Parish Council News
Tree planting
– two small hawthorn trees will be planted soon between the bus shelter and the
VE Day seat. These will replace the one which was removed from the vicinity of
the speed camera.
Planning process
– following a request from the District Council for suggestions as to how the
Council’s responses to planning applications can be speeded up, this Parish
Council has appointed a sub-committee of Councillors Ken Field and Ian Malin,
plus a councillor from the immediate area of the application. If any residents
have concerns about a particular application, please contact a member of the
sub-committee as quickly as possible after notice of any application is posted.
The sub-committee will meet between monthly meetings of the Parish Council if
necessary, but this does not preclude full discussion at the monthly meeting if
the issue is contentious.
Thame Area Forum –
Councillor Gerald Morrish represented the Council at the Forum held by SODC at
Lewknor on 30 October. Oxfordshire County Council and the Vale of Aylesbury
Primary Care Trust were also represented. Discussion took place on car parking
charges in the District and the County
Tiddington with Albury Parish Council Members
Chairman John Nowell-Smith 339650
Econ.development,businesses
Vice Chairman William Tremayne 279797
Public transport,planning
Councillor Ken Field 339671
Housing
Councillor Ian Malin 338126
Health & safety,crime
Councillor Gerald Morrish 339409
Environment,recycling,highways
Councillor Alan Stratton 339430
Sport,arts,grants
Clerk Zena Knight 339340
24 Albury View, Tiddington
Council strategy for
care homes was outlined. In particular, the replacement of the 45 residential
places at Meadowcroft in Thame with a new care home offering 40 nursing places
and 20 residential places was announced. It was hoped that a new site in Thame
could be developed before Meadowcroft was demolished, thus minimising
disruption to residents.
The next Forum will be held on 13 January at 7.00pm at Watlington
Primary School.
Publication schemes – under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000, Parish Councils have to produce a publication scheme by
the deadline of 31 December. In it the Council will list all items which they
publish in some form and which can be made available to the public.
Police news – Ian Brown has been
appointed Wheatley Sector Supervisor for Thames Valley Police in place of
Stewart Dunbar.
Payments – membership of the Oxfordshire Playing
Fields Association has been renewed and a donation made to the Friends of
Meadowcroft. It was agreed to contribute to the financing of a youth shelter in
the new financial year.
Your
Council needs you!
In May 2003,
Parish Council elections will be held
§
We need new people with fresh ideas
§
Could you give a little time to the village?
§
Contact a serving Councillor to learn more
§
Consider standing for election next May
Refuse skips
Sat 7 December
9.40-11.00 Station Approach
Wed 5 February
8.00-9.50 Three Pigeons
Wed 5 February
10.20-12.10 Station Approach
Sat 15 March
9.40-11.00 Station Approach
For dates of skips in neighbouring villages
please see the Parish notice board
From a Parish Councillor
Here are a few lines
from your environmentally friendly Parish Councillor, about recycling. Judging
from the amount of green boxes put out every week, we are definitely playing
our part in this village. But you know what it is, as soon as we get near our
personal targets, someone comes along to say “we must do better”!
Although all our
recycled waste is put into one truck, do not be discouraged. Once they have it,
they do sort it out at the processing centre. Rather, focus on our own handling
of the things we put in these bins. How about a few supermarket carrier bags,
one for plastic, one for paper and one for tins or other metal objects. Large
plastic oil containers and plastic sacks, etc can be made into a separate
bundle. Squash
whatever you can to save space. Remember it’s more in the green box and less in
the black bags. Sorry, glass has still got to go to the recycling bins at your
local supermarket.
LOOKING FOR THAT SPECIAL
CHRISTMAS PRESENT?
There
are a few Golden Jubilee commemorative mugs still available at a cost of
£4.00 each
Contact
the Parish Clerk on
Tel.
339340
In the run up to Christmas, please make sure you have
something extra around to handle all that wrapping paper and packaging, cans
and bottles, which we tend to accumulate at this time of year.
If you do not already
attempt to recycle anything, watch out!! The SODC waste management officers may
have special plans for you. Get a Green Box and start now. A new supply of
green boxes is expected at the
Garage shortly. Read your latest OUTLOOK News or look out!!!
Green bags for garden
waste can be obtained from our Parish Clerk for a small charge - pensioners at
a special rate – and these can be put out with your normal rubbish.
We are lucky this year that there will be no changes to
our Monday rubbish collection days over Christmas and the New Year, but
generally put your rubbish out on the day of collection so that cats and foxes
do not get a chance to scavenge.
Merry Christmas.
Gerald Morrish
Thames
Valley
Crimestoppers
0800
555 111
To
report anything suspicious and any acts of vandalism call the
Abingdon
Police Office for a
same-day
response
01235
776000
For
non-emergencies call the
Wheatley
Police Office
01865
875568
From our County Councillor
The Oxfordshire
Structure Plan is being reviewed at the current time. The new plan will give a
blueprint for Oxfordshire until 2016. One of the most important things that the
plan has to do is to find a place or places for the increased allocations for
new housing that we have been given from Central Government. The
first round of consultations has been done, and it is clear that there are not
going to be any easy solutions this time.
In previous structure
plans there was a consensus that major housing developments should take place
in the “country towns” of Bicester, Banbury, Witney and Didcot. Not only would
that make sure that these towns could grow to a sustainable size, but also that
there would not be pressure in the Green Belt, or in other sensitive areas of
Oxfordshire.
Now it looks as if there
may be only limited scope for further additions to the country towns, so other
areas will have to be looked at as well. Suggestions are growth within Oxford
City, in larger towns such as Abingdon, and a possible new town. Also, it is
said that the Green Belt can now no longer be automatically discounted as an
area where new housing can take place. Investigations into the possibility of
these options to take housing are taking place, and a draft Structure Plan will
be available for comment next year.
Carol Evening
Thursday, 19 December 2002 7.30pm
Tiddington Village Hall
Coffee and mince pies Raffle
Tickets £2 (children £1) from
Anne Edwards 339674 or
Pauline Field 339671
Proceeds to
Cancer Research UK
Churchill Hospital
Another aspect of the
Structure Plan will be to attempt to find solutions to the lack of affordable
housing in the county that is hitting not only the low paid, but also key
workers such as teachers, nurses etc.
People will have the
chance to comment on the draft plan, and I hope that everyone who is concerned
will do so, as this new plan could bring dramatic changes to parts of
Oxfordshire.
For any information on
this or any other County Council issue, please contact Anne Purse
Tel - 01864 351404
Email –
anne.purse@oxfordshire.gov.uk
2
News
from Sandy Lane Farm
Most farmers have an aversion to anything that comes out
of Brussels, and sprouts are probably at the top of many people’s lists. I have
a fantastic crop this year, and of course I love to sell what people love to
hate.
The origins of
traditions are so interesting, often initiated by some royal fancy. I recall
one family who always trimmed the legs of the Christmas turkey because… well,
her mother always did and her mother and so on. Eventually it transpired that
the great grandmother’s oven was too small!
It is especially
interesting to hear of traditions from other cultures. Ghana is flavour of the
month at the moment and Sam’s descriptions of wedding parties make our English
celebrations look like queueing at an Asda checkout. He has a newly married
friend who is returning home with the intention of “picking seed”. We would say
“starting a family”. That reminds me, where did I file those seed catalogues?
I asked one of our
Hungarian helpers if he had fed the pigs. He replied “No, I had fish and
chips!” Farmers so often miss out on these cultural exchanges. Maybe asylum
seekers (genuine ones) should spread out thinly through the rural communities.
They would be better integrated and we would learn a lot too. That idea might
be a bit before its time.
I was intrigued about
how the sugar beet was going to be harvested. The £250,000 answer came this
afternoon. It was quite a spectacle – topping and lifting ten rows at a time at
a fast walking pace. I’d never thought about how much effort goes into a bit of
sugar. Our sweet tooth began with the slave trade in the West Indies. I wonder
who the slaves are today? I’m a “small is beautiful” person myself. Anyway, I digress.
What was I looking for? Ah yes, the seed catalogue.
Charles Bennett
National Children’s Home
The annual collection made in September amounted to
£211.41.
Thank you to all who
contributed.
Anne Edwards
Royal National Mission to
Deep Sea Fishermen
The coffee morning held on Saturday, 28 September raised
£150.00.
Mrs Wood and family
would like to thank all who contributed to this worthy cause.
Dot Wood
From
the Vicar
Suddenly it’s Advent, and the next thing we know
it will be Christmas.
The Indian Summer
in September was glorious but made me, at least, forget that winter was just
around the corner. Now it feels more like the beginning of autumn than the
middle of winter. Now it’s going to be the rush to get cards, presents – but
only after the Carol Services and Nativity Celebrations and Christmas worship
are ready. As so often happens, we realise that life is full of surprises, even
when we think we know exactly what’s going on and kid ourselves that we are
absolutely in control.
For me this sudden
change was even more memorable this autumn since, as I am sure many of you
know, I now have a new job. In February we will move to Leeds, where I will
become Vicar of Holy Trinity, in the centre of the city, and Chaplain to the
Arts and Recreation to Leeds. Among other things, I will be exploring turning
an elegant Georgian church into a worship centre and arts venue for concerts,
exhibitions, conferences and such activities. A challenging and very exciting
project, and one which I could not think of doing without all the opportunities
in pastoral work and worship, in creative and dramatic undertakings across
church, school and village communities that the last three years have given. As
they say, in all sincerity, I could not
have done it without you, so thank you all very much for all you have given
since my arrival.
Christmas
approaches and it is a time to get together, to celebrate, to remember that a
baby born 2000 years ago changed the world for ever, and offers still a message
of peace and love which all babies share, and which we should, if we listen to
the carols and readings at our Christmas services.
But Christmas is
also a time of uncertainty. How will the baby grow? What will happen to the
family? Why should anyone want to slaughter new-born children? When did Jesus
and his family become refugees and asylum-
Cluster Nativity Service
15 December, 11.00am
Holton Village Hall
This is an event for all our churches and
villages. A lot of people have given generously of their time and expertise to
produce a beautiful wall hanging illustrating stories Jesus told.
The Sunday School will perform a brand new
Nativity written by Bec Matthews and our readings will be led by young people
from the United Reformed Church.
The service will be a joint one with families
from Holton, Sandhills and Wheatley taking part. Anything could happen and
probably will. Everyone will be welcome.
Please join us for an exciting build up to
Christmas.
seekers? The
message is that under the uncertainty are love and faith. God shows them both,
and we must try and echo them in our own lives. If we do, we can live with the
uncertainty, even see it as exciting.
The future of our
parishes suddenly looks less certain. I don’t know just what will happen in the
centre of Leeds (but the shopping is amazing). I do know that if we keep the
Christmas message alive in our own families and communities then we can live
with the uncertainties, and even sometimes welcome them.
And on the subject of uncertainty:
A passage from a nativity play, written, directed and
acted by a class of nine-year-olds, opens with the scene at the inn. Joseph and
Mary ask for a room
Innkeeper:
Can’t you see the “No
Vacancy” sign?
Joseph:
Yes, but can’t you see
that my wife is expecting a baby any minute?
Innkeeper:
Well, that’s not my fault.
Joseph:
Well, it’s not mine
either!
May the peace, love and
excitement of Christmas be with you all.
Chris Taylor
Tiddington Village Hall
Christmas at Tiddington Village Hall
The Tiddington Village
Hall Committee is organising three events this December.
On Sunday, 15 December, instead of the usual Kids’
Christmas Party, we’ve got a theatre group coming in to perform “The Toy Theatre” by Anthony Peters.
It’s not just for the children either; all ages are welcome, so why not bring
the Family for a pre-Christmas treat in the Village Hall. There’s also a rumour
going round that Father Christmas might just drop by! See the main advert on
page 5 for more details.
Then on Tuesday, 17 December, it’s the annual Christmas Bingo starting at 8.00pm,
with great fun for all ages. Over the years residents have been very kind with
their donations for prizes. This year we need your help again, so please if you
can, give generously when a member of the Committee calls. If for any reason
you don’t get a visit and have something to donate, please call the prize
co-ordinator Pauline Field on 339671.
Finally we end the month
with a traditional New Year's Eve Party
in the Village Hall (see advert on page 13) The aim is to have a relaxed
informal evening with games and music for all ages. Then at midnight there will
be fireworks, which have been kindly donated by Stephen Bowley Planning
Consultancy. For the food we will be asking all party-goers to contribute
towards the American Supper Buffet. Tickets (which must be bought in advance)
are very limited and will be sold on a first come, first served basis (adults
£5.00, 16 and under £2.50) so please speak to a Village Hall Committee member
or call Alan (339430) to reserve yours.
From the Village Hall
Committee may we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Joyce Stratton
Tiddington Village Hall
Annual General Meeting
Monday,9 December, 8.00pm
All are invited to attend
Please support your Village Hall
Tiddington Cricket Club
Whilst December and
January are the two months furthest away from our own cricket season, our
interest in cricket is sated by England’s uphill struggle in Australia.
Next year’s Village
Knockout draw for Oxfordshire gives us a first round match at Great and Little
Tew on Sunday, 27 April, with more strong oppositions to follow should we win.
In every cricket
season, with all the time and organisation needed to make things run smoothly,
some important issues tend to get put on ice. Most important of all is our need
for a new pavilion. Progress is now being made towards submitting a bid for a
Sport England Lottery Grant. We expect to be able to report significant
progress at the Club’s AGM, which
will be held in the Clubhouse on Sunday,
19 January, starting at 6.30 pm.
This year’s Christmas Draw will take place on
Thursday, 19 December at 9.00 pm in
the Clubhouse.
During the winter the
Club opens on alternate Monday and Wednesday evenings for cribbage and Ladies
darts respectively, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings and Sunday
lunchtime from 12.30 to 3.00pm.
Over the festive season the Club will open on Christmas
Eve and Christmas and Boxing Day Lunchtimes.
New members are always
welcome.
Although early, Seasons
Greetings to all, especially to those who have supported, taken part and given
of their time throughout the year.
Ray Manning
St Helen’s Church Bazaar
The proceeds of the Bazaar on 16 November amounted to
£508.66.
Grateful thanks to all
who supported this event.
Anne Edwards
United
Neighbours In Tiddington
We have our last
celebration to mark our twenty fifth birthday on 7 December. 70 members and
their guests, an improved number from the last few years and a fitting end to
our year, will hopefully enjoy the annual Dinner/Dance.
A talk at our October
meeting by Shirley Smith was entitled “50 years in the life of a nanny” and at
our November meeting we welcomed back Ken Wells, curator of the museum at
Thames Valley Police , and he talked about the history of the police force,
uniforms and accessories. Both of these talks were very enjoyable.
On 10 October, a group
of ten enjoyed “The King and I” at the Oxford Apollo and a shopping trip to
Cheltenham on 7 November put us in the Christmas spirit. Our Christmas meeting
on 10 December will follow the usual plan with food, drink and presents.
We are operating the
post box again this year at the Post Office, Bingo and UNIT dates 10th,
11th, 16th, 17th and 18th of
December, where for a donation any Christmas cards for the village only
will be delivered.
The first meeting next
year is our AGM and will be on 21 January.
For any more information
about our club please contact Josie Adams or myself.
May I take this
opportunity to thank all those who have worked so hard to make this year the
success it has been, to wish you all a happy time over the holiday period and let
us hope we can celebrate many more years of UNIT.
Pat Wise
FOR SALE
Full size pool table with cues, rests,
overhead lights and a purpose built trolley to move it!
£500 including delivery
Call Alan on 01844 339430
Waterstock & Tiddington W.I.
In October, Mrs Christine Whild entertained us with
excerpts from music depicting sounds from the countryside. There were
selections for all tastes from Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony to Maple Leaf Rag,
and printed notes to help members follow the music.
At our November meeting, Mrs Cundell inspired us with her
beautiful floral arrangements for Christmas and her five completed displays
were raffled. She also told us about her experiences showing at the Chelsea
Flower Show, where she and her colleagues won a gold medal.
We look forward to our Christmas dinner on Thursday, 12
December, this year held at the Clifden Arms, Worminghall at 7.00pm for 7.30.
Members will exchange Christmas presents.
On 9 January, in a change to the published programme, Mrs
Barbara Gray will demonstrate her “Posh Puds”.
A date for your diary – Saturday, 22 February in Tiddington Village Hall – a Skittles Evening including supper. This proved a popular event when held
some two or three years ago, so make a note now. Further details on posters and
in the next Newsletter.
January marks the start of our new subscription year. For
just £1.65 per evening, members can enjoy hearing speakers on a wide variety of
topics, join in meetings, activities and outings arranged locally and
countywide, and have friendship, fun and fellowship together. Why not join us?
A warm welcome will be extended to new members and visitors on the second
Thursday in the month in Tiddington Village Hall at 7.30pm.
Meanwhile a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to
everyone.
Zena Knight
Ickford
Pre-school Playgroup offers education and care for children below school
age. We offer children the opportunity
to learn through play in a stimulating and nurturing environment.
Our Playgroup has 8
allocated places for 2½ year olds and we currently have spaces available. We also have Government funded places for
3-year olds and 4-year-olds.
Playgroup sessions are held
during term time in Ickford Village Hall on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and on
Fridays at Ickford School hall.
Baby & Toddler Group
We also have a Baby &
Toddler Group, which is held at Ickford Village Hall every Wednesday morning
9.15 am - 10.30 am, where we welcome babies and toddlers to come and enjoy the
many toys and company of other children, parents/carers.
If you wish to find out more about funded
place availability, further details on our Playgroup/Baby/Toddler Group, or to
put your child’s name on our waiting list, please contact:
Meryl Munson (Playgroup Supervisor) on 01844
339608.
* * * * * *
We would like to take this opportunity to wish
all the Playgroup children and After School Club children, Parents/Carers,
Staff and Committee "A very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Ickford Pre-school Playgroup have extended
their provision to include an After School Club for the children of Ickford
Combined School.
The After School Club offers high quality,
affordable and accessible childcare for children aged 4½ to 11 years of
age. Sessions are held during term
time, in Ickford School Hall, 3.15 pm to 6.00 pm, Monday to Friday. Session rates are £6.00 per child per
session (with a discount rate of £5.50 for siblings). We offer ad-hoc as well as regular termly bookings.
If you wish to find out more about the After
School Club, or space availability, please contact Jan Thomas (Chairman) on
01844 338916 or Karen Taylor on 01844 339467.
ASC sessions resume on Tuesday 7th
January 2003.
Registered Charity No. 1036452
Registered with OFSTED
Members of the Pre-School Learning Alliance
Weather Statistics
September
A very dry month over
the entire country, due mainly to high pressure. Anticyclones controlled
Britain’s weather for most of the month.
The average rainfall for
the country was 1.64in – half the normal amount. In the past one hundred years
only 18 Septembers have been drier, including 1996 and 1997.
Tiddington had two days
of rain with a total of .7in.
One of the sunniest
months for many years.
October
Number of dry days – 14
Total amount of rain –
3.2in
27th – storms
throughout UK, winds of 90mph.
6 people killed
including a 22-year-old lady in Oxford.
Warmest days – 1st
and 2nd 75degF 24degC
November (to 21st)
Rain recorded on 19 days
out of 21.
Total amount of rain –
3.8in
Floods recorded in
Cornwall, NE Scotland and many other parts of the country.
Frost on the night of 18th
/19th.
On average November is the wettest month of the year. The
wettest years have been 1770, 1852, 1929 and 1940.
Glen Evans
The Porch
The Porch Steppin’ Stone Centre is looking for volunteers
who are able to give a couple of hours a week to help in our East Oxford centre
for homeless and vulnerably housed people. There is a range of times available
– mornings, evenings and weekends. No criteria needed, only a willingness to
help and a friendly disposition, although there are opportunities for people
with skills in IT, cooking, art, and sports. For more information please
contact Sarah or Laura on 01865 728545/251798 or email us on staff@tssc.fsnet.co.uk.
Special people for a special place
Tucked away in Latimer Road, Headington is McMaster House
– anything but a standard sheltered housing scheme. Sharing a site with St
Luke’s Hospital, it is entirely independent and individual. Flats are normally
allocated to people 55 or over. Although there are no current vacancies, St
Luke’s Housing Society would be pleased to provide information, or arrange a
visit, for anyone interested in putting their name on the waiting list.
Keeping McMaster House special requires effort from the
Management Committee and the Society is looking to recruit new members to the
committee. If you have a little time to offer, especially if you have
experience in the fields of housing, building maintenance, finance or social
care, then the Management Committee would like to hear from you.
Contact Lorraine on 01865 769726 or write to
Chairman, St Luke’s Housing Society, McMaster House,
Latimer Road, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7PX
South Oxfordshire Rural Strategy
And Action Plan
The Rural Strategy was prepared in 1999 and identified
the issues affecting the quality of life for those living in South Oxfordshire.
An Action Plan was drawn up and is now being reviewed. The District Council
would welcome comments from the public before producing a final version of the
Rural Strategy in mid-2003
The Strategy, Action Plan and comments form are available
on the Council’s website www.southoxon.gov.uk,
on CD-Rom, at local libraries or on paper from the Council.
Comments must be received by 14 February
For more information or copies please contact Rebekah
Robinson
Tel: 01491 823017 or
email: rebekah.robinson@southoxon.gov.uk
