Of the village, by the village, for the village August/September 2013
FinstockServing Finstock, Fawler, Wilcote, Mt.SkippettNews and Finstock Heath 81
Events: FFF; Forest Fair ; WOOF ����������������� 2 School; FoFS; Chipping Norton panto...... 8 Village Hall; First Responders ��������������������� 3 District news; Cornbury Park; protection...... 9 Scouts; Food Bank; Green Travel �������������� 4 Girlguiding – Brownies & Rainbows...... 10 Broadband; JOGLE; Soldiers of Oxon ������� 5 Gardening; climate friendly garden...... 11 Conservation: bee & soil apps; recycling ��� 6 Wine; Trains; Woodpecker...... 12 Shop & PO; Cogges; signs; CHoC ������������� 7
sunny summer makes a nice change as we welcome Rodney Rose, our new County Councillor to the Finstock News pages. The School Fête and Finstock Festival may be gone but we have a Film in the Field and the first Finstock Ale and Folk Festival to Acelebrate in August and September. Please join the village fun by attending these events. Finstock welcomes the new tenants at The Plough. Would Barbara Pym know Finstock today? Since 1980 when she wrote A Few Green Leaves in Finstock, hear the news. Now planning permission has been granted the village has changed enormously, although we are fortunate for an extension to increase its scope: if we can find the funds. in still having families born and bred to recall the old days. We are lucky still to have our school. Housed in its Victorian Change, even for the better, involves upheaval and costs building, it has been remodelled to accommodate the needs money. Our village hall has served us well but needs upgrading. of today’s children. The school plays an important part in the Fortunately the Parish Council and the Village Hall Committee community and values the contribution of volunteers to the had the imagination to see how refurbishment could create children’s activities. Support for school fund-raising will benefit improvements to serve us for decades more. Plans are future inhabitants. underway! So money must be found for such improvements; but this The Village Shop, once the stable of The Crown, has been can be fun too. If you have spare cash, give generously to prime cleverly converted into a Tardis of a community amenity the pump; if you’ve no money, give time or ideas. Support providing not only basic supplies but treats and good wine too. the barbecues, quiz nights, etc. with neighbours or dream up It hosts the Post Office, serves as an unofficial information point new ideas for enjoying ourselves as we strengthen the Finstock and equally important, offers a chance to meet neighbours and community. Barbara Pensom
News from Cllr Rodney Rose (County Council)
proposed savings of £74 million in the coming four years. Thames Regional Flood and Coastal Funding Opportunities Committee There are a number of funds available to local organisations Oxfordshire is the Lead in the Division. Local Flood Authority for all Councillors Community Budgets that flows into the Thames We have continued to fund these popular local funds to north of Reading. I represent support local organisations. If you know of any organisations all counties and districts that that might be interested, please contact me or seek further this represents, which includes all of Oxfordshire, plus those areas information at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/content/councillor- of Swindon, Gloucester, Warwick and Northampton which have community-budgets. rivers or streams that join the Thames. The Committee grant aids Area Stewardship Funding some £40M per annum to Flood Alleviation. The photo was These are continuing but are now organised differently. I will taken at the Thames Barrier – I am with Amanda Nobbs, who is attend meetings with other councillors in my locality to pool our Chairman. The Committee has responsibility for all of the Thames funds together for greater effect where possible. It is used to fund to this Barrier, and then on to the coasts of Kent and Essex. highway issues in particular. Spending Review Chillout Fund The Chancellor announced the latest spending review at We have continued a £100,000 fund to support projects for the end of June for the year 2015-16. There will be a further children and young people across the County. More information reduction in government funding for local authorities of 10%. The is available at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/content/chill-out- exact details are not yet known; they should become apparent fund-youth-activities-and-projects during the autumn. This will mean further pressures on the Contact Rodney on 01865-810419 or rodney.rose@ council on top of the £127 million already saved along with the oxfordshire.gov.uk for more information. 0 . VILLAGE EVENTS 0 . Funds for Finstock Look out for the Finstock 2014 calendar on sale October/November, WOOF Update at an affordable £5. Your purchase supports the smaller groups in the village and is Two bins have been installed; one appreciated. Carol, Nicky and Pat opposite the Plough and the other half-way The Bag2School Collection, which took place on May 18th, raised £77 for Finstock up the High Street, near the entrance to Primary School. A huge thank you to all of you who donated your unwanted items Viv’s field. Thanks to Shaun Morley and to this cause, it is very much appreciated. Tracy Mike Woodfield on the Parish Council Finstock Local History Society who championed this work! Julian Friday September 20th The Journals of a Charlbury Quaker with Hannah Jones William Jones was born into a family of Quaker weavers in Charlbury in 1761 and Further doggy news remained in the locality until his death in October 1838. In 1784 he began to keep a You could be fined up to £5,000 if your journal, a habit he kept up until a few days before he died. The journals comprise ten dog doesn’t wear an identification tag. It is volumes of varying length and contain a startling variety of historical information: a legal requirement that a dog must wear a from details of his own life and work in Charlbury to events of national significance. collar and tag with its owner’s name and Meetings are generally held on the third Friday of the month at 8pm in the Village address on it when out in a public place. Hall, Finstock. Members free; non-members £2.50. For more information about tackling dog fouling in the community or to report Good Companions a problem: www.westoxon.gov.uk/litter; or Better late than never, but on Saturday December 15th we had our Christmas party ring 861020. (Creating Futures – WODC) as ever. It was a good party where everyone enjoyed themselves. The meal was Annual Wychwood excellent as usual. Thanks to Sara and Donna. The entertainment was good and a Forest Fair sing-a-long was had by all. As usual I invited a few from the Leafield Evergreen Club. The 14th annual Forest Fair will be Thanks to Horace, for his hospitality. We do appreciate him letting us have our held on Sunday September 1st on the party there. Thanks to Daisy for her help again. We made £131 on the raffle, so that Wychwood Project’s land at Foxburrow is a start for this year’s party. Hopefully we can raise enough through the year for Wood, Crawley Road, Witney from 11am our Christmas Party 2013. Eileen Peters to 5pm, entry £6, under 12’s free. Over Toddler Group: Thank you! 160 stands promoting local products and services, local suppliers of food and drink, Despite Toddler group now being on hold for the Summer Holidays, we have had a entertainers from Morris Dancers to ferret really positive start to the new sessions and our numbers have been higher than ever. racing and a Rural Craft area. All the Everybody has been chipping in with baking cakes and coming up with great activities profit from the event will go towards the and messy play ideas; the children love it. on-going work of the Project in its work of Over the holidays we are still meeting up. If you would like further information on Restoring Landscapes, Inspiring People. where we are and what we are doing, please call me, Caroline Stevenson, on 868430. Further details: Michael Drew on 702624, We will be back in Finstock Village Hall from September 3rd at 10am. email [email protected]. Visit To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research. www.wychwoodproject.org.
Elbie House Bed & Decorator & Tradesman Breakfast Accommodation - House & Home Services If you have suffered bereavement or just want to STOP unsolicited mail, register Four Star Silver Award Painting and Decorating. with the Mailing Preference Service a FREE service to enable consumers to have Lovely ensuite rooms to Maintenance and Repairs. their names and home addresses in the UK Help around the home. removed from lists used by the mailing accommodate your visiting industry. www.mpsonline.org.uk/mpsr/ friends or family. Reliable Local Tradesman. (The Key, Resource Futures) Mandy Buck, East End, Richard Buck, Elbie House, North Leigh OX29 6PX East End, North MARK BILLINGE www.cotswoldbreak.co.uk; Leigh, OX29 6PX CHIMNEY SWEEP [email protected] Tel: 01993-880166; For a clean and efficient service Tel: 01993-880166; Mobile - 07791 046583 Tel.: 01367-243052 Mobile - 07791241905 2 VILLAGE HALL REGENERATION PROJECT raise money for the Village Hall. For Fantastic Mr Fox tinyurl.com/yctszwr this weekend we sought to raise £350. Brave tinyurl.com/3mu5ade In fact we exceeded that and made Finstock will host its first ever Beer £595. Together with the fundraising and Folk Festival, The Finstock Ale, events in May, we are already ahead of featuring beers and ciders focusing on our projection. By the time you read Oxfordshire producers, plus music and this The Finstock Festival, including The food. The Finstock Ale will take place on Great Finstock Bake Off, will have raised the weekend of Friday-Sunday September further funds. 13th-15th starting at 6pm on Friday and 12 On the weekend of June 14th three events August and September bring more noon on Saturday and Sunday. For more were held at the Village Hall: a Quiz events. details visit: thefinstockale.wordpress. Night, a Bingo Night and a Barbecue. Friday August 23rd – Film in the com. (Local MP David Cameron has The latter was to recognise the work of Field: one of four films will be shown been invited to this event.) the group of people who have contributed in the open air at Finstock playing field Four more live music dates have been to unearthing the old well, and making starting at 8pm. Please email your added to the schedule for 2013. Check the that part of Well Hill a village amenity. choice to [email protected] by new Village Hall Notice Board adjacent A reclaimed footpath, considerable the end of Friday August 9th. Watch for to the Village Hall; www.facebook.com/ clearing of scrub and dead wood, and the more details to follow, but there will be FinstockVillageHall. You can also follow replanting of many new indigenous shrubs POPCORN. us on Twitter@FinstockVillage. and trees specifically aimed at supporting Where the Wild Things Are Thank you Lisa Miles and Caroline wildlife has been achieved. tinyurl.com/ygzfu5e Stevenson for your great advertising The prime aim of the weekend was to The Lorax tinyurl.com/3lo5spl work. Well done! Community First Responders The Community First Responders would have if we weren’t available and, equipment. We have been at several of have been operating in Finstock, Wilcote, therefore, as an extra resource, we are the local events over the summer and Ramsden and Fawler as well as the other able to provide the initial care and then have managed to raise further funds in surrounding villages for approaching assist the ambulance staff or relatives at aid of the cause. I thank you all for your seven years. It all started with a leaflet this difficult time. support. through the door about a meeting being Some years on we are still operating As always we continue to ask for held in Ramsden Memorial Hall. Unable and fund raising to support those who unwanted printer cartridges or mobile to make it myself I believe it was well need us. The scheme has grown locally phones which we can have recycled and supported with several people interested and we have many other teams around further adds to our fund-raising. If you in supporting the scheme. us, including Charlbury and Witney. have any questions about the Community Community First Responders were We have had great support from the Responders please do not hesitate to originally set up to help those suffering a local community to help us buy our two contact me. Sara Anscombe heart attack, as chances of survival without defibrillators and other much needed [email protected] help decrease by 10% every minute that passes. Performing cardiopulmonary roCkford uilders resuscitation (known as CPR) can double a C B person’s chances and having a automated 35 sChool road, finstoCk, oxon OX7 3DN external defibrillator close to hand can further increase their chances by more EST 1973 than a third. Some years on, we now attend a range New builds, Extensions, Renovations, of calls, from the original chest pains Dry or mortar stone walling, through epileptic fits, severe bleeding, choking or any breathing difficulties. Groundwork, Hard landscaping, We carry the defibrillators and oxygen Natural Stone slate specialists, alongside other equipment to provide the first stage of emergency support to a Re-roofing, patient in need. General Maintenance. The local response team can attend within a few minutes, which could make All building work undertaken Domestic & Commercial a significant difference to the outcome. The patients receive the same response Call William on from the Ambulance Service that they 01993 868 617 OR 07817248329 3 SCHOOL HOLIDAYS DON’T MEAN SCOUT HOLIDAYS
Traditionally Scouts runs with the time. I think the best education for kids the scouts washed, but don’t tell them!), school terms which has always confused is to be a kid and this probably goes for and then we catch the train back and me. If kids need scouting more than adults as well. explore Minehead. The best part for me ever then it is during the long summer On a more ‘scouty’ note, we are will be going to Exmoor Owl and Hawk holidays. As I have said many times now preparing for our summer camp on Centre where all the scouts will be able before, when we were kids we were Exmoor. We go down for five nights and to experience the thrill of flying owls and outside from sun up to sun down, will camp in a green field site surrounded hawks. But the best bit? We can offer all running round the woods, fields and by moorland streams and deciduous this including accommodation, transport lanes of West Oxfordshire, note I say woodland, providing an abundance of and food for just £120 each, with careful West Oxfordshire. I grew up in Witney wildlife and wild times just outside the planning and negotiation we can still but my playground was the countryside tent door. The activities we will do while provide a great programme during this that surrounded me. If I wanted to see there will be a 7.5 mile hike through time of austerity. a different world I would climb a tree Horner Wood up to Dunkery Beacon and Andy Compton and look down on the normal everyday back again via the moors and byways that world but from a different angle. I didn’t surround this beautiful site. On our first West Oxfordshire green travel map, use Google maps or take on Zombies day down we will travel to Wimbleball published by the local Sustainable on the Xbox; I created a world with my Lake and spend the day kayaking as well Transport Forum, gives details of bus own imagination as did most of you who as having a go at archery and testing our routes, rail stations, footpaths and are reading this now. After a short chat nerve on the high ropes. We also have a cycle lanes: so many ways to leave your with my fellow troop leaders and getting day out planned travelling by steam train car at home! Find copies at council support from my family we decided not from Minehead to Doniford where we offices, leisure centres and libraries. to stop. We will run through the summer will have a good swim and play on the Download online at www.westoxon. doing random things at random times water slides (Actually it’s an excuse to get gov.uk/greentravel. in random places. Not traditional scout things (although the relevance of what Food Bank we learn at meetings will become clear) I was shocked to hear that in The depot in Chipping Norton but using our own imagination to fill the affluent West Oxfordshire (home of the works with a system of vouchers issued ‘Chipping Norton set’ etc.) there was to agencies like GP’s, social workers a need for a food bank. But there is, etc. who allocate them to families THE EDITORIAL COMMITTEE and Charlbury Churches Together (and they know to be in need. Most of us Andy Compton 868271 Member Sean Connolly 868561 Member probably other agencies) are collecting have things in our larders which we Nicky Higgins 868425 Proofing for this. What are needed are staple can spare, or have you considered a Tony Hirtenstein 868600 Layout foods in non-perishable form. So second purchase when you’re in the Joy Murphy 868575 Editor tinned vegetables, fruit, meat, fish and Village Shop and donating it to those [email protected] puddings are fine; dried pasta, rice and less well-off than ourselves who are Barbara Wells 868776 Distribution pulses, but sadly they cannot deal with going hungry? John Wells 868776 Advertising fresh food. More details from Stella Marks Photographs thanks to staff members and 868490 or Barbara Pensom 868774. others. Read the Finstock News online at sites. google.com/site/finstocknewsonline; join Andrew A.Adams the Finstock Yahoo group – groups.yahoo. com/group/finstock; or write to us at 63 FCCA High Street, Finstock Oxon OX7 3DA. – en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finstock Chartered Certified Plan ahead – Know the deadlines Accountant Issue Deadline Feb/Mar First of January Quality personal service for your April/May First of March Accounting, Taxation and June/July First of May Business needs August/September First of July October/November First of September Competitive fees agreed in advance December/January First of November Free initial meeting Please keep articles short. As space is limited, the Editors reserve the right to shorten long pieces in the Telephone: 07790 854574 interest of balance. Finstock News 01993 891280 does not necessarily share the views expressed in readers’ letters. 4 SMALL ADS (All numbers start with 01993 unless otherwise stated) Looking for Childcare? Maraedy Hair Co, Sheep Street, Use the Village Hall for your next Call Finstock Childminder, Caroline Charlbury OX7 3RR event. Contact Sue Salter on 868647 Stevenson on 868430 Ladies, gents, little ones and not so little Kings Cleaning Services (Est. 40 Excellent Ofsted report is available on ones, Call us for your next appointment years) Windows – gutters – UPVC request or online. Tel: 01608 819269 frames – fascia – Specialist equipment Parties catered for, weddings, OFSTED registered childminder for conservatories, including roofs. Also birthdays, suppers, etc. available in Finstock domestic house cleaning. Fully insured. Contact Marvina George Tel. 868190 Please contact Amy Crockford 868617. Ring 882727 for a professional and reliable service. Line ads are charged at 20p per word, payment in advance. Please contact: John Wells on 868776. We will no longer be accepting inserts for the newsletter. OCC Broadband News JOGLE Challenge 2013 By the end of July we hope to for the final contract announcement Please support our Charity Cycle from complete our broadband investment and the details on broadband coverage. John O’Groats to Land’s End in August, contract. The council is confident that Some communities have been testing raising money for a new local charity. The at least 90% of premises (homes and the waters on their own community Lola-Rose Foundation was established businesses) will have 24MBPs (superfast investment projects. However, because in November 2012 in loving memory of broadband speeds) and at least 2MBPs the Council is close to a final contract and a baby girl called Lola-Rose Greenbank (basic broadband) will be available to announcement, we would recommend who was born sleeping. (Charity Number everyone else. We expect delivery will a ‘wait and see’ approach. 1152411) The Foundation aims to raise be carried out over a two year period From the beginning of August awareness and generate income for commencing January 2014. communities will have a clearer view of numerous charities associated with As many of you are aware, there the gaps that remain and there will be a stillbirth and neonatal death. Follow are two national broadband initiatives timeline for the county-driven roll-out. us on our journey @LolaRoseFNDN. running currently. The first of these is Sponsor www.justgiving.com/teams/lola- operated by BDUK (Broadband Delivery rosefoundation-jogle2013 The Soldiers of Oxfordshire www.lola-rosefoundation.co.uk. UK) which provides funding for county are showcasing some of their collection led broadband initiatives. There is a in the Object of the Month case at The second national initiative run by the Oxfordshire Museum at Woodstock. Department of Environment, Food and From War Horses and Prisoners of War year. If you were in the First Aid Nursing Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to support rural to the secret work of the FANY you can Yeomanry or have a story about them broadband investment. experience what the new museum will to tell we would love to hear from you. We understand how frustrating it have on offer. The museum is continuing Please contact the Soldiers of Oxfordshire has been for all communities waiting its work behind the scenes on the Museum on 813832 or email admin@ galleries ready for the grand opening next sofo.org.uk. NICOLA MORGAN DC MMCA Registered Chiropractor – McTimoney Technique Kimber Cottage, Holly Tree Cottages, Woodstock Rd, Earls Lane, Charlbury OX7 3ET Deddington OX15 0TQ Tel: 07968-381335 I have almost 30 years’ experience in this gentle, effective manipulative therapy, which is suitable for many conditions and ages. I offer very flexible appointment times in two locations. See www.chippingnortonchiropractor.co.uk Provider for BUPA, PPP, WPA and all major health insurance companies Member of the General Council & Register for Chiropractors and the McTimoney Chiropractic Association.
5 COUNTRYSIDE CONSERVATION Live in each season as it passes. Henry David Thoreau Free app to collect data on bees Recycling A-Z This is a way to support our declining bee populations: Waitrose is aiming www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/public- to boost sales of bee friendly plants using an app developed by Earthwatch and site/waste-and-recycling. Compost Oxford Brookes University spinout company WildKnowledge. The app is free produced from the garden waste and can be used by the public on any android or IoS device to collect data on collected at the Waste Recycling bees and their plant preferences in their gardens. Download the app at www. Centres is currently available to buy waitrose.com/bees (ONCF) at the Ardley site, near Bicester, for The Oxfordshire Woodfuel Programme has launched a woodfuel £1.50 per bag. (Ardley Fields – Brackley standard, OxLogs, which aims to improve woodfuel quality in Oxfordshire, and Road, off the B430 at Ardley, near counter the uncertainty of what is meant by ‘a load of seasoned wood’. OxLogs Bicester, OX27 7PH) suppliers will specify the volume, moisture content, type of wood (hard or soft) and length of the wood. When you buy logs, ask for OxLogs! If you own a woodfuel boiler – chip, pellet, log batch or wood burning Greystones plans shelved stove with back boiler – please fill out a short survey at www.surveymonkey. – for the moment com/s/9SZBD9T. The results will help others who are thinking about installing In spite of having granted planning similar boilers. permission for the proposed If you own a woodland that needs managing, or are interested in working Greystones recycling centre, and outside in return for logs, do join the programme’s Logs for Labour scheme as despite recognising the need, WODC’s either a ‘log offer’ or a ‘labour offer’. Cabinet have shelved plans because, The woodfuel programme will have a stall at the Elder Stubbs festival on they claim, the centre will run at a loss. August 17th; and the Wychwood Fair on September 1st. Do come along! This is based on a recent downturn in For more information on any of these please see www.oxonwoodfuel.org.uk. the market for recycled items. British Geological Survey Geology of Britain viewer allows you to pan Several councillors, including and zoom to where you live, click on an area of interest and reveal the rocks myself, have queried the figures used beneath your feet. This simple viewer helps you explore the geology around to make the case, and have successfully where you live. called for this to be re-examined www.bgs.ac.uk/discoveringGeology/geologyOfBritain/viewer.html by the Finance and Management mapapps.bgs.ac.uk/geologyofbritain/home.html?location=Finstock Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The mySoil app is for anyone with an interest in the soil of Britain; The Committee considered this at including gardeners and vegetable growers, allotment owners, farmers and their meeting in July. agricultural specialists, school and college students, environmentalists and land- The Cabinet’s decision was based on use planners. View a map of the soil parent material (the underlying geological prices for recyclates in May 2013, with material) in your local area, retrieve descriptions about the soil depth, texture, pH no analysis of the historic performance and organic matter content, and explore vegetation habitat data across Britain. of the market, or any future projections. www.bgs.ac.uk/mysoil. ONCF No consideration was given to the different categories of waste that are STOP unwanted sales and marketing likely to be taken to the facility, the faxes: www.fpsonline.org.uk/fps/ prices of which vary quite considerably. The case for the centre has not been See what you can do to waste helped by WODC’s failure to agree less, live more. www.wastewatch.org. with Chipping Norton Town Council uk. Food waste costs UK consumers over a strip of land needed for access. £10.2bn a year and is responsible for 5% WODC want to pay £1000 a year in of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions. rent and Chipping Norton is asking Shocking isn’t it? Thankfully it’s for £5000. They have failed to reach Dog walking easy to cut down on food waste and agreement over many months. the benefits are significant – for Cat home visits Of course, a proper business plan your health, your wallet and for the might show that the facility is not Dog home boarding environment. viable, but at least the decision not to Small animal boarding go ahead will be based on a proper Finstock resident examination of the market and not just Insured and police-checked www.lovefoodhatewaste.com. on a snapshot. Whatever food you love, we can help Liz Leffman you waste less and save you money. Councillor for Charlbury, Finstock and Fawler 6 FINSTOCK SHOP Post Office The Shop has been busy during the Christmas. We will also be keeping a As I am sure you are well aware, small early summer, and the weather has been larger stock of newspapers. post offices are struggling at the moment typically English, ensuring sales of both You have been very generous in and since the parcel size change and with hot-weather salads and cold drinks and contributing to the items we send to it the pricing, this has only made it all the more wintry soups, meats and fresh the Food Bank, for which we are very the harder! I am pleased to say that our vegetables. grateful. Post Office is still keeping its head above We are pleased to tell you that we have As ever we would love to have more water and many people are now using a new dry cleaning and laundry service volunteers to help us. Perhaps you the banking facility. HSBC customers available. Toggs also do shoe repairs and have recently moved to the area and have been pleased that they can use as well as the usual suits, coats, skirts and would like to meet some new people, the Post Office to deposit and withdraw dresses, will clean or you are a mum their money as well as get a balance Shop opening hours:– curtains, furniture who will have a little on their account. It does save those Weekdays 8-6 covers, duvets, horse more time when trips into Witney! Cheques can also be Saturdays 8-1 blankets, waxed your child starts deposited into most bank accounts using Sundays 9-11.30 jackets, leather and school or nursery your paying in slip and an envelope you Shop Telephone Number – sheepskin. They in September. Or, can obtain from the Post Office if you do Orders Taken: 869096 collect on Monday maybe you are a not have any. and Thursday and they have monthly school-leaver who has not yet started Euros are held at my branch now, so offers. A price list can be obtained from a job and would like to be able to add no waiting! All other currencies can be the Shop. ‘Volunteering’ to your CV. You would be ordered on a next day delivery service. We now have planning permission very welcome, and there are a variety of Thank you all for your support and for our extension at the rear of the shop jobs to do. I look forward to seeing all my existing and the next step is to produce detailed We look forward to serving you in the customers and hopefully some new drawings to put out to tender. Shop soon, Mo and Sue ones too. With luck the rest of the summer will Karen Williams be warm and sunny, so do come in to The Oxford Wines Draw in May was won Opening hours:– buy your barbecue food and drinks, local by Mr.Dominic McGlynn. Congratulations weekdays 9am-1pm chutneys and pickles, as well as cold to him! meats, cheeses and ham, bacon, sausages and fresh meat from Callow Farm. There The sign for Finstock on the B4022 as you come from Witney notes that we are twinned is always a wine offer by Oxford Wines on with Guadalajara Mexico! This is an obvious spoof but a funny one. display as you enter the Shop, and Karen enjoys doing some topical merchandising Cogges Manor Farm is open until CHoC Charlbury’s Own Cinema in that area as well! November 3rd, Tuesday to Sunday and Sunday August 18th Skyfall Memorial Look for a new line of stationery Bank Holidays 11am-5pm. The manor Hall, Charlbury at 7.30pm, doors and bar for children’s crafts during the summer house is only open on weekends and open 6.45. Cert 12. 2hr 10mins. The holidays, then more for Halloween and Bank Holidays. Manor house tours every latest Bond! See www.chocfilms.info. Friday 11am for £1.50. Weekdays: Adult The Foot Clinic £4, Child (3-16) £3, Family (2 adults and Surgery Home Visits 2 children) £12. Weekends and Bank THE WHITE HORSE Holidays: Adult £5.50, Child £4, Family THE RIDINGS – STONESFIELD For all aspects of foot health £17. Under 3s Free. Freehouse & Restaurant
Nail cutting Callus & Corns Cogges Beer and Cider Festival Closed – Monday Thickened Nails (Hard & Dry Skin) Friday August 2nd and Saturday August Tuesday-Thursday – 5.00 Close Fungal Infections Friday – 12.00-3.00; 5.00-11.00 In Growing Nails (Athletes Foot) 3rd. Try a variety of speciality beers and Saturday – 12.00-3.00; 6.00-11.00 Diabetic Assessments Verrucae cider from local breweries with live music, Sunday – 12.00-3.00 pub quiz and BBQ. Tasty Home cooked food Fiona Cann EN. MCFHP. MAFHP A Midsummer Night’s Dream Tuesday Real Ale and Fine Wines - Tel: 01993 704260 August 13th 7pm (Doors open 6.30pm). Pretty Beer Garden Mobile: 07790 475314 Magical mayhem on the manor house Folk Music Nights every 2nd Wednesday of the month Email: info@@onafootclinic.co.uk lawn as The Festival Players presents www..onafootclinic.co.uk Shakespeare’s fantasy comedy with a Now serving lunch Friday, Saturday & Sunday traditional all-male cast. BBQ and bar. Dinner available Friday & Saturday Tickets £12.50 Adults; £8.50 Children Barn & Skittle Alley available for Hire under 16. Visit www.cogges.org.uk. For reservations and enquiries please phone Angela or John on 01993 891063
7 FINSTOCK SCHOOL Not only do our Y6 pupils leave our six years. Our governor numbers school this summer term, we also lose are growing again, but we still need parents with whom we have had a long members from the community if and positive association. Thank you for anyone feels this would be right for your support, humour and trust, and them at this time. for being great role models and carers We are looking forward to our to these precious youngsters. We have new intake of reception pupils in very much enjoyed these last 6-7 years September. We know that their time in with our leavers; they certainly live the Woodpeckers has been delightful and Christian Values, which are embedded and effort, and to those of you, parents we are keen to take over their learning into curriculum and daily life within our and community who make fundraising and development. They will join Y1 in corridors. We wish you well on your successful. Tables and chairs purchased Miss Cheshire’s Class. Y2, 3 and 4 will be continuing journey within academia. from FoFS funds have really made a taught by Miss Holloway in Beech, and Y5 The School Fête turned out to be a difference with cohesion in the lunch and 6 will be in Cedar Class with Ms Pike. soggy one, but everyone was in good hour; they are safe and comfortable and Alfie’s (Y4) entry for the Brian Ford spirits enjoying comradeship, cups of tea have also brightened up the hall. We are Summer Prize: and the experience. Well done to our currently developing our library and the ‘Go and open the door of the school, Year 6 for raising £85.35 on their stall. ex-disabled loo which has now become you might find children chattering. Open Their energy and staying power at this a working space. the door to the playground, you might task was exemplary. The total profit for Thank you to all who donated to find children playing noisy games. Open the fete was £1,232.36. Having spoken our grand total of 10,682 Sainsbury’s the door of Ms Roden’s office, where you to a couple of other head teachers in vouchers. We are looking forward to might get a head teacher’s award.’ the Witney Partnership, it seems that we choosing equipment and will let you Best Wishes, Jean Roden, HT make ten times more money than their know what we choose. Term 1 begins Monday September schools do at similar events! Thank you We also say thank you to Gill Peters, 2nd to Friday October 25th. to these grand people who give time who has been a governor for the last Friends of Finstock School (FoFS) As usual the school fête was under the everyone in the village. The annual Finstock 10km race at threat of rain; and yes it did rain! This did Cornbury Park will start at 11am on not seem to dampen the spirits of the Sunday September 29th. Please put this volunteers, children or those who came date in your diaries! For more information to support the event. It was well attended (and to enter online), see sites.google. and the day raised approximately £1200. com/site/finstock10k. Facebook users The Y6’s did well on their own stalls raising may want to follow the event here: www. £100 towards their Y6 day out. Thank facebook.com/Finstock10k. We will you all for the cakes baked, raffle and provide a one mile fun run for all children. tombola prizes donated; as we have said We need volunteers: marshals (10k so many times before, these events would race & fun run); help to set up on not be successful without support from the weekend; publicity; and making
cakes for the tea & cake stall (in aid of Woodpeckers). If you have any questions, Harris & Thompson or would like to volunteer, please get in PAINTERS AND DECORATORS touch with us at: finstockfunrun@gmail. com or [email protected]. Keep a lookout for upcoming events Harris & Thompson is the premier Painting and Decorating company based in the heart of the including another Pamper Night that goes Cotswolds. down so well. Karen Williams We have a reputation for producing and delivering exciting and high quality workmanship. Whether its a small room or commercial Property or even a country home, Harris & Thompson Are first choice for all your decorating needs. Chipping Norton bookings are now We offer a 12 months guarantee on all our work. open for this year’s pantomime at The Theatre: Jack and the Giant. The panto runs from November 19th to January Telephone : 01993 868540 / 01608 811484 www.harrisandthompson.co.uk 12th 2014. Visit: chippingnortontheatre. co.uk or call 01608 642350 for tickets. 8 DOING THINGS FOR OURSELVES News from the Cornbury Park Team At this time of the year, the District of reality. The District Council cannot Council refreshes our Local Plan that do everything, and will not undertake serves as a blueprint to guide us in facing projects that have severe financial risks the challenges and opportunities that we that may jeopardise stability leading to face in West Oxfordshire. We are guided possible debt and a reduction of key by a very straightforward objective, which services. One such risk is the provision is to make our District the best place to of a recycling plant at Greystones. This live, work and visit. This means that how appeared to be an inspired solution to we spend taxpayers’ money is designed the closure of Dean Pit. to meet this objective whilst ensuring that Sadly, the financial case has turned This summer we welcome back the we do not get into debt. for the worse over the past few months. award winning Wilderness Festival which This year 2013-14, we have produced Chipping Norton Town Council insisted takes place in Cornbury Park August a balanced budget, which means we on a very sizeable charge for use of two 8th-11th. Wilderness is a celebration of have no annual deficit. However, we still very small strips of land at the entrance; the arts and the outdoors and includes ensure that all the services we provide and the recent downturn in the money lavish banquets by the UK’s finest chefs, remain unchanged and are first class. This we could receive from the materials we debates and discussions, music, theatre, may sound like obvious common sense. recycled has called into question the masked balls, cricket, vintage shopping, But few councils, or indeed governments, financial viability of the project. wild swimming, outdoor cinema, boating meet this goal. To achieve this position Recent figures suggest that Greystones and spas. we look to do things more efficiently. could lose £40,000 per year, which is There has been a huge demand for Almost £2.4m has been saved since lot of our Council Tax for a facility we all the local discounted tickets and they are 2008 with a further £600,000 this year. use on a very irregular basis. I will not now sold out. At the time of writing, the Council tax has been frozen for the third support such a risk to taxpayers’ money. full price tickets are nearly sold out too! year running, meaning that we are the We will continue to search for a solution Further details at www.wildernessfestival. second lowest charge of all shire councils and I will keep you updated on progress. com. in England. We have a great summer ahead, On Sunday September 22nd we We will be ensuring the District packed with events to support the welcome the Charlbury Street Fair remains a beautiful place to live: working regeneration of the Village Hall. This is a 10k and 5k Fun Runs, and on Sunday with the police to reduce crime and anti- great project, so give all the support you September 29th we play host to the social behaviour; working to improve can. It is a good example of doing things Finstock School Fun Run. refuse collection; working to encourage for ourselves. Finally, several of the allotments on our local economy and improve the As usual, if you have any issues, please Ward’s Lane are still available. Anyone range of job opportunities for our younger contact me. interested should contact Tony Crowther people. And we will maintain free parking Hywel Davies District Councillor on 868834. to encourage the micro-economies of our 868004 Follow us on Twitter @CornburyPark towns which are today busy and vibrant. [email protected] and at Facebook.com/CornburyPark, or But let me temper all this with a dose get in touch by emailing us at: estate@ “We really are so cpark.co.uk, phoning 01608-811276, or pleased with the signing up for alerts at www.cornburypark. photographs you have co.uk. taken - Tonia said they were the best wedding Too good to be true? photos she had seen” Here are five ways to make sure you don’t get swindled:– Informal, professional • Read the small print on any Wedding Photography documentation and do not rush into A tree surgery making decisions. “You did a great job • Do not be taken in by apparent and the photos are company with the authenticity of documents or smart magnificent - appearance of salesmen. everyone looked integrity you can trust. • Check that a company is genuine – ask great and really All combined aspects of Arboriculture natural” for contact details, street address and Call David Burton - 07799 471499 Tel: 0845 458 2980 local telephone number. or email [email protected] Mobile: 07976 261850 • Never pay for a ‘free’ gift/prize or reveal personal information. For samples see: Email: [email protected] http://davidburton.zenfolio.com/weddings www.townandcountrytrees.co.uk • Trust your gut instinct. 9 Girlguiding – Finstock Brownies and Rainbows – girls in the lead
I’m sure that many of you have already and About badge; and, Water challenge seen in the social media about how badge. We also finally finished our Girlguiding has changed the words of Discovering Faith badge. We had a night our promise. of rounders on the playing fields, various Our units took part in the promise arts and crafts, swimming at Windrush consultation and it was very interesting leisure centre, sponsored walk, teddy listening to the girls’ comments on what show and our annual BBQ and fun night they believe in and also would like to say, at Wilcote to finish the term off with. or not say. It was great that Girlguiding To keep the Brownie Guide Law. Our sponsored walks, both Monday headquarters actually took notice of what The special Rainbow promise is:- and Wednesday, are our main fundraising girls and adults nowadays would like to be I promise that I will do my best to events which collect funds for our units. included or removed from our promise. think about my beliefs and to be kind Not all money is in yet, so I will be able Years ago Girlguiding was a Christian and helpful. to give you the grand total in the next organisation but in the past few years Finstock Rainbows have been busy as newsletter. we have tried to keep up-to-date and usual doing lots of crafts and challenges Again lots to look forward to next term adapted to suit all faiths, which saw a and gaining several badges like: Right including the Royal Baby Challenge… change to the promise; the changed to be happy, Right to be me, Water Finstock Rainbows meet in the village wording to “love my God and serve my challenge, etc. We had a fun night at the hall on Wednesdays from 4.45 until Country”. The recent change now means playground, we continue to have lots of 5.45pm. we are open to all female members new girls coming in from the surrounding Rainbows are for girls aged between whatever religion, faith, belief and non- villages, and next term we will be doing 5 and 7 and to put your daughter’s belief. fund raising for the Village Hall, and a name on our waiting list to join, please Whatever anybody’s opinions are, District skipping challenge to name just contact Amy Booth on 824190 or ajb5@ we are still the same organisation that a few. btinternet.com. has and always will be the only group Little Owl’s second baby is due at the Finstock Brownies meet in the village that offers a safe, girl-only space. We beginning of July but she has continued hall on Mondays and Wednesdays from will still offer the same and new exciting running our unit and will be looking 6pm until 7.30pm. Brownies are for adventures and challenges and offer girls forward to another fun-packed term in girls aged between 7 and 11. Contact and adults lessons in day-to-day life skills. September. Caroline Booth on 07890-629001 or The new promise comes into force Finstock Brownies Both Monday [email protected] to from September 2013, and the words add your daughter to our units. (At the are as follows:- and Wednesday Brownies follow the same timetable which has included: moment there are only places available I promise that I will do my best: on Mondays.) To be true to myself and develop my two different dance nights which goes beliefs, towards their Dancer badge; Green To serve the Queen and my community, cross code, Countryside code and Water I tried to catch some fog, but I mist. To help other people and Safety codes, which goes towards Out
Finstock West Oxon THIS YEAR, cattery Handyman & Home BE A NAME, Proprietors Julie & John Stoney NOT A NUMBER
Improvement Services At Eynsham Hall Health & Fitness Club, it is our objective to welcome our members into an *LUXURY BOARDING Electrical / Plumbing / Flooring / environment of informality and relaxation. Decorating / Tiling / Woodwork Our membership packages are designed with Flat pack furniture / Decking & flexibility in mind for our members. There is *SPACIOUS HEATED PENS not a requirement to commit towards Garden maintenance a long term contract. *PERSONAL CARE We are open between the hours of 6:30am to Quality finish Fully insured 9:30pm,during the week and from 7:30am to 7:30pm at the weekend. *INSPECTION INVITED No job too small All jobs considered Full Membership is available For a free quote call 01993 868725 from just £34.50 per month! 8 Wards Lane, Finstock, Oxon OX7 3BP or 07717-878323 (figure based on full dual membership) FOR MORE DETAILS OR TO RESERVE Tel: 01993 868413 YOUR MEMBERSHIP, Email: westoxonhandyman@ PLEASE CALL 01993 885 207 OR EMAIL: [email protected] [email protected] hotmail.co.uk WWW.EYNSHAMHALL.COM 10 AN AGELESS GARDENER WRITES… Even if all goes new grass will have come through Mrs.Cecil bought fifty bulbs of the according to plan, by and the scene is transformed into one allium (now there’s about a thousand); the middle of June I of controlled informality (maybe!). the rocket has always been around always feel the garden Because it is impossible to get the but in much smaller numbers; and is beating the gardener: the grass mower closer than about eighteen I bought a packet of the phytolacca grows relentlessly and the weeds, inches to each tree, I feel duty bound to from Chiltern seeds. This is now all this year particularly, seem prolific begin the epic task of strimming round over the garden: it is a big unmissable in number and variety. Willow herb all two hundred of them – hoping all plant – a perennial with massive, is everywhere in the garden now; the time I don’t put my foot or the fleshy, poisonous roots, pink flowers whereas a couple of years ago it was strimmer into a wasps’ nest! and big leaves. The purplish-black confined to the roses behind the berries which follow are also poisonous kitchen. However horticulturally and although (the book says) “the young organically desirable large quantities shoots are edible and a substitute for of stable manure are, there is no asparagus”… My successor will have doubt that its use can bring all sorts to “deal” with these plants. of weed seeds into a garden and If anyone wants any plastic flower many of these will germinate. More pots I have (literally) thousands of all worryingly, herbicide residue can be sizes: clean and sorted, or an electric introduced in the same way; and this strimmer – virtually unused – £10 to can have catastrophic effects on fruit Oxfam. Tel: 888606. Keep pulling out and vegetables. Perhaps it is worth the weeds! giving your garden a year’s rest from A few days ago, Tony Hirtenstein, Richard Pollard manure and apply blood, fish and bone who works in the village shop, asked instead. Unfortunately things did not the gardener’s $64,000 question: Climate friendly garden go according to plan last week when “How d’you get rid of ground elder?” Synthetic chemical pesticides the cutter belt on the Kubota broke. The answer, however clichéd, is, “With require a lot of energy to manufacture, We have no alternative method of great difficulty”. If you don’t want producing a significant amount of cutting the large areas of grass and, if to use weed killer (and why wouldn’t carbon dioxide in the process. To a week is along time in politics, it is an you?) you can cover the area with a reduce your use of synthetic pesticides, eternity in the June garden: seven days black membrane (plastic or other) and consider planting native plants. Native and counting! leave it for a couple of years, making plants are low maintenance because One of the main jobs in June sure no light gets to the soil (we they are adapted to local soils and is cutting the long grass in the tried this and it didn’t work). Or climate, and are more resistant to orchard – about three acres. you can try digging it out and, native plant viruses, insects, and We do it then because the over time, that will weaken it but bacteria. Incorporating native plants daffodils have had about the it is very difficult if it is growing is a key strategy for establishing a requisite six weeks to die through shrubs or herbaceous climate-friendly garden. down and the cow parsley has – we plants. Broad-leaf or total weed killer hope – not quite gone to seed: there will work but you have to keep at it is no perfect time because there are (maybe three or four goes) and it is many less invasive and more desirable probably more effective on new growth wild flowers which have not had a in warm weather. Anyway if I knew chance to set seed. We use a six foot the answer I probably wouldn’t have a wide flail mower towed behind the border full of it in our garden – where I quad bike and the result, compared tell myself that it’s ground cover… and to how wonderful the long grass and never be tempted to buy the variegated the trees look – is not pretty. Much of form – it can revert to green! the vegetation is just squashed by the Though nowhere near as high on the wheels and the grass that is cut gets scale of perniciousness (yes, it really is scattered in lumps everywhere and a word) as ground elder, three plants goes brown. It is, however, a job that that have become dangerously (though has to be done and the crucial thing spectacularly) invasive at Wilcote are a is to avoid crunching the mower into purple-flowered onion,allium schubertii the trees (or, worse, running it over an (possibly), dame’s-violet (which I’ve old tree stump). I’ll probably go over always called sweet rocket) – hesperis the area another four or five times matronalis, and the unfortunately before the autumn by which time the named pokeweed, phytolacca americana. 11 TWO BUCK CHUCK Woodpecker Pre-school “If you spend $100 to buy a bottle of million dollars. His objective is to sell as The holidays are here, but our work wine, how the hell are you going to enjoy much wine as possible and his strategy doesn’t stop. It is a time to catch up on it? It’s a joke. There’s no wine worth that is to charge next to nothing for it. He paper work, straighten out and ‘spring kind of money.” Fred Franzia believes that wine should be affordable clean’ the classroom and prepare for Imagine being a winemaker in the and plentiful, and that no bottle should the next school year. This year we Napa Valley in California, where a $20 cost more than ten dollars. are busier than usual, as we want to bottle is a bargain and $100 is nothing He is scornful of the glitz of Napa rearrange the classroom a little to create special. Then someone moves into Valley and thinks that the industry has more space and a more purposeful Central Valley close by (known as the become intoxicated by elitism, inflated role-play area. There is always so much jug wine capital of the world) and starts prices and its own PR about terroir. to do; and not enough time to do it, as selling wine for less than $2 a bottle. “Why complicate it?” asks Franzia, his is the case for most of us I fear. It happened in 2002 when Fred voice rising. “Does anybody complicate The last term of the school year was Franzia persuaded Trader Joe’s to sell a Cheerios by saying the wheat has to be VERY full and exciting. We had sports low-end label called Charles Shaw. The grown on the side of a mountain and day, a much loved event; and a trip to label, dubbed ‘Two Buck Chuck’ by the terroir in North Dakota is better than the Cotswold Wildlife Park on a coach, consumers, now sells five million cases Kansas?” something that we had not been able per year, all through Trader Joe’s. It won When asked how he sells wine for to do for a long time as our numbers best Chardonnay at California State Fair virtually the same price as a bottle of were too low. This was partly funded in 2007 over 350 other Chardonnays, all water, Franzia is characteristically frank. by money raised at our car boot sale. costing far more. “Don’t you get it?” he said. “They’re Trips out on a coach are very enjoyable, “Take that and shove it, Napa,” Franzia overcharging for the water.” but are also very helpful as they prepare said. His company now has annual Osiris children for coach trips when they revenues of more than five hundred Note: Charles Shaw has won the Triple move on to primary schools. We also Gold in Orange County in June 2013! had our end of term and leavers Party with music, games fun, laughter and party food followed by us all wishing I used to think I was indecisive, but now I’m not so sure. the eleven children that are leaving us a fond farewell. A few tears were shed Trains as we will miss them all! For those of you who have been The Long Hanborough train station is steeped in history. However, it goes collecting the Sainsbury’s ‘Active Kids’ car park is open. Meanwhile, Charlbury on to say that the thriving village has a tokens, we have been able to buy a CD station car park and the linking bus station from which commuters can travel player (ours had broken and we missed service from Finstock and other villages to London Paddington in less than two it so much) and some much-needed seems to be working well. hours! This is only true if you can arrive in watering cans for the children. They do In the July Cotswold Life glossy London after 10am and leave well before love transporting water! Many thanks magazine, Peter Brunt writes that Finstock 4pm, but maybe some folks can do just for all your support during this last is a pretty village north of Witney which that. Mike Breakell school year as it is dearly appreciated and without it our children would not have as good a pre-school as they do have. hilltop garden centre We hope you all enjoy a great summer is a popular one-stop-shop for keen gardeners in Oxfordshire CRAFTS and we will be back in September fully rejuvenated and ready for another fun- AnTS With over Pl extensive plant range, 2,500 products filled year ahead. gardening products, in our Crafts Kind regards Lesley inspirational home and gift ideas department Our opening hours are 8.45am to Relax in The Flower 12 noon, Monday to Friday. We are CHildRen Pot Café, famous situated at Finstock School, School with locals for tasty Children can play on our Road, Finstock. For further information, breakfasts, lunches outdoor Fort and wander THe CAFé and home baking or to organise a visit, please, contact around the nature trail Lesley Dore on 868280. (Please look Y Ou’ll Find uS on the ‘OFSTED’ website for details of on the Witney Road Hilltop Garden Centre, Witney Rd, Ramsden, Oxon, OX7 3AS between Charlbury our excellent recent report or telephone Tel: 01993 868403 www.hilltopgc.co.uk and Witney. Open 9 - 5.30 Monday - Saturday, 10.30 - 4.30 Sunday. Lesley and ask for a copy.) Our café closes half an hour before the garden centre.
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