Vol 43 No 3 Editorial THE VILLAGER August/September 2017 th Congratulations to Brightwell School on marking its 175 anniversary. Our cover shows the school’s float at Wallingford carnival (thank you Brandon Contents DiMassa for the photo). It was a lovely afternoon at the picnic with lots of old friends to meet up with and trips down memory lane to enjoy. The school has Editorial 2 clearly benefited from the support you have given as a community. Neighbourhood Plan – Referendum / Village Lunch 3 A big thank you from BrightFest 17 4-5 The big news this month is that the Neighbourhood Plan has reached its final Community Association 5-6 stage - at last you might be thinking! Though it has been a long process, it is a Brightwell-cum-Sotwell Primary School 6 worthwhile one and it is now up to you to vote. Jason provides more details on The Parish Church of St Agatha’s and St James’ 7-8 page 3. Parish Council 8 Brightwell Village Stores and Post Office 9-10 This issue carries various reports of village events in the last month or so, all An evening for Alex 10 very enjoyable and a showing off of village talent, as well as making money for good causes. One of the highlights is always the flower and produce show Weeds steal the show 10-11 at the annual fete and again this showed what talents we have here in our Flower & Produce Show trophies 11 allotments, gardens and homes. The trophy and prize winners are listed on Flower & Produce Show results 12-13 pages 11-13. Environment Group 14-15 Party party party! 15 We may think we have now had our summer after the glorious warm days Allsorts Preschool / Volunteer for Oxfordshire’s Water Blitz 16 lately but I sincerely hope not. Happy holidays – and don’t forget to vote! Nordic walking group / Claire Booth in concert 17 Brightwell Art Club 18 Helen Connor Breast Cancer Care Fashion Show 18-19 Allotment Club 20 The Bach Centre 20-21 CornExchange@The Great Hall / T’ai Chi – two free tasters 21 Wallingford Hockey Club 22 In Brief – round and about 22-23 Village diary 24 Chairman: Anne Brooker 835109 Secretary: Gill Dexter Editor: Helen Connor 834754 ([email protected]) Treasurer: Betty Price Advertising: Martin Dix 836204, Trevor Morgan 838920 Assembly: Shena Luck 834543 Distribution: Keith Brooks 839044 Production: Anne Brooker, Angela Lewis, Trevor Morgan, Susanne Tuffrey Items for the next edition should be sent to the Editor by 10 September 2017. The Villager is published every other month and delivered free to all households in the village. 1 2 Neighbourhood Plan A big thank you from BrightFest 17 The Brightwell-cum-Sotwell Neighbourhood Plan has now been examined by What an amazing day! A truly wonderful community spirit was evident an independent examiner (an independent examination is a statutory throughout the day amongst the organisers, the villagers who volunteered their requirement for all neighbourhood plans). This took longer than we expected time, the musicians who gave their time for free and the crowds of people who (as has everything during the whole NP process!). The examiner was came along to enjoy the sunshine, music and activities on offer. BrightFest17 appointed by SODC whose job was to read our plan to ensure that it is fit for was seen by many as one of the ‘best yet’! purpose and not in conflict with any national or local policies. He also comments on the plan’s robustness and appropriateness. BrightFest 17 was a fabulous success and we are absolutely delighted to announce that the total sum raised on the day was a massive £6,967.11! First The examiner took the decision that our plan needed to have a public of all, a massive thank you to all our sponsors: Clive Collett Electrical, the examination regarding a single issue – the proposed village boundary. This Parish Council, the Community Association, Brightwell Bees, Waitrose, took place, in the village hall. Lots of you attended, listening intently to all Rowse Honey, West Berkshire Brewery, Root One, Red Dog Cider, the arguments on whether we should have an edge of settlement or not. It was Pyrovision and all of our anonymous donators. all a bit nerve racking. Huge thanks must go to The examiner published his report on 7 July. He has recommended that our all the artists and bands Neighborhood Plan proceeds to a public referendum, subject to a few who generously offered modifications. These are all quite minor and make for a better plan. to perform on our stage The examiner’s report, together with the revised Neighbourhood Plan (and all and entertain us. They the supporting information) is published on SODC’s website. It makes for spent their hard-earned interesting reading. You can see the Referendum Copy of the NP (and cash and hours and hours examiner’s report) by visiting the Parish Office or read the paper copy in the on rehearsals to be at Red Lion. Alternately, type in the following link: their best for the event. http://www.southoxon.gov.uk/services-and-advice/planning-and- Without the music, there building/planning-policy/neighbourhood-plans/brightwell-cum-sotwell . would be no point to BrightFest. A big thanks As I write we are waiting for final confirmation from SODC that the plan can to the sound engineer go forward to referendum (it is their decision). The Referendum is your and stage lighting opportunity to decide whether you agree with the Brightwell-cum-Sotwell person, arguably the most important people on the pitch! Neighbourhood Plan or not. Everyone who is over 18 and registered to vote in the parish will receive a polling card and you will cast your vote in the Thanks to Neil Wornham for providing the delicious food, and Celia Collett normal polling stations as with any election. A simple majority will decide and her Save the Children team for the lovely tea tent. whether the plan proceeds or not. Special thanks to all the wonderful people who helped make this year’s Jason Debney Allsorts KidsZone happen, whether that was through their time, their organisation and crafting skills or by material donations. This really helped Village Lunch draw in the families and keep them entertained throughout the day. The next village lunch will be on Tuesday 12 September at 12.15pm in the We must thank the Scouts for helping to set up, looking after the site village hall – contact Jacqui 836018 or Belinda 836223 to book a place. overnight, and for their help with clearing up the following day. Many thanks to all the volunteers who helped organise and run the event including the organisation and management of Health & Safety (Werner, 3 4 Yives, Micky) along with the Red Lion bar staff and everyone that helped Annual General Meeting – Tuesday 26 September, 7.30pm in clear up in the morning (including one person who was simply going for a the village hall morning run!). Please come to the AGM of the Community Association and enjoy a glass of A thoroughly tremendous, happy day that will make a real difference to the wine and a chat with the committee. New committee members are always charities that will be benefitting from the generosity of our sponsors and the welcome. public who came along. Thank you to everyone! James Davys, chairman Mark Brock & the BrightFest17 Team Brightwell-cum-Sotwell Primary School Community Association The end of such a significant academic year for Brightwell School is an Village fete – 1 July obvious time to reflect. Having a secondary background myself, and not We arranged the fete a little earlier this year and were extremely lucky with knowing the village very well, I had no idea what to expect. The thing that has the weather and the support of the village. A big thank you to everybody who struck me most is the powerful sense of community that surrounds the school. helped make this event such a success and one of the highlights of the We have faced a number of challenges this year but every time it has felt a Brightwell year; without all your hard work and generosity it could not little daunting something has happened that has involved parents and staff happen. I am especially grateful to our Community Association team who co- working together. Then I feel tremendous hope for the future. This term we ordinated the whole event so well and our kind hosts Madeline and Jim Sanger have seen the Wallingford Carnival float, the 175 th birthday party, Sports Day, who welcomed us to their lovely garden. I am pleased to say that we made Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths week and gardening club – none £4,203; a great effort by everybody involved. of these would have been possible without our community. It has been a privilege to be part of each event. Profits now get split between different village organisations, which bid to meet a specific funding need. All groups that want to apply for funds and have The move towards academy status and our new relationship with Wallingford not received an application form should contact our treasurer, Tom Rogerson School has drawn governors, FOBS, parents and members of the wider (01491 839960) or [email protected] . While the rules are not hard and community together with a real sense of purpose. I hope the village also fast, we do try to favour organisations that have made big efforts to support senses the school strengthening. This term I shared extracts from the school the fete and other fundraising events during the year.