Of the village, by the village, for the village February/March 2019 114 FinstockServing Finstock, Fawler, Wilcote, News Mt.Skippett and Finstock Heath Village Shop, Christmas Card Winner . 1 County and District Council reports . 7 Village Events, Girl Guides . 2 Finstock School, Mr Quibell obit . 8 Village Hall, Finstock Festival . 3 Claridge family history, Remembrance Sunday . 9 Women voting, Parish Council . 4 Robert Courts, MP on NHS funding, A Potted History . 10 Toddlers, FoFS . 5 A Potted History continues . 11 Countryside Conservation, Walk . 6 Gardening, Oxfordshire Mseum, Garden waste recycling . 12 new year begins with new Chairs elected at the Village Shop (proposed to be renamed The Woodpecker Community Shop) and at the Village Hall. You can read about the planned annual School Fete and Village Festival. Our Parish Council was very productive at the end of last year and our District, County and Parliamentary representatives will update you on their latest Anews. Finstock Women’s voting achievement, a pleasant walk, further information about the Claridge family in WWII, a start to the gardening season and a story about Viv Wightman’s midwife career will round out a full issue of news. With the possibility of major changes this year (Brexit?), it might be an idea to focus on local life and wildlife for relief from the confusion and distraction of politics. The Village Shop is the need to improve its communications so that everyone understands the product range, special offers and additional services . To broaden the Shop’s profile across the wider community it’s proposed to rename it The Woodpecker Community Shop . Stand by for an exciting competition associated with this change! The second is to revitalise the 100 Club to the point where it has at least 100 participating members . Do you know that for a donation of only £2 a week, you can win £100 or £50 prizes every month? At the AGM, most attendees indicated that they had won at least one prize in the past . To join, The Village Hall’s Evenlode Room was packed back in simply enrol at the Village Shop . November for the Annual General Meeting of the Village The new Board of Directors will also explore what grants Shop . New changes to the Directors were announced, and may be available . There are a number of organisations who the revised board comprises Roz Danks, Ed Grant, Nettie offer financial support to local community initiatives . By Gregory, Robin Hall and Carol Scott, with Rod Ireland serving being a not-for-profit venture, staffed by volunteers and as Chair of Directors . serving a rural community, we need to find out who can The meeting was told that the revenues of the Shop have help us . shown a downward trend for the past five years . This has Finally, an initiative that has helped other organisations reached the point where the running of the Shop is being not only to survive, but to thrive, is the area of crowdfunding . subsidised from its financial reserves . There are several The directors will investigate what has worked elsewhere reasons why people may be spending less in the Shop than and how we might promote the story of our Village Shop in the past . One is the growth in home delivery of groceries . to attract further income . Another is that some of the most regular customers are no It’s that time for resolutions . If you called into the Shop longer with us; the village has more young busy people who just once a week, you would play a huge part in ensuring may be at work when the Shop is open . And membership its future . Use it, or lose it! of the 100 Club has dwindled over time to only 80 people . Rod Ireland Yet surveys, both formal and informal, tell us that having a shop and especially a Post Office, is seen as a valuable Christmas card Competition Winner asset, so something needs to change . On current trends, the The winner of Robert Courts annual Shop would become financially unviable at some point in Christmas card competition was 2020, and would have to close . The Directors stated their ten-year-old Josh from Finstock . It commitment to reviving the fortunes of the Shop . They was a delight to show Josh and his don’t have all the answers yet, but believe there are four family around Parliament before I areas to explore . delivered one of Josh’s cards to the The first is to look at what the shop offers and what it Prime Minister herself . might do differently to attract more revenue, differentiating Congratulations Josh on your superb winning design! itself from the growth in online services . Associated with this Robert Courts, MP 0 . VILLAGE EVENTS 0 . February North Leigh Girl Guiding Rugby in the Village Hall on match History Society meeting times days February 5th the Lost Villages of All sections meet on Wednesdays Rainbows - for girls aged between 15th On Two Wheels Local History Oxfordshire. Talk by Dr Deborah 5 and 7 years . This group meets from 15th School term ends Hayter . 4 45pm. until 5 45pm. Contact for 17th CRAG Tea Concert 25th School March 5th Researching family history Rainbows is Amy Fox; 07495 064634 term begins Jessica Feinstein . Brownies - this group is for girls aged March There is something very poignant between 7 and 10 years and meets Rugby in the Village Hall on match and romantic about the words ‘a lost from 6pm until 7 30pm. Contact for days village’ . It makes me wonder about Brownies is Amy Fox; 07495 064634 the people who once lived there and Guides - for girls aged between 10 15th 24 Square Miles Local History what it was that caused them all to and 14 years . This group meets from April leave . Who was the very last person 6pm until 7 30pm. Contact for Guides 27th FoFS Quiz night who closed their door for the very is Karen Williams – phoenixlights@ June last time? Where did they go? In the hotmail com;. 07809 724065 next meeting of the History Society 21st-22nd School Fete, Village Girl Guides and Boy Scouts on Tuesday February 5th we will be Festival celebrate 100th anniversary delving into these mysteries under the skilful leadership of Dr Deborah Hayter, Sunday February 10th at 7pm - Finstock Local who will be taking us through the lost ChOC Classic Cinema returns with a History Society villages of Oxfordshire . Do come and true classic of the silver screen, Some February 15th -- On two wheels – join us on our next magical mystery tour Like It Hot, Billy Wilder’s acclaimed the fascinating story of the bicycle, through the byways of history . comedy starring Jack Lemon, Tony by Bill King A broad non-technical Our March meeting is a must for Curtis and Marilyn Monroe . (Charlbury’s outline of the development of the all those exploring their family history, Own Cinema) bicycle and cycling, with an emphasis whether you are a beginner or already on the sociological impact of this deep into your own research . Our Local Enjoyable Drawing Courses means of transport . The Bicycle was speaker, Jessica Feinstein has rich & Workshops start again in February . credited as being a major factor in experience to set you on your way and For more information please contact the emancipation of women and was suggest new avenues of research to take Gabriele - gabrielekern31@gmail com. the forerunner of the motor cycle and your own explorations further . or ring 01993 880430 motor car . All are welcome . We meet as usual March 15th -- 24 Square Miles, by in the Turner Hall, Church Road OX29 Centenary of the creation of the Dr Kate Tiller A showing of the 1946 6TX at 7 30. pm . Visitors £4, Members Grand Canyon National Park, US film 24 Square Miles [centred on Hook free . Further details from Diana Power Norton] with a brief introduction 882301 . about the film, the related surveys, CRAG Tea Concert: Goldberg and the director, Kay Mander, with a Variations (J S. Bach) . A tribute discussion on the changes that have harpsichord recital by Alastair Ross in occurred . Kate is Emeritus Fellow of memory of Roger Pensom and Maurice the Faculty of History, University of Cochrane . Sunday Feb 17th 3-4pm in Oxford, and former Director of Local the Memorial Hall, Charlbury followed History Studies . by free tea and cake . Alastair Ross was a All meetings at 8pm on Fridays unless chorister at Christ Church, and an organ otherwise stated, at Finstock Village scholar at New College, Oxford, where Hall, OX7 3BU . Refreshments available he gained a First in Music . He has from 7 30pm. Entry £2 50. Follow us worked as a freelance harpsichordist on Facebook at www facebook. com/. and organist for thirty five years . He FinstockLocalHistorySociety is principal keyboard player of the New Yatt Riding for the Disabled - Academy of Ancient Music and The volunteers needed . Experience with Sixteen . Tickets £12 from Cotswold horses useful but reliability, willingness Frames or Larcum’s nearer the date, or to learn and sense of humour reserve by emailing charlburyrefugee@ more important . nyrda_helpers@ gmail .com . Charlbury Refugee Action googlegroups com. Group 2 VILLAGE HALL EVENTS provide occasional help in the village please contact the Parish Clerk, June Village Hall with equipment and furnishings and has Pratley at junepratley@btinternet . Our previous Chairman, Shaun left the Village Hall in a strong financial comproviding your name, address and Morley stepped down at our Trustees position going forward. Thank you very email together with any specialist skills meeting in November and I was much Shaun! that would be useful in an emergency, elected in his place as the new Chair .