Page 1 B L E T C H I N G T O N Tel: 01869 350359 Kenwood, Fax/Ansa: 01869 351606 Oxford Road. From the Editor As you will see from the cover we are proud to have reached our 200th Issue. The back of the cover shows the cover of the first Village News at the beginning of 1979. It was originally a Church initiative introduced by the Vicar of Bletchington, Rev.Robin Bennet, and the Vicar of Kirtlington and Weston-on-the-Green, Rev. George Bennett. It was produced as a newspaper for everyone in the three villages. The first few issues were printed here, in the Great House, which, at that time was The Centre for English Studies. However, this became a bit too much, therefore each village printed their own, but the three Editors continued to exchange notes for some time. Thank you very much to Tony Saunders for producing the very clever cover design made up of small prints of previous cover pictures – many of them drawn by the late Bob Beck. The Bletchington Silver Band were disappointed at being placed 21st in the National Finals. However, the members should be very proud of the fact that they are the 21st best 4th section Band. A great accolade for a small village! We were sorry to see Jane leave the Black’s Head Inn, which she had restored to its previous standing, and were pleased to receive her letter for this Issue. We wish the new tenants, William and Zayna every success and look forward to their plans coming to fruition. Unfortunately we have no contributions from the schoolchildren in this Issue. However, we do have the 2nd part of Feeding the Birds by Roger Burgman. Thank you for this and for all the other contributions. Articles for inclusion in the December 2012/January 2013 Issue, are welcome at any time but by 25th November 2012 at the latest please. We will have a Christmas Cover Competition again this year – details below. For your convenience it is possible to send your articles, adverts, or cover designs directly by e-mail. The Bletchington Village News e-mail address is [email protected] Greta Bickley, Editor. CHRISTMAS COVER COMPETITION If you would like to win £5 please have a go at designing a cover for the next Issues, ideally with a Christmas theme. The picture needs to fit in the middle of the page (approximately 17.5 x 14.5 cms) and should be drawn with a dark lead pencil, so that it will scan. The last date for entries will be 25th November. Please give your picture to Greta, or send it by e-mail The Parish Council now has a computer projector and screen available for use by village organisations. It is not intended for home use but is sufficiently powerful to be used in the village hall to an audience of 50+ people. If you are interested in making use of the projector please contact the Parish Clerk or Duncan Ledger (01869 351542) or [email protected]. ALL SOULS’ SERVICE OUR ANNUAL SERVICE, AT WHICH WE REMEMBER FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO HAVE DIED, WILL BE ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH AT 11 a.m. Everyone welcome. For more details, please see the church news. Youth Club: At the August meeting of the Parish Council, an officer from the Oxfordshire Association for Young People came to talk to Councillors. They are anxious for us to have our own Youth Club in order to relieve the numbers attending Kirtlington Youth Club. OAYP can help with setting up and management but do not get involved with the leadership of the Club. Therefore, the Parish Council wondered if there is anybody in the village who would be interested in running a Youth Club. For more information please contact the Clerk or one of the Councillors. Page 2 THE AKEMAN BENEFICE (Bletchington, Kirtlington, Weston-on-the-Green, Chesterton, Middleton Stoney, Wendlebury and Hampton Gay) Rector: Revd. Jane Hemmings, The Rectory, Troy Lane, Kirtlington. Oxon OX5 3HA (01869 350224) email: [email protected] Assistant Rector: Revd. Brian Wood, The Rectory, Alchester Road, Chesterton, Oxon OX 26 1UW (01869 369815) email [email protected] Please try to contact Jane or Brian by letter or email, if not urgent. Churchwarden: Elizabeth Kersh Deanery Synod representatives: Tony and Jean Bagnall Smith Members of the PCC: Jean Bennett, Natasha Pitts, Frances Colling, Ian Gedling, Esther Hawkins, Elaine Hurst and David Little. Services in St. Giles’ Church (unless otherwise stated) for October, November and December Sunday, Oct 21st 10 a.m. Family Service* Monday, Oct. 22nd 7 p.m. Supper, followed by Compline** Sunday, Oct 28th 10 a.m. United Benefice service at Middleton Stoney 4 p.m. Messy Church at Kirtlington for all children Sunday, Nov 4th 11 a.m. All Souls Service *** Sunday, Nov.11th 10.45a.m. Remembrance Service Sunday, Nov. 18th 10 a.m. Family Service Sunday, Nov. 25th 10 a.m. United Benefice Service at Kirtlington 4 p.m Messy Church at Kirtlington for all children Sunday, Dec 2nd 11 a.m. Holy Communion with a guest preacher from Wycliffe Hall Sunday, Dec. 9th 8 a.m. Holy Communion (said service) Sunday, Dec. 16th 6 p.m. Service of Lessons and Carols Sunday Dec. 23rd 10 a.m. United Benefice Service at Middleton Stoney Monday, Dec. 24th 3 p.m. Crib Service 11.30 p.m. Christmas Eve Communion Tuesday, Dec 25th 10 a.m. Christmas Day Holy Communion at Kirtlington 10 a.m. Family Service at Weston-on-the-Green Sunday, Dec. 30th 10 a.m. United Benefice Service at Chesterton * Please note that from September the Family Service each month will be at 10 a.m., not 11 a.m. Our services are for any age and everyone is welcome, but children may find that the Family (All Age) Service, usually on the third Sunday, is easier to understand. For details of services in the other parishes in the Benefice please see the notices on the Church and Parish Council notice boards. Times of the services are also on the internet under www.achurchnearyou.com From the registers: Baptism: Sunday, September 2nd Emily Mary Georgiou, daughter of Lindsay and Andy We welcome Emily and her parents into the life of the Church. Pastoral Care: If you would like to be visited by a member of the Church or a Priest, or if you would like to request a visit on behalf of a friend or neighbour, then please contact Jane or Brian (addresses above). ** Supper and Compline: the next supper and Compline will be on Monday, October 22nd. We have a bring and share supper at 7 p.m. but please don't feel that you have to bring any food, or cook anything exotic - the food is not meant to be the most important thing and there's always plenty for all. All you need to bring is a plate, bowl and cutlery. The supper is followed around 8 p.m. by Compline, which is a very short said service, led by Howard Dellar. Newcomers are always very welcome – please give Kathy (350491) a ring if you would like to have more information, or to have a lift. Page 3 *** Our All Souls Service, when we remember our relatives and friends who have died, will be held on Sunday, November 4th at 11 a.m. Christine Mercer will be providing individual pew-end posies to remember people on our church register who have died in the last year. She will also be arranging some floral displays around the church and if you would like to contribute towards the cost of these in memory of someone (not necessarily in St. Giles’ churchyards), she would be pleased to hear from you. Her address is Oaklands, Islip Road, Bletchington, Oxon OX5 3DP tel 01869 350335 (cheques payable to PCC Bletchington). Ride and Stride: We are very grateful to everyone who helped on Saturday, September 8th, especially Chris Ralf who organized it all, Charles Jones, the Knight family and Alexander Dellar (with Howard) who rode their cycles to many churches, to all the people who ‘sat’ during the day to welcome riders from other areas, and of course to their very generous sponsors. Half the money raised by sponsorship goes to the Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust, who give grants to maintain churches and half is returned to St. Giles. Harvest: Thank you to everyone who brought food to the service for the Bicester Food Bank and Heathfield House. The collection of £107 will be sent to the orphanage in Lithuania again, where the children are thrilled to be given a little money of their own at Christmas to spend on a treat they wouldn’t normally be able to have. Mission Rescue: (Akeman Benefice Holiday Club) 52 children from all parts of the Benefice attended the club in Kirtlington hall and were entertained by X and Y and were organised by M and Spy Ring Leaders with the vital help of the teen Special Branch (also known as the Spies girls). There was singing, stories from the Bible about Moses and the Great Escape, craft activities and fun and games. It was definitely NOT dull. When asked what they liked best the only unanimously popular thing was the MEMORY machine- not surprising as it dispensed a treat if you said the memory verse correctly into the speaking tube! Everyone found a craft that they enjoyed (the most popular being the gold wristbands and necklaces) and the older ones liked the code puzzles.