Finstock News | 2016 | April-May

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Of the village, by the village, for the village April/May 2016 97 FinstockServing Finstock, Fawler, Wilcote, Mt.SkippettNews and Finstock Heath

Events: New Village Hall; Music; events list ��2 Shop & PO; Charlbury; Health; Science �� 8 Village hall: regular users & new clubs ��3 Congratulations; Spring cleaning; NASA �� 9 County; Bridewell Garden; broadband ��4 Brownies, Babies & Toddlers; Southill �� 10 Small Ads; Poppy collection; Festival & Fête ��5 FoFS; ChOC; Walk to London ��11 Conservation: Water conscious; Food waste ��6 Garden magic; Wine ��12 School; Foundation Stage Unit ��7

e are fortunate to live in a small countryside village with crops in surrounding fields and livestock in residence. We have our own primary school for young children, a village shop and Post Office, plus a warm welcome at The Plough. Thanks to our roads, rail links and bus service we are not isolated from urban areas such as Witney, Oxford or London. WThe advantage that we have over larger towns and cities is the ability to come together as a village and build a new community centre. Our new Village Hall stands as a testament to community involvement. The number of volunteer hours contributed to this project is astounding. The money for a new building in the heart of Finstock was raised through the hard work of a few dedicated organizers and the generosity of villagers. A sense of community has opened the doors for everyone to become involved and contribute. The use of friendly, local builders enabled everyone to visit the site, ask questions and see progress as the building has been completed. We wish to acknowledge, in particular, the Parish Council for their work in having the vision to see a new community centre developed in Finstock. We are most grateful that the villagers of Finstock understand what a community is and willingly give their time and energy to keep our small corner of the world a good place to live. We are invited to visit the new Village Hall on Saturday April 9th! Will the County Council disappear? As many people will be aware, there has been a lot of Oxfordshire has cut would have to be found from somewhere pressure on Oxfordshire County Council lately to cut their if those services were to be restored, and it is not clear that the budget, due to a sharp drop in funding from central government. five District Councils would fare any better than the County on As a consequence, the County Council are cutting bus subsidies, that front as central government is not likely to increase grants. closing children’s centres, and removing support for homeless Secondly, the plan would mean that the District Councils people. The consequences of this are being looked at and a would be taking on extremely sensitive services including adult “transition fund” has been agreed to ease the pain of these cuts. social services and children’s services, of which they have no Oxfordshire has suggested to the District Councils in the experience, as well as managing the relationship between past that they should amalgamate to form a single level of local those services and the NHS. Nor is it clear who would take government as a cost-saving exercise. In the past this solution on services such as road maintenance and buses. has been rejected by WODC; but now the leaders of the five We will learn more shortly; and there will be a chance for District Councils in Oxfordshire have come up with their own local residents to have their say on this in the summer when plan to create five Unitary Authorities across the County. In the there will be a consultation. case of West Oxfordshire, this would include joining forces with Liz Leffman District Councillor Cotswold District Council in Gloucestershire. West Oxfordshire and Cotswold already share quite a lot of officers and services We are saddened to tell you that John Wells, our including rubbish collection. advertising man for many years, has died. Our Although this sounds like a good plan, there are some sympathy goes to his wife, Barbara and his family. possible flaws. First of all, the money for the services that 0 . VILLAGE EVENTS 0 . The Official Opening of the New Village Hall will take place on Friday May 20th at 11.45am. We would like as many Villagers to attend as possible, but the numbers we April can accommodate will be limited, so admittance will be by ticket only. Please apply 9th Visit new Village Hall for tickets in writing or by email to June Pratley, Parish Clerk, 20 Walkers Height or 12th Mobile Library [email protected]. 15th-17th WOW weekend Finstock Village Music 21st Queen’s 90th Birthday Village Music will take place on Saturday May 28th on the village green, in the new 22nd John Pilkington on Village Hall and at The Plough. This will be the fourth year for this small village event Russia and we hope you will support it once again. The theme this year will be ‘sheep and 23rd St.George’s Day wool’ and this will be portrayed through shepherding songs, music, and of course dance. 26th Mobile Library Planning for the day is well under way and we plan to include a procession from the 29th FoFS Spanish Stew and Village shop followed by The story of a blanket - Witney and the Wool Trade; singing Quiz workshops; a talk on ‘the last shepherd in Finstock’; music from local musicians; local 30th FoFS Walk to London crafts people displaying their work; Morris sides outside the Plough from 4pm and an May evening ceilidh. And who knows, perhaps some real live sheep! Watch out for local posters for updates. 10th Mobile Library If you would like to take part in this sheep-themed day please contact Pete Welply 12th FoFS Pamper Night on 868140. 14th Church Plant and Book Church Plant and Book Fair Fair Saturday May 14th at 10am (note the time) in the New Village Hall! 20th Formal Village Hall It is very exciting to be in the new Village Hall and we hope that everyone will come opening and enjoy the occasion and, of course, buy some plants and books; who knows what 21st Witney Festival of Food else there might be! If you have any surplus plants or some to share, we would love to and drink have them – perhaps bring them along a bit beforehand, if possible and PLEASE can 24th Mobile Library we have a label with them as it can be quite a challenge to identify some of the pots! 28th Finstock Village Music Flowers, vegetables, herbs are all welcome. If you have some books to pass on, we June are usually happy to have them but please contact Jill (868994). Remember to look at posters nearer the time. Elizabeth 868203; Kirsten 868634 23rd EU Referendum April 21st – Queen Elizabeth celebrates her 90th Birthday July www.royal.gov.uk/HMTheQueen/TheQueensbirthdays.aspx 1st & 2nd Combined School and Village Fêtes Russia and Europe: What Next? John Pilkington, one of Britain’s greatest tellers of travellers’ tales, will talk of passion District Notes and conflict from Ukraine to the Caucasus, on Friday April 22nd at 7.30pm in Finstock We look forward to the Village Hall Village Hall. Tickets £8 from Mike Breakell; tel. 868201 or email mjbreakell@aol. opening. A massive vote of thanks is com. Proceeds to Prostate Cancer UK and the Oxfordshire Prostate Cancer Support due to all those involved in realizing this Group (registered charities). brilliant project. As Charlbury Youth Theatre continues North Leigh History Society to flourish on Saturday mornings 10- April 5th: The History of Ditchley Park. 11am at The Shed for 6-8 year olds and A talk by Colonel Mike Montague. 6.15-7.30pm on Monday nights, I would May 3rd: Short Drag Roger – shanty be interested to hear from parents with singing group children if this is something they would Meet at 7.30pm, Turner Hall, Church like to see happening in Finstock too. Road, North Leigh OX29 6TX. Visitors For further details or let me know your £4, members free. Further details are thoughts please contact andyg2439@ available from Diana Power 882301. gmail.com. Contact me on any planning matters, as Ladies, give us your support! I am on the Uplands Planning Committee. Give all your unwanted old bras a new Andy Graham lease of life and help raise money for breast cancer research. Bring them to Joy H.G.Wells (1866-1946) Murphy at 63 High Street. Against Breast 2016 is the 150th anniversary of Cancer will receive a donation based on H.G.Wells, author of ‘The Time Machine’, the weight of bras we collect, so every ‘The Island of Doctor Moreau’, ‘The bra counts! Invisible Man’, and ‘The War of the Worlds.’ 2 FINSTOCK VILLAGE HALL Drop-in For tea or coffee, cake, a chat, and good We are nearly there! If all goes to plan, company every Friday from 8.45am to Natural History Water by the time this edition of the Finstock midday. Just drop in! For more contact Colour Painting News is published the new Village Hall [email protected]. Social World-renowned artist Rosemary Wise will be finished; the culmination of a table tennis available as well. presents a monthly course in Natural project begun in late 2012 when it was Evenlode Folk History Water Colour Painting on the first conceived. We now have a fantastic Occasional Folk Nights of great folk second Tuesday every month from May community facility that is energy-efficient, and acoustic artists. To be added to 10th, 9am to 4pm. Contact Rosemary: has integrated heating, lighting, audio/ distribution list and notified of events [email protected]. visual and building access. Parking is email [email protected]. the same as at the old hall – please be Short-mat bowls considerate of local residents. Evenlode Tea Dances Club night is Monday from 7.30pm There will be an Open Day for all to Monthly afternoon tea dances on the to 9.30pm, starting April 18th, and visit the hall on Saturday April 9th from third Wednesday of the month from daytime bowls from 2pm to 4pm on 10am to 4pm; followed by a junior disco 2.15pm to 4.15pm: first dance on April Thursdays from April 21st. Contact at 6pm; and a family and adult party from 20th. To be added to distribution list and [email protected] for more 8pm with our own Phoenix Lights disco. notified of events e-mail Beverley Morley information. Come and celebrate a facility our whole [email protected] or 868134. Table Tennis Club community can be proud of. All abilities welcome. Beginners’ Shaun Morley Finstock & Charlbury equipment available. Meets every Morris Here are some of the scheduled Tuesday in term-time. Traditional folk dance practice at the activities:– Juniors (ages 8 to 16) from 6.30pm, Village Hall in autumn to early spring seniors (over 16) club night from 8pm; Regular Users and starting in April. Outdoor performance start April 12th. New Clubs from May 1st. For more information Contact Michael Simpkins tel. 07789- contact via their website at www. Baby & Toddler Group 43 0 697, [email protected]. Open to any parent, carer or childminder charlburymorris.org.uk or direct to Pete with a child aged up to 4 years. S mi t h 016 0 8 - 8110 07. Yoga Sharon Watson Yoga on Thursday Wednesday term-time from Finstock Performs Mornings from 9.30am to 11am, 10am. For more information contact Interested in a variety of performing arts commencing April 14th. [email protected] and local theatre? Acting, costumer, Contact Sharon on 772295, sharon@ sound or lighting? Why not join Finstock Craft Club sharon-watson.co.uk or see www.sharon- Performs? Meet Thursday evenings at Join a group of like-minded people to watson.co.uk for more information. practice handcraft skills and share ideas. 7.30pm, starting April 14th to practise, rehearse, prepare and plan. All welcome. Participants at every level, including Dates for your diary for beginners, are most welcome. Meet third Contact Ginnie Redston ginnie@ btinternet.com. Village Hall events Tuesday of the month from 10.30am, Watch out for more information starting April 19th, and fourth Thursday Finstock Rainbows, on Facebook at www.facebook. from 7.30pm starting April 27th. Contact Brownies and Guides com/FinstockVillageHall or email Rosa Charlesworth rosacharlesworth@ Wednesdays in term time at 4.45pm, 6pm [email protected]. btinternet.com. and 7pm respectively. Contact Caroline Saturday April 9th: Open day between Darts for more information on 868272, 07890- 10am and 4pm for all to come and Excellent facilities, every Thursday 629001, or email carolinebooth4@gmail. see the new hall and the new activities from 7.30pm. Joining West Oxon League. com. planned. Free party from 6pm for juniors. All welcome. Contact Barry Floyd baz. 8pm for all. Local History Society [email protected] or 07779-352111. Regular meetings on third Friday of the Monday April 11th: Hall opens for Dominoes month October to May (second Friday use and can be hired via the website Tuesdays at 8pm. League team and social in December). Everyone welcome. A at www.finstock.org.uk/village-hall or dominoes. Contact Steve Wilford direct research group will also meet at the hall [email protected]. or via [email protected]. on Thursdays at 10.30am, starting April Friday April 22nd: Russia and Europe: 21st. For more information and schedule What Next? A talk by John Pilkington in of activities contact mike.woodfield@ aid of Prostate Cancer. [See p.2] More village events on p.6 btinternet.com.

3 County Councillor Report - Summary of our budget meeting on February 16th Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) Summary of changes:– Other important elements:– have come together to agree a series of • A total of £2M of savings relating to • A cross party board of County planned amendments to the budget that Early Intervention hubs and children’s Councillors will be created to consider had been proposed by the authority’s centres will now not take place. maximum benefit of use of the £4m of cabinet in January. An original £6m saving on Early temporary funds awarded by central Children’s centres and day services Intervention Hubs and Children’s Government in February. for the elderly all benefit from the Centres – agreed by the council at its • The council will commit to a full changes. The council still needs to make annual budget meeting in February review relating to a workplace parking £69m of savings up to 2020. However 2015 – will still take place. No levy looking at implications and with negotiations between political groups decisions have been taken at this stage a view to implementation as early as have led to the savings being configured on how this £2m will be spent. feasible. in a different way. • A total of £3M of savings relating to • There will be a review of the number Councillor Ian Hudspeth, the Leader day centres (including transport to of cabinet members of the Council (Conservative), Councillor day centres) will now not take place. • There will be a free vote for all Liz Brighouse (Labour), the leader of Instead they will be replaced by a councillors on the subject of a full the Opposition, and Councillor Richard saving of £1m from 2017/18 resulting and timetabled consultation relating Webber, the leader of the Liberal from a full review of all day services to unitary government – to discuss Democrat group, said: “We felt strongly for older people. this issue on a cross party basis with that, given the unprecedented financial • There will be a further £300,000 district, town and parish councils with position that OCC in particular and local contribution to the budget from the clear aim of bringing it to fruition. government in general is facing, we had to reserves. Cllr Rodney Rose, Deputy Leader of come to a cross party agreement on what The net result is that the council will be is best for Oxfordshire. These changes Oxfordshire County Council able to set a balanced budget in 2016/17 07919-298277; 01865-810419 and the agreement we have made are but over the medium term now has also very much in response to feedback £15.2m of unidentified savings to make as Bridewell Organic Gardens from local residents including those who opposed to the previous figure of £11.2m. spoke to the council earlier today.” Open afternoon Sunday May 15th The new £4m of unidentified savings all 2pm-5pm; £3.50, children free. fall in 2017/18. Oxfordshire’s air quality map THE EDITORIAL COMMITTEE MARK BILLINGE Sean Connolly 868561 Member oxfordshire.air-quality.info CHIMNEY SWEEP Nicky Higgins 868425 Proofing Tony Hirtenstein 868600 Layout Dog owners urged to heed For a clean and efficient service Joy Murphy 868575 Editor the microchip message [email protected] From April 6th, any dog that is found Tel.: 01367-243052 Barbara Wells 868776 Distribution not to have been microchipped could John Wells 868776 Advertising see the owner facing a fine of £500. To Photographs thanks to staff members and report a lost or stray dog call 861000 or Crockford Builders others. online: www.westoxon.gov.uk/dogs 35 School Rd, Finstock, Read the Finstock News online at www. Oxon OX7 3DN finstock.org.uk; join the Finstock Yahoo Broadband in Finstock group – groups.yahoo.com/group/finstock; EST 1973 or write to us at 63 High Street, Finstock Are you happy with your broadband New builds, Extensions, Oxon OX7 3DA. speed? Do you have fast broadband only during certain hours of the day? The Renovations, Plan ahead – Know the deadlines Finstock News is curious how satisfied Dry or mortar stone walling, Issue Deadline villagers are with the broadband service Groundwork, Hard landscaping, Feb/Mar First of January April/May First of March in our village and thought a quick survey Natural stone slate specialists, June/July First of May could produce some figures that we Re-roofing, August/September First of July could then send on to the County for October/November First of September their action. Please let us know your General Maintenance. December/January First of November level of satisfaction by email or phone All building work undertaken Please keep articles short. As space and provide us with your location to help Domestic & Commercial is limited, the Editors reserve the identify how far you are from the nearest right to shorten long pieces in the Call William on interest of balance. Finstock News telephone exchange and your service 01993 868617 OR 07817248329 does not necessarily share the views provider. (See the contact details in the expressed in readers’ letters. Editorial Committee column .) 4 SMALL ADS (All numbers start with 01993 unless otherwise stated) Kings Cleaning Services (Est. 40 Barking Mad – Alternative to Dog Hairdressing in your home years) Windows – gutters – UPVC Kennels Thirty-plus years’ experience frames – fascia – Specialist equipment Call Jeannie or Amanda on 01865- Women, men or children – The whole for conservatories, including roofs. Also 922004 family. Reasonable rates domestic house cleaning. Fully insured. Email [email protected] Contact: Alison Pritchard, Ring 882727 for a professional and www.barkingmad.uk.com Tel: 01608-810533 reliable service. Peter Smith & Son Funeral Line ads are charged at 20p per word, payment in advance. Directors Ltd. Please contact: Joy Murphy on 868575. We no Personal 24 hour service, Pre-paid longer accept inserts for the newsletter. funeral Plans, all types of memorial work. Tel 702000. ê www.petersmithandson.co.uk Finstock Festival 2016 and School F te Friday July 1st and Saturday July 2nd The Finstock Poppy As I said in the last Finstock News we Regarding bands, I have made contact Collection for 2015 have been talking with FoFS regarding with Wood Green School regarding the was £904.23! Thank a joint School Fête and Festival. I am Big Band returning for a second year. you Finstock. pleased to say the decision has been Rock bands have yet to be booked but We also wish to thank Viv Wightman made to combine the two events. we have a few ideas; as they say, work in for her organization of the road closure, Finstock Festival Friday and Saturday progress. Here’s to an even better Finstock etc. for the Remembrance Service last night, Finstock School Fête Saturday Festival and School Fête. Meetings once November. In preparation for this year’s afternoon. I really believe this will a month usually Wednesday in the Remembrance Service Viv will work with enhance both events and look forward Plough 8pm. Contact Colin Stringfellow Lenny to organise the event. Viv will to working with FoFS. phone 868215, 07768-080994, email [email protected]. contact her normal able-bodied helpers, We will also have the very successful Christopher and Jonathon, Jim and Ursula Finstock Bake Off for another year. Colin Stringfellow FCP chairman as usual just before the event to set up the barricades and take them down. Any WOW! Discounted entry to local attractions further volunteers welcome! Finstock was fortunate to have Frank The Welcome Open Weekend ‘Capability’ Brown who was born 300 and Janet Schofield organizing the Poppy (WOW) offers local residents’ special ‘2- years ago. collection and Remembrance service for for-1’ entry to a wide range of attractions Collect a voucher sheet from Witney many years. Frank was also instrumental from Friday April 15th to Sunday April Visitor Information Centres, Charlbury and in having the war memorial names 17th. Venues include Blenheim Palace, Woodstock libraries. More information: repointed. Frank turns 90 this year and which was landscaped by Lancelot www.westoxon.gov.uk/wow or call is happy to attend services now. 861080.

News from Cornbury Park We have two events happening this spring at Cornbury Park. On April Hotel 16th we welcome back the challenging We’ve made a few changes, come and see. Always open. obstacle race that is the Monster Race – The Brasserie registration is at www.monsterrace.co.uk. We poached the head chef from The Randolph in Oxford, Looking ahead, from June 10th- come and try his food. Open from 7.00pm – 9.30pm 12th we shall be hosting the Field and The Gun Room Bar Country Fair. This fair celebrates the We transformed ours into a relaxing bar for everyone, British Countryside and is presented come for light meals and snacks. Open from 12.00pm - 9.30pm by Time Inc. UK, home to a stable of Leisure Club country and sporting titles, including The Swimming pool, gym and fitness classes. Join ‘The Club’ not a Gym. Open daily Field and Country Life. Follow us on Twitter @CornburyPark and at Facebook.com/CornburyPark, or get in touch by emailing us at estate@ www.eynshamhall.com | [email protected] 01993 885200 North Leigh, Witney, Oxfordshire OX29 6PN cpark.co.uk or phoning on 01608- 811276. 5 COUNTRYSIDE CONSERVATION A person without a sense of humour is like a wagon without springs – jolted by every pebble in the road. Henry Ward Beecher Be Water Conscious of a full load. Buy AAA-rated appliances, We may have experienced the wettest winter on record, but not wasting water which use water most efficiently. remains a concern. Easy things we can do include:– Tell Thames Water about a leak - www. Not running the tap when rinsing dishes or cleaning our teeth. Keeping a jug of thameswater.co.uk. water in the fridge rather than waiting for the tap to run cold. Only using the amount of water you need when making a cup of tea. Repairing the tap if it drips. Using a Food waste sponge and bucket when washing the car. Food waste makes up around a third of all rubbish thrown away in West Installing a plastic ‘hippo’ in the cistern, which restricts the amount of water used Oxfordshire and any leftovers from with each flush. www.hippo-the-watersaver.co.uk. Install a dual-flush loo, which your meals at home can be recycled via has two flushes to choose from as needed. Shower instead of having a bath. Install your food waste bin. The food waste is low-water-spray taps. taken to the Agrivert processing plant Plant Mediterranean species such as lavenders, rosemary and cistus, or use typical in Cassington. During the recycling English herbaceous varieties. Mulch your garden plants by putting a layer of bark, process gases are captured and turned grass cuttings, manure, even gravel on top of the soil to trap moisture in the earth, or into electricity, while the end product is a at least slow down evaporation. And when the lawn goes brown, leave it be. It will nutrient-rich fertiliser known as ‘digestate’. become green again with the rain in the autumn. If you’ve got a garden sprinkler, Householders that do not have a free food stop using it. A sprinkler will use 1,200 litres per hour! waste bin and kitchen caddy, or are unsure Install a water butt. This is basically a plastic container that you attach to your of how to recycle their food waste, should downpipe from the guttering of your house. You can use ‘grey water’ in the garden, call 861000 or visit www.westoxon.gov. which is old bath and washing up water. A reasonable amount of detergent in the uk/bins. water is OK and recommended by many gardeners; but try to vary where you put the water so you don’t get a build up of detergent. Better still, use biodegradable soaps Events (continued from p.3) and cleaners, or filter the grey water you use – a bucket filled with straw does the job. Rainwater ‘harvesting’ is the posh version of a water butt. This is basically a Saturday May 7th: Flock Comedy at large tank (the bigger the better) that collects rain water from the house guttering and Finstock: a fantastic night of comedy pumps it into the home, to be used for flushing the loo. The harvester is often buried (formerly Cotswold Comedy Club who in the garden but can be free-standing providing you have a suitable place to conceal appeared at the last Finstock Ale) a 2,000-litre plastic container. Thursday May 12th: Friends of Finstock Get a water meter fitted. Meters are often associated with higher water bills, but School Pamper Night this is not so; figures suggest that having a meter also makes us more conscientious, Friday May 13th: Oxfam in Rwanda, a and cuts an average usage down from 160 litres per day to 135. talk by Finstock resident Sam Dastor Use a full load for your washing machine or dishwasher and save approximately 0.6 Saturday May 14th: Church Plant and litres of water per person – half load programmes use more than half the amount of water Book Fair Friday May 20th: Formal opening of West Oxon Finstock Village Hall Saturday May 28th: Finstock Village Handyman & Home Music Day Improvement Services From June 11th: All England’s European Football Championship games shown Electrical / Plumbing / Flooring / live on the huge HD screen Our Bar is open: Decorating / Tiling / Woodwork September 9th and 10th: Finstock Ale Mon: 6pm – close Beer Festival Tues – Fri: 12 noon – 3pm & 6pm – close Flat pack furniture / Bathroom & Sat: 12 noon – close kitchen installation October 22nd: Evenlode Folk presents Sun: 12 noon – 6.00pm John Spiers (former lead with Bellowhead) Quality finish Fully insured Our kitchen is open: Saturday November 26th: Arts & Crafts Tues – Sat No job too small All jobs considered Fair Lunch: 12 noon – 2.30pm Friday December 2nd: Evenlode Folk Dinner: 6.00pm – 9.00pm For a free quote call 01993- Sunday Lunch: 12 noon – 4pm presents Ninebarrow 868725 or 07717-878323 Come & visit us, we’d love to see you. Saturday December 10th: Christmas 01993 868333 Email: westoxhandyman@hot- Fair www.theplough-inn.co.uk mail.co.uk Saturday December 17th: Good Companions Xmas Lunch 6 FINSTOCK SCHOOL at school and the children have loved A production of Alice in Wonderland by reading the book. The teachers planned Beech Class was held at the beginning of some exciting activities based around the March. story. For example, our older children in Cedar Class used their science skills to School Dates Easter Holiday Friday March 25th to work out how to get the salt out of Alice’s Friday April 8th ‘Pool of Tears’; they produced information Term 5 2016: Monday April 11th to posters about the structure of the earth Finstock School travelled to Friday 27th May 27th to explain what Alice would see as she ‘Wonderland’ for two months! Late Spring Holiday Monday May 30th fell down the rabbit hole; and they wrote Alice in Wonderland came to Finstock to Friday June 3rd instructions for the Caucus Race. In Term 6 2016: INSET day Monday June school after Christmas. The library was Beech Class they wrote very imaginative 6th taken over by huge plants, a giant pink and descriptions of what Alice found through Term 6 2016: Tuesday June 7th to purple cat, large playing card soldiers, a the door, and wrote character descriptions Wednesday July 20th caterpillar, toadstools, a small mysterious of the Mad Hatter. Our Key Stage 1 These book-based activities have been door and the legs of a girl falling through class, Oak Class, did some fantastic art part of our whole school focus on Reading a hole in the roof. work where they depicted themselves for Pleasure. We are working hard to It sparked the imagination of everybody as the playing card soldiers and wrote develop a culture where the children see instructions for looking after hedgehogs. reading as an enjoyable pastime, and share Finstock At the end of Term 1, we had our own their reading with their family and friends. Mad Hatter’s Tea Party. Children came The whole school community, including cattery dressed as their favourite characters and pupils, parents, teachers, governors and Proprietors Julie & John Stoney ate the delicious food they had made, volunteers have contributed to this by which included playing card biscuits, sharing their favourite books. We now *LUXURY BOARDING butterfly bread, Cheshire cat kebabs and have a very large book of reviews called jam tarts, of course. Children took turns to ‘Recommended Reads’. Sue Dawe *SPACIOUS HEATED PENS tell jokes. It really was a ‘Mad’ afternoon.

*PERSONAL CARE Finstock Foundation Stage Unit It has been a busy Shop and the Village *INSPECTION INVITED but exciting year at Hall. They loved Finstock Primary seeing the builders School as we have at work and even 8 Wards Lane, Finstock, Oxon OX7 3BP opened our brand began building their new Foundation own village hall with Tel: 01993 868413 Stage Unit, also bricks when they known as Cherry got back to school! [email protected] Class. We now We looked at how welcome children Finstock has changed from their third and the concepts of birthday into our group of Nursery ‘past’ and ‘present’. The children drew children who join up with Reception (four some fantastic pictures showing how the and five year olds). Headteacher used to live next door and The children experience a wide range just walk through a gate to get to school of activities during the week, such as in the morning! visits from their favourite ‘Dancing Sally’, This term, we have been learning about and they enjoy using both the indoor ‘Alice in Wonderland.’ The children know and outdoor areas to explore and learn. the story so well and love retelling it using They particularly enjoy taking part in story actions and lots of expression! They ‘dough disco’, where they manipulate have also been using their knowledge of playdough by squeezing, squashing and the story to develop their writing skills and sausage-making all in time to music to ability to describe characters and settings. develop their hand muscles so that they The school library was transformed into are ready for writing! Wonderland, which inspired us to get Before Christmas, the children enjoyed creative; making pocket watches like the learning about our local area, including White Rabbit’s, puppets of the characters a walk around Finstock village, which and our own Wonderland gardens! involved a visit to the Church, the Mrs.Daniel 7 TVSA VILLAGE SHOP AND POST OFFICE Charlbury Society Friday April 8th: The Wychwood Project When you walk into the Village Shop facility. Sharon Williams at 8pm. Refreshments you will find not only all the necessary We always welcome anyone who from 7.30pm. household products and basics for meals, would like to volunteer in the shop. We Friday May 13th: AGM starting at but also several hidden gems: seafood particularly need more help on Saturday 7.30pm. There will be a break after the in the freezer, freshly made cakes and mornings, but do come and have a chat AGM for wine and snacks followed by a pastries and local Hook Norton beer. with Karen, who is in the Post Office short talk by Celia Faulkner on the History With the better weather comes our every weekday morning, and find out of Charlbury Water Sports. brand new whippy ice cream machine! how you can offer your time. With a variety of Don’t forget that you Both meetings are in the Memorial flavours these ice Shop opening hours:– can join the 100+ Hall. All welcome. Visitors £3. Students creams are sure to Weekdays 8-5.30 Club and give yourself free. More information on www. go down well with Saturdays 8.30-1 a chance of winning charlbury.inf/community/22 or call children and adults Shop Telephone Number – a big prize every 01608-810359/810130. alike. Orders Taken: 869096 month. Something We try hard to For the moment the Shop is not else that Karen can May 21st Witney Festival of Food and Royal oak ads F_Layout 1 29/10/2015 17:29 Page 1 use local suppliers, open on Sundays. tell you about. Drink – witneyfoodfestival.co.uk runs so a lot of our stock It is the 500th from 9.30am to 5pm at St.Mary’s Church is grown, raised or made within 30 miles anniversary of the Royal Mail – there on Church Green, Witney. The Festival or in the county. This include sausages, will be special stamps. patron is Alexander Armstrong. bacon and ham from Patrick Strainge in In 1516 Henry VIII knighted Brian Bampton; smoked Chicken, bacon and Tuke, the first Master of the Posts. kippersE from’RE Upton ASmokery;CK I Nlocally UTukeSI NestablishedESS key post towns across Talking Health News madeW jams, marmaladesB and chutneys,B the country and built a formal postal If you notice blood in your pee, even Shaken Oak mustards fromY HaileyA and network,OPEN whichING operated only for the A tradition O L HOURS if it’s just the once, tell your doctor. Call delicious cakes, tarts, Rscones and localO King and the Court until 1635, when it of warm Mon - Fri your GP today. bread. We also haveE Bridewell wine. A was opened up to the general public by

11.30-3.00pm www.nhs.uk/be-clear-on-cancer/beta/ hAdditionallyospitality we stock a selection ofK Charles I.

since the H 6.30-11.00pm blood-in-pee fruit, vegetables, dairyT products, frozen In our Post Office today, as well as Sat 11.30-11pm goods,17th tinnedcentu food,ry soft drinks, pasta and posting letters and parcels, you can buy Sun 12.00-10.30pm rice, cooking sauces, RpetA foodMS andDE Nwild commemorative stamps; pay the majority Science Oxford Workshops bird seed, newspapers and magazines, of your utility bills; withdraw cash from Tel: 01993 868864 / 868213 April 6th: Dinosaur Discovery Why is a general stationery and fun stuff for your bank account; and buy foreign [email protected] • www.royaloakramsden.com chocolate bar like a pumice stone? What children. currency. A has soap got to do with fossils? Find Our customers have been generous, as out the answers to these questions and usual, in contributing to the Food Bank. Post Office Opening Hours: more at this fun and interactive family Please continue to support this necessary Monday-Friday 9am-1pm workshop from the Science Oxford team. Become a junior palaeontologist and unearth buried bones, build a flapping WE’RE BACK pterodactyl and excavate your own fossil in this workshop for 5 to 10 year olds and IN BUSINESS We are going their families. 10-11 and 11.30-12.30, A tradition of warm hospitality 5-10 year olds, £8 per child, adults free. since the 17th century. from strength to strength April 6th: Build it! Calling all engineers! OYAL Are you ready for a challenge? Join R O Brand new classes and a great new timetable the Science Oxford family team for an there is no requirement to commit

A afternoon of engineering excitement at E to a long term contract

We are open as follows:– this inventive and practical workshop K

H • 6.30am to 9.30pm, during the week and for 6-12 year olds. Learn about the T • 7.30am to 7.30pm at the weekend. engineering design process as you build, B test and improve your creations: making full membership is available RAMSDEN opening bridges, moving cars and more! Mon - Fri: 11.30-3.00pm, 6.30-11.00pm from just £31 per month! (figure based on full dual membership) 6-12 year olds, £10 per child, adults free. Sat: 11.30-11pm Sun: 12.00-10.30pm To book the Science Oxford For more details email Tel: 01993 868213 [email protected] workshops:– [email protected] or call 01993 885 207 www.scienceoxford.com/live/whats- www.royaloakramsden.com WWW.eynshamhall.com on/what-s-on-family. 8 CONGRATULATIONS Spring cleaning is for everyone, including our Finstock is obviously a healthy Don and Joan Quibell of chaps with their sheds! and happy place to live as two of the The Ridings Cottage older couples in our community have I recently had to empty a shed full of Don was celebrated their Platinum Wedding tools that covered carpentry, electrical, b o r n i n Anniversary (70 years) in the past nine gardening and much more. I found Lincolnshire months. Both couples have known each Workaid, a charity based in Chesham, and joined other well! Bucks, who have existed for 29 years t h e R A F and last year won a Queens Award for Reg and Kath Howse Regiment Voluntary Service. They have volunteers of 16 Church Rise during the over a wide area (including Oxfordshire) War; Joan was doing her Red Cross who will collect unwanted items to take Reg was born in Nursing Training at The Royal United back to Chesham, where another load of Witney but when Hospital, Bath. They met at The Red specialist volunteers refurbish them and he was five years Shield Canteen, in Bath in 1944. They send them to various projects in Africa old his parents were married on December 19th 1945 to train people in their use. Horticultural moved to The at The Ascension Church, Twerton, Bath. equipment is refurbished and used to Waterloo Arms in Don had received a head injury and was teach skills to disabled people here in Finstock. During being nursed at The Churchill Hospital, the UK. Workaid tackles poverty by the Second World Oxford. He was allowed out for the providing disadvantaged people with the War Reg was in wedding and a short honeymoon but had tools they need to learn a skilled trade the army and in to be back in hospital on December 27th! and earn a living. Their website is www. 1943 went to the ‘Two penny Hop’ in Joan was nursing at Weston-Super-Mare workaid.org; tel. 01494-775220. Hemel Hempstead where he met Kath! at that time. Don was demobbed in 1946 Jill Dyer They got married on June 6th 1945 at and they moved back to Lincolnshire, National Aeronautics and St. John’s Church, Hemel Hempstead. where Don resumed his career in (Reg was Mentioned in Despatches that gamekeeping. They moved to Wilcote in Space Administration same year and received the Distinguished 1961 living in the Gamekeeper’s Cottage. (NASA) Service Medal.) They moved to Finstock When he retired they moved to Ridings For the young to Explore, Do, Play as after he was demobbed and lived with Cottage. Don continued to go ‘Beating’ they learn about: space, sun, earth, solar his parents for a short while at The for many years after retirement. Don, system, people and technology, gravity, Waterloo Arms; they then moved to who is 91, was presented with a Long the universe, outer space and so much Wilcote and finally to Church Rise when Service to Gamekeeping medal by the more. spaceplace.nasa.gov those houses were built in 1951. Reg, Queen in 1989. Joan, who is 91, is a For everyone to learn and enjoy, who is 95, worked for Hinken & Frewen, fantastic gardener. and became General Manager. Kath is visit www.nasa.gov: missions, galleries, They have two daughters, international space station, journey to 89 and is a fantastic artist and gardener. four grandchildren and seven great They have four sons, four granddaughters Mars, the solar system and much more grandchildren. are available. and one grandson. I raise my glass to all four of them! Viv Wightman Andrew A.Adams NICOLA MORGAN DC MMCA Registered Chiropractor – FCCA Soldiers of Oxfordshire McTimoney Technique Kimber Cottage, Holly Tree Cottages, Museum Events (SOFO) Chartered Certified Woodstock Rd, Earls Lane, April 6th: Brigadier David Innes Charlbury OX7 3ET Deddington OX15 0TQ Accountant Redcoats to Riflemen Tel: 07968-381335 Quality personal service for your See www.sofo.org.uk/whatson.php for I have almost 30 years’ experience in this adult and children events. gentle, effective manipulative therapy, which Accounting, Taxation and is suitable for many conditions and ages. I Business needs offer very flexible appointment times in two Competitive fees agreed in Breast Cancer Care locations. See www.chippingnortonchiropractor.co.uk advance Blenheim Palace Pink Ribbonwalk on Saturday May 14th. Take on a 5, 10 or Provider for BUPA, PPP, WPA and all major Free initial meeting health insurance companies 20 mile Pink Ribbonwalk and help us Member of the General Council & Register for Telephone: 07790 854574 be there for the thousands of women 01993 891280 Chiropractors and the McTimoney Chiropractic affected by breast cancer. Association. [email protected] www.breastcancercare.org.uk/ ribbonwalk 9 FINSTOCK BROWNIES Finstock Baby and Toddler Group Brownies: During this last term the the new term they will be making their Celebrating the arrival of spring at Brownies have been doing a challenge promises as Guides and completing many Finstock Baby and Toddler Group! Over called ‘Where in the World’ in which challenges and new adventures. the last couple of months we have been we have covered Rangoli sand art, This is a very exciting time for busy as usual with a variety of seasonal commonwealth ladders, spaghetti Girlguiding in Finstock, with all three activities including making Valentine’s towers, henna hand prints, Chinese sections, Rainbows, Brownies and Day cards, eating pancakes and creating paper cut art, Swedish hearts, Indian Guides, as well as a great Adult Team. daffodils out of egg boxes to celebrate elephants craft, fingerprint corn poppies, We would like to say a big thank you St.David’s day and the beginning of Japanese windsocks and finishing with to all the Rainbows and Brownies for their spring! We have also helped the little Haka dancing. We have also had time patience and understanding during our ones to make Mother’s Day cards and to think about our Brownie Promise and meetings in temporary accommodation. have fun with Easter themed crafts Law and what these mean to us, making It has been very challenging for us all (I too. The term will end in its usual style promise owls and good turn hands, along think the leaders actually found it the with an Easter party before the holidays with a funny peg challenge and jelly baby most challenging), as we have been so with all our favourite party foods: plus a challenge and Mother’s Day craft. fortunate to have had more space and chocolate egg or two! Go For It GUIDES: Our oldest twelve facilities and storage space which we all Over the next few weeks we will have Brownies have been working hard over took for granted with our Village Hall. We fun with the toddlers settling into the new this last term finding out all about Guides are certainly really excited and looking hall and deciding on a few new toys to and moving up to the next section. In forward to getting ‘back to normal’ in buy for the group to fill up all the extra our much appreciated new Village Hall. space we’ll have. We will then be able to offer the girls so We shall be able to give an update PELLMANS much more. on the move to the new hall in the next Your Local Solicitors edition. We shall also plan a few summer- Rainbows meet on Wednesday from related activities for the kiddies; and we • Business and Employment Law 4.45pm until 5.45pm. Contracts, Legal Compliance and may even venture over to the bower for Brownies meet on Wednesday from 6pm Disputes some singing in the sunshine! un t il 7. 30 p m. • Property We shall be meeting in Finstock Guides meet on Wednesday from 7pm Buying and Selling Homes, Church (upper room) until the new hall is until 8.30pm. Commercial and Agricultural officially open. We shall then be running Contact for Rainbows: Amy Booth – • Wills, Probate and Trusts as before from 10am to 11.30am on [email protected] or 07495-064634 Tax Planning and Lasting Powers Wednesday mornings (term time) with Contact for Brownies: Caroline Booth of Attorney the same on offer plus a bit more: plenty – [email protected] or 07890- of toys, activities and snacks for the kids, 629001 01865 884400 and chat, cake and hot drinks for the Contact for Guides: Kim Lovelock – www.pellmans.co.uk adults. We are very grateful for the use [email protected] or of the Church, enabling a very popular 1 Abbey Street, Eynsham, Witney, 07792-907252 OX29 4TB group to continue during the building of Home visits and evening appointments the new hall. available For further details contact Helen Fallows via email: finstocktoddlergroup@ gmail.com or find us on Facebook. See Shaun Guard you there! TV AERIAL Community Energy SERVICES Investment Opportunity City & Guilds Qualiied Groomer Finstock, this is your chance to help Poor Reception Solved ts. Services include: the environment, your community and Aerials repaired & supplied A member of Collection & drop-oﬀ facility get a great return on your investment. TVs - Hung on your wall for you Hydrotherapy bathing Also supplied & tuned Full groom & styling Southill Solar Energy offers shares from Removal of knots & tangles Extra TV Points Hand stripping £250 to £100,000 (one share, one vote). Five For aerial and Sky (In HD!) Grooming for show on selected breeds percent interest on investment, capital Nail trimming Sky TV - Also Foreign Language TV returned over the 25 year lifetime of the Tel: 01993 868118 Mobile: 0796 8733412 project; clean energy equivalent to 75% of Call Witney Email: [email protected] Website: www.wychwoodgrooming.co.uk. homes in Charlbury, Finstock & Fawler; 01993 608118 Open Monday - Saturday by Wendy Heather low visual impact and improved wildlife; apointment only. Rock Glen, The Bungalow A part of Please contact us to book Leaaeld Road, Finstock £30,000 community benefits per annum. an appointment. Oxfordshire, OX7 3DB Contact: southillcommunityenergy.co.uk. 10 FRIENDS OF FINSTOCK SCHOOL (FOFS) Walk to London for FoFS Paul Coombes and Rob Barkworth are We are now in the busiest part of our around the village. If you would like going to walk to London, to raise funds fundraising year and are looking forward to enter the quiz, please either email for Finstock School. We will be setting to being able to help to buy those extra me or call into the school office for an out from Finstock School on April 30th, things which make our lovely school all application form. Spaces are limited, so walking to Eynsham where we will pick the more special. early bookings are advisable. up the Thames Path to continue our 150 We held our second disco of the Also, after an absence of over two mile journey to London. The idea for the academic year on the last day of Term 3, years, we are holding a Ladies Pamper walk was conceived in the Plough Inn and and raised over £160 whilst having a very Night on Thursday May 12th from at the time, we underestimated the scale fun evening to mark the end of the school 7.30pm until 10pm in the Village Hall. of the task. Our rigorous training regime term. We then held our Chocolate Bingo All adult Ladies from Finstock and further started in autumn 2015 and despite a two Night at the beginning of March, which afield are cordially invited to join us for a month break for Christmas we are now again was a really fun evening out for relaxed evening of pampering, shopping in peak physical form. our children, along with their parents and all manner of treats and treatments Friends and family are welcome to join and grandparents with some delicious including massage, nails and jewellery us on the various legs of the walk and chocolate refreshments and prizes. It was along with refreshments and a raffle. already we have Al the cheerleader and great fun for all and raised an impressive Tickets are available in advance and on Dawn the canoeist signed up. profit of £215.65! the door and cost £5, which includes a The walk will raise much needed funds These events kicked off our latest glass of wine and nibbles. We hope you for Finstock School, which Paul and Rob’s fundraising towards the purchase of will be able to join us for this fun evening. children attend. The money will be used quality reading books to expand the If you would like to find out more, or to to create an inspiring all-weather space reading corners in each of our four buy advance tickets, then please look for learning and play outside Oak class. classrooms. We have set ourselves the at the Finstock Website, posters around Thanks for supporting us. target of raising £600 by the end of April the village or email me directly. We look www.totalgiving.co.uk/mypage/ to make this possible. forward to using the money raised from finstockschooltolondon The third event to help us to reach this event to purchase benches for the this target is our Spanish Stew and Quiz school which can be used during lesson Night being held on Friday April 29th times and also for eating lunch outside ChOC Films from 7pm in the School Hall. We want in the fresh air over the summer months. www.chocfilms.org this evening to be a repeat of the hugely Thank you for all your support in successful Quiz which we held last year; helping Friends of Finstock School raise Sunday April 10th: SPECTRE: Daniel it will be open to everyone from Finstock lots of money for our school and having Craig is back in his fourth Bond film. and beyond. The cost is £8 per ticket lots of fun along the way! Sunday May 8th: The Lady in the Van: with teams of up to six and includes our Rachel Mackenzie (FoFS Chairperson) Maggie Smith stars as the vagrant who delicious home-made Spanish Stew; [email protected] for fifteen years lived in her van parked refreshments will also be available. on the driveway of the playwright, Alan For more information, please check Bennett (Alex Jennings). the Finstock website and our posters

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Reliable Local Tradesman. A tree surgery company with the Richard Buck, Elbie House, integrity you can trust. East End, North All combined aspects of Arboriculture Leigh, OX29 6PX Tel: 0845 458 2980 Tel: 880166; Mob - Mobile: 07976 261850 Email: [email protected] 07791 046583 www.townandcountrytrees.co.uk 11 Garden Magic comes in lots of shapes and sizes As a child I was always fascinated by appeal, and clumps on stone-tiled roofs of Magnolia officinalis lessen tremor in small alpine flowers, triggered when I was of country cottages were grown to keep patients with Parkinson’s disease. It is about eight, exploring the small flower Witches away! a good time to see them with a walk in shops in the arcades of Bath, bringing My interest Batsford or Bodnant Gardens. Caerhays in miniature Castle is a must for the enthusiast, as they trees in pots have over 600 varieties. (Bonsai) started All flowers big or small brighten every when at college day, in London, Robert Bigwood when a lecturer gave me his back two or three small alpines such as Rosé Tinted Glasses ticket for the It was in 1942 that the Portuguese Saxifrages which were covered with bright Chelsea Flower discs of pink, yellow, white or red flowers Count of Mangualde received a very Show, and I unusual request. A business consortium emerging out of a mound of lime encrusted bought one of these small trees, ideal for white leaves. A lump of tufa rock can had approached him requesting my college window sill. This small permission to name their new wine house several of these small plants, Juniperus chinensis is now about 12” making a rocky garden on their own. The after his house: a lovely baroque palace high, aged 60, flourishing in a slightly named Mateus, which was close to their size of these alpine plants enabled me to larger pot. It completely recovered when make small garden displays in old sinks, newly established winery. In return they damaged by a heavy falling object in 1974 offered the Count a small royalty on each and with rocks, miniature landscapes. (I glued it with wood glue and bound it Other sinks were filled with acid soil; a bottle sold. tightly with tape! It was a technique I had At that time the wine business was in Himalayan scene with bright yellow, blue, previously used on a young Magnolia, pink, white or vivid red trouble in Portugal. Disrupted by war, which recovered and shipments of port had sunk to the lowest trumpets of miniature flowered well.) rhododendrons and the levels ever recorded, which meant a big pink of Daphne collina. Magnolias are in surplus of black grapes without a market. Small bulbs such as contrast big, producing The consortium had the idea of using Narcissus canaliculatus trees over 100 feet tall, the grapes to make wine for export to and botanical crocus covered with superb Brazil, where Vinho Verde was already were planted in areas large vase-shaped popular. They wanted to make a light, between the alpines, flowers in vivid whites, spritzy rosé. But with no tradition of pink and tumbling phloxes yellows, pinks, and wine-making in Portugal they struggled over the sides. These displays are good purples. They are one of the most to get the process right, until they hired for small gravelled areas and can be primitive plants in evolutionary history a French winemaker who showed them at different heights, mounted on pillar and fossil records show that they once how it was done. Their marketing was stones. Larger stones capped with the existed in Europe, North America and designed to make the product distinctive. neat clumps of red, purple green spiky Asia over 100 million years ago. Recent The bottle was based on the water flask foliage of Sempervivums, have instant studies have shown extracts from the bark that Portuguese soldiers carried in World War I, and they sent a bottle to every Embassy around the world as a symbol YOU’LL of Portuguese wine-making. FIND US Hilltop Garden Store ON THE WITNEY After the war shipments expanded ROAD BETWEEN CHARLBURY & rapidly to a total of 120 countries and WITNEY. Mateus Rosé developed into the first SOFT PLAY BARN Play for up to two hours Restaurant worldwide iconic wine brand. It was from just £2.50 per child*. Relax in our Our Pizza Café serves homemade, restaurant famous even found in Saddam Hussain’s cellars cooked to order pizzas, snacks & with locals for tasty drinks – hot, cold & shaken! breakfasts, lunches in Baghdad. *For Seasons Reward Card members. Join for FREE in-store. and home baking. Mateus Rosé sales are now 30 million

bottles a year, and they have sold a total GARDEN FURNITURE of over one billion bottles. By any stretch PLANTS Make the most of your of the imagination the descendants of Extensive plant range, garden with our fantastic gardening products and range of garden furniture the Count of Mangualde should be very inspirational home and gift ideas. & BBQs happy with the royalties on sales like that. But alas, there are no royalties. The Witney Road, Ramsden, Oxon, OX7 3AS Count, probably wary of these optimistic Tel: 01993 868403 Find us on Mon - Sat 9.00am - 5.30pm. Sun 10.30am - 4.30pm. entrepreneurs, had negotiated a one-off Please note Restaurant, Pizza Café close half an hour before the garden store. cash payment instead. Osiris 12