Of the village, by the village, for the village June/July 2017 104 FinstockServing Finstock, Fawler, Wilcote, News Mt.Skippett and Finstock Heath
Finstock Festival...... 1 Village Hall events...... 7 Village Events...... 2 Shop, PO, Craft Club...... 8 Political reports...... 3 Girl Guides, Walks...... 9 Letters to Editor, Police...... 4 Walks...... 10 Sm Ads, Wine, Toddlers...... 5 School, FoFS...... 11 Conservation...... 6 Gardening...... 12
VOTE IN THE GENERAL FINSTOCK FESTIVAL 2017 ELECTION! Friday June 30th - Saturday July 1st Please come and support the School Summer Fete as part This year’s Finstock Festival promises to offer a weekend of of the Finstock Festival weekend. Details on this page and great music and family entertainment. As in previous years, on page 11. Viv Wightman has an article about walks in our local residents can enjoy two nights of entertainment for the immediate area now that the weather has improved. Our price of one in our marquee on the Playing Field. wine columnist notes the excessive amount of tax on wine On the Friday evening, there is no charge to see any of in the UK. Our political representatives report on the recent the bands - a great way to start the weekend and get into the county election and their activities. Details of Village Hall spirit of the Festival. There will be a number of local bands events are found on pages 7 and 8. The Wychwood Project playing including the very popular Quartermelon, as well as has won Heritage Lottery Funds and Finstock School is the our confirmed headline band, Highway 61, not forgetting a first school in the county to be accredited by the Council well-stocked bar with speciality local ales and much more. for Learning Outside the Classroom. Highway 61 is a Warwickshire- The latest Ready Reference (RR) has been included based high energy band playing well with this issue of the newsletter. The RR contains contact known rock and blues songs from information for organisations, health, transport, government both sides of the pond. The band and much more. Keep it handy for use throughout the year. describes its performance as “foot stomping stuff” so come along and Madge and Ida Welton boogie down! On Saturday evening, Wood Green School Big Band will open the evening. The band has built an excellent reputation locally and Highway 61 regularly performs at a number of local public events including by invitation from the local council for the Witney Christmas Lights Switch On. Also on Saturday evening, and back by popular demand, singer and guitarist, Alex Chapman returns. We are excited to announce our headline band for Saturday evening, The Della Grants. This four piece band are the latest British band to merge blues, rock and R&B to great effect and have quickly made a name for themselves among industry professionals and fellow musicians alike for their song writing ability and on stage performances. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to see a truly up-and-coming band. Tickets for Saturday night: £8 in advance or £10 on the door. So ditch the apathy, get up off the sofa and get on down to Sisters Madge (82) and Ida Welton (84) visited Finstock Finstock Festival! All profits from the evening will go towards School in June of 1987 to share old photographs and Finstock Village Charities including the Village Hall, Village memories of the school, which they attended and where Shop, The School and other deserving community causes. their mother taught until 1927. (We are grateful to the Witney NOTE: This year we want to start erecting marquees on Gazette reporter John Chipperfield for sharing this picture Wednesday morning June 28th at 9am. If anyone can spare and story.) You may recognise several current and former an hour or a day (!) to help, we will be very grateful. Finstock residents among these children. Rod Ireland 0 . VILLAGE EVENTS 0 .
June Ramsden Fête and ChOC Films 8th General Election Companion Dog Show Sunday June 11th at 7.30pm - 10th Ramsden Fete Saturday June 10th Ramsden Fête and Exhibition on Screen: I, Claude Monet 18th Bridewell Open Garden Companion Dog Show - the West Memorial Hall, Charlbury, doors and 24th Charlbury Beer Festival Oxfordshire fête that everyone loves: bar from 6.45pm. Admission: £5 / July a traditional event with a modern twist U15s £3 1st Summer Fete and Festival – fun for everybody. The food stalls Sunday July 9th at 7.30pm - A 7th Pop-up Folk open from midday, will offer a variety United Kingdom Memorial Hall, 8th Dominoes at the Village Hall of foods to suit all tastes and there will Charlbury, doors and bar from 6.45pm. 16th Forgotten Highways Local be an espresso bar operating out of a Admission: £5 / U15s £3 History vintage Citroen truck. The bar offers 21st Grim’s Ditch Local History Pimms and Prosecco and the tea and Cycling fan news cake service starts at 2pm. Don’t miss Village Hall event details can be The OVO Energy Tour of Britain the gin-tasting this year! found on pages 7 and 8. will pass through the District on the For children there is a small penultimate stage of the Tour visiting fairground, water splash, bouncy the area on Saturday September Ladies, give us castles, coconut shy, try-your- strength 9th. More than 120 cyclists will your support! plus many more games. Games for pass through towns and villages Give all your unwanted old bras a old and young include tug-of-war and including Wootton, Charlbury and the new lease of life and help raise money egg- throwing. If you need a rest, sit Wychwoods before continuing through for breast cancer research. Bring them down and enjoy Maypole Dancers, the Cotswolds, eventually finishing in to Joy Murphy at 63 High Street. Morris Men, local folk groups and a Cheltenham town centre. Against Breast Cancer will receive a brass band. There are craft and charity donation based on the weight of bras stalls galore and a Dog Show – and, we collect, so every bra counts! yes, this is a dog-friendly event. The fête runs from 1-4pm and is Collective nouns: Finstock Local at Wynter’s Close in the middle of A bellowing of bullfinches History Society Ramsden OX7 3AU. Visit the Facebook June 16th Society members page for regular updates. Call 868764 Forgotten Highways This is a report for general enquiries and about stalls. MARK BILLINGE of the work done to uncover the ‘lost’ Visit www.ramsdenvillage.co.uk CHIMNEY SWEEP paths and highways in and around the website for general information. village and a walk to see where they For a clean and efficient service ran. Bridewell Gardens – Open Afternoon Tel.: 01367-243052 July 21st Vaughan Abigail Grim’s The Walled Garden and Vineyard Ditch at Wilcote (OX7 3DT) will be open Situated on the eastern dipslope on Sunday June 18th from 2-5 pm. of the Cotswolds and centred on Admission £3.50, children free. the lower Evenlode valley, Grim’s Refreshments, plants, Bridewell Ditch is a discontinuous prehistoric produce, products and our own earthwork system which measured, organic wine will be for sale. at its maximum, some 28 km in length Bridewell has been chosen by the and partially enclosed an area of West Oxfordshire Business Awards approximately 8000 ha , making it one as the Charity of the Year 2017. The of the most extensive such monuments WOBA judges stated that “Bridewell in England – and it is literally on is a truly inspirational organisation that Finstock’s doorstep! has a profound impact on the people Meetings are at 8pm in the Village that it supports”. Hall, admission £2.50, members free; For further information please yearly subscription rate: single £15, call 864530 or go to w w w. couple £20. bridewellgardens.co.uk.
It is the 150th anniversary of the birth of architect and designer Charlbury Beer Festival Charles Rennie Mackintosh. June 24th noon to 10pm at Cricket Club
2 The Parish Council District Councillors There has been a very worrying resurgence of effluent overflows recently. I would like to thank The PC has pushed Thames Water to rectify the problems. The Dark Lane everyone in Finstock and problem has been addressed but the footpath next to the Plough remains Fawler for the tremendous unfinished to date. Thames Water has a very poor record for customer service support you gave me in the but this seems to be improving a little. The PC will continue to pressurise them County Council election on May 4th. to carry out repairs promptly and efficiently. It is my great privilege to have been The Annual Parish meeting was held on May 22nd. There was a presentation elected as both your District and of the results from the recent Village Survey. If you were unable to attend and County Councillor, and I look forward wish to read the report, please contact June Pratley, the Clerk who can provide to working with you all over the next you with a copy. If after reading this report you have any questions, please few years. It has always been somewhat contact any of the parish councillors. The Survey supports the broad findings frustrating for me that when residents from previous surveys and in headline terms indicates significant satisfaction contact me about an issue that comes amongst a majority of the many benefits and delights in living in Finstock. under the County Council, such as Hywel Davies for the Parish Council anything to do with roads, I have had to pass it on to another Councillor for Our MP reports resolution. Now I am able to take up these matters myself, so please feel much more we can do together to free to get in touch if there is anything make West Oxfordshire better for that you think I can help with. everyone. Liz Leffman 01608-810153 Since October, I have been [email protected] campaigning on all aspects of my Now that I sit on the environment plan, both locally and in Parliament. committee I look forward to taking Education, healthcare, businesses, on issues such as household waste transport, broadband and housing collection, recycling and the recycling development have dominated my centre issue with my colleague Liz postbag and my diary. I look forward Leffman. As you will know, there will be to being given the chance to continue Although I am no longer a member a General Election on June 8th. I with this work after the General of the planning committee, I will attend wholeheartedly back this decision. Election, should you re-elect me as meetings when I can. This will leave me This is a crucial time in our history and your Member of Parliament. freer to discuss planning applications we need a Prime Minister who has the It has been an honour to serve you with residents. backing of the country. all and I hope very much to be able to I look forward to hearing from I understand that, particularly in build on the start I have already made. you should there be an issue you West Oxfordshire, we have had a lot There is much more to achieve and I wish to raise. I remain as always your of elections recently. Many of you am looking forward to setting out my representative. might feel that this is an all too familiar vision for our constituency over the Andy Graham process. However, we do need a next five years. General Election now to ensure the Over the course of the campaign elected Prime Minister will reflect the period, I want to reassure constituents wishes of the electorate. that I stand ready to offer any help I am standing as a hard-working I can with urgent casework issues local constituency MP, continuing as the Conservative Parliamentary to ensure that West Oxfordshire Candidate; politics should not take has influence and a strong voice in precedence over this essential duty. Parliament. I am excited to have the As I will be based here in Witney, opportunity to continue to speak please contact me at robert@ up for West Oxfordshire, and work robertcourts.co.uk or at 702302. tirelessly on your behalf. There is so
Cycling UK has hundreds of Member Groups across the UK offering A tree surgery company with thousands of rides and events for all abilities. Every Cycling UK member the integrity you can trust. can ride with any Member Group and non-members are always welcome Tel: 0845 458 2980 to try out riding with a Cycling UK group. Mobile: 07976 261850 www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups. Email: [email protected] www.townandcountrytrees.co.uk
3 The Editorial Committee Thames Valley Police www.thamesvalley.police.uk Sean Connolly 868561 Proofing Thames Valley Police have a new website, which is collaboration between Nicky Higgins 868425 Proofing Thames Valley Police and Hampshire Constabulary, working with the Police Tony Hirtenstein 868600 Proofing ICT Company and the Digital Policing Programme. The design and operation Joy Murphy 868575 editor will be a national solution which is expected to be available to all police forces [email protected] in the coming years. Ann Sullivan 868597 Advertising Thames Valley Police Alerts: Communities defeat terrorism Barbara Wells 868776 Distribution If you see or hear something that could be terrorist related, act on your instincts Photographs thanks to staff members and others. and call the police, in confidence, on 0800 789 321or visit gov.uk/ACT. Read the Finstock News online at www.finstock. org.uk; join the Finstock Yahoo group – groups. Phishing emails alert yahoo.com/group/finstock; or write to us at 63 High Street, Finstock Oxon OX7 3DA. Thames Valley Alerts has advised that fraudsters are sending out a high volume of phishing emails to personal and business email addresses, pretending Plan ahead – Know the deadlines to come from various email addresses, which have been compromised. Delete Issue Deadline these emails without opening the attachment them as they contain a Trojan! Feb/Mar First of January Having up-to-date virus protection is essential; however it will not always April/May First of March prevent your device(s) from becoming infected. Please consider the following June/July First of May actions: August/September First of July • Don’t click on links or open any attachments you receive in unsolicited October/November First of September December/January First of November emails or SMS messages: Remember that fraudsters can ‘spoof’ an email address to make it look like one used by someone you trust. If Please keep articles short. As space is limited, the Editors reserve the right to shorten long pieces in the you are unsure, check the email header to identify the true source of interest of balance. Finstock News does not necessarily communication (you can find out how by searching the internet for relevant share the views expressed in readers’ letters. advice for your email provider). • Do not enable macros in downloads; enabling macros will allow Trojan Letters to the Editor: malware to be installed onto your device. • Always install software updates as soon as they become available. Whether Farewell Rodney Rose you are updating the operating system or an application, the update will Thank you to everyone who often include fixes for critical security vulnerabilities. has supported me for the last 20 • Create regular backups of your important files to an external hard drive, years while I served as your County memory stick or online storage provider. It is important that the device you Councillor. During that time I have back up to is not connected to your computer as any malware infection secured funding for various projects could spread to that as well. in Finstock as well as working for the • If you think your bank details have been compromised, you should contact benefit of our county in general. It your bank immediately. has been my pleasure to serve this If you have been affected by this or any other fraud, report it to Action Fraud community. by calling 0300 123 2040, or visit www.actionfraud.police.uk. I am very sad to be stepping down at this critical time in our country’s history. CroCkford Builders Rodney Rose 35 School Rd, Finstock, County Councillor Oxon OX7 3DN EST 1973 Green Field Banks New builds, Extensions, Once again, as summer approaches, Renovations, City & Guilds Qualiied Groomer would everyone please keep to the ts. Services include: Dry or mortar stone walling, two footpaths that just go along two A member of Collection & drop-off facility Groundwork, Hard landscaping, sides of the field. Also, you MUST Hydrotherapy bathing Full groom & styling pick up your doggie poo, as this is Removal of knots & tangles Natural stone slate specialists, very detrimental to the hay, and is Hand stripping Grooming for show on selected breeds Re-roofing, especially dangerous to sheep if they Nail trimming General Maintenance. eat the contaminated hay. Tel: 01993 868118 Mobile: 0796 8733412 Many thanks for your co-operation, Email: [email protected] All building work undertaken Viv Wightman. Website: www.wychwoodgrooming.co.uk. Domestic & Commercial
Open Monday - Saturday by Wendy Heather apointment only. Rock Glen, The Bungalow Call William on Please contact us to book Leaaeld Road, Finstock an appointment. Oxfordshire, OX7 3DB 01993 868617 OR 07817248329
4 SMALL ADS (All numbers start with 01993 unless otherwise stated) Use the Village Hall for your next event. Contact villagehallfinstock@ Hairdressing in your home PJR - Gas Safe registered heating, gmail.com or 868020. Thirty-plus years’ experience Gas and plumbing engineer. Line ads are charged at Women, men or children – Installation, service and repairs. 20p per word, payment in The whole family. Reasonable rates. Mobile: 07515 733398; advance. Please contact: Contact: Alison Pritchard, Tel: 881069; Ann Sullivan on 868597. Tel: 01608-810533 Email: [email protected]
An Excess of Excise Witney Gazette Public Boost Care Skills Excise Duty is a tax levied on goods Notices online NHS England is offering online up-front, before they can be offered You can sign-up for alerts to be training to anyone providing care and for sale. sent to your inbox or read notices support for people living with a learning Beneath the surface jollity of online. Options cover: probate and disability, autism or both. You can newspaper articles about the latest legal notices; local authority public learn at your own pace, join an online prosecco craze, there is a tangible notices; planned roadworks; licensing community, ask questions and take part streak of official disapproval about applications; and, planning notices. in discussions. tinyurl.com/gsr35cs wine consumption in this country, as www.witneygazette.co.uk/ if the health police are convinced that announcements/public_notices it is something we should all feel guilty about. It certainly makes it easier for West Oxon them to raise taxes on it. A warm welcome to UK duty on wine went up by 8p summer from Finstock Handyman & Home a bottle in the March Budget. Sounds Baby and Toddler Group! Improvement Services fairly harmless, doesn’t it? ‘In line with We have been having fun with inflation’ was the official description. some springtime activities, Easter Electrical / Plumbing / Flooring / But a line has been crossed. Including themed crafts and we enjoyed our Decorating / Tiling / Woodwork VAT, the first £3 of any bottle in the UK Easter Party in April! There were all Flat pack furniture / Bathroom & is now tax. This is totally unjustifiable. the usual yummy treats to finish off the kitchen installation In 15 European countries, including term in style. We are also pleased to France and Germany, duty is less than report that we had a successful Comic Quality finish Fully insured 4p a bottle. In Spain, Portugal and Italy Relief Cake Sale in March raising £75 No job too small All jobs considered for the cause! Thank you to all those the rate is zero. For a free quote call 01993- who baked and brought along cakes Duty on sparkling wine in the UK, 868725 or 07717-878323 you will not be surprised to hear, costs for the sale and for all the generous Email: [email protected] even more. Her Majesty’s Government donations we received on the day. is hardly helping the English wine We have been getting ready for industry. It is actually cheaper to buy summer and making the most of our English sparkling wine in France than time at the group before we break up it is in the UK. for the holidays! We are planning a big end of year party at the hall - look What this means is that for the vast out for more updates on Facebook! majority of UK consumers the amount We meet from 10am every paid in tax is greater than the value of Wednesday morning (term-time) and the liquid in the bottle. have plenty on offer for all that come I have a friend who is fond of a glass, along - toys and activities for babies who once described the taxes on wine and toddlers and a snack to keep them as a necessary levy that we pay to live going, plus cake, hot drinks and chat here. He has now changed his mind, for the adults! but talk like this just encourages the If you haven’t tried us out yet, come health police. along for a free first session! You can Dr. Johnson was absolutely right keep up-to-date with what we are doing about Excise Duty: “A hateful tax levied on Facebook, or our weekly emails – upon commodities and adjudged not contact us on finstocktoddlergroup@ by the common judges of property, gmail.com and we can add you to the but wretches hired by those to whom list. We look forward to seeing you excise is paid.” there. Osiris Helen Fallows
5 Countryside Conservation It is part of human nature to think wise things and do ridiculous ones. Anatole France
Wychwood Exhibition wins Don’t be a Litter Bug National Lottery funding As you go from here to there, do We are delighted to announce demonstration days on Saturday July you see the plastic bags, the coffee we have been successful in our 8th, Saturday July 29th and Saturday cups? There is a huge cost associated Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant August 19th. Entry to the museum is with clearing rubbish. Keep Britain application to take the Wychwood free and there is much more to see, Tidy estimates that cost to taxpayers Project Living Forest Exhibition to with eleven galleries displaying art, is almost £1 billion a year in England. Oxfordshire Museum, Woodstock. It archaeology, local and natural history; We have seen the pictures in the explains the origins of the Forest as you can also enjoy the changing media of massive amounts of rubbish a hunting ground for Norman royalty landscape of the walled garden, the dumped illegally in both cities and and illustrates the way of life of local dinosaur garden with Jurassic planting, the countryside. The pictures are a people over the centuries, whether and visit the Garden Café. shocking indictment of the ignorance shepherds, woodsmen or gloveresses. Many thanks to HLF for supporting with which people dump their rubbish It also covers the dramatic change to us! without regard to the environment or West Oxfordshire in the 1850s when The Wychwood Project works the taxpayer who is charged for their much of the forest was enclosed, trees within the area that was once the collection and proper disposal. They were felled and the land was turned Royal Hunting Forest of Wychwood. are as shocking as the headline which over to farming. The forest ruled our At Domesday in 1086, the royal forest read, “Floating plastic in the arctic”! region for over 800 years influencing of Wychwood covered much of what Many years ago in a Finstock News our landscape, buildings, industries is now West Oxfordshire. Today, the article written by local lad Greg Briner, and way of life and much of that project covers 41 parishes and 120 the Pacific Gyre was mentioned; this is history is still tangible today. square miles of the former forest. Visit: marine debris particles in the central The exhibition will run from June www.wychwoodproject.org for more North Pacific Ocean. Now we know 10th until September, with rural craft information. that the Atlantic has its own rubbish gyre. Researchers estimated that about 300 billion pieces of tiny plastic are suspended in Arctic waters to the detriment of marine life, including the fish we consume. Scientists have also discovered pollution 10,000 meters below the ocean’s surface in the Mariana Trench. Now more than ever we need to remember that we only have this one planet to live on. Don’t be a litter bug Woodstock Dental Practice and throw your rubbish out of the Painting, Decorating car window, off the side of your boat or drop it on the street. Don’t pay Mr Michael Habisreutinger Miss Fiona Murphy Curtain & Blind fitting someone to take away your waste Dr Alison Lockyer without knowing they are licenced Local & Reliable Tradesman to dispose of it legally. You are
House & Home Services responsible for your own rubbish. Situated adjacent to Woodstock town Remember that Plastic costs the car park INTERIOR DECORATING HOME Earth. Long-established dental practice MAINTENANCE & REPAIRS State-of-the-art modern cosmetic dentistry PERIOD PROPERTY EXPERIENCE Flexible payment options FULLY INSURED Crowns, veneers, bridges and dentures Email: [email protected] Implants Tooth straightening and whitening Richard Buck DO NOT REGRET Elbie House, East End GROWING OLD, 17 Union Street, Woodstock, Oxon OX20 1JF Tel: 01993 880166 01993 812617 Mob: 07791 046583 IT IS A PRIVILEGE www.woodstock-dental.co.uk DENIED TO MANY. [email protected]
6 Village Hall Events Pop-up Folk is putting on a Village Hall update: fundraising concert in aid of Frank In February we registered as an employer with HMRC and welcomed our Wise School, performed by The Delly first paid employee as caretaker to assist in managing all aspects of the Village Welly Boot Band! Friday July 7th, Hall. Applications have been made for five grants to finance the storage Finstock Village Hall, OX7 3BU, doors extension to the hall. We need to raise about £8,000 from these sources. open 7.15, performance starts 7.45. We would also like to thank Finstock Community Projects for their grant Tickets on the door (not available in that has enabled us to gravel the lane in Well Hill outside the Village Hall. advance) £8 (£5 children age 16 and The limestone scalping surface was sticky when wet and dusty when dry, under). Bar available beforehand and which created a mess in the hall. It is now much better. In April several during the interval. volunteers undertook an annual maintenance day to keep the hall in top The Delly Welly Boot Band is condition with painting, carpet and chair cleaning, and many other tasks Susanna Starling (voice and bass), performed. Just one future date for the diary: The Finstock Ale will be Nick Hooper (guitar and vocals), and held on the weekend of September 8th – 10th at Finstock Village Hall. Full Judith Hooper (fiddle and vocals). details will be in the next FN issue. Anyone wishing to sponsor a cask of The evening will also include solos beer or cider please contact [email protected]. Shaun Morley performed by Susanna and her bass, guitar solos by Nick, and duo tunes Finstock Table Tennis Club performed by Henderson: Hooper We are very lucky with the modern facilities we have at the Village Hall and (Nick and Judith). All proceeds will along with many other clubs the Finstock table tennis club has just celebrated go to Frank Wise School - a beautiful its 1st birthday which was great fun. Beverley Morley very kindly baked two special school in Banbury which is delicious cakes for Juniors and Seniors to share - thanks Bev! very close to Nick and Judith’s hearts. Also we had a bit of fun before Easter with the Juniors searching for Easter Please put this date in your diary eggs - it’s surprising what a bit of extra motivation can achieve. if you can – we would love to raise We are now looking forward to our second year and hope the club continues lots of money for Frank Wise School to serve the local community with a fun and healthy activity. from this event, and would love to Junior and senior sessions always welcome new (or old/new) members so if see you there. you haven’t yet been and fancy giving it a try please come along for either Juniors or Seniors or if you have any questions please either turn up on a Tuesday or contact me: [email protected]. Dominoes Venue - Finstock Village Hall Saturday July 8th and 6.30pm - 8pm - Juniors meeting every Tuesday during term-time. Saturday August 12th 8.00pm - 10pm - Seniors meeting every Tuesday during term-time and school Come along for a friendly shuffle at holidays unless notified otherwise. Finstock Village Hall. Pairs selected Brake the Cycle at random on the night. Great fun in In more bike-related news, have you heard of Brake the Cycle? This is an a relaxed atmosphere, all welcome. adventure for the summer! An opportunity to cycle through Europe staying at Bar. Open at 7.30pm; pairs drawn eco villages, permaculture farms and sustainability projects. Find out more soon after. and join the adventure into sustainable living! www.brakethecycle.xyz/ (The Key – Oxfordshire’s Sustainability Newsletter) The Oxfordshire Museum www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/museums FREE PELLMANS WIFI Your Local Solicitors Through 18 June 18th Unmaking the Modern • Business and Employment Law Works by painter-printmaker Stanley Contracts, Legal Compliance and Anderson RA (1884-1966). A key Disputes exponent of the revival of line engraving Our Bar is open: • Property in Britain. Buying and Selling Homes, Mon: 6pm – close Commercial and Agricultural June 24th – September 17th Heroes Tues – Fri: 12 noon – 3pm & 6pm – close Playroom. Sat: 12 noon – close • Wills, Probate and Trusts Sun: 12 noon – 6.00pm Tax Planning and Lasting Powers Explore our Viking encampment of Attorney area. Our kitchen is open: Museum Late Nights Tues – Sun Lunch: 12 noon – 2.00pm 01865 884400 On the first Thursday of June, July, Dinner: 6.30pm – 9.00pm www.pellmans.co.uk August & September The Oxfordshire Come and visit us, we’d love to see you. Museum and The Soldiers of Oxfordshire The Plough Inn 1 Abbey Street, Eynsham, Witney, Museum will be open until 8pm. High Street, Finstock OX7 3BY OX29 4TB Saturday June 24th Woodstock Tel: 01993 868333 Home visits and evening appointments www.theplough-inn.co.uk Carnival available
7 Plough_ad_90x60mm_Details_2015.indd 1 29/10/2015 15:47 Finstock Craft Club TVSA - Village Shop cash from your bank account and buy It’s hard to believe that the Craft and Post Office foreign currency. There will be several Club has been running for one year Summer time! (I hope). Our Swirl Special Stamps issued in June and July, already and it must be said that much ice-cream machine will be in use again including Windmills and Watermills of its success is down to the completion to provide your favourite flavours. Of and Landmark Buildings. and delivery of the fantastic Village course we have lollies and other ice- We look forward to seeing you! Hall in April last year. Thanks again creams in the freezer as well, so come to all those who contributed to what in and treat yourself and your family. Shop opening hours has become a great place to be and We also have our coffee/tea/ Weekdays 8am - 5:30pm to enjoy. chocolate machine if your tastes tend Saturday 8:30am - 1pm At a recent newly formed Craft Club more towards warmth and caffeine. Committee meeting, we got together All our usual tasty goodies will be Closed Sunday to plan events and discuss the way available, like fresh bread, scones and Shop Tel: 869096 forward. One such event is the annual cakes, jams and honey, ham, bacon, Finstock Music Festival, (being held, Post Office opening hours sausages, cheese and free range eggs, Weekdays 9am - 1pm I should add, prior to publication of a good proportion of which are locally this newsletter) and the possibility of produced. 2066-BMad-Host5 60x93 ptrt A&J bw.qxp_Layout 1 05 us participating, following the success We also have a good selection Karen Williams of the “dream catchers” we made with of chilled and frozen food, general the children last year. Kath Lucas is groceries and confectionery. We’ve got just visiting the Craft Club to demonstrate Don’t forget you can buy newspapers, the thing to her ideas for this year’s event, one magazines and stationery here, too. of which is ‘stone painting’. We will make you feel better. The 100 Club draw still produces report on this in the next edition of winners every month. If you haven’t the newsletter. joined yet or you would like an A date was decided on in early June, additional number, ask Karen how to to start planning this year’s Finstock go about it. Arts & Crafts Fayre and how we can If you would like to volunteer in make it a bigger and better event than the Shop, particularly on a Saturday in previous years. I know it’s rather morning, when we are very short of early but perhaps you could pencil Why not look after someone’s dog help, Karen would love to talk to you in your diaries, Saturday November while they’re away? about that as well. 11th Finstock Arts and Crafts Fayre. Become a host with Barking Mad In addition to the above, we plan Thank you so much for your continued generosity to the Food It’s great fun, all of the benefits of dog to invite demonstrators to the club ownership without the emotional or Bank, which remains a vital support financial commitment. We carefully to enable us to expand our crafting match dogs to your home. knowledge. We also hope to visit a for many people. Jeannie & Amanda crafting event at the NEC later in the Your local Post Office is open on T: 01865 922004 M: 07985 766868 year. weekday mornings for you to post your E: [email protected] BarkingMad.uk.com Our weekly Monday sessions letters and parcels, pay your bills, get continue in the Village Hall from 7:30 - 9:30pm (excluding Bank Holidays). Perhaps you could add it to that list of new projects you plan to try in 2017? The first session is free and the weekly fee remains the same at £1.50. We look Hotel forward to welcoming you! We’ve made a few changes, come and see. Always open. For further information you can The Brasserie contact me, Rosa Charlesworth, We poached the head chef from The Randolph in Oxford, either by phone, 869283 or email at come and try his food. Open from 7.00pm – 9.30pm [email protected]. The Gun Room Bar We transformed ours into a relaxing bar for everyone, come for light meals and snacks Open from 12.00pm – 9.30 pm Della Grants play Finstock Festival Leisure Club Swimming pool, gym and fitness classes. Join ‘The Club’ not a Gym. Open daily
www.eynshamhall.com | [email protected] 01993 885200 North Leigh, Witney, Oxfordshire OX29 6PN
8 Finstock Girlguiding Rainbows - for girls aged between 5 and 7 years. This group meets from NICOLA MORGAN DC MMCA 4.45pm until 5.45pm. Registered Chiropractor – During this term we will be doing various challenges and activities to celebrate McTimoney Technique the Rainbows' 30th Birthday with the theme being “Under the sea”. Kimber Cottage, Holly Tree Cottages, We have had an influx of new members but will always have spaces for any Woodstock Rd, Earls Lane, new members wanting to join. Charlbury OX7 3ET Deddington OX15 0TQ Brownies - this group is for girls aged between 7 and 10 years and meets from Tel: 07968-381335 6pm until 7. 30 p m. I have almost 30 years’ experience This term we are covering the three main emergency services - Fire, Police and in this gentle, effective manipulative Ambulance and whilst doing this the girls will be achieving their Fire Safety Badge, therapy, which is suitable for many Crime Prevention badge and First Aid and hopefully First Aid Advanced badges. conditions and ages. I offer very After all this hard work we will then be taking the girls climbing again for the flexible appointment times in two locations. end of term. Contact for Rainbows is Amy Fox - 07495 064634 (or Caroline, details as See www.chippingnortonchiropractor.co.uk below) Contact for Brownies is Caroline Booth - [email protected] or Provider for BUPA, PPP, WPA and all 07890 629001 major health insurance companies Member of the General Council & Register Girl Guides for Chiropractors and the McTimoney Girls moving up from Brownies to Guides mean that we now have 14 Girl Chiropractic Association. Guides. We welcome our new Guides and hope that they enjoy their time with us as much as they have enjoyed the Brownies. The Guides have been busy learning all about traditions in other countries earning them badges in World Culture and Traveller. They have also been swimming followed by a McDonald’s supper, which was thoroughly enjoyed Andrew A. Adams by all! FCCA On a personal note, I have had to have time away for a while and would like to thank our Finstock leaders for pitching in to make sure our Guide unit Chartered Certified did not miss a session. We are very blessed in Finstock to have such wonderful leaders that all support each other. This support not only ensures the constant Accountant running of the units but also the well-being and happiness of all our girls. Karen Williams Quality personal service for your Accounting, Taxation and Walking choices Business needs The Trust for Oxfordshire’s peaceful water meadows, unspoilt Environment (TOE2) is Oxfordshire’s rural villages, historical towns and Competitive fees agreed in advance independent environmental funder, cities, and finally through the heart of Free initial meeting supporting projects which improve London to end at the Thames Barrier Telephone: 07790 854574 biodiversity, access to green spaces in Greenwich. and the Low Carbon Agenda, for Brakspear Pub Trails – www.pub- 01993 891280 the benefit of local communities. trails.co.uk A nice pub connection. [email protected] TOE2 works to support better access Oxford Bike Week June 10th – 18th to green spaces in Oxfordshire’s Oxford Bike Week 2017 will take countryside and urban areas, with place June 10th-18th and, as part grants to support a wide range of of Bike Week (UK), is an annual improvements. Do contact us for more opportunity to promote cycling, information about how we may be and show how cycling can easily be Kings able to support environmental projects part of everyday life by encouraging Cleaning Services in your area. Earth Trust Centre, ‘everyday cycling for everyone’. And Property Maintenance Little Wittenham, 01865 407003, Demonstrating the social, health and www.trustforoxfordshire.org.uk. environmental benefits of cycling, the Cleaning - Windows - Gutters National Trails - www.nationaltrail. week aims to get people to give cycling Fascia’s - UPVC - Office cleaning co.uk The best trails in England and a go all over the UK, whether this be Conservatories, inc. Roofs Wales for fun, as a means of getting around Oxfordshire Way - w w w. to work or school, the local shops or Installation & Repairs to oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/content/ just to visit friends. There will be lots Windows - Fascia’s - Gutters New Conservatories oxfordshire-way Downloadable maps of fun cycling events all over Oxford Carpentry - De-mossing Roofs and directions for this 65 mile walk between 10 and 18 June (and a few Plus wide range general repairs from the Cotswolds to the Chilterns. either side of these dates!) Keep an eye Thames Path National Trail – www. on the website (www.oxfordbikeweek. Fully Insured nationaltrail.co.uk/thames-path Follow co.uk) for more details, or follow them the greatest river in England for 184 on Twitter (@oxfordbikeweek). (The Ring 01993 882727 miles from its source in the Cotswold Key – Oxfordshire’s Sustainability or 07974 991269 hills to the sea. Passing through Newsletter)
9 Super Walks from Finstock on Dedicated Footpaths
We are very lucky to have so many least 10ft tall with huge flower heads garden, which we used to explore super walks from Finstock, and there and simply spectacular. They should not around, trying to find a way in! To them are so many variants to each walk be destroyed, but just beware and don’t and me it was The Secret Garden, from depending on the time you have at touch them, as the sap can cause severe that classic children’s book, but had your disposal. skin burns – just admire them, as I do. originally been the vegetable garden to Lady Well and Holly Grove - It is Some are twice my height these days! Wilcote House. It was set that far from easier to write about these two fantastic From here you have a choice – to the House so that the gardeners, their walks at the same time. Holly Grove or Bridewell Farm! Turn horses and carts and all the noises and The walk begins, and with good right and follow the farm track right smells did not disturb the occupants timing ends at The Plough! Walk up round that side of the field up to the of the house. (I don’t know what the onto the field behind the pub and take top of the woods and you will see on occupants of Wilcote Manor thought the left hand path across the ploughed your right a gate into Holly Grove. At though!) Again, this walk will probably field, through The Longcut (which is the time of writing, these woods are a take about an hour and a half. the old boundary between Chipping mass of bluebells, absolutely stunning, Of course, from this same walk you Norton and Witney) down the next but whatever time of the year, they are can get to North Leigh or New Yatt, by field (crossing Akeman Street) to the fantastic. During the First World War following other footpaths that branch ‘footpath crossroads’. Take the left much of the wood was felled for fuel, off. hand path up to Wilcote, turning onto but you would not be aware of that, If you haven’t been to Holly Grove, the path through the little wood by and the birdsong is incredible. Follow do give it a go, it is well worth it! the barns. If you look in by the barns the path through the woods looking Viv Wightman you will see the blackened remains of at the amazing display of wild flowers, a massive oak tree. It was struck by but of course, remember, you mustn’t The ‘ACTIVE 10’ app a thunderbolt, bang in the centre, in pick any, then you come to the Wilcote/ last August’s storm. It knocked all the Hailey road again. Turn left then right Public Health England wants you to huge branches to the ground, then over the style and you look right up the take a regular 10 minute brisk walk to slowly burned for about three weeks, field, past the ‘footpath crossroads’ to make you feel better. It can boost your right down inside the the Longcut and back across the field to energy, clear your head and lift your trunk. It was over The Plough! This walk could take one mood and help people with lower back 500 years old, and and half hours or longer if you wander! pain and those at risk of high blood the line of Akeman pressure. Street could be seen It’s also good for your long-term from that oak, so it health reducing your risk of serious is well worth a quick illnesses like heart disease and Type 2 peep! diabetes. Download the Active 10 app Back to the path, and go straight to show how much brisk walking you’re across the Wilcote/Hailey road to doing click here: tinyurl.com/lvz49qz Wilcote pond, which has just been given a complete overhaul and looks Of course, you can reverse this and fabulous! Go past the white dovecot go straight to Holly Grove, but then you Enjoy thE finEst and follow the path round to the left, do not have the super walk down into between hedges, go through gates and the fantastic views! winE bEEr & food walk down into fabulous views of sheep Now, back to where you turned A tradition of warm hospitality with their lambs at this time of year. right! If you walk straight on from the since the 17th century. Then you walk down the avenue of gate, across that field and the next, then very ancient pollarded ash trees, about follow the path round to the left, where oyAL 350 years old, to Lady Well, an ancient you will see Bridewell Farmhouse, r o
Holy Well or Sacred Spring (sadly not a handsome building from 1761, go E A
very well looked after now, but you can round the farm buildings, ignoring the K h still see the steps down to the well). If track on your right, and then, after a t you follow the trail from the Well, you short distance, the path crosses two can see where the spring comes out of fields diagonally, and comes out on rAMsdEn the ground and then runs into a small, the Wilcote/North Leigh road. You Mon - Fri: 11.30-3.00pm, 6.30-11.00pm old, man-made trough for animals. then have to walk on the road back to Sat: 11.30pm Sun: 12.00-10.30pm Carry on through the narrow belt of Finstock, but you will pass Bridewell trees, etc. where there is a stream, and Organic Garden. Tel: 01993 868213 where – later – you will see genuine When my boys were small, it was a [email protected] Giant Hogweed. They are massive, at completely walled, unused, overgrown www.royaloakramsden.com
10 Friends of Finstock School (FoFS) Woodstock’s Thank you to all the ladies of Finstock holding our School Summer Fête as outdoor pool is open for coming out in March to join us for part of the Finstock Festival weekend. The Woodstock outdoor heated some well- deserved pampering and Please come along and join in the swimming pool with a 25 metre main retail therapy! It was a great evening fun whilst raising important funds for pool and a depth of 3.5 metres, it is raising £312.30! Thank you very much our community and specifically our ideal for diving enthusiasts and there to all who helped with baking and on school. There will be stalls, games and is a separate paddling pool for younger the night, and to Tammy Judd who demonstrations, refreshments, BBQ, children. The pool is available for private organised the whole event on behalf Bouncy Castle and Maypole, all running hire and swimming lessons and will be of FoFS. alongside The Great Finstock Bake Off open until September. Almost 11,000 and The Fun Dog Show. If you are able As usual, the year is fast flying by people used the facility last year. to offer any help on the day or in the and we have only two more events Family and season tickets are available set up to the Fête/Festival weekend planned in our diary for the rest of the from local Better Leisure Centres. For please let us know – such events are school year. Our final event will be more information call Woodstock Open rather labour intensive so your help in our School Social Evening where all Air Pool on 811785. running a stall, the bar or the BBQ for staff and families are invited to come The Lido at Chipping Norton is a while would be a massive help. The together for an evening of BBQ, music, a community-run facility. For more other huge way to support us is to come games and relaxation to mark the end information see www.chippylido.co.uk along on the day for some fun in the of the school year. or call 01608 643188. sunshine – we hope to see you there! Before then, however, on the Rachel Mackenzie (FoFS Chairperson) afternoon of Saturday July 1st, we are [email protected]
Finstock School As the summer approaches, we move on to larger schools and the next are beginning to see a little bit more challenges in their professional journey. sunshine, and the school grounds are So, although it is with great sadness that becoming more colourful. The Summer I have to inform you that both I and Mrs Term is always an exciting and busy Montgomery (Year 5/6) will be moving time at school, as alongside our normal on at the end of this term, we should learning we start planning ahead for also be proud that we provide such a Fetes, Festivals, Sports Day and our end good environment for ALL members of year celebrations. of the school community to grow. Mrs This year we are also fitting in a ‘One Montgomery and I are very sad to be World Week’ during the final week of leaving, but will be making the most of May, where we have arranged a range every last minute at Finstock School! of activities from around the world - On a happier including a Science Dome which gives note, I would like a 360° experience of how Earth fits to congratulate into the universe and beyond, African Sam Nicholls for drumming, Indian storytelling, a visit his success in the from a range of exotic animals and food Road Safety tasting. This provides an exciting and Competition run active way for children to learn about b y W e s t the diversity of the natural and human Oxfordshire world around us. District Council and The Rotary Club. We are going Although we are a small school in He was awarded his prize of a new bike a small rural community, we take our during a special assembly in March. from strength to responsibility of preparing children for Well done, Sam. strength the ‘global society’ in which they will School Dates: live very seriously, and this is reflected Brand new classes and a great new timetable Term Monday June 4th - there is no requirement to commit in our school core Christian values of Friday July 21st. to a long term contract ‘Challenge, Respect, Inspiration and We are open as follows:– Belief’. We get a lot of feedback from Note: Finstock Church of England • 6.30am to 9.30pm, during the week and the Secondary Schools which indicate Primary School became the first school • 7.30am to 7.30pm at the weekend. that pupils do, indeed, leave Finstock in the county to be accredited by School ready for the next stage of their the Council for Learning Outside the full membership is available education and in fact do very well! Classroom. Finstock received a bronze from just £31 per month! mark in recognition of the benefits of (figure based on full dual membership) This is the same for the staff of providing frequent, continuous and Finstock School. It is a great place for For more details email progressive experiences for all pupils in [email protected] them to learn and develop, and to part by weekly Forest School sessions. or call 01993 885 207 gather the skills that enable them to WWW.eynshamhall.com 11 Glorious summer borders and are hungry feeders. This means No summer border in my opinion is adding plenty of grit on heavy soils to complete, without a backdrop of fabulous blue help with soil drainage, delphiniums and pure white delphiniums. Delphiniums sitting in wet soil in their dormant winter received their name from the ancient Greeks, season can die. They love plenty of who thought the shape of the flower bud organic matter added to their planting with its spur, resembled that of a dolphin. holes when they first go in, then regular In England in Tudor times some of the feeding throughout their growing species grown were referred to as "larkspur" season. I use a slow release fertilizer apparently because the nectary resembles a such as Q4 or a scattering of blood fish lark’s claw. and bone, a couple of times in summer The modern delphinium is the result of and repeating it once in autumn before hybridization of delphinium species from the plants die down. many widely varied parts of the world. A border of delphiniums with phlox Unknown enthusiasts crossed many species and peonies in front gives a long lasting including, probably, D. elatum from the Swiss colourful display for many years. Alps, D. cheilanthum (dark blue) from Siberia, Happy gardening, Robert Bigwood D. bruninianum from the Himalayas (purple, hooded) and D. formosum from Armenia. From these crosses and probably many others the modern delphinium elatum type was produced. Relieve stress The major highlight of the Bristol flower show for me as a teenager was the and anxiety floral display of Blackmore and Langdon. They bred strong named perennial New research led by The University varieties, with large spikes of flowers. My choice of the magnificent blues is 'Molly of Exeter, in collaboration with the Buchanan' with its black bee centre followed by ‘Cristella’; a softer blue is 'Loch British Trust for Ornithology has found Leven' and the gentian blue of 'Fenella'. For a that watching birds near your home rich purple blue, I grow Amadeus. If you like could be good for mental health. People white delphiniums, try 'Jill Curley', or 'Olive living in neighbourhoods where there Poppleton' with its brown eye. These are very were more birds about in the afternoon, hardy varieties and resist the coldest winters, as opposed to early mornings, reported but beware of the small black slugs which can lower levels of stress, anxiety and devour the new shoots as they are emerging depression. tinyurl.com/l2hnmec in early spring. The yellows and pink colours are not such strong growers. Top Bird In America, breeders concentrate on seed Blackbirds topped the tables in 2016 lines such as the pacific giants rather than the named varieties, as it is more difficult to grow as the most frequently seen bird in delphiniums as perennials, due to the climatic gardens! They were seen in over 90% conditions in many parts of America. of gardens on average throughout the Delphinium plants love well-drained soil, year. Many species, such as Long- tailed Tit and Wren, were seen in higher numbers compared to 2015. However, not all birds fared so well, HILLTOP GARDEN STORE and Greenfinch counts were lower
Become a than ever, dropping below an average Seasons SOFT PLAY BARN Reward PLANTS Card member and get 10% off one per garden for the first time from o Play for up to tw Extensive range plants, seeds and bulbs every hours from just £3 of quality plants, Tuesday and Thursday, earn October 2016. This species has been Our Pizza points, receive seasonal vouchers per child* gardening products and benefit from exclusive offers Café serves homemade, and pots. throughout the year! JOIN FOR in severe decline, as a result of the cooked to order pizzas, FREE IN-STORE! snacks and drinks - hot, disease outbreak charted by Garden cold and shaken! Restaurant BirdWatchers from 2005 onward. *For Seasons Reward Card members. Join for FREE in-store. Relax in our restaurant famous with locals for tasty breakfasts, lunches & home baking. We're currently partners of the Garden SHOP INSPIRATIONAL Wildlife Health project, which aims HOME AND GIFT IDEAS Enjoy your Outdoor Living! ONLINE 24/7 Great for every We have everything you need to make the most of your occasion! outdoor space this Summer. Our BEST ever Garden to monitor and investigate emerging gardenstoreonline.co.uk online or instore Furniture selection is available in a range of styles, shapes and sizes from Bistro tables for two, to sets for the whole threats to wildlife health. family to gather round all offering quality and comfort. Pop along and take a look! Join the British Trust for Ornithology. Hilltop YOU’LL FIND US (On the B4022, between Charlbury and Witney) ON Volunteer surveyors, members and THE WITNEY Witney Road, Ramsden, Oxon. OX7 3AS ROAD BETWEEN CHARLBUR staff work in partnership to provide OPENING TIMES WITNEY Y & Mon - Sat 9am - 5.30pm Tel: 01993 868403 . unbiased information about birds and Sun 10am - 5pm* Open 9am-5.30pm Mon-Sat 10.30am-4.30pm Sun Please note, the café and soft play barn will be open from the start of the day and stop serving 30 minutes before the garden centre closes. *Includes browsing and shopping up time. their habitats. Join or volunteer today and make birds count. www.bto.org
12