48 DIRECTORY Art Classes 07772249695 Parish Council Nick Baldwin – Village Hall Chairman. Les Faulkner 730576

Mondays 2-4pm Vice Chair. Michael Pearson 730276 Valerie Ingram also Clerk. 730203 Bell Ringing Jan Burgess 730443 Andrew Jeffrey - Secretary 738729 George Nell 730995 Church St Laurence Shotteswell Police 01926 415000 Priest in Charge - Police Wellesbourne 01789 444600 Revd Barry Jackson 01926 640248 Associate Priests Parish Plan Revd Canon Dr Richard Cooke 690213 Brian Noble - Chairperson 730688 Revd Dr. Alan Cartwright 01926 640904 Tammy Barker - Secretary Newsletter

John Crocker - Treasurer 730220 Church Wardens Linda Clark 738143 Post Office -- Mon 9.00a m-1.00pm Andrew Jeffrey 738729 Valerie Ingram - 0ld Post Office 730203

Parochial Church Council Postman Delivers in the morning Alan Reilly chairman 730476 Post Box weekdays 4.15pm Sat 7am Godfrey Boulton—Secretary 738244 Riding School Pauline Tarrant—Treasurer 730687 Valley Farm - Denise Faulkner 730576 Linda Clark 738143 Andrew Jeffrey 738729 Tuesday Club Philippa Upton 738491 Keri Holman 730326 April 2015 Christine Pym 738948 Mavis Palmer 730901

David Holman 730326 Village Hall Fishman - comes round Mike Palmer - Chairman 730901 Chris - - Wed 9.30ish 01295 758841 Linda Clark - Secretary 738143

Footpaths Team Terry Clark - Treasurer 738143 Elisabeth Gilchrist 730213 David Holman 730326 Joan Noble 730688 John Crocker 730220 Mike Palmer 730901 Hilary Wareing 738750 Ray Adkins 730042

Brian Noble 730688 Warmington & District Bridge Club Milkman Dairy Crest - early mornings Mondays-Warmington Village Hall 7-10p m Mike Palmer 730901 Tues. Thurs. Sat 01295 264776 Pauline Tarrant 730687

Mobile Library - 01926 851031 Warwickshire County Council Every 3 weeks on a Tuesday 11.20 - 11.45 Wednesday morning Neighbourhood Watch Green & Recycling Bins - Fortnightly. Grey Bin - Fortnightly - Intervening wks Linda Clark 738143

Newsletter Email - [email protected] Tony Tarrant 730687

Keri Holman 730326 Issue 22

David Holman—adverts 730326 Websites - www.shotteswell.com Newspapers http://shotteswellvillage.co.uk S&G. Smith 268499 2 47 46 3 Sri Lanka - The Pearl in the Indian Ocean Holistic Therapist new to Shotteswell A few years ago Mike and I decided to have a holiday in Sri Lanka. Hi, my name is Julieann and I have just moved to this lovely village of For me it was the holiday of a lifetime but for Mike it was a return to Shotteswell. I am a qualified Holistic Therapist and Reiki Master. I have the island where he spent much of his childhood. my own business called Journey Holistics and I offer many treatments including holistic body massage (a combination of aromatherapy and We flew into Colombo to be met by Nihal who was to be our mentor, swedish massage), Reiki healing, Hopi ear candles and holistic facial’s. guide and driver for the next three weeks. He was very I also offer health advice and teach Reiki courses. knowledgeable and proud of his country and spoke four languages fluently. Nothing was too much trouble for him and he was always Holistic therapy addresses all parts of the individual, not just the smiling and a joy to have around. Next morning we set off on a long physical aspect of a person but mind, body and spirit. Both physical drive northwards to our next destination, stopping several times for and emotional well-being depends upon the balance and flow of refreshment breaks in the heat. One such stop was at the Pinnawala energy through the body. Treatments can help restore this balance Elephant Orphanage. Twice a day all the elephants (about 50) are allowing the body to heal itself naturally. taken down to the river to bathe and what a sight it is to see them Holistic treatments are not intended to serve as a one time fix, it is an walking through the village with their handlers. The roads in Sri Lanka ongoing journey of discovery, and supported by positive lifestyle are dreadful and the bus drivers and tuk tuk drivers do not suffer changes – living better, being healthier and striving for wholeness, you fools gladly and will just run over anything that gets in their way! can be the best that you can be. This is why it is recommended that you do not drive yourselves around. Feel yourself relax and unwind in my treatment room with soft music, glowing candles and lovely smells from the aromatherapy oils. You We eventually arrived at the Kandalama Hotel which was our base for will feel relaxed, de-stressed and rejuvenated. the next few days. This beautiful hotel is built into a rock face in the Please visit me on www.journeyholistics.co.uk or call me on 07910 jungle and has a fantastic infinity pool overlooking a large lake, 741673 to book an appointment or for more information. known as ‘a tank’ in Sri Lanka. We were told to keep the balcony door firmly shut when not in the room because the monkeys have no hang ups about entering and stealing fruit and nuts from the bowls. From this hotel we did several trips but a memorable one was to Polonnamura. On the way Nihal took us to a Rest House right on the edge of a beautiful lake. It was here that the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh stayed on their first Commonwealth Tour just after she became Queen., and the owner proudly showed us her room and Editors ensuite. It was rather like the Premier Inn of today but would have Tony Tarrant - Mount Stuart - 730687 / Keri Holman - White Cottage 730326 been the height of luxury in the 1950’s. We did have coffee on her Advertising - David Holman - White Cottage 730326 veranda built out over the lake and a little bird from the kingfisher Produced by the Tuesday Club [email protected] family kept coming and sitting on the rail beside us – a magical 4 45 moment. Polonnamura was built in 1070 and is a World Heritage Site and is still being excavated today. Lots of buildings and Temples are available to go into but you have to enter bare-footed as they are sacred places. This caused Mike and me to have burnt soles on our feet as we are not used to walking on the bare hot rock. We also visited Sigiriya, a site of historical and archaeological significance with a massive column of volcanic rock rising up 200 mtrs. Mike remembers climbing up it early one morning with his father. It is now very commercialised and you need to be very careful and carry plenty of water. We did not attempt it as it was the hottest part of the day!

We then headed for Kandy stopping at the Spice Gardens on the way. Here all medical students have to spend time learning about the medicinal properties of the plants. It was an interesting place to visit and a massage was a must! Now we were nearing Mike’s old home territory of Matale. It was no longer the thriving rubber and coffee plantation which his father managed and most of the land had been sold off by the Government after Independence. However we did find the rubber factory building along with the turbine house on the river which supplied the estate with electricity – both now derelict and taken over by the jungle. Part of the estate was bought by a local entrepreneur who grows and supplies the greenery you find in bouquets. He was very kind and hospitable and delighted to help us on our quest. He told us the family house was still there and he Quizzes in the Village Hall would take us in his 4x4 – the only way to get up there. It had been derelict for many years but had recently been bought and was in the The village hall has hosted a couple of quizzes over the winter and raised £476 towards funds. The evenings were hosted by quiz master Terry Clark process of renovation, but we were able to wander around at our and light suppers were thanks to Tammy Barker. We will be providing more own freewill. It was very nostalgic for Mike and he could remember entertaining evenings to tax your knowledge in the Autumn. Terry Clark every room in the building. The summerhouse where he had his train set was still there and so was the little swimming pool where he and his sister both learned to swim. The location was outstanding on the top of a mountain, built there to catch all the cooling breezes as there was no air con in those days, just electric fans. The views were stunning but sadly Mike’s mother’s lovely garden had all gone, 44 5

taken over by the jungle. A very moving day – for me because I had heard so much about their life there, and for Mike lots of lovely memories of very happy times.

Wroxton House Hotel From there we visited Kandy and the Temple of the Tooth. We Silver Street, Wroxton, Banbury watched a Cultural Show and walked in the beautiful Peradeniya Tel: 01295 730777 Botanical Gardens. Now it was time to drive up into the hills where [email protected] it was much cooler and tea planting country. We stopped to watch www.wroxtonhousehotel.com the tea planting process from leaf to cup. We finally reached our destination of Nuwara Eliya (pronounced New Railia), where Mike went to boarding school, and the Hill Club. The Hill Club was founded in 1876 by a group of British planters who missed their home comforts and food. To this day it is still very English and serves such things as roast dinners and Spotted Dick pudding! The school still stands today but is now an Army Base. We were told we would not be able to visit, but we tried and with Nihal’s help the Commander finally agreed to let us in. They showed us around and Mike was interested to see that the old blackboards were still on the walls in the classrooms. They kindly gave us refreshments sitting in the room that was once Mike’s dormitory. The sick bay was still there and the Headmaster’s house which the Army Commander now lives

in. The sports field is now a vegetable garden and it is interesting to note that at this altitude they grow lots of our vegetables such as cabbage, leeks, carrots, salad leaves, tomatoes, cucumbers and green beans. Incidentally mobile phone signals from here and in the depths of the jungle were great!!

It was now time to come down from the hills and head for the coast passing beautiful scenery and waterfalls on the way. We arrived at Yala in the late afternoon – what a fantastic place, but what a shock 3 COURSE SUNDAY LUNCHES to come for us as this was the coastline that the Tsunami first hit Sri £23.50 - Served between 12 noon and 2.00pm Lanka in 2005. Yala is a safari park on the SW coast and a truly Booking advisable beautiful place to visit and by the time of our visit it had picked itself PRIVATE CELEBRATIONS up and rebuilt most that had been destroyed. Apparently, on the Up to 80 guests with fabulous service day of the Tsunami, a party of visitors were on an early morning safari and award winning food, ensures a day to remember 6 43 trip and had stopped at a beautiful beach to have breakfast. Whilst eating breakfast the sea had suddenly receded and they all stood watching it until they realised that a 50 ft. wall of water was racing towards them. By then it was too late and some of the bodies were found a mile inland in the jungle. Now there is a beautiful stainless steel monument on the beach, shaped like a breaking wave, with all their names engraved on it. It was very emotional standing on that beach looking out to sea. From now on our journey took us right along the coast seeing the devastation that can still be seen today. Lots of re-building work has gone on and life has returned to normal for many people, but it was very sad to see.

The remainder of our stay was spent at Bentota Beach and in 21 Colombo. Everywhere we went security was very high because of the on-going problems, but we felt very safe. Mike had wanted to visit Trincomalee on the East coast where he spent many childhood holidays, but Nihal said it was too dangerous. We would have been OK but Nihal could have been attacked and his car stolen – he was a Buddhist and the Tamils ruled that area. A sobering thought, but now everywhere is peaceful. We still have contact with Sri Lanka through the Ceylon Association who arranged our memorable trip for us and who have done so much work to help the orphans of the Tsunami. We just wished Mike’s parents had still been alive – they would have loved hearing all about it. Mavis Palmer 42 7 Tuesday Club

We are glad to welcome back Mary Jeffrey to our meetings. Mary has been living in Cornwall for the past five years but has now returned to live in the village.

Since our last newsletter we have spent many a Tuesday morning using our brains doing different quizzes and having lots of fun with different games. We have also had quite a few mornings where we just had coffee and chatted, and chatted, and chatted! 01295 730544 We have also learnt some new domestic skills. Dilly demonstrated the

art of sugar craft. On another occasion we sampled sausages made by A picturesque pub restaurant for families, couples friends, Tony Tarrant who then gave a demonstration of how they were made. wedding parties, a relaxing pint, a spot of lunch, something Two lovely local ladies demonstrated flower arranging. We also special...come and see for yourself invited ourselves to see Emily Pearson’s new kitchen and now we all want new kitchens! In September we spent a morning in Eileen’s Weekly changes in Table d’hôte menu kitchen learning the secrets of her famous doughnuts. Followed of Two and Three Course Meals available course by coffee and delicious fresh doughnuts! Family Sunday Lunches Ideal for functions - small and large, from In September we visited the art exhibition of paintings by Hazel parties of 10 to 150 peoples. Robinson (Eileen’s sister). After admiring the lovely artwork we sat in Hazel’s garden for coffee and biscuits. Money raised from this From outstanding food from our function event went to charity. or à la carte menus that can be tailored to any specific requirements, along with a professional, In November we helped some church members organise a mini highly trained team of friendly staff Christmas Bazaar and soup lunch for church funds.

We finished the Autumn term with an enjoyable buffet lunch with a Summer coming - enjoy Alfresco Dining beautiful array of food prepared by club members. on our Patio Terrace In February we had our post-Christmas lunch at The Plough, Pimms & Champagne by the glass Warmington. A few of us did say we would walk there, but then thought better of it! The fish and chips especially were delicious and The Moon and Sixpence Main Street Hanwell the portions very generous. Not many of us managed a pudding! OX17 1HW Also in February we had our annual pancake making session to celebrate Shrove Tuesday. Our menfolk were invited and everybody www.themoonandsixpencehanwell.com enjoyed the delicious pancakes cooked by Eileen and Mavis. 8 41

In March we are hoping to organise an Easter lunch.

As you can see we all enjoy our Tuesday mornings with lots of S.K Auto Repairs Unit 6, Manor Farm Buildings different activities. Please feel free to come along to the Village Hall Mollington Road, Shotteswell any Tuesday between 10.30 and 12 noon (10.00 to 11.30 on library Banbury Oxfordshire OX17 1HZ van days). You will be most welcome. Mobile: 07769 565114 Tel: 01295 738300 E-mail: [email protected]

Our activities programme is displayed on the Village Hall notice board MOT TESTING CENTRE (Open 6 days a week) and can be seen on the community website Shotteswell.com but for Service & repair any make/model further information please contact Keri Holman (730326) or Mavis Tyres Exhaust, Brakes, Clutches etc. Specialist in Peugeot, Citroen, Hyundai,& Landrover Palmer (730901). Established since 2002 with a professional, Friendly & welcoming atmosphere

Joan Crocker VEHICLE COLLECTION & DELIVERY WITHIN 10 MILE RADIUS.

LUNCH AT THE HALL. Exit Shotteswell on Mollington Lane and garage just before Valley Farm Riding Stables It came to our notice from a recent questionnaire completed in the Village that quite a few people would like more social events and with this in mind we decided to start a monthly LIGHT LUNCH AT THE VILLAGE HALL. The first one took place on Friday 6th February when home made soups and beans or spaghetti on toast were on the menu, the second was on Saturday 7th March when again we had home made soups, crusty bread and a Ploughman's. On both occasions coffee, tea and cakes were served.

We were undecided whether a Friday or Saturday would suit most people but so far about the same number attended on both days, so no decision  Traditional and Contemporary stoves has yet been made, please let us know your views.  Full Hetas Fitting Service  Chimney Lining The next LIGHT LUNCH will be on Easter Saturday 4th April when we hope  Accessories & Spare Parts to see many more of you attending as it is a nice relaxing social event.  Friendly Professional Service  Ample Free Parking Please do try to come to support us. Any profit made will go towards Church Funds. Visit our showroom at Pauline Tarrant, Christine Pym, Elisabeth Gilchrist Beaumont Road, Banbury, Oxfordshire OX16 1RH (opposite Jewson) T: 01295 253936 E: [email protected] www.ironandwood.co.uk 40 Shotteswell Parish Plan 9 Red Horse Vale Ltd. Your Village - Your Say F N PILE & SONS Windmill Farm FIR TREE FARM, WARMINGTON Banbury Road (A422) Since the last article on the progress of the Parish Plan, BANBURY. OX17 1JL Oxhill Warwickshire CV35 0RP various areas highlighted for further enquiry have been Tel 01295 211790 Offer the following with delivery addressed. Your local Supplier For: services throughout the area: Coal and Solid Fuels, Central Heating Oil, As you will know we set up some Action Groups to look at the outcomes Wood Burning & Multi Fuel Farm Oils, and the issues that were raised and how they could be addressed. Stoves Logs and Kindling Wood. Gas in Cylinders, Oil Tanks Sand & Ballast, To date we have made progress in some areas and in others we have still to Lawnmowers Cement, move forward to resolve some of the issues. Garden Machinery Slabs, Fencing Materials, Workshop & Garden Tools Garden Supplies, Top Soil, Composts, We have now reached the point where we will shortly produce the full Wood Chippings, Calor Gas - Outdoor Clothing Animal Feeds, Garden Sheds Parish Plan report and record what we have achieved so far and what still Spares, Repairs & Servicing & Cement Mixer Hire remains to be done. As Parish Plans are considered to be live documents i.e.

able to be updated at regular intervals, this will enable us to report on Open Always at your Service ! Call us for a Free Quotation ! progress, probably through this excellent Village Newsletter and on the Mon to Fri 8.00am - 5.00pm Also E. Commerce Shop Community website www.shotteswell.com . Sat 8.30 – 12.00 noon Tel: 01926 642832 website: www.redhorsevale.co.uk We have updated our information on the website to include a Combined email: [email protected] Survey document which embraces a revised Survey Summary with the full

ARC Garden Services Questionnaire statistical data. This is entitled “Summary Report and Survey Results-Autumn 2014”. This contains minor amendments to the text in Logs & Kindling Wood MISS “T” CATERING some areas, notably in the area related to comments about the Parish Council and the views expressed in the Summary Survey original document. Seasoned Hardwood Good Home Cooked Food We accept in hindsight that the comments drew conclusions that were not Catering for events such as: based upon the statistical information but more on some of the comments Anniversaries, Weddings, Delivered to your door and conclusions drawn from a perception of community relations in Or Christenings, Birthday parties, Funerals & private dinner parties committee discussions. We apologise for this oversight and hope the Collect from Wroxton amendment in the above document corrects the position.

ESTABLISHED We intend the Parish Plan report to be a comprehensive summary of the OVER 10 YEARS work we have done since the start of the project in 2013 and will include

Call Richard or Sylvia Cook sections on the purpose of a Parish Plan, a record of the progress over the last two years, details of the geography, position and features of the Parish, For a prompt and efficient Also available a brief history, Survey outcomes and Action Plans. Service Cutlery and Crockery Hire. Contact Victoria Taylor on: 01295 730010 Mob: 07841 910037 A final note on village history as this is an area where we have tried to bring or 07774981297 Home: 01295 780206 together various information sources from records and individual 10 39 memories. We found ourselves creating a document that asked many questions, noting conflicting views and with many gaps. We have therefore concluded that to provide a comprehensive history section will take a lot FENNY COMPTON CINEMA more research and resolving conflicting sources of information than we can Held in the Village Hall address in the Parish Plan.

The next showing at Fenny Compton Cinema will be So we will be suggesting in the Parish Plan report that, like Warmington, it would be a good idea to set up a History/Heritage Group to provide a Mr. Turner comprehensive record of our village history. So those interested in our Village history, this is your opportunity! on April 25th at 7 pm

Brian Noble - Chairperson Shotteswell Parish Plan Steering Committee Further details from - Keith Hicks - 770747 or check on events blog: fcvhevents.blogspot.com.

Shotteswell Footpaths To join the film list and have the options emailed at the earliest opportunity please send your details to: Last year the crops grown in this area were mainly wheat and barley, [email protected]. which gave a few problems. Some paths had not been kept clear and To book in advance contact - Keith Hicks, Tel: 770747. the farmer was informed. A considerable amount of branches and fallen trees, which were brought down by the strong winds, have been removed. This year the crops could be mainly rape which could generate a lot of problems, so all the farmers concerned have been requested to ensure the footpaths are kept clear.

The land on which the Roger Peel Millennium Footpath is located (the path is mainly permissive) has recently been sold and we are grateful to John Taylor for keeping the path in such good condition over the years.

URGENT

I would again like to remind ALL persons using the footpaths – normal and permissive – THAT THEY MUST KEEP TO THE LINE OF THE FOOTPATHS and not take short cuts or alternative routes. Your dogs must be under control at all times. In fact if you do stray from the footpaths you are trespassing on the Landowner’s land. 38 11

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT PERMISSIVE FOOTPATHS Banbury Farm & HAVE BEEN CREATED DUE TO THE GENEROSITY OF THE General Supplies LAND OWNER AND IF WE DO NOT OBEY THESE RULES Ltd. WE COULD LOSE THE USE OF THE THESE FOOTPATHS, THEY CAN EASILY STOP PEOPLE USING THESE PATHS BY CLOSING THEM. WE DO NOT WANT TO LOSE THE USE Supplier of fencing OF THE ROGER PEEL MILLENNIUM FOOTPATH DUE TO materials, paving slabs, LACK OF CONTROL OF THEIR DOGS BY SOME OWNERS. sheds, gates, tools and much, much more… If you are unsure about the location of the footpaths and their status then a copy of the Village Footpaths may be obtained from Come and visit us, David Holman Tel No 730326. we are situated on the B4100 between DOG FOULING - IT IS OBVIOUS THAT ALL DOG OWNERS Warmington and Gaydon. AND DOG WALKERS ARE NOT CLEARING UP THEIR DOG’S MESSES ON THE PATHS. Please ensure that you keep Or contact us on: the footpaths clear. 01295 770707 . Please note ALL FOOTPATHS are open to people with or without dogs, but the dogs MUST be under control at all times - this means on a lead or at heel. Dogs are only allowed in the Playing Field if they are R.Wakelin Heating walked across the field on the footpath and under control as stated Services Ltd. above. . 31 The Dairyground, Shutford, Oxon. OX15 6PN David Holman Tel: 01295 788359 Mobile: 07810 754434

[email protected] St. Laurence Church Bellringers Boiler Servicing / Repairs The sound of bells ringing is deeply rooted in British culture. Almost Gas and Oil everyone in Britain lives within hearing range of bells. They provide the grand soundtrack to our historic moments, call out for our celebrations and

Gas Safe Registered Offtec Registered toll sadly in empathy with our grief. The bitter-sweet sound of just one bell (190421) (C6644) or the majesty of a whole peal, has become part of the English Heritage and much of the country's history can be traced through the history of its bells. It is hard to believe that it is well over 15 years now, and probably closing in 12 37 Caramelised Apples with Almonds

on 20, since our first practices after the bells were re-hung and, since learning, we have rung in the new millennium, Royal Celebrations and a APPLES - (Coxes or similar); 1 per person number of special events. Method A ‘brief’ recent history of Shotteswell’s bells - the bells in their current state are a fairly recent event in the history of the church. Until 1996 the church Peel, core and halve had an un-ringable set of five bells, but were re-hung. There had been a ring of five here since John Briant added a treble to the existing four bells in Put cut side down into a buttered dish with a piece of butter paper 1808. The old wooden frame, a four bell frame of standard layout with the over them treble hung above between parallel beams was removed in favour of a metal frame in 1995 as part of the rehanging, restoration and, for one bell, Bake 15-20 minutes recasting. Remove and pour over sauce – see below Is bell ringing easy? Do I need to have Popeye muscles to pull those heavy bells? Learning to bell ring is all about technique – much more than it is Sprinkle with almonds about strength or mathematical ability. People disappearing up into the tower attached to the bell rope doesn’t happen (often J). The type of bell Bake at 180C 20-25 minutes ringing in this country is called full-circle ringing, as the bell's mechanism on a wheel allows it to rotate 360 degrees. First the bells are rung 'up', with the NB If keeping dish warm, turn oven right down so that the sauce angle of swing gradually increased until the bell is swinging full circle and it doesn’t continue to caramelise into hard toffee. can be balanced mouth upwards on the stay - known as being 'set'. For the bell ringers, they must pull the bell at each 'stroke' to make it rotate again Sauce – for 3 apples for another full circle swing. Each time the bell ringer pulls the rope the bell swings and sounds. Sounds tricky, but once grasped after a few practices it 1 ½ oz flaked almonds is the basis for all future ringing. In Change Ringing, it is possible for the bell ringers to adjust the time at which they pull their rope to control the speed 2oz butter of striking to produce the pattern of changes. 3 oz sugar – ½ caster and ½ soft brown Once gained, bell ringing is a skill for life you'll never forget and can open up a lifetime of experiences and enjoyment. At St Lawrence there is a very I tablespoon flour - or “white mixture”/rice flour etc social group of ringers that practice regularly. We were unfortunate in 2014 1 tablespoon milk that the restoration work limited our practices during the summer months, but we have continued to ring regularly since. Once the scaffolding came Sauce down a flurry of visiting ringing groups cleared off the dust that had settled and since then we have rung regularly on a Tuesday night. Practice starts Put all except almonds in saucepan, stir on low heat until smooth from 7.30pm on a Tuesday. So if you’re interested in learning to ring, or about the bells in general, please come along. Pour over apples; as per above sprinkle almonds on top and bake

Kate Whythe Andrew Jeffrey, Secretary Shotteswell Bellringers. 36 13 Shotteswell Village Hall I am delighted to report that £49.57 has been raised this quar-

ter, through EASYFUNDRAISING, for Church funds. This is the most we have achieved, so far, in a quarter which is brilliant so many thanks to all who have supported us. The Village Hall continues to provide a facility for the residents of Shotteswell and surrounding areas.

We have, at present, 33 members signed up and a total of £394.59 Secondary glazing was installed for the main hall windows and the bulge in the rear retaining wall was repaired in the autumn. has been raised since we started. In response to the findings of the Parish Plan a sub-committee was REMEMBER: EVERY LITTLE HELPS at no extra cost to yourselves. established at the AGM to look at ideas for revamping decoration in the main hall. The group has looked at colour schemes, new curtains

and improved lighting for the hall and reported back to the Thanks, Pauline Tarrant 730687 committee in January. However we also need to repair plaster defects (cracks and damp-affected spalling areas) before redecoration can commence. We are now following up these ideas and looking to TIDY GARDENS raise funds to allow them to go ahead. We will be looking for offers Mowing: Weeding: Hedge Cutting of help with the preparation and redecoration so please contact any Patios: General Maintenance: Fencing member of the committee if you can assist. We will circulate a note John Stuart around the village nearer the time. Grant applications are being made Suncroft, Shotteswell, OX17 1HU along with other fund raising possibilities.

Mobile: 07974 170039 - Evenings: 01295 738494 Quizzes have been held in November and March and provided an entertaining evening for the full house that attended in addition to contributing to funds.

Forthcoming Events Anyone able to offer funding ideas or support should contact our Chairman, Mike Palmer.

Light Lunch in the Village Hall - Saturday 4th April Hire of the hall for parties and other functions continue in addition to the regular clubs and meetings.

Progressive Supper - Saturday 6th June The Village Fete this year is on Saturday 4th July and we will provide our full support as usual.

Shotteswell Village Fete - Saturday 4th July Regular activities include: Monday afternoons– Nick Baldwin’s Art Class 14 35

Tuesday Mornings – Tuesday Club The Tomato Garden Thursday Morning – Exercise Class An old Italian gentleman lived alone in New Jersey. He Committee members are:- Mike Palmer (Chairman), Terry Clark (Treasurer), Linda Clark (Secretary and Lettings Officer), Joan Noble, wanted to plant his annual tomato garden, but it was very Elisabeth Gilchrist, Ray Adkins, Hilary Wareing and Jane Ablett. difficult work as the ground was so hard. His only son, Don’t forget that in addition to providing a venue for your parties and Vincent, who used to help him was in prison. The old man activities the hall has equipment which is available for hire and a table tennis table. wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament:

Hire costs: Hall - £5 per hour. (includes tables, chairs and kitchen equipment) Dear Vincent, I am feeling pretty sad because it looks like I Equipment for individual hire won’t be able to plant my tomato garden this year. I’m just Go-pack folding tables - £2 each Chairs - 25p each getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. I know if Cutlery and crockery - POA you were here my troubles would be over. I know you would Skittles & Coconut Shy - £5 Trestle tables - £3 be happy to dig the plot for me, like in the old days. 6m Gazebo - £30 (deposit required) Love Papa.

Contact Linda Clark 738143 or Mike Palmer 730901 A few days later he received a letter from his son. Dear Papa, Don’t dig up that garden. That’s where the bodies are buried. Love Vinnie.

At 4 a.m the next morning FBI Agents and local police arrived and dug up the entire area without finding any bodies. They apologised to the old man and left. The same day the old man received another letter from his son.

Dear Papa, Go ahead and plant the tomatoes now. That’s

the best I could do under the circumstances.

Love you, Vinnie. 34 15 Fosse Foodbank Update of schools. The Council will consolidate the Safer Routes to Schools programme and ensure a pace of delivery through the establishment In the 22 months since Fosse Foodbank of a cross-party task force to oversee the programme. Spending will opened and in that time we have provided be allocated to road safety engineering initiatives in the vicinity of food parcels for 328 people in the local schools, to include, but not limited, to advisory limits outside schools, area. On top of this we have been able to 20 mph zones and 20 mph speed limits. supply food to other foodbanks in the area to provide food parcels for another Match Fund investment of £4.170 million from BDUK to extend the 1000 people. The vast majority of our coverage of Superfast Rural Broadband to 98% of Warwickshire clients have only ever needed one parcel of three days of food to help households has been agreed. them get over a crisis they were facing.

Parish Plan – The County Council continues to support the This has only been possible because of the work of a great team of community in preparation of their Parish Plan. Our Officers have volunteers and the generosity of people in the area that have donated attended coordination meetings and, hopefully, when the work of the nearly 17 tonnes of food since we opened. Steering Group is completed the Parish Council will adopt the recommendations of the Steering Group when producing their Parish One of our latest clients came for help because her partner had walked Plan. out, leaving her and her daughter with no money, significant debts and

As usual, if anyone would like to get in touch with me, please call on no food in the house. The Foodbank was able to deliver a food parcel 01295 770792 or send an email to [email protected] to her and provide advice on other agencies that could offer support in and I will endeavour to help you in any way I can. her situation. It is terrible that people can end up in this position, but when things like this happen it is good that we can be here to help. Cllr. Chris Williams, Member for Division - WCC - September 2014 As well as helping people with short term crises we are also working to combat some of the underlying causes of food poverty. We have been working with Orbit Housing and in March 2015 are launching a CLIVE SHARPLES new Job Club to help people get back into work. We were very sorry to hear that Clive died in hospital on Thursday March 12th. Clive, Ciss and their three children moved to the house Thank you for your support, it is making a positive difference in the he built in Middle Lane in the sixties. He was a very keen member of lives of many local people the Banbury SubAqua Club and he and Ciss spent many holidays in Barry Jackson the Maldives. His great hobby was woodworking and turning and he FOOD BANK CONTRIBUTIONS made many items for the village, including the handrail leading from Chapel Lane to the church gate, the Village Hall wall notice and the Regrettably we have very few regular contributors to the Food Bank in Notice Board outside the Village Hall. When the church bells were the Village. It would be much appreciated if you could drop round a rehung in 1996 Clive used the old oak beams to produce bowls, cake bag of non-perishable food regularly to Keri & David Holman, White slices, etc, which he sold in aid of the church. Cottage, Mollington Lane at any time. Please come to the back door. 16 33 Views from the Vestry Warwickshire is the preferred option. Currently, central government has stated that devolution, at a national level, was By the time this article is published the recent necessary to see proper devolution for cities and county areas. The conservation project should be completed and we theory is that power together with money would be delegated can afford to look back over the last four years with down to city and county areas allowing each authority to determine some satisfaction in the confidence we will have how and where its taxation was to be spent. This matter is due to achieved all we set out to do. Elsewhere in the be debated during the early part of March at the County Council. Newsletter you will find details of the financing of the project and it is thanks to the efforts of David Community Grants – I am pleased to report that through my support Holman that sufficient funds were raised through local sponsorship the Village Hall were successful with their application for a and tenacious grant applications - including a very generous Community Grant. A sum of £500 has been awarded to improve the contribution from English Heritage who provided 46% of the required windows in the building. funding. Fiscal Matters at WCC – This has been a quiet time as far as the All the windows at risk of losing ancient glass have been conserved, County Council is concerned. Most of the administration has been and it is very pleasing that so little replacement glass was required, the concentrating on the preparation for the 2015 Budget which was vast majority of the work used the existing glass in its former position. debated on Thursday 5th February for 14 hours. In essence, this is the One result of the release of money set aside for unexpected work on second year of a four year Budget and any changes were alterations the masonry was the opportunity to tackle a couple of extra windows. to ensure that the proposals made last year will be achieved. With the scaffold in place around the tower a close inspection of the There have been some unexpected costs with regard to the Care Act modern replacement window in the tower revealed its unsatisfactory nature, in particular the poor installation into the window aperture. which will cost the County Council some £4 million per annum extra This had to come out and be reinstalled so the decision was taken to to implement. As a direct result, the County Council has announced use hand made glass suitable for the period of the window, and to use that Council Tax will increase by 1.95%. This equates to 48p per week a pattern, also consistent with the period of the structure. This proved for an average Band D property. a very successful change and has improved the appearance The Council is committed to ensuring residents feel safe in their significantly both from the interior and the exterior. A couple of homes and recognise that street lighting is a key element in this windows on the north side of the church were also added to the perception of safety. We will invest £4 million in LED street lighting specification, further enhancing the glazing throughout. as part of a match funding exercise of some £20 million in total.

There was total support the Council’s bid to the DfT for capital The high level masonry is beginning to blend admirably with the rest of the ancient stonework and the pinnacles look as though they have investment to escalate the upgrade of street lighting to LED always been part of the structure. They give the tower a balanced and technology so as to ensure the delivery of savings, reduce energy stable appearance without being intrusive in any way. costs and maximise flexibility on part-night lighting policy. The Council is committed to ensuring the safety of our children The south door and its access into the churchyard has also been through investing £3 million (£0.5 million reallocation and £2.5 tackled and although there are no plans to use the door on a regular million new allocation) in traffic, road and cycling safety in the vicinity 32 17 Report from Cllr. Chris Williams, Your County Councillor basis its advanced decay certainly detracted visually. In order to preserve as much of the old timber as possible just the rotten sections Hopefully, winter has now passed by and we can look forward to were removed and replaced with new oak giving rise to a rather springtime. startling effect, though as the new timber mellows its appearance begins to mature in a satisfying way. It is very obvious that over the Fire & Rescue - After completing their Public Consultation, the Fire centuries the level of the graveyard has risen significantly, not & Resue Service, through the County Council, have accepted the surprising when it is apparent that burials have taken place in this plot new proposals for running the Fire & Rescue Service in for over a thousand years. To keep the south wall of the church dry a Warwickshire. These proposals include continuing discussions with gully has been constructed to stop the soil piling up against the church adjoining authorities with a view to improving efficiencies, and this has been the subject of considerable efforts over the last improving our access time in rural areas. A reduction from 20 couple of years to ensure the water running from the roof does not minutes to 15 minutes is now the accepted standard with a saturate the walls. The drainage all along the south side has been likelihood that this will be reduced to 10 minutes during this year. improved dramatically. One consequence of the gully is the As far as Shotteswell is concerned the Fenny Compton Fire Station necessity for steps inside the church leading up to the raised threshold will continue to be operational. The Fire Service must be level of the south door and a bridge over the gully to reach the congratulated on their excellent performance when attending the churchyard. This external bridge did give rise to problems when it recent house fire in Shotteswell. It must be remembered that 70% was first re-laid because at times of heavy rainfall water tended to splash back under the door and run into the church. This problem has of the work of Warwickshire Fire & Rescue Service is not associated been addressed and we hope there will be no further incidents of water with fire but far more with rescue. A new Fire Station operating intrusion but I think we will need to look at the way the south door fits 24/7 will be based at the Aston Martin site. This facility will operate into the aperture and devise some way of making it a little more the new high speed four-man team which is the preferred method weatherproof. of operating these days. The new Fire Station should come on line towards the end of this year. The Fire Brigade Union have accepted In my last article in August I drew attention to the churchyard wall, a and endorsed the new proposals. section of which collapsed last winter. We were awaiting permission

Impact of the Scottish Referendum – The decision taken by to remove a couple of hazel trees whose movement in the winds had Scotland that they should stay within the UK has crystallised undoubtedly caused the wall to collapse, and we then had to obtain diocesan permission to use local volunteer labour to address the wall. Regionisation debate within the country. The practical proposals These permissions were granted in September and later in the autumn for devolution have struck a chord with the national mood as Terry Clark cleared the timber from the trees and Andrew Pick and politicians from all parties are now discussing how English Michael Betts used a massive machine to delicately pull the trees from authorities could benefit from additional powers. We, in the the ground - an impressive sight! Their skill ensured the roots came County, in conjunction with other Shire Authorities, have out in one piece though rather large holes remained, but with very little approached the government to find out how authorities could disturbance in the churchyard and no further damage to the wall. We benefit from additional powers. There is a fear that Warwickshire were then left with around 6 metres of wall to rebuild and a huge pile could be subsumed by Birmingham but I believe that there is no of mixed stone! appetite to move in this direction and independence for 18 31 Faster Broadband - A Waiting Game! I'm thrilled to say that this job is just about complete. Keith Harper nobly volunteered to lead the efforts and he has made a wonderful job The good news is that Faster Broadband is getting closer to those of reconstructing the wall. It is a job that would have cost well over us in Shotteswell. The Wroxton telephone exchange has now been £1000 to employ a builder but we have achieved the splendid final fibre enabled. That upgrade was not part of the CSW consortium result simply for the cost of the materials. Well done to all who have contract as it is in Oxfordshire. had a hand in this particular project. The pictures below illustrate the extent of the work. The next step is a waiting for the Wroxton exchange to be connected to a roadside cabinet in Shotteswell and this is part of CSW’s current contract and is scheduled for the last half of 2015.

You can keep up to date by visiting the CSW website (www.cswbroadband.org.uk) and by visiting the Shotteswell

community website (www.shotteswell.com) where, if you register an interest, you will get an email alert when a new item is posted, including the latest bulletins from CSW.

John Crocker And now for the future! Our next architectural survey is overdue and the PCC has resolved to commission that as soon as the present works are complete. We will get a full structural report and that will enable us to plan for the future. There are several exciting ideas in the PROGRESSIVE DINNER PARTY pipeline and I hope to be able to report on our future plans in the next in aid of Church Funds article. This year's PROGRESSIVE DINNER PARTY is to be held on SATURDAY Finally, the mowing season is upon us. The volunteer mowers have 6TH JUNE 2015. As nearly all villagers know this is a lovely, relaxing, fun their rota but more help is always welcome. Do let me know if you evening and a great way to get to know your neighbours better. We are would like to get involved. lucky enough to have seven people who are willing to host this year so if you haven't already put your names down as guests it would be advis- Alan Reilly - 25th February 2015 able to do so as soon as possible.

My wife told me to stop impersonating a flamingo, so I had to put my The cost is £17.50 per person plus each guest to take a bottle of wine foot down! to their first host.

My wife and I were happy for twenty years; then we met! If anyone is new to the Village and would like more information please do not hesitate to contact me. Pauline Tarrant (730687) I was at an ATM and an old lady asked me to help check her Email: [email protected] balance, so I pushed her over! 30 19

Area 5 Linda Clark, Yew Tree Cottage, Snuff Lane OBITUARY 01295 738143 [email protected] We are sorry to inform you that two well known Shotteswellians, Mrs Valerie Scott and Mr Frank Newby both in their nineties died Please also consider joining the Rural Watch scheme if you have not in the latter part of last year. Both of these people did a lot for the already done so. Village and I have recorded some of their activities.

Contact details: Valerie Scott came to the village in 1966 with her twin daughters Emma and Deborah. She lived at the Manor for several years before Martin Sanford down sizing to Corner Cottage and then moved to Southrop near Lechlade to be near her daughter Emma. Valerie played an active part Police Community Support Officer 6060 in Village life, being on the Parish Council and an excellent Parish Wellesbourne Safer Neighbourhood Team Clerk for several years. In conjunction with the late Ann Greenwood Stratford on Avon Police Station she ran a children’s library. Tel: 01789 4446000 [email protected] Frank Newby also came to the Village in the early sixties with his wife Ann and two children Carol and Robin and lived initially at Linda Clark - Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator. Manor Cottage and later at Cobweb Cottage before moving to Tel.01295 738143 Stratford upon Avon in 2004. Frank was involved in many activities Email: [email protected] in the Village. As the Village had no Pub he set up the home based Pub Club, was a member and Chairman of the Parish Council. He was Chairman of the Village Hall Committee and was the leading light in converting the redundant Village School (which was purchased for the Road Verges in and around Shotteswell Village by the late Miss Porfumo) to a Village Hall. Frank was involved in the building of the extension and was also busy with the You may recall an article on the above subject written by a concerned maintenance. He set up and ran the Village Birthday Club, helped villager in the Shotteswell Newsletter’s April 2014 edition concerning with the Village Fete and if this was not enough was instrumental in the terrible condition of the verges in and around the Village. helping to provide Kineton High School with a swimming pool.

Despite passing bays being introduced on the Mollington Lane the For those who haven’t heard of the Birthday Club - on your birthday a condition of the verges has not improved and may even be worse, due parcel of small gifts was delivered to your home, very early, with a to vehicles not using the passing bays, tractors and heavy vehicles Birthday Card and your name was put up on the blackboard on the causing most of the damage. Village Hall, a flag was also flown for the day at the Village Hall and Cobweb Cottage. This job was very time consuming, as I carried it What action can be taken to ensure people use these passing places? out a couple of times when Frank was away.

David Holman 20 29 Notes from the Potting Shed Neighbourhood Watch

Neighbourhood Watch is one of the biggest and What a difference a year makes! When I wrote my notes from The most successful crime prevention initiatives Potting Shed for the April 2014 issue of the Shotteswell News ever and the largest voluntary organisation in Letter, I commented on the very wet weather of that winter two the country. In Warwickshire there are over years ago – 13 ½ inches of rain between mid December 2013 and mid 5,000 Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinators February 2014. In exactly the same period this winter we have had 4 with a membership exceeding 50,000 ½ inches – only a third of the quantity of the year before and really residents. much more normal in our part of . There has also been no significant snow to speak of either which has made life easier for us Since the last newsletter The Neighbourhood Watch scheme in all in Shotteswell. Shotteswell has been set up so that there are five areas with a co- ordinator for each. A letter-drop to each household was done around At the time of writing this, the snowdrops are in full flower and are at New Year inviting all residents to support the scheme and provide their best. It may surprise you to know that snowdrops are not native contact details if they wished to their area co-ordinator so they could to the UK. They do not appear to have been introduced by the be advised of any relevant Neighbourhood Watch information. Each Romans, but seem to have been first grown here sometime in the household was also provided with a map of the village. 16th century. They are of course native to both Western and Eastern Europe and particularly in the Baltic areas. Like poppies which have Neighbourhood Watch information and updates can be found on:- their well known connection to the First World War, snowdrops have www.shotteswell.com. their own connection to the Crimean War half a century The area co-ordinators are as follows:- earlier. Soldiers were enchanted with what they perceived as the Area 1 David Holman, White House, Mollington Road purity of the snowdrop when they were bogged down in Crimea, and 01295 730326 saw its flower as heralding Spring on the battlefield. Many survivors [email protected] brought back the bulbs to England to plant in their own gardens. Area 2 Ray Adkins, Manor Cottage, Mollington Road With the first signs of Spring not far off, look out for frogs and toads 01295 730042 [email protected] arriving at any suitable water in order to spawn. In our garden the most likely to be seen is the common frog. Adults vary in colour but Area 3 Anne Omer, Snowdrop View, First Turn are usually a shade of green or brown with darker patches behind the 01295 730312 eyes. They move by hopping whereas toads prefer to crawl. Each [email protected] female frog can lay several thousand eggs, which we can see as small black dots (embryos) surrounded by the characteristic transparent Area 4 Emily Pearson, Redlands Farm, Second Turn jelly, and left together in clumps. The frog’s eggs develop into 01295 730276 tadpoles and those that survive leave the ponds in early summer as [email protected] tiny froglets. Unfortunately, only a tiny proportion, perhaps only five 28 21

Roadside Rubbish Collection! out of every two thousand eggs survive to be adults. Natural predators including fish, birds, and even road-kill are the main For the past 4 months Anne and Jim Omer have been saving up the culprits. Some adults will then return to the same pond the rubbish they pick up on their daily perambulation round the top field following Spring. in Shotteswell (up First Turn to the B4100, along to Second Turn, down Second Turn and then past the Village Hall towards the Bus Let’s hope for another good summer in our gardens – a repeat of the Stop and then back home). weather last year would be great.

This is a photo of the rubbish Mike Palmer they have picked up, which they previously placed in their own waste bin, but as the volume seemed to be increasing it was decided to Bridge is fun, sociable and stimulating. save it up for a 4 month

period to demonstrate just how much stuff was being Locally you can play rubber bridge at the Warmington Bridge Club, which meets most Monday evenings in the Warmington Village Hall. discarded. This is an enjoyable and friendly evening from 7.30 to 10.00 pm. Newcomers most welcome. For further details - Pauline Tarrant The overwhelming majority of the drinks cans are Stella Artois and some have even been found intact and unopened but still thrown 730687. away into the verge. 90% of the litter is deposited along Second Turn which seems to be the dumping ground of choice. Most of the cans Also, if you would like to learn this fascinating game Beginner’s seem to be discarded in the early evening so if anyone happens to be Bridge lessons are available from Tony Tarrant - 730687. walking down Second Turn at that time of day and spots drinks cans being thrown onto the verge from a vehicle then any clues as to the In Kings Sutton Memorial Hall, Marion Day of the North Oxfordshire identity of the perpetrator will be gratefully accepted. Bridge Club is offering friendly Duplicate Bridge ‘supervised play’ sessions together with seminars on specific topics of bidding and play on Wednesday mornings. Coffee from 9.40 am and then Bridge from SHOTTESWELL CHARITIES 10.00 am to 12 noon. Contact Marion on 01295 811393, or Jonathan Please remember that a loaf of bread from the SHOTTESWELL on 0776 6621710. CHARITIES will be delivered to every house in the Village, at Easter, as it has been for the last few years. If you do not want to receive the bread, and have not already told us, please let me know asap. Thank you, Pauline Tarrant - 730687 22 27 Funding for Fabric Repairs to St. Laurence Church Shotteswell

Amusing names for Shops and Trades People. ALL the contracted refurbishment work of the St Laurence Church has been completed; details in Alan Reilly’s article “Views from the Vestry”. The only remaining work to be completed is the restoration Fish & Chip Shops: A Fish called Rhondda. Licensed and improvements to the drains and gullies on the North side and a to Grill. Frying Squad, The Codfather. small amount on the South side, all this work will be completed by a small band of villagers this year. All the costs of the project have been Bridal Shop: Aisle Alter Hymn. fully funded and payments have been made to all contractors. On behalf of the Parochial Church Council I would like to thank the generous contributors to the “Sponsor a Window Scheme” which Chimney Sweep: Up Yours. raised over £10,000 and those who contributed financially by fund raising, storage of materials and those who provided physical effort, a Plumber: Drain Surgeon. great village effort.

The estimated cost of the project was £122,400 which included Landscape Gardeners: Clever Sods. Architect’s fees, Builders’ materials, labour and VAT, but due to various contingencies being less than planned and some not being Plasterer: Flat Boy Skim. required the total cost was less than estimated, so some extra work has been accomplished. Sports Shop: Merchant of Tennis. David Holman - Tel .No. 730326 Roofer: Bonnie Tyler A brunette goes into a doctor's office and says that her body hurts wherever she touches it. "Impossible," says the doctor. "Show me." Dentist: Nothing but the Tooth. She takes her finger, presses on her elbow, and screams in agony. She pushes her knee and screams, pushes her ankle and screams, and so it White Goods Shop: Sell Fridges. goes on; everywhere she touches makes her scream with pain.

The doctor says, "You're not really a brunette are you?" S Hairdressers: Hair Force One

She says, "No, I dyed my hair. I'm naturally blonde." Window Cleaner: Seymour Clearly "I thought so," he says. "Your finger is broken." 26 23 A New Venture - Aerobics Classes in Some Reflections as your District Councillor: Shotteswell Village Hall 2004 – 2015 For many years Alan and I have been swimming regularly at Spiceball Looking back as I near retirement in May there were two major in Banbury on a Sunday evening where we participate in the adult lane influences that led me to put myself forward as a District Councillor swimming session. This session follows a very popular Aquarobics for the Burton Dassett Ward in 2004: the first was that, having retired class which is run by Izzy Pilkington. Over time we got to know her recently from the hurly burly of a demanding job in the corporate as she talked to members of her class in the foyer as they went home. business world, I was anxious to prevent the old brain box from silting This prompted me to mention the fact that we were keen to start some up! kind of exercise class in Shotteswell using the Village Hall, and Izzy agreed to come and have a look and assess its suitability. She thought The other – more importantly – was that having lived and brought up it ideal and so we decided to gauge support for the idea with a view to my children in Arlescote since 1979, I wanted to “put something back launching a class in the village. in the tin” for all the pleasure and enjoyment this area had afforded me and my family - similar to the contribution I felt my own Parish As a result we started Aerobics classes at the beginning of October Council was making for the benefit of Warmington & Arlescote and have been running for about 6 months now, meeting on a residents. Thursday morning for a one hour session starting at 9.45am. We run in 6 week sessions, with each session costing £30 - making a cost of I succeeded the late Brian Hampson who had been the Ward Member £5 per class. for 16 years – a respected and experienced Councillor. So what were my initial reactions and impressions of becoming your District Izzy is a fully qualified PE teacher and instructor and in addition to Councillor? running regular Aquarobics classes in both Banbury and Chipping Firstly, having had no previous experience of local government, a Norton she also teaches Pilates and Aerobics. mixture of gratitude for the electors’ confidence yet sheer panic over

whether I could fulfil this! My latter state of mind was barely The Village Hall can comfortably accommodate 10/11 people for a mitigated by the then paucity (since improved) of the District class and at the moment we have 10 regular members so there is room Council’s induction training for ‘green’ District Councillors; and in for an additional member or two. Very often there is someone who particular, knowing what services the District or County Council were can't manage the class on a particular week so space is created. If responsible for. I well remember in the early days going to Parish anyone else is interested in joining our fun classes then do let me Council meetings and being terrified that my lack of basic knowledge know (01295 730476). Izzy is a sympathetic and encouraging teacher would be glaringly and publicly exposed! who makes the classes varied and interesting, paying particular attention to the needs and capabilities of each person. We are very Another early frustration that struck me was the length of time the fortunate to have available the skill and expertise she brings to our decision making process takes in local government – by contrast to the group. corporate world - because of all the various consultative protocols that have to be undertaken. Nor did the “promise” materialise of the role Sue Reilly - 26th February 2015 taking only a little of one’s time! I soon found that the combination of case work, preparing for and attending meetings, reading endless papers and so forth averaged anything between 25-30 hours a week. 24 25

why I have been an advocate of Parishes having their own Parish Plans The steep learning curve gradually flattened and late 2005 I was so that a clear mandate and blue print for the future is established - on invited to become a Cabinet member responsible for the the one hand for operating the status quo where desired but on the Environmental Services portfolio, with the prime remit to re-negotiate other, developing an action plan to bring about such improvements the refuse & recycling contract, and in so doing, introduce a more user that are seen as necessary and desirable, say, 15-20 years hence. & environmentally-friendly service (remember all those black plastic Accordingly, I commend the current work being undertaken in sacks and various recycling boxes?). After a long and often bumpy Shotteswell to come up with its own Plan and I shall look forward to gestation period, the system we have in place today was introduced in hearing in due course that it has been formally adopted. 2008 and has been a success in terms of residents’ acceptance of it (a 91% satisfaction rate) and in placing our District Council in the My retirement in May coincides with my term as Chairman of the recycling “Top 10” of all local authorities nationally. A satisfying District Council coming to an end. Undertaking this primary civic role result for all the blood sweat ‘n tears involved! has been both an honour and a privilege and amongst other things, has brought me into contact with the huge variety of charitable and For a time I was responsible for the Planning portfolio and latterly was voluntary organisations that add value to the rich tapestry of our Chairman of the East Area Planning Committee – neither role being a district as a whole. If I was to sum up my lasting impression of what particularly easy or enviable one during a period of significant change all these bodies actually contribute and achieve, it is simply this – The in planning regulations introduced by the Government. Planning and Big Society ethos is very much alive and kicking – and long may it development in the widest sense is, and always will be, a controversial continue to be so. issue – perhaps best summed up by the old adage “you can please some of the people some of the time but not all the people all of the Finally, as is so often the case with this sort of ‘job’, without the time”! Locally I am well able to recall some of the difficult enduring support, patience (typified by - “it’s in the oven”!) and applications that stood to impact on every one of the 6 villages in my understanding that I have been lucky enough to have had in abundance Ward, some of which were successfully defended, others not so. from my wife Liz I could not have done what I have aspired to do throughout my Ward over last 11 years, and I hope above all else that I During my time as a District Councillor I have always endeavoured to may have helped in making this as good, if not a better place to live in. support the role Parish Councils play for their communities. I am firmly of the view that these elected volunteer bodies are the most Simon H Jackson - 28th February 2015 important cog in the local government wheel, being the tier closest to the grass roots. Bottom up rather than top down is an ethos I have always believed in as this approach is helpful when seeking to Councillor Simon Jackson, our District Councillor for the last represent communities’ views at the next (District Council) level. 11years, has decided not to seek re-election at the May elections. We would like to thank Simon for all the work he has carried out in the I often ask myself what have I contributed during my time as Ward District and for Shotteswell, especially for his untiring efforts in member by way of changes/improvements. Tangibly, the answer is ensuring that the Wind Mast application was rejected. We know that probably not a lot! But this has to be balanced against what changes/ his duties amount to about three days a week and hope he will be improvements are actually wanted in communities where, as things able to spend more time on his gardening and riding and we wish stand at present, they are broadly happy in their own skins? This is him a long and happy retirement.