1 BLEDINGTON FOXHOLES AND FOSCOT NEWS JUNE 2018 No 414

Alissa Firsova who will be performing at Bledington Music Festival - 5 to 7 June.

2 DATES FOR YOUR DIARY JUNE 2018 Friday 1 Rendezvous, Coffee and a Chat, Village Hall (p 5) 10.30am

Monday 4 Parish Council Meeting, Village Hall (p 19) 8.00pm

Bledington Music Festival (page 4)

Tuesday 5 Alissa Firsova, piano and Daniel Rowland, violin 7.30pm

Wednesday 6 The Cann Twins, four hands, one piano 7.30pm

Thursday 7 David Jones, Baritone 11.00am

Thursday 7 Clare Hammond, piano 7.30pm

Wednesday 6 Gourmet Burger Night every Wednesday, King’s Head (p 21)

Friday 8 Rendezvous, Coffee and a Chat, Village Hall (p 5) 10.30am

Saturday 9 Bledington Fête, Village Green (p 10) 12.30pm

Monday 11 Long Walk, Meet at Village Hall 9.30am

Wednesday 13 Arts Soc. Cotswolds, ‘The Art of Tintoretto’ (p 17) 11.30am

Friday 15 Rendezvous, Coffee and a Chat, Village Hall (p 5) 10.30am

Wednesday 20 Mobile Library in New Road (p 22) 2.00pm

Friday 22 Rendezvous, Coffee and a Chat, Village Hall (p 5) 10.30am

SATURDAY 23 BLEDINGTON NEWS COPY DEADLINE 12.00pm

Monday 25 Short Walk, Meet at Village Hall 10.00am

Tuesday 26 Lunch Club, Wychwood Golf Club (p 4) 12.30pm

Friday 29 Rendezvous, Coffee and a Chat, Village Hall (p 5) 10.30am

JULY 2018 and BEYOND

Sunday 1 July Strawberry Teas on the Green (p 5)

Sunday 17 June Old Vicarage Open Garden

Sunday 29 July Tea and Cake in the Churchyard (p 15)

Sunday 2 September Bledington Tennis Tournament (p 15)

3 FROM THE EDITORS Wendy and Sinclair Scott Two big events in June, the Bledington Music Festival starts on Tuesday 5 June and is for 3 days until 7 June and the Bledington Village Fête on the following Saturday, 9 June will be on the Village Green. The Music Festival brings all the pupils from Bledington School into St Leonard’s Church and on the three days they will be entertained and encouraged to learn music from the very accomplished performers. This year on Wednesday evening 6 June the School pupils will be performing at the evening concert with the Cann twins in a performance of Anthony and Cleopatra, especially composed for Bledington School. The School brass players will be performing. A further two pianist friends of Bledington, Alissa Firsova and Clare Hammond will be with us on Tuesday and Thursday with violinist Daniel Rowland on Tuesday. Details and where you may buy tickets are on page 4. The Fête on Saturday 9 June will be the usual mix of stalls and fun; Maypole dancing, live music, barbeque, teas, lunches all available from 12noon. The afternoon finishes with the grand tug-of-war. Will Archie Orr- Ewing be dumped in the brook this year? Which dog will be Bledington’s most handsome? The profits will help the School funds as well as St Leonard’s. Details on pages 10 and 11. Do you remember Sir Tony Robinson opened the 2017 Fête, was it that long ago? The Village Defibrillator is still located in the Archway of Middle Orchard, Old Forge Close. We will let you know when the existing unit is moved to the old ‘BT’ phone kiosk outside the school and the second unit is installed outside the Village Hall.

WE WELCOME NEWS CONTRIBUTIONS TO BLEDINGTON, FOXHOLES AND FOSCOT NEWS

Please send your news contributions at any time for the July 2018 Issue Deadline for receipt is 12.00 Noon Saturday 23 June 2018 Please send news contributions or urgent news for the bledington.com website to the editors, Wendy and Sinclair Scott, by paper copy to 4 Old Forge Close, Bledington, Chipping Norton, OX7 6XW or email us at [email protected] Tel: 01608 658624. Bledington News is in available in full colour at www\bledington.com Please ensure you have a prompt acknowledgement of your contribution sent by email; this makes it certain we have received it. News contributions may be subject to editorial adjustment and regrettably, if received after the deadline time, cannot be included.

4 Bledington News is uploaded monthly to www.bledington.comwww.bledington.com Bledington’s Own Website See Bledington News in full Colour www/bledington.com/groups/village-updates/bledington-news-monthly- newsletter-delivered-free-all-residents All Your Up-to-Date Information If you have news that would be useful to upload to the website, contact the Editors (contact details page 3); we can enter it for you.

BLEDINGTON MUSIC FESTIVAL 2018 Rodney Beacham Tickets are still available for all concerts. These can be purchased at 9 Jackson Road, Bledington: Kingham Stores: King’s Head Bledington or on line at bledingtonmusicfestival.co.uk All Concerts are at St Leonard’s Church, Bledington starting at 7.30pm. Tuesday 5 June. Alissa Firsova, piano and Daniel Rowland, violin. Wednesday 6 June. Duo Cann, four hands, one piano. Bledington School musicians play a specially written composition ‘Anthony and Cleopatra’ with twins Antionette and Clare Cann. Thursday 7 June. Clare Hammond, piano. At 11.00am on Thursday 7 June a free concert by Baritone, David Jones. Coffee will be served from 10.00am. David is cycling from John O’Groats to Lands End and giving free concerts on the way. There will be a retiring collection for the Charity ‘ Live Music Now’.

BLEDINGTON LUNCH CLUB Sheila Truslove Tel: 658355 The Lunch Club will be at Wychwood Golf Club on Tuesday 26 June at 12.30pm for 1.00pm. Book your place(s) with Sheila Truslove on 01608 658355.

5 RENDEZVOUSRENDEZVOUS Coffee and a Chat in the Village Hall Every Friday Morning 10.30am to 12.00noon

Pop in for the best value cuppa in the Cotswolds – just £1 with biscuits and free refills!

BLEDINGTON VILLAGE HALL Jenny Beacham Rendezvous continues each Friday morning from 10.30am until 12noon – just £1 per cup with free refills and biscuits provided! Our Pudding Night raised £531.50 which was fantastic – thank you! Thirty sacks of confidential waste were shredded by the men from Datashredders which will make another little profit for the Hall. Thank you to all those who came – if you missed it there will be another date in the autumn. Our next fund raiser will be Strawberry Teas on the Green on Sunday 1 July. This event coincides (intentionally) with the Old Vicarage Garden being open for Katharine House. It makes a very pleasant afternoon without having to get into the car!

A GENTLE PLEA FOR CLEAN AIR Gabrielle Kubale When the autumn leaves are crisp under foot and wisps of smoke rise in the chilly air I can appreciate a bonfire, but please, not at this time of year! In the summer, garden waste is green and damp and creates a highly polluting smoke. In the recent very welcome, warm and sunny weather we have been unable to enjoy sitting in our garden or eating alfresco because of drifts of bonfire smoke which has also tainted our outdoor dried washing and on occasion we have even had to keep our windows closed. So, please, think of your neighbours before burning garden rubbish in the summer - it is an antisocial practice!

6 JUNE 2018 UPDATE FROM THE BLEDINGTON COMMUNITY SHOP GROUP As our Community Share Offer gathered momentum, there were two exciting moments. The first was when the amount subscribed exceeded the minimum target of £50,000 needed to consider it a success. The second was after the offer closed and we realised how much had been raised—an amazing total of - £73,785 subscribed by 128 people! What a great end to our share offer, and renewed proof of the genuine desire and support for a new community shop and café in Bledington! Together with some substantial donations for the shop through the Bledington and Foscot Community Association, nearly £100k was raised in six weeks! Wow! Next steps: With the fundraising nearly complete, your Management Above and Next Page: Final Share Clinic at the Committee lost no time in turning Shop Site Barbeque on 4 May. attention towards the next step—getting bids from potential contractors. This is not only to ensure we achieve the best value for the village, but also to enable us to complete the full application to the EU LEADER fund, which we aim to submit by the end of June. Securing this grant would be worth approximately £30,000 and has always been part of our financing plan. We have stayed in close touch with the administrators of the fund and have received full advice and encouragement from them. Invitations to tender were sent out in mid- May to several selected builders we thought most likely to be interested in the project. Tenders are due back by 15 June.

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Continued from page 6 Visit a community shop: How about visiting a new-style community shop to see what it can offer, and how it looks and feels! Our model community shop is at Ilmington. If you attended the launch of the share offer you will recall hearing Tim Allen tell their story. Penelope Leather has offered to take a group to visit the Ilmington shop and café during the week of 18 June. If you are interested, contact Penelope on 01608 658686 or at [email protected] Stay involved: Help out with baking for or serving teas at Chastleton. See us at Rendezvous on 15 June. Visit our stand at the Village Fête.

Ways to use the Bledington Shop number 13: Treat yourself with some chocolate in the afternoon – because you deserve it!

8 BLEDINGTON PRIMARY SCHOOL Ms J Kewley; Headteacher Bledington Primary Visit from author Robin Stevens by Katy and Emily Y6 We were very fortunate to meet author Robin Stevens who came to our school to visit years 4, 5 and 6 as part of The Chipping Norton Literary Festival. Robin is the author of the Murder Most Unladylike Series and The Guggenheim Mystery sequel to The London Eye Mystery written by Siobhan Dowd. Robin first talked about her youth and how she came to be a murder mystery author. After this she told us about her travels to Hong Kong and the interesting different foods she ate there. She also went on to talk about how she got to go behind the scenes at the Palace Theatre in London which happens to be the setting of her next book which is coming out in October this year. To get us started and motivated with our own murder writing, we gave Robin ideas about setting, victim and suspects which she then turned into a Bledington murder mystery story. After we discovered the murderer in our story that we created, Robin went on to tell us about her pet bearded dragon named after a famous detective’s sidekick, Watson. We then got the opportunity to ask some questions before she signed our newly bought books: Murder Most Unladylike; Arsenic for Tea; First Class Murder; Jolly Foul Play; Mistletoe and Murder; Cream Buns and Crime and A Spoonful of Murder. We were happy to receive a Detective Society badge and a bookmark.

9 BLEDINGTON SCHOOL ASSOCIATION ‘100 CLUB’ WINNERS FOR MAY 2018

The following numbers win £5 each in May’s draw: 6 Graham Ratcliffe 20 Lisa Nessling 82 Unallocated 53 Claire Gooding Congratulations to all the winners Joining the 100 Club is a great way to support Bledington School. New members are always welcome. For just £12 per year (pro- rated at this time) you can win £5 in our monthly draws and a big cash prize at the end of each term. To join, please contact me on the number below or catch me at the school gates.

Registered with: Cotswold District Council under Gambling Act 2005. Registration Number: 07/01271/GASSP Promoter: Annie Hammerstein, Harwood House, The Green, Bledington OX7 6XQ

Tel: 01608 659819

THANK YOU Matt, Helen, Maddy, Barney and Mimi Hall As many of you may know, the Hall family are moving from Rose Villa to Churchill on 1 June. This is an exciting chapter in our lives and we are really looking forward to it. It is however, with great sadness, that we are leaving the village. Bledington really has been a special place to live and our love of the village has made our decision to move very hard. Thank you to all those people who have made the last 10 years so happy and we hope not to be strangers.

A policeman stopped a driver and asked him to blow into this bag. ‘What for’, said the driver ‘My chips are too hot’.

‘Waiter this coffee tastes like mud’. ‘I can’t imagine why Sir, it was fresh ground this morning’.

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11 FUN DOG SHOW AT BLEDINGTON FETE SATURDAY 9 JUNE on the GREEN at 3.00pm Organised by Chipping Norton Veterinary Hospital Pup Idol (up to 18 months) Waggiest Tail Best Trick Junior Handler (14 and under) Dog most like the owner Best rescue Golden Oldie (any dog 7yrs or over) Prettiest bitch Handsome dog Best in Show also Awarded Entry £2 per class, 3 entries for £5

BLEDINGTON FÊTE: SATURDAY 9 JUNE 2018 Jeremy Gould Is there anybody reading this who would run the China, Glass and Gift Stall - or help with it? Please telephone one of the organisers below. 1. The Fête Committee would be delighted to have some more helpers for * Catering: Jenny Beacham (658669) * Games: Rob Pearson (659972) * Stalls: Jeremy Gould (658503)

2. Individual stallholders would welcome contributions * Cakes: Louise Ball (658464) * Books: Caroline Bond (659452) * Bottles: Andrew and Aloÿse Packe (658447) * China, Glass & Gifts: to be arranged (658503) * Plants: Sue & Tony Windsor (658525)

3. The Raffle has room for more prizes: offers to Liz Little (659578).

12 KINGHAM GUIDES Claire Gooding We have been loving the lovely dry weather..... some of you may have seen the Guides out and about in the local area. We have had fun doing a spot of geocaching including checking on our own caches and drying them out after the winter. The Guides are now well practiced at pitching a tent and fire lighting ready for camp later this term. For once we weren't sending smoke signals across the village and had some lovely dry wood, needing just two matches to light our fires. Campfire dampers with chocolate spread were devoured in no time at all! Popcorn cooked over a tea light and then attempted again on a campfire wasn't so successful - it either didn't pop or the Guides had to catch each piece before it burnt...amazing determination and perseverance! At least we know for next time..... The girls have also been trying out a few knots, creating some fabulous structures to stop the bears eating their food at camp! This term we have also taken part in Future Girl, an activity where the Guides took time to think about what they love about being a girl in the world today and then moved on to think about how they could change it and make it a better place. Our discussion has fed into a national survey to help Girlguiding UK provide a voice on our behalf to Government, industry and society. What brilliant ideas and amazing enthusiasm in the village hall that night - we are all empowered to make a difference! If anyone is interested in volunteering to help at either Kingham Brownies or Kingham Guides, please get in touch ([email protected]). We are desperately short of volunteers - its really rewarding to see the girls grow and develop through the work of Girlguiding UK. If we don't have enough volunteers, we aren't able to offer the full range of opportunities to the Brownies and Guides in and around Kingham/Bledington.

13 1ST KINGHAM BROWNIES Nicki Watson, Brown Owl KIngham Brownies completed ‘Future Girl’, an evening of looking at how Brownie-age girls may see changes during their lifetime, and which things would they like to see change for the better. We looked at what was important to them – environment issues, being treated fairly and equally regardless of race or religion and equality of pay between the sexes seemed very important to some of the girls – an insight into conversations at home maybe! We celebrated St George’s Day with games and making dragons and eating English trifle, which involved a fair amount of squirty cream and definitely no sherry. We were invited to visit Chipping Norton Police Station, and PCSOs Tracey Waller and Sophie Hepden helped the girls complete their Crime Prevention badge. Who knew there were riot shields and helmets kept there – unfortunately probably not enough officers locally to use them nowadays. Lucy Eyles and Lara Birch were welcomed into Girlguiding, as they celebrated making their Promise. Their parents and the other Brownies enjoyed some yummy refreshments and were entertained by Ailsa Morrison and Eleanor Smail who gave lovely poetry recitals as they completed their Hostess badge. For the summer term we are looking forward to an evening of water fun at Cotswold Water Park and a games evening with another Brownie unit. I am looking for a volunteer to help run KIngham Brownies. This could be weekly or just help with planning activities. If you are over 18 and interested in finding out more, please get in touch. It’s lots of fun and immensely rewarding. Continued on page 14

14 Continued from page 13 Girlguiding is the leading charity for girls and young women in the UK. Thanks to the dedication and support of amazing volunteers, we are able to give girls and young women a space where they can be themselves, have fun, build brilliant friendships, gain valuable life skills and make a positive difference to their lives and their communities. Could you give a couple of hours to a local group? There are currently a number of volunteering role vacancies in the Chipping Norton District, with Kingham Brownies and Kingham Guides. If you can support girls on a weekly basis - you have the opportunity to see girls grow and develop, supporting leaders with activities, events and adventures. If you aren’t able to volunteer on a regular basis, you can still make an impact in a supporting role. No commitment is too small - every role is vital to running our charity. If you would like to find out more contact Nicki Watson [email protected]

BLEDINGTON STREET LIGHTING Gloucestershire County Council GCC have timetabled updates to the Bledington Street Lighting starting on 1 June, taking 21 working days and completing on 29 June. The accompanying letter with this timetable states: Work may necessitate the need for barriers to temporarily reduce the pavement width and where wall mounted units are to be converted on properties, we will inform owners of the necessary works, prior to starting. During this period, on-street parking may be affected. Residents are asked to be patient as we do our best to minimise inconvenience.

DOG FAECES; A KILLER OF LIVESTOCK Nick Westmacott, Police Wildlife Office for North Cotswolds Gloucestershire Police have received calls from concerned farmers saying dogs walkers are not clearing dog faeces on farm land especially in fields with livestock. If a dog has worms this can be treated; but if a sheep picks up dog worms this cannot be treated and the sheep become very sick and die. Please ALL DOG OWNERS, will you be responsible and PICK UP AFTER YOUR DOG IN ALL RURAL AREAS and use the many dog poo bins provided. If found committing this offence there is a fine of up to £1,500!!

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Come for Tea and Cake in the Churchyard Sunday 29 July 2:30pm - 4.30pm In aid of St Leonards Church

BLEDINGTON TENNIS TOURNAMENT Penelope Leather SAVE THE DATE The Bledington Tennis Tournament will take place on Sunday 2 September.

Bledington Village Hall is available for hire to residents and non-residents of Bledington.  Rates are as economical as possible:  £5 per hour for residents, £10 per hour for non-residents.  Classes are £7.50 per hour.  Commercial Rate is £20 per hour.  There are special rates for other events such as parties, celebrations etc. Please ask.  To book: 01608 658669 or 01608 659860. [email protected]

16 GARDEN VISIT TO ASHWOOD Tony Windsor Following a most interesting talk on John Massey’s Garden at the Gardening Society AGM I have been asked if it would be possible to arrange a visit during the year. John Massey’s Garden is attached to Ashwood Nurseries near Kingswinford, west Midlands and would be about a two hour drive by coach. I have contacted Pulhams and it would be possible to arrange a trip for about £20 per person, including garden entry, depending on how full the coach is. Departure at about 10.00am would allow the party to have lunch at the Nursery Tea Room and then visit the garden so as to depart by 4.00pm for a return to Bledington by 6.30 pm. I am planning to take a coach on Tuesday 3 July. If you would like to be a part of the group please let me know a.s.a.p. so that I can assess viability. More information about the garden can be found at ashwoodnurseries.com Tony Windsor (Tel.658525 or e-mail [email protected] )

BLEDINGTON GARDENING SOCIETY SUMMER FLOWER SHOW Jenny Beacham Calling all children! It’s time to plant your potatoes for the summer show! I have potatoes for you – just come to 9, Jackson Road to collect one. All you need is a large pot or bucket and some soil. Then remember to water it if the weather is dry. Have a look at the schedule with the newsletter this month and you’ll see what to do for the show on Saturday 11 August.

GARDEN OPEN SUNDAY 17 JUNE Tony Windsor Open Garden day at The Old Vicarage on 17 June when we hope to see you if you are able to come. In June the roses should take centre stage.

PEBBLY HILL NURSERY Janet Simms The Nursery will be open in May and June, 9.00am to 5.00pm, daily. Orders for basket refills, sale of compost, perennial plants, a good variety of basket and bedding plants available.

17 THE ARTS SOCIETY COTSWOLDS Robin McCulloch The Arts Society Cotswolds June lecture will be on Wednesday 13 June 2018. It is “Tradition and Innovation in the Art of Jacopo Tintoretto” by Caroline Brooke. The lecture will begin at 11.30am at The Warwick Hall, Church Green, Burford OX18 4RZ. Non-members are very welcome (suggested donation £10). For more information contact [email protected]

KINGHAM GARDENING CLUB Sheena Evans We have a summer visit planned for 19 June to Greenfields at Rissington. If you would like to come along please make contact vial our email account. We have a break during the Summer and return in September when we hold our Late Summer Show on Saturday 1 September. We are still hopeful that a couple of enthusiasts will come forward and spare a few hours a month to help run the Gardening Club. We can be contacted either via Facebook, email [email protected] or telephone (01608 658530), please get in touch.

SCAM WARNING Wendy Scott Police are reporting a new scam going around! You may receive a telephone call from someone wanting to confirm who you are and where you live. Flowers and a bottle of wine are then delivered to you at home. The delivery person will not know the senders but ask that you pay a small sum for delivery to prove to their bosses that they have been delivered. They say they are not allowed to take cash as it can be stolen and insist on you using your card. They then have enough information from you to raid your bank account. If you have flowers and wine delivered to your door and the sender is unknown and you are asked to pay some money. DO NOT TAKE THE FLOWERS OR WINE - OR PAY ANY MONEY, ESPECIALLY NOT BY CARD.

The waiter who came to the table was covered in jelly and custard. ‘This job is a trifle messy’ he explained.

Two fish in a tank; one says to the other ‘How do you drive

this thing’?

18 BLEDINGTON PARISH COUNCIL Ann Newton, Clerk to Bledington Parish Council Notes by the Editors from the Minutes of the meeting held on 3 May 2018. Full minutes are published on www.bledington.com Attending. Mr R Pearson, (Chair) Councillors Mr M Newton (Vice-Chair), Mr S Tyack, Mrs R Pawley, Mr A Tait and Mrs C Allen (Clerk), District Councillor J Beale, County Councillor N Moor and 1 member of the public. Apologies from Mr B Ball, Mr N Jackson. Election of Officers. Mr R Pearson will continue as Chairman to the Parish Council with Mr M Newton as Vice-Chairman. Matters Arising. Notice Boards. Mr L Harris had offered to do some painting in the village and will be asked to paint the notice boards. Kissing Gate. The kissing gate is still not in place and it is now a year since the problem occurred. Mr Pearson will speak to Mr P Thompson and the County Council Rights of Way Department to try to resolve the matter. Training for Weed Spraying – Mr R Pearson had carried out the first part of his training. The brook should be cleaned out before the Village Fête. Cremation Stone. Relatives of the late Gabe Winlaw have bought a burial plot for the interment of the ashes and will erect a gravestone. Second Defibrillator. Mr Newton reported the phone box has been cleaned and was ready for the defibrillator to be fitted. Mr Tait suggested that A D Glass be approached to fit new toughened glass windows in return for a small sign advertising Shield Woodwork and A D Glass as the Perspex glass is becoming opaque. Mr Tyack will speak to Shield Woodwork and A D Glass. Sewage leaking behind New Road. The Clerk reported that Thames Water were going to investigate the matter over the next few weeks and would report back later in May. Replacement Logs for Play Area. Mrs Pawley advised that Mr Mash had given his permission for the use of the logs. Mr Pearson will arrange for them to be transported. Seat in the Bus Shelter. Still ongoing. Gravel Pit Field. A letter had been sent to Mr Tyack and Mr Pearson will try to speak to him in the next week. Planning. The Old Post Office, Work to Leylandii. Permission had been received from CDC to remove the tree. Mr Pearson said that he would contact various local firms to quote for the work to be done later in the year once the birds have finished nesting. The Old Post Office – Oak Framed Summer House. The Councillors had no objections to the garden extension and Mrs Pawley will speak to the immediate neighbours to see if they have any objections. Cemetery hedge and tree. The tree will be removed and the hedge will be cut later in the year once the birds have finished nesting. Fencing in play area. The Council need to find fencing companies that could be recommended.

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19 Continued from page 18 Questions from the public. District Councillor Mr Beale advised that action is currently being taken on the light pollution at Nether Westcote and Lower Farm, Icomb. He also said that the Girl Guides could apply again for the Youth Activity Fund that they received last year and for any other groups that may benefit. Mrs Pawley will advise the Girl Guides. Mr Beale explained that there is a Community fund being set up for outstanding achievements to the Community which could be either an individual or a small team with a cash prize of £1,000. A form will be sent to the Council for nominations later in the year. Any other business. Audit. The Audit for Bledington Parish Council would be submitted next week and everything was up to date as far as possible. Bridge on the Green. County Councillor Mr Moor was requested to contact Rhodri Grey the new Highways Manager as the bridge on the green is in need of some attention. Mr Moor will speak to him and added that Mr Grey had expressed an interest in meeting with the Council to have a walk around the village to discuss other matters. Mud around the Church Gate. Some bark could be put down as a temporary measure. Mr Tait suggested that when the church paths are repaired some of the gravel could be used. Gigaclear. Another resident had complained about the state of the paths left by Gigaclear. County Councillor Mr Moor said the Council should speak to Joe French who is the Business Director. Big Feastival. Mrs Pawley went to the Big Feastival meeting and there was very little that would change from the previous Feastival. The Committee are planning on giving a donation again to Bledington and this can be discussed in the September meeting as to how this can be put to use. Cotswold Carriers. Mrs Pawley expressed concern regarding the Cotswold Carriers site which is situated at the edge of Bledington. There is currently no sign of any screening of trees as was shown on the planning application and the site is quite open to the road with the lorries on show. Mr Pearson will speak to Cotswold Carriers. Next Parish Council meeting 8.00pm 4 June 2018.

Ann Newton receiving from Parish Council Chairman Robert Pearson the thanks of Bledington Parish Council for her years of service as Clerk.

20 ROTARY CLUB OF BURFORD AND KINGHAM Stephen Barber We were pleased to help distribute Burford Town Council’s free booklet entitled "are you ready" which has been prepared by the emergency services to help people be prepared for emergencies. The booklet can be obtained from the Council Offices, if anyone would like one. The annual Christian Aid Week door-to-door collection was successful in raising over £1000. Social events in the club have included a fascinating talk by Mr Reavley about “England’s oldest pharmacy” run by three generations of his family in Burford and a presentation about the “S. Oxfordshire & Bucks. Blood Bikes”, a rapid response medical transport service by Capt. Kamran Irani. The club had a mid-May outing to Chipping Norton Theatre to see “A Tender Thing” while in mid-June there is a trip to the Taylors Bell Foundry in Loughborough. We are happy to welcome visitors to club meetings but we ask, please, that you contact our secretary at [email protected] beforehand.

PHIL THE POSTMAN Wendy Scott Thank you very much to everyone who so generously gave donations to say thank you to Phil our former postman for 9 years. I will give him the cards and money soon.

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH Simon Algar CRIME WITHIN THE BLEDINGTON AREA. If I can provide any assistance please contact me on 01608 658815. I am happy to liaise with the police if necessary on behalf of residents in the village. Simon Algar: Police Emergencies: Tel: 999. Police non urgent: Tel: 101. Crimestoppers: Tel: 0800 555 111 (anonymity guaranteed).

21 THE KING’S HEAD, BLEDINGTON WEDNESDAY NIGHTS ARE ‘GOURMET BURGER AND CHIPS NIGHTS’ Archie and Nicola Orr-Ewing On Wednesday nights we provide a selection of homemade Burgers and Chips for £10 The full menu will also be available for non-Burger people.

SPARE PRINTER INK Jeremy Gould Tel: 658503 Following a change of printer I've got some HP364XL ink to dispose of - in exchange for a modest donation to the Fête.

COMMUNITY WELLBEING SERVICE FORMALLY VILLAGE AND COMMUNITY AGENT Steve Whincup This is just by way of a little reminder that the above service is still available as it has been in the past, little has changed and I am still available to help or offer help and advice to those who may need any help to stay safe and independent, in their homes for as long as they wish, or as long as they can. Please feel free to contact me by phone, 07738 106543 or by e-mail [email protected] SteveWhincup Community Wellbeing Service for the Villages and Parishes of - Adlestrop, Batsford, Bledington, Bourton-on-the-Water, Bourton-on-the-Hill, Broadwell, Clapton-on-the-Hill, Donnington, Evenlode, Icomb, Longborough, Maugersbury, Moreton-in-Marsh, Oddington, Sezincote, Stow-on-the-Wold, Todenham, The Westcotes, and Wyck Rissington.

BLEDINGTON NEWS The Editors Bledington News is distributed free of charge to every household in Bledington, Foscot and Foxholes. We would love to hear from you if you have any suggestions for news etc. for inclusion. [email protected] or call 01608 658624. Our printing costs are our only expense; they are around £2,000 annually. A huge thank you to those who have made donations towards the printing costs; if you wish to donate please contact our Treasurer, Michael Lear, Trinders, Main Street, Bledington Tel: 659371. Cheques should be made out to ‘Bledington News’.

22 AIR AMBULANCE Wendy Scott A very big thank you to everyone who has collected their stamps and given them to me to donate to the Air Ambulance. They are very much appreciated. Please keep saving them.

THANK YOU Sue MacConnal-Mason A big thank you to all those kind neighbours who came to my rescue when I fell in Church Lane on Sunday 29 April. They were all wonderful especially Dr Rawsthorne who appeared as if by magic and Ben and Matt who took me to the Horton in Banbury and stayed with me until I was moved to the little assessment ward. Thank you too for the lovely cards, pot plants and delicious meals. I am making steady progress and hope to be out and about soon.

MOBILE LIBRARY - WEDNESDAY SERVICE The Editors The Mobile Library will visit New Road from 2.00pm to 4.00pm on Wednesday 20 June. You can use a computer free of charge. Details at www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/article/111348/New-mobile-timetables

COMMUNITY ININ ANAN EMERGENCY DEFIBRILLATOR CALL 999999 The Bledington Community Defibrillator is located in the DO NOT CALL 111 archway close to the entrances to the Middle Orchard Flats, Old Forge Close, Bledington, OX7 6FE. In a life threatening emergency, CALL 999. If Ambulance Control think the use of a defibrillator is required they will give you the box combination number. You will be given instructions on how to access and use the defibrillator. DO NOT DIAL 111 in a life threatening emergency, 111 operators do not have key codes to defibrillators. A defibrillator is used to shock the heart into re-starting if the heart has arrested or is not beating properly.

23 WEATHER RECORDS Robert Pearson 20 APRIL TO 19 MAY 2018 2017 Total rainfall 31mm 61.5mm Wettest Day 9.5mm on 27/4/18 26mm Highest day temperature 27°C on 7/5/18 21°C Average maximum day temperature 17°C 15.5°C Lowest night temperature 1°C on 1/5/18 -1°C Average lowest night temperature 6°C 6°C The end of April saw temperatures in the mid twenties. The last time it was this warm in April was 2007 in which year May turned wet and cold, June continued wet as did July with 125mm of rain on 22 July; the day of the big flood. So far the tap has been turned off in May, the sun is out and summer is here. Will it continue?

LOCAL WALKS WITH THE COTSWOLDS VOLUNTARY WARDENS Sheila Wasley The Wardens run a full programme of free guided walks throughout the Cotswolds. For more information contact the Editors or see www.escapetothecotswolds.org.uk or Tel: 01451 862000 including any changes to arrangements e.g. due to extreme weather.

BLEDINGTON BANTAMS RUNNING GROUP Simon Algar Tel: 658815 Bantams is now weekly (it’s easier for us to remember to turn up) so join us come snow or shine Saturday at 9.00am, outside the King’s Head Inn (Good Pub Guide 2018, Pub of the Year). Note: No British Olympic or Lottery Funding is available.

POST OFFICE IN BLEDINGTON The Editors May we remind you that Angie Price offers a Post Office Service in Bledington 10.00am to 12.00noon Monday and Friday every week at the King’s Head (side entrance). Nearly all Post Office services are available. USE IT OR WE MAY LOSE IT

24 VILLAGER BUS - SELECTED TIMETABLES www.Villagerbus.com/timetables Wave at the Bus—It will Stop

V2 Bledington Green 09.30: Bledington School 09.27 Wednesday arrive Chipp. Norton Co-Op 10.04; Medical Centre 10.08 only Leave Co-op 11.23, Med. Centre 11.28 arr. Bledington 12.05 V6 Bledington School 09.39: Bledington Green 09.40 Thursday arrive Stow Square 9.49: Stow Tesco 9.53 Leave only Stow Tesco 11.04: Stow Square 11.08, arr. Bledington 11.19 V9 Bledington School 13.55: arrive Chipping Norton 14.09 Friday Chipping Norton Co-op Car Park, 15.45 arr. Bledington 16.00. only Goes on to Westcote/Oddington - no return from Oddington

V19 Bledington Green 09.10: arr. Chipping Norton West Street Monday and 09.51, Health Centre 09.53 (by request). Leave Health Tuesday Centre 11.34, West Street 11.36 arr. Bledington 12.18 only (This service travels to Milton-u-Wychwood, Shipton-u- Wychwood and Ascott-u-Wychwood)

V20 Bledington School 09.05 Arr. Witney 10.08. Leave Thursday Sainsbury’s 11.55; Buttercross 12.00, arr. Bledington 13.05 only (This service travels to Kingham, Shipton-under-Wychwood)

V25 Bledington Green and School 09.05 arr. Witney 10.13am Wednesday dropping off at Hospital, Sainsbury’s and Buttercross. only Witney Buttercross 12.23pm, arrive Bledington 1.26pm (This service travels to Shipton-under-Wychwood, Fulbrook, Bradwell Village and Carterton)

STOW/BOURTON/MORETON TO CHELTENHAM BUS Pulhams Route No 801 - Monday to Saturday The 801 Route is a daily regular service from Moreton-in-Marsh to Cheltenham via Stow and Bourton-on-the–Water. To travel on this service from Bledington, you take the 802 bus (see opposite) to Stow Post Office and embark on route 801 bus to and from Stow Market Square. Timetables for both 801 and 802 services are on the Pulhams website (www.pulhamscoaches.com). If you would like a print out, please contact Rollo Bruce on 659843 or the Editors.

25 WASTE AND RECYCLING COLLECTION DATES BLEDINGTON - COTSWOLD DISTRICT COUNCIL Large green wheeled bins (licence required from CDC) for green waste, tissues, kitchen roll, Tuesdays cooled wood ash and small green bins for cooked 5, 12, 19 and 26 June and uncooked food waste. Food waste can be emptied into licensed large green wheeled bin. Grey wheeled bins for land fill waste; blue bags Tuesdays 5 and 19 for cardboard, white bags for rigid plastics and June black boxes for glass, tins, paper. Stow-on-the-Wold, Maugersbury Road Car Park. Recycle shoes, clothing, glass. Moreton-in-Marsh Area Centre. Recycle low energy bulbs, halogen bulbs, sodium lamps etc. all of which contain mercury. Fosse Cross Recycling Centre GL54 4NW. 18 miles from Bledington, signposted off A429 at Hare and Hounds, 6 miles north of Cirencester. FOSCOT AND FOXHOLES - WEST OXFORDSHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL ‘Grey Week’ Collection - Food Mondays 11 and Boxes, Grey Bins for Land Fill 25 June Rubbish. ‘Green Week’ Collection - Blue Lid Bins for Recycling, Black boxes for Mondays 4 and 18 June glass, Food Boxes and Green Lid Bins for Garden Waste. Stanton Harcourt Recycling Centre OX29 5BB. 21 Miles from Bledington signposted off the A415 south of Witney.

KINGHAM STATION/STOW/BOURTON BUS Pulhams Route No 802 - Monday to Saturday This service runs from Kingham Station to Bourton-on-the-Water, going through Bledington, Stow Post Office and the Rissingtons. There are up to eight buses a day each way (four on Saturdays) connecting with London trains. Although Bledington is not listed as an official stop, the buses will stop if you give a clear signal to the driver. Timetables for both 801 and 802 services are on the Pulhams website (www.pulhamscoaches.com). If you would like a print out, please contact Rollo Bruce on 659843 or the Editors.

26 EVENLODE VALE CHURCHES ST LEONARD’S CHURCH Richard Rendall Dear Friends Exploring Life is a series of events being organised by churches in the North Cotswolds designed to help people think about what it means to be a Christian. Details of the events we are hosting are set out under Church News in this newsletter. They are an opportunity to meet people socially, enjoy a meal and listen to an outstanding speaker. Numbers are limited and if you would like to come please book a place as soon as possible. Our programme will conclude with two services on Sunday 15th July. There will be Café Church with Breakfast in Westcote Village Hall at 11am when Soba Sinnathamby will tell us about his life story and how he escaped a firing squad in Sri Lanka. We will then draw the threads together at an Evening Service at 6.00pm at Holy Ascension Oddington at which the Benefice Choir will sing. If the dates of our events don’t work for you please contact the Church Office and Cressy will be able to supply you with details of events being organised by other churches. Exploring Life is a great opportunity – don’t miss out on it!

Come for Tea and Cake in St Leonard’s Churchyard Sunday 29 July 2:30pm - 4.30pm In aid of St Leonard’s Church

27 CHURCH NEWS – JUNE 2018 Cressy Landless EXPLORING LIFE Friday 6 July 7.00pm Women’s Supper at Holy Ascension, Vaughan Roberts speaking on “Friendship”. Tickets £10 to include a light supper and pud, with wine. Booking essential call 01451 831424 or email [email protected] Tuesday 10 July 3.30pm Afternoon Tea at Holy Ascension, Oddington, Rico Tice speaking on “Why Bother with Christianity?” Tickets £5 to include sandwiches, scones, cake and tea. Call 01451 831424 or email [email protected] Friday 13 July 7.00pm Youth Event at Holy Ascension, Oddington with Roger Simpson and the Gladiator. Further details from Bridgid Duffy call 07891 936826 or email [email protected] Sunday 15 July 11.00am Café Church with Breakfast at Westcote Village Hall with Soba Sinnathamby speaking on “From Firing Squad to Faith”. Sunday 15 July 6.00pm Evening Service at Holy Ascension Oddington with Richard Rendall speaking on “Jesus – mad, bad or dangerous to know”. Silver Service Lunch Silver Service lunch this month will be on Thursday 7 June at Oddington Village Hall. If you have not yet booked a place and would like to come please telephone Cressy on 01451 831424.

ST LEONARD’S CHURCH ROTAS FLOWERS AND BRASS TO MAIN CLEANING ALTAR AND SIDE ALTAR JUNE 2018 Week Commencing: Monday Week Ending: Saturday 4th Mrs Pearson and Mrs Algar 2nd Mrs Rosemary Power 11th Mr and Mrs Warren 9th Mrs Nadine Birch 18th Mr and Mrs Beacham 16th Mrs Sue Windsor 25th Mr and Mrs Windsor 23rd Mrs Heather Pearson 30th Mrs Louise Mclean

Evenlode Vale Churches Website: www.evenlodevalechurches.org

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CHURCH SERVICES IN JUNE 2018

Sunday 3 June The First Sunday after Trinity 10.30am United Holy Communion (CW) with JAM Holy Ascension, Oddington

Sunday 10 June The Second Sunday after Trinity 9.30am Holy Communion (BCP) Adlestrop 9.30am Morning Prayer (BCP) Icomb 9.30am Morning Service (CW) Westcote 11.00am Family Service Broadwell (On the Green) 11.00am Morning Prayer (BCP) Evenlode 6.00pm Evening Prayer (BCP) Bledington

Sunday 17 June The Third Sunday after Trinity 8.00am Holy Communion (BCP) Bledington 9.30am Holy Communion (BCP) Icomb 9.30am Morning Service (CW) Westcote

Sunday 24 June The Birth of John the Baptist 9.30am Morning Prayer (CW) Adlestrop 9.30am Morning Prayer (BCP) Icomb 9.30am Holy Communion (BCP) St Nicholas, Oddington 11.00am Family Service Bledington 11.00am Holy Communion (BCP) Evenlode 6.00pm Evening Prayer (BCP) Broadwell 6.00pm Holy Communion (CW) Westcote

All services (save for Family Services and Morning Prayer) are specified as being traditional Book of Common Prayer (BCP) or more contemporary Common Worship (CW). Family Services and Morning Prayer are both contemporary services.

Bledington, Foxholes and Foscot News is printed by KopyRite, Worcester Trading Estate, Chipping Norton.