Hanwell News Summer 2009

The beautiful new Hanwell Village sign by the village hall. From the Editor

There has been a very pleasing and positive response to the new issue of Hanwell News from many people in the village, thank you for all the positive messages.

Due to excellent housekeeping by all the previous editors of Hanwell News and a windfall from the building society de-mutualisation, there is a significant amount of money in the Hanwell News bank account.

The cost of printing Hanwell News is covered by the receipts from our valued advertisers. While it is good to save for a rainy day, in this case any time when the advertising revenue falls below printing costs, the surplus money benefits no one sitting in the building society and there are sufficient funds both to keep some aside and to use some.

As this is village money it must be used for some village benefit and so I would like to ask residents for suggestions of what to do with the money. All suggestions will be printed in the next issue of Hanwell News and villagers will be asked to vote on their favourite suggestion. The amount of money available, after keeping some for a rainy day, is in the region of £500. So, please send all suggestions to the editor.

Do remember to send me any information or articles which you would like to share with the rest of the village. If anyone is interested in putting together a regular page for the children I would be very grateful to hear from you.

Anne Sheppard Editor, Hanwell News Fairways Church Lane Hanwell Tel. 730441 [email protected]

Dates for your diary

If you would be willing to open your Items for next edition of Hanwell News garden for the Hanwell Open Gardens should be given to Anne Sheppard by st day on 14th June please contact Bob Friday 21 August on 730677 by Monday 1st June Official opening of the Millennium Village Hall committee AGM at 7.30pm Telescope at Hanwell Castle th in the village hall. All very welcome. 18 September Wednesday 3rd June Stars and September Woodlands Cluster Care Annual General Meeting event with the Hanwell Community Thursday11th June Observatory group at Hanwell Castle 25th September Hanwell Village Open Gardens - Sunday 14th June

(Cover Photo Kirsten Sheppard) Village Information

Buses Household waste collection

Catteralls bus service goes twice a week Bins are emptied every Thursday and into on Thursday and Saturday. should be left out by the kerb, by 7am, The bus stop is in front of the village hall. with handles facing outwards.

From Hanwell. Departs Hanwell village 4th June – Blue and Brown bins hall 10.18 am, arriving Banbury bus 11th June – Green bin station at 10.25 am. 18th June – Blue and Brown bins 25th June – Green bin From Banbury. Departs Banbury bus 2nd July – Blue and Brown bins station 1.30 pm, arriving at Hanwell 9th July – Green bin village hall at 1.40pm. Cost £2 each way, 16th July – Blue and Brown bins or free for bus pass holders. 23rd July – Green bin 30th July – Blue and Brown bins There is also Dial-a-Ride, the door-to- 6th August – Green bin door minibus request service. This 13th August – Blue and Brown bins service operates from 8.00am to 6.00pm 20th August – Green bin every weekday and is intended to benefit 27th August – Blue and Brown bins the elderly and infirm who have difficulty 3rd Sept – Green bin in using public transport. Book a day 10th Sept – Blue and Brown bins ahead. Details available from Charles Nixon-Eckersall 730314. Primary School

Mobile Library The local primary school is County Primary School, in Hornton village, tel. 670335. The head teacher The mobile library calls fortnightly on is Mrs Hillary Childs. The school bus Tuesday afternoons at approximately picks up pupils from the village hall at 3.15pm. It stops opposite the village hall. 8.50am each morning and drops them off again at 3.40pm.

Milk Deliveries Secondary School Milk can be ordered for door step delivery from Dairy Crest. It is delivered in the very early hours of Tuesday, Thursday The local secondary school is the and Saturday mornings. Tel 01295 Warriner School, in village 264776 telephone 720777. The head teacher is Mr Nick Hindmarsh. The school bus picks up pupils from opposite the village hall at 8.00 am and drops them off again at 4.20pm. Village Hall Committee Parochial Church Council

Chairman Chairman Bob Dainty 730677 Position vacant Secretary Vice Chairman Wendy Green 738712 Charles Nixon-Eckersall 730314 Treasurer Secretary Gordon Polson 738031 Philip Ledger 738174 Village Hall Hire Treasurer Wendy Green 738712 Giles Dessain 730679 Committee members Churchwardens Jill Bailey 730442 Charles Nixon-Eckersall 730314 Juliet Dessain 730679 David Martin 265775 Jill Hart 730269 Liz Mobbs 738005 Richard Woodward 738975 Newspaper delivery

Neighbourhood Watch Newspapers can be ordered for delivery from Smiths in Banbury. Tel 01295 268499 and their email is Village co-ordinator [email protected] Joe McGloin 730383 Village Website Parish Council

The Hanwell village website with the Chairman John Spratt 730671 village forum is located at Arnold Bailey 730442 Bob Dainty 730677 www.hanwellvillage.com John Hart 730269 Terry Tuite 738612 Gordon Polson 738031 Charles Nixon-Eckersall 730314 Village Weather Station

Clerk to the council Sue Cunningham 738944 A weather station which gives current, up to the second, meteorological Church information for the village is at www.villagenow.co.uk St Peters Church of Church, Church Lane, Hanwell.

During the interregnum, services will vary Hanwell Community Observatory and are published in the Benefice newsletter inside the church. The churchwarden on 730314 can advise. The observatory website is

The Vicar is the Reverend Pam Smith, tel www.hanwellobservatory.org.uk 730951 Hanwell Neighbourhood Watch Important Information numbers

“Distraction burglaries” continue, not only in Police 0845 850 505 , but also in the West Thames Water 0845 920 0800 and ; as usual the gangs Trading Standard 01865 815000 operate in pairs. They call at a house and say “We are from the Water Board and we Area Co-ordinators are investigating explosions in the water system. Can we come in and find out if you Wendy Green 738712 have water leaks in your house?” One 2 Sackville Court gang was recently seen in a BMW car with Hanwell the letters Y/X in the registration number. Gullicote Lane/Houses west The police would welcome any information about these criminals. Pam Kennedy 730013 Old Barn There have been a few petty thefts in the Main Street village of Hanwell over recent weeks and Houses adjoining village green to village residents are urged to keep their houses, hall sheds and cars secure at all times. Thelma Spratt 730671 Recently, groups of youths have been seen The Old Rectory driving along the farm track at the side of Church Lane the village hall and congregating on the Church Lane village football ground. Late Saturday afternoon (May 16), as a result of a Amanda Wray-Mitchell 730402 telephone call, police arrived and arrested Heron Cottage one youth for possession of an offensive Main Street weapon. None of the youths lived in Moon and Sixpence area Hanwell. Sidney Unsworth 730793 Police believe that the youths assemble and Araminta are involved in drugs. Any information Main Street should be passed to the police. Park Close/Main Street south

C.J.McGloin Village co-ordinator Tel 730383 Library Services in . It provides a day out for elderly people living in the cluster The mobile library provides a valuable catchment villages of Claydon, Cropredy, service to rural communities. It carries a Hanwell, Horley, Hornton, , good, and regularly changed, selection of Little Bourton, Mollington and . books for all tastes. Specific titles can also be ordered in advance. Cluster Care will be holding its Annual General Meeting on Thursday, 11th June Not only books are available, but a good 2009 at 7.30pm in Claydon Village Hall. selection of videos too, in both VHS and Everyone is welcome and if anyone would DVD formats. The rental of videos ranges like to nominate members for the from £1.25 for older ones to £3.50 for newer committee, or is interested in joining releases, and the mobile library is even Cluster Care as a client member or better value than Banbury library or other volunteer, please contact Mrs Anne video rental places because you get them Holdom on 01295 758300 for two weeks.

The mobile library used to also stop by the Road safety issues bungalows at the bottom of the village, but after six months with no one using the A perennial concern in the village is road service there it was cancelled. It may be safety and the speed of some vehicles possible to request it stop there again if through our narrow roads. This was there is a regular need. raised again at the recent Parish Council AGM by several residents who wanted to As well as the mobile library, there is a see rather more concerted action by the ‘Books on Wheels’ service for the Parish. housebound. Here, a volunteer takes note of your reading preferences and brings a The Parish Council has in fact taken selection of suitable books from which you various steps over the years to raise these can choose some to borrow. If you are issues with Oxfordshire County Council housebound and would like to register for (the highway authority responsible for this service, call Angela Kingdom or Sue roads and road safety) and identify Nicholls on 01295 262282. However, this possible ways to improve road safety in service is run by volunteers and as they are the village. Pedestrian safety can be a real very stretched they would welcome more issue in many parts of our village where volunteers to help with this valuable benefit there is only one narrow footway, or for the housebound. If you are able to indeed no footway at all, and a number of volunteer, even if just to cover Hanwell, relatively blind bends. This is something please call Hilary Wheelton on 268249. which affects us all and can spoil the enjoyment of our pleasant environment.

Gritty News The County have in the past agreed to provide a mobile “SID” speed indicator to A new road grit bin has been placed beside monitor driver speeds – although this did the post box at the corner of Church Lane – not in fact show excessive speeds. The a little late for all the snow and ice we had main problem is that driving a vehicle at last winter, but in plenty of time for next the legal limit of 30mph is really too fast winter! for much of the village’s built up area, and changing thoughtless driver behaviour is, as we all know, very difficult. Cluster Care Group The Parish Council has for example Cluster Care is a day care centre which provided the “gates” at either end of the meets every Tuesday in the Sports Pavilion village to try to encourage traffic to slow down. More recently portable signs have issue and to identify some positive been installed to remind drivers to watch measures to improve road safety. It will their speed. Better street lighting was be chaired by Parish Councillor Terry installed about ten years ago. But the Tuite, with a number of residents who Parish Council has always avoided have volunteered their time, including cluttering the village with the drastic traffic Nigel Hall, Carl Portman, Sara Whitehead calming seen in some local villages as this and Richard Woodward. would bring an undesirable “urbanised” effect to what is a small rural village. In the first instance they will decide what they should focus their efforts on and then talk to the County Council and others to try to identify a package of practical improvements. They will report progress back to the Parish Council.

In the meantime residents are reminded that we can help ourselves by doing simple things - such as not obstructing footways with parked cars and overhanging hedges and trees.

If you want to help the new sub-committee Given the concerns expressed about road in any way, please get in touch with Terry safety, John Spratt, the Chairman of the Tuite on 738612 or any of the above. Parish Council, agreed at the AGM to form a sub-committee to look at this specific Alan Jones Banbury Community Transport bus operators throughout the region were Association withdrawn. Furthermore, because of difficult funding problems faced by many It seems appropriate at this time to explain local authorities, instead of repaying BCTA why the terms under which passengers use the full fare income incurred - all our BCTA services have changed. I know that passenger journeys are recorded fully - there are registered users living in Hanwell. CDC announced unilaterally that they would refund us some £20,000 in the From very small beginnings some 18 years current financial year. So, instead of the ago, BCTA has grown, by popular demand £75,000 that was budgeted, BCTA took a into a sizeable charity, with a turnover last drop of £55,000, compounded by the year of some £400,000. About £75,000 of Oxfordshire Rural Transport Partnership's that total came from fare revenue generated removing their grant of £8,000 for the from some 54,000 single passenger same reasons, insufficient central journeys. BCTA operates all its services government funding to meet the nowadays on the 'on demand' Dial-a-Ride programmes that Whitehall had principle. trumpeted. A budget loss of £63,000 meant that either BCTA reduced its 'on Our major funder, Council, demand', door-to-door services encouraged the use of concession passes considerably or reintroduced a cash fare and tokens on our services. CDC also structure with effect from April. agreed to refund to BCTA the fares that would have been paid, had free bus travel No one, neither registered BCTA not been introduced country-wide by central members nor company staff, is happy government. The District Council refunds about this situation. Banbury Guardian commercial bus operators only a readers will have seen recent letters and percentage of their nominal fares, claiming comment about this change. There is that the use of concessions generates more other on-going representation concerning business for those companies and, it and the company is totally sympathetic therefore, they should stand some of the towards all who, used in the last two years costs themselves (it is better for a to totally free travel, now find they are commercial operator to receive some being asked to pay for the same thing. percentage of fares rather than run an empty bus on scheduled services). BCTA has grown as it has over the last 12 years because its members asked for However, BCTA does not run scheduled more services. The relationship built services since the demise of the non-viable between our drivers and their regular Villager services and the case was made users is second to none and something in and agreed by the Council that concessions which BCTA takes great pride. Until made no difference to us as, without March, BCTA had many consecutive advance demand, no Dial-a-Ride services years without a single complaint or voiced would be run. dissatisfaction being made to the company. That, inevitably, is likely to You may have read that 'free bus travel' is change now. Nevertheless, the friendly, no longer available on any services where door-to-door, 'on demand' services will more than 50% of seats can be booked in continue for as long as our members use advance. Well, with BCTA's services, all the service. It is BCTA's hope that, with seats are booked in advance. Suddenly, the their modest fares and personal attention, company was declared by CDC to be these services will still attract sufficient ineligible for the free, concession travel and users to remain viable. However, BCTA is that CDC themselves had made a mistake a not-for-profit charity, administered by a in the first instance in assuming that we totally volunteer board employing paid were. Accordingly, in late March this year, staff and drivers and by the rules our concessionary travel terms were governing such a charity is not allowed to amended and the Smart Cards used by all run at a revenue loss. To date, the service has expanded year-on-year the sky and it was reconvened for Friday operating to those rules but the company is 3rd April 2009. The preceding week was bound by charity law to match its activities clear and stable meteorologically and to its revenues. excellent for viewing the heavens, so fingers were crossed for similar conditions I hope this explains the unwelcome for the Friday evening. The event was situation into which BCTA has been forced lucky and despite initial cloudy conditions and that the many registered members who the weather provided significant breaks in appreciate our services will continue to use the cloud for viewing. For many it them. They may be assured that BCTA will was their first opportunity to see the moon only ever charge the amount that is in such amazing detail, and also to see the necessary to meet the transport needs of rings of Saturn so clearly, as one guest BCTA members. remarked it was like the underground symbol! Charles Nixon-Eckersall Chairman, BCTA

Stars and Sausages

At the kind invitation of Christopher and Rowena Taylor, the Hanwell Village Hall Committee (HVHC) were offered the use of the Hanwell Community Observatory for a social evening looking at the stars. Principally aimed at villagers who had never seen, or who wanted another chance to see, the heavens up close and personal, arrangements were made for a small event in November 2008. Some of the other telescopes used for observing. (Photo Bob Dainty) In keeping with the stars and snowdrops "S" Hot sausages and soup were on offer to theme, the event was named stars and all, and the HVHC would like to extend sausages. There was naturally no doubt their appreciation to all helpers, ‘star what the evenings catering would consist guides’, who advised the guests on what of, and it was supplemented with hot soup! they were looking at and kept the telescopes pointing in the right direction.

All proceeds from the event were placed into village hall funds including a generous donation from the "stars and snowdrops" event in February this year. HVHC would like to thank all who attended and supported and look forward to similar events in the future. Richard Woodward

Items For Sale One of the HCO ‘star guides’ and the Millennium telescope. (Photo Bob Dainty) Husqvarna Rider 16 Ride-on, rear- steering, mulching mower. £1250. Call The original evening in November was 730563. sadly called off at the last minute due to a significant weather event which obscured Grave Markings in Hanwell the living to mark the graves of the dead made from wood or with a reminder of I am sure that many Hanwellians walking about the person who was buried there. through the ‘kissing gate’ at the rear of our Many of the markers were rough stone, Church will have seen the upright and did not last long when exposed to the gravestone with the skull and wings elements. depicted on it (See below). I became intrigued as to why such markings were put Early monuments and grave stones in onto gravestones and a little research Europe and in old New England were revealed the following information: crude and were carved with frightening motifs like winged skulls, skeletons and angels of death (below). The idea was to frighten the living with the very idea of death. In this way, they were apt to live a more righteous life after seeing the images of decay and horror on the markers of the dead. It would not be until the latter part of the 1800s that scenes of eternal peace would replace those of damnation.

How times change…

An old gravestone in Hanwell church graveyard. (Photo Carl Portman)

The first physical grave markers were literally stones and boulders that were used to keep the dead from rising out of their graves. It was thought, in those primitive times, that if heavy rocks were placed on the grave sites of the deceased, they would not be able to climb out from underneath them. As time went on, a need came for Carl Portman The Moon and Six Iron Golf Society designed and successfully changed from a cottage living room to a small boat in the The village golf society was formed in 2002 water and the two performers held when a small group of villagers, who met everyone captivated for the entire from time to time in the Moon and Sixpence performance. The theme – global decided to get together a few times a year warming – is such a significant one to at different local courses. make us all think about the very deep message behind the play. Since then the group, which has expanded to include other golfers from neighbouring We sincerely hope that the village hall villages, has met regularly on up to 6 committee will consider laying on more occasions a year. After each competition such quality performances for the village. most players usually return to the Moon and Sixpence for a convivial meal and prize giving. On average, approximately 12-16 golfers play and it should be stressed that anyone aspiring to join should not be intimidated at the prospect of scratch golf! The majority of players have handicaps of 20 or more and the emphasis is very much on convivial company rather than cut throat competition!

Whilst costs are kept as low as possible the Society has at the end of each year since 2002 been pleased to make a financial contribution to both the Village Church and Village Hall as a small thank you for the privilege of being part of the community. The Rivers Up performers acknowledge their well deserved applause. Any villager is welcome to join and their guests are also welcome. If you do not Village Quiz have an official handicap, but can play the game, the organisers will happily award one Ooh la la! It seems that Hanwell quiz which can be revised later in the light of goers had been busy brushing up on their performance. Our remaining meetings this French for the Village Hall quiz night on year are on 11th June, 9th July, 6th August, Saturday 16th May. They had been told 10th September and 8th October. that there was a French theme for the evening and Bob had decorated the hall Anyone wishing to have further details with red, white and blue bunting and should contact George Adams, Meadow balloons. These quizzes have become House, Springfield, Hanwell. Tel 730912 or very popular and team names chosen [email protected]. reflected both the French theme and the non villagers who came and joined in: Brains, Bottoms Up – a loyal Rivers Up Performance team of nurses from the Horton who chose the name as they came last in the The Oxfordshire Touring Theatre Company February quiz, but that was not the case played to a full house in the village hall in this time! - French Fancies, Les Ros April. Boeuf, and Crème de la Crème to name but a few. People had come from as far as London to see the performance and no one was Nigel Hall was the Quiz master assisted disappointed. The set was very cleverly by Juliet and the 8 rounds each had a French element to some, if not all of the Supper at half time was, surprise, questions. The music round questions surprise, a selection of French cheeses, involved naming snippets of music – a first pate, bread etc finished off with French for a Hanwell quiz and a test of our Apple Cake and washed down with plenty technical skills! We always have a sheet of of everyone’s choice of tipple. questions on each table for quiz goers to complete during the evening. This had a By the end of Round 8, all jokers had been strong French flavour as everyone had to played and the winners with a score of identify English translations of French 140 were Les Maquis followed closely by phrases which have become a part of the the Colonials and Impromptu who both English language. Two teams shared the scored 137. The winners were presented prize for this, Large Cognac Marlene, and with the much coveted Hanwell Village Impromptu - with a maximum score of 20! Hall Quiz Cup and of course the evening could not end without the infamous raffle!

Thank you as always to everyone who supports our quiz evenings – 57 this time and several of our regular teams were unable to make it. We raised a total of £358.50 which all goes towards upkeep and ongoing improvement of the Village Hall. The next quiz will be in the autumn. Keep an eye on the village notice boards, website, and Hanwell News for dates!

Juliet Dessain Hanwell Parish Council The council is actively pursuing the Local Authority’s request that we take over the At the annual general meeting of the administration of the village allotments. Hanwell Parish Council in mid-May, we were able to look back over a successful Our Parish Clerk, Sue Cunningham, is year for the village. The meeting was very handing over her role to Jayne Gordon well attended and the Council were with effect from the beginning of June. delighted and encouraged by the strong Thank you, Sue, from all of us for all your interest and support from all present in the hard work for the village and welcome interests of the whole village. Jayne to your new role.

Amy Gault and her team have scored a John Spratt great success for the village with the new Chairman, Hanwell Parish Council play area.

The problems we have had to face in previous years over the Local Authority Lifeboats planning strategy seem to have receded, at least for the time being. The present climate is definitely not too friendly towards charities and those who Charles Nixon-Eckersall and his mowing fundraise for them, and many have been team of volunteers (more needed please) having significant problems. This makes are proving every year that it was a good the success of the Banbury branch of the idea for us to invest in our own mowing RNLI in its April House-to-House collection machines. even more satisfying, reflecting, as it does, the very determined efforts of the many Road safety has always been an important collectors who give up so much time for challenge for the council and, as the result the lifeboats. The branch covers the of a lively debate on this subject at the region from northwards and AGM, a new sub-committee led by Terry Hanwell should be proud of the amount Tuite is now conducting a through review of that the village contributed, £125 towards all the options open to us to improve road a total of £4486. safety in the village. Charles Nixon-Eckersall Chairman, Banbury RNLI Dear Hanwell News - I know many householders in the village have one, two or even three cars, and Village Buses then public transport does not seem to be very important. However we found to our If you have ever stood waiting for a school cost last year, that when one member of bus or local service bus outside the village the family is no longer able to drive the hall, you will know it can be a very cold, wet bus does become very important to them.. and windy place on many days of the year. I am asking villagers to consider this I have asked the parish council if there is facility and think if there is a way they any way that some form of shelter could be could use it now and again. I do not use provided for the village children and others the bus very often as I still have the use of using public buses, they have agreed to a car, but I do try to use it from time to look into the possibility but if you are time, and when I do, the good things for concerned about this, please contact the me are that having reached the age of parish council as soon as possible so that it discretion, I have a bus pass. The service can be discussed before the next winter. is free, as it is to others of the same age group, but best of all I have some one else to drive me, which is a luxury and I do not Compared to many villages in Oxfordshire need to pay for parking. we are lucky to have a public bus service. However I wonder how many villagers know we have a twice weekly service to Banbury Please consider these points and see if and again how many of those who know of we retain our bus service and maybe even the service have ever used it. It is not well improve it. You may find one day you will used from our village and it may be another be grateful it is still there. service which if not used we may loose. Rosemary Rayner The Old Chapel Open Gardens

The Open Gardens are taking place this year on Sunday 14th June from 12 noon until 5pm. Several village gardens will be open including the Castle and one new one so there will be plenty to see. Bring along your friends and let them see how lovely Hanwell is! Homemade teas will be served in the church, other attractions include a Plant Stall, and the Village Hall Committee are holding a Table Top sale in the village hall from 12noon. Tables are £10 each. To book a table, please call Nigel on 730563 soon, as they are getting booked up.

As always this event relies on villagers helping out on the day. Juliet is organising a rota of people to help serve teas, supervise car parking etc so if you are able to help please call her on 730679. Donations towards tea, cakes, biscuits etc. would be much appreciated. We also need plants to sell so if you are dividing up any plants in your garden please pot up a few for us.

Further details will be posted through everyone’s door nearer the time but should you have any queries, call Juliet (730679). Hanwell Children’s Playground Out with the old.....

At long last, hopefully by the time you are reading this, the playground should be open! All that remains are the finishing touches such as the benches and safety grips and the thumbs up from the ROSPA Inspection. I hope I speak for all the families in Hanwell to say that we are thrilled with it. It has taken 2 tedious years with more than its fair share of problems to bring the project to its conclusion. I would like to thank John Spratt, the Parish ...... and in with the new! Council and Jane Winter for all their help and support and also to the playground sub committee for the wonderful outcome.

Happy safe playing. Amy Gault A real village effort to demolish the old playground - with time to spare for a coffee.

...but what do the children think?

Josh, Siobhan and Connor Wray-Mitchell seem to approve. Josh, a regular at the old playground thought, “It can be a bit annoying that they got rid of some of the old things because some people did like them quite a lot. But overall it’s an improvement.”

Siobhan said, “It’s really good for all ages. It’s good because it’s got a table so if you get hungry you can eat there” and Connor thought, “it’s a little different. It will be good for a little picnic.”

It seems that playing so hard makes you hungry! Rededication of Bells in Parish In the event, a crowded church enjoyed a Church choral Evensong, with the Benefice Choir, representation from all the seven other On Palm Sunday, 5 April 2009, the bells of churches in the Benefice, an enthusiastic our parish church, five from 1790 and organist, a most appreciative and refurbished and a new one - the Beecroft encouraging address by the bishop, some Bell - cast at Whitechapel in 2008, were enthusiastic 'change ringing', all followed rededicated by the Right Reverend John by excellent refreshments catered by Sue Pritchard, Diocesan Bishop of . In Quinney and Majestic Wines! With some response to a request made by our then 120 to be so refreshed, the 'party' Rector, Jeffrey Chard, early in 2008, the following the service lasted almost as bishop had agreed to conduct this formal long. event and, fourteen months on, was the first available date in his diary. Some are busy - The bishop unveiled an impressive brass some are very busy! Anyway, we were very plaque, procured by the church to privileged to have the bishop conduct this commemorate this significant milestone in ceremony as, in so small a parish, it would the church's long history and signed the more usually fall to one of his two deputy church Visitors' Book, which gives us a (suffragan) bishops. lasting record of this most successful day. Charles Nixon-Eckersall Churchwarden Recognition for Hanwell Veteran Mrs Russell also attended the Service of Land Girl Celebration for the Women’s Land Army and Timber Corps at Dorchester Abbey on st The government recently announced that it the 31 March this year, with more than was, belatedly, honouring the WW2 400 other ‘girls’. The service was taken by Woman’s Land Army and Timber Corps the Bishop of Dorchester and afterwards veterans. Hanwell resident Mrs Doris the Land Girls were served a tea prepared Russell, who came to Hanwell from London by farmer’s wives. Mrs Russell said, “It during the war as a Land Girl and has been was lovely, really lovely.” here ever since, was proud to receive her medal earlier this year.

Mrs Russell at Dorchester Abbey with Angela Mrs Russell with her medal. Huth, author of the popular book Land Girls.

Cluster Care Visitors The love and respect between Gill and her Cluster Care members (who meet in dogs was obvious for all to see and we Cropredy every Tuesday) had a most hope Gill, Jago and Sage will visit us enjoyable meeting when Gill Holt from again some time in the future. Bloxham brought her two Belgian Shepherd dogs, Jago and Sage, to the meeting. Jago (seven and a half) and Sage (two and a half) are the son and grand daughter of Wellard from the popular television programme Eastenders. Gill's hobby is training Jago and Sage to appear in films and on television including A Touch of Frost.

At Cluster Care, Gill and her dogs kept us entertained, showing us tricks of the trade. The dogs mingled with our members who all enjoyed stroking and "chatting" to them.

David Turner from Hanwell enjoys the display Young Hanwellians Can you unscramble the names of these wildflowers? This page is especially for the under 12s. 1. Saidy ...... We hope that you enjoy it and that some of you will want to send in some of your own 2. Cevth ...... work to share with others in the village. 3. Pet cut bur ...... The theme this issue is . 4. Low sly parc ...... 5. Sep lel dew ...... Hanwell has a great variety of wildlife. Birds, foxes, hedgehogs, squirrels, bats, 6. Yes no klu hec ...... deer, rabbits, weasels shrews and lots of wildflowers have all been seen. There are Wildlife Wordsearch freshwater shrimp in the stream, lots of Can you find these words? rabbits at the edges of the fields and squirrels in the trees (and stealing from the ALDER, ANT, ASH, BEETLE, BIRCH, bird tables). In January this year there were BLACKBIRD, BUTTERFLY, BUZZARD, over 100 yellowhammers in the hedges CHAFFINCH, DUNNOCK, FOX, HAWTHORN, around the football pitch. If you go outside HEDGEHOG, MILLIPEDE, MOUSE, OAK, just as it is getting dark and wait quietly for OWL, RABBIT, ROBIN, ROE DEER, ROSE, a short time, you will see bats flying around ROWAN, SCOTS PINE, SLATER, SLUG, SNAIL, SPIDER, WILLOW, WREN and young people, who have much better hearing than older folks, can often hear N B D M L W R S B B D R E K D their high pitched squeaks. On a walk E Z U I O O R U E L U E N A P recently with my son he could hear the high pitched squeal of a shrew which I, D D L Z E U T E G A N T I O K unfortunately, could not. T K E D Z T S O N C N A P N A N I E P E A H E S K O L S R R You can pick wild flowers (only if there are C E B R I E R N K B C S T H E plenty of them, don’t pick rare flowers) and R S F B G L A D A I K IO R D press them in a scrapbook or you can take E L H D A IL N W R L H C O L digital photographs. You can then learn to Y S E F L R T I K D C W S B A identify them, perhaps with the help of A H E L T E E B M R V R O I R someone in the village who knows about H A W T H O R N IE E J H N O wildflowers. Are there other young people W I L L O W J B K D S L U G S in the village who are interested in wildlife X O F L Y H C N IF F A H C E who you could compare your collection N A W O R W P P U N T G E O I with? Could you start a club? Then perhaps you could ask people in the village Y F K D O M S H M T J F E R W to come and tell what they know about wildlife. Tell us what you think and we will print it in the Hanwell News. Competition

There are a lot of ideas on the internet for Can you write a short story of about 200 – young people who are interested in wildlife, 300 words about some aspect of wildlife in some good ones are Hanwell. http://www.rspb.org.uk/youth The winner will receive a £10 book token http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/wild/index.shtml and have their story printed in the next http://www.wildlifewatch.org.uk/ edition of Hanwell News. Pass it on... Jigsaw Puzzles Help We have 5 or 6 1000 piece jigsaws if Please can someone help me? I would like anyone would like to borrow or have to to put a few video tapes onto DVD but don't keep. Please ring Gordon or Hazel have the equipment or knowledge. Paxton on 738907 or email, [email protected] Some are of Church lunches in the 1990s and some of our grandchildren when they RSPB Stamps were young. Thank you to the anonymous person who If you can help, for a fee, please phone left a bundle of stamps to be sent to the Hazel Paxton on 738907, or email me at RSPB Albatross Project. They have been [email protected] sent to the RSPB. Anyone else looking for a useful home for used stamps can give Family History them to the editor for passing on.

There have been some enquiries about Book Club Suggestion whether anyone in the village is researching their family tree and would be interested in A couple of people have asked if there is a forming a group to share ideas and tips. book club in the village and it sounds like Contact the editor for more information. a great idea to have one. Is there anyone out there who would be interested in Babysitting organising one? If so, we can publicise it in the next Hanwell News, so please Two local girls would like to babysit for local contact the editor if you are interested in families. If you are interested please call running or taking part in this. Robyn or Caroline on 738174