Brize Norton Parish Council Newsletter

The Communities of Brize Norton and Carterton

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Here is the text from the September 2008 Newsletter Published here with permission of the Parish Council.

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

With the onset of Autumnal weather the change of seasons is also marked by the notices of forthcoming activities in this newsletter. Harvest Festival and the Remembrance Service are two for the notable annual Church occasions. I feel sure many of the village organisations are already planning for the Christmas activities. May I request that the details for inclusion in the December Newsletter reach the Parish Clerk by the 15th of November deadline.

Flooding. Please see in this newsletter details of a programme of roadshows relating to flooding problems that have been experienced in Brize Norton and surrounding villages. This will be an opportunity for you to express your views and obtain an update on proposals to prevent further flooding. Representatives from West Oxford District Council, Environment Agency, Thames Water, OCC and RAF Brize Norton will be available to answer your questions. Please attend to voice your concerns about this ongoing problem. It is important that as many people as possible take this opportunity to maintain pressure and ensure Brize Norton receive the further flood prevention measures that are obviously required.

Brize Norton Sports and Social Club

Included in this news letter is a statement by the S&SC that they are no longer willing to pursue the project. The Parish Council were content for the S&SC to lease the pavilion area for a period of twenty five years. The Parish Council were not however content to also lease the recreation field and tennis court. The Parish Council strongly believe the recreation field should remain available to all.

Keith A Glazier

ST BRITIUS CHURCH

Our Harvest Festival celebration will take place at the Family Service on Sunday 5th October at 9.15 am. All harvest gifts brought to church will be combined with the children's gifts at school and taken to The Porch Steppin' Stone Centre which helps the homeless in Oxford,

If you haven't been to church recently, why not join us on Sunday 2th November for "Back to Church" Sunday. We will be inviting all couples who have recently married, and families whose children have been baptised at St Britius to join us, and everyone else who would like to come, for a special Family Service at 9.15 am. We shall be celebrating our Patronal Festival at the same time and hopefully the completion of our Friends of St Britius Tower Project - bringing water and toilet facilities into the church. There will be refreshments afterwards including mulled wine.

The Service of Remembrance will take place on Sunday 9th November at 10 am with the wreath laying at the War Memorial at 11 am.

BRIZE NORTON PRIMARY SCHOOL

TOnce again we are at the start of a new school year and have welcomed many new families into our school community. We now have 106 children on our school roll.

At the end of the school year we celebrated many successes with our Year 6 children achieving excellent end of Key Stage results; we were awarded the National Arts Mark for our commitment to the teaching of art, music, dance and drama; following a successful environment week we achieved the Eco-schools Silver award and our netball team won a tournament when representing West Oxfordshire at the Oxfordshire Youth Games.

This term we have welcomed new staff to our school. We welcome Miss Wheatley as a new class teacher and Mrs Byng in the position of teaching assistant.

This term we have a number of events which we hope the residents of our village will enjoy with us, including a ladies night, family bingo event, Christmas decoration evening and our traditional Christmas Bazaar. Dates for these events will be confirmed shortly and can be found on our school website, http://www.bnschool.org or by contacting the school office.

Mark Smith
Headteacher

BRIZE NORTON OVER 60's CLUB

We would like to thank the Open Gardens committee for their kind donation to club funds. We welcome Peggy as a new member. We have enjoyed over the last few months a trip to Bath, cream tea in the garden and a picnic at Crickley Hill, all in good weather. The river trip was a bit damp but the cream tea on board was delicious. We also enjoyed fine weather for our meal at The Trout at Lechlade which we ate in a marquee on the river bank.

Our future programme is:

• September 16th AGM at 4 Squires Close
• October 7th Meeting. Speaker Isobel Spencer
• October 15th Show 'The Workhouse' a musical
• October 17th - 20th Weymouth holiday
• October 28th Shopping trip
• November 18th Meal out
• December 2nd COFFEE MORNING. Everyone welcome 10.30am at 4 Squires Close
• December 9th Christmas Party

Anyone who lives in the village or has village connections would be welcome to join us. We meet 1st and 3rd Tuesdays every month. We have an outing and a meeting. Edna, Carol, Benita and June provide a tea with home made cakes, many thanks to them.

If interested please contact Joy Douglas on 842373

BLOOD DONATION SESSIONS FOR 2008

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.

ATTENTION DOG WALKERS !

On public footpaths remember:-

- Keep your dog under close control.

- If you cannot rely on your dog's obedience, keep it on a lead.

- Take care your dog does not worry livestock and do not allow it to wander where it might disturb ground nesting birds.

- If there are farm animals near your dog it must be kept on a lead.

- Always clean up after your dog!

Find out more:-

www.countrysideaccess.gov.uk

PARISH FLOOD REPORT ROAD SHOWS

Following the publication of the Parish Flood Reports, West Oxfordshire District Council will be holding four Parish Flood Road Shows.

All the agencies with a responsibility for taking action to prevent flooding will be attending. It is an opportunity for councillors and local people to meet with them and discuss the findings of the reports and ways forward to alleviate future flooding.

1) 9th September 2008, 2 to 7pm, at New Beaconsfield Hall, Shipton -under-Wychwood, for the north of the District

2) 11th September 2008, 2 to 7pm, at Standlake Village Hall, for the south east of the District

3) 16th September 2008, 2 to 7pm, at Woodgreen Offices, New Yatt Road, Witney, for central and east of the District

4) 18th September 2008, 2 to 7pm, at Bampton Village Hall, for the west and south west of the District

Representatives from the Environment Agency, Oxfordshire County Council, West Oxfordshire District Council, and Thames Water will be at all the events. Cottsway Housing will be attending the 9th, 16th and 18th September Road Shows, and representatives from RAF Brize Norton will be at the 18th September Road Show in Bampton.

These are informal events and you are welcome to drop in to any of the above at anytime throughout the afternoon and early evening to ask questions and find out more about flood prevention.

Diary date to note: Find out what flood protection equipment is available and get free advices and information at our second Flood Fair on Thursday 9th October, 2:30 to 7 pm at the Windrush Leisure Centre, Witney.

WOMEN'S INSTITUTE

It was 80 years ago that a group of women in the village got together and founded the Brize Norton Women's Institute. Ever since that date there has been a WI in Brize Norton, holding monthly meetings, going on excursions, learning new crafts, discussing resolutions and sometimes even attending the national AGM at the Royal Albert Hall. Jam and Jerusalem have now both faded somewhat, giving way to calendars and computers, but the essential friendliness of our local WI continues to manifest itself in all our doings.

This year we have allowed ourselves a couple of mini celebrations to mark our eighty years in existence. On a sunny afternoon in July - yes, there was one! - a coachful of us went on a private visit to Kingston Bagpuize House, where the owner, Mrs Grant showed us round her home before letting us wander at will around the gardens. And on a not so sunny afternoon in August we took refuge from the rain in Sue Calcutt's house where we drank a toast in Buck's Fizz and cut the celebratory cake, made and iced - of course - by a WI member, Nora Maloney.

And, looking forward, how will we celebrate our centenary year? Not all that long to go now, but I am sure somebody will come up with the perfect suggestion and that members will be treated to that mixture of fun and friendship that is the hall mark of a successful WI.

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 VILLAGE PRE SCHOOL

Last term was a busy one for the children at pre-school which included a coach outing with parents and carers to the Cotswold Farm Park at Guiting Power and a visit to RAF Brize Norton to see around an aeroplane. We had an end of term party which included a bouncy castle and tea party as we said our farewells to the 12 children who are leaving to start primary school. This year we also said farewell to Mrs Gill Ferryman. Gill was thanked for all her commitment and work with the pre-school which started when she was a parent on the committee in the early 1990's and ended with her as our deputy supervisor. A presentation was made to her and we wish her all the best in her new job. As I write this article I am happy to be able to report that we have received applications for the deputy supervisors post and hope that at the start of term we will be able to advise parents of Gill's replacement.

This term we will be building on the positive Ofsted report we had back in April and also implementing the new Early Years Foundation curriculum that starts in September 2008. The staff attended several training courses last school year to prepare them for this and we have received support and financial help from Oxfordshire County Council in the provision of new resources.

We would like to thank all those who supported us in our summer quiz fundraiser and pig roast in July. We did not raise much for our funds but a good evening was had by all. With a significant percentage increase in hall fees from September 2008, fundraising will be very important to the pre-school. Please could I ask you to put a date in your diaries for our 'Christmas shopping evening' on Friday 14 November 2008 from 6pm to 9pm at the village hall. We are arranging for a wide variety of stalls to attend but if you would like to exhibit or know someone who would like to please do contact Carolyn - 01993 844102

Brize Norton Village pre-school runs Monday to Friday in the Elderbank Hall. We cater for 2 1/2 to 5 year olds. This term we have 17 children filling both full and part time places.

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, 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 DANCE CLUB

We meet every Thursday evening 7pm until 9pm. We club will take on a different format this term as I am giving up teaching. It will be a social evening, ballroom, latin and sequence dancing to CDs with tea and biscuits included. Thank you to Jean and Mabel who provide the teas.

Tea Dances will take place in Elderbank Hall 2pm to 4pm on the following Sundays:

• September 28th CDs
• October 26th 'Mark' on the organ
• November 30th Arthur (from Derby) on the organ
• December 14th Party Dance with wine and mince pies

Everyone welcome even if you don't dance. Any profit will go to a local charity.

Joy Douglas
842373

BRIZE NORTON SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB

At our last meeting (early August) it was unanimously agreed that because the Sports and Social club cannot agree with the Parish Council over the lease of the pavilion and recreation ground we are no longer willing to continue with the project.
The S&SC have discussed this matter on many occasions with the Parish Council and while all other plans were forging ahead the lease become a big sticking point.
It seems that despite two very supportive meetings with the village the Parish Council were unable to give their 100% backing to this project.
This project has always been for the good of the village as a whole, with no hidden agendas. It was nice to hear a number villagers saying they were looking forward to have a place to play, relax and socialise. The need for a new pavilion is obvious and the S&SC seemed to be the only way to gain funds for this new project.
My hope is that some time in the future the project may come to fruition and the village get the new sport and social facility we all deserve.
I would like to thank all those villagers who have given their support but especially to those committee members who have worked long and hard to get this project off the ground. Steve, Richard and Charlie come in for some special thanks!

Brize Norton Sports & Social Club
14.08.08
 

 All entries for inclusion in the December issue should be received by the 15th November.