the office.

GIRLGUIDING 1ST BLETCHINGTON BROWNIES

Term restarted in September with us making decopatch Brownie owls and creating a circus tent preparing for the sleepover next summer... In a Big Top! We're going to Magic and Mayhem organised by Girlguiding in the New Forest. council visited with Binbo Baggins, their friendly recycling wheeley bin who played games with us and taught us more about recycling. It was a fun evening. We have two new Brownies join us and have spaces for more girls age 7-10 to come along on Mondays. We'll be joining the district at the annual fun run at Blenheim in October and working on the Speaker and First Aid badges.

To join us email [email protected] or register at www.girlguiding.org.uk/joinus

Annual Christmas Prize Bingo on Saturday 11th November at Bletchington Village Hall. Doors open at 6.45 for eyes down at 7.30pm. Funds raised are helping 2nd Woodstock Guides buy new tents ready for Arden 2018, an International camp.

APPEAL – Missing Cat

Tinkerbell escaped from a car at The “Little Chef” on the A34 Weston- on-the-Green. Despite posters displayed in all neighbouring villages, she is still missing. Her owners live in Devon and are desperate for her to be found. They can’t bear the thought of her still being lost with the colder weather approaching. She isn’t wearing her collar as it came off as she jumped from the car. The owners are offering a cash reward. They are being helped in the search by John and Judith Holcroft in Horton-cum-Studley. Anyone with any information should please contact them on 01865 351594 or by email [email protected]

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WESTON-ON-THE-GREEN WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

On Wednesday 2 August a number of members plus some other halves spent a very interesting and pleasant, albeit very wet day at Savill Garden, which is part of Windsor Great Park. We were greeted by a stunning wild flower garden as we walked into the foyer. The garden is a collection of interconnecting gardens full of a variety of beautiful plants. The hydrangeas were magnificent, with colours from the darkest blue to the purest of whites, even a pretty pink one called “Pinky Winky”. There was certainly plenty to see from the rocky New Zealand garden to a floral surprise around every corner. A lovely afternoon tea served in a marquee rounded off a very enjoyable day and Savill Garden is certainly a place to be enjoyed at any time of the year. Our September meeting was a presentation on the subject of “Hedgerows” by Geoff Rawnsley. Geoff brought in a large variety of plants that he had gathered that morning from hedgerows around where he lives. These included Buckthorn, Dogwood, Narrow leaf privet (mainly found in ), Spindlewood (used for making spindles), Crab apple, Lady’s bedstraw, Jack before noon (a variety of Dandelion), Teasel (for making brushes), Dead nettle and St Johns Wort, which was used for medication by the Romans and Crusaders and is still widely used today as an antidepressant. He said that the oldest evidence of hedgerows dates back to Bronze Age farmers. The planting of new hedgerows started around Roman times and continued on and off through to the 18th Century when the Enclosures Act prompted a great spurt in hedge planting. After the second world war government policy encouraged hedge removal to ensure that Britain was self sufficient in food. Loss of hedgerows has been identified as a major factor in the decline of many plant and animal species traditionally associated with farm land. Most of us take hedgerows for granted but Geoff made us very aware of how essential all the plants that make up our hedgerows are to our country side and wild life. The WI in Weston meets every third Wednesday in the month at 7.30pm in the Village Hall. All ladies are welcome to join us. Not only do we have excellent speakers at every meeting but we also have various other activities going on. Our next meeting is 18 October and the talk will be on “Bomb Disposal”. SAS

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THE BLETCHINGTON CHARITY

The purpose of the Charity is to help persons resident in our parish who are in need, hardship or distress. The Charity may make grants of money, or provide or pay for items, services or facilities intended to help people of all ages. The type of grants available are as follows:- Fuel allowances during the cold weather. Assistance with travel expenses to hospital, clinics, etc, for individuals or their relatives. Assistance with disability aids. Student grants (to assist with the cost of travel expenses, books, etc.) Education supplies for children, or support for adults who are retraining. TV licenses for those who may be isolated in their homes.

If you wish to apply for a grant please write to the Charity Secretary – Mrs Heather Smith, at 15, St Giles, (01869 350417) explaining the reason for your application. The Charity may request additional information, but assures all applicants that the information will remain confidential. The Committee members administering the Charity for the BFC are:- Howard Dellar (Chair), Julie Fenn, Sue Green (Treasurer), Sue Lane, Ian Gedling, Greta Bickley, Andrea Lambert, Sue Macready and Heather Smith (Secretary)

FIFTY YEARS AGO:

Extracts from the Minutes of a Parish Council meeting, chaired by Mr A Eeley, held on 15th September, 1967:-

“Parish Notice Board – Resolved – that a payment of £5.18.0 be made to Mr P Palmer towards the cost of erecting the Parish Notice Board in his boundary wall. Street Lighting - Resolved to enquire into the cost of extending sodium lighting to the remainder of the Parish. Frank Wise Memorial Fund –Resolved – that the Council, being of the opinion that it is in the interests of the area and of its inhabitants so to do and in accordance with the provisions of Section 6 of the Local Government (Financial Provisions) Act, 1963, makes a grant of £2.2.0 to the Frank Wise Memorial Fund. Insurance – Resolved – to increase the Fire Insurance on the Sports Pavilion to £15.”

Extracts from the Minutes of a Parish Council meeting, chaired by Mr A Eeley, held on 10th November, 1967:-

“Street Lighting – A quotation by the S.E.B. of £184.16s.0d for replacing 12 existing lamps with sodium lamps was discussed. Resolved – (a) to convene a Parish Meeting to discuss this matter and (b) obtain a quotation from the S.E.B. for strip lighting.” “Recreation Ground – The Conveyance of the Recreation Ground from the Right Honourable Herbert Robin Baron Rotherwick to the Parish Council was signed by Mr P.M. Gillians, Mr J Hayward and the Chairman. Village Hall - A request for a contribution towards the cost of extensions was received from the Village Hall Committee. Resolved as follows:- 1.That a grant be made to the Village Hall Committee under The Physical Training and Recreation Act subject to the consent of the Parish Meeting and the Ministry of Housing and Local Government to the raising of a loan to cover the cost of the grant of not more than £600. 2. That a Parish Meeting be convened on the 7th Dec. 1967 for the purpose of obtaining consent to this expenditure by means of raising a loan to be repaid out of the revenue of the Council over a period of 15 years (£66 per year). 3. That, subject to the necessary consents being given, a loan of not more than £600 be borrowed from the Public Works Loan Board and that the Clerk be empowered to take such action as may be necessary to obtain this loan. Accounts for payment – The following accounts were passed for payment:- S.E.B. – Supply and maintenance £9.10s.5d Royal Insurance Company Ltd – Sports Pavilion additional premium £1.0s.0d. Oxfordshire and District Water Board – Village Standpipe 15s.0d “

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“Parish Notice Board – The Cricket Section of the Sports Club were granted permission to display the winning numbers of their weekly Tote Draw on the Parish Notice Board. Reservation of Wild Life – Resolved – that a letter be written to Mr Ellis concerning the preservation of wild life within the Parish, with particular reference to badger sets. Bus Services – Mr F.J.Knight agreed to attend a meeting of Parish Councils with Ploughley Rural District Council and to raise the question of likely cuts in bus services, which had recently appeared in the Press. Highways – It was reported that cars were still being parked over the footpath outside the Village Hall, and that large puddles formed outside the bus shelter after heavy rain.”

Kirtlington & Bletchingdon Historical Society

Thursday 26th October Adrian Tinniswood The Long Weekend – English Country Houses Between the Wars ******************************

Thursday 23rd November Deborah Hayter The Poor Law in the 18th Century: the crisis in the parishes ****************************** Kirtlington Village Hall at 7.30pm. Non-members £2 per talk. All welcome

Tour of Britain Cycle Race

On Saturday, 9th September, approximately 120 cyclists, swept through the village as part of Stage 7 of the OVO Energy Tour of Britain Cycle Race. Mark Cavendish was one of the riders but they all passed by in a flash, so not possible to identify anyone. This was the penultimate stage of 185km from Hemel Hempstead to Cheltenham.

A good crowd turned out to see the riders - perhaps the most exciting part was watching the number of police motor cyclists that came through beforehand and all the support cars, with spare bikes on their roofs, that followed! It was an interesting day for the village. Ian Gedling

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BLETCHINGTON SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB

Club Membership is due for renewal at the end of April. Renewal forms will be distributed in due course. If you would like to join the Club the please contact the Membership Secretary: Roger Hayward on 01869 350209. New members are always welcome. We are a family orientated Club that offers a friendly atmosphere and a chance to meet new friends. We have Sky Sports, darts, Bar Billiards, football and cricket teams (youth and adult). Drinks are cheap. Membership is also cheap, £6 for an individual annual social membership or £10 for an annual family membership. Come and have a look for yourselves.

Bar Billiards Witney League: The A team won the summer shield with the B team finishing 3rd. In the Oxford league the team finished 3rd. Geoff Powell is in the semi-finals of the singles competition.

Darts The Tuesday Ladies finished 3rd and won the 5 a side competition. The Wednesday Ladies won their section. The men won the Cherwell Valley section three league.

Football Both teams have started well in divisions two and four of the Witney and District League.

Cricket The season ended disappointingly for the first and second teams who were both relegated. The third team finished 3rd from bottom. See the Cricket Club website for full details.

Forthcoming Events Saturday 14th October Race Night Saturday November 11th Live music with The Inflatables

Many thanks to all those who supported the Beer Festival and also those who volunteered to work behind the bar.

The Club would be grateful if ballgames were not played against the buildings as windows, guttering and drain pipes have been damaged.

The Club would appreciate if cars did not park in the lay-by opposite the Club’s gates as lorries have difficulty getting into the Club when cars are parked there.

For the second year running the swallows nests built on the Clubhouse had been vandalised which was disappointing.

PLEASE DO NOT EXERCISE YOUR DOG IN THE SPORTS GROUND

All details of the Clubs activities and links to the Sports Leagues can be found on the site. www.bletchingtonsportsandsocialclub.com

Bar Opening Hours Friday 7.45pm to 11.00pm Saturday 7.45pm to 11.00pm Sunday 7.45pm to 10.30pm Wednesday 8.00pm to 11.00pm Tuesday and Thursday 8.00pm to 11.00pm depending on home fixtures of bar billiards and darts (see behind bar for weekly details)

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PARISH COUNCIL Councillors: Mr A K Saunders (Chairman) 14, Coghill Tel: 350705 Mr C E Lane (Vice-Chairman) Village Farm Tel: 350257 Mrs M M Knight 18, Valentia Close Tel: 350162 Mr M E Taylor Stoneacre, Oxford Road Tel: 350609 Mr D M Ledger 3, Islip Road Tel: 351542 Miss J Benton 4, Springwell Close Tel: 351489 Mr M Kersh The Old Rectory Tel: 351139 Clerk: Mrs R McNaught, 4 Oxford Road. Email: [email protected] Tel: 351967 The Clerk works from the Village Hall on a flexible basis. If you would like to speak to her please call and leave a message and she will get back to you, or use email for a quicker response. District Councillors: Simon Holland ([email protected]) David Hughes ([email protected]) County Councillor: Carmen Griffiths ([email protected])

The next PC meetings will take place on 26th October and 30th November.

PLANNING MATTERS Applications received from Cherwell District Council in August & September; 17/01483/F - Half Acre Cottage, Heathfield - Removal of Condition 11 of 12/00882/F 17/01642/F – The Malt House – Reinstate existing original window opening – PC had no objections 17/00307/TCA - Wood Cottage, Weston Road - T1 x Locust Tree - reduce branches/crown by approx 2 meters. Mostly on SN side to balance crown and to give space to house. PC had no objections 17/01820/CLUE - Station House, Station Road, - Certificate of Lawfulness of Existing Use for the siting of a mobile home for incidental use. Discuss. PC had no objections. Notices of Decisions received in August & September; 17/00878/F – Former Heathfield driving range - Erection of new building containing ancillary storage, toilets, changing facilities and reception for use in connection with a football golf park and 2 no. outdoor five-a-side pitches PERMITTED 16/01706/F – Land East of College Farm - Erection of 6 No. agricultural buildings for poultry production, together with associated infrastructure of broiler building, ancillary buildings, feed bins, hardstandings, access and drainage attenuation pond. PERMITTED 17/01298/F – Hill Top Cottage, Lince Lane, rear extension PERMITTED 17/01437/F – 7-8 Bletchingdon Park Stables, new oil tank – PERMITTED 17/00949/F – The Digs, Heathfield – extension and alteration to existing (part retrospective) REFUSED

REPORT FROM OUR COUNTY COUCILLOR CARMEN GRIFFITHS

GENERAL OCC REPORT

OXFORDSHIRE GROWTH BOARD BACKS INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING BID

The Oxfordshire Growth Board* has provided unanimous support for an application to the Government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) as part of a package of investment to deliver transport infrastructure. The funding bid for up to £500 million was submitted on 28 September by OCC as the county’s transport authority. Money is sought to bring forward infrastructure investment to pump-prime three major development schemes:

1. Didcot Garden Town – £171m is bid for transport improvements including a Didcot Science Bridge and A4130 dual carriageway, a new river crossing at Culham and Clifton Hampden Bypass. This would support the delivery of over 22,000 homes in Didcot, Culham, Harwell and Berinsfield. Additionally up to £70m of cycle and other sustainable transport improvements are proposed for inclusion in the bid plan.

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2. West Oxfordshire Garden Village – £135.4m is bid for further upgrades to the A40, building on existing schemes and based on the approved A40 Long Term Strategy including development of the Rapid Transit network and additional highway capacity on A40 transport corridor. This would support the delivery of over 10,000 homes in Witney & Carterton, and around . 3. North of Oxford – £152m is bid for the development of Rapid Transit lines on upgraded A44 and A4260 corridors, a new Park & Ride, and strategic cycle infrastructure plus. Support is also sought for additional education requirements (as yet un-costed). This would support the delivery of 5,570 homes in Woodstock, / and the Northern Gateway.

The bids submitted to the £2.3 billion Housing Infrastructure Fund are ranked as above according the Government’s scoring method, with the guidance that the strongest bid be put first. The Oxfordshire Infrastructure Strategy, commissioned by the Growth Board, was used to identify infrastructure priorities that offered the prospect of a step-change in housing provision in a defined area. The Government will consider Oxfordshire’s bids along with those from other areas and the highest ranking schemes will go through to a second stage in Spring 2018, with final funding awards announced from Summer 2018.

The HIF funding bids complement other work being conducted by the Growth Board to secure investment in transport, schools, hospitals and other infrastructure needed to support the predicted growth in population, and meet the future needs of Oxfordshire families, their children and grandchildren in terms of jobs and homes across the county to 2040 and beyond. This includes discussions with the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) over the proposed Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor. It also involves linked discussions with Government - supported by both Oxford Universities - over a Housing and Growth Package for Oxfordshire to help unlock the benefits of the county’s strong and growing knowledge-intensive economy.

*The Oxfordshire Growth Board comprises the six councils: Cherwell District Council, Oxford City Council, Oxfordshire County Council, South Oxfordshire District Council, Vale of White Horse District Council and West Oxfordshire District Council, together with the county’s Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP).

TENTH PUBLIC HEALTH ANNUAL REPORT PUBLISHED

Oxfordshire’s Director of Public Health has published his tenth Public Health Annual Report. It is an independent report about the state of health in Oxfordshire and the challenges facing the county and its residents. It is written in a very readable style and can be found here http://mycouncil.oxfordshire.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=148&MId=5106MORE

MORE CHANCES FOR OPEN ACCESS CHILDREN’S SERVICES START-UP FUNDING

The council last year opened a £1m Transition Fund to help schemes for nought to five-year-olds get off the ground at locations formerly served by children’s centres. To date a total of 27 projects have been awarded funding – in addition to open access sessions at the council’s network of eight family centres. The final round of applications ended earlier this year, with £232,000 remaining unallocated. OCC's Cabinet has agreed to reopen the applications process to enable new groups to come forward with their plans. The funding criteria will be broadened to allow groups to apply for grants in locations not previously served by children’s centres, or where a children’s centre has been repurposed – for instance, as a nursery. Community groups interested in finding out more about the Transition Fund and running open access children’s services should contact [email protected]

NEW ERA FOR DAYTIME SUPPORT IN OXFORDSHIRE

A new system of delivering daytime support services in Oxfordshire came in to operation on 1st October. Eight new centres** will provide support for more than 500 older people or people with a learning disability who have been assessed as having an eligible need and some other people who do not have an assessed need. The changes follow a consultation with service users and their families in late 2016 in which they were given the opportunity to have a wide-ranging input in to how the new service should take shape. Within the council’s new £4.5m service there are 1,600 days of support per week (3,200 sessions) being provided across the eight locations. Each centre will have its own fleet of family-size vehicles, some of which will be adapted. These will be used to transport people to and from the centres and will be driven by staff from the Community Support Service. There will be a number of options for meals, including: staff supporting people to eat out at a local café, cooking as part of a small group, paying towards a group meal prepared by others, a simple hot meal prepared by staff, and people bringing in their own pre-prepared meal or light lunch if they wish to.

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**The centres are located at Audlett Drive, Abingdon; Neithrop Avenue, ; Road, Bicester; Britwell Road, Didcot; Agward Stone Road, Horspath Driftway, Oxford; High Street, Wallingford; Charlton Village Road, Wantage; and Moorland Road, Witney.

FREE ELECTRIC BLANKET TESTING OFFERED AS THE WINTER MONTHS APPROACH

People in Oxfordshire who have electric blankets to keep them warm on chilly nights are again being urged to get them tested free by OCC Trading Standards & Fire and Rescue Services. In 2016, 21% of blankets tested failed to meet safety requirements. Blanket testing this year is taking place at the following locations during October:

Oxford - Monday 2 October Banbury - Tuesday 3 October Witney - Wednesday 4 October Oxford - Monday 16 October Bicester - Tuesday 17 October

To book a safety check appointment call 01865 898642 or email: [email protected].

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Adverts N.B. If you contact any of our advertisers would you please mention that you saw their advert in Bletchington Village News

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Bletchingdon Village Hall for hire

Facilities include –

 Café area,  Sprung wooden floor  Meeting rooms/ areas  Options for the whole/part of the hall space.  High quality audio and projector facilities  Use of a commercial kitchen*  Outside spaces

* Commercial kitchen – available to professional caterers only

CHARGE RATES Valid until December 31 2017

Community -residents of Bletchingdon & for personal or fundraising events. Commercial - non-residents or residents running events for personal gain. Halls: Weekdays. Whole hall Large Hall Small Hall Community £10 per hour £10 per hour £10 per hour Commercial –block booking £15 per hour £15 per hour £15 per hour Commercial – single booking £20 per hour £20 per hour £20 per hour

Halls: Weekends are booked by session. Morning: 9am to 12 noon, Afternoon: 1pm to 4pm, Evening: 5pm to end.

Whole hall Large Hall Small Hall Community AM/PM £30 £30 Please enquire. Evening £50 £50 Commercial AM/PM £60 £60 Please enquire. Evening £120 £120

All bookings require £100 deposit for a single session. A deposit is not required for block bookings Other rooms and packages available at www.bletchingdon-pc.org Contact Duncan 351542 or [email protected]

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Gas Heating & Service Ltd Plumbing| Heating| Gas

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For Domestic Cleaning please call Jayne Price on 07795055202

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DEREK BICKLEY GENERAL BUILDER

Extension, Alterations, Paving etc

All types of building work considered

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Web page: yell.com

Email: [email protected]

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