The NEWSLETTER BRlZE NORTON PARISH COUNCIL

BRIZE NORTON

June 2014 

Issue no. 141

Chairman's Report

Keith

BRIZE NORTON WOMEN'S INSTITUTE

Following our AGM in March we started our new year off with a talk in April by a member of the Medical Detection Dogs team with her terrier dog in attendance who showed off her skills in detecting various items which had been hidden by one of our members.  These dogs do a valuable job in helping people suffering from diabetes, epilepsy sufferers and cancer. Rosemary Phillimore entertained us in May with a talk of her cycle round the World.

Trips planned for the Summer are a river trip from Lechlade on June 4th and an outing on August 12th to Stanway House followed by a trip into Broadway whilst our evening meeting for June 10th is a speaker on ‘The History of Pinewood Studios’ and on July 8th we are going to learn "How the French Eat" by Marie Noell-Witty.

We meet in the Elderbank Hall on the second Tuesday of the Month at 7.30pm and we usually have a speaker followed by refreshments and a social half hour.  Visitors would be made very welcome.

Sue Calcutt

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/Bank card deposits and withdrawal) if you bank with the following banks: Bank of Ireland, Barclays, Cahoot, Clydesdale, Co-op, Lloyds, TSB, Nationwide Building Society, NatWest, Santander, Halifax, RBS and Smile. National Savings & Investment including Premium bonds. Bill Payment – Most household bills including BT phone bills can be paid free of fees. Foreign currency – generally commission free with 3 days’ notice, MoneyGram. 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 £50 cash back on take up. Mobile phone Top-up. Health Lottery 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.

BRIZE NORTON OPEN GARDENS
SUNDAY 29th JUNE

Once again we are opening our gardens in the village for the National Gardens Scheme and we have a great choice for you to see.  The afternoon starts at 1.00pm and closes at 6pm.  Any funds raised from this day go to the charities supported by the National Garden Scheme as well as supporting some of our own charities in the village. We will be offering tea and coffee in the Elderbank Hall, provided by the Women’s Institute, and also at Grange Farm on the Burford Road. So no need to feel weary after wandering the gardens; stop and enjoy tea and homemade cakes.   There will also be plants for sale at Painswick House on the Carterton Road, so you can pop in and buy some plants to enhance your garden. Most of the plants on sale will be growing in the gardens of the village somewhere so you can see what they look like. Admission to all the gardens is £4 with no charge for children 16 and under.  So come and have a wander round the village, catch up with neighbours and friends and enjoy a wonderful afternoon looking at beautiful gardens. HOPE TO SEE YOU ON THE 29TH JUNE. Judy Gush

RIDE OF RESPECT

Sunday 1 June from 9am to midday (approximately) Join up to 10,000 motorbikes ride from RAF Abingdon in Oxfordshire through Carterton and Brize Norton, to pay their respects to the brave Service men and women killed in Service and to thank the towns for their care of our heroes and their families. Originally conceived in 2010 and now in its fifth year, the Ride of Respect has gathered immense support from the biker community and helps to raise vital funds for The Royal British Legion in support of our Armed Forces and their families. There will be stalls, attractions, children’s rides, refreshments, and live music performed on stage by Jess Kenton, the acoustic guitar-playing singing sensation – Semi-Finalist of Teenstar 2014 at the Ride’s End Event at the Alvescot Road, Recreation Ground, Carterton and both participants and spectators will be warmly welcomed. All proceeds of the Ride of Respect and Ride’s End Event will go to the Royal British Legion Riders Branch Poppy Appeal Fund 2014. For more information on the Ride of Respect 2014, please email ldobbie@britishlegion.org.uk or call 020 3207 2341.

REPATRIATIONS

Details of repatriations are usually received on a Monday. Notices will be displayed on the village notice boards at the earliest opportunity. Further details may be found on the Oxfordshire County Council web site. Please note timings are always subject to change.

WITNEY AND CARTERTON HEALTH WALKS

Witney - We meet at Witney’s Windrush Leisure Centre at 10 am on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. There is no charge. We do two walks; one is 1-2 miles long, the other 2-3 miles both ending up with a cup of coffee. For more information ring Joy on 01993 842373. Carterton - On Monday, Thursday and Saturday we meet at the Town Hall, Carterton at 10am. The walks are 1–2 miles long. For more information contact Barbara Goudal on 01993 845923

BRIZE NORTON BADMINTON CLUB

We meet every Monday at The Elderbank Hall and play from 8 pm until 10 pm; all ages from teenage to active retired are most welcome. It cost just £2.50 per session. For more details ring Tina on 842268 or Liz on 843196 or just come along to the hall.

ROAD CLOSURE B4477 Minster Road.

The Parish Council have been advised by Oxfordshire County Council that the Minster Road will be closed to traffic on Friday 16th June to the Tuesday 20th June for road edge strengthening. If you have any queries on this closure please contact Vanessa Buckley on 0845 310 1111.

BRIZE NORTON SPORTS & SOCIAL CLUB

The summer is just about arrived which means the end of a successful football season, with promotion and cup wins. Congratulations to BNFC. The cricket has been weather affected so the first league game will be 24th May. The wicket and the recreation ground look in good order, thanks to everyone who has done their bit to make the ground look top draw. The longer nights has also seen the return of the Aunt Sally - Thursday evenings do come along and support, or even join in. A warm welcome will await you. The main discussion with the Sports & Social Club is the improvements to the pavilion. This has been on the agenda for a little while but with support and help from the village we will get there. Things like new showers and new bar, new furniture and so on. If anyone can help please do let me know. Thanks One of the main fund raising events is the August Bank holiday cricket and fete day. This year we have planned (along with other village organisations) a new bigger and better Village Day. We hope everyone will come along and support the day.

BRIZE NORTON VILLAGE DAY - SUNDAY 24th AUGUST

This year we are changing the day of the August Bank Holiday Monday Cricket and Horticultural Show to the Sunday 24th August and it will become the Brize Norton Village Day. As the name suggest we would like to get as many people, organisations and businesses in the village involved in the day, not just to come along but also to participate. So if you would like to run a stall for either an organisation, or for yourself please do join in.  We currently have the primary school doing the barbeque, the Church doing the teas, the Football Club running various stalls including a tombola, the WI running a stall, Bob and Margaret Watts doing Aunt Sally and the Skittles, so please join us. Run a stall, come along, and join in. There will also be lots of things for the children to do to keep them amused throughout the day - games (at no charge), stalls, bouncy castle and of course the playground is always there.

We also have an exhibition of historical items on loan from the Oxfordshire Museums Service. This includes a collection of model carts and wagons that were made by a Brize Norton resident in the 1970s. The models are representations of trade vehicles used in the village in the 1920s and 30s. We are hoping this will be the centre piece of the exhibition but we would love to see other pieces of Brize Norton history as well. If you have any old objects or photographs of interest and wish to share them with the village, do let Tim Gush know (see page 11 for further information).

The cricket will continue as in previous years, starting with the initial games in the morning, and carrying on throughout the day until the final at the end. This year we would like to arrange sponsorship for each team, so if you would like to sponsor a team the cost is £25. Your name will be in the programme, on any advertising we do, and throughout the day.  We currently have four sponsors already, TCG Advertising & Design, The Chequers, AK Timms and Tyde.biz, all local companies within the village. DONT MISS THIS CHANCE TO SPONSOR A TEAM.  We have also had an offer from Chancellors Estate Agents who are willing to advertise the Village Day with 50 of the 'house for sale' type boards. They will be going up around the village and the Shilton Park area about 3 weeks in advance of the day, eg week commencing 3rd August. Are there any volunteers who could place a sign in their garden please? The signs will be put up and taken away for you. Please let us know asap (ring Tim on 846730). Many thanks for your help in this.

The Horticultural Show will also be continuing along the same lines as previous years, so get those onions polished, and those flowers and crafts prepared. This year the theme is a Commemoration of World War 1, so there are lots of themed classes, like a lunch box for the Land Army Girls, knitting a pair of socks, handmade bunting to celebrate the end of the war, letter to home from someone serving in the war in whatever capacity you fancy.  So do join in; it’s a lot of fun on the day and preparing the vegetables and flowers, crafts and cooking.  Forms will be available in the Pavilion, AK Timms, the Chequers and from Judy Gush or Bev Tyrell.  This year we have some new judges so let’s amaze them with what we can do! If you want hints on how to show your vegetables have a look on our Facebook page under Brize Norton Horticultural Show and we will also put some photos on the notice board inside the Pavilion door.

After the end of the cricket final we are planning to have a get together in the Chequers in the evening, so come along and have a good night out. Join us even if you can’t attend the day. There will be food available. More information to follow - so please keep an eye out for more details around the village.

All funds raised on the day by the separate organisations is for them to keep, the money raised from the bar and other things organised by the Sports and Social Club will be used to improve the facilities in the Pavilion. 

We also need to have a First Aider available on the day and if there is anyone in the village who would be willing to undertake this role would they please contact either Bev Tyrell, Debbie Merriman, or Judy Gush.

There is a flier with this newsletter, so put it on your notice board or fridge as a reminder. We want to make this a day to remember in the village

THIS IS A VILLAGE DAY - SO COME ALONG AND JOIN IN
FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY – SUNDAY 24TH AUGUST

Tim Gush
846730

BRIZE NORTON DANCE CLUB

We meet every Thursday evening 7.30 ‘til 9.30 pm in the Elderbank Hall, only £2 per person. We dance ballroom, Latin American and sequence dances to CD’s. We have tea and biscuits in the interval. Our last dance before the summer break will be 17th July and we will start back on 4th September. For more information contact Joy on 01993 842373

ALLOTMENTS

If you would like to be considered for an allotment when one becomes available please contact the clerk (01993 844102 or e-mail clerk@brizenortonparishcouncil.co.uk) to be added to the short waiting list.

RECREATION GROUND GRASS CUTTING

The Parish Council is very grateful for the tireless work that Fred Bellenger has undertaken in mowing the outfield for the football and cricket pitches over the years. Fred is happy to carry on this task for the remainder of this season but the Parish Council is looking for a volunteer who would commit to taking on this in the future. Please contact the clerk or speak with Fred for more details as to what is required.

BRIZE NORTON PRIMARY SCHOOL

This term we have focused on the question, ‘What Does it Mean to Be Healthy?’ During this short term, we have investigated healthy food and explored how we keep our bodies healthy and active. The children have all been doing outdoor PE activities and have taken as many opportunities as possible to learn outdoors in the wonderful school grounds that we are so lucky to have. In May the whole school took part in an Outdoor Learning Wow Day, led by Miss Kerr and Mrs Rae, which was thoroughly enjoyed by children and staff alike. We cooked over a campfire, built shelters, and took part in orienteering and bouldering activities, to name but a few of our exciting challenges! Recently the Year 6 children completed their end of Key Stage 2 assessments. I have to say a huge thank you to all of our Year 6 children who approached these tests with confidence and maturity. I am extremely proud of them all, as I know staff and parents are too.

Earlier this year, children in Years 3-6 were involved in a very successful Young Voices concert performing with thousands of other children from schools across the country in the O2 Arena. One of the highlights of this event a dance routine choreographed and performed by a street dance troupe called ‘Urban Strides’. We are delighted to have been able to book an Urban Strides instructor to come into school to lead a workshop with some of our children after half term.

Next academic year is set to bring some exciting new changes to our school. It is with pleasure that the governors inform you that after a rigorous interview process they have been able to appointed Mrs Anna Fairhurst, a very experienced teacher who lives locally as new Head Teacher starting in September 2014. 

Also you may have heard that the ‘Universal Infant Free School Meals’ initiative will be introduced from September 2014. This is a scheme introduced by the government to provide free school meals for all schoolchildren who will be in Foundation Stage, Year 1 or Year 2 in September 2014. In addition, this September will see the launch of the new National Curriculum. There will be some big changes to Literacy, Math’s and Science, as well as all of the other subjects taught in primary school. We will use this opportunity to revamp our School Curriculum to ensure that we continue to teach a balanced, varied and interesting curriculum, making the best use of our excellent grounds and resources – more news about our exciting new topics will follow soon!

Our next big School Association event is our annual Summer Fete. This will be taking place on Friday 27th June 5.30 – 7.30pm. As ever, we hope to see as many people as possible there and we would love for you to come along and support the school.

Supporting Easyfundraising.org.uk – shop at over 2000 well known retailers and every time you shop you can earn a donation for our school at no additional cost to you. To register, visit www.easyfundraising.org.uk/pta and search for our school. Registration is quick and simple and is absolutely free.

As always you can keep up to date with all the exciting things we have been doing by visiting our school website at, http://www.bnschool.org.

Emi Grant
Acting Head teacher
 

SAVE BRIZE NORTON

Most of you will know that Crest Nicholson have now made an application to build 1,000 houses on the West of Carterton. Many of the objections we have raised to the so called Carterton East site - eg lack of jobs, aircraft noise, increased traffic etc - apply equally to the West.

A report in the Oxford Mail indicates that some members of Oxfordshire County Council are challenging the numbers projected in the Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA). We have consistently challenged the allocation to West Oxfordshire simply on the basis of lack of local employment opportunities.

At a meeting of the West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC) Lowlands Area Planning sub-committee on 12th May it was recommended that a site visit should be arranged to 'Carterton East' enabling members to re-visit the site and inspect it in the light of the planning application by Christ Church/Bloor Homes.

Whilst nobody is allowed to talk directly to Councillors during a site visit BNAG are considering the merits of a 'silent demonstration'.

According to WODC documents 'it is anticipated that the application will not be presented to the Area Planning Sub-Committee until June at the earliest and possibly some time thereafter'. This takes account of any possible changes in the membership of committees following the local elections.

The same documents refer to the fact that the 'application will need to be amended and put out to re consultation before it can be determined'. This suggests that Bloor Homes will be submitting revised plans on which we will be invited to comment. Does this sound familiar? Does this mean writing more letters? We will keep you appraised. Why does the expression 'going round in ever decreasing circles' come to mind?

Finally we welcome Alex Postan as our new District Councillor and take the opportunity to thank Verena Hunt for all the help and advice she has offered to SBNAG since its formation.

We will continue to provide information regarding developments and urge you to keep an eye on the website.

Prepared by Keith Beckingham on behalf of Save Brize Norton Action Group.
(SBNAG)
 

ST BRITIUS CHURCH

Thank you to everyone who supported the pancake supper evening in March. With the change in layout of the pews at the back of the church we were able to cater for over 40 people and it was a good social evening. We are utilising this space for refreshments at the end of our services and the Light zone craft activities. We also hold a weekly discussion course at 12.30pm on Monday’s. Come and enjoy some hot soup and rolls and join in the discussion on the Pilgrim text.

We also invite you to join in the Forest Church. This is held in the Kilkenny Country Park and is a great opportunity to reconnect with God’s creation. The first service on 11 May saw 42 people, young and old, participating and making shelters. On 8 June the activity is to learn to weave and on 22 June ‘Let’s walk: Orienteering’. Meet by the iron horses in the park at 2.30pm and come suitably dressed in the event of bad weather!

Please come and visit the church as you wander around the village gardens on NGS Open gardens Sunday 29 June. The church will be open and full of flowers arranged by ladies who are opening their gardens. Please also support the Brize Norton Village Day on Sunday 24 August when we will be providing teas and refreshments raising money for general funds.

Would you like an opportunity for a bat’s eye view of the village from the Church Tower? We are organising a fund raising day on Saturday 13 September and invite you to get involved by being sponsored and take up the challenge of abseiling down the church tower. We are asking that you pledge to raise a minimum of £100 to cover costs and raise funds for the church. There are a restricted number of places available to experience this challenge so please contact Rev Maddern (844175) for more details and to book your descent. We would like to thank Adventure+ for helping us to run this event. There will be refreshments and other activities arranged in the church. Book the date in your diary and look out for more information on the village notice boards. If you prefer to keep two feet on the ground but would like to help with fundraising, on the same day it is the Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust ‘Ride and Stride’ sponsored walk. For further information on this please contact Jacquie Griffin (841616).

On Tuesday mornings in term time we are starting up a buggy club from 9.30am to 11am. There is a range of toys and activities to keep pre-schoolers busy and refreshments will be provided.

In May we said a sad farewell to Mrs Sue Cave who having moved away from the area is no longer able to play the organ at our morning services. Are you a pianist or organist who might be prepared to play in our morning worship? We are not asking for a weekly commitment just when it may be convenient for you. Please contact Jacquie if you think you may be able to help.

In addition to the 9.15am Holy Communion services each Sunday, on the 1st and 3rd Sundays there is a Light Zone service – an informal worship with activities arranged for the children attending and songs, prayers and refreshments. For further details of the church services refer to the notices on the church door or log onto the website - www.brizenorton.org.uk/community

The church is open each Sunday after the morning services until dusk or 6pm. You are welcome to visit to learn more of the church’s fascinating history or just for quiet reflection.

FARINGDON SINGERS SUMMER CONCERT

St John’s Church, Burford Road, Carterton Saturday 12th July 2014 at 7.30 pm Programme will include: Dyson - "Songs of Courage" and "Songs of Praise" Purcell - "Welcome to all the Pleasures" Gilbert and Sullivan Choruses - Songs for all to sing and Dvorak Bagatelles (instrumental) Refreshments sold afterwards. Retiring collection divided between St John’s Church, Carterton and St Britius, Brize Norton.

BRIZE NORTON OVER 60’s CLUB

Thank you to all those (between 70 and 80 people!) who helped Joy celebrate her 80th birthday – it was a lovely celebration. We are a small club for village residents. We meet on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month with either a meeting at 4 Squires Close (at 2pm) or we go on an outing. We have speakers and a nice tea to follow thanks to June, Connie, and Benita. Our future programme is as follows:

3 June Vist to Thrupp – tea by the river
17 June Meal out
1 July Picnic with organ music in Horace Hollifield’s garden
15 July Coffee morning 10.30am at Joy’s. Everyone welcome
5 August River trip
If you are interested in joining us please contact Joy on 01993 842373

COFFEE MORNING Tuesday 15 July 10.30am at Joy’s, 4 Squires Close Bring and buy and raffle EVERYONE WELCOME

CARTERTON NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICING TEAM

The Thames Valley Police Non Emergency number is 101 but always call 999 in an Emergency. The neighbourhood team e-mail is cartertonbamptonburford@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk

CENTENARY COMMEMORATION OF WORLD WAR 1

The Parish Council are pleased to report that they have recently been successful in securing a grant of £500 from WODC Community Activities Grants to fund a memorial to commemorate the fallen of WW 1 from Brize Norton. The project proposed is for a colonnade of 18 Lombardy poplar trees (one for each of the WW 1 fallen) to be planted on the field boundary of the recreation ground. There will be a stone plinth with a plaque illustrated with an outline map of Europe showing the location of Brize Norton and where the fallen are buried. A date for your diaries is Friday 7 November 2014 when there will be an unveiling ceremony for all to attend together with contributions from the children of the primary school. The Parish Council will like to thank Dr Phil Holmes, Bob Watts and Fred Bellenger for initiating the project; to WODC for their grant of £500 and to the Directors of Smiths and Sons, Bletchingdon who have generously agreed to provide the stone plinth.

Accounts of the very ordinary men and boys who made the extraordinary journey from Brize Norton and paid the ultimate sacrifice in serving their Country in The Great War are recorded in the village history archive that was circulated to all residents last year. As a reminder if you would like a copy of the village history archive please contact the Clerk or visit the Church. A minimum donation of £3 is asked for. Dr Holmes is working on a more complete account with the village background, details of the fallen and of their regiments and where they served.  He would welcome any information, especially photos, from any relatives of the fallen to complete the history which will be on display at the Brize Norton Village Day on Sunday 24 August.

Dr Holmes would like to thank Phil & Margaret Timms, Joy Douglas and The Parish Council for a wealth of material which has now been added to a growing collection and will also be on display.  Please contact the clerk or alternatively Dr Holmes at Church Farmhouse (843856) p.holmes@brizenorton.org.uk with further village history related material you have, in particular photos so that the online archive can be added to. Any material can be returned to you immediately after scanning. Also if you have items of history that you are prepared to lend for exhibition on Sunday 24 August Dr Holmes or Tim Gush would like to hear from you

CALENDAR OF EVENTS - please refer to newsletter for further information

31 June RBL Ride of Respect through village 9am to noon
2 June Annual and Ordinary Parish Council meeting 7.30pm The Pavilion
18 June Annual village assembly 7.30pm The Elderbank Hall
27 June School fete 5.30pm to 7pm
29 June Open Gardens in village 1pm to 6pm
12 July Faringdon Singers concert, St John’s, Carterton at 7.30pm
15 July Over 60’s coffee morning 10.30am 4 Squire’s Close
17 July Final dance club before summer break, 7.30pm EBH
24 August Village open day and Brize Norton history exhibition
4 September Dance Club start back after Summer break, 7.30pm EBH
13 September St Britius fund raising event/OHCT Ride and Stride
7 November Unveiling ceremony WW1 commemoration memorial

All entries for inclusion in the September 2014 issue should be received by the clerk by
15 August 2014.