FEBRUARY 2020 (#512) Previous editions can be found online at www.wospweb.com/site/Cassington-Online Cassington and Worton News staff at these homes that residents/patients benefi t immensely Care Home residents from the visits. monkey around “Likewise, we have seen nothing but positive results with Residents at Churchfi elds Care Home in Oxfordshire were our squirrel monkeys. They are naturally intelligent and social delighted to receive a visit from some cheeky guests. animals that live in their large multi-generation captive-bred Two squirrel monkeys, named Antonio and Tia, took a day breeding colony back at our zoo. out from their zoological home in Chipping Norton to visit “Being trained animals they are very familiar with human residents at the home in Cassington. beings and interact with them on a daily basis throughout their Studies have shown that caring for an animal has proven day as well as performing their natural behaviours in their health benefi ts. With this in mind, residents were able to pick specially constructed homes. Animal training provides mental up, cuddle and feed worms to the very lively furry monkeys. stimulation and promotes more confi dence in zoo animals. Stephanie Eley, Manager at Churchfi elds Care Home, “Visits to these homes provides a natural extension and commented: “Residents and staff alike were enthralled by the variation in their enrichment programmes.” monkeys, who were using the home as their playground. “They were so friendly, and we know how benefi cial animal therapy can be for older people, especially for those living with dementia.” Residents at the care home regularly enjoy visits from animals, including ‘pat dogs’ and the star penguins that appeared in the local news last year. Resident Muriel commented: “I was eager to ask the keepers about the age and names of the monkeys, and also what they ate. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn.” Eve added: “I couldn’t believe how agile they were, and I loved seeing them jumping about.” Jim Clubb from Heythrop Zoological Gardens commented; “Our common squirrel monkeys are regular visitors to care homes. We have been told by both specialist therapists and the HORSEMERE LANE in traffi c at the traffi c lights.“ and “Mr Thomas responded that in that case the Letter to the Editor Parish Council could not support the prohibition and would want Horsemere In 2016, OCC disclosed they were to close Horsemere lane in Cassington, Lane to remain open.” Our Parish Council decided traffi c would be too busy this was stopped by our cllr Charles Mathews until we had a village vote and passing their houses as traffi c may block up from the traffi c lights. There is no consent. So, we had a village vote and an overwhelming result to close the lane. evidence to prove this and if traffi c would fi nd other routes. The vast majority of After 4 years, yes 4 years of meetings, design, local consultation and a traffi c the parish council live in that end of the village. So, the parish council mislead survey with the transport department, we moved to close Horsemere Lane as us of their intentions and unfortunately wasted £3000 of village money as they per recommended by the Transport Department. We where suddenly presented decided to change their minds and decided their ideas TRUMPED what villagers with a potential bill for approximately £6000 to provide the gates, signage and voted for and OCC Transport department recommendations. As Parish Council OCC’s consultation process. Even though OCC wanted the lane closed we members are voted in by villagers you would think it’s their primary responsibly suddenly had to pay. The Parish Council agreed to use and support the closure is to deliver what people voted for. This wasn’t complicated like BREXIT, but by utilising the Blenheim Sec106 building money from the large development in we have lost over £3000 because the Parish Council decided to go with their own the village to pay for the consultation. The villagers reluctantly raised the money ideas even though the law dictates they have to disclose their own interest which (£2600) for the physical works and signage. The cabinet member presiding on they have never done. The lane had become plagued by massive potholes which the consultation was advised by our Parish Chairman not to close the lane, where mended two weeks ago but unfortunately have already been ruined, the minutes read as below. “Hugh Thomas for Cassington Parish Council confi rmed lane cannot take the amount of traffi c as it wasn’t designed for. Large vehicles that while there was a level of support for closure this was an important access and normal traffi c belongs on the main roads not Horsemere Lane / Bridal path route out of the village with 500 cars currently using Horsemere Lane. That #welldone #wasteofmoney traffi c would have to go somewhere with closure inevitably causing an increase Name supplied but withheld as requested Contributions should be provided by 20th of the month. Email submissions (in the body or as a Word attachment) to: cawneditor@ gmail.com. Photographs should be supplied as separate attachments, not placed in the Word fi le. Typed or clearly handwritten submissions may be posted to: Kevin Burroughs, 5 Hollow Furlong, Cassington, OX29 4ET. We look forward to hearing from you. welcome Kevin's CAWNer February – it’s a leap year this year! I gain another notch in my timeline. It’s also Valentines and like marmite, you either love it or hate what it stands for these days. It’s the fi rst of the super moons this month – the Snow Moon – will we see any this year in Cassington? It’s also another gathering of the village Eco & Climate Change group who are keen to fi nd champions for key topics (see page 9). Preparations also commence for Cassington Bike Night 2020 and they are looking for residents to get involved in the preparations for the annual event. February also marks the start of Annual General Meeting season – I’ve had my say on this season in the past and I just hope residents who desire to infl uence, guide and develop this village will step up and get involved in the various village groups. It seems people are very good at taking one step back to critics on the side lines rather than stepping forward to constructively effect change. In talking about change, there is also a threat to village traditions based on a comment about the Boxing Day football marrieds vs singles football match. Can tradition be saved? Can it be allowed to evolve? Happy reading - and hey! feedback and contributions always welcomed. Email: [email protected] Kevin Contents Residents Monkey Around | Horsemere Lane .... ..................1 February stargazing | Home Repairs | Boxing Day Footie 3 Who or what do we love most? | Rotary News .................. 5 SAM AI AM & Peter Panto reviews | S&S Club news ........6 Museum News | Marlborough Community Education......7 Eco & Climate Change Group | Bike Night 2020 ................ 9 Observation ................................................................... .......11 Cassington WI ......................................................................12 Cassington Birds | 'Unrecyclable' plastic .......................... 13 Parish Council news | Church fl owers | Dorney Lake ..... 17 Jeeves & Wooster .................................................................. 18 Flock Comedy | Rotary charity fi lm night ........................ 19 Village contact details | venue hire | CAWN adverts . 20 Noticeboard ............................ ............................................. 21 What's On & Diary dates .................................................... 22 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- With special thanks to... Daily sketches and more @planetkev on Twitter and Instagram Lorna Mills (Accountant), Fineprint Witney (Printer), Many prints available, and always open to requests. Clare Want and her team (Distributor) and to everyone Visit www.planetkev.co.uk or get in touch ... who actively participates in the production of Cassington & [email protected] Worton Newsletter. 2 February stargazing Burford Singers – Bach St John Passion highlights Saturday, 4th April 2020, 7.30pm Church of St John the Baptist February 9 - Full Moon, Supermoon. The Moon Church Green, will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be fully illuminated. This full moon was known by early Native Burford OX18 4RY Burford Singers with James Oxley – Evangelist American tribes as the Full Snow Moon because the heaviest snows John Stainsby - Christus Alison Rose – Soprano usually fell during this time of the year. Since hunting is difficult, this James Neville – Counter-tenor Laurence Kilsby - Tenor moon has also been known by some tribes as the Full Hunger Moon, Freddie Long - Bass Canzona since the harsh weather made hunting difficult. This is also the first of Leader: Theresa Caudle Conductor: Brian Kay four supermoons for 2020. The Moon will be at its closest approach to the Earth and may look slightly larger and brighter than usual. February 10 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Tickets reserved at £25, £20, £15, unreserved £10, children and students half price Elongation. The planet Mercury reaches greatest eastern Online booking from 10th Feb at elongation of 18.2 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view http://www.burfordsingers.org.uk/box-office/ Mercury since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the Booking in person from 10th Feb for unreserved only at evening sky. Look for the planet low in the western sky just after sunset. Mad Hatter Bookshop, High Street, Burford February 23 - New Moon. The Moon will located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will not be visible in the night Get help with home repairs sky. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as There are services and funds available to help people (owners and private tenants) galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.