Number 629 March 2021

BLEWBURY SCHOOL GETS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY BOOST The period since the pandemic struck back in March 2020 has put all sorts of new pressures on schools, and Blewbury School has been working flat-out to adapt to these rapidly changing circumstances – especially by providing engaging remote learning through the long periods when many pupils couldn’t come into School. Inevitably this has put a huge strain on the School’s IT resources. Fortunately one of the School governors, Maxine Evans, as well as being a very experienced school leader and former headteacher, now works in the fast-moving field of educational technology. She has been working with the new School leadership team to review and rapidly upgrade all of the School’s IT systems, and after some amazingly speedy transformations a virtually brand new IT system will be in place very soon. Whichever way you look at it, the IT upgrading task was daunting and enormous, and it took hard work and imagination to navigate a path through. Our school recognises the importance of technology to serve our pupils, staff and parents/carers during these challenging times and beyond. As such, we have been engaged in an exciting project to build a strategic plan developing the current technology provision to ensure that it supports high quality teaching and learning, both in and out of school. The school is now receiving expert weekly advice and guidance to support staff in their endeavours of delivering remote and hybrid learning. The technology infrastructure has been upgraded to improve the wi-fi performance and migrate the school to cloud based technologies. The DfE Remote Learning Grant has been used to implement a better technology platform to deliver remote and hybrid learning as well as provide devices for those children in need. An outdated School website has been replaced by a new easy to use, maintain and access one. Over time, this will include a virtual tour of the school as well as articles and pictures capturing the essence of a school making rapid progress and working tirelessly in the best interests of the pupils. Among all the changes going on in our village school, this one should help us to offer a much more effective learning environment for our pupils, who will now have access to state-of-the-art modern learning technologies. Maxine Evans & Roger Murphy, IAC Members – Blewbury Endowed CofE Primary School BLEWBURY APP – WHERE NEXT? In late 2018 I launched the Blewbury app with a view to it becoming a mobile hub for the community - a news feed, where clubs, societies and individuals can post updates & events (like a hybrid of the Bulletin and the BVS Facebook page), a resource for documents and images (like an app version of the Blewbury website) and a directory & messaging platform (like WhatsApp), but pulled together into one place. The app’s in a Catch-22. People won’t use it if it doesn’t have useful content, but then people won’t bother to post if it doesn’t have an audience! And through the Bulletin, Facebook, website and phone/ email and WhatsApp groups people may feel we don’t feel we need another platform. There are also costs associated. While we get the platform rental (now priced at £400/ month) for free from the platform hosts, Disciple, there are additional costs associated. It needs to be licenced to process data (for GDPR compliance), and it needs a developer account to be able to publish the app into stores, which comes to about £150 a year all in. Online communities need supporting, they need a regular flow of useful content, and I’m unfortunately not in a position to support it. Chris Whatmore and I have discussed the Bulletin team taking over the app, but this is not practical for a number of reasons. In order to make the app useful, it needs someone (or a group of people) to take ownership of it; bear the cost, encourage posts, manage an editorial process (to get more content published in the feed) and provide any technical support (like passwords etc). I still think the app could be useful with more content and greater community support, but this won’t happen automatically, which is why it has withered on the vine in the last 18 months. I would be happy to provide a handover (technical and editorial) to get it operational, so if anyone is up for taking on a project, please do let me know! If not, I’ll shut the app down in mid-March before the current licences expire. Matt Phillips, 17 Grahame Close, [email protected] / 07972 219515 BULLETIN STOP PRESS SERVICE If you would like to receive urgent village news and information by email, you can sign up to the Bulletin Stop Press service at www.blewbury.co.uk. Powered by MailChimp®, all emails are blind copied so no addresses are shared.

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2 JOLYON KAY 19 SEPTEMBER 1930 – 27 JANUARY 2021 Jolyon and Shirley arrived in Blewbury in 1958, as Ann and I did. They lived, with their four children, in five different houses over the years (one of them twice...), the last being the Barn on Pilgrim's Way, just behind their first house, Treble House. However, unlike us, they never stayed here for more than a few years at a time, as a result of Jolyon's career in the Foreign Office and their love of the Middle East, particularly Shirley's who, as well as being fluent in Arabic, wrote a number of beautiful and interesting books about some of the countries they lived in. They finally retired to Cyprus and immediately got involved with the people and life of their village and nearby, including, of course, theatrical activities, which Jolyon enjoyed all his life. The family never lost their connection to Blewbury, however. Jolyon was, in a way, responsible for the launch of the Blewbury Players. He introduced me and some other Blewbury friends to Paulise Lugg of Aston Tirrold , the home of the Stockwells Players, founded in 1935, and, when she died, we were inspired to set up the Blewbury Players, still flourishing after more than 40 years. He acted in a few plays for us, during the rare summers he spent in Blewbury, and directed Murder in the Cathedral in St Michael's Church in 2002. Jolyon was instrumental in the purchase of Tickers Folly for the village when it came on the market and then for the formation the Croquet Club and construction of the lawn and pavilion - he was still playing on it in 2019 and watching games there last year. Jolyon came home to Blewbury at the end of last year, following Shirley's death in November. Despite the cold weather and constraints of tiers and lockdowns, he was able to spend some happy moments with old friends, and many bulletin readers may recall seeing him wrapped up in a blanket, enjoying his midday mulled wine and mince pie outside St Michael's. Peter Saunders This extract from Jolyon’s obituary in the Croquet Gazette is reprinted by kind permission of its author, Minty Clinch: In England for summer breaks between diplomatic postings, Jolyon revisited Blewbury, competing in croquet tournaments until he became ‘one of the better players in the region’. Why not a club of his own? Once committed, Jolyon was not a man to be denied. From small beginnings in 1993, when he announced his project in the Blewbury Bulletin, to the grand opening of two expertly laid courts and a clubhouse on Tickers Folly Field on 31st May, 2003, he worked tirelessly to raise funds and sustain momentum. By using professionals to pitch to Sport England, BCC received £42,000 under the Capital Grant Scheme, the largest award to any croquet organisation in recognition of a start up's value to the community. ‘Not bad for a Victorian pastime with a somewhat crusty image’, he mused… > A video of Jolyon’s funeral service can be seen at https://bit.ly/37o6yC1 until Wednesday March 3rd - Editor GERMAN WOUND MEDAL DISCOVERY The fascinating piece in last month’s Bulletin on the German plane crash brought back my own memories of last spring, when I had the great privilege of holding a German wound medal. This was particularly exciting for me because it was evidence that, just like my character Lukas Schiller in A Dangerous Act of Kindness, German POWs were working in the fields opposite where I live, the countryside where I set the book. Durnell’s Farm Camp was a German working camp that stood on the plot where Didcot Power Station was built. It was from here that I imagined my character Lukas Schiller heading out to work, hoping that chance would bring him back to where he’d felt “a strange disconnection from the chaos, from the war, from his past, as if those few days at Enington Farm were the only life he’d ever lived.”

The whitewashed zinc medal found in the My book was finished. My publication date set. In a delightful piece of fields near my house serendipity, an archaeologist, Michael Osborn, was metal detecting in a field above Winterbrook Farm. There he found this German wound medal, which must have been dropped by a POW working in the field. It’s a ‘silver’ medal, awarded for three or four wounds or a more serious wound such as deafness, brain damage or facial disfigurement (my character Zoller’s maybe?). These were initially silver-plated brass. The one that Michael found was whitewashed zinc, which dates it later in the war. I know the field well. I used to walk up there with my dogs when I needed a break from writing. I could imagine how my heroine Millie must have felt, working in the mud and cold on her lonely farm up on the Downs. When I pass the field now, I can imagine Lukas there too, working on the land and dreaming of peace. LP Fergusson > For the latest instalment of the original plane crash story, see page 7 - Editor

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4 BLEWBURY VILLAGE SOCIETY Christmas seems ancient history now, but we’re so pleased that we were able to “host” two events around Christmas, in the midst of difficult restrictions. The Window Wonderland brought cheer to the village, and we greatly appreciate all of those households who took the time and energy to light up our lives with their creative and beautiful displays. We’re also particularly thrilled at the success of Santa’s Sleigh, which though it was a bit different than previous years, still enjoyed a big audience in the village, including one little boy who saw Santa three times in different locations. Thank you to our Santa, Mrs. Claus, reindeer, and other volunteers who made this a possibility. It may seem that things have gone quiet, but the BVS is still here and meeting every month, looking for opportunities to inject a bit of fun into village life! With annual underlying costs regardless of whether events are held, it has been a really rubbish year for our finances and jeopardises our ability to front costs for future events (e.g. fireworks). Therefore, 2021 may look a bit different from our usual calendar. As soon as we’re in a position to hold more events, minding health and safety of everyone, we’ll be on the ball! It would be helpful to have a few more faces, and pairs of hands, on the committee once we’re back in the swing of things – do contact us to let us know if you’d like to be a part of organising events for the whole community. We can be reached at [email protected]. BLEWBURY WI NEWS Hello All. Another month gone by and we are all still stuck in the same place. Hopefully, March will bring us the first signs of Springtime, with warmer, brighter days and some of the COVID restrictions lifted. Generally March is the month of the Blewbury WI Annual Meeting, when we all meet together to plan the year’s events. We don’t think that is going to happen, so we are getting together a plan for a “ Zoom Virtual Annual Meeting.” It is a huge job for our Secretaries to undertake. We are still holding our Coffee mornings and other meetings via Zoom and they have been successful. Lyn’s Walks “Once again COVID is stopping us from doing anything socially active. WI Members will be given details of a treasure hunt type ramble round the Village, in their monthly Information sheet. Any others interested should contact me on 07733 334484 to obtain details.” For more details please contact our Secretary, Joy Boness, on 01235 850543 or visit our web page, http://blewburywi.wordpress.com where you will find more information. Love from Cilla. BLEWBURY AND UPTON VILLAGE PRODUCE ASSOCIATION – Your village gardening club VPA SPRING COMPETITION – SATURDAY 10th APRIL 2021 With the success of our December competition we’ve decided to hold another. Have a go at our Spring Competition which is open to anyone of any age. Create a Flowered Bonnet, Hat, Crown or Tiara.

DECORATE HEADWEAR WITH FLOWERS - RULES 1. The headwear can be any size for a lady or gent, boy or girl 2. It can be an existing hat or hand-made and any shape 3. Flowers can be fresh or hand-made (NOT artificial bought flowers) 4. Whatever style of headwear it can include accessories

COMPETITION DETAILS 1. If you wish to enter, please record your name, address, phone no/email by WEDNESDAY 31st MARCH at either Blewbury Post Office, Maggie Maytham at Toad Hall,Upton (Tel: 850126) or send your details to the VPA email address: [email protected] 2. Place your name and details in an envelope and attach to your entry. 3. Bring the entry between 10am & 10.30am to Blewbury Village Hall. Collect at 12 noon. 4. The winners will be advised of the result on collection of their entry and prizes awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places will be presented. The result will be announced in the May issue of the Blewbury Bulletin and Upton News. Covid-19 restrictions/regulations at the time of the event will be strictly adhered to. For safety of the Committee organisers the competition will NOT be open for members of the public to view the exhibits. We will take photographs. If there is a total Government lockdown again at the time of the event, it will have to be cancelled. If you have any queries or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact Eileen Bracken at the VPA email address: [email protected] or call on 0777 518 5322.

Things to get involved in… Try something new and keep in touch with others this winter/spring. Would you like to join us? Although we have been unable to meet in person we have kept ourselves busy online. There are several ways that you can become involved… Creative Labs - We are meeting once a month by Zoom for an hour or so. The aim is to keep in touch, and to support each other with writing and workshopping new ideas for performance or for our own creative needs. It is informal and fun. No experience required. As is typical of Blewbury Players’ activities it is proving to be a lovely mix of ages, and varying levels of confidence and experience. It is all about ‘dipping your toe in’ and giving it a go in a safe environment with friendly people. If you would like to join us at 8pm on the first Thursday of each month please contact us at [email protected] and we will send you a link for the next session. More details on our website. Play Readings online – Please let us know if you would be interested in taking part in some online play readings Online performance - We hope to share some of what we have written in another recorded online performance to be streamed on 18 April so we are also happy to hear from people who would like to get involved in performing in this. Visit www.blewburyplayers.co.uk to view our last online performance the ‘Blewbury Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Online Revue’. Romeo and Juliet – We continue to work towards a summer production in July if COVID allows us to rehearse. We hope to have a cast workshop soon. At this stage we would like to gather a list of people who would like to be involved in the production teams, (set construction, painting, front of house, bar work, costume, sewing, make up, hair, sound, lighting, catering, and more). See our cast perform an alternative prologue from R&J on our website. Blewbury School – We currently creating a short film about the Blewbury Players to share with the pupils at Blewbury School. We are working in partnership with the school to encourage children in creative arts and local theatre. Suggestions? - What would you like to get involved with? We welcome ideas and constructive views about what activities would be popular and would inspire you to join in. We would also value thoughts on how you would feel about attending a socially distanced open-air production in July. Please write to us at [email protected]

VACCINATIONS IN OXFORDSHIRE LATEST Plans are now under way to start working through the much larger cohorts 5 and 6. This means people aged 65-69 years, and under 65’s who are at an increased risk will be invited to get their jabs next. It’s important to note that vaccinations are on an invitation-only basis or via the national booking system. People can’t turn up at vaccination centres or GP surgeries to request a vaccination without an arranged appointment. > This is an extract from this month’s District Councillor update; the full report can be found on the Local Government News page on the Blewbury website - Editor.

6 GERMAN PLANE CRASH - NEW DISCOVERIES! Following a terrific response to our last article, big steps forward have been taken in uncovering more details about the crash. Most exciting of all has been the identification of the actual crash site. Eye witness accounts and satellite images have been used in this search, which has involved forensic analysis by Dave Carless, and a site visit by Nigel Parker, a leading authority (and author of ten books) on WW2 Luftwaffe plane crashes. The actual site of the crash was just east of Brown’s Firs very close to the junction of the current Ridgeway and Aldworth paths. The Blewbury Local History Group is hoping to erect a permanent memorial on this site later this year. Derek Smith, who wrote regular articles for the Blewbury Bulletin, had been one of the first on the scene of the crash driving up there. In his Christmas 2000 article for the Bulletin he recorded this account: “We….took off up Woodway at very high speed, in time to see a cloud of smoke and dust rising on Roden Downs just to the east of Nigel Parker on the crash site this week, and some of his ten volume series on Luftwaffe crashes in the UK Brown’s Firs. We arrived at about the same time as Charlie Walters of Dunmore Farm, Aldworth., to find two crew members in the plane and one under the wing. All appeared unhurt but very shaken and all to ready to surrender especially as Morny (Higgs) was waving his shotgun and expressing himself in no uncertain terms, which required no translation. The aircraft had actually hit the ground in Blewbury parish but momentum had propelled it through two hedges into Aldworth parish.” (Blewbury Bulletin, Christmas 2000) Other records have allowed us to establish that the Junkers 88 was almost brand new having come out of the Junkers factory in Germany some four months earlier. It was one of the most effective German reconnaissance, bombing and fighter planes in WW2. It had taken off from Chateaudun airbase in occupied France some two hours earlier and had we think been on a reconnaissance mission in the Midlands ahead of the major onslaught on Coventry the following day. The Blewbury Home Guard turned out in force at the scene. As well as Morny Higgs Home Guard members included Claude Corderoy, Charlie Street, and Ron White. Our next challenge is to find out what happened to the three surviving crew members. If you have any information about them please contact the Blewbury Local History Group… Roger Murphy on behalf of the Blewbury Local History Group Note: The next History Group meeting will be on Zoom at 8 pm on Tuesday March 9th. If you would like to join, please contact Audrey Long on 850427 or at [email protected].

Next THE NEXT DATES FOR DONATIONS TO THE DIDCOT FOOD BANK ARE SATURDAY 27th FEBRUARY – MONDAY 8TH MARCH There will be a collection box as usual during these dates outside the Charity School House (opposite the Church) Please do not leave any donations if the box is not there. If you can give even one item of dried goods, tins, UHT milk, toiletries or household cleaning items, soap and toiletries, pet food or items for babies - all donations are accepted with sincere thanks. There is always a Food Bank donations box at the Post Office. Thank you for your continued support. St Michael’s Church Action Group and Didcot Food Bank. “The Foodbank is there to provide emergency food assistance to anyone who needs it and people are referred to us by just over 50 referring agencies in this area, who include the Citizens Advice, schools and school pastoral workers, doctors' surgeries, family nurses and mental health workers, the Families Centre in Edmunds Park, domestic violence agencies, mental health and addiction charities and churches. The reason we only accept visits from those with a referral voucher from one of these organisations is because their circumstances are known to the referrer, and we are assured that someone is trying to help with the underlying problem. Common causes are unemployment, serious illness, low income poverty, recovery from addictions, family breakdown, and of course the weeks of waiting for payment of benefit, and problems with benefits. Most of the people we see are from Didcot, but frequently also from the villages and very occasionally further afield, if they are assisted by a Didcot-based organisation.” Andrew Snell, Didcot Emergency Foodbank

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8 Read our most recent newsletter at sustainable-blewbury.org.uk/newsletter_latest.pdf Like most village organisations, our activities are severely curtailed at present. But spring is coming and already there are many lovely snowdrops on display. Depending on the forthcoming proposals for how lockdown will gradually be lifted, we will try to resume activities such as repair cafes. Blewbury Garden Market We could not run our usual Saturday morning stall at Blewbury Service Station for most of the summer. We ran a limited version in September that was very successful. We normally start in mid-May, but that misses much of the planting season and sales of seedlings. We are considering starting earlier this year (April?) but that will depend on the rules related to COVID-19 applicable at that time. You might like to start planting soon with a view to selling surplus fruit and vegetable seedlings. We would be interested in hearing from people who’d like to volunteer to help on the stall (in a COVID-safe way); please contact either Eric (850558 or 07935 232 296) or John (850372). Hedge laying We had alerted people to the possibility that we may soon bring in a trained hedge layer to give our volunteers a day of training from an expert. COVID put an end to those hopes but we have received a grant from Transition Networks to cover the costs and we hope to arrange this for early October when the hedge-laying season resumes. There is a possibility that we could fit it in before the end of March but that seems unlikely with current restrictions. BLEWBURY FREECYCLE E-MAIL TEL NO. FREE ITEMS TO A GOOD HOME Oval glass Pyrex casserole. 30cm x20 cm x10cm. Huge! Ordered by mistake and Jean Richards 851123 has never been used. Photo available. [email protected] • Oak dining table – approx. 180cm (extends to 270cm) x 90cm • six oak dining chairs • oak dresser – approx. 185cm long, linen fold and leaded glass doors • matching pair of bedside cabinets (Drexel Heritage) in dark wood Peter Butler 07492 818158 finish • white dressing table c/w mirror and stool • white tallboy • two white [email protected] bedside cabinets (not matching) • three easy chairs (Parker Knoll) • six glass demijohns. Cloud-based storage service IP Camera - worked by wifi; has pan tilt, motion detection, night and day, 2-way intercom. • AC1200 wifi Range extender. High- speed dual band. 300mbps/867 Mbps by TP Link. • Very large framed picture Sue Corderoy 850060 and autograph of Fernando Alonso, winner of 2005 Formula 1 World [email protected] Championship, authenticated. Would like a donation to Cats Protection Charity. HP 21 Black and HP 22 Tri-colour printer cartridges bought in error – package damaged but cartridges sealed • forest scene Ann Dendy incomplete canvas tapestry with all wool 36x50cms • Hoover Breeze vacuum 850760 [email protected] cleaner A rated - plus tools • Orek mini vacuum cleaner with shoulder strap - plus tools • wooden bookshelf – 6 shelves (6.5’ high; 30” wide; 10.5” deep). Lydia Inglis 07801 6 x 4 Forza football goal in good condition [email protected] 932393 If you have any items to freecycle please email a short description (using ‘freecycle’ as your subject), and include your email and phone number. Lydia Inglis ([email protected]). Getting involved in Sustainable Blewbury can contribute to the village and its environment. To participate, or to receive our free bi-monthly Newsletter, email [email protected] or phone 850372. BRIDGE CLUB Our Wessex League Team lost their last match of the season but not by too much - so we have retained our second place in the Division. Subject only to a few more results yet to come, it does look very likely that we will finish as Runners-up and so be promoted to Division 2 next winter. Well done to all. Our club sessions continue on Bridge Base Online on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and our Funbridge sessions, flexibly at any time from 10.30am-10.30pm, on Mondays and Wednesdays, and on Fridays for Novices. The Chairman has been able to inspect the refurbished Village Hall, and very fine it looks, too. It may be somewhat uncertain just how long it will be before we are able to resume F2F bridge, but, once we do, I am sure that everyone will enjoy the revitalised facilities tremendously. A great improvement. Well done to the Parish Council, Village Hall Committee and the Project Team. Michael Allen. 851870

News from St. Michael’s Rector - The Revd Jason St. John Nicolle BENEFICE OFFICE - 01235 850267

During the current situation provisional bookings for Weddings, Baptisms etc. may be made by contacting the office via email.

You can contact the clergy & staff on: - Revd Jason 01235 850267 [email protected] Revd Louise 07837 009730 [email protected]

Dawn 850267, 07434 686044 or [email protected] is in the office from 12-4pm Monday & 9am-5pm Tuesday to Friday.

Please note: all Services and Events are subject to last minute changes or cancellations if Government social restrictions change due to Covid 19.

Food Bank Collections Saturday 27 February - 8 March

St. Michael’s Action Group regularly collect items for the Didcot Food Bank. Drop off at the Old School House between these dates or at the Post Office anytime.

Online Services March

Sundays at 10.30am Pram Service login or connect at 10am to chat before the service. Wednesday 10 March Weekday evenings - Compline at 8pm at 4pm Please note: Wednesday evenings will be at 8.30pm during Lent

You can join in using a computer, laptop, Family Praise! tablet, smart phone or landline. A short service in preparation for Mothering Sunday. Please see the Churn for the service access codes Contact Revd Louise 07837 009 730 and full details of how to join each week. for log in details on zoom

Private Prayer in Midweek Communion St. Michael’s Blewbury at Blewbury Church

St Michael's Blewbury continues to be Unfortunately, due to the current virus open twice a week for Private Prayer. restrictions we are not able to hold Please wear a face covering. Midweek Communion services in our churches. We Wednesday: 10am - 12noon Saturday: 2pm - 4pm hope to restart these as soon as Government Here there is space to rest, contemplate or pray. guidance allows. The church will continue to open for There is also an opportunity to light a candle for a private prayer. loved one or a situation close to your heart.

Compline A short service of night prayer every weekday night at 8pm. Please note: Wednesday evenings will be at 8.30pm during Lent The links and codes for these are on the website under the services tab. Phone access is also available.

Lent Courses

York Course - “Living in Hope” 4 Sessions - Tuesdays at 8pm starting 2 March, online - contact Rev’d John for details.

My Song is Love Unknown Looking at some well-known Lent and Easter Hymns. 6 Sessions - Wednesdays at 7.30pm - starting 24 February, online - contact Rev’d Jason for details.

Growing in God’s Garden A practical, reflective Lent Project over 6 weeks making a Lent/Easter garden. Weekly instruction given in the Churn starting 21 February. Opportunity to share and meet others online at: “Teatime in the Garden”, Thursdays at 4.30pm - starting 25 February - contact Rev’d Louise for details.

Further details are available from leaflets in Church porches, or on the Churn Churches website.

Funerals 5 February at St. Michael’s Blewbury Queenie Crook Aged 98 15 February at St. Michael’s Blewbury Jolyon Kay Aged 90 May they rest in peace and rise in glory.

Giving Something Up for Lent

I wonder if you are giving something up for Lent? In the old days, Lent was a serious business. It was associated with a time of fasting when people expressed sorrow for their sins. But times change, and so has the keeping of the Lent. It is fairly rare nowadays to hear anyone proclaiming the virtues of abstinence, perhaps because self- denial seems quite negative concept. Nowadays, people often choose to keep Lent not by giving something up, but by taking on an additional commitment. It might take the form of giving money to a charity or attending a course to learn more about the Christian faith.

But I’m wondering whether we might still find spiritual nourishment in the old-fashioned idea of giving something up.

To start with, for most of us, our lives are probably so crammed full of activity and commitments that realistically we simply aren’t able to do anything more. Perhaps we need to do less, so that we can create a bit of space in our lives – space for ourselves and for our relationships with one another. Lent can give us the permission to stop doing something. It’s not that the thing we’re stopping doing isn’t a good and valuable thing. But we just need to give ourselves a bit more space in our lives. We can’t be running at full speed every moment of every day.

Furthermore, giving something up helps us to strengthen our ability to make good choices in our lives. Our willpower is like a muscle: it needs to be exercised. Sometimes there are things we know we need to do, but we simply lack the willpower to do them. So, we need to strengthen the willpower that we do have. Some people have found that giving something up for Lent is a good way of strengthening our willpower more generally. If we have the strength to give up something fairly small, this will help us when we need the strength to make a more significant choice in our lives.

And what if we fail and give in to temptation? This can also be a helpful if painful experience, because it is a reminder that by ourselves none of us has the strength or insight we need to live the lives we ought to lead.

In short, Lent is a time to remind ourselves of our need for God. Fr Jason

12 FROM OUR CANADIAN CORRESPONDENT Firstly a correction from last month; some fruit trees (cherries and plums in particular) are susceptible to viruses which flourish in damp conditions and it is therefore wise to wait until early March to do any necessary pruning. Covid 19 in BC So far so good; our Provincial Health Officer, Dr Bonnie Henry, has kept a tight rein on the spread of the pandemic and has maintained a reassuring demeanour throughout with her mantra Be Kind, Be Calm, Be Safe. At the end of January 2021, Canada has had 21,000 deaths out of a total of 778,972 infections; that’s in a population of almost 38 million across the country, which is the fourth largest by area in the world. I’ve just learned that I will be eligible for a vaccination even though I’m not yet a citizen (it takes forever!), which is reassuring; it looks as though my age group will be vaccinated in April/May. In the meantime, I’m avoiding public transport and am lucky enough to have a daughter who is happy to ferry me to any appointments I need to attend. We are having to wear masks anywhere indoors; in restaurants they can be taken off when behind a glass or plastic screen and sitting down, but they have managed to up their turnover by employing take-out options, which we all try to patronise so there will still be restaurants when this is all over. Outdoors is more relaxed – I always carry a mask with me when walking the dog in case I meet anyone I want to chat to. However, I can go and work at the Community Garden, which is a blessing! Large gatherings are prohibited though, and several churches and synagogues have been fined for holding services. Weddings and funerals have the barest minimum of attendees, with some very imaginative alternative solutions! Visitors from outside our Province are strongly discouraged, with the US border remaining closed apart from essential traffic. And how weird do TV programmes look when showing crowds of people without masks and in close proximity to each other! The losers in this situation are the airlines and the cruise ships that are suffering from a catastrophic loss of business, with no immediate relief in sight. The winners have been online shopping and of course Zoom, Face Time and other online chat platforms! Let’s hope the vaccination programme will bring some easing of restrictions in the near future. Angela Hoy ([email protected]) LETTER FROM DAVID JOHNSTON MP In the Armed Forces Bill Debate recently I was able to highlight our constituency’s contribution to the country’s efforts – not just in being home to institutions like the Defence Academy at Shrivenham and the 11 EOD and Search Regiment in Didcot – but in service by some of my predecessors, too. As most of you will know, when the seat was Abingdon the MP was Airey Neave, who had a proud record of service in World War 2; his predecessor was Ralph Glyn, who served in World War 1 and was awarded a military cross. We were having the debate because since 1688, the consent of parliament has been required for the raising and keeping of a standing army. In modern times, this means that every 5 years parliament is asked to give consent to an Armed Forces Bill, without which there is no means to ensure service personnel obey orders. The Government used the Bill to do other things such as update the Service Justice System, extend the use of posthumous pardons for abolished sexual offences and further enshrine the Armed Forces Covenant in law. The latter means local authorities will have to have due regard to service in decisions they make about health, education and housing – and rightly so. I take a particular interest in the armed forces as my dad served in the army for 18 years. The army has of course played a key role in our superb vaccination efforts – at the time of writing we have passed the Government’s 15 million target, which is a remarkable achievement in such a short space of time. From volunteering several times I have seen first-hand the fantastic efforts of our medical staff and volunteers – and the relief local residents feel when they have their first jab. I recently became one of the Conservative Environment Network’s Net Zero Champions. What this means in practice is I will be campaigning for nature-based solutions to help tackle climate change, including stopping the sale of peat for use in horticulture, protecting and improving our blue carbon assets and undertaking a national capital audit. More on this in the future – and some other campaigns. While I am not doing face to face meetings at the moment, I am still doing telephone/Zoom surgery appointments – to book one of these or contact me about something else, do email [email protected] DOGS AT THE TICKERS FOLLY FIELD PLAY AREA I have a concern about dogs being off their lead round the adventure playground at Tickers Folly field. A couple of weeks ago, while at the playground with my grandson, I saw a small boy using the zip wire. He was having a great time. His family were nearby with their dogs (off the lead). Suddenly, one of the dogs bounded towards the boy and jumped up at him. The boy shouted “get off” but the dog carried on, pulling at his hood and then pulled him to the ground by his jacket. Though he seemed to know the dog, he was terrified! His family ran over to help. The dog turned out to be just a puppy. This incident could have been a lot worse, the dog could have jumped at my grandson or any other child around. I am sure the dog was “just playing”. My point is, that I know that dogs are allowed off the lead on Tickers Folly field , but please could they be on the lead around children's areas? Janet Hewson

13 B

14 RIGHTS OF WAY During the pandemic we have all been walking and riding on the local rights of way much more than usual. Recent wet weather has made many of our paths difficult to navigate easily. The village has seen many visitors exploring our paths both on foot and on cycles. Please be aware of the Countryside Code and remember that field edges are not rights of way. A permissive path is one where the landowner had agreed to allow access. The following table shows who, or what, is allowed on each main type of public byway:

Footpath P O O O O Bridleway P P P O O Restricted Byway P P P P O Byway Open to All Traffic P P P P P (BOAT) National Trail National Trails are all open for walking and some trails are also suitable for other users Areas of mountain, moorland, heathland, downland and registered common land are available Open Access to people to walk, run, explore, climb and watch wildlife, without having to stay on paths. BLEWBURY CLIMATE ACTION Helping biodiversity We have several bird feeders installed in our garden, and like many others enjoy watching birds feeding from them, delighted when we see a woodpecker hammering away at the peanuts, and pleased that we have stopped magpies and squirrels raiding the food. But the recent cold spell made me re-evaluate what we were doing – we were not supporting the entire eco-system in our back garden – in fact we were penalising the bigger proportion that cannot balance on a bird feeder. So I tried sprinkling seeds, nuts, sunflower hearts, cheese etc on the patio. The squirrels, magpies, pigeons and one collared dove scoffed the lot in 30 minutes. Not quite the ideal solution. We do have small woodpiles in the garden to provide shelter for various buglife, mice, rats etc, and my next attempt to feed everything was to sprinkle food onto and around a log piles. Success at last. I’ve seen dunnocks, a small mouse, a pair of blackbirds, robins ….. Could you do the same? I’m ashamed – learn from my mistake! I help Sustainable Blewbury do some thermal imaging every year, and so I tried out the camera by pointing it at likely objects in the house. Do you recognise the object to the right? It is a top view of a 4-way adapter, with four transformer plugs in it (for small electrical things like a phone, shredder, etc. Three of them are fine, but the fourth was an old hair trimmer, with an old-style transformer in the plug. It was HOT (45°C). You can spot these old transformers by them being very heavy (they have an iron core), so unplug them after use - don’t leave them plugged in! (Better still, recycle and buy a modern one – much safer) Hope for a green recovery from Covid I watched a webinar yesterday which started with a presentation by Bill McKibben, the founder of 350.org, one of the earliest climate movements. He was talking about the importance of our divesting from fossil fuels, but at the end was asked how he managed to hold on to hope for our future, and he said what gave him hope was how communities were changing as they banded together to fight the spread of Covid. If you can, watch the 350.org YouTube video “When we stand together’ at https://bit.ly/3jZDN3z Jo Lakeland Email [email protected] BAG IT AND BIN IT (EVEN IF IT MEANS TAKING IT HOME) Three times in the last week I have noticed plastic bags containing dog faeces left on the pavements. Although we should be grateful that they had been bagged the owner should take the items home. Ann Dendy

15 C AdPag

16 PARISH COUNCIL Notes of the Parish Council meeting held at 7.30 pm on Wednesday 10 February 2021 by e-conference. Present: Chris Lakeland(Chair), Mark Blythe, Jane Gibson, Lydia Inglis, Michael Penington, Miriam Jacobs, Mark Shayler, Vaughan Humphries and Phil Kilroe. Also present Elizabeth Cooper (Clerk), David Hollick (Lengthman), County Councillor Mike Fox Davies and David Johnston MP. Apologies were received from District Councillors Hayleigh Gascoigne and Sarah Medley. The Council was notified on Monday 8 February that Mr Johnston would be available to join the meeting for a short time. He answered questions about planning, environmental and space standards for housing and the push for a carbon neutral future. Reports from both the District and County Councillors majored on the support available for both individuals and businesses during the pandemic. Information is available on the Vale website. Both Councils are finalising their budgets for the next financial year and are planning to maintain their current level of support. They are hoping for more support from central government. PLANNING APPLICATIONS All Blewbury planning applications, decisions and Parish Council responses, including items under consideration, can be found in the ‘Parish’ section of the Blewbury website (http://blewbury.co.uk/parish/planning/), which is updated monthly. Links are also provided to the main Vale Planning site, where full details can be obtained. Responses to the District Council: P21/V0141/HH- Beorg Lodge Bessels Way - Combination greenhouse and shed brick base, timber framed greenhouse brick base, timber panelled shed. Blewbury PC has no objection. P20/V3300/HH- Mellieha, Nottingham Fee - Replacement windows together with replacement and extended conservatory. Blewbury PC has no objection. P20/V1580/HH - 4 Chailey Gardens - Change garage to accommodation. (Amended Location Plan received 1st February, showing parking spaces within 4 Chailey Gardens' Ownership.) Blewbury PC has no objection. Decisions from the District Council: P20/V3122/HH- Pembroke, Westbrook Street - Erection of new rear single storey extension. Conversion of existing garage space and new roof. Associated internal reconfigurations. Granted. P19/V3253/FUL - Rumseys Barn, London Road - Conversion of existing double garage and swimming pool enclosure to form new dwelling. (Amended by additional information received on 12 February 2020 and amended plans received on 21 February 2020.) This application was refused in May 2020, a decision which was recently overturned at appeal. Enquiries regarding planning in the parish may be sent to [email protected] The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held at 7.30 pm on Wednesday 10 March 2021 by e-conference. NEED TO CONTACT YOUR PARISH COUNCILLORS? Mark Blythe, The Manor, Berry Lane Phil Kilroe, Middle Paddock, Berry Lane Jane Gibson 5 Westbrook Green Chris Lakeland, 4 Westbrook Green Vaughan Humphries, 3 Cossicle Mead Michael Penington, Cleve Cottage, Chapel Lane Lydia Inglis, Chapmans, Nottingham Fee Mark Shayler 2 Eastfields Miriam Jacobs, Tudor Cottage, London Rd Elizabeth Cooper (part-time Clerk) 07968 772935 You can also email the part-time Parish Clerk at [email protected] BLEWBURY POST OFFICE NEWS • We are still open for our full opening times, mornings and afternoons, (except Wednesday and Saturday afternoons as usual). • The ‘last acceptance time’ for mail is still 4.30 for our afternoon sessions and is 10am on a Wednesday and Saturday, but the posties leave it as late as they can. Just because we close at 5, doesn’t mean that we will accept your parcels after then! • Please wear your face coverings and sanitise your hands on the way in and out. • We can still only allow one customer at a time. • Customs labels MUST be on all large letters and parcels to outside of the UK, they MUST be written in BLOCK CAPITALS, and you MUST itemise each thing, including the weight & value. • There are still delays to some areas of the UK and overseas. • Kitty’s eggs are back in stock, plus Blewbury honey and Bellringers honey too. • Handcrafted jewellery and beautiful scarves in stock too (perfect for Mothering Sunday). • We have “Duck Race” tickets, just in case they are allowed out! • Pretty stamps in stock, National Parks and Only Fools and Horses. Stay safe and well everyone. Love from Karen, Maggie, Katrina & Michael

17 DEADLINE FOR EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING FOR APRIL ISSUE: 7.30 PM WEDNESDAY MARCH 17th Autumn Leaves All Autumn Leaves activities are on hold until further notice. In the meantime keep well and stay safe. For any further information call Norman Webb (850700) or Doreen Tyrrell (850332). Free and friendly help for computer users every Tuesday morning from 10:00 to 12:00. We provide help remotely using telephone, Facetime, Skype, Zoom, Teams, WhatsApp or whatever is best for you. Book a 30 minute appointment by emailing [email protected] or by phoning 07780 958249. For more information visit www.astonsonline.uk.

BLEWBURY GOOD NEIGHBOURS If you live in Blewbury and are self-isolating due to COVID-19 we can help with: • Urgent supplies • Picking up shopping • A friendly phone call • Other essential errands • Help (by phone if necessary) with setting up Skype, WhatsApp, Facetime etc – just ask! Please text/call one of the following three phone numbers and a volunteer will arrange to help you: 851777 (Blewbury Post Office), 07825 154842, 07801 932393. If you would like to register as a volunteer, please also call these numbers or visit the Blewbury Good Neighbours page on Facebook. *** NEW! FREE MEAL DELIVERY SERVICE *** A village-wide free hot meal delivery service is available for those that need it. Frequency of deliveries depends on demand, so if you’re interested please call Karen, in confidence, as soon as possible on 851777 (Blewbury Post Office) or 07825 154842.

BLEWBURY FLYING SQUAD The Flying Squad service is suspended until further notice. BLEWBURY POST OFFICE OPENING HOURS Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays: 8.30 am - 12 noon and 2.30 - 5 pm (Last mail acceptance time: 4.30 pm) Wednesdays: 8.30 am - 12 noon (Last mail acceptance time: 10.00 am) Saturdays: 9.30 am - 12 noon (Last mail acceptance time: 10.00 am)

March Bin Collection Days: Food waste bin: every Tuesday. Grey bin or pink sack: Tuesday 9th and 23rd. Green bin or sack, and brown bin: Tuesday 2nd, 16th and 30th. HOW TO ADVERTISE IN THE BULLETIN The Bulletin welcomes advertisements from organisations and individuals based in Blewbury and immediately neighbouring villages. Space permitting, we also welcome ads from further afield if they do not duplicate existing local services, are not widely advertised elsewhere and are likely to be of interest to residents. Acceptance of advertisements does not imply endorsement of the products or services offered. Display advertisements must be submitted in one of three rectangular sizes: • 60mm wide x 40mm high (cost: £2.00) • 60mm wide x 85mm high (£4.00) • 90mm wide x 65mm high (£6.00) Artwork should be in black and white only. You can also send plain text for us to fit into an appropriately sized box. If you are advertising a village event you can also present it as plain editorial, i.e. not highlighted in a box, for no charge. All advertisements should be submitted to the Editor in the first instance, either emailed to [email protected] as a Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, JPEG or PDF attachment, or typed/handwritten and delivered to Swallows, Church Road, Blewbury OX11 9PY. If your advertisement is accepted, please note that payment must be received before the Bulletin goes to press. If you require repeat insertions over multiple months, you will be referred to the Advertising Manager to make the appropriate arrangements. WRITTEN CONTRIBUTIONS We are always happy to receive editorial contributions. Text and images can be submitted in the same way as advertisements – see above. Anyone supplying information for publication must be responsible for its accuracy. We require name and contact details in all cases, although if requested these will not be published. The editor reserves the right to reject submissions. Opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Bulletin. To see the Bulletin online visit www.blewbury.co.uk.

The Blewbury Bulletin is published at Swallows, Church Road, Blewbury, OX11 9PY. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of published information, the Editor and Officers accept no responsibility for the consequences of any errors. Problems receiving your Bulletin? Call 01235 850337. Editor: Chris Whatmore, Swallows, Church Road, OX11 9PY tel 851055 [email protected]. Local Distribution Manager: Kathy Edmunds, Wayside Cottage, Westbrook Street, OX11 9QA tel 850337 [email protected] Postal & Email Distribution Manager: Helen White, Southbourne, Bessels Way, OX11 9NJ tel 850483 [email protected] Advertising Manager: Elizabeth Murphy, The White House, London Road, OX11 9PD tel 851244 [email protected] Treasurer: Rachael Richardson, Robinsons, Church Road OX11 9PY Webmaster: Peter Willison, Fleetwith, Nottingham Fee, OX11 9PG tel. 850936 [email protected].