Brize Norton Parish Council Newsletter

The Communities of Brize Norton and Carterton

You are here: Community > Brize Norton > Parish Council Newsletter 

Please note that this might not be the latest issue of the Parish Newsletter. 
For a full listing and to find the latest issue click here.

Here is the text from the September 2004 Newsletter
Published here with permission of the Parish Council.

CHAlR’S REPORT

It has been a long hot summer in the village thus far and, as I write, we have been visited by thunderstorms the likes of which have not been seen in some time. Blissfully, it has been a rather quiet season in Brize Norton otherwise.

I am pleased to see that the culture of speeding on the Carterton Road has been dramatically reduced. On regular journeys into town, I have noticed that the car in front is keeping to the new 40mph limit. This council records the situation as a major victory for the community. Now we can turn more of our attention to the traffic on Manor, Burford and Bampton Roads, where speeding is still a concern. We have contacted the Thames Valley Police in regards to having regular visitations from the mobile speeding camera. We intend to continue to send a strong message that speeding in Brize Norton will not be tolerated.

Some residents may have read in the press recently that we were not able to repeat the success of last year in the Best Kept Village competition. We were judged early in the contest and perhaps didn’t have the time we would have liked to get things ’ship shape’. Some of the positive comments the judges made were that our allotments and our village school were both very well kept. They were critical however of litter, dog fouling on footpaths and building materials being kept in public walkways. These are all situations that this council has made an effort to curtail but clearly we need more cooperation from villagers. Looking around the community at the moment things do look in very good condition. If only we had had more time to prepare. We do intend to mount a more vigorous campaign next year, so let’s all try to keep things up all year round so as not to get caught out!

It’s great to see so much sport going on in the village. One can regularly enjoy watching a cricket match, while both the Men’s and Ladies football teams have been spotted doing early training for what I’m sure will be another successful season.

I hope those on holiday are enjoying the break and that everyone is managing to stay cool!

Shane J Rae

ST BRITIUS CHURCH

Our once-a-month family service is continuing to attract new people to the church. On July 4 30 grown-ups and 15 children could be heard roaring like lions for the bible story of Daniel in the Lion’s Den!

The Songs of Praise service after the Gardens’ Open Day was a great success with readings and hymns chosen by the congregation. A collection for the Bell Fund for repairing the bell cage raised nearly £80.

Special services coming soon include Harvest Festival on Sunday September 26 when we hope both the Junior Church and the Primary School children will be participating.

Please visit us for cream teas and other refreshments in the bar area of the Elderbank Hall on Monday, August 30 during the Cricket Festival and Horticultural Show, when we will also run a tombola and other stalls.

For further information about any of these activities please see the community web site at www.brizenorton.org.uk/community or phone Rev. Roy Turner on (844175) or one of the Churchwardens (Chris Morgan on 842663 or Phil Holmes on 843856).

Swing into Autumn 

The Swing into Autumn Dance with the 57 Swing Band live at the Elderbank Hall will be on Saturday September 25 from 7:30 to 11 pm. There will be a two course supper, a licensed bar and a raffle. Tickets priced at £10 will be available by the end of August at Timms the Builders from Jackie Bellenger, Debbie Merriman, Joy Douglas, Jacquie Griffin, Rosalind Sewell and the Holmes family. This was a very popular event last year and tickets have already been reserved for this year, so ring 843856 to reserve yours now. All proceeds from this event go to St. Britius Church.

BRIZE NORTON LADIES FOOTBALL CLUB 

Brize Norton Ladies Football Club is now back training in preparation for the new season. Their first league match in the Thames Valley County’s Womens League is on Sunday 12’” September, although the club has participated in a number of small sided tournaments throughout the summer and friendly matches have already begun. They played Wootton Bassett (league runners up last year) on Sunday 8 August which resulted in a 4-4 draw. Brize Norton came back from being 4-2 down with 2 goals in the second half showing real team determination. They were unfortunate not to score in the last 10 minutes with a number of shots narrowly missing.

Things are looking for up the team with the signing of a new manager (John Hobbley), entrance into a new league and the signing on of a handful of new players. If you are interested in joining and are aged 14 or over please oontact Sam Goodwin (846827). All abilities are welcome. Training takes place on the recreation ground on Wednesday evenings between 6:30 and 8 pm.

Finally, I would like to wish the team all the best for the forthcoming season.

BIGGER BETTER WEST OXFORDSHIRE WEEKEND

11th & 12th September 

The West Oxfordshire Weekend is a fantastic opportunity for those living in the District to visit local attractions at free/discounted rates.

Following on from last year’s success, activities are expanding this year to offer residents much more. In addition to attractions there are leisure and sporting activities, craft activities, entertainments and restaurants. In total over 40 organisations are taking part. These include

• Cotswold Wildlife Park
• Cogges Manor Farm Museum
• Blenheim Palace
• Witney Lakes Resort
• Wychwood Golf Club
• Heythrop Park
• Cotswold AONB Guided Walks
• Rollright Stones
• Swinford Museum
• Oxfordshire Museum

For more information, visit your local Visitor Information Centre or phone 01993 861565. Information can also be found on www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org or www.westoxon.gov.uk/culture. To take part you will need a WOW Pack which contains your Weekend Pass, available from Visitor Information Centres from the 16 August.

Visitor Information Centres are based in Burford (01993 823558), Chipping Norton (01608 644379), Witney (01993 775802) and Woodstock (01993 813276)

DANCING CLUB

We meet on Thursday evenings. We have just had a tea dance and cream tea for our members with 56 people attending. We will close now until September 9th for our summer break. We shall start tea dances again, for local charities at the end of September.

Thankyou Jean and Mabel for providing the much needed cup of tea on Thursdays and at the tea dances.

New members are welcome. Contact Joy Douglas on 842373.

The weather has been kind to us for our trips out on the White Horse Hill and Wantage trip. The sun shone also on our trip to Windsor. Members watched the changing of the guards at Windsor Castle, enjoyed the river trip and the tour on the open top bus. There were also sales at the shops! The cream tea was a success and we still have the treasure hunt and B.B.Q to look forward to.

Our future programme includes:

Our thanks to Edna, Carol and Benita for our lovely teas and June for the home made cakes. Our thanks also go to the Gardens Open Committee for the donation to our funds.

New members are welcome. Contact Joy Douglas on 842373

PRE SCHOOL

Brize Norton village Pre School will be holding a Table Top Sale on Saturday 2nd October in the Elderbank Hall, Brize Norton from 2 to 5 pm. There will be refreshments and a raffle.

To book your table contact Christine on 844010.

FOXBURY FARM

Imagine getting a box of vegetables & meat delivered fresh to your door each week, & at a price of no more than what you would pay in high street shops. With all the food scares we’ve experienced lately it is no wonder Foxbury Farm shop in the Burford Road at Brize Norton has won many awards for the quality of their products. The Farm is the current holder of The National Small Producer Award. The meat comes from animals reared on the farm, ready-made meals are cooked on the premises, and vegetables are local and fresh; this whole new concept is on your doorstep!

But, if you don’t want to do the cooking, relax, The Crown Inn at Finstock, is your answer. It is Oxfordshire’s Farmer run pub. Products from Foxbury Farm are supplied to The Crown Inn to provide you with a quality menu. All day breakfast, Steak/Kidney 8c Abbots Ale pie, Sirloin Steak, Garlic, Tarragon k Mushroom Tagliatelle, White Onion k Oxford Blue Cheese Tart, Venison Steak, Fisherman’s Pie and much more, I am sure you are already hungry. Real quality food at sensible prices on your plate.

If your children are on holiday and you are looking for something different to do, why not visit Foxbury Farm Wed – Sat 9am – 6pm and look around the farm animals, rare brecd poultry, Gloucester Old spot piglets, sheep and hundreds of lambs are your Foxbury Farm Friends just waiting for a visit. Entrance is Free to shop customers.

For further details contact: 

Foxbury Farm shop (Colin Dawes)      01993 844141

The Crown Inn, Finstock (Nick k Gail Wilkinson)    01993 868431

We are a parent run toddler group for children from 0-5 years. We come together for the children to play and meet new friends, also for parents and carers to have a chat and a coffee. Sessions are run in the Elderbank Hall, Brize Norton on Wednesday mornings between 9.30 and 11.30am during term times. The Autumn Term dates are:

• September 8th, 15th and 22nd
• October 13th and 20th
• November 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th
• December 15th

For further information and dates please contact Christine on S44010.

*****************************************************************

All entries for inclusion in the December issue should be received by Friday 19th November