Hanwell News SPRING 2010

From the (guest) Editor

I am delighted to be the guest editor for the Spring 2010 edition of Hanwell News. Not least because it gives me the opportunity to say something complimentary about Anne that she would be far too modest to say herself. Our magazine has been going for some time now and has embedded itself into the psyche of the village. I know for a fact that many people find it not just a useful reference source for everything from bus timetables, to what‟s going on - but a very interesting read in itself. We have Anne to thank for that, ably supported (I suspect) by her husband Charles. By pain and travail we have a great magazine and long may it continue. Thank you!!

Of course it can only succeed with input from the very people who enjoy it and to that end I would implore people to make sure that Anne always has material for each issue. Please do not sit back thinking someone else has done it, you really do need to participate. If you don‟t know Anne, get to know her – she doesn‟t bite and she‟s incredibly helpful.

Spring is with us and with it the promise of warmer days and brighter smiles. The sap is rising and the birds are singing with full vigour. It‟s time to venture outdoors again as the rhythm of village life beats a little faster. Isn‟t it just great to be alive and living in Hanwell? Do read Ken‟s article before you thrust yourselves into physical work.

It‟s back to normal after this edition so please send your articles, letters and adverts to the real editor:

Anne Sheppard Editor, Hanwell News Fairways Church Lane Hanwell Tel. 730441 [email protected]

Best wishes,

Carl Portman

Dates for your diary

Drop In Surgery (Sibford Village Hall) Hanwell Parish Council Meeting th 1430-1530 Wednesday 10 March th Wednesday 17 March

Progressive Dinner Drop In Surgery (Hook Norton Baptist Hall) Friday May 7th 1130-1230 Friday 26th March

Items for next edition of Hanwell News should Clocks forward One Hour be given to Anne Sheppard (see above) by th st Sunday 28 March Friday 21 May St George’s Day

Cover photo: View of castle Friday April 23rd

towers from inside Hanwell Church taken by Carl Portman Good Friday Easter Day nd th Friday 2 April Sunday 4 April

Village Information

Buses Household waste collection

Catteralls bus service goes twice a week Bins are emptied every Thursday and into Banbury on Thursday and Saturday. should be left out by the kerb, by 7am, The bus stop is in front of the village hall. with handles facing outwards.

From Hanwell. Departs Hanwell village 4th Mar – Green bin hall 10.18 am, arriving Banbury bus 11th Mar – Blue and Brown bins station at 10.25 am. 18th Mar – Green bin 25th Mar - Blue and Brown bins From Banbury. Departs Banbury bus 1st Apr – Green bin station 1.30 pm, arriving at Hanwell 8th Apr - Blue and Brown bins village hall at 1.40pm. Cost £2 each way, 15th Apr – Green bin or free for bus pass holders. 22nd Apr - Blue and Brown bins 29th Apr – Green bin 6th May - Blue and Brown bins Dial a Ride th 13 May – Green bin 20th May - Blue and Brown bins The Dial-a-Ride, the door-to-door minibus 27th May – Green Bin request service operates from 8.00am to 6.00pm every weekday and is intended to Primary School benefit the elderly and infirm who have difficulty in using public transport. Please The local primary school is Hornton book a day ahead. Details are available County Primary School, in Hornton from Charles Nixon-Eckersall on 730314. village, tel. 670335. The head teacher is Mrs Hillary Childs. The school bus Mobile Library picks up pupils from the village hall at 8.50am each morning and drops them off again at 3.40pm. The mobile library calls fortnightly on Tuesday afternoons at approximately Secondary School 3.15pm. It stops opposite the village hall.

The local secondary school is the Milk Deliveries Warriner School, in Bloxham village telephone 720777. The head teacher Milk can be ordered for door step delivery is Mr Nick Hindmarsh. The school bus from Dairy Crest. It is delivered in the picks up pupils from opposite the very early hours of Tuesday, Thursday village hall at 8.00 am and drops them and Saturday mornings. Tel 01295 off again at 4.20pm. 264776

Village Hall Committee Parochial Church Council

Chairman Chairman Bob Dainty 730677 Position vacant Secretary Vice Chairman Wendy Green 738712 Charles Nixon-Eckersall 730314 Treasurer Secretary Gordon Polson 738031 Philip Ledger 738174 Village Hall Hire Treasurer Wendy Green 738712 Giles Dessain 730679 Committee members Churchwardens Jill Bailey 730442 Charles Nixon-Eckersall 730314 Juliet Dessain 730679 David Martin 265775 Jill Hart 730269 Liz Mobbs 738005 Richard Woodward 738975 Newspaper delivery

Newspapers can be ordered for Neighbourhood Watch delivery from Smiths in Banbury. Tel 01295 268499 and their email is Village co-ordinator [email protected] Keith Williams 738004

Village Website

Parish Council The Hanwell village website with the village forum is located at Chairman John Spratt 730671 Arnold Bailey 730442 www.hanwellvillage.com Bob Dainty 730677 John Hart 730269 Terry Tuite 738612 Gordon Polson 738031 Village Weather Station Charles Nixon-Eckersall 730314

Clerk to the council A weather station which gives current Jayne Gordon 730878 up to the second meteorological information for the village is at

Church www.villagenow.co.uk

St Peters Church of England Church, Church Lane, Hanwell. Hanwell Community Observatory

Monthly pattern of services will be The observatory website is confirmed once the new Rector has www.hanwellobservatory.org.uk settled in. The churchwarden on 730314 can advise. Contact the Observatory on 730762 for more information or to book a The Rector is the Reverend Doctor John group or private star party. Reader, telephone 730344

Hanwell Neighbourhood Watch Important Information numbers

Once again people who live alone, and are Police 0845 850 505 most vulnerable are being targeted by Thames Water 0845 920 0800 distraction burglars. They usually work in twos, one keeps the occupant talking while Area Co-ordinators the accomplice carries out the robbery. They usually claim they are engineers from Wendy Green 738712 the Gas/Water or Electricity board. 2 Sackville Court Hanwell Always Always! Ask to see their I.D. If Gullicote Lane/Houses west you're ever in doubt ring a neighbour or the police, on 0845 50505. Pam Kennedy 730013 Old Barn There has also been a spate of thefts from Main Street cars, and vans. Satnav equipment and Houses adjoining village green to village hall spare wheels seem to be the most sought after things to steal, once again if you see Thelma Spratt 730671 or suspect any robbery is taking place The Old Rectory please ring 0845 50505. Church Lane Church Lane On the 27th of January 2010 at the village hall just prior to the Wine and Wisdom Amanda Wray-Mitchell 730402 lecture, the crime reduction officer would Heron Cottage like to address the people of the Main Street village on further ways to safeguard their Moon and Sixpence area homes, It will only be a short address of about 20 minutes at 7-30pm. Joe McGloin 730383 2 Hanwell Court People who might find it difficult to get to Hanwell the village hall, contact, 738004 for a lift. Hanwell Court/Main Street south Keith Williams 730004 2 Sackville Court, Gullicote Lane

Charity Collections Community Messaging

Many charities put bags through our Wendy Green regularly receives letterboxes offering to collect unwanted Community Messaging from Thames items for sale in their shops to raise funds. Valley Police which informs villages These are legitimate and very worthy around Banbury of suspicious incidents, organisations and they deserve all our crimes etc and aims to alert local residents support. of what is going on. The more people who are aware of these incidents, the better However residents should be aware that not and as a Hanwell resident you too can be all these requests are from charities. There included in these alerts. The idea is that is one who has several times put bags the more awareness there is, the better through letterboxes in Hanwell and they are the chance of us in Hanwell not becoming not a charity. They are a business, which victims too especially as there seems to sells for their own profit, the clothes which be an increase in the number of incidents are donated to them and if you check the lately. If you want to be included in this bags that they put through the letterbox, then please email they do not have a registered charity [email protected] and Wendy number but a registered business number. will add you to the list.

If you want the name of the company, email Juliet Dessain Anne Sheppard

See http://andy.2boyz.co.uk/?p=618=2 for more information.

The Good Neighbour Scheme and someone to co-ordinate this. Any volunteers? In „the olden days‟ communities looked out for each other. People knew all their Anne Sheppard neighbours, knew if someone was sick and so would take something round, knew if an Hanwell Parish Council elderly person was living alone and had no visitors, and would call in, would see if the Village Allotments local children were misbehaving and stop them, would know if young parents were Hanwell Parish Council is delighted to having difficulties and offer help. They had announce that it has now taken over to usually, because there was no one else. ownership from Cherwell District Council Now we have social services. of the allotments situated behind Park Close. So where has this brought us to today? How is this better? I know for a fact that There are a total of 10 allotments on which there are elderly people in our village who the allotment holders grow a wide variety are lonely. Some older people who wanted of plants. The allotments are very well to attend some of the Wine and Wisdom maintained and are a credit to the village. lectures but who were unable to get to the For ease of communication, Dr John village hall. If an elderly person runs out of, Jemmet has been appointed as the say, milk, how do they get some without allotment holders‟ representative. having to wait till whoever helps with shopping can get it? There is currently one vacant allotment. Anyone that is interested in becoming an Here is where we should all be Good allotment holder should contact the Parish Neighbours. Clerk, Jayne Gordon, on 01295 730878. There is an annual rent payable to the The scheme needs just an organiser and a Parish Council of £24.00 (concessionary list of volunteers. You can volunteer to help rate is £12.00 per annum). out with any job or just specific ones. If anyone needs help, they call the organiser Hanwell village… who will contact someone on the volunteer list who will help. Easy, yet it could make a Fostered an excellent community spirit difference to a lot of people. during the heavy snowfalls of January. Residents wielded shovels to put grit on Examples of the sort of help that could be the roads, people journeyed on shopping offered are runs and others simply checked in to say Being accompanied or driven to hello to neighbours. Thanks to all  events in the village Help with lifting/moving a heavy (Ed comment: Sue and I were casualties object and our car was embarrassingly unable to Visiting get into the village from the Cropredy road Help or support with young families and we had to park in a field. We are Advice with official paperwork personally indebted to the magnificent Occasional shopping items from rearguard action of John Hart and family someone already going to the shops for towing us into the village and safely home.) and I expect many more ideas will spring to mind. We are blessed to live in such a wonderful village but we learned never to Many people do help neighbours, but many try to access or egress it from the others are falling through the cracks. So, Cropredy end in heavy snow without a 4x4 what is needed now is people to help out vehicle!

Wine and Wisdom Lectures sore limbs, my aching back. No rest for the wicked comes to mind. Before you do Anne Sheppard spoke about Britain‟s coral real harm to me why not consider the reefs in the remote and beautiful Chagos following. After all, you only have one of Archipelago, The director of the Hanwell me (body), which is not easily replaceable. Community Observatory, Christopher I (body) have got to last a long time, so Taylor, spoke about The Story of the why not take more care of me. Hanwell Community Observatory and at the time of going to press Sheila and Dennis Reader will talk about an historical RAF  Before any energetic activity, airbase near here on 24th Feb. warm / limber up.

31st March 8pm - Alan Jones will talk on „The Campaign to Protect Rural England:  Dress appropriate for the 80 years of defending Oxfordshire‟s conditions, layering is best. countryside‟ Alan is the chairman and planning advisor for the Oxfordshire branch of CPRE  Don‟t do too much to soon, take a small rest after a while. 28th April 8pm – Dr Rowena E Archer will talk on „What life might have been like in medieval Hanwell‟. Rowena is a respected  If you are lifting anything. Lift medieval historian and Fellow of Brasenose correctly. College, University of Oxford.

st This is the last in the successful 1 season  Drink some water now and again, of Wine and Wisdom; the next season‟s not too much though. Eat a little talks will begin in September and we look too. forward to seeing you there.

Anne Sheppard  Moderation, Moderation, Moderation.

 Consider others too. BODY TALK

The dark days are leaving us behind, So brain, thank you for listening to me and Spring is on it‟s way. We are coming out of let‟s get started on all those wonderful our hibernation and thinking of putting all activities that are going to keep us fit and our resolutions, projects, and activities into healthy”. action. Your brain makes all the plans and you are raring to go.

Diamond Geezer (aka Ken) HOLD ON THIS IS YOUR BODY TALKING.

“I have not done a lot over the last few months except perhaps, eat, drink and sleep too much. You want me to do all that moving about at speed and without warming up first. I suppose you will not clothe me properly either, even though it is still cold. You will want to keep going just a little bit more, with no thought about my

WELL DONE SUE! on both days and the church will provide We would like to thank cleaning gear, some ladders and a Sue Quinney our vacuum cleaner. Please feel free to bring newspaper delivery lady whatever else you think might help. The for all her hard work in getting the papers first lucky beneficiaries of our efforts will through our letterboxes during the snow be the couple(don't know who?) getting and ice we had in January. It was above married in the church on 22nd May. and beyond the call of duty!!!!! (ABCD award?...Editor) Charles Nixon-Eckersall Thanks again Sue you're a star. Churchwarden

Gordon & Hazel Paxton (amongst BANBURY COMMUNITY TRANSPORT others) ASSOCIATION (BCTA)

Regular readers will know much about Progressive Dinner Friday May 7th BCTA and the service(s) it can provide. Following last year's change in the rules This is a "Thank you" to those of you who governing 'free travel' which forced BCTA contacted us before Christmas to say they to reintroduce fares and the funding would host the dinner or would like to be difficulties facing all local authorities as the guest's. Central Government tightens the budgetary noose, the community transport We have 4 or 5 hosts but it would be lovely services that BCTA provides throughout if we could find 1 or 2 more, and we need North Oxfordshire are coming under lot of you to volunteer to come and eat with increasing threat. us!! The more that people use these services, the more likely it will be that they can be The cost of the dinner is £15 per person maintained - they are really invaluable to (where can you get such value) for a 3 some of the less mobile. So, if you are course home cooked meal and good eligible to use these services, or would like company. You can leave the car at home to register to do so, I hope that you will and walk to your host's as the wine tends to give this serious and early consideration. flow on these occasions !!!! or you can drive if you prefer. BCTA's service to the less mobile of our people are widely recognised as among Please contact Juliet on 730679 or Hazel the most comprehensive and available of on 738907 similar operations throughout the country and the company can only maintain that Hazel Paxton distinction if people make as much use of them as they can. Only in this way can we keep the busses running and, possibly - CHURCH SPRING CLEAN just possibly - reduce fares. Details of registering as a BCTA member Many volunteer cleaners contributed to a and how to use the service can be really successful 'deep clean' of the church obtained from BCTA, Unit 17, Beaumont in the autumn - the first for some 18 Close, Banbury OX16 1TN or from the months. It is now hoped to re-establish the undersigned. tradition of a volunteer Spring Clean each year - which makes the task less BCTA also hires out busses for self-drive demanding than last year. or driver-provided outings at very The PCC has agreed the weekend of 8th competitive rates. and 9th May for this year's effort and hopes that many in the village will be prepared to Charles Nixon-Eckersall give an hour or more of their time on either Chairman, BCTA of these days. The clean will start at 1000

THAMES VALLEY POLICE

Happy New Year from all the Meet Your Local Policing Team Banbury Rural Team!

As we enter a new decade, please take the time to look at your home security. A simple leaflet on all aspects of home, personal and vehicle security is available from the Neighbourhood Team and from Jayne Taylor, the Crime Reduction specialist at Banbury. We can also perform Initial Home Security Assessments if you are concerned about your security and would like honest, independent advice. Neighbourhood Sergeant Scott Evans P1817

We are here to help, and can be contacted about any aspect of Neighbourhood Specialist Officer (NSO) Neighbourhood Policing. Becky McLeod P6040

Neighbourhood Officer (NO) Gerry Doyle P2066 “Have Your Say” Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Meet Your Team at a Drop-In Lana Smith C9930 Surgery Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Nikki Dale C9327 From the start of 2010, Thames Valley

Police is extending its neighbourhood Your neighbourhood team is contactable on the consultation by introducing a wider range of below details to discuss any issues you may have. publicised opportunities to meet

Neighbourhood Teams. The drive for this change is our commitment to the Policing Contact your Team: Pledge, which promises open monthly meetings to allow the public to influence our 0845 8 505 505 priorities. “Have Your Say” meetings will [email protected] allow Neighbourhood Teams to identify .uk more quickly those specific local priorities that need attention; the meetings are a IN AN EMERGENCY DIAL positive step in tackling issues that matter most to the local communities. 999

To check on drop in Surgery dates and venues ring the number opposite.

HANWELL RESIDENTS – LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER

Banbury Volunteer Bureau - Transport Ask to see the card if you are unsure.

Volunteers register as „Volunteer Bureau Car Drivers‟ and use their own cars to If you have booked return transport the provide „essential‟ transport for those who driver will wait for you. However, in some are unable to access public transport or the cases it may be necessary for two help of family or friends. separate trips to be arranged if the waiting time is too long. The driver receives a mileage payment which is calculated from and returning to Charges are as follows: the drivers home and is paid by you, the Local journeys up to 10 miles - £4.20 person using the transport service. Journeys over 10 miles – 42p per mile

When booking transport, please give us as To book transport call 01295 279515. much notice as possible, preferably 3 Office hours 10am -12 noon Mon-Fri. working days, to give us time to contact volunteers and make the necessary arrangements.

If you are attending medical appointments Springtime etc. we need to know the date and time of your appointment, the name of the hospital For winter‟s rains and ruins are over or surgery and, of course, your name And all the season of snows and sins; address and telephone number. The days dividing lover and lover, The light that loses, the night that wins; Please inform us if: - you use a wheelchair or any other aid And time remembered is grief forgotten, - you have a disability and need additional help from the driver. Please be aware that And frosts are slain and flowers begotten not all drivers are able to carry wheelchairs And in green underwood and cover in their cars. Blossom by blossom the spring begins

When we have found a driver we inform you from Atalanta In Calydon (1865) by of the drivers name and the time that he or Algernon Charles Swinbourne she will collect you from your home. Drivers carry or wear an identity card.

Nature for Young Hanwellians 2. In what country will you find the BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS are insects largest butterfly in the world? that can be found all across Britain and 3. Which are active by day, moths or the world. They are insects because they butterflies? have six legs and wings. 4. How do we know that moths are insects? It is amazing to thing that they have been 5. What are the four main phases of a around for at least 140 million years and butterflies life-cycle? they came about when flowering plants 6. Name two ways in which you can became more numerous. tell the difference between a butterfly and a moth. In the summer months you will find many 7. What does „Lepidoptera‟ mean? butterflies around Hanwell and there are over 50 species in the UK. Butterflies that Moths can be seen include the Peacock, the Painted Lady, the Red Admiral and maybe There are many more moth species to be even a Duke of Burgundy if you are lucky. found in Britain – in fact about 2,500 and they come in all colours, shapes and Here‟s part of a lovely poem about sizes. butterflies, written by Joseph Warton. Here is a photograph of my very favourite Fair child of sun and summer! we behold moth. It is called the Hummingbird Hawk with eager eyes thy wings bedropp'd with Moth, or Macroglossum stellatarum gold; The purple spots that o'er thy mantle spread, The sapphire's lively blue, the ruby's red, Ten thousand various blended tints surprise, Beyond the rainbow's hues or peacock's eyes

Here is my favourite butterfly. It‟s a swallowtail but you can only find them now in the South East of England. Source: Wikimedia

It does look like a hummingbird and people often confuse this moth with the real thing. It even behaves like the bird showing how wonderful nature is.

If you want to see butterflies and moths from all over the world, visit Stratford Butterfly Farm. Visit their web site at: http://www.butterflyfarm.co.uk

Next time we are going to look at beetles. Here‟s a little quiz for you (answers at Carl Portman bottom of the page).

1. What is the largest moth in the Answers: 1. The Atlas Moth. Butterfly. 2. Papua New Guinea, it’s the Queen Alexanda Birdwing.3. Butterflies. 4. They have world? six legs 5. Egg, caterpillar, pupa and adult. 6. The way they rest and the antennae which is usually clubbed in butterflies. 7. Scaly wings. 12

New dishes becoming available all the time – and ask about being a VIP member!

Cluster Care Group (01295758300) or on the door on the night. The Cluster Care Group will be 15 years More details will be available nearer the old in March and to celebrate we are time so do look out for more information in having a Coffee and Cake morning on the local press,newsletters aand village Tuesday 16th March from 10.30am in the noticeboards. Sports Pavilion,Williamscote Please put this date in your diaries and Road,Cropredy. If you have been involved join us if you can with the Cluster Care Group in any for a great night capacity past or present please drop in out. and help us celebrate we shall be delighted to see you. .

The Cluster Care Group is very excited about its forthcoming fundraising concert. It will be held on Saturday 24th If you enjoy reading and think you might April in Mollington Village Hall at like to join the Hanwell Reading Group 7.30pm. There will be musical please get in touch with me, Karen Jones, entertainment from a local Barber Shop by phone on 738728 or via email at Ensemble as well as Mel Reese who will [email protected] or with any of the give us his own very amusing look at group. life. Light refreshments will be served Karen Jones during the interval but please feel free to bring your own alcohol and glasses. “All books are either dreams or Tickets will be £6.00 and can be obtained swords. You can cut, or you can by contacting Mrs Moya Reed drug with words”. (01295758531) Mrs Hazel Paxton (01295738907) Mrs Anne Holdom „Amy Lowell, 1874-1925)

Children’s Playground

The village playground continues to be a popular addition to Hanwell, with people coming from other villages to use it. However, dog mess is becoming a problem down there, so please can I urge dog owners to clear up after their dogs? Amy Gault

Gordon's Paxton’s Book that because of the recent frost the path to For anyone who over the past months has her door needed repairing and that if she expressed an interest in purchasing didn‟t get it done she could be sued. Joan Gordon Paxton's book on his life and the was frightened and agreed that she would village it will be available sometime in withdraw £1000 and that they would come March at a cost yet to be determined. back the next day and repair the path.

Gordon can be contacted on 738907, or Fortunately her neighbour, Val, had seen please drop in to The Old Post Office the men and was worried. Val went round when you‟re passing. to see Joan who told her what had happened. Together they contacted the Hazel Paxton Oxfordshire Trading Standards Team who were able to intervene and safeguard Joan. Oxfordshire Safeguarding Adults Abuse Some adults are particularly vulnerable to being hurt or abused because they have a Abuse is treating a person in a way that disability, illness, or impairment and need makes them feel frightened or unhappy, help and support. harms, hurts or exploits them. It can happen anywhere. Example case -

Joan Bill Joan is 82 and lives on her own. Bill has a learning disability. He gets the Last week two men visited her and said bus into town where he has a part-time

14 job. At the bus stop he is often bullied and If you are worried about a vulnerable called names by students from a local person and don‟t know where else to go school. you can contact Oxfordshire Social & Community Services on: The bus driver was very concerned about Bill and contacted Oxfordshire Social & 0845 050 7666 Community Services. Out of hours emergency 0800 833 408 A worker from social services helped Bill. Initially they were able to change Bill‟s work times so that he could get a different bus. They also spent some time at the Stamp Collecting school and were able to work with the young people involved who apologised for The RSPB are still collecting stamps to what they had done. raise funds for their Albatross programme in the Southern Ocean. Bill felt much better as he had been able to deal with the problem. If you have any stamps which you would like passed on to the RSPB please drop Details of all the organisations mentioned them off with Anne Sheppard. above can be found on the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Adults Board website: www.safefromharm.org.uk

Origins of Hanwell - did you know?

Despite the remnants of a Roman Villa near the Warwick to Banbury road there is no evidence of s settlement at Hanwell until the Anglo-Saxon period. The name originating from this time was Hana‟s Weg meaning „beside a never failing spring‟. The Weg (German for „way‟) was later replaced by Welle.

Apparently, both Charles I and James I slept at Hanwell Castle which dates from 1498.

We live in a most interesting village!

Hanwell Wine Society

Hanwell wine society was established in 2008 to provide an opportunity for anyone interested in wine to meet once a month, to share/taste/drink/discuss wine, but most importantly to simply enjoy drinking wine.

We usually have a theme which could range from „my favourite red‟ to „sparkling wines‟.

Each person brings a different wine or one person buys the wines for the agreed theme and the cost is shared by those who attend.

The great thing about these meetings is you taste a range of wines which you would not normally be able to do. They range in price, and are made from different grapes and from a variety of producers. The variety challenges you to explore wines. Amazingly everybody always finds at least one or two that they really like!

The Hanwell wine society is not for just for people who already know about wine, but is to share and drink wines which you may not normally buy. This expands your wine tasting experience and knowledge. It is not for „wine snobs‟, it is just a relaxing and enjoyable evening.

In addition to sharing wines, we are planning in the future to have „formal‟ tastings and invite speakers from local wine merchants or even form a buying club.

So if you are interested please come along to the meetings.

Please contact me as I do need to know who will be attending in advance. (Need to make sure there is enough wine to go round!!!), on [email protected]

Gordon Polson

Milk Bottle Tops CRIMESTOPPERS

The Albion Centre in Chipping Norton can use the plastic tops from plastic Helps you to fight crime supermarket milk bottles to raise funds for the work they do with young people with Some people with information about crime physical and mental disabilities. or criminals don‟t want to get involved with the police. They may know something The tops have a value because it is about a family member or a friend and separated from all other recyclable material. might worry about reprisals. They do an enormous amount of recycling, so by helping the charity you are helping with the Oxfordshire recycling effort. If you Such fears need not stop them reporting collect your tops, all colours they can be left what they know. By calling the with Rowena Archer at The Coach House, independent Crimestoppers charity on Hanwell Castle Castle, Anne Sheppard at 0800 555 111 they can pass on Fairways or Carol Dainty at Chapel House, information anonymously Main Street. No caller is asked for their name and no Anne Sheppard call is traced or recorded, The information received by Crimestoppers does help to

stop crime.

We do have crime in Hanwell so this is also a reminder to look out for strangers calling or acting suspiciously. We need to . be a united community to fight crime.

Children’s Christmas Party. Welcome and Congratulations to… This year 18 children, mostly from Hanwell, came to the party in the Village Hall and Welcome to the Hill family who moved in there were almost as many parents as to Picks Cottage during the snow in children! January. Lizzie and Charles have two

children – Barnaby aged 2 and Sasha The grown ups enjoyed themselves and ages 6 months. here are some of the children‟s comments about the party. Congratulations to Steve and Abi Burns “There was the biggest Christmas tree in on the safe arrival of their second son, the while world! It was even taller than my Hunter, born in January and a brother to Dad and nearly went through the roof!” Harrison. Despite the snow, they did make it to the Horton! “I made a Father Christmas, some stars and a snowman to hang on the tree but I’m Congratulations too to Wim and taking them home for my tree. I wish ours Margaret Roselaar on the birth of their was as big as this one.” second grand-son, Rory.

Time for a poem

Loveliest of trees, the cherry now Is hung with bloom along the bough And stands about the woodland ride Wearing white for Eastertide

Now, of my threescore years and ten, Twenty will not come again, And take from seventy springs a score, Creative fun at Christmas time It only leaves me fifty more

“We played Pass the Parcel and I won! And since to look at things in bloom Whoopee!!” Fifty springs are little room About the woodlands I will go “I liked Father Christmas. I was scared of To see the cherry hung with snow him last year but I really like him now” A. E. Houseman

…and a riddle

My life can be measured in hours. I serve by being devoured.

What am I?

Santa and his little helpers! Answer on next page.

“Which Way to Banbury?” St. Peter‟s Church together with its connections to Hanwell Castle, I wish I Another Hanwell ghost story. had asked her if she had anyone in mind.

While waiting outside the Village Hall for the I heard other tales of encounters with Banbury bus, I often found myself day- ghostly clergy, and while old dark clothes dreaming about strolling right into town were a common feature, tall broad- across the surrounding fields. brimmed hats of the Puritan style were also recalled. This was over twenty years ago when I came to live in Hanwell, and I‟d heard of the Although not a ghost story as such, the life many stone walls that once fringed fields of one such rector always interested me: criss-crossed with paths leading to the Dr. Robert Harris, a celebrated Puritan Banbury road and other villages. was established at Hanwell in 1606, and became respected and highly regarded in Travellers on their way must have been a the whole Banbury area. His sermons common sight, and, on one day in attracted large crowds of people travelling particular, Miss Winnie Adkins was not too from miles around. However Dr. Harris‟s surprised when a stranger asked her the long stay here came to a violent end in way to Banbury: however, what happened 1642, at the beginning of the Civil War, next certainly amazed and puzzled her. when he was thrown out of his rectory by Royalists and forced to leave Oxfordshire. Born in 1908, Winnie lived at Heath Farm all her long life, and this episode took place It was thought he had a strong affection in the late 1960s when she was acting as for Hanwell, for the Church register shows housekeeper at the then deserted Hanwell his widow, Joanna, was buried here long Castle. (Captain Berkley‟s widow Joan had afterwards in 1664. recently left to return to her old home in Dorset.) A post-script to Winnie‟s story involves Derek Haynes, a builder arriving one Winnie and a friend were busy hanging out morning at the Old Rectory some fifteen washing in an open part of the garden that years ago. Passing the Churchyard, he faced south towards Banbury, and neither noticed a man wearing strange dark was aware of a stranger coming up behind clothes standing close to a tombstone. them. Suddenly Winnie sensed a presence, Going into the Rectory garden, Derek and there standing close by was a man turned back for another look, and was wearing a long black garment who quietly taken aback to see the man had asked which was the way to Banbury. Both disappeared. Intrigued, Derek quickly Winnie and her friend momentarily turned scoured the Churchyard for some sign of away, pointing out the style and pathway, the stranger, but to no avail: he too, had but on turning back they were startled to vanished without a trace. find the man had vanished. Neither had seen him go, and there was not even a Gordon Wilson glimpse of his retreating figure.

Winnie emphasized there was nothing in “The bible tells us to love our that part of the garden to hide him from neighbours and also to love our view, nor any shrub or tree for him to slip enemies; probably because behind. generally they are the same people”. A thorough search followed and villagers questioned, but nobody remembered G.K Chesterton seeing the stranger. Winnie was convinced she had seen, and spoken to, the ghost of a priest, and given the rich history of Answer to riddle: A candle

The Hanwell village website is woefully under utilised and I would be interested to know why this is. I understand that not everybody has Internet access at home but did you know you can get access FREE at your local library?

Email [email protected] if you have any news, stories, notices or photographs that you think will be of interest to residents.

If there is a specific reason why you don‟t use the website I would really like to know. You can email me at [email protected] or drop a note through my door at Orchard House. PLEASE make more use of the site.

Carl Portman

STARS AND SNOWDROPS AND SO IT ENDS…

A wonderful solar display was made by I have enjoyed putting this edition together. schoolchildren for this annual event at the Once again Anne will be slightly embarrassed Hanwell Community Observatory, organised but I wanted to highlight how valuable she is to by the indefatigable Christopher and Rowena our village. Taylor. Over 800 people came from far and wide to wander through the snowdrops and take It takes time to put this magazine together. She in the fresh air. has to chivvy people up to get the stories and the news, she has to type set it all and get it to The outdoor scale model of the solar system printers, pick it up and then visit every house in contained planets made by pupils at Bloxham, the village – whatever the weather to deliver it Shennington, St. Joseph‟s and Dashwood through your door. primary schools. On top of this she has to deal with the There were stalls selling plants and other items advertising money and keep a close eye on the as well as the RSPB (Well done Andrew overall costs of the magazine. Sheppard) and the opportunity to feast on cakes by a roaring fireside. People from Raleigh This of course is voluntary work. International helped with the (considerable) logistics as did many other volunteers. The She does much more. The Wine and Wisdom event seems to get bigger and better every year. lectures have been a raging success, with Our village is a „star‟ attraction at least once a fascinating talks demonstrating the depth of year! experience and knowledge of the people of this tremendous village. Rowena was particularly pleased with the models of Earth and Saturn and wants to better Long may it continue Anne. My „last words‟ the display next year by adding constellations. are to ask that you all continue to support Anne. The Observatory is open to everyone if they Don‟t leave your articles late; pay up promptly want to try stargazing, so surf your way to if you owe money and most of all – ENJOY IT! www.hanwellobservatory.org.uk to learn more. Carl