Brize Norton Parish Council Newsletter

The Communities of Brize Norton and Carterton

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Here is the text from the December 2007 Newsletter Published here with permission of the Parish Council.

Brize Norton Parish Council would like to wish all parishioners a merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year.

ST BRITIUS CHURCH

Our Christmas Services start on Sunday 23 December with a Candlelit Carol Service at 6pm. The nine lessons will be read by representatives of village organisations and all children are welcome to come dressed as shepherds, angels, wise men, people of Bethlehem, etc, for the nativity tableau. Please contact Carolyn Peach on 844102 for more details of the nativity tableau. Coffee and hot mince pies will be served after the service.

Candlelit Midnight Mass will be at 11.30pm on Xmas Eve and there will be a combined Family Service and Holy Communion at 9.15am on Xmas Day. Roy asks the children to bring a present that they have received with them to show!

The Sunday Club will hold their Christmas Party on Saturday 12 January in the Elderbank Hall, from 2.30 to 4.30 pm.

Our Christingle Service will be held on Sunday 3 February at 9.15 am as part of the Family Service. We hope to decorate the oranges in School on the Friday afternoon before.

Roy, Bill, Richard, the Churchwardens and members of the DCC wish everyone a very happy and peaceful Christmas.

WIDOWS MONEY FUEL ALLOTMENT CHARITY

There is a charity in the village which gives a small amount of money to pensioners and widows at Christmas.

If you are not on my list but qualify, and you live in the village please contact me.

Joy Douglas 842373     

BRIZE NORTON PRIMARY SCHOOL

It has been a busy but very exciting term at Brize Norton Primary School. This term we welcomed seventeen new children into our reception class, making our total school population one hundred and seven. The reception class have settled well into school life and are enjoying their work and play.

In October we had an Ofsted inspection, the first since 2001. We are delighted with the findings of this inspection, which found Brize Norton Primary School to be ‘a good school with outstanding features, where pupils’ personal development and provision for their care, support and guidance are outstanding.’ The report celebrates the hard work of all of the children and staff at our school.

In November the school held an Arts week. All of the children were involved in this amazing experience, working with artists and musicians throughout the week. Our theme for the week was ‘MY’ focusing on My village, My country, My continent and My World. The children worked with the artists to make an aeroplane sculpture and hot air balloons which now take pride of place in our school hall. In each class, the children looked at art from around the world, learning about traditional art forms, dance and music. We were visited by an African drumming teacher. At the end of the week we celebrated our work with our families and friends at an open afternoon. At this event the children enthusiastically shared what they had achieved over the week.

The school council, made up of children from each class, have been busy planning and preparing events. In aid of Children in Need they held a café and cake sale, raising £169.00 for the charity.

Christmas is fast approaching and we are starting to plan Christmas plays and concerts. The school association are holding a Christmas Bazaar on Sunday 9th December from 2pm. We hope many village residents will be able to come along and join in the fun! Further forthcoming events in the New Year include a quiz night and race night.

This term our new school website has continued to develop. The website celebrates the work and achievements of the children and provides information about forthcoming events. You can visit our website at http://www.bnschool.org. On the site you can find our latest Oftsed report and photographs from Arts week.

The staff and children at Brize Norton Primary School would like to wish everyone within our village a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Mark Smith

Headteacher

DAUBIGNY MEAD PLAY PARK

The play park in Daubigny mead is currently looking a little sorry for itself.  The parish council have had to remove some equipment that was old and very rusty and we are now looking for the best way in which to use this space.  Please let the parish council know in writing if you use the park, you would like to see it renewed, or if you think there is a better use for the space.  Also please let us know if you have any ideas for funding the changes needed to update this area.

Feed back is vital to the Parish Council in order to help us provide the right facilities for you and your family.

Please send letters addressed to Jo Webb, Clerk to the Parish Council, 18 Chichester Place or alternatively send an e-mail to jowebb_2@hotmail.com.

BRIZE NORTON OVER 60's CLUB

Sadly one of our members, Mary Mace died recently.  Our thoughts go to John and family.

Since the summer, we have enjoyed a holiday to Weymouth, a shopping trip to Coventry, meal at Wychwood Golf Club and a visit to Witney’s production of ‘Annie’.  Our meetings now take place in the Elderbank Hall due to Joy’s bungalow being flooded and awaiting restoration.

Our future programme includes:

• December 4th             Christmas party

2008

• January 7th             Meeting 3.30pm Elderbank Hall
• January 15th             ‘Cinderella’ pantomime at Witney
• February 5th            Meal out
• February 19th        Meeting 3.30pm Elderbank Hall
• March 4th         Moreton market
• March 10th       Holiday in Bournemouth
• March 18th        To be arranged
• April 1st         Coffee morning at 4 Squires Close (we hope)

In the summer we shall have a trip to Bath.

Thanks again to Edna, Carol and Benita for providing a lovely tea which includes home made cakes from June.

New members from the village are most welcome.  We meet on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month.

Contact Joy Douglas 842373

YOUR VILLAGE POST OFFICE (AT YOUR SERVICE)

Did you know that your village Post Office provides all of the services listed below and lots more?

• Traditional letter and parcel posting including next day deliveries and eBay services.
• Banking – (Cash/Cheque deposits and withdrawal) if you bank with the following banks: Alliance & Leicester (Girobank), Bank of Ireland, Barclays, Cahoot, Clydesdale, Co-op, Lloyds TSB, Nationwide Building Society and Smile.
• National Savings & Investment including Premium bonds, Pension bonds and Children Bonus Bonds.
• Bill Payment – Most household bills including BT phone bills can be paid free of fees.
• Foreign currency – generally commission free with 4 days notice.
• Travel Insurance – Inland and overseas (provided on the spot).
• Home Phone – Incentive to transfer your current home telephone service.
• Household Home Insurance – Competitive.
• Car Insurance – There is a £50 cash back on take up.
• Mobile phone Top-up.
• Groceries – limited quantity of snacks and groceries too.

We have an ageing cliental at present and would very much welcome young parents to use our facilities.  At a time when the post office network is under considerable threat, we need all the support that we can get.  We need everybody using the post office in order to survive.

Michael your postmaster attends the Sports Pavilion on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9.30am and 12.30pm.

Thank you for your continued support.

Michael

BRIZE NORTON DANCE CLUB

We now meet fortnightly in Elderbank Hall starting at 7pm.  Dancers at all stages are most welcome.

We are holding a Christmas Tea Dance in Elderbank Hall on December 9th with wine and mince pies.  Arthur Tipper from Burton on Trent will play the organ.  Please come along to dance or just to listen.  All profit goes to the Church Tower Fund.

Next year’s Tea Dance dates are:

• Sunday January 27th            Mark at the keyboard
• Sunday February 24th        Arthur on the organ

• Sunday March 30th        Mark at the keyboard

In Elderbank Hall 2.30 – 4.30pm

All profit goes to local charities.  Do come, Everyone is welcome.

Thank you to Jean and Mabel for providing the refreshments at Tea Dances and class nights.

BRIZE NORTON VILLAGE PRE SCHOOL

On Saturday 17 November the pre-school held a quiz night and we would like to thank all parents, friends and supporters who attended and helped us to raise over £300 towards pre-school funds.  Thank you to Ralph Davies for setting the quiz questions and to Dave Higgins for organising the catering for the 72 people who attended.

We would like to invite you all to our next fund raising event - our Christmas fayre which is to be held on Friday 14 December 2007 at the Elderbank Hall from 10.45am.  Come and share a mince pie or two and a glass of mulled wine (or tea or coffee) and be entertained by the children who will be putting on a short nativity play.  There will be a number of stalls including cakes and Christmas gifts, games and a raffle.

The children will soon be having fun with all their Christmas art projects which usually involve lots of glitter.  The staff are also busy attending a number of training courses to prepare themselves for the changes in the Early Years curriculum that are to be introduced in September 2008. 

Brize Norton Village pre-school runs Monday to Friday in the Elderbank Hall. We cater for 2 ½ to 5 year olds. This term we have 16 children filling both full and part time places and we will be welcoming more in the New Year.

If you would like to register your child on our waiting list, or you would like any other information about pre-school, or you think you may be able to help in some way, then please contact our chairman Carolyn Peach 844102 or we can be contacted on e-mail: brizenortonpreschool@hotmail.co.uk.

We also hire out the pre-school chairs and tables - ideal for birthday parties and events with several children in attendance….only £5 for as many as you need. Contact Carolyn for further details.

BRIZE NORTON SCHOOL WEBSITE

The Brize Norton Primary School website has been re-designed and extended over the last couple of months and is well worth a visit.  The address is www.bnschool.org .  We would like to include a history of the village school including some photos.

If you are able to provide information and/or let us scan old pictures for use on the new school website, then please contact Dr Phil Holmes on 843856 or email p.holmes@brizenorton.org.uk.

BRIZE NORTON RUNNERS

Despite the dark nights, cold conditions and occasional rain, we are continuing to meet on Wednesday and Thursday nights at 6pm throughout the winter months at the sports pavilion. Our runners have made exceptional progress this year. We have been involved in a number of different distances ranging from 3.1 miles at the Race For Life events, up to 26.2 miles at the Dublin Marathon. The focus remains on getting or keeping fit running with a sociable group of people and running in groups at this time of the year is very important.

So why not try it out? Put on your reflective clothing, hat and gloves if necessary and run with us. It is totally free although we do recommend a good pair of trainers.  If you would like any further information please call either Sam Conlan on 843583 or Matt Webb on 840890.  Happy running!!

BRIZE NORTON WAR MEMORIAL

We put together a presentation for the Remembrance Day Service with details of the fallen named on the Brize Norton War Memorial which gave a poignant reminder with material from the War Graves Commission of when and where our war dead died.  There are some gaps and may be some omissions.

We particularly want to remember those connected with the village who died after the two World Wars. 

If you know of anyone who should be included, or have information that will enhance our knowledge of those commemorated, please consider sharing this information. The presentation will be published on the community website at www.brizenorton.org.uk/community.

To find out more about the presentation or to add to our knowledge then please contact Dr Phil Holmes on 843856 or email p.holmes@brizenorton.org.uk.

BRIZE NORTON VILLAGE TODDLER GROUP

Have you got a baby/toddler/child between 0-5 years?

We are a small, friendly, parent run toddler group offering a wide range of toys and activities.  Held in the Elderbank hall with additional outside space, there is a lot of room for toddlers to let off steam get creative or simply have fun with other children.  There is also a suitable area for less mobile babies.

We are trying to provide what you want and need from the group, by encouraging group singing, story time and a regular craft activity table.  Children are free to participate in any activity.

We would love to see new faces, or the return of old ones, and hope you and your child will come along and see what toddler group has to offer.

Brize Norton Toddlers – Elderbank Hall

Tuesday (during term time) 1.15pm – 3.00pm

£1.50 for 1 adult and two children, additional adults are 50p each

Call Carolyn Peach – 01993 844102 for more details or please just come along.

BLOOD DONATION SESSIONS FOR 2008

Tuesday 22nd April - 2.30pm to 4.25pm and 5.15pm to 7.15pm

Wednesday 26th August - 1.30pm to 3.25pm and 4.15pm to 7.15pm 

Tuesday 23rd December - 1.30pm to 3.25pm and 4.15pm to 7.15pm 

All sessions are held in the Elderbank Hall.  For further information please contact the National Blood Service on 0845 7 711 711 or visit their website www.blood.co.uk.

 All entries for inclusion in the March issue should be received by the 14th February.